It’s time to catch up on recent news in Wisconsin’s innovation community. Read on for details. —MSI Data, a Milwaukee-based business that develops software for organizations in the equipment distribution and service contractor industries, said it received an investment from Luminate Capital Partners, a San Francisco-based private equity firm. The amount was not disclosed. Launched … Continue reading “WI Watchlist: MSI Data, Cellular Dynamics, WARF, Redox, & More”
Tag: Foxconn
Polco’s Tools Help Governments Coax Citizens Out of Echo Chambers
[Updated 6/11/19, 7:31 am CT. See below.] Nick Mastronardi is finding success in countering the negative trend of endless partisan bickering by helping local governments gather public sentiments through online polling. Mastronardi (pictured above) is co-founder and CEO of Polco, a company based in Madison, WI, that he says is growing thanks to its ability to … Continue reading “Polco’s Tools Help Governments Coax Citizens Out of Echo Chambers”
Boston Tech Watch: Huawei, Care.com, Cambridge Blockchain & PayPal
Investors took restaurant technology startups out to lunch with monster nine-figure funding rounds. The Wall Street Journal investigation into Care.com leads investors to sue in Boston. MIT kicks Huawei and ZTE to the curb. Read these and more in this week’s Boston tech news: —MIT cut ties with Chinese technology giant Huawei and ZTE “due … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: Huawei, Care.com, Cambridge Blockchain & PayPal”
WI Watchlist: Foxconn Fund, UW Accelerator, MSOE A.I. Hall & More
It’s time to catch up on Wisconsin innovation news: —Jason Franklin will manage the Wisconn Valley Venture Fund, a $100 million fund formed last August by Foxconn Technology Group and three leading Wisconsin businesses and organizations: Advocate Aurora Health, Northwestern Mutual, and Johnson Controls (NYSE: [[ticker:JCI]]). Foxconn, a Taiwanese manufacturing giant, has said it’s building … Continue reading “WI Watchlist: Foxconn Fund, UW Accelerator, MSOE A.I. Hall & More”
It’s Not You, It’s Your Officials: Amazon Cancels HQ Plan for NYC
[Updated, 02/15/19, 8:50 CT] After a whirlwind courtship and brief engagement, Amazon has broken off its plans to establish another headquarters in New York’s Long Island City neighborhood. Amazon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]) rationalized its Valentine’s Day breakup with the Big Apple by saying that the problem was state and local officials, not New Yorkers themselves. A … Continue reading “It’s Not You, It’s Your Officials: Amazon Cancels HQ Plan for NYC”
WI Watchlist: Foxconn Jobs, Marquette Esports, Rockwell Deal & More
[Updated 1/30/19, 7:39 am CT. See below.] It’s time to catch up on some recent headlines from Wisconsin’s innovation community, including the launch of a varsity esports program at Marquette University and American Family Insurance’s vague plans for a downtown Milwaukee office that will invest in technology initiatives. Read on for details. —Foxconn Technology Group, … Continue reading “WI Watchlist: Foxconn Jobs, Marquette Esports, Rockwell Deal & More”
Amazon Reportedly Picks HQ2 City—and, in Surprise, Another for HQ3
Amazon is reportedly choosing two cities, not one, for its second headquarters, according to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. Amazon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]) is working on a deal to move into both the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens in New York City and the Crystal City neighborhood of … Continue reading “Amazon Reportedly Picks HQ2 City—and, in Surprise, Another for HQ3”
Eyeing Foxconn, Manufacturing Gig Platform FactoryFix Expands in WI
Foxconn’s planned $10 billion electronic display factory in southeastern Wisconsin could be a boon for local workers vying for the potential 13,000 jobs. The facility could also be a headache for other area manufacturers, possibly sparking a heated competition for engineers, electricians, machinists, and other skilled laborers. The talent war could also spell opportunity for … Continue reading “Eyeing Foxconn, Manufacturing Gig Platform FactoryFix Expands in WI”
Harley, Gener8tor, Allergy Amulet & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist
Keep up with news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Harley-Davidson, the iconic Milwaukee-based motorcycle manufacturer, said Wednesday that it plans to open a new research and development center in Silicon Valley. Harley (NYSE: [[ticker:HOG]]) said the facility will house about two dozen of its workers—most of whom the company intends to hire … Continue reading “Harley, Gener8tor, Allergy Amulet & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist”
Foxconn Creates $100M Venture Fund With Three Top WI Businesses
Foxconn Technology Group continues to make its presence felt in the Wisconsin business community. The latest move: The Taiwanese contract manufacturer is forming a $100 million early-stage venture capital fund with three of the Badger State’s leading companies and organizations. Advocate Aurora Health, Northwestern Mutual, Johnson Controls, and Foxconn will each contribute $25 million to … Continue reading “Foxconn Creates $100M Venture Fund With Three Top WI Businesses”
UW-Madison to Upgrade Engineering Campus With $100M Foxconn Gift
Foxconn, a leading Taiwanese contract manufacturer constructing a huge electronic display assembly plant in Southeastern Wisconsin, announced a $100 million gift to the state’s flagship public university Monday. The company’s gift to the University of Wisconsin-Madison will support research and development of new technologies statewide, Foxconn said. The nine-figure gift from Foxconn is one of … Continue reading “UW-Madison to Upgrade Engineering Campus With $100M Foxconn Gift”
Race for Governor, Foxconn, Promega & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist
Voters in Wisconsin will head to the polls on Tuesday, Aug. 14 to cast ballots in primary races for governor and other elected offices. Read on to learn about connections between some of the candidates for governor and the state’s technology and business sectors, as well as other recent headlines from Wisconsin’s innovation community: —Gov. … Continue reading “Race for Governor, Foxconn, Promega & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist”
Foxconn Buys Eau Claire Office Space, Partners with Advocate Aurora
Foxconn, the Taiwanese manufacturing giant, is making more moves in Wisconsin at it prepares to build a massive electronics factory in the southeast corner of the state. Foxconn said on Monday that it has agreed to buy one building in downtown Eau Claire, WI, and it has purchased office space in another, with the intention … Continue reading “Foxconn Buys Eau Claire Office Space, Partners with Advocate Aurora”
Foxconn, Data Science, Roche & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
The collective eyes of Wisconsin’s business and technology communities are focused on a groundbreaking ceremony that Foxconn, a Taiwan-based electronics manufacturing giant, plans to hold Thursday at the site of its future electronic display production facility in the state’s southeastern corner. President Donald Trump and other big-name politicians like House Speaker Paul Ryan and Wisconsin … Continue reading “Foxconn, Data Science, Roche & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
Foxconn, Arrowhead, NorthStar & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
Catch up on news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Foxconn paid nearly $15 million for an office building in downtown Milwaukee that will serve as the company’s North American headquarters, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. The location chosen by the Taiwanese electronics manufacturing giant does not come as a major surprise; in … Continue reading “Foxconn, Arrowhead, NorthStar & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
Epic, Foxconn, Thermo Fisher & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
Catch up on news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —The United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of Verona-based Epic Systems and two other corporations in a case that examined whether it’s legal for organizations to require their employees to sign arbitration agreements that keep them from pursuing group claims in court. Groups of … Continue reading “Epic, Foxconn, Thermo Fisher & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
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”
Exact Sciences CEO Conroy Talks Growth, Foxconn, Startups & More
Kevin Conroy left a law firm job in his early 30s, right after he had just made partner, to work for a venture capital-backed startup in California called Outcomes. The outcome was not what Conroy had hoped. About a year later, the business ran out of money and went bust. Even so, Conroy, now the … Continue reading “Exact Sciences CEO Conroy Talks Growth, Foxconn, Startups & More”
Foxconn, CUNA, DevCodeCamp & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
[Updated 3/28/18 4:29 p.m. See below.] Catch up on news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Foxconn Interconnect Technology said it agreed to pay $866 million in cash to acquire Belkin International, a California-based maker of phone chargers, audio cables, and other accessories. The buyer is a subsidiary of Taiwan-based Hon Hai Precision … Continue reading “Foxconn, CUNA, DevCodeCamp & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
With New Cash, Curate Helps Builders Scrape the Web for New Business
After political and business leaders announced last July that the Taiwanese giant Foxconn planned to construct an enormous display manufacturing facility in Wisconsin, people in the state were eager to learn the exact location where the plant would be built. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., which agreed to provide Foxconn with up to $3 billion … Continue reading “With New Cash, Curate Helps Builders Scrape the Web for New Business”
Foxconn, Gener8tor, URP, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
Keep up with the latest news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Foxconn purchased a seven-story office building in downtown Milwaukee that will serve as the Taiwanese multinational’s Wisconsin headquarters, according to a news release issued by Gov. Scott Walker. Foxconn, which is perhaps best known for assembling iPhones, iPads, and other gadgets … Continue reading “Foxconn, Gener8tor, URP, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
SoftBank Continues Funding Spree, Leads $865M Round for Katerra
Katerra, a building construction startup inspired by the efficient practices of electronics manufacturing, announced today it has raised $865 million in a Series D fundraising round led by the SoftBank Vision Fund. The company was co-founded in 2015 by Michael Marks, the former CEO of contract electronics manufacturer Flextronics. Katerra has large-scale ambitions that match the … Continue reading “SoftBank Continues Funding Spree, Leads $865M Round for Katerra”
Absences, Surprises in Amazon’s Final List of 20 Cities for HQ2
And then there were 20. Amazon has winnowed down the field of 238 submissions from communities around North America vying to host a second headquarters (HQ2) of the Seattle-based tech giant. Most large cities with existing or emerging tech hubs appear on the list, from Austin, TX, and Boston, MA, to Washington, DC, and Toronto, … Continue reading “Absences, Surprises in Amazon’s Final List of 20 Cities for HQ2”
Wisconsin VC Total Down in 2017, But New Funds Seek to Reverse Trend
Startups in Wisconsin raised about $116 million in funding last year, a total that represents a steep drop compared to recent years. The figures come from PitchBook and the National Venture Capital Association, two groups that monitor investment activity nationwide. According to their data, the state’s funding totals in 2016 and 2015 were $223 million … Continue reading “Wisconsin VC Total Down in 2017, But New Funds Seek to Reverse Trend”
Stonehouse, AkitaBox, Iverson, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist
Stay current on the latest news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Stonehouse Water Technologies, a Milwaukee-based startup developing energy-efficient water purification systems, said it raised more than $1.5 million from investors. Launched in 2012, Stonehouse is developing a water purifier about the size of a dehumidifier that’s designed for use in residential, … Continue reading “Stonehouse, AkitaBox, Iverson, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist”
Business Leaders: Foxconn Plant Could Benefit WI Startups, Lure VC
Local startup companies could be among the beneficiaries of a 25 million-square-foot manufacturing facility that Foxconn, a Taiwanese electronics assembly giant, intends to build in southeastern Wisconsin, according to state economic development officials. Foxconn, which is perhaps best known as a key supplier for Apple (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AAPL]]) and other device makers, in July announced plans … Continue reading “Business Leaders: Foxconn Plant Could Benefit WI Startups, Lure VC”
Promentis, Stem Cells, Foxconn, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist
A recently launched clinical study, highway lanes for autonomous vehicles, and a ruling in an intellectual property-focused court case are among these recent headlines from Wisconsin’s innovation community: —Promentis Pharmaceuticals, a Milwaukee-based developer of drugs designed to modify brain chemistry to treat central nervous system disorders, said it has started a Phase 1 clinical study … Continue reading “Promentis, Stem Cells, Foxconn, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist”
Foxconn, Exact, Ludois, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
A major deal between Wisconsin legislators and a foreign electronics assembler, a biotech company’s expansion plans, and an award for electric motors research are among these recent headlines from the state’s innovation community: —The state of Wisconsin and Foxconn, an electronics assembler and technology development business based in Taiwan, signed off on a deal that … Continue reading “Foxconn, Exact, Ludois, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
With Pitches for HQ2 Made, Cities Wait on Amazon’s 2018 Decision
From Portland to Pittsburgh, it’s likely that every city in the U.S. with more than 1 million people has made its case to Amazon to locate the company’s second headquarters there. At least, hopefully they have already, because today—if you haven’t heard—was the deadline to apply. Amazon sent North America into a frenzy after announcing … Continue reading “With Pitches for HQ2 Made, Cities Wait on Amazon’s 2018 Decision”
Amazon, EWPanel, Shine, RPRD & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
Catch up on the latest news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Municipal leaders in Milwaukee will attempt to persuade executives at the online retailing giant Amazon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]) that the city would make an ideal home for its second headquarters, or HQ2, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Earlier this month, the Seattle-based … Continue reading “Amazon, EWPanel, Shine, RPRD & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
To Win Amazon’s HQ2, Incentives Are Nice, But Talent Is Required
Amazon lists one requirement in the stunning request for proposals it issued Thursday, which invites cities across North America to compete to host a second corporate headquarters for the tech and commerce giant. Economic development officials are justifiably salivating at the once-in-a-generation opportunity to attract what is arguably the 21st century’s most important company, and … Continue reading “To Win Amazon’s HQ2, Incentives Are Nice, But Talent Is Required”
Smart Choice, Foxconn, JCI, Generac & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist
Stay current on news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Smart Choice MRI, which is based in Chicago but has roots and dozens of employees in the Milwaukee area, raised an undisclosed amount of financing from Aurora, CO-based UCHealth, according to a BizTimes Media report. Smart Choice operates a chain of imaging centers … Continue reading “Smart Choice, Foxconn, JCI, Generac & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist”
Beloit, Foxconn, Shine, MVI, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
Catch up on news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —The New York Times published a lengthy feature story about the efforts of Diane Hendricks, a billionaire corporate executive and philanthropist, to lead an economic revival in the city of Beloit. Hendricks is perhaps best known as the co-founder and owner of ABC … Continue reading “Beloit, Foxconn, Shine, MVI, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
CDI, Novascan, WID, 4490, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
Coverage and analysis of Taiwan-based Foxconn’s announcement that it will invest $10 billion to build an electronic display-making plant in Wisconsin has dominated business news around the state lately. However, there have also been numerous notable happenings apart from the Foxconn saga. Let’s catch up on some of them: —Cellular Dynamics International scrapped plans to … Continue reading “CDI, Novascan, WID, 4490, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
Foxconn Deal Draws Praise, Skepticism, and Interest from Other Firms
Over the past week, business news in Wisconsin has been dominated by Taiwan-based Foxconn’s announcement that it plans to invest $10 billion to build a facility in the state’s southeastern corner—exact location still to be determined—and manufacture LCD displays for televisions and other electronics there. State officials have said the plant could employ as many … Continue reading “Foxconn Deal Draws Praise, Skepticism, and Interest from Other Firms”
Foxconn to Build Plant in WI, Giving Support to Trump’s Jobs Pledges
After weeks of hints, rumors, and speculation, it’s now official: Foxconn, the world’s largest contract manufacturer, said it will invest $10 billion over the next three years to build an enormous plant in Southeastern Wisconsin and make electronics displays there. President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and several Wisconsin politicians, including Gov. Scott Walker … Continue reading “Foxconn to Build Plant in WI, Giving Support to Trump’s Jobs Pledges”
Wisconsin Sizes Up Recent, Potential Future Changes in Manufacturing
When Greg Piefer founded Phoenix Nuclear Labs, in 2005, he was not expecting that it would one day lead to the construction of a large medical isotope manufacturing facility. In the dozen years it’s been operating, Monona, WI-based Phoenix has developed particle accelerator technology with applications in areas such as weapons inspection, solar cell production, … Continue reading “Wisconsin Sizes Up Recent, Potential Future Changes in Manufacturing”
ARI, Hyperloop, SmartUQ, GrocerKey, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist
Catch up on news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —ARI Network Services (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ARIS]]), a Milwaukee-based company that develops e-commerce software for equipment manufacturers and other customers, was acquired for about $140 million by True Wind Capital, a San Francisco-based private equity firm. Prior to the deal, shares in ARI Network Services … Continue reading “ARI, Hyperloop, SmartUQ, GrocerKey, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist”
Foxconn Founder Gives Details on Plan to Build Display Plant in U.S.
The founder and chairman of Foxconn, a Taiwanese multinational known as a key supplier for Apple (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AAPL]]) and other digital device makers, said Thursday that Foxconn plans to invest more than $10 billion in an electronics display-making plant in the U.S., according to a Reuters report. Terry Gou, who has led Foxconn since founding … Continue reading “Foxconn Founder Gives Details on Plan to Build Display Plant in U.S.”
Interoperability, Drones, Tech Hubs & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist
Stay current on news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines. —The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel published an in-depth report on electronic patient health records interoperability, or the ability of different hospitals and clinics to exchange patient data. Ninety-six percent of hospitals now use electronic health records, the newspaper reported, but the industry still has … Continue reading “Interoperability, Drones, Tech Hubs & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist”
Foxconn Mulls Building Plant in WI That Could Employ Thousands
Foxconn, the world’s biggest contract electronics manufacturer, is considering building a plant in Wisconsin, the Associated Press reported Wednesday. Taiwan-based Foxconn is perhaps best known for its factories in Shenzhen, China, where it assembles iPhones and other personal computing devices sold by Apple (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AAPL]]). Other customers of Foxconn include BlackBerry, Dell, Nintendo, and Sony … Continue reading “Foxconn Mulls Building Plant in WI That Could Employ Thousands”
Former Flextronics, Tesla CEO Aims to Disrupt Construction Industry
A startup construction firm, Katerra, has building projects in the works all over Northern California, but it has remained quiet until now about its unusual high-tech methods and its backing from finance, real estate, and technology heavyweights. Katerra, a two-year-old company that says its technology platform brings the efficiency of electronics manufacturing to construction projects, … Continue reading “Former Flextronics, Tesla CEO Aims to Disrupt Construction Industry”
Seattle Roundup: Moz, PitchBook, Cedexis, Corbis, Getty, Nimia
A pair of Seattle companies, Moz and PitchBook, announced $10 million funding rounds this week and were both refreshingly forthcoming about things that private tech companies typically keep close to the vest: revenue and valuations. Meanwhile, Portland-based Cedexis raised $22 million, and some big deals went down involving Seattle-based digital image licensing giants Corbis and … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: Moz, PitchBook, Cedexis, Corbis, Getty, Nimia”
WiTricity’s Wireless-Power Tech Attracts $25M from Intel, Foxconn
It’s been many years since Nikola Tesla’s heyday, and despite the mind-blowing advancements in many areas of technology, we’re still plugging things in with electric cords like a bunch of savages. Wireless power charging is technically possible. But it’s still not here in a widespread sense—one of those advancements that you check in on once … Continue reading “WiTricity’s Wireless-Power Tech Attracts $25M from Intel, Foxconn”