Healthtech and edtech are two of the fastest growing sectors, with the healthtech market size to reach $3.1 billion by 2033, while the global education technology market size is projected to reach $348.41 billion by 2030.
Each week will do a roundup of the top news, fundings, and IPOs from these two sectors.
Top News
- Universal Health Services entered into a definitive agreement to acquire virtual behavioral healthcare company Talkspace for $5.25 per share, or approximately $835 million
- Coursera partnered with Mission Karmayogi, an initiative aimed at building a competent civil service deeply rooted in Indian ethos, to upskill civil servants and government officials. As part of the collaboration, Coursera will utilize the Integrated Government Online Training platform to deliver a curated collection of courses, focused on advanced competencies for civil servants and government officials
AI News
- Amazon launched Amazon Connect Health, an agentic AI solution that handles high-volume administrative tasks such as appointment scheduling, clinical documentation, and medical coding
- Autonomize AI, which uses AI Agents to simplify some of healthcare’s most complex processes, transforming them into AI-native operations, partnered with ServiceNow, focused on co-building and bringing to market AI-driven solutions for payers
- Haoxi Health, an online marketing solution provider specializing in serving healthcare industry advertiser clients, partnered with Eaglepoint AI, which powers AI systems with data and evaluation across engineering, healthcare, and global linguistics
- Cortechs.ai, developer of imaging solutions that are used by radiologists, neurologists, and oncologists, partnered with Siemens Healthineers to integrate and distribute Cortechs.ai’s FDA-cleared NeuroQuant Lesion Surveillance through the Siemens Healthineers Digital Marketplace
- The University of Minnesota launched its AI Hub, a University-wide initiative to advance artificial intelligence innovation, education and workforce development across Minnesota
- Kira, an AI company that creates tools and solutions to support educators, students, and administrators, partnered with Lovable, an AI application-building platform, to launch a new course on AI-powered software development
- BostonGene, developer of an AI foundation model for tumor and immune biology, partnered with Unilever to use BostonGene’s proprietary analytical capabilities to support Unilever’s broader scientific exploration and long-term innovation ambitions
- Oura acquired Doublepoint, a startup that specializes in AI‑driven, biometric, gesture recognition technology that enables people to control devices with simple, natural movements
- Sectra, a medical imaging IT and cybersecurity company, acquired Oxipit, a company specializing in AI-based solutions for radiology
- Modern Classrooms Project, a nonprofit organization that empowers educators to design classrooms that meet the needs of every student, partnered with Snorkl, a classroom AI tool that provides immediate, personalized feedback on students’ explanation
- Black Girls Code, a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring, educating, and equipping young girls and women with the skills to lead and thrive in technology, launched the Beyond Code Collective, an independent nonprofit organization, to expand AI literacy
- The CREATE Lab at Carnegie Mellon University, the STEM Coding Lab, and Valley School of Ligonier partnered to launch the AI Fluency Pilot Project to help students better understand artificial intelligence through the implementation of 20 in-class AI modules for students in grades one through five in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties
Really big financings:
Healthtech:
- Alan, a provider of online digital health insurance services, raised a €100 million funding round led by Index Ventures, with participation from Belfius, Greenoaks, Kaaf Investments and SH Capital, alongside several individual investors including Tobi Lütke and Mike Katchen
Big financings:
Healthtech:
- Vitestro, a medical robotics company advancing automated diagnostic blood collection, raised a $70 million Series B round from new investors Labcorp Venture Fund, Mayo Clinic, and Sutter Health, InterVest, MGFO, PGGM, Puma Venture Capital, and ROM Utrecht, and continued support from existing investors Invest-NL, EIC Fund, Fred Moll, NYBC Ventures, and Sonder Capital
- Vima Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on oral therapies for movement disorders, raised $40 million from Frazier Life Sciences and existing investors Atlas Venture, Access Industries, and Canaan Partners
- Atavistik Bio, a biotechnology company discovering the next generation of selective allosteric therapeutics, raised $40 million from new investor RA Capital Management
- Translucent, an AI platform for healthcare finance, raised a $27 million Series A funding round led by GV, with continued participation from NEA, Virtue, and FPV Ventures
- Moxie, a developer of a clinical-grade operating system for aesthetic medicine, raised $25 million in a Series C funding round led by Viewpoint Ventures, with participation from SignalFire, Lachy Groom, and Haystack
- ANEUVO, a medical technology company advancing non-invasive neuromodulation for people living with spinal cord injury, raised a $22 million Series C funding round led by Catcher Technology Co. with participation from additional new investors
- Minnesota Medical Technologies Corporation, a developer of continence care solutions, raised $20.6 million in a round co-led by HM Venture Partners and Southeast Minnesota Capital Partners
- Emboline, a MedTech company focused on reducing strokes and other complications during interventional heart procedures, raised $20 million from Trinity Capital
- TruDoc Healthcare, a virtual-first, full-stack healthcare platform, raised a $15 million Pre-Series B funding round from the Al Nahyan family and the Al-Ketbi family, alongside continued support from existing investor Pulsar Capital
- MAX BioPharma, a biotechnology firm developing novel small molecule lipids, referred to as oxysterols, raised a $13 million Series A round from Technomark Life Sciences
- Arya, an AI-enabled couples wellness platform, raised $21 million from Ibex Investors and Bitkraft
- May Health, a medical device company dedicated to helping women living with polycystic ovary syndrome, raised $11.7 million with participation from current investors, including Sofinnova Partners, Trill Impact, and Bpifrance, as well as new investor Nexpring Health
- Amigo AI, the platform for building and training patient-facing clinical agents, raised an $11 million Series A led by Madrona with participation from Optum Ventures
Edtech:
- Nectir, an AI infrastructure purpose-built for education that has proven to save educators time, provide 24/7 personalized learning support, and increase educational outcomes, raised $12.5 million led by Rethink Impact, with participation from Gingerbread Capital and Strada, along with existing investors
Not so big financings:
Healthtech:
- Cent, which aims to identify risks associated with cancer, cardiac, neurological and metabolic conditions at an early stage, raised $5 million in seed funding from OneFlow Holdings and South Park Commons
Edtech:
- Cognota, a learning operations software provider, raised $5.75 million in a Series B funding round led by Blossom Street Ventures, with participation from Comerica Bank and existing investors.
- NPrep, an AI-powered skilling and placement platform specifically designed for nursing students and professionals, raised $1.5 million in a round led by Lumikai. The round also saw participation from existing investor All In Capital, along with Velo Partners, DSP Group Family Office, and angel investors including Viren Shetty
Fund News
- Breakout Ventures closed its $114 million Fund III to back companies using AI in biology and chemistry
Policy and government
- A federal appeals court officially finalized the termination of the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan, the Biden program that significantly lowered repayment rates for millions of student loan borrowers. Originally introduced in 2023 under former President Joe Biden, the SAVE plan was the first and only plan in history that prevented the balance from ever growing by subsidizing 100% of all unpaid monthly interest
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a division within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announced $69.1 million in funding opportunities for three grant programs: the Children’s Mental Health Initiative, Implementing Zero Suicide in Health Systems (Zero Suicide) and Assisted Outpatient Treatment
Random news
- Shoppers are convinced that a $49 Grounding Mat from Amazon is improving the quality of their sleep, as well as relaxing their muscles and improving circulation. The mat is made of highly conductive polyurethane carbon leatherette and, according to the brand, “connects to the Earth” through a grounding cord and wall outlet while you sleep. It also allegedly provides electromagnetic field shielding, which could help reduce exposure to radiation from tech devices, while its “grounding” technology is meant to connect the body back to Earth’s natural charge. Some of the alleged benefits include better sleep, decreased stress and a rested nervous system. While many of the reviewers shared the same sentiment regarding better sleep, one reviewer did mention an odd side effect. “Very strange dreams,” the user reported. “I [hardly ever] dream, but dreaming more with this oddly.”
