Ann Arbor SPARK, a non-profit organization, offers programs, resources, and proactive support to businesses in the Ann Arbor region. Its products and services include provision of business accelerator and entrepreneur boot camp programs, online business planning, market and competitive landscape research, development of business model strategies, intellectual property validation and FTO reports, marketing and sales initiatives, identification of employee needs and opportunities, preparation of a business plan and financial analysis, and creation of a compelling case for attracting funding and other resources, as well as review of product plans, validation steps, and regulatory issues. The company also provides space/expansion and equipment; programs, resources, and educational opportunities for business growth and expansion; programs for recognizing excellence; tax-exempt industrial development revenue bonds to finance the acquisition, construction, installation, or rehabilitation of manufacturing facilities; site searches of industrial and office buildings, vacant land, and incubator space; workforce; educational forums; incentives; export assistance; financing; and university connections. It serves businesses in life sciences, automotive research and development, engineering and production, alternative energies, information technologies, homeland security/defense, information, print and online, and imaging/vision sectors. Ann Arbor SPARK was formerly known as SPARK. The company was incorporated in 1982 and is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Ann Arbor SPARK

The R/GA Accelerator is a three-month, immersive, mentor-driven program for early-stage startups that are not only innovating products, services, and experiences, but also exploring new business models that exploit emerging technology.  We amplify investment capital by leveraging the agency’s in-house teams of world-class designers, brand strategists, and creative technologists as well as the agency’s mentor network of global brand leaders.  The combination of investment capital, creative capital, and our global network gives our start-up partners an ''unfair advantage'' as they go to market and scale.

R/GA Accelerator

Techstars is a global platform that provides investment and innovation. Through the Techstars Worldwide Entrepreneur Network, founders and their teams connect with other entrepreneurs, experts, mentors, alumni, investors, community leaders, and corporate partners who will help their companies grow. Techstars operates four divisions: Techstars Mentorship-Driven Accelerator Program supercharges success and Techstars Startup Programs inspire, educate, and connect entrepreneurs. Techstars Venture Capital Fund invests in innovative and disruptive companies. Techstars Corporate Innovation Partnerships help brands create products and services. Techstars' accelerator portfolio includes more than 1,000 companies with a market cap of $8.1 billion.

Techstars

R/GA Ventures goes beyond financial capital to provide access to R/talent GA's and extensive client network to founders. It is developing an innovation platform to assist industry leaders in disrupting business as usual by connecting them with groundbreaking technologies and emerging players that can open up new doors. Beyond financial capital, R/GA Ventures connects early- and growth-stage startups with its creative talent, clients, and innovative program partners. Its flexible financing terms help businesses at every stage of funding and growth. It invests at current market valuations in each of its program companies.

R/GA Ventures

Turning innovation into health. Venture Investors seeks the next big things in healthcare. Based in the Midwest with open access to renowned research universities, and the vibrant communities that surround them, we target, uncover, and invest in extraordinary ideas that will shape the future of health and wellness. With decades of proven success, we’re fueling the future of what’s driving healthcare. Today, we have over $200 million in assets under management.

Venture Investors

The InvestMichigan! Program (the “Program”) is an initiative that makes capital available to successful entrepreneurs who create jobs in Michigan. Its principal goals are to generate strong returns for investors, provide assistance to growing Michigan companies, attract world class investment in the outstanding companies already present in Michigan, and encourage investors to locate their portfolio companies in Michigan. Investments are made across a broad range of industry sectors and investment stages, ranging from early-stage venture through mature companies.  The Funds are co-managed by Beringea, a Michigan-based venture capital firm experienced in geographically targeted investment programs, and GCM Grosvenor Private Markets. The objectives of the funds are to: Retain and attract growth businesses to Michigan; Nurture portfolio companies at each phase of development; Enhance Michigan’s reputation for entrepreneurship; Attract leading regional and national private equity and venture capital investment funds to Michigan, and Further develop Michigan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem  Portfolio companies that become part of the program and their management teams will be supported by the Business Leadership Council, led by Chairman Peter Karmanos and comprised of Michigan business leaders who offer support, guidance and access to business relationships.

InvestMichigan

Huron River Ventures invests in early-stage technologies for antiquated industries including Energy, Agriculture, and Transportation.

Huron River Ventures

The Amherst Fund offers capital to privately-held Midwestern companies across many sectors.

The Amherst Fund

Michigan Angel Fund specializes in investments in angel deals. The fund does not invest in gaming or real estate related ventures. It prefers investing in early-stage start-ups that are at or near revenue. The fund seeks to invest in IT, CleanTech, advanced manufacturing, and health care. The fund invests between $0.2 million to $2 million in its companies. It prefers investing in companies requiring less than $2 million to reach break-even or sustainability. Founded in 2011, Michigan Angel Fund is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Michigan Angel Fund

SK Ventures is a venture capital investor focused on the energy transition and climate tech. They partner with exceptional founders in early- and growth-stage start-ups in Europe and North America. With offices in Germany and Norway and backed by Statkraft, Europe's largest producer of renewable energy, SK Ventures provides capital and expertise to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable future.

Statkraft Ventures

Capital Midwest Fund is a venture capital firm that invests in advanced manufacturing, B2B, and healthcare technology companies.

Capital Midwest Fund

Endeavor Catalyst is the co-investment fund set up to invest exclusively in led companies and to sustain Endeavor’s long-term operations in a mission-aligned way.

Endeavor Catalyst

UL Ventures is the venture investment and acceleration arm of UL.  UL is a premier global independent safety science company that has championed progress for more than 120 years. Its 14,000 professionals are guided by the UL mission to promote safe working and living environments for all people. UL uses research and standards to continually advance and meet ever-evolving safety needs. We partner with businesses, manufacturers, trade associations and international regulatory authorities to bring solutions to a more complex global supply chain.

UL Ventures

Bossa Invest manages investment portfolios and provides asset management services to clients. It analyzes market trends to inform investment decisions. Bossa Invest serves multiple sectors, including finance, technology, and real estate.

Bossa Invest

McRock Capital specializes in growth capital and later-stage investing in intelligent infrastructure companies. It focuses on power, water, oil and gas, transportation, and building efficiency sectors. It seeks to make investments in companies offering Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) software and sensor solutions for grid automation, digital oilfield, advanced manufacturing, and smart city markets. The firm targets large industrial and internet markets and the intersection of sensors and software in large industrial markets and seeks companies involved in innovative software, hardware, and device integrated solutions.  Scott McDonald and Whitney Rockley founded McRock Capital in March 2012. It has its headquarters in Toronto, Ontario with an additional office in Calgary therein.

McRock Capital

Evergy Ventures is the venture capital arm of Evergy specializing in investments in growth capital and early stage companies. It seeks to invest in the energy sector focusing on opportunities in the customer energy solutions, energy infrastructure industries, energy marketing, environmental remediation, infrastructure security, and renewables services, but is open to attractive investments outside of these sectors within the energy value chain.  Evergy Ventures prefers to make investments using equity and debt instruments. It prefers to invest in North America with a special focus on Midwest based companies.  Evergy Ventures began operation in 2015. It has its headquarters in Kansas City in Missouri.

Evergy Ventures

Equinor Ventures helps and invests in businesses that are reshaping the energy industry. The company is based in Stavanger, Rogaland.

Equinor Energy Ventures

Goldman Sachs Asset Management provides institutional and individual investors with investment and advisory solutions, with strategies spanning asset classes, industries, and geographies.  They seek to build long-term relationships based on conviction, sustainable outcomes, and shared success over time. It was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in New York, United States.

Goldman Sachs Asset Management

Nextera Energy Resources specializes in offering wind, solar, energy, nuclear and retail services.

NextEra Energy Resources

Equinor Ventures invests in and supports innovative companies to shape the future of energy.

Equinor Ventures

SkySpecs

SkySpecs is simplifying renewable energy asset management by offering purpose-built technologies and services that help our customers deliver industry-leading productivity, efficiency, and returns. Every day, we help our customers unlock the power of their data to make confident, informed decisions. Our team brings deep industry experience and a willingness to get our hands dirty to first understand and solve customer problems on the ground. Learn more about our best-in-class technologies and how we’re helping the renewable energy industry realize its potential at skyspecs.com.

SkySpecs is a company that provides data and analytics solutions to enable renewable energy asset owners to improve productivity, efficiency, and returns. They offer software and services for monitoring and maintaining wind turbines and other renewable energy assets. SkySpecs utilizes drone technology and purpose-built software to inspect turbine blades, collect data, and analyze asset health. Their solutions help predict failures, prioritize repairs, and extend the useful life of assets.

Top 62 Renewable Energy Startups in 2024

Top Climate Tech Companies to Watch in 2024

How Ann Arbor Startup SkySpecs is Co-Creating the Future of Renewable Energy

Goldman Sachs Leads $80 Million Investment in Renewable Energy Tech Provider SkySpecs

Renewable energy asset management software and services

SkySpecs Introduces SkySpecs Performance: Revolutionizing Wind Energy Operations with Advanced SCADA-Based Monitoring and Component Health Assessment

How Utility Companies Are Impacting the Future of Renewable Energy

Taking commercial activities to new heights

Commercial Drone Tech

How Not Listening To Advice Benefitted SkySpecs

SkySpecs is a company that provides data and analytics solutions to enable renewable energy asset owners to improve productivity, efficiency, and returns. They offer software and services for monitoring and maintaining wind turbines and other renewable energy assets. SkySpecs utilizes drone technology and purpose-built software to inspect turbine blades, collect data, and analyze asset health. Their solutions help predict failures, prioritize repairs, and extend the useful life of assets.
As of May 2022, SkySpecs monitors about 45% of all North American wind turbine blades and manages approximately 118 gigawatts of renewable energy assets across over 30 countries. In May 2022, the company raised USD 80 million in funding led by Goldman Sachs Asset Management to expand its operations and maintenance data collection and analytics software offerings.
In January 2024, SkySpecs introduced SkySpecs Performance, an innovative solution that integrates SCADA-based performance monitoring and component health assessment on a fleet scale. This product leverages automated technology to continuously evaluate turbine performance, enabling rapid detection and diagnosis of potential issues, with input from a team of domain experts.
Key customers and partnerships
SkySpecs has partnerships and collaborations with several key players in the renewable energy industry, including NextEra Energy Resources, Statkraft Ventures, Equinor Ventures, Evergy Ventures, UL Ventures, and Huron River Ventures. These companies participated in SkySpecs' funding round in May 2022.
The company also works closely with utility companies like DTE Energy, providing tools and solutions for monitoring and maintaining their wind assets. SkySpecs' technology has been instrumental in helping DTE Energy monitor blade issues and optimize maintenance strategies for their wind turbine fleet.

SeekOps Inc. is a global leader in greenhouse gas emissions detection, quantification, and reporting solutions. The company deploys advanced sensor technology and state-of-the-art unmanned aerial systems equipped with its proprietary SeekIR sensors to detect, localize, and accurately quantify methane emissions. SeekOps' autonomous drones leverage parts-per-billion sensitive sensors and leverage autonomous operations for efficient, repeatable, and consistent greenhouse gas emission surveys, facilitating rapid leak detection and quantification (LDAQ).
SeekOps' technology has received regulatory approval from various authorities, including the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment for use as an Alternative Approved Instrument Measurement Method (Alt. AIMM) in February 2024, making it the first unmanned aerial system to receive such approval. In September 2022, SeekOps' technology was approved as part of an Alternative Fugitive Emission Management Program (Alt-FEMP) submitted by Repsol to the Alberta Energy Regulator.
The company's solutions are field-proven and have been deployed in emissions quantification surveys worldwide, supporting leading operators and meeting the highest standards, such as OGMP 2.0 and MiQ. In August 2023, SeekOps adapted NASA's technology, originally developed for the Mars Curiosity Rover, to measure methane emissions in the North Sea, demonstrating the versatility of its approach.
SeekOps' solutions have been instrumental in helping operators understand their emissions inventory and adopt cost-effective abatement tools, contributing to decarbonization efforts in the oil and gas industry.

SeekOps

Cando Drones is an Israeli company that provides advanced drone operations and management solutions. It specializes in organizing airspace, handling regulations, characterizing, selecting, and integrating drone systems, as well as managing ground logistics, training, and technical support. Cando Drones offers turnkey solutions that enable the exploitation of drone capabilities for various needs.
The company has demonstrated its expertise in delivering autonomous drone flights using different platforms. In April 2024, Cando Drones partnered with High Lander Aviation and Sentrycs to showcase an autonomous security solution at Caesarea Business Park. This system demonstrated rapid response protocols against simulated threats, utilizing High Lander's Orion drone fleet management platform.
Additionally, in April 2024, Cando Drones collaborated with High Lander to execute the first drone flight using Pelephone's new 5G MAX network, marking a significant milestone in drone connectivity and scalability in Israel. Cando Drones also played a pivotal role in the Israel National Drone Initiative, conducting various test flights across the country, including delivery flights, night flights, and traffic monitoring activities.

Cando Drones

MissionGO is a leading provider of uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) solutions and services. The company specializes in critical infrastructure inspections and cargo delivery operations. MissionGO utilizes its advanced UAS platform, the MGV100, to perform comprehensive inspections of various infrastructure assets, including power lines, transmission poles, pipelines, and construction cranes. The MGV100 is a single-rotor, all-electric aircraft designed for long-endurance flights, with a range of up to 30 miles and a flight time exceeding one hour.MissionGO's infrastructure inspection services offer a safer, more reliable, and environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional manual inspections. The company's UAS inspections minimize hazards, increase data quality and quantity, and provide detailed reports on asset conditions. MissionGO's cargo delivery operations involve transporting critical medical supplies, fresh produce, emergency kits, and other essential items to remote areas using its autonomous unmanned helicopters.In addition to its core services, MissionGO offers UAS training programs for first responders, helping them obtain FAA commercial pilot licenses and develop skills for various operational scenarios. The company has achieved significant milestones, including publishing the MGV100's FAA Airworthiness Criteria in the Federal Register in September 2022, a crucial step toward Type Certification and enabling advanced UAS operations.In October 2022, MissionGO secured a three-year, USD 50 million contract with Southern California Edison, one of the largest UAS services contracts globally, to inspect nearly 160,000 utility poles. This contract builds on MissionGO's successful partnership with Southern California Edison since 2019, during which the company conducted over 6,500 sorties and cataloged more than 1,200 flight hours, capturing data from 24,000 poles without any incidents.

MissionGo

Zing Drone Solutions is a company that specializes in developing innovative drone technology solutions. Their primary offering is the Z-RID, a proprietary Remote ID Broadcast Module that ensures compliance with FAA regulations for public safety and commercial drone operators. Launched in October 2023, the Z-RID received FAA Declaration of Compliance (DOC) Approval, making it compatible with various DJI enterprise and commercial drone models.
Recognizing the financial challenges faced by drone pilots due to the high costs of existing Remote ID modules, Zing Drone Solutions introduced the Z-RID Lite in January 2024. The Z-RID Lite is an affordable, stripped-down version of the original Z-RID, focusing solely on providing Remote ID compliance functionality. This innovative solution aims to make FAA regulation adherence accessible to all drone pilots, fostering a safer and more regulated airspace.
Zing Drone Solutions' commitment to innovation aligns with the needs of the drone community. The Z-RID Lite weighs only 30 grams and features GNSS positioning and Bluetooth four + five broadcasting capabilities, making it a lightweight and user-friendly solution for drone compliance.

Zing Drone Solutions

InDro Robotics is a leading Canadian company specializing in robotics research and development, as well as providing complex drone and ground robotic solutions, services, and training. Their expertise lies in engineering autonomous robots and drones for diverse applications, including complex operations, data collection, surveillance, and delivery services. InDro Robotics aims to make difficult work more efficient through innovative robotics.
The company serves as a manufacturer, integrator, and distributor of unmanned systems. For ground operations, they offer unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) from AgileX Robotics integrated with their proprietary InDro Commander technology. Additionally, they provide quadruped robots from Unitree Robotics equipped with the InDro Backpack integration. In the aerial domain, InDro Robotics distributes drones from various manufacturers and incorporates their InDro Pilot technology, enabling real-time data transfer over 5G for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) missions and onboard processing for autonomous operations.
InDro Robotics' solutions encompass a wide range of capabilities, including local computing, teleoperation, and autonomous functionality. Their robots can be outfitted with autonomy software developed in-house or tailored to clients' specific requirements. The company has completed over 7,000 mission hours, flown more than 4,000 kilometers, and executed over 400,000 safe and compliant flights across multiple countries.
In September 2023, InDro Robotics announced a strategic partnership with Invest Ottawa, taking over the management of Bayview Yards Prototyping Lab, rebranded as InDro Forge. This state-of-the-art facility offers prototyping services, including 3D metal printing, CNC machining, injection molding, and computational rendering, enabling clients to bring their ideas from concept to completion.

InDro Robotics

Startups that provide drone-based services for a variety of use cases  (excluding payload delivery)

Startups providing cloud-based software solutions for gathering data via drones and leverage AI to provide analytics and insights

Startups providing cloud-based platforms for managing drone-based activities

Startups providing other services relating to drone operations including drone hangars, charging systems, insurance, and pilot marketplaces

Startups that provide and end-to-end solution for drone based-applications. Typically also provides drone pilot training programmes and managed services

Provides solutions for the operation of drones in an urban environment

SkySpecs

Sources

About EDGE

Contact Us

Resources

Area of Focus

Technology Research Made Effortless