Showing little concern for stock-market volatility or worries over the Brexit, venture capital firms pumped $15.3 billion into 961 deals across the United States during the three months that ended June 30, according to the MoneyTree Report on venture capital activity. It was the 10th consecutive quarter that venture firms put at least $10 billion … Continue reading “‘Megadeals’ Dominate Q2 as VCs Invest $15.3B, and Top 10 Deals”
Category: Detroit
Why Entrepreneurs Should Care About Inequality and Divisiveness
The horrific news of recent weeks has amplified America’s long-simmering tensions and many divisions, and cast a new and disturbing light on the nature of social and economic inequality in this economy. The shootings that targeted police officers at a peaceful protest in Dallas, which followed the officer-involved shooting deaths of Philando Castile near Minneapolis … Continue reading “Why Entrepreneurs Should Care About Inequality and Divisiveness”
Fontinalis Closes New $100M Fund Supporting Mobility Startups
When Fontinalis Partners launched its first venture fund in 2009 to invest in early-stage mobility startups, many in the VC world didn’t quite know what mobility was. Defined by Fontinalis as “the efficient movement of goods, people, and services across all modes of transportation,” mobility has come to encompass ridesharing services like Lyft and Uber, … Continue reading “Fontinalis Closes New $100M Fund Supporting Mobility Startups”
How Cyber Visibility Protects Against the Abnormal & the Immoral
Another day, another breach. For many Bostonians, the “privacy incident” recently disclosed by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)—which reportedly involved the personal information of 4,300 dental patients stored by a software vendor—hit close to home in many ways, as most of us have at one time or another been to MGH for ourselves or a loved … Continue reading “How Cyber Visibility Protects Against the Abnormal & the Immoral”
Can Innovation Save Us?
During a summer that’s been marred by political upheaval and horrific violence inside and outside the U.S., it’s natural for startup entrepreneurs and others immersed in the technology world—including us journalists—to wonder about the role of innovation in solving social problems. In the wake of the murder of five police officers in Dallas, which followed … Continue reading “Can Innovation Save Us?”
From Drones to Sharing Economy, Don’t Disrupt the Disruptors
Napa Valley met the Silicon Valley at the recent Xconomy Retreat on Technology, Jobs, and Growth (aka the Napa Summit). Experts in cutting-edge technology huddled with business leaders and investors in the California wine country to explore what’s on, and just over, the technological horizon. Over the course of the two-day event, drones and the … Continue reading “From Drones to Sharing Economy, Don’t Disrupt the Disruptors”
As Drone Navigation Advances, SlantRange Focuses on Farm Analytics
As the Federal Aviation Administration sets new rules for commercial operations of unmanned aircraft, legions of new startups are using drones to perform all kinds of tasks—from aerial inspections to mapping, imaging, and analysis. Whether these new businesses can succeed will depend on a variety of factors, including restrictions on autonomous flight that government regulators … Continue reading “As Drone Navigation Advances, SlantRange Focuses on Farm Analytics”
Report Shows International Students Filling State’s STEM Talent Gap
Those of us who have always imagined America to be a place that welcomes immigrants and refugees as a matter of principle have mostly watched in horror as this election season has unfolded. Amid talk of “a big, beautiful wall” between Mexico and the United States, a ban on Muslims entering the country, and dog-whistling … Continue reading “Report Shows International Students Filling State’s STEM Talent Gap”
The Gap Has Two Sides
About two years ago, I was asked to join a Babson College panel discussing the gender gap in venture capital. At the center of the conversation would be the results from the Diana Project, a research study that examined our industry and the stark lack of representation of women investors and funded entrepreneurs. I accepted … Continue reading “The Gap Has Two Sides”
Biotech Roundup: Fighting Addiction, Obama Precision, Juno Deaths & More
This week started with celebrations of America’s birthday, and it has been dominated—biotech-wise—by America’s government. The Obama administration continued its high-profile involvement in the life sciences by updating its Precision Medicine Initiative, easing limits on doctors who want to fight opioid addiction, and stopping a clinical trial in one of the hottest biomedical fields, cancer … Continue reading “Biotech Roundup: Fighting Addiction, Obama Precision, Juno Deaths & More”
Pairaphrase Pushes Smart, Secure Language Translation Software
A Royal Oak, MI-based startup focused on language translation software is heading to New York City this fall to compete in Techweek’s Launch competition. Pairaphrase was founded by Rick Woyde because he thought he could offer a better, more private alternative to Google Translate. Woyde is the longtime owner of Language Arts & Science, a … Continue reading “Pairaphrase Pushes Smart, Secure Language Translation Software”
Recruitment Goal In Obama Precision Med Study: 1M in 3 or 4 Years
The Obama administration’s push to sign up one million Americans for a long-term health study will start in New York, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Tucson, AZ, top health officials said today. National Institutes of Health director Francis Collins (pictured) and FDA commissioner Rob Califf spoke on a call this afternoon to update the Precision Medicine Initiative, … Continue reading “Recruitment Goal In Obama Precision Med Study: 1M in 3 or 4 Years”
Osmo Game Aims To Lower Age Limit To Learn Concepts Behind Coding
Literacy is being redefined in our era of digital technology. The language of coding is becoming an essential element of literacy in the United States—as Latin and Greek once were for ambitious American colonists when the Declaration of Independence was signed 240 years ago. Elite elementary schools are now introducing very young children to basic … Continue reading “Osmo Game Aims To Lower Age Limit To Learn Concepts Behind Coding”
Code School Leaders Share Their Edtech Picks To Make All Kids “Coding Natives”
Workers who already have a college degree now often top off their credentials by doing a stint at a code school—July and August are the peak enrollment periods, says San Francisco-based online code school Bloc. Others seek graduate degrees in computer science, or just study on their own via online courses, to add coding to … Continue reading “Code School Leaders Share Their Edtech Picks To Make All Kids “Coding Natives””
TechSmith CEO Plans to Continue Father’s Legacy of Growth, Inclusion
Wendy Hamilton was cruising along in her career as the global head of life sciences at Thomson Reuters when she got the call from her dad, William Hamilton. He told her was planning to step down as president of TechSmith, the Okemos, MI-based maker of business and educational software that he co-founded and nurtured since … Continue reading “TechSmith CEO Plans to Continue Father’s Legacy of Growth, Inclusion”
3 Things You (Probably) Don’t Know about Indiana Innovation
People who live outside of Indiana probably know a few things about it: The Indianapolis 500, a.k.a. “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” is run every Memorial Day weekend; Indiana limestone was used to build the Empire State Building, the National Cathedral, and the Pentagon; and Indiana sugar cream pie is the best dessert ever. But … Continue reading “3 Things You (Probably) Don’t Know about Indiana Innovation”
Xconomy’s Top Innovation Stories of the Half Year
Here we are at the midpoint of 2016 already. Time to look back on the past six months—and some of the top stories of the year so far. The following represent a cross-section of what Xconomy offers on a daily basis: in-depth reporting from the front lines of technology and business innovation; coverage from 11 … Continue reading “Xconomy’s Top Innovation Stories of the Half Year”
Challenge Detroit Leadership Program’s New Cohort is Largest Yet
Challenge Detroit kicked off its fifth year this week, announcing the selection of 42 fellows—its largest cohort ever—for the 2016-2017 class, which will spend the next year building leadership skills and connecting with the community. Challenge Detroit is a professional development program aimed at attracting and retaining millennial talent to the city. Each cohort is … Continue reading “Challenge Detroit Leadership Program’s New Cohort is Largest Yet”
BioResearch Product Faire
Hosted by Biotechnology Calendar, Inc., this event will offer researchers, scientists, and educators from various sectors of the life science industry the opportunity to network and discover the latest biotechnologies and laboratory equipment. Michigan State University will host the faire on July 27 at the Biomedical and Physical Science Building atrium, 567 Wilson Rd., East … Continue reading “BioResearch Product Faire”
Autoblog’s UPSHIFT Conference
Autoblog, a national publication based in Detroit, will bring together engineers and innovators from the automotive industry, city and state government planners, and startups to discuss the future of mobility and autonomous driving, infrastructure, security and privacy, design, and economics. To learn more and register for the event, click here.
Mobile Monday Meetup
This month’s edition of Mobile Monday will explore augmented reality and virtual reality technologies. To demonstrate these technologies, experts will be on hand, including Ali Al-Aasm, co-founder of Red Piston; the IT team representing PIXO Group; Sam Harrell, research director of media labs at NBC Universal; and members of Immy’s product development team. Click here … Continue reading “Mobile Monday Meetup”
Milestones of Innovation 12: Overflight Of Russia’s Ultimate Weapons
Sixty years ago, on the Fourth of July, 1956, the American President gained a capacity that has never been lost: clear pictures from above of Russia’s thermonuclear weapons delivery system. Because the images ended up shrinking the world’s appetite for tools of ultimate destruction, it is hard to think of a more significant innovation. The … Continue reading “Milestones of Innovation 12: Overflight Of Russia’s Ultimate Weapons”
Biotech Roundup: Moonshots, Pink Slips, Gilead, Brexit & More
The word of the week was “moonshot,” as U.S. Vice President Joe Biden’s cancer initiative convened a summit in Washington, DC. At the gathering, Biden took verbal shots at scofflaw cancer researchers and at drug prices, while the FDA said it would take a shot at restructuring the way it evaluates oncology products. Gilead Sciences … Continue reading “Biotech Roundup: Moonshots, Pink Slips, Gilead, Brexit & More”
Why Finance Should Take a Page Out of the Credit Card Industry’s Book
U.S. federal and financial regulators recently advised banks nationwide to assess the strength of their safeguards against cyber fraud. The warning comes after a string of cyber heists and attempted heists against banks around the world, including the $81 million theft from the Bangladesh central bank. These crimes have opened the financial industry’s eyes to … Continue reading “Why Finance Should Take a Page Out of the Credit Card Industry’s Book”
Thanks to Explosive Growth, Quikly Snags $3 Million Investment
Detroit-based digital marketing startup Quikly announced this week that it has closed on a new $3 million round of funding. Ann Arbor’s Plymouth Ventures led the round, with participation from PennStro Ventures, BRMR (a subsidiary of BDS Capital), Hyde Park Angels, and Tappan Hill Ventures. As part of the deal, Kevin Terrasi, a partner at … Continue reading “Thanks to Explosive Growth, Quikly Snags $3 Million Investment”
Riding Moonshot, FDA Will Revamp Its Cancer Practice. To What End?
As part of a national cancer “moonshot” initiative led by Vice President Joe Biden, the FDA said Wednesday it would retool the way it evaluates cancer treatments and tests. But to what end? The goals of the FDA’s new Oncology Center of Excellence remain vague, as does its structure. In a speech Wednesday morning at … Continue reading “Riding Moonshot, FDA Will Revamp Its Cancer Practice. To What End?”
No Stairway (Infringement) and the Importance of Shared Design Tools in Innovation
Led Zeppelin just won a major copyright case defending against infringement claims from the estate of Randy California—songwriter for the band Spirit. At first listen, the opening guitar part of Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven does sound a lot like California’s guitar part in the middle of Taurus. But as I explain in a longer blog … Continue reading “No Stairway (Infringement) and the Importance of Shared Design Tools in Innovation”
Roundup: RetroSense, America’s Greatest Makers, Naturalicious & More
Here’s a look at innovation news from around Michigan: —Wayne State University and Massachusetts General Hospital spinout company RetroSense Therapeutics has been named one of the nation’s 50 smartest companies by the MIT Technology Review. The biopharmaceutical company based in Ann Arbor closed a $6 million Series B funding round last year to support clinical trials … Continue reading “Roundup: RetroSense, America’s Greatest Makers, Naturalicious & More”
Startup M&A: Why a Letter of Intent Deserves Your Full Attention
You might know it as a letter of intent or a term sheet. Maybe you’ve heard it referred to as an MOU, or memorandum of understanding. Whatever you call it, this document of about five pages is a summary of the terms of a deal the parties hope to close down the line. If buyers … Continue reading “Startup M&A: Why a Letter of Intent Deserves Your Full Attention”
Amid Brexit Fallout, U.K.-Listed PureTech Debuts Speech Diagnosis Firm
[Updated 6/28/16, 12:50pm. See below.] PureTech Health starts companies in cutting-edge areas of biomedical science and often owns them outright. Its latest aims to create software that listens for warning signs of depression in people’s speech patterns. The unveiling of the firm, called Sonde Health, comes at a curious time for Boston-based PureTech. Shares of … Continue reading “Amid Brexit Fallout, U.K.-Listed PureTech Debuts Speech Diagnosis Firm”
Brexit and the Impact in the London Startup Industry
Editor’s note: Xconomy invited Marcelo Calbucci, a Seattle serial entrepreneur and startup stalwart who just announced plans to move with his family to London, to reflect on the Brexit vote. No, the skies are not falling. The U.K. vote to exit the European Union has passed, and there is an enormous amount of uncertainty right … Continue reading “Brexit and the Impact in the London Startup Industry”
GitHub Wants Software for Autos to be More Open, Collaborative
Now that it’s clear automakers plan to take autonomous vehicles and mobility platforms to market in the near future, the industry is undergoing a transformation that, earlier this year, a General Motors executive described as being like cramming 50 years of technical advancement into five. With these changes comes a significant need for talented young … Continue reading “GitHub Wants Software for Autos to be More Open, Collaborative”
Quikly Obtains $3,000,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6eb1c9e4-7e2d-44ca-9329-59a81bffa19c Date 6/27/2016 Company Name Quikly Mailing Address 1555 Broadway Street Detroit, MI 48226 USA Company Description There is nothing exciting about paper coupons or daily emails with useless offers. Quikly delivers the thrill of randomly released promotions which reward you for acting quicker than others. Website http://www.quikly.com Transaction Type Venture Equity … Continue reading “Quikly Obtains $3,000,000 New Financing Round”
Biotech Roundup: CRISPR’s 1st Trial, IPO Insiders, Zika & More
It’s a week for the history books. The United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union last night, triggering worldwide financial fears and, perhaps, a breakup of the U.K. itself. Closer to home, Cleveland (pictured) celebrated LeBron James & the Cavaliers’ historic comeback that brought the city its first sports title in over 50 years. … Continue reading “Biotech Roundup: CRISPR’s 1st Trial, IPO Insiders, Zika & More”
Cribspot Secures $1,780,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=60f08604-4d5c-4ed7-b867-78de98778c38 Date 6/24/2016 Company Name Cribspot Mailing Address 1528 Woodward Avenue 3rd Floor Detroit, MI 48226 USA Company Description College housing can be messy. Cribspot is cleaning it up. We ve mapped thousands of off-campus rentals so you can stop stressing and get back to studying. Website http://www.cribspot.com Transaction Type Venture Equity … Continue reading “Cribspot Secures $1,780,000 New Financing Round”
The Evolution of the App Stores
In many ways, Apple and Google are following similar paths. At their annual developer conferences, Google I/O, held last month, and Apple’s WWDC, last week they both announced updates to their development platforms. Google is making major improvements to Android Studio, while Apple is continuing to invest in Swift and announced Playgrounds, an exciting new … Continue reading “The Evolution of the App Stores”
NPR Report Highlights Detroit-Based Sentinl’s Smart Gun Technology
Amid the fallout following a mass shooting in Orlando, FL, earlier this month, the political discourse has turned once again to gun control. As I type this, National Public Radio is reporting that 30 Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives are staging a sit-in on the floor of the their chamber to demand … Continue reading “NPR Report Highlights Detroit-Based Sentinl’s Smart Gun Technology”
Atlas, Novartis Put $27M Into IFM to Battle Cancer, Autoimmune Diseases
There is no shortage of companies out there trying to tweak our immune systems in one way or another to treat diseases like cancer. Today, IFM Therapeutics, a new startup seeded by Boston firm Atlas Venture, has joined the fray. IFM, a startup in Cambridge, MA, disclosed a $27 million Series A round led by … Continue reading “Atlas, Novartis Put $27M Into IFM to Battle Cancer, Autoimmune Diseases”
Radicle Accelerator Fund Launches to Nurture AgTech Innovation
Radicle, a new accelerator fund focused on agricultural ventures, is launching today with plans to seed and nurture the next generation of agtech companies addressing global farming problems. The new accelerator will have locations in multiple states and around the world. Radicle, which takes its name from the botany term for the part of a … Continue reading “Radicle Accelerator Fund Launches to Nurture AgTech Innovation”
Roundup: ManagedWay, RVCF, TechTown Detroit, PatientPing, & More
Here’s a look at innovation news from around Michigan: —ManagedWay, the provider of cloud computing, fiber optic Internet, and colocation services, has opened a new 45,000-square-foot data center in Troy. In a press release, the company described the new facility as incorporating the latest advancements for business reliability, security, and efficiency. ManagedWay now operates two … Continue reading “Roundup: ManagedWay, RVCF, TechTown Detroit, PatientPing, & More”
GreenLight’s Philanthropic Venture Fund Opens New Office in Detroit
In 2011, Margaret Hall, co-founder and national executive director of the GreenLight Fund, first made contact with social entrepreneurs in Detroit. She wanted to discuss the idea of her philanthropic venture fund, which invests in nonprofit entities rather than startups, opening an office in the Motor City. “At the time, the people we talked to … Continue reading “GreenLight’s Philanthropic Venture Fund Opens New Office in Detroit”
Ride-N-Play
Uplift Inc. hosts this family-oriented celebration of entrepreneurship, jobs, and manufacturing startups like Detroit Bikes, which found cheap office space in an unlikely Northwest Detroit neighborhood. Includes bike ride, scavenger hunt, and entertainment. Free and open to the public; click here to register.
Biotech Roundup: Kadmon Debt, Hemo Data, Loose Lips & More
Familiar biotech names—not necessarily familiar for the right reasons—made news this week in biotech. Data from a hematology conference stoked dreams of approval, though still on a far horizon, for a couple drug makers. Long anticipated, Walgreens officially cut ties with Theranos, and the FDA both gave and denied approvals. You think a Game 7 … Continue reading “Biotech Roundup: Kadmon Debt, Hemo Data, Loose Lips & More”
All-Female Startup’s Online Stylists Help to Banish Bridesmaidzillas
I’m finally getting married this fall, at age 43. And the thought of planning the whole thing makes me want to lay in bed and pull the comforter over my head. I’m not the kind of woman who has been plotting a wedding and doodling fantasy dresses in the margins of notebooks since I was … Continue reading “All-Female Startup’s Online Stylists Help to Banish Bridesmaidzillas”
FICO Buys QuadMetrics to Help Measure Corporate Cybersecurity Risk
FICO, the San Jose, CA, software analytics company, announced Tuesday it has acquired Ann Arbor, MI-based QuadMetrics, a University of Michigan cybersecurity spinout. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. FICO—known as an industry leader in measuring and understanding consumer credit risk—will soon offer “enterprise security scores” that assess a corporation’s exposure to hackers … Continue reading “FICO Buys QuadMetrics to Help Measure Corporate Cybersecurity Risk”
Balancing Risks and Opportunities: The Board’s Perspective
People start a business for many reasons. Some do it out of sheer passion, while others do it to create wealth and economic growth. Yet, underlying it all is a willingness to take risks. Entrepreneurs and established companies make risky decisions every day in the hope that those risks will translate into better opportunities, better … Continue reading “Balancing Risks and Opportunities: The Board’s Perspective”
Companion App Allows Users to Keep a Digital Eye on Loved Ones
It took the University of Montana until 1994 to hire its first female campus safety escorts—a fact I know to be true because I was one of those escorts, along with my friend Taska. In those pre-Internet, pre-smartphone days, we circled campus once the sun went down armed with reflective vests and brick-like walkie-talkies, waiting … Continue reading “Companion App Allows Users to Keep a Digital Eye on Loved Ones”
Roundup: MI’s Bio Sector Ranked, Wayne State, StockX, and More
Here’s a look at news from around Michigan’s innovation hubs: —According to a report released at the BIO International convention earlier this month, Michigan’s biosciences sector experienced significant growth from 2012-2014. The TEConomy/BIO report measured several indicators, including the number of employees and companies, average wages, academic research expenditures, venture capital investments, and number of … Continue reading “Roundup: MI’s Bio Sector Ranked, Wayne State, StockX, and More”
Techstars Mobility Announces 2016 Class for Summer Accelerator
The Techstars Mobility accelerator, operating out of a 10,000-square-foot office in downtown Detroit, will welcome its 2016 class of startups on Monday. Twelve teams chosen from nearly 500 applicants will spend the summer developing “transportation solutions aligned with Ford Smart Mobility, the [automaker’s] plan to be a leader in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, customer experience, … Continue reading “Techstars Mobility Announces 2016 Class for Summer Accelerator”
Biotech Roundup: ASCO, BIO, Drug Setbacks, Incubators & More
If you blinked, you probably missed something this week in biotech. The nation’s biggest annual cancer meeting took place in Chicago, while biotech’s trade group held its annual confab in San Francisco. In Boston, there were more twists for a closely watched Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug and a setback for a high-profile drug for multiple … Continue reading “Biotech Roundup: ASCO, BIO, Drug Setbacks, Incubators & More”