Daniel Rotman wishes he had been able to tell sooner that his cat was sick. Rotman says that in 2010, he started noticing that his cat, Gingi, wasn’t her normal self. He brought her into a veterinarian’s office, and Gingi was later diagnosed with feline leukemia. Not long after that, she passed away. “Cats are … Continue reading “Gener8tor Unveils New Class of Startups, Hits Fundraising Milestone”
Author: Jeff Buchanan
Jeff formerly led Xconomy’s Seattle coverage since. Before that, he spent three years as editor of Xconomy Wisconsin, primarily covering software and biotech companies based in the Badger State. A graduate of Vanderbilt, he worked in health IT prior to being bit by the journalism bug.
Propeller Health Raises $21.5M for Respiratory Disease Technology
The winds continue to blow in Propeller Health’s favor. In the past year, Madison, WI-based Propeller—which makes Internet-connected inhalers and sensors designed to help asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients manage their conditions—has announced several new partnerships and programs with other healthcare organizations, including some large pharmaceutical companies. Now comes news that the 55-employee … Continue reading “Propeller Health Raises $21.5M for Respiratory Disease Technology”
Jamf, Nordic, Titan Spine, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
Catch up on news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Jamf announced a collaboration with University of California San Diego Health that’s aimed at equipping every patient room in a still-to-be-built 245-bed facility with an iPad and an Apple TV box. Jamf, which is headquartered in Minneapolis but has significant operations in Eau Claire, … Continue reading “Jamf, Nordic, Titan Spine, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
New Company RPRD Seeking to Test DNA, Anticipate Reactions to Drugs
A faculty member at the Medical College of Wisconsin has spun out a new company, RPRD Diagnostics, which says it will help examine genetic profiles of its customers’ patients to determine how they are likely to react to particular drugs. Milwaukee-based RPRD, which stands for “Right Patient Right Drug,” was publicly unveiled on Monday. Founder … Continue reading “New Company RPRD Seeking to Test DNA, Anticipate Reactions to Drugs”
GREE Is Good: How PerBlue Sold Its DragonSoul to Japanese Firm
Earlier this month, PerBlue, a Madison, WI-based developer of games that can be downloaded and played on mobile devices, said that it had sold the rights to one of its games, DragonSoul, for an undisclosed sum. The buyer, San Francisco-based GREE International Entertainment (GIE), is part of GREE, a Japan-based company listed on the Tokyo … Continue reading “GREE Is Good: How PerBlue Sold Its DragonSoul to Japanese Firm”
EatStreet Downloads Another $11M for Restaurant Ordering Software
EatStreet has raised nearly $11 million in equity financing, according to a regulatory filing that was made public on Thursday. The Madison, WI-based developer of online food-ordering software has now raised more than $40 million since launching in 2010, says Matt Howard, co-founder and CEO of EatStreet. Howard declined to provide specifics related to what … Continue reading “EatStreet Downloads Another $11M for Restaurant Ordering Software”
Promentis, Kiio, EmOpti, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
Take a break from raking leaves and putting up your Halloween decorations and catch up on the latest news from Wisconsin’s innovation community: —Milwaukee-based Promentis Pharmaceuticals raised nearly $8.8 million in equity financing from eight investors, according to a document filed with federal securities regulators. Reached by phone, Promentis president and CEO Chad Beyer declined … Continue reading “Promentis, Kiio, EmOpti, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
Allergy Amulet Raises $1.1M for Device That Detects Food Allergens
Abigail Barnes is allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, and shellfish. Her food allergies have landed her in the hospital on six different occasions. She’s not alone: in the U.S., every three minutes a food allergy reaction sends someone to the emergency department. A few years ago, when Barnes was living in Vermont and attending law … Continue reading “Allergy Amulet Raises $1.1M for Device That Detects Food Allergens”
Moxe Health Snags $5.5M to Connect Healthcare Insurers and Providers
Moxe Health, a Madison, WI-based startup whose digital tools help facilitate the flow of data between healthcare providers, insurers, and software applications, says it has raised $5.5 million from investors. Safeguard Scientifics (NYSE: [[ticker:SFE]]), based in the Philadelphia area, led the round. Dan Wilson, Moxe’s founder and CEO, declined to name other funds or individual … Continue reading “Moxe Health Snags $5.5M to Connect Healthcare Insurers and Providers”
Exact Sciences, Rockwell, & Gender Gaps: This Week’s WI Watchlist
Stay on top of the latest news from Wisconsin’s innovation community, starting with these recent headlines: —Madison-based Exact Sciences (NASDAQ: [[ticker:EXAS]]) said that Cologuard, the company’s stool-based DNA test for colorectal cancer, is now included in a set of quality measures for colorectal cancer screening. The group of quality measures, known as the Healthcare Effectiveness Data … Continue reading “Exact Sciences, Rockwell, & Gender Gaps: This Week’s WI Watchlist”
With Epic Ties, HealthX Raises $20M First Fund, Reveals Investments
[Corrected 3/16/18 1:34 p.m. See below.] HealthX Ventures, a Madison, WI-based group that invests in early-stage healthcare technology companies, says that it has closed a $20 million fund. About 75 investors participated, says Dan Blake, a partner at the fund. HealthX, which says it seeks to put money into startups that are getting their “first rounds … Continue reading “With Epic Ties, HealthX Raises $20M First Fund, Reveals Investments”
Cellular Dynamics Spinoff Aims to Develop Vision-Restoring Therapies
Cellular Dynamics International is following a split with a spinoff. The Madison, WI-based biotech, which earlier this month announced it divided the company into two business units, is now saying it has launched a new venture that will focus on developing medicines to treat diseases of the retina. The new company, known as Opsis Therapeutics, … Continue reading “Cellular Dynamics Spinoff Aims to Develop Vision-Restoring Therapies”
Arrowhead Teams Up with Amgen to Develop Cardiovascular Drugs
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals and Amgen will together work to develop and commercialize two drugs designed to treat cardiovascular disease, the companies said Thursday. Under the terms of the agreements, Amgen will pay Arrowhead a combined $56.5 million—$35 million in cash, and the remainder as an equity investment for stock in Arrowhead. Arrowhead could reap an additional … Continue reading “Arrowhead Teams Up with Amgen to Develop Cardiovascular Drugs”
Gener8tor, University of Minnesota Tech Transfer Office to Team Up
Gener8tor, a startup accelerator whose programs have taken place exclusively in Wisconsin up to this point, took a key step forward in its expansion into Minnesota this week. The University of Minnesota’s technology transfer arm, known as the Office for Technology Commercialization (OTC), says it has formed a partnership with Gener8tor in an effort aimed … Continue reading “Gener8tor, University of Minnesota Tech Transfer Office to Team Up”
Bio Execs Talk Patient Advocacy, Duchenne Approval at BioForward Panel
Janet Woodcock, the top drug evaluator at the FDA, was the driving force behind the FDA’s recent decision to approve eteplirsen (Exondys 51), a drug for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy from Cambridge, MA-based Sarepta Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SRPT]]). The decision was controversial: Many FDA scientists didn’t want to approve eteplirsen. They didn’t want to lower the … Continue reading “Bio Execs Talk Patient Advocacy, Duchenne Approval at BioForward Panel”
Startup Bill, Water Council, CDI, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist
Cooler autumn temperatures appear to be here to stay. Stay warm, and stay current with these recent headlines from Wisconsin’s innovation community: —The office of U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin said she reintroduced a bill aimed at helping entrepreneurs and early-stage companies in the Badger State and around the country. Known as the Small Business Innovation Act, … Continue reading “Startup Bill, Water Council, CDI, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist”
Debates, Tours, & Beer: New Milwaukee Startup Week Unveils Schedule
What do yoga, a happy hour office crawl, an all-day hackathon, and a 70-mile bus ride have in common? All are part of the recently released schedule for Milwaukee Startup Week. More than 20 events will take place Nov. 1-6 at various sites in southeastern Wisconsin, says Matt Cordio, a co-organizer of Milwaukee Startup Week. Cordio … Continue reading “Debates, Tours, & Beer: New Milwaukee Startup Week Unveils Schedule”
Shine Medical Technologies to Move to Janesville Later This Year
Shine Medical Technologies has for years planned to build a manufacturing facility in Janesville, WI, where it would produce a crucial medical isotope. Now the company says it will move its headquarters to that city later this year, as it prepares to make the plant a reality. Shine is currently based in Monona, WI, about … Continue reading “Shine Medical Technologies to Move to Janesville Later This Year”
Catalyze Raises $6.5M for Health Data Hosting and Integration Tools
Catalyze, a Madison, WI-based startup that provides cloud hosting and data integration services for healthcare organizations, says it has raised $6.5 million from investors. Lewis and Clark Ventures of St. Louis led the Series B funding round, Catalyze says in a news release. Other participants included Arthur Ventures, Baird Venture Partners, and Chicago Ventures, all of … Continue reading “Catalyze Raises $6.5M for Health Data Hosting and Integration Tools”
Epic, Astronautics, Virent, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
Keep up with the latest news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Judy Faulkner, founder and CEO of Verona-based Epic Systems, revealed to Healthcare IT News that half of her company’s operating expenses go toward research and development. That’s ahead of competing electronic health records software vendors such as Allscripts (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MDRX]]), Athenahealth … Continue reading “Epic, Astronautics, Virent, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
Lawyer Talks Industry Trends, Improving WI’s Startup Scene, & More
Joe Boucher, a Madison, WI-based attorney, has been advising early-stage businesses for more than 30 years. He is a co-founder of Neider & Boucher, and bestlawyers.com recently named him 2017 Madison-area lawyer of the year for closely held companies and family. Earlier this week, Boucher sat down with Xconomy Wisconsin to discuss some of the … Continue reading “Lawyer Talks Industry Trends, Improving WI’s Startup Scene, & More”
Rent College Pads Raises $1M for Tools to Help Students Find Housing
Milwaukee-based Rent College Pads announced it has raised $1 million from investors to fuel the growth of its technology, which according to the startup’s website is active at 46 colleges and universities across 20 states. Rent College Pads, which focuses on helping users find off-campus housing, says that more than 2 million students have found a … Continue reading “Rent College Pads Raises $1M for Tools to Help Students Find Housing”
UW-Madison Awarded $12M NCI Grant to Study Cellectar Cancer Drug
The National Cancer Institute has awarded a $12 million grant to the University of Wisconsin-Madison that the school will use to study Cellectar Biosciences’ leading drug candidate, the company said Monday. Cellectar (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CLRB]]), which is also located in Madison, said in a news release that the university will study CLR 131, a therapeutic Cellectar … Continue reading “UW-Madison Awarded $12M NCI Grant to Study Cellectar Cancer Drug”
HealthMyne Brings On New CEO, Eyes 2017 For Commercial Launch
HealthMyne, a healthcare IT startup based in Madison, WI, has named Arvind Subramanian as its new chief executive, the company said Monday. Subramanian’s first day at HealthMyne was Aug. 1, he said in a phone interview. Subramanian replaces Praveen Sinha, who co-founded HealthMyne in 2013. Sinha will now be vice president of business development, the … Continue reading “HealthMyne Brings On New CEO, Eyes 2017 For Commercial Launch”
Arrowhead, Accuray, & SKY Imaging: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
Catch up on the latest happenings in Wisconsin’s innovation community: —Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ARWR]]) said on Wednesday that it had dosed the first patient in the next stage of a “Phase 1/2 study” of a drug aimed at treating chronic hepatitis B virus infection. The company—which is based in Pasadena, CA, but houses its research … Continue reading “Arrowhead, Accuray, & SKY Imaging: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
Spurred by New Law, ConsortiEX Snags $2.5M for Supply Chain Software
In 2012, a fungal meningitis outbreak at the New England Compounding Center, a pharmacy in Framingham, MA, ultimately claimed the lives of 64 patients. The cause of their deaths is believed to be contaminated steroid injections they received from the pharmacy, according to reporting by Newsweek and other publications. The following year, President Barack Obama … Continue reading “Spurred by New Law, ConsortiEX Snags $2.5M for Supply Chain Software”
StartingBlock Reaches Funding Goal, Moves Closer to Groundbreaking
StartingBlock Madison, a still-to-be-built entrepreneurial center just east of downtown in Wisconsin’s capital city, took another major step forward this week. The nonprofit organization says it has met its $3 million fundraising goal and, with that piece in place, can continue working toward a groundbreaking planned for later this year. The City of Madison contributed … Continue reading “StartingBlock Reaches Funding Goal, Moves Closer to Groundbreaking”
From Partner to Purchaser: Tesoro Buys Madison Biofuels Maker Virent
Lee Edwards says that for a small company like Madison, WI-based Virent, which he leads as president and CEO, partnering with larger businesses can help it do more, faster. Virent, which is developing biofuels aimed at replacing crude oil, sports an impressive roster of collaborators. It includes Coca-Cola (NYSE: [[ticker:KO]]), Honda (NYSE: [[ticker:HMC]]), and Minnesota-based Cargill, … Continue reading “From Partner to Purchaser: Tesoro Buys Madison Biofuels Maker Virent”
Arrowhead Kicks Off Phase 2 Study of AAT Drug to Treat Liver Disease
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals has initiated a Phase 2 clinical trial for its drug candidate aimed at treating rare liver diseases associated with alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency, the company said on Tuesday. AAT deficiency is a genetic disorder that involves mutation of the gene that encodes the AAT molecule. With this mutation, AAT gets trapped inside the … Continue reading “Arrowhead Kicks Off Phase 2 Study of AAT Drug to Treat Liver Disease”
Stratatech, Immucor, Tech Canary, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist
Stay current on the latest news from Wisconsin’s innovation community, starting with these recent headlines: —Mallinckrodt finalized its acquisition of Madison-based Stratatech, which is developing cell-based human skin tissue for treating burn wounds, the Wisconsin State Journal reported. Mallinckrodt (NYSE: [[ticker:MNK]]), a drugmaker based in the U.K. whose clients include burn centers, was reportedly one of several … Continue reading “Stratatech, Immucor, Tech Canary, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist”
Cellular Dynamics Says It Will Split Into Two Business Units
Cellular Dynamics International, a Madison, WI-based manufacturer of human cells, said on Thursday that it has divided the company into two business units, one for therapeutics and the other for life science research tools. The change is effective immediately, the company said. Emile Nuwaysir, CDI’s president and chief operating officer, will head up the therapeutics … Continue reading “Cellular Dynamics Says It Will Split Into Two Business Units”
Data Centers, Tax Credits, and the Conservative Case for Cleantech
In December, officials in Michigan approved the construction of a $2 billion data center in the western part of the state that’s projected to create 1,000 jobs over the next 10 years. The company behind the facility is Las Vegas-based Switch, which builds and operates large-scale data centers. According to Switch’s website, all of the … Continue reading “Data Centers, Tax Credits, and the Conservative Case for Cleantech”
Abodo Adds $4.8M to Bring Apartment-Hunting Website to More Cities
Abodo, a Madison, WI-based startup whose technology helps users find apartments and contact property managers, said on Wednesday that it had raised $4.8 million from investors. The company said it will use the equity financing to add staff and continue its national expansion. 4490 Ventures led the round. Also taking part was American Family Ventures, … Continue reading “Abodo Adds $4.8M to Bring Apartment-Hunting Website to More Cities”
Wisconsin Again Fares Poorly In Kauffman Ranking of Startup Activity
It’s beginning to sound like a broken record. For the second straight year, Wisconsin is the worst state in the U.S. for startups, according to a ranking by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Business and political leaders in the Badger State seem to be united in their displeasure with the ranking. But they’re split in … Continue reading “Wisconsin Again Fares Poorly In Kauffman Ranking of Startup Activity”
Doyenne Group, Lynx Biosciences, & Epic: This Week’s WI Watchlist
It was a busy week for members of Wisconsin’s innovation community. Let’s catch up on some of the latest news: —The Doyenne Group will manage a $1.2 million investment fund that’s aimed at supporting startups led by women and people of color, the Capital Times reported. Doyenne provided $200,000 of the total amount; the rest … Continue reading “Doyenne Group, Lynx Biosciences, & Epic: This Week’s WI Watchlist”
Fast Internet Can Lure Businesses, Says TN Entrepreneurship Advocate
Ultrafast broadband is increasingly a must-have for high-tech companies, especially those in telemedicine, 3D printing, and other emerging industries. But currently, connection speeds vary widely by location—states like Tennessee are home to cities that have built high-speed fiber Internet networks while other states, such as Wisconsin, are trying to play catch-up. An Internet signal can travel … Continue reading “Fast Internet Can Lure Businesses, Says TN Entrepreneurship Advocate”
Polco Wins Pitch Contest, Chance to Meet with Silicon Valley VCs
It seems fitting that in this election year, a startup developing technology aimed at improving public policy would capture of one of Wisconsin’s more closely watched pitch competitions. Polco won the third annual “Pressure Chamber” contest on Tuesday. The event, a production of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, is one of more than 40 … Continue reading “Polco Wins Pitch Contest, Chance to Meet with Silicon Valley VCs”
Panel: Healthtech In Madison Is Expanding Beyond Patient Records
Some national business publications have begun to recognize Madison, WI, as a market for software professionals that punches above its weight. One example was Forbes ranking the city fifth on the magazine’s 2014 list of “Cities Winning The Battle For Information Jobs.” Healthcare IT stands out as a particular strength of the area, thanks in … Continue reading “Panel: Healthtech In Madison Is Expanding Beyond Patient Records”
Consider Scoping Out These Three Events At Forward Fest Next Week
Since its 2010 launch, attendance at The Forward Festival, an entrepreneurship conference in Madison, WI, has on average increased about 20 percent annually, says Matt Younkle, a festival co-founder. But he also points out that Forward Fest, which mostly attracted professionals from the software industry early on, has broadened its focus over the years. While … Continue reading “Consider Scoping Out These Three Events At Forward Fest Next Week”
Imbed Biosciences Nabs $600K For Infection-Preventing Wound Dressing
Some experts believe that unlike in the Olympics, silver’s ability to kill bacteria and keep wounds from getting infected is second to none. Many of the antimicrobial dressings used today have such high concentrations of silver, though, that they can cause irritation and even be toxic to healthy human skin cells. Thus, “clinical guidelines recommend … Continue reading “Imbed Biosciences Nabs $600K For Infection-Preventing Wound Dressing”
Epic, Wellbe, WARF, & Arrowhead: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
Lots of recent news from Wisconsin’s innovation community to catch up on. Let’s get to it: —Healthcare IT News spoke to leaders at Verona-based Epic Systems, including founder and CEO Judy Faulkner, about the ability of hospitals and clinics that use Epic’s patient records software to exchange data with other organizations. Faulkner told the blog that … Continue reading “Epic, Wellbe, WARF, & Arrowhead: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
gBETA Graduates 10 Startups, Announces New Program in Beloit
One of Jessica Chapin’s duties as a neuropsychologist is evaluating elderly individuals for dementia. A question that often comes up during these assessments is how patients are feeling when they get behind the wheel. Sometimes it’s the middle-age sons or daughters of seniors who ask Chapin if their parents are still safe to drive, she … Continue reading “gBETA Graduates 10 Startups, Announces New Program in Beloit”
Stratatech, Maker of Skin-Like Tissue, To Be Sold To Mallinckrodt
Stratatech, a Madison, WI-based company that’s developing cell-based human tissue for treating burn wounds, has been acquired by Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, the U.K.-based drugmaker said earlier this week. Becoming part of Mallinckrodt (NYSE: [[ticker:MNK]]), which has a market cap of more than $8 billion and offices located around the world, could help speed the commercialization of … Continue reading “Stratatech, Maker of Skin-Like Tissue, To Be Sold To Mallinckrodt”
Zurex Pharma’s Antimicrobial Attracts $6.2M for Clinical Trial
Zurex Pharma, which is developing antimicrobial products for healthcare-associated infections, has raised more than $6.2 million in equity funding, according to a regulatory filing that was made public on Thursday. In a press release, Middleton, WI-based Zurex said the money is an “initial close of a Series C financing,” and will be used in part … Continue reading “Zurex Pharma’s Antimicrobial Attracts $6.2M for Clinical Trial”
Redox and Kinvey Team Up, Hoping To Simplify Healthcare App-Making
Creating a software application that can talk to a hospital or clinic’s patient record-keeping system can be messy. As a result, many third-party developers elect to use an application programming interface, like one created by the Madison, WI-based startup Redox, to get data in and out of healthcare organizations’ records systems. Still, app-makers, regardless of … Continue reading “Redox and Kinvey Team Up, Hoping To Simplify Healthcare App-Making”
EyeKor Stares Down $600K to Develop Clinical Trial Software
EyeKor, a developer of software for managing clinical trials of therapeutics for ocular diseases, has raised $600,000 in equity funding from five investors, according to a regulatory filing. The Madison, WI-based company’s flagship product, called Excelsior, is a cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform that helps researchers collect and interpret ophthalmic data. Excelsior, which in 2013 received … Continue reading “EyeKor Stares Down $600K to Develop Clinical Trial Software”
Brookings Report, Imbed, & Coinigy: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
Keep up with the latest news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —The Washington-based Brookings Institution released a report on trends in what the think tank calls “America’s advanced industries,” a group of 50 sectors with large numbers of STEM professionals. Madison, the 88th largest metropolitan area in the U.S. by population, was … Continue reading “Brookings Report, Imbed, & Coinigy: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
National Cancer Institute Awards Cellectar $2M For Clinical Study
Cellectar Biosciences has received a $2 million grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) that will support a Phase 2 clinical study of its leading drug candidate, the biotech company said earlier this week. Madison, WI-based Cellectar (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CLRB]]) said that the funding is aimed at advancing CLR 131, which has the potential to treat … Continue reading “National Cancer Institute Awards Cellectar $2M For Clinical Study”
Merging Medicine and Entrepreneurship: UW Health Docs Share Lessons
[Editor’s note: This is part of a series of stories on physicians at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics who have become full- or part-time entrepreneurs.] By the time Hans Sollinger helped launch a company for the first time, in 2004, he had performed hundreds of pancreas transplants. In the process, he had built a reputation … Continue reading “Merging Medicine and Entrepreneurship: UW Health Docs Share Lessons”
U.S. Army Awards Phoenix Nuclear Labs $3.6M in Contracts
Phoenix Nuclear Labs, which has developed particle accelerator-driven technology with applications in areas such as weapons inspections and medical imaging, said on Tuesday that it had been awarded two contracts by the U.S. Army worth a combined $3.6 million. Under the terms of the first contract, valued at $2.6 million, Monona, WI-based Phoenix will deliver to the … Continue reading “U.S. Army Awards Phoenix Nuclear Labs $3.6M in Contracts”