H|T: The Healthtech Times – Spotify founder takes on healthcare

Daniel EK and co-founder
Plus: Manitoba's sleep test backlog solution.

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Winnipeg-based Cerebra to assist with provincial sleep test backlog (BETAKIT)

The partnership comes as part of Manitoba’s Request for Supply Arrangement (RFSA) process, which was employed by the province in the summer of 2020 to begin addressing Covid-related backlogs.


Philips scraps 6,000 jobs in drive to improve profitability (CNBC)

Half of the job cuts will be made this year, the company said, adding that the other half will be realized by 2025.


CIBC Innovation Banking president Mark McQueen to depart for “next adventure” (BETAKIT)

When McQueen will be officially leaving CIBC, and who his successor might be, is unclear at this time. McQueen has been leading CIBC Innovation Banking since the bank acquired Wellington Financial in 2018.


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The FTC is taking on Telehealth’s data sharing problem—starting with GoodRx (THE MARKUP)

The action adds to mounting pressure on companies to stop sharing consumers’ health data for advertising purposes—the subject of a recent investigation by The Markup and STAT.


Invest Ottawa’s 10th birthday party comes with over $6.6 million in funding to support Area X.O (BETAKIT)

The federal funding comes alongside an additional $1.25 million of in-kind contributions in technology, expertise, and services from partners including Ansys, a US-based engineering simulation software company.


It’s official: Spotify founder Daniel Ek takes on healthcare (TECH.EU)

The company was unveiled yesterday in a typically Swedish way, that is, quietly. According to a LinkedIn post, for the past four years, the company has been involved in an intense research and product development phase, working on a “healthcare system that can help people stay healthy through preventive measures and early detection.”


How to grow investment in women-led startups (BETAKIT)

Women are less likely to get funded and are woefully underrepresented in both the startup founder and venture capital (VC) ranks. However, we’re approaching what might later be called a tipping point.


Major gaps in Canada's rules for high-security labs, federal experts warned (THE LOGIC)

The federal government is striving to rebuild Canada's life sciences sector as an economic force and a shield against future pandemics. But federal law assumes only the Government of Canada will run top-security research sites (they soon won't) and authorities expect inspections of lesser labs could need to increase by half.


Tech-related roles dominate Indeed’s best jobs list in Canada for 2023 (BETAKIT)

Tech-related roles dominated the ranking this year, making up 13 of the top 20, demonstrating that workers with specialized technical skills are still highly sought after in the job market despite the continuum of layoffs sweeping across the tech sector.

CVS Health goes live with virtual care service with a focus on primary care, mental health (FIERCE HEALTHCARE)

The retail drugstore giant announced its virtual care offering last May to give consumers access to primary care, on-demand care, chronic condition management and mental health services.


Smile Digital Health secures $30 million Series B funding to expand AI, machine learning capabilities (BETAKIT)

Smile said the round was led by existing investors, including the commercialization arm of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, UPMC Enterprises. Smile said that this new round of funding will be allocated to expanding its artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning capabilities.


Dialogue co-founder Cherif Habib on virtual care and why he doesn’t want to compete with Canada’s health care system (TORONTO STAR)

Demand for the virtual health and wellness platform through companies has accelerated during the pandemic. Company CEO Cherif Habib sees the service as a complement to the Canadian health care system.


Pender Ventures closes first half of $100 million target for second venture fund (BETAKIT)

“We wanted to build out that bench strength across the country, in Ontario [and] Québec in particular,” said Maria Pacella, Pender Venutres managing partner.


Nxtgen Expands in US, eyes US$2.5M in sales (ENTREVESTOR)

The Dartmouth-based senior care startup is now active in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and five American states.


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Michael Edgar

Michael Edgar

Michael is a multimedia journalist working out of the U.K. and a staff writer for BetaKit.

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