capitalgains - Innovation & Job News

MSU Grad and Local Entrepreneur Launches Text Message-Based Study Tool

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

While Brett Kopf was at Michigan State University tackling his class schedule and study load, he received a text message and had an epiphany: What if you could receive texts and email reminders of assignment due dates? And that’s how remind101 was born.

remind101 is a website that sends students text message a email reminders before their assignments are due. “Once one student or professor adds their class syllabus to our site, then the entire class can subscribe,” says Kopf, co-founder of remind101. “I think it has a lot of potential because college students (Gen Y) have cell phones attached to their hips, but my theory will be put to the test over the following months.”

Brett Kopf and his brother/co-founder, David, specifically chose to launch the program at Michigan State and East Lansing because of the assistance they received as a budding company.

“What was once an idea is now a functioning company; the Lansing region should be proud of that, because many people helped impact the growth of this company,” adds Kopf.

They are working closely with Dr.Coursaris from the telecommunications department, who is leading the research efforts to explore the potential benefits of the service regarding student performance in the classroom.

Watch this video to get an idea of how remind101 works.

Source: Brett Kopf, Remind101

Writer: Suban Nur Cooley

Allen Neighborhood Center Awarded $10,000 For New Eastside Living Initiative

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Allen Neighborhood Center (ANC) recently received a grant from the City of Lansing to lay the groundwork for a new initiative called Eastside Living. The initiative is designed to make it extremely easy for seniors to age in the neighborhood.

Eastside Living is inspired by a model developed in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston. Beacon Hill offers a wide range of services to seniors who join their ‘village’, including: rides to appointments; check-in phone calls for people living alone; assistance with advertising and renting rooms to college students; deep discounts with carefully screened plumbers carpenters, electricians; social programs; and much more.

"This initiative will ensure that the Eastside remains a full life-cycle neighborhood — one that continues to attracts young professionals and families, even as it retains its elders by ensuring that they can age safely and satisfyingly in community” says Joan Nelson, director at Allen Neighborhood Center.

Currently, Martinez Consulting and ANC are surveying Eastside residents over 55 to determine which services are most important to seniors (and near seniors) in the neighborhood.

Source: Joan Nelson, Allen Neighborhood Center

Writer: Suban Nur Cooley

Arts Council of Greater Lansing Announces $17,562 in Collaborative Local Grants

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Arts Council of Greater Lansing has awarded local arts and cultural agencies $17,562 for the second year of its Collaborative Arts Grant Program. Funded by the Council’s Arts Advancement Endowment Fund, the grants encourage local organizations to work together on new projects that promote arts and culture in the community.

MSU Department of Theatre, Happendance and All-of-us Express Children’s Theatre, are some of the organizations awarded this year.

“These collaborations are intended to support innovative collaborations that might otherwise not take place between arts and culture nonprofit organizations,” says Katie Robiadek, program manager for the Arts Council.

“At a time when the arts can help bind our society together, such collaborative efforts in the greater Lansing scene are worthy of encouragement and support. These efforts help organizations to do more with less and multiply the effects of their impact by encouraging them to work together.”

To see a full list of the arts and cultural agencies who received funding, visit www.lansingarts.org.

Source: Katie Robiadek, Arts Council of Greater Lansing

Writer: Suban Nur Cooley

VFW National Home Hires Lansing-Based Traction for Branding and Redesign

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

With the intent to reach more military and veteran families who need help, the VFW National Home hired Traction, a Lansing-based creative agency, to increase its visibility with a new logo, collateral materials and website.

“In addition to our new website, we’re updating everything we have, from brochures to business cards and souvenir items to sales receipts,” says Veronica LaDuke, communications officer for the VFW National Home. "We were able to mitigate some of the cost by timing our launch so a lot of our collateral materials were running out anyway."

The National Home has expanded its program offerings in recent years to better meet the needs of today’s military and veteran families. The goal of the redesign was to create an image more in line with the services being offered.

“The logo is meant to represent the three words that best describe the National Home: Help, Patriotism and Hope,” adds LaDuke. “We want people to know they don’t have to come here to be helped. But if they do come here, we offer a variety of on-campus programs as well, including helping military families with housing and resources during dad and/or mom’s deployment.“

Source: Veronica LaDuke, VFW National Home

Writer: Suban Nur Cooley

LCC and CATA Clean Commute Launch Carpool Partnership

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Lansing Community College and CATA’s Clean Commute Options Program are partnering to offer a Clean Commute parking card as an incentive to LCC students who carpool.

By registering for a CATA Clean Commute Card, groups of two or more current students or LCC employees get a discounted rate of $.60 per hour in all the student lots on LCC’s campus.

The “incentive will help reduce the amount of emissions coming from what would have otherwise been single-occupant-vehicles, and add to the number of vehicles and vehicle miles traveled that we take off of the road,” says Cathleen Edgerly, Clean Commute Options Coordinator. The partnership, she adds, “is helping improve the air quality in our region, saving [students and employees] money and promoting clean transportation options.”

Interested students and employees of LCC must register, along with all of the other members in the carpool, at http://bit.ly/CleanCommute.

“We are proud to have some supportive employer partners in this region who are committed to assisting their employees with their commuting options,” adds Edgerly.

Source: Cathleen Edgerly, Capital Area Transportation Authority

Writer: Suban Nur Cooley

Local Agency M3 Picks Up MSU Federal Credit Union Media Contract

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Lansing-based, full service marketing agency, Motion Marketing & Media (M3) became the official agency of record for Michigan State University Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU) in July.

The agency will be responsible for the media buying and planning strategies for all of MSUFCU’s radio, television and outdoor advertising. M3 will also work on a contractual basis to develop and produce creative executions for these media outlets.

“Becoming the agency of record for MSUFCU is opening doors for the kind of partnerships we want to encourage in our community,” said Tiffany Dowling, chief conversation starter at M3. “Local businesses working with local businesses is great for everyone in the Lansing region. We’re excited for this new opportunity.”

M3 managed and executed the MSUFCU Student Art Exhibition in February — and most recently — created a family of commercials for the MSUFCU fall campaigns. The four commercials will begin airing this month.

“M3 continues to impress us with the quality of their creative ideas and integrated, strategic planning,” said April Clobes, vice president of marketing and e-commerce for MSUFCU. “We’re excited to have M3 on board in a big way; we know we’re in good hands when we work with them.”

Source: Julie Becker, Motion Marketing & Media

Writer: Suban Nur Cooley

New Mural Project Celebrates History of Lansing's Genesee Neighborhood

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A mural is being painted on the east wall of the Black Child and Family Institute (BCFI) in Lansing to honor the past, present and future of the Genesee Neighborhood. The lower portion of the wall is a collection of silhouettes painted by the BCFI fine art camp this summer. Local artists, volunteers and neighbors have been working into the night to prime, paint and trace the rest of the design.

“[Last Tuesday,] from 9:00 p.m. until about midnight the design was traced onto the wall,” says Jeana-Dee Allen, community building assistant at Northwest Initiative (NWI). “We used four extension cords, donated scaffolding, wax pencils, a projector and laptop and a few cups of coffee. Tracing went smoothly thanks to good weather and positive attitudes.”

The overall sponsorship for this project is estimated at $10,000, including artists stipends, supplies, materials and in-kind time and equipment.

"This project and the other youth murals I’ve been involved with are important for the Lansing community because they not only create more beauty in our city, but also because of how that beauty is created — by involving youth and neighbors in the design and production and offering mentoring and learning opportunities," says Jessica Yorko with the NWI.

"There is substantial evidence showing that connection to and involvement in community projects and positive role models impacts how kids see themselves in relation to other people, and therefore their ambitions and decisions," she adds.

The project will hopefully be complete by the fall.

Source: Jeana-Dee Allen, Northwest Initiative

Writer: Suban Nur Cooley

All Photographs © Dave Trumpie

Lansing JazzFest Receives $10,000 National Endowment for the Arts Grant

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Lansing JazzFest, hosted annually in Lansing's Old Town neighborhood, has been awarded the 2010 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Challenge America: Reaching Every Community grant.

The grant is offered to organizations providing opportunities for the arts to reach underserved populations, such as those limited by geography, ethnicity, economics or disability.

“The esteemed honor for the Lansing JazzFest to be an NEA grant recipient highlights our commitment to community development as a catalyst for the arts,” says Sharen Lange, executive director for the Old Town Business and Art Development Association (OTBADA), which is responsible for putting on the JazzFest.

Lansing JazzFest is a free community music festival, attracting attendees from across the city, state and region. By providing wider access to artistic and cultural excellence, the festival is making the arts accessible, which is the essential goal of the NEA.

Source: LaToya English, Old Town Business and Art Development Association

Writer: Suban Nur Cooley

Lansing Leaders Start Local Interaction Design Chapter, IxDA Lansing

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

IxDA Lansing is a new local chapter of the Interaction Design Association. The purpose of the association is to promote ideas, education and best practices in user experience design through their global community of over 20,000 members.

What is user experience design (UXD)? Founder of IxDA Lansing, Chris Bachelder, breaks it down like this: “UXD is a general name for a group of interdisciplinary practices involved in the creation of human-centered products and services including interaction design, content strategy, information architecture and visual design.”

Bachelder started IxDA Lansing after being a member of the international group for a couple of years.

“I wanted to get some passion and momentum behind the community here in Michigan,” adds Bachelder. “When it comes down to it, we're a group of professional creative problem solvers and I'm really interested to see the kinds of things we can do for our communities when we band together. I absolutely love what I do for a living and I'm hoping to share that with others.”

An event is scheduled in September, including a special guest speaker. Details will be revealed soon on the IxDA Lansing site.

Source: Chris Bachelder, IxDa Lansing

Writer: Suban Nur Cooley

$6 Million Grant Helps MSU Expand Broadband Coverage To Urban Centers

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Michigan State University has received a $6 million federal grant to help expand broadband access by creating more public computer centers in urban areas in Michigan.

The grant will be used to increase the number of computers in libraries, public housing centers, tribal and other community centers and community colleges. A total of 207 locations across the state will receive 2,232 computers.

Locally, the project will be working with the Capital Area District Library. "This will increase the availability of computers to patrons and will enable them to run larger classes using those computers,” says Kurt DeMaagd, MSU assistant professor of telecommunication, information studies and media who is leading the project.

Michigan State University students from East Lansing will also be part of internship programs installing the computers across the state. "Through these internships, students will be able to put their classroom knowledge into practice as they help to plan and install the computers at various locations,” says DeMaagd.

MSU will also be working with the Michigan eLibrary to provide online databases with job search and training materials. These databases are available to all people in the state of Michigan, regardless of whether it is accessed from a library, school, home or business.

Source: Kurt DeMaagd, Michigan State University

Writer: Suban Nur Cooley

Zoup! A New 2,000 Sq Ft Restaurant Opens in Downtown Lansing

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Downtown Lansing’s bustling Washington Square welcomes Zoup!, a Michigan-based regional restaurant concept with 28 other locations throughout Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Illinois and New Jersey.

“Downtown Lansing will soon see an influx in the number of Downtown workers, and more people [results in a higher] demand for retail goods and services,” says Mark Rantz, owner of Zoup!.

“The Accident Fund’s new headquarters is estimated to bring 500 new jobs," he adds, "and the new Michigan State Police headquarters will welcome another 300 new employees. The Downtown office of Blue Cross/Blue Shield will bring even more. The addition of these restaurants will help satisfy that growing demand."

Zoup! aims to offer “the most varieties of the best soups ever made,” with 12 daily soup choices and a selection of sandwiches and salads, according to Rantz.

“My wife, daughters and I have all attended MSU and grew to love the Lansing area. When we decided to open Zoup!, we knew Downtown Lansing was the place to be!" adds Rantz. “Zoup! will be open this fall; the perfect time to enjoy a cup of soup, along with a sandwich or salad!”

Source: Mark Lantz, Zoup!

Writer: Suban Nur Cooley

All Photographs © Dave Trumpie

MSU Grad and Michigan Handbag Designer Creates "Old Town Lansing" Bag

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Michigan State University grad and Troy, Mich., native, Jenna Kator, has created an Old Town Lansing bag for her latest collection. The great cities, landscapes and residents in the state of Michigan are the inspiration behind the Jenna Kator collection.

"We are paying tribute, honoring Michigan by naming our designer handbags and accessories after places that reflect great beauty, character and charm,” says Jenna Kator on her website.

“It’s incredibly exciting to hear that Jenna Kator has chosen our very own fabulous neighborhood to be in her collection,” says Summer Schriner, owner of Grace Boutique in Old Town. “The bag has a very Coco Chanel-met-Jenna Kator-for-a-cocktail-in-Old-Town feel," she says. "I am excited to be showcasing this in my store soon.”

The bag should be available at Grace Boutique this November.

Source: Summer Schriner, Grace Boutique

Writer: Suban Nur Cooley

MSUFCU and Employees Raise $26,000 For Boys & Girls Club

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Beating their goal of raising $25,000, MSU Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU) and its employees raised $26,083 for the Boys & Girls Club of Lansing between January and June of this year.

Employees were excited to surpass the goal through employee donations and fundraisers including raffles, dress down days, a managers’ car wash, bake sales, and a golf putting outing.

“Giving back to the community in which we live, work and play, not only enriches our lives, it helps bring people together and makes our cities stronger," says April Clobes, vice president of marketing and e-commerce for MSUFCU. Our employees go above and beyond every day, and receive great joy out of giving back.

"Each year they decide as a group to support a local organization in need," she adds, "and each year they exceed their contribution goals. It’s amazing to see what can be accomplished with a little effort and determination.”

The Boys & Girls Club of Lansing provides local youth, ages 7–17, with physical fitness, recreation and educational activities, and has been in the area since 1964.

Source: MSU Federal Credit Union

Writer: Suban Nur Cooley

All Photographs © Dave Trumpie

Lansing-Based PTD Technology Announces Contract With Colorado Health Center

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

This month, Lansing-based PTD Technology established a contract with The Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health (CAIANH), on the Anschutz Medical Campus of the University of Colorado.

“PTD’s role — to build additional functionality and improve usability for the ImmunizeColorado.com site — will benefit the entire state of Colorado,” says Doug Wiesner, vice president of IT Solutions at PTD Technology. “The web site serves as the primary Internet-based tool for the Colorado Adult Immunization Coalition (CAIC) to uphold current immunization information for adults and enable them to find statewide influenza vaccination clinics."

PTD Technology has been working with public institutions for 30 years, offering IT solutions to business, educational institutions, government entities and non-profits throughout the country.

“The local impact is that the project is a nationwide data collection site developed, supported and hosted by a locally owned and operated Michigan company employing local staff,” adds Wiesner.

Source: Doug Wiesner, PTD Technology

Writer: Suban Nur Cooley

Community Economic Development Association Gets $10,000 Training Grant

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM), located in Lansing's REO Town neighborhood, received a $10,000 grant from State Farm to support the Comprehensive Community Development Institute (CCDI). CCDI is a training program that will help offer members greater access to safe, affordable housing and address the effects of the foreclosure crisis.

“The CCDI training will provide another tool for organizations to revitalize their communities,” says executive director, Jamie Schriner-Hooper. "State Farm's support will help to provide a positive impact on the communities they serve."

"As a company with agents located throughout the state, many of us are able to interact first-hand with community development organizations making an impact close to our own homes,” says, Lansing State Farm agent, Jim Hanlin. “We are thankful that these organizations have access to top-notch training opportunities through CEDAM that give them the tools to increase their abilities.”

CEDAM represents about 400 organizations and individuals throughout Michigan who are committed to rebuilding neighborhoods and revitalizing communities.

Source: Jamie Schriner-Hooper, CEDAM

Writer: Suban Nur Cooley

Team Lansing Foundation and CVB Announce New Tourism Trainings

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Team Lansing Foundation and the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau (GLCVB) are launching a formal educational program to equip residents and professionals with knowledge of the region’s many assets. This in turn will enable them to create a positive experience for visitors.

“Tourism is about creating experiences, and front-line workers can have the biggest impact on making a visitor’s time in Greater Lansing memorable,” says W. Lee Hladki, president of the GLCVB and executive director of the Team Lansing Foundation. “We feel equipping local hospitality staff with this esteemed certification will give front-line workers confidence in their interactions with guests, pride in our region and credibility within our industry.”

The program curriculum is delivered through reading assignments and one half-day in-class session and exam. Upon completion, participants will receive a thorough education and a nationally recognized Tourism Ambassador certification designation to add to their resume.

The program begins August 24 and costs $20 per person, with group rates also available. To access a class schedule and additional information visit www.teamlansing.org or www.ctanetwork.com.

Source: Tracy Padot, Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau

Writer: Suban Nur Cooley

East Lansing Launches New Bike Sharing Program For City Employees

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

City of East Lansing employees can now bike to and from lunches, meetings and other business-related activities with the launch of a new employee bike sharing program.

A local bike advocacy organization, Share-A-Bike, donated eight bikes of varying sizes to the new program, which was designed to encourage healthy activity among employees, while also improving air quality in the community through the reduction of carbon emissions.

“We need to be creative in developing ways of cutting costs, lessening our dependence on foreign oil and reducing pollution,” says Dave Smith of the East Lansing Green Task Force. “This is a small step which accomplishes all three and has the potential to positively impact employee fitness as well.”

This pilot program was modeled after similar programs in Austin, TX, and Edmonton, Canada, and is now in East Lansing due to the work of the Green Task Force, which promotes and encourages a more sustainable community.

“The program will decrease car trips taken by our employees. It's a creative, fun and innovative program that we hope will be a model for other communities in the region,” adds Smith.

Source: Dave Smith, East Lansing Green Task Force

Writer: Suban Nur Cooley

MSU Entrepreneurship Network to Provide One-Stop-Shop Services in East Lansing

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Budding entrepreneurs in the Lansing region will soon have a one-stop-shop for all the resources they need to get started, thanks to a new venture out of Michigan State University.

The MSU Entrepreneurship Network will be formally unveiled Aug. 19 at a celebration at East Lansing’s Technology and Innovation Center, 325 E. Grand River Ave.

The network is a collaboration of several MSU and local entities dedicated to incubating new business.

“There are so many components to entrepreneurship,” says Bryan Ritchie, network director and a professor in MSU’s James Madison College. “There’s the business side, the engineering and manufacturing side, the policy side. So what we did is bring together all these people who are already doing entrepreneurship activities and said, ‘How do we coordinate all these activities?’

“So we said. ‘Let's create a network of all the assets on campus and give them all the resources in the community so they can sit down with all the right people at the right time.’”

Among other things that will be offered by the msuENet will be a new certificate program called Venture Creation and the Innovative Mindset. Launching this fall, the program features two courses and an experiential component, all designed to introduce participants to all aspects of entrepreneurship – business, psychology, sociology and finance, Ritchie said.

The certificate program is open to 60 people this year – 45 MSU students and 15 non-students. Anyone wanting more information can visit entrepreneurship.msu.edu

Source: Bryan Ritchie

Writer: Louise Knott Ahern

Capital Region Supports Local Food With 17 Farmers Markets

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Love farm fresh produce?

Then you’re living in the right state. Michigan ranks 4th in the nation for the number of farmers markets, according to a new report by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Lansing alone boasts 7 operational farmers markets, and the tri-county region is home to 17.

“Between 2008 and 2009, we saw a 13 percent increase in the number of farmers markets operating in the state,” said Gov. Jennifer Granholm in a statement. “Dollars spent at area farmers markets are more likely to stay in Michigan, benefiting local communities and strengthening our economy.”

As the state’s largest industry, Michigan’s agri-food sector generates $71.3 billion annually. Production agriculture, food processors and related businesses employ more than 1 million people. Michigan produces more than 200 commodities, making it second only to California in terms of agricultural diversity.

To find a full list of farmers markets in Michigan, visit the Michigan Farmers Market Association at www.mifma.org.

Source: Jennifer Holton

Writer: Louise Knott Ahern

All Photographs © Dave Trumpie

NorthWest Initiative Conference Designed to Improve Lansing Neighborhoods

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Lansing residents who want to strengthen their neighborhoods are invited to an upcoming conference sponsored by the NorthWest Initiative.

Called “Neighborhood…What? Creating Great Places,” the conference is schedule for Oct. 23 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the South Washington Office Complex, 2500 S. Washington Ave.

“It is a conference designed to engage, inform and inspire residents to take ownership in making Lansing neighborhoods safer, healthier and more connected,” says Stephanie Campbell, community outreach specialist with the NorthWest Initiative.

“We would like everyone to see why it is so important for them and their families to make their neighborhoods the best they can be.”

The conference is open to the public. Registration is $5, which will cover lunch and supplies. Child care may also be available.

For registration information or other updates, visit www.lansingneighborhoodconference.wordpress.com.

The NorthWest Initiative is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the neighborhoods around the Grand River.

Source: Stephanie Campbell

Writer: Louise Knott Ahern

$2.5 Million NIH Grant Will Fund New Women's Health Research Program at MSU

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Michigan State University hopes to take the lead in boosting the number of researchers dedicated to women’s health, and a new grant will help.

The National Institutes of Health has awarded MSU a $2.5 million grant to create a new program called Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health. The goal is to create a center where young researchers are paired with mentors and given the time and money to pursue research projects.

“This award provides an enormous opportunity for MSU and researchers in women’s health,” says Mary Nettleman, chair of MSU’s Department of Medicine. “This type of training grant not only encourages young investigators to come to MSU but also creates new networks and connections among researchers. It allows scholars to become independently funded women’s health investigators.”

The grant will help cover the salaries of young researchers to allow them time to apply for grants, set up projects and conduct researcher. The program will be open to researchers from across disciplines — not just medicine. 21 mentors have already been selected to work with them.

Source: MSU

Writer: Louise Knott Ahern

Capital Region Community Foundation Grants $150,000 to I5 and ITEC

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

If the Lansing region hopes to continue growing its high-tech manufacturing sector and compete in the future, we must train our youth today to be prepared for those kinds of jobs.

That’s the thinking behind a major grant announcement by the Capital Region Community Foundation, which has awarded two local organizations $75,000 each for programs aimed at introducing science, math and technology to children.

The 2010 Impact Grants went to Impression 5 Science Center and the Information Technology Empowerment Center (ITEC).

Foundation officials say they hadn’t planned on awarding two grants this year but were so blown away by the parallel goals of Impression 5 and ITEC that it only made sense.

“What impressed the committee about both the I5 and ITEC plans was how they felt like two parts of a larger whole,” says Robin Miner-Swartz, the foundation’s director of communications. “Both focused on developing science and technology training for youth in our region, but in different-yet-parallel ways.

"And the fact that I5 and ITEC already had an established collaboration, it felt like a natural opportunity for the Community Foundation to double down and make a statement: This type of education and training is vital to our community.”

Impression 5 will use the funds to create an Emerging Media and Technology Lab within the science center. ITEC plans to open ITEC Pathways, a learning center that will offer program instruction to train tomorrow’s scientists and engineers.

Source: Robin Miner-Swartz

Writer: Louise Knott Ahern

GiftZip.com Founder Sam Hogg Credits Team, Talent for Startup Success

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Local entrepreneur Sam Hogg has become a regular face in national media, but he says he’s not letting it go to his head.

Hogg’s company, GiftZip.com, has twice been recognized by Entrepreneur magazine — once last March for being among a handful of young innovators who used class time to develop business ideas and again in June as one of “10 Hot Startups” to watch.

A lot of companies never land that kind of major press coverage, much less within their first two years of existence. But success, Hogg says, isn’t about landing great media coverage.

“It is always great to see folks writing about your business, as it tends to validate why you started it,” says Hogg, an MSU graduate. “However . . . lots of well-covered businesses flame out, and lots of very profitable businesses remain under the radar forever.”

GiftZip.com allows people to buy online gift certificates from popular retailers like Target, Barnes & Noble, Sephora and Home Depot, among many others.

Hogg came up with the idea for the company during a sustainability class at MSU. He started thinking about how much waste is generated from plastic gift cards and wondered if there was a way to supply e-cards instead.

“If there was any secret to how we got to where we are to date, it lies purely in the people that have worked on the venture, from the staff to firms like Netvantage Marketing and Nicholas Creative Media,” Hogg says. “Those are the people that run GiftZip.com on a day to day basis.”

Source: Sam Hogg

Writer: Louise Knott Ahern

MSU Student Successfully Lures National Startup Weekend Event to Lansing

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Have a great business idea but not sure how to get started?

Your dream may be about to come true. A national nonprofit aimed at encouraging entrepreneurship has chosen Lansing for a weekend-long event designed to pair idea-makers with the right teams to launch new businesses.

Called Startup Weekend, the event has become a global phenomenon in which promising entrepreneurs have the chance to pitch their business ides in roughly 90 seconds to a panel of judges. The best ideas are then assigned teams of volunteers with expertise in everything from marketing to computer programming to come up with a plan for turning idea into business.

MSU student Eric Jorgenson petitioned Startup Weekend to select Lansing after he attended Startup in Detroit a few months ago to pitch his own business idea. His was among those selected, and he’s almost ready to launch his company — before he has even graduated from college.

“It’s an incredible weekend,” says Jorgenson, a business and economics senior. “You show up Friday night, pitch your ideas and then get to work Saturday morning. You have 18 hours of work time to get your company launched. Some people walk away on Sunday with companies, with a website up and running.”

Startup Lansing is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 5-7 at Michigan State University’s Henry Center and at East Lansing’s Technology and Innovation Center. Registration has not yet opened, but updates will be available for now on Twitter with the hashtag #SWLansing.

Source: Eric Jorgenson

Writer: Louise Knott Ahern

$1.5 Million Research Project Targets Potential Treatment of Parkinson's

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

An MSU physician is testing a new theory that may lead to better therapies for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

John Goudreau, director of MSU’s Translational Neurobiology Research Unit, has received a $1.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. He’ll use the funding to study whether a protein known as parkin could help the human body fight off the damage caused by Parkinson’s.

“Parkinson’s is a progressive disease, and much of the research has been focused on slowing that progression by preventing cell injury and death,” Goudreau says. “But we are looking at why some neurons in the brain are able to fight off the disease through a unique ability to revive after being hit with an injury that kills other cells.”

Goudreau has been studying Parkinson’s at MSU for 10 years. He holds appointments in MSU’s departments of Neurology and Pharmacology/Toxicology in the College of Osteopathic Medicine.

“Understanding how parkin promotes recovery from injury may allow us to provide cells injured in Parkinson’s disease the necessary tools to survive,” he says.

Source: John Goudreau, MSU

Writer: Louise Knott Ahern

MSU Secures $60,000 Grant to Engage Students In Engineering, Science

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

America’s high-tech future demands that more young people today get excited about science and technology.

Which is the thinking behind a $60,200 grant from the Motorola Foundation which will allow Michigan State University to bring in underrepresented students from Lansing and Detroit to participate in a robotics building competition.

MSU’s uG9-12 Robotics Competition-Driven Mentoring Program received Motorola’s Innovation Generation grant, the fourth year the MSU College of Engineering has received the funding.

The grant will allow MSU to pair 20 first- and second-year engineering undergraduates with high school students in schools with predominantly African American and Hispanic students, as well as an all-girls high school.

“It is a service learning opportunity for our students, and it gets the high school kids excited about a future in engineering,” says Drew Kim, assistant to the dean for recruitment and K-12 outreach in the College of Engineering.

The Motorola Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Motorola.

Source: MSU College of Engineering

Writer: Louise Knott Ahern

Study Says Lansing Stands to Gain from Advanced Manufacturing Boom

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Michigan’s public research universities are helping to fuel an advanced manufacturing base in the state, a fact that could position Lansing for a high-tech future, according to a report issued last week.

More than two-thirds of Michigan’s manufacturing jobs today are considered high-tech, the report by the University Research Corridor states.

The URC is a joint effort by Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University to align their resources to transform Michigan’s economy.

The report was prepared by East Lansing’s Anderson Economic Group. Among the study’s findings: a third of the research and testing jobs in the Midwest are based in Michigan, and advanced manufacturing jobs fared better in the economic downturn than traditional manufacturing jobs.

Because of the Lansing region’s connections with MSU, the area will benefit in the long run economically, says Jeff Mason, URC executive director.

“You're seeing a greater recognition of the role that MSU and the other research institutions play in benefiting the economy of our local areas,” Mason says. “Not only by leveraging the research strength of these universities, but also through the brainpower that exists in their faculty and students.”

Mason points to the success of Lansing’s Niowave, Inc. as a case-in-point. The company was founded by Terry Grim, an MSU professor who has spent 13 years working in MSU’s National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory.

Source: University Research Corridor

Writer: Louise Knott Ahern

Korean Firm Pledges $1 Million Invesment in Lansing's XG Sciences

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A Korea-based corporation has pledged to invest at least $1 million in an East Lansing company that’s an off-shoot of research at Michigan State University.

The agreement between Hanwha Group and XG Sciences will allow the local company to increase production of a nano-sized material called xGnP graphene nanoplatelets.

The material was discovered and developed by MSU chemical engineering professor Lawrence Drzal and can be used to strengthen the properties of natural graphite.

“Graphite is a very cheap mineral and has a lot of attractive properties,” Drzal says. “It’s very lightweight, very stiff, and it doesn’t burn. But if you look at the structure of graphite, it looks like a stack of dishes. The forces that hold the layers of graphite together are very weak.

“So the thought that occurred to us was if we could produce these individual layers of graphite, then all those desirable properties of graphite could go into whatever we added it to. That was the basis of the work.”

Drzal and his partner in XG Sciences, Mike Knox, currently produce 25 pounds of the material every day from a refurbished plant in Lansing. The new funding will allow the company to eventually produce as much as 1,000 pounds a day, Drzal said.

Source: Professor Lawrence Drzal, MSU

Writer: Louise Knott Ahern

Liquid Web's New Web Hosting Product Features Innovative IT Options

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Lansing-based web-hosting giant Liquid Web has unveiled a new product feature that will give its customers greater control over their own IT destinies.

Called Storm Bare Metal, the new technology does two things, says Travis Stoliker, director of marketing.

First, it creates an automated system that allows Liquid Web customers to make changes to their own server accounts – such as how much server space they need at any given time – without going through a technician.

Second, it allows customers to create their own personalized server configurations, depending on their IT needs.

“There are several things that led us in this direction,” Stoliker says. “First would be customer demand; the next would be efficiency. Now, we have this provision server that can automatically set up new servers; before, it would take the five to 10 people on our team to do that.”

Liquid Web, Inc. is a web hosting company founded in 1997. It now has more than 20,000 clients in 120 countries.

Source: Travis Stoliker, Liquid Web, Inc.

Writer: Louise Knott Ahern

Convention and Visitors Bureau Launches State's First Mobile Tourism Trip-Planner

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Looking for a place to eat, shop or hang out in Lansing? You can now just check your phone.

The Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau has launched a mobile application for iPhone or Blackberry that allows you to plan and map out your trip with a few thumb strikes.

GLCVB is the first in the state to offer such an application, said Tracy Padot, vice president of marketing communications.

The Greater Lansing app offers many of the same search-and-find functions of the organizations website, including information about festivals, businesses, hotels and attractions. It will also feed into the bureau’s live Twitter feeds.

“It uses GPS technology,” Padot explains. “So let’s say you clicked on shopping. . . You would get [info about] shops near your location. You would get a photo and a description. And if you wanted to figure out how to get to them, you could map it out.”

The application is available as a free download from www.lansing.org or from iTunes.

An app for Droid users should be available by fall.

Source: Tracy Padot, Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau

Writer: Louise Knott Ahern