Our roundup of the latest news from metro Detroit and Michigan businesses as well as announcements from government agencies, including updates about the COVID-19 pandemic. To share a business or nonprofit story, please send us a message.
Flagstar Accepting Applications for MortgageTech Accelerator Program
Flagstar Bank in Troy announced that applications are open for its third MortgageTech Accelerator program.
The national program was designed by Flagstar Bank, the sixth largest bank mortgage originator and sub-servicer in the country. All applications are due Feb. 18 here.
The accelerator program focuses exclusively on incubating fintech startups engaged in developing innovative solutions for the mortgage sector. It is the first and only accelerator program in the United States solely dedicated to mortgage technology.
In seeking applicants for the accelerator, Flagstar is looking for fintech companies working on breakthroughs in all facets of the mortgage business, including origination, processing, marketing, servicing, compliance, sales, underwriting, credit and quality assessment. Among the criteria for selection are company progress and prospect for growth.
Benefits of the program include:
- National industry recognition.
- Access to senior mentors with deep industry experience.
- Bespoke program based on current and immediate needs.
- Ability to test product/solution in a real-world controlled environment.
- Access to a wide network of potential customers.
“We’re excited to partner with industry innovators and provide guidance along the way,” says Lee Smith, executive vice president and president of mortgage at Flagstar. “This program allows Flagstar to influence and be at the forefront of technological advances in the mortgage market while also providing startups real-world experience and potential investment at an early stage of their growth cycle.”
The program, delivered entirely online, is open to any startup applicants who can participate in live sessions that will be scheduled in the U.S.
Grand Circus Partners with Apple to Offer App Development Courses
Grand Circus, a Detroit-based learning institute and technology training academy, today announced it is partnering with Apple to offer introductory iOS app development courses to Michiganders throughout 2022.
Apple’s Foundation Program offers month-long courses that give learners a firsthand experience on the Apple platform and give them an opportunity to learn about careers in the tech industry.
Students will be introduced to the Swift programming language, basic app design and development principles, and will have the opportunity to prototype an original app idea. The courses will be led by a team of local Grand Circus instructors and conducted remotely in small groups with small learner-to-mentor ratios. Tuition is free and Apple will provide devices to learners for the duration of the program.
The Apple Foundation Program is designed to support diverse communities with the critical resources to be part of the App Store ecosystem, which supports more than 2.1 million jobs across the United States. Michigan supports close to 50,000 iOS app economy jobs.
For students interested in further pursuing a career in technology and the app economy, the Apple Foundation Program can serve as a springboard to the Apple Developer Academy in Detroit.
“We believe coding is the language of the future and can open the door to a world of new opportunities in the fast-growing software development sector by offering people the chance to create, engage, and think in entirely new ways,” says Alisha Johnson, director of Apple’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative. “We’re thrilled to work with Grand Circus to offer new coding courses for learners from all backgrounds, providing access and opportunity for more Michiganders to gain the skills and experience to join the thriving iOS app economy.”
Damien Rocchi, founder and CEO of Grand Circus, says, “We are thrilled to partner with Apple and to create another pathway for broader participation in the app economy. This is a unique opportunity for students to acquire critical skills and get hands-on experience within the Apple iOS ecosystem. The next breakthrough app could come from anywhere, and that’s why it’s so critical to empower learners from all walks of life with the tools they need to bring their ideas to the world.”
Detroit residents and Michiganders of all levels of coding experience are encouraged to apply for the free program, slated to begin in March, here.
Oberon Technologies Posts 72% Growth in Titania Revenue in 2021
Oberon Technologies Inc., an Ann Arbor provider of extended reality (XR) training and information delivery technologies, reported a 72 percent SaaS (Software as a Service) revenue growth for the year ending Dec. 31, 2021.
Capping off a year of consecutive quarterly growth in SaaS revenue, Oberon Technologies recorded its largest sales quarter in company history for Q4 and ended the year with a reported 72 percent increase in Titania software subscription sales. New enterprise projects for industry leaders, including CONMED, John Deere, Polaris, Toro, and Trane Technologies, as well as development of new XR experiences for EPRI and GTI Energy, helped Oberon end the year as it started, with tremendous momentum and accelerated expansion.
“We are helping clients achieve success at every stage of their digital transformation, from simply making their product and service documentation more easily accessible online to increase customer satisfaction to building fully immersive virtual environments that help reduce overall training and operations costs,” says Tim Allen, chairman and CEO of Oberon. “Our growth is fueled by our ability to meet clients wherever they are along their transformation journey and then helping them get to higher levels with the right plan, processes and Oberon technologies.”
With new product introductions and increased adoption of its SaaS offerings, Oberon says it expects to see continued revenue growth from these efforts into 2022 and beyond.
National Group Names Barton Malow in Southfield Among Best Companies to Work For
The National Association for Business Resources has named Barton Malow in Southfield one of the Best + Brightest Companies to Work For in the nation. Barton Malow was formally recognized during a virtual ceremony Jan. 27.
One of 167 organizations and among the top 101 scoring firms from 1,500 total nominees from the fall 2021 period, Barton Malow was recognized for its strong culture and family atmosphere, notably how it continues to care for team members throughout the pandemic.
“The Best and Brightest is a powerful community of elite leaders who share ideas and practices, and have proven they are employers of choice,” says Jennifer Kluge, president and CEO of Best and Brightest Programs. “Best and Brightest winning companies have also been a voice for important actions in creating a sustainable culture that works, ensuring the wellbeing of their employees come first.”
To see the full 2021 Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation list, visit here.
Ann Arbor’s NeuroNexus Launches Data Capture Research Framework
NeuroNexus, a neurotechnology company based in Ann Arbor, today announced the launch of an innovative framework with fully integrated electrophysiology tools in an inexpensive, ready-to-go package for streamlined, cloud-enabled data collection, and foundational and applied science experiment management.
Known as the NeuroNexus Summa Framework, the solution was designed for both experienced electrophysiologists as well as life science researchers who are looking to easily incorporate electrical signal read-outs from biological cells and tissues into their research workflow.
“Our vision at NeuroNexus is to transform electrophysiology and take life science research to the next level with this new pioneering framework, which addresses everything from the neural interface to the user interface,” says Dr. Daryl Kipke, CEO of NeuroNexus. “Our integrated solution is poised to become the new gold standard in electrophysiology and enable researchers to devote more time to their science and solve the persistent challenge they face in data capture and management.”
Today, most labs build DIY electrophysiology solutions from disparate technologies that often lack the ability to integrate with each other into a single, standardized workflow and are time consuming to manage. By integrating each phase of the workflow –– from data streaming, collection and monitoring through data analysis and publication –– scientists can now focus on their research rather than building and managing an electrophysiology technology stack.
For more information, visit here.
MiraMed Circle of Warmth Provides EMPWR Coats to U-M Wolverine Street Medicine
The Circle of Warmth campaign, an endeavor provided by the MiraMed Family of Cos. in Jackson, is employing individuals experiencing or at-risk of homelessness to produce durable coats that turn into sleeping bags.
This winter the MiraMed Circle of Warmth campaign has donated 100 coats to Wolverine Street Medicine, a program founded by University of Michigan Medical School students in 2017. Its mission is to improve health of the homeless community, educate medical students on best practices in care and treatment of homeless people and raise awareness of health challenges associated with homelessness. These coats will be handed out to the homeless community while the clinic provides medical attention as well as food and a connection to the communities’ local resources.
“The support Empowerment Plan has received from Tony and the MiraMed Family of Cos. has been instrumental in our ability to impact lives through the jobs we create and the coats we make.” says Erika George, chief development officer for the Empowerment Plan. “Without the generosity of companies like MiraMed, we would not be able to get our life-saving coats into the hands of those that need them most. We are so grateful for this partnership and all Tony has done and continues to do to shed light on not only our mission, but also the work of so many others including Wolverine Street Medicine. Without the joint efforts of our donors and distribution partners, Empowerment Plan would not be able to have the reach and lasting impact that we do.”
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