VentureBeat

Odysii, developer of software that can distribute content to thousands of digital signs at the same time, will apply a new $15 million fund expansion to the U.S. The Israeli company, previously called TVeez, has mostly kept its sights on Europe and South America until now.

In fact, it has already kicked off its roll out to the U.S. with the establishment of a headquarters in New York and the hiring of Jeff Gattis, director of project management for Microsoft’s Surface product, to run operations.

Digital signs (TV screens that typically loop various messages), have become commonplace in chains: hotels, retail stores, banks, etc. Odysii’s goal is to equip these companies with technology to not only deliver content to screens across many branches in real-time, but also to instantaneously update and customize what’s shown to a particular customer or location. For example, a screen at a hotel registration desk could advertise a special rate to a visitor with frequent flyer miles. The four-year-old company counts McDonald’s, Blockbuster, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts and HSBC among its clients in 25 countries.

Last year, the digital signage business was predicted to reach close to $2 billion, and keep growing fast, reports TVB. Small companies like Gas Station TV, and even biggies like CBS and NBC are experimenting with delivering content to screens in supermarkets, convenience stores and the like. Other digital signage players, like Artisan Complete, are working on innovative ways to measure audience impressions. Still, Odysii offers a unique spin on the concept that should allow for further growth before a similar company can catch up.

Benchmark Capital and Giza Ventures provided the financing round, the company’s first, which closed in May.

TODAY’S HEADLINES:

• Paris-based Stentys takes $18M for “bifurcated” stents (release)
• Blood analyzer IntelliDx raises $22M (PDF release)
• Cancer-test biotech Calderome changes name to VeraCyte (VentureWire)
• Predictive Biosciences names Peter Klemm as CEO (release)

Paris-based Stentys takes $18M for “bifurcated” stents – Stentys, a Paris-based medical device maker, raised $18 million in a second funding round. The company is developing “bifurcated” stents intended to prop open clogged arteries at blood-vessel junctions.

The startup said the funding will allow it to complete clinical trials of its stents and to win European regulatory approval for them. Stentys doesn’t seem to have given any indication whether or when it might seek approval in the U.S. or other markets as well.

Scottish Equity Partners and Sofinnova Partners provided the funding.

Blood analyzer IntelliDx raises $22M –It’s starting to look like Diabetes Week here at VentureBeat LifeScience.

IntelliDx (no Web site), a Boston Santa Clara, Calif., startup with a new type of blood-sugar analyzer for hospitalized diabetics, raised $21.5 million in a fourth funding round (PDF link). Investors included HLM Venture Partners, 3i Ventures, Giza Ventures, Ascend Ventures, Aurum Ventures, Sequel Venture Partners and Hunt BioVentures.

IntelliDx makes a chemical sensor-based blood analyzer for use in hospital intensive-care units. Much like the Luminous Medical spectroscopic blood-glucose analyzer we covered yesterday, the IntelliDx device aims to monitor blood sugar hourly in diabetic patients. The idea, again, is to keep a closer eye on hyperglycemia in a critical-care setting, since runaway blood glucose often increases the chance of complications and lengthier hospital stays.

Cancer-test biotech Calderome changes name to VeraCyte – Calderome, a stealthy cancer-test startup in South San Francisco, has changed its name to VeraCyte (no Web site), VentureWire reports. The new name presumably reflects the company’s focus on cell-based cancer diagnostics, as we described last week.

The VentureWire story goes on to reprise VeraCyte’s $12 million fundraising, which we also covered last week. VeraCyte has two employees, and recently extended job offers to three other individuals, the news service reported.

CORRECTED: The IntelliDx item initially located the company in Boston, not Santa Clara. The company’s release was datelined Boston because it originated with HLM Ventures. Apologies for the error.