Happy weekend. But before you head off, let’s catch up on the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —Favor, the Austin, TX-based startup that offers to deliver anything, is going international. With the addition of a “u”—hello, Favour—the company will begin service to Canada. In addition, the stateside operation announced expansions to Fort Worth, TX, and … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: Favor, UT-San Antonio, Yan Engines, Health Wildcatters”
Category: National
Wisconsin Roundup: Exact Sciences, GE Healthcare, Tricast & More
Here are some of the past week’s major headlines from Wisconsin’s tech and innovation community: —Exact Sciences (NASDAQ: [[ticker:EXAS]]) announced in a press release that an advisory panel from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services unanimously voted to continue reimbursing the company’s non-invasive, stool-based DNA colorectal cancer screening test, known as Cologuard, at $492.72 … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Exact Sciences, GE Healthcare, Tricast & More”
New Apps, Management Software Seeping In as Old Industries Digitize
John Van Siclen recalls driving around last year in the middle of nowhere, Wisconsin, to visit a large retailer. The meeting was off the beaten path for the Dynatrace CEO, but not just in the physical sense. His Waltham, MA-based company makes software that helps businesses run their digital operations. Over the years, Dynatrace has … Continue reading “New Apps, Management Software Seeping In as Old Industries Digitize”
Recruitment Software Developer Greenhouse Grabs $35M
[Updated, 12:30 pm with comments from CEO Daniel Chait.] New York-based Greenhouse Software announced Friday it raised $35 million in a Series C round led by Thrive Capital, with returning investors Benchmark, Groupe Arnault, and The Social+Capital Partnership participating. Greenhouse developed a hiring software platform—which includes getting jobs listed across the Web and social media, scheduling interviews, and … Continue reading “Recruitment Software Developer Greenhouse Grabs $35M”
East Coast Biotech Roundup: StartUp Health, Constellation, Highline & More
Nothing like a little drama to end your summer, right? Market volatility dragged biotech down this week, and then lifted it back up—at least as of Friday morning. But if you’re confused by the tumult and looking for some distractions, we’ve got plenty of them below. Read on for details of some biotech and digital … Continue reading “East Coast Biotech Roundup: StartUp Health, Constellation, Highline & More”
Tessera Snaps Up 3D Chip Bonder Ziptronix for $39M
As electronic devices get smaller and more powerful, the chip technology inside them has to pack more punch in less space. Semiconductor technology company Ziptronix developed a more efficient and less expensive way to bond the chips used to make the 3D integrated circuits that offer greater performance from a smaller footprint. That technology now … Continue reading “Tessera Snaps Up 3D Chip Bonder Ziptronix for $39M”
Our Plan for Reinventing Alzheimer’s Disease R&D at UC San Diego
When the late Dr. Leon Thal, renowned neurologist and chairman of the Neurosciences Department at the UC San Diego School of Medicine, first imagined a research network able to conduct clinical trials of new therapies for Alzheimer’s disease, it was an idea ahead of its time. The degenerative condition was poorly understood, with no existing … Continue reading “Our Plan for Reinventing Alzheimer’s Disease R&D at UC San Diego”
Celery Opens Do-It-Yourself Crowdfunding Tools To All Comers
Y Combinator alum Celery made its debut in 2012 as an e-commerce site that filled a need for startups after they completed successful crowdfunding campaigns on Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and other sites. Those campaigns not only funded the development of novel products, but also raised the interest of consumers who sent in a continuing wave of … Continue reading “Celery Opens Do-It-Yourself Crowdfunding Tools To All Comers”
With FDA OK, Amgen’s Heart Drug Faces Rival (And Health Budgets)
[Updated and corrected 8/27/15, 7:28pm, see below.] The new race to fight cholesterol is on. For the second time in a month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug for people with dangerous levels of cholesterol who aren’t getting enough help from statins, which have long been among the world’s most prescribed … Continue reading “With FDA OK, Amgen’s Heart Drug Faces Rival (And Health Budgets)”
BluDiagnostics Wins Again As WI Pledges Cash For Women Entrepreneurs
[Updated 8/27/15 4:52 pm. See below.] BluDiagnostics, the Madison, WI, startup developing a saliva-based fertility test, continued its recent hot streak today when it took first place in the Doyenne Group’s 5x5x5 pitch competition that highlighted five local companies led by women. BluDiagnostics co-founder Katie Brenner said the $5,000 prize money will go toward hiring … Continue reading “BluDiagnostics Wins Again As WI Pledges Cash For Women Entrepreneurs”
Yahoo Tries to Get NY App Developers Hyped About Its Push into Mobile
For the first time ever, Yahoo brought its Mobile Developer Conference to New York—talking up its plans to more firmly embrace mobile and trying to coax more app developers to work with its software and services. The two-day conference started with a hackathon and then wrapped Wednesday, bringing out some 500 attendees from New York’s … Continue reading “Yahoo Tries to Get NY App Developers Hyped About Its Push into Mobile”
West Coast Biotech Roundup: BioMarin, Tocagen, Medivation, Twelve
For the ancient Greeks, the rising of the dog star Sirius brought on the sweltering heat of summer, and August came to be associated with languid days of heat, drought, and fire. That might sound like the weather that has descended on the West Coast. But in the ancient texts, the dog days of summer … Continue reading “West Coast Biotech Roundup: BioMarin, Tocagen, Medivation, Twelve”
Boston Tech Tidbits: C.A. Webb, DraftKings, Onapsis & More
[Updated, 8/28/15] A smattering of technology startup and VC news around town as summer winds down: —New England Venture Capital Association head C.A. Webb is leaving the organization as of Aug. 31 to start a new venture firm. She will be working with Michael Skok, formerly of North Bridge Venture Partners, and John Pearce, formerly … Continue reading “Boston Tech Tidbits: C.A. Webb, DraftKings, Onapsis & More”
Achates CEO on Growth, Obama’s Climate Plan, Fairbanks Morse Deal
In April, San Diego-based Achates Power announced it was opening a Michigan office to capitalize on the market momentum of its opposed-piston engines. I caught up with Achates CEO David Johnson this week to find out how things were going. “We have a great facility,” Johnson said, referring to the company’s recently opened Customer Application … Continue reading “Achates CEO on Growth, Obama’s Climate Plan, Fairbanks Morse Deal”
Austin’s Yan Engines Raises $700K, Revs Up for UK Subsidiary
Yan Engines, an Austin, TX-based startup that is building a more fuel-efficient engine, said Wednesday it has picked up an additional $700,000 to launch a subsidiary in the United Kingdom, which will focus on automobile engines. The company has focused so far on heavy industrial sectors such as shipping and fleet to build engines that … Continue reading “Austin’s Yan Engines Raises $700K, Revs Up for UK Subsidiary”
For Streamlining Customer Service, Intercom Raises $35M
A San Francisco customer service and marketing startup called Intercom, which targets software companies, has raised $35 million in a Series C financing round as it attempts to distinguish itself in a crowded market. Intercom says it has developed a way to combine sales, marketing, product, and support systems into one platform. The company offers … Continue reading “For Streamlining Customer Service, Intercom Raises $35M”
Invenra Snags $2M, Expects to Raise $1M More in Next Month
Biotech startup Invenra has raised $2 million in new equity financing. The cash will be used as “operating capital” as the cell-free antibody maker continues to add employees and line up sales prospects, vice president of business development Mark Kubik said Wednesday. The company, based in Madison, WI, is one of a select few using … Continue reading “Invenra Snags $2M, Expects to Raise $1M More in Next Month”
Digital Textiles Printer Spoonflower Sews Up $25M Investment
Textiles startup Spoonflower is reviving North Carolina’s legacy in the fabrics business with a new, digital twist. Now the company has $25 million in additional capital to expand its reach. Durham, NC-based Spoonflower announced the new funding Wednesday. North Bridge Growth Equity, a Boston-based firm, led the investment, which included participation from Bull City Venture … Continue reading “Digital Textiles Printer Spoonflower Sews Up $25M Investment”
BluDiagnostics Gets Shot at Silicon Valley VCs After WI Pitch Contest
BluDiagnostics is still a three-person startup that hasn’t raised any outside capital, but it will soon have a chance to scoop up some serious cash in California. The Madison, WI-based healthtech company on Tuesday night won the second annual “Pressure Chamber” pitch contest organized by the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce. The event was held … Continue reading “BluDiagnostics Gets Shot at Silicon Valley VCs After WI Pitch Contest”
Dallas’s Health Wildcatters Accelerator Announces Third Class of Startups
The Health Wildcatters accelerator in Dallas announced its third class of startups Wednesday, including companies in digital health, medical devices, and telemedicine. Notably, women entrepreneurs lead half of the 10 startups, the accelerator says. One of the companies, Houston’s Noninvasix, was part of the inaugural cohort of startups at the Texas Medical Center’s accelerator, TMCx. … Continue reading “Dallas’s Health Wildcatters Accelerator Announces Third Class of Startups”
Velostrata Lifts Veil On New Hybrid Cloud Model, Raises $14M
San Jose, CA-based startup Velostrata emerged from stealth mode today with $14 million in hand and a new option for businesses that are wary of storing their data in the Web-based servers of the “public cloud.’’ Velostrata’s software makes it possible for companies to tap into the computing power available from that shared Web-based infrastructure, … Continue reading “Velostrata Lifts Veil On New Hybrid Cloud Model, Raises $14M”
Modumetal Raises Cash to Make Durable Parts for Oil and Gas Sector
Modumetal, the Seattle company making corrosion-resistant metal alloys and coatings with applications in industries including oil and gas, has received $33.5 million in new capital from investors including Chevron Technology Ventures, BP Ventures, and ConocoPhillips. The funding, described as an expansion round in a news release Tuesday and detailed in an SEC filing, was led … Continue reading “Modumetal Raises Cash to Make Durable Parts for Oil and Gas Sector”
Biz2Credit Preps for More Partnerships & Revenue in Small Biz Lending
The demand for small-business lending services is an ever-growing part of the financial world. New York-based Biz2Credit is positioning itself to keep riding this trend. Like others in this sector, co-founder and CEO Rohit Arora says Biz2Credit exists to address gaps in lending when businesses qualify for loans but have difficulty finding the right financing. Biz2Credit’s … Continue reading “Biz2Credit Preps for More Partnerships & Revenue in Small Biz Lending”
With $24M Series B, Avegant Prepares to Launch Video Player Headset
Avegant, a Redwood City, CA-based tech startup with roots in Ann Arbor, MI, announced this week that it has raised $24 million in Series B funding. Lian Luo, a Chinese mobile gaming company, led the round, with participation from the Bunting Family Fund and returning investors Intel Capital and NHN Investments. Avegant’s lead consumer product … Continue reading “With $24M Series B, Avegant Prepares to Launch Video Player Headset”
Houston Medical Device Executive Larry Lawson Becomes a Goose
Larry Lawson’s nearly five decades of being in healthcare’s entrepreneurial trenches leaves him with a lot of practical advice, he says, and that’s something he’s ready to pass on to the next generation. “I can tell them what not to do,” he says only half-jokingly. “That’s critically important.” Lawson started his career at Johnson & … Continue reading “Houston Medical Device Executive Larry Lawson Becomes a Goose”
FluGen Snags $9.4M for Phase I Trial of Universal Flu Vaccine
[Corrected 8/25/15, 2:14 pm. See below.] Madison, WI-based biotech startup FluGen has raised $9.4 million, which the company will use to start clinical trials on humans for its flagship vaccine candidate, designed to protect against multiple types of influenza, president and CEO Paul Radspinner said Monday. The new financing follows a $3.4 million bridge round that … Continue reading “FluGen Snags $9.4M for Phase I Trial of Universal Flu Vaccine”
Spare5 Raises $10M to Gather More Human Insights for the Internet
Seattle startup Spare5 is pairing human and machine intelligence to give businesses insight into things like what photo will best sell a vacation rental property. The company’s model for tapping people’s spare brain power to complete valuable micro-tasks is finding a host of uses among data-driven commerce and content companies. Founded less than a year … Continue reading “Spare5 Raises $10M to Gather More Human Insights for the Internet”
Private Code Academies Stake Their Claims in San Diego
Private “coding academies”—vocational schools that provide accelerated training for software development jobs—have begun to sprout in San Diego. The newest arrival, Origin Code Academy, is recruiting students for its first class on Sept. 21, and says it is the first coding education provider in San Diego “to guarantee its students a software development job within … Continue reading “Private Code Academies Stake Their Claims in San Diego”
ClearSky Combining Storage, Networking to Advance IT Infrastructure
[Updated, 12:45pm. See below] The Boston tech industry is entering a new age of enterprise IT. Long known for its companies in data storage, networking, and business software, the local sector is seeing a boom in startups that have a new spin on these traditional fields. One of them is ClearSky Data, a roughly two-year-old … Continue reading “ClearSky Combining Storage, Networking to Advance IT Infrastructure”
Austin Cancer Drugs Developer Mirna Therapeutics Files for an IPO
Mirna Therapeutics, an Austin, TX-based biotech, is the latest Texas life sciences company to file to go public. The company filed documents with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Monday for an initial public offering worth $80.5 million on the Nasdaq stock market with the ticker symbol “MIRN.” The company is currently developing its lead … Continue reading “Austin Cancer Drugs Developer Mirna Therapeutics Files for an IPO”
Constellation Pharma Plots IPO Run As Genentech Passes on Buyout Deal
For all the hoopla that surrounds option-to-buy deals in biotech, the “buy” part is really just an option. Sometimes such deals lead to an acquisition, and sometimes they don’t. Case in point: Constellation Pharmaceuticals, which is plotting a new course after longtime partner Genentech decided against buying the company, Xconomy has learned. Keith Dionne, the … Continue reading “Constellation Pharma Plots IPO Run As Genentech Passes on Buyout Deal”
RainDance Technologies Cancels Long-Awaited IPO
RainDance Technologies, the Billerica, MA-based company that provides tools used by research institutions and diagnostic companies, has canceled its planned $60 million initial public offering because of market conditions, the company said in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company said it might consider raising money through a private offering. Funding … Continue reading “RainDance Technologies Cancels Long-Awaited IPO”
Roundup: U-M Impact Challenge, Digerati Girls, 365 Retail Markets & More
Here’s a look at news from around Michigan’s innovation communities: —The University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business today unveiled details of its annual Impact Challenge, an immersive leadership development program which brings together the entire incoming class of first-year, full-time MBA students to engage in a week-long business challenge that aims to make a positive difference … Continue reading “Roundup: U-M Impact Challenge, Digerati Girls, 365 Retail Markets & More”
New CEO and $80M Later, Syndax Looks Prepped for Second IPO Try
If Syndax Pharmaceuticals’ latest financing is any indication, the Waltham, MA-based firm looks to have another shot at an initial public offering in mind. Syndax has closed a $80 million Series C financing round from a large swath of “crossover” investors that back both public and private companies. Several of the firms in Syndax’s financing … Continue reading “New CEO and $80M Later, Syndax Looks Prepped for Second IPO Try”
CB Insights Evolves with $1.15M from the National Science Foundation
[UPDATED 8/26/15. See below.] Taking in its first-ever outside funding, CB Insights is growing its ranks, working on its software, and kicking off a new service called CB Insights for Sales. New York-based venture data firm CB Insights launched in 2010, to be what co-founder and CEO Anand Sanwal called a “Bloomberg for private markets.” The … Continue reading “CB Insights Evolves with $1.15M from the National Science Foundation”
Versant Walks Biotech “High Line” With a New Manhattan Incubator
Versant Ventures is about to launch its latest biotech incubator. And it’s picked the emerging New York life sciences scene as its home. This morning, Versant, the San Francisco Bay Area VC firm, is announcing the formation of what’s being called “Highline Therapeutics.” Named after the elevated walkway and park that runs along the lower … Continue reading “Versant Walks Biotech “High Line” With a New Manhattan Incubator”
Hatteras Venture Closes $90M Life Sciences, Health IT Fund
Hatteras Venture Partners has reloaded, closing a new fund this morning to make a fresh round of investments in life science and health IT companies. The Durham, NC-based venture capital firm has raised more than $90 million for the fund, the company’s fifth. Ireland-based Malin (ISE: [[ticker:MLC]]) led the investment, which could reach as much … Continue reading “Hatteras Venture Closes $90M Life Sciences, Health IT Fund”
Budding UW Data Scientists Use Their Powers for Social Good
Earn a degree in the field of data science these days and your ticket is punched: Google, Amazon, Facebook, leading-edge academic research, a well-funded startup—they’re all clamoring for people proficient in the tools and techniques needed to sift through today’s endless streams of digital data in search of something valuable. Social service organizations and local … Continue reading “Budding UW Data Scientists Use Their Powers for Social Good”
In New York, A Digital Health ‘Mashup’ Builds A Startup Army
[Corrected 8/24/15, 12:40 pm. See below.] The booming field of digital health means different things to different people. Even the president of StartUp Health, a New York-based firm that wants to help build 1,000 digital health startups—yes, literally—acknowledges his company is a little tough to define. “We’ve had a challenge with how people bin us … Continue reading “In New York, A Digital Health ‘Mashup’ Builds A Startup Army”
San Antonio Hires Accela to Make Development Processes Smarter
More than 5,500 residential and commercial permits were issued last week. Nearly 2,700 building inspections were conducted last month. Those are some examples of big data on a civic scale for San Antonio, the nation’s seventh largest city. And this week, city officials announced a $15 million contract with technology company Accela to better digitize … Continue reading “San Antonio Hires Accela to Make Development Processes Smarter”
Seattle Roundup: Kymeta, Tableau, Avalara, Syntonic, Cleantech
[Corrected, 8/21/15, 1:53 p.m. See below.] The week began with an acquisition deal for Zulily, the flash sale retailer for moms. Zulily rode the IPO roller coaster and ended up selling to QVC for $2.4 billion in cash and stock. Also, food tech startup Peach raised $8 million to expand to Boston and Washington, D.C. … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: Kymeta, Tableau, Avalara, Syntonic, Cleantech”
Austin Rubber Aims to Make Old Industry Innovative Again
For a city like Austin, known for its tech innovations at the forefront of cognitive computing, enterprise software, and the like, the rubber industry seems decidedly old school. “We see ourselves as a bridge from the way energy and materials-related industries do things now and the way we’d like it to look in the future,” … Continue reading “Austin Rubber Aims to Make Old Industry Innovative Again”
East Coast Biotech Roundup: WaVe, Shkreli, Intarcia & More
The top story in biotech this week was the FDA’s approval of the first drug meant to boost women’s sex drive. The controversial flibanserin (Addyi) had been rejected in the past by the agency, and even post-approval faces questions about potential safety issues, effectiveness, and potential market reach. Nonetheless, Valeant Pharmaceuticals quickly snapped up the … Continue reading “East Coast Biotech Roundup: WaVe, Shkreli, Intarcia & More”
Wisconsin Roundup: Shoutlet, Cellectar, Cellular Dynamics & More
Here are some of the past week’s major headlines from Wisconsin’s tech and innovation community: —Madison-based Shoutlet was acquired by Austin, TX-based Spredfast, a fellow player in the social media management space, for an undisclosed sum. The Shoutlet brand will continue to exist and its headquarters will become the second largest development center for the … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Shoutlet, Cellectar, Cellular Dynamics & More”
West Coast Biotech Roundup: Adaptive, Synthorx, USC v. UCSD, 23andMe
The West Coast, according to the self-aggrandizing myth, is a place of re-invention, non-conformism, un-convention. You see this box, man? Our brains are over here, thinking outside of it. It’s all good. Just ask Don Draper. Sometimes it just leads to a new Coke commercial, at least in Mad Men’s retelling of the tale, but … Continue reading “West Coast Biotech Roundup: Adaptive, Synthorx, USC v. UCSD, 23andMe”
Carbon3D Gains Google’s $100M Backing for 3-D Printing Tech
[Updated 8/20/15, 5 p.m. See below.] Is Carbon3D the next step in 3-D printing? Google seems to think so. Google Ventures led a $100 million round in the San Francisco-based company, which has developed a method of “printing” objects from a liquid resin using a photochemical process that it says is based on a a character … Continue reading “Carbon3D Gains Google’s $100M Backing for 3-D Printing Tech”
Michipreneur Graduates from Blog to Online Startup Resource Hub
When Michipreneur began in 2012, it was a blog focused on telling stories from Michigan’s startup community. Since then, it has grown into a full-on digital publishing operation that offers a host of online services for local startups. This week, the company announced it has launched a new platform connecting Michigan entrepreneurs and creatives across … Continue reading “Michipreneur Graduates from Blog to Online Startup Resource Hub”
Grand Rounds Doctor Matching Service Raises $55 M
San Francisco-based Grand Rounds, which helps patients find the best doctors for their specific ailments, announced today it has raised $55 million in a Series C financing. The money comes from existing investors including Venrock and Greylock, along with an undisclosed new investor described as a “global mutual fund.” Grand Rounds was founded in 2011 … Continue reading “Grand Rounds Doctor Matching Service Raises $55 M”
AppInside Gets $2.3M to Fix Mobile-App Security and Move to Boston
As you might expect, mobile apps are pretty vulnerable to security breaches. That means hackers can get at users’ personal, financial, or health-related information via the apps on their phones. Plenty of tech companies are trying to protect against these mounting threats. One of them is AppInside, which says today it has raised $2.3 million … Continue reading “AppInside Gets $2.3M to Fix Mobile-App Security and Move to Boston”
Valeant to Acquire Addyi Maker Sprout Pharma in $1B Deal
Sprout Pharmaceuticals is set to be acquired by Valeant Pharmaceuticals for $1 billion cash, a deal that comes just two days after the small drug company secured FDA approval for the first drug to boost the sex drive in women with low libido. The agreement, announced this morning, will put Raleigh, NC-based Sprout’s flibanserin (Addyi) … Continue reading “Valeant to Acquire Addyi Maker Sprout Pharma in $1B Deal”