With Recruits Coming, Precision Med Effort Pledges $142M For Biobank

The Obama administration’s ambitious long-term health study, dubbed the Precision Medicine Initiative, has tapped the Mayo Clinic to build a repository for biological samples collected from the study’s participants. Through the National Institutes of Health, the administration has awarded $142 million over five years to the Rochester, MN-based Mayo Clinic for the so-called “biobank,” which … Continue reading “With Recruits Coming, Precision Med Effort Pledges $142M For Biobank”

117M LinkedIn Passwords for Sale: What You Should Do Now

Last week, a hack many of us had forgotten about shot right back into the headlines. First, the background: in 2012, LinkedIn acknowledged it had suffered a data breach that exposed the passwords of 6.5 million of its customers. What we discovered last week, however, was that the breach was actually much bigger than anyone … Continue reading “117M LinkedIn Passwords for Sale: What You Should Do Now”

Biotech Roundup: Duchenne Delay, Forum’s Fate, Califf, Ionis & More

Memorial Day weekend may be fast approaching, but don’t fire up those grills yet: there’s plenty of headlines to dig into first in our biotech trip around the Xconomy network. In New York, the nation’s most prestigious science competition changed sponsors for just the second time in its 74-year history. In Boston, one company’s controversial … Continue reading “Biotech Roundup: Duchenne Delay, Forum’s Fate, Califf, Ionis & More”

Veering Off Topic With OwnerIQ CEO Jay Habegger

Next up in my series of offbeat chats with local tech leaders is Jay Habegger, co-founder and CEO of OwnerIQ. Habegger’s company started a decade ago as a network of websites allowing people to download free user manuals for consumer products, from digital cameras to snow blowers. OwnerIQ still offers that service, but it now … Continue reading “Veering Off Topic With OwnerIQ CEO Jay Habegger”

Boston Tech Watch: iRobot, MIT, Xura, Locus Robotics

Before everyone gets out of town for Memorial Day weekend, let’s catch up on a few recent announcements in Boston-area tech: —Xura (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MESG]]), a Wakefield, MA-based provider of digital communications products and services for businesses, is being acquired for $643 million by affiliates of Siris Capital Group, a New York private equity firm. —Locus … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: iRobot, MIT, Xura, Locus Robotics”

Strategies to Attract More Women and Minorities to Startup Accelerators

Startup incubators and accelerators represent an important avenue of advancement in the tech industry for women and underrepresented minorities. And while several high-profile accelerators are taking specific steps to recruit companies led by diverse founders, progress is slow in coming. That was evident on the stage at the end of Techstars Seattle’s latest Demo Day … Continue reading “Strategies to Attract More Women and Minorities to Startup Accelerators”

FDA Commish Califf to Big Data Crowd: Flood Of New Treatments Coming

New FDA commissioner Robert Califf said Wednesday that the recent spike in drug approvals is no temporary phenomenon, thanks to a better understanding of biology and continued adoption of sophisticated technology throughout healthcare. “I predict we’ll see of a flood of effective treatments”—not just drugs but combinations of drugs and data-enabled devices—“and we’ll have to … Continue reading “FDA Commish Califf to Big Data Crowd: Flood Of New Treatments Coming”

Magic Pens, Goliath Defiers, & More at Techstars Boston Demo Day

[Updated 6/6/16, 11:29 a.m. See below.] Beneath the carefully rehearsed pitches, corny one-liners, and overall pomp and circumstance at Techstars Boston’s 10th demo day Wednesday night, it’s clear that the startup accelerator’s local outpost continues to build solid (if not always flashy) businesses. It’s been seven years since Techstars launched in Boston, its first hub … Continue reading “Magic Pens, Goliath Defiers, & More at Techstars Boston Demo Day”

Minerva’s Shares Soar on Early Data for Schizophrenia Drug

Schizophrenia affects millions of people around the world, which is why any prospective treatment that advances garners close attention. Minerva Neurosciences jumped into the spotlight this morning when an experimental schizophrenia drug it’s developing showed some promise in a mid-stage trial, sending the company’s shares soaring. Now the Waltham, MA-based biotech has to prove that … Continue reading “Minerva’s Shares Soar on Early Data for Schizophrenia Drug”

Agenda Live For Influx—Event Welcomes Boston’s Innovation Newcomers

Every June, Xconomy holds a big Boston event looking at the region’s innovation future. This year is no different, but some big changes are in the air for the Boston tech and life sciences communities—and we retooled our event to explore them. This year’s event is called Influx. It takes place on the afternoon of … Continue reading “Agenda Live For Influx—Event Welcomes Boston’s Innovation Newcomers”

Affectiva Secures $14,000,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a4099e6e-4743-42f6-a45a-220b1596a0da Date 5/26/2016 Company Name Affectiva Mailing Address 465 Waverley Oaks Road Waltham, MA 02452 USA Company Description MIT-spinoff Affectiva’s emotion sensing and emotion analytics technology is based on patented, deep learning-based science. This is AI come to life. Website http://www.affectiva.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $14,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds … Continue reading “Affectiva Secures $14,000,000 New Financing”

Daktari Diagnostics Garners $7,000,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=18be79fe-7ad7-49b3-9313-6c797013465d Date 5/26/2016 Company Name Daktari Diagnostics Mailing Address 85 Bolton Street Cambridge, MA 02140 USA Company Description Daktari Diagnostics is a healthcare solutions company that enables enhanced disease management in both developed and developing countries. Our portable point-of-care diagnostic platform, with built-in wireless connectivity and an intuitive cloud-based data management system, … Continue reading “Daktari Diagnostics Garners $7,000,000 New Funding Round”

TransMedics Obtains $51,229,735 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b65161e0-02e5-441c-a6f3-dda9c4072be4 Date 5/26/2016 Company Name TransMedics Mailing Address 200 Minuteman Road Andover, MA 01810 USA Company Description TransMedics has developed a revolutionary new system that enables living organ transplants. Website http://www.transmedics.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $51,229,735 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. 20 investors participated in … Continue reading “TransMedics Obtains $51,229,735 New Funding”

Advancing “Emotion A.I.” for Ads and Gaming: Affectiva Adds $14M

Computers can beat humans at games like chess and Go. They are obviously faster than us at calculations and numerical analysis. But they can’t read people’s emotions as well as we can, or do much of anything useful with that information. Not yet, anyway. But researchers and companies have been trying to close that gap. … Continue reading “Advancing “Emotion A.I.” for Ads and Gaming: Affectiva Adds $14M”

Seismic Raises $40M to Expand Web-based Software for Big Customers

Seismic is making some waves today. The suburban San Diego software company, which specializes in “sales enablement” and content management software for big companies and organizations, says it has raised $40 million in a Series C funding round led by General Atlantic. JMI Equity, an existing investor, also participated in the round. Gary Reiner, a … Continue reading “Seismic Raises $40M to Expand Web-based Software for Big Customers”

After Failed Trial, Forum CEO Dunsire Leaves, Company’s Fate Unclear

Deborah Dunsire, the former head of Millennium Pharmaceuticals and a well-known Boston biotech veteran, is no longer the CEO of Forum Pharmaceuticals, Xconomy has learned. Dunsire’s last day at Waltham, MA-based Forum was on Friday. She told Xconomy she’s formed a biotech consulting company called Southern Cross Biotech Consulting—it isn’t a full-time business, she said—and … Continue reading “After Failed Trial, Forum CEO Dunsire Leaves, Company’s Fate Unclear”

Spero Rolls up More Antibiotics With Vertex Deal

Spero Therapeutics continues to accumulate assets through acquisitions. This morning, the Cambridge, MA-based startup announced a deal to grab rights to a group of experimental antibiotic compounds from Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:[[ticker:VRTX]]), among them a drug called VXc-486/VXc-100. Spero didn’t disclose the financial terms, just that it will make an upfront payment to Vertex and promise … Continue reading “Spero Rolls up More Antibiotics With Vertex Deal”

EquipmentShare Snags $5.5M for “Airbnb” of Construction Machinery

Dallas—EquipmentShare, an online marketplace for construction equipment, has raised $5.5 million in a Series A funding round. Boston’s Romulus Capital is providing the funding. EquipmentShare essentially works to bring the construction site into the digital age. The company’s website works as its name suggests: contractors, construction firms, and the like with idle equipment—forklifts, cranes, bulldozers—can … Continue reading “EquipmentShare Snags $5.5M for “Airbnb” of Construction Machinery”

Sarepta Saga Drags On as FDA Delays Decision on Duchenne Drug

The multi-year saga of eteplirsen, a Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug from Cambridge, MA-based Sarepta Therapeutics, will continue to drag on. Sarepta (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SRPT]]) said today that the FDA won’t complete its review of its drug, eteplirsen, by the established May 26 deadline. As a result, rather than approve or reject eteplirsen—which has the chance to … Continue reading “Sarepta Saga Drags On as FDA Delays Decision on Duchenne Drug”

EnergySage Garners $1,012,913 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=75a1b111-45f0-4d87-9a1f-bb5415e7334c Date 5/25/2016 Company Name EnergySage Mailing Address 120 Water Street Boston, MA 02109 USA Company Description The easiest way to go solar! Installers compete for your business to give you more options and the best deal. Free instant solar estimate. For homes, businesses & non-profits. Website http://www.energysage.com Transaction Type Venture Equity … Continue reading “EnergySage Garners $1,012,913 New Financing Round”

Vedantra Pharmaceuticals Secures $750,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=060217f2-7c59-4950-811a-d0ef3f80b901 Date 5/25/2016 Company Name Vedantra Pharmaceuticals Mailing Address One Kendall Square Cambridge, MA 02139 USA Company Description Vedantra Pharmaceuticals is applying novel nanotechnology-based approaches to develop vaccines for infectious disease and cancer. Website http://www.vedantra.com Transaction Type Venture Equity, Debt Transaction Amount $750,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not … Continue reading “Vedantra Pharmaceuticals Secures $750,000 New Financing”

Crowdly Receives $376,775 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=78ceb260-c14f-4e6e-920b-f6937f11ea3e Date 5/25/2016 Company Name Crowdly Mailing Address 355 Congress Street Boston, MA 02210 USA Company Description Advocate Marketing with Crowdly – Build a Word of Mouth channel made up of your own influential and authentic brand advocates. Website http://www.crowdly.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $376,775 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes … Continue reading “Crowdly Receives $376,775 New Financing”

Retooled Selecta Bio Takes Crossover Cash to IPO Queue

Selecta Biosciences became a candidate to go public when a group of crossover investors—institutions that back both public and private companies—piled $38 million into the company in September. Nine months later, the Watertown, MA-based company is ready to take the leap. Selecta filed papers with the Securities and Exchange Commission late Tuesday outlining plans for … Continue reading “Retooled Selecta Bio Takes Crossover Cash to IPO Queue”

NuTonomy, Optimus Lead Pack of Self-Driving Vehicle Startups

Here comes the blind fury of autonomous vehicle startups. We knew it was coming, since everyone from Google and Uber to GM and Tesla is working on the technology. Boston-area startup NuTonomy, founded by a pair of MIT scientists in 2013, is the latest to make a splash. The company announced on Tuesday a Series … Continue reading “NuTonomy, Optimus Lead Pack of Self-Driving Vehicle Startups”

Join GE, Watson Health, Akamai, and More at INFLUX on June 22

Big companies and innovative startups call Boston home. That’s pretty much always been the case. But now we’re about to see a step change. With GE moving into the Seaport, IBM Watson Health moving into Kendall Square, Dell mega-merging with EMC, and other giants setting up R&D operations (or otherwise expanding their presence), Boston’s profile … Continue reading “Join GE, Watson Health, Akamai, and More at INFLUX on June 22”

Indico CEO on the Existential Crisis in A.I. and Finding One’s Path

Slater Victoroff’s hands were bleeding, several of his fingernails were chipped and broken, and there was dust in his eyes. He was exhausted. If he stopped moving, he would likely die. As he climbed up the mountain in the eastern Himalayas, he reached a particularly treacherous section. “I actually had the decision laid out in … Continue reading “Indico CEO on the Existential Crisis in A.I. and Finding One’s Path”

nuTonomy Secures $16,000,000 Series A Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c86b3da5-7ece-4c82-ac46-1f2dbc3b1d1e Date 5/24/2016 Company Name nuTonomy Mailing Address 115 Jackson Street Cambridge, MA 02140 USA Company Description nuTonomy develops and distributes software and algorithms for self-driving cars and autonomous mobile robots. The company also offers fleet management and consulting and system integration solutions. Website http://www.nutonomy.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $16,000,000 … Continue reading “nuTonomy Secures $16,000,000 Series A Financing Round”

Software Robots Are Transforming Old Guard Industries

Everyone’s talking about robots and automation. Do you imagine having a “Rosie” cleaning your home, or the next industrial revolution of automation putting millions out of work? Neither is quite reality, but there is a highly valuable virtual workforce of “software robots” working in today’s offices. They aren’t rolling around like BB-8 delivering the mail, … Continue reading “Software Robots Are Transforming Old Guard Industries”

Magnomics Mastitis Diagnostic Lands Prize, Finds Potential NC Partner

While the financial costs of mastitis are clear, the diagnostic options for this dairy cow infection are muddled. Laboratory tests take days to return to farmers any useful information, time that eats into a dairy farm’s milk production. Magnomics aims to improve mastitis detection with a diagnostic device designed for farm use. The Cantanhede, Portugal-based … Continue reading “Magnomics Mastitis Diagnostic Lands Prize, Finds Potential NC Partner”

Localytics Pushes Toward Profits After Layoffs and Market Slowdown

The tech startup maxim of putting growth before profits has started to reverse itself, as the venture capital boom of the past few years slows down and public investors reward companies with healthy balance sheets. The latest example of the shifting mindset is Localytics. The mobile analytics and marketing software firm has raised $60 million … Continue reading “Localytics Pushes Toward Profits After Layoffs and Market Slowdown”

Faraday Receives $2,482,179 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f8d4a47e-8519-4a29-a8eb-dee06063412a Date 5/23/2016 Company Name Faraday Mailing Address 5 Court St. Middlebury, VT 05753 USA Company Description Recruit customers using Faraday’s audience management platform. Broad data sources and predictive analytics build high quality direct marketing lists. Website http://www.faraday.io Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $2,482,179 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes … Continue reading “Faraday Receives $2,482,179 New Funding”

Dean Kamen Talks Houston & Building Robotics “Super Bowl” For Kids

Houston—Dean Kamen’s inventions include the iBot, a powered wheelchair that can “walk;” the first portable insulin delivery system; and a robotic prosthetic arm made for the military as he built his firm Deka Research and Development. (Also, you may have heard of this other invention he had: the Segway.) Houston played a pivotal role in … Continue reading “Dean Kamen Talks Houston & Building Robotics “Super Bowl” For Kids”

The Biotech Roundup: Immunotherapy Ups And Downs, Gene Deals & More

A quick housekeeping note: Starting this week, we are combining our East Coast and West Coast biotech roundups into a single weekly post that will also include highlights from our other cities and regions, including Texas, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Xconomy’s latest bureau, Indiana. As with our bygone coastal roundups, this new national roundup is not … Continue reading “The Biotech Roundup: Immunotherapy Ups And Downs, Gene Deals & More”

Spark Adds To Early But Promising Data For Hemophilia Gene Therapy

The race to develop a gene therapy for hemophilia just moved another few feet forward. Spark Therapeutics, which is one of several companies developing a treatment, is the latest to provide its first glimpse of clinical data in human patients. As with other snippets from rivals like UniQure, of Amsterdam, and BioMarin Pharmaceutical, of San … Continue reading “Spark Adds To Early But Promising Data For Hemophilia Gene Therapy”

Agenda for Robo Madness West: PARC, iRobot, Fetch & More

We’re a little over a month away from our fifth annual Bay Area robotics conference. This year’s Robo Madness West has a new spin: it’s happening as part of the 2016 Sensors Expo & Conference at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, CA, on the afternoon of June 22. Here’s the agenda for the … Continue reading “Agenda for Robo Madness West: PARC, iRobot, Fetch & More”

ThoughtSpot Raises $50M for Business Data Search Engine

“The consumption of data by humans has increased maybe millions of times compared to what we used to use,” Ajeet Singh says. “This is possible because of search.” By that, serial entrepreneur Singh means search engines like Google and Microsoft’s Bing, which instantly scour websites to find us a restaurant, an audiobook, or the name … Continue reading “ThoughtSpot Raises $50M for Business Data Search Engine”

MIT Boosts Resources for Entrepreneurs as Startup “Fever” Rages

[Editor’s note: This is part of a series of stories examining entrepreneurship on MIT’s campus and beyond.] [Corrected 10/4/16, 9:33 am. See below.] In 1901, 40 years after the Massachusetts Institute of Technology was founded, alumnus and inventor William Nickerson co-founded the company that would become Gillette. MIT graduate William Shockley co-invented the transistor in … Continue reading “MIT Boosts Resources for Entrepreneurs as Startup “Fever” Rages”

Agenovir Gets $10.6M To Take on Viral Infections With CRISPR

The gene editing system known as CRISPR-Cas9 has electrified the world of science and led to a slew of startups, including two—Editas Medicine and Intellia Therapeutics—that have already gone public. The latest to join the fray is Agenovir, a company incubated at Johnson & Johnson’s JLABS accelerator in South San Francisco that aims to use … Continue reading “Agenovir Gets $10.6M To Take on Viral Infections With CRISPR”

Boston Deal Watch: RedPoint Global, Nift, BlueArchive, Cogito

It’s time to catch up on a few recent investments in Boston-area tech startups, including a new data storage company from the founders of Carbonite. Read on for details. —RedPoint Global said Wednesday it snagged $12 million in Series C funding from Grotech Ventures and WP Global Partners. Located just outside of Boston in Wellesley, … Continue reading “Boston Deal Watch: RedPoint Global, Nift, BlueArchive, Cogito”

Armed With Patent, Foundation Med Sues Diagnostic Rival Guardant

[Updated, 1:15 pm ET and 7:53pm ET, see below] Cambridge, MA-based Foundation Medicine (NASDAQ: [[ticker:FMI]]), which analyzes tumor and blood samples from cancer patients and provides suggestions for potential genetically targeted medicines, is suing rival diagnostic firm Guardant Health. The patent infringement suit comes swiftly on the heels of Foundation receiving a patent for its … Continue reading “Armed With Patent, Foundation Med Sues Diagnostic Rival Guardant”

Nift Garners $3,000,000 Seed Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=25e01ed0-3cf9-4489-923f-02b2eadce869 Date 5/18/2016 Company Name Nift Mailing Address 25 First Street Cambridge, MA 02141 USA Company Description Nift is an invitation only network of neighborhood businesses. Business owners give Nift gifts to thank existing customers, support other local businesses, and bring great new customers through the door. Website http://www.gonift.com Transaction Type Venture … Continue reading “Nift Garners $3,000,000 Seed Funding Round”

CardioFocus Receives $8,000,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=291bd6b5-7477-4cdd-b03e-adadd4ce33a4 Date 5/18/2016 Company Name CardioFocus Mailing Address 500 Nickerson Road Marlborough, MA 01752 USA Company Description Development of ablation treatment of cardiac disorders, atrial fibrillation, AFib heart arrhythmia. CardioFocus laser ablation clinical trial. Website http://www.cardiofocus.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount $8,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. … Continue reading “CardioFocus Receives $8,000,000 New Funding”

RedPoint Global Lands $12,000,000 Series C Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ea2f6559-d9f8-4b47-8c95-efb2fef3392c Date 5/18/2016 Company Name RedPoint Global Mailing Address 36 Washington Street Wellesley Hills, MA 02481 USA Company Description The RedPoint Convergent Marketing Platform (CMP) is the only fully integrated, all-in-one marketing platform available today. It provides all of the functionality necessary to receive raw data and, in turn, utilize that data … Continue reading “RedPoint Global Lands $12,000,000 Series C Funding”

Agios, Celgene Jump into Immuno-Oncology in Revamped Alliance

Agios Pharmaceuticals rode a wide-ranging partnership with Celgene to a big IPO a few years ago. Today the two companies are partnering once again in a deal that will see Agios try its hand at the increasingly competitive field of cancer immunotherapy. Specifically, Cambridge, MA-based Agios (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AGIO]]) is getting $200 million up front from … Continue reading “Agios, Celgene Jump into Immuno-Oncology in Revamped Alliance”

Studies Tout Massachusetts Tech Scene, But Talent Issues Loom

Several days after one study ranked Boston as the U.S. city best positioned to capitalize on the transition to a digital economy, a new report bolsters Massachusetts’s tech credentials—but with some important caveats that could hinder the Bay State’s growth. Last week, a report titled “Innovation That Matters” drew national attention with its somewhat surprising … Continue reading “Studies Tout Massachusetts Tech Scene, But Talent Issues Loom”

Foundation Med Gets U.S. Patent For Cancer Analysis

Cambridge, MA-based Foundation Medicine (NASDAQ: [[ticker:FMI]]) has built a business on analyzing cancer patient biopsies for the specific genetic alterations that might be fueling their disease. Now Foundation says, in a press release this morning, that it has received a U.S. patent that covers the “fundamental claims” of its technology. It’s not immediately clear if … Continue reading “Foundation Med Gets U.S. Patent For Cancer Analysis”

Expanding in Stomachs and in Europe, Allurion Adds $6M

Plenty of companies sell pills for weight loss or obesity treatment. None of them are quite like Allurion Technologies. The Wellesley, MA-based startup makes an ingestible “pill” containing a gastric balloon that a doctor fills with fluid through an attached tube to help a patient feel full. The tube is then removed via the patient’s … Continue reading “Expanding in Stomachs and in Europe, Allurion Adds $6M”

Gerngross Mulls Buying Back GlycoFi After Merck Closes HQ

[Updated, 1:05 pm ET] What does the future hold for GlycoFi, the Lebanon, NH-based company that Merck bought for $400 million in 2006? The Valley News first reported on Sunday that GlycoFi has moved out of its headquarters at the Dartmouth Regional Technology Center, and that a “select number” of employees have transferred to other … Continue reading “Gerngross Mulls Buying Back GlycoFi After Merck Closes HQ”

A Peek Into Boxbee’s Pivot From a Storage Service to Software

[Updated 5/18/16, 6:50 am. See below.] Change is not always easy, but for some startups it is a shot at evolving into something tangible. Confronted with uncertain prospects for growth, the team at Boxbee, based in New York, pivoted away from its original business—which was managing the pickup and storage of personal property for its customers. … Continue reading “A Peek Into Boxbee’s Pivot From a Storage Service to Software”