This Month's Latest Tech News in Orem, UT - Wednesday April 30th 2025 Edition

This month, Orem and Utah County stood out as powerhouses of AI-driven innovation and healthcare advances. The Utah Healthcare Innovation Network launched its first accelerator cohort, featuring seven startups revolutionizing diagnostics, surgical tools, and patient care, exemplifying the region's ascent as a healthcare tech leader (Utah Healthcare Innovation Network Launch).

Meanwhile, the Huntsman Cancer Institute began construction on a $400 million comprehensive cancer center in Vineyard, enabling AI-powered research and expanding lifesaving services locally.

As CEO Mary Beckerle put it,

“Today, we are proud to be embarking on the next phase of that journey… working to eradicate cancer from the face of the earth.”

The local startup ecosystem flourished, with Orem's Mindsmith raising $550K pre-seed to transform AI-powered e-learning authoring and already achieving efficiency gains up to 12X for clients (Mindsmith $550K Pre-seed Funding).

These developments confirm the region's growing momentum at the intersection of artificial intelligence, healthcare, and educational technology.

Orem-based Turner Imaging Systems (TIS), renowned for innovation in portable X-ray technology, has joined the NVIDIA Connect program, marking a pivotal advancement in point-of-care medical imaging.

This partnership enables TIS to incorporate advanced AI and 3D reconstruction algorithms into its next-generation portable X-ray systems, targeting real-time diagnostics with improved precision and workflow efficiency.

As noted by TIS VP of Product Mike Orthner, Ph.D.,

"Joining NVIDIA Connect is not just a step, but a giant leap forward for TIS's new product development. By partnering with NVIDIA, we ensure our technology stack leverages state-of-the-art edge AI hardware and software, positioning us at the forefront of medical imaging innovation."

The collaboration offers TIS access to NVIDIA's AI expertise, technical resources, and a robust software vendor network for accelerated innovation.

Clinicians benefit from instant, on-board image processing, while healthcare providers and investors can expect improved diagnostic confidence, greater efficiency, and better patient outcomes.

For context, this strategic move follows industry trends in autonomous imaging, with major players like GE HealthCare and NVIDIA working to advance the development of autonomous diagnostic imaging using simulation and edge AI. TIS's adoption of NVIDIA's platform underscores a broader push to democratize healthcare access, especially as AI and robotics in medical imaging become increasingly vital in addressing global diagnostic gaps.

Further coverage of Turner Imaging Systems' AI and 3D imaging integration can be found on AZoRobotics, spotlighting this breakthrough's impact on the future of mobile diagnostics.

Angel Studios' digitally animated epic, The King of Kings, has cemented its status as a box office powerhouse and a milestone for faith-based filmmaking, earning an impressive $19.3 million in its opening weekend and maintaining a remarkably low 10% drop into its second weekend, with a domestic cumulative of $45.3 million and a global gross of $61.8 million as of late April.

The film, inspired by Charles Dickens and brought to life with an all-star cast including Oscar Isaac and Kenneth Branagh, outpaced iconic predecessors such as The Prince of Egypt ($14.5M opening) thanks in part to Angel Studios' tech-enabled, community-driven production model and its “Kids Go Free” initiative.

Backed by over $7.8 million in pre-sales, The King of Kings secured a rare A+ CinemaScore - making it only the fifth non-Disney/Pixar animated film to achieve this - and captured a 97% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes' PopcornMeter.

As Brandon Purdie, Angel's Global Head of Theatrical Distribution, stated,

“The King of Kings is one of only 128 films to ever receive an A+ CinemaScore, and only the fifth non-Disney/Pixar animated film to do so. Families are clearly eager for high-quality, faith-affirming content.”

This phenomenon highlights the shifting dynamics in film distribution, with AI-enabled production and direct audience participation lowering barriers for independent studios and fostering new storytelling approaches.

For detailed box office performance metrics and industry context, see the comprehensive breakdown at The Numbers' financial report on The King of Kings, the Deadline presale analysis, and Forbes' second-weekend box office report.

Canopy, a Utah-based SaaS leader in practice management for accountants, has announced a major milestone by raising $70 million in Series C funding led by Viking Global Investors, alongside Ten Coves Capital, Ankona Capital, Pelion Venture Partners, and Tenaya Capital.

This latest round aims to boost the development of Canopy's AI-driven platform, which is trusted by over 4,000 accounting firms and is engineered to automate manual tasks such as document handling, PDF renaming, and invoicing - allowing accountants to focus on higher-value work.

According to CEO Davis Bell,

“At Canopy, our mission is to help accountants focus on what drew them to the profession in the first place: being accountants. We were already making these tasks easier, but with AI we're now automating them away entirely. As the operating system for accounting firms, Canopy is the natural starting point for the AI transformation of the industry.”

Canopy's platform offers end-to-end management, from proposals and client engagement to time tracking and billing, all with SOC2-certified security and data encryption.

The company's strategic use of funds will also explore growth opportunities through acquisitions, aiming to expand its market presence in the rapidly evolving landscape of AI-powered firm operations.

For a breakdown of Canopy's funding round, see the table below, and learn more about their mission from the official announcement on Business Wire, explore the company's impact on workflow efficiency in this TechBuzz News feature, or view detailed funding and investor information at The SaaS News.

SponsorCX, a leader in sponsorship management software based in Lehi, Utah, has secured a $4.6 million Series A investment, signaling strong momentum for Utah's fast-growing B2B SaaS ecosystem.

The funding, backed by Blueprint Equity and Kickstart Fund, will fuel SponsorCX's expansion efforts as it continues to streamline sponsor relationships and maximize revenue for properties across sports, arts, and entertainment sectors with a unified platform.

The platform's robust suite of features - ranging from real-time data dashboards and reporting to inventory management and automated agreements - replaces cumbersome spreadsheet workflows with clarity and actionable insights.

One customer explains,

“SponsorCX has been amazing at providing us the ability to improve our communication line with partners, while saving our partnership's team countless hours of organizational headache. With the software's automation and approval system, our team has more time to meet with clients and explore new business, rather than managing inventory and contact information.”

Blueprint Equity's investment in SponsorCX is part of a broader trend, with 27 U.S.-focused portfolio companies and a recent surge of SaaS funding rounds in the region; see the overview below for investor trends:

To explore how SponsorCX is modernizing sponsorship management for organizations of all sizes, visit the official SponsorCX website or learn more about technology investment in Utah at Silicon Slopes.

PhotoPharmics has secured an oversubscribed $6 million Series B extension to propel its pioneering, AI-driven light therapy device, Celeste®, toward FDA submission, marking a significant milestone for the Utah medtech sector.

Designed for home use, Celeste® delivers precision-targeted wavelengths through the eyes to stimulate neural pathways, aiming to address both motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease - including mood, sleep, and cognition - with fewer systemic side effects than traditional medications.

With over 200 participants already enrolled, the ongoing pivotal Phase 3 Light for PD trial is one of the nation's largest remote studies for Parkinson's therapies, providing inclusive and accessible participation options.

CEO Kent Savage explained,

"We're grateful for the enthusiasm and support of our investors as we move toward the finish line of our clinical program. This funding gives us the runway we need to complete our FDA research, build strategic partnerships, and ensure the best possible outcomes for patients."

The company's founders bring decades of light therapy expertise, having previously developed circadian solutions acquired by Philips-Respironics, and are expanding their focus to other neurodegenerative diseases.

The table below summarizes key progress:

PhotoPharmics' patient-centric, noninvasive approach has positioned it as a leader in neurodegenerative care innovation, with further details available in the official PhotoPharmics press release on the $6 million Series B extension, a comprehensive clinical overview from TechBuzz News' report on PhotoPharmics' clinical advancement, and the clinical progress as covered by HIT Consultant's analysis of the Parkinson's light therapy trial funding.

This month in Orem's tech sector, AI-driven innovation in mental healthcare is at the forefront, thanks to Canary Speech's groundbreaking collaboration with Microsoft.

By integrating Canary Speech's vocal biomarker technology into the Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare and the Azure Marketplace, the partnership is expanding early detection tools for conditions like anxiety, depression, and dementia across global markets.

Henry O'Connell, CEO of Canary Speech, notes that,

“AI-enabled vocal biomarkers, powered by Microsoft's ambient listening technology, are revolutionizing healthcare by providing objective, real-time insights that enhance clinical decision-making. At Canary Speech, we believe that voice is the next vital sign - empowering clinicians with cutting-edge tools to drive digital transformation and improve patient outcomes.”

Using AI to analyze over 15 million data points per minute of speech, Canary Speech's platform delivers unprecedented accuracy and scalability, while maintaining a focus on privacy and security compliance.

The company's recent visibility at the HIMSS25 conference and a $26 million funding round underscore how AI is reshaping mental health diagnostics while prompting new conversations around ethics, data governance, and the human role in care.

For a deeper dive into how Canary's partnership sets new standards for digital health, visit the Canary Speech–Microsoft collaboration announcement.

Explore Henry O'Connell's insights on industry disruption in his Authority Magazine interview, and discover the ongoing impact at HIMSS25 coverage of Canary Speech's breakthroughs.

Agilix Labs, based in Orem, has partnered with NorthStar Academy to launch BusyBee, an AI teaching assistant powered by Amazon Bedrock, across NorthStar's global K-12 online platform.

This collaboration aims to transform learning by delivering instant, personalized feedback to students and drastically reducing administrative burdens for teachers.

As described by Stephanie Shafer, Executive Director at NorthStar Academy,

“BusyBee isn't just another educational tool; it represents a shift in the dynamics of classroom interactions. By providing instant and personalized feedback, we enable our educators to focus more on engaging students meaningfully.”

Early results highlight increased one-on-one interaction, enhanced assessment efficiency, and strong adoption rates throughout grade levels.

The partnership includes comprehensive faculty training, ongoing AI optimization, and performance analytics, all accessible via NorthStar's Buzz platform. NorthStar stands out as an established online education provider for grades 4-12, competing on the global stage with a tailored, college-preparatory curriculum.

The following table summarizes NorthStar Academy's position among its peers:

Discover more about this technology-forward partnership in the official Agilix Labs press release on AI-enhanced learning implementation, a detailed feature from Dataconomy about BusyBee's classroom impact, and an in-depth overview at Investors Hangout detailing Agilix Labs' partnership with NorthStar Academy.

Frantelligence has emerged as a regional AI leader in franchise management, offering a novel AI-driven approach that streamlines everything from sales and operational coaching to site performance analytics for multi-location businesses.

Through integration with platforms like FranConnect, the new Frannie AI suite enables on-the-go access to advanced data insights, sales playbooks, unit-level issue resolution, and automated checklists, all made possible by dedicated AI agents tailored for specific franchise roles.

As the landscape evolves, industry experts note,

“we're only beginning to explore the businesses that can be built on top of these models.”

Key features like map-driven dashboards, real-time inline editing, and franchise sales optimization tools position Frantelligence as a crucial tool for optimizing operations across restaurant, hospitality, and retail franchises.

The platform's analytics dashboards allow owners to benchmark site performance, track development milestones, and analyze sales lead trends with unprecedented depth and speed.

See a breakdown of recent AI platform features in the table below:

For a deeper dive into Frannie AI capabilities, visit the FranConnect announcement.

Industry perspectives shaping this AI wave in Utah are explored in Utah Business' 2025 startup funding analysis, while community innovation is on display at events like Utah Tech Week, which champions emerging tech leaders statewide.

Recent reports from Utah highlight growing concerns among local experts about the pitfalls of over-automating immigration decisions with artificial intelligence.

As international students and naturalized citizens in Utah have received unexpected visa revocations and self-deportation emails, professionals caution that technological tools like AI can introduce error and unintended consequences if not properly supervised.

Utah State University's Sharad Jones underscores the importance of retaining human oversight, stating,

“We need to identify places where AI - kind of automation technologies - allow us to speed up the necessary pieces of our workflow, but don't replace the decision-maker… the person that is held accountable for that final piece of it. That's not an easy thing.”

Data bias and the inherent imperfection of machine learning models mean, Jones adds, “There's not been a single machine learning model that has been developed that is perfect and has never made an error.” Local attorney Adam Crayk echoes these warnings, emphasizing the need for intervention when technology goes awry.

For detailed coverage of Utah's immigration tech challenges, see this investigative report on AI-driven errors in visa processing.

For additional expert analysis and reaction, reference the article on AI's role in mistaken self-deport emails and visa revocations.

For those interested in the broader legal and ethical context of algorithmic bias in government decisions, the California Law Review's comprehensive discussion on race-aware algorithms and fairness offers essential background and guidance.

iHub Orem marks its first anniversary as a critical driver of innovation in Utah Valley, serving as both a resource center for entrepreneurs and a catalyst for tech community growth.

The past year has seen iHub's influence at events like the Silicon Slopes Summit 2025 - hosted by Utah Valley University in Orem - which spotlighted health tech breakthroughs and the rising momentum of emerging startups in the region.

Local entrepreneurs such as Malorie Black, founder & CEO of goGood, and Stephen Olson of Benchmark Body Metrics have leveraged networking opportunities at iHub to accelerate their ventures, with both recently securing support through the Governor's ‘Get Started' micro-funding program.

As Malorie Black noted,

“I think the world needs more entrepreneurs, so I would say to go for it. There's a lot of support out there just waiting to help you on your journey.”

Initiatives like these are part of a broader push to address early-stage barriers and stimulate sustainable tech development in Utah County.

To explore event highlights, visit the Silicon Slopes Summit 2025 recap, while a full breakdown of iHub-backed startups and state entrepreneurship incentives can be found via the Governor's ‘Get Started' program spotlight.

For a comprehensive map of local resources empowering Utah's next wave of innovators, see the official Startup State Initiative resource guide.

Orem's technology momentum continues in 2025, with local innovation matched by legislative vigilance and broader market trends. Utah set a national example with H.B. 452, a newly signed law that introduces privacy, transparency, and data protection standards for AI-driven mental health chatbots, aiming to promote responsible innovation while protecting consumers - outcomes from early clinical trials suggest a 51% reduction in depression symptoms, 31% in anxiety, and 19% in body-image distress, all comparable to in-person therapy according to this in-depth policy analysis.

Meanwhile, federal priorities continue to shift, with over $5 billion dedicated to AI and cyber initiatives and agencies like DARPA and NSF seeking scalable, secure, and compliant solutions - a signal that Orem startups and researchers should closely align with national requirements for funding and scale, as emphasized in this strategic federal funding breakdown.

To put Orem's efforts into global context, the AI industry now supports nearly 58,000 companies - with 25% based in the U.S. - and is projected to grow from $208 billion in 2025 to $1.35 trillion by 2030; key adoption challenges remain, especially in cybersecurity (59% of respondents) and regulation (45%), but the potential impact on education, construction, and healthcare is staggering as detailed in global market analysis.

The responsible, measured approach adopted by Orem and Utah helps foster a balanced environment that supports momentum, welcomes candid debate about risk and ethics, and keeps the region competitive for transformative federal and private investment.