Catch up on news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Gener8tor, a startup accelerator that has held programs in Wisconsin and Minnesota, has named Eric Martell managing director of its Twin Cities programming, the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reported. Martell is a co-founder of EatStreet, a Madison-based food-ordering startup, and previously served as … Continue reading “Gener8tor, ParqEx, 4490, RPRD, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist”
Category: National
Super Saver Rate Ending for Robo Madness 2017— A.I. Gets Real
Leaders across the robotics and artificial intelligence industries are coming together for our third annual Robo Madness event on March 28 at Google in Cambridge, MA. Join us for interactive talks, panels, and demos from an elite group of business leaders discussing how robotics and A.I. will reshape the economy and create new opportunities (and … Continue reading “Super Saver Rate Ending for Robo Madness 2017— A.I. Gets Real”
After Navigating Ups and Downs, Cellectar CEO Caruso Looks to Future
Cellectar Biosciences has seen ups and downs in the last 18 months, including several changes in its top ranks. Now, as the cancer drug developer prepares to take its lead drug candidate into mid-stage clinical trials, CEO Jim Caruso seems more interested in talking about his company’s future than its past. Madison, WI-based Cellectar (NASDAQ: … Continue reading “After Navigating Ups and Downs, Cellectar CEO Caruso Looks to Future”
Cashing in On Duchenne Approval, Sarepta Sells Voucher to Gilead For $125M
Sarepta Therapeutics didn’t just get its first drug to market when the FDA approved the Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug eteplirsen (Exondys 51) last year—it got a potentially lucrative voucher from the FDA too. Today the Cambridge, MA, company cashed that in. Sarepta (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SRPT]]) this morning sold what’s known as a priority review voucher to … Continue reading “Cashing in On Duchenne Approval, Sarepta Sells Voucher to Gilead For $125M”
Boston, NY Tech Job Growth Hits 5-Year Low, as Amazon Keeps Expanding
The hiring pace among Boston and New York software companies has slowed to a crawl, amid a broader downshift in the tech industry. During the fourth quarter of last year, the two tech hubs saw their weakest job growth in the past five years. That’s according to a quarterly study compiled by John Barrett, a … Continue reading “Boston, NY Tech Job Growth Hits 5-Year Low, as Amazon Keeps Expanding”
Agtech Accelerator Radicle Recruits Industry Vets to Mentor Startups
Former Sapphire Energy CEO Jason Pyle is one of four agricultural technology veterans who have agreed to advise the startups taking root at Radicle, the San Diego-based accelerator focused on agricultural and food tech ventures. Radicle named Pyle, who is now the CEO of BaseHealth, a Silicon Valley healthtech developer of analytic software, as a … Continue reading “Agtech Accelerator Radicle Recruits Industry Vets to Mentor Startups”
Lumina Foundation Gives Odds For Edtech Innovation Under Trump
[Corrected 2/22/17, 9:35 am. See below.] Bipartisanship hasn’t exactly been the watchword in Washington over the past month as the new Trump administration grapples with stalled nominations, court battles over its travel ban, and investigations of campaign contacts with Russia. But deeply divided politicians may still find some common ground over education policy—in ways that … Continue reading “Lumina Foundation Gives Odds For Edtech Innovation Under Trump”
Seattle Week in Review: Life Sciences at Risk, Keiretsu Record, & More
Here’s a quick look at news from the Northwest innovation economy this week, including a warning about the future of the life sciences industry in Washington; new funding for the University of Washington’s computer science expansion project; 2016 investment totals from Keiretsu Forum Northwest; fresh funding for ReplyYes; and an important new facility for cleantech … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: Life Sciences at Risk, Keiretsu Record, & More”
Digital Health Solutions’ Software Helps Docs Screen Patients
Anyone who has ever visited an outpatient clinic knows it can be a crowded, chaotic place. Electronic health records (EHR) technology—software that puts a patient’s charts and health information online so doctors can access it, ostensibly leading to better, more efficient care while facilitating communication—has so far not lived up to its potential. Tammy Dugan, … Continue reading “Digital Health Solutions’ Software Helps Docs Screen Patients”
Boston Tech Watch: Nuance, Gamalon, Grapevine, Data3Sixty & More
Here are some notable recent deals made by Boston-area tech companies: —Burlington, MA-based Nuance Communications (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NUAN]]) has acquired mCarbon, a Noida, India-based provider of telecommunications products and services, for an estimated $36 million in cash and stock, according to a report by The Economic Times. —Boston-based Grapevine has sold a majority stake in the … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: Nuance, Gamalon, Grapevine, Data3Sixty & More”
Five Questions For … Joseph Kopser, Ex-Army Officer, RideScout founder
Austin—Many entrepreneurs developing a consumer product attempt to incorporate that technology in their daily lives. For Joseph Kopser, that meant regular commutes from his home in Austin, TX, to pitch events and meetings in Houston without using a car—a rather unusual choice in Texas. Kopser was developing RideScout, an app that aggregated various transportation options—taxis, … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Joseph Kopser, Ex-Army Officer, RideScout founder”
Bio Roundup: CRISPR Drama, Marathon and PhRMA, the Price of Vision & More
News may be coming out of Washington, DC, at a breakneck pace, but concrete plans regarding the future of the nation’s healthcare system, the FDA, and the pharmaceutical industry have been much slower to materialize. The consternation about President Donald Trump’s coming pick for FDA commissioner was palpable this week at the BIO CEO & … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: CRISPR Drama, Marathon and PhRMA, the Price of Vision & More”
An Update on Tasktop—and the Future of Software Development
You can learn a lot from a quick breakfast meeting. I’m at a French bakery in Assembly Row in Somerville, MA, with executives from Tasktop Technologies, a software company Xconomy has covered for years. Inside, the smell of croissants and coffee. Outside, a coating of fresh snow, just enough to be dangerous. These are heady … Continue reading “An Update on Tasktop—and the Future of Software Development”
Dermata Secures $10M in Combined Financing for Skin Treatments
[Corrected 2/17/17, 9:41 am to differentiate Silicon Valley Bank’s loan from private investment.] Dermata Therapeutics, a San Diego development-stage biotech advancing new treatments for rosacea, eczema, and related dermatological diseases, said it has secured $5 million in additional funding from private investors and entered into a $5 million credit facility with Silicon Valley Bank. The … Continue reading “Dermata Secures $10M in Combined Financing for Skin Treatments”
UW Testbeds Touted as an Asset to Northwest Cleantech Innovators
Behind the tony shops of Seattle’s University Village, clean energy researchers are preparing to install one of the world’s most advanced machines for printing novel thin-film electronics. The Danish-made, 28-foot-long roll-to-roll printer will be a centerpiece of the new Washington Clean Energy Testbeds, a 15,000-square-foot University of Washington facility for developing clean energy technologies unveiled … Continue reading “UW Testbeds Touted as an Asset to Northwest Cleantech Innovators”
Rhythm Raises $41M to Bankroll Late-Stage Push For Obesity Drug
Rhythm, a Boston biotech developing drugs for rare, life-threatening metabolic disorders, has raised $41 million from a group of crossover investors, a signal that an initial public offering could be on the way. Rhythm plans to use the new funding to push testing of its drug, setmelanotide, into Phase 3 clinical trials for two different … Continue reading “Rhythm Raises $41M to Bankroll Late-Stage Push For Obesity Drug”
Rice, UH Libraries to Host Data Rescue Project Next Month
Houston—The University of Houston and Rice University library systems are working together to help preserve online federal data, as part of a national project aimed at safeguarding scientific research. “The ultimate goal is to raise awareness of having access to this information and preserving this information,” says Lisa Spiro, executive director of digital scholarship services … Continue reading “Rice, UH Libraries to Host Data Rescue Project Next Month “
Mylestone Grabs $2.5M to Deliver Memories Via Amazon Alexa Devices
Amazon’s voice-enabled smart speakers can order a pizza, play your favorite song on command, set timers, and do plenty of other ordinary tasks. Now, Boston startup Mylestone aims to help make Alexa your personal memory bank. The company has created a new “skill” for Alexa—that’s Amazon’s term for the growing library of software tools built … Continue reading “Mylestone Grabs $2.5M to Deliver Memories Via Amazon Alexa Devices”
After $104M Round, Fuze Names New CEO, Shifts Co-Founder to Chairman
Eight days after Fuze announced a $104 million funding round, the Boston-area communications software firm has replaced its founding CEO. Steve Kokinos, who co-founded Fuze in 2005, will now serve as executive chairman. The company has appointed Colin Doherty as CEO, according to an announcement Thursday. Fuze’s other founder, Derek Yoo, will remain the company’s … Continue reading “After $104M Round, Fuze Names New CEO, Shifts Co-Founder to Chairman”
His Gene Therapy Near Approval, Spark CEO Wonders: What Price Vision?
Perhaps this year, Spark Therapeutics could be the first ever in the U.S. to win approval of a gene therapy with its one-time treatment for an inherited form of blindness. But an approval could also throw Spark into the line of fire in the U.S. fight over drug pricing that includes angry members of Congress, … Continue reading “His Gene Therapy Near Approval, Spark CEO Wonders: What Price Vision?”
ReplyYes Raises $6.5M for ‘Conversational Commerce’ Platform
Seattle-based startup ReplyYes, which lets people buy things via text message, has raised $6.5 million and landed a major customer, Universal Music Group, for its conversational commerce platform. The Series A funding round was led by Madrona Venture Group, which incubated the company internally, and Cross Culture Ventures, Lowercase Capital, Muse Capital, and Arnold Venture … Continue reading “ReplyYes Raises $6.5M for ‘Conversational Commerce’ Platform”
Join Us: Xconomy Forum on Innovations with Widespread Human Impact
Over the past 30 years or so, design theorists have promoted the idea of putting humans at the center of the process that innovators use to design everyday things. At the UC San Diego Design Lab, director Don Norman talks about the importance of studying and understanding how people are actually using something—whether it is … Continue reading “Join Us: Xconomy Forum on Innovations with Widespread Human Impact”
Probiotics Maker UAS Laboratories Raises $21.2M From Investors
The Wausau, WI-based probiotics manufacturer UAS Laboratories says it has raised more than $21.2 million, according to an SEC filing that was recently made public. Twelve investors participated in the equity funding round, according to the filing. UAS Labs formulates, blends, bottles, and distributes probiotic products, which are designed to stimulate the growth of so-called … Continue reading “Probiotics Maker UAS Laboratories Raises $21.2M From Investors”
Regenerative Med Firm Surrozen Unveils $33M to Tackle Tissue Repair
Regenerative medicine technologies aim to tap into the body’s innate healing abilities to grow and repair tissue. But the triggers that activate these healing powers have been a mystery to scientists for years. New startup Surrozen believes it has a solution and has raised $33 million in funding to test its approach. The Column Group … Continue reading “Regenerative Med Firm Surrozen Unveils $33M to Tackle Tissue Repair”
Patent Judges’ CRISPR Ruling For Broad Leaves Daylight For Berkeley
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has made a decision in the patent fight over ownership of the landmark CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology. The ruling is in favor of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, whose 2014 patents were challenged by a group led by the University of California, Berkeley (UC). But the ruling … Continue reading “Patent Judges’ CRISPR Ruling For Broad Leaves Daylight For Berkeley”
After CEO Hire, uShip Adds $25M to Further Freight Shipping Software
Austin—UShip, one week after announcing it hired a new CEO, said the company has raised a $25 million round of funding from German shipping logistics company DB Schenker, which uShip signed a deal with last year. Schenker announced in July that it signed a five-year agreement to use uShip’s enterprise freight-focused software to match freight … Continue reading “After CEO Hire, uShip Adds $25M to Further Freight Shipping Software”
EO2 Concepts Aims to Impress CME With Med Device Study, Gain Funding
San Antonio — For chronic wounds, there’s a bevy of treatment options attracting the dollars spent on care, from stalwarts like Acelity’s negative-pressure therapies to more standard, basic dressings. Now, a San Antonio medical device company has a product that it believes can potentially be more effective than other treatments and limit healthcare costs. And EO2 … Continue reading “EO2 Concepts Aims to Impress CME With Med Device Study, Gain Funding”
FarmLogs Co-Founder on Growth, Agronomics, and U.S. Ag Policy
Ann Arbor, MI-based agtech company FarmLogs has been one of the fastest-growing startups in the state since its launch in 2012. Last month, it closed a $22 million Series C round led by Naspers Ventures, a global investing giant focused on companies addressing big societal needs in high-growth markets. FarmLogs has developed software that enables … Continue reading “FarmLogs Co-Founder on Growth, Agronomics, and U.S. Ag Policy”
With “Go,” Amazon Identifies Another Job It Can Do Better
Early last year, I “fired” talk radio along with NPR’s morning and evening editions. That same day, I “hired” Amazon Audible as my commute companion. It wasn’t a difficult decision. Audible is far better than its predecessors at doing the job I need done as I travel to and from my office – provide on-demand … Continue reading “With “Go,” Amazon Identifies Another Job It Can Do Better”
Texas Roundup: TMCx, Katie Mehnert, UT System, Authenticated Reality
Let’s get caught up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —Often those in medical fields come up with innovative ideas during the course of their work. What they lack, however, is experience in running a business, namely, raising money to help pay for research and development. Fundraising strategies for young medtech entrepreneurs was … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: TMCx, Katie Mehnert, UT System, Authenticated Reality”
Fintech VC Backing Dipped 13 Percent in 2016, Mirroring Rest of Tech
The final numbers on 2016 fintech funding deals are in from New York-based research firm and investment database CB Insights, and venture capitalists seem to be cooling on the industry. According to a report released today, financial technology companies around the world attracted $12.7 billion in venture capital across 836 investments last year. That is … Continue reading “Fintech VC Backing Dipped 13 Percent in 2016, Mirroring Rest of Tech”
With $20M, UCSD Spinout Jecure To Press New Attack On NASH
[Updated 2/15/17, 8:10 pm ET. See below.] Liver disease is challenging for doctors because it can develop without symptoms, making diagnosis difficult without removing cells for examination. For these reasons, fatty liver disease is often called a “silent disease,” says Ariel Feldstein, a gastroenterologist at the University of California San Diego. Feldstein has been studying the … Continue reading “With $20M, UCSD Spinout Jecure To Press New Attack On NASH”
Voice Privacy Experts: Careful, We’re Bugging Ourselves
A cybersecurity executive I talked to recently raised a scenario like this: You and your cousin swap opinions about a standout basketball player one night. The next day you get an email from your cousin’s friend. He says your cousin told him you’d like this new article about your favorite point guard, and he attaches … Continue reading “Voice Privacy Experts: Careful, We’re Bugging Ourselves”
Merck Alzheimer Drug Is Latest To Fail In A Big Study
Another Alzheimer’s drug has failed a major test. Merck (NYSE: MRK) reported late Tuesday that its pill verubecestat was not helping people with significant Alzheimer’s symptoms. The drug maker announced that it halted its EPOCH study early because an oversight group said there was “virtually no chance of finding a positive clinical effect.” Verubecestat is … Continue reading “Merck Alzheimer Drug Is Latest To Fail In A Big Study”
Panel: Big Data Can Be ‘Democratized’ For The Masses
Big data is a big deal, and it’s not too late for people who feel they know little or nothing about the collection, organization, storage, and retrieval of massive amounts of information to start paying attention. The trend isn’t going anywhere. Those were some of the themes of a panel discussion held on Monday in … Continue reading “Panel: Big Data Can Be ‘Democratized’ For The Masses”
Starting a Medtech Company? Try Skipping Venture Capital, VCs Say
San Antonio — What’s the best way to build a startup? Bootstrap it, raise little or no VC funding, and (ideally) sell it for hundreds of millions—or billions—of dollars, according to two venture capitalists. That’s what they did at least. Andrew Farquharson, now the managing director of InCube Ventures in San Jose, CA, was the chief … Continue reading “Starting a Medtech Company? Try Skipping Venture Capital, VCs Say”
Hologic Expands Into Medical Aesthetics With $1.4B Cynosure Deal
[Updated 2/14/17, 1:07 pm. See below.] Women’s health company Hologic has been looking for ways to enter the fast-growing medical aesthetics market, and the company has now found a way in with a deal to acquire Cynosure for $1.44 billion. It’s the second billion-dollar acquisition to be announced this week in the medical aesthetics industry. … Continue reading “Hologic Expands Into Medical Aesthetics With $1.4B Cynosure Deal”
FDA Turmoil, Biology Mystery On List Of Hurdles For Microbiome Drugs
In three years, investment has jumped more than twenty-fold in startups developing medicines that change the interactions between our bodies and the bacteria that colonize it, known collectively as the human microbiome. But as a panel of industry insiders noted yesterday at the BIO CEO & Investor Conference Monday, the field faces several challenges—including lack … Continue reading “FDA Turmoil, Biology Mystery On List Of Hurdles For Microbiome Drugs”
Lynx Bio Makes Headway on New Diagnostic for Blood Cancer Drugs
In 2009, as a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Chorom Pak was part of a group of researchers working to understand how sensitive patients’ cells were to certain therapies for blood cancers, such as multiple myeloma. The group, which also included UW-Madison professors Shigeki Miyamoto and David Beebe, and postdoctoral fellow Edmond Young, … Continue reading “Lynx Bio Makes Headway on New Diagnostic for Blood Cancer Drugs”
Katie Rae Wants MIT’s The Engine to Build “World-Changing” Companies
Katie Rae has been tapped to run The Engine, an ambitious startup-support initiative launched by MIT that combines a venture fund, an accelerator program, and access to workspace and business services. On Monday, Rae was named The Engine’s president and CEO, as well as managing partner of its venture fund. Rae is well known in … Continue reading “Katie Rae Wants MIT’s The Engine to Build “World-Changing” Companies”
Roundup: B-Start, Givelify, Notre Dame Turbomachinery Lab & More
Here’s a look at innovation news from across Indiana: —Three Indiana University students won the top spots at a recent demo day competition hosted by B-Start, the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation‘s accelerator program. Zachary Burr snagged first place ($2,500) for Tydee Laundry, an on-demand laundry service; Christopher Podlaski won second place ($1,500) for Plant Software, an automated scheduling … Continue reading “Roundup: B-Start, Givelify, Notre Dame Turbomachinery Lab & More”
NeuroPointDX, JCI, Resnick, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
Keep up with the latest news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —NeuroPointDX, a business division of Madison-based Stemina Biomarker Discovery focused on diagnostics for neurological disorders, announced a partnership with New York-based Ovid Therapeutics. The collaboration is aimed at identifying novel biomarkers of Angelman syndrome, a rare genetic disorder characterized by intellectual … Continue reading “NeuroPointDX, JCI, Resnick, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
Allergan to Acquire Fat-Busting Medical Tech Firm Zeltiq for $2.4B
Botox-maker Allergan is filling out its medical aesthetics portfolio with a $2.4 billion agreement to acquire Zeltiq Aesthetics, a company that has commercialized a medical device that gets rid of unwanted fat. Under the cash deal, Dublin, Ireland-based Allergan (NYSE: [[ticker:AGN]]) will pay $56.50 per share to buy Zeltiq (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ZLTQ]]), which is based in … Continue reading “Allergan to Acquire Fat-Busting Medical Tech Firm Zeltiq for $2.4B”
TMCx Brings On Largest Class, HealthIT Startups from US & Abroad
Houston—The Texas Medical Center’s TMCx accelerator announced today its largest class of health IT startups, the fourth cohort for the program. The 24-member class includes three Australian companies that are taking part through the TMC’s new BioBridge health technology startup exchange, a program with the Health Informatics Society of Australia that allows Australian entrepreneurs to … Continue reading “TMCx Brings On Largest Class, HealthIT Startups from US & Abroad”
Veering Off Topic With Rapid7 CEO Corey Thomas
It’s time to revive my ongoing series of executive interviews that take a bit of a left turn. Next up is Corey Thomas, president and CEO of Rapid7. Thomas has worked at the Boston-based cybersecurity firm (NASDAQ: [[ticker:RPD]]) for almost a decade, and has served as its chief executive since late 2012. The 17-year-old company … Continue reading “Veering Off Topic With Rapid7 CEO Corey Thomas”
Amid Fake News, Authenticated Reality Launches “The New Internet”
Austin—At a time of fake news and “alternative facts,” it makes sense that a tech entrepreneur would try to find a way to innovate to ensure our encounters on the Internet are real. Chris Ciabarra, co-founder and CTO of Authenticated Reality, says the startup’s new browser—one that would require users to prove they are who … Continue reading “Amid Fake News, Authenticated Reality Launches “The New Internet””
Dear Tom Price: Bundled Payments Help Patients and Reduce Costs
With all the talk of repealing Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act (ACA), people have been taking a closer look at what the law has done for our healthcare system. It turns out the ACA is about a lot more than the problematic healthcare marketplaces. There’s the extension of parental insurance coverage to age 26 and … Continue reading “Dear Tom Price: Bundled Payments Help Patients and Reduce Costs”
After Leadership Change, Zenefits Announces Sweeping Layoffs
What has already been a week of significant change at Zenefits, the embattled San Francisco-based startup that provides health insurance and other human resources services to businesses, continued Thursday with news the company plans to lay off nearly half of its workforce, according to a report originally published by Buzzfeed News. Once heralded as one … Continue reading “After Leadership Change, Zenefits Announces Sweeping Layoffs”
Seattle Genetics Puts Up $250M for Immunomedics Cancer Drug Rights
Seattle Genetics has agreed to pay $250 million up front for global rights to an Immunomedics cancer drug that it says complements the company’s pipeline of experimental antibody cancer therapies. If SeaGen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SGEN]]) is able to bring the drug to market, the Bothell, WA-based company would be on the hook for up to $1.7 … Continue reading “Seattle Genetics Puts Up $250M for Immunomedics Cancer Drug Rights”
Senate Confirms Price for HHS, But Stock Deals Still Raise Questions
The Senate confirmed Tom Price as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services early Friday morning by a 52-47 vote that, as expected, fell largely on party lines. Price is an orthopedic surgeon by training who has been a member of Georgia’s congressional delegation since 2004. He will now oversee a department that … Continue reading “Senate Confirms Price for HHS, But Stock Deals Still Raise Questions”