As Bostonians shake off the chill of a long winter, there is a noticeable shift in the historic bones of the city. Beantown’s previously bundled citizens are drawn to the warming sea breeze of Boston Harbor, to the burgeoning greenery in Franklin park and to the hopeful notes of tulip and pansy that float in the Boston Commons.
Amid plans to attend Boston Calling or take in Boston’s robust museum scene, inhabitants of The Cradle of Liberty are likely to hear buzz about Boston’s future in crypto or Mayor Michelle Wu’s recent commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the Black Men & Boys Commission.
Another talking point? Boston tech companies are blooming with the spring market.
Boston continues to solidify its legacy in the healthtech market, with companies like PathAI, Panalgo and Wellframe securing formidable amounts of funding and ramping up for summer growth. True to Boston’s revolutionary spirit, the three healthtech titans continue to disrupt the industry with their novel approach to diagnostics, patient data and research.
But the healthtech scene isn’t the only blossoming industry in Boston — on the heels of the pandemic, the travel industry is poised to see impressive growth in the heat of Summer 2022. Travel adjacent tech like digital marketing company SmarterTravel are laying the groundwork for major company growth.
For Bostonian tech professionals looking for change in the restless days of spring, there are plenty of opportunities for growth. Learn more about the buzz around PathAI, Panalgo, Wellframe and SmarterTravel.
What they do: PathAI is a healthtech company that leverages AI and machine learning to improve the efficiency of disease diagnosis. By arming patients with more accurate information, PathAI helps them connect with the right support more quickly. PathAI’s cutting-edge platform is reimagining the way healthcare professionals diagnose and treat diseases like cancer.
Industry impact: Since kicking off in 2016, PathAI’s technology has been utilized by major players in the pharmaceutical, diagnostic and research industries — including Bristol Myers-Squibb and the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. When Built in previously sat down with PathAI, Senior Manager of Corporate Marketing Rebecca Stella said: “The biotech industry is always on the edge of something new — which is exactly what we’re doing at PathAI. Artificial intelligence is allowing us to do what was impossible a decade ago. PathAI’s machine learning algorithms aid in the development of new drugs and serve as a diagnostic tool to more accurately diagnose patients and get them on the treatments they need sooner.”
A bright future: With its eyes on a more hopeful future for cancer patients, it comes as no surprise that PathAI has been able to secure over $165 million of Series C funding. The Series C round was co-led by Kaiser Permanente and D1 Capital Partners. PathAI is currently ramping up its suite of products and building partnerships within the healthcare industry.
What we do: Panalgo designed a healthcare analytics platform, IHD, to equip pharmaceutical and life science companies with the data they need. IHD empowers health teams to share trustworthy, secure data — minus the clutter — and create more industry impact.
Benefits with heart: Panalgo hosts quarterly company outings that foster both self-care and community support. Cradles to Crayons volunteer opportunities and events at Hopsters and Kings Bowling are just a few of the events that liven up Panalgo’s social calendar. The healthtech company also has a robust club scene — including a journal club, book club, and wine and food club.
Noble roots: On Panalgo’s beginnings as BHE, CEO Jordan Meznin told Built In: “At its core, Panalgo is a healthcare analytics company, and this is a space that has been underserved by technology for many years, putting too much burden on too few experts. Our founder, Joe Menzin, is a health economist and founded BHE in 1996 as a research consultancy for life science companies. We started building custom software for several clients, which served as the motivation to build our current platform, IHD.”
What we do: SmarterTravel is a digital marketing company that provides personalized travel recommendations to avid jetsetters. The company utilizes algorithms that aim to transcend Google search. As a result, SmarterTravel meets the needs of both business and recreational travelers.
Finding peace of mind: When Built In Boston connected with SmarterTravel about it’s work-life balance, Senior Director of Product Engineering Shawn Sears raved about his experience with the company culture: “Understanding that a real work-life balance is beneficial to retention and to a happy work culture is one of the reasons I have been with this company for close to nine years.”
Gearing up for the future: Previously known as HopJump, SmarterTravel secured $9.5 million in Series B funding in September. As the world returns to travel post-pandemic, SmarterTravel is investing in continued growth and product development.
What we do: Wellframe is a healthtech company set on revolutionizing healthcare relationships. Leveraging mobile technology to deliver high-touch support, Wellframe supports healthcare providers and patients in the areas of care management, advocacy and navigation.
Inclusive hiring practices: Wellframe has committed to inclusive hiring practices by implementing biannual unconscious bias training, supporting diverse employee resource groups and participating in famously diverse career fairs within the Bostonian community,
Continuing bloom: On Wellframe’s thrilling acquisition by HealthEdge, EVP and General Manager Jake Sattelmair said in a press release, “Wellframe was founded to advance the use of emerging technologies to better organize healthcare resources around the needs of people outside of the four walls of care delivery. In combining with HealthEdge, we are well positioned as a long-term strategic partner to accelerate health plan digital transformation.”
