Editor’s note: Xconomy invited Marcelo Calbucci, a Seattle serial entrepreneur and startup stalwart who just announced plans to move with his family to London, to reflect on the Brexit vote. No, the skies are not falling. The U.K. vote to exit the European Union has passed, and there is an enormous amount of uncertainty right … Continue reading “Brexit and the Impact in the London Startup Industry”
Category: National
After Failed Schizophrenia Trial, Forum Pharma To Shutter This Week
Waltham, MA-based Forum Pharmaceuticals, which spent more than decade pursuing a drug for Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases, is shutting down, Xconomy has learned. According to a Forum spokesperson, the company will be closed “by the end of the week.” The process appears to have begun already: Forum’s website is no longer operating, and as … Continue reading “After Failed Schizophrenia Trial, Forum Pharma To Shutter This Week”
Roundup: Build Sec Foundry, Tech Bloc, UT’s Goonewardene, & SiNode
Happy Monday from Xconomy Texas. Let’s get caught up on the latest innovation news in the state. —A new incubator in San Antonio aims to nurture young startups in cybersecurity. Build Sec Foundry will be hosted at Geekdom and has received a $600,000 grant from the 80/20 Foundation, a San Antonio group that invests in … Continue reading “Roundup: Build Sec Foundry, Tech Bloc, UT’s Goonewardene, & SiNode”
HeartWare Acquired by Medtronic for $1.1B in Medical Device Consolidation
Just another billion-dollar exit for a Massachusetts company most people have never heard of. This one has an interesting backstory, in a field rife with consolidation and would-be deals. HeartWare International said Monday it is being acquired by medical device giant Medtronic for $1.1 billion in cash. At $58 a share, that’s a 93 percent … Continue reading “HeartWare Acquired by Medtronic for $1.1B in Medical Device Consolidation”
GitHub Wants Software for Autos to be More Open, Collaborative
Now that it’s clear automakers plan to take autonomous vehicles and mobility platforms to market in the near future, the industry is undergoing a transformation that, earlier this year, a General Motors executive described as being like cramming 50 years of technical advancement into five. With these changes comes a significant need for talented young … Continue reading “GitHub Wants Software for Autos to be More Open, Collaborative”
Boston Tech News: Funding, Fantasy Sports, Co-working Spaces & More
[Updated 6/27/16, 2:13 p.m., to include Hack/secure news.] It’s time to catch up on a few recent developments in the Boston tech world. We’ve got funding news, the latest on the DraftKings saga in New York, shuttered co-working spaces, and people on the move. Read on for details. —Accomplice’s Chris Lynch and Cort Johnson have formed an … Continue reading “Boston Tech News: Funding, Fantasy Sports, Co-working Spaces & More”
Redox, Cellectar, Shine, & PeptiMed: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
Stay caught up on all the latest news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Redox, a Madison-based startup whose software helps other developers integrate their products with electronic health records (EHR) systems used at hospitals and clinics, revealed some of the companies and health systems that are using or plan to use Redox’s … Continue reading “Redox, Cellectar, Shine, & PeptiMed: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
ObserveIT, Led by Ex-NHL Defender, Looks to Shut Down Cyber Threats
Some comparisons between business and sports are cliché. But when it comes to leadership in cybersecurity, having a CEO who knows how to play defense can be pretty relevant. That bodes well for ObserveIT, a Boston-based security tech company focused on stopping insider threats. In March, the firm brought on a new chief executive, Mike … Continue reading “ObserveIT, Led by Ex-NHL Defender, Looks to Shut Down Cyber Threats”
Unusual “Xtern” Experience Aims to Help Indiana Attract Tech Talent
When it comes to attracting high-tech talent, Indiana has some natural challenges. With no mountains or oceans to distinguish the state from others in so-called flyover country, local technology firms have struggled to overcome a perception problem and land skilled workers. “We could not get enough tech talent to keep our pipeline flowing,” said Shelly … Continue reading “Unusual “Xtern” Experience Aims to Help Indiana Attract Tech Talent”
Silatronix Gets $8M Jolt From Japanese Investors For Battery Tech
Silatronix, a Madison, WI-based developer of silicon-based materials that can be used as electrolytes in batteries and other energy storage devices, has raised $8 million from investors, the company said in a press release. Participants in the equity funding round included Hitachi Chemical and Inabata, both of Japan, and previous investors, Silatronix said. Inabata will … Continue reading “Silatronix Gets $8M Jolt From Japanese Investors For Battery Tech”
Seattle Week in Review: Amazon Building Boom
Can we go back to Sunday and just watch Game 7 of the NBA Finals over and over again? This was a long, news-filled week capped by Britain’s vote to exit the E.U., which changes everything—right? We’ll be thinking about what it means for Seattle tech in the days and weeks ahead. Meanwhile, Seattle booms. … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: Amazon Building Boom”
Boston’s Newest Innovators and Influencers Meet at INFLUX: The Photos
We had a grand old time at this week’s blowout Boston event, Influx. Leaders from Akamai, MIT, Harvard, and other venerable institutions met with top folks from GE Ventures, IBM Watson Health, Dell-EMC, and startups and investors, to talk about boosting their businesses—and the region’s innovation profile—for the future. The Museum of Science was a … Continue reading “Boston’s Newest Innovators and Influencers Meet at INFLUX: The Photos”
San Antonio Cybersecurity Incubator Sprouts From Grassroots Effort
San Antonio—Starting a business is no small feat, especially if you’re doing it for the first time, given the seemingly endless list of questions to answer about a business model. The toughest question: Who do I ask for help? That’s part of the thinking behind the creation of a new cybersecurity incubator founded this week … Continue reading “San Antonio Cybersecurity Incubator Sprouts From Grassroots Effort”
Biotech Roundup: CRISPR’s 1st Trial, IPO Insiders, Zika & More
It’s a week for the history books. The United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union last night, triggering worldwide financial fears and, perhaps, a breakup of the U.K. itself. Closer to home, Cleveland (pictured) celebrated LeBron James & the Cavaliers’ historic comeback that brought the city its first sports title in over 50 years. … Continue reading “Biotech Roundup: CRISPR’s 1st Trial, IPO Insiders, Zika & More”
Gener8tor Opening Minnesota Office, First Class to Start in Fall
Gener8tor’s westward march along Interstate 94 continues. The startup accelerator, which launched in Milwaukee in 2012 before adding programs in Madison, WI, said on Thursday that it plans to open an office in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and enroll its first class of early-stage companies there later this year. “We see a really robust market … Continue reading “Gener8tor Opening Minnesota Office, First Class to Start in Fall”
Pharma, Data Veteran Stephen Friend Bites At Apple’s Health Offer
Consumer tech giant Apple, which has spent considerable effort positioning its products as health and fitness helpers, has just hired someone who knows Big Pharma and Big Data. Stephen Friend, a veteran of drug R&D and, more recently, a nonprofit effort to foster more collaborative biomedical research and more data sharing, is joining Apple (NYSE: … Continue reading “Pharma, Data Veteran Stephen Friend Bites At Apple’s Health Offer”
Twilio’s $150M IPO May Bolster Faith In Unicorns—-Or Some Of Them
Venture investors, as well as tech companies hesitant to try going public, were hanging on the outcome of communications software company Twilio’s IPO this week in hopes that it would signal a thaw in the mood on Wall Street for such offerings. So far, Twilio is delivering a strong positive signal. The San Francisco-based company … Continue reading “Twilio’s $150M IPO May Bolster Faith In Unicorns—-Or Some Of Them”
Google Fiber Buys Webpass in Wireless Internet Land Grab
Google Fiber plans to acquire Webpass in a deal that trims the ranks of independent Internet service providers—an industry already maligned for its lack of competition—but ultimately could boost consumer access to high-speed Internet. San Francisco-based Webpass has spent the past 13 years working to bring ultra-fast wireless Internet access to homes (primarily large apartment … Continue reading “Google Fiber Buys Webpass in Wireless Internet Land Grab”
With Tech Charter School, San Antonio Groups Aim to Boost Workforce
San Antonio—For many startups, finding the right people is at least as important as developing the right idea. The sooner you build out a talented staff, the sooner you can implement your plan. In San Antonio, city leaders, a local grocery store chain, and an industry-focused nonprofit are taking that concept to a new level … Continue reading “With Tech Charter School, San Antonio Groups Aim to Boost Workforce”
San Diego Sees Strong Cybersecurity Growth As Firms Seek Talent
San Diego’s cybersecurity workforce has grown by nearly 15 percent over the past two years, according to a study released today by the Cyber Center of Excellence, a nonprofit industry group created to boost cybersecurity jobs and technologies in the region. The center commissioned the report to help quantify the economic impact of the cybersecurity … Continue reading “San Diego Sees Strong Cybersecurity Growth As Firms Seek Talent”
Downplaying Bitcoin, Circle Downloads $60M For China, Europe Push
Circle Internet Financial aims to make transferring money to a friend across town or on the other side of the world as easy as sending a text message. That plan got a big boost with Wednesday’s announcement of a $60 million windfall from mostly Chinese investors and the formation of a Beijing-based venture that will … Continue reading “Downplaying Bitcoin, Circle Downloads $60M For China, Europe Push”
As Macchiarini Faces Charges, Biostage Forges Ahead With New Tech
Engineered organ developer Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology has done all it can to disassociate itself from the surgeon Paolo Macchiarini. The Holliston, MA-based company is now known as Biostage (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BSTG]]), uses a different technology, is led by a different management team, and no longer helps Macchiarini perform the surgeries that led to the company’s … Continue reading “As Macchiarini Faces Charges, Biostage Forges Ahead With New Tech”
The Evolution of the App Stores
In many ways, Apple and Google are following similar paths. At their annual developer conferences, Google I/O, held last month, and Apple’s WWDC, last week they both announced updates to their development platforms. Google is making major improvements to Android Studio, while Apple is continuing to invest in Swift and announced Playgrounds, an exciting new … Continue reading “The Evolution of the App Stores”
Web Communications Company Twilio Raises $150M in IPO
Twilio, a Web communications company reportedly valued at more than $1 billion after a financing last year, raised $150 million in its initial public offering today, according to a press release. The San Francisco-based company sold 10 million shares for $15 each, higher than its expected range of $12 to $14 a share. The company … Continue reading “Web Communications Company Twilio Raises $150M in IPO”
NPR Report Highlights Detroit-Based Sentinl’s Smart Gun Technology
Amid the fallout following a mass shooting in Orlando, FL, earlier this month, the political discourse has turned once again to gun control. As I type this, National Public Radio is reporting that 30 Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives are staging a sit-in on the floor of the their chamber to demand … Continue reading “NPR Report Highlights Detroit-Based Sentinl’s Smart Gun Technology”
Cellular Dynamics, National Eye Institute Announce Another Tie-up
Since Fujifilm acquired Cellular Dynamics International for $307 million last year, CDI hasn’t made any major declarations regarding when—or how—it would use products manufactured by its parent company. That changed on Wednesday, when CDI, the Madison, WI-based provider of human cells, said it had entered into a collaboration with the National Eye Institute (NEI), one … Continue reading “Cellular Dynamics, National Eye Institute Announce Another Tie-up”
IBM Watson Health Launches Imaging Effort for Cancer, Other Diseases
So far, the story of IBM Watson Health has been mostly about growth and potential. Today, it’s more about action. The healthcare computing giant, now headquartered in Cambridge, MA, is unveiling a collaborative effort in medical imaging that includes partnerships with health systems, radiology providers, tech companies, and academic medical centers. Watson Health is pushing … Continue reading “IBM Watson Health Launches Imaging Effort for Cancer, Other Diseases”
LightCyber Reaps $20M To Advance Its Cyberattack Detection Services
LightCyber, a cybersecurity company that specializes in detecting hackers once they’ve breached the outer defenses of a data network, announced today it raised $20 million in a Series B financing round. The venture round was led by Claltech, an Israeli division of New York-based global investment group Access Industries, and veteran security entrepreneur and investor … Continue reading “LightCyber Reaps $20M To Advance Its Cyberattack Detection Services”
Many Biotechs Need Inside IPO Help, But Selecta Is An Extreme Case
Because public investors have had a more discerning attitude toward biotech IPOs this year, insiders have had to step up to help their companies go public. One extreme example is Selecta Biosciences, which just priced its offering late Tuesday with its pre-IPO investors likely buying around 60 percent of the shares. Selecta, of Watertown, MA, … Continue reading “Many Biotechs Need Inside IPO Help, But Selecta Is An Extreme Case”
Atlas, Novartis Put $27M Into IFM to Battle Cancer, Autoimmune Diseases
There is no shortage of companies out there trying to tweak our immune systems in one way or another to treat diseases like cancer. Today, IFM Therapeutics, a new startup seeded by Boston firm Atlas Venture, has joined the fray. IFM, a startup in Cambridge, MA, disclosed a $27 million Series A round led by … Continue reading “Atlas, Novartis Put $27M Into IFM to Battle Cancer, Autoimmune Diseases”
Radicle Accelerator Fund Launches to Nurture AgTech Innovation
Radicle, a new accelerator fund focused on agricultural ventures, is launching today with plans to seed and nurture the next generation of agtech companies addressing global farming problems. The new accelerator will have locations in multiple states and around the world. Radicle, which takes its name from the botany term for the part of a … Continue reading “Radicle Accelerator Fund Launches to Nurture AgTech Innovation”
UT System’s Goonewardene: “Our Objective is to Be a Long-term Partner”
Austin—Julie Goonewardene grew up in academia; several members of her family are professors. Still, at the start her of career, Goonewardene choose to go into business, founding a software company in Indiana and serving in the executive suite at others. In 2005, she became director of business development at Purdue University’s Purdue Research Foundation and … Continue reading “UT System’s Goonewardene: “Our Objective is to Be a Long-term Partner””
EY Names 6 Startup Leaders as San Diego Entrepreneurs of the Year
Six San Diego business risk-takers have been inducted into the pantheon of EY Entrepreneurs of the Year, joining over 10,000 people around the world who have been honored over the last 30 years by the multinational professional services firm. An independent panel of judges selected the six winners at a Monday evening gala attended by … Continue reading “EY Names 6 Startup Leaders as San Diego Entrepreneurs of the Year”
Roundup: ManagedWay, RVCF, TechTown Detroit, PatientPing, & More
Here’s a look at innovation news from around Michigan: —ManagedWay, the provider of cloud computing, fiber optic Internet, and colocation services, has opened a new 45,000-square-foot data center in Troy. In a press release, the company described the new facility as incorporating the latest advancements for business reliability, security, and efficiency. ManagedWay now operates two … Continue reading “Roundup: ManagedWay, RVCF, TechTown Detroit, PatientPing, & More”
Federal Oversight Group Has Complaints But Says Yes To CRISPR Trial
[Updated, 6/21/16, 5:40pm. See below.] Despite worries about conflict of interest, a National Institutes of Health committee that oversees the use of gene therapy and other cutting edge biomedical technologies voted today to let researchers move ahead with a landmark clinical trial. Depending on timing, it could be the first to use the gene editing … Continue reading “Federal Oversight Group Has Complaints But Says Yes To CRISPR Trial”
Boston Cybersecurity Firms Grab Cash, Protect Turf, Push Community
A few recent moves by Boston-area cybersecurity firms illustrate the various ways the sector’s members (and related companies) are trying to build their businesses and bolster measures to counter cyber threats: —Raising more cash: On Tuesday, Zerto said it tacked $20 million onto a $50 million growth financing round announced in January. The new investment was … Continue reading “Boston Cybersecurity Firms Grab Cash, Protect Turf, Push Community”
Texas Roundup: Innovative Cities, Launches, & Deals, Deals, Deals!
Beat from the Texas heat? Try to cool down inside while catching up on some headlines from Xconomy Texas this month. But be careful: It’s acquisition season, and deal-making has been hot. —Austin’s Savara Pharmaceuticals is buying two inhalable drugs in its acquisition of Danish drug developer Serendex Pharmaceuticals, which delisted from the Oslo Stock … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: Innovative Cities, Launches, & Deals, Deals, Deals!”
Inception Health President Talks Investment Strategies, Avia, & More
Taking investments from large health systems can be a way of killing two birds with one stone for early stage healthtech companies. This way, not only do the startups get the capital they need to fund operations and growth, they can also unlock the possibility of testing their products at these health systems, some of … Continue reading “Inception Health President Talks Investment Strategies, Avia, & More”
Procrastinator’s Special Ends Today for INFLUX Tomorrow Afternoon
We’re only one day away from Influx, Xconomy’s big event highlighting Boston’s newest influencers and innovators, which will take place tomorrow afternoon (June 22) at the Science Museum. And for you late decision-makers, you’re almost out of time to save on this unique event. Our Procrastinator’s Special rate ends today, and there are only a … Continue reading “Procrastinator’s Special Ends Today for INFLUX Tomorrow Afternoon”
Spaceflight Industries Raises $18M, Acquires OpenWhere
To tap into the multi-billion dollar market for Earth observation, companies are deploying new satellites with modern sensors and communication equipment. But innovation is needed back on the ground, too, in the technology to process and analyze high-resolution images of Earth for customers. With that in mind, Seattle-based Spaceflight Industries is acquiring a company called … Continue reading “Spaceflight Industries Raises $18M, Acquires OpenWhere”
Inhaled-Drug Maker Savara Buys European Biotech With Two Candidates
Austin—Savara Pharmaceuticals, a privately held drug developer with an inhaled formulation of an antibiotic for a type of lung infection, is announcing today that it is acquiring two new drug programs. The Austin, TX-based company also is seeking new funding that could precede an initial public offering. “Now that we have multiple products in the … Continue reading “Inhaled-Drug Maker Savara Buys European Biotech With Two Candidates”
Mobile Real Estate Platform Developer Real Moves from Houston to NY
Things literally just got real in New York. Real, a digital mobile real estate brokerage that got its start in Houston, recently relocated its headquarters to the Flatiron District. CEO Tamir Poleg says via e-mail that the startup’s platform is aimed at independent, licensed residential real estate agents to help them manage leads and other services for … Continue reading “Mobile Real Estate Platform Developer Real Moves from Houston to NY”
EndoCyte’s Ellis Out as CEO, Sherman Appointed to Top Spot
EndoCyte CEO Ron Ellis has resigned from the company he helped found and the cancer drug developer has named chief operating officer Mike Sherman his successor. West Lafayette, IN-based EndoCyte (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ECYT]]) gave no reason for Ellis’ sudden departure. In a securities filing, the company said that Ellis notified the company of his resignation from … Continue reading “EndoCyte’s Ellis Out as CEO, Sherman Appointed to Top Spot”
BASF Acquiring Seattle Energy Storage Materials Maker EnerG2
[Updated 6/21/16, 10:15 a.m. See below.] EnerG2, which spun out of the University of Washington in 2003 to commercialize novel carbon materials for use in energy storage, is being acquired by an arm of German materials giant BASF. EnerG2 has had a strategic partnership with BASF since 2014. The terms of the acquisition, announced Monday, … Continue reading “BASF Acquiring Seattle Energy Storage Materials Maker EnerG2”
Sean Parker To Fund CRISPR Trial, And Other Gene Edit Milestones
[Corrected, 6/21/06, 10:49 am. See below.] Internet billionaire Sean Parker’s new cancer immunotherapy institute didn’t waste time putting its $250 million to use in unexpected ways. The San Francisco-based institute, part of a massive philanthropic effort by former Facebook president Parker (pictured), is backing an experimental cancer treatment tweaked with the gene editing technology CRISPR-Cas9. … Continue reading “Sean Parker To Fund CRISPR Trial, And Other Gene Edit Milestones”
GreenLight’s Philanthropic Venture Fund Opens New Office in Detroit
In 2011, Margaret Hall, co-founder and national executive director of the GreenLight Fund, first made contact with social entrepreneurs in Detroit. She wanted to discuss the idea of her philanthropic venture fund, which invests in nonprofit entities rather than startups, opening an office in the Motor City. “At the time, the people we talked to … Continue reading “GreenLight’s Philanthropic Venture Fund Opens New Office in Detroit”
Seattle Space Sector Ready for Its Close-up
The Seattle area’s commercial space businesses will showcase themselves and the region to the broader industry as the NewSpace conference kicks off here for the first time Tuesday. More than 500 people are expected for the three-day event, put on by the Space Frontier Foundation, which will also be highlighting its new initiatives meant to … Continue reading “Seattle Space Sector Ready for Its Close-up”
See Boston’s Newest Innovators & Influencers this Wed. at INFLUX
It is just two days to Influx, our big multidisciplinary event showcasing set for the afternoon of June 22 at the Science Museum. There is still time to grab your tickets at our Procrastinator’s Special rate, which ends tomorrow. So get them now and save $80. We have an incredible lineup—covering everything from the future … Continue reading “See Boston’s Newest Innovators & Influencers this Wed. at INFLUX”
OrthoPediatrics Bones Up on IPO for Children’s Medical Devices
Children’s bones are quite different from those of adults. Besides being smaller, OrthoPediatrics says, a child’s bone is more curved and has growth plates that must be protected. While several companies serve the global orthopedic medical devices market, OrthoPediatrics claims to be the only one focused on these nuances of pediatric orthopedics. Now the Warsaw, … Continue reading “OrthoPediatrics Bones Up on IPO for Children’s Medical Devices”
Academia, Industry Scramble to Fill Cybersecurity Talent Pipeline
There’s a number that has been quoted a lot by the cybersecurity industry in the past year: 209,000. That’s the number of unfilled U.S. jobs in the field as of March 2015, according to an analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers. And the demand for cybersecurity workers is expected to increase 53 percent by … Continue reading “Academia, Industry Scramble to Fill Cybersecurity Talent Pipeline”