WED AM News: Mastercraft Ventures invests in MyoWorks; Baldwin seeking to lower Medicare eligibility to age 50

November 11, 2026

— Mastercraft Ventures has made an investment in MyoWorks, a tech startup that’s developing smart treatment devices for physical therapists and other specialists.

The Beloit-based venture capital firm yesterday announced the investment, the third it’s led so far this year. That’s according to Managing Director Mason Cook, who praised the Windsor company’s approach to deploying AI-enabled tools in an interview.

“What really intrigued us about this business, and where I think they’re going to go is … what happens when these physical tools that practitioners use become intelligent?” Cook said yesterday. “And what happens when they start to create an ecosystem that turns the tool into a sensor, and the sensor then transmits data to software that can capture and understand the art behind the medical space?”

MyoWorks founder Jeremy Quick created the business after spending more than a decade as a practicing chiropractor. He previously developed the company’s handheld soft tissue manipulation tool for use in his own practice, and was able to boost his revenue by 20% by combining multiple treatments into one appointment that are typically done separately.

The device can be used for deep tissue massages, but also comes equipped with components for red light therapy and electrotherapy. It connects to the company’s own software platform to capture valuable data and automates the documentation process.

While an initial form of the tool was made in a small machine shop in Lodi, a more refined version was later connected to the platform through a partnership with software engineer Joe Scanlin.

With the new funding from Mastercraft in hand, the startup is currently transitioning from the prototype phase into efforts to go to market, though Cook noted the team is “always iterating” and improving on the design. MyoWorks has begun approaching chiropractors to roll out the device at other sites, which will provide more data through the software integration for the platform.

That link to the broader software network can be used to compare patient data and identify trends, including for treatment outcomes.

“We really see this platform being an ecosystem, and they’re beginning to be in the hands of chiropractors and physical therapists across the area,” Cook said, adding “as more and more practitioners are using this and growing their data set … it just makes the overall ecosystem of patient outcomes and the MyoWorks dataset more valuable, and the patient outcomes even better.”

While Cook declined to provide a specific figure for the pre-seed investment, Mastercraft Ventures’ average check size is around $500,000.

The VC firm’s approach is to be the first investor in early-stage Wisconsin tech companies. Mastercraft Ventures late last year announced it had completed fundraising for its inaugural $11.5 million fund.

See more on the startup.

See an earlier story on the VC firm.

— U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin introduced legislation to lower Medicare eligibility to age 50, saying the move would expand options for 58 million Americans.

The Madison Dem yesterday touted the Medicare at 50 Act as a way to address rising healthcare costs, saying Wisconsin families “sent an unmistakable message” in the midterm elections about affordability issues.

“For too many folks in their 50s and early 60s, finding affordable health insurance means paying through the nose or going without the coverage they need altogether,” Baldwin said in a statement. “That’s just not right. We can and must be bold and meet the moment to lower the cost of health care.”

Under the bill, Americans ages 50 to 64 would have the option to buy into Medicare, according to details from her office. The release notes more than 60 million Americans fall into this age range, and 11.5% of those between the ages of 55 and 64 are uninsured.

Enrollees in this lower age range would be eligible for the same benefits and protections under Medicare Parts A, B, and D, as well as having the option to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, Baldwin’s office says. And eligible enrollees would also get premium tax credits and cost-sharing subsidies they could get through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace.

See the bill text.

See the release.

— Elephas Biosciences Corporation has deployed its tissue sample preparation technology for an oncology program at Mount Sinai, the Madison-based company announced.

The firm’s elive Edge automated cutting instrument will be used to prepare live bladder cancer tissue samples for immunotherapy research being done at the health system’s Tisch Cancer Center.

Dr. Jonathan Anker, a genitourinary oncologist at Mount Sinai, says working with live tumor tissue provides insights into bladder cancer immunotherapy responses.

“The ability to evaluate tissue from both core needle biopsies and cored resection samples will support our ongoing research as we work to better understand differences in treatment response,” he said in a statement provided by the company.

See the release.

For more of the most relevant health care news, reports on groundbreaking research in Wisconsin, links to top stories and more, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics and WisBusiness.com.

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— The FDA has greenlit a diagnostic product from Promega for use as a companion to Merck’s Keytruda cancer therapy.

The Madison-based life sciences firm yesterday announced the federal agency approved the Promega OncoMate MSI Dx Analysis System as a companion diagnostic for Keytruda, touting its ability to evaluate solid tumors in patients. The information it provides can inform cancer treatment decisions.

Alok Sharma, global clinical market director for Promega, says the FDA approval reflects the company’s focus on advancing the diagnostics field.

“Our test connects patients with the therapy most likely to help them, working alongside our pharmaceutical collaborators and the clinicians who use the result,” he said.

See the release.

See more at Madison Startups.

— Herzing University was selected for three federal grants with more than $7 million coming for nursing scholarships, academic services and more student resources.

The Milwaukee-based private university yesterday announced it has received a five-year, $3.25 million grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration supporting scholarships for disadvantaged students. It will provide scholarships up to $11,010 per year for 59 eligible students.

Another five-year, $2.77 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education will fund student services and programs at the university’s campus in Atlanta while establishing an endowment fund. And a four-year, $1.03 million grant will go toward suicide prevention and related efforts such as screening and interventions.

See the release.

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