AIQ Solutions Hits On $3.2M to Pinpoint Drug-Resistant Tumors

Many companies developing artificial intelligence software for healthcare are trying to improve doctors’ ability to diagnose disease. Fewer emerging healthcare AI businesses are focused on what happens after a diagnosis, aiming to figure out how treatments are working. One of them, AIQ Solutions, has developed software that analyzes medical imaging data to identify all of … Continue reading “AIQ Solutions Hits On $3.2M to Pinpoint Drug-Resistant Tumors”

Invenra, Madison Firm Developing Therapeutic Antibodies, Adds $7.1M

Invenra, a Madison, WI-based startup that develops therapeutic antibodies for pharmaceutical companies and other clients, has raised more than $7.1 million from investors, according to a regulatory filing. Twenty-three investors participated in the equity funding round, according to the filing, which was made public earlier this week. Founded in 2011, Invenra has now raised more … Continue reading “Invenra, Madison Firm Developing Therapeutic Antibodies, Adds $7.1M”

Zurex Pharma Raises $9M to Fight Hospital-Acquired Infections

Zurex Pharma, a Middleton, WI-based company developing antimicrobial products for preventing infections acquired in hospitals, clinics, and home care settings, says it has raised $9 million in new funding. Zurex says it plans to use some of the proceeds from the investment to support the development of its lead product candidate, a pre-surgical skin preparation … Continue reading “Zurex Pharma Raises $9M to Fight Hospital-Acquired Infections”

EnsoData Raises $1.5M to Develop A.I.-powered Sleep Analysis Tools

An estimated 29.4 million adults in the U.S. suffer from sleep apnea, a major contributor to the “epidemic” of Americans not getting enough sleep, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sleep apnea—interruptions in breathing that can be caused by obstructions such as the tonsils—is a progressive disorder that can be life-threatening. But before … Continue reading “EnsoData Raises $1.5M to Develop A.I.-powered Sleep Analysis Tools”

With New Debt Round, Madison Startup Kiio Passes $5M in Funding

Most people are familiar with the concept of performing a series of rehabilitation exercises after having surgery. But far fewer have likely heard of “pre-habilitation” exercise regimens, which are assigned to patients before they go under the knife. The idea has gained traction due to changes in how the government reimburses hospitals and clinics for … Continue reading “With New Debt Round, Madison Startup Kiio Passes $5M in Funding”

Noncompetes, Wine Clubs, Broadband, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist

Gyms are swarming with people, temperatures are dropping below zero, and the Green Bay Packers are alive 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: —Wisconsin could be hurting itself in its effort to spur more entrepreneurship by … Continue reading “Noncompetes, Wine Clubs, Broadband, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist”

ParqEx Raises $1.2M to Connect Private Parking Owners, Seekers

[Updated 1/4/17, 10:42 am. See below.] ParqEx, a Chicago-based company with several Wisconsin ties whose technology allows users to find or rent out private parking spots, has raised $1.2 million from investors, according to multiple media reports. Two Madison, WI-based venture capital groups, Venture Management and Wisconsin Investment Partners, were among the participants in the seed financing … Continue reading “ParqEx Raises $1.2M to Connect Private Parking Owners, Seekers”

Allergy Amulet Lands $1,100,000 Seed Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=bd4cb613-2e86-48a0-9224-566d200ebfa2 Date 10/10/2016 Company Name Allergy Amulet Mailing Address 21 Drydock Avenue 6th Floor Boston, MA 05068 USA Company Description Introducing the Allergy Amulet: a rapid, portable, food allergen detection device. Restaurants are responsible for over half of all food allergy fatalities. This is a statistic we are trying to change. Users … Continue reading “Allergy Amulet Lands $1,100,000 Seed Round”

Pegasus Sustainability Solutions Garners $2,000,000 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4c27d995-ef9f-48ee-9d6d-c37ab4cc782a Date 4/7/2016 Company Name Pegasus Sustainability Solutions Mailing Address 2693 Research Park Dr. Fitchburg, WI 53711 USA Company Description Pegasus Sustainability Solutions, Inc. provides environmental sustainability and industrial ecology solutions to commercial, healthcare and industrial clients. Website http://www.pegasus-sustainability.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $2,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds … Continue reading “Pegasus Sustainability Solutions Garners $2,000,000 New Financing Round”

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”

Venture Deals, Orbitec, & Connecture: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist

Last year’s venture capital totals, a startup that will help deliver cargo to space, a public offering registration, and other news from Exact Sciences, HealthMyne, Johnson Controls, and Stealth Therapeutics: —In 2015, Wisconsin companies raised $87.9 million in venture capital across 23 deals, according to a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association. … Continue reading “Venture Deals, Orbitec, & Connecture: This Week’s Wisconsin 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”

Rowheels Receives $1,500,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=195695c2-6241-415d-948d-b1ce5a2fb2ce Date 12/28/2015 Company Name Rowheels Mailing Address 2895 Commerce Park Dr. Fitchburg, WI 53719 USA Company Description Rowheels Inc. was founded in 2011 with the goal of developing the reverse propulsion wheel concept into a commercially viable product that could help users suffering from repetitive stress injuries of the shoulder. Current … Continue reading “Rowheels Receives $1,500,000 New Funding Round”

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”

Wisconsin Roundup: Shoutlet, Cellectar, Cellular Dynamics & More

Here are some of the past week’s major headlines from Wisconsin’s tech and innovation community: —Madison-based Shoutlet was acquired by Austin, TX-based Spredfast, a fellow player in the social media management space, for an undisclosed sum. The Shoutlet brand will continue to exist and its headquarters will become the second largest development center for the … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Shoutlet, Cellectar, Cellular Dynamics & More”

Madison’s Healthtech Cluster: The Rise of Epic and Everybody Else

Healthcare, agriculture, and manufacturing remain the bread and butter of the private sector in Madison, WI, and the surrounding region, but healthcare IT has arguably become the area’s most buzz-worthy industry. Today, Xconomy is adding to the conversation about healthtech’s ascent in the local economy. A new analysis of data gathered by the Madison Region … Continue reading “Madison’s Healthtech Cluster: The Rise of Epic and Everybody Else”

Wisconsin Startups Cashed in on Venture Capital Bonanza in 2014

Last year was a great one for startups nationwide trying to raise money from investors, and the venture capital boom was felt even in the normally cash-starved state of Wisconsin. Wisconsin companies grabbed more than $346 million in investment capital last year—nearly triple the $128 million raised here in 2013. The number of deals climbed … Continue reading “Wisconsin Startups Cashed in on Venture Capital Bonanza in 2014”

Wisconsin Roundup: Uber Bill, Angel Deals, Exact Sciences, & More

Here are some of the latest headlines from Wisconsin’s tech and innovation community: —Gov. Scott Walker signed a bill late Friday night that enacts statewide regulation of ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft. The bill had bipartisan support in the Legislature, but has drawn opposition by some Democratic legislators and city officials in Milwaukee and … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Uber Bill, Angel Deals, Exact Sciences, & 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”

Forward Health Stays Aggressive in Healthcare Analytics, Snags $5.7M

Michael Barbouche has been helping hospitals and clinics crunch patient data since before many had installed electronic health records systems, and well before “population health management” became a buzz phrase in the industry. In 2004, the statistician was tapped to help build a system to collect and analyze patient data for the Wisconsin Collaborative for … Continue reading “Forward Health Stays Aggressive in Healthcare Analytics, Snags $5.7M”

Wisconsin Roundup: Gener8tor, Phoenix Nuclear Labs, Solaris, & More

The holiday season is upon us, but there’s been no shortage of news from Wisconsin’s technology and innovation sector. It’s time to catch up on the latest announcements: —Gener8tor, the startup accelerator that holds programs in Madison and Milwaukee, has raised more than $2.1 million for its second seed capital fund. Investors include Milwaukee-based CSA … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Gener8tor, Phoenix Nuclear Labs, Solaris, & More”

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”

Madison’s Solomo Technology Wins $100K Steve Case Investment

[Corrected 10/8/14, 10:41 a.m. See below.] Solomo Technology founder and CEO Liz Eversoll walked away with a $100,000 investment from AOL co-founder Steve Case after she won yesterday’s startup pitch competition in Madison, WI. The event was part of the “Rise of the Rest Road Trip” highlighting emerging startup clusters in the Midwest. Eversoll also … Continue reading “Madison’s Solomo Technology Wins $100K Steve Case Investment”

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”

Madison Startup Rides Immunotherapy Wave With Prostate Drug

Most men suffering from prostate cancer can be essentially cured if their tumors are caught early enough and their prostate glands are surgically removed or destroyed by radiation therapy before the disease spreads. But for some men, removing the prostate gland isn’t enough. Months or years after surgery or treatment, levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) … Continue reading “Madison Startup Rides Immunotherapy Wave With Prostate Drug”

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: Midwest Angel Investors, Epic, Cellectar, & More

Midwest investors flex their muscles, while Epic Systems faces stiffer competition in the electronic health records software space. Read on for details about these and other stories from the Wisconsin innovation scene. —The Great Lakes region accounted for 17.1 percent of angel investments in the first quarter, according to the latest Halo Report from Silicon … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Midwest Angel Investors, Epic, Cellectar, & More”

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

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

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

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

Madworks Seed Accelerator Aims to Polish Startups For Gener8tor

A new mini-accelerator has joined the growing list of resources for entrepreneurs in Madison, WI. Madworks Coworking at UW Campus, a pilot seed accelerator, launches next week with a $90,000 grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. Out of about 70 applicants, a group of 11 startups were accepted into the inaugural class, says Anne … Continue reading “Madworks Seed Accelerator Aims to Polish Startups For Gener8tor”

Wisconsin Roundup: Apple, Epic, Gener8tor, MobCraft, & More

Last week was an especially busy one for Wisconsin’s tech and innovation community, thanks to the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference and a flurry of funding announcements. Here’s a few additional news items that might have flown under the radar: —Apple recently announced its iOS 8 software system, and a Wisconsin company will play a prominent role … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Apple, Epic, Gener8tor, MobCraft, & More”

Seeds, Bees, and Startups: Scenes From The WI Entrepreneurs’ Conference

Another Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference has come and gone. The 12th annual installment, held at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, featured plenty of rock stars in the state’s innovation scene, from representatives of hot startups like Propeller Health and EatStreet, to investors like Wisconsin Investment Partners and the Golden Angels Network. Gov. Scott Walker and … Continue reading “Seeds, Bees, and Startups: Scenes From The WI Entrepreneurs’ Conference”

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”

Startup Accelerator Gener8tor Gets $110K From Angel Group WIP

The graduates of gener8tor’s winter startup accelerator program will receive a funding boost thanks to a $110,000 investment in the program by Wisconsin Investment Partners. Wisconsin Investment Partners (WIP), a Madison, WI-based angel investment group, is committing $11,000 toward each startup coming out of gener8tor’s three-month business boot camps this year. That includes five startups … Continue reading “Startup Accelerator Gener8tor Gets $110K From Angel Group WIP”

Wisconsin Startup’s Neutron Generator Generates Big U.K. Customer

Phoenix Nuclear Labs has closed on a $1.15 million private funding round and inked its first major commercial contract, the Monona, WI, startup said this week. Phoenix has developed a particle accelerator-based neutron generator that has applications in medical isotope production and neutron radiography imaging, among other uses. The company was founded in 2005 by … Continue reading “Wisconsin Startup’s Neutron Generator Generates Big U.K. Customer”

Wisconsin 2013 VC Activity Drops, Shifts to Software from Biotech

Wisconsin venture capital activity in 2013 appeared to be a mixed bag, as deal flow was up year-over-year, but the amount invested shrank by more than half, according to the quarterly MoneyTree report from PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association. Wisconsin saw $35.9 million invested in 19 deals last year, compared with $95.3 million … Continue reading “Wisconsin 2013 VC Activity Drops, Shifts to Software from Biotech”

Exit Strategy: Wisconsin Investors Seek Next Wave of Startup Wins

Tom Shannon started getting nibbles from potential suitors for Prodesse in 2005, three years after he came on as president and CEO of the biotech firm based in Waukesha, WI. The company was founded in 1996 by Kelly Henrickson, a Medical College of Wisconsin pediatrics and infectious diseases professor. Shannon and a professional management team … Continue reading “Exit Strategy: Wisconsin Investors Seek Next Wave of Startup Wins”

SOLOMO Technology Garners $1,700,000 Series A Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c13f7837-a21e-4153-83a0-f3d2107fad56 Date 5/31/2013 Company Name SOLOMO Technology Mailing Address 222 West Washington Ave Madison, WI 53703 Company Description SOLOMO believes building solutions with partners and going to market together will strengthen not only our solution but the value we bring to our customers. Website http://www.solomotechnology.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,700,000 … Continue reading “SOLOMO Technology Garners $1,700,000 Series A Funding Round”

SOLOMO Technology Garners $1,700,000 Series A Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c13f7837-a21e-4153-83a0-f3d2107fad56&Preview=1 Date 5/31/2013 Company Name SOLOMO Technology Mailing Address 222 West Washington Ave Madison, WI 53703 Company Description SOLOMO believes building solutions with partners and going to market together will strengthen not only our solution but the value we bring to our customers. Website http://www.solomotechnology.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,700,000 … Continue reading “SOLOMO Technology Garners $1,700,000 Series A Financing”

Swallow Solutions Secures $1,046,000 Series A Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d953eb48-7f48-4956-9759-80d29eb204d7 Date 3/5/2013 Company Name Swallow Solutions Mailing Address 313 Price Place Madison, WI 53705 Company Description Swallow Solutions LLC is dedicated to individuals suffering from swallowing disorders, generally known as dysphagia. We focus on two areas related to dysphagia – therapeutic devices for diagnosing and treating swallowing disorders and nutritional food … Continue reading “Swallow Solutions Secures $1,046,000 Series A Financing Round”

Swallow Solutions Receives $1,046,000 Series A Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d953eb48-7f48-4956-9759-80d29eb204d7&Preview=1 Date 3/5/2013 Company Name Swallow Solutions Mailing Address 313 Price Place Madison, WI 53705 Company Description Swallow Solutions LLC is dedicated to individuals suffering from swallowing disorders, generally known as dysphagia. We focus on two areas related to dysphagia – therapeutic devices for diagnosing and treating swallowing disorders and nutritional food … Continue reading “Swallow Solutions Receives $1,046,000 Series A Financing Round”

Hopster Obtains $1,500,000 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=eef52152-5ba2-4dd0-81d5-ba3d3541595e Date 12/31/2012 Company Name Hopster Mailing Address 1600 Aspen Commons 9th Floor Middleton, WI 53562 Company Description Hopster has created a fun way to save on your favorite household and everyday brands. Before Hopster this typically has meant scouring the Sunday paper for deals. Website http://www.hopster.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction … Continue reading “Hopster Obtains $1,500,000 New Financing Round”

Zurex Pharma Lands $6,200,000 Series A Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3e091984-7de1-4474-a0cc-92aeb3fea9e4&Preview=1 Date 5/22/2012 Company Name Zurex Pharma Mailing Address 510 Charmany Drive Madison, WI 53719 Company Description Zurex Pharma, Inc. is a specialty pharma and medical technology company with a novel antimicrobial technology platform. Our company’s mission is to develop and commercialize a portfolio of new antimicrobial products designed to prevent healthcare … Continue reading “Zurex Pharma Lands $6,200,000 Series A Financing”

Zurex Pharma Receives $6,200,000 Series A Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3e091984-7de1-4474-a0cc-92aeb3fea9e4 Date 5/22/2012 Company Name Zurex Pharma Mailing Address 2113 Eagle Drive Middleton, WI 53562 Company Description Zurex Pharma, Inc. is a specialty pharma and medical technology company with a novel antimicrobial technology platform. Our company’s mission is to develop and commercialize a portfolio of new antimicrobial products designed to prevent healthcare … Continue reading “Zurex Pharma Receives $6,200,000 Series A Funding Round”