North Coast Technology Investors

North Coast Technology Investors, established in 1998 and based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a venture capital firm specializing in early-stage technology companies across the United States, particularly in the software and communications sectors. The firm is known for its ability to support promising ventures through all stages of their private funding needs. While North Coast often collaborates with other venture capital firms and corporate partners, it frequently acts as the first or sole investor in the companies it chooses to back. This approach allows North Coast to play a significant role in nurturing innovative technology enterprises.

Mina Patel Sooch

Executive

18 past transactions

Betterworks

Series B in 2019
Betterworks Systems, Inc. is a provider of an enterprise collaboration platform that focuses on managing strategic plans, collaborative goals, and performance conversations. Established in 2013 and headquartered in Redwood City, California, with an additional office in New York City, the company offers a suite of tools designed to enhance employee engagement and performance. Its main product, BetterWorks, facilitates ongoing discussions between employees and managers, enabling real-time feedback, goal setting, and alignment with organizational objectives. The platform includes features for check-ins, peer feedback, and performance reviews, all aimed at fostering a motivated workforce. Betterworks serves businesses of various sizes, helping them to create a culture of continuous performance management that aligns employee efforts with broader company goals, ultimately driving business growth.

BlueWillow Biologics

Series A in 2018
BlueWillow Biologics is a privately-held biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing intranasal vaccines, based on its patented nanotechnology platform. The company was originally founded as NanoBio Corporation, a spin-off from the Center for Biologic Nanotechnology at the University of Michigan, and was initially focused on developing nano-scale dermatology applications. Based on promising research generated under several Gates Foundation and NIH contracts, the company underwent a strategic “pivot” in 2016–17 to refocus its nanotechnology platform on the development of intranasal vaccines for respiratory and sexually transmitted diseases.

Impact Analytical

Venture Round in 2017
Impact Analytical is a contract testing laboratory supporting all phases of drug development and manufacturing, consumer products, medical device testing, plastics, specialty chemicals, packaging and automotive. They offer method development, validation, stability, extractables & leachables, problem solving, unknown identification, release testing, competitive analysis, failure analysis, raw material testing, surfactant analysis, and many other services. They have 30+ years of polymer and chemistry analysis experience. Impact Analytical is a GMP registered, GLP compliant (FDA, EPA), ISO 9001 certified, and DEA licensed. They are routinely audited by the FDA with no findings (483’s). Their customer-focused approach differentiates us in the industry and ensures you receive high quality results that are on-time and on-budget. Please contact us to schedule a facility audit and discuss your next project.
Delphinus Medical Technologies develops, commercializes, sells, and services the breast cancer screening solutions to hospitals and imaging clinics in the United States and internationally. It commercializes SoftVue, a three-dimensional and tomographic ultrasound imaging and risk assessment device that examines women's breasts for the presence of benign and/or malignant masses, assesses breast cancer risks, diagnoses breast diseases, and monitors therapy. The company was founded in 2009 and is based in Detroit, Michigan.

VNN

Venture Round in 2015
VNN, Inc. operates a high school sports marketing and networking platform that enables athletes to share videos, pictures, stories, and scores while allowing coaches to report game results to media outlets. Founded in 2010 and based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the company serves schools across numerous states, including Alabama, California, and Texas. VNN is recognized as the largest and fastest-growing platform of its kind in the United States, catering to a community of over 7 million fans and adding approximately 8,000 fans daily. The platform aggregates the fragmented high school sports market, enhancing the consumer experience by providing digital and Internet advertising and promotional services.

Larky

Series A in 2014
Larky, Inc. is a marketing and engagement platform that enables organizations to connect with their audiences through targeted geo-notifications and relevant communications. The company offers a mobile platform called Nudge, which facilitates timely interactions, and Larky Classic, a mobile engagement solution that enhances member relationships and supports local businesses. Larky also provides a merchant-funded loyalty platform that offers instant savings at local merchants, enhancing brand visibility. The company serves a diverse clientele that includes financial institutions, health insurance providers, universities, and media companies across the United States and Canada. Founded in 2011 and based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Larky was previously known as PerkPerk, Inc.

VNN

Series A in 2014
VNN, Inc. operates a high school sports marketing and networking platform that enables athletes to share videos, pictures, stories, and scores while allowing coaches to report game results to media outlets. Founded in 2010 and based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the company serves schools across numerous states, including Alabama, California, and Texas. VNN is recognized as the largest and fastest-growing platform of its kind in the United States, catering to a community of over 7 million fans and adding approximately 8,000 fans daily. The platform aggregates the fragmented high school sports market, enhancing the consumer experience by providing digital and Internet advertising and promotional services.
Delphinus Medical Technologies develops, commercializes, sells, and services the breast cancer screening solutions to hospitals and imaging clinics in the United States and internationally. It commercializes SoftVue, a three-dimensional and tomographic ultrasound imaging and risk assessment device that examines women's breasts for the presence of benign and/or malignant masses, assesses breast cancer risks, diagnoses breast diseases, and monitors therapy. The company was founded in 2009 and is based in Detroit, Michigan.

Larky

Seed Round in 2012
Larky, Inc. is a marketing and engagement platform that enables organizations to connect with their audiences through targeted geo-notifications and relevant communications. The company offers a mobile platform called Nudge, which facilitates timely interactions, and Larky Classic, a mobile engagement solution that enhances member relationships and supports local businesses. Larky also provides a merchant-funded loyalty platform that offers instant savings at local merchants, enhancing brand visibility. The company serves a diverse clientele that includes financial institutions, health insurance providers, universities, and media companies across the United States and Canada. Founded in 2011 and based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Larky was previously known as PerkPerk, Inc.

Livio Radio

Series C in 2012
Myine Electronics, LLC, doing business as Livio Radio, designs and manufactures electronic audio products. Its products include Bluetooth Internet radio car kits for iPhones and Android phones, and car audio players. The company also provides Livio Connect API, a middleware framework protocol that enables hardware to connect to and interact with various mobile phone applications. It offers its products through retailers, resellers, and online. Myine Electronics, LLC was formerly known as Myine Corporation. The company was founded in 2008 and is based in Ferndale, Michigan.

CytoPherx

Series C in 2012
CytoPherx (formerly Nephrion) clinical stage medical device company addressing inflammation-based diseases and conditions. The company’s products are custom configurations of a proprietary selective cytopheresis-based inflammation modulating system.
Delphinus Medical Technologies develops, commercializes, sells, and services the breast cancer screening solutions to hospitals and imaging clinics in the United States and internationally. It commercializes SoftVue, a three-dimensional and tomographic ultrasound imaging and risk assessment device that examines women's breasts for the presence of benign and/or malignant masses, assesses breast cancer risks, diagnoses breast diseases, and monitors therapy. The company was founded in 2009 and is based in Detroit, Michigan.

CytoPherx

Series A in 2007
CytoPherx (formerly Nephrion) clinical stage medical device company addressing inflammation-based diseases and conditions. The company’s products are custom configurations of a proprietary selective cytopheresis-based inflammation modulating system.

RenaMed Biologics

Venture Round in 2006
RenaMed Biologics a biotechnology company, engages in the development and commercialization of therapies for the treatment of diseases associated with compromised kidney function. The company focuses on patients suffering from acute renal failure and additional indications where kidney function is compromised. It develops RBI-01, which utilizes physiologically active human renal epithelial cells and administered ex vivo, to replace and maintain severely compromised, or lost kidney functions due to illness, or trauma. The company was founded in 1995 as Nephros Therapeutics, Inc. and changed its name to RenaMed Biologics, Inc. in 2005. RenaMed Biologics, Inc. is based in Lincoln, Rhode Island.

Arbortext

Venture Round in 2003
Arbortext offers a XML-based software solution that enables its users to create, edit, and publish contents on multichannel platforms. Arbortext is acquired by Parametric Technology. Arbortext was founded in December 1982 and is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

NTT Global Networks

Series B in 2001
Virtela is the smart alternative to traditional global carriers and equipment vendors for enterprise networking and virtualized IT services. The company delivers award-winning services via its Virtualized Overlay Network and Virtela Enterprise Services Cloud (ESC) platform, which enables the transition of branch office networking and security services to the cloud. Virtela gives enterprises the benefit of "asset-light" software-defined networking that delivers up to 80% cost savings in upfront capital and 30% savings in ongoing operating expenses. The company's services suite includes global managed network, security, mobility, application acceleration, and IT infrastructure services.

ONE (Open Networks Engineering)

Series A in 2000
ONE is an industry leader in convergence management technology—offering comprehensive, web-based solutions for network management. With a thorough understanding of industry needs, their solutions offer ONE access point to a world of converging technology. ONE believes that to effectively manage the convergence of the services and technologies defining the networks of today and tomorrow, management systems and management applications must also converge. Their vision is the creation of a convergence management layer in the network where applications that manage services and equipment can work together seamlessly and can evolve and scale as does the network. Their mission is to make convergence management a reality for their clients.