University of Michigan

Business Advisor, Startup Consultant, Entrepreneur

Assist early stage technology companies in business model development, proposal writing, technology assessment, project management, market assessment, competitive analysis, funding strategy, and acquisition of funding.  Provided interim executive/senior-level management.

Endurance Consulting LLC

Principal

Helped create and advise startup companies in the areas of the physical sciences and software based on technology developed at the University of Michigan.

Associate Director of Ventures, Innovation Partnerships

Assisted in the commercialization of technologies developed at the seven sponsored research universities across Michigan.

University of Michigan and Michigan Economic Development Corporation

Mentor-in-Residence - Tech Transfer Talent Network (T3N)

Mentored a diverse portfolio of new business ventures built upon licensed University of Michigan technology.  Assisted in evaluating commercial potential, creating business models, developing go-to-market strategies, performing competitive analysis, securing funding, and recruiting key personnel.

Mentor in Residence

Led commercialization activities and co-developed the BLAST™ System – a computer-controlled robotic leg press with an innovative graphical biofeedback display for strength training and neuromuscular rehabilitation.  

Awarded two U.S. patents for the BLAST system.  Negotiated successful exit via the sale of all BLAST-related intellectual property to NuStep, Inc.

Bio Logic Engineering, Inc.

CEO and Co-Founder

Wrote grant proposals resulting in $1.2 million in funding from the NIH and Michigan Life Sciences Corridor for collaborative R&D efforts with the University of Michigan (UM).

Designed a highly-accurate portable dynamometer for measuring leg strength and power to support a UM research program for improving the mobility of the elderly.

Conceived and developed a PDA-based biofeedback device to provide target training ranges, real-time velocity feedback, and performance data logging for weight machine strength training.  System was used to enforce training protocols in UM clinical trials.

Designed and implemented software for a device that accurately measures pelvic floor muscle strength in women with stress urinary incontinence.  Devices supported clinical studies at universities in the U.S. and Germany.

Other Contract R&D Projects

Managed engineering group that developed Visteon’s second generation electronic throttle control system and safety monitor.

Visteon Corporation

Engineering Manager

Co-developed the real-time safety monitor subsystem responsible for detecting and mitigating failures on Visteon’s first generation electronic throttle control system.
  
Designed Visteon’s first safety-critical software verification and validation process.

Awarded U.S. Patent for safety monitor design.

Software Engineer

Led a cross-functional team responsible for all major electrical and electronic components on the 1997 and 1998 Escort vehicle lines.

Ford Motor Company

Program Management Team Leader

Led the design and development of the hierarchical control system for the Ford Ecostar Electric Vehicle.

Lead Control Systems Engineer

Managed a $3 million U.S. Postal Service R&D program to build a high-speed automated image-processing system to understand and sort machine-printed addresses.

Environmental Research Institute of Michigan

Research Project Manager/Supervisor

Developed a semi-automated system for constructing 3-D site models from satellite imagery and cartographic information for cruise missile target modeling.

Research Engineer

Led the integration of 3-D stereovision, navigation, obstacle avoidance, and range finding algorithms to control a prototype autonomous land vehicle.  Developed a real-time route-finding and obstacle avoidance system.

Chuck Cole