Category: Wisconsin

Time to Bring Our Education System in Line with the 21st Century

The most pressing issue facing the innovation community is the lack of a robust tech talent pipeline to support emerging new enterprises and to help legacy industries adapt. While other countries are developing workers with skills to compete in the 21th century, our country’s education system remains stuck in the 20th. Not only do public education programs lack … Continue reading “Time to Bring Our Education System in Line with the 21st Century”

In the Face of Genomic Data Challenges, the Cloud Keeps Us Afloat

The data intensity of genomics is so intense that it’s difficult for most people to comprehend. According to estimates published in the journal PLOS Biology in July, as many as 2 billion human genomes could be sequenced by 2025, which would far exceed the data output expected of other “big data domains,” such as astronomy, … Continue reading “In the Face of Genomic Data Challenges, the Cloud Keeps Us Afloat”

A Midwesterner’s View of Boston Tech: 4 Takeaways, 4 Stories

When it comes to building vibrant tech hubs, the scenery might look different, but the ingredients are often the same. At least, that’s been my experience so far in writing about innovation for Xconomy in both Wisconsin and Massachusetts. When I moved from Milwaukee to Boston in September, I braced myself for an eye-opening and … Continue reading “A Midwesterner’s View of Boston Tech: 4 Takeaways, 4 Stories”

Infrastructure Investments Are Key to U.S. Future

The issue that makes me most angry is the lack of investment in the infrastructure of the United States. From roads to mass transit to science to education, we are falling behind (or further behind) other regions. It’s a false economy, as lack of investment now means less capability to generate returns in the future. … Continue reading “Infrastructure Investments Are Key to U.S. Future”

Innovation vs. Healthcare Spending: Biotech’s Biggest Looming Challenge

Let’s start with the good news. We are at the beginning of a transformation in human health, treating diseases in ways that we could only speculate about in the recent past. While biology isn’t quite engineering (yet), biotech has become a technology-based, high-growth, high-wage space, all while working to cure cancer. Doing well by doing … Continue reading “Innovation vs. Healthcare Spending: Biotech’s Biggest Looming Challenge”

Rowheels Receives $1,500,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=195695c2-6241-415d-948d-b1ce5a2fb2ce Date 12/28/2015 Company Name Rowheels Mailing Address 2895 Commerce Park Dr. Fitchburg, WI 53719 USA Company Description Rowheels Inc. was founded in 2011 with the goal of developing the reverse propulsion wheel concept into a commercially viable product that could help users suffering from repetitive stress injuries of the shoulder. Current … Continue reading “Rowheels Receives $1,500,000 New Funding Round”

Five Cybersecurity Trends to Watch in 2016

To no one’s surprise, cybersecurity continued to be a key area of concern and struggle among organizations of all sizes in 2015. However, buried amongst the constant news cycle of new attacks and sophisticated breaches is the fact that more business leaders are understanding the importance of cybersecurity and its potential impact on the organization. … Continue reading “Five Cybersecurity Trends to Watch in 2016”

Pharmabros, Designer Babies, And Other Final Words For 2015

Every three months, Oxford Dictionaries releases its new entries, and modern language mavens everywhere have a field day. A few of my favorites from the summer update: weak sauce, microaggression, cupcakery, and at the risk of perpetuating wholly unfair stereotypes about journalists, beer o’clock. With that, I kick off my final column of 2015, a … Continue reading “Pharmabros, Designer Babies, And Other Final Words For 2015”

The Scientist and the Student: Thoughts on Lessons Learned From a Mentor

What is a key relationship or turning point that helped you get to where you are today? This is a great question. I suspect because it comes up so often in interviews, we tend to underplay the importance of the topic. We get familiar with the answer and over time, lose the tacit feel for … Continue reading “The Scientist and the Student: Thoughts on Lessons Learned From a Mentor”

Bridge to Cures Eyes More Funds, Bigger Programs to Nurture Startups

Milwaukee’s small life sciences scene doesn’t usually grab the attention of big venture capital firms, so it’s perhaps surprising that a recent event attracted investors from the likes of Novartis and OrbiMed. The draw was the first healthcare innovation pitch event put on by Bridge to Cures—a Milwaukee-area nonprofit accelerator for healthcare companies spun out … Continue reading “Bridge to Cures Eyes More Funds, Bigger Programs to Nurture Startups”

Wheeling And Dealing: WISC Partners To Invest Up To $1.5M In Rowheels

During a 2011 sailing trip, Rimas Buinevicius sustained a spiral fracture to his leg that landed him in a wheelchair for more than two months. It was his first time using a wheelchair for an extended period, and he says he was determined not to let the injury sideline him completely. “I had a lot … Continue reading “Wheeling And Dealing: WISC Partners To Invest Up To $1.5M In Rowheels”

Location Everywhere: What We’ll See in 2016

2016 is going to be a pivotal year for location- and proximity-based technology solutions. Companies across industries are testing the deployment of location aware infrastructures, opening up a world of possibilities. Location technology adoption will likely mirror that of social networks over the past 10 years. On balance, and with good direction, location-enabled experiences are … Continue reading “Location Everywhere: What We’ll See in 2016”

Cellular Dynamics, Epic, & Wellbe: This Week’s Wisconsin Watch List

Take a break from the hectic run-up to the holidays and check out these recent major headlines from Wisconsin’s innovation community: —A judge granted preliminary approval to a settlement in a class-action shareholder lawsuit against Madison-based Cellular Dynamics International, the Wisconsin State Journal reported. In April, CDI tentatively settled three similar lawsuits challenging the biotech’s $307 million sale … Continue reading “Cellular Dynamics, Epic, & Wellbe: This Week’s Wisconsin Watch List”

Five Trends Ready to Disrupt In-Store Retail in 2016

With 2015 coming to a close, retailers are looking ahead for the next wave of technology that will impact in-store innovation. While we’re still waiting for some popular 2015 predictions to take off, including the merging of online recommendation engines with in-store visits, other trends such as e-commerce sites opening more brick and mortar locations … Continue reading “Five Trends Ready to Disrupt In-Store Retail in 2016”

The Big Value Creation Trend of 2015: Q&A with Jonathan Medved

When OurCrowd founder and CEO Jonathan Medved gives a talk about crowdfunding, as he did at the recent Stocktoberfest conference in San Diego, there is one particular slide in his deck that is something of a show stopper. Medved says it is the one slide that tells the whole story—explaining in one bar chart why … Continue reading “The Big Value Creation Trend of 2015: Q&A with Jonathan Medved”

Smart Choice MRI Garners $6,500,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2c188e43-31c9-47d0-af85-7625ad1bcaaf Date 12/22/2015 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 $6,500,000 New Financing”

Corvisa Acquired by Silicon Valley’s ShoreTel for $8.5M

Milwaukee-based Corvisa, which develops cloud-based software for call centers and other businesses, was sold on Monday to a California communications company for $8.5 million. The all-cash deal is part of a strategic shift for Kansas City, MO-based Novation Companies (OTC: [[ticker:NOVC]]), a public holding company that focuses on scaling startups, which had owned a majority … Continue reading “Corvisa Acquired by Silicon Valley’s ShoreTel for $8.5M”

Patient Investors, Impatient Researchers Essential for Clean Energy Future

Maybe it’s something in the Seattle air that we share, but over the last few weeks, I’ve learned that Bill Gates and I worry about similar things. In interviews with The Atlantic and The Washington Post Gates said: “Historically, it takes more than 50 years before you have a substantial shift in energy generation, but … Continue reading “Patient Investors, Impatient Researchers Essential for Clean Energy Future”

The Best Podcasts of 2015: A Guide for New Listeners

The percentage of Americans who say they’ve never listened to a podcast is steadily shrinking, but it’s still pretty large — 67 percent, according to a 2015 survey by Edison Research and Triton Digital. I’m going to assume for a minute that you’re in this uninitiated group. You know what podcasts are, and you’re vaguely … Continue reading “The Best Podcasts of 2015: A Guide for New Listeners”

Digital Business, Data-Driven Consumers, and the Dark Web

It’s that time of year again, where we look ahead to determine what tech trends will make the most significant impact in 2016. From my view, data analytics and our digital way of life will increasingly transform the world and the nature of business. Here are a few ways I see that playing out in … Continue reading “Digital Business, Data-Driven Consumers, and the Dark Web”

The Day After His Arrest, Martin Shkreli Is Out At Turing Pharma

Martin Shkreli was arrested for securities fraud yesterday, and today he has one fewer business to run. Turing Pharmaceuticals announced this morning Shkreli has resigned his post as CEO. His departure from Turing marks the second time he has built a company, only to leave under no small amount of controversy. The federal government is … Continue reading “The Day After His Arrest, Martin Shkreli Is Out At Turing Pharma”

@1403 Aims to Foster Innovation on UW-Madison Campus and Beyond

Since taking office two years ago, University of Wisconsin-Madison chancellor Rebecca Blank has championed the effort to make more resources available to members of the campus community who have ideas for new companies. In 2013, Blank, who has previously served as U.S. commerce secretary, told UW-Madison’s news service she sees universities as “idea factories” critical … Continue reading “@1403 Aims to Foster Innovation on UW-Madison Campus and Beyond”

With Pierre Fabre Deal, Cellectar Shifts Strategy Under New CEO

Six months into his tenure as CEO of Cellectar Biosciences, Jim Caruso’s plan for retooling the business is taking shape. Having shelved its cancer diagnostics business, the Madison, WI-based biotech is going all-in on drugs and has found its first partner. Cellectar on Wednesday announced it will work with French drug company Pierre Fabre to develop … Continue reading “With Pierre Fabre Deal, Cellectar Shifts Strategy Under New CEO”

From Google to Novartis: Business Showed Up Big at World Climate Talks

When negotiators from 195 countries met in Paris to hammer out an agreement to fight climate change, the two-week meeting in December was notable for many reasons. In an historic accord, the nations set a goal of limiting the warming of the planet to below 2 degrees C—even as low as 1.5 degrees C. The … Continue reading “From Google to Novartis: Business Showed Up Big at World Climate Talks”

Smart Choice MRI, WARF, & Promega: This Week’s Wisconsin Watch List

A capital-fueled expansion, a nine-figure acquisition, and two end-of-year awards are among the major recent headlines from Wisconsin’s innovation community: —Smart Choice MRI, which is based in the Milwaukee area and operates six clinics in Wisconsin that provide relatively low-cost magnetic resonance imaging services, has raised $6.5 million in new funding. Milwaukee-based F Street Capital led … Continue reading “Smart Choice MRI, WARF, & Promega: This Week’s Wisconsin Watch List”

London Notebook: Conversations Inside The Biomedical Golden Triangle

Xconomy had reporters in eight locales when I joined in the spring of 2014. Since then, we have expanded into Texas and North Carolina, adding two more locales where we cover the life sciences and much more. We’re always looking for the next place to put down roots. One big place on our radar is … Continue reading “London Notebook: Conversations Inside The Biomedical Golden Triangle”

Crealta Spins Struggling Arthritis Drug Into $510M Horizon Payday

In two years, Crealta Pharmaceuticals turned a floundering treatment for a rare type of arthritis into an enticing asset. Now, it’s cashing out, to the tune of $510 million in cash. Crealta is being acquired by Dublin-based Horizon Pharma (NASDAQ: [[ticker:HZNP]]), which wants access to pegloticase (Krystexxa). It’s the only FDA-approved drug for treating chronic … Continue reading “Crealta Spins Struggling Arthritis Drug Into $510M Horizon Payday”

Wantable Delivers Growth in Crowded Monthly Box Subscription Sector

It’s always tough to pinpoint the exact moment when an industry has grown too saturated, but we might already be there with the number of e-commerce companies that deliver boxes of goods to monthly subscribers. You’ve probably heard of Birchbox (beauty products), Trunk Club (clothing), and Dollar Shave Club (razors). There are hundreds of others, … Continue reading “Wantable Delivers Growth in Crowded Monthly Box Subscription Sector”

Capital Midwest Raises $30M of Possible $150M for Third Fund

Capital Midwest Fund, a venture capital fund based in the Milwaukee area, has raised nearly $30 million from 32 investors for its third fund, according to a document filed with the SEC on Thursday. The investor group plans to raise up to $150 million for its latest fund, according to the filing. That would make … Continue reading “Capital Midwest Raises $30M of Possible $150M for Third Fund”

Austin, Denver Score High in U.S. List of Software Engineer Pay

If you are a software engineer, you are in demand. This you know. What you may not know is how your salary stacks up to that of your peers around the country. For that, I present to you the State of U.S. Salaries Report, courtesy of a San Francisco company called Hired. To no one’s … Continue reading “Austin, Denver Score High in U.S. List of Software Engineer Pay”

Seiva’s Smart Workout Duds Highlight Mini-Accelerator Pitch Event

[Updated 12/17/15, 5:09 p.m. See below.] One of the biggest storylines of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia was the disappointing performance of the U.S. speedskating team, which some blamed not on the athletes themselves but on the suit many of them wore during races. The so-called Mach 39 suit, touted as “the fastest … Continue reading “Seiva’s Smart Workout Duds Highlight Mini-Accelerator Pitch Event”

Somna Therapeutics Grabs Early Reza Band Sales, Eyes Big 2016

Medical device companies spend so much money, time, and energy convincing the FDA to allow them to sell their products that it’s easy to forget that’s only one step toward a successful business. The next step is getting customers. Somna Therapeutics, a three-year-old startup in Germantown, WI, passed the first hurdle in March. And it’s … Continue reading “Somna Therapeutics Grabs Early Reza Band Sales, Eyes Big 2016”

Your Startup Should Try a Switchback Strategy

When it comes to startup strategies, many entrepreneurs assume there is one optimal path. They may need to experiment or “pivot” initially among alternatives, but once they fix on an ideal strategy they simply need to execute. For example, a startup attempting to commercialize a new technology faces the strategic choice of whether to “go … Continue reading “Your Startup Should Try a Switchback Strategy”

As Criticism Mounts, Health Records Firms Chart Path to Data Sharing

The Great Recession devastated many industries, but health information technology was not one of them. The stimulus package Congress and President Obama approved in 2009 included $29 billion in incentives for U.S. hospitals and clinics to adopt electronic health records (EHR) systems. The legislation ignited a period of explosive growth for companies that develop software … Continue reading “As Criticism Mounts, Health Records Firms Chart Path to Data Sharing”

At Hematological Meeting, More Than Just Biotech Data Runs Blood Red

[Editor’s note: Deputy Biotechnology Editor Ben Fidler co-wrote this story.] The annual American Society for Hematology meeting, held this year in Orlando, FL, ends today. The meeting is a showcase for new data, drugs, and approaches to treat cancers like leukemia, rare genetic diseases, and other maladies that originate in or otherwise affect blood. But … Continue reading “At Hematological Meeting, More Than Just Biotech Data Runs Blood Red”

Dairyvative, Catalyze, & EnsoData: This Week’s Wisconsin Watch List

An agriculture technology startup, a regulatory flip-flop, and a new investment fund are among the major recent headlines from Wisconsin’s innovation community: —Markesan-based Dairyvative Technologies, which is developing a unique technology for making concentrated milk, raised $2.5 million from four investors, according to an SEC filing. The technology removes water from pasteurized milk to form … Continue reading “Dairyvative, Catalyze, & EnsoData: This Week’s Wisconsin Watch List”

2016: The Year We Give Shoppers What They Want

This time of year, all eyes in e-commerce are heavily focused on 2016 strategies for growing sales, keeping customers happy, and expanding channels. Consumer shopping behaviors are shifting too, forcing brands and retailers to be even more agile, though they’re currently struggling just to keep up. There is a disconnect in the industry between how … Continue reading “2016: The Year We Give Shoppers What They Want”

Introducing Xconomy’s New Fintech Channel

Whether you think Apple Pay or bitcoins, lending or mobile banking, not to mention new ways to protect our financial information, a revolution is underway when it comes to the technology behind finance. What’s more, this revolution is playing out all over the country—not just in the financial hubs of New York or Silicon Valley … Continue reading “Introducing Xconomy’s New Fintech Channel”

Gene Edit Summit Leaders Stop Shy Of Call To Ban Germline Changes

No call for a ban. No moratorium. But the scientists and ethicists who convened this week’s once-in-a-generation summit in Washington, DC, say that the practice of editing human DNA in a way that can be passed to future generations is “irresponsible” until there’s a body of evidence that it is safe, that it works, and … Continue reading “Gene Edit Summit Leaders Stop Shy Of Call To Ban Germline Changes”

EatStreet Grabs $15M To Bring Food Ordering To More Mid-Size Cities

Since launching in 2010, the online food ordering service EatStreet has seen significant growth in revenue, users, and participating restaurants, all while sticking to its small-town roots. Founded by three students in a college town—Madison, WI, where the startup continues to operate—EatStreet now serves 15,000 restaurants across 250 markets, many of them mid-size cities with … Continue reading “EatStreet Grabs $15M To Bring Food Ordering To More Mid-Size Cities”

NY Stem Cell Foundation Grows, Eyes Forming Big Apple Bio Incubator

Over the past few years, the first biotech startup incubators have popped up in New York City in places like Brooklyn and West Harlem. And there’s a chance the next one may come from an unlikely source: a nonprofit organization known as the New York Stem Cell Foundation. According to Susan Solomon, the CEO and … Continue reading “NY Stem Cell Foundation Grows, Eyes Forming Big Apple Bio Incubator”

EatStreet Lands $15,000,000 Series C Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=91be0c64-fe0b-4938-ac99-a541aa382ad0 Date 12/3/2015 Company Name EatStreet Mailing Address 131 W Wilson St. Madison, WI 53715 USA Company Description EatStreet was designed to make local food delivery as easy as possible. EatStreet is a free online ordering service that connects you with food from your favorite local restaurants. Website http://www.eatstreet.com Transaction Type Venture … Continue reading “EatStreet Lands $15,000,000 Series C Financing Round”

WARF Leader Delays Retirement as Search For Replacement Continues

The search for a new leader of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation is taking longer than planned. The nonprofit known as WARF manages patents and licensing for the research juggernaut that is the University of Wisconsin-Madison. WARF is one of the oldest university technology transfer organizations in the U.S. and manages a $2.6 billion endowment. … Continue reading “WARF Leader Delays Retirement as Search For Replacement Continues”

Milwaukee Peer-To-Peer Lender Sells Minority Stake, Raises New Fund

[Updated 12/2/15 11:09 am. to clarify LGI’s business model.] A Milwaukee-based startup known for lending money to individuals and small businesses made a sale Tuesday. The product? Itself. Looking Glass Investments (LGI) uses popular peer-to-peer lending websites such as Lending Club (NYSE: [[ticker:LC]]) to find and evaluate loan-seekers. The company sold some of its own … Continue reading “Milwaukee Peer-To-Peer Lender Sells Minority Stake, Raises New Fund”

What Three Biotechs Could Tell Us About The Pfizer-Allergan Merger

The long-speculated Pfizer-Allergan merger, announced last week with a $160 billion price tag, is officially in motion and lurching toward inevitability. Inevitability doesn’t equal certainty for many involved in the deal. Tens of thousands of employees could potentially get the axe, while dozens of smaller companies partnered with the two behemoths wait to see if … Continue reading “What Three Biotechs Could Tell Us About The Pfizer-Allergan Merger”

GSK, Propeller Health Ink R&D Deal For Custom Respiratory Device

For better or worse, companies in seemingly every industry are starting to connect devices to the Internet, the idea being that data from the machines can provide fresh and useful insights. One example is Propeller Health, which makes data-collecting devices that snap onto medication inhalers used by asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. … Continue reading “GSK, Propeller Health Ink R&D Deal For Custom Respiratory Device”

BomBoard Seeks Crowdfunding Fuel to Propel Modular Jet Ski to Market

We’re about to see if BomBoard is finally ready to rev its engine, or if it will sputter. After spending several years developing a smaller, cheaper, and modular version of the traditional jet ski, the Whitewater, WI-based startup launched a crowdfunding campaign for the product today. And there’s a lot riding on it. The Indiegogo … Continue reading “BomBoard Seeks Crowdfunding Fuel to Propel Modular Jet Ski to Market”