Wisconsin – Page 45

Pop That Bubble: 5 Reasons Biotech Needs A Different Metaphor

Back in April 2011, at a biotech conference in San Francisco, a panel convened to discuss how hard it was to build biotech companies that could push through long, costly clinical trials before a drug comes to market. One panelist hedged to say, well, at least the financial reticence had a silver lining: there was … Continue reading “Pop That Bubble: 5 Reasons Biotech Needs A Different Metaphor”

VC Funding Slows as Big Funds Crowd into Late-Stage Venture Deals

Following a December surge, when U.S. venture firms invested $7.2 billion in 342 deals nationwide, VC activity reset at a lower pace during the first quarter of 2015, according to data being released today by CB Insights. The New York venture capital tracker says VCs invested $11.3 billion in 805 startups over the three months … Continue reading “VC Funding Slows as Big Funds Crowd into Late-Stage Venture Deals”

Peer-to-Peer Lending Grows Up, and Gets Wall Street’s Attention

[Corrected 4/14/15, 11:31 am. See below] Borrowing money, or refinancing borrowed money, is easier now than it’s ever been as new online lenders put credit lines just a few clicks away. And now the traditional titans of Wall Street are jumping on board. In the last decade, a handful of online lending companies have chipped away … Continue reading “Peer-to-Peer Lending Grows Up, and Gets Wall Street’s Attention”

Symphony Corp. Plans Healthtech Startup Incubator in Madison HQ

Symphony Corp., the Wisconsin-based healthcare technology consultant with employees in the U.S. and India, is planning an incubator space in its Madison headquarters for healthtech startups, company leaders say. Symphony, founded in 1997 by India native and University of Wisconsin-Madison engineering graduate Ravi Kalla, provides a variety of information technology services to the healthcare industry, … Continue reading “Symphony Corp. Plans Healthtech Startup Incubator in Madison HQ”

UW-Milwaukee, Medical College Continue Healthcare App-Making Program

More than a year ago, Milwaukee-area trauma surgeon Jeremy Juern had an idea for a mobile app. He and some colleagues at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) had published research on the analysis of acid levels in the blood and had come up with some equations to help interpret the readings. Not enough base … Continue reading “UW-Milwaukee, Medical College Continue Healthcare App-Making Program”

Innovation Hub: Why Science Plays Small Ball

The scientific revolution has ended. Or, at least it’s on pause, according to Roberta Ness, vice president of innovation at the University of Texas Health Science Center. She believes that science’s most promising thinkers aren’t taking big enough risks. They’re not researching the next penicillin or investigating new theories of relativity; they’re playing it safe. … Continue reading “Innovation Hub: Why Science Plays Small Ball”

Tax Time Alert: Key Things to Know About Founders Preferred Stock

As you gather and review tax papers for your return, be sure to inform your accountant if you hold founders’ preferred stock, or if you sold a block of it in 2014. Your CPA might not think to ask you about this because so few entrepreneurs hold this class of stock. As recently as 20 … Continue reading “Tax Time Alert: Key Things to Know About Founders Preferred Stock”

Catalyze.IO Secures $3,999,998 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=90c9a2ee-be65-4c66-bb27-eba92535af7f Date 4/10/2015 Company Name Catalyze.IO Mailing Address 111 South Hamilton Street Madison, WI 53703 USA Company Description Catalyze makes it faster and cheaper to find your product market fit, and you won’t pay a thing until you do. We scale to keep up with your breakout success! We’re bringing the best … Continue reading “Catalyze.IO Secures $3,999,998 New Financing”

Catalyze Snags $4M To Grow Cloud Computing Business For Healthcare

Catalyze, a Madison, WI-based provider of cloud hosting and other services for the healthcare industry, has raised $4 million from investors, a new SEC filing shows. Catalyze went through Gener8tor’s Milwaukee accelerator program in summer 2013 and raised a $2 million Series A round three months later. That round was led by Baird Capital’s venture … Continue reading “Catalyze Snags $4M To Grow Cloud Computing Business For Healthcare”

The Story Behind Cellular Dynamics’ Sale to Fujifilm

Last week, Cellular Dynamics International CEO Bob Palay described the $307 million acquisition of his company by Fujifilm as a union of two businesses that “share a common strategic vision for achieving leadership in the field of regenerative medicine.” In a March 30 press release announcing the deal, Palay predicted that combining their technologies—and tapping … Continue reading “The Story Behind Cellular Dynamics’ Sale to Fujifilm”

Cray Supercomputers Power Weather Forecasts Globally, and Now in the U.S.

Seattle supercomputer maker Cray, a quiet stalwart of the region’s technology industry, has been on a growth spurt lately, thanks in part to a spate of sales to government weather forecasting centers. Cray has long provided machines—made in Chippewa Falls, WI—that help scientists model the climate and predict storms. Recent deals with forecasters in the … Continue reading “Cray Supercomputers Power Weather Forecasts Globally, and Now in the U.S.”

After Crowdfunding Campaign, MobCraft Eyes Milwaukee For First Brewery

MobCraft Beer, the Wisconsin startup that brews a different beer each month based on online voting, moved closer this week to opening its own production facility. Fresh off completing one of the state’s first equity crowdfunding campaigns, the Madison-based brewer has proposed leasing a 13,000-square-foot building in Milwaukee’s Walker’s Point neighborhood that would significantly increase … Continue reading “After Crowdfunding Campaign, MobCraft Eyes Milwaukee For First Brewery”

Tasso, GenTegra Push Ahead With DARPA-Backed Home Blood-Draw Device

[Corrected 4/7/15, 1:00 p.m. See below.] Collecting a blood sample for lab testing can be a hassle and, for patients who fear needles, a scary proposition. That’s something the leaders of Madison, WI-based startup Tasso want to help change with HemoLink, a small, cylindrical device that is designed to adhere to a patient’s arm or … Continue reading “Tasso, GenTegra Push Ahead With DARPA-Backed Home Blood-Draw Device”

Academia vs. BioPharma: Young Scientists Between A Rock and A Hard Place

I’ve reached the stage of my career where I’ve been invited to give “career retrospective talks” to grad students and post-docs at academic institutions. It’s been an interesting and enjoyable experience meeting a new generation of young scientists and hearing what’s on their minds. After delivering my seminar and sharing lots of stories and advice, … Continue reading “Academia vs. BioPharma: Young Scientists Between A Rock and A Hard Place”

Women in Engineering, and a Global Call for the Next MacGyver

Apparently, I’m pushy. I can’t help it. It’s my genes, and also all I’ve been through. When you’re a woman in engineering, there are a host of voices (some residing in your head, some not), telling you that you’re not good enough, not smart enough—that when you’re alone amid a sea of male faces at … Continue reading “Women in Engineering, and a Global Call for the Next MacGyver”

Wisconsin Roundup: Ebola, Kiio, The Water Council, Uber, & More

Here’s a collection of the latest updates from Wisconsin’s technology and innovation community: —A new experimental vaccine to battle Ebola has shown early but promising results in protecting monkeys exposed to the virus. The vaccine, which is being co-developed by virus expert and University of Wisconsin-Madison scientist Yoshihiro Kawaoka, takes a different approach than some … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Ebola, Kiio, The Water Council, Uber, & More”

Robot Revolution: Disrupting the Workplace as We Know It

We’re on the brink of the Third Industrial Revolution, with robots moving off the factory floor and emerging in the white-collar office. These “software robots” are being leveraged by businesses across industries to tackle rules-based processes and improve overall operational agility. Operational roles are well-suited for automatons since they, by definition, automatically follow and execute … Continue reading “Robot Revolution: Disrupting the Workplace as We Know It”

Center of Excellence Workshop: Foreign Markets Resources

From the event organizer: “This seminar provides companies with information about the various products and services offered by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the U.S. government’s development finance institution. OPIC helps small and mid-size businesses gain footholds in emerging market countries and expand their business overseas. OPIC provides financing options, political risk insurance, and … Continue reading “Center of Excellence Workshop: Foreign Markets Resources”

Center of Excellence Lunch/Presentation: Financing Resources for Small Business

From the event organizer: “Join us for a panel presentation and Q&A with local funding/financing partners on microloan/loan resources. Confirmed resource providers include SBA, WWBIC (Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corp). No cost to attend. Free lunch provided! For more information: Contact Karen Frost at [email protected] or 414-988-8755.”

Center of Excellence Workshop: Operations – Funding & Finance

From the event organizer: “A Small Business Workshop that focuses on Operations, with a particular emphasis on financials and funding. GrowthWheel is a visual toolbox for decision-making and action planning for start-up and growth companies. It helps entrepreneurs build their businesses through a simple action-oriented process that stays true to the way most entrepreneurs think … Continue reading “Center of Excellence Workshop: Operations – Funding & Finance”

Water Summit 2015: Creating A One Water Region

Here are the details on The Water Council’s annual water summit: “This year’s theme, ‘Creating a One Water Region,’ focuses on a model that connects and enhances historically independent ‘water silos’ to create a more efficient, effective and comprehensive water system for a region with the priority to improve water quality, knowledge-based stewardship, and water … Continue reading “Water Summit 2015: Creating A One Water Region”

Shareholder Challenges Fujifilm’s Cellular Dynamics Acquisition

Fujifilm’s $307 million purchase of Wisconsin stem cell company Cellular Dynamics International is being challenged in court by a shareholder who claims the deal unfairly benefits the company’s board members and fleeces outside investors, according to online court records and the Wisconsin State Journal. Fujifilm, the Tokyo-based international conglomerate that has been expanding further into … Continue reading “Shareholder Challenges Fujifilm’s Cellular Dynamics Acquisition”

Bioforward, Wisconsin Biotech Trade Group, Names 2nd CEO in 7 Months

Wisconsin’s top life sciences trade group has named its second new CEO in the past seven months. Bioforward said today that Lisa Johnson, currently the vice president of entrepreneurship and innovation for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. (WEDC), will take over for current CEO Laura Bray in early May. Bray was named Bioforward CEO in … Continue reading “Bioforward, Wisconsin Biotech Trade Group, Names 2nd CEO in 7 Months”

H-1Bs And How Changing The System Will Help Startups

In order for the American economy to thrive, we must rely on our ability to innovate. The U.S. government now estimates that job growth is almost three times faster in the innovation-rich fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics than the rest of the economy. Yet despite the explosion in demand, the steady supply of … Continue reading “H-1Bs And How Changing The System Will Help Startups”

Equity Crowdfunding Backers Clash Over Fundraising Limits in States

After five years of bootstrapping his startup, Instancy, Harvey Singh’s company has a finished education software product, revenue, and a growing roster of employees. As Singh looks overseas to expand Instancy’s sales reach, he says he is now ready for outside investors. He wants to raise that capital through crowdfunding. The federal Jumpstart Our Business … Continue reading “Equity Crowdfunding Backers Clash Over Fundraising Limits in States”

Cancer Groups Tap The Crowd To Boost Clinical Trial Participation

Pushing a cancer therapy through clinical trials typically takes years and millions of dollars. But before trial organizers can even begin evaluating a drug’s safety and effectiveness in humans, they must first, of course, sign up patients to test it. Easier said than done, it turns out. At least a quarter of cancer clinical trials, … Continue reading “Cancer Groups Tap The Crowd To Boost Clinical Trial Participation”

Drifty Garners $2,600,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4ed6876b-a213-446f-a0f7-0a1888b11b37 Date 4/1/2015 Company Name Drifty Mailing Address 104 King St. Madison, WI 53703 USA Company Description Drifty is the creator of the popular and growing cross-platform mobile development framework Ionic is making it easy for developers to build rich, interactive mobile apps that run across multiple mobile platforms and are powered … Continue reading “Drifty Garners $2,600,000 New Funding”

The Innovator’s Gender Dilemma and Venture Rites of Passage

After 40 years as a professional woman who by many standards has “made it,” I am struck by the extent to which young and highly educated—even Ivy-league educated—employees are challenged by the ambiguities and realities of the contemporary competitive workplace. Having always been exceptional, and having done what was expected of them, usually by their … Continue reading “The Innovator’s Gender Dilemma and Venture Rites of Passage”

From Iceland to White House, Precision Medicine’s Promises & Hurdles

[Updated and corrected, 4/5/15, 6:51 pm. See below.] There is talk, and there is action. In the drive toward healthcare tailored for smaller and smaller groups of people, there was both last week, and both illustrated not just the promise of precision medicine, but the long haul until that promise is fulfilled. First, Iceland’s deCODE … Continue reading “From Iceland to White House, Precision Medicine’s Promises & Hurdles”

Non-Competes 101

As part of this year’s entrepreneurship series at the Global Water Center, “Michael Best attorney Scott Beightol will focus on what you need to know about restrictive covenants for both owners and employees. He will cover non-competes, non-solicitation of customers, non-solicitation of employees, work for hire and non-disclosure agreements. With increasing workforce migration, this is … Continue reading “Non-Competes 101”

Fujifilm Snaps Up Cellular Dynamics To Grow Stem Cell Business

Cellular Dynamics International, an up-and-coming player in the stem cell field and one of Wisconsin’s more promising biotech companies, is being acquired by Fujifilm for $307 million in cash. At first glance, the Tokyo-based international conglomerate—which dates back to 1934 and is best known for selling camera film—might seem like an odd suitor for Madison-based … Continue reading “Fujifilm Snaps Up Cellular Dynamics To Grow Stem Cell Business”

Drifty Adds $2.6M To Build Ionic’s Popularity With App Developers

Drifty executives weren’t sure what they had on their hands in late 2013 when they released the first version of Ionic—an open-source software development kit intended to make it easier for Web developers to build mobile applications that work across iOS, Android, and Windows devices. Drifty co-founder and CEO Max Lynch built some initial buzz … Continue reading “Drifty Adds $2.6M To Build Ionic’s Popularity With App Developers”

Peter Thiel Brings Libertarian Standup Routine to Harvard

In staccato, stand-up comic style, Peter Thiel brought his version of libertarianism to Harvard, a notable cheering section for positive government. Last Wednesday, a packed lecture hall heard the investor and co-founder of PayPal and secretive data-analysis company Palantir Technologies say, “You can’t do it on a government scale. So I work on the business … Continue reading “Peter Thiel Brings Libertarian Standup Routine to Harvard”

Food Delivery App DoorDash Pushes Forward With $40M Series B

Given the bevy of food delivery apps available on the market, including DoorDash and the $40 million Series B it announced yesterday, it begs a question: Who’s going to make the app to help you decide which delivery service to choose? The two-year-old DoorDash, which touts itself as a technology business with an on-demand delivery … Continue reading “Food Delivery App DoorDash Pushes Forward With $40M Series B”

Innovation Hub: XPRIZE Founder Tackles Entrepreneurship

Peter Diamandis is, I think it’s fair to say, an optimist. After all, how many other space-obsessed kids ended up founding an International Space University? Or inaugurated an XPRIZE, to inspire a new generation of passenger spacecrafts? But Diamandis’s current obsession is entrepreneurship, and the idea that the economy is radically shifting to accommodate a … Continue reading “Innovation Hub: XPRIZE Founder Tackles Entrepreneurship”

MCW Women in Science Series: Evidence-based Management of Age-related Macular Degeneration

From the event organizer: “The Medical College of Wisconsin invites the public to attend the Women in Science Series. Women in Science is an opportunity to meet outstanding female scientists and physicians and learn about their cutting-edge research. This Series is an enlightening program of five presentations, in lay language, designed to draw attention to … Continue reading “MCW Women in Science Series: Evidence-based Management of Age-related Macular Degeneration”

MCW Women in Science Series: Fat! Have We Misunderstood Obesity All Along?

MCW Women in Science Series: Role of Biomarkers in Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

MCW Women in Science Series: She Blinded Me With Science

The Incredible Shrinking Seed Stage and Other Venture Trends of 2014

By now the 2014 data for venture capital investments from the most important regions of the world have been compiled and disseminated. When laid out next to each other, some fascinating themes emerge. It’s no surprise that the U.S. continues to set the pace with over $48 billion invested in 4,356 companies, compared to 2013, … Continue reading “The Incredible Shrinking Seed Stage and Other Venture Trends of 2014”

Northwestern Mutual Scoops Up Fintech Startup LearnVest

Consumer demand for quicker, simpler, and more affordable money management advice is increasingly pushing the financial industry’s big incumbents to adapt and evolve, oftentimes by snapping up startups that have already built sought-after technology. The latest example is yesterday’s announcement that Milwaukee-based Northwestern Mutual is buying New York-based financial technology startup LearnVest. “There’s been a … Continue reading “Northwestern Mutual Scoops Up Fintech Startup LearnVest”

Amid Gene Editing Worry, A Return To Biotech’s 1st “Asilomar Moment”

Biotechnology leaders—and the rest of us—should “count to 10” as they read the March 19 call in Science to consider limits on using revolutionary new gene-editing techniques for germline gene therapy. The techniques are powerful and simple to use and key scientists, worried about misuse, want us to pause, confer, and set limits. But we … Continue reading “Amid Gene Editing Worry, A Return To Biotech’s 1st “Asilomar Moment””

Hi, I’m in Delaware… For the Fast Internet

Internet speeds are becoming increasingly important to consumer markets, as users of streaming content such as Netflix, Hulu, and HBO multiply. Those people are expecting quality streaming, too, especially with the advent of 4K, or “ultra” high-definition, video. It may be no surprise that broadband Internet speeds vary from state to state, with Virginia, Delaware, … Continue reading “Hi, I’m in Delaware… For the Fast Internet”

Wisconsin Roundup: Fetch Rewards, Scale Up Milwaukee, MobCraft, & More

Here’s a collection of recent headlines in Wisconsin’s tech and innovation community: —Microscopy Innovations, a Marshfield-based company that makes tools for microscopy labs, has raised about $750,000 from investors, increasing the size of a funding round reported last year by about $340,000, according to SEC documents. —Madison-based Fetch Rewards received a $500,000 loan from the … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Fetch Rewards, Scale Up Milwaukee, MobCraft, & More”

Topcon Scoops Up Digi-Star To Grow ‘Precision Agriculture’ Business

Japan’s Topcon scooped up Wisconsin agriculture technology company Digi-Star today in a move that underscores the growing excitement over connected devices in seemingly every industry, including farming. Topcon Positioning Group, a division of Tokyo-based Topcon Corp., acquired Digi-Star for an undisclosed price from the private equity arm of Baird Capital. Digi-Star’s products and services will … Continue reading “Topcon Scoops Up Digi-Star To Grow ‘Precision Agriculture’ Business”

Fastest Turtle: Healthcare Investing and the U.S. Economy

Given the investment horizons for venture capitalists, we do not necessarily try to time public markets when making new investments—although they obviously influence pre-money valuations, particularly for later rounds. Greater concerns revolve around portfolio companies’ ability to access capital on reasonable terms, and that the general macroeconomic environment is conducive to strong revenue growth. Notwithstanding … Continue reading “Fastest Turtle: Healthcare Investing and the U.S. Economy”

Stop the Bleeding: Can Gene Therapy Finally Cure Hemophilia?

Ben Haugstad is 12 years old and loves Taekwondo. He’s been doing it for six years, and soon he’ll be a black belt. He also has a severe form of hemophilia. His body doesn’t produce the machinery needed to clot blood, and at any moment a bad tumble or a bruise could quickly turn into … Continue reading “Stop the Bleeding: Can Gene Therapy Finally Cure Hemophilia?”

Innovation Hub: Did a Computer Write This Story?

Forget Malcolm Gladwell and Tom Friedman. The next great journalist could be a computer program. Already, artificial intelligence has been put to work at Forbes, the Associated Press, Reuters, and The Big Ten Network. Coverage of NCAA basketball games, earnings reports, and dips in housing prices are regularly penned by this new breed of “journalist.” … Continue reading “Innovation Hub: Did a Computer Write This Story?”

Lessons From Building a Global Engineering Team

It used to be that if you referenced a “global engineering team” you had contracted with a few freelance developers in a remote location to do a few hours of work per week. There’s a good reason for that: historically, recruiting, retaining, and growing global engineering teams has been a significant challenge. At HubSpot, we … Continue reading “Lessons From Building a Global Engineering Team”

Entrepreneurship 101

From the event organizer: “During YPWeek, get a taste of what it is like to be a young professional entrepreneur in Southeast Wisconsin from a diverse panel of entrepreneurs and supporters of Milwaukee’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. This discussion will be moderated by Matt Cordio, co-founder of The Commons, Startup Milwaukee, and Skills Pipeline, with an intro … Continue reading “Entrepreneurship 101”