Invest Michigan Hits Major Milestone - 100th investment in a repeat entrepreneur, woman-led healthcare company

Invest Michigan announced today it has completed its 100th investment deal since the inception of the fund four years ago. The 100th investment was made in Fifth Eye Inc, an innovative healthcare IT company. This woman-led company improves quality of healthcare with real-time early warning systems by utilizing vital signs resulting in improved patient outcomes and reduced costs.

“Invest Michigan was instrumental in helping Fifth Eye launch in 2018 and build up the value required to raise its Series A financing round this spring,” said Jen Baird, Founder, CEO and director of Fifth Eye Inc. “The entire Fifth Eye team is excited to have the support of such great investors like Arboretum Ventures, Cultivation Capital and Invest Michigan as we take our medical device software through the FDA-clearance process and launch our product to help save patient lives.”

Supported by the Michigan Strategic Fund, Invest Michigan is the fund manager for the Michigan Pre-Seed Fund II, a statewide investment fund that aims to assist high-tech early stage pre-revenue companies and diversify Michigan’s economy. In the last year, Invest Michigan has completed 23 investments in both existing and new companies, which now totals 51 companies. More than one in three of these recent investments were made to women-led companies.

“Invest Michigan is proud to play such an integral role in the future success of these innovative technologies, especially by supporting many talented women entrepreneurs,” said Charlie Moret, Invest Michigan president and CEO. “Over the past several years, we’ve seen a substantial increase in women moving innovative technologies to market.”

Invest Michigan has been exceedingly active in making early investments in a diverse group of technology companies. As a result, 21 client companies have subsequently gone on to have a significant financial event. Some key representative investments include:

Fusion Coolant Systems’ advanced manufacturing use of supercritical CO2 delivers faster machining of parts while extending tool life and providing environmental benefits by replacing industrial lubricants in medical, aerospace and automotive parts.

Movellus Circuits’ breakthrough technology automatically creates analog functions by providing PLLs, DLLs and LDOs, accelerating development of SOC Designs for silicon chip manufacturers.

Genomenon’s Mastermind is an genomic search engine that provides clinical diagnostic labs with variant interpretations and pharma with comprehensive biomarker landscape from literature to optimize drug discovery and translational targets.

Give and Take’s Givitas is a web-based, SaaS platform that gives employees equal access to the collective intelligence, experience and expertise of leaders and peers while building a more collaborative culture.

Akadeum is a life sciences company whose technology fundamentally changes the way cells and other biological targets are isolated in blood or tissue using microbubbles for separation.

Micro-LAM’s OPTIMUS is an advanced manufacturing laser assisted tool that improves productivity on machine tool platforms.

ONL Therapeutics is dedicated to protecting the vision of patients with retinal disease and is ready for its First-in-Human trial. ONL’s portfolio of products target cell death and inflammation signaling common to a wide range of retinal diseases.

Fusion Coolant Systems’ advanced manufacturing use of supercritical CO2 delivers faster machining of parts while extending tool life and providing environmental benefits by replacing industrial lubricants in medical, aerospace and automotive parts.

Movellus Circuits’ breakthrough technology automatically creates analog functions by providing PLLs, DLLs and LDOs, accelerating development of SOC Designs for silicon chip manufacturers.

Genomenon’s Mastermind is an genomic search engine that provides clinical diagnostic labs with variant interpretations and pharma with comprehensive biomarker landscape from literature to optimize drug discovery and translational targets.

Give and Take’s Givitas is a web-based, SaaS platform that gives employees equal access to the collective intelligence, experience and expertise of leaders and peers while building a more collaborative culture.

Akadeum is a life sciences company whose technology fundamentally changes the way cells and other biological targets are isolated in blood or tissue using microbubbles for separation.

Micro-LAM’s OPTIMUS is an advanced manufacturing laser assisted tool that improves productivity on machine tool platforms.

ONL Therapeutics is dedicated to protecting the vision of patients with retinal disease and is ready for its First-in-Human trial. ONL’s portfolio of products target cell death and inflammation signaling common to a wide range of retinal diseases.

“Michigan is a leader in making capital resources available to high-tech start-up companies,” said Fred Molnar, vice president of Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. “Invest Michigan’s early investments in tech companies are helping to create jobs and expand our entrepreneurial- based economy.”

MEDC and Invest Michigan work with Michigan entrepreneurs to build high-tech sustainable enterprises by providing capital, connection to resources and partnering to grow their businesses. Invest Michigan has earmarked investments in high-tech pre-revenue startup companies in the areas of advanced automotive, manufacturing and materials, agricultural technology, alternative energy, homeland security and defense, information technology, life sciences and other innovative technologies.

For more information visit investmichigan.org