Author: Ara Topouzian

Thomas Lee 7/25/11 http://www.xconomy.com/detroit/2011/07/25/my-farewell-present-six-observations-about-michigans-innovation-economy/

Dow Chemical Co. Chief Executive Officer Andrew N. Liveris says Michigan is showing a new national model when it comes to government and private sector collaboration to help small businesses. On Tuesday, Liveris, joined by Gov. Rick Snyder, Administrator Karen Mills of the U.S. Small Business Administration and Michigan Treasurer Andy Dillon, announced $130 million investment […]

Thomas Lee 7/19/11 http://www.xconomy.com/detroit/2011/07/19/facing-an-early-death-michigans-angel-credit-program-finds-few-takers-so-far/

Turning the traditional drug discovery model on its head and challenging conventional wisdom has proven to be good medicine for Kalamazoo-based Metabolic Solutions Development Company, LLC (MSDC).  The five-year old company, founded by two former Upjohn Company scientists, Jerry Colca, PhD and Rolf Kletzien, PhD, is tackling the combination of metabolic disorders that, taken together, […]

Deal marks the first time two Michigan angel groups have co-invested Grand Rapids, Mich.– Two Michigan angel groups have co-invested in fixed WiMAX owner/operator AzulStar, which teams with leading companies, governmental agencies and private investors to offer very-high bandwidth wireless data, voice and video services.  West Michigan angel investing group Grand Angels and Midland-based Blue […]

Mark Horne, Managing Partner of Plymouth Venture Partners I, L.P. has announced that Plymouth’s Company of the Year is Accuri Cytometers. In making the announcement, Horne commented: “Accuri essentially created a new market in personal use flow cytometry, and then demonstrated outstanding execution in designing and building world class products to serve that market. The […]

West Michigan angel group Grand Angels announces the creation of Grand Angels Co-Investment Fund I, a “sidecar” fund which Grand Angels Company, LLC will manage.  The fund, whose investors include members and non-members of Grand Angels, will invest a small amount in most of the deals in which Grand Angels members invest.  Grand Angels President […]

As part of the Dodd-Frank Act, Congress eliminated section 203 (b)(3) of the Advisers Act, which previously had exempted from SEC registration any adviser that had fewer than 15 clients over the last 12 months, did not hold itself out to the public as an investment adviser, and did not act as an investment adviser […]

MVCA members helped Prof. David Brophy and the U-M Zell Lurie Institute celebrates the 30th anniversary of their annual event, the Michigan Growth Capital Symposium. Highlights included a retrospective of the conference’s three decades with remarks by founder Brophy as well as a lunchtime keynote by Silicon Valley VC and U-M alum Jay Hoag. Forty […]

A large crowd of investors and industry supporters enjoyed cocktails and dinner at a private event at Vinology in connection with the annual MGCS conference. Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer //