In the News
Read about TechTown, its tenants and affiliates in the headlines.
October 09
Crain's Detroit News: Training program will focus on doing business in defense industry
Model D Media: Signs of a new economy – Wayne State and Henry Ford Health System research a partnership
September 09
The Oakland Press: Rebuilding Detroit as a "Tech Town"
Crain's Detroit News: Asterand signs three-year lease, stays at TechTown
CNN Money: Detroit's jobless economy: Start-ups take root
August 09
The Detroit Free Press: TechTown guides entrepreneurs to bring business plans to life. TechTown aims to help Michigan's underemployed and displaced workers leverage new careers as entrepreneurs and potential employees.
The Detroit Free Press: TechTown is launchpad for battery plan. Vice President Joe Biden announced Michigan's $1.36B federal grant to manufacture batteries for electric vehicles.
The Detroit News: Program hopes to build 1,200 Detroit-based businesses. Program aimed at helping the struggling auto capital develop a new economic base.
DBusiness: Trade with China. TechTown's Chinese Business Forum offers insight into why entrepreneurs should trade with China, one of the largest global trading partners.
July 09
The Detroit Free Press: Making the grade. TechTown-based company GradeCheck uses an Internet-based program to track the academic progress of student athletes to ensure they meet NCAA requirements.
Crain's Detroit Business: TechTown soft-landing center certified by National Business Incubation Association. TechTown’s soft-landing center provides office space and translation services to foreign companies.
Model D: Great Lakes Angels moves headquarters to TechTown. Angel investors are professional individuals who invest in promising start-ups.
Crain's Detroit Business: SmartStart success story. Founder of Touchstone Evaluations INC. recieved entrepreneurial training from SmartStart, TechTown's business development program.
Model D: Another 25 startups have registered for facility space. Businesses came into TechTown through its SmartStart program.
DBusiness: Second chance for a FastTrac to Entrepreneurship.
Great Lakes IT Report: Six student teams given the opportunity to pursue startup company at TechTown. E2Challenege, a program supported by WSU, allows students to explore the potential of their own startup.
June 09
Crain's Detroit Business: TechTown program to help entrepreneurial creativities. SmartStart is TechTown's two year business development program aimed at helping innovative companies create and execute a comprehensive strategy for growth.
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"A historic entrepreneurship initiative unfolding in the heart of the Motor City may become a model that cities nationwide can replicate to spur America’s economic recovery over the next decade."
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s FastTrac entrepreneur training program hosted a free entrepreneurial workshop event, “FastTrac to the Future,” on June 24. The event let would-be entrepreneurs discuss their ideas and business plans with established metro Detroit entrepreneurs. Attendees also had the opportunity to register in one of the many entrepreneurial support programs offered through TechTown.
Crain's Detroit Business: FastTrac to the Future event at TechTown draws 500 would-be entrepreneurs.
Crain's Detroit Business: TechTown to host workshop event for entrepreneurs.
DBusiness: Landmark entrepreneurship initiative launched at TechTown.
Great Lakes IT Report: TechTown holding major event to jump start entrepreneurism.
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Crain's Detroit Business: CFO of the Year Awards; Winner John Stchur of Asterand plc. TechTown-based Asterand plc was last year's top-performing company on the London Stock Exchange.
Crain's Detroit Business: Great Lakes Angels hope to raise $20M to invest in early-stage companies. Angel investors are professional individuals who invest in promising start-ups.
The Detroit News: Michigan poised to become a leader in disease research. Blood spots cataloged and stored at a new temperature-controlled facility in Tech Town.
DBusiness: TechTown forum helps local businesses bridge the culture gap with India.
Model D: Nextek adds six employees at TechTown office; Expects to hire more. Nextek Power Systems specializes in developing direct current power systems for commercial buildings.
Great Lakes IT Report: Four members of Business Improvment Team named TechTown mentors.
May 09
The Detroit News: High-tech startup businesses flourish at TechTown. TechTown transforms into Detroit's most sought-after address for startups.
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The New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation announced they have formed a partnership based at TechTown to help spur entrepreneurship and create 400 new companies in SE Michigan over the next three years through condensed training programs.
Crain's Detroit Business: $10M fund to help entrepreneurs create new companies in Detroit.
Crain's Detroit Business: $10M fund goal: 400 new companies; Kauffman to join NEI at TechTown.
The Detroit News: $9.5 boost for Michigan businesses; Foundation will help Michigan firms retool, promote startup.
Crain's Detroit Business: New Economy Initiative gains partners.
Model D: New Economy Initiative goes after growing entrepreneurs with $9.25M investment.
Model D: TechTown looks to leverage new funding.
Crain's Detroit Business: It's launch time for bright ideas.
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The Chronicole of Higher Education: New hope for old Detroit building. TechTown serves as headquarters for more than 70 start-up companies.
Model D: Company provides legal advice for TechTown startups. Kendra Law Firm, a TechTown-based company, helps startup growth.
Crain's Detroit Business: Program launched to encourage student entrepreneurship. TechTown provides office space to teams involved with E2Challenge.
April 09
Crain's Detroit Business: Michigan Neonatal BioTrust opens at TechTown. BioTrust will provide medical researchers nationwide access to about 3.5 million blood samples.
Crain's Detroit Business: SE Michigan’s business accelerators to receive $6M in federal funding. Federal dollars will expand capacity for entrepreneurialism and innovation.
Crain's Detroit Business: TechTown-based company Asterand plc listed on the London Stock Exchange. Asterand plc share price continues to rise.
Model D: TechTown-based firm EXT Life Sciences close to reaching fundraising goal.
Model D: TechTown pushes economy forward with SmartStart.
Model D: Entrepreneur Spotlight: Keith Zendler of TechTown's Peoplemovers. Peoplemovers is an online technology company that builds, promotes and operates "community networking" websites.
Model D: Entrepreneur Spotlight: Sergio Mazza of TechTown-based SenSound. SenSound, a Wayne State spin-off, develops noise management software.
March 09
Great Lakes IT Report: TechTown is offering Detroit entrepreneurs a unique opportunity to learn how to trade with India the right way. The Indian Business Forum provides an opportunity to network with entrepreneurs doing business with India, one of the world's largest trading partners.
DBusiness: Free TechTown forum helps Detroit entrepreneurs 'Get India Right'.
Model D: TechTown's new First Friday focuses on start-up acceleration.
Model D: NextEnergy adds staff to its TechTown operations. NextEnergy is a research catalyst and business accelerator for alternative and renewable energy.
Crain's Detroit Business: 27 Mexico-based automotive suppliers working with TechTown to establish relationships and new business opportunities with U.S. automotive firms.
PR Newswire: Orthoreach wins a University of Michigan Zell Lurie Institute Dare to Dream award. Orthoreach is an initiative of Design Labs, a SmartStart company.
Model D: SenSound wins Michigan Pre-Seed Fund capital investment of $250,000. SenSound, a Wayne State spin-off, develops noise management software.
Metromode: Incubating change.
February 09
Crain's Detroit Business: Asterand sees first yearly profit. Asterand plc, a human tissue-bank company traded on the London Stock Exchange, stock price soared over the last year 12 months, from 6 pence to a close of 17 pence.
Global Business Perspectives: Podcast: TechTown's International Soft Landings. International Soft Landings (ISL) eases the transition overseas companies face when entering the U.S. market.
Crain's Detroit Business: Michigan to get $1B from stimulus bill. “This could be the opportunity to finish the build-out of the TechOne Building and fund the build-out of our other two buildings".
The South End: TechTown attracts Chinese businesses. The Chinese Business Forum helps entrepreneurs make the most of oppurtunities in the East.
January 09
Model D: Faith-based tech firms play a significant role in the local new economy. Leaders of worship in Detroit develop effective business skills through TechTown's Faith-Based Business Forum.
Great Lakes IT Report: Auto Show afterglow party goes carbon neutral. AutoGlow is cooperating with TechTown-based Carbon Credit Environmental Services to offset 54 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
December 08
Model D: Stout Systems cements presence in new TechTown space; Plans to hire. Stout Systems specializes in software development and helping firms with technical staffing.
Great Lakes IT Report: TechTown launches SmartStart. SmartStart is TechTown's two year business development program aimed at helping innovative companies create and execute a comprehensive strategy for growth.
Great Lakes IT Report: SenSound recieves federal grant. SenSound, a Wayne State spin-off, develops noise management software.
Michigan Technology News: TechTown CEO Randal Charlton creates blog to comment on recession. The blog will feature commentary on the country's recession and advice from the trenches on weathering it.
November 08
Crain's Detroit Business: Open letter from TechTown CEO to General Motors. "Your challenge, I believe, is to frame your December solution as an answer to our overall economic problems, not just a bailout of the auto industry."
canada.com: TechTown's Public Health Institute behind biggest local pollution-asthma study.
Crain's Detroit Business: 2008 Student Entrepreneur; Winner Katherine Abramczyk of Visca L.L.C. Visca L.L.C., a nanotechnology and microtechnology firm, is a TechTown lab-tenant.
October 08
Metromode: Carbon neutral conference. Through the help of TechTown's Carbon Credit Environmental Services, the carbons produced by the event will be offset with various alternative-energy projects.
The Daily Dash: Keith Cooley names President and CEO of NextEnergy. NextEnergy is a research catalyst and business acceleratore for alternative and renewable energy.
Michigan Technology News: Auto-part makers to work with GM and Ford. TechTown is actively recruiting Chinese, Indian and other foreign auto-part makers.
September 08
Great Lakes IT Report: Asterand plc has a new exclusive license agreement with pharmaceutical firm Allergan Inc. Asterand plc, tissue bank and medical information firm, gets millions in eye disease research.
Model D: Visca L.L.C. turns Detroit students into employees.
August 08
Great Lakes IT Report: Energy trip to Brazil. Automation Alley and NextEnergy invite companies involved in researching and developing renewable energy systems and technologies to join their trade mission.
Model D: TechTown's International Soft Landings assists overseas firms with transition.
Model D: EXT Life Sciences developing anti-oxidant into potential wonder drug.
Model D: Standard Medical Systems opening new offices. TechTown-based Standard Medical Systems, a full-service medical equipment supplier, is expected to hit between $750,000 and $1M in revenues this year.
July 08
Great Lakes IT Report: Casino Fund donates to TechTown. TechTown received a $625,882 grant to bring more companies into its Detroit-Based Initiative business growth program.
Model D: Greener business in Detroit. TechTown-based Carbon Credit Environmental Services is a leader in carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emission reduction programs.
Model D: SpaceForm looks to triple employee count. TechTown-startup SpaceForm, a Delphi-Corp. spin off company, commercializes innovative welding technology.
Model D: IC Data Communications continues to create jobs in TechTown. IC Data Comm. handles the IT needs for schools and small-sized businesses in Metro Detroit.
May 08
Wayne State University: TechTown's SciTech may hold key to fighting pancreatic cancer. SciTech is garnering national attention for promising anti-cancer drug research.
April 08
Great Lakes IT Report: Chinese Business Club at TechTown. Discussion topics will include all aspects of Chinese business practices, business law and culture, business opportunities and import and export law.
Great Lakes IT Report: TechTown building out TechOne. TechTown has begun construction on the remaining sections of its first incubator, TechOne, to make room for additional businesses and research labs.
February 08
Ann Arbor Business Review: A Q&A with NEF award-winner Randal Charlton. Charlton has spent most of his career involved with startup companies.
January 08