We at Xconomy are excited to announce that we are honoring Mark Levin, co-founder and partner at Third Rock Ventures, with our 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award in Boston. The award recognizes Levin’s extensive contributions to the biotech industry and to the Boston life sciences ecosystem. Levin built Millennium Pharmaceuticals—inspiring a generation of future executives/entrepreneurs along … Continue reading “Mark Levin Named Xconomy’s 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner in Boston”
Author: Angela Shah
Angela Shah was formerly the editor of Xconomy Texas. She has written about startups along a wide entrepreneurial spectrum, from Silicon Valley transplants to Austin transforming a once-sleepy university town in the '90s tech boom to 20-something women defying cultural norms as they seek to build vital IT infrastructure in a war-torn Afghanistan. As a foreign correspondent based in Dubai, her work appeared in The New York Times, TIME, Newsweek/Daily Beast and Forbes Asia.
Before moving overseas, Shah was a staff writer and columnist with The Dallas Morning News and the Austin American-Statesman. She has a Bachelor's of Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin, and she is a 2007 Knight-Wallace Fellow at the University of Michigan. With the launch of Xconomy Texas, she's returned to her hometown of Houston.
Turnkey, TrustRadius, Homeward, Geekdom, Ion, GasMob, & More TX Tech
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news in Texas. —Turnkey Vacation Rentals, an Austin-based company founded in 2013, has raised $48 million to expand to new markets and further develop its technology. The round was led by Altos Ventures, with participation from existing investors including Adams Street Partners, Greenspring Associates, and Harmony Partners. Turnkey … Continue reading “Turnkey, TrustRadius, Homeward, Geekdom, Ion, GasMob, & More TX Tech”
Artemis Fund, TechStars Impact, Robin Autopilot, & More TX Tech
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news in Texas. —Mark Cuban and Serena Williams are among investors to fund maternal health startup Mahmee. The Los Angeles-based startup announced Monday it has raised $3 million from the Dallas Mavericks owner and the tennis star (through her firm Serena Ventures) in a round led by ArlanWasHere … Continue reading “Artemis Fund, TechStars Impact, Robin Autopilot, & More TX Tech”
The Finalists for the 2019 Xconomy Awards Are …
After a robust discussion, the editors and judges have narrowed down an impressive list of nearly 300 nominees for the 2019 Xconomy Awards in Boston to an all-star group of almost 60 finalists in 11 categories. Given the overall caliber of our nominees, we know it will be a tight race for the winners. Thankfully, we … Continue reading “The Finalists for the 2019 Xconomy Awards Are …”
New Funds for Procyrion, Remedy, OncoNano, Vyopta & More TX Tech
[Updated 7/10/19, 11:41 am CT. See below.] Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news in Texas. —Austin startup Vyopta, which makes a video conference system dashboard for businesses, raised $7.5 million in a Series B funding round led by Elsewhere Partners, according to a press release. The investment will be used for additional technology development and … Continue reading “New Funds for Procyrion, Remedy, OncoNano, Vyopta & More TX Tech”
Funds for Phlur, Arrive Logistics, Aunt Bertha & More TX Tech News
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news in Texas. —Austin-based fragrance maker Phlur raised $7 million in a Series A round, the company announced. The investment was led by Symrise and included earlier investor Next Coast Ventures and new investor Belcorp, which Phlur said is the second largest beauty company in South America. Phlur … Continue reading “Funds for Phlur, Arrive Logistics, Aunt Bertha & More TX Tech News”
Xconomy Awards: Gilman & Bosley to Emcee Life Science Gala in Boston
Boston—The 2019 Xconomy Awards are designed to celebrate the accomplishments and promise of Boston’s life sciences community, and we are excited to announce the emcees for this year’s gala. Michael Gilman, CEO of Arrakis Therapeutics, and Katrine Bosley, who formerly led Editas Medicine and Avila Therapeutics, will both serve as hosts for this year’s awards … Continue reading “Xconomy Awards: Gilman & Bosley to Emcee Life Science Gala in Boston”
NASA, Liongard, Springdale, TFF, HX, Women@Austin & More TX Tech
[Updated 6/07/19, 1:00 pm ET. See below.] Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news in Texas. —NASA has selected a Houston space tech company as one of three firms with a contract to design, build, and send spacecraft to the moon with experiments and other packages, according to a press release. Intuitive Machines makes the … Continue reading “NASA, Liongard, Springdale, TFF, HX, Women@Austin & More TX Tech”
Sante, GST, BackTracks, 101 Commerce, Plug and Play, & More TX Tech
Let’s get caught up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —Healthcare venture firm Sante Ventures has closed a $250 million fund, its third. Sante’s Fund III has commitments from 32 investors, which includes half of previous investors joining in the new fund, according to Kevin Lalande, Sante’s co-founder and managing director. The Austin-based … Continue reading “Sante, GST, BackTracks, 101 Commerce, Plug and Play, & More TX Tech”
Smart Cities Startups, Upswing, Coder, VanillaSoft & More TX Tech
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news in Texas. —The Dallas-based Innov8te Smart Cities Incubator has named the six startups in its first program, according to a press release. The startups are using technology to help local governments sync data in currently siloed departments, analytics to help cities measure business and individual tourism, and … Continue reading “Smart Cities Startups, Upswing, Coder, VanillaSoft & More TX Tech”
ACC’s New Fashion Incubator Follows Growth of Industry in Austin
Austin— Though small, Austin’s fashion-technology community is growing. Not only have more businesses started moving to the city, now a new program at Austin Community College is hoping to further drive innovation in the industry. “We are looking to create a full pipeline (of resources) for promising designers,” says Nina Means, director of the newly … Continue reading “ACC’s New Fashion Incubator Follows Growth of Industry in Austin”
MassChallenge, Funds for Innowatts, Liveoak, Data Gumbo & More TX Tech
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news in Texas. —Innowatts, an AI-focused energy tech company in Houston, has closed an $18.2 million Series B funding round, according to a press release. The investment was led by Energy Impact Partners and included existing investors Shell Ventures, Iberdola, and Energy and Environment Fund (EEI Japan), as … Continue reading “MassChallenge, Funds for Innowatts, Liveoak, Data Gumbo & More TX Tech”
Canadian VCs Lead US in Gender Parity, But Both Need Work: Report
Women hold a small fraction of venture capital leadership roles in the US and Canada. A new report suggests their clearest path to venture investing may run through corporate innovation arms. While only 15.9 percent of corporate venture capital (CVC) leaders are women, 82.6 percent of women who hold executive or partner roles in those … Continue reading “Canadian VCs Lead US in Gender Parity, But Both Need Work: Report”
Funds for Indio, A Cloud Guru & Kerv, TMC3 Update & More TX Tech
—Indio Technologies, an insurance tech startup, has raised $20 million in funding, and plans to spend half of that amount to boost its Austin office, the company said. The Series B investment round was led by Menlo Ventures with participation from 8VC. San Francisco-based Indio, which makes software that insurance companies can white-label to digitize … Continue reading “Funds for Indio, A Cloud Guru & Kerv, TMC3 Update & More TX Tech”
Retailers, Startups Work to Offer Efficient E-Commerce Delivery
The on-demand delivery war in retail is on. In its quarterly earnings call Thursday, Amazon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]) announced it would switch to one-day shipping for Prime members, halving the time the 100 million-plus people who subscribe to the service must wait before receiving their purchases. The Seattle e-commerce giant told analysts the move would cost around … Continue reading “Retailers, Startups Work to Offer Efficient E-Commerce Delivery”
Peloton Therapeutics Plans IPO for Kidney Cancer Drug Clinical Trials
Dallas—Peloton Therapeutics, developer of small molecule drugs to treat kidney cancer and other diseases, has filed for an initial public offering to fund late-stage clinical trials. The Dallas-based biotech, founded in 2010, plans to raise up to $115 million from the IPO, according to its filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Peloton has … Continue reading “Peloton Therapeutics Plans IPO for Kidney Cancer Drug Clinical Trials”
Animal Rescue Groups, PGA, Stryve Biltong, Novo Labs & More TX Tech
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news in Texas. —Dallas Animal Services won $200,000 in the Innovation Showdown, a pet tech competition, for a customer service system that uses a mobile app and two-way video in order to streamline the adoption process. Day of the Dogs in Houston won $175,000 for its donation platform … Continue reading “Animal Rescue Groups, PGA, Stryve Biltong, Novo Labs & More TX Tech”
Dave, More Chips on Aisle 3: Walmart Opens AI-Enabled Store in NY
Walmart has unveiled its “store of the future,” which uses artificial intelligence-enabled cameras to tip off employees when products need to be replenished on shelves or expired meat and produce needs to be replaced. The “Intelligent Retail Lab,” or IRL as the retailer calls it, has been installed at an existing Walmart store in Levittown, … Continue reading “Dave, More Chips on Aisle 3: Walmart Opens AI-Enabled Store in NY”
To Help Boost Female-led Startups, More Women Join Investor Ranks
Houston—Men have long leveraged their networks to succeed in business, and the tech industry has been no exception. Women, finding themselves outside of the club, are now creating their own networks to do the same. Katelyn O’Shaughnessy already had a solid track record, selling TripScope, a travel startup she co-founded in 2013, to Travefy two … Continue reading “To Help Boost Female-led Startups, More Women Join Investor Ranks”
Chevron’s Burger On Energy Innovation, Houston’s Growing Tech Scene
Houston—Among innovation-focused efforts in Houston, Chevron Technology Ventures is among the longest standing. Founded in 1999, Chevron Tech has launched seven funds up to $100 million each—the latest last month—in search of startups with technologies to hasten the ongoing digitization of the oil and gas industry. To date, the company’s corporate venture arm has made … Continue reading “Chevron’s Burger On Energy Innovation, Houston’s Growing Tech Scene”
Imandra, Innovapptive, Nesh, Kroger Delivery Robots & More TX Tech
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news in Texas. —Austin-based LiveOak Venture Partners is one of three organizations that led a $5 million investment in Imandra, an artificial intelligence startup based in London, according to a press release. With the funding, Imandra says it will open a US headquarters in the Texas state capital. … Continue reading “Imandra, Innovapptive, Nesh, Kroger Delivery Robots & More TX Tech”
New Microsoft, Intel Accelerator Seeks Tech to Make Houston Smart
Houston—Sensors that can measure rising waters in real time through internet-connected digital road signs, preventing commuters from driving into flooded underpasses. Traffic signals that use cameras and analytics to adjust the time allowed to cross streets, depending on the individual who is in the crosswalk. Those are among the types of technologies that could be … Continue reading “New Microsoft, Intel Accelerator Seeks Tech to Make Houston Smart”
EverlyWell, Austin Maker of At-Home Lab Tests, Nets $50 Million
Austin—EverlyWell, an Austin-based startup developing at-home health and wellness tests for patients, announced that it has raised $50 million in a Series B round of funding. The investment was led by existing investor Goodwater Capital and newcomer Highland Capital Partners, the startup said in a press release. Next Coast Ventures, NextGen Venture Partners, and other … Continue reading “EverlyWell, Austin Maker of At-Home Lab Tests, Nets $50 Million”
SolarWinds, Moki, Nimbix, GoT, Rice Business Plan & More TX Tech
—SolarWinds, an Austin IT services company, has acquired Samanage, a maker of service desk software based in Cary, NC. The $350 million cash deal is expected to close by the end of June. SolarWinds said in a prepared statement that Samanage’s products will add to its suite of software made for more than 300,000 customers … Continue reading “SolarWinds, Moki, Nimbix, GoT, Rice Business Plan & More TX Tech”
Beyond Oil: Bahrain, Houston Can Find Common Ground on Innovation
Houston—A delegation led by the Bahraini oil minister was in town recently meeting with business and government leaders. It makes sense considering Houston is the birthplace of the fracking technology the Gulf country’s leaders are seeking. A year ago, Bahrain discovered its largest trove of oil and gas—at least 80 million barrels of “tight oil”—since … Continue reading “Beyond Oil: Bahrain, Houston Can Find Common Ground on Innovation”
Austin VC Firm LiveOak Venture Partners Closes Second, $105M Fund
[Updated 4/9/19, 9:45 am ET. See below.] Austin—LiveOak Venture Partners announced today it has closed a $105 million fund, its second. The firm’s “Fund II” has already made six investments, including Austin startups Eventador, Osano, and Rollick, and Dallas-based AmplifAI, LiveOak said in a press release. [Information about one investor.] Among those limited partners includes the … Continue reading “Austin VC Firm LiveOak Venture Partners Closes Second, $105M Fund”
TX Tech: Made In, Jog.ai, Vital Farms, BBL & Advice from Mark Cuban
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news in Texas. —Newchip, an Austin online market of crowdfunded deals, has accepted 45 startups into its remote accelerator program, according to a press release. The startups, sorted by Newchip into seed, pre-seed, and MVP/beta stages, will go through the company’s 10-week program. Unlike many accelerators, Newchip doesn’t … Continue reading “TX Tech: Made In, Jog.ai, Vital Farms, BBL & Advice from Mark Cuban”
Chevron Tech, Medical Informatics, ActivTrak, Linear & More TX Tech
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news in Texas. —Chevron Technology Ventures Thursday launched a $90 million fund for energy investments. The fund is CTV’s seventh and investments will be made in high-growth startups with technologies that have the potential to improve Chevron’s core oil and gas business performance, says CTV President Barbara Burger. … Continue reading “Chevron Tech, Medical Informatics, ActivTrak, Linear & More TX Tech”
Houston Tech Leaders Start Site to Connect Startups With Talent
Houston—One of the challenges in creating a robust tech hub in Houston is the perceived lack of talent available to join startups. “People say they don’t know where to start when it comes to seeing jobs in Houston, and businesses say, ‘I don’t know where to find talent,’” says Erik Ibarra, founder and CEO of … Continue reading “Houston Tech Leaders Start Site to Connect Startups With Talent”
Garcia Steps Down After 18 Months as CEO of San Antonio’s Geekdom
San Antonio—David Garcia is stepping down as CEO of the Geekdom coworking space, according to the San Antonio Business Journal. “The collaboration and coworking environment at Geekdom creates opportunity to share professional experience in the roles that we hold as Geekdom team members,” Garcia said in a statement to the newspaper. “Geekdom also acts as … Continue reading “Garcia Steps Down After 18 Months as CEO of San Antonio’s Geekdom”
Austin’s Cerity Joins Growing Cohort of Insurance Tech Startups
Austin—Even the most staid of industries can use a boost from technology. Case in point: Cerity, an Austin, TX-based insurance tech startup founded last year says it’s developing software that uses artificial intelligence to match worker’s compensation policies to small businesses that otherwise wouldn’t get them. “It’s hard to get, complex to understand, and cost … Continue reading “Austin’s Cerity Joins Growing Cohort of Insurance Tech Startups”
AgileCraft’s Exit, $45M for Ojo Labs, Intel Grants & More TX Tech
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news in Texas. —Georgetown, TX-based AgileCraft was acquired by Australia-based Atlassian (NASDAQ: [[ticker:TEAM]]), the team collaboration and productivity software maker, for $166 million. AgileCraft makes planning software that helps executives build and manage how the company’s projects develop. It’s focused more on leaders in a business than engineering … Continue reading “AgileCraft’s Exit, $45M for Ojo Labs, Intel Grants & More TX Tech”
Coming Home Again: Estrada Returns to Lead WeWork Labs in Houston
Houston—Co-working company WeWork is opening its latest “Labs” space in Houston. New York-based WeWork, which has 49 Labs programs across the United States and globe, opened its first Texas location, in Dallas, last fall. WeWork’s Labs is the business’s version of an early stage startup program, offering workshops, mentorship, connections to local accelerator and incubator … Continue reading “Coming Home Again: Estrada Returns to Lead WeWork Labs in Houston”
AmplifAI Raises $3.9M, Its First Outside Funding, For Call Center AI
Dallas—AmplifAI Solutions, which makes artificial intelligence-enabled software for call center operations, has raised $3.9 million. Investors in the funding round were Dallas-based Naya Ventures, and LiveOak Venture Partners and Capital Factory, both in Austin. AmplifAI has developed software that uses machine learning algorithms to analyze behaviors of top-performing employees in order to create training programs … Continue reading “AmplifAI Raises $3.9M, Its First Outside Funding, For Call Center AI”
JLabs’ Luby Takes the Reins at TMC Innovation Institute in Houston
Houston—Tom Luby, the head of JLabs in Houston, has been named the new director of the Texas Medical Center’s Innovation Institute, the center announced Monday morning. Luby takes over the innovation institute three months after former director Erik Halvorsen left the role. Luby is already a known presence around the TMC innovation building thanks to … Continue reading “JLabs’ Luby Takes the Reins at TMC Innovation Institute in Houston”
CesiumAstro, MAP Health, StoryFit, Hatch Pitch & More Texas Tech
[Updated 3/14/19, 1:53 pm CT. See below.] Another South By Southwest festival comes to a close in Austin. Let’s catch up with the highlights from the tech portion this year and other innovation news in Texas. —CesiumAstro, an Austin-based maker of antennas and communications systems for satellites, said it has raised $12.4 million in a Series … Continue reading “CesiumAstro, MAP Health, StoryFit, Hatch Pitch & More Texas Tech”
Dallas’ ModeSens Aims to Build Online Shops Tailored to Each User
Dallas—Part of the challenge for e-commerce is finding ways to prevent shoppers from having buyer’s remorse. “You never want to have a customer who has a disgruntled post-purchase feeling,” says Krystle Craycraft, chief marketing officer at ModeSens, an e-commerce startup in Dallas. “We’re giving the consumer confidence to eliminate the need for a return.” Returns … Continue reading “Dallas’ ModeSens Aims to Build Online Shops Tailored to Each User”
TX Tech: ForeFlight to Boeing, Osano Debut, Saranas’ FDA Nod & More
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news in Texas. —Boeing (NYSE: [[ticker:BE]]) has acquired Houston-based ForeFlight, a mobile and web-based maker of aviation software, according to a press release. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. ForeFlight had already been partnering with the Chicago-based aeronautical company for the past two years through Boeing’s subsidiary … Continue reading “TX Tech: ForeFlight to Boeing, Osano Debut, Saranas’ FDA Nod & More”
Houston’s Alice Among Women-Led Startups Receiving Bumble Funding
Alice, a Houston-based digital community that connects women founders to resources tailored to their startup’s needs, has received funding from the Bumble Fund. The fund, which was launched last July by Bumble, a women-oriented dating app, did not specify the amount it invested in the startups. In a press release Thursday, the Austin company said … Continue reading “Houston’s Alice Among Women-Led Startups Receiving Bumble Funding”
Blue Squad Aims to Bring Election Tech Up and Down the Ballot
Austin—All politics is local, the adage goes, and those campaigns are sorely stuck in analog mode. That’s why Shion Deysarkar co-founded Blue Squad two years ago as a “digital coalition” to support progressive candidates by providing them with greater access to accurate voter data. Now, Blue Squad is more formally launching as a political tech startup … Continue reading “Blue Squad Aims to Bring Election Tech Up and Down the Ballot”
Women Who Code in Houston, Sam’s Club, Springdale & More TX Tech
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news in Texas. —Sam’s Club Now, the Dallas-based innovation center where Walmart’s bulk buying business is located, says it has a new scanning technology that can reduce checkout times. The technology, which uses computer vision and machine learning, will be piloted at the Sam’s Club Now store this … Continue reading “Women Who Code in Houston, Sam’s Club, Springdale & More TX Tech”
Retailers Turn to Analytics, 3D Tech to Promote Fit, Reduce Returns
One size fits most (at best), and a women’s sizing system created during the Depression doesn’t gibe in an e-commerce business that prizes personalization. That’s why startups are turning to new technologies like 3D scanning and machine learning software to produce customized clothing that can be made for the masses. “People want to buy a … Continue reading “Retailers Turn to Analytics, 3D Tech to Promote Fit, Reduce Returns”
Microsoft’s M12 Leads $21M Round for Spycloud’s Security Software
Austin—Spycloud, an Austin cybersecurity startup, has raised $21 million. The funding round was led by M12, the venture fund of tech company Microsoft (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MSFT]]). New investor Altos Ventures and existing investors Silverton Partners and March Capital Partners also participated. Spycloud, which was founded three years ago, makes software that prevents hackers from taking over … Continue reading “Microsoft’s M12 Leads $21M Round for Spycloud’s Security Software”
Walmart’s Store No 8 Acquires Aspectiva to Bring A.I. to Shopping
Walmart’s Store No 8 innovation arm has acquired an Israeli machine learning startup, the retail giant announced Wednesday. Aspectiva joined the two-year-old Store No 8 Monday, and its employees will remain in Tel Aviv. “Store No 8’s record of innovation and of developing capabilities that will transform retail as we know it makes for the … Continue reading “Walmart’s Store No 8 Acquires Aspectiva to Bring A.I. to Shopping”
New Funds for ParkHub, Neighborhood Goods, Rabbet, & More TX Tech
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news in Texas. —ParkHub, a Dallas startup that is digitizing how and when users pay for parking, raised $13 million in a Series B funding round, according to a press release. The investment round was led by Arrowroot Capital in Santa Monica, CA and is the first institutional money … Continue reading “New Funds for ParkHub, Neighborhood Goods, Rabbet, & More TX Tech”
Peloton Therapeutics Raises $150M to Advance Kidney Cancer Therapy
Dallas—Peloton Therapeutics, which is developing small molecule drugs to treat cancer, announced Wednesday that it has raised $150 million in a Series E funding round. The new financing was led by RA Capital Management and was joined by new investors, including Eventide Asset Management, Biotechnology Value Fund, OrbiMed, EcoR1 Capital, Vida Ventures, Curative Ventures, and … Continue reading “Peloton Therapeutics Raises $150M to Advance Kidney Cancer Therapy”
Funds for Richard’s Rainwater, New CPRIT Executive, & More TX Tech
—Pinpoint, an Austin startup that makes analytics tool to measure software engineering’s contribution to businesses, has raised $13.5 million in a Series A funding round led by Bessemer Venture Partners. Other investors include Storm Ventures, Boldstart Ventures, Bloomberg Beta, Slack Fund, Social Capital, and Cherubic Ventures. The new money brings Pinpoint’s total funding to $16.5 million. … Continue reading “Funds for Richard’s Rainwater, New CPRIT Executive, & More TX Tech”
Finding True Love Can Be Ruff, But This Startup Could Have Your Match
Too many people treat pet adoption like a one-night stand. “You look at a dog, and see his eyes, and think he’s cute,” says Tama Lundquist, co-president of Houston PetSet, an organization that works with about 70 animal shelters in the Houston area. “But if you’re a couch potato and he likes to run, that’s … Continue reading “Finding True Love Can Be Ruff, But This Startup Could Have Your Match”
Houston Health IT Firm Decisio Forms Partnership with GE Healthcare
Houston—Houston medtech startup Decisio Health is partnering with GE Healthcare to accelerate a broader deployment of its critical care dashboard. Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. GE says it will integrate Decisio’s software into its Mural virtual care platform, which aims to prioritize “a clinician’s attention to the most critical patient cases with the … Continue reading “Houston Health IT Firm Decisio Forms Partnership with GE Healthcare”
Emergency Services Cloud Software Maker RapidDeploy Nets $12M
Austin—Public safety software developer RapidDeploy has raised $12 million in a Series A funding round. Investors include GreatPoint Ventures and Samsung Next. The funds will be used to help RapidDeploy accelerate development and marketing of its Cloud Aided Dispatch platform, the company said in a press release Monday. RapidDeploy, which was founded in 2014, says … Continue reading “Emergency Services Cloud Software Maker RapidDeploy Nets $12M”