Averra is a Detroit-based advanced manufacturing company developing a technology-driven approach to producing complex hardware. The company specializes in structural-scale 3D metal printing and uses digital manufacturing systems, real-time quality controls, and automation to help hardtech, defense, aerospace, and other industrial customers move from design to production more quickly. Averra’s platform is designed to accommodate design changes without traditional retooling while providing traceability throughout the manufacturing process, with parts produced domestically in the United States.
Averra was founded by Alisyn Malek, Victor Darolfi, and Eli Fry, who bring experience across mobility, robotics, automation, manufacturing, and large-scale operations. Malek’s background includes work at General Motors and co-founding May Mobility, Darolfi brings robotics and automation experience as the founder of RoboTire, and Fry adds more than 20 years of manufacturing and operations experience, including leadership roles at 23andMe and Ford Motor Company. Together, their experience developing new technologies, scaling operations, and navigating the challenges of physical-world industries helped shape Averra’s approach to building a more flexible, data-driven manufacturing model.
Since becoming a MiSpringboard client in 2025, Averra has worked with Varnum across its corporate, transactional, intellectual property, and dispute-related needs. The team has assisted with corporate formation and the company’s conversion from a Delaware LLC to a C corporation, state filings, corporate governance, trademark and patent matters, and ongoing strategic counsel. Varnum has also provided support on asset purchase agreements, equipment leases, investment documents, and related due diligence. The team advising Averra is led by partner Matt Bower and includes Mallory Field, Brendan Best, Maria Gedris, Matt Shina, and Dilan Kama.
Launched in 2011, the MiSpringboard program was created to remove barriers associated with starting a business by providing legal grants to startups. To date, Varnum has assisted more than 1,000 clients through the program.
