Rachel McCormack

Looking over the next 12 months, Rachel McCormack, President of MicroMax, is looking to expand into avionics and white goods. Avionics represents a good fit. Mike, MicroMax's CEO, got his start in avionics and so is familiar with the industry. Further, mission critical avionics components require stringent testing much as in the automotive industry.

The market for MicroMax's products in white goods like refrigerators and washing machines is less clear. While these products have embedded systems, the extent to which testing is necessary is less apparent.

MicroMax developed MxVDev as a response to the demands of software project management in a global economy.  MxVDev is MicroMax's product for testing embedded software systems.  As mentioned in an earlier segment, embedded software systems are those where software enhances an already existing function. For instance, embedded software is what enables anti-lock braking systems.

Given the importance of embedded systems like anti-lock braking, testing is critical. MxVDev attacks testing differently in a few ways:

• It eliminates communication overhead by expressing the requirements into software tests that are either passed or not. Both parties agree that the requirements are met when the tests are passed.
• It emulates the embedded system itself in software eliminating the need to ship expensive equipment around the world for testing.
• It allows multiple tests to occur at once, thereby accelerating the testing process.

Like many small businesses in Michigan, MicroMax is completely self-funded, largely out of a desire to maintain control. Rachel McCormack, MicroMax's president, also notes the difficulty in collateralizing receivables for services businesses. Service businesses typically have few sellable assets, and banks are concerned that customer service fee revenue will dry up, leaving them nothing to collect if the loan goes south.

This segment is the first in our series with Rachel McCormack, President of MicroMax (download 7 minute ipod compatible video, 36MB). MicroMax is a 40 person software engineering services firm founded in 1997 in Canton, MI. What makes MicroMax interesting to Michigan Innovators is its response to the decline in its traditional market, the auto industry, and its innovative approach to globalization.

In this segment, Rachel introduces us to MicroMax, how it was founded, and its current markets. In its brief 10 year history it has undergone a few transitions:

• Rachel originally founded the firm to do legal services. Within the year, her husband Mike joined and added the software engineering component directed toward the auto industry.
• Ultimately, Micromax evolved toward a specialization in testing embedded systems (software that enhances a product, like anti-lock braking systems) with additional expertise in developing said systems.
• With the decline in their market in the auto industry, MicroMax has been actively seeking other markets in avionics, defense, and white goods (i.e., household appliances).
• MicroMax has recently opened a branch office in Huntsville, AL.

In future segments, we'll explore MicroMax's new software product offering that is allowing it to play a role in the global testing market.