IT OFFICIALLY OPENED four years ago--Innovate Marquette, Marquette's brand new smartzone. It was this city's attempt to attract high tech entrepreneurs, nurture them, and enable them to become income-producing, job-creating businesses. It had happened all over the country--Silicon Valley, Boston, Boulder, Austin, even up ... Continue Reading
Lee Francisco’s Next Challenge
ONE OF MARQUETTE'S technology pioneers has left 906 Technologies, the company he founded thirteen years ago, and has moved on to a new challenge. Lee Francisco is the president of the start-up Agrimote Solutions which has invented a sensor that can monitor the soil moisture of thousands of individual plants ... Continue Reading
The Upfront Deal, a New Internet Company, a Drone Business, John Deere’s Move, the Sweetwater’s Plans, and Our Exorbitant!!! Parking Fees
THE MOST FREQUENT question we hear about town: "So what's going on with the Upfront deal? Is it dead or what?" The answer is, yes, the deal that was offered up in a purchase agreement last year is, in fact, dead. Upfront & Company, closed down for more than four years, remains for sale. But. The four person ... Continue Reading
STRAIGHTtalk with Lee Francisco
Lee Francisco is one of the high tech pioneers in Marquette. He founded 906 Technologies in 2005 and remains its CEO today. The company also led to the creation of 906 Engineering and, most recently, 414 Technologies. Brian Cabell sat down with Lee to get a better sense of his life and philosophy. BC: Where'd you grow ... Continue Reading