Seamless Ventures
Seamless Ventures is a Grand Rapids-based innovation management firm that operates a multi-partner platform connecting enterprises, startups, and public-sector clients to collaboratively test and deploy solutions in aging, mobility, sustainability, and healthcare. It generates revenue through innovation consulting, managed programs like the FLITE airport initiative, and embedded Living Labs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersGrand Rapids, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Seamless Ventures does
Seamless Ventures is a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based innovation management firm founded in 2015 that operates a multi-partner innovation platform connecting large enterprises, technology startups, and public-sector organizations to collaboratively address challenges in aging, wellness, sustainability, and mobility. The firm offers three core service lines: an Innovation Platform that runs monthly meetings with member enterprises to source and evaluate global startups and facilitate proof-of-concept engagements; Studio Projects providing strategy, design, and ethnographic research consulting; and Living Labs that activate embedded real-world testing environments such as airports and senior living facilities. Its flagship managed program is FLITE (Ford Launchpad for Innovative Technologies and Entrepreneurship) at Gerald R. Ford International Airport, which has distributed over $1.5 million across 40+ projects through nine funding rounds, with Michigan state agencies as co-sponsors.
The firm's business model is professional services and managed services, with custom engagement structures for each enterprise partner and no publicly disclosed pricing. Seamless maintains relationships with a roster of 14+ named enterprise partners including Amway, Whirlpool, Steelcase, Corewell Health, Meijer, Gentex, Goodbaby, Haworth, Bissell, Faurecia, Priority Health, Trinity Health, and Consumers Energy, alongside public-sector clients such as Gerald R. Ford International Airport, the City of Grand Rapids, and Michigan state economic development agencies. Notable program outcomes include the May Mobility autonomous vehicle pilot (a public-private partnership that preceded May Mobility's $200M+ in subsequent funding) and the spin-out of JustAir, an air quality monitoring venture that has expanded to multiple cities.
The firm is privately held, independently owned and operated by three partners (Matt Benson, Ben Look, Mike Morin) supported by a small team of 6 additional staff and 6 advisors, for a total of 15 personnel. Its core methodology is human-centered design research combined with cross-industry ecosystem facilitation, validated by a 2020 MIT co-published research study on collaborative innovation. Seamless is differentiated by its 'longitudinal tracking' of emerging technologies and its ability to convene competitors (e.g., Steelcase and Haworth) within a shared innovation platform.
Seamless Ventures firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Seamless Ventures
- Legal name
- Seamless Ventures
- Website
- https://seamlessventures.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Seamless Ventures is a Grand Rapids-based innovation management firm that operates a multi-partner platform connecting enterprises, startups, and public-sector clients to collaboratively test and deploy solutions in aging, mobility, sustainability, and healthcare. It generates revenue through innovation consulting, managed programs like the FLITE airport initiative, and embedded Living Labs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Seamless Ventures is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Grand Rapids
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Seamless Ventures business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Enterprise Innovation Consulting: Consulting engagements supporting enterprise partners with targeted human-centered design engagements, innovation strategy, and team structure consulting
- Innovation Platform Management: Management of multi-partner innovation platforms, including program management, application review processes, project management, reporting, demo coordination, and partner relations management
- Living Labs Facilitation: Activation and management of live test environments, organization of testing site procedures, and facilitation of stakeholder events and activities
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Seamless Ventures product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Seamless Ventures is an innovation management consultancy that helps startups, enterprises, and the public sector collaborate to identify, test, and deploy new business solutions. Its core offerings include a multi-partner Innovation Platform (monthly enterprise meetings, global startup sourcing, and Proof of Concept facilitation), Studio Projects (strategy, design, and ethnographic research engagements), and Living Labs (embedded real-world testing environments). Key programs include FLITE at Gerald R. Ford International Airport and the Senior Living Longevity Lab at Beacon Hill.
Product overview
Seamless Ventures operates as an innovation management company offering a portfolio of services organized into three main offerings: an Innovation Platform that connects enterprise partners for collaborative exploration with startups, Studio Projects providing strategy/design/research engagements, and Living Labs for real-world testing environments. Key programs include FLITE (an airport-based innovation hub at Gerald R. Ford International Airport, managed by Seamless Ventures), the Senior Living Longevity Lab, and the May Mobility autonomous vehicle pilot. The company also spun off JustAir, an air quality monitoring venture focused on environmental justice. Seamless Ventures focuses on cross-industry innovation addressing challenges in aging, well-being, sustainability, and mobility using emerging technologies including AI, Sensing, and Advanced Materials.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- FLITE (Ford Launchpad for Innovative Technologies and Entrepreneurship) An airport-based innovation program at Gerald R. Ford International Airport that provides funding to encourage design and development of new products and services in a live airport environment. Seamless Ventures serves as the program manager, handling objective-setting, startup recruitment, application review, project management, and partner coordination.
- Innovation Platform A multi-partner innovation platform connecting multiple enterprise innovation teams to explore opportunities together with world-class startups through monthly meetings, collective insight sharing, startup sourcing and evaluation, and facilitation of Proof of Concept engagements.
- Studio Projects Strategy, design, and research engagements supporting individual enterprises or collaborative proof of concepts, including management of PoC projects, ethnographic research to uncover needs and explore opportunities, and consulting on innovation strategy and team structure.
- Living Labs
- Senior Living Longevity Lab
- May Mobility Autonomous Vehicle Pilot A multi-year pilot of autonomous vehicles in Grand Rapids, organized as a public-private partnership. At the time of launch, it was the largest deployment of autonomous vehicles accessible to the public. May Mobility has since raised over $200M.
- JustAir An air quality monitoring venture spun out from a Seamless-initiated project to assess technical feasibility of gathering neighborhood-level air quality data using gas and particulate sensors. Expanded to multiple cities focused on environmental justice.
Quantifiable outcome
- FLITE program has awarded over $1.5 million across more than 40 projects and is now in its ninth round
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Seamless Ventures
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Seamless Ventures technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Seamless Ventures partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- Michigan Economic Development CorporationcoreSupporting partner of FLITE (Ford Launchpad for Innovative Technologies and Entrepreneurship) program at Gerald R. Ford International Airport. Provides funding and economic development support for the innovation initiative.
- Michigan Office of Future Mobility & ElectrificationcoreSponsor of FLITE program, providing funding to encourage design and development of new products and services in a live airport environment. One of the first airport-based innovation initiatives in the nation.
- Gerald R. Ford International AirportcoreHost organization for FLITE program, providing live airport environment for testing and deployment of emerging travel technologies including AI indoor mapping, electric snow removal, autonomous tow tractors, AI-enabled security systems, and autonomous ground handling robotics.
- Avflight Grand RapidsminorAirport partner supporting FLITE program at Gerald R. Ford International Airport.
- Southwest AirlinesminorAirport partner supporting FLITE program, contributing to innovative travel solutions testing at the airport.
- West Michigan Aviation AcademyminorEducational partner supporting FLITE program at Gerald R. Ford International Airport.
- Beacon HillcoreSenior living community in Michigan partnering with Seamless for the Senior Living Longevity Lab. Deep needs-finding research project with ethnography and interviews with staff, residents, and families to set agenda for embedded learning lab.
- May MobilitymajorAutonomous vehicle company that participated in Seamless-organized multi-year pilot in Grand Rapids. At the time, it was the largest deployment of autonomous vehicles accessible to the public. May Mobility has since raised over $200M.
- AmwaymajorEnterprise partner participating in Seamless innovation platform, exploring opportunities collaboratively with other enterprises and startups.
- Whirlpool CorporationmajorEnterprise partner participating in Seamless innovation platform focused on connected home appliances and sustainability innovation.
- Consumers EnergymajorUtility company enterprise partner focusing on sustainability, mobility, and energy innovation through the Seamless platform.
- SteelcasemajorOffice furniture company enterprise partner participating in innovation platform, particularly focused on smart and healthy spaces.
- GoodbabymajorJuvenile products company enterprise partner participating in innovation collaborations through the Seamless platform.
- MeijermajorRetail chain enterprise partner involved in innovation platform focusing on sustainability, wellness, and mobility solutions.
- Corewell HealthmajorHealthcare system enterprise partner focusing on health outside the hospital, wellness, and healthcare innovation.
- Priority HealthmajorHealth insurance provider enterprise partner focused on healthcare innovation and wellness programs.
- Trinity HealthmajorHealthcare system enterprise partner participating in health innovation collaborations through the platform.
- Gentex CorporationmajorTechnology company enterprise partner focused on automotive and mobility-related innovation.
- HaworthmajorOffice furniture manufacturer enterprise partner participating in workplace and workspace innovation.
- BissellmajorHome cleaning products company enterprise partner focused on sustainability and home wellness innovation.
- FaureciamajorAutomotive technology company enterprise partner focusing on mobility and sustainability innovation.
- City of Grand RapidsmajorMunicipal government partner collaborating on public-private innovation initiatives including autonomous vehicle pilots and city innovation projects.
- JustAirminorAir quality monitoring venture that spun out from Seamless-initiated project. Originally a prototype developed with enterprise partners to assess feasibility of neighborhood-level air quality data using gas and particulate sensors. Has expanded to multiple cities focused on environmental justice.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Seamless Ventures competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mach49: Mach49 is an innovation venture-building firm that helps large global enterprises create new growth businesses, closely mirroring Seamless's model of running multi-partner innovation platforms and growth ventures.
- MassChallenge: MassChallenge is a global zero-equity startup accelerator and innovation platform that partners with corporations and governments to run innovation programs, structurally similar to Seamless's multi-stakeholder platform management.
- Switch: Switch is an innovation and digital transformation consultancy that helps enterprises collaborate with startups and design new digital ventures, comparable to Seamless's multi-partner innovation platform approach.
- Innosight: Innosight (founded by Clayton Christensen) is an innovation strategy consulting firm that helps enterprises develop growth strategies and innovation capabilities, comparable to Seamless's strategy and human-centered design engagements.
- NineSigma: NineSigma is an open-innovation services firm that helps enterprises source external technologies and partners, comparable to Seamless's global startup scouting and technology matching capability.
- Plug and Play Tech Center: Plug and Play is a global innovation platform that connects startups with corporate partners through accelerator programs and vertical-specific industry programs, directly analogous to Seamless's enterprise innovation platform model.
- Board of Innovation: Board of Innovation is a global corporate innovation consultancy that connects large enterprises with startup ecosystems and runs corporate innovation programs, comparable to Seamless's platform and Studio Projects offerings.
Broad incumbents
- frog (Capgemini Invent): frog is a global design and innovation consultancy now part of Capgemini Invent, offering strategy, design, and engineering services to enterprises — overlapping significantly with Seamless's Studio Projects capabilities.
- IDEO: IDEO is a globally recognized design and innovation consultancy that runs human-centered design research and corporate innovation engagements, broadly comparable to Seamless's Studio Projects and ethnographic research offerings.
- Techstars: Techstars is a large global startup accelerator with corporate partnership programs (e.g., Techstars Corporate Innovation) that connect enterprises with startups, a broader and more established counterpart to Seamless's model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Seamless Ventures social profiles
Digital presenceSeamless Ventures financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Seamless Ventures leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Seamless Ventures funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Seamless Ventures M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Seamless Ventures
What does Seamless Ventures do?
Seamless Ventures is an innovation management consultancy that helps startups, enterprises, and the public sector collaborate to identify, test, and deploy new business solutions. Its core offerings include a multi-partner Innovation Platform (monthly enterprise meetings, global startup sourcing, and Proof of Concept facilitation), Studio Projects (strategy, design, and ethnographic research engagements), and Living Labs (embedded real-world testing environments). Key programs include FLITE at Gerald R. Ford International Airport and the Senior Living Longevity Lab at Beacon Hill.
Is Seamless Ventures a public or private company?
Seamless Ventures is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Seamless Ventures founded?
Seamless Ventures was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Seamless Ventures based?
Seamless Ventures is headquartered in Grand Rapids, United States, in the North America region.
How does Seamless Ventures make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Enterprise Innovation Consulting is the primary driver. The others are innovation Platform Management and living Labs Facilitation.
Who are Seamless Ventures's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mach49, MassChallenge, Switch, Innosight, NineSigma, Plug and Play Tech Center and Board of Innovation. Broad incumbents are frog (Capgemini Invent), IDEO and Techstars.
Does Seamless Ventures have an API?
No public API is recorded for Seamless Ventures.