Participated · Series B · Aug 2022

ATLAS Space Operations offers Ground Station as a Service (GaaS) and Ground Software as a Service (GSaaS) through its proprietary Freedom® software, enabling unified access to a federated network of antennas. The company operates over 50 antennas across more than 34 ground stations and supports LEO, MEO, and GEO orbits for commercial, civil, and defense customers. Freedom® software centralizes antenna networks, automates communications, enables dynamic scheduling, and provides near real-time troubleshooting and rapid onboarding. ATLAS reports a 100% contract renewal rate, underscoring heavy customer reliance on its ground infrastructure. Founded in 2015, the company moved its headquarters to Traverse City, Michigan in 2017 and maintains an office in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Management cites plans to use new capital to meet rising industry demand and to execute U.S. and EMEA expansion strategies. ATLAS Space Operations provides Ground Software as a Service (G-SaaS) through its Freedom™ software platform and a global antenna network to integrate disparate ground station networks for government and commercial clients. The company positions its Freedom™ solution as an industry-disruptive software layer that federates networks and maximizes ground-station value. ATLAS plans to accelerate international growth and expand its team to deliver enterprise-level G-SaaS for commercial customers and the DoD Hybrid Space Architecture. The company intends to increase market share in the private sector while supporting government requirements. ATLAS has been recognized by the World Teleport Association as one of the top three fastest-growing teleport operators worldwide for the past two years and was named the 15th fastest-growing software company in 2020 by Inc. 5000. Its mission statement is to connect humanity through space by combining software and a global antenna network.

Participated · Seed · May 2022

Claira leverages machine learning to map workforce capabilities and create a dynamic digital twin of an organization’s human capital. The platform helps leaders improve diversity, identify and close resource gaps, provide learning and upskilling opportunities, predict future workforce needs, and hire talent on demand. The company is led by CEO Katie Hall. Claira has more than 10,000 users who added thousands of competencies to their profiles in its first year of activity. The startup will use the new funding to advance its machine learning capabilities and accelerate rollout to key customer segments. Since launching to the public in November 2020, Claira has raised $4.4M in total and was supported by Varnum LLP in Michigan.

Participated · Equity · Jun 2017

Court Innovations offers Matterhorn, a product that lets users resolve and negotiate traffic and parking tickets, warrants, family court compliance issues, plea online, or file small claims via mobile phone or computer. The platform is designed to expand access to courts for citizens who cannot miss work or family care to attend court or who fear coming to court because of their race, ethnicity, or immigration status. The company is a spinout from the University of Michigan Law School and is led by CEO MJ Cartwright. Court Innovations is based in Ann Arbor, Mich. It raised over $1.8m in funding to support its growth. The company intends to use the funds to roll out Matterhorn nationally.

Participated · Equity · Sep 2015

Varsity News Network operates an online communication platform for high-school athletic departments, offering customized websites, mobile apps and an advertising network. The platform also produces media content targeting athletes and parents. It is used by more than 1,500 schools across 40 states. The company plans to use freshly raised capital for national expansion and to launch a mobile app. With the scheduled release of VNN 2.0 in early 2016, users will be able to create profiles to connect with families and teammates and upload and share content. Founded in 2011 by CEO Ryan Vaughn and based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the company recently closed a $3.7M funding round led by Arsenal Venture Partners. Varsity News Network (VNN) provides turnkey websites for high school athletic departments that aggregate player stats, dynamic schedules and rich media pulled from social channels. The product offers affordable, easily managed, data-rich sites that give all players visibility beyond local media coverage. VNN has grown to 250 schools in 14 states and says it supports hundreds of thousands of students and their families. The company is Grand Rapids, Mich.-based and was started just over two years ago. VNN raised an additional $3 million to scale nationwide and to launch its first app. Prior capital included $552K from the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund and a $1.09M partial close last February. Varsity is a Grand Rapids, Michigan–based news network that develops custom online publications covering high school sports. Launched in July 2010 through Momentum-MI, the network is a collaborative effort between traditional and community sports journalists. It aims to provide media coverage for every high school sport, from football to field hockey. The company says it will use the recent funding to expand its commercialization efforts. Varsity is actively hiring a Sales & Marketing Account Executive to support growth and monetization.

Led · Equity · Mar 2015

Native Traits, founded in 2013 and based in Kalamazoo, specializes in leveraging its proprietary NT Recovery technology to isolate desirable traits from heirloom corn that confer drought resilience and tolerance to hot and cold temperatures. The company aims to transfer those traits into common hybrids while removing undesirable genetics. Leadership, including President and CEO James Friedrich, frames the strategy around commercializing genetic traits for seed companies or positioning the business for acquisition by a larger seed company. Financially, the company has secured early angel backing and is in an initial fundraising phase. Northern Michigan Angels and several individual angels have pooled capital as part of a beginning round. The company announced a $250,000 commitment to date and is seeking a total of $350,000 in this raise. Native Traits joins a portfolio of 13 other companies backed by Northern Michigan Angels.