The Michigan Small Business Development Center (MI-SBDC) recently awarded Automation Alley, Michigan’s largest technology business association, $15,000 from the Business Accelerator Fund (BAF) to provide accelerated entrepreneurial services to Ferndale-based tech firm Tome Inc.
Tome was founded by Jake Sigal and Massimo Baldini, after Ford Motor Co. bought their in-vehicle connectivity software company, Livio, last September. Now, with Tome, Sigal says he is reinvesting in Southeast Michigan and will develop software related to The Internet of Things, an industry space focused on the concept of everyday objects having network connectivity, allowing them to send and receive data.
“I’ve known Jake for a long time. He has a focus of purpose that many entrepreneurs would do well to emulate. We are delighted to support his next venture, Tome,” said Tom Kelly, director of entrepreneurship at Automation Alley. “Jake has a long history of success, and we are confident Tome will be another high-growth job creator for the state of Michigan.”
“I’m choosing to stay here because I believe in what this area has to offer,” Sigal said. “What’s special about Metro Detroit and Ferndale is the work ethic, how affordable it is to do business here and the accessibility to great engineers from our colleges and universities.”
The BAF is a 21st Century Jobs Fund Program managed by the MI-SBDC in partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Michigan’s network of business accelerators. BAF awards are distributed by MI-SBDC to Automation Alley and other business accelerators to help companies commercializing advanced technologies.
The funding Automation Alley received will help cover costs for Tome’s legal services.
“We’re growing and have our head down and are focused on solving a specific problem within the larger Internet of Things space,” Sigal said, adding that while he can’t discuss specifics about the products Tome is developing, he anticipates that his new company will showcase its technology at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January.
Source: Automation Alley
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