Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f2cbc8c2-e808-4ca3-862e-9c16f2b51773&Preview=1 Date 1/10/2013 Company Name Choremonster Mailing Address 1411 Vine St Cincinnati, OH 45202 Company Description Choremonster combines digital gaming with a Web-services facet through a suite of mobile and Web applications that allows parents and children ages 6-12 to collaborate interactively to complete household tasks. Parents assign real-life rewards for completing … Continue reading “Choremonster Lands $425,000 Seed Financing Round”
Category: Detroit
Marlin Equity Partners Acquires Verisae for Undisclosed Sum
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d49774e6-b7e3-4473-a86a-d87324e93b08&Preview=1 Date 1/10/2013 Company Name Verisae Mailing Address 100 North Sixth Street Minneapolis, MN 55403 Company Description The Verisae solution is the first web-enabled site and asset management software created to meet the unique needs of multi-site owners. We offer a powerful suite of web-based process management solutions for facilities, the assets … Continue reading “Marlin Equity Partners Acquires Verisae for Undisclosed Sum”
Peerless Network Secures $15,000,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3061dd61-2f1b-4480-b74d-ccbeb2d9e000&Preview=1 Date 1/10/2013 Company Name Peerless Network Mailing Address 222 South Riverside Plaza Chicago, IL 60606 Company Description Peerless Network focuses on making connections easy. Our dedication to incorporating the latest technology to provide innovative services and unparalleled results sets us apart. Call today. Website http://www.peerlessnetwork.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount $15,000,000 … Continue reading “Peerless Network Secures $15,000,000 New Financing Round”
Backed by $1M from Compuware, Glocal Offers Location-Based News Video Site
Aaron Hodai and Lincoln Cavalieri were high school buddies, lacrosse stars for Detroit Country Day who later went on to college at Syracuse (Lincoln) and the University of Michigan (Aaron). They kept in touch and decided to take their post-collegiate careers in an entrepreneurial direction. Despite having no specific IT or journalism background, what they … Continue reading “Backed by $1M from Compuware, Glocal Offers Location-Based News Video Site”
MPowered Startup Weekend
MPowered, a student entrepreneur group at the University of Michigan, hosts this event where participants will compete to create a viable startup over the course of a weekend. Anyone is welcome to pitch their startup idea and receive feedback. Teams organically form around the top ideas (as determined by popular vote) and then what follows … Continue reading “MPowered Startup Weekend”
Sastry, Startup Showcase Added to Mobile Madness Motor City Lineup
Ann Marie Sastry, president and CEO of the advanced battery startup Sakti3, is a giant in her field. She’s been working for more than a decade on the technology behind Sakti3’s solid-state lithium-ion battery for next-generation electric cars. Her company’s work has attracted investment from big names like GM, Khosla Ventures, and Beringea, as well … Continue reading “Sastry, Startup Showcase Added to Mobile Madness Motor City Lineup”
‘Small Ball’ Investing as an Alternative Model in Life Sciences
The phrase “the VC model is broken” has become cliché over the past few years. Many theories on why this is the case have been posed, including Sequoia Capital’s Douglas Leone, who told a VC conference at MIT last month, “Big is completely the enemy of great.” I agree with Leone; in fact, I have … Continue reading “‘Small Ball’ Investing as an Alternative Model in Life Sciences”
jacAPPS Will Provide Tech Support to New Ford Developer Program
Now that we’re a little over a week away from Mobile Madness Motor City, we wanted to highlight one of the event’s panelists, Paul Jacobs. Jacobs is the CEO and founder of jacAPPS, based in Southfield, MI, which he says is the result of a 30-year career running Jacobs Media as a consultant to rock radio. (Jacobs … Continue reading “jacAPPS Will Provide Tech Support to New Ford Developer Program”
Programming Literacy Done Right: It’s About the Tools
Bonnie Nardi is an anthropologist who studies interactions between humans and computers. In 1993, she published her first book, A Small Matter of Programming. The book’s thesis is bold and simple: every human being can, and should, learn to program computers. The book didn’t get much attention outside of academia and is now long out … Continue reading “Programming Literacy Done Right: It’s About the Tools”
Healthsense Secures $7,000,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=73e4a772-5a73-47cf-9fd3-a2f12ffc6c2e&Preview=1 Date 1/8/2013 Company Name Healthsense Mailing Address 1191 Northland Dr. Mendota Heights, MN 55120 Company Description Healthsense, based in Mendota Heights, MN, is a market leader in providing technology solutions for the future of aging services. Healthsense offers completely integrated systems based on a standard Wi-Fi platform for Personal Emergency Response … Continue reading “Healthsense Secures $7,000,000 New Financing”
Monteris Medical Secures $7,800,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a8b798e3-ece1-4862-a17e-b59e5aba5472&Preview=1 Date 1/8/2013 Company Name Monteris Medical Mailing Address 350 East Michigan Ave Kalamazoo, MI 49007 Company Description Monteris Medical Inc. is a medical device venture dedicated to developing new technologies for the treatment of cancers. Website http://www.monteris.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $7,800,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes … Continue reading “Monteris Medical Secures $7,800,000 New Financing”
Livio Connect Adds Freemium Service for App Developers
The Ferndale, MI-based startup Livio announced today at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that its Livio Connect API for integrating smartphone apps with vehicle hardware systems will now be available as a “freemium” service. It’s the latest move after a busy 2012, in which the automotive business-to-business tech firm completed a Series C … Continue reading “Livio Connect Adds Freemium Service for App Developers”
Biotech CEOs See Insurers as the New Boogeymen, Not FDA
Most biotech executives would have said a few years ago that the FDA was the No. 1 barrier standing in the way of business success. It was the one thing they worried about most. But now biotech CEOs appear to be more concerned about a new kind of threat, coming from the people who pay … Continue reading “Biotech CEOs See Insurers as the New Boogeymen, Not FDA”
My Report Card for JP Morgan Healthcare Conference Picks
Forecasting trends in an industry that you cover every day, if you take time to think about it, is not that hard. Checking back a year later to see how right you were? That can be a little uncomfortable. Rather than add to the pile of predictions people have already made about biotech in 2013, … Continue reading “My Report Card for JP Morgan Healthcare Conference Picks”
Mobility and Big Data: Why They Need Each Other to Thrive
Mobile devices and apps will generate seven exabytes of data by 2015, a number that will continue to double and perhaps triple each year. Not only are huge volumes of data/content being communicated through mobile networks, but there has been unexpected growth in related communications and transactions, such as: —Salesforce.com getting 60 percent of its … Continue reading “Mobility and Big Data: Why They Need Each Other to Thrive”
Celleration Secures $6,424,979 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=50cca86c-1775-46e8-89a1-b5091bd6d1a1&Preview=1 Date 1/7/2013 Company Name Celleration Mailing Address 6321 Bury Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55346 Company Description Celleration Inc., a Minnesota based medical device company, has produced an impressive and growing body of clinical research with an exciting new wound healing device, the MIST Therapy System. Website http://www.celleration.com Transaction Type Venture Equity … Continue reading “Celleration Secures $6,424,979 New Funding”
JobDig Obtains $603,819 Series A Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=757671fe-4603-49f5-85af-c2789a01acbc&Preview=1 Date 1/7/2013 Company Name JobDig Mailing Address 5051 Highway 7 St. Louis Park, MN 55416 Company Description JobDig is an employment-focused media company that helps business of all sizes within any industry lower the cost and improve the effectiveness of their hiring and recruitment advertising. Website http://www.jobdig.com Transaction Type Venture Equity … Continue reading “JobDig Obtains $603,819 Series A Round”
Mayleben Ends Short-Lived Retirement to Lead Esperion
Remember a few weeks ago when we wrote about Tim Mayleben’s retirement from Aastrom? Well, it wasn’t a retirement for good: Mayleben has a new gig as the CEO of Esperion Therapeutics, the Plymouth, MI-based startup developing small-molecule drugs to lower cholesterol. During its early years, Mayleben served as the COO and CFO of Esperion, and “In … Continue reading “Mayleben Ends Short-Lived Retirement to Lead Esperion”
10 Apps That Will Make You Feel Smarter & More Cultured in 2013
Right before the holidays, I shared a list of 20 Must-Have Apps for That Tablet Under the Tree. That list focused on apps for the iPad and Android tablets, and it was intended as an introductory guide for new tablet owners eager to test-drive their gifts with apps that really showcase the capabilities of today’s … Continue reading “10 Apps That Will Make You Feel Smarter & More Cultured in 2013”
StudyBlue Secures $9,000,000 Series A Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8f4e7e5d-450b-4c60-a4e1-a33aca7de64f&Preview=1 Date 1/4/2013 Company Name StudyBlue Mailing Address 602 State Street Madison, WI 53703 Company Description StudyBlue is your online home to store lecture notes and make flashcards, with efficient tools that help focus your studying where you need it most, making your review sessions more efficient. Website http://www.StudyBlue.com Transaction Type Venture … Continue reading “StudyBlue Secures $9,000,000 Series A Round”
Mobile Madness Motor City: Check Out the Agenda for our Jan. 17 Forum
Now that the hustle and bustle of the holidays is over, we’re getting pretty excited for Mobile Madness Motor City, Xconomy’s inaugural mobile event in Detroit. The half-day forum is packed with some of southeast Michigan’s top technology innovators tackling Michigan’s growing mobile scene and the many ways mobile is revolutionizing the way we live, … Continue reading “Mobile Madness Motor City: Check Out the Agenda for our Jan. 17 Forum”
Cumulus Funding Lands $850,000 Series A Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=de17e63c-03fe-4a1f-a9ad-4caee1f67fe0&Preview=1 Date 1/3/2013 Company Name Cumulus Funding Mailing Address 325 West Huron Chicago, IL 60654 Company Description We created Cumulus Funding to be the first company to invest in the American worker. Many people in this country need access to funds for many different reasons. We recognize that in many cases, traditional … Continue reading “Cumulus Funding Lands $850,000 Series A Funding”
MI Innovators: Compete in DARPA’s $4M Vehicle Design Challenges
Seeking to engage innovators outside of the traditional defense sector, the federal government’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) recently launched the Fast, Adaptable, Next-Generation Ground Vehicle (FANG) Challenges, a military design competition. And officials say Michigan engineers should take note. Ricardo, a global engineering and consultancy company with Michigan operations in Van Buren Township, will administer … Continue reading “MI Innovators: Compete in DARPA’s $4M Vehicle Design Challenges”
CES Countdown: Startups Plant their Flags and Changes Coming to TV
Each January the makers of gadgets big and small bring an electronic carnival to Las Vegas as they tease the world with glimpses of devices they plan to unleash during the coming year. A few changes are in store for next week’s International CES, held at the Las Vegas Convention Center and nearby hotels. After … Continue reading “CES Countdown: Startups Plant their Flags and Changes Coming to TV”
Ending the Culture of Illness through Healthy Eating
[Editor’s note: To tap the wisdom of our distinguished group of Xconomists, we asked a few of them to answer this question heading into 2013: What makes you optimistic?] As a person who has worked in the healthcare field for over 25 years, I am extremely optimistic about the recent trend towards the democratization of healthful behavior and … Continue reading “Ending the Culture of Illness through Healthy Eating”
The Fiscal Cliff Is Forcing a Biomedical Day of Reckoning
Sarah Palin, the onetime candidate for the second-highest elected office in the U.S., once delivered a rant on the campaign trail about waste she perceived in federal support of fruit fly research. Scientists everywhere were appalled. Regardless of whether Palin knew about the historic importance of the drosophila to genetics, they were furious that a … Continue reading “The Fiscal Cliff Is Forcing a Biomedical Day of Reckoning”
The War on Success Will Rage On
[Editor’s note: To tap the wisdom of our distinguished group of Xconomists, we asked a few of them to answer this question heading into 2013: “What does your gut tell you will happen this year even though you don’t have data to prove it?”] The war on success will continue on and capital gains taxes will … Continue reading “The War on Success Will Rage On”
Cardiox Lands $9,400,349 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7525e14d-1aaf-432b-94a3-54dd076bc4fd&Preview=1 Date 12/31/2012 Company Name Cardiox Mailing Address 4100 Horizons Drive Columbus, OH 43220 Company Description The company manufactures cardiac output monitors. Website http://www.cardioxcorp.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $9,400,349 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. SEC regulatory filing. M&A Terms Venture Investor Undisclosed
Sword Diagnostics Lands $1,274,971 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ef517e01-4b1b-4103-af71-90f20ac85be9&Preview=1 Date 12/31/2012 Company Name Sword Diagnostics Mailing Address 3440 South Dearborn Street Chicago, IL 60616 Company Description Sword is a leading technology company that has developed an exquisitely sensitive detection platform. Our first application is for food pathogens utilizing our Saber Detection System. Sword’s headquarters is located at the National Center … Continue reading “Sword Diagnostics Lands $1,274,971 New Financing Round”
Cardiox Lands $362,745 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=abf379be-5ea7-4ef6-ab6c-c2adb41a40c9&Preview=1 Date 12/31/2012 Company Name Cardiox Mailing Address 4100 Horizons Drive Columbus, OH 43220 Company Description The company manufactures cardiac output monitors. Website http://www.cardioxcorp.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $362,745 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. SEC regulatory filing. M&A Terms Venture Investor Undisclosed
A Wake-Up Call for Angel Investors
[Editor’s note: To tap the wisdom of our distinguished group of Xconomists, we asked a few of them to answer this question heading into 2013: What does your gut tell you will happen in the coming year even though you don’t have data to prove it?] Mindless angel investing in unvalidated ideas will get a jolt. Over … Continue reading “A Wake-Up Call for Angel Investors”
My Best Mistake
[Editor’s note: To tap the wisdom of our distinguished group of Xconomists, we asked a few of them to answer this question heading into 2013: “What was your best mistake?”] Hmmm—I know what my worst one was. Best one was probably pushing Jascha Franklin-Hodge to go to MIT instead of keeping him full time at … Continue reading “My Best Mistake”
WellFount Receives $1,700,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=23f595bf-ce25-4e5d-9724-9a2b97e88c59&Preview=1 Date 12/28/2012 Company Name WellFount Mailing Address 5751 W 73rd St Indianapolis, IN 46278 Company Description The InSite Remote Dispensing System is the first medication management system designed to meet the unique challenges of long-term care facilities like yours. It enables timely, pharmacist-approved, on-demand medication dispensing right at your facility. Website … Continue reading “WellFount Receives $1,700,000 New Financing”
A Pivotal Year in Mobile, Energy, Automobiles, Education
[Editor’s note: To tap the wisdom of our distinguished group of Xconomists, we asked a few of them to answer this question heading into 2013: What does your gut tell you will happen in the coming year even though you don’t have data to prove it?] This is a pivotal year in mobile, we are seeing the … Continue reading “A Pivotal Year in Mobile, Energy, Automobiles, Education”
Detroit in 2012: The Year Our Tech Scene Became Legit
Late December is the time for media reflection, so let me officially say in this space that Detroit has had a hell of a year. A breakthrough year, just as I hoped it would when I wrote the 2011 wrap-up piece last December. In 2012, Detroit’s nascent tech scene finally gained recognition and legitimacy in … Continue reading “Detroit in 2012: The Year Our Tech Scene Became Legit”
Tastytrade Garners $2,000,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7f9c2b06-d5a6-4176-90a5-3f93246d54c0&Preview=1 Date 12/27/2012 Company Name Tastytrade Mailing Address 62 West Huron Street Chicago, IL 60654 Company Description Tastytrade is different. It’s something that even our parents can use to understand a Lil Wayne rap song and save money. Or where our 20-year-old niece can learn more about actionable finance than an internship … Continue reading “Tastytrade Garners $2,000,000 New Funding”
A Banner Year for New Drugs
[Editor’s note: To tap the wisdom of our distinguished group of Xconomists, we asked a few of them to answer this question heading into 2013: “What does your gut tell you will happen this year even though you don’t have data to prove it?”] I think there will be even more FDA approvals for New Molecular … Continue reading “A Banner Year for New Drugs”
Inventables Lands $1,650,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=cf8e8df3-3f0e-4051-b3bc-b9da9fc0c0c0&Preview=1 Date 12/26/2012 Company Name Inventables Mailing Address 600 W. Van Buren Chicago, IL 60607 Company Description To build a living showcase of what’s possible to deliver inspiration and innovation to the dreamers of the world. Website http://www.inventables.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,650,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes … Continue reading “Inventables Lands $1,650,000 New Funding Round”
Paper and Airplanes: The Long Road to Obsolescence
As the years go by, I increasingly find the history of the future as interesting as the future itself. We’ve all seen lists of incredibly bad technological predictions, and of course it’s always fun to smugly reflect on how wrong a smart person can be. Grandiose predictions of the future of technology often lead to … Continue reading “Paper and Airplanes: The Long Road to Obsolescence”
What Makes You Optimistic? Xconomists Chime In.
One of the great pleasures of helping to grow Xconomy over the last five-plus years has been getting to know the diverse and fascinating group of people we call the Xconomists, and getting to hang out with them at our various events around the country. And these last few months it has seemed that many … Continue reading “What Makes You Optimistic? Xconomists Chime In.”
Tough B Rounds and Valuations, New Business Models in 2013
[Editor’s note: To tap the wisdom of our distinguished group of Xconomists, we asked a few of them to answer this question heading into 2013: “What does your gut tell you will happen this year even though you don’t have data to prove it?”] I expect many companies looking for their Series B rounds to … Continue reading “Tough B Rounds and Valuations, New Business Models in 2013”
Water Mission to Israel (Day 4): Bringing It All Back Home
Wednesday, December 19th, marked the last day the full delegation was together in Israel. Several members headed for the airport to catch late-night flights after the final dinner, while a number of smaller groups are remaining behind to pursue additional meetings and touring activities over the coming days. The morning sessions were dedicated to open … Continue reading “Water Mission to Israel (Day 4): Bringing It All Back Home”
Water Mission to Israel (Day 3): Startup Day in Startup Nation
Tuesday, December 18th, was the midpoint of the Mission agenda and the centerpiece event of the trip. The Massachusetts Delegation hosted the W.E.T. Revolution at Tel Aviv University in the lovely and historic Green House, which was apparently originally built as part of a Palestinian Village, and at various times since has been part of … Continue reading “Water Mission to Israel (Day 3): Startup Day in Startup Nation”
An Xconomy Experiment in Crowdfunding, Colorado Style
Back in 2007, when Bob Buderi tapped out the first news story for the Xconomy Boston website, he wrote, “Ours is a grassroots endeavor, supported by some of the world’s great innovators and business leaders.” Our founding CEO and editor-in-chief took their lessons of entrepreneurship to heart—assembling a team of extraordinarily talented journalists who have … Continue reading “An Xconomy Experiment in Crowdfunding, Colorado Style”
20 Must-Have Apps for That Tablet Under the Tree
It’s time for the third annual version of “iStocking Stuffers,” the holiday apps edition of my weekly column World Wide Wade. The slide show above covers 20 of my favorite apps from 2012, which makes it my longest list yet: the 2010 edition of this guide had just 10 apps, and the 2011 version had 15. … Continue reading “20 Must-Have Apps for That Tablet Under the Tree”
Pinnacle Biologics Receives New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=aacfd8bd-0d12-4047-9bce-c649d466a9c6&Preview=1 Date 12/21/2012 Company Name Pinnacle Biologics Mailing Address 2801 Lakeside Dr Bannockburn, IL 60015 Company Description Pinnacle Biologics specializes in revitalizing healthcare therapies by promoting, developing and managing innovative approaches to the global commercialization of products in the oncology and specialty areas. Website http://www.pinnaclebiologics.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount Undisclosed Transaction … Continue reading “Pinnacle Biologics Receives New Funding Round”
Phraxis Obtains $1,500,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ba3f0b5c-aa15-428c-89d8-ee5d4ea6a1c2&Preview=1 Date 12/21/2012 Company Name Phraxis Mailing Address 2910 13th Terrace NW St. Paul, MN 55112 Company Description Phraxis, Inc. is an early stage medical device company founded to develop novel treatment solutions for patients who need vascular access to enable hemodialysis. Phraxis, Inc.’s first product for commercialization, the InterGraft, will be … Continue reading “Phraxis Obtains $1,500,000 New Financing Round”
Protean Payment’s Echo Card: The Only Card You’ll Ever Need?
If you’re like me, your wallet is bulging with cards. Debit card, library card, loyalty cards, gift cards, etc. They’re stacked up in the little sleeves and can sometimes be a real pain in the arse to wiggle free. But an Ann Arbor-based startup called Protean Payment has a solution: Its Echo card and accompanying … Continue reading “Protean Payment’s Echo Card: The Only Card You’ll Ever Need?”
Mobile Madness Motor City is Coming Soon—Join Us!
We are now less than a month away from the Mobile Madness Motor City forum, Xconomy’s first mobile event in Detroit. We hope to see you there, and are offering special rates to students and startups designed to fit a range of budgets. The event takes place on Jan. 17 from 2 p.m. to 5:30 … Continue reading “Mobile Madness Motor City is Coming Soon—Join Us!”
Can (Should?) A Young Biotech Company Still Go Long?
It used to be that every young biotech company’s goal was to “go long,” to become a FIPCO (fully integrated pharmaceutical company…remember when that phrase was in vogue?), selling its own product and running a sustainable business. These days, that’s rarely in anyone’s business plan. And yet at the same time, I’ve heard public market … Continue reading “Can (Should?) A Young Biotech Company Still Go Long?”