Category: Wisconsin

Epic Hopes WI Campus Can Help in Talent War with Apple, Facebook

Epic Systems’ massive, rapidly expanding campus tucked away in the Madison, WI, suburb of Verona is well known among locals and those who follow the electronic health records software industry. It’s probably less familiar to many tech executives in Silicon Valley, even though Epic designed it partly to beat them in the war for young … Continue reading “Epic Hopes WI Campus Can Help in Talent War with Apple, Facebook”

A Prescription for the Achilles Heel of Healthcare IT

What keeps doctors from sleeping at night? Electronic Health Records (EHRs). More specifically, the “homework” these essential-but-sometimes-inefficient systems generate is enough to cause nightmares. In a recent study that observed physician behavior, primary care providers spent 40 percent of their patient visit time focused on their computer screens, clicking and scrolling through the patient’s EHR. … Continue reading “A Prescription for the Achilles Heel of Healthcare IT”

The Commons Launch

From the event organizer: “During The Commons Launch, college students from around Southeast Wisconsin will come together, form teams and launch startup companies or conquer innovation challenges presented by local companies. The launch starts with a 48-hour kick-off event in Milwaukee’s Walker’s Point Neighborhood on Friday, November 7th through Sunday, November 9th followed by several … Continue reading “The Commons Launch”

New Bioforward CEO Touts Gov’t, Economic Development Background

Bioforward, Wisconsin’s top life sciences trade group, has hired a new CEO with significant experience in local government and business-development posts. Laura Bray was named to the post today, succeeding Bryan Renk, who stepped down from Madison-based Bioforward in July. Bray spent a decade as executive director of the Menomonee Valley Partners, a nonprofit organization … Continue reading “New Bioforward CEO Touts Gov’t, Economic Development Background”

Wisconsin Roundup: Uber, Lyft, Epic, BioTechnique

Here’s a quick rundown of recent news from Wisconsin’s technology and innovation community: —A federal judge rejected a request by Milwaukee taxi groups to halt a new city law that lifts the cap on taxi permits and provides a pathway to legalization for ride-booking apps like Uber and Lyft, according to the Milwaukee Business Journal. … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Uber, Lyft, Epic, BioTechnique”

The Rhythm of Management: What Jazz Can Teach Startup Executives

“Jazz stands for freedom. It’s supposed to be the voice of freedom: Get out there and improvise, and take chances, and don’t be a perfectionist – leave that to the classical musicians.” — Jazz great Dave Brubeck Playing in a jazz ensemble and leading a business are very, very similar. And my experiences both as … Continue reading “The Rhythm of Management: What Jazz Can Teach Startup Executives”

Bad Donkey Receives $1,000,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c9cb1d51-0a9d-4824-b532-50dcebeb5ada Date 9/15/2014 Company Name Bad Donkey Mailing Address 411 W. Main Street Madison, WI 53703 USA Company Description Bad Donkey Social Company designs leading edge digital communication technologies. Bad Donkey’s flagship technology is a new cyber language called Enriched Text Content (aka ETC). ETC integrates custom interactive content inline with words. … Continue reading “Bad Donkey Receives $1,000,000 New Financing”

Innovation Hub: Why Tech’s Women Problem Is Bigger Than You Think

You’ve seen the numbers. And they’re not good. At Apple, Twitter, Google, and Facebook, women are vastly outnumbered by men. When it comes to technical positions like coders, men occupy 80 to 90 percent of the positions. Which isn’t a great sign if these represent the jobs—and skill sets—of the future. The startup scene is … Continue reading “Innovation Hub: Why Tech’s Women Problem Is Bigger Than You Think”

How to Attract Smart People, Smart Ideas, and Smart Money

North Carolina entrepreneurs are attracting attention all over the nation—and all over the world—across the tech, life science, and advanced materials sectors. The proof is in the numbers. Last year, more than 220 entrepreneurial companies in North Carolina raised nearly half a billion dollars through equity investments, grants, and awards from 108 unique funders, according … Continue reading “How to Attract Smart People, Smart Ideas, and Smart Money”

UW’s Blank on Tech Transfer, Bridging the Milwaukee-Madison Divide

For decades, it has felt like Milwaukee and Madison are separated by much more than 80 miles of highway and fields. The divide between Wisconsin’s two biggest cities—economically, culturally, and psychologically—has at times felt impossible to bridge. It’s a dynamic that’s not unique to Wisconsin (the relationship between Colorado’s Denver and Boulder comes to mind): … Continue reading “UW’s Blank on Tech Transfer, Bridging the Milwaukee-Madison Divide”

An Intriguing Program Takes on Tropical Diseases—But Not Ebola

[Updated and corrected 9/10/14, 10:05 am. See below.] On August 28, Anthony Fauci, the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s top infectious disease specialist, announced a major trial in concert with GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: [[ticker:GSK]]) to test new Ebola vaccines in humans. Fauci called it an “all-hands-on-deck response” to the growing global health emergency in which more … Continue reading “An Intriguing Program Takes on Tropical Diseases—But Not Ebola”

OnKol Wants to Help Grandma Join the Internet of Things Movement

As investors and corporations pour millions of dollars into connected-home devices, tech companies have no shortage of ideas—from smart thermostats and home security systems to data-collecting toothbrushes and a refrigerator that sends alerts when the milk is almost out. But while most of these “Internet of things” products are aimed at young tech-savvy adults or … Continue reading “OnKol Wants to Help Grandma Join the Internet of Things Movement”

Xconomy Q&A: Intellectual Ventures Co-founder and CTO Edward Jung

Edward Jung, co-founder and chief technology officer, of Intellectual Ventures, has been out talking about how his company—which was recently described as among Silicon Valley’s most hated—is playing a long game to attack the big problems confronting the world today. On the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia in Seattle last week, Jung sat … Continue reading “Xconomy Q&A: Intellectual Ventures Co-founder and CTO Edward Jung”

2014 Bioscience Vision Summit

From the event organizer: “Join BioForward for a day of Growth by Association. Participate in many engaging sessions on emerging trends and growth opportunities in Wisconsin’s unique life sciences community. Network with suppliers and national industry professionals and post-docs throughout the day and at the closing reception.” For the full lineup of speakers, who include … Continue reading “2014 Bioscience Vision Summit”

Wisconsin Roundup: VictorySpark, Imbed, Virent, Cellectar, & More

There was a flurry of funding deals and new partnerships announced by Wisconsin startups and tech groups over the past week. Here’s a recap: —Madison-based Imbed Biosciences has raised about $683,000 from investors in a debt and equity funding round that could eclipse $1 million when closed, according to an SEC filing. The funding is … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: VictorySpark, Imbed, Virent, Cellectar, & More”

John Maraganore: From “Prototypical Geek” To Canny Alnylam Chief

John Maraganore opened up an envelope in 1994 that changed his life. Inside were the results of the pivotal study of an anticoagulant drug Maraganore had created in the lab. It was the star prospect for Maraganore’s employer, Biogen. If the drug, bivalirudin, worked, Biogen might have its first product—and Maraganore, the glory of designing … Continue reading “John Maraganore: From “Prototypical Geek” To Canny Alnylam Chief”

Vote (Mostly) Online Feeds Millennials’ Need for One-Click Apps

For better or worse, the millennial generation has come to expect instant gratification and the ability to complete almost any daily task with just the click of a button on a smartphone or personal computer. One activity that, for the most part, has not kept pace with rapid technological advancements is voting. That’s why a … Continue reading “Vote (Mostly) Online Feeds Millennials’ Need for One-Click Apps”

Stealth Therapeutics Raises $450K to Study IV Device’s Effectiveness

Madison, WI-based Stealth Therapeutics recently raised more than $450,000 from investors, which will fund a study of the clinical performance of the startup’s lead medical device. Stealth was founded in 2006 by Bradley Glenn, an interventional radiologist who lived in Green Bay, WI, and has since moved to California, Stealth general manager Sam Adams says. … Continue reading “Stealth Therapeutics Raises $450K to Study IV Device’s Effectiveness”

Innovation Hub: John Maeda on Why Tech Loves Design

John Maeda stands at the intersection of design and technology—and attracts a bit of a cult following. He’s the first Design Partner at Kleiner Perkins, the venture capital firm that has backed companies from Amazon to Genentech to WebMD. Previously, he served as President of The Rhode Island School of Design. Maeda insists that design … Continue reading “Innovation Hub: John Maeda on Why Tech Loves Design”

Propeller Health Garners $14,500,000 Series B Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8a8422fd-a0b3-42c7-a11a-2b29e5846976 Date 9/5/2014 Company Name Propeller Health Mailing Address 634 West Main Street Madison, WI 53703 USA Company Description Propeller is the leading mobile platform for respiratory health management. Through sensors, mobile apps and services, Propeller helps reduce the cost of care while delivering better quality of life for individuals with chronic … Continue reading “Propeller Health Garners $14,500,000 Series B Financing Round”

Stealth Therapeutics Lands $451,916 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ce9ca097-4f3b-4269-92d0-d0bd8f316285 Date 9/5/2014 Company Name Stealth Therapeutics Mailing Address 406 Science Drive Madison, WI 53711 USA Company Description The company is developing two-port medical devices for administering IV drugs. Website http://www.stealththerapeutics.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $451,916 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. SEC regulatory filing. Contact … Continue reading “Stealth Therapeutics Lands $451,916 New Funding”

BrightStar to Invest in Gener8tor Startups If They Create WI Jobs

Wisconsin startup accelerator program Gener8tor has received a new commitment from an angel investment fund, but the money comes with a catch for portfolio companies: To be eligible, they must create “high-quality” jobs in Wisconsin. BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation announced Wednesday it will invest $50,000 in each company that goes through Gener8tor’s bi-annual programs in Madison … Continue reading “BrightStar to Invest in Gener8tor Startups If They Create WI Jobs”

Propeller Health Raises $14.5M for Its Respiratory Disease Sensors

Propeller Health is already seen as one of the up-and-coming startups based in Madison, WI, having landed several million dollars from primarily West Coast investors and contracts with healthcare systems in major markets around the country. Now, the company—which makes data-collecting devices that snap on to inhalers used by asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease … Continue reading “Propeller Health Raises $14.5M for Its Respiratory Disease Sensors”

Shine Medical Technologies Obtains $2,400,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=cd6c77b2-9c1b-4e65-a89c-d3248e872df7 Date 9/4/2014 Company Name Shine Medical Technologies Mailing Address 2555 Industrial Drive Monona, WI 53713 USA Company Description SHINE Medical Technologies is dedicated to being the world leader in safe, clean, affordable production of medical tracers and cancer treatment elements. Website http://www.shinemed.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $2,400,000 Transaction Round … Continue reading “Shine Medical Technologies Obtains $2,400,000 New Funding Round”

Shine Medical Technologies Raises $2.4M to Make Medical Isotopes

[Updated 9/3/14, 2:22 p.m. See below.] Shine Medical Technologies, the Monona, WI-based startup racing to become the first domestic producer of medical isotopes, said today that it has raised $2.4 million from undisclosed investors. The company, founded in 2010, has raised more than $35 million to date through equity investments, debt financing, and other sources, … Continue reading “Shine Medical Technologies Raises $2.4M to Make Medical Isotopes”

Wisconsin Roundup: Steve Case’s ‘Rise of the Rest,’ CDI, ZBB, & More

Here are a few recent notable announcements from Wisconsin’s tech and innovation community: —Investor and AOL co-founder Steve Case will bring the “Rise of the Rest” bus tour to Madison on Oct. 6, part of a series of stops highlighting budding startup communities in America’s heartland. The first such road trip, held earlier this summer, … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Steve Case’s ‘Rise of the Rest,’ CDI, ZBB, & More”

Which Countries Excel in Creating New Drugs? It’s Complicated

A lot has been written lately about innovation, or the lack thereof, in the world of biopharma. One question that often gets asked: which countries lead the way in creating new medicines? Many people think that drugs originate in the nation where the companies that produce them are headquartered. The truth, however, is much more … Continue reading “Which Countries Excel in Creating New Drugs? It’s Complicated”

From Atari to VC’s Future, Highlights From Madison’s Forward Festival

[Corrected 8/30/14, 1:51 p.m. See below.] It’s a “dangerous time” for the VC world because the majority of the industry’s money is concentrated in a relatively small number of firms, primarily in Silicon Valley. And that makes it tougher for startups in the Midwest to grow. That warning came from Chris Olsen, co-founder of Columbus, … Continue reading “From Atari to VC’s Future, Highlights From Madison’s Forward Festival”

Madison Vaccine to be Tested in Combination Prostate Cancer Treatment

[Corrected 8/29/14, 8:39 a.m. See below.] Madison Vaccines, a Madison, WI-based startup developing immunotherapies for prostate cancer, will get a chance to see how well its lead vaccine can shrink tumors when teamed up with another drug. The Phase I trial will be led by Madison Vaccines co-founder Doug McNeel, an oncologist and professor of … Continue reading “Madison Vaccine to be Tested in Combination Prostate Cancer Treatment”

Doyenne Group Raising $400K Angel Fund For WI Women Entrepreneurs

The Doyenne Group, a Madison, WI-based volunteer organization serving women entrepreneurs, is raising a $400,000 angel investment fund to help grow the number of women-led companies in Wisconsin. Doyenne leaders discussed the fund this week at Madison’s Forward Festival, an eight-day showcase of local technology and startups. During the tech festival, Doyenne organized several discussions … Continue reading “Doyenne Group Raising $400K Angel Fund For WI Women Entrepreneurs”

Drive Capital Didn’t Demand Aver Informatics Move, Investor Says

It was Aver Informatics’ idea to relocate the healthtech startup from Wisconsin to Ohio—not a demand by one of its lead investors. That’s according to Chris Olsen, co-founder of Columbus, OH-based Drive Capital, a $250 million, Midwest-focused venture capital fund that co-led an $8.5 million Series A investment in Aver in May. Three months later, … Continue reading “Drive Capital Didn’t Demand Aver Informatics Move, Investor Says”

Open Data Can Help Government Be the Airbnb of Civic Services

Until recently, 99 percent of government data around the world was shrouded in darkness. It was trapped in a vault, gathering mold, and never saw the light of day. But the vibrant open data movement, which is taking hold on just about every continent, has begun to radically change this. Now, government data is being … Continue reading “Open Data Can Help Government Be the Airbnb of Civic Services”

Scanalytics, Stemina Among Wisconsin Innovation Awards Winners

Fast-growing vegetables that can be delivered by bicycle, a traveling truck providing free legal advice, and a breath-analyzing device for rapidly detecting infections were among the 10 winners of the inaugural Wisconsin Innovation Awards held Tuesday night in Madison. The winners were announced at a ceremony at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Memorial Union as part … Continue reading “Scanalytics, Stemina Among Wisconsin Innovation Awards Winners”

Drug & Device Development: Wisconsin Innovation Symposium

From the event organizer: “This symposium will provide insight into the changing landscape of pharmaceutical development and healthcare innovation. Presenters will describe available resources in Southeast Wisconsin to help researchers develop and commercialize drug leads two different ways, via licensing or the formation of a spinout company. Plenary and breakout sessions will bring together academic … Continue reading “Drug & Device Development: Wisconsin Innovation Symposium”

Coelacanths And Other IPO Thoughts Before The Autumn Markets Return

Ah, the final week of summer. Would that it could go on forever. And thanks for reading this on your mobile device with your toes in the sand. Just don’t forget to take a dip or toss a Frisbee when you’re done. No doubt many would like the current biotech IPO climate to stretch on … Continue reading “Coelacanths And Other IPO Thoughts Before The Autumn Markets Return”

Wisconsin Roundup: Exact Sciences, CSA Partners, 100state, & More

In this week’s installment of Wisconsin innovation headlines, startups are raising capital, co-working spaces are on the move, and a closely watched Madison life sciences company offers details about initial commercialization of its FDA-approved product: —Cellectar Biosciences (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CLRB]]) raised $13.5 million in its first public offering since moving to the Nasdaq stock exchange from … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Exact Sciences, CSA Partners, 100state, & More”

Assurant Health Shutters In-House Startup Incubator Blue Bananas

Milwaukee-based insurer Assurant Health has shut down its in-house startup incubator, Blue Bananas, Xconomy has learned. Blue Bananas was launched in 2012 to come up with services that make healthcare more affordable, particularly for people with conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol, and arthritis. Assurant Health’s skunkworks crew produced at least a handful of concepts that … Continue reading “Assurant Health Shutters In-House Startup Incubator Blue Bananas”

“Plan” Versus “Vision” Entrepreneurs and How a VC Evaluates Startups

Since I first joined Mercury Fund in 2008, I’ve seen the ups (now) and downs (2009) of venture capital in just six years. Despite the wildly different environments, I’ve noticed that the types of pitches we get, and our responses to them, haven’t changed much. Although we have seen small changes to some of the … Continue reading ““Plan” Versus “Vision” Entrepreneurs and How a VC Evaluates Startups”

What I’ve Learned From 25 Years in the Tech Industry

Building and running a successful startup in America’s fiercely competitive tech industry is never easy. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution or manual for how to go about it. But as they say, experience is the best teacher. So it’s my pleasure to share with you some of my own experiences and observations in building and managing … Continue reading “What I’ve Learned From 25 Years in the Tech Industry”

VictorySpark, Revolution Labs in Holding Pattern, Seek Funding

As the leaders of Milwaukee’s Global Entrepreneurship Collective get ready to wrap up their summer accelerator for military veteran entrepreneurs this week, the program is entering a bit of a holding pattern. The Global Entrepreneurship Collective (GEC), run by entrepreneurs Greg Meier and Nick Wichert, operates two accelerators for early-stage startups: VictorySpark (formerly known as … Continue reading “VictorySpark, Revolution Labs in Holding Pattern, Seek Funding”

NIH Funding for Technology Commercialization

From the event organizer: “Each year, the NIH awards over $700 million to small business with high-risk, high-innovation technologies with strong commercialization potential. Is your technology the right fit to break into this enormous source of funding? At this workshop, you’ll learn about the NIH’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer … Continue reading “NIH Funding for Technology Commercialization”

New Milwaukee Startup Accelerator to Unite Universities, Corporations

Two Milwaukee-area entrepreneur support groups are forming a seed accelerator for students from multiple local universities. Startup Milwaukee and Innovation in Milwaukee, or MiKE, today announced The Commons, a new nonprofit initiative that they’re branding as an “industry-academic collaborative to accelerate ideas.” The program is still largely in the idea phase, and organizers must still … Continue reading “New Milwaukee Startup Accelerator to Unite Universities, Corporations”

Tissue Regeneration Systems to Collaborate with J&J, DePuy Synthes

Earlier this summer, Johnson & Johnson Innovation and DePuy Synthes Products announced a new collaboration with Plymouth, MI-based Tissue Regeneration Systems (TRS) to help develop patient-specific, resorbable bone implants. (That means implants that can be broken down by the body after an interval of time passes.) Last week, TRS celebrated the opening of its new … Continue reading “Tissue Regeneration Systems to Collaborate with J&J, DePuy Synthes”

NJ’s Medicine Chest Thins Again as GE Health Unit Heads for MA

Large pharmaceutical companies have been beating a path to Massachusetts over the past few years to get in the thick of the area’s bubbling life sciences cluster. Today, industry conglomerate General Electric (NYSE: [[ticker:GE]]) is joining the mix, dealing a blow to New Jersey’s life sciences scene in the process. GE is announcing that it’s … Continue reading “NJ’s Medicine Chest Thins Again as GE Health Unit Heads for MA”

Wisconsin Roundup: Techstars, Silatronix, Virent, MyHealthDirect, & More

Two Wisconsin startups are in the midst of trying to raise more than $4 million each from investors, while two energy-related startups are making progress toward selling their products. Read on for details about these recent announcements, and more, from Wisconsin’s innovation community. —Silatronix has raised $2.8 million of a possible $4.2 million equity funding … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Techstars, Silatronix, Virent, MyHealthDirect, & More”

Madison Startup Rides Immunotherapy Wave With Prostate Drug

Most men suffering from prostate cancer can be essentially cured if their tumors are caught early enough and their prostate glands are surgically removed or destroyed by radiation therapy before the disease spreads. But for some men, removing the prostate gland isn’t enough. Months or years after surgery or treatment, levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) … Continue reading “Madison Startup Rides Immunotherapy Wave With Prostate Drug”