Aya Jakobovits, president and CEO of Adicet Bio, has retired. Jakobovits had led the Menlo Park, CA immunotherapy developer since she founded it in 2014. Adicet says Jakobovits will remain on the company’s board of directors and will continue to serve as an advisor. Donald Santel, Adicet’s executive chairman, will be the company’s interim CEO. … Continue reading “Adicet Bio Founder and CEO Aya Jakobovits Retires”
Category: San Francisco
Pixability Taps Ex-Facebook Exec as CEO, Founder Takes Board Role
Bettina Hein is stepping down as CEO of Pixability, the Boston-based video advertising software company she founded a decade ago. David George is taking the helm of Pixability, and Hein (pictured) will shift to the role of executive chairwoman, the company announced Tuesday. According to George’s LinkedIn profile, he was previously Facebook’s (NASDAQ: [[ticker:FB]]) head … Continue reading “Pixability Taps Ex-Facebook Exec as CEO, Founder Takes Board Role”
Degreed Scores $42M to Grow Worker Training and Skills Platform
Degreed, a portal to online education and training resources for employers who want their workers to keep learning, announced today that it raised $42 million in a Series C fundraising round. The new capital, which brings Degreed’s fundraising total to $75 million, will fund a salesforce expansion that could make the company profitable within a … Continue reading “Degreed Scores $42M to Grow Worker Training and Skills Platform”
As Apple Takes Lead in Wearables, Whoop Grabs $25M to Expand
Whoop took a different approach to try and break into the crowded wearable device market: Start by winning over professional athletes, then gradually expand sales to a wider array of consumers. The Boston-based startup, which unveiled its biometrics-monitoring wristbands two-and-a-half years ago, has had success with the first goal. Now, it says it’s making progress … Continue reading “As Apple Takes Lead in Wearables, Whoop Grabs $25M to Expand”
May Mobility CEO: We’ll Beat Waymo, Uber, and Cruise to Market
When we spoke with Ed Olson, CEO of May Mobility, in January, he told us that his driverless-vehicle company had raised a little over $11 million in seed funding in 2017. Last week, May disclosed more details about its $11.5 million seed round: it was led by venture investment arms of Toyota and BMW, and … Continue reading “May Mobility CEO: We’ll Beat Waymo, Uber, and Cruise to Market”
Dermira Abandons Acne Drug After Phase 3 Flops, Stock Price Craters
Skin-drug company Dermira today announced that two pivotal Phase 3 trials testing its experimental acne drug, olumacostat glasaretil, failed to meet their main goals. The company said that based on those results, it expects to stop development of the drug, which was designed to treat people with moderate to severe acne. Dermira’s (NASDAQ [[ticker:DERM]]) stock … Continue reading “Dermira Abandons Acne Drug After Phase 3 Flops, Stock Price Craters”
San Diego Faces Its Future as a Tech Hub Without Qualcomm as Anchor
As Qualcomm (NASDAQ: [[ticker:QCOM]]) prepares for its annual shareholders meeting Tuesday, March 6, its takeover battle with Broadcom (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BRCM]]), has much of San Diego pondering a question reminiscent of a Joni Mitchell song: “Oh, don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone?” If Qualcomm accepts Broadcom’s … Continue reading “San Diego Faces Its Future as a Tech Hub Without Qualcomm as Anchor”
Duke and Enzyvant Take Rare Immune Disease to School with New Therapy
A healthy baby enters the world with the cells it needs to build immunity. But in some cases, the cell levels are dangerously low. Rarer still are those born without the organ needed to properly develop these immune cells. For babies who have this condition, called complete DiGeorge anomaly, even the common cold can become … Continue reading “Duke and Enzyvant Take Rare Immune Disease to School with New Therapy”
Fasten Ends Ride-Hailing Service in Boston & Austin After Sale
[Corrected 3/3/18, 10:41 am. See below.] Fasten said its U.S. ride-hailing service will shut down Monday after the startup agreed to be acquired by Russia-based transportation network operator Vezet Group. The purchase price wasn’t disclosed. Boston-based Fasten had raised nearly $20 million in equity, debt financing, and other securities, according to SEC filings. Its investors … Continue reading “Fasten Ends Ride-Hailing Service in Boston & Austin After Sale”
Walmart Unveils “Intelligent Food” System to Keep Produce Fresh
Food spoilage can cost big retailers like Walmart billions in losses. Now, the Arkansas-based giant says it has filed two patents on technology that can digitize the current inspection process for perishable goods. Called Eden, the initiative is in its early stages, but the idea is to use artificial intelligence and cameras to create a … Continue reading “Walmart Unveils “Intelligent Food” System to Keep Produce Fresh”
Mirror, Mirror On the Wall: How Does This Dress Look in Green?
These days, it’s not just Snow White’s stepmother who has a mirror that talks back. Thanks to augmented reality, Internet of Things, and data analytics technologies, more of us might be confronted with so-called “smart mirrors” the next time we try on clothes or accessories in a store. While mirrors are typically static pieces of … Continue reading “Mirror, Mirror On the Wall: How Does This Dress Look in Green?”
Bio Roundup: Funding Frenzy, Opioid Summit, Celgene Woes & More
Biotech startups rolled in cash this week. By our count, investors put more than $800 million into life-sciences startups in four days. The money came from a wide range of backers, not just traditional biotech venture firms. It’s early yet in 2018, but the current count could put life-sciences companies on pace to bust past … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Funding Frenzy, Opioid Summit, Celgene Woes & More”
Nkarta Therapeutics Picks Paul Hastings for CEO
Paul Hastings has been named CEO of South San Francisco, CA-based Nkarta Therapeutics. Hastings most recently worked for Redwood City, CA, cancer drug developer OncoMed Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:OMED]]), where he was chairman and CEO. Hastings resigned from OncoMed on Jan. 1. Nkarta is developing cancer treatments based on natural killer (NK) immune cells.
DoorDash’s $535M Funding Round Means It’s Coming to 1,000 New Cities
DoorDash hit it big with a $535 million Series D round of funding led by Chinese business conglomerate SoftBank Group, the food delivery company announced this morning. It’s the largest financing for a U.S. food delivery service, according to Reuters, which said the funding gave DoorDash a $1.4 billion valuation, citing a person familiar with … Continue reading “DoorDash’s $535M Funding Round Means It’s Coming to 1,000 New Cities”
Helix Raises $200M to Build Its DNA “App Store” Beyond the Family Tree
Thanks to advertising blitzes from companies like Ancestry.com and 23andMe, Joe and Jane Consumer might know that their genetic blueprint and $100 or so can dig up insights about their genealogy. San Carlos, CA-based startup Helix is banking on that budding curiosity to provide a market for all kinds of consumer apps fueled by a … Continue reading “Helix Raises $200M to Build Its DNA “App Store” Beyond the Family Tree”
Rubius Rolls Up Another $100M As Bio Funding Frenzy Continues
Like water spewing from a firehose, venture dollars are dousing life-science startups this week. The latest biotech on the receiving end is Rubius Therapeutics, a cell therapy developer that announced a $100 million round this morning. With the new cash, a “crossover” round including investors that back both private and publicly traded companies, Rubius has … Continue reading “Rubius Rolls Up Another $100M As Bio Funding Frenzy Continues”
Japan’s TDK Scoops Up Berkeley’s Chirp, Maker of Sonar Micro-Chip
Tokyo-based electronics giant TDK today announced its agreement to acquire startup Chirp Microsystems, whose miniaturized ultrasonic sensors are being tested in drones, robots, virtual reality systems, and smart home devices. David Horsley, co-founder and CTO of Berkeley, CA-based Chirp, says the company’s sonar chips have been drawing interest from companies in a range of emerging … Continue reading “Japan’s TDK Scoops Up Berkeley’s Chirp, Maker of Sonar Micro-Chip”
Aurora, Led by Google and Tesla Driverless Car Vets, Lands $90M
Aurora Innovation, a self-driving car startup whose founders have ties to Google, Tesla, and Uber, has raised $90 million in Series A funding co-led by Greylock Partners and Index Ventures. Along with the money, Greylock and Index are adding a member each to Aurora’s board of directors: Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn and partner … Continue reading “Aurora, Led by Google and Tesla Driverless Car Vets, Lands $90M”
Securing the Door: Amazon Buys Connected Doorbell Maker Ring
Amazon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]) has acquired smart-doorbell security system maker Ring as the company seeks to expand its home-security business. The purchase was first reported by Geekwire, which cited a separate report from Reuters that the deal is valued at about $1 billion. That would make Amazon’s purchase of Ring the third largest in the Seattle e-commerce … Continue reading “Securing the Door: Amazon Buys Connected Doorbell Maker Ring”
Credtech Report Card: HackerRank, CodeFights, Credly, ACT, More
Educational technology companies are augmenting the traditional educational system with their online coursework offerings, but they’re also creating a competing universe where students can find alternate learning experiences that may qualify them for a job, even if they don’t have an academic degree. A core element in this universe is the invention of new kinds … Continue reading “Credtech Report Card: HackerRank, CodeFights, Credly, ACT, More”
After Triton Attack, CyberX Nabs $18M to Defend Industrial Networks
Cyber threats to industrial connected devices and critical infrastructure are growing, and more money is flowing into companies trying to thwart those attacks. The latest deal is an $18 million investment in CyberX, a Boston-area startup whose software helps secure Internet-connected devices and networks in factories, oil rigs, electrical grids, pharmaceutical labs, and other industrial … Continue reading “After Triton Attack, CyberX Nabs $18M to Defend Industrial Networks”
Quentis Nets $48M For Cancer Drugs, Building Buzz For NY Bio Startups
After a string of announcements a few years back, there’s been few new, high-profile biotech startups taking shape in New York. But that quiet period might be coming to an end this morning with the arrival of Quentis Therapeutics, a cancer immunotherapy startup born from the lab of former Weill Cornell Medicine dean and immunologist … Continue reading “Quentis Nets $48M For Cancer Drugs, Building Buzz For NY Bio Startups”
Moltin Gets $8M Round Led By Underscore, Names Ex-Demandware Exec CEO
As shopping experiences continue to take new forms—think social media, smart televisions, virtual assistants, and video games—the complexity of building and managing multi-faceted e-commerce systems is growing. That creates opportunities for companies like Moltin, a startup that develops cloud-based software tools that power the back-end infrastructure of e-commerce applications. Its application programming interfaces (APIs) and … Continue reading “Moltin Gets $8M Round Led By Underscore, Names Ex-Demandware Exec CEO”
Synthetic Bio Startup Senti Raises $53M to Program Cells to Treat Disease
Getting software to perform a new task is a matter of rewriting its code. This approach can also apply to biology, according to Tim Lu, CEO of Senti Biosciences. Tweaking a cell’s genetic code can give it therapeutic capabilities that adjust to the severity of a disease and also limit the treatment’s side effects. “This … Continue reading “Synthetic Bio Startup Senti Raises $53M to Program Cells to Treat Disease”
Ten Fast Facts About Dropbox as It Seeks an Initial Public Offering
Dropbox is finally ready to enter the public market. The San Francisco-based file sharing and cloud storage company plans to raise up to $500 million in an initial public offering, according to paperwork filed with the SEC last week, after years of speculation that it might do so. Founded by two MIT students in 2007, … Continue reading “Ten Fast Facts About Dropbox as It Seeks an Initial Public Offering”
Circle Buys Coinbase Rival Poloniex to Expand Cryptocurrency Services
[Updated 2/26/18, 11:28 a.m. See below.] Circle said it has acquired cryptocurrency exchange operator Poloniex, as the Boston-based startup gets more aggressive in its bid to become one of the key providers of enabling technologies for virtual currencies. The deal, announced Monday, was for approximately $400 million, according to Fortune, which cited an anonymous source. … Continue reading “Circle Buys Coinbase Rival Poloniex to Expand Cryptocurrency Services”
Bio Roundup: Meldonium Slip, Kratom Crackdown, Zinc Fingers & More
The 2018 Winter Olympics will end soon, and we did not skate through these games without a performance-enhancing drug allegation rearing its ugly head. This time, the drug in question was meldonium (Mildronate), a product widely available over the counter in Russia and some Eastern European countries. Though Latvian pharmaceutical company Grindeks markets meldonium for … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Meldonium Slip, Kratom Crackdown, Zinc Fingers & More”
Smart Cities Initiative Spurs “Gigabit Apps” for Next-Gen Internet
In late 2015, the National Science Foundation awarded a $6 million grant to the non-profit organization U.S. Ignite to help drive the development of next-generation “gigabit applications,” as part of a broader effort to create “smart gigabit communities” throughout the U.S. The idea was to both help cities improve local services and spur the development … Continue reading “Smart Cities Initiative Spurs “Gigabit Apps” for Next-Gen Internet”
Forget Perfume Counters: Phlur’s A.I. Is E-Commerce’s Scent Sherpa
Austin—It stands to reason that if any industry could resist the tidal wave of e-commerce, it would be the fragrance business. After all, how can you smell a perfume or cologne online to decide if you like the scent? But Eric Korman, founder and CEO of Phlur, says the startup can make it easier for … Continue reading “Forget Perfume Counters: Phlur’s A.I. Is E-Commerce’s Scent Sherpa”
Continuing Cell Therapy Push, Gilead Aligns with Sangamo for CAR-T Boost
Gilead Sciences has formed a broad alliance with Sangamo Therapeutics this morning, continuing an aggressive push into cellular immunotherapy that began late last year. Gilead (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GILD]]) will pay Sangamo (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SGMO]]) $150 million up front in cash in the deal, through which Gilead will tap Sangamo’s gene editing techniques to try to develop a … Continue reading “Continuing Cell Therapy Push, Gilead Aligns with Sangamo for CAR-T Boost”
Will Fast-Growing Kallyope Stay in New York After New $66M Round?
Kallyope is unusual among biotech startups. Exclusively borne from the work of three Columbia University professors, the company started up in Manhattan, now has more than 40 employees, has gotten $110 million in venture dollars from high-profile investors, and still remains in New York City. Now the big question is: Will Kallyope stay in Manhattan … Continue reading “Will Fast-Growing Kallyope Stay in New York After New $66M Round?”
Bosch’s Acquisition of SPLT is Big Win for Detroit Mobility Startups
SPLT, the Detroit-based ridesharing startup and Techstars Mobility alum, announced today that it has been acquired by automotive supplier Bosch, which has its U.S. headquarters in metro Detroit. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. Anya Babbitt, SPLT co-founder and CEO, describes the acquisition as “a most fortunate outcome.” SPLT was established in 2014 … Continue reading “Bosch’s Acquisition of SPLT is Big Win for Detroit Mobility Startups”
Zagster Gets $15M to Keep Pace in Crowded Bike-Sharing Sector
Zagster has scooped up $15 million from investors to help it ramp up its new “dockless” bike-sharing service—and compete with more heavily funded rivals. The investment, led by earlier backer Edison Partners, brings Zagster’s total venture capital haul to $32.2 million, the company said in a press release. Cambridge, MA-based Zagster’s other investors include LaunchCapital, … Continue reading “Zagster Gets $15M to Keep Pace in Crowded Bike-Sharing Sector”
Google and Stackdriver Vets Get $10M for Software Testing Tool, Mabl
When we last caught up with Dan Belcher and Izzy Azeri, they were selling their cloud-management company, Stackdriver, to Google. That Boston startup was on a fast track to acquisition, getting scooped up in 2014 after just two years and about $15 million in venture capital raised. (The purchase price wasn’t disclosed.) Now, Belcher and … Continue reading “Google and Stackdriver Vets Get $10M for Software Testing Tool, Mabl”
For Latest Combo, Merck Bets $394M on Viralytics, Cancer-Fighting Viruses
The immuno-oncology combination frenzy continues. Merck this morning agreed to pay $394 million for Viralytics, an Australian developer of oncolytic viruses, which could help boost the power of the pharma giant’s cancer immunotherapy pembrolizumab (Keytruda). The deal gives Kenilworth, NJ-based Merck (NYSE: [[ticker:MRK]]) rights to CVA21 (Cavatak), an experimental oncolytic virus therapy in multiple early- … Continue reading “For Latest Combo, Merck Bets $394M on Viralytics, Cancer-Fighting Viruses”
Vectra Scores $36M for AI-Enhanced Cyberattack Detection
Vectra, one of the cybersecurity companies vying to beef up threat detection using artificial intelligence, announced Wednesday it raised $36 million in a Series D funding round led by new investor Atlantic Bridge. San Jose, CA-based Vectra scans the patterns of data flowing through a client’s network in a continuous, automated hunt for suspicious activity, … Continue reading “Vectra Scores $36M for AI-Enhanced Cyberattack Detection”
XRC Labs Chief Anthos: Retailers Must Adopt “Test and Learn” Culture
As college undergraduates, my roommate and I had what we called a “monowardrobe.” That’s how we described the contents of the closet that lined a wall in our dorm room. We each organized our own clothing on either side, but since we both wore the same size in clothing and shoes, we “shopped” for outfits … Continue reading “XRC Labs Chief Anthos: Retailers Must Adopt “Test and Learn” Culture”
Aimmune’s Peanut Allergy Drug Hits Study Goals, FDA Filing Planned
Peanuts rank among the top foods that spark allergic reactions, prompting schools to ban peanut butter sandwiches and travelers to decline airline snacks. Aimmune Therapeutics aims to help with a drug that makes people less sensitive to peanuts. On Tuesday, Aimmune (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AIMT]]) announced that its drug met the main goals of a late-stage study, … Continue reading “Aimmune’s Peanut Allergy Drug Hits Study Goals, FDA Filing Planned”
Father-Daughter Startup Seeva Turns Old IP into New Driverless Tech
[Correction, 2/23/18: See below.] The mobility sector has spawned plenty of unlikely alliances that have led to new products and business models for self-driving vehicles. But it’s hard to get more unlikely than Seeva, a Pacific Northwest mobility startup with Detroit roots, run by a vivacious daughter and her retired father, and based on technology … Continue reading “Father-Daughter Startup Seeva Turns Old IP into New Driverless Tech”
Google Buys Xively From LogMeIn, Folds In Nest to Advance in IoT
Google is ramping up its efforts in connected devices for homes and businesses as competition with Amazon, Apple, and other big tech companies heats up. Despite its prowess in machine learning and other A.I. technologies, Google may have some catching up to do in the so-called Internet of Things (IoT) sector. That’s the burgeoning market … Continue reading “Google Buys Xively From LogMeIn, Folds In Nest to Advance in IoT”
Chrono CEO Alan Levy Retires, David Happel Named New Chief Executive
Alan Levy, CEO and chairman of Chrono Therapeutics, is retiring. The Hayward, CA, company said Levy will remain on the board of directors. David Happel has been appointed CEO, and current board member James Young will take on the role of board chairman. Happel comes to Chrono from Horizon Pharma (NASDAQ: [[ticker:HZNP]]), where he was … Continue reading “Chrono CEO Alan Levy Retires, David Happel Named New Chief Executive”
Bio Roundup: Trump’s Budget, Biogen’s AD Reveal, Hugin’s Run & More
Another week of White House chaos and American gun violence. Amid it all, we tried to parse what the Trump administration’s 2019 budget proposal meant for the biomedical and life-science worlds. There was talk of tackling high drug prices in the budget document, but nothing to give Medicare direct negotiating power with drug companies or … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Trump’s Budget, Biogen’s AD Reveal, Hugin’s Run & More”
Europe’s New Data Privacy Rules Nourish U.S. Privacy Tech Sector
Take a look at this blurb for a session about data privacy at the upcoming RSA conference on cybersecurity. It sounds a polite warning: “The importance of privacy is often alluded to in generalized, value-laden terms that, while sincere, don’t necessarily help privacy be taken seriously in the enterprise risk management process.” That situation is … Continue reading “Europe’s New Data Privacy Rules Nourish U.S. Privacy Tech Sector”
MIT’s Micali Talks Algorand, Bitcoin & Society’s “Honest Majority”
Silvio Micali says he mistimed his first two technology startups. But the renowned MIT professor thinks he’s hitting the market at the right moment with his latest company, Algorand, which plans to launch a blockchain-based virtual currency and transactions system this year. Micali, a cryptographer who has won the prestigious A.M. Turing Award, previously co-founded … Continue reading “MIT’s Micali Talks Algorand, Bitcoin & Society’s “Honest Majority””
CRISPR Race 2.0: Doudna and Zhang Compete on a CRISPR Diagnostic
CRISPR pioneers and competitors Jennifer Doudna and Feng Zhang are once again locked in a CRISPR race, this time to show how CRISPR—the technology best known for its gene-editing prowess—can also be harnessed to develop a sensitive diagnostic. Today, two research groups, one led by Doudna of the University of California, Berkeley, the other by … Continue reading “CRISPR Race 2.0: Doudna and Zhang Compete on a CRISPR Diagnostic”
MSU, Texas A&M to Study How Driverless Cars Affect Future Workforce
This week, the Ypsilanti Township, MI-based American Center for Mobility, in collaboration with AARP and Waymo, announced that it has commissioned a study on how autonomous vehicles will impact transportation jobs in the future. The study is being conducted by Michigan State University and Texas A&M’s Transportation Institute. According to a press release, the purpose … Continue reading “MSU, Texas A&M to Study How Driverless Cars Affect Future Workforce”
Paths of Carbonite and Mozy “Come Full Circle” in Data Backup Deal
[Updated 2/27/18, 2:29 pm. See below.] Before Dropbox and Google Drive, there was Carbonite and Mozy. Both of those pioneer firms launched in 2005, and were among the early players in online data backup services. They enabled people to pay a few bucks a month for software that automatically encrypts the information on their hard … Continue reading “Paths of Carbonite and Mozy “Come Full Circle” in Data Backup Deal”
Shipping Wars: Walmart Launches Free Delivery for Sam’s Club Members
In order to better position itself against competitors like Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: [[ticker:COST]]) and Amazon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]), Sam’s Club, the bulk retailer owned by Walmart (NYSE: [[ticker:WMT]]), is now offering free shipping for many items as part of a revamping of its membership programs. With a $100 annual fee—just one dollar more than the cost … Continue reading “Shipping Wars: Walmart Launches Free Delivery for Sam’s Club Members”
With IPO, BioXcel Looks to Fund AI-Fueled Drug Discovery Work
[Updated, 2/16/18, 9:10 a.m. See below.] Using software to speed up drug discovery isn’t a new idea, but it’s generating more interest thanks to artificial intelligence. BioXcel Therapeutics is trying to parlay that momentum into an initial public stock offering to fund human studies on a pair of drugs it found with the help of … Continue reading “With IPO, BioXcel Looks to Fund AI-Fueled Drug Discovery Work”
Startups Peddle Innovative Tools to Fight Tech’s #MeToo Problem
As the last year has shown, the tech industry has a significant problem with sexual harassment and ensuring that women are treated equitably in the workplace. Now, some founders are seeking to use tech tools such as chatbots, artificial intelligence, analytics, and mobile to help clients remedy those deficiencies. One of those founders is Heather … Continue reading “Startups Peddle Innovative Tools to Fight Tech’s #MeToo Problem”