New MRI machine reduces patient time up to 75% | KCRise raises $34 million VC fund

New MRI machine reduces patient time spend up to 75%

EAST LANSING, MI–As a diagnostic tool, MRIs can be a trying experience. Getting an MRI is intimidating, especially if you are claustrophobic and/or sensitive to loud sounds. Michigan State University is now offering a brand new MRI machine that reduces the time people spend in one by up to 75%. On average, full-body MRI scans could take around 90 minutes, but the new machine could do it in under 30 minutes — with potential for improvement.

Supercomputer company comes out of stealth mode

ST. LOUIS, MO—Housed in a nondescript data center in St. Louis is one of the world’s most powerful supercomputers. Rosette, the product of tech company SimpleRose, can analyze tremendous amounts of data and produce an optimal solution in a shorter amount of time (i.e., 15 minutes instead of four days). The company, which has raised $47 million in total funding, had been operating in stealth mode until recently.

State-of-the-art gene therapy facility offers home to children

COLUMBUS, OH— Andelyn Biosciences, which does development and manufacturing of cell and gene therapies, has completed a new biotech manufacturing facility that will offer hope for families of children born with rare and often fatal conditions. The Andelyn Corporate Center includes 16 cGMP modular manufacturing suites with upstream, downstream, solution prep, and filling capabilities, along with quality control labs and warehouse and corporate headquarters space.

Purdue’s rocket fuel startup acquired

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN— Adranos Inc., a rocket fuel startup out of Purdue University has been acquired by Anduril Industries, a defense products company headquartered in Costa Mesa, CA. The company was co-founded in 2018 by Brandon Terry and Chris Stoke. Terry invented ALITEC, a high-performance solid rocket fuel that gives greater payload capacity while also being more environmentally friendly. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

KCRise raises $34 million venture capital fund

KANSAS CITY, MO—KCRise has raised a third venture capital fund of $34 million. The fund will target investments in about 20 tech startups in the Kansas City area. The capital stack for Fund III includes endowments from the Health Forward Foundation, The Research Foundation and the state of Kansas’ GrowKS Multi-Fund Program, plus investments from Kansas City University, University of Central Missouri, University of Kansas Medical Center, Academy Bank, Bank of America, Country Club Bank, Burns & McDonnell, Evergy Ventures, Foley Equipment, GBA, JE Dunn Construction, Lockton Cos., MarkOne Electric and others.