Collective Idea is a small but swiftly growing software development firm based in Holland, MI, that is earning a reputation for attracting big clients and top-notch talent, including one of the founders of the well-respected tech publication Ars Technica. In 2015, Collective Idea grew by 47 percent over the previous year, adding a new staffer … Continue reading “How West Michigan’s Collective Idea Lures Silicon Valley Talent”
Category: National
Five Trends Ready to Disrupt In-Store Retail in 2016
With 2015 coming to a close, retailers are looking ahead for the next wave of technology that will impact in-store innovation. While we’re still waiting for some popular 2015 predictions to take off, including the merging of online recommendation engines with in-store visits, other trends such as e-commerce sites opening more brick and mortar locations … Continue reading “Five Trends Ready to Disrupt In-Store Retail in 2016”
The Big Value Creation Trend of 2015: Q&A with Jonathan Medved
When OurCrowd founder and CEO Jonathan Medved gives a talk about crowdfunding, as he did at the recent Stocktoberfest conference in San Diego, there is one particular slide in his deck that is something of a show stopper. Medved says it is the one slide that tells the whole story—explaining in one bar chart why … Continue reading “The Big Value Creation Trend of 2015: Q&A with Jonathan Medved”
Corvisa Acquired by Silicon Valley’s ShoreTel for $8.5M
Milwaukee-based Corvisa, which develops cloud-based software for call centers and other businesses, was sold on Monday to a California communications company for $8.5 million. The all-cash deal is part of a strategic shift for Kansas City, MO-based Novation Companies (OTC: [[ticker:NOVC]]), a public holding company that focuses on scaling startups, which had owned a majority … Continue reading “Corvisa Acquired by Silicon Valley’s ShoreTel for $8.5M”
Novan Therapeutics Raises $30M Ahead of Acne Drug’s Phase 3 Trial
Novan Therapeutics has pocketed $30 million in new financing as the company ramps up for late-stage clinical trials on its lead drug—a treatment for acne. Durham, NC-based Novan reported positive Phase 2 clinical trial results for its acne drug, SB204, in September. At that time, the company said it planned to begin enrollment in two … Continue reading “Novan Therapeutics Raises $30M Ahead of Acne Drug’s Phase 3 Trial”
Techstars NYC Sees Baptiste’s Return, Rise of Chipps, Visit by Wilson
When the latest class of Techstars NYC took the stage last week, the startups were not the only ones looking ahead—the city had its eye on the future as well. Among the 14 teams that graduated from the fall session (see slideshow), familiar faces Sara Chipps and Jason Baptiste turned up with their latest forays … Continue reading “Techstars NYC Sees Baptiste’s Return, Rise of Chipps, Visit by Wilson”
Fired From KaloBios, Shkreli Defends Himself Against Fraud Charges
Four days after his arrest on fraud charges, Martin Shkreli received his second pink slip, this time from KaloBios Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:KBIO]]), a struggling drug maker that Shkreli took over last month. The KaloBios announcement Monday morning was terse, simply saying Shkreli was terminated and had resigned from the company’s board of directors. Another director, … Continue reading “Fired From KaloBios, Shkreli Defends Himself Against Fraud Charges”
Bayer, CRISPR Therapeutics Form $335M+ Gene Editing Venture
Every day, the landmark gene editing system known as CRISPR-Cas9 inches closer towards becoming a real method of treating human disease. It’s no surprise, then, that more and more large biotech and pharmaceutical companies are taking a vested interest in its progress. The latest is Bayer, which has just aligned itself with one of the … Continue reading “Bayer, CRISPR Therapeutics Form $335M+ Gene Editing Venture”
Patient Investors, Impatient Researchers Essential for Clean Energy Future
Maybe it’s something in the Seattle air that we share, but over the last few weeks, I’ve learned that Bill Gates and I worry about similar things. In interviews with The Atlantic and The Washington Post Gates said: “Historically, it takes more than 50 years before you have a substantial shift in energy generation, but … Continue reading “Patient Investors, Impatient Researchers Essential for Clean Energy Future”
The Best Podcasts of 2015: A Guide for New Listeners
The percentage of Americans who say they’ve never listened to a podcast is steadily shrinking, but it’s still pretty large — 67 percent, according to a 2015 survey by Edison Research and Triton Digital. I’m going to assume for a minute that you’re in this uninitiated group. You know what podcasts are, and you’re vaguely … Continue reading “The Best Podcasts of 2015: A Guide for New Listeners”
Digital Business, Data-Driven Consumers, and the Dark Web
It’s that time of year again, where we look ahead to determine what tech trends will make the most significant impact in 2016. From my view, data analytics and our digital way of life will increasingly transform the world and the nature of business. Here are a few ways I see that playing out in … Continue reading “Digital Business, Data-Driven Consumers, and the Dark Web”
Psilos VC: Digital Health Will Emerge as Top Performer in 2016
As 2015 winds down, it’s a good time to look into the crystal ball for one of the toughest industries to predict: healthcare. We recently picked the brain of David Eichler, a managing partner with New York-based venture capital firm Psilos Group. Eichler (pictured) focuses on investments in digital health and medical device companies, and … Continue reading “Psilos VC: Digital Health Will Emerge as Top Performer in 2016”
The Day After His Arrest, Martin Shkreli Is Out At Turing Pharma
Martin Shkreli was arrested for securities fraud yesterday, and today he has one fewer business to run. Turing Pharmaceuticals announced this morning Shkreli has resigned his post as CEO. His departure from Turing marks the second time he has built a company, only to leave under no small amount of controversy. The federal government is … Continue reading “The Day After His Arrest, Martin Shkreli Is Out At Turing Pharma”
Seattle Roundup: Mazlo, Textio, Pixvana, Janrain, Innervate, Matcherino
‘Twas the week before Christmas, And throughout the Northwest, Tech companies scored funding, For VR, e-sports, and being your best Read on for details of new rounds for Mazlo, Textio, Pixvana, Janrain, Innervate, and Matcherino. —Mazlo is trying to help people improve themselves through brief, focused practice sessions on things like public speaking, meditation, nutrition, and … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: Mazlo, Textio, Pixvana, Janrain, Innervate, Matcherino”
Sketch City: New Home for Houston’s Civic-Minded Tech Entrepreneurs
Houston has a new hub dedicated to fostering civic innovation. Called Sketch City, it’s the latest organization to pop up on the city’s startup scene, and its goal is to connect techies with civil servants interested in using software to make Houston and Harris County run better. “It’s more important than ever that our government … Continue reading “Sketch City: New Home for Houston’s Civic-Minded Tech Entrepreneurs”
Months After Postponed IPO, Gelesis Nabs $31.5M And a New Investor
Gelesis shied away from an IPO last year, and instead saw its owner, PureTech Health, take the leap and start trading on the stock market in London. But now the weight-loss startup has gotten the type of financial backers that signal it might be thinking of a second attempt. Gelesis, of Boston, raised a new $31.5 million … Continue reading “Months After Postponed IPO, Gelesis Nabs $31.5M And a New Investor”
Still Years From Clinic, Navitor Gets $33M And More Pharma Friends
These are early days for Navitor Pharmaceuticals. It’ll be a few years before the Cambridge, MA-based startup can even test its idea, to hit a well-known disease target with drugs in a new way, in human volunteers. But a number of large pharma companies are paying millions of dollars to keep a close eye on … Continue reading “Still Years From Clinic, Navitor Gets $33M And More Pharma Friends”
West Coast Bio Roundup: Shkreli Cuffed, KaloBios Halted & More
[Updated, 9:00 am ET] As regular roundup readers know, the continuing saga of Martin Shkreli, the hedge funder-turned-drug price gouger, has a West Coast angle. Now under arrest on fraud charges, Shkreli took over Redwood City, CA-based KaloBios Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:KBIO]]) last month. It soon emerged he aimed to pursue a strategy similar to his … Continue reading “West Coast Bio Roundup: Shkreli Cuffed, KaloBios Halted & More”
Financial Tech Firm DealCloud Lands $5.3M in Growth Financing
The uptick in merger and acquisition activity across business sectors is contributing to demand for software to manage all of the information gathered and analyzed leading up to a deal. DealCloud, which specializes in M&A software, is ramping up to feed the appetite for these financial tools with a $5.3 million round of growth financing. … Continue reading “Financial Tech Firm DealCloud Lands $5.3M in Growth Financing”
Current Motor Makes Waves with its Mini-Fleet-in-a-Box
Michigan is home to a number of innovative mobility and transportation startups seeking to change the ways we move people and goods around the globe. Add Current Motor to the list. The Ann Arbor-based maker of electric vehicles and solar charging stations (with a manufacturing plant in Manchester, MI) is starting to get the world’s … Continue reading “Current Motor Makes Waves with its Mini-Fleet-in-a-Box”
Fintech Startup Hyannis Turns Profit By Policing Electronic Trades
As the technologies used by the financial markets grow more sophisticated, so too do the potential disruptions to trading activity and the broader business world. The phrase “stock trade” used to conjure an image of a frenzied horde of humans shouting at each other on exchange floors. But these days, many of those trades are … Continue reading “Fintech Startup Hyannis Turns Profit By Policing Electronic Trades”
@1403 Aims to Foster Innovation on UW-Madison Campus and Beyond
Since taking office two years ago, University of Wisconsin-Madison chancellor Rebecca Blank has championed the effort to make more resources available to members of the campus community who have ideas for new companies. In 2013, Blank, who has previously served as U.S. commerce secretary, told UW-Madison’s news service she sees universities as “idea factories” critical … Continue reading “@1403 Aims to Foster Innovation on UW-Madison Campus and Beyond”
Contact Management Software Maker FullContact Buys Dallas’s nGame
FullContact, a Denver-based software company, announced Thursday it has bought nGame, a Dallas-area marketing tech startup. FullContact makes software that takes data from address books and contact lists people keep in apps like Gmail, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Its selling point is that it handles the work of consolidating and cleaning up messy address books … Continue reading “Contact Management Software Maker FullContact Buys Dallas’s nGame”
Digital Publisher Purch Buys Mobile Shopping App ShopSavvy
Digital publisher Purch has made good on its promise to make acquisitions, announcing today that it bought mobile shopping app ShopSavvy for an undisclosed price. That’s the fourth acquisition the company has made in the last 12 months, putting to work a $135 million Series C funding it received in June led by Canso Investment … Continue reading “Digital Publisher Purch Buys Mobile Shopping App ShopSavvy”
Health Startups That Could Make My Job Easier
It’s remarkable how just six months of 80-hour weeks has changed me. Before I started my first year of residency last July, I was optimistic and excited about all sorts of healthcare startups. But now I can’t remember the last time I did my laundry and I’m just hoping to make it home from the … Continue reading “Health Startups That Could Make My Job Easier”
With Pierre Fabre Deal, Cellectar Shifts Strategy Under New CEO
Six months into his tenure as CEO of Cellectar Biosciences, Jim Caruso’s plan for retooling the business is taking shape. Having shelved its cancer diagnostics business, the Madison, WI-based biotech is going all-in on drugs and has found its first partner. Cellectar on Wednesday announced it will work with French drug company Pierre Fabre to develop … Continue reading “With Pierre Fabre Deal, Cellectar Shifts Strategy Under New CEO”
Nearing Break-Even, Continuum Analytics Takes $10M Debt Financing
After doubling the size of its staff to 145 and almost tripling its customer base this year, Austin, TX-based data insights provider Continuum Analytics is preparing itself for the possibility of making enough revenue to break even in 2016, according to co-founder and CEO Travis Oliphant. The four-year-old company announced this week that it has … Continue reading “Nearing Break-Even, Continuum Analytics Takes $10M Debt Financing”
Arts, Crafts, and Techstars Turn Up at New York Tech Meetup
In a city known for its love of the arts, software and hardware are being transformed into a digital canvas for creative folks. Tuesday night’s New York Tech Meetup (NYTM) felt a bit like a tour through a studio populated with musicians and artisans who use technology as their chosen medium. The monthly gathering for … Continue reading “Arts, Crafts, and Techstars Turn Up at New York Tech Meetup”
Detroit Police Partners with Nextdoor on “Virtual Neighborhood Watch”
The San Francisco-based social media platform for neighbors, Nextdoor, held a press conference in Detroit yesterday to announce a new partnership with the Detroit Police Department. According to Chief James Craig, Nextdoor will serve as another tool to connect Detroit residents with the police department. “I like to think of it as a virtual neighborhood … Continue reading “Detroit Police Partners with Nextdoor on “Virtual Neighborhood Watch””
Carbonite Buys EVault, Gains 200 Employees in Data Recovery
[Corrected, 1:40 pm. See below] One of the Boston area’s technology pillars just got stronger. Carbonite, a cloud backup and data protection company, says it is acquiring San Francisco-based EVault for $14 million in cash. The acquisition is expected to be complete in the first quarter of 2016. More important, Carbonite (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CARB]]) is gaining … Continue reading “Carbonite Buys EVault, Gains 200 Employees in Data Recovery”
From Google to Novartis: Business Showed Up Big at World Climate Talks
When negotiators from 195 countries met in Paris to hammer out an agreement to fight climate change, the two-week meeting in December was notable for many reasons. In an historic accord, the nations set a goal of limiting the warming of the planet to below 2 degrees C—even as low as 1.5 degrees C. The … Continue reading “From Google to Novartis: Business Showed Up Big at World Climate Talks”
With New Funding, Textio Trains Machines to Improve HR Writing
Textio, a Seattle startup using machine intelligence and natural language processing to help people improve documents like job listings and recruiting e-mails as they’re writing them, has raised $8 million and plans to triple its workforce in the coming year. Emergence Capital led the $8 million Series A, with existing investors Cowboy Ventures, Bloomberg Beta, … Continue reading “With New Funding, Textio Trains Machines to Improve HR Writing”
Digital Guardian Grabs $66M, Looks to Prevent Data Loss
The story of the year in Boston tech might be the growth of the cybersecurity sector. Today, an established player in data protection says it’s adding a big funding round to keep up with market demand. Digital Guardian, based in Waltham, MA, has raised $66 million in financing from a mix of new investors—LLR Partners, … Continue reading “Digital Guardian Grabs $66M, Looks to Prevent Data Loss”
Biogen, Arsia Team Up to Improve Hemophilia Drugs in $100M Pact
Protein drugs have become a critical part of healthcare. They attack diseases differently than old fashioned small molecule drugs, and have helped the biotech industry rise to prominence over the past few decades. But proteins have their limitations. Many have to be taken frequently, or infused in hospitals, to work the way they should. Lessening … Continue reading “Biogen, Arsia Team Up to Improve Hemophilia Drugs in $100M Pact”
UC Entrusts $250M To New Fund For Investment in Campus Startups
The University of California, which announced in 2014 it would create a venture fund to invest in companies based on its scientific innovations, has finally found the right person to make it happen. The university system is committing $250 million to a new institutional fund being formed by Silicon Valley tech entrepreneur Vivek Ranadivé, who … Continue reading “UC Entrusts $250M To New Fund For Investment in Campus Startups”
Start Houston, Gigster Partner to Match Developers With Startups
Start Houston co-founder and tech entrepreneur Apurva Sanghavi found himself in a predicament familiar to many entrepreneurs: an incomplete project was stalled because of a lack of developers. Almost on a whim, he turned to Gigster, a San Francisco-based startup that connects freelance developers to entrepreneurs like Sanghavi. Hiring Gigster gave him the developer talent … Continue reading “Start Houston, Gigster Partner to Match Developers With Startups”
Boston Tech Watch: DraftKings, MassChallenge, Jibo, LovePop, & More
This week, we’re tracking expansions, funding deals, and legal battles in the tech community. —MassChallenge continued to expand its nonprofit accelerator program for startups to more locales outside of Boston. The newest program will be based in Switzerland’s Lake Geneva region and will launch next year, MassChallenge said in a press release on Sunday. That … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: DraftKings, MassChallenge, Jibo, LovePop, & More”
Roundup: MCWT, Tetra Discovery, Entrepreneurs of Color Fund & More
Here’s a look at tech, startup, and innovation news from around Michigan: —The Michigan Council of Women in Technology (MCWT) held its 10th annual website design competition for girls in high school earlier this month. Twelve student finalists presented their sites to a panel of IT executives serving as judges. A record number of competitors … Continue reading “Roundup: MCWT, Tetra Discovery, Entrepreneurs of Color Fund & More”
Aila Adds $4.5M, Continues Surge of Retail Tech Startups
Every year seems to be the year when brick-and-mortar stores will catch up to their online peers in terms of technology. Now there’s another tech startup on our radar trying to make that happen. Aila Technologies, formerly known as Padloc, says today it has raised $4.5 million from Romulus Capital, a Boston-based venture firm. That’s … Continue reading “Aila Adds $4.5M, Continues Surge of Retail Tech Startups”
Smart Choice MRI, WARF, & Promega: This Week’s Wisconsin Watch List
A capital-fueled expansion, a nine-figure acquisition, and two end-of-year awards are among the major recent headlines from Wisconsin’s innovation community: —Smart Choice MRI, which is based in the Milwaukee area and operates six clinics in Wisconsin that provide relatively low-cost magnetic resonance imaging services, has raised $6.5 million in new funding. Milwaukee-based F Street Capital led … Continue reading “Smart Choice MRI, WARF, & Promega: This Week’s Wisconsin Watch List”
AltheaDx Raises $30M to Help Doctors Personalize Treatment
San Diego-based AltheaDx, a precision medicine company developing diagnostic tests that enable doctors to identify a patient’s optimal course of treatment, has raised $30 million in a Series C financing, according to a statement from the company. WuXi Healthcare Ventures led the deal, which was joined by WuXi PharmaTech, Ally Bridge Group, and ALMA Life … Continue reading “AltheaDx Raises $30M to Help Doctors Personalize Treatment”
London Notebook: Conversations Inside The Biomedical Golden Triangle
Xconomy had reporters in eight locales when I joined in the spring of 2014. Since then, we have expanded into Texas and North Carolina, adding two more locales where we cover the life sciences and much more. We’re always looking for the next place to put down roots. One big place on our radar is … Continue reading “London Notebook: Conversations Inside The Biomedical Golden Triangle”
SocialRank Evolving Its Software and Mission in Audience Analytics
There is no simple, magical answer for what brands should do with their social media followers, but New York-based SocialRank thinks it can help companies better understand who the audience is—and then take action. On Monday, the company introduced SocialRank for Teams, which lets groups use the SocialRank and Market Intelligence software collaboratively for their marketing efforts. From … Continue reading “SocialRank Evolving Its Software and Mission in Audience Analytics”
Xconomy Unconference Fosters Honest Discussion Despite Divisive Era
Last Thursday, Xconomy hosted an unconference-style gathering at TechTown Detroit, and we invited folks from the Motor City and Ann Arbor to join us for a discussion about how we might break down the barriers between the two cities to further the region as a whole. It was the second event we held this year … Continue reading “Xconomy Unconference Fosters Honest Discussion Despite Divisive Era”
Matter Brings More Media Startups and Expansion Plans to New York
Last Friday, the Matter Five class visited New York, showcasing another round of startups with aspirations of bringing change to the media world. As accelerators go, Matter tends to have smaller classes of graduates, though they are all focused on some aspect of the media industry. There was an overarching theme among the latest graduates, centered … Continue reading “Matter Brings More Media Startups and Expansion Plans to New York”
Crealta Spins Struggling Arthritis Drug Into $510M Horizon Payday
In two years, Crealta Pharmaceuticals turned a floundering treatment for a rare type of arthritis into an enticing asset. Now, it’s cashing out, to the tune of $510 million in cash. Crealta is being acquired by Dublin-based Horizon Pharma (NASDAQ: [[ticker:HZNP]]), which wants access to pegloticase (Krystexxa). It’s the only FDA-approved drug for treating chronic … Continue reading “Crealta Spins Struggling Arthritis Drug Into $510M Horizon Payday”
International Startup Resin.io Aims to Fix IoT Software Updates
Tucked into a small office in the heart of Seattle’s Capitol Hill is one hub of a tech startup whose team members hail from 10 countries. The international aspect of Resin is interesting by itself, and so is the challenge it’s tackling: wirelessly updating software on the billions upon billions of Internet of Things (IoT) … Continue reading “International Startup Resin.io Aims to Fix IoT Software Updates”
As Whoop Whips Up More Cash, A Look at the Wearables Market
The hype over wearables may be in decline—which means it’s time for some real companies to get built. On Monday, Indian tech giant Infosys said it invested $3 million in Whoop, a Boston-based wearables startup that’s targeting elite athletes. The new money comes on the heels of a $12 million Series B round the performance-monitoring … Continue reading “As Whoop Whips Up More Cash, A Look at the Wearables Market”
Neosensory Translates Sounds Into Vibrations to Aid Hearing-Impaired
David Eagleman, noted for his work at his eponymous lab at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and the face of a popular public television series on the brain, figured out something rather unexpected about himself this year: He likes being an entrepreneur. “Maybe it’s not surprising but somehow I’m surprised by it,” he says. “What … Continue reading “Neosensory Translates Sounds Into Vibrations to Aid Hearing-Impaired”
Bunker Labs’ RTP Base Charts Entrepreneurial Course for Veterans
Military veterans may not realize it, but skills they learned in the armed forces are not much different from skills that entrepreneurs use to succeed in business. So says Dean Bundschu, an Army veteran and executive director of Bunker Labs RDU, a business accelerator for veterans now open in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park. Veterans … Continue reading “Bunker Labs’ RTP Base Charts Entrepreneurial Course for Veterans”