Hospital innovation consulting firm Avia scores $7.2M
Healthcare technology can be daunting, but Avia aims to simplify working with new systems through focused consulting. The company just raised $7.2 million in a round led by Milwaukee-based hospital system Froedtert. The new funding will help Avia double its headcount, which currently sits at about 35 people, allowing it to add to the 22 hospital systems it currently works with. [Crain’s Chicago Business]
mHUB launches to house manufacturing startups
Launching a new hardware startup is an expensive proposition, mostly because the equipment needed to build prototypes and small-scale tests can be prohibitively costly. Maker space Catalyze Chicago is working with the city's World Business Chicago to open a new space called mHUB to bring down that cost. The space houses all the equipment a startup needs to get building and will eventually bring in mentors and incubators to concentrate hardware tech startups under one roof. [Chicago Tribune]
Polsky Center expands, gains some independence
University of Chicago’s Polsky Center, which houses the former Chicago Innovation Exchange (now called the Polsky Exchange) and tech licensing group UChicagoTech, is gearing up for expansion into a free-standing part of the university thanks to Michael Polsky's $50 million donation. The expansion comes with a number of new hires, mostly from within the university, which will help entrepreneurs bring their ideas to life more quickly. [Chicago Tribune]
Cision hires new CEO
Media intelligence firm Cision hired Kevin Akeroyd as the company’s new CEO. The former general manager and senior vice president at Oracle Marketing Cloud will help the company as it integrates recent acquisitions, markets its solutions and steps up growth. Former CEO Peter Granat will transition to chairman of the Cision Board of Directors. [Press release]
AdBasis launches tool to A/B test search ads
Google recently launched a tool to let advertisers post expanded text ads on search pages, and Chicago adtech company AdBasis has already created a system to help advertisers test exactly what ad works best. The new AdBasis Expand will let companies create thousands of versions of an ad to test in the new format, helping marketers spend money more strategically. [Press release]
Lupe Fiasco teams up with Google exec to fund Englewood, Lawndale startups
Chicago rapper Lupe Fiasco and Google executive Di-Ann Eisnor have founded the Neighborhood Start Fund to find startups in Chicago’s Englewood and Lawndale neighborhoods. Startups can pitch the group at an upcoming workshop day for a chance to score $5,000 to build a prototype. From there, the group may invest up to $100,000 in promising startups. [Chicago Tribune]
Cubii adds Fitbit integration
FitnessCubed, maker of underdesk pedaling hardware Cubii, announced that they now integrate fitness data with Fitbit. The partnership allows users who spend their workdays practicing for the Tour de France (they can dream, right?) to track that hard work through the popular fitness band. Strides are converted to steps, which helps users track calories burned and distance “traveled” all in one app. [Press release]
Wilson introduces connected football
Sports equipment manufacturer Wilson announced a new connected football that will track your passes, providing feedback on spirals, catches and speed of throws. The new football connects to a phone via Bluetooth and lets players take the helm as quarterback of any NFL team in one of five game modes. It goes on sale next month for $200. [Built In Chicago]
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