The Detroit Region has long been the global hub of mobility innovation. Today, that legacy continues through bold founders, breakthrough technologies, and a deeply interconnected ecosystem working together to move ideas from inspiration to impact.
One powerful example is the success story of LARA (License and Registration App), a contactless policing solution developed by Cocoon Technologies Inc. Designed to make traffic stops safer for both motorists and law enforcement officers, LARA represents exactly the kind of early-stage, mobility-driven innovation GEM was built to support.
While LARA may not look like a traditional mobility technology at first glance, it represents an important evolution of what mobility solutions can be. By leveraging digital connectivity within the vehicle environment to improve safety and communication during traffic stops, LARA expands the definition of mobility innovation beyond hardware and autonomous systems to include technologies that enhance how people safely interact within transportation systems.
From Inspiration to Innovation
Dr. Leah Lewis, founder and CEO of Cocoon Technologies, did not set out to build a tech company. The idea for LARA was born out of a deeply personal moment.
After learning about a tragic traffic-stop incident, Dr. Lewis describes waking up with the concept for LARA nearly fully formed. What began as a vision to prevent further loss of life quickly became a mission-driven startup focused on mutual safety, transparency, and accountability.
LARA enables officers and motorists to remain safely inside their vehicles during a traffic stop. By using the app, officers can initiate a secure video chat after running a license plate number and conduct the stop without direct contact when appropriate. The goal is simple but powerful: save lives and reduce risk of injury while preserving due process and public safety.
Why Michigan and Why GEM
As Dr. Lewis began building Cocoon Technologies, she quickly discovered something critical: innovation does not happen in isolation.
Through incubators, accelerators, and statewide resources, she experienced firsthand the strength of Michigan’s mobility ecosystem. Recognizing the state’s leadership in connected and autonomous vehicle infrastructure, she relocated her company to Michigan to plug into that network more deeply.
That is where GEM came in.
GEM was created to unify, strengthen, and accelerate the region’s mobility innovation efforts. It brings together funding, infrastructure, expertise, and partnerships under a more transparent and collaborative framework. With connections across venture networks, testing facilities, and startup support organizations, GEM acts as connective tissue across Michigan’s mobility landscape.
As Dr. Lewis shared, “As a founder, I have benefited tremendously. I had never started a tech company before. The advisors and ecosystem in Michigan have helped me collapse time frames and eliminate knowledge deficits. The quality of the advisors here is extraordinary.”
The Power of a Connected Ecosystem
Through GEM’s network and regional partnerships, LARA accessed:
- Strategic advisory support
- Grant funding assistance
- Introductions to key ecosystem players
- Testing infrastructure connections
- Mobility-focused mentorship
Dr. Lewis credits GEM’s ability to convene and connect partners across the region as instrumental in her company’s progress:
“I am thoroughly grateful to one of my advisors, Colleen Hau, who introduced me to Jeannine Gant with GEM. Jeannine has just opened doors for us. I’m so grateful for the work GEM is doing and for the way it galvanizes resources throughout the region. I do not believe we would be where we are today without them.”
Milestone Moments Testing at Scale
A major milestone for LARA came during live testing at Mcity, one of the nation’s premier connected and automated vehicle testing facilities.
There, Dr. Lewis and her team conducted real-world traffic stop simulations, evaluating user experience, app functionality, and multiple real-life scenarios including communication challenges and emotionally heightened situations.
Testing in a controlled yet realistic environment like Mcity is a defining moment for any mobility startup. For LARA, it represented a significant milestone on its product development roadmap and a leap from concept to real-world validation.
A Blueprint for What Is Possible
LARA’s journey reflects what is possible when bold founders meet a unified ecosystem.
Dr. Lewis brought the vision.
Michigan brought the mobility leadership.
GEM helped bring the pieces together.
From early-stage advising and grant navigation to testing infrastructure and commercialization pathways, GEM’s role is not just about funding. It is about forging connections, accelerating timelines, and building transparency across the ecosystem so startups can scale faster and smarter.
As LARA prepares for broader launch and potential expansion into United States and Canadian law enforcement markets, it stands as a compelling example of how Michigan’s mobility innovation infrastructure supports technologies that address real societal challenges.
Building the Next Success Story
At GEM, we believe the future of mobility depends on collaboration. LARA’s success reinforces the value of a coordinated, founder-focused ecosystem, one where economic development, technical expertise, and infrastructure converge to create measurable impact. The next breakthrough is already forming somewhere in the region.
And GEM is ready to help bring it to life.