Nivalis Therapeutics, a Boulder, CO-based drug company working on a treatment for cystic fibrosis, will attempt to go public soon with a potential $60 million initial public offering. The filing on Wednesday came one day after Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VRTX]]) cleared a significant FDA hurdle for its latest CF drug, which Nivalis’s drug candidate relies … Continue reading “Nivalis Bets on Potential Cystic Fibrosis Drug, Seeks $60M IPO”
Category: National
Hybrids and the Slash Generation: John Maeda Breaks the Funk
John Maeda is a hybrid kind of guy. Engineer/designer. Scientist/artist. Educator/venture capitalist. East Coast/West Coast. Asian/American. Able to straddle many worlds, without losing the essence of any of them. All those slashes make him hard to pin down—and that’s exactly how he likes it. Maeda is the design partner at VC firm Kleiner Perkins—he works … Continue reading “Hybrids and the Slash Generation: John Maeda Breaks the Funk”
Grand Angels President Talks Growth, Opportunities in MI
Grand Angels, one of Michigan’s most active angel investor organizations, has just released its annual report. The findings highlight the group’s decision to make more investments and refine its direction to encompass four market segments: life sciences; digital media, software and IT; advanced manufacturing and materials; and advanced technologies in agriculture and food. Since its … Continue reading “Grand Angels President Talks Growth, Opportunities in MI”
Brand Networks Buys Social Marketer Shift for $50M, Adds New Product
Social-media marketing and advertising firm Brand Networks has acquired another marketing company, Shift, which specializes in advertising across Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, for $50 million in cash and stock, the companies announced today. With the deal, Boston-based Brand Networks says it is announcing a new product called RelevanceRank, which uses an algorithm to help marketers … Continue reading “Brand Networks Buys Social Marketer Shift for $50M, Adds New Product”
Rockets Playoff Special Ends Today for Houston 2035
The Rockets will be hustling to tie up the playoff series tonight, and it’s your time to hustle, too—today is the last day to save $100 on regular registration for Houston 2035 with our Rockets Playoff Special. While the Rockets hope that a championship is in their future, we’ll be looking even further out at … Continue reading “Rockets Playoff Special Ends Today for Houston 2035”
Fujifilm Buys TeraMedica to Push Better Patient Data Archiving, Sharing
TeraMedica, a Wauwatosa, WI-based healthcare informatics company, has been acquired by Fujifilm Medical Systems U.S.A., a subsidiary of the Tokyo-based conglomerate best known for selling camera film. The deal is the second one this week involving a Wisconsin healthtech company, following Green Bay-based IOD’s merger with HealthPort. It also marks the second acquisition by Fujifilm … Continue reading “Fujifilm Buys TeraMedica to Push Better Patient Data Archiving, Sharing”
Houston 2035: Startups Predict the Innovative Houston in Two Decades
We’re seven days out from Houston 2035, a look at the innovative city of the future. This week we have been featuring predictions from some of the entrepreneurs who are attending our daylong conference on May 21. On tap: discussions on how Houston can leverage its strengths in healthcare, energy, education, and other sectors to … Continue reading “Houston 2035: Startups Predict the Innovative Houston in Two Decades”
Denali Rises With $217M and Genentech Alumni to Fight Brain Diseases
A group of investors is betting $217 million that a new drug company led by three Genentech alumni can break the frustrations of what, to now, has been a Sisyphean task: Finding treatments for the world’s most vexing neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The new startup, Denali Therapeutics, is debuting today with Marc Tessier-Lavigne … Continue reading “Denali Rises With $217M and Genentech Alumni to Fight Brain Diseases”
Sick of E-mail? Asana’s Looking for a Few Good Customers in Austin
Sorting through the daily flood of e-mails can feel like a Sisyphean journey. A San Francisco company called Asana, which was created by one of Facebook’s co-founders, is trying to end the dominance that e-mail holds over our lives, especially in the workplace. The company is one of a few that Xconomy featured last year … Continue reading “Sick of E-mail? Asana’s Looking for a Few Good Customers in Austin”
Drones, Pills, and Gold: Boston Celebrates Startup Winners
In a hectic month for deals, product advances, and bogus NFL investigations, New England is taking time out to recognize emerging leaders in its tech and life sciences scene. Let’s get right to the highlights: —The third annual NEVY awards, organized by the New England Venture Capital Association, was a blast (with a “Solid Gold” … Continue reading “Drones, Pills, and Gold: Boston Celebrates Startup Winners”
After Shift to Duchenne and Cholesterol Drugs, Catabasis Files For IPO
Catabasis Pharmaceuticals appeared headed for the Nasdaq a few years ago when it brought in some investors known better for backing public companies than biotech startups. The Cambridge, MA-based company has since done some strategic tinkering, however, and now finally appears ready to take the plunge. Catabasis outlined plans yesterday for an IPO to advance … Continue reading “After Shift to Duchenne and Cholesterol Drugs, Catabasis Files For IPO”
Percolate Raises $40M in Series C Round, Plans San Francisco Expansion
In a Series C funding round announced Thursday, Percolate raised $40 million to back new hires and the development of its enterprise software platform for marketing management. Headquartered in New York, Percolate plans to use some of the funding to ramp up its ranks at its San Francisco office, says Noah Brier, CEO and co-founder. … Continue reading “Percolate Raises $40M in Series C Round, Plans San Francisco Expansion”
Sage Preps For Final Test As Epilepsy Drug Holds Up in Small Study
The patient numbers keep growing for Sage Therapeutics, but, at least for now, the story is the same—its experimental epilepsy drug remains promising. Now comes the hard part: testing it in a big, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Cambridge, MA-based Sage (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SAGE]]) is announcing the full results from a Phase I/II trial of its lead drug, … Continue reading “Sage Preps For Final Test As Epilepsy Drug Holds Up in Small Study”
New Venture Studio Cursive Labs Raises $2.2M for DIY Startups
The Bay Area has Giant Pixel and Monkey Inferno. New York has betaworks and Thirty Labs. Boston has Blade and Redstar. Los Angeles has Science. Now San Diego has Cursive Labs, a “venture studio” founded by a team of entrepreneurs who prefer to start and build their own digital technology ventures. The operational details may … Continue reading “New Venture Studio Cursive Labs Raises $2.2M for DIY Startups”
Angel Investors Still Awaiting the Impact from Equity Crowdfunding
After reading that angels would be the No. 1 losers due to the explosive growth of crowdfunding, angels like me have been keeping a wary eye on equity crowdfunding. Some reports in the press have suggested that crowdfunding could actually replace angels as a capital source. So far, the warnings have turned into a big … Continue reading “Angel Investors Still Awaiting the Impact from Equity Crowdfunding”
New WERCBench Labs Accelerator Gets $350K WEDC Grant
[Updated 5/14/15, 8:54 a.m. See below.] The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. (WEDC) has awarded a $350,000 grant to help launch the Mid-West Energy Research Consortium’s new startup accelerator in Milwaukee this summer. On Friday, Xconomy reported new details about the accelerator, dubbed WERCBench Labs, including how each startup that completes the program will receive a … Continue reading “New WERCBench Labs Accelerator Gets $350K WEDC Grant”
Kapost, VictorOps Raise Rounds to Keep Up Growth
Two different Boulder, CO software startups, two different ways to finance growth. Kapost raised $10.25 million in an equity round it announced Tuesday. Its neighbor a few blocks away, VictorOps, also disclosed it raised a $2.575 million round through convertible debt. Kapost makes software that companies use to manage business-to-business content marketing campaigns. It includes … Continue reading “Kapost, VictorOps Raise Rounds to Keep Up Growth”
A $350M Acquisition and a Glimpse of the Future at a Robot Carnival
Despite what movies such as “Avengers: Age of Ultron” depict, robots are not taking over the planet—but they are on the rise. On Wednesday, Universal Robots agreed to be acquired by Teradyne (NYSE: [[ticker:TER]]), based in North Reading, MA, in a deal worth up to $350 million. Universal Robots is based in Denmark and has … Continue reading “A $350M Acquisition and a Glimpse of the Future at a Robot Carnival”
MI Roundup: WSU, 123Net, ArdentCause, Jacobs Media, GM
Here’s a look at recent news you may have missed from around Michigan’s innovation hubs: —Wayne State University and Blackstone LaunchPad will host the HackWSU event in Detroit on May 23. The 24-hour hackathon is open to all current high school and college students interested in writing Web-based software, creating mobile apps, or designing computer … Continue reading “MI Roundup: WSU, 123Net, ArdentCause, Jacobs Media, GM”
Fulfilling Our Energy Future’s Potential: 5 Key Challenges
I believe that 2035 is a crucial year for the global energy economy. Over the next 20 years, Citibank forecasts a global investment of roughly $10 trillion in new electricity generation infrastructure and $7 trillion in new distribution infrastructure. Steps taken today will dictate who becomes, or remains, a leader as the energy landscape gets … Continue reading “Fulfilling Our Energy Future’s Potential: 5 Key Challenges”
Startups Tackle Personalized Recommendations in Business, Education
From artificial intelligence startup Nara Logics to professional review site Dunwello, Boston-area startups are making progress in improving online recommendations through personalization. Consumer recommendation sites for things like travel or restaurants are not new, of course. Companies such as TripAdvisor, Yelp, and Angie’s List have built massive businesses around user reviews. Since 2011, Newton, MA-based … Continue reading “Startups Tackle Personalized Recommendations in Business, Education”
Wisconsin Roundup: Marquette, NorthStar, Forte Research, & More
Here’s a smattering of the latest news from Wisconsin’s innovation and technology community: —Madison-based NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes said it completed its first large-scale test run of producing molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), the parent isotope used to make technetium-99m (Tc-99m), the most widely used radioisotope in medical diagnostic imaging. The work was done at the University of Missouri … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Marquette, NorthStar, Forte Research, & More”
Gelesis, PureTech’s Weight-Loss Hopeful, Postpones IPO
Gelesis gobbled up some cash from private investors just a few months ago. But it looks like public investors don’t have the same type of appetite for the Boston startup’s hydrogel weight-loss pills. According to research firm Renaissance Capital, Gelesis has postponed its planned initial public offering. Gelesis had been hoping to sell 4 million … Continue reading “Gelesis, PureTech’s Weight-Loss Hopeful, Postpones IPO”
SnapStream Launches Express Service, Integrating Social Media & TV
Television programs such as “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” or “The Daily Show” generate multitudes of social media clips with viewers sharing favorite bits on Twitter, Facebook, and other sites. Houston-based SnapStream helps those programs collect, search through, and leverage those TV clips and mentions to build audiences and advertising. It also helps those shows find … Continue reading “SnapStream Launches Express Service, Integrating Social Media & TV”
Acquia, Actifio, Startup Institute Join Boston 2035 Lineup on June 17
‘Tis high season for tech and innovation events in New England. Just this week we have the NEVYs, the MITX Awards, and Tech State House Day. Now let’s talk about next month—and the next 20 years. On June 17, Xconomy is organizing a full-day conference at Babson College called Boston 2035. The big theme is … Continue reading “Acquia, Actifio, Startup Institute Join Boston 2035 Lineup on June 17”
Selecta Takes Nanotech to Gene Therapy, Celiac With New Deals
Selecta Biosciences looks to have found two new potential niches for its nanoparticle technology. The Watertown, MA-based company is announcing two deals this morning. First, Selecta said that Sanofi has chosen to license a potential immunotherapy treatment for celiac disease, the allergic disorder that renders people unable to digest gluten. Sanofi got the option as … Continue reading “Selecta Takes Nanotech to Gene Therapy, Celiac With New Deals”
1776’s Top Edtech Startups: Handsfree Learning, LearnLux, Cognotion
With the explosion of online education, plenty of technology professionals are using skills they learned on their laptops rather than in university lecture halls. But how would you feel about a doctor who picked up surgical techniques the same way? Year-old startup Handsfree Learning is starting to make that kind of online physician training possible—and … Continue reading “1776’s Top Edtech Startups: Handsfree Learning, LearnLux, Cognotion”
An Open Standard for APIs Could Lead us to Better Health
[Updated, 12:05 pm ET] There’s a parable about the elephant and the rider that’s been used by Chip and Dan Heath, and that originated with Jonathan Haidt, to describe how humans make decisions. A person’s mind can be thought of as consisting of a rider, representing the rational part of human thinking, and the elephant … Continue reading “An Open Standard for APIs Could Lead us to Better Health”
To Compete With Advertising Giants, AOL and Verizon Unite
Verizon’s $4.4 billion acquisition of AOL gives the wireless company numerous ways to reach users and boost its $87.6 billion in 2014 revenue with a bevy of advertising offerings. The combination of the two companies allows for more than either could accomplish alone. That’s one of the main takeaways from Tuesday’s merger announcement, particularly as … Continue reading “To Compete With Advertising Giants, AOL and Verizon Unite”
FDA Panel Backs Vertex’s Two-Drug Combo For Cystic Fibrosis
An FDA advisory panel this afternoon recommended approval of a new combination treatment for cystic fibrosis from Vertex Pharmaceuticals, potentially paving the way for billions of dollars in future sales if the agency ultimately approves the drug. The panel of outside experts voted 12 to 1 in favor of a CF therapy Boston-based Vertex (NASDAQ: … Continue reading “FDA Panel Backs Vertex’s Two-Drug Combo For Cystic Fibrosis”
Why Do Corporations Pay Billions Annually for Inefficient Hiring?
The hourly job market is the bedrock of the American workforce, 76 million members strong. While the growth in retail and hospitality positions, representing one third of these jobs, is pacing our economic recovery, the sector still spends an astonishing $1 billion annually on hiring. A thought provoking question: Can the industry create more than … Continue reading “Why Do Corporations Pay Billions Annually for Inefficient Hiring?”
Wisconsin Healthtech Company IOD Merges With Georgia Rival
IOD, a Green Bay, WI-based healthcare information software company, will merge with Georgia-based competitor HealthPort, according to a press release. The terms of the proposed deal weren’t disclosed, but it creates a combined company with annual revenue of more than $450 million and 6,000 employees serving more than 18,000 hospitals and clinics nationwide. The move … Continue reading “Wisconsin Healthtech Company IOD Merges With Georgia Rival”
A123 Systems Drafting Settlement With Apple on “Poaching” Lawsuit
A123 Systems, the electric-car battery maker that is suing Apple for allegedly “poaching” employees, is in the final steps of drafting a settlement with the electronics giant, according to a court filing. A123 and Apple have reached an agreement and signed a term sheet, according to a document filed yesterday in Massachusetts district court. A123 … Continue reading “A123 Systems Drafting Settlement With Apple on “Poaching” Lawsuit”
Advntur Sets Out to Build Online Sharing Community for Athletes
Is there room for another Web company based on the “sharing economy” business model? Entrepreneur Matt Doran thinks so. Doran is the founder of Advntur, a San Diego startup launched in January to help athletes and sports enthusiasts connect with like-minded people elsewhere who are willing to give them a place to stay, share their … Continue reading “Advntur Sets Out to Build Online Sharing Community for Athletes”
FinTech Could Be the Core NYC Needs to Differentiate Its Startup Scene
Consumer-driven startups tend to spread like wildfire in this town, from shopping for pet products to apps for finding hip nightspots—but tech ideas born from New York’s financial heritage have been something of a slow burn. It is about time that changed. This summer, the Barclays Accelerator, in partnership with Techstars, will host its first New … Continue reading “FinTech Could Be the Core NYC Needs to Differentiate Its Startup Scene”
Countdown to Houston 2035: Startups Predict City’s Innovation Trends
To get the best view of the innovation taking place in a city, it helps to get down to the bottom, the foundation of each community’s ecosystem: the entrepreneurs themselves. Thanks to our generous sponsors, Xconomy has been able to provide complimentary tickets for a number of startups for the Houston 2035 conference on May … Continue reading “Countdown to Houston 2035: Startups Predict City’s Innovation Trends”
Talking Cure? For Cancer Immunotherapy, Still Many Rivers to Cross
Cancer is a humbling thing: Our own cells gone bad, killing us from the inside, and so often able to rebound from attack or avoid it entirely. There has been progress fighting some types of cancers, but in no way equal to the resources (or rhetoric) the human race has aimed at the problem. On … Continue reading “Talking Cure? For Cancer Immunotherapy, Still Many Rivers to Cross”
Moderna’s Third mRNA Startup, Elpidera, Sets Sights on Rare Diseases
With $900 million in the bank, three pharma partners, and the shareholder base of a large publicly traded company—all well before its first clinical trial–Moderna is no typical biotech. In fact, it wouldn’t be wrong to call it part-biotech, part-startup incubator. Witness today’s news: Moderna has launched a new company called Elpidera to target rare … Continue reading “Moderna’s Third mRNA Startup, Elpidera, Sets Sights on Rare Diseases”
The Future of Marketing Technology
The digital age has revolutionized marketing, increasing its complexity as well as creating the opportunity to dramatically improve customer experiences. As consumers, we live in an always-on and always-available world and we have come to expect our favorite brands to be one click or swipe away. As a consequence, the rapid advancements in technology that … Continue reading “The Future of Marketing Technology”
Bay Area Fund, Aligned With UC, Raises New To Cash To Seed Biotechs
Mission Bay Capital has raised a $25 million seed stage biotech fund, the San Francisco-based group said Monday. It will continue to help Bay Area startups, often germinated at one of three local University of California campuses, get off the ground. The new fund is small by typical life science venture standards, but it’s more … Continue reading “Bay Area Fund, Aligned With UC, Raises New To Cash To Seed Biotechs”
Precision BioSciences Lands $26M for Gene-Editing Technology
The idea of modifying genes is heralded by some as holding the potential for new therapies addressing rare, genetic diseases, or producing agricultural products with certain desirable characteristics. Precision BioSciences believes that its technology can beat out other emerging gene-editing technologies and it has closed on $25.6 million to prove it. The Durham, NC, company’s … Continue reading “Precision BioSciences Lands $26M for Gene-Editing Technology”
Register Now to Score a Discounted Ticket for Houston 2035
The Houston Rockets head into game 5 of their battle with the Los Angeles Clippers tomorrow. To send the hometown team some good vibes, we at Xconomy are announcing a Rockets Playoff Special for the Houston 2035 conference May 21. Register before midnight on Thursday to save $120 on regular registration. This full-day conference will … Continue reading “Register Now to Score a Discounted Ticket for Houston 2035”
Organovo Working with L’Oreal to Test Cosmetics on Bioprinted Skin
[Corrected 5/11/15, 3:30 pm. See below.] Testing cosmetic ingredients on animals has been a contentious topic for decades. Public opposition to such practices led the European Union and a few other countries to impose complete bans on such testing in 2013. In the United States, legislation was introduced in 2014 that would ban animal testing … Continue reading “Organovo Working with L’Oreal to Test Cosmetics on Bioprinted Skin”
“RoboRoach” Startup Hopes Partners, TED Talk Help Usher In Profits
Backyard Brains, an Ann Arbor, MI-based startup founded by two neuroscientists from the University of Michigan, is making a name for itself by selling a plethora of fun, do-it-yourself science projects for budding makers and researchers—including what it calls the world’s first commercially available cyborg. If you’re picturing Arnold Schwarzenegger in “The Terminator,” think again: … Continue reading ““RoboRoach” Startup Hopes Partners, TED Talk Help Usher In Profits”
With $200M Raised, Joule Still Pushing Biofuels Production Facility
Surviving an industry crash is one thing. Scaling up and seizing a place in a global market—especially with a commercially unproven technology—is another thing entirely. That’s the position Joule Unlimited, the Bedford, MA-based biofuels company that uses genetically engineered microorganisms to create fuel such as gasoline, diesel, and ethanol, finds itself in. But Joule weathered … Continue reading “With $200M Raised, Joule Still Pushing Biofuels Production Facility”
Agenda Posted For Xconomy Napa Summit on June 2—Request Your Invite
We are just three weeks away from the Napa Summit 2015: The Xconomy Retreat on the Economy, Jobs, and Growth. Quite simply, it is my favorite event of the year. Beyond the incredible setting, this exclusive, invitation-only conference features some of the world’s leading innovators and investors in a uniquely intimate format—offering an unprecedented view … Continue reading “Agenda Posted For Xconomy Napa Summit on June 2—Request Your Invite”
Will the Energy Economy of 2035 Mirror the Energy Economy of 2015?
My view of the Pacific Northwest’s energy economy in 2035 will surprise some people, because, in terms of the energy mix, what we’ll see then will be very similar to what we’re looking at today. That means we’ll still be hydro-rich. We’ll still be using natural gas. There will be a small nuclear component. Wind … Continue reading “Will the Energy Economy of 2035 Mirror the Energy Economy of 2015?”
M-WERC Seeks Startups For Pilot Milwaukee Hardware Accelerator
The details are starting to emerge about the Midwest Energy Research Consortium’s planned startup accelerator program to be housed in the organization’s space on Milwaukee’s north side. The consortium, aka M-WERC, is currently accepting applications for its pilot three-month program that starts in June. The program, dubbed WERCBench Labs, is seeking startups with products related … Continue reading “M-WERC Seeks Startups For Pilot Milwaukee Hardware Accelerator”
Invictus Gets FDA OK to Sell Device Protecting Newborns’ Skulls
A San Antonio, TX, biotech company has received FDA clearance allowing it to sell a device designed to relieve extracranial pressure on newborns. Invictus Medical makes a headband-style device that wraps around a baby’s head. While allowing movement in a hospital bassinet, it prevents pressure from building on the skull, which can cause “flat spots” … Continue reading “Invictus Gets FDA OK to Sell Device Protecting Newborns’ Skulls”
Boulder Rolls Out Welcome Mat as Startup Week Returns
Next week sees the return of Boulder Startup Week, bringing with it dozens of panels, hundreds of entrepreneurs, developers, and job seekers—and a seemingly endless supply of craft beer and free t-shirts. The event always has had a healthy dose of panels with a “news you can use” focus, as well as parties and other … Continue reading “Boulder Rolls Out Welcome Mat as Startup Week Returns”