The Fathead Family of Companies
Biotechnology
Cellerant
Cellerant Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies for unmet medical needs in the treatments of blood cancers and blood-related disorders. Cellerant’s lead product, CLT-008 is currently in two Phase 1 clinical trials in patients with hematological malignancies. CLT-008 is also being developed as a medical nuclear countermeasure with funding received from the Department of Health and Human Services. The Company is also researching cancer stem cells to discover and develop potential curative therapies for acute myeloid leukemia, multiple myeloma and myelodysplastic syndrome.
Business Services
Are You A Human
Are You A Human is a Detroit-based Internet technology startup that is building the next generation human authentication platform. The company has developed PlayThru, which are short, simple, and fun games that prove users on the Internet are human. PlayThru is fun and intuitive for humans but difficult for bots to complete. PlayThru is a replacement for the twisted, distorted text challenges known as CAPTCHA. Founded in 2011 by Tyler Paxton, Reid Tatoris, and Benjamin Blackmer, the company seeks to allow brands and advertisers the opportunity to create their own branded games to run on Are You a Human’s native advertising platform.”
Big River
Big River helps nonprofit organizations raise more money by engaging donors through personally relevant appeals, promotions, data mining and social marketing. The cloud-based solution is easy to use, affordable and integrates with existing donor management products. The Cleveland Museum of Art has increased membership two-fold using the product.
BodyPartChart
BodyPartChart is the revolutionary alternative to the average anatomical poster or sign. Powered by Fathead®, the leader in high-def peel & stick graphics, BodyPartChart offers anatomical images and medical signs that enhance the way doctors & medical staff engage with patients. The bold visual images and dry erase format make patient education easier than ever and BodyPartChart’s durable peel & stick vinyl can stand up to repeated use without damaging walls. It’s time to drop the chart and turn to “learning that sticks.”
Campus Commandos
Campus Commandosis an Advertising Agency that helps brands market their products/services to college students on college campuses across the United States and Canada. We do this through our network of student brand ambassadors to turn college aged consumers into lifelong customers. Clients include eBay, HP, and Tommy Hilfiger.
Core Merchant
Core Merchant provides custom payment solutions for businesses to help them accept payments wherever and whenever they need – at rates they can both understand and afford. Core Merchant was created to simplify the process of accepting credit or debit cards for your product or service, providing easy and convenient payment solutions where and when you need them – at the most affordable rates possible. Beyond the equipment and processing solutions, Core Merchant is also on a mission to change the payment processing industry by simplifying the supply chain. Core Merchant, through several unique partnerships, has developed a new business model that removes extra layers of pricing manipulation, reduces margins, and improves transparency. In 2012 alone, Core Merchant serviced over $250MM in transactions, and saved merchants in excess of $750,000 over their previous contracts. Whether a new or existing business, contact Core Merchant today at 1.888.534.CORE for all your credit and debit card processing needs!
Detroit Labs
Detroit Labs is an award-winning development studio that creates beautiful mobile apps for clients ranging from startups to Fortune 50 institutions. We are an innovative team comprised of entrepreneurs and leaders, scientists and engineers, dreamers and doers, and left and right-brain thinkers. Located in the M@dison building in downtown Detroit, Detroit Labs attracts the best application developers, designers, engineers, and analysts to create the mobile strategy, experience, and software for companies such as Dominos, Chevy, Stryker, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Fathead. Detroit Labs invests in the development of products and services built by our team members for our team members in our Hackday and Labtime processes. Detroit Labs is part of the Detroit Venture Partners’ family of companies.
Doodle Home
Doodle Home is a virtual studio for interior designers to run their businesses more efficiently. We streamline the tasks that interrupt the creative process. Our online tools and ASID/IIDA Designer’s Assistants help designers access any product from any manufacturer. We are a team of experienced interior designers, technology, and business experts, passionate about simplifying the business of interior design. We work with professional interior designers, manufacturers of high-end or unique furniture and design-savvy consumers. Doodle Home was founded by Jennifer Gilbert in 2010 and is a privately held company based in Detroit, Michigan.
GreenLancer
[GreenLancer] (http://www.greenlancer.com/) is an e-commerce platform that gives contractors the ability to develop and design clean energy projects, anywhere in the world. They do this by leveraging a virtual network of clean energy experts with standardized services, systematic workflows, and predefined documents. This helps streamline the project development process and significantly reduce the soft costs of developing clean energy projects.
Instore
Instore is much more than a point of sale. For businesses, it is the perfect set of tools to run their business. Instore allows owners to run their stores minute by minute with a powerful, cloud-based point of sale and backend accessible on any device. Owners can isolate issues before they become problems freeing them to build the perfect business.
InStore Finance
InStore Finance helps retail stores increase sales revenue by capturing customers that were declined from traditional credit lenders. Using proprietary techniques and algorithms, InStore-Finance provides store owners with a way to qualify and provide payment plans to a majority of candidates that do not qualify for traditional credit. InStore-Finance is a full service system that currently services more than 40 store locations across the US, processed more than 2,500 consumer contracts, and helps retail stores add up to 20% revenue annually.
LevelEleven
LevelEleven builds easy-to-use software applications to help sales managers keep their salespeople focused on the right things. Our lead product, Contest Builder, is a Salesforce.com app to create competitions that motivate teams to make more calls, booking more meetings, clean-up data, or create and close more deals.
Marxent Labs
Marxent Labs Mobile Augmented Reality is a pioneer in integrated retail and loyalty mobile applications development. We build leading edge mobile and e-commerce applications for retailers and brands,specializing in image and audio recognition, content management, live events, gaming and Augmented Reality. VisualCommerce™ from Marxent Labs leverages mobile image recognition to make print catalogs shoppable on mobile devices.
One on One Marketing
One On One Marketing is a premier provider of high quality leads currently focused in the education, mortgage, insurance and home security verticals. Think of them as the match maker but without the awkward first date. One On One has become a powerhouse in the industry using their special sauce: hire PASSIONATE people, generate leads through a VARIETY of traffic channels, LEVERAGE content-rich online portals and a proprietary call verified process and sell DIRECT to clients.
Queryly
Queryly makes web searches faster and more beautiful. Queryly’s site search engine renders results in a beautifully paginated design, combined with images and layout. It gives people a search experience that is exciting, appealing and gives them the "WOW" moments. When people enjoy their search experience, they will search and discover more. Queryly harvests business intelligence in real time to help businesses better understand customer.
Rock Connections
Rock Connections is a premier, Detroit-based marketing company that specializes in inbound/outbound contact center services. Rock Connections offers an array of services that ranges from: inbound/outbound contact solutions; appointment setting and scheduling; client follow-ups and/or missed appointments; prequalifying prospective clients; real-time, warm client transfers; lead generation; lead distribution and allocation; lead and efficiency consulting; providing proactive, solution oriented reporting and analytics. We are highly motivated to help increase the reputation and profitability of our clients, and will be a company that sets the bar in raising overall lead conversion, efficiency and production with professionalism and with a high-level of integrity.
SafeCare
SafeCare is a web-based screening service that helps care providers ensure quality care and patient safety through continuous background checks of certified nurse aides. SafeCare helps eliminate elder abuse in long term care facilities and at home by continuously monitoring nurse aides against nationwide certification, misconduct and criminal data sources. SafeCare exists to complement the current background checking process, which is limited in scope. Although the majority of care providers are honest and caring, the current process required for background checking allows offenders to sneak through the system. SafeCare focuses on nurse aides and caregivers because they have the highest number of abuse incidents and criminal convictions among direct care workers. SafeCare is the CarFax® for the long term care industry. If a caregiver is coming into the home, the patient will check them with SafeCare. If a parent is in a nursing home, a family member will ask that home if they’re SafeCare certified.
Sociocast
Sociocast is the leading provider of real-time audience data to the marketplace. Sociocast works with publishers and content companies to provide audience insights, measurement, and monetization, as well as with online advertising partners and platforms to significantly enhance real-time targeting and audience discovery. The company's headquarters are in New York City.
Stik
Stik.com helps local professionals build a positive reputation & acquire business through online testimonials and referrals. Stik focuses on high-stakes transactions such as real estate, mortgage, insurance, and home remodeling, markets where consumers often feel overwhelmed and have traditionally struggled to find trustworthy resources online. By using Facebook to authenticate all user-generated content and to personalize the local professional search experience, Stik also helps consumers connect with service providers that their friends trust and recommend.
Triad Retail Media
Founded in 2004, Triad Retail Mediais a digital advertising monetization partner for e-Commerce retailers, including Wal-Mart, eBay, Sam’s Club, CVS, Toy’s R’ US, and other national retailers. Triad operates at the intersection of e-Commerce retailers and brand advertisers, such as P&G, Ford and American Express. Triad’s advertising strategies helps top companies convert shoppers into buyers with integrated on-line ad campaigns.
Consumer Services
Chalkfly
Chalkfly is the #1 online office and school supply company in Detroit! We offer 1,0000s of your favorite products, 24/7 Customer Service, 365 Day Returns and Free Shipping. Chalkfly gives 5% of qualified purchases back to schools -with the goal of improving education across America. Our team is based in the M@dison Building in Detroit and we’re committed to supporting the D, supporting entrepreneurs and creating a great place to work!
Connect America
Connect America was established in 2004 and is the fastest growing personal emergency response company in the nation. Headquartered near Philadelphia, PA, Connect America has built, in the last 8 years, the 3rd largest PERS business in the country. Connect America provides their customers with reliable, and affordable life saving personal emergency response monitoring. Connect America is based in Broomall, Pennsylvania, for more information visit www.connectamerica.com
Cup of Zup
Detroit-based Cup of Zup LLC is an e-newsletter featuring fun facts, images and a daily dose of sarcastic commentary from around the web. Part of the Rock Ventures family of companies, Cup of Zup currently has nearly 10,000 subscribers from around the world, a number that continues to grow. Thousands more people also regularly visit the company’s Facebook page and website.
Fathead
Fathead LLC is the industry leader of graphics products for large & small spaces – led by authentic, officially licensed sports & entertainment graphics. Fathead gives fans the opportunity to feel passion For Real by bringing their favorite inspiration to life. Fathead’s signature line, REAL.BIG. life-size wall graphics, includes athletes, logos, entertainment characters and more – maintaining over 500 licenses from NFL and MLB to Marvel, Disney and One Direction! For visionaries looking to create, Fathead offers everything from art and décor to custom graphics. For the space constrained, there’s also Fathead Big Heads, Street Grips, Fathead Juniors, Teammates and Tradeables. Whether it’s a single wall in your office or an entire building, Fathead can transform any space from ordinary to amazing. With in-house design capabilities, Fathead customizes and installs interior and exterior graphics using expertise across a variety of materials – from removable vinyl to aluminum and acrylic. Fathead. FOR REAL.™
FLUD
Private news feeds for teams and businesses. Flud gives teams a secure and mobile environment to mash up industry news and internal private company content like memos and alerts. It's a mission control for your company's news with usage analysis well beyond email. Flud was founded in 2010 and has received a number of industry recognitions from Wired Magazine, CNN, The Webbys and Fast Company for its ground breaking news platform.
Gumshoe
Gumshoe is life's gaming platform. It creates a new layer of mystery and intrigue that quickly transforms a fleeting "check-in" into a rich alternate reality. Highly engaging, Gumshoe weaves everyday social posts, check-ins and friendships into a world of personalized mysteries, complete with clues, hidden agendas and the occasional double-cross. Players are armed with a complete toolkit to engage in a game that is highly customized to their interests, social behaviors and level of participation. Compete against friends and a community of sleuths to gain badges, social cred and the occasional real life reward along the way.
HiredMyWay
HiredMyWay is changing the game in online recruiting. With more than 30 partnerships, our app platform allows you to post job openings to the top job boards, social media sites, universities and traditional media outlets through one, simple-to-use dashboard. As your jobs receive exposure, our unique filtering system sorts the serious and qualified candidates from the rest, allowing you to spend less time building a candidate pool and more time interviewing.
iRule
iRule, LLC is a Michigan-based cloud software company offering products for home entertainment and home automation. The company was founded in 2009 by two enthusiast geeks with a passion for movies, home theater, and consumer electronics. In iRule, we built an awesome remote control system to tie all our gadgets together. It was so exciting, that our families and friends all wanted the same thing. iRule grew through word of mouth, and continues to grow! Three years later (and a few sleepless nights), we have a global network of professional integrators and users in 45 countries, who love iRule for its functionality, versatility, and great value. We continue to capitalize on major technology trends, including the accelerated proliferation of smartphones and mobile Internet devices, the convergence of home entertainment and the Internet, and the shift in the AV industry from hardware centricity to software centricity. iRule’s headquarters are located in the Compuware building adjacent to Campus Martius Park at the intersection of Woodward Avenue and Michigan Avenue in the heart of downtown Detroit. Specialties: Remote control, Cloud computing, Home automation, Software, mobile devices, iOS, Android
Miso Media
Miso Media is a Venice-based startup that develops ground-breaking music technology and mobile applications. By combining polyphonic note detection and real-time feedback, Miso media is revolutionizing music education and music notation, and teaching people how to play music in creative new way.
Protect America
Founded in 1992 by Thad Paschall, Protect America is one of the nation's largest home security companies providing comprehensive home security service in all 50 states. Based in Austin, Texas, Protect America home security systems provides consumers a flexible, affordable and reliable home security solution utilizing GE's state of the art wireless technology. Offering landline, Broadband, and cellular monitoring, Protect America also features options with interactive access that allow users to control their alarm systems remotely via the Internet and smart phone applications. Protect America also provides interactive security cameras, GPS vehicle tracking, and a money saving, cellular takeover option that creates a more secure connection to our monitoring center. Protect America was named a Consumers Digest Best Buy for home security from 2008-2012. Also, TopConsumerReviews.com has awarded Protect America the distinction of being the number one home security company in America for the fifth consecutive year!
Quikly
Quikly is a fresh innovation on the popular flash sale model seen today. By incorporating variable pricing and timely releases, Quikly has created a much more effective means to building a viral frenzy around branded products and services. Utilizing a stair-step price model (escalating pricing as more users claim), Quikly plays on the underlying concept of the quicker one acts, the bigger the deal. To add fuel to the fire, the platform is seamlessly social, meaning each time a user claims an offer, it is shared over Facebook -- meaning deeper brand engagement.
Rockbot
Roqbotprovides social music for restaurants, bars and other venues by offering highly customized streaming and a social jukebox app experience for customers. Roqbot music is fully licensed for commercial use with a library of more than eight million songs. Roqbot was named Best Music Tech Company at South by Southwest 2011, and is currently expanding its services to venues across the country.
SavorFull
SavorFull is one of the best online discovery resources to Discover, Taste and Share for those with food allergies, intolerances or anyone looking to live a healthier lifestyle. CEO, Founder and Nutrition Expert Stacy Goldberg, MPH, RN, BSN provides hand-selected Free From snacks, specialty boxes, and nutrition education. The Savorfull team sources products Free From the top eight allergens, gluten, artificial colors, dyes, sweeteners, or high fructose corn syrup, with an emphasis on local, organic and non-GMO. The company provides products, boxes and services for businesses, corporations, retail, restaurants, vending, food service, schools, fitness centers, medical & health care, as well as corporate wellness. In addition, the company recently beta tested the business-to-consumer platform with monthly box subscriptions, and are currently working towards a restructured public launch, targeting the specific needs of the free from community.
StyleCaster Media Group
StyleCaster Media Groupis the social media company that enables consumers to discover and share their style, interact with premium brands, and make educated buying decisions. Founded in 2009, StyleCaster is dedicated to bringing Style to the People by empowering style enthusiasts and the brands that want to reach them. Through its expansive portfolio of media platforms – StyleCaster Community, StyleCaster News, Beauty High, The Vivant, The Masthead and the newly acquired Daily Makeover and Makeover Solutions - StyleCaster reaches more than 5.5 million unique monthly visitors, and has partnered with more than 60 top-tier advertising partners since launch. The company is based in New York City.
UpTo
UpTo gives your current calendar a social makeover by allowing you to share future events with your social circles, straight from your existing calendar. Let your family circle know when you’ll be nearby or friends in your college network know that you’ll be showing up for the homecoming game this weekend. UpTo is the easiest way to sync up with your social network, ahead of time.
WedIt
Wedit is a fun and easy way to capture and share all the moments from your wedding. Wedit does that by sending you handheld HD cameras a few days before the wedding. You and your guests capture the entire wedding weekend from your point of view. After the weekend is over, you return the cameras in a prepaid box and we upload the footage into an online account for you. We also have editing options that are available using our talented Wedit editors to create an unforgettable keepsake.
Education & Training
Northcentral University
Northcentral University was founded to provide accessible, high-quality, online graduate degrees to working professionals. As a regionally accredited, online university, NCU serves students worldwide, focusing on Doctoral and Master’s degree programs in the Schools of Business and Technology Management, Education, Psychology and Marriage and Family Sciences. NCU utilizes a One-to-One Teaching Model—one student paired with a member of NCU’s 100% doctoral faculty in each course— to create a more personalized education experience for adult students who share a passion for excellence in higher education.
Financial Services
Bedrock Real Estate Services
Bedrock Real Estate Services offers full property management and real estate services with the highest standard of service to its investors and tenants. With over 25 years of experience in developing, acquiring, financing, leasing, managing, renovating and marketing of office, retail, industrial, hotel and mixed-use properties, Bedrock is a one-stop shop for Rock Ventures and its related companies growing real estate investments as well as third-party owners.
In-House Realty
Looking for a great real estate agent to help you buy or sell a house? Since 2006, In-House Realty has matched over 80,000 homebuyers and sellers with high-quality real estate agents. Every agent within our nationwide network is experienced in his or her community and knowledgeable of their market. On top of that, you’ll be matched with a dedicated Agent Coordinator who will stay in contact with everyone involved in the purchase or selling of your home – you, the real estate agent and if buying a house, your Quicken Loans mortgage banker. This is how we can ensure you’ll be 100% satisfied throughout the entire real estate experience, and why we are the preferred real estate partners of Quicken Loans.
One Reverse Mortgage
Founded in 2001 and operating in 48 states, One Reverse Mortgage LLC is the largest retail reverse mortgage lender in the country. The company’s specialized products allow homeowners, 62 years and older, the opportunity to convert some of the equity in their homes into tax-free money. In addition to this benefit, the homeowner is not required to make any monthly mortgage payments as long as they continue to live in their home. When the homeowner moves, sells the home or becomes deceased, the home is sold and the principal and interest owed on the loan is repaid from the sale proceeds. One Reverse Mortgage licensed professionals are experienced and trained to work with seniors. The company has helped thousands of people live a better retirement with the help of a reverse mortgage. One Reverse Mortgage is a Quicken Loans company, which means we have a combined 33 years of mortgage experience.
Purchasing Power
Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, Purchasing Power, LLC is one of the fastest-growing specialty e-retailers in the market. Purchasing Power differentiates itself from traditional e-commerce retailers through its leading voluntary benefit program. Offered through employers and organizations, customers have the opportunity to purchase the latest brand name consumer products and online education services through payroll deduction, when they'd prefer not to use cash or credit. Participants make manageable, fixed payments over just 12 months, with no ballooning interest, or hidden fees, or late fees – it is a revolutionary e-commerce experience combined with a completely transparent payment plan for the customer. Purchasing Power is the leader in the market serving over 6 million customers and has fulfilled nearly $1 billion in customer orders and processed over 20 million payroll deductions. Purchasing Power is the employee purchase program of choice for Fortune 500 companies and leading healthcare and government organizations such as Time Warner, Newell Rubbermaid, Rite Aid, and Delta Airlines to name a few. The company also touts a 99% client retention rate.
Quicken Loans
Detroit-based Quicken Loans Inc. is the nation’s largest online home lender and the country’s third largest mortgage lender. The company closed a record $70 billion of volume across all 50 states in 2012. Quicken Loans generates loan production from web centers located in Detroit, Cleveland and Scottsdale, Arizona. The company also operates a centralized loan processing facility in Detroit, as well as its San Diego-based One Reverse Mortgage unit. Quicken Loans ranked #1 in customer satisfaction among all home mortgage lenders in the United States by J.D. Power and Associates in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Quicken Loans has ranked among the top-30 companies on FORTUNE Magazine’s annual “100 Best Companies to Work For” list for 10 consecutive years. It ranked in the top-15 of Computerworld magazine’s “100 Best Places to Work In Technology” for eight years in a row, ranking in the top-5 in 2012. The company recently moved its headquarters and more than 7,000 of its 8,000-plus team members to downtown Detroit.
Quicken Loans Mortgage Services
Quicken Loans Mortgage Services (QLMS), is a third party originator of Quicken Loans mortgage products. Our partners are financial institutions, credit unions, and brokers delivering mortgage financing to the end client. Through a national network of Account Executives and a direct support team in Charlotte, North Carolina, we funded $11B (including a whopping $1.2B in August 2012)and are aiming for $20B in 2013. Our Partners engage us through the online QLMS Portal where they price, register, and manage their loan pipeline to closing. We have 8, 437 loan officers from 1200+ Partners sending us loans. QLMS originated $3.974B in the 4th quarter of 2012, which places us 3rd in market share (7.58%) behind Flagstar ($4.5B at 8.9% market share) and Provident ($6.6B at 13.1% market share). QLMS originations increased 419.6% from 4Q 2011 to 4Q 2012. With Quicken Loans’ appetite for production, there is plenty of potential for QLMS to expand and still manage to deliver quality loans.
Quizzle
Quizzle is an innovative website that helps consumers gain a complete understanding of their home, money and credit situation - with a truly free credit report and score every six months. Located in Detroit, Quizzle.com began as a project inside Quicken Loans and spun off into its own company in September 2009. At Quizzle, consumers learn specific actions to improve their financial health with helpful tools and information - including a free credit report and score, credit builder tools, and personalized recommendations. Quizzle ranked #1 in Detroit Free Press' 'Top Workplace in Michigan' list for 2010, 2011 and 2012. For more information about Quizzle, please visit www.quizzle.com, on Twitter at @Quizzle, and on Facebook at facebook.com/Quizzle.
Title Source
Title Source Inc. is one of the largest providers of title insurance, property valuations and settlement services in the nation. The company is an authorized agent of the highest rated title insurers in the industry and its solutions power many of the nation’s largest residential lending institutions. Title Source is a preferred provider to five of the top fifteen Fortune 100 companies and four of the top five residential mortgage lenders. The company is based in Troy, Michigan and retains regional service centers in California, Pennsylvania and Texas. Title Source was named as a Detroit Free Press Top Workplace in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Investment Companies
Bizdom
Bizdom is a startup accelerator that helps entrepreneurs launch, fund and grow innovative, web and tech-based startups. Our startups receive seed funding, intense mentoring and access to expertise from our extensive network, a dynamic workspace, potential introductions to outside investors and more. We are a nonprofit that was founded by Dan Gilbert, founder and chairman of Quicken Loans, majority owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and general partner of Detroit Venture Partners. During the 3 month accelerator, each startup will have ongoing meetings with our business model advisors and industry specific mentors to strategize their model and build, test and measure their business. In addition to intense and active mentorship, we connect entrepreneurs with Bizdom approved vendors who are the best designers, developers and marketers in their fields. All this plus each team is given work space, wireless access, tech support, office supplies, and conference rooms complete with whiteboards, making it the perfect place to work on your business. All this, while working in a cool, collaborative space right here in the downtown urban cores of Detroit and Cleveland. Bizdom maintains a minority share of ownership in each business, using its share of the proceeds to fund future startups and their businesses, thereby creating jobs and growth for the Cities of Detroit and Cleveland.
Detroit Venture Partners
Detroit Venture Partners is a Detroit-based Venture Capital firm on a crazed mission. We back seed and early-stage technology companies who have a purpose. Our purpose is to help rebuild the Detroit area through entrepreneurial fire. We view business building as a palette for creative expression and an opportunity to make a difference and change the world. If not, why bother? We are creative business builders, not money managers. We are entrepreneurs helping other entrepreneurs build and grow meaningful companies.
Rock Companies
Rock Companies is a real estate investment, development, construction and management company that focuses on commercial, residential single and multi-family investments in Florida, Michigan, North Carolina and Ohio. Rock Companies, based in Detroit, Michigan also provides consulting and project management to Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland Clinic Courts, the Cleveland Cavaliers and other affiliated companies.
Rock Ventures
Rock Ventures LLC became the umbrella entity formed to provide operational coordination, guidance and integration of Dan Gilbert’s portfolio of companies, investments and real estate purchases. Rock Ventures is committed to transforming downtown Detroit into a place where people want to live, work and play. Through the Rock Detroit initiative, Rock Ventures is investing, building, and energizing Detroit’s Woodward corridor to create economic density and activity. While creating the technology hub known as Detroit 2.0, Rock Ventures is engaged in economic and real estate development, marketing and communications, philanthropy and government relations.
Rockbridge Growth Equity
Rockbridge Growth Equity is a private equity firm that has dedicated capital focusing on transactions in the financial services, consumer-direct marketing, business services, and sports, media & entertainment industries. Based in Detroit, Michigan, Rockbridge's current portfolio includes equity stakes in Ready Financial Group, Protect America, Northcentral University, Connect America, One Reverse Mortgage, One On One Marketing, MyInsuranceExpert.com and Purchasing Power.
Sports & Entertainment
Canton Charge
On July 7, 2011 the Cleveland Cavaliers announced they would own and operate a new NBA Development League franchise in Canton, Ohio – known as the Canton Charge. The move illustrated Cavaliers ownership’s commitment to create a culture of success by putting the team in the strategic position to take an active part in the player development process. The Cavaliers are currently one of five NBA teams to own and operate their own NBA Development League affiliate (along with Golden State, Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City and San Antonio), with the Charge being the 16th franchise in the NBA D-League. The Canton Charge is owned by a group led by Cavaliers Chairman and majority owner Dan Gilbert. Leading business operations for the Charge is Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Alan Mowrey. Overseeing basketball operations is Director of Development League Operations Mike Gansey. Alex Jensen was named the Charge’s first head coach for the 2011-2012 campaign and led the team to a playoff berth in their inaugural season, reaching the semifinal round of the NBA D-League Playoffs. The Charge plays all of their home games at the Canton Memorial Civic Center in downtown Canton. CantonCharge.com
Cleveland Cavaliers
Dan Gilbert became the majority owner of the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Cleveland Cavaliers team in March 2005. He quickly led a complete overhaul of the franchise by replacing the front office and coaching staff; investing more than $55 million in renovations to Quicken Loans Arena; and constructing the league’s premier player development center, Cleveland Clinic Courts. The Cavaliers are on the rise, led by General Manager Chris Grant and proven winner – Head Coach Byron Scott. The roster includes a core group of young, exciting players including 2012 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year and 2013 NBA All-Star Kyrie Irving, along with fellow 2013 NBA All-Star weekend participants Tristan Thompson, Dion Waiters, and Tyler Zeller. This exciting young core, along with the aggressive and strategic positioning of the team’s roster flexibility, cap space and multiple first round draft picks over the next several years, have the team on target to achieve high level success in a way that can be sustained for years to come and compete for NBA championships. The team plays their games at Quicken Loans Arena— aka “The Q”— the NBA’s fourth-largest arena known for its electrifying game presentation. Cavs.com
Cleveland Gladiators
On January 17, 2012, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena organization acquired the Cleveland Gladiators Arena Football League (AFL) franchise to join Dan Gilbert’s sports and entertainment family of companies based in Ohio. The AFL Gladiators offer a high-energy, action-packed product that fits very well with the Cavaliers approach to sports and entertainment. Fans can expect the new ownership to provide a great platform for the team’s future success on and off the field, in addition to creating the same Cavaliers-inspired spirit of fun in a super-charged football atmosphere. The Gladiators began playing at The Q in the 2008 season when former majority owner Jim Ferraro relocated the team from Las Vegas to Cleveland. Cleveland Browns legend Bernie Kosar became part of the franchise with the move to Cleveland and remains as a special advisor to the team.
Greektown Casino-Hotel
Located in downtown Detroit’s historic Greektown Entertainment District, Greektown Casino-Hotel opened in November 2000 as the state’s third commercial casino. Greektown Casino-Hotel expanded its gaming floor and developed a new 400-room, 30-story hotel tower in February 2009. The urban casino employs 1,800 team members and features 2,850 slot machines, 50 table games, and a poker room, along with three restaurants, a five-outlet food court, two bars and a VIP players’ lounge. Greektown Casino-Hotel has also partnered with 14 local restaurants to offer fine dining rewards to guests.
Horseshoe Baltimore
Developers of $350 million Horseshoe Baltimore include lead investor Caesars Entertainment, along with joint venture partners Rock Gaming LLC, CVPR Gaming Holdings, LLC, PRT Two, LLC, and The Stronach Group. The consortium is currently developing the facility in downtown Baltimore, and Caesars will operate it under the legendary Horseshoe brand. As an urban two-story casino, plans call for the 120,000 sq. ft. gaming floor to offer VLTs (video lottery terminals), table games and outward-facing restaurants to engage pedestrians and support existing attractions downtown. A buffet restaurant, food court, sports bar and lounges will round out the food and beverage offerings. For more information please visit Horseshoe Baltimore.
Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati
Rock Gaming LLC and Caesars Entertainment Corporation have developed a $400 million full-service casino in downtown Cincinnati. Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati, which opened in March 2013, is expected to attract an estimated six million visits to downtown annually. The urban casino includes three outward facing restaurants to engage pedestrians and support existing businesses, cultural, nightlife and sports attractions downtown. Horseshoe Cincinnati employs 1,700 team members and features 2,000 slot machines, 87 table games, and a World Series of Poker room, along with a feature bar, a quick-casual eatery and a buffet restaurant. The casino also has partnerships with ten local restaurants and seven downtown hotels. During construction the development created more than 2,000 construction jobs. For more information please visit www.HorseshoeCincinnati.com.
Horseshoe Casino Cleveland
Rock Gaming LLC and Caesars Entertainment Corporation have developed Ohio’s first full-service casino inside the Historic Higbee Building in downtown Cleveland. Horseshoe Casino Cleveland, which opened in May 2012, is expected to attract five million visits to downtown annually, adding to the city’s impressive sports, entertainment and cultural attractions. The $350 million gaming destination employs 1,600 team members and features 1,900 slot machines, 89 table games, and a World Series of Poker room, along with lounges, a buffet restaurant and a three-outlet food court. Horseshoe Cleveland also has partnerships with a dozen local restaurants and three downtown hotels. During construction the development created nearly 2,000 construction jobs. For more information please visit Horseshoe Casino Cleveland
Lake Erie Monsters
The 2012-13 season marks the sixth year of hockey action for Cleveland’s Lake Erie Monstersat Quicken Loans Arena. Fans have come to expect fun, affordable, family entertainment from the Monsters, enjoying such promotions at The Q as Dollar Dog Fridays, Thirsty Thursdays and College ID Nights, plus perennial favorites like Browns Night and Pucks & Paws. Cleveland sports fans have shown their support for their hockey team, as most recently the Monsters finished third in the 30-team American Hockey League in average attendance at 7,845 in 2011-12. As the top affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Colorado Avalanche, fans are also able to watch the future stars of the NHL competing in Cleveland. The Monsters are part of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena organization and also owned by a group led by Cavaliers Majority Owner and Quicken Loans Founder and Chairman Dan Gilbert. The group also owns and operates the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League playing at Quicken Loans Arena and the Canton Charge of the NBA Development League playing in nearby Canton, Ohio at the Canton Civic Center. LakeErieMonsters.com
Quicken Loans Arena
Dan Gilbert is the operator of Quicken Loans Arena—also known as “The Q”—home to the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, the American Hockey League’s Lake Erie Monsters, the Arena Football League’s Cleveland Gladiators and host to the best entertainment in the region. Each year The Q welcomes nearly 1.5 million people at 200-plus events that include Cavaliers basketball, Monsters hockey, Gladiators football, world class concerts, family shows and signature sporting events. In Pollstar magazine’s 2011 Top 200 Arena Venues Worldwide for Entertainment Ticket Sales, The Q ranked No. 12 in the United States and No. 31 worldwide in ticket sales for top touring attractions. The venue’s rankings have been on a steady rise over the past four years, giving credence to Cleveland and Quicken Loans Arena’s status as a primary destination for major concert tours. theQarena.com
Rapt.fm
Rapt.fm is a website that allows people, via real-time video, to freestyle rap with anyone in the world, and have an audience watch, chat, and vote for who they like best. Anyone can learn how to freestyle rap.
Rock Gaming
Rock Gaming is a Midwest-based gaming partnership formed with an initial focus to develop full-service casinos in two of Ohio’s largest cities, as well as to explore other potential gaming opportunities. Rock Gaming has partnered with Caesars Entertainment, the world’s most geographically diversified gaming company, to develop and operate Horseshoe Casino Cleveland, which opened in May 2012, and Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati, which opened in March 2013. Rock Gaming and Caesars are also equity partners in Turfway Park, a premier thoroughbred horseracing track located in northern Kentucky, and Cleveland-area thoroughbred racetrack Thistledown, which opened as a racino in April 2013. Rock Gaming and Caesars are also developing a full service casino in downtown Baltimore with joint venture partners CVPR Gaming Holdings, LLC, PRT Two, LLC, and The Stronach Group. The facility is being designed to foster economic growth and create new jobs while expanding Baltimore’s diverse entertainment offerings. Additionally, a Rock Gaming affiliate company acquired a majority interest in downtown Detroit’s Greektown Casino-Hotel with the vision to better connect the Historic Greektown neighborhood to the City’s thriving Woodward corridor.
Thistledown
ThistledownRacino will open in Spring 2013 as a multi-faceted entertainment destination with more than 1,000 video lottery terminals (VLTs), live and simulcast racing and year-round entertainment. Located in North Randall, Ohio, Thistledown Racino is undergoing an $88 million renovation that will create a 57,000 square foot gaming space with a variety of dining & nightlife options including a Diner, two food court outlets, a lounge for racino guests and a slush bar. Founded in 1924, Thistledown is home of the Ohio Derby and the Best of Ohio series. Thistledown is owned by Rock Ohio Caesars LLC (ROC), a joint venture partnership between Rock Gaming, LLC and Caesars Entertainment Corporation. To learn more, visit www.Thistledown.com.
Turfway Park
Turfway Park Established in 1959, Turfway Park is a premier Thoroughbred race track in Northern Kentucky that hosts live racing from December through March and offers simulcast wagering year-round. Turfway was the first racing establishment in North America to install the all-weather surface Polytrack on its one-mile track and features stabling for approximately 1,000 horses. The track is owned by Rock Gaming LLC and Caesars Entertainment Corporation. To learn more, visit www.Turfway.com.
Veritix
Veritix provides the most dynamic paperless ticketing, event marketing, and relationship management applications to artists, professional sports teams, universities, arts organizations, and entertainment venues. Through the only patent-protected, fully-integrated paperless ticketing platform – Flash Seats – the company has revolutionized the sports and live entertainment industry by enabling paperless venue access while allowing artists, team owners and venue operators to regain control of their secondary market. Veritix is based in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cleveland Cavaliers were the first team in professional sports to use this new technology. Other Veritix clients include Quicken Loans Arena, the Houston Rockets, the Houston Toyota Center, the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche, the Pepsi Center, the Utah Jazz and Energy Solutions Arena, the NCAA, Dover Motor Sports, Boise State University and Texas A&M University.
Xenith
Xenith LLC has developed an innovative helmet technology that reduces the risk and severity of concussions and other traumatic brain injuries. Founded in 2004, and based in Lowell, Massachusetts, Xenith is working to address the issues of sports safety, activity and health through innovation and education. Xenith staff and advisors include leading sports medicine, sports management and product development veterans committed to providing superior products, service and information.
