Moderna Therapeutics has already raised the largest biotech financing round in history, yet the Cambridge, MA, company looks to be on its way to breaking that record just a year later. According to a regulatory filing, Moderna—the messenger RNA drugmaker that has already vacuumed up more than $1 billion in financing and partnership dollars—is raising … Continue reading “Filing: Moderna Blowing Past Record $450M Round With New $600M Raise”
Category: National
The XX Factor: Fixing Biotech’s Gender Imbalance in the C-Suite
Women continue to be vastly under-represented in management and executive-level positions throughout the life science industry—an inequity that came into the spotlight earlier this year when a biotech consulting firm hired female models to improve the male-female ratio at its convention after-party. The catalyzing event sparked a much-needed debate into a serious challenge that has … Continue reading “The XX Factor: Fixing Biotech’s Gender Imbalance in the C-Suite”
Wisconsin Again Fares Poorly In Kauffman Ranking of Startup Activity
It’s beginning to sound like a broken record. For the second straight year, Wisconsin is the worst state in the U.S. for startups, according to a ranking by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Business and political leaders in the Badger State seem to be united in their displeasure with the ranking. But they’re split in … Continue reading “Wisconsin Again Fares Poorly In Kauffman Ranking of Startup Activity”
Doyenne Group, Lynx Biosciences, & Epic: This Week’s WI Watchlist
It was a busy week for members of Wisconsin’s innovation community. Let’s catch up on some of the latest news: —The Doyenne Group will manage a $1.2 million investment fund that’s aimed at supporting startups led by women and people of color, the Capital Times reported. Doyenne provided $200,000 of the total amount; the rest … Continue reading “Doyenne Group, Lynx Biosciences, & Epic: This Week’s WI Watchlist”
SPLT Tackles Non-Emergency Patient Rides, Opens Mexico Office
Detroit-based enterprise ridesharing and carpooling startup SPLT has been on a take-no-prisoners growth trajectory since CEO Anya Babbitt first set foot in the Motor City last year as part of Techstars Mobility’s inaugural cohort. So far in 2016, the two-year-old company has won a number of pitch competitions across the country, participated in Google Demo … Continue reading “SPLT Tackles Non-Emergency Patient Rides, Opens Mexico Office”
As Rackspace Sells to Apollo for $4.3B, Locals and Cloud Feel Impact
San Antonio—Even though it now has more than $2 billion in annual revenue, Rackspace is a company whose roots are in the nimble startup world. That’s epitomized by a decision in the late 1990s, when the company’s co-founders—Richard Yoo, Dirk Elmendorf, and Pat Condon—transitioned the business from being an Internet service provider and app developer … Continue reading “As Rackspace Sells to Apollo for $4.3B, Locals and Cloud Feel Impact”
Denise Pierce on Growth in Indiana’s Life Sciences Industry
Denise K. Pierce is an anomaly. We’ve heard a lot of platitudes lately from the tech industry about increasing diversity in STEM-related fields, but, to Pierce, inclusion is more than just an abstract idea. She runs an Indiana-based firm called DK Pierce (DKP) that helps biopharmaceutical and life sciences companies across the country find their … Continue reading “Denise Pierce on Growth in Indiana’s Life Sciences Industry”
Circular Board Founder Carolyn Rodz Puts New Spin on the Accelerator
Houston—There is a lot of discussion in the startup world about how to better support women entrepreneurs. Carolyn Rodz decided to tackle one aspect of it: the accelerator. “We wanted to take best practices from accelerators like Techstars and Y Combinator, and build something that is for women,” says Rodz, who launched the Circular Board … Continue reading “Circular Board Founder Carolyn Rodz Puts New Spin on the Accelerator”
Bio Roundup: Mylan’s Shock, Hillary’s 3%, Duchenne Lessons & More
It was the tweet heard around the biotech world, again. Mylan bumped up the price of the EpiPen 400 percent, presidential nominee Hillary Clinton responded with a tirade against drug price hikes, and—much like when Clinton railed against drug pricing last year—biotech indexes promptly plummeted more than 3 percent. Last year, Clinton’s target was Martin … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Mylan’s Shock, Hillary’s 3%, Duchenne Lessons & More”
Duchenne Lessons: Advocates For Rare Spinal Disease Have Eyes on FDA
[Updated, 1:09 pm ET, see below] Heather and Jessica Tomko will tell you that they’re nothing alike. They’ve got different interests, different tastes in movies, television, and music. If Jessica hates a gift, Heather probably loves it. Heather just scored tickets to see the Broadway show Hamilton and can’t wait. Jessica sighs. “You can’t get … Continue reading “Duchenne Lessons: Advocates For Rare Spinal Disease Have Eyes on FDA”
Lighter Capital Aims Revenue-Based Loans at Salesforce App Makers
[Updated 9:27 p.m. See below.] Lighter Capital expects to lend money to 11 small businesses this month. That’s exactly how many deals the Seattle-based company made in all of 2013, said CEO BJ Lackland. The growth is emblematic of the company’s overall expansion since Lackland took over as chief executive in 2012. At the time, … Continue reading “Lighter Capital Aims Revenue-Based Loans at Salesforce App Makers”
Fast Internet Can Lure Businesses, Says TN Entrepreneurship Advocate
Ultrafast broadband is increasingly a must-have for high-tech companies, especially those in telemedicine, 3D printing, and other emerging industries. But currently, connection speeds vary widely by location—states like Tennessee are home to cities that have built high-speed fiber Internet networks while other states, such as Wisconsin, are trying to play catch-up. An Internet signal can travel … Continue reading “Fast Internet Can Lure Businesses, Says TN Entrepreneurship Advocate”
Boston Tech Watch: DraftKings, Everbridge, GE & NuTonomy
As summer winds down, we are tracking tech startups, big companies, a proposed IPO, and a couple of sectors fraught with regulatory challenges (daily fantasy sports and self-driving vehicles): —General Electric’s new Boston headquarters officially opened on Monday. About 175 employees have moved into the Fort Point offices, and the energy and manufacturing giant expects … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: DraftKings, Everbridge, GE & NuTonomy”
Novan Files for IPO to Finance ‘Nitric Oxide on Demand’ Skin Drugs
Novan, a company researching ways to harness nitric oxide for drugmaking, has filed for an initial public offering to fund clinical work on treatments for an array of skin conditions. Durham, NC-based Novan set a preliminary target of $60 million for the IPO, a figure that may change as the company works through how many … Continue reading “Novan Files for IPO to Finance ‘Nitric Oxide on Demand’ Skin Drugs”
Denali Adds $130M To Fuel Neurosci Deals, First Clinical Trial
Neuroscience startup Denali Therapeutics said Thursday it has added $130 million in privately-raised cash, in part to push a drug program into clinical trials in Europe. The South San Francisco, CA-based firm, unveiled last year with former Genentech neuroscientists at the helm and $217 million from investors, has already used some of its funding in … Continue reading “Denali Adds $130M To Fuel Neurosci Deals, First Clinical Trial”
U-M Spinout Fusion Coolant Systems Scores $1.25M Series B
Fusion Coolant Systems, the University of Michigan cleantech spinout with offices in Canton, MI, and Ireland, announced this week that it has raised $1.25 million in a Series B round. Investors participating in the round include U-M’s Michigan Investment in New Technology Startups (MINTS) fund and Ann Arbor’s Amherst Fund. Fusion Coolant’s technology is an … Continue reading “U-M Spinout Fusion Coolant Systems Scores $1.25M Series B”
Roundup: S3 Ventures, TMCx, George Peoples, Disruptors in Houston
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —S3 Ventures has closed on a new $75 million fund—its sixth, the Austin American-Statesman reported Tuesday. The Austin, TX-based venture firm’s fifth fund, closed in 2013, also totaled $75 million and was S3’s largest fund at the time. S3 has made investments in a … Continue reading “Roundup: S3 Ventures, TMCx, George Peoples, Disruptors in Houston”
Roundup: Zoetis, Agtech Incubator, Knight Cities Challenge & More
Here’s a look at innovation news from around Michigan: —On Tuesday, Ann Arbor’s Plymouth Venture Partners announced it had sold its stake in 365 Retail Markets to Boston-based McCarthy Capital Fund VI; the terms of the deal were not disclosed. As we reported in 2013, 365 Retail Markets is a Troy-based startup that designs and … Continue reading “Roundup: Zoetis, Agtech Incubator, Knight Cities Challenge & More”
TripAdvisor Buys Citymaps, Ramps Up Competition With Google, Others
One of the giants in online travel is making a move to solidify its standing. TripAdvisor, based in Needham, MA, said today it has acquired New York City-based Citymaps. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the companies say Citymaps will continue to operate as a standalone business. Citymaps developed a mapping app that … Continue reading “TripAdvisor Buys Citymaps, Ramps Up Competition With Google, Others”
Polco Wins Pitch Contest, Chance to Meet with Silicon Valley VCs
It seems fitting that in this election year, a startup developing technology aimed at improving public policy would capture of one of Wisconsin’s more closely watched pitch competitions. Polco won the third annual “Pressure Chamber” contest on Tuesday. The event, a production of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, is one of more than 40 … Continue reading “Polco Wins Pitch Contest, Chance to Meet with Silicon Valley VCs”
Who’s to Blame for Inflated Health Insurance Costs?
How often would you go to the doctor if you had to pay for a big chunk out of pocket—or how about if it was completely free? The amount of health care we consume depends on how good our health insurance is. Now, two economists, David Powell and Dana Goldman, have looked at what factors … Continue reading “Who’s to Blame for Inflated Health Insurance Costs?”
Blue Gas Marine Charts Course to Disrupt Boating Fuels Market
Drivers complain about the ups and downs of gasoline prices, but they’ve got nothing on boaters. Marine fuel costs more, and boats burn through a lot more of it. While motorists measure their fuel efficiency in miles per gallon, boaters tally gas consumption in gallons per hour. “It takes $200 worth of fuel just for … Continue reading “Blue Gas Marine Charts Course to Disrupt Boating Fuels Market”
Presenting Texas Disruptors, Oct. 27: DePinho, Metcalfe, Saxena & More
Houston—The Texas innovation community has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, which has helped spotlight technological and business advances in healthcare, space, aviation, transportation, and other industries. On October 27 at the Texas Medical Center’s TMCx accelerator in Houston, Xconomy is hosting our first-ever “Disruptors” conference in Texas, a daylong forum featuring some … Continue reading “Presenting Texas Disruptors, Oct. 27: DePinho, Metcalfe, Saxena & More”
In Wake Of Infamous Biotech Party, 20 Women Join New Exec Training
[Updated 8/24/16, 1 a.m. See below.] A new program to prepare high-ranking women in the biotech industry for corporate board seats has unveiled its first class of 20. In other circumstances the five-day workshop, scheduled this fall at George Washington University in the nation’s capital, might go unnoticed among the sea of executive training programs … Continue reading “In Wake Of Infamous Biotech Party, 20 Women Join New Exec Training”
Panel: Healthtech In Madison Is Expanding Beyond Patient Records
Some national business publications have begun to recognize Madison, WI, as a market for software professionals that punches above its weight. One example was Forbes ranking the city fifth on the magazine’s 2014 list of “Cities Winning The Battle For Information Jobs.” Healthcare IT stands out as a particular strength of the area, thanks in … Continue reading “Panel: Healthtech In Madison Is Expanding Beyond Patient Records”
IU Health Service Center Expected to Improve Patient Care Statewide
Indiana University Health, the largest healthcare system in the state, broke ground earlier this month on an integrated service center that will make it the first hospital system in the U.S. to oversee its own supply chain, complete with a robotic “picker” to gather the medical and surgical supplies requested by doctors around the network. … Continue reading “IU Health Service Center Expected to Improve Patient Care Statewide”
Tableau Names AWS Exec Selipsky CEO; Chabot Remains Board Chair
Nearly 14 years since its founding, Tableau Software (NYSE: [[ticker:DATA]]) is going through a major leadership transition. Co-founder and CEO Christian Chabot is handing over the top job at the Seattle company to Adam Selipsky, an Amazon Web Services executive. Chabot, who co-founded and built the data visualization and analytics company with Stanford colleagues Chris … Continue reading “Tableau Names AWS Exec Selipsky CEO; Chabot Remains Board Chair”
Why Resilient Teams Are More Important Than Big Ideas
How important is having a “big idea” for startups? Ideas can generate a lot of buzz and capture attention from investors and potential customers, but long-term success really depends on the capabilities of the team. It’s often said that investors typically look for an “A” team with a “B” idea rather than a “B” team … Continue reading “Why Resilient Teams Are More Important Than Big Ideas”
How a War on Climate Change Could Restore Economic Growth in America
What’s the biggest, scariest threat facing the United States right now? I know for sure that it’s not immigration, free trade, or “radical Islamic terrorism.” And I’m going to resist the easy answer that it’s Donald Trump. But I have a hard time deciding which of these two very real challenges is more urgent: a) … Continue reading “How a War on Climate Change Could Restore Economic Growth in America”
MediaBrix’s New Prez, Stash’s $9.25M, & Tapad Mentors Norwegian Startups
These final weeks of summer have not slowed the activity across New York’s innovation scene—from a pair of funding rounds to the introduction of a mentorship program that will bring startups from Norway to the city. On Monday, New York-based MediaBrix, a mobile ad firm, expanded its management team with the hiring of its first president, … Continue reading “MediaBrix’s New Prez, Stash’s $9.25M, & Tapad Mentors Norwegian Startups”
At “The Vine,” Developer Builds a Vertical Campus for Tech Startups
In downtown San Diego, a private real estate company best known for its master-planned communities in suburban Southern California has posed some existential questions for regional tech hubs looking to build their own startup ecosystems. For example: Can a 20-story office tower serve as a “vertical campus” and innovation hub for local tech companies? Such … Continue reading “At “The Vine,” Developer Builds a Vertical Campus for Tech Startups”
Amylyx Nabs $5M to Take Aim at Nerve Cell Death in ALS Patients
While the cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, remains a mystery, many researchers are trying to develop a cure by stopping its effect—the death of nerve cells that leads to muscle deterioration and the patient’s eventual death. One Cambridge, MA-based drug developer, Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, has received a $5 million Series A financing to take … Continue reading “Amylyx Nabs $5M to Take Aim at Nerve Cell Death in ALS Patients”
This One Simple Trick Might Help ContentOro Banish Stale Clickbait
In today’s world, where we’re never far from a screen—smartphone, laptop, television—content is king. Companies and brands need engaging material to draw the eyeballs of online customers, but younger consumers, millennials in particular, have shown a distaste for ads. Essentially, they are far more susceptible to the recommendations of friends and other influencers than they … Continue reading “This One Simple Trick Might Help ContentOro Banish Stale Clickbait”
San Antonio Life Science Executives Plan Medtech Product Workshops
San Antonio — A life sciences professional development and advocacy organization has plans to host four medtech-focused workshops that aim to teach people working in the sector about different aspects of bringing a medical device to market. Called “Bedside to Bench to Bedside: Developing and Clinically Introducing Medical Technologies,” the workshop series is being hosted … Continue reading “San Antonio Life Science Executives Plan Medtech Product Workshops”
Intelligence + Maturity = Better Leaders
There are plenty of smart executives in the world, but they often make poor leaders. That’s because it takes both intelligence and maturity to excel at leadership. And when I say maturity, I don’t necessarily mean age, although generally more life experience is helpful. Maturity is the ability to manage oneself in challenging situations and to … Continue reading “Intelligence + Maturity = Better Leaders”
Pfizer Shells Out $14B to Win Medivation Sweepstakes
Pfizer has just won the sweepstakes for San Francisco Bay Area cancer drugmaker Medivation, with a buyout made official early Monday morning. The Financial Times first reported late Sunday that Pfizer (NYSE: [[ticker:PFE]]) was close to finalizing a $14 billion deal for Medivation (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MDVN]]), whose shares closed on Friday at $67.16 apiece. On Monday … Continue reading “Pfizer Shells Out $14B to Win Medivation Sweepstakes”
Veering Off Topic With ezCater CEO Stefania Nappi Mallett
It’s time for another installment of my ongoing series of executive interviews that take a bit of a left turn. Next up is Stefania Nappi Mallett, CEO of Boston-based online food-ordering company ezCater. Her company’s industry has gotten crowded over the past several years, particularly among mobile app startups that deliver food to individuals. But … Continue reading “Veering Off Topic With ezCater CEO Stefania Nappi Mallett”
Consider Scoping Out These Three Events At Forward Fest Next Week
Since its 2010 launch, attendance at The Forward Festival, an entrepreneurship conference in Madison, WI, has on average increased about 20 percent annually, says Matt Younkle, a festival co-founder. But he also points out that Forward Fest, which mostly attracted professionals from the software industry early on, has broadened its focus over the years. While … Continue reading “Consider Scoping Out These Three Events At Forward Fest Next Week”
Seattle Week in Review: Heat, Haiku, Hard Choices
It was hot last night in Seattle. History hot. Xconomy Seattle’s Week in Review starts with the weather and the changing climate, and a proposal from the Sightline Institute designed to shield low-income people from the economic impact of taxing carbon dioxide emissions. We also review news from Amazon’s $100 million Alexa Fund and an … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: Heat, Haiku, Hard Choices”
A Window Opens For Federal Financial Aid at Edtech Programs Within Colleges
This week brought some encouraging news for educational technology companies and code schools, whose students often can’t qualify for federal grants and loans. The Obama administration is moving ahead with an experiment that makes federal student aid available for a small number of degree or certificate programs offered through partnerships between established higher education institutions … Continue reading “A Window Opens For Federal Financial Aid at Edtech Programs Within Colleges”
Empathy, Curiosity Key in Making Medical Device Innovations Work
Houston—The challenge of healthcare innovation is that it’s about more than making technology work. The bottom line is that any advance in health IT or medical devices must be considered with one thing in mind, said Todd Dunn, director of innovation at Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City, UT: The innovation is going to be used … Continue reading “Empathy, Curiosity Key in Making Medical Device Innovations Work”
Uber’s $100M Settlement Rejected, Contractor Debate Could Go to Trial
A judge’s rejection of a settlement between Uber and hundreds of thousands of drivers in California and Massachusetts reopens the possibility that a jury might decide a question at the core of the ride-hailing app juggernaut’s business model—whether drivers should be classified as employees or independent contractors. Uber agreed in April to pay up to … Continue reading “Uber’s $100M Settlement Rejected, Contractor Debate Could Go to Trial”
War, Surgery, and Cancer Vaccines: Meet San Antonio’s George Peoples
San Antonio — [Corrected 11:57 a.m. See below.] Cancer surgeries are long, arduous, and require detailed planning. There are always surprises. One measure of a surgeon is how he or she handles the unexpected. Just ask George Peoples—he’s operated on more than a thousand tumors. “You’re going to deal with certain anatomical structures that most people will … Continue reading “War, Surgery, and Cancer Vaccines: Meet San Antonio’s George Peoples”
Bio Roundup: FDA Says No, PCSK9 Value Fight, CRISPR Intrigue & More
When the Olympics roll around, many watchers get into a sport they previously hadn’t thought much about. This time for me, it’s volleyball. The men’s and women’s games, both indoor and beach versions, are fast, aggressive, with lightning-quick adjustments and subtle teamwork required every time a ball is dug out and popped in the air. … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: FDA Says No, PCSK9 Value Fight, CRISPR Intrigue & More”
Indy Idea Hub’s Three-Month Hackathon Will Help Modernize Government
It’s no secret that government entities and municipalities generate reams of data but often struggle when it comes to sharing all that information with the public in an easily digestible fashion. Matthew Kirby said that’s sometimes an even bigger problem for post-industrial cities like Indianapolis that are trying to rebrand as exciting, tech-enabled communities for … Continue reading “Indy Idea Hub’s Three-Month Hackathon Will Help Modernize Government”
Boston Tech: Autism Funding, Acacia Soars, 3D-Printed Violin & More
This week in Boston tech highlights, we’ve got funding for an autism technology startup, Wall Street showing lots of love for the area’s only tech IPO of 2016, the expansion of a local coding bootcamp, a 3D-printed violin, and more. Read on for details. —The Affinity Project, an autism-related technology startup doing business as Sidekicks, … Continue reading “Boston Tech: Autism Funding, Acacia Soars, 3D-Printed Violin & More”
Governments Pay for Research, Jobs in San Antonio Tech and Science
San Antonio — Finding funding for tech and life science ventures is no easy endeavor, be it an academic setting or in the corporate world. Government groups in Texas announced this week that they’re providing money to both sectors in San Antonio to boost research and job growth. The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas … Continue reading “Governments Pay for Research, Jobs in San Antonio Tech and Science”
Imbed Biosciences Nabs $600K For Infection-Preventing Wound Dressing
Some experts believe that unlike in the Olympics, silver’s ability to kill bacteria and keep wounds from getting infected is second to none. Many of the antimicrobial dressings used today have such high concentrations of silver, though, that they can cause irritation and even be toxic to healthy human skin cells. Thus, “clinical guidelines recommend … Continue reading “Imbed Biosciences Nabs $600K For Infection-Preventing Wound Dressing”
Pre-Election Day, VCs And Others Already Lobbying To Keep Low Tax Rate
Menlo Ventures managing director Venky Ganesan, who became chair of the National Venture Capital Association’s board in May, took office at a potentially crucial moment in the history of the venture investing sector. The name “Wall Street” has become a shorthand term for corruption in the populist mood of the presidential election campaign. And the … Continue reading “Pre-Election Day, VCs And Others Already Lobbying To Keep Low Tax Rate”
3D Printing Startup NVBots Nabs Cash & New CEO, Moves Into Metal
Boston-based 3D printing startup New Valence Robotics announced it has raised more money from investors and brought in a new CEO to help build the business, while its founding CEO turns his attention to commercializing a new product for the company. Swiss firm Woodman Asset Management led the Series A investment in the startup, which … Continue reading “3D Printing Startup NVBots Nabs Cash & New CEO, Moves Into Metal”