Michigan VCtalk

Podcast host and Executive Director of MVCA, Ara Topouzian talked with Dr. Dawn Batts. She has over two decades of experience, analyzing business opportunities, developing and implementing strategic plans, and managing their subsequent operations and compliance processes. Her diverse professional experiences and extensive research have led to her solutions-based approach in addressing the myriad o...

This marks Michigan VCtalk's 30th episode! Podcast host Ara Topouzian has a dynamic conversation with Johnnie Turnage , Founder of EvenScore , an impact-focused donation platform startup which began in 2021. Since then, Johnnie has been immersed into the Michigan founder ecosystem as an award-winning grassroots activist and tech entrepreneur. He is passionate about the entrepreneurial community an...

Ara talks with Ryan Landau, Founder of Purpose Jobs. Ryan set out to create a platform that empowers people to find jobs they will love; a platform that is centered around people, community, education, and culture. Their goal is to create a business that does something important and meaningful in the world. Special thank you to podcast sponsors Michigan Rise and Invest Detroit. 

Brandon Marken is President and CEO of Lean Rocket Lab: a manufacturing-technology focused business incubator and accelerator. They are currently running an Industry 4.0 Accelerator, powered by Automation Alley and in partnership with LTU Centrepolis. Special thank you to podcast sponsors Michigan Rise and Invest Detroit .

Since joining 100K Ideas shortly after its 2017 launch and becoming executive director in 2020, Brandee Cooke-Brown has helped focus the organization’s purpose, work and ability to engage with the local Flint community. 100K Ideas seeks to relieve the entrepreneurial burden innovators face and help them, through mentorship, create products and services that can fuel startup businesses. Special tha...

Quentin L. Messer, Jr., is Michigan Economic Development Corporation's (MEDC) CEO and President and Chair of the Michigan Strategic Fund. Quentin is charged with implementing and executing MEDC’s core mission of business development and attraction, community development, providing access to capital and enhancing Michigan’s image and brand with a focus on building a strong and equitable economy for...

Part two of a special two part series with Ara Topouzian, Executive Director of Michigan Venture Capital Association (MVCA) narrating the history of how venture capital started to form and grow in the state of Michigan. Included in this podcast are audio clips featuring some of the early pioneers that helped shape venture capital activity in Michigan as well as those responsible for forming an org...

In this special two part podcast episode, Ara Topouzian, Executive Director of Michigan Venture Capital Association (MVCA) narrates the history of how venture capital started to form and grow in the state of Michigan. Included in this podcast are audio clips featuring some of the early pioneers that helped shape venture capital activity in Michigan as well as those responsible for forming an organ...

Ara talks with Michael Cole, President of the Technology Industry Group with Bank of Ann Arbor. Bank of Ann Arbor's Technology Industry Group provides a full range of banking products to emerging and later-stage technology and life sciences companies, venture capital firms, angel investors and entrepreneurs. Special thanks to podcast sponsors Michigan Rise and Invest Detroit. 

Ara talks with Steve Tobocman and Ernestine Lyons of Global Detroit about the work their organization is doing to support the immigrant entrepreneurial ecosystem. The second half of the podcast highlights a native of India, Ayush Agarwal, a product leader and angel investor who has led major initiatives at Google and Facebook. He is the co-founder of Pencil Learning Technologies, a software soluti...

Ara talks with Steve Tobocman and Ernestine Lyons of Global Detroit about the work their organization is doing to support the immigrant entrepreneurial ecosystem. The second half of the podcast highlights founder Ashok Seetharam , PAXAFE and he discussed his startup and how Global Detroit supported his desire to stay in the US. 

Ara talks with Jeff Wesley, Executive Director of Red Cedar Ventures, the venture investment subsidiary of the MSU Foundation. In his role, he actively manages and grows the company’s venture investment portfolio. Jeff is also Executive Director for Michigan Rise Pre-Seed Fund III invests in Michigan tech startups to help commercialize innovative technologies. Prior to Red Cedar Ventures, Wesley s...

Ara talks with Jeff Ponders II who joined the ID Ventures team in April 2021 as Principal, Portfolio Success. In this role Jeff works closely with portfolio company founders as they scale toward major growth milestones and reach material valuation inflection points. Jeff is a passionate leader for the entrepreneur ecosystem and it shows in this podcast. Michigan VCtalk is proudly sponsored by Mich...

Ara had a chance to talk to Vince Nystrom, Partner at Renaissance Venture Capital. Renaissance Venture Capital is organizing the April, 2022 DEI UnDemo Day® which will bring together some of the region’s top early-stage companies and technologies for a virtual event with venture capital investors from around the country. This is the first UnDemo Day® designed exclusively to attract national ventur...

Ara had the opportunity to talk to both Matt Bower and Zach Meyer, attorneys for Varnum LLP. The discussion centered on their program MiSpringboard , a statewide initiative designed to remove some of the barriers associated with starting a business by providing free legal services to Michigan startups. Varnum launched the MiSpringboard program in 2011 as a way of helping Michigan’s then-struggling...

MVCA Executive Director, Ara Topouzian is joined by former MVCA Chair, Michael Gross (Beringea) for a recap on activities that transpired in Michigan during 2021. They discussed talent, deal flow, exits and funding rounds which were notable as well as under the radar.  

Michigan Venture Capital Association (MVCA) Executive Director spoke with Jeff Farrah, General Counsel of National Venture Capital Association (NVCA). Jeff discusses NVCA's policy priorities for 2022 as well as provide additional legislative updates. More information on MVCA can be found at michiganvca.org This podcast is sponsored by Michigan Rise. 

Brad’s two decades in the space field and many professional awards recognize his research contributions in propulsion. He holds a Ph. D in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan, has served on numerous NASA, Department of Defense, and Intelligence Community advisory panels, and has published more than 100 papers on space propulsion systems. Brad is a past recipient of the Presidenti...

Steve Robert is the co-founder and CEO of Autobooks, the first fully integrated payments and accounting platform for Small Business - delivered through financial institutions. Autobooks provides an embedded receivables solution (invoicing & payments) bundled into a checking account via internet banking which helps banks and credit unions provide “back-office” services that help small businesse...

Jan Garfinkle founded Arboretum Ventures on the premise that innovation is key to delivering value in healthcare, a principle she developed working in the medical device industry for over two decades. Her investments focus on promising medical technologies that enable meaningful healthcare system savings while maintain great clinical outcomes. Jan has led and held board seats in more than a dozen...

Skot Welch is the Founder/President of Global Bridgebuilders (GBB). The firm is a results-focused organization with extensive experience in the development and implementation of sustainable, process-focused cultural competency, inclusion initiatives accomplished through comprehensive assessment and measurement systems development. He is also a Managing Partner of the newly formed New Community Tra...

As associate vice president for research – technology transfer and innovation partnerships, Kelly works closely with the vice president for research as well as other leaders across the university to provide visionary and strategic leadership of UM’s innovation, business engagement and technology transfer activities, including the Office of Technology Transfer and the Business Engagement Center. In...

Jim is a Chicago native who joined Invest Michigan in 2016. He has over 10 years of experience in finance, entrepreneurship and business development. At Invest Michigan, Jim sources and leads new deals, manages and supports portfolio companies and serves on the boards of select portfolio companies. Jim and Ara had a great conversation covering a variety of topics including how Invest Michigan was...

Wayne Embree, Executive Vice President at Rev1 Ventures (Columbus, OH) is an experienced seed-stage investor with a track record of fueling startups with guidance and venture capital. He’s been involved in over 200 investments, including sitting on over 50 boards and taking more than 60 businesses through exits. Throughout his career, he has maintained his passion and enthusiasm for helping entrep...

MVCA recently presented a webinar focused on an analysis of the venture and entrepreneurial community in Michigan through the release of the 2021 MVCA Research Report. This event features Michael Gross (Managing Director, Beringea, MVCA Chair), Jeff Rinvelt (Partner, Renaissance Venture Capital, MVCA Vice Chair & Research Report Chair) and moderated by Ara Topouzian (Executive Director of MVCA...