If all goes well, the day will come when just one small thing will stand between you and funding for your startup: your signature on a term sheet. Most founders quickly sign on the line and get back to the business of growing their business. Smart ones set aside the paperwork, grab their business partners, … Continue reading “The Tough Questions You Must Discuss Before You Take the Money”
Category: Indiana
Natural Pesticides Maker Marrone Bio Gets EPA Nod on Biofumigant
A biological fumigant developed by Marrone Bio Innovations is one step closer to joining the pest-control toolkit of strawberry farmers after clearing a key regulatory hurdle. Marrone Bio (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MBII]]) announced Monday that the Environmental Protection Agency has registered the Davis, CA-based company’s biofumigant, called MBI-601 EP. The biofumigant was developed to control and suppress … Continue reading “Natural Pesticides Maker Marrone Bio Gets EPA Nod on Biofumigant”
Bluebridge Sells Business Units for $8M to Focus on Emplify’s Growth
Bluebridge, a Fishers, IN-based software company specializing in mobile apps for churches, employers, and tourism entities, announced last week that it sold off two of its business units in order to devote its energy to Emplify, its fast-growing employee engagement app. PushPay‘s e-church division, based in Redmond, WA, acquired Bluebridge Churches, while Tucson, AZ’s Simpleview … Continue reading “Bluebridge Sells Business Units for $8M to Focus on Emplify’s Growth”
Should We Rewrite the Human Genome?
Scientists are engineering a new living thing: a radically modified version of the lowly bacterium E. coli. In an article in Science from August, researchers at Harvard University described an ongoing project to build the genetic code of E. coli from scratch, but with major revisions to create a new strain unlike any in existence. The modified E. coli is … Continue reading “Should We Rewrite the Human Genome?”
Exactor Secures $3,300,000 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3fb79700-0832-4e0b-a69b-77f06eb6f687 Date 11/28/2016 Company Name Exactor Mailing Address 7202 E 87th Street Indianapolis, IN 46256 USA Company Description Exactor Sales Tax Software is a fully automated sales tax compliance system to calculate sales taxes and file sales tax returns to over 10,000 jurisdictions. Website http://www.exactor.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $3,300,000 … Continue reading “Exactor Secures $3,300,000 New Round”
Amyloid Hypothesis Takes a Hit As Lilly’s Alzheimer’s Drug Fails Again
Weeks earlier than expected, Eli Lilly delivered news this morning that will affect not just millions of patients with Alzheimer’s disease but also will rekindle fierce debate about the underlying cause of the memory-robbing disorder. Eli Lilly (NYSE: [[ticker:LLY]]) said that solanezumab, an experimental Alzheimer’s drug, failed a long-anticipated, high-stakes Phase 3 trial known as … Continue reading “Amyloid Hypothesis Takes a Hit As Lilly’s Alzheimer’s Drug Fails Again”
Tech Growth Stats, Assembly Bio, HomeAdvisor & More Indiana News
Here’s a look at innovation news from around Indiana: —Indianapolis-based Assembly Biosciences announced last week that it has launched Phase 1a/b clinical trials for ABI-H0731, its oral therapeutic for treating chronic hepatitis B virus infection (HBV). Assembly aims to improve on the current low cure rates for chronic HBV by targeting the disease’s core protein … Continue reading “Tech Growth Stats, Assembly Bio, HomeAdvisor & More Indiana News”
The Convergence of Information Technology and the Life Sciences
We are at an incredible inflection point in the traditionally distinct fields of information technology and the life sciences. These broad disciplines are converging to advance fields of study like computational biology and systems biology, resulting in new forms of therapeutics and diagnostics that could have a monumentally positive impact on human health. At DFJ … Continue reading “The Convergence of Information Technology and the Life Sciences”
Sluggish Year for IPOs, But Signs Abound of Post-Election Surge
Uncertainty surrounding this year’s presidential election has kept U.S. IPO activity at a sluggish pace—so sluggish, in fact, that this year could end with the fewest IPOs and the lowest level of capital raised since 2009, according to PitchBook data for the first nine months of 2016. But this is no time to trash talk … Continue reading “Sluggish Year for IPOs, But Signs Abound of Post-Election Surge”
Syngenta, Bayer Try ‘Open Innovation’ to Find Next Big Agtech Idea
Agriculture is a more technical business than many people realize. Consider modern farm equipment: A John Deere tractor today contains more lines of code than a Boeing 747 jetliner, according to Syngenta’s Rick DeRose. Big agriculture companies like Syngenta (NYSE: [[ticker:SYT]]) are now coming to a realization of their own: Not all of the new … Continue reading “Syngenta, Bayer Try ‘Open Innovation’ to Find Next Big Agtech Idea”
BidPal’s Online Tools Help Nonprofits on Giving Tuesday and Beyond
BidPal, the Indianapolis-based startup behind mobile bidding and fundraising software for nonprofits, has established an online resource center just in time for upcoming #GivingTuesday campaigns. (More on Giving Tuesday below.) Since its inception in 2008, the company has helped 2,800 organizations connect with more than 1 million donors to raise more than $1 billion. Karrie … Continue reading “BidPal’s Online Tools Help Nonprofits on Giving Tuesday and Beyond”
Bio Roundup: Trump’s Rx Silence, PCSK9 News, Amgen’s Migraines & More
Speculation swirled this week around the incoming U.S. president’s intent to make good on his angry campaign rhetoric on drug prices, while the Associated Press reported that naming-and-shaming—that is, Congress hauling executives into hearings and penning angry letters—certainly hasn’t done the trick. For one new kind of cholesterol drug, insurers and their agents have tried … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Trump’s Rx Silence, PCSK9 News, Amgen’s Migraines & More”
How to Lower Drug Prices, Improve Care, and Save Pharma
I recently received a note from a longtime friend who questioned me on the issue of pharma pricing. I answered with the always-reliable alleviating-the-scourge-of-disease-through-the-miracle-of-modern-medicine defense of “free-market pricing.” My friend, who is not in the pharmaceutical business, responded: The fundamental flaw in your argument centers on the notion that there is any relevance to “market … Continue reading “How to Lower Drug Prices, Improve Care, and Save Pharma”
Keeping Lead in Migraine Drug Race, Amgen Touts Data, Preps FDA Filing
The first of a new group of drugs meant to prevent migraines, not just treat their symptoms, could be headed for FDA review next year. Amgen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMGN]]), of Thousand Oaks, CA, said Wednesday that an experimental drug named erenumab succeeded in the second of two Phase 3 trials—a 955-patient study in people with “episodic” … Continue reading “Keeping Lead in Migraine Drug Race, Amgen Touts Data, Preps FDA Filing”
Led by Former Lilly Exec, Apexian Out to Tackle Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer’s standard of care includes a drug that does not help most people diagnosed with the disease. Gemcitabine (Gemzar) works in only about 10 percent of patients, says Steve Carchedi, CEO of Apexian Pharmaceuticals. Carchedi knows about gemcitabine’s limitations because he worked at Eli Lilly (NYSE: [[ticker:LLY]]) when the FDA approved the Indianapolis-based company’s … Continue reading “Led by Former Lilly Exec, Apexian Out to Tackle Pancreatic Cancer”
The New Crowdfunding Rules: Will They Really Help Startups?
Hailed as the true democratizer of private investment, crowdfunding has been attracting both headlines and a fast-growing pile of cash. In May of 2016, rules from the Securities and Exchange Commission went into effect that will democratize the process even further. These new rules will open the doors to more investors, but they also pose … Continue reading “The New Crowdfunding Rules: Will They Really Help Startups?”
Plymouth Ventures Leads Kinney Group’s Growth Funding Round
Indiana has become a hotbed of venture-backed startups developing technology to make businesses run smoother, whether that’s a social network for blue collar workers, or an automated training tool, or cloud optimization software. Last week, cloud software integrator Kinney Group, another Indianapolis-based startup working to improve business processes, announced it had raised a “multi-million growth … Continue reading “Plymouth Ventures Leads Kinney Group’s Growth Funding Round”
PERQ Secures $1,700,000 Seed Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b14487d2-90a4-456c-a6b3-3734b8ac9dca Date 11/14/2016 Company Name PERQ Mailing Address 7225 Georgetown Rd. Indianapolis, IN 46268 USA Company Description Since our founding in 2001, our goals have been simple: playing the game of business, building a world class team, giving back to our community and delivering value for our customers. Today, we continue to … Continue reading “PERQ Secures $1,700,000 Seed Financing Round”
PERQ Raises $1.7M Seed Round, Plans to Conquer New Verticals Next
The advertising world has changed a lot since 2001, thanks mostly to the advent of new marketing technologies and changes in the ways people interact with brands. Social media has fundamentally altered customer engagement—in 2001, we didn’t have Friendster, let alone Facebook—and many of the companies that thrive today have a deep understanding of digital … Continue reading “PERQ Raises $1.7M Seed Round, Plans to Conquer New Verticals Next”
Bio Roundup: Trump’s Triumph, Election Fallout, CRISPR Arguments & More
The presidential election ended with Donald Trump’s stunning victory and Republican retention of the House and Senate. Now, the U.S. healthcare sector will try to figure out what it all means. Drug company stocks got a boost with the defeat of Hillary Clinton, a vocal critic of drug prices. But Trump’s plans are unclear. Will … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Trump’s Triumph, Election Fallout, CRISPR Arguments & More”
Trump Team Outlines Healthcare Agenda—No Mention of Drug Prices
The incoming Trump administration has posted an outline of its healthcare agenda on its transition website. There is no mention of drug pricing or what the administration might do about frequent price increases, such as Mylan’s EpiPen practice, that critics say are unsubstantiated and unethical. During the campaign, Trump’s official platform called for a change … Continue reading “Trump Team Outlines Healthcare Agenda—No Mention of Drug Prices”
Quick, How Might the Alien Spacecraft Work?
[This post is about the movie “Arrival“; there are no movie spoilers here.] “It’s an interesting script,” said someone on our PR team. It’s pretty common for us to get requests from movie-makers about showing our graphics or posters or books in movies. But the request this time was different: could we urgently help make … Continue reading “Quick, How Might the Alien Spacecraft Work?”
New U.S. “Roadmap” Lays Out Routes to Accelerate Robotic Technologies
Robotics technology is progressing faster than expected for self-driving cars, and drones are becoming ubiquitous throughout the United States, according to a lead scientist overseeing a robotics technology roadmap released last week. But robotics is moving slower than expected in some key areas, such as the development of dexterous gripper technology, intuitive user interfaces, and … Continue reading “New U.S. “Roadmap” Lays Out Routes to Accelerate Robotic Technologies”
Has Technology Made Election Polls More Accurate? Not Yet
Statistical models, simulations, social media outreach, and the capacity to analyze big data sets—you’d think by now that technology would have delivered election forecasts that more reliably predicted Donald Trump’s victory in the 2016 presidential race. But most pollsters—and the people who relied on them—were gobsmacked by Trump’s upset wins, not only in battleground states … Continue reading “Has Technology Made Election Polls More Accurate? Not Yet”
Trump’s Election Stunner: Tech and Life Sciences Leaders React
Still processing what this will mean for technology, business, society, and humanity—I guess it’s going to take a while. In the meantime, here are 10 notable reactions from around the Xconomy network, mostly via Twitter. As you might guess, they are a mix of outrage, resiliency, hope, rationalizing, grandstanding, and some calls for calm and … Continue reading “Trump’s Election Stunner: Tech and Life Sciences Leaders React”
In Trump-GOP Tsunami, Blue-State Healthcare Ideas Swamped
[Updated, 11/9/16, 1:20 p.m. See below.] The 2016 U.S. election is over. The country has been rocked by the presidential race, with Donald Trump taking the White House. Every facet of American policy, our attitudes toward power and governance, even our national character will be topics of debate in coming months. Our healthcare system will … Continue reading “In Trump-GOP Tsunami, Blue-State Healthcare Ideas Swamped”
WorkHere Aims to Be LinkedIn for Non-Cubicle Dwellers
In the current era, it’s almost a given that people working in so-called white collar jobs will maintain a LinkedIn account. Whether for the purpose of storing a resume, communicating with potential employers, or connecting to one’s professional network for help finding a job, LinkedIn has become the default online network for cubicle dwellers across … Continue reading “WorkHere Aims to Be LinkedIn for Non-Cubicle Dwellers”
The Five Major Tech Trends of 2016
As we draw closer to the end of 2016, it is important that we take a moment to look back and reflect on all of the ways technology has inspired us, and transformed the way we live and do work. As technology becomes more pervasive in our lives, we increasingly look for simple but secure, … Continue reading “The Five Major Tech Trends of 2016”
What Should Be on the Next President’s Cybersecurity Agenda?
From a hack of Democratic National Committee e-mails to fears that cyber attackers will attempt to interfere with tomorrow’s election, cybersecurity emerged as a crucial theme in this grueling presidential campaign. Neither candidate has said a lot about how he or she would address cybersecurity issues as president, although Hillary Clinton has offered more details … Continue reading “What Should Be on the Next President’s Cybersecurity Agenda?”
Roundup: IBRI, BioCrossroads, The Speak Easy, Indy’s Tech Boom & More
Here’s a look at innovation news from around Indiana: —The Indiana Biosciences Research Institute (IBRI) continues to build its core team as it ramps up operations. Earlier this month, the IBRI announced it has hired University of Notre Dame professor Nitesh Chawla to serve as the interim director of applied data sciences. Chawla, a professor … Continue reading “Roundup: IBRI, BioCrossroads, The Speak Easy, Indy’s Tech Boom & More”
Sanofi’s Experience With Dengvaxia May Speed Development of Zika Vaccine
Dengvaxia, the first licensed vaccine for dengue virus, has now been approved in 11 countries where dengue is endemic. But sales of the vaccine, which were initially projected to reach €200 million this year, barely reached €20 million in the first half of the year, with little sign of picking up. Sanofi Pasteur, the group … Continue reading “Sanofi’s Experience With Dengvaxia May Speed Development of Zika Vaccine”
Bio Roundup: Clinical Shirkers, AMD Worriers, ASH Fallers & More
Our previous roundup came out last week before news broke that Susan Lindquist, a highly decorated and thoughtful researcher into the inner workings of proteins, passed away. She was 67. First at the University of Chicago and then MIT’s Whitehead Institute, Lindquist helped biologists see that all kinds of organisms—including ourselves—share errors of protein folding … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Clinical Shirkers, AMD Worriers, ASH Fallers & More”
Californians Still Hate Trump, But More Uncertain About Drug Companies
The polls are tightening. Millions of people are still making up their minds. National figures are making last-minute pitches. The decision could have huge implications for people across the U.S. We’re talking of course about next week’s vote on Proposition 61 in California, an attempt to control drug prices in the nation’s most populous state. … Continue reading “Californians Still Hate Trump, But More Uncertain About Drug Companies”
The Necessity of Innovation
Innovation is at the heart of wealth creation. Innovation is at the heart of job creation. Innovation is at the heart of building better lives for everyone. And innovation can be increased by conscious support. Innovation is enhanced by a culture of innovation, encouragement of talented inventors and entrepreneurs, collaboration between academics and business people, … Continue reading “The Necessity of Innovation”
Richard Messmann Joins Apexian as Chief Medical Officer
Apexian Pharmaceuticals has brought on Richard Messmann as the biotech company’s chief medical officer. Before joining Indianapolis-based Apexian, Messmann was chief medical officer of ProNAi Therapeutics in Vancouver, Canada. His 25 years of cancer drug development experience includes stints at Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE: [[ticker:LLY]]), Endocyte (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ECYT]]), Great Lakes Cancer Institute at Michigan … Continue reading “Richard Messmann Joins Apexian as Chief Medical Officer”
Xconomy Announces Channel Focused on the Future of Education
Since its inception more than nine years ago, Xconomy has focused its coverage on the business of high technology—across information technology, life sciences, healthcare, energy, robotics, and much more. But underlying all that, in a sense, is education. We have long run stories about STEM education, educational technology, and more—and even put out a special … Continue reading “Xconomy Announces Channel Focused on the Future of Education”
Clinton and Trump Platform Analysis: Which Is Best for Education Companies?
With election day less than a week away, voters are trying to imagine what turns the country might take under each of the presidential hopefuls. Tech entrepreneurs are likely considering how hospitable the new leadership might be to their specific industry sectors. Educational technology is one field worth examining, even though education hasn’t been a … Continue reading “Clinton and Trump Platform Analysis: Which Is Best for Education Companies?”
Lessonly’s Automated Learning Tool Helps Optimize Business Processes
In 2012, three Indianapolis entrepreneurs with IT backgrounds and ties to ExactTarget had the idea to create “an easy learning platform,” says Zach McFarlen, Lessonly’s director of brand and messaging. Co-founder Mike Fitzgerald, who was an ExactTarget executive before the company’s 2013 acquisition by Salesforce (NYSE: [[ticker:CRM]]), had been looking for a tool to create … Continue reading “Lessonly’s Automated Learning Tool Helps Optimize Business Processes”
Elanco Leads $8.5M Investment in RTP’s AgTech Accelerator
It’s fall harvest now, and AgTech Accelerator has something new to show from the summer growing season: $8.5 million in additional funding that positions the accelerator to start planting investments in promising agriculture technologies from around the country. The new funding brings the total financial backing for the Research Triangle Park, NC-based accelerator to $20 … Continue reading “Elanco Leads $8.5M Investment in RTP’s AgTech Accelerator”
On Front Lines Of Price Dispute, Eye Doctors Wary of New Drug Data
Drugs that treat a form of vision loss known as age related macular degeneration aren’t just big business. They’re also a controversial part of the national debate over high drug prices, and their increased use has put ophthalmologists in the crosshairs of insurers, the federal government, and the press. “Retina practices are under significantly increased … Continue reading “On Front Lines Of Price Dispute, Eye Doctors Wary of New Drug Data”
Bio Roundup: Drug Pricing, Cystic Fibrosis Showdown, Myovant & More
The 2016 election is (thankfully) almost here, and as one biotech analyst noted this week, a possible Democratic victory is to blame for a big October sell-off in biotech stocks. Since Donald Trump’s infamous “Access Hollywood” tape was released on October 7, Leerink Partners analyst Geoffrey Porges wrote, biotech investors have lost $50 billion. The … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Drug Pricing, Cystic Fibrosis Showdown, Myovant & More”
Zimmer Biomet Digs Deeper into Digital Health with RespondWell Deal
Zimmer Biomet is expanding into telemedicine through the acquisition of RespondWell, a startup whose software allows patients to rehabilitate from surgery at home using messaging, videos, and monitoring handled over the Internet. Warsaw, IN-based Zimmer Biomet (NYSE: [[ticker:ZBH]]) is one of the largest providers of medical devices and products for musculoskeletal care. But care is … Continue reading “Zimmer Biomet Digs Deeper into Digital Health with RespondWell Deal”
Despite Low Crop Prices, Corporate and VC Agtech Investments Soar
Prices for agricultural commodities such as corn, soy, and wheat are at their lowest levels in years, but investment in agricultural technology has never been better. Venture capital firms have increased their agtech investments by 80 percent since 2012, bringing total VC investment in the sector to a total of $3 billion in 2015, according … Continue reading “Despite Low Crop Prices, Corporate and VC Agtech Investments Soar”
Propel Aims to Close Tech Talent Gap by Offering On-Demand IT Gurus
A few years ago, when Nick Birch and Scott Jones co-founded Indianapolis’s Eleven Fifty Academy, a nonprofit coding school, they realized their goal of harnessing Eleven Fifty to “close the nation’s growing technology skills gap” wasn’t going to be realized through classroom instruction alone. Sure, they were teaching people the programming skills needed to compete … Continue reading “Propel Aims to Close Tech Talent Gap by Offering On-Demand IT Gurus”
Sigstr Secures $500,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=15a05c8b-0b53-48d8-886b-ea51dd7dd885 Date 10/26/2016 Company Name Sigstr Mailing Address 55 Monument Circle Indianapolis, IN 46204 USA Company Description We operate at the intersection of people, communication and technology – helping our clients maximize the impact of every single email sent. Website http://www.sigstr.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount $500,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes … Continue reading “Sigstr Secures $500,000 New Funding”
Latest Data Show Venture Capital Industry on Pins and Needles
Given the obvious anxiety and frustration that surrounds us all, the U.S. venture industry is also exhibiting some fatigue as we finish the 88th month since the last recession. This is the fourth-longest period of economic growth in U.S. history (admittedly, at 2.1 percent, the growth over this period of time is the slowest since … Continue reading “Latest Data Show Venture Capital Industry on Pins and Needles”
FDA: Keytruda Now OK For Some Patients With Untreated Lung Cancer
The FDA has approved the use of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for some previously untreated patients with a certain type of lung cancer, the drug’s owner Merck (NYSE: [[ticker:MRK]]) announced late Monday. Pembrolizumab can now be used for patients who have never received treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has spread to other parts of … Continue reading “FDA: Keytruda Now OK For Some Patients With Untreated Lung Cancer”
Green Sense Farms Aims to Change How Produce is Grown, Distributed
Green Sense Farms is on a mission to build the country’s largest network of tech-enabled, indoor vertical farms. To help it get there, the Portage, IN-based company has turned to a new mechanism for raising capital—equity crowdfunding, which allows companies to sell small stakes in their businesses to the general public. With four days left … Continue reading “Green Sense Farms Aims to Change How Produce is Grown, Distributed”
Why Friday’s Massive DDoS Attack Should Be Terrifying
Friday’s massive DDoS attack made a number of hugely popular websites unavailable for much of the country for large parts of the day. Our service wasn’t directly affected by this incident, but the nature and scope of this attack is tremendously worrisome. In a Denial of Service (DoS) attack, the perpetrator overwhelms a target company … Continue reading “Why Friday’s Massive DDoS Attack Should Be Terrifying”
Bio Roundup: Jenkins Gets Mad, Bernie Gets His Pen, CRISPR IPO & J-Lo
If you’re among those frustrated by the lack of talk about health and science in the three presidential debates, this week perhaps brought you a wee consolation prize. The steady drip of hacked Hillary Clinton-related emails showed her campaign team questioning then-candidate FDA commissioner Robert Califf’s ties to the pharma industry. The staff also crowed … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Jenkins Gets Mad, Bernie Gets His Pen, CRISPR IPO & J-Lo”