Wen H. Hsieh, Ph.D.

AI and Med Tech in Focus   AI System Developed to Identify Pathology in Tissues Engineers at Washington State University have developed an AI tool that uses images of human and animal tissue to detect abnormalities faster and more accurately than people. The AI algorithm was trained using images from past studies that involved kidney, testes, ovarian, prostate, breast and lymph node abnormalities. The new model detected disease in minutes—current processes take humans several hours and require specialized teams to check each other’s work. It was also found to be more accurate, sometimes detecting instances that humans had missed. The engineers designed the system to handle the processing load of the high-resolution gigapixel images by breaking them down into smaller tiles but still retaining the overall context of the tissue sample—akin to the zoom feature on a microscope or phone camera. Aside from getting diagnostic results more accurately and quickly, the new system also shows promise in epigenetics (the study of molecular processes that change gene behavior without changing underlying DNA). Epigenetic researchers can perform analyses and get results that used to take a year or more in just a couple of weeks. VC Investors are always adjusting their "Play Book" with a variety of options for investing. Mikal Ventures is one of those alternatives, offering curated solutions to real world problems. Reach out if you have questions on how we can be of assistance and bookmark https://mikalventures.com/ for additional insights and information.

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AI and Med Tech in Focus   AI System Developed to Identify Pathology in Tissues Engineers at Washington State University have developed an AI tool that uses images of human and animal tissue to detect abnormalities faster and more accurately than people. The AI algorithm was trained using images from past studies that involved kidney, testes, ovarian, prostate, breast and lymph node abnormalities. The new model detected disease in minutes—current processes take humans several hours and require specialized teams to check each other’s work. It was also found to be more accurate, sometimes detecting instances that humans had missed. The engineers designed the system to handle the processing load of the high-resolution gigapixel images by breaking them down into smaller tiles but still retaining the overall context of the tissue sample—akin to the zoom feature on a microscope or phone camera. Aside from getting diagnostic results more accurately and quickly, the new system also shows promise in epigenetics (the study of molecular processes that change gene behavior without changing underlying DNA). Epigenetic researchers can perform analyses and get results that used to take a year or more in just a couple of weeks. VC Investors are always adjusting their "Play Book" with a variety of options for investing. Mikal Ventures is one of those alternatives, offering curated solutions to real world problems. Reach out if you have questions on how we can be of assistance and bookmark https://mikalventures.com/ for additional insights and information.

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After $400M of capital invested and 30 portfolio companies in health and pharma tech, we are excited to publish our SignalFire health and pharma tech sector thesis, 2024 edition and beyond! 👊 Here are 5 major trends that we're focused on 📈 If you are a founder building in any of these categories below, we'd love to hear from you! 1) Explosion of healthcare data creates both opportunities & risks in the GPT-4 era 2) PharmaTech is accelerating R&D, manufacturing & distribution to tackle inefficiencies 3) The labor shortage crisis and the need for AI to improve productivity 4) Aging population and the shift to hybrid, value-based care models in patients’ homes  5) Scaling access to lifesaving therapeutic breakthroughs: GLP-1s & CGTs Grateful to work closely with an incredible team focused on this sector including our legendary Eric Larsen, and partners in crime Sooah Cho, Tony Pezzullo, Sahir Raoof, Adele English 🙏 What gets me up every morning is our incredible portfolio, each of which making their own dent in our healthcare system for the better — Grow Therapy, Color, Ro, CodaMetrix, Health Gorilla, Verse, Wellth, PayZen, Recora, all.health, Bicycle Health, Form Health, Health Note, Osso VR, Praia Health, Freshpaint, Auxilius, Ovation, OrthoFX, Moxie and many others coming out of stealth soon 🚀 #healthtech #pharmatech #sectorthesis #innovation https://lnkd.in/gDE3nQqK

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Interesting and innovative company. Proud to be an investor…

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#hiring If anyone knows an awesome engineer that would be interested in joining an emerging #AI company doing important work in #healthcare, please drop me a line! Andy AI is backed by General Catalyst, YCombinator, Greater Ventures, and others, and they’re looking to hire a full stack engineer (US based) who's excited about using AI to improve healthcare and reduce nurse burnout. Andy is AI software that automates clinical documentation for nurses who do home visits. A nurse makes an audio recording of the visit and Andy automatically generates a form that usually takes nurses 90 minutes to complete. Nurses love the product because it potentially saves them 15 hours of charting a week! The founders previously built healthcare AI at Google Health and Apple, and are now building their vision to transform home health. More about Andy AI: https://with-andy.com/ Nurses love it: https://lnkd.in/g9XqZrUq #GenAI #digitalhealth #hiring #engineers #healthtech

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M13 is thrilled to lead the Series A in RadiantGraph which is focused on personalization in healthcare. As we continue to invest in early stage companies it is abundantly clear that the biggest indicator of success is the founder and his or her ability to execute on their vision of the future. In this case, I don't think I have seen much better founder-market fit than we have with founder and CEO Anmol Madan. We believe in his vision: in order to have the best patient outcomes in healthcare we need increased personalization and AI is the breakthrough to get us there. Anmol started one of the pioneering digital health companies Ginger and then was Chief Data Scientist at Livongo and Teledoc. He has done it all: early stage, late stage, public company. And he deeply understands the nuances of the healthcare market from all angles which is critical for success. While there are many players building healthcare-specific AI capabilities, RadiantGraph is focused on outcomes: The platform is already processing personalization models for more than 3.5 million people, despite launching just last year. Excited to partner with my friend Adam D'Augelli and the great True Ventures again and Morgan Blumberg who has been deep in the healthcare market with me for many years. More on our thesis in the blog below. https://lnkd.in/evDDmC3W

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🚀 The Power Behind Scaling with Purpose 🚀 On October 10th, during SF TECH WEEK by a16z, we’re hosting a panel discussion at Endurance28 in the Presidio featuring four visionary founders who are leading transformative ventures across biotech, foodtech, and fintech: 🌱 Maricel Saenz, CEO of Minus: A Compound Foods Company creating climate-proof foods through fermentation, like beanless coffee.  🔬 Crystal Nyitray, Ph.D., CEO of Encellin, is revolutionizing therapeutics by transforming cells into molecular factories. 💊 Ritu Lal, Ph.D., M.S. (Management), CEO of GEn1E Lifesciences Inc., is advancing precision therapies for inflammatory and rare diseases with no treatments. 📊 Marla Sofer, CEO of Knomee, is a free financial wellness platform empowering its users to discover their unique Financial Identity™ and take control of their financial future. These inspiring leaders will share their insights on scaling with purpose, building strong cultures, and staying true to their mission. 🔗 Register using the link below #SFTechWeek #Endurance28 #ScalingWithPurpose #Founders #AmbitiousRebels #Networking #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #WomenInLeadership #WomenFounders #Biotech #Foodtech #Fintech

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This is just incredible. Neal Ghosh's demonstration of how #VentureIQ takes deeply technical and complicated content across a range of industrial use cases and ages/stages through an AI-generated conversational podcast (a la #notebookLM) is really mind-blowing. Check out his post, below, and if you haven't seen VentureIQ, yet, let's get you set up to learn more. You can visit VentureIQ.ai or DM any of us over here to book a demo!

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Great to see Robert Gunn share his experience of going through the Northern Gritstone & Deeptech Labs Inaugural NG Studio Programme. Auxetec Limited have developed an advanced elastomer material that offers delamination protection, impact protection and shock absorption, as well as strength & durability. It is highly tuneable, transparent and easily manufactured. The leadership team at Auxetec have so many ways to commercialise this new generation material across a wide variety of high-growth applications. But which path should they take? Which markets should they serve? What should be their business model and how should they go to market? How and when should they build out their team, develop & package their technologies and what funding will they need? Who are the best investors to help them on their journey? Throughout a 3-month programme, Robert and his team had access to 60 deeptech experts who helped them figure the right way forward. They now have an absolute clarity of vision, and a clearly defined pathway to success.. at scale. Auxetec will be coming to market to raise their Seed round over the coming weeks This is what we do: we crowd-in expertise and investors to help turn brilliant scientific breakthroughs into brilliant - and highly investible - high growth ventures. Faster. We're super-excited to start Cohort 2 in Manchester next week! Northern Gritstone I The University of Sheffield I The University of Manchester I University of Leeds

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Friends, Q2 was a quarter of progress and learning for us at HawkTower, where we invest in early-stage startups applying breakthrough computing technologies to maximize California's natural resource markets. Our focus is on technology-enabled interventions (e.g., AI-enabled geospatial radars for lithium-ion batteries in the waste stream) for critical, market-level imperatives (e.g., disaster prevention) that can drive rapid commercial adoption (e.g., placed on every recycling truck in the world). Our current investment priorities are: - Agricultural productivity and efficiency - Biomanufacturing - Labor and mobility automation - Waste stream optimization and decarbonization - Disaster prevention and management Here’s a snapshot of what we’ve been up to: Milestones and Investments: - In late April, we officially launched our fund, filing with the SEC. Yay. - By June, we completed our first fund close ahead of schedule, with backing from family offices, foundations, high-net-worth individuals, and organizations aligned with California's future. - Our portfolio now includes three early-stage investments (Farm-ng, Agriful Software, and Nexstera Tech). Strategic Partnerships: - We believe that startups operating closer to their customers and resources, especially in agriculture and biomanufacturing, have a strategic advantage. For instance, the Salinas Valley, a major agricultural hub, is less than an hour from Silicon Valley and serves as a center of thought leadership in the convergence of agriculture and AI (from Western Growers, Taylor Farms, and others). - Similarly, the North San Joaquin Valley is emerging as a biotech and agtech innovation hub, and we are proud to support BEAM Circular, a startup hub for the circular bioeconomy. Key Relationships: - Karen Warner, CEO of BEAM Circular, joined HawkTower as a strategic advisor. - Jackie Cruz, Ed. D. Cruz, Hartnell College’s VP of Advancement, advises on Salinas Valley and workforce development. - Ben Palone from Western Growers, with his technical background in agriculture, became a trusted advisor. - Matthew Hoffman from Driscoll's Global R&D team provides insights on global agriculture, product positioning, and investment strategy. - We collaborated with Monterey Bay DART for workforce development and automation in agtech. - Dominic Milano and the Milano Technical Group from Merced collaborated on key initiatives and advised us on investments. - HawkTower is participating in Santa Cruz Works's accelerator cohort as a mentor and advisor. Thank you Doug Erickson. - We published an overview of entrepreneurship across the UC system with input from across the University of California system. Moving into the fall, we remain deeply committed to supporting founders shaping California's future natural resource markets. Stay tuned and be in touch! : ) Db

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Medtech VC investment is on the rise! 💡 Investment in medtech companies grew by 3% y-o-y to $3.3 billion, according to Pitchbook. 🚀 Exits for venture-backed medtech firms hit $6.6 billion in the first half of the year, though acquisitions remain rare due to ongoing price gaps between buyers and sellers. #Medtech #VentureCapital #StartupEcosystem #Pitchbook

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👀 Looking at our recent investments at Draper Associates, here’s what standout founders nailed, making our decision to invest much easier (and faster): 💥 Visionary Tech with a Bold Vision – These founders are not here for incremental wins; they’re reimagining what’s possible in across tech - biotech, robotics, aerospace, and beyond. Their vision is big and audacious, tackling complex problems that demand breakthrough solutions, others have not been willing to try. 👊 Clear Passion & Purpose – The drive in these founders is undeniable. They’re committed to their mission with a depth of purpose that shapes every choice. One founder, for example, took two years completely off to learn and meet everyone in longevity biotech. This level of grit and dedication is rare but essential for the most impactful founders. 🌟 Assembling All-Star Teams – They bring together top-tier talent from diverse disciplines: experienced business leaders with successful exits or industry experience at top companies, technical co-founders with deep expertise, often PhDs or industry pioneers, and even published authors. It’s a complementary team, unified by a shared vision. They make the: "Why this team?" obvious - at a glance. 💻 Data-Driven to the Core – These founders present data insights that show why their approach is unique, especially against a competitive field of companies. This data is delivered with clarity and they make the complex simple. Many are published in top journals, adding depth and credibility to their approach, and reinforcing that they know their tech inside out. ⚡️ Memorable, Clear Vision – They don’t just pitch; they make the future feel tangible, with a vision that’s both compelling and concise. If I can relay their pitch in under 30 seconds to my team, they’ve killed it. 📣 Transparent & Proactive Communication – The best founders don’t wait for questions. They come prepared, often with a comprehensive FAQ doc, give timely updates to our questions, and are candid about challenges. This level of openness builds trust and strengthens our partnership. 💸 Milestone-Driven Funding Strategy – Each funding stage aligns clearly with already achieved or upcoming achievable milestones. They’ve mapped out a roadmap that minimizes risk at every step, giving us confidence in their journey. 💰 Revenue Milestones Along the Way – Even if it'll take a decade to hit revenue on their big vision, these founders find revenue generation stops along the way to profitability. They share a trajectory that connects early wins to revenue, showing how every step is a building block toward their bigger vision. Overall, the best founders are incredibly thoughtful, prepared, and fantastic verbal / written communicators. #founders #startups #fundraising #VC

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What do bio and health applications mean for the next wave of AI -- specifically about compute? (I'm talking to you NVDA longs!) LifeX Ventures is hosting a super roundtable with some serious techbio leaders tomorrow along with Analog Century Management's Val Zlatev -- come hear Thomas Clozel Sean McClain Chetan Patel at 11am ET For the survey results based on asking 100 techbio CTOs and CEOs, join the call. Here, my own speculations after wrapping up the report: -- Amazon needs to have a GPU program on warp drive right now -- Nvidia needs to have a data center / cloud business in the works -- Edge AI chips are about to be everywhere -- in your watch, car, sneakers, thermostats, gene sequencers, spectroscopes -- All this compute needs way more data: expect a boom in sensors of all types -- Remember human genome moonshot that sequenced one person once? Now you can sequence your every cell one by one. Expect that for protein folding (AlphaFold was that moonshot) and other simulation uses, a full "twin" model of you, cell by cell -- Google has no angle here -- worse chips, worse cloud, worse models, worse phones / edge devices -- Specialty silicon for unique use-cases, lower-power, lower-memory are surely coming fast - like back in the day for mobile phones when Qualcomm, Broadcomm, Infineon, Mediatek, etc duked it out.

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14 SiliconXL / DevAccelerator Powered Startups Launch in Stealth Providence, RI - Tuesday, September 24th The SiliconXL Startup Demo Day brought together a remarkable collection of AI-powered tech startups, demonstrating that the event was about far more than just polished pitch decks—it was a showcase of full-stack software engineering, AI, true innovation and customer-validated market demand. DemoDay Startups - Providence took place during RI Startup Week, with tremendous support from RIHub. Each startup, built from the ground up by technical founders, presented AI-driven solutions designed to solve real-world problems. This event emphasized the importance of market fit, with every startup validating their concept through direct interaction with potential users, showcasing not only their technical prowess but their ability to engage with and fulfill market needs. For many of the entrepreneurs showcased at the SiliconXL Startup Demo Day, this was their first experience building a full-stack application. In fact, virtually none of them had ever launched or scaled a tech startup before. Their journey from novice to technical founder was nothing short of transformative, a direct result of their time learning software engineering and AI under the mentorship of Claude Arnell Milhouse and Clifton Choiniere at DevAccelerator. Through DevAccelerator's intensive training and guidance, these founders have not only acquired the technical skills to develop cutting-edge AI solutions but have also gained the entrepreneurial mindset to launch and grow successful startups. This Demo Day is a testament to the profound impact that mentorship, education, and determination can have on an individual's ability to create something that will disrupt industries and transform their own lives in the process. What set this Demo Day apart was the potential for explosive growth, as SiliconXL is laser-focused on launching a tidal wave of startups across multiple markets in the upcoming months and years. From the buzzing streets of Boston and New York to the previously unknown startup market of Providence, the goal is clear: to create a tsunami of high-growth startup activity.  SiliconXL is also dedicated to ensuring that diverse communities not only have a seat at the table but are also leading the charge, amplifying voices that have been historically marginalized. With this Demo Day, it’s evident that SiliconXL is igniting a movement that will leave a lasting mark on the future of AI-powered innovation. Look for more events powered by DemoDay Startups in the months to come in a city near you (Hint: Boston, NYC and up to 16 more startups out of Providence this year). Let's GEEEEEKING Goooooo!!!! #Startups #TechnicalFounders #SoftwareEngineers #Providence #Boston #NewYork #Roxbury #Dorchester #Brooklyn #Queens #TheBronx #Harlem

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Last month, Uncork Capital celebrated its 20th anniversary with a jubilant gathering attended by 420 guests, marking two decades of success in the venture capital realm. Over the years, the firm, alongside industry peers like First Round Capital and Felicis, has witnessed remarkable growth, now managing billions of dollars in assets. This expansion reflects the flourishing landscape of venture capital, with the industry experiencing exponential growth in investment. Moreover, positive shifts in VC norms, such as the evolving attitudes towards board seats, underscore a commitment to providing tailored support to startups, enhancing their growth prospects. Amidst discussions surrounding sectors like AI, optimism prevails, emphasizing a steadfast dedication to investing in innovative ventures with lasting impact. Read More Here: https://lnkd.in/efN6-Spd Branded Hospitality Ventures Jeff Clavier Susan Liu Ashley Cravens Tripp Jones Sarah Du Andy McLoughlin Amy Saper #innovation #technology #management #venturecapital #startup

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🚀 Great to see SiPhox Health, one of our portfolio companies, featured in MIT News! The article captures how SiPhox is attempting to revolutionize home-based blood testing with cutting-edge silicon photonic technology. We co-invested in SiPhox through LongeVC back in 2023, alongside Intel Capital (leading the Series A), Khosla Ventures , and other prominent investors, because we recognized the disruptive potential of this technology. I think SiPhox’s approach to diagnostics is not just an incremental improvement—it’s a leap forward in accessibility, precision, and scalability. Here is my take what stands out in the SiPhox’s story: ✔️ Miniaturization of Lab-Grade Diagnostics: SiPhox has condensed what traditionally required large optical lab equipment into a single silicon photonic chip, leveraging advances in integrated optics and semiconductor manufacturing. ✔️ Scalability Through Silicon Photonics: Their chip fabrication can scale to produce billions of disposable chips per month using standard semiconductor fabs, enabling cost-effective, high-volume production. ✔️ Seamless Patient Experience: The "Nespresso-like" blood testing system integrates third-party blood sample collection (e.g., arm patches) with a reusable device and disposable cartridges, providing an intuitive, at-home diagnostic solution. ✔️ High-Fidelity Results: SiPhox's photonic immunoassay sensors offer lab-grade precision, tracking critical biomarkers for chronic disease management directly from home. ✔️ Platform Potential: Beyond diagnostics, SiPhox’s ecosystem offers integration with telehealth providers and third-party health services, paving the way for an Apple App Store-like platform for healthcare. This is healthcare democratization in action, making regular health monitoring as simple as brushing your teeth. Also, Kudos to Zach Winn of MIT for capturing this innovation so well. The future of healthcare is here, and we couldn’t be prouder to support SiPhox on this journey. 💡 Check out the article in the comments 👇 Image credit: MIT News and SiPhox Health

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Exciting news! We just sent out the inaugural newsletter for Future Frontier Capital, our pre-seed venture fund backing frontier tech startups. As I hit "send," I realized how launching FFC parallels the path of the founders we support. Starting FFC has required the same passion, perseverance, and self-belief that drive entrepreneurs. Just like a startup, getting a VC fund off the ground demands relentless hustle—building the brand, perfecting the pitch, and networking tirelessly. There are constant challenges that test your resolve and endless hours of unglamorous work behind the scenes. And perhaps most daunting - the self-doubt, wondering if you're crazy for attempting something so bold. Pushing through that negative self-talk requires unshakable faith in your mission. Raising this VC fund reminds me of starting our IP strategy and patent analytics firm two decades ago. It’s a powerful reminder of the perseverance, creativity, and resilience needed to turn an ambitious idea into reality. This experience makes us more empathetic partners, ready to support the founders we back. Our work is just beginning, and this inaugural newsletter underscores our commitment to supporting frontier tech startups every step of the way. #startups #VentureCapital #EmergingManagers #Entrepreneurship #InnovationMindSet

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Imagine swallowing the competition whole. That's what many players in tech do via roll-up strategies, gobbling up smaller firms to deliver richer solutions and amass greater market share. Where else are roll-up strategies common? // HEALTHCARE Picture being a patient at a medical practice that’s been part of a roll-up in Healthcare Services. It's an industry ripe for roll-ups due to its fragmented nature and potential for greater efficiency. // CONSUMER SERVICES Or let's say you needed your HVAC serviced, and notice your local repairman is now part of a bigger Consumer Services entity? Centralized management and scale economy turn these localized businesses into roll-up targets. // FINANCIAL SERVICES Think about your insurance agent or wealth management advisor. They're working in complex, highly regulated environments. In the Financial Services sector, roll-ups offer an effective way to consolidate expertise, streamline operations, and enhance customer offerings. // MANUFACTURING Now, imagine driving past factories under a new name — the result of Manufacturing and Industrial Services roll-ups. Bulk purchasing reduces costs, enhances production capabilities, and expands geographical footprints. // REAL ESTATE Lastly, envision your real estate brokerage firm. The industry sees roll-ups as a strategic move to increase market penetration, enhance service offerings, and hike up portfolio value. Roll-ups play a huge role in most industries, rather like a snowball rolling downhill, gaining momentum, and size. Are you seeing roll-ups in your sector or considering M&A?

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Some great advice in this interview — featuring Jeffry Weinhuff of Visionary Ventures — relevant to all sub-sectors of #medtech. My favorite line is “investment capital is not tuition.” 😂 But the best advice stems from the insight that good exits via IPO or M&A processes with multiple buyers competing for your company require that most medtech companies must prove their value via strong commercial metrics. And doing that takes a lot of time, expertise and money. Plan, hire and raise capital accordingly. At Vensana Capital, our investment process centers on a deep analysis of every aspect of getting a breakthrough medtech innovation to market, no matter what stage of development a company is at today. We like entrepreneurs who believe their innovation can be highly impactful to patients. We love the ones who want to leave no doubt. https://lnkd.in/eDsUqgn6

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