George Mosher, a Milwaukee businessman and one of Wisconsin’s most prolific startup investors, died on Thursday after a fight with pancreatic cancer. He was 79. A Boston native, Mosher moved to Milwaukee in 1965 after graduating from Harvard University’s business school. He became president of Business and Institutional Furniture, a catalog furniture company that served … Continue reading “George Mosher, Milwaukee Startup Investor & Philanthropist, Has Died”
Tag: BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation
Access HealthNet Snags $1M to Help Lower Employers’ Healthcare Costs
Access HealthNet, a startup developing software designed to help employers save money on their workers’ healthcare, has raised $1 million in debt funding from a dozen investors, according to a securities filing. Wauwatosa, WI-based Access HealthNet works with its business clients to help them find the lowest prices for common medical procedures. Specifically, the digital … Continue reading “Access HealthNet Snags $1M to Help Lower Employers’ Healthcare Costs”
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”
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”
Foxconn, Doyenne, Socialeads & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist
Madison, WI, and suburbs west of the city have received record rainfall this week, and more storms appear to be headed for the capital city this weekend. Those forecasts have created fears of further flooding and road closures downtown, which sits on an isthmus between two lakes. Your correspondent retreated to his home office after … Continue reading “Foxconn, Doyenne, Socialeads & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist”
BrightStar, Gener8tor Nix Deal Promising Funds for Accelerator Grads
[Updated 7/11/18 11:02 a.m. See below.] Two Wisconsin-based organizations that invest in startups have done away with an arrangement they made four years ago that was aimed at getting early-stage companies to move to—or stay in—the state, and create jobs there. Since 2014, the BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation has guaranteed a $50,000 investment in each graduate … Continue reading “BrightStar, Gener8tor Nix Deal Promising Funds for Accelerator Grads”
Q&A: Don Layden Talks VC Trends, Exits, Foxconn’s ‘Long Tail’ & More
Don Layden has lived and worked in greater Milwaukee long enough to feel like he’s got a pretty good grasp of the area’s strengths, weaknesses, and defining qualities. Layden graduated from Marquette University Law School in 1982, then worked his way up to partner at the law firm Quarles & Brady. He later served in … Continue reading “Q&A: Don Layden Talks VC Trends, Exits, Foxconn’s ‘Long Tail’ & More”
Aided By Facebook Ads, Wantable Carves Out Niche in Online Fashion
When it comes to advertising on the Web, Google remains king. But second-place Facebook has rapidly been narrowing the gap. From 2012 to 2017, Facebook’s (NASDAQ: [[ticker:FB]]) ad revenues increased 833 percent, to $39.9 billion, according to Statista.com. That’s compared with a 118 percent growth rate in Google’s (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GOOGL]]) online ad sales over the … Continue reading “Aided By Facebook Ads, Wantable Carves Out Niche in Online Fashion”
Tax Credits, IVMD, BrightStar, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist
Whoever came up with the rhyme “April showers bring May flowers” probably wasn’t talking about snow showers. As people in Wisconsin hope for this week’s flurries to give way to a long-awaited thaw, consider taking a few minutes to catch up on recent fundings and other news from the state’s innovation community: —Integrated Vital Medical … Continue reading “Tax Credits, IVMD, BrightStar, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist”
Nutrition-Focused GenoPalate Joins Crowd of DNA Test Kit Companies
Genetic testing services from companies such as Ancestry and 23andMe have risen in popularity in the past decade, attracting consumers who are eager to learn more about their lineage or risk of contracting certain types of disease. But there are plenty of smaller players trying to carve out a following in this industry. Milwaukee-based GenoPalate … Continue reading “Nutrition-Focused GenoPalate Joins Crowd of DNA Test Kit Companies”
Exact Sciences, Generic Drugs, WEDC & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist
Catch up on news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Citron Research published its second report in the past 12 months arguing that prospective investors should think twice before buying stock in Madison-based Exact Sciences (NASDAQ: [[ticker:EXAS]]). The company’s flagship product is a non-invasive, stool-based DNA test for colorectal cancer called Cologuard. In … Continue reading “Exact Sciences, Generic Drugs, WEDC & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist”
Access HealthNet Raising $3M for Tools Aimed at Cutting Care Costs
When a patient with health insurance is in need of an expensive medical procedure, the actual cost of the procedure may not seem material to her once it’s clear that it will exceed the deductible—the amount the patient must pay out of pocket—set in her insurance plan. For instance, a patient whose health plan covers … Continue reading “Access HealthNet Raising $3M for Tools Aimed at Cutting Care Costs”
Agro Bio, BrightStar, Stratatech, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist
Stay current on news from Wisconsin’s innovation community, starting with these recent headlines: —Agro Biosciences, a Milwaukee-area company whose technology is aimed at identifying beneficial bacteria in order to improve agricultural products, said it was acquired by Church & Dwight (NYSE: [[ticker:CHD]]), the parent company of Arm & Hammer Animal Nutrition. According to a press … Continue reading “Agro Bio, BrightStar, Stratatech, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist”
Gener8tor, ParqEx, 4490, RPRD, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist
Catch up on news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Gener8tor, a startup accelerator that has held programs in Wisconsin and Minnesota, has named Eric Martell managing director of its Twin Cities programming, the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reported. Martell is a co-founder of EatStreet, a Madison-based food-ordering startup, and previously served as … Continue reading “Gener8tor, ParqEx, 4490, RPRD, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist”
Hyperloop, Epic, Wantable, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
Catch up on news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —A team of students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has constructed a prototype for a vehicle that could potentially zoom through an above-ground vacuum tube at speeds of 200 miles per hour, the school said. The “Badgerloop” team is one of 30 from … Continue reading “Hyperloop, Epic, Wantable, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
BrightStar Wisconsin Invests $550K in 3 Milwaukee Startups
BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation has invested a combined $550,000 in three Milwaukee-based startups, the nonprofit said Thursday in a news release. The most recent additions to BrightStar’s portfolio, which now comprises 32 companies, are: Access HealthNet, which gives employees of business clients the ability to purchase and schedule common medical procedures from local providers; OnKöl, which sells … Continue reading “BrightStar Wisconsin Invests $550K in 3 Milwaukee Startups”
AkitaBox Receives $1,100,000 Seed Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3cf5a8c1-4465-41a1-bfc0-bd786b33a3d9 Date 4/26/2016 Company Name AkitaBox Mailing Address 30 W. Miflin Madison, WI 53703 USA Company Description After spending years in the building management industry dealing with messy paper documents, complicated spreadsheets and outdated software systems, AkitaBox was created to automate the manual maintenance processes that annoy building operators. Website http://www.akitabox.com Transaction … Continue reading “AkitaBox Receives $1,100,000 Seed Financing”
AkitaBox Raises $1.1M to Develop Software for Storing Building Data
In today’s society, 8.5 by 11—the dimensions, in inches, of a typical sheet of paper— is giving way to 1’s and 0’s. Book pages have become pixels on the screens of e-readers like Amazon’s Kindle. Medical charts detailing patients’ health histories have migrated from file cabinets to racks of computer servers. Building management and maintenance … Continue reading “AkitaBox Raises $1.1M to Develop Software for Storing Building Data”
Eyeing Growth, Project Foundry Targets Cleveland Students, Teachers
In 2012, the City of Cleveland decided to transform its public schools. Some of the reasons were laid bare in a 15-page plan describing why and how the city sought to make changes. At the time, 31,000 children were attending failing schools, according to the document, which was prepared by the office of Mayor Frank … Continue reading “Eyeing Growth, Project Foundry Targets Cleveland Students, Teachers”
OnKöl, VC Ranking, & Stem Cells: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
A Silicon Valley tie-up, a new, nine-figure fund, and some flattering venture capital news are among these recent headlines from Wisconsin’s innovation community: —OnKöl, a Milwaukee-based startup whose flagship product is aimed at older adults, and ties together myriad home and health-monitoring devices, said it has been selected as a finalist for a 2016 Edison … Continue reading “OnKöl, VC Ranking, & Stem Cells: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
Got Your Back End: Exis, 4 Other Startups in Gener8tor’s New Class
Last month, Facebook announced it was shuttering Parse, a platform for software developers that the social network acquired in 2013 for a reported $85 million. The news came as both a rush and a blow to Dale Willis, co-founder and CEO of Exis, a Madison, WI-based startup. Like Parse, Exis makes tools and services to … Continue reading “Got Your Back End: Exis, 4 Other Startups in Gener8tor’s New Class”
BrightStar Reveals Phoenix Investment, Sale of $500K in Tax Credits
BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation has made its first investment of 2016 and has sold $500,000 in “early-stage seed” tax credits to several individuals, the foundation said this week. Phoenix Nuclear Labs, a Madison, WI-based startup that has developed particle accelerator technology with applications in areas like medical imaging and weapons inspection, is raising a funding round … Continue reading “BrightStar Reveals Phoenix Investment, Sale of $500K in Tax Credits”
Phoenix, Baird’s New CEO, & Epic’s Growth: This Week’s WI Watchlist
Gyms are packed, forlorn Christmas trees lie on curbs, and the Green Bay Packers are in the NFL playoffs—it must be January in Wisconsin. Make it a resolution to stay plugged into the state’s innovation community, starting with these recent headlines: —Phoenix Nuclear Labs has raised $790,000 in debt financing, according to an SEC filing, … Continue reading “Phoenix, Baird’s New CEO, & Epic’s Growth: This Week’s WI Watchlist”
Shine Announces New Funding Total, Says Building Plans Are On Track
Shine Medical Technologies, a Madison, WI-based startup that’s part of the race to produce a vital medical isotope domestically, has now raised nearly $50 million in total, vice president of business development Katrina Pitas said in an e-mail. In October, Greg Piefer, Shine’s founder and CEO, told Xconomy the company had raised about $45 million … Continue reading “Shine Announces New Funding Total, Says Building Plans Are On Track”
Bridge to Cures Eyes More Funds, Bigger Programs to Nurture Startups
Milwaukee’s small life sciences scene doesn’t usually grab the attention of big venture capital firms, so it’s perhaps surprising that a recent event attracted investors from the likes of Novartis and OrbiMed. The draw was the first healthcare innovation pitch event put on by Bridge to Cures—a Milwaukee-area nonprofit accelerator for healthcare companies spun out … Continue reading “Bridge to Cures Eyes More Funds, Bigger Programs to Nurture Startups”
With $550K, Beekeeper Gets Buzz for Building “MailChimp for Data”
Matthew Rathbone left his job at Foursquare, the location-based social network headquartered in New York City, in 2013 after nearly three years of employment. While he didn’t miss his old job enough to return to the company, he says he did long to use some of the tools he had co-developed there. During his time at Foursquare, one … Continue reading “With $550K, Beekeeper Gets Buzz for Building “MailChimp for Data””
Beekeeper Data Obtains $550,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=55aff80c-54e0-499a-a671-aa6efe4f55af Date 11/10/2015 Company Name Beekeeper Data 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 http://www.beekeeperdata.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $550,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds … Continue reading “Beekeeper Data Obtains $550,000 New Funding Round”
Quietyme Seeks to Identify Patients’ Needs Faster With CareCube
The newest product from Quietyme, a startup based in Neshkoro, WI, is a white cube with a different pattern on each of its six sides. That description may conjure up an image of dice, which of course give games an element of randomness. But Quietyme’s CareCube is designed to reduce uncertainty: patients in hospitals can use … Continue reading “Quietyme Seeks to Identify Patients’ Needs Faster With CareCube”
Wisconsin Roundup: Exact Sciences, Cellectar, BrightStar, & More
New funding, an office relocation, and a grant to develop a new drug are among the announcements we’re watching this week in Wisconsin’s tech and innovation community. Here are the details: —Exact Sciences (NASDAQ: [[ticker:EXAS]]) is set to move its headquarters to downtown Madison from the city’s west side after the Madison Common Council approved … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Exact Sciences, Cellectar, BrightStar, & More”
AltusCampus Closing on $800K Seed Round, Eyes Larger Series A in 2016
AltusCampus aims to change how businesses manage the continuing medical education (CME) required of healthcare professionals and the Madison, WI-based software company will wrap up a $800,000 seed round to jumpstart its efforts Nov. 1. But CEO Daniel Guerra, Jr., has his sights set on bigger goals and as the company gains traction, he says a … Continue reading “AltusCampus Closing on $800K Seed Round, Eyes Larger Series A in 2016”
Exact Sciences, BrightStar & More Win Wisconsin Innovation Awards
Long-range laser beams, an at-home colon cancer test, and two efforts to digitize the classroom garnered some of the 10 honors announced at the second annual Wisconsin Innovation Awards Tuesday night at Milwaukee’s Discovery World. The awards recognize cutting-edge companies, foundations, and programs in the Badger State across a range of industries. Judges narrowed 170 … Continue reading “Exact Sciences, BrightStar & More Win Wisconsin Innovation Awards”
Gener8tor’s Latest Milwaukee Accelerator Class Has Midwest Flavor
All but one of the five companies selected for Gener8tor’s 2015 Milwaukee class hail from the Midwest, and the lone exception—from Toronto—didn’t have to travel too far for the three-month startup accelerator program being held at Ward 4, a new downtown co-working space. It’s not the first time Gener8tor, which garnered national attention earlier this … Continue reading “Gener8tor’s Latest Milwaukee Accelerator Class Has Midwest Flavor”
Wisconsin Roundup: Kauffman Index, Startup Funding, Ward 4, & More
Here’s a collection of recent headlines in Wisconsin’s innovation and technology community: —Wisconsin dropped to dead last in a closely watched national ranking of startup activity conducted annually by the Kauffman Foundation, with 170 out of every 100,000 adults in the state counted as entrepreneurs in any given month. Wisconsin was 45th in last year’s Kauffman Index. … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Kauffman Index, Startup Funding, Ward 4, & More”
Swallow Solutions Gulps $1.1M To Push Oral Muscle Rehab Device Sales
[Updated 8/7/2015, 6:16 p.m. See below.] Swallow Solutions has raised $1.1 million from investors to make a stronger push into the market with its device intended to boost the rehabilitation regimen of patients trying to overcome swallowing disorders by strengthening their mouth and throat muscles. The funding round was led by the Wisconsin Super Angel … Continue reading “Swallow Solutions Gulps $1.1M To Push Oral Muscle Rehab Device Sales”
Mpirik Expands Orthopedic Software Suite, Aided by $1.7M Investment
It’s a dilemma that many tech startups face: How quickly should they expand beyond their first product? Adding new products and services might help grow sales, but young, small companies need to be careful that they don’t bite off more than they can chew. Milwaukee healthcare technology startup Mpirik wrestled with that question, and decided … Continue reading “Mpirik Expands Orthopedic Software Suite, Aided by $1.7M Investment”
Wisconsin Roundup: Exact Sciences, Walker Budget, WARF, & More
Here’s a recap of the latest headlines in Wisconsin technology and innovation: —Madison-based Exact Sciences (NASDAQ: [[ticker:EXAS]]) has gone on a hiring spree in the wake of securing approval in the U.S. and Europe for Cologuard, its stool-based DNA test for detecting colorectal cancer. The company has grown from 110 employees a year ago to … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Exact Sciences, Walker Budget, WARF, & More”
Wisconsin Roundup: TermSync, Mpirik, Epic, Kiva, VictorySpark, & More
Here are a few of the latest headlines from Wisconsin’s innovation and technology community: —France-based Esker has acquired Fitchburg startup TermSync for an undisclosed amount. TermSync makes cloud-based accounts receivable software and previously raised $2.2 million from investors, SEC documents show. Esker’s U.S. headquarters are in Madison. —Milwaukee-based Mpirik snagged $1.75 million from investors to … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: TermSync, Mpirik, Epic, Kiva, VictorySpark, & More”
Nonprofit Investor BrightStar Herds Startup Deals, Seeks More Donors
Some dealmakers weren’t sure what to expect from BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation when the nonprofit, which invests donations into Badger State startups, came onto the scene in late 2013. Turns out, the organization has proven itself not only as a valuable, albeit small, source of capital, but also as a shrewd negotiator that has pushed fellow … Continue reading “Nonprofit Investor BrightStar Herds Startup Deals, Seeks More Donors”
Schuster: Milwaukee Has Good Startup Ideas, Still Lacks Capital
Milwaukee’s economy still relies heavily on legacy manufacturing companies, but there’s a growing recognition of the need to seed new businesses in sectors with prospects for growth. Efforts are afoot to foster more entrepreneurship in sectors like water technology, energy, and software, and to spin more startups out of the area’s universities. And while most … Continue reading “Schuster: Milwaukee Has Good Startup Ideas, Still Lacks Capital”
Grading Gener8tor’s Startup Accelerator: Exits, Failures, & Progress
[Corrected 12/27/14, 2 p.m. See below.] For all the hype that Gener8tor has garnered in Wisconsin since it formed in summer 2012, the startup accelerator’s leaders acknowledge that they’ll ultimately be judged by the performance of their portfolio companies and the returns that the accelerator’s investors get. This month, Chicago-based Optyn became the first announced … Continue reading “Grading Gener8tor’s Startup Accelerator: Exits, Failures, & Progress”
WIP, Wisconsin’s Most Active Angel Group, Adds New Investors
[Updated 11/6/14, 11:08 a.m. See below.] Wisconsin’s most active angel investor group could get even busier, thanks to an influx of new members. Madison-based Wisconsin Investment Partners (WIP) added 18 new members in the past few months, primarily via a recruitment dinner held in the summer, co-manager Andy Shrago says. “We thought we’d be doing … Continue reading “WIP, Wisconsin’s Most Active Angel Group, Adds New Investors”
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”
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”
The Fallout From Aver Informatics’ Reported Move from WI to OH
[Updated 8/13/14, 12:35 p.m.] Aver Informatics’ reported move from Green Bay, WI, to Columbus, OH, could have financial and reputational ramifications for the healthtech startup. Columbus Business First quoted CEO Kurt Brenkus saying that Aver had set up shop in late July in the office of its new high-profile investor, Columbus-based Drive Capital; hired five … Continue reading “The Fallout From Aver Informatics’ Reported Move from WI to OH”
Wisconsin Roundup: Uber, Lovell, BrightStar, Energy Incubator & More
Here are a few notable recent happenings in Wisconsin’s tech and innovation community: —Controversial startups Uber and Lyft have gone legit in Milwaukee, after Mayor Tom Barrett signed legislation last week that legalizes the on-demand transportation apps and lifts the cap on city taxi permits, the Milwaukee Business Journal reported. Uber and Lyft, which have … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Uber, Lovell, BrightStar, Energy Incubator & More”
Ability Network Exit a Win For WI Investors Outside Metro Hubs
When Boston-based Summit Partners acquired a majority stake in Minneapolis-based healthtech firm Ability Network in April for $550 million, the deal got no press in nearby Wisconsin. That wasn’t a surprise: Ability Network has no major presence in the Badger State. But the deal, which was among the largest healthtech transactions nationwide in the first … Continue reading “Ability Network Exit a Win For WI Investors Outside Metro Hubs”
3 Takeaways From Wisconsin’s Recent Burst of VC Deals
Wisconsin entrepreneurs often lament the state’s relative lack of venture capital, but lately they’ve had plenty to smile about. In the past two weeks, there have been five major funding announcements by Badger State startups: $8.5 million for Green Bay-based Aver Informatics, $6 million for Delafield-based Montage Talent, $3.4 million for Madison-based FluGen, $3 million … Continue reading “3 Takeaways From Wisconsin’s Recent Burst of VC Deals”
Madison Startup Fishidy To Reel In More Anglers With $1.5M Series A
Fishidy, a Madison, WI-based startup that built a mapping tool and social network for anglers, has raised $1.5 million in Series A funding from angel investors. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel first reported the news. Chicago-based Hyde Park Angels led the round, marking its first lead investment in a Wisconsin company, said Fishidy co-founder and CEO … Continue reading “Madison Startup Fishidy To Reel In More Anglers With $1.5M Series A”
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”
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”