Let’s get caught up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —Organizers for the upcoming South By Southwest Interactive Festival are starting to make known some of this year’s new events. Namely, two days of programming named “Tech Under Trump” will take place March 15-16. “The goal of this programming is both to inform … Continue reading “Tour of Texas: SXSW Updates, Traxo, John Arnold, San Antonio 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.
New SXSW Interactive Event To Focus On Nexus Of Cancer And Tech
Austin—South By Southwest Interactive is adding another healthcare-related event, reflecting a growing emphasis on the intersection between technology and the life sciences. The “Connect to End Cancer” event is a joint project between the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and the AT&T Foundry for Connected Health, both based in Houston. Organizers are scouting … Continue reading “New SXSW Interactive Event To Focus On Nexus Of Cancer And Tech”
Philadelphia’s goBooze Starts Beer, Wine Delivery in Austin
Austin—This past summer had been the season of alcohol delivery startups. As we go into the year-end festivities, Philadelphia-based goBooze announced today that it has expanded service to Austin. GoBooze is the alcohol delivery arm of goPuff, a delivery service company that delivers all manner of consumer products and food that says it fulfills orders in … Continue reading “Philadelphia’s goBooze Starts Beer, Wine Delivery in Austin”
Tour of Texas: Technium, Vapogenix, StemBioSys, & OneTeam Collective
Let’s get caught up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —Dallas-based Technium has launched as a big data analytics platform to match entrepreneurs with intellectual property ready to be commercialized. The startup has built a database of patents and what co-founder Jonathan Van calls “scout software” that analyzes and serves up intellectual property … Continue reading “Tour of Texas: Technium, Vapogenix, StemBioSys, & OneTeam Collective”
Technium Crunches Big Data to Match Entrepreneurs with Researchers
Dallas—Universities and other institutions are chock-full of intellectual property, but it can be difficult for entrepreneurs, interested in turning those ideas into products, to find what they’re looking for. Now, a Dallas-based firm called Technium has launched an online matchmaking service of sorts to connect “entrepreneurs with the inventors,” says Jonathan Van, Technium’s co-founder. “I … Continue reading “Technium Crunches Big Data to Match Entrepreneurs with Researchers”
Houston Biotech Vapogenix Raises $8.2M for Phase 2 Trial
Houston—Vapogenix, a biotech developing a topical non-opioid medication for localized pain, announced Thursday it has raised $8.2 million in a Series C round of funding. The capital will be used for a Phase 2 proof-of-concept study for its drug candidate, AWARD, (short for A Wound Analgesic with RapiD action). The funding comes from previous investor … Continue reading “Houston Biotech Vapogenix Raises $8.2M for Phase 2 Trial”
TX Roundup: Blue Star Accelerator, Industrial Tech at SXSW, UT’s Foundry
Let’s catch up on the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —The Big Cities Health Coalition released its “Big Cities Health Inventory Data Platform” this week, which allows users to use databases to compare the healthy of 28 large urban cities across the country. The effort, funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and … Continue reading “TX Roundup: Blue Star Accelerator, Industrial Tech at SXSW, UT’s Foundry”
With Cowboys’ Backing, Blue Star Set to Boost Sports Startups
Dallas—Partners with a deep well of subject matter expertise and capital are on the top of any entrepreneur’s wish list. Now an accelerator tailored to sports technology startups might be giving those founders a connection to the ultimate in sports and marketing royalty: the Dallas Cowboys. The new Blue Star Accelerator, aimed at nurturing young … Continue reading “With Cowboys’ Backing, Blue Star Set to Boost Sports Startups”
UT’s Foundry Highlights Tech’s Role in Arts and Entertainment Programs
Austin—At the University of Texas at Austin’s new Foundry, the art of science and the science of art are fused through technology. The Foundry, which opened at the start of this school year, is based in UT’s College of Fine Arts, a seemingly atypical home for 3-D printers, a Roland 3-D mill machine, and a … Continue reading “UT’s Foundry Highlights Tech’s Role in Arts and Entertainment Programs”
Texas Roundup: UH Food Tech, Orb Health, NASA, CPRIT Grants, & More
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —Orb Health, a startup alum of the Health Wildcatters accelerator in Dallas, announced it has raised $3.2 million in Series A funding from Mt. Vernon Investments in Dallas, along with Green Park & Golf and other seed investors. Phoenix-based Orb plans to use the … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: UH Food Tech, Orb Health, NASA, CPRIT Grants, & More”
Iris Plans Uses Telemedicine to Innovate Delivery of End-of-life Care
Austin—Iris Plans is using telemedicine for an often overlooked part of health care: advanced care planning. Iris recently announced a partnership with the University of Utah Health Plans, and is now providing technology-enabled advanced care planning for about 50,000 members. Iris has created an online office where doctors, nurses, or social workers can advise patients … Continue reading “Iris Plans Uses Telemedicine to Innovate Delivery of End-of-life Care”
Under Terrier, NASA’s JSC Seeks to Support Space Innovation
Houston—As chief technologist at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Douglas Terrier focuses in part on fostering innovation within his own organization. But his duties also involve seeking outside commercial partners that can use space technologies in other fields. “Our legacy system is the government invests in technology unique to NASA applications and somewhere down the road … Continue reading “Under Terrier, NASA’s JSC Seeks to Support Space Innovation”
Houston’s TMCx Accelerator Debuts First Class of Device Startups
[Corrected 12/01/16, 10:19 am. See below.] Houston—The Texas Medical Center’s startup accelerator TMCx will host a demo day Thursday featuring medical device startups. The group of nine startups have been housed at TMCx over the last three months working on projects including devices for more precise spinal tap procedures, an exoskeleton for seniors and the physically … Continue reading “Houston’s TMCx Accelerator Debuts First Class of Device Startups”
Roundup: Geekdom, Prytime Medical, Hangar, Houston Startup Week, & More
Let’s catch up with the latest news from Xconomy Texas. —San Antonio’s Geekdom Fund has raised $6.7 million for its new fund called Geekdom Fund II. According to a regulatory finding, the firm may raise as much as $15 million to invest on IT startups. Founded in 2014, the Geekdom Fund has focused mostly on … Continue reading “Roundup: Geekdom, Prytime Medical, Hangar, Houston Startup Week, & More”
Inaugural Houston Startup Week Promotes Close-Knit Tech Community
Houston—Startup Week is a staple in many tech communities, a high-profile effort to both support fledgling entrepreneurs and highlight a city’s home-grown innovations. And now the country’s fourth largest city has joined their ranks. Houston held its first Startup Week last week, featuring events to teach founders marketing strategy, fundraising techniques, product development, and other … Continue reading “Inaugural Houston Startup Week Promotes Close-Knit Tech Community”
Dallas’ Take Command Health Wants to Make Health Plan Shopping Easier
Dallas—Now that we’ve made it through Election Day, let’s brace ourselves for Benefits Enrollment season. This month, many of us will dive into the sometimes difficult-to-understand world of co-payments, premiums, prescription drug plans, and the like as we renew our company-sponsored benefits package. For Americans who work for themselves, the purchasing a healthcare plan can … Continue reading “Dallas’ Take Command Health Wants to Make Health Plan Shopping Easier”
Texas Roundup: Brainspace, Disruptors, Phunware, Chiron, Fountainhead
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news in Texas: —Dallas’s Brainspace, a machine-learning software startup, has been acquired by private equity firms Medina Capital and BC Partners to become part of a larger cybersecurity and data services company. The new joint venture will be composed of 57 data centers and four software companies, including Brainspace. … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: Brainspace, Disruptors, Phunware, Chiron, Fountainhead”
Texas Innovators in Health, Space, Energy, A.I. & More: The Disruptors Photos
Texas innovation is as varied as the state is large. At Disruptors, a daylong forum held recently in Houston, Xconomy brought together entrepreneurs, investors, and other innovators to speak of their advances in investing, medical devices, virtual reality, and other sectors. The event was held at the Texas Medical Center’s accelerator, TMCx, and attracted about … Continue reading “Texas Innovators in Health, Space, Energy, A.I. & More: The Disruptors Photos”
Austin’s Phunware Raises $22M for App Development Platform
Austin—Phunware, which makes mobile apps for multinational corporations, announced Wednesday that it has raised $22 million. The funding brings the company $10 million shy of its goal of $50 million for its Series F round. The investment was led by Khazanah Nasional Berhad, the strategic investment fund of the government of Malaysia; Wavemaker Partners; and … Continue reading “Austin’s Phunware Raises $22M for App Development Platform”
Grace Hopper Conference Shines Light on Coding School for Afghan Girls
Houston— The tech industry can be difficult for women and under-represented minorities. For Fereshteh Forough, the degree of difficulty in recruiting women to the field is greater still. And so are the stakes. “There are general challenges, and there are Afghanistan challenges,” she said. Forough is the founder of Code to Inspire, a coding academy … Continue reading “Grace Hopper Conference Shines Light on Coding School for Afghan Girls”
Roundup: Techstars Leaves, U.K. Healthcare Firms Arrive, & Other News
Let’s get caught up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas: Austin: —Techstars Ventures and Texas-based angel investors have added $1 million to the $1.6 million previously raised by NuPark, an Austin startup with video technology to help schools and governments better manage parking. NuPark says its software can help customers manage permit sales, … Continue reading “Roundup: Techstars Leaves, U.K. Healthcare Firms Arrive, & Other News”
Houston SheHacks Event Encourages Women to Form, Lead Tech Startups
Houston—Rebellion Photonics co-founder and CEO Allison Lami Sawyer said she’s tired of being alone when attending technology conferences full of men. “Where is the pipeline of women behind me?” she said. “I want to see more women CEOs.” Sawyer’s remarks on Sunday were given to an assembled crowd attending SheHacks, a hackathon geared towards women … Continue reading “Houston SheHacks Event Encourages Women to Form, Lead Tech Startups”
Xconomy’s Disruptors Houston Conference Showcases Texas Innovators
Houston—In just a few days, Xconomy’s Disruptors conference will bring some of the brightest innovators in Texas together. The daylong forum, being held Thursday at the Texas Medical Center’s TMCx accelerator in Houston, features innovation in healthcare, space, transportation, energy, artificial intelligence, and other sectors. Here are some of the highlights: —Edward Jung, co-founder and … Continue reading “Xconomy’s Disruptors Houston Conference Showcases Texas Innovators”
Houston Storefront Chain Q Fifty One Buys Dallas E-Retailer Edition
Dallas—Edition Collective, a men’s e-commerce startup, has been acquired by a brick-and-mortar retail company, Q Fifty One. Terms of the cash and equity deal were not disclosed. The 13-year-old Q Fifty One is based in Houston and owns and operates Q Clothier and Rye 51 stores in four cities nationwide. Q Clothier sells men’s custom clothing, … Continue reading “Houston Storefront Chain Q Fifty One Buys Dallas E-Retailer Edition”
Austin Drone Software Startup Hangar Collects $6.5M in Seed Funding
Austin—Hangar, a startup that makes software to help businesses better collect and analyze data from drone flights, has raised $6.5 million in an early stage funding round. New York-based Lux Capital led the financing; the company reported that Fontinalis Partners, Haystack Partners, and several prominent angel investors also participated. Founder and CEO Colin Guinn says Hangar produces autonomous … Continue reading “Austin Drone Software Startup Hangar Collects $6.5M in Seed Funding”
Roundup: J&J and AT&T Grow in Houston, Inspyr and Meshify Move On
Let’s get caught up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —Johnson & Johnson Innovation is expanding its presence at the Texas Medical Center in Houston with the launch of its Center for Device Innovation. William “Billy” Cohn, a Houston heart surgeon and serial medical device entrepreneur, is the director. Cohn will oversee the … Continue reading “Roundup: J&J and AT&T Grow in Houston, Inspyr and Meshify Move On”
J&J Opens Medical Device Center, Forms Partnerships With Hospitals
Houston—Johnson & Johnson Innovation is expanding at the Texas Medical Center with a newly open Center for Device Innovation being led by one of Houston’s most prominent surgeon-inventors. William “Billy” Cohn, a cardiac surgeon and serial medical device entrepreneur, is the center’s first director. He had been at Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas … Continue reading “J&J Opens Medical Device Center, Forms Partnerships With Hospitals”
AT&T’s Houston Foundry Chief Morris Talks Connecting Healthcare to Technology
Houston—Nadia Morris, the head of innovation for AT&T’s Connected Health Foundry at the Texas Medical Center, calls herself a “constant tinkerer.” That penchant came in handy recently when her father-in-law had a few falls and was subsequently diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. “I cobbled together some very basic devices that they can use, built up … Continue reading “AT&T’s Houston Foundry Chief Morris Talks Connecting Healthcare to Technology”
Disruptors: Boosting Houston’s Healthcare Innovation Ecosystem
Houston—When we first opened Xconomy’s Texas bureau in May 2013, the consistent message I received from those in the biotech community was: Houston has so much potential. The city, home to the Texas Medical Center, had a solid healthcare innovation ecosystem, groundbreaking research being produced by award-winning scientists, business executives already attuned to taking risks … Continue reading “Disruptors: Boosting Houston’s Healthcare Innovation Ecosystem”
Houston IoT Software Startup Meshify Bought by Specialty Insurer HSB
Houston—Meshify, a startup that makes software for the Internet of Things, has been acquired by Hartford Steam Boiler, a subsidiary of global insurer Munich Re, the companies announced in a press release. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Meshify says its software, hardware, and services simplify the collection of data, manage device and data … Continue reading “Houston IoT Software Startup Meshify Bought by Specialty Insurer HSB”
Tour of Texas: Twyla, Firefly, Factom, DocSynk, Disruptors, & More
Let’s get caught up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. Austin: —Factom, a startup that uses blockchain technology to secure and verify data such as public records and business documents, has raised $4.2 million in a Series A round. Tim Draper, the venture capitalist who runs the investment firm Draper Associates, led the … Continue reading “Tour of Texas: Twyla, Firefly, Factom, DocSynk, Disruptors, & More”
Bowles, Zielke Discuss Disrupting the Accelerator at Upcoming Event
Houston—In the last decade, accelerator programs to boost startups have spread across the country. In Texas, some of these organizations are now examining how accelerators might evolve in the near future. Some of those efforts will be the focus of the “Startups Disrupted” panel later this month at Xconomy’s upcoming Disruptors conference. The daylong forum, … Continue reading “Bowles, Zielke Discuss Disrupting the Accelerator at Upcoming Event”
AI Software Startup DocSynk Nabs $1M in Seed Money From Naya Ventures
Dallas—Amazon offers us products we might like based on our previous purchases. Pandora creates music channels tailored to our preferences. Why can’t similar technology help us find a doctor, or help doctors’ offices know before a patient comes in if their insurance will pay for treatment? Those are some of the aims of Dallas-based DocSynk, … Continue reading “AI Software Startup DocSynk Nabs $1M in Seed Money From Naya Ventures”
Microsoft Ventures Invests In Austin AI Startup Cognitive Scale
Austin—Microsoft Ventures has invested in Austin artificial intelligence startup CognitiveScale, filling out its Series B investment round to more than $25 million, the company reported Tuesday. Cognitive Scale would not reveal the amount Microsoft has invested. In August, the startup announced it had raised a total of $21.8 million in the Series B round from investors such … Continue reading “Microsoft Ventures Invests In Austin AI Startup Cognitive Scale”
Roundup: Caringo, Aging 2.0, Disruptors Agenda, Cloud Sites, Trey Bowles
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —Caringo, an Austin startup that makes software that can enable customers to manage, organize, and search extremely large amounts of data, has raised $8.8 million in a Series B round of funding, bring its total investment raised to $33 million. Investors include New Science … Continue reading “Roundup: Caringo, Aging 2.0, Disruptors Agenda, Cloud Sites, Trey Bowles”
Aging 2.0 Brings Its Focus on Technology and Elder Care to Houston
Houston—Aging 2.0 now has a perch in the home of one of the world’s largest medical centers. The San Francisco-based organization, focused on supporting innovation tailored to the needs of older adults, kicks off its Houston chapter today with a forum to discuss some of the needs in the aging healthcare market. “The mission with … Continue reading “Aging 2.0 Brings Its Focus on Technology and Elder Care to Houston”
The Future of Innovation at Xconomy’s Upcoming Disruptors Event
Houston—From the zero-gravity environment of outer space to molecules deep within the body, Texas innovators are using technology to change the way we live, work, and play. Xconomy’s upcoming Disruptors conference in Houston will explore all of this and more. Today, we are releasing the full agenda for this daylong forum, taking place October 27 … Continue reading “The Future of Innovation at Xconomy’s Upcoming Disruptors Event”
Roundup: Aceable, Richards-Kortum Wins MacArthur, DivInc & More
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas: –Austin edtech startup Aceable has raised $4 million in a Series A round of funding to help it further expand its line of online testing products beyond driver’s education. The round was co-led by earlier investors Silverton Partners in Austin and Floodgate in Palo … Continue reading “Roundup: Aceable, Richards-Kortum Wins MacArthur, DivInc & More”
In the Driver’s Seat: Austin Edtech Startup Aceable Brings in $4M
Austin—Aceable has raised $4 million in a Series A round of funding to help it further expand its line of online testing products beyond driver’s education. The round was co-led by earlier investors Silverton Partners in Austin and Floodgate in Palo Alto, CA. In total, the startup has raised $8.7 million, including a $3 million … Continue reading “In the Driver’s Seat: Austin Edtech Startup Aceable Brings in $4M”
Richards-Kortum Named MacArthur Fellow For Work in Global Health
Houston—Rice University’s Rebecca Richards-Kortum is among this year’s recipients of the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship, known as the “genius grants.” A bioengineering professor at Rice, Richards-Kortum became the first woman and youngest faculty member to earn Rice’s highest academic rank of university professor. She directs the Rice Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering and she also leads … Continue reading “Richards-Kortum Named MacArthur Fellow For Work in Global Health”
Intellectual Ventures Co-Founder Jung to Speak at Disruptors Oct. 27
Houston—Two of the brand names that speak loudest to innovation in this country are Microsoft and Intellectual Ventures. Edward Jung is co-founder and chief technology officer of Intellectual Ventures, as well as the former chief architect at Microsoft. He is the latest addition to our program for Xconomy’s upcoming Disruptors conference in Houston on October … Continue reading “Intellectual Ventures Co-Founder Jung to Speak at Disruptors Oct. 27”
Austin’s DivInc Accelerator Focuses On Minority Startup Founders
Austin—Preston James left his position as chief of Dell Computer’s Global Center for Entrepreneurs two years ago, and decided to mentor and invest in startup founders full-time, most notably through an affiliation with Austin’s Capital Factory and the Central Texas Angel Network. He quickly noticed that, as an African-American, the faces he saw rarely resembled … Continue reading “Austin’s DivInc Accelerator Focuses On Minority Startup Founders”
Roundup: DIUx, Scraffic, Peloton, Pitchocracy, & Alamo City Angels
Let’s get caught up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —EverlyWell wants to deepen our knowledge of our quantified selves. The year-old startup sells what it calls “health and wellness” at-home assays that can check hormone and blood sugar levels, among other biological markers. EverlyWell partners with certified labs that process the samples, … Continue reading “Roundup: DIUx, Scraffic, Peloton, Pitchocracy, & Alamo City Angels”
Austin’s EverlyWell Helps Consumers Do More Health Tests at Home
Austin—Now that we consumers are used to tracking our steps and sleep via our wrists, health IT startup EverlyWell wants to take health tracking a little deeper. The Austin, TX-based company sells what it calls “health and wellness tests”—at-home assays that check hormone levels, blood sugar, cholesterol, and more—that can help a person learn more … Continue reading “Austin’s EverlyWell Helps Consumers Do More Health Tests at Home”
Dallas-Based Peloton Raises $52.4M for Kidney Cancer Drug Candidate
Dallas—Peloton Therapeutics, which is developing small molecule cancer therapies, announced Thursday it has raised $52.4 million in a Series D financing round. Investors included Foresite Capital Management, a new investor, and previous backers Remeditex, The Column Group, Tichenor Ventures, Topspin Fund, and Nextech Invest. Jim Tananbaum, Foresite’s CEO and managing director, said in a prepared … Continue reading “Dallas-Based Peloton Raises $52.4M for Kidney Cancer Drug Candidate”
Roundup: Qentelli, Health Wildcatters, Fannin, & Texas Disruptors
Let’s get caught up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —Qentelli wants to make the quality assurance process in software development more agile by bringing in modern methodology to testing practices. The Dallas startup has built a process that will test QA during the development process rather than after the software has been … Continue reading “Roundup: Qentelli, Health Wildcatters, Fannin, & Texas Disruptors”
Disruptors 2016: The Future of Software, Transportation Tech & More
Houston—Texas is synonymous with cars: wide roadways that extend into open spaces. The state hosts the Cadillac Ranch (a public art installation made up of the iconic automobile), and, course, the city of Houston is home to the global oil and gas industry. Plenty of innovation in the transportation sector is also taking place in … Continue reading “Disruptors 2016: The Future of Software, Transportation Tech & More”
Houston’s Arundo Taps Into the Industrial Internet for Energy Firms
Houston—Oilfield operations are increasingly digitized, with each piece of equipment loaded with software and sensors spitting out reams of data. “Heavy equipment is becoming instrumented. Now, what do I do with all of that information?” asks Stuart Morstead, COO at Houston-based Arundo Analytics. He says the company can help oil and gas companies, as well … Continue reading “Houston’s Arundo Taps Into the Industrial Internet for Energy Firms”
Dallas Software Startup Qentelli Aims to Improve Quality Assurance
Dallas—Quality assurance is usually done after something is built: At the end of the assembly line process, does the car drive? When it comes to software application development, at least, Dallas startup Qentelli wants to make that process more “agile” and bring modern methodology to testing practices. A sequential process—build the software first, then test … Continue reading “Dallas Software Startup Qentelli Aims to Improve Quality Assurance”
Building the Next Generation of CEOs: Houston’s Fannin Names Fellows
Houston—Fannin Innovation Studio has named five new fellows as part of its program to help nurture biotech and life sciences executives. The fellows, most of whom have PhDs, have specialties in neurosciences, systems biology, economics, and cellular biology. They will work alongside the executive leadership of companies in Fannin’s portfolio. The fellows will be given … Continue reading “Building the Next Generation of CEOs: Houston’s Fannin Names Fellows”