San Diego Venture Group Hires First President, Senturia Talks Entrepreneurship, Maxwell Arranges Financing, & More San Diego BizTech News

Venture capital for early stage companies remains a serious concern among San Diego’s high tech startups. We have details on how that is being addressed, along with a wrap-up on the rest of the week’s biztech news. —The San Diego Venture Group has hired a local VC, Windward Ventures co-founder David Titus, to serve as … Continue reading “San Diego Venture Group Hires First President, Senturia Talks Entrepreneurship, Maxwell Arranges Financing, & More San Diego BizTech News”

Mushroom Networks Advances Technology for Live Field Broadcasts

When I profiled San Diego’s Mushroom Networks last June, the venture-backed developer of “broadband bonding” technology had just introduced Teleporter, a hardware package that enables a broadcast journalist to send high-quality digital video over local cellular networks. One year later, the company says its Teleporter technology is now available with HD capability. Mushroom Networks says … Continue reading “Mushroom Networks Advances Technology for Live Field Broadcasts”

Active Network Expands Schwaggle Deals

San Diego’s Active Network says today it’s planning a nationwide roll-out of its Schwaggle deal program, beginning this month with targeted offerings three times a week on fitness products and services, golf tee times, and other event registrations in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. The Active Network, which operates Active.com, launched its Schwaggle deals … Continue reading “Active Network Expands Schwaggle Deals”

Optimer Antibiotic Gets Panel Nod, CareFusion Buys Vestara, Tracon Raises $16.5M, & More San Diego Life Sciences News

The past week was big for life sciences news in San Diego, with acquisitions, funding deals, and important advances in new antibiotics grabbing much of the attention. We’ve got it rounded up for you here. —An FDA advisory panel voted 13-0 in favor of recommending approval of a new antibiotic that San Diego’s Optimer Pharmaceuticals … Continue reading “Optimer Antibiotic Gets Panel Nod, CareFusion Buys Vestara, Tracon Raises $16.5M, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”

CareFusion Acquires Vestara

San Diego’s CareFusion (NYSE: [[ticker:CFN]]) says it has acquired Vestara, an Irvine, CA, company with technology that automatically identifies, sorts, and segregates hazardous and non-hazardous pharmaceutical waste for proper disposal. CareFusion, which plans to rebrand Vestara’s EcoRex technology as the Pyxis EcoStation, did not disclose the cost of its acquisition. However, the Health Data Management … Continue reading “CareFusion Acquires Vestara”

Report: Tracon Raises $16.5M

San Diego-based Tracon Pharmaceuticals has raised $16.5 million of a targeted $24.5 million round from investors, according to a recent report in VentureWire. Tracon CEO Charles Theuer declined to comment today, saying through a spokeswoman that the company has issued “no official press release.” VentureWire did not identify the investors, but noted that Paramount BioSciences … Continue reading “Report: Tracon Raises $16.5M”

In Anatomy of Revolutions, UCSD’s Fowler Points to the “Strong Ties” of Online Social Networks

When I met last month with James Fowler, the UC San Diego expert on social networks, one of several topics we discussed was the role that Twitter played—or might have played—in the recent political revolutions that overturned governments in Egypt and Tunisia. A lot of research will be coming out on the topic, Fowler said, … Continue reading “In Anatomy of Revolutions, UCSD’s Fowler Points to the “Strong Ties” of Online Social Networks”

San Diego Venture Group Hires VC David Titus in New Role to Raise the Tide of Capital, Innovation

After spending the past two years studying the ebb of innovation capital in San Diego, David Titus hopes to now do something about it—by stepping into a new role as the first full-time president of the San Diego Venture Group, a local non-profit networking group. Until now, the SDVG has operated mostly as the host … Continue reading “San Diego Venture Group Hires VC David Titus in New Role to Raise the Tide of Capital, Innovation”

Words of Wisdom from the Dumbest Guy in the Room: A Q&A with San Diego Serial Entrepreneur Neil Senturia

The way Neil Senturia talks about his “rules” for entrepreneurship reminds me of the way the Pirates of the Caribbean adhere to the pirate code—which is to say the code of conduct among buccaneers is really more what you would call guidelines than actual rules. Senturia describes his rules as immutable and inviolate. But if … Continue reading “Words of Wisdom from the Dumbest Guy in the Room: A Q&A with San Diego Serial Entrepreneur Neil Senturia”

Biotix Raises $2M to Help Fund Growth

Biotix, a San Diego company that supplies pipette tips, reagent reservoirs, and other laboratory consumables, has raised $2 million of a planned $4 million Series B equity round, according to a recent regulatory filing. Biotix plans to use the proceeds “to help with the growth that we’ve experienced and expand our current operations,” spokeswoman Mickie … Continue reading “Biotix Raises $2M to Help Fund Growth”

Acadia Extends Allergan Pact a Year

San Diego-based Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ACAD]]), which specializes in developing novel biopharmaceuticals for central nervous system disorders, has extended a collaboration agreement with Irvine, CA-based Allergan (NYSE: [[ticker:AGN]]) to develop new therapeutics for glaucoma and other disorders. Acadia says the drug development partnership established in 2003 was extended through next March. Acadia has two … Continue reading “Acadia Extends Allergan Pact a Year”

AnaBios Raises $800K From Angels

San Diego-based AnaBios, a contract research organization that deploys assays and develops databases to assess drug safety and efficacy, says it has closed on $800,000 of a planned $2 million Series A investment round led by the Tech Coast Angels. The Tech Coast Angels-affiliated Angel Capital Entrepreneur (ACE) Fund also is participating. In a statement … Continue reading “AnaBios Raises $800K From Angels”

Sony Consolidates Gaming, San Diego’s Slow Recovery, Connect’s Hall of Fame Inductee, & More San Diego BizTech News

As part of the anticipatory celebration for today’s official debut of Xconomy’s sixth website in New York City, I profiled New York’s Enterproid, which was Qualcomm’s grand prize winner in its 2011 QPrize competition. Get that and catch up on the rest of San Diego’s innovation news. —Andrew Toy, Alexander Trewby, and David Zhu founded … Continue reading “Sony Consolidates Gaming, San Diego’s Slow Recovery, Connect’s Hall of Fame Inductee, & More San Diego BizTech News”

New York’s Enterproid and the Great Divide, Where Rivers (of Data) Change Direction

When Andrew Toy, Alexander Trewby, and David Zhu worked together at Morgan Stanley in 2007, they collectively managed the BlackBerry Enterprise Server for the global financial services company and its 60,000 employees. At that time, Morgan Stanley’s implementation of the corporate platform for e-mail messaging, calendaring, and collaborating was considered to be the largest in … Continue reading “New York’s Enterproid and the Great Divide, Where Rivers (of Data) Change Direction”

Ligand CEO Outlines Strategy, Arena Rebalances its Debt, Venture Biotech Versus Pharma Debate Flares Anew, & More San Diego Life Sciences News

A debate over the sustainability of the venture biotech ecosystem continues to percolate, and the San Diego Venture Group is even planning a breakfast debate on the topic. We’ve got the rest of what’s brewin’ in life sciences too. —San Diego’s Ligand Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:LGND]]) is pursuing a fundamentally different strategy under CEO John Higgins. … Continue reading “Ligand CEO Outlines Strategy, Arena Rebalances its Debt, Venture Biotech Versus Pharma Debate Flares Anew, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”

Reagent Proteins Unveils E-Commerce Site

San Diego-based Pfenex, which uses a fluorescing proteobacteria to make specialized protein-based products, says its Reagent Proteins division has launched a new e-commerce site that offers more than 2,300 high-quality, reagent-grade proteins for laboratory research. Reagent Proteins says its offering includes vaccine carriers, adjuvants, and antigens—available in both pre-clinical and cGMP grades. Reagent Proteins says … Continue reading “Reagent Proteins Unveils E-Commerce Site”

IT Employment Staging a Comeback In San Diego, Silicon Valley

Statewide employment data released last week suggest that California’s jobless rate is finally subsiding, as every major industry in the private sector added workers last month for the first time since the Great Recession began in 2007. Employers added a total of 96,500 jobs in February, reducing the statewide jobless rate to 12.2 percent from … Continue reading “IT Employment Staging a Comeback In San Diego, Silicon Valley”

As Kinsella Affair Goes Global, Sofinnova’s Papiernik Says Don’t Blame Big Pharma for Weak Biotech Ventures

Big Pharma has maintained radio silence since Avalon Ventures’ Kevin Kinsella launched a verbal attack last month on what he called the industry’s “predatory business practices,” saying they are doing “enormous damage to the life sciences venture capital ecosystem.” The San Diego biotech investor, in an exclusive interview with Xconomy, argued that pharma’s brass-knuckled M&A … Continue reading “As Kinsella Affair Goes Global, Sofinnova’s Papiernik Says Don’t Blame Big Pharma for Weak Biotech Ventures”

VMIX Unveils Technology to Rent Videos on Facebook, Watch on a Variety of Web Devices

San Diego-based VMIX says today it is offering video rentals on Facebook. Its technology enables users to watch movies, TV programs, and other video on the social networking site—or on a smartphone, tablet, PC, or Internet-connected television. VMIX, a six-year-old startup that provides a technology platform for video streaming and content management, says VMIX Social … Continue reading “VMIX Unveils Technology to Rent Videos on Facebook, Watch on a Variety of Web Devices”

Innovation Report Details Ups and Downs of San Diego Startups

San Diego’s innovation economy continues to move mostly sideways, with venture capital investments plunging and employment improving slightly among high technology and life sciences startups, according to a report today from Connect, the nonprofit group for technology and entrepreneurship. The mixed signals also showed San Diego’s merger and acquisition activity soared and federal grants to … Continue reading “Innovation Report Details Ups and Downs of San Diego Startups”

NASA Scrubs Work on 3D Zoom Cameras, Nixing Avatar Director’s Next Mega Pix

NASA has halted work on an advanced zoom 3D camera system under development in San Diego for the SUV-sized Mars Science Laboratory rover—to the disappointment of Avatar filmmaker James Cameron. In a statement Friday, privately held Malin Space Science Systems (MSSS) of San Diego said there wasn’t enough time remaining to finish testing and integrating … Continue reading “NASA Scrubs Work on 3D Zoom Cameras, Nixing Avatar Director’s Next Mega Pix”

TVC Capital Cashes in on Accordent, GA Aeronautical Systems Delivers Last Predator, Ortiva Wireless Forms Tech Alliance, & More San Diego BizTech News

It was relatively quiet on San Diego’s tech front last week, but the mix of news was unusual and interesting. Check it out for yourself. —San Diego-based TVC Capital, a small private equity investment firm focused solely on software deals, was the lone investor in El Segundo, CA-based Accordent Technologies, which was acquired last week … Continue reading “TVC Capital Cashes in on Accordent, GA Aeronautical Systems Delivers Last Predator, Ortiva Wireless Forms Tech Alliance, & More San Diego BizTech News”

Are Consumer Electronics the Future of Wireless or Vice Versa?

CommNexus has organized this panel discussion to explore the impact that wireless technologies will have on the next generation of consumer electronic devices. Panelists will discuss what technologies are in the pipeline, how the wireless world is evolving into a multitude of tablets, where the TV and PC fit in, wireless video games, and how … Continue reading “Are Consumer Electronics the Future of Wireless or Vice Versa?”

San Diego’s Ligand Takes Advantage of the Great Recession to Build New Drug Pipeline

Aside from the name, there isn’t much at Ligand Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:LGND]]) that resembles the San Diego biotech that went public in 1992. During the 15 years that followed its IPO, Ligand brought five drugs to market, reported 2005 sales of more than $176 million, and once employed 650 people. The same company posted annual … Continue reading “San Diego’s Ligand Takes Advantage of the Great Recession to Build New Drug Pipeline”

Mahaffey Succeeds Dobak as Lithera CEO

San Diego-based Lithera has named George Mahaffey as CEO, succeeding founder John Dobak, who has served as chief executive since the company started in 2007. Lithera is developing a new injectable compound designed to locally reduce selective fat tissue. Mahaffey, who previously served as the CEO of Peplin, will join Lithera’s board and Dobak will … Continue reading “Mahaffey Succeeds Dobak as Lithera CEO”

ITherX Repurposes Kemia Drug

San Diego’s ITherX Pharmaceuticals has begun enrolling liver transplant patients in an early stage hepatitis C trial that seeks to repurpose a drug that was initially under development for treating inflammation. ITherX, with backing from Easton Capital and others, acquired the experimental compound from San Diego-based Kemia in 2009 for $75,000, according to VentureWire. In … Continue reading “ITherX Repurposes Kemia Drug”

Topera Maps Abnormal Currents of the Heart, Novalar Plans Shutdown, New Verenium CEO Drafts Strategy, & More San Diego Life Sciences News

San Diego’s life sciences community took two steps forward last week, as two new startups stepped into the light with new medical device technologies, and then one step back with the closure of another company founded in 2000. We have all the latest moves for you, plus a lot more. —San Diego’s Topera Medical, which … Continue reading “Topera Maps Abnormal Currents of the Heart, Novalar Plans Shutdown, New Verenium CEO Drafts Strategy, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”

Accordent Buyout Provides Exit for San Diego’s TVC Capital

San Diego-based TVC Capital, a small private equity firm focused on software investments, realized a gain in Pleasanton, CA-based Polycom’s (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PLCM]]) $50 million cash acquisition of El Segundo, CA-based Accordent Technologies. In a statement today, Pleasanton, CA-based Polycom’s Sudhakar Ramakrishna says, “We believe Accordent has the most elegant video content management solution on the … Continue reading “Accordent Buyout Provides Exit for San Diego’s TVC Capital”

Novalar Plans Shutdown Following Sale of OraVerse to Septodont

It turns out that Novalar Pharmaceuticals’ decision to sell OraVerse, its dental anesthesia reversal agent, was only half the story. Novalar CEO Donna Janson tells The San Diego Union-Tribune today that the venture-backed company has no other drug candidates in its pipeline and will soon shut down. The Union-Tribune says the company plans to lay … Continue reading “Novalar Plans Shutdown Following Sale of OraVerse to Septodont”

Verenium, Shorn of Biofuels Business, Returns to San Diego and its Diversa Roots

It felt like something was coming to an end last July, when energy giant BP said it was paying $98.3 million to acquire the cellulosic biofuels business of Cambridge, MA-based Verenium (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VRNM]]). But as Verenium consolidates its headquarters and remaining operations in San Diego, incoming CEO James Levine told me in so many words … Continue reading “Verenium, Shorn of Biofuels Business, Returns to San Diego and its Diversa Roots”

Now What? Novalar Sells Its Anesthesia Reversal Drug to Septodont

In an unexpected development, San Diego’s Novalar Pharmaceuticals says today it has sold OraVerse, its dental anesthesia reversal agent and only FDA-approved product, to Lancaster, PA-based Septodont, a leading supplier of dental anesthetics. The big question arising from the sale is what’s next for Novalar? OraVerse has been the main focus of the company’s business … Continue reading “Now What? Novalar Sells Its Anesthesia Reversal Drug to Septodont”

Atheros Approves Qualcomm’s $3.1B Offer, Websense Explores Sale, Maxwell Gains Traction, & More San Diego BizTech News

A couple of major M&A deals that involve some of San Diego’s biggest tech companies are in the works. We’ve got the details, along with the rest of our Monday morning roundup. —San Diego-based Websense (NASDAQ: [[ticker:WBSN]]), which provides Internet security software that companies use to limit employees’ access to business-related websites, has retained Frank … Continue reading “Atheros Approves Qualcomm’s $3.1B Offer, Websense Explores Sale, Maxwell Gains Traction, & More San Diego BizTech News”

Accelrys Partners with Oxford Nanopore

San Diego’s Accelrys (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ACCL]]), which recently outlined its revised strategy for me, has signed a partnership agreement with Oxford Nanopore Technologies to develop software that will make it possible to get real-time analyses of experimental data from Oxford’s single molecule analysis system. Accelrys says its Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology for Pipeline Pilot uses … Continue reading “Accelrys Partners with Oxford Nanopore”

Amylin Suspends Obesity Drug Development, Sapphire Energy Partners with Monsanto, 23andMe Gets Connected to UCSD’s Fowler, & More San Diego Life Sciences News

On this St. Patrick’s Day, it seems only appropriate to lead our roundup of biotech news with an item from San Diego’s Sapphire Energy, the algal biofuels startup using biotech tools to develop emerald-green crude. We’ve got the rest of the life sciences news too, as well as a hearty “Top o’ the morning” to … Continue reading “Amylin Suspends Obesity Drug Development, Sapphire Energy Partners with Monsanto, 23andMe Gets Connected to UCSD’s Fowler, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”

Growth in TV Access, Capabilities, Driving Demand for MaxLinear’s Technologies

A seemingly insatiable demand for technology that can process TV signals and accommodate proliferating technical needs is helping to drive the growth at MaxLinear (NYSE: [[ticker:MXL]]), according to Kishore Seendripu, chairman and CEO of the Carlsbad, CA-based semiconductor design company. In a presentation yesterday afternoon at Roth Capital Partners growth conference for small cap companies, … Continue reading “Growth in TV Access, Capabilities, Driving Demand for MaxLinear’s Technologies”

Viterbi Joins Advisory Board at On-Ramp Wireless

Qualcomm co-founder Andrew Viterbi has joined the strategic advisory board at San Diego’s On-Ramp Wireless, which has been developing wireless networking technology capable of connecting billions of hard-to-reach devices throughout a metropolitan or broad multi-county region. Viterbi is president of the Viterbi Group, a technical advisory and investment company, and serves as a visiting professor … Continue reading “Viterbi Joins Advisory Board at On-Ramp Wireless”

Amylin and Takeda Suspend Obesity Study to Consider Metreleptin Data

The hits just keep coming for San Diego’s Amylin Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMLN]]), and not in a good way. Amylin and Japanese strategic partner Takeda Pharmaceutical said today they have suspended a clinical trial examining the safety and effectiveness of an obesity drug candidate that combines pramlintide acetate, a synthetic analog of the natural hormone Amylin, … Continue reading “Amylin and Takeda Suspend Obesity Study to Consider Metreleptin Data”

European Automakers Begin to Adopt Maxwell’s Ultracapacitor Technology

The conference rooms are filled close to capacity today at the Roth Capital Partners’ annual conference for small-cap companies in Dana Point, which the Newport Beach, CA-based investment banking firm is calling its biggest conference in 23 years. “The Japanese situation has tempered a bit of the enthusiasm today,” said Ted Roth, Roth Capital’s president, … Continue reading “European Automakers Begin to Adopt Maxwell’s Ultracapacitor Technology”

Genomatica and Tate & Lyle Form Strategic Partnership as CEO Explains “Feedstock Strategy”

The past couple of months have been busy for San Diego’s Genomatica, which is announcing a strategic partnership today with Tate & Lyle (LSE: [[ticker:TATE]]), a London-based food and industrial products manufacturer with extensive U.S. operations. Just two weeks ago, Genomatica revealed it had raised $45 million in venture capital, bringing the company’s total financing … Continue reading “Genomatica and Tate & Lyle Form Strategic Partnership as CEO Explains “Feedstock Strategy””

Fallbrook Forms Joint Venture in China

Fallbrook Technologies says it has signed a joint venture agreement with China’s Ningbo Shentong Group, a major supplier to the Chinese automotive industry, to develop and market Fallbrook’s continuously variable planetary (CVP) transmissions for electric-powered passenger cars and light trucks. The joint venture, named “Shentong Fallbrook CVT Company,” will operate out of Yuyao, Zhejiang province, … Continue reading “Fallbrook Forms Joint Venture in China”

Qualcomm Rides Wave of 3G Growth, Dissident Shareholder Emerges at Leap, UCSD’s Fowler Plumbs the Power of Social Networks, & More San Diego BizTech News

Qualcomm announced a series of new technology initiatives just a few weeks ago, which CEO Paul Jacobs reviewed during the wireless chipmaker’s shareholder meeting last week. And we’ve got a review of San Diego’s biztech news for you here: —Qualcomm’s (NASDAQ: [[ticker:QCOM]]) Paul Jacobs marked his fifth anniversary as CEO of the world’s largest wireless … Continue reading “Qualcomm Rides Wave of 3G Growth, Dissident Shareholder Emerges at Leap, UCSD’s Fowler Plumbs the Power of Social Networks, & More San Diego BizTech News”

Getting Connected with James Fowler: Social Networks in the Real World and in Cyberspace

James Fowler says his work lies at the intersection of the natural and social sciences. As a professor in UC San Diego’s School of Medicine and Division of Social Sciences, his research encompasses social networks, behavioral economics, evolutionary game theory, political participation, and the genetic basis of political behavior. Fowler also is the co-author, with … Continue reading “Getting Connected with James Fowler: Social Networks in the Real World and in Cyberspace”

Concentrix Solar to Build San Diego Plant

San Diego city, utility, and cleantech industry officials are gathering at UC San Diego this morning to announce a 25-year contract that San Diego Gas & Electric has signed with Tenaska Solar Ventures for 150 megawatts from a solar plant to be developed east of San Diego, near El Centro, CA. As part of the … Continue reading “Concentrix Solar to Build San Diego Plant”

Astute Medical Nabs $13M, Roth Capital Hosts Conference, Kaldor Joins Versant, & More San Diego Life Sciences News

San Diego’s life sciences sector must have been lying low over the past week, as there was scant news from local biotech, diagnostics, and medical device companies. Our roundup is here. —Biopharma executive Stephen Kaldor, who was CEO at San Diego-based Ambrx from 2007 to 2010, has joined Versant Ventures as a venture partner. The … Continue reading “Astute Medical Nabs $13M, Roth Capital Hosts Conference, Kaldor Joins Versant, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”

Astute Extends Series B Funding to $39.5M

San Diego’s Astute Medical, which raised $26.5 million in a Series B venture round last May, says it has extended the round and raised an additional $13 million to develop new diagnostic tests for acute conditions that require rapid diagnosis. Investors include Domain Associates, Delphi Ventures, De Novo Ventures and Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation. … Continue reading “Astute Extends Series B Funding to $39.5M”

Scenes from the Qualcomm Shareholder Meeting: Five Years Under New Management

The Qualcomm shareholder meeting was something of a five-year anniversary yesterday for Paul Jacobs, who was named to succeed his father, Irwin M. Jacobs, as CEO of the world’s largest provider of wireless chipsets and software technology in March 2005. As milestones go, 2010 was a great year for Qualcomm, which had a record-setting year … Continue reading “Scenes from the Qualcomm Shareholder Meeting: Five Years Under New Management”

Sapphire Energy Anticipates “Significant” Revenue Stream From Monsanto Alliance

San Diego biofuels startup Sapphire Energy added to its pedigreed credentials yesterday, revealing an undisclosed investment by St. Louis, MO-based Monsanto (NYSE: [[ticker:MON]]), a premiere agricultural biotech giant, as part of an extended collaborative agreement. Sapphire established its exalted lineage a couple of years ago when it raised $100 million in Series B venture funding … Continue reading “Sapphire Energy Anticipates “Significant” Revenue Stream From Monsanto Alliance”