John Maraganore opened up an envelope in 1994 that changed his life. Inside were the results of the pivotal study of an anticoagulant drug Maraganore had created in the lab. It was the star prospect for Maraganore’s employer, Biogen. If the drug, bivalirudin, worked, Biogen might have its first product—and Maraganore, the glory of designing … Continue reading “John Maraganore: From “Prototypical Geek” To Canny Alnylam Chief”
Category: National
Colorado Tech Roundup: Tech Wages, CTA’s foundation, and Orbotix
Here is a quick roundup of some news from Colorado startups and tech communities, including news about wages for local high-tech workers, the Colorado Technology Association’s new foundation to develop tech talent, and Orbotix’s new robot. —Tech Industry Wages: Interested in how much tech workers are making in Denver, Boulder, and around the country? Of … Continue reading “Colorado Tech Roundup: Tech Wages, CTA’s foundation, and Orbotix”
Seattle Roundup: Mixpo, Hootsuite, Concur, Zillow, Smartsheet, & More
Lots of acquisition news to catch up on this week, including in Northwest digital marketing with Mixpo’s buy of ShopIgniter and Hootsuite’s buy of BrightKit. There were also rumors that Concur is looking for a buyer, and more scrutiny paid to the proposed Zillow-Trulia combination. Meanwhile, executives at a Pacific Crest Securities called Microsoft the … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: Mixpo, Hootsuite, Concur, Zillow, Smartsheet, & More”
Vote (Mostly) Online Feeds Millennials’ Need for One-Click Apps
For better or worse, the millennial generation has come to expect instant gratification and the ability to complete almost any daily task with just the click of a button on a smartphone or personal computer. One activity that, for the most part, has not kept pace with rapid technological advancements is voting. That’s why a … Continue reading “Vote (Mostly) Online Feeds Millennials’ Need for One-Click Apps”
Stealth Therapeutics Raises $450K to Study IV Device’s Effectiveness
Madison, WI-based Stealth Therapeutics recently raised more than $450,000 from investors, which will fund a study of the clinical performance of the startup’s lead medical device. Stealth was founded in 2006 by Bradley Glenn, an interventional radiologist who lived in Green Bay, WI, and has since moved to California, Stealth general manager Sam Adams says. … Continue reading “Stealth Therapeutics Raises $450K to Study IV Device’s Effectiveness”
Innovation Hub: John Maeda on Why Tech Loves Design
John Maeda stands at the intersection of design and technology—and attracts a bit of a cult following. He’s the first Design Partner at Kleiner Perkins, the venture capital firm that has backed companies from Amazon to Genentech to WebMD. Previously, he served as President of The Rhode Island School of Design. Maeda insists that design … Continue reading “Innovation Hub: John Maeda on Why Tech Loves Design”
Tech Startups Take Stage at Wilmington Entrepreneurship Conference
Movie fans know Wilmington, NC, as the shooting location for many popular flicks. The pharmaceutical industry knows Wilmington as the home of contract research organization PPD. But few people realize the coastal city is also a breeding ground for entrepreneurs. The Coastal Connect Entrepreneur and Capital Conference, hosted by the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, drew … Continue reading “Tech Startups Take Stage at Wilmington Entrepreneurship Conference”
East Coast Biotech Roundup: Infinity, Merck, Voyager, Ebola, & More
There are always surprises—both good and bad—in a volatile sector like biotech. A big deal can seemingly come out of nowhere, for instance, and send a company’s stock flying. That was the top story in East Coast biotech this week, but we’ve got all the other tidbits you might have missed, including a few additional … Continue reading “East Coast Biotech Roundup: Infinity, Merck, Voyager, Ebola, & More”
How the Fukushima Disaster Made a Name for Nuke Startup Kurion
Nuclear waste startup Kurion went from a tiny company betting heavily on government work to one that overnight became a key supplier to the crippled Fukushima power plant. Having gone through trial by fire in Japan, the company now hopes to sell its waste-removing technology to power plants around the world. The Irvine, CA-based company … Continue reading “How the Fukushima Disaster Made a Name for Nuke Startup Kurion”
Boston Tech Roundup: Savant, Black Duck, LogMeIn, Mobiquity, Bridj
Here’s a smattering of fundraising deals from recent days around the greater Boston area, and an acquisition thrown in for good measure: —Savant Systems, an established home-automation company based in Hyannis, MA, has raised $90 million from private equity firm KKR and Savant’s founder, Robert Madonna. The company, founded in 2005, makes smart-home systems for the luxury market. … Continue reading “Boston Tech Roundup: Savant, Black Duck, LogMeIn, Mobiquity, Bridj”
What Tesla’s Gigafactory Means for Battery Startups
The most exciting news of the year in electric vehicles came today with the announcement that Tesla Motors will build its giant lithium ion battery factory in Nevada. It’s a huge vote of confidence in the future of EVs, but at the same time it points to the long road startups face getting their novel battery … Continue reading “What Tesla’s Gigafactory Means for Battery Startups”
Techstars to Offer “Equity Back Guarantee” to Skeptical Startups
Techstars is making a new pitch to entrepreneurs—satisfaction guaranteed, or your equity back. The startup accelerator, based in Boulder, CO, invests $18,000 in its startups in exchange for 6 percent of their equity. Techstars also offers each startup a $100,000 convertible note, which can increase its share of the company to 10 percent. But beginning … Continue reading “Techstars to Offer “Equity Back Guarantee” to Skeptical Startups”
Merck, Leapfrogging Bristol-Myers, Wins FDA Nod for Cancer Drug
It wasn’t too long ago that Merck (NYSE: [[ticker:MRK]]) was well behind Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: [[ticker:BMY]]) in the race to bring the first so-called PD-1 inhibitor—a new class of cancer drugs that harness the power of the immune system—to market in the U.S. While the battle between these two companies over market share will likely … Continue reading “Merck, Leapfrogging Bristol-Myers, Wins FDA Nod for Cancer Drug”
Detroit Materials Hopes to Reinvent Steel in America’s Car Capital
Good old-fashioned iron and steel helped make Detroit the powerhouse of 20th Century industrial America. A startup called Detroit Materials is hoping to lead a renaissance for these hardworking metals, backed by technology from Wayne State University. The company finalized a licensing agreement with WSU in June, allowing it to commercialize a kind of high-strength, … Continue reading “Detroit Materials Hopes to Reinvent Steel in America’s Car Capital”
West Coast Biotech Roundup: Mapp Bio, Calico, Alder, VentiRx & More
The past seven days have seen breakthroughs and heartbreaks for West Coast biotech companies. Mapp Biopharmaceutical of San Diego got promising preclinical news about its Ebola drug, then almost immediately got millions of dollars of federal funding to push it quickly into human trials. Up the coast near San Francisco, though, Exelixis’s flagship product returned … Continue reading “West Coast Biotech Roundup: Mapp Bio, Calico, Alder, VentiRx & More”
BrightStar to Invest in Gener8tor Startups If They Create WI Jobs
Wisconsin startup accelerator program Gener8tor has received a new commitment from an angel investment fund, but the money comes with a catch for portfolio companies: To be eligible, they must create “high-quality” jobs in Wisconsin. BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation announced Wednesday it will invest $50,000 in each company that goes through Gener8tor’s bi-annual programs in Madison … Continue reading “BrightStar to Invest in Gener8tor Startups If They Create WI Jobs”
RideScout and Austin’s Growing Transportation Startup Ecosystem
Perhaps it makes sense that a hub of transportation innovation takes shape in car-crazy Texas. A booming economy has brought droves of new migrants seeking work and clogging the roads. And while Texas’s metro centers are attracting urban pioneers to revitalized inner-city communities close to work, most still make ever-longer commutes. And that’s prompting Texans … Continue reading “RideScout and Austin’s Growing Transportation Startup Ecosystem”
How Data Scientists Helped Revamp Info Network About.com
Neil Vogel is pretty blunt about the old About.com. “Not only was the site not engaging, it was downright uninviting,” he says. On Tuesday, the information site introduced a redesign that CEO Vogel says is the result of data science and not just a new coat of paint. “This is a big step forward, but … Continue reading “How Data Scientists Helped Revamp Info Network About.com”
Propeller Health Raises $14.5M for Its Respiratory Disease Sensors
Propeller Health is already seen as one of the up-and-coming startups based in Madison, WI, having landed several million dollars from primarily West Coast investors and contracts with healthcare systems in major markets around the country. Now, the company—which makes data-collecting devices that snap on to inhalers used by asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease … Continue reading “Propeller Health Raises $14.5M for Its Respiratory Disease Sensors”
Google’s Calico Nabs First Partner, Cuts $1.5B R&D Deal With AbbVie
[Updated, 9/4/14, 8:25 am ET] It’s still a public mystery what Google’s (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GOOG]]) high-profile anti-aging startup, Calico, is really up to. But the drug company AbbVie has had a peek behind the curtain and is ready to throw a whole lot of cash behind the company’s high-profile team in a deal to develop medicines … Continue reading “Google’s Calico Nabs First Partner, Cuts $1.5B R&D Deal With AbbVie”
Austin’s RideScout Bought by Daimler Car-Rental Service Car2Go
RideScout, an Austin, TX-based transportation aggregator app, announced Wednesday the startup has been acquired by Car2Go North America. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. RideScout, which founder Joseph Kopser describes as “Kayak for ground transportation,” developed an app that offered users real-time information on transportation options, including bus and rail service, taxis, and car-sharing … Continue reading “Austin’s RideScout Bought by Daimler Car-Rental Service Car2Go”
Shine Medical Technologies Raises $2.4M to Make Medical Isotopes
[Updated 9/3/14, 2:22 p.m. See below.] Shine Medical Technologies, the Monona, WI-based startup racing to become the first domestic producer of medical isotopes, said today that it has raised $2.4 million from undisclosed investors. The company, founded in 2010, has raised more than $35 million to date through equity investments, debt financing, and other sources, … Continue reading “Shine Medical Technologies Raises $2.4M to Make Medical Isotopes”
Oasys Loves That Dirty Water From Fracking and Now, Coal Plants
Everyone knows there’s a need for technologies to make fresh water safe for drinking. But Oasys Water has found the strongest demand for its technology comes from treating some of the nastiest water around, particularly wastewater associated with fossil fuels. On Tuesday, the Boston-based company said its forward-osmosis water purification system will be used at … Continue reading “Oasys Loves That Dirty Water From Fracking and Now, Coal Plants”
Sprinklr’s Social Marketing Rollup Now Includes Branderati
It is safe to say Mark Curtis was on a mission to team up his company, Branderati, with Sprinklr. In fact, he practically chased down Sprinklr’s CEO, Ragy Thomas, at this year’s South by Southwest festival to talk about a collaboration between their respective New York-based companies. Today, Sprinklr announced it has acquired Branderati for … Continue reading “Sprinklr’s Social Marketing Rollup Now Includes Branderati”
Steven Paul, Former Lilly R&D Chief, Takes Head Seat at Voyager
Steven Paul stepped in to Third Rock Ventures a few years ago to help advise on some of the firm’s biotech startups. Now, however, it appears Eli Lilly’s former R&D chief has found one he likes enough to lead full-time. Cambridge, MA-based Voyager Therapeutics announced today that Paul has agreed to take over as its … Continue reading “Steven Paul, Former Lilly R&D Chief, Takes Head Seat at Voyager”
AbbVie Plunks Down $275M Upfront for Infinity’s Blood Cancer Drug
It’s been a topsy-turvy few years for Infinity Pharmaceuticals. The Cambridge, MA-based company is well behind a few others, whose rival blood cancer drugs that have already made it to market, and Infinity has seen its shares rise and fall as investors have wondered whether its own prospect—known as duvelisib, or IPI-145—can stand out. Pharma … Continue reading “AbbVie Plunks Down $275M Upfront for Infinity’s Blood Cancer Drug”
Feds Provide Funding, Expertise to Advance ZMapp Drug for Ebola
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said today it would provide its expertise and as much as $42.3 million to help San Diego-based Mapp Biopharmaceutical accelerate development and testing of ZMapp, the biotech’s experimental Ebola drug. With just nine employees, Mapp Bio lacks the resources to respond to the Ebola crisis unfolding in … Continue reading “Feds Provide Funding, Expertise to Advance ZMapp Drug for Ebola”
Measurabl Raises $2M to Provide Various Disclosures as a Service
Measurabl, a San Diego startup developing Web-based software to help big companies and others collect data required to meet non-financial disclosure requirements, says today it has raised $2 million in a seed funding round led by CrossCut Ventures. The startup was founded last year by Matt Ellis, who was previously director of sustainability solutions at … Continue reading “Measurabl Raises $2M to Provide Various Disclosures as a Service”
Compuware Goes Private in $2.5B Deal, Seeks Flexibility in Tech Wars
Compuware announced today that it has been purchased by Thoma Bravo, a private equity firm with offices in San Francisco and Chicago, for $2.5 billion. Under the terms of the agreement, Compuware shareholders will receive $10.92 per share, a 17 percent increase over the company’s closing stock price on Friday. Compuware’s board has approved the … Continue reading “Compuware Goes Private in $2.5B Deal, Seeks Flexibility in Tech Wars”
Bristol-Myers Kicks Arthritis Drug Back to Alder, Shares Tumble
[Updated, 10:50 am ET] Alder Biopharmaceuticals rode a big deal with Bristol-Myers Squibb to the public markets earlier this year, where it’s seen its value climb by more than 30 percent. Starting today, however, the Bothell, WA-based company is going to move forward without that safety net. Alder (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ALDR]]) said today that following a … Continue reading “Bristol-Myers Kicks Arthritis Drug Back to Alder, Shares Tumble”
Wisconsin Roundup: Steve Case’s ‘Rise of the Rest,’ CDI, ZBB, & More
Here are a few recent notable announcements from Wisconsin’s tech and innovation community: —Investor and AOL co-founder Steve Case will bring the “Rise of the Rest” bus tour to Madison on Oct. 6, part of a series of stops highlighting budding startup communities in America’s heartland. The first such road trip, held earlier this summer, … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Steve Case’s ‘Rise of the Rest,’ CDI, ZBB, & More”
Raleigh-Durham Roundup: Sapheon, Cree, Red Hat, & More
Here are this week’s headlines in North Carolina tech and biotech news: —Covidien (NYSE: [[ticker:COV]]) added to its vascular treatments portfolio with the acquisition of Morrisville, NC medical device developer Sapheon. No financial terms were disclosed for the deal. Ireland-based Covidien, which itself is in the process of being acquired by Medtronic (NYSE: [[ticker:MDT]]), says … Continue reading “Raleigh-Durham Roundup: Sapheon, Cree, Red Hat, & More”
Exelixis Axes 70% of Workforce as Cancer Drug Flops, Shares Routed
When Exelixis won FDA approval of a drug called cabozantinib in 2012, it was supposed to represent the first step towards a franchise. The South San Francisco-based company’s drug was approved to treat a small group of patients with a certain form of thyroid cancer, but its big opportunity lay further ahead, in big studies … Continue reading “Exelixis Axes 70% of Workforce as Cancer Drug Flops, Shares Routed”
TranscribeMe, Nuance Fine-Tuning Audio Transcription For Hot Market
In 1999, the futurist and speech recognition technology pioneer Ray Kurzweil predicted that by 2009, deafness would be a mere inconvenience rather than a disability. That’s because deaf people would be carrying small machines that would listen to their companions and display real-time text transcripts of their conversations, Kurzweil imagined in his book The Age … Continue reading “TranscribeMe, Nuance Fine-Tuning Audio Transcription For Hot Market”
Which Countries Excel in Creating New Drugs? It’s Complicated
A lot has been written lately about innovation, or the lack thereof, in the world of biopharma. One question that often gets asked: which countries lead the way in creating new medicines? Many people think that drugs originate in the nation where the companies that produce them are headquartered. The truth, however, is much more … Continue reading “Which Countries Excel in Creating New Drugs? It’s Complicated”
FINSix Wants You to Ditch Laptop “Brick” for Its Small, Stylish Adapter
Some emerging technologies first come to market in business-to-business applications—LED lights, for example, took hold in TVs before consumer bulbs. Hardware startup FINSix has found the opposite to be true: its initial product will be squarely aimed at consumers, thanks in large part to a successful Kickstarter campaign. Early next year, the company plans to … Continue reading “FINSix Wants You to Ditch Laptop “Brick” for Its Small, Stylish Adapter”
Twitch Buy Highlights Amazon’s $20B Bet on Technology & Content
Forget all the corporate intrigue about how Amazon outfoxed Google in its head-turning $970 million acquisition of video-game broadcasting site Twitch. If you want to be truly impressed by the Seattle retailer’s ever-increasing ambitions, just take a look at how much it’s sunk into digital infrastructure and media projects over the past few years. Amazon … Continue reading “Twitch Buy Highlights Amazon’s $20B Bet on Technology & Content”
Update: Ingress, LevelEleven, Rubicon, ArdentCause, Time Magazine
We glide into the long weekend with a report from an Ingress event held in Detroit on Aug. 23, an update on three expanding local tech startups, and brief, gloating commentary on the new story about Detroit in Time magazine. Have a lovely holiday! —The Ingress XM wagon (pictured) stopped in Detroit last weekend for … Continue reading “Update: Ingress, LevelEleven, Rubicon, ArdentCause, Time Magazine”
East Coast Biotech Roundup: Biogen, Civitas, Rhythm, Alkermes, & More
To get ready for the annual post-Labor Day market revival, three Boston-area biotechs have put their IPO plans on the front burner. Syndax Pharmaceuticals has come back to the table after postponing its plans earlier this year, while Rhythm Pharmaceuticals and Civitas have declared their intentions for the first time. In pipeline news, Alkermes has … Continue reading “East Coast Biotech Roundup: Biogen, Civitas, Rhythm, Alkermes, & More”
From Atari to VC’s Future, Highlights From Madison’s Forward Festival
[Corrected 8/30/14, 1:51 p.m. See below.] It’s a “dangerous time” for the VC world because the majority of the industry’s money is concentrated in a relatively small number of firms, primarily in Silicon Valley. And that makes it tougher for startups in the Midwest to grow. That warning came from Chris Olsen, co-founder of Columbus, … Continue reading “From Atari to VC’s Future, Highlights From Madison’s Forward Festival”
Seattle Roundup: Bizible, Fledge, CleanTech Alliance, & More
On this end-of-summer week, we’re following fresh funding for Techstars Seattle company Bizible, seven startups selected for accelerator Fledge, a name change for the WCTA, a standout series on Amazon in Europe, and more: —Bizible, a Seattle startup helping companies better understand their marketing spending and its impact on sales, has raised an $8 million … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: Bizible, Fledge, CleanTech Alliance, & More”
Colorado Tech Roundup: TeamSnap Buys Rival, Corgenix Sells for $16M
Here is a quick roundup of some news from Colorado startups and tech companies, featuring TeamSnap and Corgenix, which is making a test for the Ebola virus. TeamSnap Snaps Up Competitor: TeamSnap, a Boulder, CO-based startup, continues to grow. This week, the company announced it bought Easy Team Manager from Kranitz Enterprises for an undisclosed … Continue reading “Colorado Tech Roundup: TeamSnap Buys Rival, Corgenix Sells for $16M”
BioCryst Ebola Drug Awarded Funding for Tests
An experimental Ebola drug from BioCryst Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BCRX]]) now has funding for tests in monkeys, a step away from testing the treatment in humans. BioCryst says it expects tests of its experimental Ebola treatment will start “within weeks.” The Durham, NC company says the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) has awarded … Continue reading “BioCryst Ebola Drug Awarded Funding for Tests”
Mapp Bio Steps onto Global Stage as Ebola “Hot Zone” Gets Hotter
The “hot zone” in West Africa that has become the worst Ebola outbreak in history is now a full-blown global health crisis—and it is expected to continue into 2015. That is the consensus of three Ebola experts who, speaking at a public forum in San Diego, joined a growing number of world health officials in … Continue reading “Mapp Bio Steps onto Global Stage as Ebola “Hot Zone” Gets Hotter”
Madison Vaccine to be Tested in Combination Prostate Cancer Treatment
[Corrected 8/29/14, 8:39 a.m. See below.] Madison Vaccines, a Madison, WI-based startup developing immunotherapies for prostate cancer, will get a chance to see how well its lead vaccine can shrink tumors when teamed up with another drug. The Phase I trial will be led by Madison Vaccines co-founder Doug McNeel, an oncologist and professor of … Continue reading “Madison Vaccine to be Tested in Combination Prostate Cancer Treatment”
West Coast Biotech Roundup: ARCH, Ebola, ViaCyte, Calithera & More
Lots of news this week up and down the coast and up and down the biotech food chain. We’ve got a new twist (or fold, if you prefer) on academic Ebola research at the University of Washington, and new workspace for tiny startups in Palo Alto and San Diego. We’ve got fresh venture capital for … Continue reading “West Coast Biotech Roundup: ARCH, Ebola, ViaCyte, Calithera & More”
Tech Entrepreneur on a Mission to Get People to Unplug and Socialize
Brian Hiss is a successful, New York-based tech entrepreneur. He was the chief operating officer of eats.com, later acquired by delivery.com, and he’s currently at the helm of Dooble, his eighth startup, which offers users curated lists of fun things to do in New York City. So why is Hiss in the middle of a … Continue reading “Tech Entrepreneur on a Mission to Get People to Unplug and Socialize”
Texas Roundup: New Funds for Bellicum, AirStrip, and Green & Grow
Here is the latest innovation news from the Texas ecosystem: —Mizzen+Main, a two-year-old Dallas startup that sells men’s apparel made of moisture-wicking material, raised $1.2 million in a seed round Thursday. Investors include VegasTechFund—started by Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh—and Dallas entrepreneurs such as Hunter Hunt of Hunt Consolidated Energy and Chris Kleinert of Hunt Consolidated … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: New Funds for Bellicum, AirStrip, and Green & Grow”
Doyenne Group Raising $400K Angel Fund For WI Women Entrepreneurs
The Doyenne Group, a Madison, WI-based volunteer organization serving women entrepreneurs, is raising a $400,000 angel investment fund to help grow the number of women-led companies in Wisconsin. Doyenne leaders discussed the fund this week at Madison’s Forward Festival, an eight-day showcase of local technology and startups. During the tech festival, Doyenne organized several discussions … Continue reading “Doyenne Group Raising $400K Angel Fund For WI Women Entrepreneurs”
New Ebola Vaccine Tests Could Provide Early Results End of 2014
The National Institutes of Health has the green light to begin testing a new Ebola vaccine in humans, and data showing the vaccine’s safety and ability to provoke an immune response should be available by the end of the year. Whether those data are enough to make health officials confident to give the vaccine to … Continue reading “New Ebola Vaccine Tests Could Provide Early Results End of 2014”