News

We are happy to announce the addition of two new Stakeholder members: Office Evolution - Ann Arbor and Rehmann CPAs, Consultants and Advisors.

Office Evolution - Ann Arbor, a new business center located at 455 E. Eisenhower, Suite 300, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108, will be celebrating the grand opening of the first Office Evolution location in Michigan on November 1st from 4 to 7 PM.  Please contact Andrea Hernadez-Morales, Business Center Manager or David Whitinger, Owner at 734-821-8085 for details about the event or to learn more about their office spaces, meeting rooms, shared workspaces or other services.  www.officeevolution.com/locations/ann-arbor

Rehmann, one of the largest CPA, Consulting and Advisory Firms with Offices in Michigan, Ohio and Florida, is rejoining our Stakeholder ranks.  In recent years the firm has been active in support of start-up entrepreneurial growth here in Michigan and membership in the New Enterprise Forum furthers those efforts. Chris Sing, Principal in the Ann Arbor office is the company’s NEF primary member and enjoys helping emerging companies through rapid stages of growth. www.rehmann.com

GAMIC – Shortening the path to commercialization in the auto / mobility industry

The 11th Annual Global Automotive and Mobility Innovation Challenge (GAMIC) is now open to innovators and their companies.   The entrants compete for over $350,000 in total prizes. But GAMIC's prizes are different. You can burn through cash quickly. GAMIC offers In-Kind, Professional services and contacts for the North American mobility space.

Commercialization time for start-ups in the automotive mobility space can take 2 to 3 times that of the start-ups in the Innovation / Consumer Electronics space.  We offer speed to market, putting winners in front of decision makers in large organizations who have a need for the types of products offered by our winners and a budget to explore those. Judged by automotive executives from OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers as well as seasoned contributors from the entrepreneurial community, GAMIC is a unique competition.

The GAMIC organizing committee is made up of auto industry executives with close ties to decision makers at all major OEMs and many Tier 1 suppliers as well as experienced entrepreneurs.  Building on such a rich network, GAMIC offers over $300,000 in auto industry professional guidance – from business development to IP support to PR, as well as assistance with key high-level industry connections.  These benefits are the invaluable key to accelerated commercialization by opening doors that the cash prizes by many other competitions simply cannot.

A number of GAMIC alumni are already in production as 2^nd tier suppliers; others have licensed their technology to major Tier 1 suppliers, received development contracts from industrial partners, and/or received government funding for further product development.  All semi-finalists receive exposure to multiple Midwest-US and Canadian angel groups.

GAMIC is pleased to announce that it is open for applications for its 11^th annual competition. 

Who should apply?  Companies that fit the following criteria:

• Innovation space: Automotive and/or mobility applications
• Innovation type: physical (mechanical, chemical, electrical), and/or digital product/systems, testing, manufacturing or other enabling innovations
• : Less than $500,000 in funding or revenue to date
• State of innovation advancement: Developed a proof-of-concept and/or a working model
• State of business planning: Developed an initial business plan covering the technology and a go-to-market plan
• : Willing to present in-person or via video conference at quarter-finals  in Northern California; Southeast Michigan; or Ontario, Canada

You can find more information on the applicable technology sectors for GAMIC and application instructions at our website at www.GAMICevent.org .  Applications due date is 15 October 2018.  Apply at www.f6s.com/gamic11th .

Roger Morey is the newest NEF Board member. Please join us in welcoming him. Roger is founder and CEO of Molecular Associates providing consulting services for biotech and business startups. He is currently Vice Chair and New Enterprise Forum coach helping entrepreneurs develop investable business presentations. Roger has most recently mentored at the Detroit Fintech Challenge and DTX Launch Detroit. He also volunteers at the Ann Arbor Arts Fair, and the Washtenaw County Science Olympiad.

He has over 20 years experience in laboratory management and molecular biology. He holds a clinical ASCP certification in molecular biology, and a B.S. in Biology from the University of Massachusetts at Boston.

In a Detroit Crain's article on July 22, 2018, 12:18 AM, Tom Henderson reported that Jennifer Baird has a new venture in Fifth Eye Inc., which is a spinoff from the University of Michigan. Many remember Jennifer from the sale of Accuri Cytometers to Becton, Dickinson & Co. for $205 million back in 2011. In 2005, she presented at a NEF forum meeting. "Fifth Eye is developing software to warn medical professionals that certain patients who seem to be doing well after an operation are actually, based on almost imperceptible changes in their vital signs, at risk for serious deterioration in their conditions." Read More