Our perspective.

An investment made by several groups of early-stage Michigan investors could pay off in a big way following the recent news that Allergan acquired Ann Arbor-based RetroSense Therapeutics LLC, a Michigan angel-backed gene therapy company, for $60 million plus additional funding if the company reaches future milestones. Terry Cross, MVCA member, and director of RetroSense […]

DUBLIN and ANN ARBOR, Mich., Sept. 6, 2016,– Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN), a leading global pharmaceutical company, and RetroSense Therapeutics LLC, a Michigan Angel-backed, clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on novel gene therapy approaches to restore vision in patients suffering from blindness, today announced that Allergan has acquired substantially all of the assets of RetroSense in an all-cash transaction. Under the terms of the transaction, Allergan has […]

MVCA tools are most current and complete resources available. ANN ARBOR, Michigan (August 31, 2016)—The Michigan Venture Capital Association (MVCA) is launching its 2016 Michigan Entrepreneurial & Investment Landscape Guide. The guide is the state’s most comprehensive tool for navigating the Michigan entrepreneurial and investment community.  Useful to both in-state and out-of-state investors who are active […]

School is almost back in session for most students, but MVCA Venture Fellows hit the books early at MVCAcademy in July.  The day-long workshop at Ann Arbor Distilling Co.  covered highly technical and targeted topics aimed at educating the Fellows, who are part of MVCA pairs investment professionals early in their career with a Michigan […]

MVCA Member, Plymouth Ventures (“Plymouth”), announced yesterday, August 23, 2016, that it sold its position in 365 Retail Markets, the global leader in MicroMarket technology, to McCarthy Capital Fund VI (“McCarthy Capital”). McCarthy Capital manages more than $1 billion of investment capital across its portfolio. Headquartered in Troy, MI with offices in Santa Clara, CA, […]

Last week, our MVCA board of directors gathered for our quarterly meeting on the west side of the state, in Zeeland, known for its blueberries, beaches, and business. There’s no doubt that the west side of the state is beautiful, but it’s quickly becoming a destination for work as well as play. West Michigan’s lakeshore […]

MVCA Fellow Kathryn Gardner’s transition from investment banking to venture capital has been a smooth one, thanks in part of the experiences she’s had working at Michigan’s largest healthcare venture investor, Arboretum Ventures.  In the two years since Gardner joined the firm, the firm has raised $220 million to invest into healthcare companies in Michigan […]

Gemphire Therapeutics Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for the treatment of dyslipidemia, a serious medical condition that increases the risk of life threatening cardiovascular disease, and NAFLD/NASH (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease) today announced the pricing of its initial public offering. The shares are expected to begin trading on the […]

One of the largest business plan competitions in the nation sets the stage for up to $1 million in prizes on November 3 at Cobo Convention Center The Accelerate Michigan Planning Committee is excited to announce the 7th Annual Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition will take place on Thursday, November 3, 2016 (the day after the 2016 MVCA Annual […]