Large pharmaceutical companies have been beating a path to Massachusetts over the past few years to get in the thick of the area’s bubbling life sciences cluster. Today, industry conglomerate General Electric (NYSE: [[ticker:GE]]) is joining the mix, dealing a blow to New Jersey’s life sciences scene in the process. GE is announcing that it’s … Continue reading “NJ’s Medicine Chest Thins Again as GE Health Unit Heads for MA”
Category: National
Sanford-Burnham Seeks Improved Pharma Ties with New CEO from GSK
Following an executive search that took about 18 months, San Diego’s Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute named a new CEO today. He is Perry Nisen, a pediatric cancer specialist who specialized in commercializing new drugs as senior vice president of science and innovation at GlaxoSmithKline’s campus in King of Prussia, PA. The nonprofit research institute is … Continue reading “Sanford-Burnham Seeks Improved Pharma Ties with New CEO from GSK”
Detroit Aircraft Takes Flight With Lockheed Deal, Airport Renovation
In 2007, Jon Rimanelli began researching Detroit’s history in the aviation industry as part of a proposal to convince organizers of the Red Bull Air Races to pick the Motor City as the host. The bid was successful and resulted in Red Bull race planes zipping up and down the Detroit River for the next … Continue reading “Detroit Aircraft Takes Flight With Lockheed Deal, Airport Renovation”
Why It’s a Great Time to Be a Database Geek (and Entrepreneur)
Database technology, while never the sexiest area, is attracting more money as legions of startups bet they can address a new class of big data-driven challenges—and dethrone database giants like Oracle, IBM, and Microsoft. San Francisco-based Splice Machine topped off an $18 million Series B round earlier this month to advance its novel database, which … Continue reading “Why It’s a Great Time to Be a Database Geek (and Entrepreneur)”
Shopping App Spring, Founded by Fab and Techstars Alums, Has Arrived
It may be the tail end of summer, but Spring has bloomed. The New York-based startup launched its shopping app late last week, giving consumers a mobile way to discover and buy products directly from brands and designers. Currently available for iOS devices, Spring is a bit different from other marketplaces that sell curated items, says … Continue reading “Shopping App Spring, Founded by Fab and Techstars Alums, Has Arrived”
North Carolina Roundup: BioCryst, Biotech Center, Validic, & More
Here are this week’s headlines in North Carolina tech and biotech news: —BioCryst Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BCRX]]) is moving toward Phase 1 clinical trials of its experimental treatment for Ebola and Marburg viruses with $4.1 million in new funding. The money from the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease is the latest award in a … Continue reading “North Carolina Roundup: BioCryst, Biotech Center, Validic, & More”
Lookout CEO Dolce on Boston and Why Hardware Is “Thing of the Past”
Jim Dolce was last seen in these parts at Akamai, which bought his previous company, Verivue, in late 2012. Last March, he shipped out to San Francisco to become CEO of Lookout, a seven-year-old mobile security company. That’s the same Lookout that said last week it had raised a $150 million growth round from the … Continue reading “Lookout CEO Dolce on Boston and Why Hardware Is “Thing of the Past””
Wisconsin Roundup: Techstars, Silatronix, Virent, MyHealthDirect, & More
Two Wisconsin startups are in the midst of trying to raise more than $4 million each from investors, while two energy-related startups are making progress toward selling their products. Read on for details about these recent announcements, and more, from Wisconsin’s innovation community. —Silatronix has raised $2.8 million of a possible $4.2 million equity funding … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Techstars, Silatronix, Virent, MyHealthDirect, & More”
HealthQuest Capital Raises $110M for Debut Fund with Medtech Focus
HealthQuest Capital, founded last year by Sofinnova Ventures partner Garheng Kong, says it has raised $110 million for its debut fund and already has invested in several medical technology and patient care products. While HealthQuest is staying close to Sofinnova—sharing its Menlo Park, CA, office and back office resources—Kong says the firm has a different … Continue reading “HealthQuest Capital Raises $110M for Debut Fund with Medtech Focus”
From Autism to Diabetes to HIPAA, Rock Health Seeds 8 More Startups
In a year of booming digital health investment, incubator and investor Rock Health has padded its portfolio with eight more startups, two of which are still in stealth. The San Francisco firm, which since its launch in 2011 has become a major catalyst in the digital health space, has provided seed funding or grants to … Continue reading “From Autism to Diabetes to HIPAA, Rock Health Seeds 8 More Startups”
New Deals Spur SMTP to Compete With HubSpot, Marketo, Act-On
There’s a battle brewing between tech companies in New England, the Bay Area, and the Pacific Northwest. What’s at stake? The future of technology for marketing. The latest entrant is SMTP, a small Boston-area company that began trading on the Nasdaq in January. SMTP (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SMTP]]), formerly called EMUmail, has a long and complicated history. … Continue reading “New Deals Spur SMTP to Compete With HubSpot, Marketo, Act-On”
Business Intel Firm L2 Hires New CEO Scott Ernst, Looks to Scale Up
Looking to grow and expand its reach, business intelligence company L2 has drafted Scott Ernst as its new CEO. New York-based L2 uses data to help brands figure out how much traction they have in the digital world, which includes e-commerce, social media, and mobile devices. Prior to L2, Ernst was president of Millward Brown … Continue reading “Business Intel Firm L2 Hires New CEO Scott Ernst, Looks to Scale Up”
Q&A With Classy, First Startup Out of Consumer-Tech Foundry Blade
Consumer tech is in the air around Boston. After e-commerce firm Wayfair’s IPO filing on Friday, the race is on to become the next household name in a town that has produced the likes of TripAdvisor, Zipcar, Bose, and Kayak. One place people are looking to for the next big thing is Blade, the startup … Continue reading “Q&A With Classy, First Startup Out of Consumer-Tech Foundry Blade”
Austin Identity Management Software Maker SailPoint Sets New Course
Many startups grow by gobbling up competitors or by becoming part of a bigger company. Austin, TX-based SailPoint is pursuing a strategy that allows it to do both. On Wednesday, the maker of identity management software announced it sold a majority stake to Thoma Bravo, a private equity firm located in Chicago and San Francisco. … Continue reading “Austin Identity Management Software Maker SailPoint Sets New Course”
Glowing Plants To Nanodiamonds: Y Combinator’s Biotechs Debut
Silicon Valley’s hottest tech accelerator, Y Combinator, is about to show off its first class of biotech startups. The five companies, some of which have already raised significant funding, or controversy—or both—will come under the scrutiny of hundreds of venture capital investors on Tuesday, Aug 19, as the Mountain View, CA-based accelerator holds its Demo … Continue reading “Glowing Plants To Nanodiamonds: Y Combinator’s Biotechs Debut”
Madison Startup Rides Immunotherapy Wave With Prostate Drug
Most men suffering from prostate cancer can be essentially cured if their tumors are caught early enough and their prostate glands are surgically removed or destroyed by radiation therapy before the disease spreads. But for some men, removing the prostate gland isn’t enough. Months or years after surgery or treatment, levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) … Continue reading “Madison Startup Rides Immunotherapy Wave With Prostate Drug”
Innovation Hub: Your Brilliant Other Half
We spend a lot of time celebrating one-in-a-million entrepreneurs: the Mark Zuckerbergs, the Steve Jobs, the Elon Musks. But what if most entrepreneurs are more like two in a million? People who couldn’t realize their vision without a brilliant partner. Joshua Wolf Shenk writes about this phenomenon in Powers of Two: Finding the Essence of … Continue reading “Innovation Hub: Your Brilliant Other Half”
6 Takeaways From Boston E-Commerce Firm Wayfair’s IPO Filing
When it comes to consumer tech, much of the Boston area’s hopes and dreams can be summed up in one word: Wayfair. The online retailer of home goods filed its much-anticipated IPO paperwork on Friday. Wayfair was bootstrapped for many years before taking a big venture-capital round in 2011. The company has been on a … Continue reading “6 Takeaways From Boston E-Commerce Firm Wayfair’s IPO Filing”
Colorado Tech Roundup: Gnip’s $134M Price Tag and a Satellite Launch
Here is a quick roundup of some news from Colorado startups, tech, and aerospace companies, featuring Gnip, a trio of Colorado’s aerospace leaders, and a few recent venture capital deals. Colorado’s Satellite Lifts Off: Wednesday was a big day for Colorado’s aerospace industry, with the launch of DigitalGlobe’s latest satellite, the WorldView-3 remote sensing satellite. … Continue reading “Colorado Tech Roundup: Gnip’s $134M Price Tag and a Satellite Launch”
Student Entrepreneurs Debut in Houston’s First “Bayou Showcase”
Rice University and the University of Houston hosted their first joint demo day, featuring a dozen startups working on everything from water purification to a thinking club to improve a golfer’s putting to a social video-conferencing network just for college students. The program was the first time both Houston universities worked together in nurturing their … Continue reading “Student Entrepreneurs Debut in Houston’s First “Bayou Showcase””
MI Roundup: Michipreneur, Fanzoo, Start Garden, Beringea, iVantage
Here’s a look at recent news from around Michigan’s innovation community: —The fine folks at Michipreneur have put together an online, statewide startup directory. Searchable by keyword, industry, or city, the directory has more than 100 companies listed and is growing by the day. Want to add your startup to the directory? Click here to … Continue reading “MI Roundup: Michipreneur, Fanzoo, Start Garden, Beringea, iVantage”
Seattle Roundup: Indow Windows, Helion, Startup Next, & More
This week’s roundup features high-tech window inserts at Alcatraz, funding for a fusion energy startup, and investment advice based on making a bunch of white guys uncomfortable. Also, expansion at Applause, contraction at RealNetworks, and new partnerships for Startup Next and Glympse: —Indow Windows, a Portland, OR, company backed by investors including Seattle-based cleantech angel group … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: Indow Windows, Helion, Startup Next, & More”
Cellectar Biosciences Makes Nasdaq Debut With $12.5M Stock Offering
Cellectar Biosciences, a Madison, WI-based startup developing cancer drugs and imaging tools, began trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange today and is holding a public stock offering expected to raise $12.5 million in cash. The announcement is a key step for the company, whose stock was traded over the counter. Xconomy recently explored Cellectar’s prospects … Continue reading “Cellectar Biosciences Makes Nasdaq Debut With $12.5M Stock Offering”
East Coast Biotech Roundup: Amicus, Accelerator, Seventh Sense, & More
New York’s biotech scene is getting a jumpstart, and a Seattle startup incubator is getting a second wind in the process. One of biotech’s high fliers in 2014 soared once again. And one local biotech is awaiting some critical data that could make or break its future. Those stories and much more below. —A single … Continue reading “East Coast Biotech Roundup: Amicus, Accelerator, Seventh Sense, & More”
Carless in Cambridge: Bike & Car Sharing and the Future of Traffic
Nine weeks ago, I lost my fancy hybrid street/trail bike to one of San Francisco’s plentiful bicycle thieves. Seven weeks ago, in preparation for a big move east, I sold my car. Now I’m settling into a new apartment in Cambridge, MA, and for the first time in my adult life, I don’t own a … Continue reading “Carless in Cambridge: Bike & Car Sharing and the Future of Traffic”
Mapp’s Ebola Drug Shows Promise, But Making More Will Take Time
The experimental drug therapy given to two Americans and a Spaniard stricken with the lethal Ebola virus was still in research studies when the Ebola outbreak erupted this year in West Africa. Most of the available material was “laboratory-grade, not human-grade,” said Erica Ollman Saphire, a structural biologist whose lab at The Scripps Research Institute … Continue reading “Mapp’s Ebola Drug Shows Promise, But Making More Will Take Time”
Boston Tech Roundup: Nasuni, Acquia, Happier, Betaspring, Techstars
[Updated, 5 pm] Here’s a collection of deals and announcements worth noting from around the past week in the the Boston-area technology sector, including investments both secretive and straightforward, and startup accelerators either stalling or forging ahead: —Nasuni, a Natick, MA-based data storage software company, has collected another $10 million investment from previous backers. The … Continue reading “Boston Tech Roundup: Nasuni, Acquia, Happier, Betaspring, Techstars”
West Coast Biotech Roundup: Onyx, Calico, Otonomy, Dendreon & More
[Corrected 8/14/14, 8:11pm. See below.] When Amgen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMGN]]) bought South San Francisco-based Onyx Pharmaceuticals last year for $10.4 billion, it expected great things from Onyx’s multiple myeloma treatment carfilzomib (Kyprolis), which won its first approval in 2012 in a limited patient population. Those expectations went a bit sideways this week, as Amgen said late … Continue reading “West Coast Biotech Roundup: Onyx, Calico, Otonomy, Dendreon & More”
New MVCA Fellow Will Focus on Transportation Mobility at Fontinalis
The Michigan Venture Capital Association’s (MVCA) Venture Fellows Program has placed a new fellow: Daniel Ratliff has joined Detroit-based Fontinalis Partners, where he’ll work on researching and evaluating prospective investments, assist in managing current portfolio companies, and focus on finding Michigan companies for Fontinalis to invest in. Chris Stallman, a principal at Fontinalis, says his … Continue reading “New MVCA Fellow Will Focus on Transportation Mobility at Fontinalis”
Texas Roundup: New funds for Castle, Quarri, Omni Water, & Pivot3
“Always be pitchin’.” That’s the mantra of student entrepreneurs from the University of Houston and Rice University today as they practice for a first joint demo day this afternoon. We’ll report back on the event tomorrow, but, in the meantime, here are news highlights from the Texas innovation community in the past week. —Castle Biosciences, … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: New funds for Castle, Quarri, Omni Water, & Pivot3”
After $150M Raised, What Went Wrong at Fuel Cell Startup Lilliputian
[Updated 8/15/14, 1 pm. See below] Lilliputian Systems had the makings of a successful MIT spinout: novel technology, seasoned entrepreneurs, and plenty of money. Today, the company no longer has a website and next month it will shut its doors after selling off its intellectual property and burning through some $150 million in funding. If … Continue reading “After $150M Raised, What Went Wrong at Fuel Cell Startup Lilliputian”
For Exact Sciences, It’s Put Up or Shut Up Time For Colon Cancer Test
Exact Sciences CEO Kevin Conroy typically chooses his words carefully in interviews and public statements to investors, but he isn’t shy about making bold statements when it comes to the potential impact of his company’s newly-approved diagnostic test for colon cancer. “Cologuard may represent one of the most significant advancements in cancer screening in the … Continue reading “For Exact Sciences, It’s Put Up or Shut Up Time For Colon Cancer Test”
To Take On New York, Accelerator Makes Big Changes
Talk to anyone involved in the New York biotech ecosystem, and it’s clear what’s missing: startups. The big city is just too expensive, entrepreneurs and their backers say—just try finding an affordable one bedroom apartment in Manhattan, let alone lab space—so a number of promising biotech ideas either stay untapped or get snatched up by … Continue reading “To Take On New York, Accelerator Makes Big Changes”
Non-Compete Agreements: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Twenty years ago, renowned researcher AnnaLee Saxenian wrote a book called Regional Advantage, which compared the development of two high-tech regions, Silicon Valley and Route 128. Everyone in the tech world knows how this story played out: In the face of global competition and technological trends, Silicon Valley reinvented itself and roared ahead, while Route … Continue reading “Non-Compete Agreements: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly”
Otonomy Hears Wall Street Ovation as Some Life Sciences IPOs Dim
Auris Medical, the Swiss biotech focused on diseases and disorders of the ear, got the catchy ticker symbol (NASDAQ: [[ticker:EARS]]) when it went public last week. But San Diego’s Otonomy (NASDAQ: [[ticker:OTIC]]) got a better valuation yesterday when the biotech ear specialist priced its stock in the upper range at $16 a share. Otonomy traded … Continue reading “Otonomy Hears Wall Street Ovation as Some Life Sciences IPOs Dim”
Houston Cancer Diagnostics Firm Castle Biosciences Raises $11.8M
Castle Biosciences, a maker of biomarker-based tests for rare cancers, said Wednesday it has raised $11.8 million in a Series E investment round. The money will largely be used to expand the clinical availability of its gene expression profile test for patients with cutaneous melanoma. The tests were first made available last year. Castle, which … Continue reading “Houston Cancer Diagnostics Firm Castle Biosciences Raises $11.8M”
Home Automation Startups Begin Microsoft, American Family Accelerator
Microsoft and American Family Insurance today named the 10 startups selected for their joint accelerator focused on home automation. The companies announced the accelerator partnership in June. The selected startups will work from Microsoft’s Redmond, WA headquarters campus through December and will have access to expertise and connections from Madison, WI-based American Family Insurance. American Family … Continue reading “Home Automation Startups Begin Microsoft, American Family Accelerator”
The Fallout From Aver Informatics’ Reported Move from WI to OH
[Updated 8/13/14, 12:35 p.m.] Aver Informatics’ reported move from Green Bay, WI, to Columbus, OH, could have financial and reputational ramifications for the healthtech startup. Columbus Business First quoted CEO Kurt Brenkus saying that Aver had set up shop in late July in the office of its new high-profile investor, Columbus-based Drive Capital; hired five … Continue reading “The Fallout From Aver Informatics’ Reported Move from WI to OH”
MongoDB Chair Dwight Merriman Discusses Scaling Up, R&D, and Change
Rapid-fire plans are taking shape at open-source database company MongoDB. Last week, New York-based MongoDB announced Dev Ittycheria would join the company as CEO in September, taking over from Max Schireson. Also this month, MongoDB gave New York Tech Meetup a glimpse of new software tools for managing clusters of servers. With changes happening at … Continue reading “MongoDB Chair Dwight Merriman Discusses Scaling Up, R&D, and Change”
Organovo to Offer Preclinical Drug Tests Based on 3-D Liver Tissue
San Diego-based Organovo (NYSE: [[ticker:ONVO]]) says a three-dimensional sample of living human liver tissue created with its bio-printing technology was used successfully for the first time to predict that a pre-clinical drug candidate would have a toxic effect on the liver. In financial results reported yesterday for the company’s fiscal first quarter that ended June … Continue reading “Organovo to Offer Preclinical Drug Tests Based on 3-D Liver Tissue”
Electric Imp Raises $15 Million to Go Big on Internet of Things
Electric Imp is among the companies trying to build the technical plumbing to make the Internet of things work securely and reliably—and make money doing so. The Los Altos, CA-based startup today said it has raised $15 million in a Series B round, which brought in new investors Foxconn Technology Group, PTI Ventures, and Rampart … Continue reading “Electric Imp Raises $15 Million to Go Big on Internet of Things”
Bay Area, Midwest Edtech Startups Pitch WI Investors, Target K-12
It’s rare to hear of Silicon Valley startups pitching their companies to angel investors in Wisconsin. Usually it’s the inverse, with Badger State entrepreneurs trying to score funds from California investors’ deep pockets. But on Tuesday, three San Francisco Bay Area startups—along with companies from Milwaukee, Chicago, and Minneapolis—presented to a room of more than … Continue reading “Bay Area, Midwest Edtech Startups Pitch WI Investors, Target K-12”
NBD Nano Aims its Bug-Inspired Tech at Big Industrial Markets
Technology inspired by the exoskeleton of a hardy desert bug is being aimed at big industrial problems, and investors are betting several million dollars that it could make a difference. NBD Nanotechnologies, a Boston-based advanced materials startup, has landed a $5.2 million investment led by Phoenix Venture Partners. Supply Chain Ventures and existing angel investors … Continue reading “NBD Nano Aims its Bug-Inspired Tech at Big Industrial Markets”
Novartis Helps Pour $16M Into Seventh Sense for Pain-Free Blood Tests
What’s the worst part of getting your blood drawn? For many people, it’s thinking about the big needle or the finger prick that comes with it. Seventh Sense Biosystems is trying to replace those methods with something quick and painless. And while it’s still a long way from selling its first product—let alone supplanting the … Continue reading “Novartis Helps Pour $16M Into Seventh Sense for Pain-Free Blood Tests”
CellBreaker Kills Termination Fees in Wireless Contracts (and More)
Cell phone users think of switching carriers for all sorts of reasons, such as price or network quality. But Jon Colgan points to just one reason many consumers don’t squeeze the trigger on a switch: early termination fees. Fees that can reach $350 or more keep many consumers using phones they no longer want on … Continue reading “CellBreaker Kills Termination Fees in Wireless Contracts (and More)”
Startups Warm to Urban Agriculture; Can They Reward Investors?
Using a smartphone, Jon Friedman can run a whole network of high-tech, urban farms. His company, Freight Farms, developed an app that allows farmers to control the growing conditions of truck-sized shipping containers filled with racks of hydroponically grown veggies. Before starting Freight Farms, Friedman and co-founder Brad McNamara had no background in food. But once … Continue reading “Startups Warm to Urban Agriculture; Can They Reward Investors?”
Raleigh-Durham Roundup: Windsor Circle, Salix, CED, & More
Here are this week’s headlines in North Carolina tech and biotech news: —Comcast Ventures, the venture capital arm of cable television giant Comcast, led a $5.25 million financing round for Windsor Circle. Durham, NC-based Windsor Circle has developed customer-retention software for online retailers. The startup says the new financing will help it expand and boost … Continue reading “Raleigh-Durham Roundup: Windsor Circle, Salix, CED, & More”
Fiverr, With $30M More, Looks to Build eBay, Amazon for Freelancers
With more cash in hand, Fiverr plans to connect more freelancers with gigs around the world. On Monday, the company announced it raised $30 million in a Series C round from Bessemer Venture Partners, Accel Partners, Qumra Capital, and private investors. Fiverr, headquartered in Tel Aviv with U.S. offices in New York, is an online … Continue reading “Fiverr, With $30M More, Looks to Build eBay, Amazon for Freelancers”
Cool Summer: Founder of Harbor Springs Incubator on Lessons Learned
Coolhouse Labs, the startup incubator operating out of a renovated boat house in Harbor Springs, MI, is in the middle of mentoring its second crop of startups, and founder Jordan Breighner says he incorporated what he learned during Coolhouse’s inaugural session last summer to improve what he currently offers to the startups in residence. “We … Continue reading “Cool Summer: Founder of Harbor Springs Incubator on Lessons Learned”
Leaf Now Fully Owned by Heartland, Still Losing Cash
Killing off the last generation of cash registers isn’t going to be easy. But the recent buyout of a Boston-area payments company should give us a glimpse at how expensive it’ll be to build the replacement. Heartland Payment Systems has bought out the remaining shareholders of Leaf, a three-year-old company that sells a custom-built tablet … Continue reading “Leaf Now Fully Owned by Heartland, Still Losing Cash”