Biotech & Health

The AI industry’s ‘next big bet,’ and should we just buy Chrome?

The AI race is taking a detour as developers consider a new path to super-intelligent systems: test-time compute. Not sure what that means? Don’t worry, the Equity pod team breaks it down.  Today, on TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec, Devin Coldewey and Margaux MacColl dig into the week’s tech and startup news, including what […]

The AI industry’s ‘next big bet,’ and should we just buy Chrome? Read More »

OneCell Diagnostics bags $16M to help limit cancer reoccurrence using AI

Cancer, one of the most life-threatening diseases, is projected to affect over 35 million people worldwide in 2050 — 77% more than the estimated 20 million cases in 2022, according to the World Health Organization. Cancer survivors globally reached 53.5 million, and the reoccurrence rate of the disease varies between 15 and 100%, depending on

OneCell Diagnostics bags $16M to help limit cancer reoccurrence using AI Read More »

OneCell Diagnostics bags $16M to help limit cancer recurrence using AI

Cancer, one of the most life-threatening diseases, is projected to affect over 35 million people worldwide in 2050 — 77% more than the estimated 20 million cases in 2022, according to the World Health Organization. Cancer survivors globally reached 53.5 million, and the recurrence rate of the disease varies between 15% and 100%, depending on

OneCell Diagnostics bags $16M to help limit cancer recurrence using AI Read More »

Benchmark invests $19M in New Lantern, a smarter way for radiologists to use AI

Shiva Suri gained a unique perspective into how radiologists work when he quarantined and shared a home office with his mom, a well-regarded radiologist. “I watched her work day in and day out, and she was wasting about seven to eight hours on boring workflow tasks,” Suri said. “Only 5% of her time, she had

Benchmark invests $19M in New Lantern, a smarter way for radiologists to use AI Read More »

Converge Bio’s ‘everything store’ for biotech LLMs brings in $5.5M seed

AI is finding its way into every corner of biotech and pharmaceutical research, but like other industries, it’s never quite as straightforward to implement as one would like. Converge Bio has built a tool for companies to make their biology-focused LLMs actually work, from “enriching” their data to explaining their answers. The company has raised

Converge Bio’s ‘everything store’ for biotech LLMs brings in $5.5M seed Read More »

Oura valued at $5B following deal with medical device firm Dexcom

Smart ring maker Oura announced on Tuesday that it has received a $75 million investment from glucose device maker Dexcom. The investment marks Oura’s Series D funding round and brings the company’s valuation to more than $5 billion. The partnership paves the way for the two companies’ devices and apps to be used together, which

Oura valued at $5B following deal with medical device firm Dexcom Read More »

Healthcare VC firm Initiate has a new $45M and has already founded five startups internally

Jessica Owens and Iana Dimkova, co-founders of Initiate Ventures, are launching their new healthcare/ life sciences-focused firm with a respectable $45 million debut fund. One of the ways they convinced limited partners to become investors is because they are building a combination early-stage and incubation firm. So not only will they invest in early-stage startups

Healthcare VC firm Initiate has a new $45M and has already founded five startups internally Read More »

Google.org commits $20M to researchers using AI for scientific breakthroughs

Google is committing $20 million in cash and $2 million in cloud credits to a new funding initiative designed to help scientists and researchers unearth the next great scientific breakthroughs using artificial intelligence (AI). The announcement, made by Google DeepMind co-founder and CEO Demis Hassabis during a fireside chat at the closed-door AI for Science

Google.org commits $20M to researchers using AI for scientific breakthroughs Read More »

Amazon’s telehealth platform adds low-cost plans for hair loss, skin care, and more

Amazon One Medical is expanding its telehealth services with the launch of upfront and low-cost treatment plans and medication delivery for several beauty and lifestyle concerns. Customers can get treatment plans and medication for men’s hair loss for as low as $16 per month, anti-aging skin care for $10 per month, and erectile disfunction care

Amazon’s telehealth platform adds low-cost plans for hair loss, skin care, and more Read More »

Amazon scraps secret fertility-tracking project

Amazon has shut down a four-year-old secret program working on a fertility monitoring device and accompanying smartphone app, CNBC reported. The project, which was known by the codename “Encore,” evolved out of Amazon’s 2020 purchase of a startup called bluDiagnostics, which was developing a device that measured the levels of estradiol and progesterone — two

Amazon scraps secret fertility-tracking project Read More »