Category: Wisconsin

What’s Next for American Workers as Trade, Automation Roil Manufacturing?

When Donald Trump heralded Ford’s announcement earlier this year that it would invest $1.2 billion in its Michigan plants, it was seen by some as the fulfillment of campaign promises to “bring jobs back” and put America first. Last week, the other shoe dropped with reports that Ford will cut 10 percent of its global … Continue reading “What’s Next for American Workers as Trade, Automation Roil Manufacturing?”

Gener8tor, StartingBlock, Wicab, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist

Catch up on news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Gener8tor, which has run training programs for entrepreneurs in Wisconsin and Minnesota, graduated five startups from its core accelerator program. Descriptions of the companies, which had been working from Gener8tor’s office in Madison since February, are available here. See articles in the Wisconsin … Continue reading “Gener8tor, StartingBlock, Wicab, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist”

Where Do WI And Milwaukee, Last In Startup Activity, Go From Here?

Call it a “three-peat,” a losing streak, or what you will. Just don’t call it a surprise. On Thursday, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation released its latest ranking of startup activity by state. For the third consecutive year, Wisconsin finished in last place. Many of the reactions from members of the state’s early-stage business and … Continue reading “Where Do WI And Milwaukee, Last In Startup Activity, Go From Here?”

Bio Roundup: Termeer Tribute, ASCO Peeks, Califf’s New Gigs & More

Exhausted by the nonstop drama in Washington, DC? Immerse yourself instead in this week’s biotech headlines. Let’s start with a tribute to a life sciences icon, then we’ll head around the Xconomy network with early news from the nation’s big yearly cancer meeting. There was also momentum onthe IPO front and new gigs for high-profile … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Termeer Tribute, ASCO Peeks, Califf’s New Gigs & More”

The Reconfigurable Future of Healthcare

Data plays a more central role in healthcare than ever before. It won’t be long before every person’s genome is sequenced at birth, with follow-up sequencing done at regular intervals throughout life. Each genomic check-up would produce roughly 180 gigabytes of data that will need to be processed, analyzed, and stored. The promise of using … Continue reading “The Reconfigurable Future of Healthcare”

Stem Pharm Aims to Add to Madison’s Stem Cell Past with Biomaterials

In the years since researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison derived the first human embryonic stem cell line, in 1998, numerous stem cell-focused businesses have popped up in the area. Each one has its own unique concentration, but the overarching goal of these companies is to develop and sell lines of stem cells, as well … Continue reading “Stem Pharm Aims to Add to Madison’s Stem Cell Past with Biomaterials”

Figuring It Out: Addressing Practices That Impact Women in Technology

The Women’s March, New Tech Northwest’s annual “Women in Tech” event, and International Women’s Day are just a few of the recent events prompting important conversations around inequality in the tech industry. These discussions, while breakthroughs in many regards, are still just the beginning of real change. I’ve gathered a number of ideas for what … Continue reading “Figuring It Out: Addressing Practices That Impact Women in Technology”

Proofpoint Uncovers Second Cyberattack That Uses Stolen NSA Tools

Cybersecurity company Proofpoint, which helped slow the sweeping global ransomware attack WannaCry after it emerged Friday, has now discovered a much more insidious, profitable, and potentially widespread cyberattack called Adylkuzz. Adylkuzz doesn’t demand, as WannaCry does, that victims pay a ransom to retrieve their data. Adylkuzz makes no announcement when it quietly invades target computers. … Continue reading “Proofpoint Uncovers Second Cyberattack That Uses Stolen NSA Tools”

Understory’s Weather Data Tracking Network Is Now Active in 6 Cities

Understory, a weather technology startup based in Madison, WI, has expanded its geographic footprint and named a key customer. Understory builds weather stations to measure things like wind, temperature, humidity, rain, and hail. It sells weather data to businesses such as insurance company Pacific Specialty—a customer Understory just revealed—and provides data free to consumers. With … Continue reading “Understory’s Weather Data Tracking Network Is Now Active in 6 Cities”

Exact Sciences CEO Defends Company Against Short-Seller’s Criticism

Citron Research published a report critical of Exact Sciences and its flagship screening test for colorectal cancer Monday, prompting a testy exchange on television later in the day between Exact CEO and chairman Kevin Conroy and Andrew Left, founder of Citron and a well-known short-seller. In the 13-page report, Left writes that the rate at … Continue reading “Exact Sciences CEO Defends Company Against Short-Seller’s Criticism”

5 Takeaways From the WannaCry Ransomware Attack

This may be the incident that finally pushes ransomware into the mainstream—and also forces both organizations and malicious hackers to adapt their approaches when it comes to this type of attack. The “WannaCry” virus, which first hit companies and healthcare services on Friday, has infected some 300,000 computer systems in 150-odd countries. By exploiting a … Continue reading “5 Takeaways From the WannaCry Ransomware Attack”

Amid Comey Furor, Companies React to Trump’s Cybersecurity Order

On a day dominated by news about President Trump’s firing of FBI director James Comey, and its impact on the ongoing investigation of Russian hacking of the 2016 presidential election, two significant developments for the cybersecurity industry also emerged Thursday. First, President Trump signed an executive order laying out plans to shore up data security … Continue reading “Amid Comey Furor, Companies React to Trump’s Cybersecurity Order”

Bio Roundup: Big Apple Mo’, Checkpoint Yes and No, CAR-T Death & More

“New York, New York, it’s a hell of a town. The Bronx is up, but we’re Brooklyn down.” For all you old-school Brooklyn swingers out there, we’ll take a short break from the madness in the nation’s capital and start our roundup in the greatest city in the world. You might disagree if you’ve got … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Big Apple Mo’, Checkpoint Yes and No, CAR-T Death & More”

Agro Bio, BrightStar, Stratatech, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist

Stay current on news from Wisconsin’s innovation community, starting with these recent headlines: —Agro Biosciences, a Milwaukee-area company whose technology is aimed at identifying beneficial bacteria in order to improve agricultural products, said it was acquired by Church & Dwight (NYSE: [[ticker:CHD]]), the parent company of Arm & Hammer Animal Nutrition. According to a press … Continue reading “Agro Bio, BrightStar, Stratatech, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist”

Senate Vote Confirms Scott Gottlieb for FDA Commissioner

Scott Gottlieb will be the new FDA commissioner. The U.S. Senate voted 57 to 42 on Tuesday to confirm Gottlieb, a physician and venture capitalist, to lead the regulatory agency. He succeeds former FDA commissioner Robert Califf, who stepped down in January after President Donald Trump took office. Gottlieb is already familiar with the agency … Continue reading “Senate Vote Confirms Scott Gottlieb for FDA Commissioner”

Blackriver’s Planning and Tracking Tools Gain Traction with Cyclists

Want to go for a bike ride? If so, some of your next steps might be to determine the distance of your ride, where it will begin and end, and whether you want to invite anyone else to join. Blackriver, a Madison, WI-based startup, has joined the list of companies that develop technology allowing cyclists to … Continue reading “Blackriver’s Planning and Tracking Tools Gain Traction with Cyclists”

Maker of Keyboard for Lawyers Eyes Resale Agreement, Second Product

A 2010 study on computer ergonomics by researchers at DePaul University found that selecting menu items using keyboard shortcuts was more efficient than doing so with a mouse. However, many organizations routinely erase some of the short-term memory stored on their employees’ computers. For these workers, adding custom “hot key” shortcuts is essentially futile because they … Continue reading “Maker of Keyboard for Lawyers Eyes Resale Agreement, Second Product”

Bio Roundup: NIH Precision Boost, AHCA to Senate, New Drugs & More

Two dramatic healthcare stories played out this week. First, to the jubilation of the nation’s science community, Congress proposed to boost National Institutes of Health funding, not slash it as the Trump administration had outlined. Then the patchwork revival of the GOP’s healthcare plan, despite being panned by nearly every major medical group in the … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: NIH Precision Boost, AHCA to Senate, New Drugs & More”

Propeller CEO: Engagement, Environment Among Population Health Keys

Hospitals and other healthcare organizations are turning to high-tech tools to help them adapt to the shift to so-called value-based care, where providers are paid based on patient outcomes, rather than the quantity of patient visits and services delivered. Those tools include population health management software, a sector seeing increased competition as demand from healthcare … Continue reading “Propeller CEO: Engagement, Environment Among Population Health Keys”

VC Confidence Holds Steady in Quarterly Survey, But Reasons Change

In a survey of 29 Silicon Valley venture capitalists in December, the VCs mulled whether President-elect Donald Trump would buoy up their investment prospects with lower corporate taxes and government regulations, or worsen conditions by heightening global political instability and raising the risk of a major military conflict or economic downturn. That Q4 2016 edition … Continue reading “VC Confidence Holds Steady in Quarterly Survey, But Reasons Change”

If Budget Holds, NIH Precision Study Could Be Flush As Volunteers Arrive

Until this week, many U.S. government science agencies and programs seemed destined for a big haircut, plus the loss of a limb or two. That included the Precision Medicine Initiative, an ambitious long-term study with the goal of recruiting 1 million Americans to volunteer health data. But in staving off a government shutdown, Congress pushed … Continue reading “If Budget Holds, NIH Precision Study Could Be Flush As Volunteers Arrive”

Some See Large EHR Vendors as Playing Catch-up in Population Health

Lawmakers may end up repealing the Affordable Care Act, but it has been the law of the land for enough time that some of the changes it has brought will likely leave a lasting mark on the healthcare industry. One of these changes is the shift away from fee-for-service payment models, where providers are paid … Continue reading “Some See Large EHR Vendors as Playing Catch-up in Population Health”

Analysis: Trump’s First 100 Days Through the Tech Industry Lens

Donald Trump spent his 100th day in office in ways that would appeal to his working class base—holding a campaign-style rally in Harrisburg, PA, where he confirmed his campaign commitment to controlling immigration. Trump also signed an executive order to create a White House office of trade and manufacturing policy, which aims to protect American … Continue reading “Analysis: Trump’s First 100 Days Through the Tech Industry Lens”

Epic, Zuckerberg, Cellectar, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist

[Updated 5/3/17 9:53 a.m. See below.] Keep up with the latest news from Wisconsin’s innovation community, starting with these headlines: —The U.S. Coast Guard submitted a request for information to a government procurement website related to the purchase of electronic health records (EHR) software, Healthcare IT News reported. The Coast Guard had been installing EHR software … Continue reading “Epic, Zuckerberg, Cellectar, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”

BioNetwork Power Hour

A free networking event for people who work in life sciences industries to meet others in their profession in a casual atmosphere, and have an opportunity to exchange ideas. The event supports Gilda’s Club Madison, a nonprofit dedicated to providing emotional support, education, and hope to all people affected by cancer throughout Wisconsin. The mission of Gilda’s Club Madison is to … Continue reading “BioNetwork Power Hour”

The State of Cybersecurity Insurance Today

Cyber incidents are considered the No. 1 emerging risk for enterprises long-term. No surprise, then, that cybersecurity insurance policy premiums are approaching $2.75 billion a year. Some experts believe this figure will grow to roughly $20 billion by 2025. For scores of insurance companies cashing in on the booming corporate cybersecurity insurance market, it’s a … Continue reading “The State of Cybersecurity Insurance Today”

SmartUQ Scoops Up $1.9M for Simulation Analytics Software

SmartUQ, a Madison, WI-based software developer whose digital tools allow users to test the performance of physical products and the parts they’re made of, has raised more than $1.9 million from investors. Twenty-five investors participated in the equity financing round, according to an SEC filing. Peter Qian, who founded SmartUQ in 2014 and serves as … Continue reading “SmartUQ Scoops Up $1.9M for Simulation Analytics Software”

Bio Roundup: Trumpcare Flails, Spinraza Sales, Batten OK & More

To judge the first 100 days of a new administration is, as many pundits have pointed out, an odd vestige of history, more convenient than significant. Which is why we’ll start this week’s roundup with our 99-day evaluation of the Trump administration—at least when it comes to healthcare and the life sciences. In healthcare, nothing … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Trumpcare Flails, Spinraza Sales, Batten OK & More”

Gottlieb’s FDA Nomination Gets Committee Nod, Advances to Senate

Scott Gottlieb’s nomination to the top post of the FDA is on its way to the full U.S. Senate. The Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee voted 14-9 on Thursday to approve Gottlieb’s nomination to become FDA commissioner. All of the Republicans on the committee voted for Gottlieb, along with two Democrats, Sen. Sheldon … Continue reading “Gottlieb’s FDA Nomination Gets Committee Nod, Advances to Senate”

Exact Sciences Shares Rise After Company Beats Quarterly Forecasts

[Updated 4/27/17 5:29 pm. See below.] A year ago, Exact Sciences’s stock was in a slump, languishing below $10 per share. But since then, its stock price has climbed back to more than $20 per share. That rally continued Thursday, after the medical diagnostics company released first quarter financial results that handily beat analyst expectations. … Continue reading “Exact Sciences Shares Rise After Company Beats Quarterly Forecasts”

Titan Spine, Aurora, CMFG, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist

Catch up on news from Wisconsin’s innovation community, starting with these recent headlines: —Mequon-based Titan Spine, which makes titanium cages of various shapes and sizes designed for use in spinal surgeries, said it achieved “record sales” during the first three months of 2017. In a press release highlighting the company’s recent progress, Titan Spine said that … Continue reading “Titan Spine, Aurora, CMFG, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”

Cellular Dynamics Adds to Stem Cell Work With Harvard Institute

Cellular Dynamics International, a Madison, WI-based manufacturer of human cells, recently signed a collaboration agreement with the Harvard Stem Cell Institute that’s aimed at making greater quantities of stem cells available to researchers at the institute and its affiliates. CDI concentrates in part on developing and commercializing therapies using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, which can … Continue reading “Cellular Dynamics Adds to Stem Cell Work With Harvard Institute”

Virent’s New CEO Talks Tesoro Purchase, Company Culture, and More

Last week, Virent, a Madison, WI-based developer of biofuels that are designed to replace crude oil, announced it had hired Stacey Orlandi to serve as the company’s next chief executive. Virent says its base technology can help produce cleaner and more sustainable versions of liquid transportation fuels, including gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. The 40-person … Continue reading “Virent’s New CEO Talks Tesoro Purchase, Company Culture, and More”

HistoSonics Aims To Move Forward After Raising $8.5M, Naming New CEO

Changes are afoot at HistoSonics, the University of Michigan medical device spinout based in Ann Arbor, MI. The company has a new CEO, as well as a new focus on the treatment of solid-tumor cancers. Last month, HistoSonics also closed on a $8.2 million Series B round led by Wisconsin’s Venture Investors, with contributions from … Continue reading “HistoSonics Aims To Move Forward After Raising $8.5M, Naming New CEO”

ImageMoverMD Introduces Tools to Help Hospitals Load Medical Images

After patients undergo magnetic resonance imaging procedures, they are sometimes referred to a specialist at a different hospital, and given CDs with files showing the results of their scans. But often times at the follow-up appointment, a physician who is handed a disc is left thinking, “What do I do with this?” says Gary Wendt. … Continue reading “ImageMoverMD Introduces Tools to Help Hospitals Load Medical Images”

Bio Roundup: Spinraza Woes, Science March, Baseline Launch & More

Rumblings of a new Obamacare replacement surfaced this week, while scientists and their supporters prepared for Saturday’s—a.k.a. Earth Day’s—nationwide Marches for Science. Our own reporting focused this week on the fallout from high drug prices, with a look at the frustration of families whose children have had trouble gaining access to the first drug ever … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Spinraza Woes, Science March, Baseline Launch & More”

After 3-Year Partnership, DePuy Acquires TRS Scaffolding Technology

In 2014, Plymouth, MI-based biotech startup Tissue Regeneration Systems (TRS) began collaborating with DePuy Synthes Products, a company under the Johnson & Johnson umbrella making orthopedic products, such as the devices used in joint replacements. This week, DePuy formalized that relationship with the announcement that it has acquired TRS’s FDA-approved, 3D-printed scaffolding technology that enables … Continue reading “After 3-Year Partnership, DePuy Acquires TRS Scaffolding Technology”

Request Your Invitation to Xconomy’s Elite Napa Summit June 8-9

  Nobel Laureate David Baltimore. Microbiome AND supercomputer pioneer Larry Smarr. Intellectual Ventures’ Nathan Myhrvold. Nicole Glaros of Techstars. These are just a few of the visionary speakers who will be headlining Xconomy’s sixth annual Napa Summit. And if you act fast to request your invitation to this special event, you can join them and … Continue reading “Request Your Invitation to Xconomy’s Elite Napa Summit June 8-9”

Panel: Companies’ Big Bets Suggest Cleantech Is Here to Stay

For a cleantech startup, it can make sense to fuel growth with venture capital dollars—but only up to a certain point, said Hans Liao. That was one lesson Liao learned after he left Minnesota-based Cargill, the largest private company in the U.S., and in 2009 began working at Boulder, CO-based OPX Biotechnologies, a developer of … Continue reading “Panel: Companies’ Big Bets Suggest Cleantech Is Here to Stay”

“Our Son’s Fate”: Parents Fighting for Kids’ Spine Drug Eye New Data

Melissa Marotta pulled no punches to get her three-year-old son C.J., who has the genetic disease spinal muscular atrophy, access to nusinersen (Spinraza), the first approved drug for his condition. For months, she couldn’t schedule a treatment date at Columbia University Medical Center/New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, and for much of that time, she … Continue reading ““Our Son’s Fate”: Parents Fighting for Kids’ Spine Drug Eye New Data”

Trump Executive Order Adds Uncertainty to Tech Visa Program

Is the U.S. high-skilled visa program, known as H-1B, an essential contributor to the innovation economy or a way for companies to replace American IT workers with immigrants at lower salaries? It’s a debate as old as the program itself, which began in 1990. The Trump administration on Tuesday joined the fray with a long-anticipated … Continue reading “Trump Executive Order Adds Uncertainty to Tech Visa Program”

The Xconomy Roadmap: Top 15 Innovation Areas to Watch (and Disrupt)

It is a time of great transitions in the technology and business world. Key advances in areas like machine intelligence, agriculture, and healthcare seem poised to transform society—and everyday life. But it can be hard to keep up with the latest news in fields as disparate as cybersecurity, food tech, and cancer therapeutics—let alone understand … Continue reading “The Xconomy Roadmap: Top 15 Innovation Areas to Watch (and Disrupt)”

Want to Communicate Your Science? First, Step Back

Think for a moment about the words and phrases that life science researchers and executives use on a daily basis. I’m talking about the seemingly simple phrases like “investigational drug,” “novel target,” “immunotherapy,” “clinical trial,” “in vitro,” and “therapeutic window.” There are hundreds more. Those of us who work in life sciences are comfortable with … Continue reading “Want to Communicate Your Science? First, Step Back”

Monthly Handbag Service Among 5 Startups in Latest Gener8tor Class

The list of products that businesses are now shipping to customers on a periodic basis as part of a subscription service seems to be getting longer all the time. Consumers can sign up to receive a monthly supply of makeup, wine and cheese pairings, and even cat litter, just to name a few examples. Add Ivory … Continue reading “Monthly Handbag Service Among 5 Startups in Latest Gener8tor Class”

Under New CEO, Rowheels Considers Selling More Than Just Wheels

[Corrected 4/19/17 4:18 pm. See below.] After nearly five years in business, Rowheels, a Fitchburg, WI-based maker of special wheels for wheelchairs, is expanding its team and products. [This paragraph has been updated to correctly state the amount of time Rowheels has been in business. We regret the error.] The company sells wheels that allow people in wheelchairs … Continue reading “Under New CEO, Rowheels Considers Selling More Than Just Wheels”

Why Bots Aren’t the Real AI Disruption: The Quiet Rise of Headless AI

Editor’s note: This piece was originally posted on Textio’s company blog. “Hey Siri, how’s the weather today?” “OK Google, remind me to pay the power bill.” “Alexa, tell me a joke!” Bots are eating the world. Whether you are an enterprising app developer building the essential software to bring a virtual Taylor Swift into your … Continue reading “Why Bots Aren’t the Real AI Disruption: The Quiet Rise of Headless AI”