TROY – The Entrepreneurial Initiative of Southeast Michigan forum August 9 will feature elevator pitches from M-Bots, Maria Madeline Project and PromoVUZ.
The thirteenth forum will be held at Automation Alley headquarters, 2675 Bellingham in Troy, from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Doors open at 8 a.m.
Delivering the keynote presentation, Rick Warner is chief executive officer of ParkingCarma, the Flint-based developer of SmartParking technology, the next wave of urban convenience. The company’s move to Flint’s Great Lakes Technology Center from California is the result of assistance from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation as well as Warner’s Michigan roots. The move means a contribution of $4.6 million and more than 100 new jobs for Michigan.
SmartParking is a hi-tech solution for parking in the nation’s most crowded cities that will bring together consumers looking for parking spots with parking structure owners and managers who have available parking spaces. SmartParking uses wireless sensors and interfaces to gather, organize and process parking information, allowing drivers to determine real-time availability of parking spaces over the phone, on the Internet, or through their GPS system.
Among presenting companies, M-Bots specializes in the design and manufacture of security robots and related products. Founded in 2005 by faculty members of the University of Michigan, the company aims to put “no human in harms way.” Its clients include federal and local government agencies and corporations. M-Bots’ flagship robot, Sneaky, is marketed for use in surveillance, inspection, crowd control, remote authentication and evidence collection.
The Maria Madeline Project fosters interaction between senior citizens and children through its Experience Senior Power program. The program utilizes children, with their ever-increasing knowledge of computers and the web, as teachers, guiding their senior companions through a variety of computer-based communication activities. The project links each participating adult with a young person who will help them master the computer skills they need to operate the program and find their way around the Internet.
PromoVUZ was founded in 2006 to give independent musicians a pathway to the new music industry. The company hosts MP3s, connecting them to popular networking sites where they can be downloaded for free. The service also provides musicians with easily accessible statistics of which songs are being downloaded and where. PromoVUZ allows musicians to take advantage of social networks and other online tools to enhance viral marketing efforts.
Those interested in attending the forum should pre-register with the Automation Alley Resource Center at If you have a story idea, email it to [email protected]
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