Category: Wisconsin

CFOs: Prepare To Become Your Company’s Data Czar This Year

In mid-2018, Tom Bogan was the leader of business planning software company Adaptive Insights as it planned its own next steps. The Palo Alto, CA-based company was on the point of raising about $115 million in a June IPO that would have set its market value at around $705 million, according to PitchBook. But like … Continue reading “CFOs: Prepare To Become Your Company’s Data Czar This Year”

Boston A.I. Leaders Call for Focus on Diversity, Global Mindset in 2019

It was an eventful year for the artificial intelligence industry. The sector saw more big venture capital deals and acquisitions, while researchers kept plugging away on technology advances. Meanwhile, A.I. developers continued to grapple with issues around transparency, trust, and ethics. As part of Xconomy’s series of year-end posts, we asked a pair of CEOs … Continue reading “Boston A.I. Leaders Call for Focus on Diversity, Global Mindset in 2019”

VCs May Face Backlash if Profits Come at Expense of Responsibility

Venture capital is, by nature, an optimistic industry, and venture capitalists have historically gone about their work comfortable that they were making positive societal contributions. When looking at VC activity over the past half century, one can see venture capital’s role in championing endeavors that advanced knowledge, improved health, increased worker productivity, and preserved natural … Continue reading “VCs May Face Backlash if Profits Come at Expense of Responsibility”

Bio Roundup: 2019 Trials, Pilgrim Price Chat, Pre-Xmas Sales & More

It’s beginning to look a lot like, well, the last roundup of the year, with plenty of news to pack in before our holiday breather. Whew. Before you fly off, or drive, or simply unplug, check out our preview of what could be next year’s top clinical studies; the tumult in big pharma’s on again-off … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: 2019 Trials, Pilgrim Price Chat, Pre-Xmas Sales & More”

WI Watchlist: Lame-Duck Bills, Johnson Controls, EmOpti & More

With the holidays approaching, it’s time to catch up on some recent headlines from Wisconsin’s innovation community: —Republican Gov. Scott Walker signed controversial lame-duck legislation that, among other things, limits the power of his Democratic successor, Tony Evers, who will take office in January. The legislation includes a measure that initially gives the state legislature … Continue reading “WI Watchlist: Lame-Duck Bills, Johnson Controls, EmOpti & More”

Pfizer, GSK to Merge Consumer Health Units, Focus on Prescription Drugs

Two of the world’s top drugmakers want to focus on making prescription drugs. Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline have agreed to merge their consumer health businesses and spin them off into a joint venture, a move that will both create a new consumer healthcare giant and increase the pressure on each company to churn out innovative medicines. … Continue reading “Pfizer, GSK to Merge Consumer Health Units, Focus on Prescription Drugs”

Graphcore Scores $200M to Scale Up A.I. Chip Production

One of the leading contenders in the A.I. chip race, Graphcore, announced Tuesday it pulled down $200 million in a Series D fundraising round that set its valuation at $1.7 billion. The Bristol, U.K.-based startup, founded in 2016, has now secured a total of more than $300 million in financing from venture capital firms and … Continue reading “Graphcore Scores $200M to Scale Up A.I. Chip Production”

Gener8tor’s Fellowship.art Brings Startup Accelerator Model to Art

You could make the case that the lines that separate an artist from an entrepreneur are virtually nonexistent. Just like startup founders or other business owners, artists are passion-driven individuals. They are making a product and seeking to sell it in a marketplace. They’re creating something tangible, pushing the boundaries, and often assuming great risks … Continue reading “Gener8tor’s Fellowship.art Brings Startup Accelerator Model to Art”

15 For ’19: Key Clinical Data to Watch For Next Year (Part 2)

On Monday, Xconomy began our annual look ahead at clinical trials that could define biotech and have profound healthcare effects in the coming year. Today we’re circling back with the rest of the list, which includes studies of drugs for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, cystic fibrosis, spinal muscular atrophy and more. Read on for the details. [Editor’s … Continue reading “15 For ’19: Key Clinical Data to Watch For Next Year (Part 2)”

A.I. in 2019: IBM Exec on Advances in Training, Trust, Transparency

[Editor’s note: This is part of a series of posts sharing thoughts from technology leaders about 2018 trends and 2019 forecasts.] Today’s artificial intelligence technologies have demonstrated they’re capable of handling specific tasks, such as identifying pictures of cats or spotting cancer in CT scans. Researchers are hopeful the industry’s next breakthroughs will enable A.I. … Continue reading “A.I. in 2019: IBM Exec on Advances in Training, Trust, Transparency”

15 for ’19: Key Clinical Data to Watch for Next Year (Part 1)

It can take decades and billions of dollars to develop a drug, and its fate—and often that of its developer—rests in the outcome of clinical trials. Just look at some of 2018’s biggest biotech stories. The failure of a closely watched cancer immunotherapy combination sent ripples through the sector and led several companies to change … Continue reading “15 for ’19: Key Clinical Data to Watch for Next Year (Part 1)”

Bio Roundup: Eli Lilly Tries Tau, Generic Insulin, NASH Cash & More

Pharmaceutical industry critics lament the cost of rare disease drugs, but some of the steepest price hikes have come on widely used insulin. The patent holder, the University of Toronto, gave companies the right to manufacture insulin. But the university also allowed them to patent the improvements they made, which enabled them to slap higher … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Eli Lilly Tries Tau, Generic Insulin, NASH Cash & More”

Udacity Achieves 50,000 Nanodegree Grads Amid Company Reorganization

Udacity, a pioneer in the online teaching of IT skills, is celebrating a milestone today—50,000 students have now graduated from one of its revenue-generating “Nanodegree” programs. Launched four years ago, the Nanodegree courses allow students worldwide to gain expertise in areas such as data analytics, machine learning, and autonomous flight engineering by completing coursework that … Continue reading “Udacity Achieves 50,000 Nanodegree Grads Amid Company Reorganization”

Farm Startup Bowery Lands $90M to Take Indoor-Grown Greens National

Foodies in New York City may not realize it, but some of the tasty kale, bok choy, and other leafy greens they buy trace their origins to an industrial park in New Jersey. The produce grown by indoor farming startup Bowery never sees soil or natural sunlight before making its way to select restaurants and … Continue reading “Farm Startup Bowery Lands $90M to Take Indoor-Grown Greens National”

The Power of Dreams: Making a Difference as a Detroit Entrepreneur

Those born and raised in Detroit are used to defying expectations, but making your dreams a reality is never an easy task. It involves overcoming both personal and professional hardships, which is why I named my business Make Your Dreams Come True (MYDCT). Inspired by what I wanted to do for both myself and others, … Continue reading “The Power of Dreams: Making a Difference as a Detroit Entrepreneur”

House Members Grill Google CEO Amid Bipartisan Privacy Concerns

Google CEO Sundar Pichai took his turn in the Congressional hotseat on Tuesday, following similar appearances by the chief executives of Facebook and Twitter earlier this year before lawmakers who are increasingly alert to the vast societal impact of Silicon Valley tech giants. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy opened a hearing before the House Judiciary … Continue reading “House Members Grill Google CEO Amid Bipartisan Privacy Concerns”

IPOs Will Strip Veils From Uber & Lyft’s Financials, Strategies

The IPO of any private company comes as the resolution of a mystery, as closely held details about its financial performance and strategies are revealed. But the suspense is heightened in the case of San Francisco-based companies Uber and Lyft, which pioneered the huge ride-hailing industry but have yet to come close to turning a … Continue reading “IPOs Will Strip Veils From Uber & Lyft’s Financials, Strategies”

McAfee CTO On Election Hacking, Cryptojacking, Quantum Security

Election hacking. Information warfare. Adversarial artificial intelligence. All worrisome topics racing through Steve Grobman’s head these days. But the McAfee chief technology officer seems surprisingly upbeat about the prospects of meeting these cybersecurity challenges—or at least putting up a good fight. I met Grobman at a coffee shop in downtown Boston last week. He was … Continue reading “McAfee CTO On Election Hacking, Cryptojacking, Quantum Security”

Bio Roundup: ASH Wrap, CRISPR Baby Fallout, Moderna’s Record IPO

The biggest yearly meeting for blood disease research has come and gone, and yet the stories to come out of the American Society of Hematology’s gathering in San Diego represent just a fraction of what happened in biopharma this week. Even if ASH wasn’t on your radar, the CRISPR baby saga—the apparent birth of gene … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: ASH Wrap, CRISPR Baby Fallout, Moderna’s Record IPO”

Wisconsin Watchlist: Gravy, Semba, Steamchain, OnCourse, GenoPalate

[Updated 12/7/18, 3:42 pm. See below.] Time to catch up on recent headlines from Wisconsin’s innovation community: —Madison-based Gravy snagged the first investment from Rock River Capital Partners, which recently closed its debut fund. Rock River partner Andy Walker told Xconomy the venture funding round for Gravy totaled about $2 million. Other investors in the … Continue reading “Wisconsin Watchlist: Gravy, Semba, Steamchain, OnCourse, GenoPalate”

SuperNus ADHD Drug to Head to FDA, But Is It Better Than a Generic?

An experimental attention deficit hyperactivity drug developed by SuperNus Pharmaceuticals has met the main goals of two late-stage studies, bolstering the company’s case that it could provide an alternative to currently available ADHD therapies. But shares of the Rockville, MD-based company promptly fell on concerns of whether the drug is any better than a widely … Continue reading “SuperNus ADHD Drug to Head to FDA, But Is It Better Than a Generic?”

5 Reasons to Seek Geographic Diversity in a Venture Portfolio

Silicon Valley. New York City. Boston. Call them tech hubs or startup capitals, they are drawing in our nation’s venture capital dollars. But when it comes to new investments, venture capitalists can’t be so short-sighted. The opportunities beyond these markets may be richer than many realize. In July 2018, my venture capital firm, Alumni Ventures … Continue reading “5 Reasons to Seek Geographic Diversity in a Venture Portfolio”

Former Biotech VC Steven Burrill Draws 30-Month Prison Term for Fraud

G. Steven Burrill, once a noted biotech investment fund founder, sought-after conference speaker, and life sciences publisher, was sentenced Wednesday to serve 30 months in federal prison for defrauding his investors and evading taxes. Burrill was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 14, 2017. He was accused of diverting more than $18 million … Continue reading “Former Biotech VC Steven Burrill Draws 30-Month Prison Term for Fraud”

Diffbot’s A.I. Engine Draws Global Map of Machine Learning Expertise

A year ago, the leading Chinese Internet company Tencent Holdings pegged the global number of artificial intelligence researchers and professionals at 300,000 or less—just as the unmet demand for such experts was pushing salary offers to as much as $1 million. In February, the Canadian firm Element AI estimated that talent pool at no more than … Continue reading “Diffbot’s A.I. Engine Draws Global Map of Machine Learning Expertise”

Adherium Aims to Improve Asthma Patient Outcomes with Smart Inhalers

Asthma is the third-ranking cause of hospitalization for children under 15 years of age in the U.S., and it’s the leading cause of missed school among children ages 5 to 17. Missed school can lead to missed work and lost income if parents need to stay home to care for their sick kids, potentially leading … Continue reading “Adherium Aims to Improve Asthma Patient Outcomes with Smart Inhalers”

“JK Told Me He Was Planning This”: A CRISPR Baby Q&A with Matt Porteus

Last week, Chinese researcher He Jiankui stunned the world with his claim to have created the world’s first gene-edited humans. He said he had used CRISPR-Cas9 to change the DNA of the embryos of twin girls, to make them immune to HIV infection, then implanted them in their mother’s womb. He announced on video the … Continue reading ““JK Told Me He Was Planning This”: A CRISPR Baby Q&A with Matt Porteus”

Enzyme Health Adds $1.7M for Clinician Telemedicine Job Marketplace

Austin—A new telehealth-focused startup, Enzyme Health, has raised a $1.7 million seed funding round to build out its marketplace for doctors and nurse practitioners looking for new online gigs. Enzyme Health connects clinicians with the companies that provide telemedicine services to patients, with the aim of helping doctors and nurse practitioners find more freelance work … Continue reading “Enzyme Health Adds $1.7M for Clinician Telemedicine Job Marketplace”

BCMA Day: At ASH ‘18, Cell Therapies For Myeloma Take Center Stage

The treatment landscape for multiple myeloma, a deadly cancer of the bone marrow that affects about 30,000 Americans every year, has changed significantly over the past decade. And more changes look to be on the way. Take the results of a Phase 3 study just reported today at the American Society of Hematology’s (ASH) yearly … Continue reading “BCMA Day: At ASH ‘18, Cell Therapies For Myeloma Take Center Stage”

Event-Stream Hack Is Not Cause For Panic About Open-Source Security

News last week that event-stream, the popular open-source code library managed by NPM, had been compromised by a hacker (or hackers) looking to steal Bitcoin led some to question the underlying security of the open-source components that they are using in their software. According to reports, a hacker gained control of the event-stream package by … Continue reading “Event-Stream Hack Is Not Cause For Panic About Open-Source Security”

15Five Lands $8M to Provide Coaching Software to More Managers

[Updated 12/4/18 9:20 am. See below.] San Francisco-based performance management startup 15Five, whose mission is to torpedo annual performance reviews for workers and replace them with supportive weekly coaching by managers, announced today it raised $8 million in a Series A funding round. 15Five gets its name from the feedback and coaching process that its … Continue reading “15Five Lands $8M to Provide Coaching Software to More Managers”

ASH 2018: Three Up, Two Down as Big Blood Disease Meeting Rolls On

[Updated 4:37 p.m. See below.] Last week, Xconomy previewed the American Society of Hematology’s big meeting in San Diego, the largest medical gathering in the country on blood diseases. We took a deep dive into five specific disease areas under scrutiny, from lymphoma to hemophilia to sickle cell disease and more. News related to those … Continue reading “ASH 2018: Three Up, Two Down as Big Blood Disease Meeting Rolls On”

ResMed Boosts Connected Health Play With $225M Propeller Health Deal

[Updated 12/3/18, 3:30 pm, with CEO comments.] ResMed has inked a $225 million deal to acquire Propeller Health, in the latest endorsement of Internet-connected devices for healthcare. The acquisition, which is expected to close by the end of March 2019, continues San Diego-based ResMed’s (NYSE: [[ticker:RMD]]) “connected healthcare” push that began about five years ago, … Continue reading “ResMed Boosts Connected Health Play With $225M Propeller Health Deal”

Manufacturing Gig Platform FactoryFix Raises $1.5M, Relocates to WI

This year, the state of Wisconsin rolled out a marketing campaign aimed at wooing young professionals from Chicago, claiming the Badger State tends to offer cheaper rents, shorter commutes, and easier access to outdoor activities than the Windy City. But for FactoryFix CEO and founder Patrick O’Rahilly, whose manufacturing staffing software startup recently relocated its … Continue reading “Manufacturing Gig Platform FactoryFix Raises $1.5M, Relocates to WI”

WI Syndication Group Seeks More Investor Team-ups to Spur Big Exits

Many startup investments involve multiple investors these days, but it’s not always easy to assemble a group of backers necessary to close the deal. Wisconsin—which has a small local pool of venture capital and aspirations to churn out more high-growth startups—is one of the places experimenting with tactics to nurture relationships and collaboration between investors … Continue reading “WI Syndication Group Seeks More Investor Team-ups to Spur Big Exits”

Volvo Expands In Silicon Valley As Auto Innovation Goes West

As GM announced a wave of auto plant closures in the North American heartland this week at the cost of thousands of jobs, Sweden’s Volvo Cars was expanding its U.S. presence, both in Silicon Valley and at a new South Carolina factory. Like Detroit-based GM (NYSE: [[ticker:GM]]), which is shifting its attention from traditional auto manufacturing … Continue reading “Volvo Expands In Silicon Valley As Auto Innovation Goes West”

Fetch Rewards Bags $8M After Shaking Up Its Grocery Rewards Model

Mobile app startup Fetch Rewards has scooped up $8 million in new venture funding to try and expand its grocery shopping rewards business. The Madison, WI-based company’s latest equity financing was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC this week. Fetch CEO and co-founder Wes Schroll couldn’t be immediately reached for comment Friday afternoon. … Continue reading “Fetch Rewards Bags $8M After Shaking Up Its Grocery Rewards Model”

Bio Roundup: CRISPR Babies, Blood Diseases, Big Cancer Nod & More

This was one of those weeks when the world seemed to slip into a new era with no going back. A Chinese researcher, He Jiankui, claimed he helped bring to life two genetically engineered babies, twin girls with a gene disabled to make them immune to HIV infection. Even though the technology He used—in vitro … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: CRISPR Babies, Blood Diseases, Big Cancer Nod & More”

WI Watchlist: Amazon, JCI, Understory, Titan Spine, Eurofins

[Updated 11/28/18, 10:08 am. See below.] Time to catch up on recent headlines from Wisconsin’s innovation community: —Understory, a Madison-based startup that tracks weather via networks of solar-powered sensors, said it reeled in a $7.5 million investment led by local venture firm 4490 Ventures. Other investors in the deal included the Rise of the Rest … Continue reading “WI Watchlist: Amazon, JCI, Understory, Titan Spine, Eurofins”

Under Fire, He Jiankui Says He’s “Proud” to Help Make CRISPR’d Babies

[Updated, 11/28/18, 12:20pm ET. See below.] Is there another CRISPR baby on the way? In his first public appearance since his stunning claim, released on YouTube Sunday, that he helped bring the first genome-edited humans into the world, He Jiankui, a genomics researcher at Southern University of Science and Technology of China in Shenzhen, said … Continue reading “Under Fire, He Jiankui Says He’s “Proud” to Help Make CRISPR’d Babies”

Shine Raises $30M, Could Add $150M More After Inking Deerfield Deal

[Updated 11/28/18 10:52 a.m. See below.] Shine Medical Technologies, a Janesville, WI-based company that’s working to resume domestic production of a vital medical isotope, said Tuesday that Deerfield Management, a New York-based investing firm, has agreed to pour up to $150 million into Shine’s coffers in the coming years. Shine executives had previously told company shareholders … Continue reading “Shine Raises $30M, Could Add $150M More After Inking Deerfield Deal”

Genetic Medicine: FDA OKs 2nd Cancer Drug That Targets DNA, Not Tissues

[Updated 11/26/18. See below.] Going deeper into the new world of genetic medicine, the FDA has for the second time approved a drug that targets a tumor’s DNA fingerprint, no matter where in the body that cancer is found. And more could be on the way. The drug is larotrectinib (Vitrakvi), from Loxo Oncology (NASDAQ: … Continue reading “Genetic Medicine: FDA OKs 2nd Cancer Drug That Targets DNA, Not Tissues”

After Deal Stalled, Shine Medical Eyeing Up to $160M from Deerfield

[Update 11/27/18 8:34 p.m.] Following the publication of an Xconomy report that Shine Medical Technologies appeared to be on the verge of landing a nine-figure investment from Deerfield Management, the two companies said Tuesday that Deerfield will invest up to $150 million in Shine to support the construction of a radioisotope-manufacturing facility. [Story originally published … Continue reading “After Deal Stalled, Shine Medical Eyeing Up to $160M from Deerfield”

Necessity Vs. Innovation-Based Entrepreneurs

What makes someone an entrepreneur? Most simply defined, an entrepreneur is a person who identifies a need and starts a business to fill that void. But others will argue that a “true” entrepreneur must come up with an innovative new product or service and then operates their business to sell and profit from that innovation. … Continue reading “Necessity Vs. Innovation-Based Entrepreneurs”

ASH 2018: A Guide to the Latest for Blood-Borne Cancers and More

[Note: Ben Fidler co-authored this report.] This weekend, San Diego will host the annual American Society of Hematology conference, the largest U.S. medical gathering to get the latest on blood diseases, and a venue for updates on some of the most cutting-edge biotechnologies that only a few years ago seemed like science fiction. Using the … Continue reading “ASH 2018: A Guide to the Latest for Blood-Borne Cancers and More”

Immigrants Are Key to Winning the AI Arms Race

If we want to create jobs and economic opportunity here in the U.S., we’re going to need immigrants. Not only have they pioneered our country’s greatest achievements, bringing you everything from hot dogs to YouTube, but today they serve at the cutting edge of our foremost industries. Nowhere is this more true than in the … Continue reading “Immigrants Are Key to Winning the AI Arms Race”

How Blockchain Is Finding a Place at Your Thanksgiving Table

The food we buy in grocery stores and restaurants has a story to tell about where it came from and each step it took on its journey to your dinner table. Blockchain technology can help tell that tale. The story many food companies want to tell these days is about safety. Earlier this year, an … Continue reading “How Blockchain Is Finding a Place at Your Thanksgiving Table”

With $23M in Hand, Rock River Shifts from Fundraising to Investing

A young Wisconsin venture capital firm has raised more than $23 million for its first fund, and plans to soon begin drawing on the pool of money to back startups based in the state. Rock River Capital Partners said in a document filed with federal securities regulators last week that the size of its first … Continue reading “With $23M in Hand, Rock River Shifts from Fundraising to Investing”

Plant-Based Burger Maker Beyond Meat Cooks Up Plans for an IPO

We’ll soon find out if Wall Street has the appetite for investing in alternative meat technology. Beyond Meat, a maker of plant-based meat products, has filed for an IPO. The El Segundo, CA-based company set a preliminary target of $100 million for the stock offering, a figure that will likely change as the company moves … Continue reading “Plant-Based Burger Maker Beyond Meat Cooks Up Plans for an IPO”

X·CON 2018: Photos From Three Innovation Days in November

On November 4-6, Xconomy organized a meeting of the minds—an elite gathering of leaders in technology, business, healthcare, education, and energy—to discuss and demonstrate the key trends in their fields, heading into next year. Our expert speakers and attendees at X·CON 2018 tackled everything from the impact of artificial intelligence on enterprises to the emerging … Continue reading “X·CON 2018: Photos From Three Innovation Days in November”