[Editor’s note: This is part of a series examining the internet’s first 50 years and predicting the next half century. Join Xconomy and World Frontiers Forum on July 16 for Net@50, an event exploring the internet’s past and future.] Bob Metcalfe co-invented Ethernet, the communications standard still used for most local on-site networking, but Radia Perlman … Continue reading “Future of the Internet: What Scares Networking Pioneer Radia Perlman”
Category: Boston
Why Ethernet Inventor Bob Metcalfe is an Internet Optimist
[Editor’s note: This is part of a series examining the internet’s first 50 years and predicting the next half century. Join Xconomy and World Frontiers Forum on July 16 for Net@50, an event exploring the internet’s past and future.] Right alongside Moore’s Law, which describes the exponential growth in computing power since the 1960s, there’s Metcalfe’s … Continue reading “Why Ethernet Inventor Bob Metcalfe is an Internet Optimist”
Bio Roundup: Duchenne Race, Warren v. Gottlieb, A $599 Genome & More
As we pause to celebrate the 4th of July, another birthday is top of mind: A third baby whose embryonic DNA was edited by Chinese scientist He Jiankui. As Xconomy reported in November, He hinted about a second pregnancy after his infamous revelation of twins altered with CRISPR gene editing tools. That second pregnancy—a third … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Duchenne Race, Warren v. Gottlieb, A $599 Genome & More”
Talk of Broadcom Buyout of Symantec Puts Broader IT Focus Into View
Broadcom is once, twice, three times a multi-billion-dollar dealmaker (well, basically) in the past year if it follows through on its reported talks to acquire Mountain View, CA-based cybersecurity giant Symantec. The potential acquisition, which was first reported Tuesday by Bloomberg citing anonymous sources, represents Broadcom’s continued (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AVGO]]) interest in broadening its business beyond … Continue reading “Talk of Broadcom Buyout of Symantec Puts Broader IT Focus Into View”
Ex-Apple UX Guru Don Norman Calls for Replacing the Internet
[Editor’s note: This is part of a series examining the internet’s first 50 years and predicting the next half century. Join Xconomy and World Frontiers Forum on July 16 for Net@50, an event exploring the internet’s past and future.] No one has done more than Donald Norman to teach us that every piece of hardware … Continue reading “Ex-Apple UX Guru Don Norman Calls for Replacing the Internet”
What Is the Future of the Internet? Experts Predict Next 50 Years
[Editor’s note: This is part of a series examining the internet’s first 50 years and predicting the next half century. Join Xconomy and World Frontiers Forum on July 16 for Net@50, an event exploring the internet’s past and future.] It’s a good thing journalists, pundits, and consultants can’t be held liable for the predictions we … Continue reading “What Is the Future of the Internet? Experts Predict Next 50 Years”
What ARPANET’s History Can Teach Us About Cybersecurity
[Editor’s note: This is part of a series examining the internet’s first 50 years and predicting the next half century. Join Xconomy and World Frontiers Forum on July 16 for Net@50, an event exploring the internet’s past and future.] The internet nearly came with built-in caller ID. The year was 1972: three years after the … Continue reading “What ARPANET’s History Can Teach Us About Cybersecurity”
Brain Corp., Maker of Robotics Tech, to Open European HQ in Amsterdam
Brain Corp., a robotics startup whose technology powers automated floor cleaning machines in retail stores, malls, warehouses, and airports, announced Monday it is opening its first European office in Amsterdam, the largest city in the Netherlands. The Amsterdam office will serve as the company’s regional hub for operations, software development, and research and development, Brain … Continue reading “Brain Corp., Maker of Robotics Tech, to Open European HQ in Amsterdam”
Peter Gabriel Joins Net@50 Lineup; Tix Going Fast for July 16 Event
Legendary rock musician and longtime internet evangelist Peter Gabriel has joined the all-star cast of speakers for Net@50, a historic event celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first net message—while also looking ahead to the internet’s next 50 years. The event, put on by the non-profit World Frontiers Forum in association with Xconomy, takes place … Continue reading “Peter Gabriel Joins Net@50 Lineup; Tix Going Fast for July 16 Event”
As Cities Ban Face Recognition, Body-Cam Firm Axon Also Nixes It
This week’s decision by police equipment manufacturer Axon to forego using facial recognition software in its body cameras follows a string of other actions against the use of face-matching technology by public agencies. They include a pioneering ban in San Francisco last month, and another passed Thursday by the city council of Somerville, MA. What … Continue reading “As Cities Ban Face Recognition, Body-Cam Firm Axon Also Nixes It”
Homology Exec Sam Rasty to Depart for CEO Job at Platelet BioGenesis
Sam Rasty, chief operating officer of Homology Medicines (NASDAQ: [[ticker:FIXX]]), is leaving to join Platelet BioGenesis as president and CEO. In a securities filing, Bedford, MA-based Homology said Rasty’s last day will be July 12. Before joining Homology in 2016, Rasty was vice president and head of new products at Shire. Homology, a developer of … Continue reading “Homology Exec Sam Rasty to Depart for CEO Job at Platelet BioGenesis”
Bio Roundup: Merger Drama, FDA Trauma, Big IPOs, CRISPR Fights & More
It was a busy week. If we had to choose a theme, it was all about getting together. Two huge drug companies, AbbVie and Allergan, said they’d be better as one. Two more huge drug companies, Celgene and Bristol-Myers Squibb, learned they would have to leave a big product behind if they want to merge. … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Merger Drama, FDA Trauma, Big IPOs, CRISPR Fights & More”
Boston Tech Watch: Vaxess, Fusion Power, Wayfair & MassChallenge
An acquisition, accelerator awards, access to venture capital, and arguments over e-commerce sales to migrant detention centers. All that and more in this week’s Boston tech news. Read on for the details. —Email security company GreatHorn says it raised $13 million in a funding round co-led by RRE Ventures and .406 Ventures and joined by … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: Vaxess, Fusion Power, Wayfair & MassChallenge”
Commonwealth Fusion Plugs in $115M To Develop Nuclear Reactor
Nuclear energy startup Commonwealth Fusion Systems closed a $115 million Series A funding round to beef up work on the demonstration fusion reactor power plant it hopes could one day be a breakthrough in the fight against climate change. The infusion of cash is coming from Future Ventures, Khosla Ventures, Lowercase Capital, Moore Strategic Ventures, … Continue reading “Commonwealth Fusion Plugs in $115M To Develop Nuclear Reactor”
What’s Worth $34B? IBM Gets OK in Europe for Acquisition of Red Hat
IBM’s acquisition of open-source software maker Red Hat cleared the hurdle of approval from European regulators Thursday because it raised no concerns about competition, according to the European Commission. The $34 billion deal, which the companies plan on closing in the second half of 2019, drew attention when it was announced last fall for being … Continue reading “What’s Worth $34B? IBM Gets OK in Europe for Acquisition of Red Hat”
SmartPharm Therapeutics Appoints José Trevejo CEO
José Trevejo, a co-founder and board member of SmartPharm Therapeutics, has been appointed CEO of the Cambridge, MA, company. Before joining SmartPharm, Trevejo was vice president, clinical development at Cyclerion Therapeutics, a spinout of Ironwood Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:IRWD]]). His experience also includes posts at Visterra, Genentech, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VRTX]]). SmartPharm is developing non-viral … Continue reading “SmartPharm Therapeutics Appoints José Trevejo CEO”
Degreed Raises $75M to Expand in Growing Workforce Training Sector
Degreed, which helps businesses upgrade the skills of their staffers through an online gateway to learning resources, announced Thursday it has raised $75 million to grow the service and expand internationally. San Francisco-based Degreed is among the educational technology companies now classified as “learning experience platforms,’’ because they organize staff participation in skills development training … Continue reading “Degreed Raises $75M to Expand in Growing Workforce Training Sector”
“More to Life Than Profit”: Protest at Wayfair for Sales to Migrant Camp
Wayfair employees in Boston walked off the job Wednesday afternoon to take a stand against furniture sales the company made to two US government detention centers in Texas that are holding child migrants. Hundreds of workers at the home goods e-commerce company flooded out into Copley Square where they were greeted by a cheering crowd … Continue reading ““More to Life Than Profit”: Protest at Wayfair for Sales to Migrant Camp”
PanTheryx Lands $50M to Use “First Milk” to Target Gut Microbiome
[Corrected, 6/28/19. See below.] There’s a reason why mothers are instructed to breastfeed their babies soon after they’re born. The milk they produce in the days after giving birth is rich in nutrients, immune cells, and antibodies. While this “first milk,” also known as colostrum, is crucial in getting newborns off to a healthy start, … Continue reading “PanTheryx Lands $50M to Use “First Milk” to Target Gut Microbiome”
Encoded Nabs $104M, Illumina’s Help, to Push Gene Therapy’s Limits
Despite the progress of gene therapy—a cutting edge medicine promising long-lasting effects from a single treatment—it remains a crude and limited tool. Startup Encoded Therapeutics has raised $104 million to join the race to expand gene therapy’s reach. The South San Francisco, CA, company has emerged from the startup accelerator of Illumina (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ILMN]]), and … Continue reading “Encoded Nabs $104M, Illumina’s Help, to Push Gene Therapy’s Limits”
Hate to Pump Gas? Booster Scores $56M to Scale Mobile Fill-Ups
Booster, an on-demand service that fills gas tanks for car owners while they shop at a mall or work at their office desks, announced Tuesday it has raised $56 million to expand into new territories. San Mateo, CA-based Booster runs about 70 mini fuel tankers that circulate at office complexes, sports clubs, and other commercial … Continue reading “Hate to Pump Gas? Booster Scores $56M to Scale Mobile Fill-Ups”
Broad, Berkeley Return to Argue CRISPR Invention at Patent Office
A special board of the US Patent and Trademark Office has reignited the long-running patent fight over who invented the groundbreaking CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system. Nearly a year ago, the matter seemed put to rest after a federal court upheld a ruling of the same patent office board. The court validated a key 2014 patent … Continue reading “Broad, Berkeley Return to Argue CRISPR Invention at Patent Office”
Led by Tech, Healthcare Debuts, IPOs in 2019 Show Positive Returns
Even as Uber, Lyft, and other high-profile initial public offerings underperformed out of the gate, the average share price of companies that have gone public in the US this year is up by almost 33 percent. That’s according to data based on the mean returns of issuers that started trading through June 19, released by … Continue reading “Led by Tech, Healthcare Debuts, IPOs in 2019 Show Positive Returns”
The Path to a More Human Voice Interface
The world is changing fast. Everything is getting connected. The connected home – the smart fridge, the smart thermostat, the smart TV – will soon be a mainstay of a connected world, an era quickly being ushered in by 5G, AI on the edge, and a slew of other enabling technologies. And I believe the … Continue reading “The Path to a More Human Voice Interface”
Everactive Snags $30M Series C to Advance Battery-less IoT Sensors
Everactive, a Bay Area startup, has raised $30 million in a Series C funding round. The investment was led by Future Fund with participation from Blue Bear Capital, ABB Technology Ventures, New Enterprise Associates, and Osage University Partners. The company has raised $63 million since its inception in 2012. Everactive, formerly known as Psi Kick, … Continue reading “Everactive Snags $30M Series C to Advance Battery-less IoT Sensors”
AbbVie to Pay $63B for Allergan to Prepare for Life Without Humira
[Updated, 10:11 am ET, see below.] Pharmaceutical giant AbbVie this morning agreed to acquire Allergan in a $63 billion deal meant to provide the pharmaceutical giant with enough revenue to brace for the loss of patent protection for the world’s top-selling drug. AbbVie (NYSE: [[ticker:ABBV]]) will pay $188.24 per share in cash and stock for … Continue reading “AbbVie to Pay $63B for Allergan to Prepare for Life Without Humira”
Dems and GOP Senators Unite Versus Big Tech on Data Privacy Bills
To hear some people talk, you’d think the age of bipartisan action in Congress was a lost phenomenon of the distant past. But it’s not so, at least when it comes to certain issues. And no one knows it better than the big Silicon Valley tech companies that are the recent targets of proposed bipartisan … Continue reading “Dems and GOP Senators Unite Versus Big Tech on Data Privacy Bills”
Amylyx Pharma Names Patrick Yeramian Chief Medical Officer
Amylyx Pharmaceuticals has appointed Patrick Yeramian to serve as its chief medical officer. Yeramian had been a consulting medical director for Cambridge, MA-based Amylyx. His experience also includes the chief medical officer post at Viragen. In other moves, Amylyx named Margaret Olinger chief commercial officer. Olinger joins Amylyx from Alexion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ALXN]]), where she … Continue reading “Amylyx Pharma Names Patrick Yeramian Chief Medical Officer”
Review: Inside the House of Lies at Theranos
Youth. Charm. Fearlessness. Ruthless focus. These can be positive attributes in an entrepreneur, but in a more rational world, technology investors wouldn’t overvalue them. Risk capital would be allocated based mostly on evidence, data, progress towards milestones—in short, on proof. In the real world, of course, proof is hard to come by. Hope, avarice, or … Continue reading “Review: Inside the House of Lies at Theranos”
Locana, Fueled With $55M, Looks to Develop Fixes for Faulty RNA
Editing human DNA has entered the public consciousness in a big way in recent years with its increasing use in laboratories—and, in recent news that shocked the scientific community, in embryos—of tools such as CRISPR-Cas9. Locana, a gene therapy biotech in San Diego, is taking what it describes as a “parallel path” to developing therapeutics … Continue reading “Locana, Fueled With $55M, Looks to Develop Fixes for Faulty RNA”
Bio Roundup: Array Bio Acquired, IPO Spree, Sanofi’s Job Cuts & More
[Corrected 6/24/19, 12:08 p.m. See below.] Cancer remains one of the hottest areas for pharma deals and this week saw a big one: Pfizer’s proposed $11.4 billion buyout of Array Biopharma. The announcement comes less than a month after Boulder, CO-based Array announced positive data from a pivotal study of its combination drug in colorectal … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Array Bio Acquired, IPO Spree, Sanofi’s Job Cuts & More”
Boston Tech Watch: Polaris, GE, DataRobot, Facial Recognition Woes
[Updated 8:50 am, 6/21/19. See below.] Two weeks-worth of Boston tech news coming your way that covers new cash, executive moves, wary public sentiment on facial recognition, a mega-merger, and more. —Venture capital firm Polaris Partners is looking to raise $400 million for its ninth fund, according to an SEC filing. Polaris has placed bets … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: Polaris, GE, DataRobot, Facial Recognition Woes”
Verastem CEO Forrester Steps Down, Paterson Appointed President
Robert Forrester, president and CEO of Verastem (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VSTM]]) since 2013, has stepped down. The Needham, MA, company did not give a reason for Forrester’s decision but said that he would continue in an advisory role. Dan Paterson, chief operating officer of the cancer drug developer since 2014, has been appointed president in addition to … Continue reading “Verastem CEO Forrester Steps Down, Paterson Appointed President”
Four More Through the IPO Door as Life Science Firms Raise $465M
It’s been a strong year for biotech IPOs and Wednesday shaped up to be a particularly busy day as four life science firms debuted on the public markets. So far this year, 72 companies have gone public, according to IPO research firm Renaissance Capital. That total is down 20 percent compared to the same period … Continue reading “Four More Through the IPO Door as Life Science Firms Raise $465M”
Xconomy Awards: Gilman & Bosley to Emcee Life Science Gala in Boston
Boston—The 2019 Xconomy Awards are designed to celebrate the accomplishments and promise of Boston’s life sciences community, and we are excited to announce the emcees for this year’s gala. Michael Gilman, CEO of Arrakis Therapeutics, and Katrine Bosley, who formerly led Editas Medicine and Avila Therapeutics, will both serve as hosts for this year’s awards … Continue reading “Xconomy Awards: Gilman & Bosley to Emcee Life Science Gala in Boston”
Veracode CEO Sam King on Surviving Whirlwind of Cybersecurity M&A
Life has been changing at Veracode so rapidly in the past two years that you could easily forgive someone for not remembering who owned the company on any given day. Focused on cybersecurity for application development, Burlington, MA-based Veracode had raised about $150 million and grown to a couple hundred employees by 2017 and at … Continue reading “Veracode CEO Sam King on Surviving Whirlwind of Cybersecurity M&A”
With $45M Nurix Deal, Gilead Enters Crowded Protein Degradation Field
Gilead Sciences is turning to Nurix Therapeutics in an effort to discover new drugs that harness the cellular machinery our bodies use to dispose of damaged or harmful proteins. Foster City, CA-based Gilead (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GILD]]) will pay Nurix $45 million up front to kickstart the alliance, through which the companies aim to develop drugs for … Continue reading “With $45M Nurix Deal, Gilead Enters Crowded Protein Degradation Field”
Perceptive Automata Uses Neuroscience to Help AVs Predict Intent
Those of us who like to ride our bikes on city streets know the importance of The Staredown. Say a biker is trundling past an intersection and a car is inching forward to make a righthand turn while the light is red. It makes the biker feel better to intently stare at the driver in … Continue reading “Perceptive Automata Uses Neuroscience to Help AVs Predict Intent”
Stoke Therapeutics Upsizes IPO, Raises $142M for Dravet Drug R&D
Stoke Therapeutics is the latest biotech company to debut on Wall Street, raising $142 million to test an experimental therapy for a rare form of epilepsy. Stoke does not yet have any human data to show investors, but the Bedford, MA, company was still able to sell more shares than it planned—and at a higher … Continue reading “Stoke Therapeutics Upsizes IPO, Raises $142M for Dravet Drug R&D”
Why My Company Chose Boston, Not Silicon Valley, for Its US HQ
No matter where you are in the world, if you want your company to be a global leader in software, you have to take on the US market. As the co-founder of a French tech startup, I’ve always known that if we wanted to be successful, we would eventually need to establish a presence in … Continue reading “Why My Company Chose Boston, Not Silicon Valley, for Its US HQ”
Unum Therapeutics Appoints Jessica Sachs Chief Medical Officer
Unum Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:UNRX]]) has promoted Jessica Sachs to chief medical officer. Sachs has served as vice president of clinical sciences at the Cambridge, MA, drug developer since 2017. Her experience also includes positions at Takeda Pharmaceutical (NYSE: [[ticker:TAK]]). Sachs, who will start her new role on July 15, is succeeding Michael Vasoncelles, who has left … Continue reading “Unum Therapeutics Appoints Jessica Sachs Chief Medical Officer”
Bluebird Bio Sets $1.8M Price on Gene Therapy for Rare Blood Disease
[Updated 3:19 p.m.] The latest price tag for a gene therapy, a treatment meant to provide a long-lasting effect with a single dose, is now set. The treatment, Zynteglo, developed for the rare blood disease beta thalassemia, will cost roughly $1.8 million. Bluebird Bio (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BLUE]]), which just won approval of Zynteglo in Europe two … Continue reading “Bluebird Bio Sets $1.8M Price on Gene Therapy for Rare Blood Disease”
Bio Roundup: Roche-Spark Drags On, GSK Taps CRISPR, Diabetes News & More
Is one of the bigger biopharma acquisitions of the year in trouble? This past week, antitrust regulators once again delayed Roche’s planned $4.8 billion buyout of gene therapy developer Spark Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ONCE]]). The US Federal Trade Commission wants yet more information about the buyout, and overseas, the UK Competition and Markets Authority opened a … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Roche-Spark Drags On, GSK Taps CRISPR, Diabetes News & More”
Your Tech Startup Is Probably Not Ready to Raise Money
I know, I don’t even know you. Here’s the thing. Let’s say Melanie is an early-stage investor. If she placed a bet blindly for every startup that thinks they’re ready to raise, her chips would fall on the “not ready to raise” words written in fancy script on the soft green felt of the betting … Continue reading “Your Tech Startup Is Probably Not Ready to Raise Money”
IPO Scorecard: CrowdStrike Gains 70 Percent on First Trading Day
Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike delivered the kind of market debut this week that was an unfulfilled dream for the much-anticipated IPOs of Uber and Lyft earlier this year. Sunnyvale, CA-based CrowdStrike (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CRWD]]) priced 18 million shares of common stock at $34 on Tuesday. Trading began at $63.50 Wednesday, and reached a near-doubling of the company’s … Continue reading “IPO Scorecard: CrowdStrike Gains 70 Percent on First Trading Day”
Akrevia Taps Joseph Farmer for Chief Operating Officer Post
Joseph Farmer has been appointed chief operating officer of Akrevia Therapeutics. Farmer comes to Cambridge, MA-based Akrevia from Tesaro, a cancer drug developer that was acquired by GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: [[ticker:GSK]]) earlier this year. His experience also includes posts at Cubist Pharmaceuticals and AMAG Pharmaceuticals. Akrevia launched last year with a $30 million Series A round … Continue reading “Akrevia Taps Joseph Farmer for Chief Operating Officer Post”
Ex-Dermavant Exec Jassie Joins eGenesis as Chief Business Officer
Ariel Jassie has been appointed chief business officer and general counsel of eGenesis. Jassie most recently worked at Dermavant Sciences, where he was chief business and strategy officer. His experience also includes posts at Codiak Biosciences and Celgene (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CELG]]). Cambridge, MA-based eGenesis is researching applications of the CRISPR gene-editing technology to make pig organs … Continue reading “Ex-Dermavant Exec Jassie Joins eGenesis as Chief Business Officer”
Synlogic Lands $80M from Ginkgo to Ramp Up “Living Medicines” R&D
[Updated 10:42 a.m., see below.] Synlogic, a developer of so-called “living medicines” comprised of engineered bacteria, is teaming up with synthetic biology company Ginkgo Bioworks in an effort to advance drug candidates to human testing more quickly. Under an agreement announced Wednesday, Cambridge, MA-based Synlogic (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SYBX]]) will use Ginkgo’s technology to design and test … Continue reading “Synlogic Lands $80M from Ginkgo to Ramp Up “Living Medicines” R&D”
Hi Marley Raises $8M From Investors to Streamline Insurance With AI
Insurance tech startup Hi Marley has landed $8.7 million from True Ventures and Underscore VC to extend its conversational AI tools to help people buy and manage their policies. The Boston company is also working with insurance broker Aon (NYSE: [[ticker:AON]]) to move into more complicated sectors of business insurance through a strategic partnership, according … Continue reading “Hi Marley Raises $8M From Investors to Streamline Insurance With AI”
Celsius Therapeutics Appoints Tariq Kassum President & CEO
Tariq Kassum has been appointed president and CEO of Celsius Therapeutics. He succeeds interim CEO Alexis Borisy, who will remain chairman of the Cambridge, MA, company’s board of directors. Kassum joins Celsius from Obsidian Therapeutics, where he was chief operating officer and head of corporate development. His experience also includes posts at Millennium Pharmaceuticals and … Continue reading “Celsius Therapeutics Appoints Tariq Kassum President & CEO”