California's Cataphora Opens New Office in Ann Arbor
MENLO PARK, Calif. -- Cataphora Inc. Monday announced the official opening of its newest office, located in Ann Arbor. Cataphora develops software for analysis of individual and organizational behavior. The location was chosen because it provides a business-friendly environment, as well as offering Cataphora the opportunity to take advantage of local talent, notably from the University of Michigan.
Cataphora has strong ties with UM. Two of the company's founders, Elizabeth Charnock, CEO, and Steve Roberts, CTO, are UM alumni, as are many other employees at various levels throughout the organization. The new office builds on the company's ties with UM and the surrounding community.
"We're very excited about the possibilities here in Michigan," notes Chris Kurecka, Cataphora's manager of Michigan engineering. "Cataphora thrives on the talent of its employees and the Ann Arbor area offers some of the best. We've found a group of superb employees, from both the University of Michigan's Electrical Engineering and Computer Science department within the College of Engineering, and from its School of Information."
The office is currently staffed with both full- and part-time employees, some of them current UM students, working primarily on software engineering and quality assurance efforts.
Cataphora operates in the cutting-edge field of analysis and understanding of digital character, as it relates to both individuals and organizations. Jude Yew, a Research Fellow at the UM School of Information says, "As more of our daily lives are lived online, there is a pressing need to reflect on and make sense of the digital trails that we leave behind. The presence of Cataphora in Ann Arbor signals the importance that our city will play in this pioneering field of drawing insights and intelligence from massive records of digital activity."
Kurecka adds: "It is vital that the U.S. educational system continue to develop the necessary skills and talents, including math, engineering, and other disciplines, that businesses need in order to thrive. We hope this endeavor on the part of Cataphora will help, in the spirit of acting locally, to encourage such talent. We believe it is good for Cataphora and good for the community."
In the months leading up to the Michigan office opening, Cataphora received valuable support from Ann Arbor Spark, a public-private partnership whose mission is to advance innovation-based economic development in the Ann Arbor area, and from the University of Michigan's Business Engagement Center.
"We are thrilled to have another UM alum-founded company locate in Ann Arbor," said Stella Wixom, director of the Business Engagement Center. "It is a great example of how the University, working in conjunction with our community partners like Ann Arbor SPARK, can make an impact. We look forward to helping Cataphora meet their hiring needs and connecting them to additional University resources as they expand their operation in the region."
Added Paul Krutko, Ann Arbor Spark CEO: "Ann Arbor Spark's integrated approach to economic development helps Cataphora, and similar businesses, efficiently locate and initiate operations in the region. At a MichAgain CEO dinner event where Ann Arbor Spark was working to attract talent back to Michigan, we initially engaged Cataphora. From that point, Ann Arbor Spark has provided the support, in collaboration with the University of Michigan, that helped Cataphora access the talent and infrastructure needed to establish its office in the region. It's exciting to see a high tech, high potential company recognize the value of locating in Ann Arbor and commit to growing here."
More at www.cataphora.com.
