Our perspective.

Michigan was extremely well represented at the 38th annual Venture Capital Institute in Atlanta. VCI has served over the years as the de facto starting point for VC’s young and old who want to very quickly broaden their network and hone their skills in our trade.

Michigan Accelerator Fund I (MAF-1) has made a $750,000 Series A-1 investment in Swift Biosciences, Inc., the seventh company it has funded.

Start Garden announced they have invested $500,000 in Grand Rapids-based Blue Medora. Grand Angels, a regional group of angel investors, also announced that 20 of their members will also be making investments in Blue Medora which cumulatively equal an additional $750,000, bringing the total amount raised to fund the startup to $1.25 million.

The Small Business Administration has issued a call for applications from fund managers for the second year of its early-stage venture capital program.

VC Journal is writing a story for early 2013 about the arrival of the autonomous car, and its future impact on the U.S. automotive industry.

Can venture capital fund-of-funds boost innovation and regional growth?

“The MEDC is looking to receive information from companies that have expertise in early stage technology company valuation practices, along with valuation methods utilized, and pricing models for providing those services.”

Skills Matter, Europe’s largest provider of open source and agile training and events, today announced a $5 million investment from Beringea, the growth capital investor that manages the Proven Venture Capital Trusts.

The growth of venture capital and private equity firms in the state, the financial interest from outside the state and the successful funds being raised are all part of the story Crain’s and MiBiz want to tell in 2013.