Here’s what’s making news across the cities in Xconomy Texas. —Acessa Health in Austin announced the company has completed a $30 million Series A financing and acquired a non-invasive treatment for uterine fibroids from a California medical device company. Acessa says the new capital comes from institutional venture investment firms and will be used for … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: Acessa Health, CareSet, TeVido, Larry Lawson, TAMU”
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.
Five Questions For … Houston Medical Device Investor Larry Lawson
Houston—Houston entrepreneur Larry Lawson started out his professional life immersed in the groovy melodies of the mid- to late 1960s. Lawson was part of an East Texas “sunshine pop” band that relocated to Houston as the Clique. One of the band’s bigger hits, 1969’s “Superman,” reached a new generation in the mid-1980s when R.E.M. recorded its … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Houston Medical Device Investor Larry Lawson”
Neos Therapeutics’ Controlled-Release ADHD Drug Get FDA Approval
Dallas—The FDA late Monday approved Neos Therapeutics’ controlled-release version of an old ADHD therapy, methylphenidate. Neos (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NEOS]]) says its formulation of methylphenidate (Cotempla XR-ODT) is the first methylphenidate tablet designed to deliver the medication in a gradual manner over time—instead of all at once—and is able to orally disintegrate on the tongue to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity … Continue reading “Neos Therapeutics’ Controlled-Release ADHD Drug Get FDA Approval”
Insurance Against Cyber Attacks Gains Steam Alongside Rising Risk
San Antonio—The news spotlight has shifted away from cybersecurity concerns in the weeks since the outbreak of the WannaCry cyber-hack. But Bill Kelly, senior vice president for underwriting at insurer Argo Pro in San Antonio, says the threat of cyber attacks is ever present. “There’s many you don’t hear about because companies don’t want to … Continue reading “Insurance Against Cyber Attacks Gains Steam Alongside Rising Risk”
“Five Questions For …” Houston Technology Center’s Deborah Mansfield
Houston—Before Deborah Mansfield joined the Houston Technology Center, she was a bench scientist working in genetics and a grants manager at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Those positions, along with an MBA earned during weekend classes and a hands-on education of “the ABCs of business” at a Houston retailer, together give Mansfield … Continue reading ““Five Questions For …” Houston Technology Center’s Deborah Mansfield”
Texas Roundup: CancerGene, UT System, Blair Garrou, GE & Baker Hughes
Let’s get caught up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —Austin AI company Cognitive Scale announced Tuesday it has raised $15 million, bringing the total raised for the three-year-old company to $50 million. Investors include Norwest Venture Partners, Intel Capital, Microsoft Ventures, The Westly Group, and USAA. Akshay Sabhikhi, Cognitive Scale’s CEO, says … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: CancerGene, UT System, Blair Garrou, GE & Baker Hughes”
Latest Class of Digital Health Startups Debuts at TMCx Accelerator
Houston—Around 600 entrepreneurs, investors, and others from Houston’s venture and healthcare communities turned out for the TMCx accelerator’s digital health demo day Thursday—many for the first time. Sunil Sharma, CEO of biomedical equipment seller Sunbelt Medical in Houston, was one of those. He said he’s been interested in making healthcare more efficient and cost-effective since … Continue reading “Latest Class of Digital Health Startups Debuts at TMCx Accelerator”
Five Questions For … Mercury Fund Co-Founder Blair Garrou
Houston—Blair Garrou is the kind of guy who prefers juggling a lot of balls at once. When oil prices cratered in the 1990s, business slowed down at his employer, a mergers and acquisitions firm. “I had some time on my hands and there was this new organization called the Houston Technology Center so I started … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Mercury Fund Co-Founder Blair Garrou”
Coburn, Ex-cleantech Accelerator Founder, Joins Shell Tech Ventures
Houston—While leading the energy-focused Surge Accelerator, Kirk Coburn says he was never “behind the curtain” to truly understand how technology could help solve problems for major oil companies. “I was never inside to see how the soup’s being made,” he says. “I get that opportunity now. I’m part of the team.” The opportunity he’s alluding … Continue reading “Coburn, Ex-cleantech Accelerator Founder, Joins Shell Tech Ventures”
California’s Surf Air Acquires Dallas-Based Airline Company Rise
[Updated 6/7/17 12:21 pm. See below.] Dallas—Dallas-based aviation startup Rise has been acquired by Surf Air, a California airline membership company. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Rise founder Nick Kennedy will remain with the company as president of the Texas region. [Updated to include comments from the CEO.]“Members loved what we were doing and wanted … Continue reading “California’s Surf Air Acquires Dallas-Based Airline Company Rise”
Austin’s Digital Pharmacist Receives $6.5M for Healthcare Software
[Updated 6/6/17 12:48 pm. See below.] Austin—Digital Pharmacist has raised $6.5 million in a Series B round of funding. [More details on the company and comment from the CEO added.]The financing was led by Activate Venture Partners in New York and Austin, TX-based LiveOak Venture Partners and brings the total funds raised by the company to … Continue reading “Austin’s Digital Pharmacist Receives $6.5M for Healthcare Software”
Citing Losses, Fare Quits Austin as Uber, Lyft Resume Service
Austin—The return of Uber and Lyft to Austin has claimed its first casualty. Fare began operating last summer, shortly after the ride-hailing giants quit the Texas capital following voters’ approval of stringent rules that the companies were against. Late on Monday, Fare announced in an e-mail to customers that “we are unable to endure the … Continue reading “Citing Losses, Fare Quits Austin as Uber, Lyft Resume Service”
Why Pay Retail? Griddy Says It Offers Wholesale Electricity Prices
Houston—Griddy wants to bring the Costco model to retail energy: Pay a membership fee; get wholesale prices for electricity. “Griddy, through the mobile app membership, connects the home right to the wholesale price,” says Gregory Craig, Griddy’s CEO. “There’s no margin, no surprises, no hidden markups.” Craig claims that Griddy can provide retail power at … Continue reading “Why Pay Retail? Griddy Says It Offers Wholesale Electricity Prices”
Five Questions For … Dallas Entrepreneur Center CEO Trey Bowles
Dallas—Ask around Dallas who the city’s entrepreneurship ambassador is, and it’s likely that Trey Bowles’ name will quickly pop up. Bowles, who founded the Dallas Entrepreneur Center in 2013, is a high-profile supporter of the various accelerators, programs, and other efforts that have cropped up in North Texas to support innovation. In addition to running … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Dallas Entrepreneur Center CEO Trey Bowles”
Energy Leaders React to Trump’s Withdrawal From Paris Climate Accord
[Updated 6/2/17, 10:10 pm ET. See below.] President Donald Trump today announced the United States would withdraw from complying with what’s known as the Paris climate accord, a landmark international agreement to combat climate change. In December 2015, nearly all the countries in the world—195 of them—agreed to the pact, which aims to reduce emissions of … Continue reading “Energy Leaders React to Trump’s Withdrawal From Paris Climate Accord”
Texas Cancer Agency Poised to Receive Two-Year Extension
Austin—The future of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) waits for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s signature. Texas lawmakers have passed legislation to expand the life of the agency, also known as CPRIT, which was created through a referendum a decade ago to issue $3 billion in bonds to fund cancer research and treatment … Continue reading “Texas Cancer Agency Poised to Receive Two-Year Extension”
With Governor’s Approval, Teladoc Expands Texas Telehealth Services
Dallas—Texas, a large healthcare market and the home state of Teladoc (NYSE: [[ticker:TDOC]]), has been a relatively small market for the telemedicine firm. But now with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s signature on a new law that makes operating in the state easier, Teladoc is poised to expand its business here. Lewisville, TX-based Teladoc had been … Continue reading “With Governor’s Approval, Teladoc Expands Texas Telehealth Services”
Five Questions For … Houston Angel Network Chief Juliana Garaizar
Houston—Juliana Garaizar, managing director of the Houston Angel Network, is used to dealing with big egos and strong personalities in both the investing and tech worlds. “If it’s up to me, I try to work as little as possible with them and be very careful with them,” she says. “If it’s not up to me, … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Houston Angel Network Chief Juliana Garaizar”
Around Texas: Joseph Kopser, Mark Cuban, REVtech, Founder Institute
—Mark Cuban has led a $1.5 million seed funding round in an Austin IT startup, along with investors such as data.world founder Brett Hurt and Barracuda Networks. Meta SaaS provides reports and alerts on abandoned, underutilized, or redundant software licenses before they are auto-renewed, the company says. “SaaS has solved numerous business problems, but it … Continue reading “Around Texas: Joseph Kopser, Mark Cuban, REVtech, Founder Institute”
Five Questions For … Austin Serial Entrepreneur Higinio “HO” Maycotte
Austin—Family lore holds that HO Maycotte’s great-grandfather shot off the leg of Pancho Villa, a Mexican revolutionary. Maycotte, a serial entrepreneur based in Austin, grew up in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, in a military-turned-entrepreneurial family. His family established the first hotel there as well as arts schools and a golf course. “It was an … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Austin Serial Entrepreneur Higinio “HO” Maycotte”
Xconomy Bookclub: “Startup” Offers a Pointed Look at Techie Culture
Doree Shafrir’s novel Startup is set in New York City’s tech scene, but given its theme, there is, of course, a detour to Austin to attend South By Southwest. She describes it as “the tech industry’s five-day Super Bowl, prom, Oscars, and Coachella all wrapped into one, with breakfast tacos.” At this annual techie pilgrimage, … Continue reading “Xconomy Bookclub: “Startup” Offers a Pointed Look at Techie Culture”
Austin’s MAP Health Teams Up With Watson For Better Data Analytics
Austin—MAP Health Management, an Austin health IT and telehealth company, is partnering with IBM Watson to use analytics to better treat patients with substance abuse problems. The partnership is designed to fill a gap in long-term care for recovering addicts. The companies will use data analytics to understand which patients are at greatest risk of … Continue reading “Austin’s MAP Health Teams Up With Watson For Better Data Analytics”
Brett Giroir, Ex-CEO of A&M Health Science Center, on Tap for HHS Post
Houston—Another Texan, and Aggie, could be joining President Trump’s administration. Brett Giroir, the former CEO of the Texas A&M University Health Science Center and current president and CEO of Houston biotech ViraCyte, could become assistant secretary for health for the US Department of Health and Human Services. The White House announced last month the intent … Continue reading “Brett Giroir, Ex-CEO of A&M Health Science Center, on Tap for HHS Post”
Five Questions For … Station Houston CEO John “JR” Reale
Houston— For John Reale, the CEO of startup co-working space Station Houston, family ties bind strongly. A little more than a week ago, his first child, a daughter named Juliana, was born. “I was telling her a story about my grandfather,” says Reale, who is known as JR. “It was a very emotional moment, to … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Station Houston CEO John “JR” Reale”
Dell and Circular Board Advise Women Entrepreneurs: Go Ask Alice
Houston—Dell and Circular Board want women founders to meet Alice. Alice is a software platform that uses artificial intelligence-related tools designed to connect female entrepreneurs with resources needed to develop their companies regardless of where they are based, what industry they are in, or what language they speak. “The genesis for Alice is that we … Continue reading “Dell and Circular Board Advise Women Entrepreneurs: Go Ask Alice”
Google Picks Up Owlchemy Labs, Austin-Based VR Startup
Austin—Google has bought Owlchemy Labs, an Austin, TX, virtual reality startup best known for its “Job Simulator” game. Relja Marcovik, engineering director of virtual reality and augmented reality at Google, announced the news in a blog post Wednesday, saying Owlchemy “set a high bar for what engagement can be like in virtual worlds, and do … Continue reading “Google Picks Up Owlchemy Labs, Austin-Based VR Startup”
Austin Real Estate Tech Startup Opcity Snags $27M in Funding
Austin—An Austin real estate startup is using technology to become a better matchmaker between buyers and sellers of properties, and has raised $27 million to expand its market. Opcity received the investment in a Series A round led by Palo Alto, CA-based Icon Ventures, with participation from Georgian Partners in Toronto, and Austin’s LiveOak Venture … Continue reading “Austin Real Estate Tech Startup Opcity Snags $27M in Funding”
Startup Spotlight: Texas Innovations in Health IT, Big Data Analytics
The Texas innovation landscape is dotted with young tech companies. Here are a couple that have recently cropped up: Pilosa, software to enable real-time data analytics of really big data, based in Austin, TX. The problem: Data sets that are larger than 500 gigabytes are difficult to query. They typically have to be broken down … Continue reading “Startup Spotlight: Texas Innovations in Health IT, Big Data Analytics”
TX Roundup: New Funding, MD Anderson, Carolyn Rodz, 1PlanetSol, Dell
Let’s get caught up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —An Austin social venture company, 1PlanetSol, is among a group of ventures competing in the US Department of Energy’s Solar in Your Community challenge, which aims to bring solar energy to underserved communities. 1PlanetSol is partnering with Austin Habitat for Humanity and the Texas … Continue reading “TX Roundup: New Funding, MD Anderson, Carolyn Rodz, 1PlanetSol, Dell”
Five Questions For … Carolyn Rodz, Founder of the Circular Board
Houston—As a child, Carolyn Rodz couldn’t decide what she wanted to do when she grew up. Doctor, lawyer, teacher: they each appealed to her. Rodz finally figured out the common thread among all of her interests—a desire to help others. “I’m an idealist,” she says. “I truly believe there is a solution to everything, and … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Carolyn Rodz, Founder of the Circular Board”
Austin Startups, EverlyWell and Bitfusion, Nab New Rounds of Funding
Austin—Two local tech startups—one in health IT and another in computing and machine learning software—have announced new rounds of funding. EverlyWell picked up $2 million from investors such as NextGen Venture Partners, SoGal Ventures, Full Tilt Capital, and others. The startup, founded about two years ago, makes what it calls “health and wellness tests”—at-home assays … Continue reading “Austin Startups, EverlyWell and Bitfusion, Nab New Rounds of Funding”
Texas Roundup: Joshua Baer, UTD, Prytime, Next Coast, Spanning
Let’s get caught up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —Renaissance Venture Capital, a fund-of-funds based in Ann Arbor, MI, announced it invested in Next Coast Ventures, a venture firm based in Austin. Renaissance puts money in out-of-state venture firms in order to help entice them to consider investing in Michigan-based startups. —For … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: Joshua Baer, UTD, Prytime, Next Coast, Spanning”
Five Questions For … Joshua Baer, Founder of Austin’s Capital Factory
Austin—Joshua Baer has become one of Austin’s most high-profile evangelists. Baer founded Capital Factory in 2009 as a combination startup accelerator program and co-working space in the city’s downtown, and it quickly became a key epicenter of innovation in the city. (Capital Factory hosted nearly 1,000 startup-related events this past year.) During the South By … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Joshua Baer, Founder of Austin’s Capital Factory”
Blackstone LaunchPad Adds to UTD’s Entrepreneurship Portfolio
Richardson, TX—The University of Texas at Dallas today formally kicks off its Blackstone LaunchPad program, one of three cross-disciplinary entrepreneurship centers opening at universities across the state. The program, funded by a $1 million donation from the charitable arm of the New York-based private equity firm, also received a matching $1 million grant from UTD. … Continue reading “Blackstone LaunchPad Adds to UTD’s Entrepreneurship Portfolio”
Xconomy Bookclub: Big Data Meets Fine Dining in CEO’s “Culinary Tour”
Software, it has been said, is eating the world. Now the food world is looking to use technology and analytics as a main ingredient in running more profitable organizations. So says Damian Mogavero, who along with Joseph D’Agnese, wrote The Underground Culinary Tour: How the New Metrics of Today’s Top Restaurants Are Transforming How America … Continue reading “Xconomy Bookclub: Big Data Meets Fine Dining in CEO’s “Culinary Tour””
Five Questions for Steve Guengerich, UT-Dallas Innovation Institute CEO
Dallas—In addition to founding tech startups such as mobile e-retail company Appconomy, entrepreneur Steve Guengerich has simultaneously focused on teaching young entrepreneurs and taking on roles that can help build an innovation ecosystem during his years in Austin. So it’s fitting that this experience has culminated in an actual full-time teaching position. Guengerich this month packed … Continue reading “Five Questions for Steve Guengerich, UT-Dallas Innovation Institute CEO”
TX Roundup: New Money for Austin Startups, TMC, Lean DNA, & More
Let’s get caught up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. Even though venture investment in Austin dipped in the first three months of this year compared to the same period in 2016, this week brought news of several funding announcements for startups in enterprise software, data analytics, and other fields. —Austin blockchain software … Continue reading “TX Roundup: New Money for Austin Startups, TMC, Lean DNA, & More”
Five Questions For … Allison Lami Sawyer, Rebellion Photonics’s CEO
Houston—As a woman who is a scientist and co-founder of Rebellion Photonics, an oil-and-gas related startup, Allison Lami Sawyer is used to plowing a different road. She’s also tired of being one of the few women on it. “Where is the pipeline of women behind me?” she said to me last fall following the first … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Allison Lami Sawyer, Rebellion Photonics’s CEO”
TX Roundup: RetailMeNot, Gaurav Khandelwal, Zilliant, Xbiotech & More
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —Consortia Health, which provides physician groups with equipment and nurses to help patients with pelvic floor exercises known as kegels, has raised $2 million in funding, says Gail Page, the Austin-based company’s co-founder and executive chair. Investors include Ponil Ventures in Austin, as well … Continue reading “TX Roundup: RetailMeNot, Gaurav Khandelwal, Zilliant, Xbiotech & More”
Texas Medical Center Names McKeon as New CEO to Replace Robbins
Houston—The Texas Medical Center announced Thursday that Bill McKeon will become its president and CEO, replacing Bobby Robbins. McKeon had been the TMC’s executive vice president and chief strategy and operating officer under Robbins, who last month was named the president of the University of Arizona. “Bill McKeon is a seasoned executive who has served … Continue reading “Texas Medical Center Names McKeon as New CEO to Replace Robbins”
JLabs’s Tom Luby Talks About Houston’s Potential as a Biotech Hub
Houston—Much is made over the difference between the Houston biotech ecosystem and those on the East and West coasts. Places like Cambridge, MA’s Kendall Square are so dense with scientists, entrepreneurs, and investors eager to play matchmaker, lab space is becoming near impossible to secure, says Tom Luby of JLabs, an innovation incubator run by … Continue reading “JLabs’s Tom Luby Talks About Houston’s Potential as a Biotech Hub”
BioHouston Chili Cookoff: Vampires, Convicts, Hippies, & More
Houston—More than 600 people in Houston’s biotech community played hooky on Friday to cook chili and commune with each other at BioHouston’s 14th annual Chili Cookoff. The event drew nearly 40 competitors in the culinary contest with prizes awarded to the best chili in traditional, non-traditional, and spicy categories. (I was one of the judges … Continue reading “BioHouston Chili Cookoff: Vampires, Convicts, Hippies, & More”
Health-Related Startups Dominate at 2017 Rice Business Plan Contest
Houston—Student competitors at this year’s Rice Business Plan Competition got a glimpse of this event’s impact: seeing a previous winner publicly feted on the announcement of being acquired. Adhesys Medical, which won the prestigious Rice contest in 2014, announced Saturday that it had been purchased by The Grünenthal Group, a German pharmaceutical firm. Terms were not … Continue reading “Health-Related Startups Dominate at 2017 Rice Business Plan Contest”
Five Questions For … Gaurav Khandelwal, Founder of Houston’s Chai One
Houston—Houston tech entrepreneur Gaurav Khandelwal has been the face of Houston—literally. In a marketing campaign a few years ago, Khandelwal was one of the featured ambassadors in a series of highway billboards. The Greater Houston Partnership effort was aimed at expanding the city’s image beyond the oil-and-gas stereotype. Khandelwal, who grew up in Kolkata, India, … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Gaurav Khandelwal, Founder of Houston’s Chai One”
Tour of Texas: Austin Tech in Politics, Watershed, Scaleworks & More
Let’s get caught up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. Austin: —Ottobock, a German prosthetics company with North American headquarters in Austin, has acquired Boston-based BionX Medical Technologies. BionX makes a prosthetic foot and ankle product that uses robotic technology. Financial terms were not disclosed for the deal that was announced earlier this … Continue reading “Tour of Texas: Austin Tech in Politics, Watershed, Scaleworks & More”
New Blood: Biotech CEOs Bring Fresh Experience to Houston Ecosystem
Houston—A number of Houston biotech companies have new leadership at the helm. These leadership changes include a few executives like Lonnel Coats, CEO of Lexicon Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:LXRX]]), who have relocated to Houston from the East and West coasts—homes of more established and successful biotech ecosystems. “We had the ability to move the company to … Continue reading “New Blood: Biotech CEOs Bring Fresh Experience to Houston Ecosystem”
Five Questions For … Hesam Panahi, Rice University Entrepreneurship Lecturer
Houston—Entrepreneurship runs in the Panahi family, so it’s little wonder that Hesam Panahi now teaches the subject to undergraduates. “Both of my parents were entrepreneurs,” he says. “That, I think, was a huge influence to me. It made me realize that I didn’t have to necessarily go to a 9-to-5 job, which led me to … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Hesam Panahi, Rice University Entrepreneurship Lecturer”
Inside the Growing Political Awakening of Austin’s Tech Community
Austin—Texas Rep. Lamar Smith has long said he doesn’t believe in man-made climate change. But it was only in this last year of “fake news” and “alternative facts” that that sentiment moved Joseph Kopser to take action. “He doesn’t believe in facts, and he doesn’t want them reported,” Kopser says of the Republican Congressman. That sort … Continue reading “Inside the Growing Political Awakening of Austin’s Tech Community”
Five Questions For … Seremedi CEO, Ex-Microsoft Executive Kim Bond Evans
Houston—When Kim Bond Evans was 15, her father was dying. One particular piece of advice that he gave her stood out: Focus on what can be done, he advised, not on the naysayers, who may stand in the way. “When the front door closes, go through the back door,” Evans says he told her. “If … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Seremedi CEO, Ex-Microsoft Executive Kim Bond Evans”
Texas Roundup: SXSW Odds & Ends, Dosh, Mythic, Peloton, & More
[David Holley contributed to this report.] We’re not through with South By Southwest yet. (And, also, yes, there has been some other innovation news at Xconomy Texas.) Read on: —FBI Director James Comey is part of an intelligence symposium Thursday at the University of Texas at Austin. This engagement comes about a week after Comey … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: SXSW Odds & Ends, Dosh, Mythic, Peloton, & More”