A startup team from the University of Wisconsin that moved to San Diego in January to advance their technology for optimizing treatment regimens for cancer patients won the audience vote for best pitch at the EvoNexus Spring Demo Day last week. Lynx Biosciences founder and CEO Chorom Pak said her startup has developed microfluidic technology … Continue reading “Straight Outta Wisconsin, LynxBio Wins EvoNexus Best Demo Vote”
Category: Wisconsin
Bio Roundup: Biotech IPOs, Migraine Progress, Takeda Woos Shire & More
If the recent IPO activity seems to be on overdrive, it’s not your imagination. The number of companies filing to go public in the U.S. in the first quarter was up 44 percent compared to the same period a year ago, according to data compiled by consulting and accounting firm EY. Life science companies accounted … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Biotech IPOs, Migraine Progress, Takeda Woos Shire & More”
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”
The Edge or the Cloud? It Depends on the App
There’s no arguing that the cloud has transformed the way organizations deal with data and apps. It has freed IT departments from constantly provisioning and managing storage, while bringing overall costs down. For these reasons and more, companies everywhere are moving more and more data and compute tasks to the cloud every day. It’s important, … Continue reading “The Edge or the Cloud? It Depends on the App”
Among Facebook’s Woes, EU’s Strict Privacy Laws May Loom Largest
In a continuing effort to regain the trust of its disillusioned users, Facebook on Wednesday announced new privacy controls where settings can be made from a central menu, rather than by tunneling through as many as 20 screens. As Facebook unveiled the sweeping revisions, though, it also made a striking admission: The company knew it … Continue reading “Among Facebook’s Woes, EU’s Strict Privacy Laws May Loom Largest”
Going Downhill: Roam Robotics’ Exoskeleton Supports Aging Skiers
Robotics has found its way to the ski slopes. San Francisco-based Roam Robotics has developed an exoskeleton, worn on the legs, that the company says will improve skiers’ endurance and safety while they blaze down trails. For skiers 45 or older, Roam says, the exoskeleton can provide vital support for aging knees that might be … Continue reading “Going Downhill: Roam Robotics’ Exoskeleton Supports Aging Skiers”
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”
Are You Being Deliberate About Diversity in Your Investment Portfolio?
“We looked, but we couldn’t find any companies to acquire led by women or founders of color.” “I want to hire diverse talent, but it’s impossible to find.” “It’s not my fault that the financial sector doesn’t have a more varied talent pool or deals to make with non-white males.” I have heard all of … Continue reading “Are You Being Deliberate About Diversity in Your Investment Portfolio?”
FTC Opens New Probe: Revisits Its Old Charges On Facebook Privacy Practices
Among the host of legal woes Facebook is now confronting amid news about the misuse of its member profiles in election politics: The Federal Trade Commission revealed Monday that it is investigating the social media giant’s privacy practices. The FTC decision comes in the wake of recent reports about the ease with which political consulting … Continue reading “FTC Opens New Probe: Revisits Its Old Charges On Facebook Privacy Practices”
EY Report Suggests Improving Conditions for U.S. IPOs in 2018
U.S. IPO activity has been ticking up, with 36 IPOs raising more than $12.7 billion in the United States so far this year, according to data released Monday by EY, the global consulting and accounting firm. Although there are still several days remaining in the first quarter of 2018, EY reports the number of first-quarter … Continue reading “EY Report Suggests Improving Conditions for U.S. IPOs in 2018”
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”
Ada-AI Seeks to Build a Diverse Artificial Intelligence Community
Artificial intelligence innovation has become part of our everyday lives—retailers use it to tailor the product recommendations they make; biotech companies hope it can create customized medicine. But its shortcomings, born of human biases, are becoming apparent as well. Take, for example, facial recognition technologies that work best on white people and make the most … Continue reading “Ada-AI Seeks to Build a Diverse Artificial Intelligence Community”
SD Team Heads to US Ignite Summit to Advance Emergency Mobile App
A San Diego software development team with an idea for an emergency mobile app that it said would be faster than calling 911 is headed this week to US Ignite’s Application Summit in Kansas City, MO. The team (pictured above right) emerged as the judges’ top choice among 12 pre-qualified entrants that competed in San … Continue reading “SD Team Heads to US Ignite Summit to Advance Emergency Mobile App”
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”
Founders, Pay Attention to This Stuff—Not the Stock Market
The Dow Jones Industrial Average. Nasdaq. Startup exits. Funding rounds. In our 24/7 connected world, there’s no shortage of data you can access, study, and agonize over. The market’s latest move—from boom to correction—has commentators and analysts in a tizzy; many investors are feeling anxious, too. It’s easy to get distracted by all this chatter, … Continue reading “Founders, Pay Attention to This Stuff—Not the Stock Market”
Bio Roundup: CMS Backs Cancer Tests, Right to Try Passes, AbbVie Sinks
We’ll start this week’s roundup with several stories from Washington, DC, that could have a lasting effect on public health. The FDA continued its campaign against cigarettes, while the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) gave a much-needed boost to the developers of cancer diagnostics. In its omnibus spending bill, Congress set aside more … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: CMS Backs Cancer Tests, Right to Try Passes, AbbVie Sinks”
YouTube Limits Firearms Videos; Gun Rights Group Cries Censorship
YouTube has broadened its restrictions on gun-related videos, while thousands of Americans are mobilizing to demand stricter gun controls Saturday in a mass march spurred by young survivors of a deadly armed attack on a Florida high school last month. Google’s popular video-hosting site will bar videos that facilitate direct sales of firearms or accessories, … Continue reading “YouTube Limits Firearms Videos; Gun Rights Group Cries Censorship”
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”
At Opioid Hearing, BIO Exec Proposes Ways to Boost Pain Drug Development
After months of meetings and Congressional hearings on the unrelenting opioid addiction crisis, Congress has finally responded, with 25 bills that aim to attack the problem from all sides. The House Energy and Commerce Committee began two days of hearings on Wednesday that reviewed the draft legislation that lawmakers want to get to the House … Continue reading “At Opioid Hearing, BIO Exec Proposes Ways to Boost Pain Drug Development”
Hungry for Innovation, Big Food Firms Seek Alliances With Startups
Big Food is getting serious about innovation. Many top food companies are increasingly pumping money into supporting young, innovative startups, according to a recent analysis by CB Insights. The firms include stalwarts like Kraft Heinz (NASDAQ: [[ticker:KHC]]), which has an incubator and accelerator program called Springboard, and relative newcomers like the Greek-style yogurt maker Chobani, … Continue reading “Hungry for Innovation, Big Food Firms Seek Alliances With Startups”
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”
Uber’s Driverless Fatality Sparks Fallout and Finger-Pointing
The fallout from Uber’s autonomous car fatality continues today, with a number of new developments. We’re recapping them very quickly here, and adding two reaction quotes we received from Carrie Morton, deputy director of the University of Michigan’s Mcity research facility and test bed, and Shahin Farshchi, a partner at Lux Capital, a Silicon Valley … Continue reading “Uber’s Driverless Fatality Sparks Fallout and Finger-Pointing”
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”
AI Chip Startup Mythic Reaps $40M from SoftBank, Lockheed Venture Arms
Mythic, which last year unveiled its novel computer chip designed for artificial intelligence, announced today that it has raised $40 million in a Series B fundraising round led by the venture capital arm of Japanese telecom and tech giant SoftBank. Mythic, based in both Redwood City, CA, and Austin, TX, is one of the upstart … Continue reading “AI Chip Startup Mythic Reaps $40M from SoftBank, Lockheed Venture Arms”
Uber Suspends Driverless Testing After Fatal Accident in Arizona
The inevitable has happened. An autonomous Uber car hit a pedestrian in Tempe, AZ, and caused her death. The ride-hailing giant has suspended testing on driverless cars in Arizona, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and Toronto, according to the New York Times. This is the first known death of a pedestrian caused by a self-driving car on … Continue reading “Uber Suspends Driverless Testing After Fatal Accident in Arizona”
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”
Five Unlikely Competitors in the Race for Driverless Cars: Slideshow
Now that we know autonomous vehicles are going to be a real thing, we are watching an entirely new industry unfold. Because of the sweeping societal changes that self-driving cars are likely to bring—they’ll change transportation the most, but also could affect the way we care for the elderly, live in our homes, deliver goods … Continue reading “Five Unlikely Competitors in the Race for Driverless Cars: Slideshow”
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”
Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence
Voice recognition lets people benefit from artificial intelligence (AI) almost without a second thought – and this technology is increasingly popular. Amazon had record sales of its Alexa device last year, with millions sold over the holiday season. Google reports that since last October, it has sold at least one Google Home smart speaker every … Continue reading “Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence”
Inclusion Gets Real: A New Level of Diversity Discourse at SXSW
Austin—There’s no question that humans have plenty of biases that carry on from generation to generation, from sexism to racism to homophobia. Those problems have carried over to machines, too—bias in the data fed to computer algorithms is an issue that comes up often. Former Stanford computer science professor Daphne Koller recalled an anecdote she … Continue reading “Inclusion Gets Real: A New Level of Diversity Discourse at SXSW”
Xconomy’s Napa Summit Is June 14-15: Request Your Invite Today!
Year after year, Xconomy has gathered exemplary business leaders, investors, and far-seeing technologists to our most prestigious event—The Napa Summit. This year is no different. Come join us in the heart of wine country on June 14 and 15 to listen to visionary speakers and connect with fellow innovators. The Napa Summit is by invitation-only, … Continue reading “Xconomy’s Napa Summit Is June 14-15: Request Your Invite Today!”
Walmart Expands Same-Day Delivery, Looks to Match Amazon
At the National Retail Federation’s annual conference in January, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon called the Arkansas-based, big-box retailer a technology company. On Wednesday, Walmart (NYSE: [[ticker:WMT]]) moved to make that assertion more of a reality: upping the number of cities where it provides same-day delivery to 100 cities from six—serving about 40 percent of American households … Continue reading “Walmart Expands Same-Day Delivery, Looks to Match Amazon”
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”
No Self-Editing: Biohacker Josiah Zayner Can’t Stop Living Out Loud
Gene editing has arrived. Of the various forms of the technology, CRISPR-Cas9 is the easiest to use, and it’s already showing up in summer camps and school science labs near you. That would be middle schools. When everyone can edit an organism’s genes, how will the world change? Should we be worried? National security officials … Continue reading “No Self-Editing: Biohacker Josiah Zayner Can’t Stop Living Out Loud”
Too Many Venture Capital Cooks in the Kitchen?
At Correlation Ventures, we spend a fair amount of time using our proprietary database to identify the telltale signs of successful startups. One question we asked recently is whether there are diminishing returns for adding VCs to the board of directors at venture-backed startups. Many of us have seen highly effective boards where experienced and … Continue reading “Too Many Venture Capital Cooks in the Kitchen?”
The Minority Venture Capital Opportunity
This year marks the 30th Anniversary of the historic billion-dollar leveraged buyout of Beatrice Foods, put together by African-American business pioneer Reginald Lewis. As recently profiled in the PBS Documentary “Reginald Lewis and the Making of a Billion Dollar Empire,” Lewis was a business icon who paved the way for minority investors to ascend to … Continue reading “The Minority Venture Capital Opportunity”
Despite Pharma Ties, Some Patient Groups Protest High Drug Prices
For 20 years, Deborah Long (pictured) has been relying on powerful drugs to keep her multiple sclerosis in check. Her out-of-pocket costs were pretty reasonable until two years ago, she says, when she had to switch insurance companies. Her new insurer made her switch to a different drug, Copaxone. When she tried to fill the … Continue reading “Despite Pharma Ties, Some Patient Groups Protest High Drug Prices”
Regeneron to Slash Price of Cholesterol Drug After Showing It Saved Lives
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and partner Sanofi report new data this morning from a large, highly-anticipated trial suggesting that their drug alirocumab (Praluent) may reduce the risk of death for people with high cholesterol who have recently suffered heart attacks or strokes and are at risk of having another one or dying. And in an unusual move, Regeneron—based … Continue reading “Regeneron to Slash Price of Cholesterol Drug After Showing It Saved Lives”
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”
Price Check on Aisle 3: Grocers Use A.I., Devices to Battle Amazon
[Updated 3/13/18 1:07 pm. See below.] If a shopper interacts with technology in a typical grocery store, it’s usually at the very end—as they are paying for their items. That could be about to change, though. “Scanning loyalty cards at checkout is a lost opportunity,” says Eliahu Sussman, marketing manager at Aila Technologies, a Boston-area maker … Continue reading “Price Check on Aisle 3: Grocers Use A.I., Devices to Battle Amazon”
Bio Roundup: Trump Health, Cholesterol Wars, 23andMe OK & More
Trump administration health officials were out on the stump this week, talking tough about drug prices and healthcare value, encouraging the private sector to take the lead but letting everyone know the federal government is willing to push. In the debate over high drug prices, arguably no class of drug has been punished more by … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Trump Health, Cholesterol Wars, 23andMe OK & More”
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”
Walmart Unveils “Intelligent Food” System to Keep Produce Fresh
Food spoilage can cost big retailers like Walmart billions in losses. Now, the Arkansas-based giant says it has filed two patents on technology that can digitize the current inspection process for perishable goods. Called Eden, the initiative is in its early stages, but the idea is to use artificial intelligence and cameras to create a … Continue reading “Walmart Unveils “Intelligent Food” System to Keep Produce Fresh”
Mirror, Mirror On the Wall: How Does This Dress Look in Green?
These days, it’s not just Snow White’s stepmother who has a mirror that talks back. Thanks to augmented reality, Internet of Things, and data analytics technologies, more of us might be confronted with so-called “smart mirrors” the next time we try on clothes or accessories in a store. While mirrors are typically static pieces of … Continue reading “Mirror, Mirror On the Wall: How Does This Dress Look in Green?”
Bio Roundup: Funding Frenzy, Opioid Summit, Celgene Woes & More
Biotech startups rolled in cash this week. By our count, investors put more than $800 million into life-sciences startups in four days. The money came from a wide range of backers, not just traditional biotech venture firms. It’s early yet in 2018, but the current count could put life-sciences companies on pace to bust past … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Funding Frenzy, Opioid Summit, Celgene Woes & More”
Securing the Door: Amazon Buys Connected Doorbell Maker Ring
Amazon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]) has acquired smart-doorbell security system maker Ring as the company seeks to expand its home-security business. The purchase was first reported by Geekwire, which cited a separate report from Reuters that the deal is valued at about $1 billion. That would make Amazon’s purchase of Ring the third largest in the Seattle e-commerce … Continue reading “Securing the Door: Amazon Buys Connected Doorbell Maker Ring”
Credtech Report Card: HackerRank, CodeFights, Credly, ACT, More
Educational technology companies are augmenting the traditional educational system with their online coursework offerings, but they’re also creating a competing universe where students can find alternate learning experiences that may qualify them for a job, even if they don’t have an academic degree. A core element in this universe is the invention of new kinds … Continue reading “Credtech Report Card: HackerRank, CodeFights, Credly, ACT, More”