BioForward is reaching out to members to highlight their organizations through a new member profile feature to tell more of their stories. Yahara Software agreed to be interviewed as a part of our efforts to heighten the awareness of our region.
About your organization:
Yahara Software is a custom software development firm and Microsoft Gold Development Partner. We support companies and their product teams with the design, development, and launch of their bespoke solutions. Yahara has significant experience in assisting organizations with business process analysis, IT landscape consulting, and creating enterprise software solutions. Our experience is based on years of successful engagements in biotech, health tech, instrumentation, education, manufacturing, and service-based companies.
What do you find valuable about being a member of BioForward Wisconsin?
What we find most valuable about being a member of BioForward is being a part of the community. We appreciate the opportunity to connect with members whether it’s at the Annual Meeting, Summit, or holiday party. For Yahara, it’s all about networking with those in the Wisconsin region. We also have participated in member interviews designed to help others understand what BioForward provides. Finally, Garrett Peterson, our Chief Strategy Officer, is also on the Board and is very actively involved in BioForward’s initiatives.
What are the key areas of or achievements by your organization that are impacting the state of Wisconsin and the overall biohealth industry?
We are proud to support organizations in the biohealth industry to help achieve their goals. For us, it’s not so much about the work that we do, but rather about our clients’ achievements. For example:
- We created an instrument controller for a company that allowed them to be purchased by another organization. Having the controller as a product was a goal of the buyer. We are now working with the new company to help them meet their goals as well.
- We worked with a company to create a software to help calibrate their instruments which they offered as a free add-on to a product kit.
- We built a custom system for a clinical trials company that significantly streamlined the way their organization operates and coordinates work with clients from the bid process to the partnership.
What about the future of research, medical, technological innovation excites you the most?
The ability to connect data in ways we could not previously do is exciting. If you think about where the financial industry is, they are 5-10 years ahead of life sciences and tech, but we now can use data to make an impact. Previously, it was all about big data and collecting the data, but now it’s “what do you do with the data?” There is a lot of industry knowledge about sharing data. Now people are starting to ask interesting questions about how to use it to make an impact. For example, if a reagent was used in an experiment and worked well, how do you tell others and use knowledge sharing in a streamlined fashion?
Why Wisconsin? What does Wisconsin (and/or Madison/Milwaukee) offer for your company and/or your/its families?
The Midwest is in an interesting space and place. You can get high-quality talent in the state, but there also are many opportunities for individuals to work for the wonderful companies in Wisconsin without moving.
The people in Wisconsin are nice and collaborate well. It’s never a competition between organizations, it’s always about moving the industry forward together. In Wisconsin, there is a “focus on the problem-and-solution mentality.”
There are many other perks too. Cost of living is great, you get four seasons, there is the most awesome natural beauty, and you are near some great cities too like Madison, Milwaukee, and Chicago. It’s a mix of lifestyle, attitude, location.
What would you recommend about or say to others about Wisconsin’s biohealth industry and research institutions?
Collaboration is certainly an important component, but the diversity in the types of companies also is a great asset. Wisconsin has health tech companies, organizations who build instruments, and then major corporations such as GE. There is a great cross-section of organizations with different focuses collaborating to impact the industry. In addition, UW-Madison generates many thriving start-up organizations.
What is one thing others may not know about your organization?
We are looking forward to celebrating our 20-year anniversary this summer (more to come on that)! Also, we are very proud to say we were one partner in the monumental effort to support the CHAMPS Program Office at Emory University’s Global Health Institute. In partnership with the U.S Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, The Task Force For Global Health, the International Association of National Public Health Institutes, including the task force for global health, and J Michael Consulting, we built out an application to collect, analyze, and share evidence gathered in childhood mortality cases with the goal to inform policy decisions that would aid in preventing child mortality in regions where it is highest.
Advance Your Career. Change Lives. Wisconsin’s biohealth industry is booming, making it a great place to live, work, and play! Learn more about job opportunities and find your future at Yahara Software and other biohealth companies on the Wisconsin Biohealth Career Opportunities site.
