GameAbove Mobility, a CapStone Holdings Inc. company that provides capital and strategic guidance to companies delivering innovative mobility solutions, will establish a regional office at the American Center for Mobility (ACM) a smart mobility test center in Ypsilanti Township.
As a new investment division of CapStone, GameAbove Mobility will focus capital and strategic partnerships with established, innovative companies creating the next generation of mobility solutions, including autonomous/connected vehicles, heavy lift drones, and unmanned aerial vehicles.
At ACM, GameAbove Mobility will assist in autonomous vehicle deployment in the region and facilitate greater public-private partnerships, research, product development, testing, and validation, alongside the state of Michigan, transportation authorities, and Eastern Michigan University, where research and education has been supported through the GameAbove-EMU division in partnership with the GameAbove College of Engineering and Technology.
“Because of southeast Michigan’s universities, our rich history with transportation innovations, our relationship with academic institutions, and our advanced research and testing facilities, ACM continues to be an ideal location for the validation and future development of all facets of future mobility technologies and products,” says Reuben Sarkar, CEO of the American Center for Mobility.
The growing use and expansion of aerial delivery systems is another reason GameAbove Mobility is initially focusing its attention on southeast Michigan, where aerial infrastructure, mapping, and supply chains have been advancing for several years via Detroit Aircraft and ASX, both based at Coleman A. Young International Airport in Detroit.
“The future of unmanned aerial vehicles and logistics is already being developed and tested in the greater Detroit area,” says Bryant Holt, chief development officer at Wayne County Airport Authority. “We look forward to collaborating with industry leaders to advance all forms of autonomous mobility solutions.”
The announcement coincides with GameAbove Mobility’s significant investment in Local Motors, a leader in the development, manufacturing, and deployment of autonomous vehicles that is based in the Phoenix area. In addition, earlier this year, CapStone Holdings made a $10 million equity investment in Perrone Robotics Inc., a leading provider of fully autonomous vehicle systems.
“GameAbove Mobility is bringing more than 65 years of combined experience in automotive, technology and fleet management solutions to some of the world’s fastest-growing mobility industries,” said Keith J. Stone, CEO and founder of CapStone Holdings.
“Our focus will be on companies like Perrone Robotics and Local Motors to utilize their technology and advanced manufacturing methods, and leverage our experiences to establish an international model of commercialized deployment. Our portfolio range includes autonomous ground, air, and water transportation as well as fleet services, drones for cargo delivery, and revolutionary avionic and aquatic software.”
Autonomous vehicles, like the Local Motors Olli, are increasingly being utilized for public transportation, first-mile and last-mile shuttles, freight deliveries, and more.
“GameAbove Mobility’s commitment to Michigan as a multimodal technology hub will further cement Michigan as the leader in the adoption of connected and autonomous vehicles while enabling the scaling of both new mobility technologies and product development for years to come,” said Trevor Pawl, chief mobility officer at the State of Michigan.
“Today’s announcement highlights the advantage that our state’s ecosystem offers, bringing together new investments, innovative companies like Local Motors and GameAbove Mobility and our world-class testing facilities.”
CapStone Holdings Inc. is a family office-structured holding company that maintains a balanced portfolio through investment strategies that maximize innovation and return with minimal risk. CapStone Holdings and its founders have invested across a wide range of industries for over 33 years and engages in focused philanthropic efforts. www.capstoneholdingsinc.com
GameAbove Mobility is a CapStone Holdings Inc. company that provides capital and strategic guidance to companies delivering innovative mobility solutions. Investments are made with established companies propelling technology and deploying products through public-private collaboration, research and development. www.gameabovemobility.com
Local Motors designs, manufactures, and deploys next generation vehicles. Founded in 2007 with a belief in open collaboration, the company has debuted several world firsts —co-created vehicles, 3D-printed car, and the co-created, autonomous, electric vehicle, Olli.
