Category: National

In Mental Health Therapy, Cautious Steps Toward the Pharmacodigital

[Corrected 3/17/15, 7:55 pm. See below.] The phrase “better living through chemistry,” derived from an old DuPont corporate slogan, has accumulated all kinds of ironic and wink-wink connotations over the decades. But there’s a fascinating revival and upgrade underway. For people with debilitating mental health problems, many researchers, doctors, and businesspeople think the new phrase … Continue reading “In Mental Health Therapy, Cautious Steps Toward the Pharmacodigital”

Echodyne Targets Drones, Self-Driving Cars with Metamaterials Radar

Echodyne, a secretive Seattle-area startup company backed by investors including Bill Gates and Paul Allen, is developing a novel, high-performance radar suitable for drones, robots, and self-driving cars. The technology could potentially allow such vehicles to operate independently in a range of conditions. The company, housed in a drab, unmarked building just off State Route 520 in Bellevue, … Continue reading “Echodyne Targets Drones, Self-Driving Cars with Metamaterials Radar”

A Season of Spirit and Steel at the NYC FIRST Robotics Regionals

Down in the crew pits, Team 354—the G-House Pirates—made their last checks and tweaks on their robot. Whining gears and the hum of motors filled the air and everyone was sporting safety glasses. Some of the robots were strictly business, built to get the job done with no-nonsense looks. Other teams had constructed machines that … Continue reading “A Season of Spirit and Steel at the NYC FIRST Robotics Regionals”

Dyson Bets $15M on Sakti3’s “World-Beating” Battery Technology

Two years ago, Sakti3 co-founder Ann Marie Sastry told the crowd at Xconomy’s Mobile Madness Motor City conference that consumer electronics is the next frontier for solid-state lithium batteries like the the kind her company was producing. That prediction seems to have played out in yesterday’s news that Dyson—the global manufacturer of vacuum cleaners, fans, … Continue reading “Dyson Bets $15M on Sakti3’s “World-Beating” Battery Technology”

Admetsys Wins Top Prize at SXSW Hatch Pitch, Astroprint and Plum Follow

Part of the value pitching in a competition at South by Southwest is getting to speak to a room packed with potential investors and users. But winning, and the prizes that come with it, never hurts. At the Hatch pitch competition Monday, five companies came away victorious, including a few big winners. Here they are, as … Continue reading “Admetsys Wins Top Prize at SXSW Hatch Pitch, Astroprint and Plum Follow”

Cuff Flashes Smart Jewelry, BMW Gets Electric in a Night of Luxury Tech

A plug-in hybrid BMW sports coupe, gold-plated encrypted iPhones, and another player in smart jewelry vied for the attention of the well-to-do last week at The Luxury Technology Show, hosted by New York-based events company Rand Luxury. These gatherings bring out typically pricier examples of consumer technology, aimed at folks who might be interested in … Continue reading “Cuff Flashes Smart Jewelry, BMW Gets Electric in a Night of Luxury Tech”

Vista Equity Reportedly Seeks Buyer after Moving Websense to Texas

[Updated 3/17/15 10:40 am. See below.] Vista Equity Partners, the private equity firm that acquired San Diego’s Websense in 2013 and moved 445 jobs to Austin, TX, has hired Citigroup to assist in the company’s sale, according to a recent Bloomberg News report. Websense spoksman Charles Saunders declined comment, writing in an e-mail this morning, … Continue reading “Vista Equity Reportedly Seeks Buyer after Moving Websense to Texas”

Roundup: HelloWorld, Blackstone, MI Celebrates Small Business & More

Here’s a look at news from around Michigan’s innovation hubs: —HelloWorld, the digital marketing company formerly known as ePrize, is in the midst of a flurry of changes. A new CEO, Peter DeNunzio, joined the company a few months ago; HelloWorld has also added a new COO, CTO, and CCO in the past six months. … Continue reading “Roundup: HelloWorld, Blackstone, MI Celebrates Small Business & More”

Six Takeaways From “New York’s Life Science Disruptors”

What’s it take to build a successful biotech in New York? Teamwork, perseverance—and perhaps getting Roy Vagelos, the longtime Merck CEO, to head your board of directors. That was just one of the many takeaways from our latest biotech event, “New York’s Life Science Disruptors.” The packed house at the Alexandria Center for Life Science … Continue reading “Six Takeaways From “New York’s Life Science Disruptors””

Valeant Boosts Bid For Salix By $1B, Endo Withdraws

[Updated 3/16/15, 11:18 am, see below.] Valeant Pharmaceuticals is raising its offer to acquire Salix Pharmaceuticals and it aims to close the deal in about two weeks. The new offer from Valeant (NYSE: [[ticker:VRX]]) raises its initial $158 per share bid to $173 per share, valuing the transaction for Raleigh, NC-based Salix (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SLXP]]) at … Continue reading “Valeant Boosts Bid For Salix By $1B, Endo Withdraws”

Innovation Hub: Wadhwa’s Dystopian Future

Vivek Wadhwa is a big-picture guy. A guy whose vision of the future includes printing meat, banning humans from the road, and sidelining Wall Street. Wadhwa currently juggles appointments at Stanford, Duke, and Singularity Universities, and he says that massive technological advances will reroute our lives, a shift that may lead to massive dislocation, perhaps … Continue reading “Innovation Hub: Wadhwa’s Dystopian Future”

East Coast Biotech Roundup: Sync Project, Epizyme, Bristol & More

If you missed our latest biotech event, “New York’s Life Science Disruptors” this past Thursday, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. This week we’ll post an overview of the festivities, complete with a slideshow look at the action. In the meantime, though, grab your Monday morning coffee and have a look at this past week’s East … Continue reading “East Coast Biotech Roundup: Sync Project, Epizyme, Bristol & More”

Qumulo Promises Insights into Data with New Software-Based Storage

Qumulo, the Seattle data storage startup that has raised $67 million, says it has about 15 customers so far for the high-capacity system it’s bringing to the market today. For the last three years, the company founded by early employees of Seattle’s last major data storage success, Isilon, has been quietly at work on Qumulo Core—a … Continue reading “Qumulo Promises Insights into Data with New Software-Based Storage”

Goodybag, Aceable Among Capital Factory’s “A-List” Startups at SXSW

It can feel like a needle-in-a-haystack search to find startups that are developed enough to take on their first round of funding. At the first full day of South By Southwest, Capital Factory did that for Austin startups, giving five “A-List” startups that the accelerator thinks are ready for a Series A funding an opportunity … Continue reading “Goodybag, Aceable Among Capital Factory’s “A-List” Startups at SXSW”

Colorado Roundup: Amazon, 2lemetry, Photobucket, and Fort Collins

Amazon comes to Denver for a shopping trip and leaves with a startup, Photobucket lassoes a familiar face (and one of its co-founders), and plans are coming together in Fort Collins. Amazon Buys 2lemetry: Amazon has purchased 2lemetry, a Denver startup that develops software for the “Internet of things.” The companies did not announce the … Continue reading “Colorado Roundup: Amazon, 2lemetry, Photobucket, and Fort Collins”

Robo Madness Boston: The Photos and Takeaways

Our first-ever dedicated robotics event in Boston was a smash hit. Here’s hoping the local community can keep the momentum going and solidify its standing as a worldwide leader in the field. Huge thanks to our event sponsors who made the conference possible: Argosight, BDO, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, IDA Ireland, and iRobot. And … Continue reading “Robo Madness Boston: The Photos and Takeaways”

Detroit’s Ash & Anvil Offers Clothes for Hard-to-Fit Shorter Guys

If your body type deviates from “standard” proportions for your age or gender, it can be challenging to find clothes that fit off the rack. That frustration has led to a new, Detroit-based online clothing store for “shorter guys” called Ash & Anvil. Its founders hope to get it off the ground in partnership with … Continue reading “Detroit’s Ash & Anvil Offers Clothes for Hard-to-Fit Shorter Guys”

Seattle Roundup: Spaceflight Industries, Expedia, Magicflix, & More

This week, Spaceflight Industries collected a major funding round, strengthening another player in the state’s commercial space industry. Meanwhile, startups Magicflix and PatrolTag raised smaller sums; Expedia continued its spending spree; Avalara picked up assets from a Brazilian tax company; Cambia Grove opened its doors; ChickTech is opening a Seattle chapter; EnergySavvy is collaborating with … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: Spaceflight Industries, Expedia, Magicflix, & More”

Delivery App Favor Grabs $13M Series A for National Expansion

Favor, the app that offers to deliver anything, is starting off South By Southwest with some big news: a $13 million Series A financing. The Austin, TX-based company, which is focused on delivery from grocery stores and restaurants, is going to use the money to improve customer service and expand into more new cities, with … Continue reading “Delivery App Favor Grabs $13M Series A for National Expansion”

West Coast Biotech Roundup: Apple, 23andMe, Amgen, Acadia & More

A is for all the news up and down the West Coast this week, and much of that news was both about bio and tech. Apple launched an iPhone-based medical research platform, 23andMe has hired a former Genentech star to turn its genomic database into a drug discovery platform, and Google is expanding its genomic … Continue reading “West Coast Biotech Roundup: Apple, 23andMe, Amgen, Acadia & More”

Massachusetts Tech Jobs, Investment Growing—But Not Fast Enough?

It’s a time of big economic and political changes in the Bay State. Massachusetts has a new governor, Boston has a relatively new mayor, and the University of Massachusetts will have a new president, to name just a few transitions. So it’s also a good time to take stock of where the local technology industry … Continue reading “Massachusetts Tech Jobs, Investment Growing—But Not Fast Enough?”

23andMe Adds On: More About The Gene-Test Maker’s Drug R&D Ambitions

As I reported earlier, 23andMe today announced its intention to pursue pharmaceutical R&D, in addition to its business selling direct-to-consumer genetic test kits. To lead its new drug research group, it has tapped Richard Scheller, the longtime head of research at Genentech and a distinguished neuroscientist. Scheller wasn’t available to talk today, but after posting … Continue reading “23andMe Adds On: More About The Gene-Test Maker’s Drug R&D Ambitions”

Allergen Takes $80M Series B for Phase 3 Peanut Allergy Trial

Allergen Research Corp. is taking in an $80 million Series B financing led by Foresite Capital to fund the Phase 3 trial of its pharmaceutical-grade oral treatment for peanut allergy. Allergen—not to be confused with life sciences giant Allergan (NYSE: [[ticker:AGN]])—calls its therapy, which is a peanut protein formulation, a desensitization immunotherapy—in essence it attempts to … Continue reading “Allergen Takes $80M Series B for Phase 3 Peanut Allergy Trial”

Medical Adhesive Revolution Aims for a Better Wound-Sealing Therapy

[Corrected 3/22/15, 8:45 pm. See below.] For Medical Adhesive Revolution, a German-born biotech company, Houston has been good for business. Last year, the company won the prestigious Rice University Business Plan Competition, becoming the first foreign company to do so. And this month, the biotech has officially moved its headquarters and its president, Alexander Schueller, … Continue reading “Medical Adhesive Revolution Aims for a Better Wound-Sealing Therapy”

23andMe Pharma? That’s the Plan, Says the Genetic Test Maker

[Updated 3/12/15, 4:52pm. See below.] From data gatherer to drug developer. That’s the bold step Silicon Valley genomic data firm 23andMe wants to take, and it announced this morning it has hired Richard Scheller, formerly Genentech’s top researcher, to lead the way. It’s dramatic news, but it’s also not surprising. Dramatic, because 23andMe recently had … Continue reading “23andMe Pharma? That’s the Plan, Says the Genetic Test Maker”

Ex-TechTown Head Hopes Collaboration Will Help All American Cities

Xconomy reported last month that Leslie Smith is departing her position leading the TechTown incubator in Detroit and heading to Memphis, TN, to run the Entrepreneurship Powered Innovation Center, a public-private initiative to create and support 1,000 entrepreneurs and 500 companies by 2025. I caught up with Smith on her last day at TechTown, and … Continue reading “Ex-TechTown Head Hopes Collaboration Will Help All American Cities”

Alibaba, Rakuten Push Into U.S. Startups With Snapchat and Lyft

Major competitors from Asia are vying for a large stake in online car-booking and other tech markets. Japanese e-commerce company Rakuten announced today it is piling $300 million into San Francisco-based Lyft, the mobile-app car service that competes with Uber. Chinese retail giant Alibaba Group has had a stake in Lyft since April of last year, … Continue reading “Alibaba, Rakuten Push Into U.S. Startups With Snapchat and Lyft”

SignalFx Raises $20M, Launches Monitoring Tool for Web-Based Apps

Startup SignalFx today emerged from two years in stealth mode to unveil a troubleshooting tool it designed for Web-based software developers and for other businesses that conduct operations on widely distributed computers and devices. The San Mateo, CA-based company also announced the completion of a $20 million Series B fundraising round led by Charles River … Continue reading “SignalFx Raises $20M, Launches Monitoring Tool for Web-Based Apps”

EVEN Financial Comes Out of Stealth with $2.8M from Canaan, Others

Stepping from the shadows, EVEN Financial—based in New York—is putting money it raised towards becoming a fixture in the fast growing peer-to-peer lending market. The startup came out of stealth today with $2.8 million in a round led by Canaan Partners, with Brooklyn Bridge Ventures, Conversion Capital, Social Leverage, 555 Capital, and Lerer Hippeau Ventures … Continue reading “EVEN Financial Comes Out of Stealth with $2.8M from Canaan, Others”

There’s an Algorithm for That: Algorithmia Helps You Find It

These days, you don’t have to be an expert in natural-language processing or computer vision to make an app that can automatically summarize text or recognize faces. You just have to find the right algorithm. Seattle startup Algorithmia is making both finding and using algorithms easier with a marketplace that unites algorithm creators and the … Continue reading “There’s an Algorithm for That: Algorithmia Helps You Find It”

TapInfluence Taps Into Silicon Valley to Find a New CEO

TapInfluence, a Boulder, CO-based marketing software startup, has hired a new chief executive from Silicon Valley. Promise Phelon, who previously worked at The Resumator and founded and was CEO of UpMo, is taking over the top spot, replacing co-founder and longtime CEO Rustin Banks. Banks will stay on as chief product officer and focus on … Continue reading “TapInfluence Taps Into Silicon Valley to Find a New CEO”

Epizyme Buys Back Control of Cancer Drug From Eisai For up to $110M

Throughout its history, Epizyme has always kept an eye on staying independent. When it was accumulating partnerships for its epigenetics research a few years ago, it made sure to preserve its ability to maneuver and keep some upside for its work. In a broad deal with Celgene for instance, it kept U.S. rights to a … Continue reading “Epizyme Buys Back Control of Cancer Drug From Eisai For up to $110M”

After Raising $60M, Kura Oncology Renews Work on Shelved Cancer Drug

[Updated 3/12/15 9:55 am.] Even after the FDA refused to approve the anti-cancer drug tipifarnib in 2005, some experts could see a tantalizing glimmer of potential for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and other forms of cancer. [Updated to add Kura’s presence in Cambridge, MA] Now the oral drug is getting a second chance … Continue reading “After Raising $60M, Kura Oncology Renews Work on Shelved Cancer Drug”

The Hive Raises $22M for Second Startup Fund

Things are buzzing at The Hive this week. The seed fund and startup accelerator in downtown Palo Alto announced today it has raised a total of $22 million for its second fund. That’s well above the $8 million contributed by individual investors to The Hive’s first fund, Hive I, which has supported six young companies. … Continue reading “The Hive Raises $22M for Second Startup Fund”

At Acadia, “Mistakes Were Made,” A Drug Is Delayed & the CEO Is Out

On Tuesday, Acadia Pharmaceuticals dropped out of two conferences and its stock price jumped, apparently because investors thought an acquisition was coming. Not quite. Instead San Diego-based Acadia (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ACAD]]) said today it would delay asking the FDA to approve its main product, and that its CEO, Uli Hacksell (pictured), had resigned. Acadia shares fell … Continue reading “At Acadia, “Mistakes Were Made,” A Drug Is Delayed & the CEO Is Out”

Salix Bidding War Erupts as Endo Tops Valeant’s Offer

[Updated 3/11/15, 6:44 pm. See below.] Salix Pharmaceuticals, which just two weeks ago reached a deal to be acquired by Valeant Pharmaceuticals, now has a better offer from Endo International. Dublin, Ireland-based Endo (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ENDP]]) has proposed to Salix (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SLXP]]) a cash and stock offer that amounts to $175 per share—about 11 percent more … Continue reading “Salix Bidding War Erupts as Endo Tops Valeant’s Offer”

Stratatech Eyes Phase 3 Trial Of Regenerative Tissue For Burn Wounds

Stratatech moved closer this week to commercializing its skin-like tissue intended to coax patients with burn wounds to naturally regrow skin. The Madison, WI-based company on Tuesday announced top-line results from a mid-stage clinical trial evaluating the safety and effectiveness of its “StrataGraft” skin tissue in patients with deep second-degree burns. Each patient received a … Continue reading “Stratatech Eyes Phase 3 Trial Of Regenerative Tissue For Burn Wounds”

Microsoft to Create Free Online Programming Courses for EdX

Microsoft is dipping its toe in the world of free online education, partnering with Cambridge, MA-based EdX to create courses for software developers. EdX announced Tuesday that the courses would be the latest addition to its curriculum of interactive and massive open online courses, or MOOCs. EdX is a nonprofit founded by the Massachusetts Institute … Continue reading “Microsoft to Create Free Online Programming Courses for EdX”

Study: Most Auto Execs Not Ready for Industry’s Coming Tech Changes

Results from the third annual EY (formerly known as Ernst & Young) survey of the automotive industry were released last week at the Geneva Motor Show, and, paradoxically, they’re both not surprising and a little alarming. According to the Changing Lanes report, 88 percent of auto executives do not have the confidence to implement data … Continue reading “Study: Most Auto Execs Not Ready for Industry’s Coming Tech Changes”

Feds to Back Wearable Tech Startups With New Accelerator Program

The latest entrant into the startup accelerator and wearable-technologies games? It’s the Department of Homeland Security. The DHS announced Tuesday that it will launch its two accelerator programs in a pilot program. The Emerge accelerators will work with startups to create wearable technology that could be used by first responders such as firefighters, police, and … Continue reading “Feds to Back Wearable Tech Startups With New Accelerator Program”

MicroVentures Brings Venture Investing to the (Accredited) Masses

There’s an element of crowd sourcing behind most investing. Venture capital and private equity firms find limited partners—the few obscenely rich individuals or institutions worldwide that have millions or billions to spread among countless investments—to contribute a few hundred thousand dollars each to finance early stage startups or mature companies. Chunks of investor money is … Continue reading “MicroVentures Brings Venture Investing to the (Accredited) Masses”

Apple: A123’s Lawsuit “Baseless Conjecture,” Not Actionable Under Law

Apple is asking a Massachusetts federal court to dismiss a lawsuit that A123 Systems, an electric-car battery maker, filed against the computing giant for allegedly poaching A123’s employees. Apple filed a 13-page memo Monday that details why it believes claims in the suit, which also named five current Apple and former A123 employees as defendants, … Continue reading “Apple: A123’s Lawsuit “Baseless Conjecture,” Not Actionable Under Law”

Heat Biologics Launches $10M Stock Offering; CFO To Move On

Cancer immunotherapy company Heat Biologics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:HTBX]]) is raising $10.6 million through a stock offering—just as the company prepares to bid farewell to its chief financial officer. Durham, NC-based Heat is offering 1.64 million shares at $6.50 per share. Underwriters have 45 days to purchase 246,000 additional shares. Heat says it will use proceeds from … Continue reading “Heat Biologics Launches $10M Stock Offering; CFO To Move On”

Music As Therapy? PureTech’s “Sync Project” Aims to Prove It

There’s an old lyric by Bob Seger about Rock and Roll: “That kind of music just soothes the soul.” Listen to an upbeat song while depressed, and you might forget your sorrows. Indeed, music has always seemed therapeutic. Now a new venture from Boston-based startup creator PureTech is going to try to prove it with … Continue reading “Music As Therapy? PureTech’s “Sync Project” Aims to Prove It”

Houston 2035: A Glimpse of the Innovative American City of the Future

The innovative American city of the future will likely look a lot like Houston. Surprised? Consider that the nation’s current 4th largest city is a majority-minority city that leads in cutting-edge technology sectors such as energy, life sciences, and health IT. What will this city, and this region, look like 20 years from now? How … Continue reading “Houston 2035: A Glimpse of the Innovative American City of the Future”

Elastica Scores $30M To Expand Cloud Data Security Business

About a year after launching its system to protect business data stored on the Web, cybersecurity company Elastica has landed $30 million from investors to continue its expansion into the global market. San Jose, CA-based Elastica was founded in 2012 to provide the traditional services of cybersecurity companies, such as risk assessment and data loss … Continue reading “Elastica Scores $30M To Expand Cloud Data Security Business”

SpareFoot Packs in a $33M Series D to Improve Storage Booking Service

SpareFoot, the Austin, TX-based online marketplace for booking self-storage units, is receiving $33 million of Series D funding to help improve its product for consumers and storage facilities, both in terms of engineering and marketing, according to CEO Chuck Gordon. The company is going to refine tools that already exist, such as making sure it’s … Continue reading “SpareFoot Packs in a $33M Series D to Improve Storage Booking Service”

Playrific Prepares for Education App Bubble, With $4.7M in Tow

Get ready for some major consolidation in mobile apps for kids and education. So says one of the sector’s keen observers, tech entrepreneur Beth Marcus. Marcus is the CEO and co-founder of Playrific, a Boston-area software startup that works with brands and organizations to publish apps and content for kids. It’s not clear yet whether … Continue reading “Playrific Prepares for Education App Bubble, With $4.7M in Tow”