Issue #48: When Hardware Hits Reality

Proton: Making the Invisible Visible

While continuous glucose monitoring has transformed diabetes care, monitoring other critical biomarkers remains challenging. Proton Intelligence, which just raised $7M in seed funding, aims to do for potassium what Dexcom did for glucose—but the path ahead is complex.

Key Points:

• Raised $6.95M seed led by SOSV

• Developing under-skin potassium monitor

• Addresses 10% of global population with kidney disease

• Clinical trials underway for 2025 launch

• Combines hardware device with monitoring app

Proton's approach is particularly interesting because it targets a critical yet underserved medical need. Potassium imbalances can be life-threatening, but current monitoring solutions are either indirect (like AliveCor's cardiac activity approach) or invasive (like Renalyse's finger-prick tests). By developing a continuous monitoring solution, Proton could fundamentally change how chronic kidney disease is managed.

However, their challenge is two-fold. First, they must achieve the technical feat of accurate, continuous potassium monitoring—something that has eluded the medical device industry. Second, they need to navigate the complex regulatory landscape while maintaining a viable path to market. The fact that they've spent extensive time interviewing care teams (over 100 in-depth interviews) suggests they understand the need to balance technical innovation with practical implementation.

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Quick Bites

🛡️ Mindgard Secures $8M for AI Security:

🧠 Stem AI Emerges from Stealth:

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💼 Aiwyn Lands $113M for Accounting Tech:

Vocabulary

💡Each edition we’ll bring you a new “Startup word” to help bolster your vocabulary and understanding of the subject!

Biomarker: noun /ˈbīōˌmärkər/

Definition: A measurable substance in an organism whose presence indicates some phenomenon such as disease, infection, or environmental exposure.

Why It Matters: In the medical device startup world, identifying and accurately measuring biomarkers is crucial for developing effective monitoring solutions.

In Action: Proton's focus on potassium as a biomarker demonstrates how startups can create value by making critical health indicators more accessible and measurable.

Startup Shutdown Of The Day :(

Fisker: When Vision Collides With Execution

EV maker Fisker's bankruptcy marks one of this year's most dramatic startup failures, highlighting the perils of scaling hardware companies too quickly.

Key Points:

• Filed Chapter 11 after delivering only 10,000 vehicles

• Failed to address quality issues in Ocean SUV

• Lost track of millions in customer payments

• Multiple federal safety investigations

• Burned through $1B+ in funding

Fisker's collapse reveals fundamental flaws in their approach to building an auto company. While they had impressive design capabilities and strong initial demand, they failed at basic operational functions like quality control, payment tracking, and customer service. Their rush to scale production before establishing solid foundations proved fatal.

The most telling detail might be their temporary loss of track of customer payments—a basic business function that suggests deeper organizational issues. This wasn't just about building cars; it was about building a company, and Fisker seemed to prioritize growth over fundamental business processes.

EV maker Fisker's bankruptcy marks one of this year's most dramatic startup failures, highlighting the perils of scaling hardware companies too quickly.

Key Points:

• Filed Chapter 11 after delivering only 10,000 vehicles

• Failed to address quality issues in Ocean SUV

• Lost track of millions in customer payments

• Multiple federal safety investigations

• Burned through $1B+ in funding

Fisker's collapse reveals fundamental flaws in their approach to building an auto company. While they had impressive design capabilities and strong initial demand, they failed at basic operational functions like quality control, payment tracking, and customer service. Their rush to scale production before establishing solid foundations proved fatal.

The most telling detail might be their temporary loss of track of customer payments—a basic business function that suggests deeper organizational issues. This wasn't just about building cars; it was about building a company, and Fisker seemed to prioritize growth over fundamental business processes.

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