Weekly Rewind: Ann Arbor’s Business News Recap

COVID-19 Relief

• SBA opens the Restaurant Revitalization Fund applications today.

• Ann Arbor-based David Lin launches a COVID Rescue Fund to provide support for shuttered businesses. 

Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

• SPARK client LiquidGoldConcept Receives NIH Grant for Lactation Support Training Technology

• Check out the updated Ann Arbor Startup Ecosystem 101 ebook

• 10 Ann Arbor Startups To Watch In 2021

• Learn more about Ann Arbor SPARK and its services in this profile article: Ann Arbor SPARKS entrepreneurship

• The Michigan Venture Capital Association released its annual research report. Some quick points:
  • There are 165 venture-backed startups in Michigan, an increase of 17 percent over the past five years.
  • Michigan venture capital firms invested $2.8 billion in 2020, an increase of 28 percent over the last five years.
  • While there were more deals in 2020, it was for smaller amounts of funding.

• Detroit VCs weigh in on fundraising and building startups in Michigan and the Midwest

• U-M venture fund makes first investment after reaching $2M first-close fundraising milestone

Mobility News

• Reuben Sarkar, CEO at ACM, gave testimony this week to the Senate Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight, and Ports. You can read it here.

• May Mobility, 123.Net Partner to Power Autonomous Shuttles

• Ford to produce its own batteries, looking to locate a facility in Southeast Michigan

• Lyft sells self-driving unit to Toyota’s Woven Planet for $550M

Regional Updates

• Pinckney Community Garden Project Gets Financial Boost thanks to Consumers Energy competition and a nice pitch video that SPARK helped facilitate for them

• New internship program helps underrepresented students find “a place in tech” at Ann Arbor companies

• Eastern Michigan University ranked in top 10 in the nation for several degree programs.

• Environmental Stewardship in Construction – Here to Stay

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