A safe alternative to freight trains? | A smart backboard

Nurse practitioner invents device to help children receive anesthesia without anxiety

CINCINNATI, OH–Each year, millions of kids across the country undergo medical procedures requiring anesthesia. A nurse practitioner at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, who has witnessed how anxious kids get when they are rolled to the operating room and have to put a mask on, has taken matters into her own hands. Abby Hess, who is also a researcher in the Department of Anesthesia, has invented a breathing-controlled video game called EZ Induction to help ease the anxiety. A breathing tube connects to a tablet and allows kids to wake up little animals on the screen by taking slow, calm, deep breathes. Columbus-based LittleSeed Calming Technologies has now licensed the right to market the product to other hospitals.

A safer alternative t0 freight trains

LOUIS, MO—Freight railroads are the safest way to move freight over land, but derailments can still happen. A St. Louis tech company called Intramotev wants to help make transporting industrial materials safer and more efficient. By the end of the year, the company will deliver three remote-controlled electric TugVolt rail cars to mining companies that transport manganese, lithium, and other earth ore. Intramotev’s CEO Tim Luchini says that the shorter TugVolt trains will be safer than miles-long freight train, and its battery motors would be better for the environment than diesel-powered locomotives.

Smart basketball hoop co. gets funding

MILWAUKEE, WI—Huupe, a company that has developed a full-size smart basketball hoop has raised $11 million to finance its growth. The goal has a weatherproof screen for a backboard that can track a player’s shooting statistics and lets users from around the world play together. The lead investors in Huupe’s latest funding round were Marvan Ventures, which is owned by Milwaukee Bucks minority owner Keith Mardak; Protagonist VC; TRI Investments; and Kawn VC.

Robotic sprinkler system company raises $15 million

EDINA, MN–Irrigation startup Irrigreen has raised $15 million in seed funding to develop its patented robotic sprinkler system that “prints” water in the exact shape and contour of a homeowner’s lawn, allowing owners to map their own system and save on water. The sprinkler heads are configured with the Irrigreen app, which also matches location-based precipitation needs based on live integrations with weather data, the company says. Irrigreen’s equity financing round, its first funding to date, was led by Silicon Valley-based venture fund Ulu Ventures.

Tech startup moves from LS to Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH, PA–Preamble, a startup that develops products that will place safety guardrails on popular AI platforms, is moving its company from Los Angeles to Pittsburgh. CEO and Co-Founder Jeremy McHugh says Pittsburgh is a great location for the tech industry since people have started to move around, migrating east. He says Pittsburgh was chosen due to its cost of living and availability of tech talent in its local universities. He is hoping to onboard Pittsburgh-based engineers and other employees in the coming months.