Date: Jun 28, 2013 Author: Judy Newman Source: Wisconsin State Journal (
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A California organization is putting more money into Asthmapolis, a Madison company with a device aimed at helping people with asthma and other chronic respiratory diseases.
The California HealthCare Foundation, which invested $200,000 in Asthmapolis in the past, raised its allocation to a total of just over $1 million.
Asthmapolis uses smartphone applications and snap-on sensors that monitor when and how often patients use their asthma inhalers. It received Food and Drug Administration clearance to be sold in July 2012.
So far, the company has raised more than $7 million in investments. Asthmapolis has 29 employees and is in the process of hiring nine more, spokeswoman Erica St. Angel said.
Earlier in June, the company also received a special award in the 2013 TripleTree iAwards for Connected Health.
Asthmapolis was given the organization's 2013 Horizon Award and recognized for its "unique advancements in chronic disease management via connected health."
Investors say OK to Kayo
Kayo Technology, a Fitchburg company working on physical therapy technology, has picked up more investors, including a sports celebrity and the founder of a chain of gyms.
Andy North, the ESPN broadcaster and former pro golfer from Madison, and Joshua Martin, founder of Orange Shoe Personal Fitness and a UW-Madison MBA graduate, are among the participants in the $345,000 funding round that closed in May. Stateline Angels, a Rockford-based angel investment group, also took part in the round.
It followed $1.3 million raised in December, with DaneVest, Phenomenelle Angels and Wisconsin Investment Partners among the investors.
Kayo is developing a system designed to measure and track the progress of patients in physical or occupational therapy. It involves collecting data on the patient's use of muscles during a series of exercises, based on specific performance standards, said Kayo chief executive officer Dave Grandin.
Physical therapists are expected to start conducting field tests on the software this year and the system could be available next year, Grandin said.
Kayo was established in 2011, a spinoff of LifelineUSA, the jump rope and fitness equipment company founded by celebrity jump rope whiz and champion collegiate heavyweight boxer Bobby Hinds, of Madison.
Kayo now has eight employees, offices at 2920 Marketplace Drive, and has received a total of about $3.75 million in funding, Grandin said.
Read more: http://host.madison.com/business/technology/biotech/tech-and-biotech-asthmapolis-scores-more-funding-and-a-national/article_b708fe88-92a3-5b8e-bafa-c286a3e3cf1a.html#ixzz2h9RTuUUt
