Future of mobility in spotlight at Michigan Central’s Newlab
Newlab at Michigan Central is a building for startups that have a focus on working toward a future of mobility.
Newlab, in the rehabbed Book Depository building in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood, currently features 14 companies, and has goals to bring in other partners, such as people from the public sector, in academia and large companies.
Ford executives and government officials are expected to celebrate the opening of Newlab at an event in Corktown on Tuesday afternoon. The rehabbed building is part of the new mobility campus Ford is setting up in the neighborhood that also will include the renovated Michigan Central Station.
By setting up shop in the Newlab, startups can utilize a framework that will allow for safe testing in the community lab space, access to capital and connection with mentors, along with having their own lab spaces.
One of the startups in the building is Airspace Link. Michael Healander, co-founder and CEO of Airspace Link, is looking forward to taking advantage of the startup’s large space on the top floor, along with collaborating with the community and other startups.
And JustAir, another Detroit-based startup, chose the space in Newlab because the company feels that it fits well with others that are moving in. Darren Riley, co-founder and CEO of JustAir, said they all have a mission to create smart cities, use clean technology and make livability in urban environments better.
Another component of Newlab will be training. Officials of Michigan Central said
they will help people of all ages develop skills.
“It’s really important as we think about building the entire ecosystem, (that) we function at the intersection of mobility and society,” said Clarinda Barnett-Harrison, director of skills at Michigan Central. “We know that part of that is making certain that we have innovators and leading-edge thinkers at all stages of corporate growth as part of that ecosystem to advance the mobility industry. But specifically as we think about startups and entrepreneurs, we know that a lot of new ideas are coming from that space.”
The first Newlab startups
Airspace Link is an air traffic control system for low altitudes that helps drones to operate safely in the U.S. The startup, which was founded in Detroit in 2019, has a focus on integrating drones into the National Airspace System and in communities. Healander said the startup has raised $37 million since its launch.
“At Newlab, the transportation zone is an area where operators come and test their drones, so really, creating a testing area,” Healander said. “And not just for drones, but multimodal. So it’s this cool ecosystem where we can operate drones off the roof and have our systems running and supporting drone operations with the community, as well.”
With other drone startups moving into the Newlab space, Healander said those companies will be using the Airspace Link system as they test their drones.
JustAir will use the space to continue its efforts of providing air quality insights to communities and cities, with a focus on pollution and other environmental factors. It has a goal to make sure that everyone has an equitable breathing environment, Riley said.
“What I’m really looking forward to in this space is collaboration of talent — to understand how to grow my business the right way, learn from others’ mistakes, but also learn from others from a technical standpoint in terms of all the talent that’s coming down around the area,” Riley said.
The startup has offices in Grand Rapids and Detroit. It plans to launch its services in more cities soon.
Here’s a list of all of the startups that have a space in the Newlab building:
h Airspace Link, founded in Detroit in 2018, has a focus on integrating drones into the National Airspace System and in communities with its air traffic control system.
h Wheel.me, founded in 2013, is a Norwegian-based robotics company that created smart wheels, which can turn almost anything into a robot.
h Grounded, a Detroit-based startup, has created smart RVs with an app experience.
h Cavnue, founded in 2020, has a goal to create advanced roads by integrating automated vehicles to improve transportation.
h Canopy createssmart security devices with an effort to end truck and van thefts. h Intermode helps businesses to integrate mobile robotics. h Fermata is a startup that helps utilities to enhance grid resilience and distribute renewable energy resources, overall helping the electric vehicle movement and the transition to renewable energy. h Vela Bikes is a startup that builds electric bikes. h Tubular is a startup that has created an electric system that moves goods underground using AI robotic shuttles.
h Electric Fish is a startup that is building distributed energy storage by using software.
h Electreon is a startup that provides wireless charging solutions for electric vehicles.
h JustAir, Detroit-based startup, provides insights to communities and cities about air pollution and other environmental factors.
h Amogy is a startup that is working toward a carbon-free energy system that uses ammonia as a renewable fuel.
h RoboTire, a Michigan-based startup, uses robotics and automation to create systems that help auto repair shops, fleet operators and dealerships.
Train station training
The workforce development cycle that Michigan Central wants to create would continue building talent in the mobility space. The education and training will have a focus on four groups: students from kindergarten through 12th grade and college students, along with entry- and middle-level employees. Barnett-Harrison said Michigan Central will be intentional about educating Black and brown children, as well as young girls. There also are plans to create programs and fellowships.
“Our first order of business is thinking about how to make certain that underrepresented groups and high potential talent, who are not necessarily who you think of in these high tech emerging fields, have equitable and accessible pathways to building up the skills that are in demand today and tomorrow for this mobility industry as it evolves,” said Barnett-Harrison.
Startups can inquire about becoming a part of Newlab at Michigan Central by going to michigancentral.com.