San Francisco, we’re coming. Of course, you are ready for the biotech onslaught. The cab drivers, hotel people, cops, security dudes, restaurant and bar staff—you all know the drill come January. So what about all the healthcare industry capitalists? Are you ready to make the most of this week when all the decision makers and … Continue reading “10 Tips for Maximizing the JP Morgan Healthcare Experience”
Category: Boulder/Denver
Patheos Secures New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=1408b3fc-5915-4aca-9264-23b8794c06f3 Date 12/23/2013 Company Name Patheos Mailing Address 383 Inverness Parkway Englewood, CO 80112 Company Description Patheos, Inc. was germinated in the summer of 2008 with the founding ethos of trying to provide “something different, something better.” Patheos explicitly recognized that while there were hundreds of religion websites, none of them were … Continue reading “Patheos Secures New Funding”
Colorado-based Boulder Ventures to Raise $100M Venture Fund
The flurry of activity in Colorado’s small venture capital world continues, with news emerging that local VC firm Boulder Ventures is raising a new $100 million fund. Boulder Ventures is a Boulder-based firm that specializes in investing in companies in the Boulder-Denver area. The firm invests in software, hardware, IT, and biotech companies. Its list … Continue reading “Colorado-based Boulder Ventures to Raise $100M Venture Fund”
Cohen Likely to Keep Aim on “Angel-Scale” Deals with new $150M Fund
The evolution of Techstars CEO David Cohen from an entrepreneur “vaguely dissatisfied with the way angel investing worked” to a full-fledged venture capitalist has taken another major step forward with his fresh efforts to raise a $150 million investment fund. While Cohen is best known as the head of the Techstars startup accelerator, which has … Continue reading “Cohen Likely to Keep Aim on “Angel-Scale” Deals with new $150M Fund”
News, Social Networking Meet in Prismatic’s “Interest Network”
Over the last 20 years, three new technologies have come together to reshape the way information enters our lives. First, of course, there was the Web, starting around 1993. Then came social networking, starting around 2003. And finally—hugely amplifying the effects of the first two—came broadband-capable smartphones and tablets, starting in 2007. Any one of … Continue reading “News, Social Networking Meet in Prismatic’s “Interest Network””
Techstars CEO David Cohen to Raise $150M Fund
Techstars co-founder and CEO David Cohen has begun the process of raising a $150 million fund, according to an SEC filing made earlier today. While Cohen is best known as the head of Boulder, CO-based Techstars, he’s also an active investor who has made a few hundred “angel-scale” investments in startups across the country. Many … Continue reading “Techstars CEO David Cohen to Raise $150M Fund”
Sympoz Closes $35M Series C Round Backed by Adams Street Partners
Sympoz has been hard at work building an online education service. Turns out, the company might be able to teach a few lessons of its own about raising investment cash. Denver-based Sympoz, the parent of Craftsy, has just raised a $35 million Series C round, with private equity firm Adams Street Partners coming on as … Continue reading “Sympoz Closes $35M Series C Round Backed by Adams Street Partners”
VC-Backed Travel Startup Inspirato Takes over Rival’s Portfolio
Inspirato, the Denver-based luxury vacation club that has raised $48.5 million from Silicon Valley heavy hitters like Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Institutional Venture Partners, said Wednesday it is taking over the portfolio of rival Portico. Portico had been part of Denver-based Exclusive Resorts. The deal was officially labeled a “combination,” and the amount … Continue reading “VC-Backed Travel Startup Inspirato Takes over Rival’s Portfolio”
Oberon FMR Lands $12,705,096 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=61618208-74a2-4739-8fec-281d8451757c Date 12/19/2013 Company Name Oberon FMR Mailing Address 12635 E Montview Blvd Aurora, CO 80045 Company Description Oberon FMR, Inc. is an early stage company with proprietary technology capable of producing a cost-effective, sustainably produced protein meal. Website http://www.oberonfmr.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $12,705,096 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes … Continue reading “Oberon FMR Lands $12,705,096 New Funding”
Aleph Objects Lands $294,548 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9a1c04a2-2827-4bbc-8bd0-9074b27c6e5d Date 12/19/2013 Company Name Aleph Objects Mailing Address 626 W 66th St. Loveland, CO 80538 Company Description Frustrated by the status quo, Aleph Objects, Inc. began with the goal to allow people the freedom they need to get the job done — specifically, the job of conceiving, creating, and manufacturing prototypes … Continue reading “Aleph Objects Lands $294,548 New Funding”
Sympoz Receives $35,000,006 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d4652c37-9baf-455b-aaf9-de55037c366c Date 12/19/2013 Company Name Sympoz Mailing Address 999 18th St. Denver, CO 80202 Company Description Sympoz creates vibrant communities that inspire and educate. We enable you to follow your passion in an environment where you can watch, interact & learn from renowned experts, on your own schedule. Website http://www.sympoz.com Transaction Type … Continue reading “Sympoz Receives $35,000,006 New Financing”
Avago’s $6.6B Acquisition of LSI Could Have Major Effect on Colorado
Avago Technologies’ planned $6.6 billion cash acquisition of LSI could be felt in Colorado, where LSI has about 650 employees, but officials with the company said their fate has not been determined. Avago Technologies (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AVGO]]) makes and sells analog semiconductor devices, while LSI (NASDAQ: [[ticker:LSI]]) designs semiconductors and software for storage and networking in … Continue reading “Avago’s $6.6B Acquisition of LSI Could Have Major Effect on Colorado”
Brainyak Obtains $2,500,001 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=fb5dba5f-3654-40b1-a2e4-20e698362753 Date 12/18/2013 Company Name Brainyak Mailing Address 1422 Delgany Street Denver, CO 80202 Company Description The company is developing an as yet unspecified Internet service. Website http://www.brainyak.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $2,500,001 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. SEC regulatory filing. Contact technology company for … Continue reading “Brainyak Obtains $2,500,001 New Financing”
JumpCloud Names Colorado Startup Veteran Rajat Bhargava Its New CEO
[Corrected 1/15/14, 9:19 am. See below.] JumpCloud, a Boulder, CO-based startup trying to capitalize on the IT industry’s “DevOps” trend, announced Monday it has appointed a new CEO. Rajat Bhargava, a veteran of Colorado’s startup scene and one of JumpCloud’s co-founders, is taking the reins. JumpCloud launched in September and is developing cloud-based software that allows … Continue reading “JumpCloud Names Colorado Startup Veteran Rajat Bhargava Its New CEO”
Betting on the Recurring Revenue Market
Big companies are betting big on recurring revenue—that is, pricing plans designed to guarantee continuing income, as opposed to one-time payments. They believe that if they play their hands correctly, this strategy will deliver profitability and growth. We’ve been watching the red-hot recurring revenue market closely, and in recent months, we’ve seen one established company … Continue reading “Betting on the Recurring Revenue Market”
For CytRx’s Insiders, What a Difference a Day Makes
CytRx (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CYTR]]) investors had a lot to be happy about last week. The good times came on Wednesday, Dec. 11, after the small cap biotech announced encouraging summary results from a mid-stage clinical trial of its doxorubicin conjugate, aldoxorubicin, in patients getting their initial treatment for soft tissue sarcoma. This announcement sent Los Angeles-based … Continue reading “For CytRx’s Insiders, What a Difference a Day Makes”
MicroBiome Therapeutics Lands $1,300,000 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e327ff8a-0198-41e0-a6c4-89edb790be79 Date 12/17/2013 Company Name MicroBiome Therapeutics Mailing Address 11001 W 120th Avenue Broomfield, CO 80021 Company Description MicroBiome Therapeutics is developing medical food and pharmaceutical products that improve health status by interacting with the human microbiome in specific ways. Website http://www.mbiome.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,300,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed … Continue reading “MicroBiome Therapeutics Lands $1,300,000 New Round”
Xconomy Launches in Wisconsin: Innovation Isn’t Something We Fly Over
There are no flyover zones in the United States. That’s the way Xconomy views the map, anyway, because we see innovation happening all over America. So it is with great pleasure that today we are launching Xconomy Wisconsin, the ninth hub in our growing national network. It is our third launch this year—after Boulder-Denver and … Continue reading “Xconomy Launches in Wisconsin: Innovation Isn’t Something We Fly Over”
What Was Hyped, and What Fell Out of Favor, This Year in Biotech
Every year, Science magazine profiles its “Breakthrough of the Year.” People get excited. But what many readers don’t fully appreciate is that these discoveries—at least in biomedicine—are almost always decades away from turning into useful new drugs, diagnostics, or other products that advance human health. There are, shall we say, kinks that need to be … Continue reading “What Was Hyped, and What Fell Out of Favor, This Year in Biotech”
How Nelson Mandela Inspired Me to Fight Infectious Disease
[Editor’s Note: Alan Aderem is a former political activist from South Africa who now serves as the President of Seattle BioMed, a research institute that focuses on global infectious diseases.] My first response to Nelson Mandela’s death was one of profound loss and sadness. This feeling was soon replaced by recognition of Mandela’s mammoth contributions … Continue reading “How Nelson Mandela Inspired Me to Fight Infectious Disease”
A Revolution is Taking Place in the Treatment of Blood Cancers
I try to avoid sensationalizing early clinical trial results presented at medical conferences, what’s commonly known as “hype over hope.” But at this year’s annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) in New Orleans I was struck by the thought that I was a witness to the beginning of a revolution in the … Continue reading “A Revolution is Taking Place in the Treatment of Blood Cancers”
Former MIT President Charles Vest Dead of Cancer at 72
[Updated, Dec. 14, 2013–see below] Charles Vest, one of the leading contemporary figures of higher education, engineering, and science, and an early friend of Xconomy, has passed away. He was 72, and the cause was cancer, according to an announcement from MIT. Chuck, as most people called him, was the down home, congenial president of “the … Continue reading “Former MIT President Charles Vest Dead of Cancer at 72”
Economist: Startups Showing Increasing Impact on Colorado’s Economy
Colorado is wrapping up a record year for startups, and according to the state’s leading economic forecaster, they could be having a growing impact on the Centennial State’s economy for years. Richard Wobbekind is the executive director of the Business Research Division at the University of Colorado at Boulder, and he oversees the university’s annual … Continue reading “Economist: Startups Showing Increasing Impact on Colorado’s Economy”
Houzz—the Alluring App for Home Remodelers and Wannabes
The first time you open the Houzz app on your Apple or Android tablet, you’ll take in the midcentury modern living rooms with their Eames sofas and Noguchi coffee tables, the gleaming neo-Craftsman bungalows surrounded by herb gardens, and the outdoor kitchens complete with wood-fired pizza ovens, and you’ll think you’ve landed inside the digital … Continue reading “Houzz—the Alluring App for Home Remodelers and Wannabes”
State Economic Rankings Don’t Measure Up
This post was co-written with Yasuyuki Motoyama and Jared Konczal. A few weeks ago, a new ranking was published measuring “opportunity” on a state-by-state basis. Vermont came out on top as the friendliest state for upward mobility, scoring well on both the Community and Education metrics. Someone from Vermont e-mailed us here at the Kauffman … Continue reading “State Economic Rankings Don’t Measure Up”
Useful Systems Obtains Seed Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=20c17a7f-4768-4cde-88c1-cdd62e9f8346 Date 12/13/2013 Company Name Useful Systems Mailing Address 1007 Pearl Street Boulder, CO 80302 Company Description Mission – Develop easy to use apps that reduce expenses and increase revenue for companies that manage mobile workforces. Website http://www.usefulsystemsinc.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount Undisclosed Transaction Round Seed Proceeds Purposes The new … Continue reading “Useful Systems Obtains Seed Financing Round”
There May Be More to the FDA/23andMe Story Than Meets the Eye
Consumers and life science startup companies alike are reacting strongly to the recent decision by the FDA to restrict the genetic testing company, 23andMe, from marketing its genetic testing service. In our day-to-day work, we are frequently approached with a gamut of regulatory questions from both large and small life science companies navigating the intersection … Continue reading “There May Be More to the FDA/23andMe Story Than Meets the Eye”
Techstars’ David Cohen Talks Fintech, Managing Directors, and Growth
If you want to know why the Techstars accelerator is partnering with Barclays, a U.K. bank, on a new London-based startup accelerator, take a look in your pocket. No, not at your cash or wallet. Look at your iPhone or Android. Smartphones have replaced watches, cameras, planners, notebooks, landline telephones, some categories of computers—and, in … Continue reading “Techstars’ David Cohen Talks Fintech, Managing Directors, and Growth”
Plink Receives $800,000 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=57644743-5ebd-43eb-92fe-f2c619c0dadb Date 12/12/2013 Company Name Plink Mailing Address 2000 S. Colorado Blvd. Denver, CO 80222 Company Description Plink is an online-to-offline loyalty program that rewards members for dining and shopping at their favorite national restaurants and offline stores. Website http://www.plink.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $800,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes … Continue reading “Plink Receives $800,000 New Round”
U.S. IPO Activity in 2013 on Track for Highest Level in 9 Years
As the IPO counter continues to roll, the EY accounting firm says it estimates 2013 will ring up a total of 222 U.S. IPOs (or maybe 223), with cumulative proceeds generating a total of about $59.7 billion. EY has counted 211 IPOs as of yesterday, and 10 more IPOs are on the calendar for this … Continue reading “U.S. IPO Activity in 2013 on Track for Highest Level in 9 Years”
Cleantech’s New Economics and the U.K.’s Electric Superbike
Investment is down, new capacity is up, and negative press has everyone twisted and turned around—it’s been a roller coaster ride for the cleantech industry. That ride’s not likely to stop any time soon, from what I saw last week at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s annual industry growth forum, an event that brought together … Continue reading “Cleantech’s New Economics and the U.K.’s Electric Superbike”
Friends of 10.10.10 Happy Hour
The inaugural 10.10.10 program debuts in two months, and this event will give the chance for the organizers to connect with supporters and share details. Partners, sponsors, and volunteers are stepping up to support the ten day event and pre-program activities. More information is available at the Friends of 10.10.10 Meetup page.
Sustainable Venture Meetup: Crowdfunding 201
Crowdfunding 201: Create Your Campaign is a three hour workshop that is a deep dive into the 9 Phases of Crowdfunding from “Defining Your Need” to “Completing Fulfillment”. This will include detailed steps, best practices, real-life examples, and recommended resources. Concurrently, we will focus on creating your best message and transitioning that into an effective … Continue reading “Sustainable Venture Meetup: Crowdfunding 201”
Boulder StartUp Meetup
Hear a founder present their startup, and ask questions & provide feedback so they can learn from your experience. Network with entrepreneurs, your peers, your target clients, your tribe, and learn from an experienced entrepreneur who will share their story and advice based on their own unique experiences. This month, John Heim of Always Forward Sports will present, … Continue reading “Boulder StartUp Meetup”
BoulderBeta 3.1.1 – CO’s Startup Holiday Party 2013
Boulder’s top startup party returns for its annual holiday party. BoulderBeta is partnering with a long list of local startups to make this party one of the best of the year and to celebrate another fantastic year of entrepreneurship on the front range. For this event, some of the most influential and disruptive companies in the state … Continue reading “BoulderBeta 3.1.1 – CO’s Startup Holiday Party 2013”
Novartis, Gilead, Genentech & More: An ASH 2013 Wrap-Up
Advances in the treatment of blood cancer were in the news this week. If you missed some of the signal while seeing a lot of noise from press releases, tweets, and analyst reports coming from the American Society of Hematology conference, don’t feel bad. There weren’t a whole lot of major new revelations that I … Continue reading “Novartis, Gilead, Genentech & More: An ASH 2013 Wrap-Up”
Mars One Foundation Picks Lockheed Martin to Develop First Landing Plan
It’s “Mars or Bust” for the nonprofit Mars One foundation, which seeks to lead the first privately funded mission to the Red Planet, and the path to the Martian surface will go through Colorado. Mars One’s long-term goal is to create a permanent human settlement on Mars, but first it needs to prove it can … Continue reading “Mars One Foundation Picks Lockheed Martin to Develop First Landing Plan”
How Do You Want to Spend the Next Four Years of Your Life?
As our Lean LaunchPad for Life Sciences class winds down, a good number of the 26 teams are trying to figure out whether they should go forward to turn their class project into a business. Given that we’ve been emphasizing evidence-based entrepreneurship and the Investment Readiness Level, I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised when … Continue reading “How Do You Want to Spend the Next Four Years of Your Life?”
The Problem with Bitcoin
One purpose of writing this piece is a vague hope of being proven wrong by some economist who knows better than me. That would be nice. Because what I have come to think about Bitcoin is not nice. Before writing this piece, I presented my common-sense critique to Bitcoin proponents, and so far nobody has … Continue reading “The Problem with Bitcoin”
Colorado Tech Industry Driving Job Growth, Despite Talent Shortage
Colorado’s top economists and business leaders expect the state’s economic growth will continue into 2014, and they believe high tech industries such as aerospace and software development will lead the way. In fact, the industries are expected to do so well, they might have more job openings than qualified people to fill them. That’s according … Continue reading “Colorado Tech Industry Driving Job Growth, Despite Talent Shortage”
12 Things the Pharma Industry Can Do to Rebuild Real Public Trust
Remember when Merck was the most admired company in America? When pharmaceutical companies ranked among the most respected of all industries, because of their achievements for human health and well-being? I don’t. I was born in 1975, putting me smack in Generation X. I started paying attention to the business of biomedical innovation, as a … Continue reading “12 Things the Pharma Industry Can Do to Rebuild Real Public Trust”
Roundup: Rally’s Results, Zayo’s $150M Refi, and Startup Week’s Return
Rally Software’s roll continued this week, with the company’s latest quarterly revenue beating expectations while CEO Tim Miller earned an award for being Colorado’s top CEO. The Boulder-based software development company (NYSE: [[ticker:RALY]]) announced late Thursday a 28 percent year-to-year revenue increase for its most recent quarter, which ended Oct. 31. The company, which went … Continue reading “Roundup: Rally’s Results, Zayo’s $150M Refi, and Startup Week’s Return”
High-Tech Holidays: The Xperience Gift Guide, 2013 Edition
Wait, what? Cyber Monday was four days ago, and you still haven’t finished your holiday gift buying? Don’t worry, we haven’t either. But we thought we’d take some time away from our busy shopping schedules to help you find the best presents for the gadget geeks in your life. In the slideshow above, we’ve collected … Continue reading “High-Tech Holidays: The Xperience Gift Guide, 2013 Edition”
Mersive Lands $2,100,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=58502f57-94d1-4863-b905-38aab1933184 Date 12/6/2013 Company Name Mersive Mailing Address 2399 Blake Street Denver, CO 80205 Company Description Mersive was founded in 2004 with the goal of creating a new generation of digital display solution for mass market. Recognizing that an increasing amount of ultra high-resolution digital content is being created every day, Mersive … Continue reading “Mersive Lands $2,100,000 New Funding Round”
Untangle Acquires eSoft for Undisclosed Sum
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=cfc0ce54-29c0-45bc-913e-9c2c7634eaac Date 12/6/2013 Company Name eSoft Mailing Address 295 Interlocken Blvd. Broomfield, CO 80021 Company Description Privately-held eSoft, based in the foothills of Broomfield, Colorado, has developed the award-winning InstaGate and ThreatWall security appliances, as well as network security software add-ons called ThreatPaks that provide Email and Web security. Website http://www.esoft.com Transaction … Continue reading “Untangle Acquires eSoft for Undisclosed Sum”
Tesla Investor’s Enduring Lessons for Cleantech (and Other) Startups
In just 10 years, Tesla Motors has become a symbol of automotive excellence and an iconic company for risk-taking and determined entrepreneurs everywhere. But according to director and early investor Ira Ehrenpreis, it wasn’t always that way. Ehrenpreis is a general partner at Technology Partners, a Palo Alto, CA-based venture capital firm. He specializes in … Continue reading “Tesla Investor’s Enduring Lessons for Cleantech (and Other) Startups”
FDA’s Culture Is Genetically Dominant Over 23andMe’s Business Model
I’ve been following the 23andMe saga with dread and fascination and frustration since it hit in late November. If you’re not up to date, David Dobbs has the canonical collection of stories to get you there. This is a post about business models and culture clashes. It’s long. I should also start by disclosing that my former … Continue reading “FDA’s Culture Is Genetically Dominant Over 23andMe’s Business Model”
An Innovative Cleantech Strategy: Invest in Solar PV for Nonprofits
For decades we’ve been led to believe that donating money is the only way to financially support a nonprofit organization committed to a mission we care about. However, what if there was a different way to support nonprofits that could also provide a modest financial return? Perhaps the biggest challenge for nonprofits that want to … Continue reading “An Innovative Cleantech Strategy: Invest in Solar PV for Nonprofits”
A Tablet App from Invention Labs Helps Kids with Speech Disabilities
The field of educational technologies is going through an exciting period. From massively open online courses (MOOCs) like MIT’s OCW or edX and Khan Academy to a range of tablet and smartphone applications, the field is rife with exciting innovations that have dramatically changed the face of education. There is a higher degree of self-learning … Continue reading “A Tablet App from Invention Labs Helps Kids with Speech Disabilities”
Cleantech Overcoming Challenges, Rough Years, Tesla VC Investor Says
Building revolutionary companies is not easy, and bad times have to be expected and endured. But dark days don’t dissuade visionaries. Ask Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, or the innovators who built Silicon Valley’s greatest companies. In the eyes of Ira Ehrenpreis, an early investor in Tesla Motors (NASDAQ: [[ticker:TSLA]]) and a current director, it shouldn’t … Continue reading “Cleantech Overcoming Challenges, Rough Years, Tesla VC Investor Says”