Are You a Human wins at SPARK's Entrepreneur Boot Camp

The Internet isn't necessarily a level playing ground, especially if you're competing against lightning-fast software programs designed for scalpers to buy a hot item, like Hannah Montana tickets.

That sort of situation inspired Are You a Human, a new start-up that is creating software to give people an upper hand over computer programs. The Ann Arbor-based company's software offers simple games that must be completed before a purchase can be made. Think of the old banner ads with the Duck Hunt-style games that are easy for people to play but confounding for computers.

"Our product is designed to be friendlier for people," says Tyler Paxton, founder of Are You a Human and an MBA student at the University of Michigan. "It engages people."

The 3-month-old startup now employs a team of five people in the Tech Arb, and is looking to bring on two more web developers. The newer, bigger team will help commercialize the prototype that recently won Best Pitch at Ann Arbor SPARK's most recent Entrepreneur Boot Camp.

Source: Tyler Paxton, founder of Are You a Human
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.