Invest Detroit

Invest Detroit, established in 1995, is a Michigan-based investment firm that targets small and mid-sized industries across the United States. The firm focuses on early-stage investments, particularly in high-potential seed stage companies that leverage unique, intellectual property-based technologies. By concentrating on the Detroit region, Invest Detroit aims to support the growing entrepreneurial community and foster innovation within the area.

Jason Barnett

Senior Vice President

David A. Blaszkiewicz

President and CEO

Dave Blaszkiewicz

President and Chief Executive Officer

Keona Cowan

Executive Vice President

Martin Dober

Senior Vice President

Derek Edwards

Senior Vice President

Elizabeth Freitas

Vice President and Head of Portfolio Management

Jamie Grimaldi

Senior Vice President, Finance and Accounting

Marcia Ventura

Senior Vice President

23 past transactions

Plinqit

Series A in 2022
Plinqit is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, that enables banks to offer goal-based micro-savings accounts. Founded in 2015, the company provides tools for onboarding and administering these accounts, along with analytics to track user activity. Plinqit's platform is designed to attract and retain customers by offering interactive applications that cater to different age groups, promoting modern money management techniques and gamified savings experiences. This approach not only helps banks engage their customers but also encourages families to save together. Plinqit operates as a subsidiary of HT Mobile Apps, LLC.

Judy Security

Seed Round in 2022
Judy Security is a cybersecurity company that specializes in providing software solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. Incorporated in 2019 and based in Detroit, Michigan, the company offers a platform known as Marzo4, which provides comprehensive cybersecurity protection. This platform includes features such as password management, anti-phishing tools, and endpoint protection, designed to address the specific security needs of smaller enterprises. Through its focus on accessible and effective cybersecurity measures, Judy Security aims to empower businesses to safeguard their digital assets.

FlexTal

Pre Seed Round in 2020
FlexTal is the #1 flexible talent matching platform leading the future of work. Every day, we match organizations small and large with elite independent contractors for flexible hourly and project-based engagements on demand The future of work is here, and most organizations aren’t equipped to handle the speed of change that is happening within the workforce. Access to vetted, independent contract talent is the key to agility in today’s business landscape, yet many don’t have the resources to find, vet, and hire the talent they need. We’re on a mission to fix this by making world-class talent more accessible and affordable for organizations everywhere. Organizations with access to our contract talent network have 3-4x more operating leverage than those without. By democratizing access to our network of contractors, we can help shape the future of work while also increasing the pace of human evolution. As the way we work continues to evolve alongside digital transformation and automation, more professionals are choosing to enter the contract workforce. With the number of independent workers growing at an unprecedented rate, the question is: Who will they work for? What tools will multiply their efficiency? Our platform gives organizations and independent professionals the ability to achieve work faster and easier than ever before. Through FlexTal, millions of people are discovering a better way to work that enhances productivity, efficiency, and quality of life. And…we’re just getting started.

Airspace Link

Seed Round in 2020
Airspace Link digitizes local airspace for urban air mobility. It provides government, citizen, and business drone solutions to support local government airspace management, fostering citizen empowerment, and business innovation through consumer and b2b air logistical support and services. It was founded in 2018 and is based in Detroit, Michigan.

Orbion Space Technology

Series A in 2019
Orbion Space Technology, Inc. develops and manufactures plasma propulsion systems for small satellites. It offers electric propulsion technology and space systems. Orbion Space Technology, Inc. was founded in 2016 and is based in Houghton, Michigan.

Workit Health

Series A in 2019
Workit Health, Inc. is a healthcare technology company that specializes in digital treatment for substance use disorders. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Workit Health offers an online platform that combines interactive therapeutic content with professional counseling services. The platform provides evidence-based treatment for opioid and alcohol use disorders, including medication-assisted treatment with buprenorphine. Users can access therapeutic recovery curriculums, video consultations with clinicians, online recovery groups, and virtual drug testing from the privacy of their homes. Workit Health serves a diverse range of clients, including employers, schools, hospitals, clinics, and recovery support communities, with additional locations in California, New Jersey, Alaska, and Washington.

Mi Padrino

Seed Round in 2018
Mi Padrino is an online event planning service designed to assist families in organizing and funding celebrations rooted in Hispanic traditions, such as Quinceañeras, weddings, and baptisms. Founded by Kim Gamez, who has firsthand experience as a mother of five, the platform addresses the complexities involved in coordinating such significant events, enabling users to share event details with friends and family globally. Mi Padrino streamlines the planning process, making it easier for users to manage all aspects of their celebrations, regardless of the location of their loved ones. The service aims to simplify the organization of cherished cultural traditions, providing a unique solution tailored to the needs of the Hispanic community.

Ripple Science

Seed Round in 2018
Ripple Science Corporation develops a web-based software for health sciences that facilitates the recruitment and management of participants in clinical, translational, and social science studies. The company’s software is used for study dashboard, recruitment campaign management, potential participant tracking, enrolled participant tracking, and task management. It offers solutions for academic investigators, clinical trial sites, and CROs. Ripple Science Corporation was founded in 2016 and is based in is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Pawnguru

Series A in 2018
PAWNGURU, INC. operates an online platform to buy, sells, and pawn used goods for pawnshops and their customers. Its platform enables customers to pawn electronics, jewelry, musical equipment, musical instruments, precious metals, power tools, fur coats, vehicles, watches, antiques, and furniture. The company is based in Detroit, Michigan.

Workit Health

Seed Round in 2016
Workit Health, Inc. is a healthcare technology company that specializes in digital treatment for substance use disorders. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Workit Health offers an online platform that combines interactive therapeutic content with professional counseling services. The platform provides evidence-based treatment for opioid and alcohol use disorders, including medication-assisted treatment with buprenorphine. Users can access therapeutic recovery curriculums, video consultations with clinicians, online recovery groups, and virtual drug testing from the privacy of their homes. Workit Health serves a diverse range of clients, including employers, schools, hospitals, clinics, and recovery support communities, with additional locations in California, New Jersey, Alaska, and Washington.

Sportsman Tracker

Series A in 2016
Sportsman Tracker is a cross-platform digital toolset designed to increase success opportunities for hunters and fishermen and allow them to quickly share their experiences. Powered by W.I.T. (Wild Life Intelligence Technology), the tracker calculates the variables that directly affect wildlife behavior. The platform lets track species and gets adaptive features that are specific only the species. Founded in 2012 by Jon Schwander and Jeffrey James Courter, Sportsman Tracker is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Genomenon

Seed Round in 2016
Genomenon, Inc. is a biotechnology company that specializes in developing software tools for genetic diagnosis and research. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the company offers GENOMENON, a software solution designed for the rapid and automated analysis of next-generation sequencing data. This platform aids healthcare professionals and researchers by streamlining the identification of disease-causing variants from genomic datasets, thereby enhancing the accuracy and speed of genetic discoveries and diagnoses. Through its innovative tools, Genomenon aims to transform the landscape of genetic research and clinical decision-making.

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.

Akadeum Life Sciences

Seed Round in 2015
Akadeum Life Sciences is working on the problem of isolating mammalian and bacterial cells from complex mixtures. It creates the simplest bioseparation products and fundamentally change the way that isolating cells and other biological targets approached. The company currently uses microbubbles for applications in cell separation and other related areas. Akadeum Life Sciences was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States.

ardentCause

Grant in 2015
ardentCause specializes in providing online data solutions aimed at enhancing outcomes for foundations, funders, nonprofits, collaborations, and educational institutions. The company offers a range of services, including data collection, analysis, and visualization to help organizations assess their community impact. Their platform features tools such as the Nonprofit Collaboration Dashboard for information sharing, Self Sufficiency Matrices for collective impact assessment, and targeted solutions for adult literacy and educational data management. By integrating various data sources into a single accessible location, ardentCause enables clients to make informed decisions, track client activities, and generate comprehensive reports. This cloud-based technology supports small to mid-sized organizations in managing resources and monitoring the progress of grantees, ultimately fostering community-integrated care.

Pawnguru

Seed Round in 2015
PAWNGURU, INC. operates an online platform to buy, sells, and pawn used goods for pawnshops and their customers. Its platform enables customers to pawn electronics, jewelry, musical equipment, musical instruments, precious metals, power tools, fur coats, vehicles, watches, antiques, and furniture. The company is based in Detroit, Michigan.

PeachWorks

Series A in 2015
PeachWorks Inc. provides cloud-based business analytics and real-time management software for restaurant, hospitality, and retail industries. It offers employee scheduling, inventory management, point of sale reporting and intelligence, and enterprise connection solutions. The company was formerly known as WhenToManage Inc. and changed its name to PeachWorks Inc. in March 2015. PeachWorks Inc. was founded in 2005 and is based in Southfield, Michigan. As of April 25, 2018, PeachWorks Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Beyond.

Sportsman Tracker

Series A in 2015
Sportsman Tracker is a cross-platform digital toolset designed to increase success opportunities for hunters and fishermen and allow them to quickly share their experiences. Powered by W.I.T. (Wild Life Intelligence Technology), the tracker calculates the variables that directly affect wildlife behavior. The platform lets track species and gets adaptive features that are specific only the species. Founded in 2012 by Jon Schwander and Jeffrey James Courter, Sportsman Tracker is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Tome

Convertible Note in 2014
Tome is a tech company that develops connectivity products to keep people and mobiles active, and creates value as a focused niche within the larger Internet of Things movement. It was created as the result of a passion for connecting hardware products to software applications. Tome was founded in 2014 by Jake Sigal and Massimo Baldini. It is based in Royal Oak, M.I. Tome is a member of the StartUp Health accelerator, based in New York City.

American Mountain Co

Convertible Note in 2014
American Mountain Co specializes in high-quality mountain wear designed for both performance and style. The company focuses on meticulous craftsmanship, ensuring that each product meets rigorous standards for quality and functionality. By combining classic design elements with advanced performance features, American Mountain Co aims to provide outdoor enthusiasts with reliable apparel that enhances their experience in mountainous environments.

TurtleCell

Venture Round in 2013
TurtleCell will offer its customers unique and stylish protective cases for the most popular smart phones on the market. The first case to be offered will include a mechanism to retract and store a set of headphones inside the volume of the protective case. TurtleCell’s proprietary design allows a full length cord to be stored within a volume thinner than the leading external battery case.

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.

Instore

Series A in 2011
Instore offers a cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) platform tailored for local merchants such as restaurants, cafes, and coffee shops. The platform facilitates intelligent and cost-efficient business operations by managing key areas including sales, customer interactions, and menu management. As the first open POS platform, Instore enables seamless integration with various third-party services, encompassing online ordering, payments, loyalty programs, and accounting systems. With real-time remote access to sales data and analytics, Instore empowers small business owners to enhance their customer engagement and improve profitability through streamlined operations. By leveraging tablet devices, the platform consolidates all aspects of consumer interaction, positioning merchants to thrive in a competitive environment.