Let’s catch up on the latest innovation news in Texas. —Aeglea Biotherapeutics, an Austin biotech, raised $60 million in a secondary public stock offering Wednesday, according to a press release. The company is developing drugs to essentially starve cancers to death. In 2016, it raised $50 million in an IPO. In 2017, co-founder David Lowe, who … Continue reading “Hypergiant in Space, Celltex & Saudi, Siete Foods’ $90M, & More TX Tech”
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.
Houston Investors Step Up to Bring Tech Innovation to the Energy Sector
Houston—A new crop of investors are backing efforts to support oil-and-gas innovation in Houston—just over three years after the Surge energy accelerator shut its doors. BBL Ventures, a newly formed investment and consulting firm that focuses on energy technologies, will, next week, formally announce an accelerator program at Station Houston next week. The idea, co-founder … Continue reading “Houston Investors Step Up to Bring Tech Innovation to the Energy Sector”
Connected Car Firm Vinli Raises $13.5M, Partners With Germany’s E.ON
Dallas—Vinli, a connected car analytics startup, announced today it has raised a Series B funding round of $13.5 million. Investors in the round include German utility E.ON, The Westly Group in Menlo Park, CA; Hersh Family Investments, which is based in Irving, TX; and Hal Brierley, a longtime Dallas airline executive. Among the uses for … Continue reading “Connected Car Firm Vinli Raises $13.5M, Partners With Germany’s E.ON”
New Funds for GoCo, CherryCircle, Phynd, Hive9 & More TX Tech
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news in Texas. —Houston-based human resources software maker GoCo has raised a $7 million Series A round led by ATX Seed Ventures and the investment arm of UpCurve, a maker of technology for small- to medium-sized businesses, the startup reported in a press release. This latest funding brings … Continue reading “New Funds for GoCo, CherryCircle, Phynd, Hive9 & More TX Tech”
BillyGo App Aims to Provide Plumbers on Tap (Within an Hour)
Dallas—His first ride in an Uber brought Billy Stevens out of retirement. It was the ride-hailing app’s ability to locate and dispatch drivers to meet customers that got the gears turning for the master-plumber-turned-entrepreneur, who had sold his plumbing and air-conditioning service business to a private equity firm in 2011. “With plumbing companies, it’s typically … Continue reading “BillyGo App Aims to Provide Plumbers on Tap (Within an Hour)”
Retailers Brace For Possible Economic Headwinds in 2019
Even as retailers struggle with a technology-disrupted business model and changing consumer desires, at least a generally positive overall economy and low unemployment rates seemed to keep shoppers’ wallets open. But a 2019 that started with stock market losses, a recently ended (but longest-ever) government shutdown, and other headwinds might now force consumers to pull … Continue reading “Retailers Brace For Possible Economic Headwinds in 2019”
Billie, Subscription Shaving Products Service for Women, Raises $25M
Billie, a monthly subscription service for shaving and body care products for women, has raised $25 million. The New York-based startup said Tuesday that the new funding round, which is being led by Goldman Sachs Private Capital Investing group, brings its total investment to $35 million. Previous investors Silverton Partners, Female Founders Fund, and Lakehouse … Continue reading “Billie, Subscription Shaving Products Service for Women, Raises $25M”
TX Tech News: Techstars Austin, Essentium, Ontic, & More Startup Funds
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news in Texas. —Essentium, maker of a 3-D printing system for manufacturers, has raised $22.2 million in a Series A funding round led by BASF Venture Capital. Materialise, Genesis Park, and previous seed round investors also participated in the deal, according to a press release. The funding will be … Continue reading “TX Tech News: Techstars Austin, Essentium, Ontic, & More Startup Funds”
With International Growth in Mind, LegalTech Firm Disco Nabs $83M
Austin—Legal tech startup Disco announced Thursday it has raised $83 million in new funding. The round was led by Toronto-based Georgian Partners, with participation from existing investors Bessemer Venture Partners, LiveOak Venture Partners, The Stephens Group, and venture-debt provider Comerica. Disco has now raised a total of $135 million, the company said. Disco sells subscription … Continue reading “With International Growth in Mind, LegalTech Firm Disco Nabs $83M”
DermaClip Ramps Up for U.S. Sales Push of Wound-Healing Device
Houston—Sutures or staples are the norm to close deep wounds that won’t otherwise heal on their own. But a Houston medtech company says it has a better way. DermaClip makes an eponymous device that the company says is a non-invasive way to foster wound healing. The DermaClip device is an adhesive strip placed across a … Continue reading “DermaClip Ramps Up for U.S. Sales Push of Wound-Healing Device”
Outdoorsy’s Big Haul & Other Startup Fundraising in TX Tech News
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news in Texas. —TeVido, an Austin biotech, has raised $1.2 million to help fund a new facility in which the company can use a patient’s own cells to create personalized pigment cell grafts to treat vitiligo, a loss of skin color that affects about 1 percent of the … Continue reading “Outdoorsy’s Big Haul & Other Startup Fundraising in TX Tech News”
What’s Your Emergency? Law Enforcement’s Increasing Interest in Tech
Fort Worth, TX—Data analytics and visual search technologies are increasingly being used by law enforcement agencies, growth that has captured the attention of tech giant Motorola. The Chicago-based tech company, which has long sold narrow-band radios to law enforcement, has been building its arsenal of software and camera technologies through a series of acquisitions. The … Continue reading “What’s Your Emergency? Law Enforcement’s Increasing Interest in Tech”
Austin’s Localeur, Millennial-Focused Travel Startup, Hits 100 Cities
Austin—Localeur, a travel recommendation startup, is celebrating its (nearly) fifth anniversary by announcing its 100th city. The Austin startup focuses on recruiting a group of local residents who can provide insider information on each travel destination. The “localeurs”—a portmanteau of local and connoisseur—are millennials catering to the tastes of their own. Localeur made its debut … Continue reading “Austin’s Localeur, Millennial-Focused Travel Startup, Hits 100 Cities”
Pensa, AI-Enabled Drones Maker for Inventory Monitoring, Raises $5M
[Updated, 1/18/19, 1:10 pm CT] Austin—The grocery store shelf has yet to be plugged into the increasingly digital food supply chain. Instead, inventory is typically tallied by employees by hand in a slow and laborious process. “It’s one big black hole with groceries, not knowing what is exactly on the retail shelf and available for … Continue reading “Pensa, AI-Enabled Drones Maker for Inventory Monitoring, Raises $5M”
E-Commerce Startups, Legacy Stores Grapple With Changing Retail Scene
The changing of the guard transforming retail is accelerating. Sears, the nation’s first “everything store,” is teetering toward bankruptcy after years of stagnation as industry leaders prepare to gather in New York at the National Retail Federation’s annual conference. Yet, new startups—aided with tech tools like artificial intelligence, chatbots, and the like—are trying to reinvent … Continue reading “E-Commerce Startups, Legacy Stores Grapple With Changing Retail Scene”
From Immigration to Taxes, Execs Talk Trump Effect on Innovation
When it comes to developing and promoting innovation, external factors beyond the control of company founders, investors, and other business leaders can also determine whether a startup succeeds or fails. In 2018, geopolitical events—in particular, President Donald Trump’s hard-line stances on trade and immigration, and the repeal of net neutrality rules—were top of mind for … Continue reading “From Immigration to Taxes, Execs Talk Trump Effect on Innovation”
Get Off the Bus: Austin’s Hitch Offers Car Rides to Houston and Back
Austin—In just a handful of years, people with smartphones have flocked in droves to ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft to get around town. Now, an Austin, TX-based startup wants to help travelers take trips out of town. Hitch, which launched its service last month, has adopted the popular ride-sharing model for trips between Houston … Continue reading “Get Off the Bus: Austin’s Hitch Offers Car Rides to Houston and Back”
Copps: Key Ingredient As A.I. Permeates Daily Life is Building Trust
The promise, and pitfalls, of artificial intelligence became more apparent in the last year, and for Dave Copps, founder of A.I. companies such as Brainspace and Hypergiant Sensory Sciences, the pace of adoption will only accelerate in 2019. What can help to smooth the transition to our new machine learning-enabled future is an effort on … Continue reading “Copps: Key Ingredient As A.I. Permeates Daily Life is Building Trust”
Saxena: More Than a Tool, A.I. Must Be Used With Society in Mind
[Updated 12/27/18, 9:54 am] Manoj Saxena is bullish on artificial intelligence. As chairman of Austin, TX-based A.I. startup CognitiveScale and managing director of The Entrepreneur Fund, which makes investments in early-stage machine learning companies, Saxena believes A.I. can transform how we work and play—creating opportunities for business. But he’s also aware that the technology, if … Continue reading “Saxena: More Than a Tool, A.I. Must Be Used With Society in Mind”
Texas Startups Use AI, Fintech to Help Customers Find, Pay Workers
The American workforce has moved significantly beyond what Dolly Parton was familiar with. Instead of a set 40-hour, “9 to 5” work week, we have flextime, gig work, and digital nomads. Technology has allowed us to work at all hours and days—and maybe has us working too much. But even with those changes, many aspects … Continue reading “Texas Startups Use AI, Fintech to Help Customers Find, Pay Workers”
Capital Factory in Houston, Austin Startup Funding, & More TX Tech
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news in Texas. —Austin’s Capital Factory has announced a new partnership with The Cannon in Houston, one that will offer companies with space at Capital Factory reciprocal membership at the Houston coworking space, which opened last year. The Cannon also started Cannon Ventures to bring together angel investors interested … Continue reading “Capital Factory in Houston, Austin Startup Funding, & More TX Tech”
TMC’s Halvorsen Exits Innovation Institute in Houston
[Updated 12/13/18, 7:20 p.m.] Erik Halvorsen, who led the Texas Medical Center’s Innovation Institute, is out as director of the institute. Lance Black, the institute’s medical device lead, became the interim director Thursday, Black confirmed. He declined to comment further. Halvorsen, a veteran of the Boston biotech scene, joined the TMC nearly three years ago … Continue reading “TMC’s Halvorsen Exits Innovation Institute in Houston”
Hospital Robots, Vista Bets on Diversity, Cocktails, & More TX Tech
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news in Texas. —Two Texas startups have been named to the inaugural 2019 cohort of the LaunchPad Lift program, which is organized by Blackstone LaunchPad and Techstars. One of them, Lazarus, is a Texas A&M University spinout developing ammunition that minimizes blood loss to preserve life after penetration. … Continue reading “Hospital Robots, Vista Bets on Diversity, Cocktails, & More TX Tech”
GrainChain, Chargify, Q2, Hypergiant, NASA Tech & More TX Tech
Let’s get caught up with the latest innovation news in Texas. —GrainChain, a blockchain agtech company based in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, has raised $2.5 million in funding from Medici Ventures, a blockchain accelerator owned by Overstock.com (NASDAQ: [[ticker:OSTK]]). Medici has a 10 percent ownership in the startup and has an option to increase … Continue reading “GrainChain, Chargify, Q2, Hypergiant, NASA Tech & More TX Tech”
Growing Fast? GotSpot Aims to Pair Young Firms With Short-Term Digs
Houston—It’s not just biotech companies that must cross the valley of death on their way to commercial success. Everyday Mom-and-Pop shops, too, have to navigate the tricky adolescence period when their businesses are starting to take off but they don’t have the capital to rent out the space and equipment to fulfill larger orders—a problem … Continue reading “Growing Fast? GotSpot Aims to Pair Young Firms With Short-Term Digs”
Made in Italy: MakersValley Connects Boutiques to Apparel Factories
Amid what seems like unlimited choices, a key way for retailers to stand out is to try to offer products no one else has. For a small boutique, that could be exclusive access to a bespoke clothing line, say, but creating and manufacturing one is typically cost-prohibitive except for the largest of retailers. Enter MakersValley. … Continue reading “Made in Italy: MakersValley Connects Boutiques to Apparel Factories”
NY E-Commerce Startups Ponder a Future With Amazon “HQ2” in Backyard
As Amazon moves into its new home in the Big Apple, the company will find itself immersed in a storied—if tumultuous—local retail industry. Unlike the other contenders for Amazon’s so-called “HQ2” satellite offices, New York City is home to the nation’s historical retail roots on “Fashion Avenue,” as well as a growing e-commerce startup scene. … Continue reading “NY E-Commerce Startups Ponder a Future With Amazon “HQ2” in Backyard”
TMCx, Microsoft Buys XOXCO, Self Lender Raises $10M & More TX Tech
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news in Texas. —The Texas Medical Center’s accelerator TMCx graduated its seventh class of startups, 23 health IT companies which included nine international startups. Erik Halvorsen, director of the TMC Innovation Institute, said that in the four-month program, the startups had signed four agreements each, including strategic partnerships, … Continue reading “TMCx, Microsoft Buys XOXCO, Self Lender Raises $10M & More TX Tech”
No HQ2? No Problem, Say Leaders in TX Cities Passed Over by Amazon
As word trickled out that North Texas was likely one of three finalists for Amazon’s “HQ2,” Chris Wallace felt optimistic about the region’s prospects. After all, the tech giant had said its priorities included a skilled workforce, logistics infrastructure, and a competitive cost of living. Wallace, who is the president and CEO of the North … Continue reading “No HQ2? No Problem, Say Leaders in TX Cities Passed Over by Amazon”
Dallas Innovation Alliance, Funds for Austin Startups & More TX Tech
Let’s catch up on the latest innovation news in Texas. —Coder, a cloud-based software development startup out of Austin, announced it has raised $4.5 million in seed funding. The round was led by Uncork Capital and Redpoint Ventures, with participation from Founders Fund, Capital Factory, John Kodumal, Quinn Slack, Grant Gregory, Alec Guettel, David Rosenblatt, … Continue reading “Dallas Innovation Alliance, Funds for Austin Startups & More TX Tech”
Fluidity Founder, an M.D. and NASA Veteran, Designs One-Handed Drone Controller
Houston—Commercial drones are equipped with some of the latest innovations in cameras, sensors, and analytics, so Scott Parazynski wondered why pilots are still using outmoded controllers. “We’ve grown accustomed to these tools but decades later it’s the same [controller] model,” says Parazynski, founder of Fluidity Technologies. “It’s surprising to me that we haven’t evolved past … Continue reading “Fluidity Founder, an M.D. and NASA Veteran, Designs One-Handed Drone Controller”
Boston’s Salsify Buys Austin Maker of E-Commerce Chat Tools
Salsify, a maker of e-commerce software, has acquired Welcome Commerce, an Austin-based developer of chat technology. Boston-based Salsify sells technology that helps retail brands like Michelin and Anheuser-Busch manage their products across e-commerce platforms such as Amazon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]), Walmart (NYSE: [[ticker:WMT]]), or Target (NYSE: [[ticker:TGT]]). Adding Welcome’s chat technology “is a logical extension” of that mission, … Continue reading “Boston’s Salsify Buys Austin Maker of E-Commerce Chat Tools”
Democratic Startup Founders Kopser and Sawyer Lose in Election Bids
Two Texas startup founders who ran for seats in the U.S. Congress and the Texas statehouse lost their bids for political office Tuesday. Joseph Kopser in Austin and Allison Lami Sawyer in Houston were both first-time candidates and ran as Democrats, sparked by a concern about political discourse in the wake of the 2016 election. Both … Continue reading “Democratic Startup Founders Kopser and Sawyer Lose in Election Bids”
HPE Gives $10M to UH for Joint Data Science Research Projects
The University of Houston and Hewlett Packard Enterprise on Friday announced a collaboration designed to enable advances in data science. The announcement includes a $10 million donation from the computing company to the university’s year-old Data Science Institute, which has been renamed to the Hewlett Packard Enterprise Data Science Institute. The donation will be used … Continue reading “HPE Gives $10M to UH for Joint Data Science Research Projects”
No Excuses: Austin Startup Leaders Pledge to Support Voter Turnout
As Election Day nears, a group of Austin startup leaders have formed a group to encourage tech employees to vote. The ATX Startup Pledge’s mission is to “remove obstacles” that might exist, like feeling that you can’t take time away from work, that could prevent employees from going to the polls on Tuesday. But, more … Continue reading “No Excuses: Austin Startup Leaders Pledge to Support Voter Turnout”
Sam’s Club Goes Digital, BNSF’s Electric Locomotive, & More TX Tech
Let’s get caught up with the latest innovation news from Texas. —The Texas Medical Center’s TMCx accelerator has been included in a list of best programs for the first time. With platinum status, AngelPad, StartX, and Y Combinator topped the list released by the Seed Accelerator Rankings Project. The rankings, which are in part compiled by … Continue reading “Sam’s Club Goes Digital, BNSF’s Electric Locomotive, & More TX Tech”
Stantt CEO Thinks Its Approach to Selling Men’s Wear Fits Just Right
Stantt wants to make standard sizing anything but. “Traditional sizing only fits 15 percent of guys,” says Matt Hornbuckle, the startup’s founder and co-CEO. “Twins come in and get different sizes.” To connect guys with a shirt that fits well, the men’s wear startup created a database of “tens of thousands” of body scans. That … Continue reading “Stantt CEO Thinks Its Approach to Selling Men’s Wear Fits Just Right”
Pineapples and Bananas: Yummy to Eat, And Now Fashionable to Wear
Style trends may come and go but the apparel industry is increasingly accepting that sustainability will always be in fashion. “We have the chance to shift the environment to a cleaner, more non-toxic place,” says Greg Altman, co-founder and CEO of Silk, a Boston-area maker of a proprietary liquid silk. “That’s really our goal.” To … Continue reading “Pineapples and Bananas: Yummy to Eat, And Now Fashionable to Wear”
Delivery Robots in Big D, Rodriguez Leaves the Station, & More TX Tech
[Updated 2:05 p.m. See below.] Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news in Texas. —Dallas-based Neos Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NEOS]]) has licensed a drug candidate that would treat excessive salivation or drooling in patients with neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and mental disorders. The experimental drug has only preclinical … Continue reading “Delivery Robots in Big D, Rodriguez Leaves the Station, & More TX Tech”
Baubles & Bling: Swoonery Uses Tech to Connect Shoppers With Jewelry
Jean Poh’s family has been in the jewelry business for four generations. And, for the most part, the industry has operated much the same as it always has, she says. Following a professional detour in which she worked as an attorney and angel investor, Poh made her way back to the jewelry business. She began … Continue reading “Baubles & Bling: Swoonery Uses Tech to Connect Shoppers With Jewelry”
Tulerie Helps Users Dress Like Models, Without Breaking the Bank
Tulerie makes its debut today, joining a growing roster of online clothing rental startups. The New York-based Tulerie focuses on high-end couture—items that retail for $1,000 to $10,000—that might be worn a time or two but mostly take up space in a woman’s closet. The company is building a two-sided marketplace, with owners of haute … Continue reading “Tulerie Helps Users Dress Like Models, Without Breaking the Bank”
TX Tech Wrap: New Fundings, OJO Picks Up WolfNet, New Oracle Startups
There have been a flurry of announcements of new fundings for Texas startups. Let’s get caught up with the latest innovation news. —Hail Merry, a Dallas maker of raw, plant-based snacks, has raised a little over $1 million as part of a planned $1.26 million financing. The decade-old startup makes snacks and desserts that are … Continue reading “TX Tech Wrap: New Fundings, OJO Picks Up WolfNet, New Oracle Startups”
Room Service by Robot and Other Ways Tech Is Changing the Hotel Stay
More days than not, Michael Colaneri’s home is a hotel room. So innovations like “geolocation” sensors that automatically unlock his room door and adjust the thermostat when he’s nearby make the constant change easier—sometimes. “My experience has been exceptionally inconsistent,” he says. “When it’s worked, it’s really great, cool, and so efficient to the point … Continue reading “Room Service by Robot and Other Ways Tech Is Changing the Hotel Stay”
Energy, Real Estate & Other Firms Pledge Capital to HX Venture Fund
Houston—Houston Exponential, a group formed last year to boost the city’s innovation ecosystem, announced Thursday that its fund of funds has raised $25 million from nine corporate investors. That commitment makes up half of the planned $50 million size of the HX Venture Fund, and fund manager Guillermo Borda said he expected to close on … Continue reading “Energy, Real Estate & Other Firms Pledge Capital to HX Venture Fund”
Upland Software, Bumble in India, Cratejoy Layoffs, & More TX Tech
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news in Texas. —One of the awardees of the prestigious MacArthur Foundation Fellowships, aka the “genius grants,” is a University of Texas at Austin professor. Lisa Schiavianto Eberlin is a chemistry professor and her research led to the development of the MasSpec Pen, which UT says enables a … Continue reading “Upland Software, Bumble in India, Cratejoy Layoffs, & More TX Tech”
Houston Software Developer Seeks to Raise Voter Turnout With ChatBot
Houston—There’s a lot of speculation about voter turnout in the upcoming midterm elections on Nov. 6. Nile Dixon, a Houston-based software developer, wants to help turn that speculations into actual votes. Dixon is developing what he calls “Texts to Polls,” a SMS technology-based chatbot that can help voters find their designated polling place for early … Continue reading “Houston Software Developer Seeks to Raise Voter Turnout With ChatBot”
IDonate Raises Millions to Help Its Nonprofit Customers Do the Same
Dallas—iDonate, which makes software designed to help nonprofits better connect with donors, has raised $10 million in a Series A funding. The round is led by PerformanceEdge Partners, a venture capital firm focused on software-as-a-service (SaaS) businesses based in Scottsdale, AZ, and includes additional funding from existing and new investors such as the Fort Worth, … Continue reading “IDonate Raises Millions to Help Its Nonprofit Customers Do the Same”
Tech Events in Austin, Houston Promote Women Founders’ Success
Austin—The oft-quoted “pipeline” issue—that there aren’t enough qualified women or people from other underrepresented groups available to create equitable tech workforces, C-suites, and boardrooms—is “total B.S.,” said Juliana Garaizar, a Houston venture investor. The existing venture capital and startup community has “to be challenged to [go] outside of their pattern recognition,” said Garaizar, who recently … Continue reading “Tech Events in Austin, Houston Promote Women Founders’ Success”
Conversable, Impact Hub, data.world, Localeur, ACC & More TX Tech
Let’s get caught up with the latest innovation news in Texas. —Conversable, maker of an AI-enabled chatbot technology, has been acquired by LivePerson, a New York-based provider of mobile and online messaging software. Among the customers of Conversable, which is based in Austin and Dallas, are Whole Foods and TGI Fridays. “Conversational commerce is about … Continue reading “Conversable, Impact Hub, data.world, Localeur, ACC & More TX Tech”
XRC Labs Showcases Retail Tech Innovations in VR, AI, Big Data
XRC Labs, an accelerator program focused on e-commerce and retail startups, held a demo day for its latest class Thursday, featuring innovations in artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and other technologies. The group of 10 startups is the sixth class for New York-based XRC, which was founded three years ago to promote innovation in the disruptive … Continue reading “XRC Labs Showcases Retail Tech Innovations in VR, AI, Big Data”