Category: Wisconsin

Venture Capital Had a Great 2013—But Public Markets Were Still Better

In an industry obsessed with creating the next big thing, it can be easy to forget that a lot of big ideas simply crash and burn. So here’s a little reminder: Last year, American venture capitalists put together their best annual performance since 1999. But it still wasn’t good enough to beat the public stock … Continue reading “Venture Capital Had a Great 2013—But Public Markets Were Still Better”

Badger Fund of Funds to Pump $90M-plus Into Wisconsin Startup Scene

The plan for Wisconsin’s new fund-of-funds program is starting to come into focus. The headline: The Badger Fund of Funds could ultimately result in at least five new funds investing a minimum of $90 million in more than 100 Wisconsin startups over the next several years. That’s the biggest takeaway from a presentation Tuesday by … Continue reading “Badger Fund of Funds to Pump $90M-plus Into Wisconsin Startup Scene”

Key Risk Conversations to Have With Your Board and Investors

Building a startup is a risky business. The only way to stay ahead of the risks is to be aware and informed about them. The board of directors, in particular, needs to know enough about the risks in the business to make well-rounded strategic decisions. As for investors, most of them do their own risk … Continue reading “Key Risk Conversations to Have With Your Board and Investors”

Cellectar, an OTC Stock, Eyes Nasdaq Jump to Boost Profile, Prospects

Cellectar Biosciences is trying to move from an over-the-counter (OTC) stock to trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange—and the stakes are high for the small Madison, WI-based biotech. Winning approval to join the Nasdaq stock exchange could give Cellectar a boost in bringing its cancer drugs and imaging products to market—assuming the company can capitalize … Continue reading “Cellectar, an OTC Stock, Eyes Nasdaq Jump to Boost Profile, Prospects”

Sexism and Misogyny in Tech: How Investors Can Help Drive Change

The image of some technology startups has been tarnished of late by bad behavior. It might be up to investors who are board members to ensure changes get made. Accusations of sexism and misogyny have circled Tinder, the dating-app startup owned by IAC. If the charges prove to be true, it is just one recent … Continue reading “Sexism and Misogyny in Tech: How Investors Can Help Drive Change”

Wisconsin Roundup: Exits, New Jobs, FDA Approval, & More

In this week’s roundup of Wisconsin innovation and technology news, we’re tracking a startup’s exit, ballooning staff at the state’s largest healthtech firm, FDA approval for a medical device, a groundbreaking for a medical isotopes factory, and the new leader of a key Madison business park. Read on for details. —Madison-based Idle Free Systems was … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Exits, New Jobs, FDA Approval, & More”

From Fitness to Fashion, Gener8tor’s Summer Program a Diverse Mix

The latest class of startups accepted into Wisconsin-based Gener8tor’s accelerator features a strong Badger State flavor and a diverse mix of sectors—from fitness to fashion, big data to education. On Friday, Gener8tor announced the five companies participating in its three-month program in Milwaukee, which begins today and culminates with an October pitch event to investors … Continue reading “From Fitness to Fashion, Gener8tor’s Summer Program a Diverse Mix”

There Was Life Before Smartphones, But Who Can Remember It?

I’m lakeside this week in northern Michigan, hanging out with my extended family. It’s been interesting to observe my six-year-old nephew, who won’t go anywhere without a Power Rangers Megaforce robot in one hand and a Ty Monstaz plush toy in the other. They’re right beside him at the breakfast table, on the dock, at … Continue reading “There Was Life Before Smartphones, But Who Can Remember It?”

Mega Deals (Like Uber) Boost Venture Funding to $13B

Venture capital investors pumped almost $13 billion into 1,114 U.S. startups in the second quarter—marking the highest level of VC funding in 13 years, according to the MoneyTree Report being released today. While the number of deals is comparable with recent quarters, the $12.97 billion VCs deployed this spring was a third more than the … Continue reading “Mega Deals (Like Uber) Boost Venture Funding to $13B”

Midwest VCs Hope For Replenished State Capital Funds, Despite Tight Budgets

When the Michigan Venture Capital Association (MVCA) released its annual report about the state of venture capital earlier this summer, there was plenty to be optimistic about. In 2013, Michigan bucked national trends by increasing the number of VC professionals statewide by 84 percent, compared with a 13 percent decline nationally. VC-backed companies in Michigan … Continue reading “Midwest VCs Hope For Replenished State Capital Funds, Despite Tight Budgets”

Expansion of Microsoft Research—Analysis and Download of 1997 Plan

“We are about to embark on a nearly unprecedented adventure—expanding Microsoft’s investment in research by at least a factor of three.“ So begins the May 1997 memo written by Nathan Myhrvold, architect of Microsoft Research (MSR), a little over five and a half years after the renowned research organization was created. The memo, labeled Microsoft … Continue reading “Expansion of Microsoft Research—Analysis and Download of 1997 Plan”

The Generation Gap in the Tablet Creation/Consumption Debate

The iPad launched in March of 2010 starting the modern tablet era and the debate about what tablets are best for: creation or consumption. While the iPad dominated tablet sales through 2012, in the last couple of years Android- and Windows-based tablets have eaten away at Apple’s dominance. As the tablet market grows, the creation … Continue reading “The Generation Gap in the Tablet Creation/Consumption Debate”

Beekeeper Secures $20,000 Seed Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=64aa900e-84ba-4638-aa11-2368ae95168e Date 7/16/2014 Company Name Beekeeper Mailing Address Undisclosed Madison, WI 53705 USA Company Description Beekeeper is a Madison-based company that has developed a software platform to help companies use their data to make smarter decisions. Website Undisclosed Transaction Type Accelerator Transaction Amount $20,000 Transaction Round Seed Proceeds Purposes The company will … Continue reading “Beekeeper Secures $20,000 Seed Financing Round”

Modern Movement Obtains $20,000 Seed Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c15c2961-97be-447c-9b8b-74fbe12eec82 Date 7/16/2014 Company Name Modern Movement Mailing Address 100 S. Baldwin St. Madison, WI 53703 USA Company Description We’ve developed the next generation in balance training products. You stand on them, you move, and you adjust. Beginners to elite level athletes can use these products to improve their balance. They are … Continue reading “Modern Movement Obtains $20,000 Seed Financing”

Project Foundry Lands $20,000 Seed Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6731ee80-bb79-4872-965f-b1c69a250fbc Date 7/16/2014 Company Name Project Foundry Mailing Address 131 W. Seeboth Street Milwaukee, WI 53204 USA Company Description We are a team passionate about supporting successful project-based learning. People learn when they’re engaged, when their work is relevant to them, personally. Since 2005, we’ve been providing solutions and services that support … Continue reading “Project Foundry Lands $20,000 Seed Round”

The Mid-Stage VC Funding Gap, By the Numbers

In recent years, we’ve heard a lot about the “Series A crunch” for tech startups—lots of companies get seed funding but can’t raise a first venture round. Now we’re hearing more about a mid-stage funding bottleneck, typically at the Series B and C venture stages. A recent tech funding deal in Boston highlighted the issue … Continue reading “The Mid-Stage VC Funding Gap, By the Numbers”

Who Needs Biotech VCs, Anyway?

Welcome to In Translation, and thanks for reading. As a companion to Xconomy’s regular life sciences coverage, this new column provides me with a chance to dive a little more deeply into strategic, cultural, and scientific topics around the biotech world, and bring more of my own point of view to bear. I welcome and … Continue reading “Who Needs Biotech VCs, Anyway?”

Stealth Mode is the New Sweet Spot for Some Biotechs

This post was co-authored by Sultan Meghji. In biotech’s early days, telling a story to a wide audience used to be part of the path to success. Founders would share a compelling early narrative to potential investors, reporters, and just about anyone else who would listen. Nature papers were the coin of the realm. But … Continue reading “Stealth Mode is the New Sweet Spot for Some Biotechs”

Wisconsin Roundup: ‘Shark Tank,’ 1 Million Cups, Promega, & More

To start off your week, here’s a few recent notable developments in Wisconsin’s technology and innovation community: —Promega continues to expand its Madison-area headquarters. The global manufacturer of biological research products, including enzymes and proteins, broke ground last week on a $30 million, 100,000-square-foot packaging and shipping facility expected to open next year, the Wisconsin … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: ‘Shark Tank,’ 1 Million Cups, Promega, & More”

Boston Vs. San Francisco: Two Cultures of Innovation

Let’s say you’re an ambitious, creative professional or entrepreneur working in the United States. You’re interested in technology, you have the luxury of mobility, and you want to be close to the center of things. Which city should you choose as your home? If you’re attracted to a specific sub-field, the answer may be obvious. … Continue reading “Boston Vs. San Francisco: Two Cultures of Innovation”

Big Late-Stage Deals and Unicorns Drive U.S. Venture Activity Higher

Two years ago, VC firms shrugged off sluggish economic conditions to invest $8.1 billion in 812 U.S. deals in the second quarter. It was the highest total in more than a decade—and represented a high water mark for venture dollars invested that stood until the first quarter of this year. Now a surge in venture … Continue reading “Big Late-Stage Deals and Unicorns Drive U.S. Venture Activity Higher”

Cellular Dynamics Claims Patents on Making Stem Cells from Blood

Cellular Dynamics International has already situated itself as an early leader—if not the leader—in large-scale manufacturing of human cells from induced pluripotent stem cells. Today the company says it has strengthened its market position with three new patents related to making stem cells from human blood samples. Madison, WI-based Cellular Dynamics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ICEL]]) says it … Continue reading “Cellular Dynamics Claims Patents on Making Stem Cells from Blood”

WordStream’s $12M Round Highlights Dearth of Mid-Stage Tech Funding

A search-marketing startup is making fundraising news, but there are larger forces at work in the tech ecosystem. Boston-based WordStream has raised $12 million in new funding—$9 million in a Series C venture round led by Baird Capital (Sigma Partners also participated), and $3 million in debt financing from City National Bank. The new money … Continue reading “WordStream’s $12M Round Highlights Dearth of Mid-Stage Tech Funding”

Drive Capital, Led By Sequoia Vets, Sees Midwest as Next Startup Hub

Chris Olsen thinks the Midwest is a better place to build a startup than either coast, and he intends to prove it. The Cincinnati native was a partner for six years at the well-known Silicon Valley venture capital firm Sequoia Capital, before former Sequoia colleague Mark Kvamme recruited Olsen back to Ohio to start a … Continue reading “Drive Capital, Led By Sequoia Vets, Sees Midwest as Next Startup Hub”

Trust but Verify: When Customer Feedback is Not Enough

[Editor’s Note: If you’re following the methodology laid out by startup strategy guru and Xconomist Steve Blank, you have begun with a hypothesis about a customer need or problem. Then you develop a “mininum viable product” (MVP), a prototype with the smallest possible feature set that still shows potential customers how your idea can help … Continue reading “Trust but Verify: When Customer Feedback is Not Enough”

Innovation Hub: The American Economy Is in Better Shape Than Ever

Despite increasingly good job numbers, pessimism about the economy persists. According to Gallup, almost 60 percent of Americans think the economy is still getting worse. Last week, Clayton Christensen told Innovation Hub that America was on its way to becoming Japan—a country that has been wrestling with stagnation for a quarter century. But Joel Kurtzman, … Continue reading “Innovation Hub: The American Economy Is in Better Shape Than Ever”

11 Stories and 11 Deals: Xconomy Wisconsin Quarter in Review

As everyone gets ready to kick back for a long holiday weekend, I figured it’s a good time to reflect on the biggest stories in Wisconsin’s tech and innovation community during the second quarter. The recurring theme: funding. By my count, 11 Wisconsin startups raised a combined $32.2 million between April and June. Those are … Continue reading “11 Stories and 11 Deals: Xconomy Wisconsin Quarter in Review”

Zurex Pharma Raises $4M to Battle Hospital-Acquired Infections

Zurex Pharma, a Middleton, WI-based startup developing antimicrobial products to prevent hospital-acquired infections, has raised $4.1 million from investors in a round that could top out at $5.1 million, according to a new SEC filing. There are 13 investors in the round, which appears to be the company’s Series B raise. Zurex officials couldn’t immediately … Continue reading “Zurex Pharma Raises $4M to Battle Hospital-Acquired Infections”

Chamber Hopes Pitches Could Boost Silicon Valley-Madison VC Deals

When Brian Jensen walked into the room filled with Silicon Valley venture capitalists, the co-founder and CEO of Madison, WI-based startup Fishidy thought there might be some eye-rolling. After all, “here’s some Wisconsin guy coming into Silicon Valley talking about fishing and his fishing app,” Jensen said. Instead, the entrepreneur felt like the VCs came … Continue reading “Chamber Hopes Pitches Could Boost Silicon Valley-Madison VC Deals”

Forward Technology Festival

From the event organizer: “Join fellow entrepreneurs, nerds, designers, geeks, hackers, foodies, and creative professionals from the Midwest in an 8-day celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship. The 2014 Forward Technology Festival provides the rare opportunity to interact with professionals across a wide range of disciplines. Network at events like High Tech Happy Hour, interact at … Continue reading “Forward Technology Festival”

Wisconsin Science & Technology Symposium

From the event organizer: “WSTS 2014 will celebrate some of the groundbreaking research occurring throughout the state, and offer attendees the opportunity to connect with some of the brightest minds in Wisconsin. We are pleased to announce our keynote speaker for WSTS 2014, Zach Halmstad. Mr. Halmstad is co-founder and co-CEO at JAMF Software, founded … Continue reading “Wisconsin Science & Technology Symposium”

Climbing the Mountain: Or, Life as a Black Founder in Tech

Please give me a minute to talk about diversity in tech, even though I know whenever anyone talks about diversity in the tech industry, there are two types of responses I typically hear: The first is tokenism or the defensive argument. People will usually point to one example of the “diverse” person they hired, funded, … Continue reading “Climbing the Mountain: Or, Life as a Black Founder in Tech”

Steve Wozniak on Galaxy Gear, Google Glass, & Future of Wearables

There’s been much ado in the past year over wearable devices, as a proliferation of smartwatches and fitness trackers desperately try to win over consumers and prove they have staying power in the market. Yet even if most of them don’t last, these emerging technologies at least provide new gadgets for Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak … Continue reading “Steve Wozniak on Galaxy Gear, Google Glass, & Future of Wearables”

Zurex Pharma Lands $4,127,158 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9b47078e-8645-498a-a514-c0c1f38577b1 Date 7/1/2014 Company Name Zurex Pharma Mailing Address 2113 Eagle Drive Middleton, WI 53562 USA Company Description Zurex Pharma, Inc. is a specialty pharma and medical technology company with a novel antimicrobial technology platform. Our company’s mission is to develop and commercialize a portfolio of new antimicrobial products designed to prevent … Continue reading “Zurex Pharma Lands $4,127,158 New Round”

Wisconsin Roundup: EatStreet, CorvisaCloud, Aereo, Biotech, & More

Here are a few notable recent announcements in Wisconsin’s innovation and technology community: —EatStreet, the fast-growing Madison startup, signed an agreement with Yelp to integrate EatStreet’s online food-ordering service with the restaurant review website, allowing users to place orders directly from restaurants’ pages on Yelp. The news marks continued momentum for EatStreet, which is aiming … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: EatStreet, CorvisaCloud, Aereo, Biotech, & More”

May 10,000 Cloud Startups Bloom

The cloud services market has fueled a boom of immensely successful startups, most of which have raised millions in venture funding. Take analytics platform company Birst, which started off in the high end financial sector, raised $64 million in venture capital, and is now growing fast as a regular Silicon Valley-style pre-IPO company. Technology Business … Continue reading “May 10,000 Cloud Startups Bloom”

Saying Nothing With Style: The 2014 BioPharma Edition of BS Bingo

Several years ago, I wrote an article venting my frustrations with having to sift through the fog and jargon of poorly written analyses of the biotech/pharmaceutical industry. I recounted that, “years ago, a thoughtful co-worker passed along to me a copy of a game called ‘BS Bingo’ that was designed to keep you awake during … Continue reading “Saying Nothing With Style: The 2014 BioPharma Edition of BS Bingo”

Langer, Led Zeppelin, and Hookups: Three Days Behind the BIO Scenes

Don’t let the blind men groping the elephant fool you. No one can get their arms around the massive, 15,000-attendee BIO conference, the industry’s annual flagship convention, and tell you what the real zeitgeist is. It’s all selection bias: If, say, you’ve been keenly following cancer immunotherapy the past couple years, you probably went to … Continue reading “Langer, Led Zeppelin, and Hookups: Three Days Behind the BIO Scenes”

Wisconsin Edtech Startup StudyBlue Raises $1.7M

[Updated 6/30/14, 3:53 pm. See below.] StudyBlue, a Madison, WI-based edtech startup, has raised $1.7 million from investors, a new SEC filing shows. StudyBlue said the money comes from return investors Great Oaks Venture Capital, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), and StudyBlue chairman Steve Wallman, a securities analyst with Wallman Investment Counsel in Middleton, … Continue reading “Wisconsin Edtech Startup StudyBlue Raises $1.7M”

Innovation Hub: Is America Becoming the Next Japan?

For much of its history, the U.S. has been a place of innovation, where new ideas and products could flourish. But that era may be coming to an abrupt end, warns Clayton Christensen, who coined the term “disruptive innovation” and teaches at Harvard Business School. Christensen, author of “The Capitalist’s Dilemma,” believes that American business … Continue reading “Innovation Hub: Is America Becoming the Next Japan?”

Five Annoying Tech Problems for the Next Hot Startup to Solve

Why is it that we can put a man on the Moon, but we can’t figure out how to screen jet passengers without making everyone take their shoes off? Well, the truth is, we can’t even put a man on the Moon—not anymore. It’s not a technical impossibility, but reconstituting the technologies that helped a … Continue reading “Five Annoying Tech Problems for the Next Hot Startup to Solve”

StudyBlue Garners $1,721,259 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8f1fd942-c63c-4646-a211-b14e8985b17e Date 6/27/2014 Company Name StudyBlue Mailing Address 602 State Street Madison, WI 53703 USA Company Description StudyBlue is your online home to store lecture notes and make flashcards, with efficient tools that help focus your studying where you need it most, making your review sessions more efficient. Website http://www.studyblue.com Transaction Type … Continue reading “StudyBlue Garners $1,721,259 New Financing”

Calysta’s Pivot: Another Green Energy Startup Demotes Fuel Projects

The pioneers of synthetic biology in the early 2000s held out an enticing vision of cutting-edge technology that would churn out renewable fuels made from plant sugars rather than petroleum. They bioengineered microbes such as yeast to eat the sugar and make the chemical building blocks of gasoline or other fuels. However, those early companies … Continue reading “Calysta’s Pivot: Another Green Energy Startup Demotes Fuel Projects”

Wellntel Aims to Sprout Groundwater Info Market With Sonar Device

Groundwater is a precious resource. It irrigates vast fields of vegetables in California and wheat in Kansas. It supplies water to a third of U.S. cities—and to 90 percent of people who aren’t on systems run by municipalities or private water companies. It’s also increasingly coming under threat. Worries are growing in some areas that … Continue reading “Wellntel Aims to Sprout Groundwater Info Market With Sonar Device”

BIO 2014: Innovations in 3-D Tissue for Disease and Drug Discovery

Editor’s Note: Sharon Presnell discussed the use of bioprinting and 3D tissue to improve predictability in preclinical drug discovery this week at the BIO 2014 convention in San Diego. —BVB The human race consists of a large population of genetically diverse organisms. This inherent diversity is compounded daily by the individualistic way we go about … Continue reading “BIO 2014: Innovations in 3-D Tissue for Disease and Drug Discovery”

Thalchemy Secures $650,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=31feafa8-92e7-4a49-9b9b-20d7cae4df86 Date 6/26/2014 Company Name Thalchemy Mailing Address 1605 Monroe Street Madison, WI 53711 USA Company Description Thalchemy Corporation’s vision is to empower technology with the ever vigilant sensing capability of the human brain, thereby revolutionizing the market through enhancing user-experience and enabling entirely new application domains. Website http://www.thalchemy.com Transaction Type Debt … Continue reading “Thalchemy Secures $650,000 New Funding Round”