Momentum

The Momentum Start-ups-Where are they now?

As Momentum launches applications for its 2011 program, we thought it would be a good time to check in on the Momentum alumni. Momentum has a portfolio of 7 companies to date, 5 of which are still active and 3 who have raised additional funding. The teams have continued the momentum and are making great strides since graduating from the program. Here is the update:

Downstream is a multi-point backup service that backs up, delivers, and trends a user’s online life. Their first product, Tweetstream, backs up Twitter info and provides their users data that make them more efficient, effective and prominent to their followers.

Downstream recently secured $200K in funding from the Michigan Pre-seed Fund the Lakeshore Advantage Seed Capital Fund. They are in the process of building their team, perfecting their business model, and brainstorming their next application. They continue to seek their next round of funding.

JaiPlace is an online marketplace for the LOHAS industry (Lifestyles of Health & Sustainability). The bring together information, community, goods and services that truly represent personal and planetary wellness. JaiPlace serves as a trust agent for not only products that are authentic to this lifestyle, but local businesses and service providers as well.

JaiPlace recently secured a friends & family round of funding.  They are building their customer base and have just released the JaiPlace Coupon Book for Grand Rapids.  They are also pursuing their next round of funding.

Learning Interfaces develops, licenses, and hosts Web-based multiplayer role-playing simulations and social e-textbooks for secondary and higher education markets. Learning Interfaces has been selected as one of 15 educational teams out of over 1,400 applicants nationwide to participate in the six-month Kauffman Labs Education Ventures Program sponsored by the Kauffman Foundation. The program’s goal is to provide the best possible resources that can support the launch of high-growth, transformative companies in the education market. The award will provide salary compensation and in-kind services which include two months of training at Kauffman headquarters in Kansas City, and a two-month “immersion program” whereby each participant shadows and works with leading educational entrepreneurs across the United States.

Learning Interfaces was also a recipient of the 2010 TiE20 Midwest Industry Award. Selected from more than 1,000 nominated companies, the winners represent the most enterprising startup companies in four focus segments: Internet, Media, Mobile and Software.

TerraPerks recognizes individuals for their environmentally responsible behavior. They recently released a new website for their first service Energy Flair .  Energy Flair is a free online game to save energy at home.  Users learn how to conserve electricity and natural gas, track their energy reductions over time, and earn virtual pieces of Energy Flair, or digital buttons, for lowering their energy usage.  Participants can then showcase their Energy Flair on Facebook and Twitter and compete with others to earn the most Energy Flair.

TerraPerks continues to build their user base, incorporate new features to the site, discuss market opportunities with utility companies and potential sponsors, and seek their next round of funding.

Varsity News Network is a network of high school sports blogs. Using resources available in each school and aggregating the content, they create a scalable system of relevant and local information about high school sports.

Varsity News Network has added two additional schools to their initial 6 pilot schools, and continues to validate their problem/solution and product/market fit. Varsity News Network is developing its second web application as an extension to the core VNN offering, designed specifically toward the time-starved high school Athletic Director. They are bringing in revenue and continue to seek their next round of investment.

Public Collections (RIP)
Revetto (RIP)

We give big kudos to the Momentum teams and look forward to meeting our next batch of start-ups!