Butzel Long law firm assists start-ups with 'INCubator' program

By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News

Blackbourne Worldwide – a woman-owned business with cutting-edge artificial intelligence and unique hacking approaches and techniques – has received the new Adopt-A-Biz program award from the Macomb-Oakland University INCubator program.

The year-long Mac-OU INC package includes a full suite of services and a fully furnished office, made possible through the generous sponsorships of the Butzel Long law firm and Logistic Specialties, Inc (LSI).
“The contributions of Butzel Long to our programs have been immense,” says Larry Herriman, interim executive director, Macomb-Oakland University INCubator. “The organization’s willingness to support the community, as well as our entrepreneurs and early-stage ventures, will strengthen our state’s economy well into the future.”

Attorneys from Butzel Long, whose offices include those in Lansing and Ann Arbor, also serve as executives-in-residence for the program.     

“Mac-OU INC is a great resource for start ups and Butzel is thrilled to support the program and companies,” says Beth Gotthelf, a shareholder in the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, who serves as director of Innovation and External Relations, co-chair of the Energy & Sustainability Practice, and chair of the Aerospace & Defense Industry team.

“The Adopt-A-Biz was a particularly exciting competition because it focused on cyber security, which is a growing area of concern and an area we want to help grow in Michigan,” adds Gotthelf, a graduate of Oakland University.
Blackbourne’s core business specializes in cyber threat analysis, social intelligence, and security research and development, with 24/7 security for networks. The company also specializes in certificate trainings in of Ethical Social Engineering, Defensive Social Engineering and Advanced Persistent Threat.

The Adopt-A-Biz program launch is in conjunction with the launch of the Velocity Hub of the Michigan Cyber Range (MCR), to help grow innovative cyber security startup companies in Macomb County and Southeast Michigan.

Blackbourne is currently setting up equipment and material to make the Velocity Hub a better, faster, and stronger teaching tool, and also plans to use it for staff trainings.

The unclassified Velocity Hub of the MCR, powered by Merit Network, recently launched at the Velocity Center, home of Mac-OU INC which is managing this publicly-accessible hub, the first of its kind connected to an incubator program targeted towards startup and emerging companies in Michigan.

This effort is in collaboration with the Merit Network, the New Economy Initiative, the Michigan Defense Center of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MDC), Macomb County Department of Planning & Economic Development (MCPED), the City of Sterling Heights and Oakland University.