The Funding Roundup is a weekly note about companies that raised venture capital. We use four sources – 1) those that are sent to us via press release ([email protected]), 2) Form D filings in the sixteen states that we cover, 3) Databases to which we subscribe (particularly Pitchbook, Crunchbase), 4) Other sources (such as SBIR grant database). The goal of the funding roundup is to provide a quick synthesis of companies that are actively raising money. This is not a value judgment placing VC backed companies over bootstrapped – only a recognition that VC backed companies often file paperwork that puts them on our radar.
The Middle is home to tons of incredible medical and biotech research. This runs the gamut from companies, such as Ablative Solutions and Avation Medical, that focus on novel new ways to attack significant human illness – heart disease and nervous system disorders. Companies that are building the next new crop breakthrough or animal science, such as Tree of Life Seeds or Maven Animal Health. And, then there are companies that just sound like they are related to research – Healthy Roots. Healthy Roots is a doll company in Detroit Michigan that has created multiple brown and black girl dolls. The company was founded by Yelitsa Jean-Charles to help girls with curly/wavy hair. According to their web site, “Healthy Roots Dolls have a medley of facial features, skin tones, and hair textures that can be styled in countless ways”. Hooray for the Middle – where we create huge breakthroughs not just in bio – but also in how we can see ourselves.
Over $10 million
- Ablative Solutions – Kalamazoo, Michigan – $81.1 million
- Tovala – Chicago, Illinois – $30 million
- Avation Medical – Columbus, Ohio – $12.9 million
- Coterie – Cincinnati, Ohio – $11.5 million
$2-10 million
- Mazen Animal Health – Saint Joseph, Missouri – $4.2 million
- GrocerKey – Madison, Wisconsin – $2.4 million
- Medical Engineering Innovations – Madison, Wisconsin – $2.2 million
$500k-2 million
- Disruptel – St. Louis, Missouri – $1.8 million
- SightGain – Mason, Ohio – $1.7 million
- IntelliSpex – Prague, Oklahoma – $1.6 million
- Anthill AI – Chicago, Illinois – $1.2 million
- Tango – Cincinnati, Ohio – $1.1 million
- Healthy Roots – Detroit, Michigan – $1 million
- Synata Bio – Warrenville, Illinois – $.6 million
Under $500k
- Social Market Analytics – Chicago, Illinois – $.42 million
- Unitonomy – Louisville, Kentucky – $.38 million
- Koios Medical – Chicago, Illinois – $.28 million
- Integrated Composite Products – Winona, Minnesota – $.2 million
- Inspired Biometrics – Ada, Michigan – $.157 million {Check out the team page – great shot of Batman}
- Tree of Life Seeds – Little Rock, Arkansas – $.15 million
- Swishboom – Omaha, Nebraska – $.15 million
- Phenologic – East Lansing, Michigan – $.08 million
