Week in Review: Healthcare Mobile Apps Catch VCs’ Attention
Posted by | April 20, 2012
The convergence of technology and healthcare attracted significant new attention last year, according to research from Dow Jones VentureSource. In 2011, VCs poured $439 million into 70 deals for healthcare startups that develop mobile apps and tools for social networking. That’s a 44 percent jump over 2010 numbers.
All this activity is helping startups innovate new and better ways for people to take an active role in their own health. In a recent Xconomy article, Lisa Suennen notes that “75 percent of all healthcare costs are due to chronic illnesses, many of which could be completely avoided.” The healthcare mobile apps that have attracted so much attention could help treat those illnesses through real-time monitoring of symptoms or faster lines of communication between doctors and patients.
In other life sciences news, Safeguard recently realized additional proceeds from Eli Lilly’s acquisition of Avid Radiopharmaceuticals. Earlier this month the FDA approved Amyvid, a diagnostic agent used in brain imaging. The approval triggered an additional $5.6 million in proceeds for Safeguard, with the potential for further proceeds in the future. Philadelphia Business Journal covered the news.
Here’s the latest from our partner companies:
- The news that AdvantEdge Healthcare Solutions acquired COMPUDATA echoed around the media, earning attention in Becker’s ASC Review, Healthcare IT News, and Crain’s Cleveland Business.
- Beyond.com CEO Rich Milgram offered advice for job applicants in an article on Fox Business.
- DriveFactor, formerly Crimson, announced its expanded usage-based auto-insurance program that will potentially save drivers money by basing insurance rates on driving habits. Better driving equals better insurance rates.
- Putney hired Bert Mileski as Vice President of Quality. CEO Jean Hoffman says that Mileski will take Putney to a new level in both quality systems and manufacturing.
- ThingWorx was featured in a SmartGridNews.com profile that highlighted the benefits of the ThingWorx platform.
To read more of our Week in Review series, please use the following feed: www.safeguard.com/WeekInReview. Have a great weekend!
