It’s getting close to the last call for Xconomy’s invitation-only Napa Summit. We have a star-studded lineup. But there are only a few tickets and hotel rooms left, and the May 16-17 event is coming up fast. So request your invitation right away if you’d like to join us. It all starts with a dinner … Continue reading “Down to Wire on Napa Summit—Get Your Invite to Our May 16-17 Event”
Category: Indiana
A Vision for Boosting the Life Sciences in San Diego and Beyond
The life sciences industry represents a vital piece of San Diego’s innovation economy, contributing $31.8 billion each year in local economic impact—more than defense or even tourism, according to the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp. Beyond our region, San Diego’s life sciences community is significant for a different reason: Our companies contribute novel healthcare … Continue reading “A Vision for Boosting the Life Sciences in San Diego and Beyond”
With Devices Everywhere, CloudOne Rises as Private Cloud Service
Companies in almost every industry are targeting the market for “connected” devices, from doorbells and thermostats sold by Nest Labs to something as advanced as automobile hardware and software that monitors your driving habits. One Indiana-based company has steadily been building an infrastructure service that it hopes will help that market grow. CloudOne, located just … Continue reading “With Devices Everywhere, CloudOne Rises as Private Cloud Service”
Ransomware: Four Steps to Avoid Becoming the Next Victim
It’s no secret to anyone who’s been paying attention to global business news: over the last few months, ransomware attacks have been plaguing organizations across every vertical and nation. Recent examples include events in the healthcare and legal industries in particular, notably the widely reported attacks on the MedStar Health hospital chain. In the case … Continue reading “Ransomware: Four Steps to Avoid Becoming the Next Victim”
Millennial-Focused Media Firm Odyssey Rakes In $25M for Growth
An Indianapolis-based online media company called Odyssey raised $25 million from institutional investors in its first such funding round, the firm announced Thursday. Serial entrepreneur Michael Lazerow and Columbus Nova managing partner Jason Epstein led the round and will join Odyssey’s board of directors. Odyssey is billed as a social content platform for the up-and-coming … Continue reading “Millennial-Focused Media Firm Odyssey Rakes In $25M for Growth”
From Antivirus to Zero-Day Attack: A Cybersecurity Glossary
Cybersecurity is a rapidly changing field. The arms race between hackers and organizations trying to defend themselves has given rise to a lexicon of epic proportions—and leaders from almost every industry are learning to speak the language. As concepts like antivirus and firewalls have grown old, security-tech companies are selling everything from “advanced threat detection” … Continue reading “From Antivirus to Zero-Day Attack: A Cybersecurity Glossary”
Sales Is Toxic to Innovation
Having had the good fortune to participate in business development and sales in both startups and large companies (Intel and Microsoft), I have arrived at the conclusion that sales is largely detrimental to successfully bringing innovative ideas to market. There is a critical transition from business development to sales, and if made prematurely it will … Continue reading “Sales Is Toxic to Innovation”
East Coast Biotech Roundup: Sarepta, Nico, Ironwood & More
In biotech this Monday, all eyes were on an FDA advisory panel in Hyattsville, MD, where a throng of patient advocates some 800 strong gathered in support of approval for an experimental drug for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a fatal genetic disease with no cure. The results of the hearing didn’t go the way the crowd … Continue reading “East Coast Biotech Roundup: Sarepta, Nico, Ironwood & More”
COP21—The Road Ahead for Sustainability
Last week’s signing of the Paris climate accord successfully returned international efforts on climate change to the media spotlight. As private investors in cleantech startups since 2006, Element 8 members have been following the developments since December very closely. We are notably encouraged about the future of clean technologies in the wake of not just … Continue reading “COP21—The Road Ahead for Sustainability”
Join Maeda, Hillis, Jepsen, & More in Napa May 16-17—Get Your Invite
Carving out time to really ponder the future of our technology landscape can be touch, but it can also be incredibly valuable. And if that time is spent with some of the world’s great innovators, technologists, and investors, all the better. That’s just the opportunity you’ll have at Xconomy’s invitation-only Napa Summit on May 16-17. … Continue reading “Join Maeda, Hillis, Jepsen, & More in Napa May 16-17—Get Your Invite”
Odyssey Secures $25,000,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a044de36-c793-489b-8922-89ca9e2d35a1 Date 4/28/2016 Company Name Odyssey Mailing Address 1002 Broad Ripple Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46220 USA Company Description Odyssey is flipping local news upside down with a new approach that combines the power of locally developed content, national reach and a gamified content creation process. By capturing real conversations in local communities, … Continue reading “Odyssey Secures $25,000,000 New Funding”
Led by Ex-Suros Execs, Nico is Out To Change Brain Surgery
Imagine that, heaven forbid, a blood vessel bursts inside your brain, spilling blood and causing pressure to build inside delicate tissues. You’ve just suffered the deadliest kind of stroke, what’s known as an intracerebral hemorrhage. You might think that surgeons would want to try to repair the damage as soon as you get to the … Continue reading “Led by Ex-Suros Execs, Nico is Out To Change Brain Surgery”
Panama Papers Leak: The New Normal?
Imagine if robbing banks were so easy and common that the only headlines were about all the taxes the thieves were avoiding. Cybercrime has become so expected and normal that media coverage of the Panama Papers leak has barely mentioned law firm Mossack Fonseca’s failure to protect its most valuable and sensitive assets: the files … Continue reading “Panama Papers Leak: The New Normal?”
Energy Storage Tech Catches On, But Policy Is Still Catching Up
The electric grid we have today operates largely as it has for decades—electricity produced and dispatched across power lines is used by customers right away. But nearly 30 years ago, a tiny North Carolina electric cooperative did something no other electric utility had done before. It used a battery to store some of that grid … Continue reading “Energy Storage Tech Catches On, But Policy Is Still Catching Up”
Launch Fishers Founder on Growing a Startup Cluster in a Suburb
Launch Fishers wasn’t the first co-working space to open in Indiana, but in less than four years it has become a model of success that others hope to emulate. Established in 2012 as a way for the Indianapolis suburb of Fishers to keep its entrepreneurs close to home, Launch Fishers now has about 575 members … Continue reading “Launch Fishers Founder on Growing a Startup Cluster in a Suburb”
Purdue’s Fintech Experiment: An Alternative to Pricy Student Loans
Purdue University, which prides itself on teaching innovation, is joining with a financial technology startup in an unusual partnership that may pave the way for lower-cost tuition payment options for students at other higher education institutions some day. Starting May 2, juniors and seniors at West Lafayette, IN-based Purdue can apply for a novel source … Continue reading “Purdue’s Fintech Experiment: An Alternative to Pricy Student Loans”
Announcing Xconomy Cybersecurity Channel
It doesn’t seem to matter where you live, what you do, or what industry your company is in—the likelihood of a cyber attack is growing, and protecting yourself is ever more front of mind. Xconomy’s editors around the United States have certainly encountered that reality, as they are increasingly covering more and more cybersecurity issues. … Continue reading “Announcing Xconomy Cybersecurity Channel”
Amid Coding School Boom, Eleven Fifty Aims to Meet a Local Need
A little over a year ago, John Qualls, a veteran entrepreneur and leader in the Indianapolis area’s business community, decided to try something slightly different for his next career move. At the time Qualls was working as an executive at BlueLock, a company he started in 2006 that develops software to help clients manage data … Continue reading “Amid Coding School Boom, Eleven Fifty Aims to Meet a Local Need”
Credential Stealing as Attack Vector
Traditional computer security concerns itself with vulnerabilities. We employ antivirus software to detect malware that exploits vulnerabilities. We have automatic patching systems to fix vulnerabilities. We debate whether the FBI should be permitted to introduce vulnerabilities in our software so it can get access to systems with a warrant. This is all important, but what’s … Continue reading “Credential Stealing as Attack Vector”
Ready Or Not: Next Alzheimer’s Drugs Might Strain Health Systems
By 2029, more than 20 percent of people in the United States will be over the age of 65. That’s why the race to find effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease feels urgent. A few drugs, approved well over a decade ago, can slow patients’ mental decline for some time. But everything else that has reached … Continue reading “Ready Or Not: Next Alzheimer’s Drugs Might Strain Health Systems”
Agenda Posted For Napa Summit: Request Invite to Star-Studded Event
It’s four weeks until Napa Summit 2016: The Xconomy Retreat on the Economy, Jobs, and Growth. We have now posted the agenda, and we’d love to see you there. So request your invitation today to Xconomy’s most prestigious event. The dates are May 16 and 17, starting with a wine reception and dinner at Silver … Continue reading “Agenda Posted For Napa Summit: Request Invite to Star-Studded Event”
$1B Lumina Foundation Backs New Education Credentials Framework
Advocates of online education say it can provide learning opportunities as good as college coursework, but at a much lower cost. The broad offerings of edtech companies now range from foreign language instruction to history lessons to computer programming. What non-traditional education providers have always needed, though, is the ability to award their students a … Continue reading “$1B Lumina Foundation Backs New Education Credentials Framework”
Indiana Firms Draw More Than $22M in First-Quarter Funding
Five innovative Indiana companies attracted more than $22 million in capital during the first quarter of 2016. That’s up from $17.5 million in the same period last year. Leading the way this year was Indianapolis-based neurosurgery device maker Nico, which closed a $15 million funding round in late February. Investors included previous backers River Cities … Continue reading “Indiana Firms Draw More Than $22M in First-Quarter Funding”
First-Quarter VC Activity Buoyant at $12.1 Billion, & Top 10 Deals
Venture capital firms invested $12.1 billion in 969 startup deals nationwide during the first three months of 2016, marking the ninth consecutive quarter when VCs invested at least $10 billion in new companies, according to the MoneyTree Report. The top 10 deals accounted for 25 percent of all capital deployed during the quarter, and was … Continue reading “First-Quarter VC Activity Buoyant at $12.1 Billion, & Top 10 Deals”
Frictionless or Frictionmore? Sales Tips for Vendors
Many articles are written on sales and marketing: how to generate leads, how to qualify prospects, how to improve sales, how to engage customers, how to turn leads into a gazillion dollars, how to do this, how to do that, and so on. I am fresh off two recent experiences as a potential customer that … Continue reading “Frictionless or Frictionmore? Sales Tips for Vendors”
Elanco Gets FDA Nod on Biological Drug for Dairy Cows
A mastitis diagnosis in a cow spells trouble for a dairy farmer, who faces certain loss in milk production and possible loss of the cow. Antibiotics can treat this infection of the udder, but these drugs have fallen out of favor due to growing drug resistance. Soon, though, U.S. farmers will have a biological alternative … Continue reading “Elanco Gets FDA Nod on Biological Drug for Dairy Cows”
Bluebridge Lands $2,700,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a11e49a4-4d7a-4988-b122-c7fa8da7781b Date 4/12/2016 Company Name Bluebridge Mailing Address 11313 USA Parkway Fishers, IN 46037 USA Company Description Bluebridge is a mobile partner, creating easy-to-use, affordable apps for organizations of all sizes and levels of tech savvy. Website http://www.gobluebridge.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $2,700,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes … Continue reading “Bluebridge Lands $2,700,000 New Funding”
Viamet Revisits IPO Plans, This Time With More Data
Viamet Pharmaceuticals is taking another swing at the public markets, filing plans for an initial public offering intended to finance the work needed to bring its lead antifungal drug to the brink of late-stage clinical studies in two types of infections. Durham, NC-based Viamet could raise up to $100 million in the stock offering, according … Continue reading “Viamet Revisits IPO Plans, This Time With More Data”
A Pivotal Factor In M&A Deals: Cyber Risk
Big merger and acquisition proposals trigger intense examinations of the benefits and risks of the deal from both sides—valuations, assets, legal liabilities, operational risk exposures, and compatibility, among others. However, it is also critical that companies elevate another factor to the top of the priority list: their cyber risk exposure. The pending acquisition of Starwood … Continue reading “A Pivotal Factor In M&A Deals: Cyber Risk”
Recovery Force, Maker of High-Tech Garments, Zeroes In on Partners
A startup that aims to shake up the $2.6 billion compression therapy market with computer-controlled garments said it is in talks to license its technology to apparel and medical device companies. Recovery Force, based in the Indianapolis suburb of Fishers, IN, is in discussions with potential partners to develop a “multitude” of products using the … Continue reading “Recovery Force, Maker of High-Tech Garments, Zeroes In on Partners”
A Charge of Bots
I had a sharp moment of clarity in the summer of 2007. After standing in line for four hours at an Apple Store outside of Boston on the day the first iPhone came out, I finally had one in my hand. It felt like a stereotypical Hollywood dream sequence; a long road stretching to the … Continue reading “A Charge of Bots”
Steve Case’s Rules for Building Startups in Internet’s “Third Wave”
Software could be poised to truly transform entrenched sectors like healthcare, education, financial services, and more. But the next wave of software companies will take longer to build than some entrepreneurs have grown accustomed to in the smartphone era, and success will require more patience and willingness to work closely with policymakers and industry stakeholders. … Continue reading “Steve Case’s Rules for Building Startups in Internet’s “Third Wave””
For San Antonio’s Consideration: A Biotech Incubator and Accelerator
San Antonio — [Updated, 1:55 p.m. See below.] Most research institutions or universities have at least one success story, a medicine or therapy developed there that made a big impact. Some have many. For the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, a 70-year-old nonprofit biomedical-focused institute with 56 researchers on staff based in Oklahoma City, OK, what first … Continue reading “For San Antonio’s Consideration: A Biotech Incubator and Accelerator”
The Case For An Internet Franchise Model
Internet service in America is not what it should be. Most consumers have two choices for access: the phone company or the cable company. By a quirk of fate, networks built with cables designed for television service can deliver more Internet bandwidth than networks built with cables designed for telephone service. So, the cable company … Continue reading “The Case For An Internet Franchise Model”
How Startups Can Run Better Landing Page Tests
In today’s fast-changing world, new product teams are constantly pushed to do more faster. They need to run fast to keep up with rapidly changing market conditions. Oftentimes it means making decisions about what to invest in with very little information. How can teams validate hypotheses without over-investing on speculative engineering projects, and potentially losing … Continue reading “How Startups Can Run Better Landing Page Tests”
Urban Farm Incubator Aims to Grow Agricultural Movement in Indy
[Corrected, 10:10am. See below] Tysha Ahmed grew up on a small farm in rural Georgia, where her family raised chickens and ducks and planted enough produce for their own needs. Now the 40-year-old is planning her first commercial crops—likely some combination of lettuce, tomatoes, and other salad fixings that she’ll sell in the urban Indianapolis … Continue reading “Urban Farm Incubator Aims to Grow Agricultural Movement in Indy”
RiverVest Opens San Diego Office That’s Been 10 Years in the Making
RiverVest Venture Partners has stayed mostly under the radar as a small-but-active investor in San Diego life sciences startups for the past 10 years or so. After making investments in San Diego’s Cabrellis Pharmaceuticals and Conforma Therapeutics, the St. Louis, MO-based firm recruited Niall O’Donnell in 2006 to oversee the firm’s deals in San Diego. … Continue reading “RiverVest Opens San Diego Office That’s Been 10 Years in the Making”
Bind Therapeutics Sheds Employees, Considers New Capital or Deals
Bind Therapeutics, the Cambridge, MA-based biotech that hired a Bristol-Myers Squibb oncology researcher as its chief scientific officer in December, is laying off 38 percent of its workforce this month to limit the amount of cash it burns through, the company said in a prepared statement. Bind (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIND]]) expects it will have 61 employees … Continue reading “Bind Therapeutics Sheds Employees, Considers New Capital or Deals”
There’s Never Been a Better Time for Female Tech Entrepreneurs
When I was a young girl, I knew that I wanted to run my own business someday. In fact, I would end up leading almost every club or team that I got involved in at school. However, by the time I actually began my career, I was well aware that the odds were not entirely … Continue reading “There’s Never Been a Better Time for Female Tech Entrepreneurs”
Announcing Xconomy Indiana—11th Region in Our Network
Just over two years ago, when we launched Xconomy Wisconsin as the ninth region in our network, I wrote: “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.” Since that time, we expanded again, to Raleigh-Durham. And I am … Continue reading “Announcing Xconomy Indiana—11th Region in Our Network”
ExactTarget Alums Aim Big With Indianapolis Startup Studio High Alpha
ExactTarget helped put Indianapolis on the map as a good place to build a cloud software company that serves business customers. Now, High Alpha—a startup studio/venture fund whose founders include three former ExactTarget executives—aims to cement the city’s status as an enterprise software hub. High Alpha was formed a year ago and launched publicly in … Continue reading “ExactTarget Alums Aim Big With Indianapolis Startup Studio High Alpha”
Software Study Ranks San Diego #7, Cites Prowess in Scientific R&D
A study to assess the strength of San Diego’s software sector has determined that it ranks seventh among the top 50 U.S. metropolitan areas, according to a “software power index” that weighs a variety of economic factors. The study, released last week by the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp., is the first comprehensive analysis … Continue reading “Software Study Ranks San Diego #7, Cites Prowess in Scientific R&D”
Making the Price Right: Ideas To Change Drug Costs Gain Momentum
If the U.S. presidential primaries continue their current trajectories, the two contenders come autumn will have at least one thing in common: a stated desire to do something about high drug prices. Maybe you believe them, and maybe you think they’re blowing smoke up our nether regions. But momentum is momentum. With consumers, doctors, and … Continue reading “Making the Price Right: Ideas To Change Drug Costs Gain Momentum”
Napa Summit 2016: Request Your Invite to Our Most Special Event
There are all sorts of reasons for requesting an invitation to Xconomy’s Napa Summit, which will take place in just six weeks—on May 16-17. One is the fantastic array of speakers: John Maeda, design partner at Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield, and Byers; virtual reality virtuoso Mary Lou Jepsen of Facebook/Oculus; tech investor Esther Dyson; computing visionary … Continue reading “Napa Summit 2016: Request Your Invite to Our Most Special Event”
Trading Quality for Ease: Confessions of an Earbud Junkie
This is the story of a reawakening. I’ve come home to the world of real home stereo sound, after too many years hooked on music trickling through smartphone earbuds and devices with small, crappy speakers. Don’t worry, I haven’t turned into an audiophile. I’m not going to preach to you about some $40,000 turntable with … Continue reading “Trading Quality for Ease: Confessions of an Earbud Junkie”
What’s Ahead for Biotech in 2016: Q&A With BIO Chair Ron Cohen
Biotechnology is a tricky business. We all know the trials and tribulations—and costs—of bringing novel drugs to market. In the past six months or so, a new round of drug pricing upheaval (think Martin Shkreli) and corporate tax “inversions” (think Pfizer-Allergan merger with new headquarters in Ireland) have ignited public debate. Ron Cohen has been … Continue reading “What’s Ahead for Biotech in 2016: Q&A With BIO Chair Ron Cohen”
The Xconversation: Vaccine Developer Meets Energy Innovator, Part II
There’s no such thing as failure, as long as you view it in the proper light. That’s the philosophy of scientist-entrepreneurs Darrick Carter, vice president of adjuvant technology at Seattle-based IDRI (Infectious Disease Research Institute) and biotech company founder, and Aaron Feaver, co-founder and chief technology officer of energy-storage materials company EnerG2, who shared their … Continue reading “The Xconversation: Vaccine Developer Meets Energy Innovator, Part II”
OpenView Backs Corporate Training Software Startup Lesson.ly
As companies grow, employees naturally amass a treasure trove of useful habits that help them do their jobs better. But spreading that tribal knowledge across the company isn’t always easy or efficient. That’s one of the problems Lesson.ly has been trying to solve with Web-based learning automation software that centralizes a company’s policies and best … Continue reading “OpenView Backs Corporate Training Software Startup Lesson.ly”
The Xconversation: Vaccine Developer Meets Energy Innovator, Part I
What do vaccines have to do with batteries? Let your mind’s eye travel to the cellular membrane, where a ligand is enveloped by a receptor, spurring a subtle change in the cell. (Bear with me.) In some respects, it’s similar to what’s happening inside a battery when electrolytes interact with engineered materials to cause a … Continue reading “The Xconversation: Vaccine Developer Meets Energy Innovator, Part I”
Is Money Everything? Behind the Scenes of Tech Hiring
Have you tried to hire a software developer recently? The current job market is bananas! It’s crazy in Boston. New York City is booming with tech startups. In Silicon Valley and the Bay Area, the cost of living is exploding as salaries in the tech sector grow. It’s getting more expensive every year to hire … Continue reading “Is Money Everything? Behind the Scenes of Tech Hiring”