Category: Wisconsin

FluGen Garners $3,228,479 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9f54fc20-177a-4c22-9ff4-b7dc5790b250 Date 6/3/2014 Company Name FluGen Mailing Address 597 Science Drive Madison, WI 53711 USA Company Description FluGen was founded in 2007 in Madison, Wisconsin by Dr. Yoshihiro Kawaoka, Dr. Gabriele Neumann and Mr. Paul Radspinner in response to the need for significant improvement in existing methods of preventing and treating influenza … Continue reading “FluGen Garners $3,228,479 New Financing Round”

Wisconsin Startup Investments Shrink, But Deal Flow Up in 2013

Wisconsin startups collected $128.3 million from investors last year, down 21 percent from the previous year’s haul. But the number of deals rose 16 percent, as 86 companies received funding. That’s according to this year’s Wisconsin Portfolio, a newly released report from the Wisconsin Technology Council and its Wisconsin Angel Network. The annual publication gathers … Continue reading “Wisconsin Startup Investments Shrink, But Deal Flow Up in 2013”

Equity Crowdfunding Launch With MobCraft Beer

From the event organizer: “Come celebrate Wisconsin’s new equity crowdfunding law that positions Wisconsin as a leader in democratizing capital investment to the benefit of Main Street businesses. This event will feature remarks from Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and the opportunity to sample and hear from MobCraft Beer, the first company to take advantage of … Continue reading “Equity Crowdfunding Launch With MobCraft Beer”

Wisconsin Roundup: Epic, Crowdfunding, Milwaukee Water Biz Park

Here’s a smattering of recent news from Wisconsin’s innovation and tech community: —Plans are starting to solidify for the first building in a planned Milwaukee business park for water tech companies. Construction could begin this fall on a four-story, 80,000-square-foot office and research complex in the Reed Street Yards, which is adjacent to the Global … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Epic, Crowdfunding, Milwaukee Water Biz Park”

Forkforce Obtains $250,000 Seed Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=086dfc5e-92b6-42b3-91e4-655a109480d2 Date 5/31/2014 Company Name Forkforce Mailing Address 33 Oakbridge Court Madison, WI 53717 USA Company Description Forkforce is revolutionizing the food & beverage services industry hiring process saving both time and money by connecting owners with a growing pipeline of potential qualified job seekers. Forkforce is the all in one solution … Continue reading “Forkforce Obtains $250,000 Seed Round”

Startups and “The Future of Informing”: Q&A with Matter’s Corey Ford

Don’t let it be said that the media industry is anti-innovation. Journalism schools sponsor hard-hitting studies saying news organizations must reinvent themselves to survive. A leaked innovation report from the New York Times shows that the venerable paper is serious about doing exactly that, even if it’s still struggling to figure out how. And KQED, … Continue reading “Startups and “The Future of Informing”: Q&A with Matter’s Corey Ford”

Madison, WI-based Mobile Gaming Startup PerBlue Raises $3M

[Updated 5/30/14, 11:02 am. See below.] PerBlue, a Madison, WI-based mobile game developer, has raised $3 million in venture capital from investors, including Chicago-based Lightbank. There are eight investors in the equity raise that totals just shy of $3 million, a new SEC filing shows. Lightbank is leading the funding round, which marks the VC … Continue reading “Madison, WI-based Mobile Gaming Startup PerBlue Raises $3M”

Prostate Cancer Screening: Seduction Of The Innocent

Many rare book collectors keep an eye out for an original copy of Seduction of the Innocent, a cause célèbre when it was published back in the 1950s by psychiatrist Fredric Wertham. The tome purported to show that the root cause of juvenile delinquency in the U.S. was comic books! Sensationalistic congressional hearings followed in … Continue reading “Prostate Cancer Screening: Seduction Of The Innocent”

WI-based Aver Informatics Gets $8.5M From GE Ventures, Drive Capital

It’s easy to leave out Green Bay in conversations about Wisconsin’s tech startup scene, but Packer country grabbed the spotlight today with healthtech startup Aver Informatics announcing an $8.5 million Series A investment from some prominent national names. It’s possibly the largest capital raise by a Green Bay-based startup, Aver CEO Kurt Brenkus said, and … Continue reading “WI-based Aver Informatics Gets $8.5M From GE Ventures, Drive Capital”

Wisconsin Roundup: Ideadvance, MiKE, Fontarome Chemical, & More

It’s coming down to the wire for the Wisconsin startups competing in the Governor’s Business Plan Contest. A group of 12 early-stage companies born at Wisconsin public universities received seed investments. Innovation in Milwaukee (MiKE) has a new leader. And Milwaukee-based Fontarome Chemical, which flirted with a shutdown a few months ago, has come back … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Ideadvance, MiKE, Fontarome Chemical, & More”

Navigating JOBS, Wrangling Investors: A Biotech CFO Roundtable

In biotech, the visionary scientists and serial entrepreneurs often—arguably too often—get described as “rock stars.” The financial guys… well, not so much. But in a business where cash is constantly burned at the altar of R&D, and financial engineering can be as prized a skill as drug hunting, the CFOs perhaps deserve more time in … Continue reading “Navigating JOBS, Wrangling Investors: A Biotech CFO Roundtable”

Aver Informatics Secures $8,500,000 Series A Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2749b13a-904a-45b0-8fa0-8ed1ab081cbd Date 5/27/2014 Company Name Aver Informatics Mailing Address 375 AMS Court Green Bay, WI 54313 USA Company Description Aver Informatics’ data analytics platform radically simplifies the healthcare reimbursement process. Through analyzing the vast amounts of “fee for service” data already available in current healthcare claims systems, Aver automatically packages patient care … Continue reading “Aver Informatics Secures $8,500,000 Series A Funding”

Cribspot Wins Techweek Detroit Startup Competition

Since Monday, Techweek Detroit has taken downtown by storm, hosting discussions and keynote speeches featuring tech titans, a show highlighting local fashion designers, a town hall meeting, a “food truck face-off,” and cocktail parties galore. Techweek’s two-day conference, held Thursday and today at the old federal building on Fort Street, was a fun atmosphere when … Continue reading “Cribspot Wins Techweek Detroit Startup Competition”

Cord Cutting: How to Get High-Speed Internet Service Without Cable

[Updated article for 2017 is here, 10/25/17.] Last fall I wrote a column called Please, Keep Paying $80 a Month for Cable So I Can Enjoy Cheap TV. The article was addressed to folks who complain about the exorbitant fees they’re paying to Comcast or AT&T for premium cable bundles. Adopting a cheeky, sarcastic tone—which … Continue reading “Cord Cutting: How to Get High-Speed Internet Service Without Cable”

Flying Car 2014

Flying Car, the annual innovation and technology conference hosted by the Greater Milwaukee Committee’s Innovation in Milwaukee (MiKE) initiative, will feature speakers, hands-on labs, and networking opportunities. The keynote address will be given by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. Other speakers include MLB commissioner Bud Selig, former Google brand strategist Heidi Hackemer, The Ability Center founder … Continue reading “Flying Car 2014”

Gener8tor Grad OpenHomes Raises Seed Funds to Grow Staff, Launch App

Madison, WI-based OpenHomes, a startup that helps people buy and sell homes online, has raised $180,000 in seed funds that will help it expand staff and develop a mobile app, the company said today. Investors include Milwaukee-based CSA Partners, Oshkosh, WI-based Angels on the Water, Wisconsin startup accelerator Gener8tor, and individuals including Mark Bakken, CEO … Continue reading “Gener8tor Grad OpenHomes Raises Seed Funds to Grow Staff, Launch App”

1Q VC Data: What Just Happened?

The National Venture Capital Association recently released data on first-quarter investment activity, which always makes for an interesting read, at least on long plane rides. Point of fact, this past quarter was exceptional in many ways—and arguably somewhat unexpected. The headlines read that $9.5 billion was invested in 951 companies, an amount we have not … Continue reading “1Q VC Data: What Just Happened?”

Just a Few Slots Left for Napa Summit June 3—Request An Invite

We are just under two weeks away from the Napa Summit 2014: The Xconomy Retreat on the Economy, Jobs, and Growth. It is one of our most special events of the year. Not only does it have an incredible speaker lineup, it is multidisciplinary, offering a rare chance to step out of your zone of … Continue reading “Just a Few Slots Left for Napa Summit June 3—Request An Invite”

Milwaukee-based SpotHopper Wants to Be Pandora For Watering Holes

[Corrected 5/21/14, 8:53 am. See below.] Movie and TV series addicts have Netflix. Adventurous music aficionados have Pandora. But there’s arguably no equivalent go-to mobile app or software program for people who are planning a fun night on the town and want help scouting bars that match their tastes and mood. That’s what the makers … Continue reading “Milwaukee-based SpotHopper Wants to Be Pandora For Watering Holes”

Wisconsin Roundup: Cloud, Solar, Speed Dating, & More

Here are a few recent notable news items in Wisconsin’s tech and innovation community: —Helios Solar Works, a Milwaukee solar panel startup that filed for receivership and shut down last year, will reopen under its new Chinese parent company, Chinaland Solar Energy—but not in Wisconsin. Instead, the company will relocate to North Carolina, according to … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Cloud, Solar, Speed Dating, & More”

Check Out Our Napa Summit Agenda—Get Your Invite for June 2-3 Event

It’s one of the most special events Xconomy holds—an invitation-only confab in the Napa Valley for roughly 80-90 special guests and speakers. And the Napa Summit 2014, set for June 2-3, is shaping up to be our best ever. We have a power-packed array of speakers, from pioneers in their fields to some of the … Continue reading “Check Out Our Napa Summit Agenda—Get Your Invite for June 2-3 Event”

Welcome to the Seven-Year Technology Pause

What’s even harder to endure than the collapse of an economic or technology bubble? The long lull that follows. The current bubble hasn’t popped quite yet—and it might not, at least not in the sudden and messy way that the dot-com bubble did, in March 2000. What’s just as possible is that that we’ll see … Continue reading “Welcome to the Seven-Year Technology Pause”

Innovation Hub: David Pogue Does Some Trendspotting

David Pogue is a tastemaker. His reviews in The New York Times—and now on Yahoo—are widely followed. He has 1.5 million Twitter followers. And he’s always on the lookout for new trends. So, what is he intrigued by right now? And what does he think is overhyped? I put it to Pogue. [The following interview … Continue reading “Innovation Hub: David Pogue Does Some Trendspotting”

NeuMoDx and Jeff Williams Capitalize on Lessons Learned at Handylab

Jeff Williams is one of Michigan’s most successful biotech entrepreneurs, with two of Michigan’s biggest exits—Accuri and Handylab—on his ledger. Now he’s hoping the third time’s a charm, too. Williams’ new molecular diagnostic startup, NeuMoDx, just closed a $21 million Series B round in April. Pfizer Ventures led the round, with participation from Baird Capital … Continue reading “NeuMoDx and Jeff Williams Capitalize on Lessons Learned at Handylab”

Geppetto Avatars Melds Emotion of Disney, Smarts of KITT

[Corrected 5/15/14, 3:41 pm. See below.] The fact that Norrie Daroga considers Walt Disney the forefather of his company’s interactive virtual characters is telling, and not just because Geppetto Avatars was partly named after the woodcarver who created Pinocchio, the puppet who dreamed of being a real boy, in Disney’s classic 1940 animated film, “Pinocchio.” … Continue reading “Geppetto Avatars Melds Emotion of Disney, Smarts of KITT”

At the Threshold of a New Digital Health Landscape

After decades of development, digital health has arrived at a gateway that is reminiscent of the days when the brick-sized cell phone was ready to advance to the first flip phone, with a world of innovation beyond. Industry leaders will be offering their thoughts on what that world could look like in presentations today and … Continue reading “At the Threshold of a New Digital Health Landscape”

The Davis Dilemma: New Energy for Innovation, But Where to Grow?

Every economic development official in the country knows the story. In 1951, Frederick Terman, then the dean of engineering at Stanford University, decided to set aside 200 acres of Stanford-owned fruit orchards in Palo Alto for the new Stanford Industrial Park. The park was soon home to Varian Associates, Shockley Transistor, and Hewlett-Packard, as well … Continue reading “The Davis Dilemma: New Energy for Innovation, But Where to Grow?”

Xconomy Surveys Innovation in the Sacramento-Davis Corridor

As Xconomist Bob Metcalfe has said, “Invention is a flower. Innovation is a weed.” What better place for the weed of innovation to grow than in the fertile region around the California capital of Sacramento, and, especially, nearby University of California at Davis, one of the premier agricultural research institutions in the world? In fact, … Continue reading “Xconomy Surveys Innovation in the Sacramento-Davis Corridor”

Can Sacramento End Its Innovation Drought?

It’s raining, at last, in the Sacramento region. It’s just past noon on the last day of March. As I’d glided east on Interstate 80 that morning, the sky had been darkly pregnant, a wash of Payne’s Gray. Yet not a drop of rain had streaked my windshield. Now, as I’m leaving City Hall in … Continue reading “Can Sacramento End Its Innovation Drought?”

Nonprofit Aims to Boost Early-Stage Healthcare Startups in Milwaukee

The spotlight for healthcare innovation in Wisconsin often falls on the state capital of Madison, and for good reason. The city’s biotech scene has produced a number of successful startups that got acquired or went public, and researchers at its flagship university have for decades made impactful—and at times, incredibly lucrative—discoveries that have fueled a … Continue reading “Nonprofit Aims to Boost Early-Stage Healthcare Startups in Milwaukee”

Entrepreneurship Inside Corporations

There is a real trend developing right now of large corporations becoming crucibles of innovation and entrepreneurship in a systematic way. In this post, I will discuss four specific sub-categories of this trend that we’re seeing, and for all practical purposes, participating in. Intrapreneurship Incubation Corporations have come to realize that there are numerous great … Continue reading “Entrepreneurship Inside Corporations”

Second Annual Genomics and Ethics Symposium Registration

The Medical College of Wisconsin will host its second annual symposium on the ethical questions raised by genomics. From the event organizer: “The symposium will explore ethical and clinical issues related to genomic sequencing technologies, including the use of large genomic data sets in public health research, the ethics of genomics research within ethnic minority … Continue reading “Second Annual Genomics and Ethics Symposium Registration”

Boston’s Moontoast Buys Spendship, a Nashville Startup With WI Roots

Spendship, a mobile marketing startup with Wisconsin roots, has been acquired for an undisclosed sum by Boston-based adtech company Moontoast, the companies announced Thursday. Jason Weaver, founder and former CEO of Madison, WI-based Shoutlet, created the Spendship platform as a way for businesses to simultaneously boost sales and relationships with consumers by “turning fans into … Continue reading “Boston’s Moontoast Buys Spendship, a Nashville Startup With WI Roots”

Radio is the New Netflix. Here’s Your Binge Listening Guide.

“Binge watching” TV shows wasn’t possible until the advent of full-season DVD sets in the late 1990s. And while bingeing was common enough in the 2000s—I definitely remember a few weekends spent inhaling 24, BSG, and The Wire—it didn’t really leap into the mainstream until 2013, when Netflix began streaming whole seasons of shows like … Continue reading “Radio is the New Netflix. Here’s Your Binge Listening Guide.”

Wisconsin Roundup: BrightStar, Propeller Health, JCI R&D lab, & More

Here’s a few news items from Wisconsin’s innovation and tech community that you might have missed this week: —BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation announced its next round of investments in local startups, with $285,000 total put into Milwaukee-based The Good Jobs, Fishidy of Madison, WI, and WholeTrees, a Madison-based company that plans to build a production facility … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: BrightStar, Propeller Health, JCI R&D lab, & More”

Outside San Diego, Illumina Looks to Wisconsin for Key R&D

When an acquisition occurs, the worst-case scenario for the community of the purchased company usually occurs when the buyer gobbles up the pieces it wants and shutters the local operations. But this situation doesn’t always play out, and Nick Caruccio is glad that’s not what happened to his company, Madison, WI-based Epicentre, after San Diego-based … Continue reading “Outside San Diego, Illumina Looks to Wisconsin for Key R&D”

Three Months in Berlin: One Tech Entrepreneur’s Journey

San Francisco is the center of the tech world. But after three months in Europe, my conclusion is that there’s a major new contender as a great place to start startups: Berlin. In this article I’ll tell you about the companies and investors I got the chance to work with, and then talk about the … Continue reading “Three Months in Berlin: One Tech Entrepreneur’s Journey”

MCW’s Clarke Wants to Build Critical Mass of Medical Entrepreneurs

For academic researchers trying to turn an idea into a business, it’s easy to get caught up in the discovery’s “cool” factor and overlook the fact that it needs to be something people will pay money for. As the Medical College of Wisconsin’s newly named director of research commercialization, Bill Clarke knows this dynamic well. … Continue reading “MCW’s Clarke Wants to Build Critical Mass of Medical Entrepreneurs”

Digital Healthcare Conference 2014

The annual Digital Healthcare Conference in Madison offers an opportunity for professionals in the healthcare technology industry to network and listen to a speaker lineup of “innovators and thought leaders,” according to event organizers. Confirmed speakers include Tom Koulopoulos of Delphi Group, Scott Button of Venture Investors, and Nordic Consulting’s Mark Bakken. For more information … Continue reading “Digital Healthcare Conference 2014”

Wisconsin Roundup: Wozniak, Bridge to Cures, Isomark

Here are a few recent notable announcements from Wisconsin’s tech and innovation community: —Madison, WI-based Isomark said it received a $150,000 investment from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) that will help fund a 110-patient study of the company’s non-invasive “Canary” breath analyzer at the UW Hospital and Clinics. The device is meant to provide early indication of potentially … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Wozniak, Bridge to Cures, Isomark”

4 Weeks Until Our Napa Summit on June 2-3–Request Your Invitation

We all know it’s important to get out of our boxes at times. By taking in new ideas from leaders outside of our own fields, we can return to face day-to-day challenges with fresh perspective and energy. Sometimes getting out of the box also means getting out of our comfort zones. But sometimes it’s better … Continue reading “4 Weeks Until Our Napa Summit on June 2-3–Request Your Invitation”

Organizing For Aging—An Investment Imperative

Starting now, venture capitalists should reflect on an opportunity that probably occupies them very little. They know they are in the medical progress business, having financed numerous hard-won successes in developing drugs and diagnostics for rare diseases. Along with general material progress, the application of DNA science and genomics in biotechnology is giving millions of … Continue reading “Organizing For Aging—An Investment Imperative”

Cultivating Accountability in the Workplace

Accountability is one of the most important aspects of any business. A company that holds its employees accountable for the choices they make and the tasks they perform witnesses high levels of productivity and efficiency. In a startup too, a shared sense of accountability among employees makes all the difference in how they approach their … Continue reading “Cultivating Accountability in the Workplace”

Soft Spots: Five Places Where Silicon Valley’s Bubble Could Pop

The main premise of J.J. Abrams’ Fringe—unquestionably one of the three best sci-fi shows made for television in this century, alongside Battlestar Galactica and Doctor Who—is that there’s a second, nearly identical universe coterminous with ours. The wall between the parallel worlds remains impenetrable until a grief-stricken scientist, Walter Bishop, figures out how to cross … Continue reading “Soft Spots: Five Places Where Silicon Valley’s Bubble Could Pop”

Innovation Hub: Jason Fried on the End of the Workplace

Jason Fried wants us to forget about meetings, stop talking to our managers, and avoid coming into the office. Mostly. Fried, the co-founder and CEO of the software company Basecamp, believes many workplaces are dysfunctional and should be reinvented. Why? And what’s Fried’s vision of the new office? I sat down to talk with him … Continue reading “Innovation Hub: Jason Fried on the End of the Workplace”

At Two-Year Mark, JOBS Act Is Regulation Even A Biotech Can Love

It’s been two years since President Obama signed the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act into law and revamped the rules that govern private companies trying to raise money from all types of investors. The biotech crowd, usually hard pressed to find good things to say about federal regulation, couldn’t be more pleased with the … Continue reading “At Two-Year Mark, JOBS Act Is Regulation Even A Biotech Can Love”