You always believed your startup would be a success. Now others are realizing it, too, and you’re fielding offers for an acquisition of your company. Before you ink any agreements, protect your company, your employees, and yourself by avoiding these five common mistakes. Rushing to sell. Take the case of a biotech startup CEO, who found himself literally … Continue reading “Selling Your Company? Don’t Make These Five Common Mistakes”
Category: National
More Mergers After Dell-EMC? Maybe Not Best Option for Competitors
Buyouts like Dell’s $67 billion blockbuster purchase of EMC may not be the best, or the most likely, way for competitors to keep pace with the new IT behemoth. Rajiv Garg, an assistant professor at The University of Texas at Austin’s information, risk, and operations management department, discussed the deal and its potential fallout with … Continue reading “More Mergers After Dell-EMC? Maybe Not Best Option for Competitors”
Third Rock, SR One Put $52M Into Decibel to Battle Hearing Loss
People can lose their hearing for a variety of reasons, from age to loud noises, but there’s one thing they all have in common. There are no drugs to help them. Several companies have formed in recent years to address this gap, and now there’s another coming to the party a bit late, but with … Continue reading “Third Rock, SR One Put $52M Into Decibel to Battle Hearing Loss”
Stash App Brings $5 Investments, and Advice, to Newcomers to Trading
The ebb and flow of the public markets gets a lot of attention these days, but to novices, understanding stock trading can be like picking up wet spaghetti barehanded. On Wednesday, the Stash app made its public debut, giving advice on trading and letting people invest for as little as $5. David Ronick (pictured above), … Continue reading “Stash App Brings $5 Investments, and Advice, to Newcomers to Trading”
Apple Could Pay $862M in UW-Madison Patent Infringement Case
Apple could face up to $862.4 million in damages after a ruling from a jury in U.S. District Court Tuesday found the company infringed on a patent held by a foundation that manages intellectual property for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Reuters reported. The Madison jury ruled Apple (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AAPL]]) had incorporated technology patented by the … Continue reading “Apple Could Pay $862M in UW-Madison Patent Infringement Case”
Breaking Silence, Zafgen Reveals Patient Died During Obesity Trial
[Updated, 1:30 pm ET] Two days after it was reported that obesity drug maker Zafgen pulled out of upcoming events without explanation, the company revealed today that a patient in a Phase 3 study of its obesity drug, beloranib, died. Zafgen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ZFGN]]) said the cause of death “remains unknown at this time,” and reported … Continue reading “Breaking Silence, Zafgen Reveals Patient Died During Obesity Trial”
Retroficiency Acquired by Ecova in Energy Efficiency Software Deal
It’s a quieter sector than cybersecurity or enterprise software, but energy efficiency seems to be making real progress. Today a New England startup says it got picked up by a giant on the other side of the country. Boston-based Retroficiency has been acquired by Ecova, a utility and energy management company based in Spokane, WA, … Continue reading “Retroficiency Acquired by Ecova in Energy Efficiency Software Deal”
Barclays Accelerator Graduates First NY Class, But Is Fintech Frothy?
Waves of startups keep rolling into the fintech scene, and on Tuesday, 11 companies (see slideshow) graduated from the Barclays Accelerator in New York, diving into this rapidly filling sea. The 13-week program is run by a partnership between British bank Barclays and startup accelerator Techstars. They have already conducted a version of the accelerator … Continue reading “Barclays Accelerator Graduates First NY Class, But Is Fintech Frothy?”
With $100M in New Cash, Boston Tech Firms Out to Unify Cybersecurity
In terms of interest and investment, cybersecurity has exploded. Just this week, a pair of local security-tech companies have raised a total of more than $100 million. But the broader story is much more interesting—and crucial to the field. First, the new money. Waltham, MA-based Bit9—which officially goes by Bit9 + Carbon Black—has raised $54.5 … Continue reading “With $100M in New Cash, Boston Tech Firms Out to Unify Cybersecurity”
Driven by Big Deals, VC Funding So Far Already Has Eclipsed 2014
U.S. venture firms invested $19.8 billion in 1,035 companies during the third quarter that ended September 30, putting VC funding on track to reach a five-year high, according to a quarterly Venture Pulse Report being released today by CB Insights and KPMG. While the deal count was lower than the 1,276 companies that got venture … Continue reading “Driven by Big Deals, VC Funding So Far Already Has Eclipsed 2014”
Food for Thought: BrainCheck’s David Eagleman Makes His TV Debut
Not many neuroscientists can say their research partners included acclaimed music producer Brian Eno in jam sessions with drummers like Will Champion from Coldplay. And that’s just a taste of the professional repertoire put together by Baylor College of Medicine’s David Eagleman. The Houston-based educator is also a best-selling author and entrepreneur. (One of his … Continue reading “Food for Thought: BrainCheck’s David Eagleman Makes His TV Debut”
How Coworking Hub RocketSpace Took Off, And Changed Course
Ever since the spectacular dot-com bust of 2000, any new tech boom is eventually clouded by prophesies that another collapse is close at hand. A splashy Vanity Fair cover story this month, entitled “Is Silicon Valley In Another Tech Bubble?”, is just one recent speculation about the possible frailty of the current expansion. What’s certainly … Continue reading “How Coworking Hub RocketSpace Took Off, And Changed Course”
J. Craig Venter Debuts Elite Testing Service Via Health Nucleus
In a move that takes concierge medicine to a whole new level, human genome pioneer J. Craig Venter on Tuesday unveiled a venture that combines whole genome sequencing with advanced clinical technologies to provide comprehensive health exams for self-paying customers. The venture, called Health Nucleus, was formed as part of Human Longevity Inc., also known … Continue reading “J. Craig Venter Debuts Elite Testing Service Via Health Nucleus”
Ana Mari Cauce Named 33rd University of Washington President
The University of Washington Board of Regents today erased the “interim” in front of President Ana Mari Cauce’s title, selecting her to be the first woman to hold the position on a permanent basis in the university’s nearly 154-year history. Despite spending upwards of $160,000 on an outside search firm, the regents found the next … Continue reading “Ana Mari Cauce Named 33rd University of Washington President”
Post-IPO, Rapid7 Buys Logentries to Grow Data Analytics Offerings
Rapid7 scooped up Logentries for $68 million today in the Boston cybersecurity company’s first acquisition since going public in July. The acquisition of Boston-based Logentries broadens the capabilities of Rapid7 (NASDAQ: [[ticker:RPD]]), which primarily sells software that helps organizations find security flaws in their IT infrastructure, check whether they’ve been fixed, and detect and respond … Continue reading “Post-IPO, Rapid7 Buys Logentries to Grow Data Analytics Offerings”
Map of Boston Coworking Spaces: Healthy Mix or Bubble Trouble?
For tech industry observers, coworking giant WeWork is the perfect symbol of the bubble that we may or may not be in right now. The New York-based company—which operates coworking spaces in 12 U.S. cities, as well as locations in the U.K., Israel, and the Netherlands—raised $433.9 million in its latest funding round at a … Continue reading “Map of Boston Coworking Spaces: Healthy Mix or Bubble Trouble?”
Sportsman Tracker’s Mobile App Helps Hunters Find Their Prey
It’s fall, and to a segment of Michigan’s population, that means one thing: The start of hunting season. A Grand Rapids, MI-based hunting-tech startup, Sportsman Tracker, unveiled a new mobile app late last month at San Francisco’s TechCrunch Disrupt conference in anticipation of the season, and company CEO Jeff Courter says the app’s algorithm is … Continue reading “Sportsman Tracker’s Mobile App Helps Hunters Find Their Prey”
Startups: Make a Prediction and Win a Ticket to Seattle 2035 on Oct. 30
We are less than three weeks away from Seattle 2035, and we’re excited to announce that we have a block of 25 complimentary startup tickets to give to entrepreneurs building the future of Seattle. Our goal with Seattle 2035 is to explore ways the city and region can maintain and expand it’s role in global innovation. We have an outstanding … Continue reading “Startups: Make a Prediction and Win a Ticket to Seattle 2035 on Oct. 30”
CyPhy Captures $22M as New FAA Drone Rules Lift Off
The Federal Aviation Administration’s decision to green-light commercial drone use earlier this year appears to be spurring the deployment of even more capital into the fledgling sector. The latest beneficiary is CyPhy Works, the Danvers, MA-based drone startup founded by iRobot co-founder Helen Greiner. CyPhy announced a $22 million Series B round today led by … Continue reading “CyPhy Captures $22M as New FAA Drone Rules Lift Off”
5 Risk Management Practices Innovators Should Follow
High-tech and investment company startups plan for big successes – and this planning should include putting in place features that startup leaders may think are only necessary for established companies. However, whether business is boom or bust, new business leaders should seriously consider tried-and-true best practices. Before you launch your business with customers or take … Continue reading “5 Risk Management Practices Innovators Should Follow”
Houston Entrepreneur Boosts Biotech Ecosystem by ‘Energizing Health’
Houston entrepreneur Brian Lang describes his interest in innovation as something that runs the full spectrum of life. That can be seen in the healthcare innovation events he has helped to put together, from the Pediatric Pitch competition at South By Southwest this past spring to the upcoming Louisville Innovation Summit, a healthcare-focused conference in … Continue reading “Houston Entrepreneur Boosts Biotech Ecosystem by ‘Energizing Health’”
Seattle to Mars: Exploring Substance and Hype in a New Era of Space
We’ve reached a new level of excitement about space in Seattle, and across the country, with “The Martian” as the No. 1 film at American movie theaters for the second weekend in a row. This adds to an already amazing year in which humanity has landed a probe on the surface of a comet, taken … Continue reading “Seattle to Mars: Exploring Substance and Hype in a New Era of Space”
With EMC, A More Muscular Dell Could Mean Boost for Startup Scene
News about Dell Computer’s purchase of Massachusetts-based EMC has for the most part honed in on the sheer size of the deal, the largest acquisition ever in the technology industry. Those on the ground in Austin, TX, say they hope that the deal means a more muscular Dell will translate into a healthier local tech … Continue reading “With EMC, A More Muscular Dell Could Mean Boost for Startup Scene”
PTC Buys Qualcomm’s Vuforia to Add Augmented Reality to IoT Biz
In a day where EMC’s $67 billion sale to Dell dominated headlines, another New England company made a less attention-grabbing acquisition that advances its move into the “Internet of Things.” PTC (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PTC]]), a Needham, MA-based company best known for its computer-aided design and product development software, said it’s buying Vuforia, Qualcomm’s vision-based augmented reality … Continue reading “PTC Buys Qualcomm’s Vuforia to Add Augmented Reality to IoT Biz”
Tech Untangles the Brambles of Politics at the New York Tech Meetup
Seeing through the murky veil of politics gets harder and harder as rhetoric rather than results make headlines. At last week’s New York Tech Meetup (NYTM), there were a couple of examples of ways technology can help government be more efficient (see slideshow)—and one demo that could call out politicians for ignoring their constituents. Maria Yuan … Continue reading “Tech Untangles the Brambles of Politics at the New York Tech Meetup”
Infinite IO Chief: Dell’s $67B EMC Deal Makes It ‘One-Stop Shop’
The monumental Dell-EMC merger is a sign that, among other things, Dell can now be a competitor to the likes of Hewlett-Packard and IBM in selling everything from servers to storage to networking. While Dell may have already offered those services, EMC makes its storage offering “premier,” according to Mark Cree, the CEO and founder … Continue reading “Infinite IO Chief: Dell’s $67B EMC Deal Makes It ‘One-Stop Shop’”
MI Roundup: GM, WSU, MichiganX, Detroit Blight Removal Task Force
Here’s a look at news from around Michigan’s innovation communities: —The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a $3 million grant to Wayne State University as part of a project to change how STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) classes are taught. The grant will be disbursed in competitive awards of up to $100,000 to … Continue reading “MI Roundup: GM, WSU, MichiganX, Detroit Blight Removal Task Force”
Shine, NorthStar Spar as Medical Radioisotope Race Continues
The quest to become the first domestic producer in decades of a crucial medical radioisotope is heating up, as the industry tries to avert a looming potential shortage when a key supplier in Canada begins winding down production next year. The interesting, and apparently coincidental, twist is that two of the companies leading that competition, … Continue reading “Shine, NorthStar Spar as Medical Radioisotope Race Continues”
With $3.2M in Funding, Fragmob to Expand Multi-Level Marketing App
Jonathan Shapiro says some 100 million people around the world consider themselves to be in the direct selling business—and it goes without saying that just about all of them have smartphones. San Diego-based Fragmob set out about five years ago to serve that market by developing mobile software that individual sales reps can use at … Continue reading “With $3.2M in Funding, Fragmob to Expand Multi-Level Marketing App”
For $67B, Dell-EMC Deal May Have Little Impact on Tech Industry
OK, so this really happened. For $67 billion, the biggest technology deal in history. What’s surprising is how little impact people seem to think it will have on the industry. Texas computer giant Dell has agreed to acquire Hopkinton, MA-based EMC (NYSE: [[ticker:EMC]]) for roughly $67 billion in cash and stock in VMware (NYSE: [[ticker:VMW]]), … Continue reading “For $67B, Dell-EMC Deal May Have Little Impact on Tech Industry”
Solar Makes NC Cleantech Shine, But Tax Credit Expiry Clouds Future
While biotech and software are the sectors commonly associated with North Carolina innovation, cleantech has quietly emerged as its own economic bright spot. North Carolina’s renewable energy capacity now totals more than 1 gigawatt, making it the fourth state to cross that threshold. Much of the growth has come from solar installations. North Carolina’s 396.6 … Continue reading “Solar Makes NC Cleantech Shine, But Tax Credit Expiry Clouds Future”
Better Batteries for Future Energy Demands
We often take for granted the fact that when we flick a switch a light turns on. In reality, the seemingly simple act of turning on a light is a complicated process that requires a precise balance between generation and transmission of energy as demand varies throughout the day. With consumers increasingly interested in getting their … Continue reading “Better Batteries for Future Energy Demands”
Voyager Charts an IPO Course Amid Choppy Biotech Waters
The recent downturn has made it a little tougher these days for biotechs to go public on the terms they want. Whether that speaks to an emerging trend remains to be seen, but a good litmus test is coming—a startup with a syndicate of “crossover” investors, a big partnership, and an experienced management team. The … Continue reading “Voyager Charts an IPO Course Amid Choppy Biotech Waters”
Seattle 2035: Agenda Posted for the Future of Our Innovation Economy
I had a vivid dream last night. I hopped a rocket—it seemed routine—to an orbiting laboratory where I interviewed a youthful Oren Etzioni and a team of action heroes working on a half-dozen different AI robots. Clearly, I’ve got Seattle 2035 on my mind. We’ve just posted the full agenda for Xconomy’s Oct. 30 conference … Continue reading “Seattle 2035: Agenda Posted for the Future of Our Innovation Economy”
Wisconsin Roundup: Johnson Controls, Redox, Launch Wisconsin, & More
Here are some of the past week’s major headlines from Wisconsin’s tech and innovation community: —Johnson Controls (NYSE: [[ticker:JCI]]) is in early-stage talks to buy EnerSys (NYSE: [[ticker:ENS]]), which claims to be the world’s largest industrial battery manufacturer, marketer, and distributor, the Wall Street Journal reported. The acquisition would be a boon to Glendale-based JCI’s … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Johnson Controls, Redox, Launch Wisconsin, & More”
The Real Scorpion, Suped-up Wearables, & More at Houston Tech Event
While great innovators need to marry great ideas with capital to bring them to market, Walter O’Brien, the Scorpion founder whose life inspired the eponymous TV show, says there’s a third leg to that stool: adult supervision. “It’s sort of a lecture on what not to do; it’s how not to get burned by technology,” … Continue reading “The Real Scorpion, Suped-up Wearables, & More at Houston Tech Event”
New U-M Battery Lab Will Help Industry Test, Scale New Technologies
Last week, the University of Michigan announced a new public, shared lab space that will be open to any researchers—from professors and students to entrepreneurs and company employees—who are trying to push the boundaries of battery technology. The U-M Energy Institute’s Battery Fabrication and Characterization User Facility is a 2,700-square-foot lab space funded by $9.1 … Continue reading “New U-M Battery Lab Will Help Industry Test, Scale New Technologies”
Dell Acquisition in the Air, EMC Gets No Love From Entrepreneurs
As the biggest tech company in Massachusetts, EMC is both highly influential and much maligned. Tech startups in data storage and cloud services are gunning for its business. Entrepreneurs and venture investors say the company’s policies hurt the flow of talent in the innovation community. And despite its size and influence—think $50 billion market cap—most … Continue reading “Dell Acquisition in the Air, EMC Gets No Love From Entrepreneurs”
LogMeIn Pays $110M+ For LastPass To Go Big In Password Management
LogMeIn has focused much of its business expansion efforts on the “Internet of Things” industry over the past several years, but on Friday it turned its attention toward cybersecurity in a big way. The Boston-based software company announced an agreement to purchase Fairfax, VA-based LastPass in a deal that could top out at $125 million … Continue reading “LogMeIn Pays $110M+ For LastPass To Go Big In Password Management”
East Coast Biotech Roundup: Collins, Disruptors, Biogen, & More
The drug pricing debate continues to dominate media headlines. Biotech IPOs have gotten a bit tougher to pull off, and according to this report from Bloomberg, for the first time in awhile there are only a few lined up. Long way of saying, biotech really needs some good news to regain the momentum that propelled … Continue reading “East Coast Biotech Roundup: Collins, Disruptors, Biogen, & More”
Wisconsin Beertech: CraftFund Forges Ahead With Equity Crowdfunding
Market timing is key for any startup. CraftFund, the subject of this second installment in Xconomy’s series about Wisconsin “beertech” companies, is a reminder of that fact. The Milwaukee-based website is in the vanguard of the equity crowdfunding movement in the U.S., and it’s still too early to tell if founder David Dupee’s bet will … Continue reading “Wisconsin Beertech: CraftFund Forges Ahead With Equity Crowdfunding”
San Diego Meets the Xconomists 2015: An Experiment in Networking
The clearest sign that our latest San Diego Meet the Xconomists networking reception was a runaway success occurred when the restaurant staff at the Farmer and the Seahorse at The Alexandria turned out the lights at 8 pm. The bar had been closed for 30 minutes, and close to 100 innovation leaders were still networking … Continue reading “San Diego Meets the Xconomists 2015: An Experiment in Networking”
Houston Biotech Nets $10M to Develop Circulatory Support Device
Procyrion, a Houston biotech developing a device to treat chronic heart failure, has raised $10 million. The company has built a circulatory support pump named the Aortix that essentially serves as a crutch for the heart, aiding the organ to push more blood through the circulatory system and to vital organs. The device, which is … Continue reading “Houston Biotech Nets $10M to Develop Circulatory Support Device”
West Coast Biotech Roundup: Caribou, Amgen, CytomX, Arena & More
We were stuck for a couple days in a Nobel vortex. Speculation about a Nobel Prize in chemistry for University of California, Berkeley scientist Jennifer Doudna and her gene-editing research partner, Emmanuelle Charpentier, swirled and swirled until everyone following it got a bit dizzy. On Tuesday, one day before the prize was announced, I stepped … Continue reading “West Coast Biotech Roundup: Caribou, Amgen, CytomX, Arena & More”
RightHand Is Latest Robotics Startup to Grab Venture Capital
Another Boston-area robotics company has raised venture capital. But this one isn’t saying much about what it’s building yet. RightHand Robotics, a Harvard University spinout based at the Harvard Innovation Lab, has raised $3.3 million, according to a regulatory filing. Co-founder Yaro Tenzer confirmed the amount but declined to say who the company’s investors are, … Continue reading “RightHand Is Latest Robotics Startup to Grab Venture Capital”
Techstars’ Cohen on Promoting Diversity and Preparing for a Downturn
Techstars has made its views on diversity in the tech sector no secret. The Boulder, CO-based accelerator operator made commitments to the White House earlier this year, alongside various other prominent national organizations, to improve diversity in the industry by doubling the number of women or underrepresented minorities in its startup programs. Even more recently, … Continue reading “Techstars’ Cohen on Promoting Diversity and Preparing for a Downturn”
Boston Tech Roundup: Skyworks, EzCater, OnCorps, Aquto, & More
It was a busy week of fundraising and mergers and acquisitions in Boston tech. Here are some of the latest deals: —Skyworks Solutions (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SWKS]]), the Woburn, MA-based chipmaker whose customers include Apple, said it will acquire Sunnyvale, CA-based semiconductor company PMC-Sierra (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PMCS]]) for $2 billion in cash. —EzCater, the Boston-based online marketplace for … Continue reading “Boston Tech Roundup: Skyworks, EzCater, OnCorps, Aquto, & More”
Xconomy Forum: The Bay Area’s Life Science Disruptors
Biomedical innovation is shaking up societies around the world, prompting advances no one would have imagined a decade ago, and stirring debates about ethical and financial costs. The San Francisco Bay Area is teeming with people, companies, and ideas at the center of those advances and debates. On December 10, at our annual San Francisco … Continue reading “Xconomy Forum: The Bay Area’s Life Science Disruptors”
Wyss Scientists Launch Opsonix With $8M to Fight Blood-Borne Bugs
Donald Ingber is known as a pioneer in the organ-on-a-chip field. But the founding director of Harvard University’s Wyss Institute apparently has some other ideas up his sleeve—like a method of clearing dangerous infections from the blood, a technology that has formed the basis for his latest startup. Opsonix, a startup spun out of the … Continue reading “Wyss Scientists Launch Opsonix With $8M to Fight Blood-Borne Bugs”
Austin, TX’s Curb Raises $1.25M for “Smart Home” Energy Software
Austin, TX cleantech startup Curb has nabbed $1.25 million in investment that comes after the company ran a successful Indiegogo campaign that was oversubscribed by more than 300 percent. In August, Curb raised $120,000 through crowdfunding. That helped the company raise the more than one million in seed funding from angel groups and the Capital … Continue reading “Austin, TX’s Curb Raises $1.25M for “Smart Home” Energy Software”