Technology and Innovation

Going up!

By Newsroom

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September 2, 2010

John Rumery Holland-based web and software development firm, Elevator Up, has added two new hires in the last three months with intent to aggressively grow the web-hosting side of their business. Dan Ryan, system engineer, was hired in the early summer and Dennis Walters, lead developer, was brought on in August. Both Ryan and Walters had previously worked together at Liquid Web, a Lansing-based technology firm. According to Ryan, the opportunity for Elevator Up is to simplify the hosting process and target the gap between "the small web hosting services that work with bloggers and simple websites," and the complex corporate web hosting services. "I call that market the Fortune one million," says Ryan, alluding to the number of small and medium-sized companies that could potentially use their hosting services. "We primarily target firms in the tech industry that aren't quite big enough to have their own I.T. services," says Ryan. He adds that many of these businesses embrace the "start-up mentality" that Elevator Up founder Aaron Schaap champions through a variety of community initiatives. Although Elevator Up has always had a hosting service, Ryan will be building the web hosting service as its own brand with its own marketing plan. The goal is to have the infrastructure and service offerings in place sometime in October to launch the new hosting company. Ryan envisions that at least nine new hires, primarily in the systems administration field, could be added as the business grows. Dennis Walters is excited and optimistic about his new role as a lead developer, and also the continual growth of the tech community in West Michigan. "More than anything, the key factor that keeps me in West Michigan is the generally awesome attitude of the folks in the area," he says. "That is, the mentality seems to tend towards both optimism and excitement, and that sort of vibe lends itself well to getting things done, and aids very much in the elimination of red tape. Between Elevator Up, Liquid Web, Bar Camp, the Great Lakes Ruby Bash, and the random 'geek-ups' in the area, I'd say that the entire culture is optimistic." According to Sara Hogan, Operations Manager for Elevator Up, the addition of Ryan and Walters brings their team up to seven individuals. For more information on Elevator Up and future job opportunities, you can visit their website. Source: Interviews with Dan Ryan, Kevin Walters and Sara Hogan John Rumery is the Innovation and Jobs Editor for Rapid Growth Media. He is an educator, board member of AimWest, WYCE music programmer, entrepreneur, raconteur and competitive barbecuer living in Grand Rapids, MI. He can be reached at InnovationandJobs@RapidGrowthMedia.com For story tips you can e-mail info@rapidgrowthmedia.com

Latest in Technology and Innovation

Grand Rapids marketing firm launches custom software company, iPhone app for beach bums

By Newsroom

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Innovation News

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August 19, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodGrand Rapids-based Steketee Greiner Co. dove headfirst into the digital marketing waters this week with the launch of a new company and the release of an iPhone 4 app for water sports enthusiasts. SGC, formerly ContextMG, 44 Grandville Ave. SW, has formed Catalyst SGC to take over the development of customized software solutions and applications, mobile development and traditional online development for Fortune 1000 clients who want to leverage the digital marketplace. And the iPhone 4 app, Beach Bum, advises users when weather and water conditions are right for fishing, boating, sail boarding and other water sports in any of the Great Lakes or United States coastal regions. "It's tied into national systems and measures air and water temperature, wave height, the UV index and wind speed, and includes a synopsis of the weather forecast," says David Greiner, SGC's chief creative officer. "It has real time radar plus warnings and alerts for severe weather, and is customizable."As for the launch of the new company, Greiner says SGC acquired another Grand Rapids firm, Access Programming Group, Inc., and brought aboard two of its programmers – one experienced in artificial intelligence, the other in application development."SGC has always been focused on the digital marketing space, and kept a small team of creative people and programmers," Greiner says. "It made sense to put that team out on its own as Catalyst SGC and create a new business model independent of Steketee Greiner."Catalyst SGC has eight employees. Greiner says he hopes to build it to 10 in 2011. He says Steketee Greiner hired five people this year and gross sales are up 30 percent over 2009. Beach Bum sells for $1.99 at the iTunes store. Source: David Greiner, Steketee Greiner Company and Catalyst SGCRelated ArticlesSaugatuck marketing firm brings 10 jobs to Grand Rapids, ready to add four moreContextMG adds five jobs, three interns after relocating to Grand RapidsDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com. Development News tips can be sent to info@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

$10M investors fund in Grand Rapids will aid startups in Michigan’s growth industries

By Newsroom

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Entrepreneurship

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August 19, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodLife sciences and technology, alternative energy and other growth industry startups in Michigan could soon receive an infusion of $10 million to spur business development and jobs. Michigan Accelerator Fund 1, L.P., a new Grand Rapids-based venture capital fund, has received $6 million in seed money from the state's 21st Century Jobs Fund, a program of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The investment jumpstarts the fund and moves it closer to its goal of having $10 million available for startups in early 2011. "We look for Michigan-based companies to invest in. They must be startups, and must fit into life sciences and technology, homeland security, advanced manufacturing or alternative energy," says Dale Grogan of The Charter Group, managers of the fund. "We'd like to make our first investment the first part of next year, and will be willing to look at the first prospects within the next the 30 days."Grogan credits the successful start of the fund to the collaboration of several regional partners, including Grand Valley State University, Van Andel Research Institute, Hope River Ventures, West Michigan Science & Technology Initiative, Grand Angels, Michigan State University Foundation, Right Place, Inc. and Lakeshore Advantage.Those organizations will help the fund raise the additional $4 million from investors around the state, Grogan says. "We're hopeful that this fund does great things," Grogan says. "We want to create Michigan jobs and we want them to be in the magic four categories, so if we can provide money to start up businesses in Michigan, and they grow and succeed, then we're doing exactly what we're supposed to do."Interested entrepreneurs can contact Grogan at The Charter Group at 616-235-3555, or through the MAF1 web site when it launches online in September.Source: Dale Grogan, The Charter Group and Michigan Accelerator Fund 1, L.P.; Amanda Passage, Lambert, Edwards & AssociatesDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com. Development News tips can be sent to info@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

Remodel of former Davenport Grand Rapids campus brings innovative classrooms to GRCC students

By Newsroom

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Development News

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August 12, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodGrand Rapids Community College didn't have much opportunity to renovate any of the former downtown Grand Rapids campus of Davenport University before students occupied some of the classrooms last year. This year is a different story. GRCC purchased the campus for $9.5 million in 2009, after Davenport announced its move to property in Caledonia. This summer, the three-story Sneden Hall, 415 E. Fulton St., has received new infrastructure, HVAC, new décor, wireless Internet technology and new technology in the classrooms.The most exciting development for faculty and students is the installation of Steelcase's LearnLab Environment in two classrooms, which could have a significant positive impact on how students learn. The technology includes the CopyCam Image Capturing System and the eno Interactive White Board."Tables are arranged in a five-point starfish design," says Vicki Janowiak, GRCC's executive director of operational planning. "There are three points around the room where images will be projected on mounted screens. From any point in the room any student can easily connect with the images.""We can capture digital images of any work students may do on any of the white boards around the room, the instructor can load it to Blackboard and the students can use the image to expand on their own work," Janowiak says. The technology also enables users to instantly email the work from any white board, print it or save it to flash drive or a LAN. Eno Boards act as a white board, magnetic board and multimedia projection screen and enable users to make notes on a projected image and save everything to post, print, email or project later to continue working. GRCC plans to conduct a research study on the effectiveness of the new concept. Source: Vicki Janowiak, Grand Rapids Community CollegeRelated ArticlesGRCC purchases former Davenport University for $9.5M, saves $25.5M compared to building newDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com. Development News tips can be sent to info@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

Grand Rapids goes mobile citywide with new Clear 4G wireless Internet service

By Newsroom

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Development News

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August 5, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodThe city of Grand Rapids and Clearwire announced this week that years of efforts to provide mobile WiMax Internet access throughout the city has culminated in the availability of CLEAR 4G for businesses and individuals. Grand Rapids is the first city in Michigan to have WiMax citywide, and one of the first 48 cities in the nation. Subscribers can use the Internet at speeds four times faster than 3G using laptops, smart phones and portable gaming devices from anywhere in the city, including while on the go states a press release from Clearwire."If you have a laptop, you can take it with you anywhere in Grand Rapids, plunk down on a park bench or anywhere, and access the Internet – you won't have to find a specific hotspot," says Mayor George Heartwell, who put together a wireless broadband advisory committee to spearhead the project. "We'll be able to put the service in our police cars, fire engines, and our building inspectors can use it," he says. "It will be cost neutral to the city; we'll pay to have it in our vehicles, but Clearwire pays the city for use of the towers." The CLEAR coverage area extends as far north as 7 Mile Road, south to Route 6, east to I-96, and west to Route 11. Subscribers who want to access Internet service when traveling outside the service area can purchase a dual-mode 4G/3G modem to stay continually connected through Sprint's 3G data network. Non-subscribers can access the service at any of a number of hotspots across the city, says Mayor Heartwell. These include neighborhood libraries and city busses. Clearwire says subscriptions for home use start at $30 per month; mobile access starts at $40 per month. Low-income residents can get subsidized access through the city of Grand Rapids for $9.95 a month. Click here for more information or visit The CLEAR Blog.Source: Grand Rapids Mayor, George Heartwell; Clearwire press releaseDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com. Development News tips can be sent to info@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

MidwestSIP answers the call for Internet voice services

By Kelly Quintanilla

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Entrepreneurship

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July 15, 2010

It's easy to get lost in the techie talk of VoIP, but Jason Brown and Chip Engelhard hope the bottom line will draw in more customers: cell calls without using plan minutes, cheap international calling and specialty applications such as hospital phone systems.

Fair weather predicted for CommunityCloud next week at Frederik Meijer Gardens

By Rick Martinez

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Arts & Culture

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June 10, 2010

Not a cloud in the sky, but plenty visible on their smartphones, say Max Trierweiler, Dawn Simpson and Bob Karel. Next week the trio will be hosting perhaps the largest online social networking event in metro Grand Rapids, an outgrowth of an event on cloud computing.

Grand Rapids’ Atomic Object can’t sit still – new business model brings 7 new knowledge jobs

By Newsroom

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Entrepreneurship

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June 3, 2010

Deborah Johnson Wood Grand Rapids-based Atomic Object is a software development firm that just can't sit still – and doesn't want to. In the last 12 months, the company became employee-owned, added software design to its mix of services, created seven new knowledge jobs and became one of the 2010 Michigan 50 Companies to Watch. "We have a new emphasis on product development, not just software development, and that helps our clients," says Carl Erickson, president and founder. "If they need design, programming, hosting, need to understand their pricing better or how to attract and retain customers, we can do it all for them." For instance, Atomic Object recently created a mobile app for Priority Health to make healthcare easier for their customers. "Our designers needed to know who it was for, the needs it served, what it should look like, how to design it," Erickson says. "All that comes after a lot of other work, and our growth has been driven off getting the right people in position to do that other work and broadening what we bring to clients." The company used to collaborate with outside design firms, which was successful but had limitations. "One limitation was that everything became very linear, and that meant we couldn't apply agile design," Erickson says. In the last year, Atomic Object has created seven jobs, hiring two interaction designers, a communications coordinator and filling five other technical positions, bringing the number of employees to 28. The company also works with apprentices, some of whom they hire after the apprenticeship is completed. This summer, three apprentices are on board, bringing the total number of apprentices the company has worked with since 2001 to 29. Erickson says 2009 revenues were flat at $3.4 million, but predicts that 2010 will come in at about $3.9 million. Source: Carl Erickson, Atomic Object Related Articles RGTV: Atomic Object Atomic Object is People Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com. Development News tips can be sent to info@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

Easing the Pane of Energy Costs: Pleotint Launches Smart Window Film

By John Rumery and Matthew Gryczan

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Entrepreneurship

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May 27, 2010

Harlan Byker has made a career out of coaxing things to change color as if by magic, and Pleotint appears to be his next marvel. Only for this trick, the inventor hopes to tease savings out of energy bills for building owners.

Motorola Taps GVSU for Smart Phone Research

By Victoria Mullen and Matthew Gryczan

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Technology and Innovation

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May 6, 2010

With the power of smart phones in their pockets, consumers can use new apps to become uber comparison shoppers. But the flow of information can be a two-way street for retailers, Jonathan Engelsma says.