Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, has engaged in preliminary talks with Humana about acquiring the commercial health insurer, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing anonymous sources familiar with the talks. Buying or merging with Humana (NYSE: [[ticker:HUM]]) would turn Walmart (NYSE: [[ticker:WMT]]) into one of the country’s biggest health insurers and advance the Bentonville, … Continue reading “WSJ: Walmart in Talks to Buy Humana, Eyeing Deeper Move into Health”
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.
Microsoft Executive Myerson to Leave Amid Corporate Restructuring
Terry Myerson, a Microsoft executive who oversees its Windows and devices divisions, will leave the Seattle technology giant as part of a major corporate restructuring, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said Thursday in an e-mail to employees at the company. In a LinkedIn post, Myerson thanked his colleagues and reflected on his time at Microsoft (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MSFT]]), … Continue reading “Microsoft Executive Myerson to Leave Amid Corporate Restructuring”
Bunker, Startup That Helps Insure Gig Workers, Nabs Cash from Chubb
Many people assume that the growing “gig economy” presents few barriers to entry for workers who want to, say, start driving for Uber, or shopping for the grocery delivery service Instacart. That’s true in some cases, but many independent contractors—everyone from field service technicians to software consultants—must meet a surprising number of requirements before they … Continue reading “Bunker, Startup That Helps Insure Gig Workers, Nabs Cash from Chubb”
Foxconn, CUNA, DevCodeCamp & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
[Updated 3/28/18 4:29 p.m. See below.] Catch up on news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Foxconn Interconnect Technology said it agreed to pay $866 million in cash to acquire Belkin International, a California-based maker of phone chargers, audio cables, and other accessories. The buyer is a subsidiary of Taiwan-based Hon Hai Precision … Continue reading “Foxconn, CUNA, DevCodeCamp & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
Smartsheet Plans to Go Public as More Tech Firms Explore IPOs
Smartsheet, a developer of collaborative software that allows users to track projects and manage corporate processes, said this week it is seeking to raise $100 million as part of a planned initial public offering. Bellevue, WA-based Smartsheet’s revenues and headcount have risen sharply in recent years, though it continues to lose money on an annual … Continue reading “Smartsheet Plans to Go Public as More Tech Firms Explore IPOs”
Gener8tor Creates Program in Minnesota for Medical Device Startups
Since launching in 2012, Wisconsin-based Gener8tor has held training programs for entrepreneurs whose startups represent a wide range of industries—everything from online food ordering to weather technology to subscription services for wine and pet food. But as Gener8tor has expanded into new markets—the list of states where it’s held accelerator programs or plans to soon … Continue reading “Gener8tor Creates Program in Minnesota for Medical Device Startups”
Understory Teams Up With Monsanto to Bring Weather Tech to Argentina
[Updated 3/26/18 9:09 p.m. See below.] Many people look up information about local weather conditions to make low-stakes, everyday decisions, like whether to grab an umbrella or put on an extra layer of clothing before leaving the house. But for farmers, there’s more on the line when it comes to weather data. Many growers factor … Continue reading “Understory Teams Up With Monsanto to Bring Weather Tech to Argentina”
Renaissance Learning Turns the Page with Purchase of Minnesota Firm
Renaissance Learning, a Wisconsin company that claims its cloud-based educational software is used in more than 70 countries, said earlier this week it had acquired Myon, a developer of tools designed to improve and assess students’ reading abilities. Wisconsin Rapids, WI-based Renaissance, which focuses on K-12 education, said it plans to build applications that combine … Continue reading “Renaissance Learning Turns the Page with Purchase of Minnesota Firm”
Doyenne, Epic, Cellectar, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
Keep up with news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Doyenne Group, an organization that supports Wisconsin-based companies led by women and people of color, enrolled seven startups in its new business accelerator, the Wisconsin State Journal reported. The inaugural program reportedly kicked off in January and will run for 12 months. According … Continue reading “Doyenne, Epic, Cellectar, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
U.K. Healthcare Entrepreneur Buys Radiology A.I. Startup Behold.AI
Behold.AI, a Madison, WI-based startup developing software that flags abnormalities in medical images to help radiologists make diagnostic decisions, said it was acquired by a London-based healthcare entrepreneur. The buyer was Simon Rasalingham. He founded Medica Group, a U.K. provider of tele-radiology services, in 2003 and sold it in 2013. Now, Rasalingham and others on … Continue reading “U.K. Healthcare Entrepreneur Buys Radiology A.I. Startup Behold.AI”
Exact Sciences Brings on Mark Stenhouse as President of Cologuard
Mark Stenhouse will join Exact Sciences (NASDAQ: [[ticker:EXAS]]) as president of Cologuard, a stool-based screening test for colorectal cancer the Madison, WI, company has developed. Stenhouse spent nearly three decades at Lake Bluff, IL-based Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: [[ticker:ABT]]) and AbbVie (NYSE: [[ticker:ABBV]]), a pharmaceuticals-focused spinout of Abbott Laboratories launched in 2013. Most recently, Stenhouse was … Continue reading “Exact Sciences Brings on Mark Stenhouse as President of Cologuard”
Exact Sciences: Harry Connick Jr., Wife to Lead New Cancer Campaign
[Updated 3/19/18 5:06 p.m. See below.] Two months after Exact Sciences said it planned to introduce a new celebrity spokesperson to plug its stool-based screening test for colorectal cancer, the company has pulled back the curtain on who it will be. The recording artist and entertainer Harry Connick Jr. will attempt to raise awareness about … Continue reading “Exact Sciences: Harry Connick Jr., Wife to Lead New Cancer Campaign”
Dohmen’s $1.6M Helps i.c. stars Expand to Milwaukee, Other Cities
A Chicago-based organization that teaches technology skills to young adults who have overcome adversity says it plans to begin holding programs in Milwaukee. Inner-City Computer Stars Foundation, or i.c. stars, says it plans to team up with companies in Milwaukee to place hundreds of young adults in jobs that require knowledge of computing concepts and … Continue reading “Dohmen’s $1.6M Helps i.c. stars Expand to Milwaukee, Other Cities”
With New Cash, Curate Helps Builders Scrape the Web for New Business
After political and business leaders announced last July that the Taiwanese giant Foxconn planned to construct an enormous display manufacturing facility in Wisconsin, people in the state were eager to learn the exact location where the plant would be built. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., which agreed to provide Foxconn with up to $3 billion … Continue reading “With New Cash, Curate Helps Builders Scrape the Web for New Business”
Johnson Controls, Dohmen, PerBlue & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist
Stay current on news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Johnson Controls International (NYSE: [[ticker:JCI]]) said it’s considering selling its Power Solutions business, or spinning it out into a separate company. JCI said the corporate division, which sells car batteries and other auto parts, had total revenues of $7.3 billion in the fiscal … Continue reading “Johnson Controls, Dohmen, PerBlue & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist”
Froedtert Provides Patients with Symptom Checker from Boston Startup
Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin says it’s made an online symptom checker developed by a Massachusetts startup available to patients who receive care at the Milwaukee-based hospital and clinic network. The new tool for Froedtert patients is from Buoy Health. The Boston-based company has developed an online chatbot that searches through thousands of … Continue reading “Froedtert Provides Patients with Symptom Checker from Boston Startup”
Cigna to Buy Express Scripts, As Industry Continues to Consolidate
Cigna, one of America’s largest health insurance providers, said Thursday it had agreed to acquire Express Scripts in a deal valued at $52 billion. St. Louis-based Express Scripts (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ESRX]]) is the nation’s largest pharmacy benefit manager, or PBM. Organizations in that category manage prescription drug programs for commercial and government-provided health plans. Express Scripts … Continue reading “Cigna to Buy Express Scripts, As Industry Continues to Consolidate”
Washington State Restores Net Neutrality Rules, Hitting Back at FCC
Net neutrality is back online in Washington State. On Monday, Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill that restores a hotly debated—and recently repealed—set of protections for Internet users in the state. The new law prohibits broadband providers from slowing or blocking traffic to particular websites and Internet services. For consumer protection advocates and other net … Continue reading “Washington State Restores Net Neutrality Rules, Hitting Back at FCC”
EnsoData Raises $1.5M to Develop A.I.-powered Sleep Analysis Tools
An estimated 29.4 million adults in the U.S. suffer from sleep apnea, a major contributor to the “epidemic” of Americans not getting enough sleep, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sleep apnea—interruptions in breathing that can be caused by obstructions such as the tonsils—is a progressive disorder that can be life-threatening. But before … Continue reading “EnsoData Raises $1.5M to Develop A.I.-powered Sleep Analysis Tools”
Epic, Microsoft A.I. Tools Show Promise Predicting Health Problems
A Louisiana-based hospital network’s recent study of machine learning tools from Epic Systems provides the latest glimpse of healthcare’s possible future, if advocates of artificial intelligence technologies have their way. Ochsner Health System, which operates 30 hospitals and 80-plus clinics in Louisiana and Mississippi, says it’s among the dozens of healthcare organizations in the U.S. … Continue reading “Epic, Microsoft A.I. Tools Show Promise Predicting Health Problems”
Exact Sciences: Severe Flu Season Slows Down Cancer Test’s Sales
Exact Sciences says two staples of winter—cold weather and flu season—have led patients and doctors to cancel more medical appointments than usual in recent months. As a result, the growth of Cologuard, Exact’s stool-based DNA test for colorectal cancer screening, has slowed, the Madison, WI-based company said. Exact (NASDAQ: [[ticker:EXAS]]), which is developing screening tests … Continue reading “Exact Sciences: Severe Flu Season Slows Down Cancer Test’s Sales”
Exact Sciences Shares Fall, Despite Better-Than-Expected P&L Results
Exact Sciences reported quarterly profit-and-loss results Thursday that beat many analysts’ estimates. However, investors did not on the whole appear to be impressed, sending the company’s stock price more than 6 percent lower in after-hours trading. Madison, WI-based Exact (NASDAQ: [[ticker:EXAS]]), is developing screening tests for a variety of cancers. Its flagship product is Cologuard, … Continue reading “Exact Sciences Shares Fall, Despite Better-Than-Expected P&L Results”
Exact Targets Large Hospital Systems to Boost Sales of Cancer Test
Exact Sciences is setting its sights on large hospital systems across the country as part of an effort to get more doctors to order Cologuard, Exact’s stool-based DNA test for colorectal cancer screening, for their patients. Madison, WI-based Exact (NASDAQ: [[ticker:EXAS]]) launched Cologuard in 2014 and as of last month, nearly 102,000 clinicians in the … Continue reading “Exact Targets Large Hospital Systems to Boost Sales of Cancer Test”
Dohmen Company to Sell Life Science Services Subsidiary
Dohmen Company, a Milwaukee-based conglomerate of healthcare businesses, said earlier this week that it had sold its subsidiary Dohmen Life Sciences Services, or DLSS. The buyers are New York-based private equity firm JLL Partners and Water Street Healthcare Partners, a Chicago-based healthcare investor. Dohmen did not disclose specific financial terms in its announcement of the … Continue reading “Dohmen Company to Sell Life Science Services Subsidiary”
With Brandery Tie-Up, Gener8tor Continues Expansion Across Heartland
Gener8tor plans to hold its first entrepreneurial training programs in Ohio later this year, marking the latest step in the Wisconsin-based organization’s regional expansion. Launched in 2012, Gener8tor helps startup companies with things like pitching their products, adding users and customers, and raising money from investors. Gener8tor itself invests in and takes equity stakes in … Continue reading “With Brandery Tie-Up, Gener8tor Continues Expansion Across Heartland”
Shine, BrightStar, Understory & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist
Catch up on the latest news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Shine Medical Technologies completed construction on an 11,400-square-foot prototype production facility, where it will train workers and test its particle accelerator-based technology for producing a radioisotope used in diagnostic medical imaging procedures. The company said that this summer, the facility “will … Continue reading “Shine, BrightStar, Understory & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist”
LGC Acquires Lucigen, Marking Latest Exit for CEO Ralph Kauten
Chalk up another exit for Ralph Kauten. Kauten, one of Wisconsin’s more successful biotech entrepreneurs, is chairman and CEO of Lucigen, a Middleton, WI-based vendor of life sciences research tools that on Friday said it has been acquired by LGC. LGC, which is based in the U.K. and says it has 2,300 employees, provides testing … Continue reading “LGC Acquires Lucigen, Marking Latest Exit for CEO Ralph Kauten”
Arrowhead Plans Return to Clinic With New Study of Hep B Drug
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals is back in the clinic. On Thursday, Pasadena, CA-based Arrowhead—which houses its research and development operations in Madison, WI—said regulators cleared the company to initiate a clinical study of a drug it’s developing to treat chronic hepatitis B virus. Arrowhead (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ARWR]]) said it expects to enroll about 60 patients in the Phase … Continue reading “Arrowhead Plans Return to Clinic With New Study of Hep B Drug”
Stratatech Begins Test of Engineered Skin for Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Stratatech is moving forward with tests of a genetically engineered human skin that could heal the sores and wounds many diabetic patients get on their feet. Madison, WI-based Stratatech, a subsidiary of U.K.-based Mallinckrodt (NYSE: [[ticker:MNK]]), said Wednesday that it had enrolled the first patient in a study of the skin tissue, called ExpressGraft-C9T1. Stratatech … Continue reading “Stratatech Begins Test of Engineered Skin for Diabetic Foot Ulcers”
Stem Cell Firm Cellular Dynamics to Provide Heart Cells to Takeda
Fujifilm said it plans to use stem cells developed by Cellular Dynamics International, a Wisconsin-based company it owns, as part of a new partnership between Fujifilm and Takeda Pharmaceutical that’s aimed at developing regenerative medicine therapies. Takeda and Fujifilm, both headquartered in Japan, recently signed a contract giving Takeda the global commercialization rights to therapies … Continue reading “Stem Cell Firm Cellular Dynamics to Provide Heart Cells to Takeda”
Foxconn, Gener8tor, URP, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
Keep up with the latest news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Foxconn purchased a seven-story office building in downtown Milwaukee that will serve as the Taiwanese multinational’s Wisconsin headquarters, according to a news release issued by Gov. Scott Walker. Foxconn, which is perhaps best known for assembling iPhones, iPads, and other gadgets … Continue reading “Foxconn, Gener8tor, URP, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
FDA Nod for NorthStar Device Clears Way to Make Medical Radioisotope
A Wisconsin company has moved one step closer to becoming the first domestic producer in decades of a crucial medical radioisotope after receiving a key approval from the FDA on Thursday. The agency approved a device developed by Beloit, WI-based NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes that could be key to supplying a radioisotope whose scarcity has sparked … Continue reading “FDA Nod for NorthStar Device Clears Way to Make Medical Radioisotope”
4490 Ventures Raises $49M Fund to Support Startups in Midwest
4490 Ventures, a Madison, WI-based venture capital firm that supports startups in the Midwest, has raised $49 million for its second fund, according to a document filed with federal securities regulators on Wednesday. Greg Robinson, managing director at 4490, says the document is an “interim filing” and 4490 plans to finish raising its second fund … Continue reading “4490 Ventures Raises $49M Fund to Support Startups in Midwest”
Fiserv to Net $395M from Partial Sale of Business to Warburg Pincus
Fiserv, a financial technology business that has fueled its growth in part through a series of mergers and acquisitions, said Wednesday that the private equity firm Warburg Pincus purchased a controlling interest in Fiserv’s lending unit. Brookfield, WI-based Fiserv (NASDAQ: [[ticker:FISV]]) said Warburg Pincus, of New York, acquired a 55 percent share in Fiserv’s Lending … Continue reading “Fiserv to Net $395M from Partial Sale of Business to Warburg Pincus”
Virtual Assistant Startup iDAvatars to Shut Down, Seek Buyer
Sophisticated virtual assistants could become powerful tools in healthcare, finance, and other sectors, but the market for them is still relatively small and fraught with potential pitfalls—especially for startups. The story of iDAvatars, a Mequon, WI-based company that develops software allowing users to interact with virtual assistants, is one of the latest reminders. The firm … Continue reading “Virtual Assistant Startup iDAvatars to Shut Down, Seek Buyer”
Electric Harley, Ab E, D2P, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
During a ceremony held at dawn on Friday in Sun Prairie, WI, Jimmy the Groundhog saw his shadow, which according to Groundhog Day lore means Wisconsin will not be having an early spring this year. Whether it’s frigid temperatures, flu season, or something else keeping you indoors, take a few minutes to stay current on … Continue reading “Electric Harley, Ab E, D2P, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
Microsoft to Provide Backing for Gener8tor’s Detroit Programs
Microsoft has expanded its partnership with Gener8tor, an organization that holds training programs for entrepreneurs in several Midwestern states, to support startups with connections to the Detroit area. Wisconsin-based Gener8tor said that with support from Microsoft (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MSFT]]), it will enroll up to 15 companies in free, seed-stage accelerator programs each year. Startups selected to … Continue reading “Microsoft to Provide Backing for Gener8tor’s Detroit Programs”
Epic Upgrades Records-Sharing App in Bid to Improve Interoperability
Epic Systems says it’s added new features to Care Everywhere, a software application allowing the company’s 300-plus hospital and health clinic customers to share information about their patients. About 190 million people have a current medical record in Epic, according to the Verona, WI-based business. When members of this patient population go to another hospital … Continue reading “Epic Upgrades Records-Sharing App in Bid to Improve Interoperability”
Amazon’s New Healthcare Venture: Insurance, Drugs, or Something Else?
After months of speculation that Amazon could soon expand its presence in the healthcare sector, the Seattle-based online retail leader said Tuesday that it plans to launch a joint venture with Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase to provide the three companies’ U.S. employees “with simplified, high-quality, and transparent healthcare at a reasonable cost.” The companies … Continue reading “Amazon’s New Healthcare Venture: Insurance, Drugs, or Something Else?”
Exact Sciences, Generic Drugs, WEDC & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist
Catch up on news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Citron Research published its second report in the past 12 months arguing that prospective investors should think twice before buying stock in Madison-based Exact Sciences (NASDAQ: [[ticker:EXAS]]). The company’s flagship product is a non-invasive, stool-based DNA test for colorectal cancer called Cologuard. In … Continue reading “Exact Sciences, Generic Drugs, WEDC & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist”
With Medical Records Tools, Apple Wades Deeper Into Digital Health
[Updated 1/24/18 4:09 p.m. See below.] Apple said Wednesday it plans to introduce new features that will allow iPhone users to access parts of their medical records through the company’s Health app. The move could impact the interoperability of health records software and spark more competition in the health IT industry. Cupertino, CA-based Apple (NASDAQ: … Continue reading “With Medical Records Tools, Apple Wades Deeper Into Digital Health”
NeuroPointDX Turns to Crowdfunding to Get Key Study Past Finish Line
Autism is hard to diagnose—there’s currently no medical test to diagnose the disorder, and teams of experts typically make diagnosis decisions based on their assessments of patients’ behavior. NeuroPointDX aims to change that with a test that could potentially diagnose the condition by analyzing the metabolism of a child from a small blood sample. NeuroPoint, … Continue reading “NeuroPointDX Turns to Crowdfunding to Get Key Study Past Finish Line”
Exact, Spectrum, PerBlue, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
It was a newsy week for Wisconsin’s innovation community. Catch up on some of the major happenings with these recent headlines: —Exact Sciences’ (NASDAQ: [[ticker:EXAS]]) stock price finished the trading day on Wednesday down nearly 10 percent after the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) published the results of a study evaluating a liquid biopsy … Continue reading “Exact, Spectrum, PerBlue, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
Q&A: Dell Med’s DeSalvo Talks Social Health Startups, Data Ownership
Karen DeSalvo has experience working in the public sector, but she’s hardly what you’d call a government bureaucrat. DeSalvo, who is trained as a physician, served as the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology from 2014 to 2016 under President Barack Obama. During some of the time she headed the ONC, as the office is … Continue reading “Q&A: Dell Med’s DeSalvo Talks Social Health Startups, Data Ownership”
Nordic to Move Into Management Consulting After Partial Acquisition
Nordic, a healthcare consulting firm that advises on implementations of computerized patient records software and other projects, said Tuesday that it had acquired part of The Claro Group. Madison, WI-based Nordic said its acquisition of Chicago-based Claro’s revenue cycle transformation practice marks the Wisconsin company’s first foray into “the technology-agnostic management consulting world.” Up to … Continue reading “Nordic to Move Into Management Consulting After Partial Acquisition”
Titan Spine, Which Saw Major Sales Growth in 2017, Raises $7.8M
Titan Spine, a Mequon, WI-based company that sells surgical implants designed for spinal surgeons to use when operating on patients, raised more than $7.8 million from investors across two separate funding rounds that closed in late December. Titan’s products include a line of titanium “Endoskeleton” cages that are implanted to stabilize a patient’s spinal cord … Continue reading “Titan Spine, Which Saw Major Sales Growth in 2017, Raises $7.8M”
Exact Sciences, Shine, Redox & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
Keep up with the latest news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Exact Sciences said it plans to raise up to $600 million through the sale of notes that can be converted into cash or shares of the company’s common stock, starting in 2025. Madison-based Exact (NASDAQ: [[ticker:EXAS]]) is developing several screening tests … Continue reading “Exact Sciences, Shine, Redox & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
TAI Diagnostics Raises $10M, Inks Deal With United Therapeutics
TAI Diagnostics said earlier this week that it had closed a $10 million round of funding and forged a new partnership with United Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:UTHR]]). Wauwatosa, WI-based TAI, whose name stands for “Transplant and Immunology” and is pronounced “tie,” is seeking to commercialize a non-invasive test to monitor the health of transplant recipients. Three-year-old … Continue reading “TAI Diagnostics Raises $10M, Inks Deal With United Therapeutics”
Wisconsin VC Total Down in 2017, But New Funds Seek to Reverse Trend
Startups in Wisconsin raised about $116 million in funding last year, a total that represents a steep drop compared to recent years. The figures come from PitchBook and the National Venture Capital Association, two groups that monitor investment activity nationwide. According to their data, the state’s funding totals in 2016 and 2015 were $223 million … Continue reading “Wisconsin VC Total Down in 2017, But New Funds Seek to Reverse Trend”
Cellectar Biosciences Shutting Down Manufacturing Operations
Cellectar Biosciences has begun shutting down manufacturing operations at its headquarters and its plan going forward will be to have one of the company’s existing partners handle finished product manufacturing, Cellectar CEO Jim Caruso said Monday. Madison, WI-based Cellectar (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CLRB]]) is developing drugs with the potential to treat malignant tumors and certain forms of … Continue reading “Cellectar Biosciences Shutting Down Manufacturing Operations”