Category: National

With New Tools, Adaptive Bio Ready To Bolt Together A Drug Business

Like countless biotech companies with platform technologies that have preceded it, Seattle’s Adaptive Biotechnologies aims to be a drug company. Adaptive has made a name for itself by sequencing the cells of the human immune system. That’s no easy feat, because unlike other cells in the body, certain immune cells shuffle their DNA to help … Continue reading “With New Tools, Adaptive Bio Ready To Bolt Together A Drug Business”

Synthorx Makes Proteins Using Expanded Alphabet of Synthetic DNA

A synthetic biology startup that grabbed headlines last year by inserting synthesized DNA in bacteria—and getting it to replicate—said yesterday it has taken its technology a step further—engineering the bacteria to make proteins that don’t exist in nature. The advance announced by San Diego-based Synthorx has not yet been reported in a scientific journal, as … Continue reading “Synthorx Makes Proteins Using Expanded Alphabet of Synthetic DNA”

Exact Sciences, BrightStar & More Win Wisconsin Innovation Awards

Long-range laser beams, an at-home colon cancer test, and two efforts to digitize the classroom garnered some of the 10 honors announced at the second annual Wisconsin Innovation Awards Tuesday night at Milwaukee’s Discovery World. The awards recognize cutting-edge companies, foundations, and programs in the Badger State across a range of industries. Judges narrowed 170 … Continue reading “Exact Sciences, BrightStar & More Win Wisconsin Innovation Awards”

AlienVault Gets $52M to Expand Threat Intelligence Reach

AlienVault, which markets security services to fit within modest company budgets, announced today it has raised $52 million in a Series E funding round led by a new investor, Institutional Venture Partners. That brings San Mateo, CA-based AlienVault’s fundraising total close to $116 million. Trident Capital, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, GGV Capital, and other … Continue reading “AlienVault Gets $52M to Expand Threat Intelligence Reach”

Veracyte Names New CMO As It Builds Out Lung Diagnostic Business

Diagnostics firm Veracyte (NADSAQ: [[ticker:VCYT]]) has named Neil Barth as its new chief medical officer. Barth founded an oncology clinic in Orange County, CA, and has served previously as CMO of the diagnostic companies Agendia and Ambry Genetics. The new hire comes as South San Francisco, CA-based Veracyte tries to build momentum for its Percepta … Continue reading “Veracyte Names New CMO As It Builds Out Lung Diagnostic Business”

What NBCUniversal’s Investment in BuzzFeed Says about Digital Media

With a pen stroke, media giant NBCUniversal dived deeper into new media’s digital waters—perhaps in a move to be more competitive—by investing $200 million in New York-based BuzzFeed. The deal shows how the industry is drastically changing. Rumors had been circulating of an equity deal before Tuesday’s joint announcement by BuzzFeed and NBCUniversal, also based … Continue reading “What NBCUniversal’s Investment in BuzzFeed Says about Digital Media”

Fertility-Focused Kindara Lands $5.3M Seed Round

Kindara, the Boulder, CO-based company with a digital health tool that helps women get pregnant or avoid pregnancy, has raised $5.3 million of seed funding to finish manufacturing and launch its device, called Wink. The funding will also help the company expand into other areas of tracking women’s health. Founded in 2012, Kindara developed an … Continue reading “Fertility-Focused Kindara Lands $5.3M Seed Round”

Breaking Down Barriers: A Detroit-Ann Arbor Dinner Conversation

Growing up in East Lansing, MI, I wasn’t aware of the “invisible forcefield on US-23,” as TechTown Detroit’s executive-in-residence Gerry Roston eloquently phrases it, that acts as a barrier between Detroit and Ann Arbor. It seemed inconceivable to me that I, someone who grew up about 80 miles from Detroit, had visited the city more … Continue reading “Breaking Down Barriers: A Detroit-Ann Arbor Dinner Conversation”

USC Makes Federal Case Out of Dispute Over Alzheimer’s Study

In a surprising turn of events, the University of Southern California has moved a bitter legal dispute with UC San Diego over a prestigious Alzheimer’s disease research program to federal court—and replaced the law firm that was handling its case. Lawyers for USC filed a notice of removal of the dispute to federal court on … Continue reading “USC Makes Federal Case Out of Dispute Over Alzheimer’s Study”

CoPatient Gets New CEO, Looks to Expand in Consumer Health Billing

There comes a time in many a startup’s life when it needs to hire a more experienced chief executive. That time is now for CoPatient, a Boston healthcare IT company that helps people manage and negotiate their medical bills. CoPatient said today it has appointed Tom Torre as CEO. He was previously the founder and … Continue reading “CoPatient Gets New CEO, Looks to Expand in Consumer Health Billing”

FDA Approves Sprout Pharma’s Sexual Desire Drug—With Boxed Warning

Sprout Pharmaceuticals’ drug to treat low sexual desire in women secured regulatory approval late Tuesday, but the FDA’s nod comes with a strict monitoring program to guard against safety risks associated with the drug. The FDA notes that flibanserin (Addyi) can cause severe low blood pressure, as well as the loss of consciousness—risks that are … Continue reading “FDA Approves Sprout Pharma’s Sexual Desire Drug—With Boxed Warning”

Nuance Adapts Its Desktop Dragon Dictation Software For Mobile Devices

People who find it easier to write reports and other text documents by using Nuance Communications’ Dragon dictation software for the desktop will soon have another option—dictating from their mobile devices. Burlington, MA-based Nuance (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NUAN]]) announced the launch of four new products today—including updates of its desktop software. But the really new twist is … Continue reading “Nuance Adapts Its Desktop Dragon Dictation Software For Mobile Devices”

Bright Cellars Snags $1.8M to Expand Wine Delivery Service

Bright Cellars, a subscription wine service that started in Boston and now calls Milwaukee home, has raised about $1.8 million in a funding round that could reach $2 million, according to a regulatory filing. CEO Richard Yau and CTO Joe Laurendi, who met while living in the same dorm at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, … Continue reading “Bright Cellars Snags $1.8M to Expand Wine Delivery Service”

100 Years But Only One Drug: Sickle Cell Patients Wait For Help

Last week, 100,000 Americans with sickle cell disease and millions more around the world got encouraging news. Investors gave a vote of confidence, in the form of a $120 million IPO, to Global Blood Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GBT]]), a four-year-old biotech working on a pill that could become the biggest medical advance ever for the disease. … Continue reading “100 Years But Only One Drug: Sickle Cell Patients Wait For Help”

WaVe Joins the Crossover Party With $66M Series B for RNA Drugs

Another week, another startup biotech that has amassed the type of investor group that can support an initial public offering. This time, it’s Boston-based WaVe Life Sciences. WaVe, a startup trying to develop so-called “stereopure” RNA drugs, today raised a $66 million Series B round from a group of crossover investors that back both private … Continue reading “WaVe Joins the Crossover Party With $66M Series B for RNA Drugs”

Battlefield-Tested, Houston’s FlexGen Now Targets Oil & Gas Market

There are few proving grounds as tough as U.S. military bases in Afghanistan or Iraq. And that’s where FlexGen Power Systems has piloted its generator technology, in conflict zones where access to efficient power is crucial. Generators are used across the world, from small gas-fueled ones used by homeowners as a backup to unreliable electricity … Continue reading “Battlefield-Tested, Houston’s FlexGen Now Targets Oil & Gas Market”

Coalfire’s Larry Jones Talks Future Cyber Threats and Taking Charge

Waiting for the next big data breach to hit is probably not the best way to test how protected a company’s information is. With more businesses storing and using sensitive data, security is a top concern—especially when the government establishes rules on the matter that businesses must adhere to. Financial institutions, companies that handle medical … Continue reading “Coalfire’s Larry Jones Talks Future Cyber Threats and Taking Charge”

Datameer Snags $40M Series E for International Expansion

Datameer, the San Francisco-based data analytics provider, has received a $40 million round of Series E funding to help it expand globally. The company was founded in 2009 and uses the open source Hadoop distributed computing framework, meant to help businesses run analytics of large data sets, Datameer says. The Series E round was led … Continue reading “Datameer Snags $40M Series E for International Expansion”

Food Tech Peach Raises $8M as First Course, Plans Entrée in Boston

After expanding to San Diego in May, Seattle-based Peach says it has raised $8 million in venture funding to bring its lunch ordering technology to Boston this October, and to Washington D.C. by early next year. In a statement today, Peach says Seattle’s Madrona Venture Group led the current Series A financing round, which was … Continue reading “Food Tech Peach Raises $8M as First Course, Plans Entrée in Boston”

Wayfair Learning E-Commerce Lessons From Amazon, Zulily

With a couple of online retail giants making headlines this week—and not in a good way—it’s time to check in on a local e-commerce star, Wayfair. The Boston home-goods seller (NYSE: [[ticker:W]]) has surged on the stock market the past few days, following its announcement of better-than-expected financials in the second quarter. Wayfair reported $491.8 … Continue reading “Wayfair Learning E-Commerce Lessons From Amazon, Zulily”

Seattle E-Retailer Zulily Sells to QVC In Deal Worth $2.4 Billion

After a meteoric rise and a similar decline, at least in terms of its stock, Seattle-based flash sale site Zulily is selling to retailer QVC in a deal valued at about $2.4 billion in cash and stock. The site, which targets young moms and their kids with daily deals, is selling for $18.75 per share—about … Continue reading “Seattle E-Retailer Zulily Sells to QVC In Deal Worth $2.4 Billion”

Texas Roundup: DrNow, Galvanize, Orbera, Rise, HUVR, Microsoft

Happy Monday. Let’s get caught up with the innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —Houston, there’s an app for house calls. DrNow, founded by local physician Akash Bhagat, has launched its service in Houston and plans to expand throughout Texas by the end of the year. Patients can request physicians or nurse practitioners to make house … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: DrNow, Galvanize, Orbera, Rise, HUVR, Microsoft”

Aveo, Still Breathing, Cuts New Deal With Novartis

Aveo Oncology was all but left for dead a few years ago after an FDA advisory panel panned its experimental cancer drug, tivozanib. But the Cambridge, MA-based company showed a little life this morning, cutting a deal with Novartis that reflects some confidence in the types of things Aveo has been doing since. As is … Continue reading “Aveo, Still Breathing, Cuts New Deal With Novartis”

Madison’s Healthtech Cluster: A Map of the Companies

As part of Xconomy’s report on the scope of the healthtech sector in Madison, WI, we used Google Maps to plot the locations of the 43 companies on our list. The map is color-coded based on four categories: software-only companies, those that have a hardware component, software consulting businesses, and those that do both consulting … Continue reading “Madison’s Healthtech Cluster: A Map of the Companies”

Madison’s Healthtech Cluster: The Rise of Epic and Everybody Else

Healthcare, agriculture, and manufacturing remain the bread and butter of the private sector in Madison, WI, and the surrounding region, but healthcare IT has arguably become the area’s most buzz-worthy industry. Today, Xconomy is adding to the conversation about healthtech’s ascent in the local economy. A new analysis of data gathered by the Madison Region … Continue reading “Madison’s Healthtech Cluster: The Rise of Epic and Everybody Else”

Reframing the Conversation About Technology and Government

When the conversation turns to government and technology, all too frequently the narrative becomes one of hopelessness. Healthcare.gov, the ancient computer sitting on the desk at the DMV, and the recent attacks by hackers on various government departments all help to reinforce this story of futility. And, inevitably, the questions get framed as, “Why can’t … Continue reading “Reframing the Conversation About Technology and Government”

Bootstrapping Fast Growth: Q&A with Cognitive Medical’s Doug Burke

Last week, Inc. magazine released its 34th annual list of America’s fastest-growing private companies, which highlights 5,000 businesses of all kinds. The top-ranked business in the San Diego area, which ranks among the magazine’s list of “fastest-growing metro areas” (with 96 companies that qualified, based on their increased revenue growth from 2011 to 2014), sells … Continue reading “Bootstrapping Fast Growth: Q&A with Cognitive Medical’s Doug Burke”

The Latest Emerging U.S. Cybersecurity Threat: Helicopter Parents?

As cyberattacks mount against everything from government agencies to media conglomerates and connected cars, experts are warning that there’s a growing global shortage of the qualified cybersecurity specialists needed to mount a defense. In the United States alone, more than 200,000 information security jobs are unfilled, according to a Stanford analysis of government data. At … Continue reading “The Latest Emerging U.S. Cybersecurity Threat: Helicopter Parents?”

NYU-Poly School of Engineering Helping Veterans Become Entrepreneurs

In its latest effort to give military veterans guidance on joining the entrepreneurial scene, New York University graduated the first class of its Veteran Entrepreneur Training program this week. The ten-week series of free sessions and lectures took the group to the Varick Street, DUMBO, and Urban Future Lab incubators run in Manhattan and Brooklyn … Continue reading “NYU-Poly School of Engineering Helping Veterans Become Entrepreneurs”

After Six Weeks, WI Mini-Accelerator’s First Class Looks to Future

The first five early-stage startups selected for Wisconsin accelerator Gener8tor’s new, free program for entrepreneurs affiliated with the state’s colleges and universities pitched themselves Thursday evening before an audience of investors, local business leaders, and Gener8tor alumni. The five companies that took the stage were Cheddah, EnsoData, Tixora, WeightUp Solutions, and Wintermute, which showcased its … Continue reading “After Six Weeks, WI Mini-Accelerator’s First Class Looks to Future”

DrNow App Helps Healthcare Providers Make House Calls in Houston

Need a doctor to make a house call? There’s an app for that. DrNow is a startup founded by Akash Bhagat, a physician and founder of two stand-alone emergency rooms in Houston. The DrNow app recently launched in the Apple App Store and connects patients with doctors, nurses, and nurse practitioners who will come to … Continue reading “DrNow App Helps Healthcare Providers Make House Calls in Houston”

Tricast Snags $3.3M to Expand Push Into Pharmacy Benefits Software

Tricast, a Milwaukee-area healthcare insurance consulting business that started selling analytics software last year, has raised nearly $3.3 million from investors to grow its software business, president and CEO Greg Rucinski says. Rucinski founded Tricast in 1997, which has primarily conducted health insurance audits and provided other consulting services for customers such as public employee … Continue reading “Tricast Snags $3.3M to Expand Push Into Pharmacy Benefits Software”

Roundup: Goldman Sachs, Hatch Detroit, Aging 2.0, U-M & More

Here’s a look at innovation news from around Michigan: —The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Initiative, a $20 million effort announced in 2013 that provides loans, business education, and grants to Detroit-area entrepreneurs, celebrated the graduation of 60 small-business owners at a reception at Wayne State University earlier this month. The graduates participated in more … Continue reading “Roundup: Goldman Sachs, Hatch Detroit, Aging 2.0, U-M & More”

East Coast Biotech Roundup: Editas, Checkmate, Ovid & More

Investors in the broader biotech indices may have been losing money this week, but East Coast startups were finding it fairly easy to come by. A gene editing startup corralled $120 million and a portfolio of big-name investors. A scientist working for decades in the RNA drug space emerged with funding for his latest startup. … Continue reading “East Coast Biotech Roundup: Editas, Checkmate, Ovid & More”

Seattle Roundup: Spoken Communications, Unify Square, & More

Investors backed Seattle-area companies making software as a service for contact centers and Microsoft online communications technologies. Two local efforts to prevent sports head injuries gained funding. And Spaceflight Networks inked another partnership. Read on for details. —Spoken Communications, which makes cloud based software to help companies run contact centers, has raised $28.8 million in … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: Spoken Communications, Unify Square, & More”

West Coast Biotech Roundup: Global Blood, Invitae, GeneWEAVE, Adynxx

Before the arrival of the summer doldrums, Global Blood Therapeutics managed to go public, although “managed” probably isn’t the right word for a debut that beat pre-IPO targets and then doubled its price the first day on the Nasdaq. It’s a big vote of confidence in the South San Francisco, CA-based company, whose lead drug … Continue reading “West Coast Biotech Roundup: Global Blood, Invitae, GeneWEAVE, Adynxx”

BDSI Cancer Pain Drug Approved Again, Search Continues for New Partner

BioDelivery Sciences International now expects its breakthrough cancer pain treatment to return to the market in 2016—seven years after the FDA first approved the company’s drug. Raleigh, NC-based BioDelivery Sciences (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BDSI]]) said Thursday that the FDA granted the company supplemental approval on a new formulation of Onsolis. The drug administers the painkiller fentanyl through … Continue reading “BDSI Cancer Pain Drug Approved Again, Search Continues for New Partner”

Xconomy Detroit/Ann Arbor Aims to Capture Spirit of Collaboration

As we approach the end of our fifth year in Michigan, Xconomy Detroit is rebranding. We’re calling it Xconomy Detroit/Ann Arbor in recognition of the ongoing collaboration between the two communities so crucial to the state’s efforts to innovate and diversify—collaboration we hope to help foster. First, some history: When Xconomy decided to expand its … Continue reading “Xconomy Detroit/Ann Arbor Aims to Capture Spirit of Collaboration”

Galvanize Expands Coding School, Co-working Space Into Austin

Galvanize, the Denver-based startup that provides programming training, venture funding, and co-working space for the tech world, is opening a 25,000-foot Austin location in February that will have classrooms, private and public working spaces, and event areas. The three-year-old company intends to offer courses for programmers and data scientists at the Austin location, the newest … Continue reading “Galvanize Expands Coding School, Co-working Space Into Austin”

Wisconsin Roundup: Johnson Controls, BrightStar, Orbitec, & More

Here are some of the past week’s major headlines from Wisconsin’s tech and innovation community: —The BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation announced investments in five companies around the state. It invested $250,000 in MCT of Wisconsin, $150,000 apiece in Dock Technologies and Okanjo, and $50,000 apiece in AltusMedical Group and GrocerKey. BrightStar has made investments in 22 … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Johnson Controls, BrightStar, Orbitec, & More”

Rift.io Raises $16M for Network Virtualization Software

Score another one for IT infrastructure startups in the Boston area. Burlington, MA-based Rift.io, which has been in stealth mode, said Thursday it has completed a $16 million round of Series A funding. The deal was led by North Bridge Venture Partners, with unnamed strategic investors also participating. At least some of the money in … Continue reading “Rift.io Raises $16M for Network Virtualization Software”

To Fight “Superbugs,” Roche Shells Out $190M For Bay Area’s GeneWEAVE

Swiss cancer drug giant Roche has used acquisitions to beef up its diagnostics business over the past few years. And today marks the latest example: an agreement to buy a Bay Area startup in a deal that could be worth as much as $425 million. Roche is paying $190 million up front, and potentially another … Continue reading “To Fight “Superbugs,” Roche Shells Out $190M For Bay Area’s GeneWEAVE”

Seattle 2035: AI, Space, Wellness, and the City of the Future

It’s no secret: Seattle—capital of cloud computing, e-commerce epicenter, Jet City, tech metropolis—is booming. But what comes next? How do we maintain and expand this region’s role on the global innovation stage through the next economic cycle and the decades to come? You can find out at Xconomy’s Seattle 2035 conference, part of our national … Continue reading “Seattle 2035: AI, Space, Wellness, and the City of the Future”

Wibbitz Sets Up NY HQ to Help More Publishers Turn Text Into Video

With attention spans getting shorter and shorter, publishers are looking for new tricks to make their content more attractive. Wibbitz has created a platform that turns text-based news articles into narrated video summaries to do just that. The company got its start in Tel Aviv, then moved its headquarters to New York in May just … Continue reading “Wibbitz Sets Up NY HQ to Help More Publishers Turn Text Into Video”

Rice, Houston University Accelerators Showcase Student-Led Startups

This year’s Bayou Startup Showcase began, and ended, with waterworks that made good on its name. BSS, which combines the accelerator programs of the University of Houston and Rice University, held its demo day Tuesday, after which a thunderous storm swept through Houston, breaking weeks of 100 degree-plus heat. This second annual summer session was … Continue reading “Rice, Houston University Accelerators Showcase Student-Led Startups”

Microsoft Accelerator Alum Openhour Makes Work Time Personal

New York-based Openhour is banking on the notion that people who feel swamped with work want to find more efficient ways to spend their days at the office. The startup will soon roll out data-capture software that lets folks assess for themselves where and how their time is eaten up—such as being caught in too … Continue reading “Microsoft Accelerator Alum Openhour Makes Work Time Personal”

Asterand Buys AdeptBio to Capitalize on Precision Medicine’s Rise

Asterand Bioscience, the Detroit, MI-based provider of biospecimens to drug discovery and research customers, announced it has acquired Memphis, TN-based AdeptBio, a biobank specializing in the custom procurement of human tissue samples. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but John Canepa, Asterand’s COO and CFO, said the acquisition positions the company to better … Continue reading “Asterand Buys AdeptBio to Capitalize on Precision Medicine’s Rise”

Global Blood Thera Nabs $120M IPO, Doubles Share Price On First Day

[Updated with first-day trading information, 1pm, 8/12/15.] The biotech bull run rolls on. Halfway through its first day of trading Wednesday, Global Blood Therapeutics has nearly doubled its share price, which for now makes the four-year-old company worth more than $1 billion. The firm sold 6 million shares at $20 each to raise $120 million … Continue reading “Global Blood Thera Nabs $120M IPO, Doubles Share Price On First Day”