Via News Release
“Minneapolis (Dec. 1, 2011) – Fairview Health Services and Zipnosis are teaming up to provide quick, high-quality, low-cost care for certain conditions.
Starting in January 2012, Fairview will partner with Zipnosis.com to give online diagnosis and treatment for patients in Minnesota with select conditions that generally don’t require a trip to the doctor. This expands Fairview clinics’ menu of virtual care, including phone, email and video visits.”
St. Paul-based startup Zipnosis allows for the diagnosis and treatment of minor health problems using a computer or smartphone 24/7. After completing a one-minute ‘zip’, patients receive their online diagnosis and prescription for $25 (less than the average co-pay, minus the inconvenience).
“Zipnosis is a fundamental and sustainable shift in how we think about healthcare,” says co founder and CEO Jon Pearce.
Pearce co founded the startup in 2008 while in grad school at the University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management. Later that year, Zipnosis would proceed to enter and win the Student Division Minnesota Cup.
So far, Zipnosis has raised “a little over a million dollars,” and just this week announced the beginning of a national expansion strategy.
“I initially thought that the Minnesota Cup would be a distraction,” he reflects, “when actually, it was the best business decisions we’ve ever made.” Applicants have until 11:59pm on May 20th to submit their three-page business plan summary.
Via News Release
“(St.Paul) Minnesota-based Zipnosis today announced that it will launch services in Colorado and Washington on May 15. Zipnosis has revolutionized the traditional doctor’s waiting room experience by providing safe, online diagnosis and treatment of nine common health needs, including: colds, flu, sinus infections, cold/canker sores, seasonal allergies, acne, tobacco cessation and female bladder infections and yeast infections.
“We’re excited to offer Colorado and Washington state residents access to the most affordable and convenient health care in America,” said Zipnosis CEO/Co-Founder Jon Pearce. “Our online diagnosis reduces access and payment barriers, while ensuring a safe, appropriate diagnosis in minutes.”
Via News Release
“Zipnosis and Park Nicollet Health Services today announced a new initiative with the Resource Training and Solutions that will bring safe, simple and convenient online healthcare to people living in Central Minnesota.
…Resource Training and Solutions, one of Minnesota’s nine Service Cooperatives, will now be able to help connect employers with this safe, simple and convenient online healthcare solution, which will result in costs savings to the employee through out-of-pocket expenses and ultimately help reduce health care premiums.”
Despite a year’s worth of articles bemoaning the condition of U.S. venture capital investing (see here and here and here), venture capital firms invested $21.8 billion nationally in 2010 (3,277 total investments), according to the National Venture Capital Association & PwC’s annual MoneyTree report.
This represents a 19% increase in dollars invested over 2009.
Minnesota’s 2010 story ends quite differently. Cross-sector startups raised a collective $140 million, marking a 48% drop from 2009, and the lowest Minnesota amount since the MoneyTree reporting began 15 years ago.
For 2010, TECHdotMN documents 42 unique high tech deals (IT, SaaS, web/mobile, digital media, hardware, telecom), totaling in excess of $60m invested in Minnesota-based technology companies throughout last year. Excluding Cymbet’s $31m round, 36 different ventures raised approximately $30m combined in 2010, or $857k per average round, according to the data.*
Having previously featured 9/10 of last night’s Minnedemo presenters, today is less on what our audience already knows about these unique Minnesota startups (videos below) and more on cultural impact of last nights big event on Minnesota’s tech community.
Relatively few were paying attention in the beginning when a small group of enthusiasts would gather somewhere like the (then Franklin Ave) Acadia Cafe or Chiang Mai Thai Restaurant to share their budding projects with peers; based on a historical context of the past three alone, one thing is clear: Minnedemo is now on a whole new level.
The 9th production of MinnDemo will take place on Thursday, January 13, 6:00pm at St. Thomas’ Schulze Hall.
MinneDemo happens roughly 2-3 times per year to showcase real, working technology products made in Minnesota. In January, ten companies will give 7-minute demos of functional hardware and/or software. In addition to the Minnesota tech buzz, the event is known for facilitating some of the best startup networking in town.
Organizers Ben Edwards and Luke Francl have moved the event to St. Thomas from its previous location at Intermedia Arts in Uptown. “We’ve had such a huge level of interest in this event that we’ve needed to move it around as space has become an issue. We’re always looking for better venues,” said Ben. In the past the event has been held at Chang Mai Tai, Acadia Cafe (before it moved), O’Gara’s, and Intermedia Arts.
Updated 1/5/10 12:45 – The 10 demonstrations include:
Minneapolis-based 
Zipnosis, an “on the go” provider of remote diagnosis and treatment solutions for individuals suffering from basic health ailments, recently filed notice that the company aims to raise up to $2m in investment capital.
While the SEC Form D (Notice of Exempt Offering of Securities) filed on June 25th indicates that only $62.5k has been raised to date in this offering, securities attorney Michael Schley of Larkin Hoffman explains that “It’s not uncommon for startup companies to file their Reg D exemption notices early in their funding cycle, sometimes even before the first sale. Although an issuer must file amendments upon certain material changes, sales up to the stated amount do not require such a filing and the Form D will suffice for a period of up to one year while the issuer completes its offering.”
By Chris Newmarker, Minneapolis-St.Paul Business Journal
“Park Nicollet Health Services may be located in the Twin Cities’ west metro. But its health professionals will soon be diagnosing conditions for patients across the state, thanks to a local startup’s Web-based software.
Starting May 1, the St. Louis Park-based hospital and clinics chain is engaging in a one-year pilot program involving technology created by Zipnosis, a Minneapolis-based company headed by one of the co-founders of what is now CVS Caremark Corp.’s MinuteClinic.”
Zipnosis, Inc has raised $2oo,000 according to a recent SEC filing. Winner of the 2008 MN CUP Student Division, Zipnosis enables its customers to receive diagnosis and treatment for minor health problems using a computer or smartphone.
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