# Skip Simms

> Skip Simms is a Series A investor at Michigan Angel Fund backing Information Technology and Drones. See 7 investments, check sizes, portfolio. Updated Aug 2026.

- Type: Angel Investor
- Fund: [Michigan Angel Fund](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/michigan-angel-fund)
- Location: Ann Arbor, United States
- Total investments: 7
- Last investment: Apr 2023
- Lead investor: 43%
- Last updated: Aug 2026
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/skip-simms-6b03651

Skip Simms is a Series A investor at Michigan Angel Fund in Ann Arbor focused on Information Technology and Drones. Skip Simms joined Ann Arbor SPARK in 2006 as Director of Entrepreneurial Services and was its second employee. In 2011 he was named Senior Vice President. Skip oversees all the entrepreneurial activities including incubators, business accelerator programs and all capital programs. He was the architect of the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fundco-investment program, the multiple microloan programs managed by SPARK and the MI Innovation Equipment Depot. His newest initiative is the Michigan Angel Fund. Skip has nearly ten years of experience in financing and investments. Prior to joining Ann Arbor SPARK, he was the managing general partner at the Ralph Wilson Equity Fund, a $31 million fund-of-funds.Skip was a charter member of the Michigan Venture Capital Association and currently serves on their Board of Directors. He is a past board member of the New Enterprise Forum. You may have seen him at an entrepreneur event or program as he is often asked to serve on panels or make presentations regarding start-up funding.

## Investment focus

### Industry

| Industry | Investments | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Information Technology | 2 | 29% |
| Drones | 1 | 14% |
| Retail | 1 | 14% |
| Sensor | 1 | 14% |
| Medical | 1 | 14% |

23 industries tracked in total.

### Stage

| Stage | Investments | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Series A | 3 | 43% |
| Seed | 2 | 29% |
| Funding Round | 1 | 14% |

## Investments

| Company | Description | Amount | Stage | Date | Website |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sniffer Robotics | The world has realized the negative environmental impact of methane emissions and is now embracing the need to identify and mitigate them. Sniffer Robotics has developed an advanced solution helpful in accomplishing this objective. The solution, referred to as the SnifferDRONE™, is an unmanned aerial system (UAS) featuring a drone integrated withSniffer developed and patented technology. The SnifferDRONE collects a corpus of methane concentration (PPM) data at the ground surface, with location coordinates, in an efficient and effective manner. The information that results provides accurate and comprehensive methane leak locations and emission quantification. Though the SnifferDRONE was initially developed for the municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill market (the third-largest source of human-related methane emissions in the US according to the EPA), it is also applicable for other land-based applications found in the renewable natural gas, mining, and other markets. Because of the SnifferDRONE’s ability to locate more leak locations, MSW sites are also successfully using the system to aid in the reduction of landfill odors.Sniffer is a “Technology as a Service” company utilizing advanced technologies and solutions to collect, analyze, and inform for action. The company offers a wide range of aerial (drone-based) services, field services, and is a provider and developer of Esri GIS mapping and spatial analytical software solutions. We endeavor to deliver clear and concise information through advanced tools and solutions, that engages and excites our clients to act. | $2M | Seed | Apr 18, 2023 |  |
| BitLyft | BitLyft expertise in custom developed security services for cyber security. | $1M | Seed | Nov 02, 2021 |  |
| Genomenon | Genomenon develops software tools to rapidly and autonomously prioritize data points for decision-making. It revolutionizes the way genetic diagnoses and discoveries are made. The company’s suite of diagnostic and discovery tools enable physicians, pharma, and researchers to quickly and accurately identify disease-causing variants fromgenomic-sequencing datasets.It was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan. | $5.3M | Series A | Mar 16, 2021 |  |
| Shoulder Innovations | Shoulder Innovations is a medical device company that has developed inset glenoid fixation technology, creating the most robust and stable glenoid platform in the industry. The company's Total Shoulder Replacement System addresses the most significant issue in shoulder arthroplasty: unreliable fixation of the glenoid implant. It also leveragesthis technology to create simple surgical instrumentation, which reduces operative time and cost.Shoulder Innovations designs and commercializes innovative products that demonstrate the potential for improved patient care and reduced overall cost to the healthcare system. Published results show Shoulder Innovations’ solution provides greater post-surgical implant stability, addressing the leading cause of revision surgery. | $21.6M |  | Nov 02, 2020 |  |
| Shoulder Innovations | Shoulder Innovations is a medical device company that has developed inset glenoid fixation technology, creating the most robust and stable glenoid platform in the industry. The company's Total Shoulder Replacement System addresses the most significant issue in shoulder arthroplasty: unreliable fixation of the glenoid implant. It also leveragesthis technology to create simple surgical instrumentation, which reduces operative time and cost.Shoulder Innovations designs and commercializes innovative products that demonstrate the potential for improved patient care and reduced overall cost to the healthcare system. Published results show Shoulder Innovations’ solution provides greater post-surgical implant stability, addressing the leading cause of revision surgery. | $2.5M | Series A | Oct 22, 2018 |  |
| Shoulder Innovations | Shoulder Innovations is a medical device company that has developed inset glenoid fixation technology, creating the most robust and stable glenoid platform in the industry. The company's Total Shoulder Replacement System addresses the most significant issue in shoulder arthroplasty: unreliable fixation of the glenoid implant. It also leveragesthis technology to create simple surgical instrumentation, which reduces operative time and cost.Shoulder Innovations designs and commercializes innovative products that demonstrate the potential for improved patient care and reduced overall cost to the healthcare system. Published results show Shoulder Innovations’ solution provides greater post-surgical implant stability, addressing the leading cause of revision surgery. | $1.6M | Series A | Mar 07, 2017 |  |
| Bulbs.com | Bulbs.com operates as an online distributor of replacement lighting products. It offers secure e-commerce services specifically for the commercial light bulb market. The company also offers light bulbs, ballasts, fixtures, light controls, and projector lamps. Bulbs.com was founded in 1999 and serves businesses in the United States. | $3.5M | Series A | Jan 17, 2000 |  |

7 of 7 investments shown.

## Co-investors
- [Wakestream Ventures](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/wakestream-ventures) — VC Fund, 3 deals together
- [cultivate(MD)](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/cultivate-md) — VC Fund, 2 deals together
- [Genesis Innovation Group](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/genesis-innovation-group) — VC Fund, 2 deals together
- [Michigan Rise](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/michigan-rise) — VC Fund, 2 deals together
- [Red Cedar Ventures](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/red-cedar-ventures) — VC Fund, 2 deals together
- [Alumni Ventures](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/alumni-ventures-group) — VC Fund, 1 deal together

## About Michigan Angel Fund

VC Fund · Ann Arbor, United States

Michigan Angel Fund specializes in investments in angel deals. The fund does not invest in gaming or real estate related ventures. It prefers investing in early-stage start-ups that are at or near revenue. The fund seeks to invest in IT, CleanTech, advanced manufacturing, and health care. The fund invests between $0.2 million to $2 million in itscompanies. It prefers investing in companies requiring less than $2 million to reach break-even or sustainability.Founded in 2011, Michigan Angel Fund is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

5 contacts available at Michigan Angel Fund.

| Name | Title | Profile |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Christopher Couch | Angel Investor | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/christopher-couch-3427 |
| David Peralta | Limited Partner | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/david-peralta |
| Joseph Simms | Managing Partner | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/joseph-skip-simms |
| Mike Flanagan | Managing Director & Co-founder | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/mike-flanagan |
| Skip Simms | Managing Member | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/skip-simms |

## Similar investors

### Similar stage
- [Antler](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/antler-be9c) — VC Fund
- [Alumni Ventures](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/alumni-ventures-group) — VC Fund
- [General Catalyst](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/general-catalyst-partners) — VC Fund

## FAQ

### What does Skip Simms invest in?

Skip Simms invests primarily in Information Technology, Drones and Retail startups, most often at Series A and Seed stage. Most of the 7 investments tracked by Shizune back companies in United States. The Investment Focus section breaks down every industry, stage and country in the portfolio.

### When did Skip Simms last invest?

The most recent investment recorded for Skip Simms closed in Apr 2023. Shizune tracks 7 investments in total for this profile, including round sizes, stages and portfolio companies, all sourced from confirmed public funding rounds and refreshed monthly.

### Is Shizune's investor data accurate?

Yes — every stat on this profile is calculated from confirmed public funding rounds monitored across hundreds of sources since 2020. This profile was last refreshed in Aug 2026 and is updated monthly. Spotted something off? Use the “Suggest an edit” link near the top of the page.

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