Huron River Ventures

Huron River Ventures is a Michigan-based private equity firm founded in 2010 that focuses on early-stage investments in outdated industries. The firm targets sectors such as agriculture, energy, manufacturing, and technology, aiming to enhance and modernize these fields through innovative solutions. By investing in technologies that address the challenges faced by these industries, Huron River Ventures seeks to drive growth and improve efficiencies, ultimately contributing to the revitalization of traditional sectors.

Doug Bottrel

Principal, Head of Business Development

Grant Jason

Associate

Ryan Waddington

Founding Partner

Noah Yates

Senior Associate

35 past transactions

SkySpecs

Series D in 2022
SkySpecs automates the inspection, diagnostics, and maintenance of utility scale wind turbines with custom autonomous drones. The company develops an affordable form of energy, through the use of an automated drone inspection service and analytics platform that allows for repeatability, high-quality data, and safer inspections. SkySpecs was founded on 2012 and is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

SkySpecs

Series B in 2018
SkySpecs automates the inspection, diagnostics, and maintenance of utility scale wind turbines with custom autonomous drones. The company develops an affordable form of energy, through the use of an automated drone inspection service and analytics platform that allows for repeatability, high-quality data, and safer inspections. SkySpecs was founded on 2012 and is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

FarmLogs

Series C in 2017
Their mission is to help bring farmers the future of farming. They challenge what is possible and invent new ways of applying cutting-edge technology to the world's oldest and most foundational industry. Farmers are the core of agriculture and they help them use technology to be more successful. Farmer success is their success. They will never make a decision that doesn't benefit farmers. Their world depends on agriculture. By making farming more efficient and helping farmers grow more using less, they have the opportunity to make a massive positive impact. And, they've brought together a world-class team to make it happen.

Sight Machine

Series B in 2016
Sight Machine specializes in manufacturing analytics and used by Global 500 companies to make better, faster decisions about their operations. Sight Machine's analytics platform, purpose-built for discrete and process manufacturing, uses artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced analytics to help address critical challenges in quality and productivity throughout the enterprise. The platform is powered by the industry’s only Plant Digital Twin, which enables real-time visibility and actionable insights for every machine, line, and plant throughout an enterprise. It was founded in 2011 and headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Algal Scientific

Convertible Note in 2016
Algal Scientific has two distinct business units that serve the animal feed, human nutrition, and wastewater treatment industries. One unit is focused on the production of their ProGlucan beta-glucan products for animal feeds and human nutrition. The second unit is dedicated to the commercialization of their Hypertrophic wastewater treatment system, which they license to customers in the food and beverage industry. It was acquired by Kemin Industries in March 2017. It was founded in 2017 and is based in Plymouth, Michigan.

Ambiq Micro

Series C in 2016
Ambiq Micro is an early-stage fabless semiconductor company that is developing ultra-low-power mixed-signal solutions for a new generation of wireless electronics. Ambiq Micro was founded in 2010 on the simple yet powerful notion that extremely low power semiconductors are the key to the future of electronics. Through the use of their pioneering ultra-low-power technology, they help innovative companies around the world develop differentiated solutions that reduce or eliminate the need for batteries, lower overall system power, and maximize industrial design flexibility.

PeachWorks

Convertible Note in 2016
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 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.

Cribspot

Seed Round in 2016
Cribspot, Inc. operates an online platform for leasing and rental of student apartments and houses in Ann Arbor, Columbus, and East Lansing areas. Its online platform enables college students to find off-campus housing and apartment rentals with virtual tours and floorplans. The company also offers property management and marketing, online leasing and payment, tenant screening, maintenance and repair, accounting, and turnover services for property owners. In addition, it provides a mobile application for iOS and Android devices. The company was incorporated in 2013 and is based in Detroit, Michigan.

ArborMetrix

Series B in 2016
ArborMetrix, Inc. specializes in data analytics and technology solutions aimed at enhancing outcomes and advancing research within the healthcare industry. The company offers a platform that facilitates data collection and integration, performance measurement, and analytics, along with comprehensive database administration. Its solutions include EpisodeMetrix, which analyzes episode costs to help healthcare payers and providers optimize networks and manage care costs, and RegistryMetrix, designed for creating tailored clinical registries. Additionally, SurgicalMetrix provides insights into the performance of surgical groups by integrating various clinical and operational data. ArborMetrix’s offerings also encompass clinical quality improvement, patient and provider engagement, value-based reimbursement, and clinical research. The company serves a diverse range of clients, including specialty societies, medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, and health systems across the United States. Founded in 2011, ArborMetrix is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Sight Machine

Series B in 2016
Sight Machine specializes in manufacturing analytics and used by Global 500 companies to make better, faster decisions about their operations. Sight Machine's analytics platform, purpose-built for discrete and process manufacturing, uses artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced analytics to help address critical challenges in quality and productivity throughout the enterprise. The platform is powered by the industry’s only Plant Digital Twin, which enables real-time visibility and actionable insights for every machine, line, and plant throughout an enterprise. It was founded in 2011 and headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Tachyus

Series A in 2016
Tachyus develops a technology platform to optimize energy production for the oil and gas industry. Its platform provides prescriptive and predictive analytics, descriptive analytics, integration, and measurement features. Tachyus offers solutions for production optimization in cyclic steaming, steam-flooding, CO2-flooding, water-flooding, pump optimization, workover prioritization, and shale fracking. It production responses to stimulation, relationships between completion design and initial production, and optimal injection rates through its platform enables users to predict mechanical equipment failure. Tachyus serves through iOS applications. Dakin Sloss, Francisco Leport, and Paul Orland founded Software Revolution in 2013 that became Tachyus in April 2013. It has its headquarters in San Mateo in California.

SkySpecs

Series A in 2015
SkySpecs automates the inspection, diagnostics, and maintenance of utility scale wind turbines with custom autonomous drones. The company develops an affordable form of energy, through the use of an automated drone inspection service and analytics platform that allows for repeatability, high-quality data, and safer inspections. SkySpecs was founded on 2012 and is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Postmates

Series D in 2015
Postmates is an on-demand food delivery. The platform gives customers access to the most selection of merchants in the US with more than 600,000 restaurants and retailers available for delivery and pickup, many of which are exclusive to Postmates. The market leader in Los Angeles and markets across the southwest, Postmates covers 80% of US households, across all 50 states. Customers can get free delivery on all merchants by joining Postmates Unlimited, the industry's first subscription service.

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.

Algal Scientific

Series B in 2015
Algal Scientific has two distinct business units that serve the animal feed, human nutrition, and wastewater treatment industries. One unit is focused on the production of their ProGlucan beta-glucan products for animal feeds and human nutrition. The second unit is dedicated to the commercialization of their Hypertrophic wastewater treatment system, which they license to customers in the food and beverage industry. It was acquired by Kemin Industries in March 2017. It was founded in 2017 and is based in Plymouth, Michigan.

Sight Machine

Series A in 2015
Sight Machine specializes in manufacturing analytics and used by Global 500 companies to make better, faster decisions about their operations. Sight Machine's analytics platform, purpose-built for discrete and process manufacturing, uses artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced analytics to help address critical challenges in quality and productivity throughout the enterprise. The platform is powered by the industry’s only Plant Digital Twin, which enables real-time visibility and actionable insights for every machine, line, and plant throughout an enterprise. It was founded in 2011 and headquartered in San Francisco, California.

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.

FarmLogs

Series B in 2014
Their mission is to help bring farmers the future of farming. They challenge what is possible and invent new ways of applying cutting-edge technology to the world's oldest and most foundational industry. Farmers are the core of agriculture and they help them use technology to be more successful. Farmer success is their success. They will never make a decision that doesn't benefit farmers. Their world depends on agriculture. By making farming more efficient and helping farmers grow more using less, they have the opportunity to make a massive positive impact. And, they've brought together a world-class team to make it happen.

Tackk

Convertible Note in 2014
Tackk helps you easily create content and share with friends all in one place. It’s a fun, social tool that allows you to share creativity and have conversations using photos, video and other media.

Cribspot

Seed Round in 2014
Cribspot, Inc. operates an online platform for leasing and rental of student apartments and houses in Ann Arbor, Columbus, and East Lansing areas. Its online platform enables college students to find off-campus housing and apartment rentals with virtual tours and floorplans. The company also offers property management and marketing, online leasing and payment, tenant screening, maintenance and repair, accounting, and turnover services for property owners. In addition, it provides a mobile application for iOS and Android devices. The company was incorporated in 2013 and is based in Detroit, Michigan.

Tackk

Convertible Note in 2014
Tackk helps you easily create content and share with friends all in one place. It’s a fun, social tool that allows you to share creativity and have conversations using photos, video and other media.

Tachyus

Series A in 2014
Tachyus develops a technology platform to optimize energy production for the oil and gas industry. Its platform provides prescriptive and predictive analytics, descriptive analytics, integration, and measurement features. Tachyus offers solutions for production optimization in cyclic steaming, steam-flooding, CO2-flooding, water-flooding, pump optimization, workover prioritization, and shale fracking. It production responses to stimulation, relationships between completion design and initial production, and optimal injection rates through its platform enables users to predict mechanical equipment failure. Tachyus serves through iOS applications. Dakin Sloss, Francisco Leport, and Paul Orland founded Software Revolution in 2013 that became Tachyus in April 2013. It has its headquarters in San Mateo in California.

RideScout

Convertible Note in 2014
RideScout is a technology platform that provides a comprehensive solution for ground transportation by aggregating public, private, and social rideshare options on its free mobile applications for both iOS and Android. Users can search and compare various transportation modes—including transit, taxi, rideshare, bike share, carpooling, walking, biking, driving, and parking—through a single interface. This innovative approach allows for real-time access to multiple transportation options, making it easier for individuals to find the most suitable means of travel. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, RideScout also operates an office in Washington, D.C., contributing to its mission of simplifying transportation choices for users.

Tackk

Series B in 2014
Tackk helps you easily create content and share with friends all in one place. It’s a fun, social tool that allows you to share creativity and have conversations using photos, video and other media.

FarmLogs

Series A in 2014
Their mission is to help bring farmers the future of farming. They challenge what is possible and invent new ways of applying cutting-edge technology to the world's oldest and most foundational industry. Farmers are the core of agriculture and they help them use technology to be more successful. Farmer success is their success. They will never make a decision that doesn't benefit farmers. Their world depends on agriculture. By making farming more efficient and helping farmers grow more using less, they have the opportunity to make a massive positive impact. And, they've brought together a world-class team to make it happen.

Tackk

Seed Round in 2013
Tackk helps you easily create content and share with friends all in one place. It’s a fun, social tool that allows you to share creativity and have conversations using photos, video and other media.

RidePal

Series A in 2013
RidePal is building a network of commuter shuttles for companies of any size and for the general public so that anyone can enjoy the benefits of a shared commute: increased productivity and efficiency, reduced congestion and GHG emissions, and a better quality of life (among others). They are a venture-backed, SF-based startup with an office on Union Square, and they currently operate a dozen+ routes servicing a dozen+ cities around the Bay Area.

Zipments

Seed Round in 2013
zipments is a local logistics platform providing businesses and individuals with the fastest, most affordable same day delivery service available. zipments customers can request local deliveries through www.zipments.com, the zipments mobile app or through a variety of online retailers who have integrated the zipments API with their online shopping carts. zipments serves a variety of sectors including retail, professional service firms and restaurants. Additionally, zipments is an easy to use and affordable solution for consumers in need of assistance with their personal deliveries.

Ambiq Micro

Series B in 2013
Ambiq Micro is an early-stage fabless semiconductor company that is developing ultra-low-power mixed-signal solutions for a new generation of wireless electronics. Ambiq Micro was founded in 2010 on the simple yet powerful notion that extremely low power semiconductors are the key to the future of electronics. Through the use of their pioneering ultra-low-power technology, they help innovative companies around the world develop differentiated solutions that reduce or eliminate the need for batteries, lower overall system power, and maximize industrial design flexibility.

Covaron Advanced Materials

Convertible Note in 2013
Covaron Advanced Materials is a seed-stage company based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, specializing in the development of thermosetting ceramic materials. It focuses on creating patterns, cores, and molds for applications in metal sand casting, plastic thermoforming, and plastic injection molding. The company's innovative PETRAFORGE™ technology offers high-performance physical properties akin to traditional advanced ceramics, while also providing fabrication ease similar to two-part thermoset polymers. Covaron's materials are versatile and find applications in various industries, including automotive, aerospace, energy, manufacturing, and coatings. Founded in 2010, Covaron Advanced Materials was previously known as Kymeira Advanced Materials.

FarmLogs

Seed Round in 2013
Their mission is to help bring farmers the future of farming. They challenge what is possible and invent new ways of applying cutting-edge technology to the world's oldest and most foundational industry. Farmers are the core of agriculture and they help them use technology to be more successful. Farmer success is their success. They will never make a decision that doesn't benefit farmers. Their world depends on agriculture. By making farming more efficient and helping farmers grow more using less, they have the opportunity to make a massive positive impact. And, they've brought together a world-class team to make it happen.

OptoAtmospherics

Series A in 2012
OptoAtmospherics, Inc. specializes in laser-based atmospheric measurement products, particularly UV-based Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) systems tailored for the wind industry. The company's technology facilitates direct detection and measurement of wind speed, temperature, and density, offering continuous reporting that enhances site assessment accuracy. This capability contributes to increased energy output and reduced maintenance requirements for both turbine-mounted and ground-based platforms. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, OptoAtmospherics was previously known as Windsight, LLC, and remains focused on advancing atmospheric measurement technologies for various applications.

Sidecar Technologies

Series A in 2012
Sidecar Technologies, founded in San Francisco in 2011, operates a business-to-business delivery transportation network designed to provide a convenient and affordable solution for riders. The company emphasizes safety, employing pre-vetted drivers and incorporating features such as background checks, rating systems for both drivers and riders, and GPS tracking. It allows drivers the flexibility to offer rides on their own schedule, supporting a community-driven approach to transportation. Currently, Sidecar operates in ten cities and has facilitated over half a million rides.

Ambiq Micro

Seed Round in 2010
Ambiq Micro is an early-stage fabless semiconductor company that is developing ultra-low-power mixed-signal solutions for a new generation of wireless electronics. Ambiq Micro was founded in 2010 on the simple yet powerful notion that extremely low power semiconductors are the key to the future of electronics. Through the use of their pioneering ultra-low-power technology, they help innovative companies around the world develop differentiated solutions that reduce or eliminate the need for batteries, lower overall system power, and maximize industrial design flexibility.