Astrobotic to go to moon this summer | Using AI to predict health changes
Astrobotic goes to the moon
PITTSBURGH, PA—Aerospace startup Astrobotic Technology Inc., launched out of Carnegie Mellon, has been developing space robotics technology for lunar and planetary missions since 2007. Now it is entering the final stages of its Peregrine Lunar Lander, which is tentatively set to depart onboard United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur rocket at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida, sometime this summer, with its destination the moon. For more background, here’s an interview we did with Astrobotic CEO John Thornton in 2021.
Using AI to understand disease risk
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK–Oklahoma-based biotech company General Genomics is teaming with the Oklahoma City innovation District to use AI to help predict health changes in patients and to help understand their risk for developing diseases. A.J. Rosenthal, the co-founder of General Genomics, says that the team wants to find a way to empower patients by helping them figure out genomically what genetic predispositions they have.
Old book depository in Detroit converted to Newlab headquarters
DETROIT, MI—The Ford Motor Company established Detroit’s status in the early 20th century as the world’s automotive capital. And now, a vision of Ford executive chairman Bill Ford, may help bring the city back to its former dominance. An old book depository located within the Michigan State campus has been converted to the headquarters for Newlab, a technology collective hosting startups in the field of decarbonization, energy, mobility, and materials. It will now be the center for startups, entrepreneurs, engineers, and scientists working to build breakthrough companies in Detroit.
Three startups crowned in RustBuilt Startup Showdown
PITTSBURGH, PA–XchangePgh is an organization that’s looking to champion all of the tech and nontech innovation occurring in Pittsburgh in a manner that is more inclusive to all residents. Now the organization has crowned three startups around America’s Rust Belt as victors in the RustBuilt Startup Showdown. Winning companies included ecommerce data platform Orita.ai; ecommerce marketing providers XENA Intelligence; and aircraft maintenance and software provider AireExpert. (You can read the interview we did with XENA Intelligence CEO Akhil Suresh Nair late last year by clicking here.)
New partnership will serve diverse entrepreneurs across the country
KANSAS CITY, MO–Fintech growth platform Novel Capital, which helps B2B businesses diversify their funding stack, announced a partnership with gener8tor that will provide early-stage entrepreneurs with expanded access to non-dilutive financing and education. The partnership between Novel Capital and gener8tor represents a significant opportunity for startups and innovators across the country. Both organizations are committed to serving diverse entrepreneurs, with over 45% of their respective companies having a minority Founder.
University of Wisconsin-Madison recognizes leaders in entrepreneurship
MADISON, WI–Four innovators have received the 2023 Chancellor’s Entrepreneurial Achievement Awards. Established in 2011, the awards recognize individuals with ties to the University of Wisconsin–Madison who further the Wisconsin Idea through outstanding accomplishments in entrepreneurship. Honorees include Winslow L. Sargeant, CEO of Purple Team Technologies, an early-stage supply chain informatics company; Wesley Schroll, CEO, and Tyler Kennedy, co-founder, of Fetch, a privately held startup valued at $1 billion or more; and Anne Smith, Co-Founder, Law & Entrepreneurship Clinic, University of Wisconsin Law School.