It’s a familiar story: a biotechnology company develops a promising product but falls short of sales projections. The company then cuts staff, realigns resources, and turns to startups to fill its depleted pipeline. While this scenario does play out in pharmaceuticals, it also describes what is happening in agriculture. Big ag companies face pressures to … Continue reading “Biotech Dealmaking Is Tough, But AgBio Deals Prove Even Tougher”
Category: Wisconsin
FAST Act Offers More Goodies to Emerging Growth Companies
Once again proving that you can’t judge a gift by its box, emerging growth companies (EGCs) received a pleasant, but oddly wrapped, surprise in December with the enactment of a new law authorizing spending on highway and transit projects. Although adopted with less fanfare than the JOBS Act, the new FAST Act (that’s short for … Continue reading “FAST Act Offers More Goodies to Emerging Growth Companies”
Swallow Solutions, Upcoming Pitches Headline This Week’s WI Watchlist
Ring in the month of March with news from Wisconsin’s innovation community: —A device made by the Madison-based startup Swallow Solutions “may be an effective treatment for older adults with dysphagia,” a difficulty swallowing often caused by weak mouth and throat muscles, and could result in fewer hospital readmissions for patients. That’s according to a … Continue reading “Swallow Solutions, Upcoming Pitches Headline This Week’s WI Watchlist”
Unequal Pay: The Worst and Best Cities for Women in Tech
It’s no secret that a wage gap exists between men and women, and that there are groups working to narrow the divide. But did you know that the disparity of pay between male and female workers, in the tech field at least, is larger in some areas of the country than others? While that much … Continue reading “Unequal Pay: The Worst and Best Cities for Women in Tech”
Exact Sciences Axes Lung Cancer Partnership With MD Anderson
After less than a year, Exact Sciences has terminated a partnership with the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center aimed at developing blood-based diagnostic tests for lung cancer. The decision to nix the agreement was mutual, MD Anderson’s Sam Hanash said in an e-mail to Xconomy. Hanash is a physician and researcher at the … Continue reading “Exact Sciences Axes Lung Cancer Partnership With MD Anderson”
Ground Breaking: Shine Receives Permit from Regulator to Build Plant
Shine Medical Technologies says it has received approval from a federal regulator to build a manufacturing facility where the company plans to produce a crucial medical isotope. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission authorized the issuance of a construction permit to Shine Thursday, says Katrina Pitas, the company’s vice president of business development. The facility will be … Continue reading “Ground Breaking: Shine Receives Permit from Regulator to Build Plant”
With New Partnership, Propeller Health To Make Inhaler From Scratch
Propeller Health knows a thing or two about inhalers. The Madison, WI-based startup, launched in 2010, has for years made electronic devices that encase or snap onto inhalers made by large pharma companies such as Germany-based Boehringer Ingelheim and U.K.-based GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: [[ticker:GSK]]). Propeller’s Internet-connected devices are designed to help asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary … Continue reading “With New Partnership, Propeller Health To Make Inhaler From Scratch”
The Road to Safe, Secure Driverless Cars
The development of autonomous vehicles promises a future of safe and efficient roads, unimpeded by distracted, impaired, aggressive, or deliberately speeding drivers. But to achieve this, the companies involved in developing driverless cars will have to navigate significant obstacles. The transition from personally controlled to automated vehicles can be likened to the shift that occurred … Continue reading “The Road to Safe, Secure Driverless Cars”
CenterX Secures $3,325,380 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=96f92cfb-33b1-47ca-8e55-fc79dee58944 Date 2/25/2016 Company Name CenterX Mailing Address 301 S. Blount Street Madison, WI 53703 USA Company Description With valuable lessons learned from our years of experience implementing the first generation of e-prescribing technologies, we founded CenterX to be modern and flexible for the cloud-based technologies of the 21st century. Website http://www.centerx.com … Continue reading “CenterX Secures $3,325,380 New Funding”
E-Prescribing Startup Snags $3.3M, May Opt to Keep Bootstrapping
Having access to millions of dollars and choosing not to draw on the funds probably requires some serious willpower. CenterX, a Madison, WI-based developer of e-prescribing software, finds itself in that situation after raising more than $3.3 million from investors, according to a regulatory document filed on Monday. Joe Reinardy, co-founder and CEO of the … Continue reading “E-Prescribing Startup Snags $3.3M, May Opt to Keep Bootstrapping”
Dyson, Maeda, Jepsen, & More at Our Napa Summit–Request Your Invite
Forget for a moment our truly mind-blowing presidential possibilities. Consider instead the wellspring of innovators and innovation out there, and you’ll feel better about the future, no matter where your political anxieties lie. And then imagine coming to Napa in mid-May to join Xconomy at our most special event—where you will enjoy first-hand interaction with … Continue reading “Dyson, Maeda, Jepsen, & More at Our Napa Summit–Request Your Invite”
Realizing the Return on Digital Health Technologies
A “Wired for Health” study recently reported by The Scripps Translational Science Institute in San Diego poses a significant challenge for those working to realize the potential of digital health technologies. The Scripps team has been investigating the relationship between wireless health-monitoring technologies, healthcare costs, and outcomes in patients with chronic disease. After equipping one cohort of patients … Continue reading “Realizing the Return on Digital Health Technologies”
Former Apple Exec: Biometrics Could Help Prevent a Backdoor for Feds
As Apple and federal authorities lock horns over whether the tech giant should provide software to weaken the defenses of an iPhone belonging to one of the shooters in San Bernardino, CA, a former Apple executive says his startup’s technology could help resolve such situations. Chuck Goldman—founder and former CEO of mobile app management company … Continue reading “Former Apple Exec: Biometrics Could Help Prevent a Backdoor for Feds”
Investor Survey, Part 2: A Pair of Seattle VCs on 2016 Themes
Will a new crop of Seattle startups rise to world domination? Will virtual or augmented reality applications create the next powerhouse tech company? Those are two of the overriding hopes and ambitions emerging from the Seattle segment of my informal cross-country survey of leading investors as I seek to unearth core investment themes and premises … Continue reading “Investor Survey, Part 2: A Pair of Seattle VCs on 2016 Themes”
Finding Innovation in the Modern Data Center
The modern data center is going through a period of transition. Traditional data center infrastructures are increasingly giving way to disruptive and innovative technologies such as cloud computing and hyperconvergence. Business demands and IT challenges are forcing executives to take a longer look at investments that will accelerate innovation, provide a competitive advantage, and achieve … Continue reading “Finding Innovation in the Modern Data Center”
SI Swimsuit Models Go Virtual With Wisconsin Printer’s Headset
Quad/Graphics has long been the company that’s printed hard copies of Sports Illustrated. Now, the two are extending their relationship into the increasingly popular world of virtual reality, starting with the magazine’s famed swimsuit issue. Sussex, WI-based Quad (NYSE: [[ticker:QUAD]]) has developed a VR viewer made from foldable paper that the company says is included … Continue reading “SI Swimsuit Models Go Virtual With Wisconsin Printer’s Headset”
Contently Acquires Docalytics for Undisclosed Sum
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a4abcb6b-f3b6-4673-9198-b6509622732c Date 2/19/2016 Company Name Docalytics Mailing Address 2224 Hanley Road Hudson, WI 54016 USA Company Description Our individual prospect engagement data and lead scoring provide you with a wealth of understanding about exactly what your leads are interested in and when/how they consumed your content, letting you target higher-interest leads faster … Continue reading “Contently Acquires Docalytics for Undisclosed Sum”
A North Carolina High School that Spins Out Entrepreneurs
Over the years, many successful ventures have emerged from North Carolina’s rich concentration of university researchers. Some of the state’s innovators get an even earlier start: high school. North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) began in 1980 as an innovation itself, founded as a public residential high school for academically talented high school … Continue reading “A North Carolina High School that Spins Out Entrepreneurs”
In Return to Roots, Understory Raises $7.5M & Relocates HQ to WI
Understory is coming home to Wisconsin with $7.5 million in tow. The weather technology startup, formerly known as Subsidence, was founded in Madison, WI, in 2012 and went through Wisconsin startup accelerator Gener8tor’s first session. A year later, the company received an investment and hands-on mentorship from Bolt in the hardware venture firm’s Boston space. … Continue reading “In Return to Roots, Understory Raises $7.5M & Relocates HQ to WI”
OnKöl, VC Ranking, & Stem Cells: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
A Silicon Valley tie-up, a new, nine-figure fund, and some flattering venture capital news are among these recent headlines from Wisconsin’s innovation community: —OnKöl, a Milwaukee-based startup whose flagship product is aimed at older adults, and ties together myriad home and health-monitoring devices, said it has been selected as a finalist for a 2016 Edison … Continue reading “OnKöl, VC Ranking, & Stem Cells: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
“Innovation” in a Competitive Startup Economy
Seventy-three percent of U.S. adults agree that we’re living in an age of significant innovation. Indeed, the pace at which new products and services are being developed is truly incredible. In 2014 alone, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) granted a record 300,678 utility patents – the most issued in a single year, ever. … Continue reading ““Innovation” in a Competitive Startup Economy”
Biotech’s Recent Headlines, Reimagined In Verse and On Stage
Dear Theranos, I noticed recently that you’re looking for a writer to work in your Palo Alto office. Please don’t tell my bosses at Xconomy, but I’m throwing my hat in the ring. In your job posting, the final requirement in particular made me think I’d be a good fit: Bold experimentation in different … Continue reading “Biotech’s Recent Headlines, Reimagined In Verse and On Stage”
Smart Choice MRI Garners $3,000,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=42d11a92-1e73-40e5-8914-8b63cfa43a67 Date 2/16/2016 Company Name Smart Choice MRI Mailing Address 1621 Miller Park Way West Milwaukee, WI 53214 USA Company Description Smart Choice MRI was built around the idea of transparency and affordability in imaging, specifically MRI. With an increasing population of patients with high-deductible insurance plans or Health Savings Accounts (HSA), … Continue reading “Smart Choice MRI Garners $3,000,000 New Financing Round”
Got Your Back End: Exis, 4 Other Startups in Gener8tor’s New Class
Last month, Facebook announced it was shuttering Parse, a platform for software developers that the social network acquired in 2013 for a reported $85 million. The news came as both a rush and a blow to Dale Willis, co-founder and CEO of Exis, a Madison, WI-based startup. Like Parse, Exis makes tools and services to … Continue reading “Got Your Back End: Exis, 4 Other Startups in Gener8tor’s New Class”
Smart Choice MRI Receives $3M from ThedaCare for Midwest Expansion
Merging with a rival often makes a lot of business sense. Investing in a company that provides competing services, by contrast, may require more explanation. Today, most magnetic resonance imaging scans are done at hospitals. But they’re being challenged by companies like Mequon, WI-based Smart Choice MRI, which charges patients a flat $600 rate for … Continue reading “Smart Choice MRI Receives $3M from ThedaCare for Midwest Expansion”
Can Innovation Improve Lives of Vulnerable Children and Families?
Technological innovation is rare in the human services field because most service providers operate with limited resources and they are forced to choose between serving more families or investing in technology. In addition, most funding in human services comes from government sources, which rely on paper processes for accountability. More specifically, social service providers lack … Continue reading “Can Innovation Improve Lives of Vulnerable Children and Families?”
BrightStar Reveals Phoenix Investment, Sale of $500K in Tax Credits
BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation has made its first investment of 2016 and has sold $500,000 in “early-stage seed” tax credits to several individuals, the foundation said this week. Phoenix Nuclear Labs, a Madison, WI-based startup that has developed particle accelerator technology with applications in areas like medical imaging and weapons inspection, is raising a funding round … Continue reading “BrightStar Reveals Phoenix Investment, Sale of $500K in Tax Credits”
Rabble On: Tech Startup Aims to Boost Local Music Through Libraries
In July, Amazon supplanted Walmart (NYSE: [[ticker:WMT]]) as the nation’s most valuable retailer, as measured by market capitalization. Those who follow technology trends could have told you they had seen this change as inevitable. Even if the news didn’t come as a huge surprise, it was yet another indicator of the impact e-commerce has had … Continue reading “Rabble On: Tech Startup Aims to Boost Local Music Through Libraries”
Patient IO Wants to Improve Care Management with Mobile Thinking
Austin — [Updated 5/5/16, 4:34 p.m. See below.] When Jason Bornhorst created Filament Labs about three years ago, the goal was to build a business that promotes healthy habits, intended to be distributed through insurance companies. “We pretty quickly figured out there was not a strong business there,” he says. The software was strong enough … Continue reading “Patient IO Wants to Improve Care Management with Mobile Thinking”
Flint’s Water, Wicab, & New Leaders: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
The water crisis in Flint, MI, funding announcements, and personnel changes are among these recent headlines from Wisconsin’s innovation community: —The physician who detected problems with Flint’s water supply and escalated her findings, bringing to light the city’s current water crisis, did so using software developed by Verona-based Epic Systems, the Wisconsin State Journal reported. … Continue reading “Flint’s Water, Wicab, & New Leaders: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
4 Worst-Case Scenarios That Make the Case For Disaster Recovery
It’s a topic frequently heard in board meetings and splashed across the news: storm-related data loss and downtime trigger threats to our IT environments. For instance, last winter in New England caused a scare among executives and IT professionals alike. Record-breaking snowfall and increased risks to regional business data created a huge buzz about the … Continue reading “4 Worst-Case Scenarios That Make the Case For Disaster Recovery”
One Writer’s Strategy for Avoiding Information Overload
This week one of my favorite podcasts, WNYC’s Note to Self, is featuring a project called Infomagical. Every day the show is sharing new challenges designed to help listeners cope with information overload. We all know that feeling of being so far behind on the e-mails, texts, articles, and all the other stuff our digital … Continue reading “One Writer’s Strategy for Avoiding Information Overload”
CD Changer: Meet Chris Wheeler, Murfie’s New CEO
[Updated 2/5/16 5:12 pm. See below.] Murfie, the online music market that will convert your collection of compact discs and vinyl records into high-quality digital audio files, has made some changes at the top of its org chart. Chris Wheeler has been named CEO, according to an e-mail from Matt Younkle, who co-founded Murfie in … Continue reading “CD Changer: Meet Chris Wheeler, Murfie’s New CEO”
Improving Odds for Women in Tech? Take Notes from Biotech
At our entrepreneurial support organization, the Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED), we often joke about adhering to the proper dress and catering code for our networking events: jeans and beer for tech; suits, wine and cocktails for life sciences. But there is more to these superficial differences between the two networks serving 1,200 entrepreneurial companies … Continue reading “Improving Odds for Women in Tech? Take Notes from Biotech”
Blood Simple? Grail’s Cancer Screening Quest Faces Tough Questions
[Corrected, 2/4/16, 2:05pm. See below.] Three weeks ago the world’s biggest genomic sequencing company, Illumina (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ILMN]]), unveiled a spinout called Grail to make blood tests that could spot all kinds of cancer in seemingly healthy people, perhaps as soon as 2019. If you know anything about the history of screening healthy people for cancer, … Continue reading “Blood Simple? Grail’s Cancer Screening Quest Faces Tough Questions”
BluDiagnostics Secures $550,000 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e93080cd-b306-4d89-8078-72c8627cd752 Date 2/4/2016 Company Name BluDiagnostics Mailing Address 613 Williamson St. Madison, WI 53703 USA Company Description bluDiagnostics is developing Fertility Finder, a device aimed at helping women struggling with infertility. The device samples saliva and measures the presence of two hormones: estradiol and progesterone. The results are sent to the patient’s … Continue reading “BluDiagnostics Secures $550,000 New Round”
How Scientific Social Work Helps People Flourish
Here’s a question for everyone who wants to change the world: Which of these innovations will have more impact on society—a first-of-its-kind experimental vaccine to prevent HIV/AIDS that’s been developed by a venture-capital-backed biotechnology company, or a big-data research study from a social work scholar that identifies the role that alcohol consumption plays in the … Continue reading “How Scientific Social Work Helps People Flourish”
Time to Ease On Down the Road
It’s been a real pleasure writing my guest op-ed pieces for Xconomy for the past six years. I’ve enjoyed sharing my thoughts about a wide spectrum of biopharma topics, and appreciated the feedback I received whether you agreed with my views or not. However, it’s time for me to move on. I’ve already started posting … Continue reading “Time to Ease On Down the Road”
With Partnership, Tesoro To Help Virent Develop Plant-Based Biofuels
In 2015, a year that saw gasoline stay relatively cheap across much of the country, vehicle sales were especially brisk in one category. Light-duty trucks, which include many pickup and SUV models, accounted for 56 percent of vehicles sold in the U.S. last year, that segment’s highest market share since 2004, according to research from Autodata … Continue reading “With Partnership, Tesoro To Help Virent Develop Plant-Based Biofuels”
Madison’s Deltanoid Names New CEO, Replacing UW Legend DeLuca
Madison, WI-based Deltanoid Pharmaceuticals has named former Genzyme executive Douglas Jermasek as its new CEO. Jermasek will replace Hector DeLuca, who has spent his life researching Vitamin D and building companies based on the compound. Xconomy profiled DeLuca and Deltanoid in late 2014. DeLuca becomes Deltanoid’s chairman, president and COO.
EatStreet, Uber Partner To Serve Chicago Diners Starting Next Month
There’s a host of startups striving to be the “Uber of (insert activity or service here).” Meanwhile, some businesses are teaming up with the ascendant San Francisco-based company—which is most widely known for its ride-hailing app, but has expanded into other areas—to tap into its huge user base and recognizable brand. According to Uber’s website, … Continue reading “EatStreet, Uber Partner To Serve Chicago Diners Starting Next Month”
CRISPR: The Path to Clinical Trials
If you have read a newspaper lately, there is a good chance you have heard about CRISPR-Cas9, the versatile gene editing technology. Over the past several months, legal battles over intellectual property, ethical concerns over editing of the human germline, jaw-dropping partnerships with pharma, and talk of IPOs have crescendoed to a steady roar, reaching … Continue reading “CRISPR: The Path to Clinical Trials”
College Ave Student Loans Obtains $20,000,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7d24ba4f-2f29-48a2-bc1f-70d3d75db524 Date 1/29/2016 Company Name College Ave Student Loans Mailing Address P.O. Box 3178 Milwaukee, WI 53201 USA Company Description College Ave Student Loans is simplifying the student loan experience so students can get on with what matters most: preparing for a bright future. Website http://www.collegeavestudentloans.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount … Continue reading “College Ave Student Loans Obtains $20,000,000 New Funding”
Three Things To Know About Doing Business in California
Since the 1849 gold rush, California has had a reputation as a great place to seek—and find—your fortune. The Golden State is home to the Golden Gate Bridge, the Golden State Warriors and, in Silicon Valley, golden opportunities. But, as you might suspect, California sometimes operates like its own country, with laws that aren’t like … Continue reading “Three Things To Know About Doing Business in California”
Fiserv, Wellbe, Epic, & Best STEM Cities: This Week’s WI Watchlist
A nine-figure fintech deal, several new funding rounds, and a look at one of the state’s tech powerhouses are among these recent headlines from Wisconsin’s innovation community: —Brookfield-based Fiserv (NASDAQ: [[ticker:FISV]]) announced it paid $200 million in cash to acquire the Community Financial Services business of Naples, FL-based ACI Worldwide (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ACIW]]). According to a press … Continue reading “Fiserv, Wellbe, Epic, & Best STEM Cities: This Week’s WI Watchlist”
The Right Resources Are Key to Growing Entrepreneurial Ecosystems
One of the more pressing issues for communities that have built emerging entrepreneurial ecosystems is how they can better support growth stage companies. There are many cities and regional hubs around the U.S. that are producing some great companies, with smart founders and talented employees, but without the right resources (outside capital, peer-to-peer mentoring, a … Continue reading “The Right Resources Are Key to Growing Entrepreneurial Ecosystems”
Top Trends in Online Lending for 2016
Though online lending has been around for over a decade, the past year was a big one for the sector. There was at least one notable IPO in late 2014, a groundbreaking partnership with one of the largest banks in the U.S., and several young online lenders crossed the billion-dollar mark in valuations. Momentum is … Continue reading “Top Trends in Online Lending for 2016”
Wellbe Receives $1,343,583 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=5203b27a-3451-43df-b563-d917ab7d6350 Date 1/26/2016 Company Name Wellbe Mailing Address 8040 Excelsior Drive Madison, WI 53717 USA Company Description Wellbe was founded in 2009 by James Dias, who has built a career in connecting the needs of real people to technologies that can improve their lives. Looking at a fragmented healthcare system that can’t … Continue reading “Wellbe Receives $1,343,583 New Round”
Johnson Controls-Tyco Merger Brings Companies Scale, Tax Savings
Milwaukee-based Johnson Controls announced it has merged with Tyco, in a deal that the two said will deliver cost and tax savings to the combined company, which like Tyco will be headquartered in Cork, Ireland. Johnson Controls’ (NYSE: [[ticker:JCI]]) product line includes heating and cooling equipment for buildings. CEO Alex Molinaroli said Tyco’s (NYSE: [[ticker:TYC]]) … Continue reading “Johnson Controls-Tyco Merger Brings Companies Scale, Tax Savings”
Looking Back on Key Acquisitions of WI Companies in the Past 5 Years
It takes a while for mergers and acquisitions to play out. While immediate insights from investors and industry observers can help their audience understand why a deal happened and what implications it will have for the parties involved, some time must pass before a thorough assessment can be made. Five years later seems like an … Continue reading “Looking Back on Key Acquisitions of WI Companies in the Past 5 Years”