Austin—Republicans have controlled Texas politics for so long that “we no longer have the good competition of ideas,” says Austin entrepreneur Joseph Kopser. That’s why he says he’s considering becoming a Democratic challenger to incumbent Texas Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, in the 2018 elections. Kopser, who founded and sold his startup, RideScout, to Mercedes-Benz maker … Continue reading “Why Austin Tech Entrepreneur Joseph Kopser Might Run For Congress”
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.
MD Anderson’s Hicks Named Interim President After DePinho Resignation
[Updated 3/17/17 5:32 pm. See below.] Houston—The University of Texas System has named Marshall Hicks the interim president of the MD Anderson Cancer Center, according to a memo to employees obtained by Xconomy. Hicks, whose appointment is official March 21, replaces Ronald DePinho, who resigned earlier this month. [Updated with comment from MD Anderson.] MD Anderson said … Continue reading “MD Anderson’s Hicks Named Interim President After DePinho Resignation”
Five Questions For … San Antonio Entrepreneur & Investor Morris Miller
San Antonio—Entrepreneurship has been a constant theme in Morris Miller’s life. That arc stretches from his grandparents’ businesses in key cutting and dry goods to Miller’s success as a co-founder of San Antonio cloud computing giant Rackspace, which sold to New York private equity firm Apollo Global Management for $4.3 billion. Along the way, he … Continue reading “Five Questions For … San Antonio Entrepreneur & Investor Morris Miller”
“Blue Squad” to Use Tech Tools to Help Progressive Candidates
Austin—For Shion Deysarkar, founder and CEO of Web analytics startup Datafiniti, last fall’s presidential election was a wake-up call. “The election was a very sobering event,” he says. “I think most progressive people had just assumed that we had turned the corner on a lot of issues in America. The election proved we were severely … Continue reading ““Blue Squad” to Use Tech Tools to Help Progressive Candidates”
Biden’s Comments on Challenges in Cancer Care Highlight SXSW Talk
Austin—Technologists need to develop the interstate highway system for healthcare. That was one of the themes at the South By Southwest Interactive conference Sunday, in comments made by doctors, investors, entrepreneurs, and the former vice president of the United States. “I can take my cell phone and find out movie times, or track a check … Continue reading “Biden’s Comments on Challenges in Cancer Care Highlight SXSW Talk”
Five Questions For … SXSW Chief Programming Officer Hugh Forrest
Austin—When Hugh Forrest joined SXSW in 1994, fewer than 4,300 attended the little-known music festival. That was the year that two new “events”—Interactive and Film—were introduced to the mix, with the first keynote being given by a tech executive: Richard Garriott, then the founder of Origin Systems, and now known as a video gaming pioneer … Continue reading “Five Questions For … SXSW Chief Programming Officer Hugh Forrest”
Austin Innovators Form Group to Promote Ethical Use of AI Tools
Austin—A group of Austin, TX, entrepreneurs and investors have partnered with city officials as well as the University of Texas at Austin to form AI Austin, an initiative to promote ethical uses of artificial intelligence. “Our goal is to create a practical and ethical compass for today’s AI technologies, and to build a foundation for … Continue reading “Austin Innovators Form Group to Promote Ethical Use of AI Tools”
Houston’s Biotech Innovation Community Reacts to Robbins Exit at TMC
Houston—The Texas Medical Center has accepted the resignation of its CEO, Robert Robbins, who has been chosen to be the next president of the University of Arizona. O. Holcombe Crosswell, chairman of the TMC board, said in a statement Wednesday that the TMC wishes Robbins well. “We thank Dr. Robbins for his contributions that have … Continue reading “Houston’s Biotech Innovation Community Reacts to Robbins Exit at TMC”
DePinho Announces His Departure from Houston’s MD Anderson
[Updated 3/8/17 4:58 pm. See below.] Houston—Ronald DePinho, CEO of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, has announced he is stepping down after six years at the helm. “Chancellor William H. McRaven has asked me to stay on through the end of the Texas Legislative session, and we will be talking through the details … Continue reading “DePinho Announces His Departure from Houston’s MD Anderson”
TMC CEO Robbins To Leave, Take Top University of Arizona Post
Houston—Texas Medical Center CEO Robert Robbins has been selected as the next president of the University of Arizona, and will visit the school’s Tucson, AZ, campus today. The Phoenix-based Arizona Board of Regents voted unanimously to hire Robbins as its 22nd president. “Dr. Robbins’ comprehensive experience as both a visionary leader and highly-respected physician, as well as … Continue reading “TMC CEO Robbins To Leave, Take Top University of Arizona Post”
Ex-Vice President Biden to Speak About Cancer Moonshot at SXSW
[Updated 3/6/17 5:37 pm. See below.] Austin—Former vice president Joseph Biden will speak at the South By Southwest festival March 12, where he is expected to outline plans for his Biden Cancer Initiative. SXSW organizers said Biden will update attendees on the progress made under his leadership of the White House Cancer Moonshot as well … Continue reading “Ex-Vice President Biden to Speak About Cancer Moonshot at SXSW”
Ingeneron Gets $20M From Sanford Health For Stem Cell Treatment
Houston—Ingeneron, a Houston-based developer of a stem cell-based technology, announced Monday that it has raised $20 million from strategic partner Sanford Health. Ingeneron is developing a stem cell-based system meant to help patients recover from wounds and orthopedic ailments like a torn shoulder rotator cuff. In total, the company has raised $38 million from unspecified … Continue reading “Ingeneron Gets $20M From Sanford Health For Stem Cell Treatment”
Five Questions For … AT&T Connected Health Foundry Chief Nadia Morris
Houston—For Nadia Morris, the key is balance. An artist by temperament, she has successfully pursued a more technical career as a software engineer. (One measure? Morris has more than 20 patents in network security and mobile app development.) As the head of innovation at AT&T’s Connected Health Foundry at the Texas Medical Center, Morris is … Continue reading “Five Questions For … AT&T Connected Health Foundry Chief Nadia Morris”
The Right Tune: Marketing Startup Music Audience Exchange Raises $6M
Dallas—If you think about it, executing a successful marketing campaign is similar to a match-making exercise done well. But to try to ensure that a mutually beneficial relationship is formed, entrepreneur Nathan Hanks has added some data analytics to the match-making mix with his music-focused startup. “The brands we are working with are in need … Continue reading “The Right Tune: Marketing Startup Music Audience Exchange Raises $6M”
Texas Medical Center CEO Robert Robbins in Line For Top Arizona Post
[Updated 3/01/17 4:37 pm. See below.] Houston—Robert Robbins, the CEO of the Texas Medical Center, is one of two finalists vying to be the next president of the University of Arizona. The Phoenix-based Arizona Board of Regents announced Monday that the top two candidates are Robbins and Sethuraman Panchanathan, the executive vice president and chief research and … Continue reading “Texas Medical Center CEO Robert Robbins in Line For Top Arizona Post”
FDA Approves Houston Biotech Lexicon’s Carcinoid Syndrome Diarrhea Drug
Houston—Lexicon Pharmaceuticals announced Tuesday that the FDA has approved its treatment for diarrhea caused by carcinoid syndrome, telotristat ethyl (Xermelo). Lexicon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:LXRX]]) says it is the first orally administered therapy to treat carcinoid syndrome diarrhea in combination with somatostatin analog, or SSA, therapies, which target the root cause of the problem: overproduction of hormones. … Continue reading “FDA Approves Houston Biotech Lexicon’s Carcinoid Syndrome Diarrhea Drug”
TX Roundup: Xenex & data.world Funding, Accenture Hub, & Lynda Chin
Let’s get caught up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —When you spent your childhood in places like Dakar, Senegal, and Beirut, perhaps it’s not so surprising that, in adulthood, your travel itinerary would include the South Pole and outer space. NASA astronaut and serial inventor, Scott Parazynski, speaks about Thomas Edison and … Continue reading “TX Roundup: Xenex & data.world Funding, Accenture Hub, & Lynda Chin”
Five Questions For … Astronaut & Serial Inventor Scott Parazynski
Houston—As children, many of us believed we would have out-of-this-world experiences as adults. Scott Parazynksi is actually living that childhood wish. As a NASA astronaut, Parazynski has flown on five shuttle missions and completed seven spacewalks, including at the International Space Station. A physician, he was the founding director of the University of Texas Medical … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Astronaut & Serial Inventor Scott Parazynski”
UT’s Lynda Chin Responds to Flap Over MD Anderson and Watson Project
Houston—A University of Texas System audit criticizing the administration of a $62 million partnership between MD Anderson Cancer Center and IBM Watson does not necessarily mean an end to the effort to treat cancer using artificial intelligence tools at the medical institution. That’s according to the researcher who led the project at MD Anderson, as … Continue reading “UT’s Lynda Chin Responds to Flap Over MD Anderson and Watson Project”
Accenture Opens First of 10 Innovation Centers in Houston
Houston—The city of Houston boasts a healthy supply of young educated workers and an abundance of private wealth, but its corporate ecosystem and risk aversion toward tech startups prevents its innovation community from realizing its full potential. That’s according to a new report by the consulting firm Accenture, which also announced on Wednesday the opening … Continue reading “Accenture Opens First of 10 Innovation Centers in Houston”
Texas Roundup: Joseph Kopser, Data Refuge, TMC, uShip, EO2 Concepts
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —We have “Five Questions For” Joseph Kopser, an ex-Army officer and West Point professor who found a new mission as a transportation evangelist of sorts when he founded RideScout, an app that aggregated different modes of transportation. With the sale of his company to … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: Joseph Kopser, Data Refuge, TMC, uShip, EO2 Concepts”
Five Questions For … Joseph Kopser, Ex-Army Officer, RideScout founder
Austin—Many entrepreneurs developing a consumer product attempt to incorporate that technology in their daily lives. For Joseph Kopser, that meant regular commutes from his home in Austin, TX, to pitch events and meetings in Houston without using a car—a rather unusual choice in Texas. Kopser was developing RideScout, an app that aggregated various transportation options—taxis, … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Joseph Kopser, Ex-Army Officer, RideScout founder”
Rice, UH Libraries to Host Data Rescue Project Next Month
Houston—The University of Houston and Rice University library systems are working together to help preserve online federal data, as part of a national project aimed at safeguarding scientific research. “The ultimate goal is to raise awareness of having access to this information and preserving this information,” says Lisa Spiro, executive director of digital scholarship services … Continue reading “Rice, UH Libraries to Host Data Rescue Project Next Month “
Texas Roundup: TMCx, Katie Mehnert, UT System, Authenticated Reality
Let’s get caught up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —Often those in medical fields come up with innovative ideas during the course of their work. What they lack, however, is experience in running a business, namely, raising money to help pay for research and development. Fundraising strategies for young medtech entrepreneurs was … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: TMCx, Katie Mehnert, UT System, Authenticated Reality”
TMCx Brings On Largest Class, HealthIT Startups from US & Abroad
Houston—The Texas Medical Center’s TMCx accelerator announced today its largest class of health IT startups, the fourth cohort for the program. The 24-member class includes three Australian companies that are taking part through the TMC’s new BioBridge health technology startup exchange, a program with the Health Informatics Society of Australia that allows Australian entrepreneurs to … Continue reading “TMCx Brings On Largest Class, HealthIT Startups from US & Abroad”
Amid Fake News, Authenticated Reality Launches “The New Internet”
Austin—At a time of fake news and “alternative facts,” it makes sense that a tech entrepreneur would try to find a way to innovate to ensure our encounters on the Internet are real. Chris Ciabarra, co-founder and CTO of Authenticated Reality, says the startup’s new browser—one that would require users to prove they are who … Continue reading “Amid Fake News, Authenticated Reality Launches “The New Internet””
Five Questions For … Katie Mehnert, Founder and CEO of Pink Petro
Houston—Katie Mehnert watched her father lose his engineering job during the energy industry’s depression in the 1980s, and swore to him she would avoid oil and gas jobs. But she did eventually join the ranks of oil and gas workers, even deciding to form her own energy startup, Pink Petro, which aims to not only bring … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Katie Mehnert, Founder and CEO of Pink Petro”
Texas Roundup: Rackspace, 1st and Future, Manoj Saxena, & BeeHex
Let’s get caught up on the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —San Antonio cloud computing company Rackspace is cutting 270 jobs in the U.S.—about 6 percent of its 4,500-person workforce—the company’s CEO Taylor Rhodes announced. The move comes almost five months after Rackspace was acquired by private equity firms for $4.3 billion. To help … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: Rackspace, 1st and Future, Manoj Saxena, & BeeHex”
Hardware Startups Accelerator makerSeed Set to Launch in Dallas
Dallas—A new accelerator for hardware innovation is being hatched in Texas. MakerSeed, which will be based at the University of Texas at Dallas, will focus on student startups and entrepreneurs developing technologies in wearables, IoT, robotics, and other hardware specialties. “I realized there’s kind of a grassroots maker community and a lot of talent in … Continue reading “Hardware Startups Accelerator makerSeed Set to Launch in Dallas”
Building Healthier Athletes: NFL’s 1st and Future Contest in Houston
Houston—The Texas Medical Center had its most high-profile stage yet to showcase its efforts to develop Houston’s biotech innovation community with the NFL’s 1st and Future startup pitch contest. The competition, held Saturday morning at the medical center’s TMCx accelerator, began with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and TMC CEO Bobby Robbins touting the city’s healthcare … Continue reading “Building Healthier Athletes: NFL’s 1st and Future Contest in Houston”
Five Questions For … Manoj Saxena, AI Investor & Ex-IBM Watson Chief
Austin—Humanity is entering the age of homo digitalis. That’s the view of Manoj Saxena, the former general manager of IBM’s Watson Solutions in Austin, TX, and now a venture capitalist who focuses on artificial intelligence startups. The way he sees it, technological advances in machine learning and virtual reality can be combined to create a new … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Manoj Saxena, AI Investor & Ex-IBM Watson Chief”
BeeHex Aims to Bring 3D Printing to Food, One Pizza at a Time
Houston—Who would have thought that the humble pizza could be an icon of innovation? BeeHex founder and CEO Anjan Contractor says the ubiquitous pie is the perfect way to illustrate the possibilities of its chief product—a 3D printer that can “cook.” “It’s strategic; we realize going after all food types is not efficient,” he says. … Continue reading “BeeHex Aims to Bring 3D Printing to Food, One Pizza at a Time”
Texas Roundup: Comey at SXSW, CTAN, RealCo, Fannin, “Trump and Dump”
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —The slow pace of a research environment—not to mention a couple of ER trips for “lab-related accidents,” sent Erik Halvorsen down a career path in technology transfer. Halvorsen, who now directs the Texas Medical Center’s Innovation Institute, speaks about that journey, how commercialization became … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: Comey at SXSW, CTAN, RealCo, Fannin, “Trump and Dump””
Five Questions For … Erik Halvorsen of TMC’s Innovation Institute
Houston—With one year of medical school down, Erik Halvorsen was well on his way to becoming a doctor when a realization struck him: He didn’t actually want to treat patients. “I was much more interested in asking questions and I wanted to find answers to things that people never did before,” he says. So, instead … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Erik Halvorsen of TMC’s Innovation Institute”
EquipmentShare Gets $26M to Leverage Data Analytics in Construction
Dallas—EquipmentShare, a data analytics and software startup geared to the construction industry, has raised $26 million in funding. The investment round was led by Insight Venture Partners and existing investor Romulus Growth, with participation from Y Combinator, another previous investor. The money will be used to expand its geographic reach and further develop new products. … Continue reading “EquipmentShare Gets $26M to Leverage Data Analytics in Construction”
Texas Roundup: Azaya, StemBioSys, Next Coast, Querium, Favor, MacroFab
Let’s get caught up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —First, we have “Five Questions For …” Gabriella Draney Zielke, co-founder and CEO of the Tech Wildcatters accelerator in Dallas. In this installment, we talk about her “accidental” journey to entrepreneurship, lessons learned about managing people, and her interest in astrophysics and space. … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: Azaya, StemBioSys, Next Coast, Querium, Favor, MacroFab”
“Five Questions For … ” Tech Wildcatters CEO Gabriella Draney Zielke
Dallas—A lot of founders I meet say they always knew they wanted to start their own companies. Tech Wildcatters co-founder Gabriella Draney Zielke says her journey into entrepreneurship was an accidental one. Working at a fractional jet company at age 19, she tells me, she joined an aviation software startup company with her then-husband. A … Continue reading ““Five Questions For … ” Tech Wildcatters CEO Gabriella Draney Zielke”
Next Coast Ventures Latest Addition to Austin’s Investment Ecosystem
Austin—Mike Smerklo, co-founder of Next Coast Ventures in Austin, says his venture firm brings a key ingredient to investing: entrepreneurial experience. “We just believe that relevant experience is more important than anecdotal evidence,” he says of himself and co-founder Tom Ball, who have led companies such as ServiceSource, Nucleus Growth, Openfield, and eCoupons, which was … Continue reading “Next Coast Ventures Latest Addition to Austin’s Investment Ecosystem”
Texas Roundup: EnergyFunders, Neal Murthy, Xenex, Xeris, LiveOak
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news from Texas. —Initially set up as a crowdfunding-type platform for small to medium oil and gas operators, EnergyFunders has now expanded its services beyond providing cash. The site, which launched in 2015, also connects operators to hardware and specialized talent they might need to fully realize their … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: EnergyFunders, Neal Murthy, Xenex, Xeris, LiveOak”
Crowdfunding Site EnergyFunders Expands to Offer More Than Just Money
Houston—EnergyFunders started out as a website to connect smaller oil and gas operators to interested investors. Turns out, the need wasn’t only in the matchmaking but in playing therapist throughout the relationship of a drilling project. “The project is a living thing,” says Philip Racusin, EnergyFunders co-founder. “It’s not a one-and-done transaction. We’ve developed an … Continue reading “Crowdfunding Site EnergyFunders Expands to Offer More Than Just Money”
Five Questions For … Houston Entrepreneur and Investor Neal Murthy
Houston—Don’t call Neal Murthy an innovator. Sure, he’s founded and sold companies in behavioral simulation software, energy consulting, and social ventures, and he is an avid investor and mentor to entrepreneurs. His interests range from biotech to artificial intelligence to the social impacts of playing games. “I love to get my hands on something new … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Houston Entrepreneur and Investor Neal Murthy”
Austin Biotech Xeris Names Edick CEO, Raises $41M in Series C Round
Austin—Xeris Pharmaceuticals, an Austin biotech, has raised $41 million in a Series C funding round and named a new CEO. Paul Edick has replaced Douglas Baum, as president and CEO of the company, which is developing a glucagon solution and injection device (G-Pen) for the treatment of severe hypoglycemia. Edick most recently had been CEO … Continue reading “Austin Biotech Xeris Names Edick CEO, Raises $41M in Series C Round”
Texas Roundup: HTC, Indigo, DEC, Rakesh Agrawal, Piko, & Top of 2016
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news from Texas. —The Houston Technology Center has tapped Lori Vetters, a longtime commercial banker and civic leader, to become its next CEO. Vetters takes over the 17-year-old incubator from Walter Ulrich, a business consultant who led the center for nearly a decade. During that time, the innovation … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: HTC, Indigo, DEC, Rakesh Agrawal, Piko, & Top of 2016”
Houston Technology Center Chooses Banker, Civic Leader as New CEO
Houston—Lori Vetters, a longtime Houston commercial banker, has been selected as the next CEO of the Houston Technology Center. Vetters, most recently the head of HSBC’s regional bank based in Houston, becomes the first woman to lead HTC, which serves as an incubator for young tech companies. “I spent 30 years in the business community … Continue reading “Houston Technology Center Chooses Banker, Civic Leader as New CEO”
Five Questions For … SnapStream Founder & CEO Rakesh Agrawal
Houston—Houston-based entrepreneur Rakesh Agrawal is the founder and CEO of the media tech startup SnapStream, which has developed technology capable of recording television programs and combing through them in order to flag specific words or phrases identified by customers. For example, SnapStream’s tools allow one of its customers, “The Daily Show,” to mine congressional hearings … Continue reading “Five Questions For … SnapStream Founder & CEO Rakesh Agrawal”
Xconomy Bookclub: “Hidden Figures” and the Brains Behind Space Flight
Part of the difficulty in attracting a diverse set of people to technology jobs is a chicken-and-egg problem. Women and under-represented minorities don’t often see themselves in those positions, which makes it less likely they would pursue them. Sometimes examples exist in plain sight, but we don’t realize the importance of them until later. That … Continue reading “Xconomy Bookclub: “Hidden Figures” and the Brains Behind Space Flight”
Beyond Success: Failure’s Importance in Building Viable Startups
Houston—Entrepreneurs are a mobile bunch, quickly moving from one startup to another as opportunities play themselves out and others emerge. So in speaking to Houston entrepreneur Rakshak Talwar, I was struck by his answer to my question about what he’s doing with a new artificial intelligence startup he’s joined. “I can show them what not … Continue reading “Beyond Success: Failure’s Importance in Building Viable Startups”
Top of Texas 2016: Big Exits, Ride-Sharing Leaves Austin, & More
As 2016 comes to an end, let’s take a look at some of the more notable stories from Xconomy Texas over the past year. What follows is my highly subjective list of news that we covered in 2016. Notable exits and fundraises: —San Antonio cloud computing company Rackspace was bought by New York private equity … Continue reading “Top of Texas 2016: Big Exits, Ride-Sharing Leaves Austin, & More”
Texas Roundup: “1st & Future,” “Pink Tank” Pitch Contests, & More
As we approach Santa’s annual visit—are your milk and cookies ready?—let’s get caught up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas: —The National Football League has teamed up with the Texas Medical Center to sponsor the 1st & Future startup pitch competition Feb. 4, the day before the Super Bowl takes place in Houston. … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: “1st & Future,” “Pink Tank” Pitch Contests, & More”
Mary Kay Creates “Pink Tank” Pitch Event for Women Founders With DEC
Dallas—Women in Texas interested in founding a business now have a female entrepreneurial icon offering them support: Mary Kay. The company is partnering with the Dallas Entrepreneur Center to host a one-day “Women’s Entrepreneurs Summit” on Jan. 27 to offer guidance to female entrepreneurs interested in fashion, tech, consumer-packaged goods, and business services. In particular, … Continue reading “Mary Kay Creates “Pink Tank” Pitch Event for Women Founders With DEC”