Led · Equity · Apr 2026

Founded in 2024 and based in Ann Arbor, Adrenaline Interactive has developed Brand Fusion AI, a platform that automates immersive product placements and brand integrations in video games such as Fortnite and Roblox. The company aims to replace traditional pop-up and static billboard ads with scalable, stylistically integrated in-game advertising. Leadership positions the product to reach Gen Z gamers and provide measurable returns for brands by automating planning, placement, and attribution. Adrenaline won a $1 million PitchMI grand prize in 2026, bringing its PitchMI-linked funding to $1.375 million. The firm will continue to receive mentorship and inclusion in Michigan’s startup investment portfolios through the PitchMI program. Company messaging emphasizes scaling authentic in-game ads while supporting Michigan’s local advertising economy.

Led · Grant · Jun 2024

Voltpost retrofits existing lampposts into a modular, upgradable Level 2 EV charging platform designed for rapid, low‑cost curbside and parking lot deployments. The system is powered by a mobile app and emphasizes minimal installation time, no trenching, and a small physical footprint. Voltpost positions its product to generate new municipal revenue streams, provide infrastructure data for city planning, and accelerate EV adoption—particularly in underserved urban areas. The company highlights the ability to install chargers in about an hour, enabling faster rollout compared with traditional curbside solutions. Voltpost has run demonstrations with drivers, OEMs, and government agencies, maintains a demo unit at Newlab at Michigan Central, and participated in Plug and Play Detroit Mobility and associated pitch events. Its recent grant awards from Michigan programs support deployments in the Detroit metro area and broader Michigan market expansion. Voltpost designs sleeve-mounted chargers that tap into existing lamppost electrical feeds and dispense a 20-foot retractable cable from about eight feet, with the plug docked below for easy access. Each charger delivers 7.6 kilowatts and a single post can support two chargers; current hardware fits metal posts only. The team built its own equipment after customer discovery with city agencies and utilities found bring-your-own-plug designs failed UL requirements and drivers preferred integrated cables. Voltpost plans to sell to cities, utilities and private hosts, bundling installation, maintenance and operations into an annual fee while leaving per-session pricing to the host. The company is in talks with municipal, utility and private partners across the U.S. and hopes to launch initial pilots with one partner in each sector. Voltpost recently closed seed financing and intends to raise a Series A to scale after early deployments.

Participated · Seed · Mar 2023

Ulendo is a software services company based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, that builds control optimization solutions for manufacturing machines. Its core products include vibration compensation, extrusion control, fault detection, and temperature control algorithms designed to boost performance without raising hardware costs. Ulendo’s first product is a vibration compensation software the company says doubles the speed of 3D printers. The company positions its offerings as low-cost software upgrades that help OEMs optimize designs and deliver higher-performing solutions. In March 2023 Ulendo raised $1.0M in a seed round to support commercialization and go-to-market activities. The funding helped the company recruit an industry veteran to lead sales and to accelerate sales efforts for its initial product.

Participated · Series A · Jan 2015

RetroSense’s lead product, RST-001, is a first-in-class optogenetic gene therapy intended to restore vision in patients with retinitis pigmentosa, independent of causative gene or mutation. The company holds worldwide exclusive rights to underlying IP from Wayne State University and Massachusetts General Hospital. RST-001 received FDA Orphan Drug designation in 2014 and was authorized for first-in-human trials in 2015; a Phase I/II study (NCT02556736) is currently recruiting at the Retina Foundation of the Southwest. RetroSense plans to complete that Phase I/II study and advance a second gene therapy candidate. Financially, RetroSense closed a $6 million Series B and previously raised $7 million in a Series A earlier in 2015, bringing total Series A/B proceeds to $13 million. The net proceeds are intended to enable completion of the ongoing clinical study and support further development of the second candidate. RetroSense Therapeutics is developing RST-001, a first-in-class gene therapy application of optogenetics intended to confer light sensitivity to degenerated retinas and restore vision. The company is focused on treating retinitis pigmentosa and advanced dry age-related macular degeneration. RST-001 has been designated with Orphan Drug Status and is being advanced through preclinical studies. RetroSense holds worldwide exclusive rights to relevant intellectual property from Wayne State University and Massachusetts General Hospital. The company, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is led by a team experienced in moving products from discovery to the clinic. Proceeds from the recent financing are intended to support completion of preclinical work needed for an IND filing and initiation of clinical trials.

Participated · Series A · Mar 2013

Stik operates a Facebook-powered recommendation service that leverages Facebook’s social graph to personalize word-of-mouth referrals. The company relaunched with a complete front-end redesign, deep Facebook timeline integration, and mobile-friendly support. Co-founders Nathan Labenz and Jay Gierak launched Stik in November 2010 and relocated the company from San Francisco to Detroit in 2012, moving into the M@dison Building. Stik plans to use new funding to hire developers first, then designers, product managers, community managers, and eventually salespeople. Financially, Stik raised a $2.3M Series A and previously raised a $500,000 seed round led by Draper Associates. Detroit-area investors and Michigan funds participated in the round, reflecting the company’s commitment to building in Detroit.