Recorded Future is being acquired by tech investor Insight Partners in a $780 million all-cash deal, the cyber-threat intelligence company announced this morning. Insight Partners, a New York-based venture capital and private equity firm, led a $25 million round of funding that Recorded Future raised in October 2017. At the time, the cash put the … Continue reading “Recorded Future Bought for $780M in Latest Boston Cybersecurity Deal”
Category: National
The Winners of the 2019 Xconomy Awards San Diego Are…
The nominees and finalists for the first-ever Xconomy Awards San Diego were an impressive bunch, making it tough for our judges and the editors to pick the winners. There were multiple deserving companies and people in each category. After much discussion and debate, we decided that these winners represent the best of the San Diego … Continue reading “The Winners of the 2019 Xconomy Awards San Diego Are…”
CrowdStrike IPO: Cybersecurity Firms Defend Themselves, and You
Of the many risks facing a cybersecurity company that’s trying to raise money through an initial public offering, here’s one that might surprise some investors: cyber attacks. Cybersecurity is important for everyone as hackers and governments continue to develop new and unique ways of stealing or compromising private information, which is more accessible than ever. … Continue reading “CrowdStrike IPO: Cybersecurity Firms Defend Themselves, and You”
OpenSesame Gets $28M as Job Training Software Market Stays Active
OpenSesame, a company developing workforce education and training software, announced Wednesday it has raised about $28 million from investors. Portland OR-based OpenSesame says in a news release that it plans to use some of the proceeds from the Series C round to offer more courses and fund sales and marketing of its products. FTV Capital, … Continue reading “OpenSesame Gets $28M as Job Training Software Market Stays Active”
Immunotherapy Is Now Here For Breast Cancer. What Are Its Prospects?
Drugs that rev up a patient’s immune system have changed how we treat cancers of the skin, lung, and more, offering people whose tumors have spread a chance to live longer than ever thought possible. But until this year, the field had nothing for breast cancer, which kills more women than any other cancer type. … Continue reading “Immunotherapy Is Now Here For Breast Cancer. What Are Its Prospects?”
Bodeswell Wants Financial Planning to Be a Game With “Real Loot”
There’s no shortage of financial software companies offering to plug into bank and investment accounts, chart out spending and income graphics, and let users construct monthly budgets or savings goals. Familiar names like Intuit’s (NASDAQ: [[ticker:INTU]]) Quicken and Mint have been joined by apps like Personal Capital, You Need A Budget, Wally, Cinch, and other … Continue reading “Bodeswell Wants Financial Planning to Be a Game With “Real Loot””
The Biotech IPO Queue Grows Longer as Five More Companies File
The biotech IPO train is rolling onward, with five more companies climbing aboard. The companies, ranging from a late-stage firm looking to finance Phase 3 studies to preclinical companies laying the groundwork for their first drug trials with human subjects, submitted their paperwork to the SEC late Friday—just before the start of Memorial Day weekend. Here’s … Continue reading “The Biotech IPO Queue Grows Longer as Five More Companies File”
With Sliver of Data, BioMarin to Seek OK for Hemophilia Gene Therapy
A gene therapy for hemophilia could be on the market by the end of next year, according to its developer BioMarin Pharmaceutical, if regulators agree that a tiny amount of data show enough promise. San Rafael, CA-based BioMarin (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BMRN]]) said this morning that a single dose of the therapy, valoctocogene roxaparvovec—known in shorthand as … Continue reading “With Sliver of Data, BioMarin to Seek OK for Hemophilia Gene Therapy”
Upland Software Acquires Marketing Software Business Kapost for $45M
Austin—Upland Software is paying $45 million to acquire Kapost, a Boulder, CO-based company with software for managing marketing content. Upland (NASDAQ: [[ticker:UPLD]]) sells business applications, including some for communicating with customers, managing sales, and automating financial and professional services. Kapost was founded in 2009 and sells software for planning, production, and distribution of marketing and … Continue reading “Upland Software Acquires Marketing Software Business Kapost for $45M”
San Diego Tech Roundup: Startup Week, Planck, TuSimple & More
On the eve of the start of the seventh annual San Diego Startup Week, let’s learn more about the event—which is expected to draw thousands to its talks and gatherings—and take a look at some other recent tech news. —Local entrepreneurs have dozens of speakers teed up and get-togethers organized for Startup Week, which kicks … Continue reading “San Diego Tech Roundup: Startup Week, Planck, TuSimple & More”
Stoke Therapeutics Preps IPO to Bring Dravet Syndrome Drug to Clinic
After Stoke Therapeutics closed $90 million in financing last fall, CEO Ed Kaye signaled his biotech would seek more cash through an IPO soon. The preclinical-stage biotech is now officially on a path to the public markets. In paperwork filed late Thursday with the SEC, Bedford, MA-based Stoke set a preliminary $86 million target for … Continue reading “Stoke Therapeutics Preps IPO to Bring Dravet Syndrome Drug to Clinic”
Inhibrix Pulls In $40M to Press Ahead With Cancer Drug Clinical Trials
Inhibrx, developer of protein drugs targeting cancer and other diseases, has raised $40 million from the hedge fund Viking Global Investors as the biotech steers several programs through early-stage clinical trials. The La Jolla, CA-based company was founded in 2010 by Mark Lappe, Brendan Eckelman, and Quinn Deveraux. Eckelman is the company’s chief scientific officer … Continue reading “Inhibrix Pulls In $40M to Press Ahead With Cancer Drug Clinical Trials”
Second US Gene Therapy, Approved for Rare Muscle Disease, to Cost $2M
The FDA today has made Zolgensma, a Novartis treatment for the rare genetic disease spinal muscular atrophy, the second approved gene therapy in the US. The news marks a milestone for SMA patients, who have only one other approved medicine available. But it comes with a cost: At $2.125 million, Zolgensma’s price tag creates a … Continue reading “Second US Gene Therapy, Approved for Rare Muscle Disease, to Cost $2M”
Boston Tech Watch: Robin, Markforged, Air Force AI & CozyKin
The Air Force and MIT partner on AI research. Meeting room tech raises more dough. “Autopilot” for 3D printers. And robot companies teaming up to fill your next ecommerce order. Read on for more of what went down this week in Boston tech news. —Robin Powered, a Boston startup building workplace desk- and meeting room-booking … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: Robin, Markforged, Air Force AI & CozyKin”
Bio Roundup: Zolgensma Watch, Brain Cancer Blues, Peloton Payout & More
Patients, doctors, family members, and drug-price watchdogs continued to wait for the expected approval of Zolgensma, a Novartis (NYSE: [[ticker:NVS]]) gene therapy for the rare inherited disease spinal muscular atrophy. Originally developed at a children’s hospital in Ohio, Zolgensma will be a litmus test for the nascent field. If approved this week or next, it … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Zolgensma Watch, Brain Cancer Blues, Peloton Payout & More”
Scoop Partners with Bedrock to Bring Carpooling Service to Detroiters
Scoop, the app-based carpooling service headquartered in San Francisco, landed in Detroit this week and will now facilitate rides for residents living in seven Motor City ZIP codes that encompass downtown, Midtown, Corktown, and neighborhoods to the immediate east and west of downtown. When Scoop enters a new market, its approach involves partnering with a … Continue reading “Scoop Partners with Bedrock to Bring Carpooling Service to Detroiters”
Nektar Forms New Company Inheris to Take Reins on Pain, CNS Drugs
If Nektar Therapeutics wins FDA approval this summer for an opioid painkiller it designed to be less addictive than other opioids, another company will usher the new product onto the market. San Francisco-based Nektar (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NKTR]]) announced Thursday that it formed Inheris Biopharma to take the reins on pain drug NKTR-181, as well as several … Continue reading “Nektar Forms New Company Inheris to Take Reins on Pain, CNS Drugs”
Ideaya and Bicycle Therapeutics IPOs Raise $110M for Cancer Drug R&D
Ideaya Biosciences and Bicycle Therapeutics priced their IPOs late Wednesday, raising a combined $110 million to continue clinical trials of their respective experimental cancer drugs. South San Francisco-based Ideaya raised $50 million. The company priced its offering of 5 million shares at $10 apiece, well below the targeted price range of $13 to $15 per … Continue reading “Ideaya and Bicycle Therapeutics IPOs Raise $110M for Cancer Drug R&D”
Despite Industrial Tech’s Growing Sophistication, US Adoption Lags
This week, Detroit is hosting SME’s RAPID + TCT event, a conference and trade show dedicated to additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing. It’s the first time the conference, which draws attendees from across the world, has been held in Detroit since 2014. Maria Conrado, SME’s senior event manager, says the conference has grown … Continue reading “Despite Industrial Tech’s Growing Sophistication, US Adoption Lags”
Scaleworks Acquires SearchSpring for First Deal From Second Fund
San Antonio—Scaleworks is acquiring SearchSpring, a Denver, CO-based business that makes search and navigation systems for online stores and ecommerce businesses. The acquisition is the first for Scaleworks’ $80 million second fund, which the San Antonio investment firm announced it had raised in February. Founded in 2016, Scaleworks branded its investment style as a mix … Continue reading “Scaleworks Acquires SearchSpring for First Deal From Second Fund”
Cala Health Secures $50M to Launch Anti-Tremor Wrist Device
Cala Health announced this week it raised $50 million in a Series C financing that will fund the market introduction of its wristwatch-like device that delivers nerve stimulation as a remedy for tremors of the hands. New investors Novartis, Baird Capital, LifeSci Venture Partners and TriVentures participated in the fundraising round, and were joined by … Continue reading “Cala Health Secures $50M to Launch Anti-Tremor Wrist Device”
WI Watchlist: Montage, LÜM, WEDC, Titan Spine, Polco, Swallow & More
A medical device for patients with swallowing disorders gets new life. A music streaming app gets an influx of cash. The state’s economic development agency faces more criticism for its practices. Startups in recruiting tech, medtech, and civic tech strike merger and acquisition deals. Read on for more details about these stories and other recent … Continue reading “WI Watchlist: Montage, LÜM, WEDC, Titan Spine, Polco, Swallow & More”
Smart Cities Startups, Upswing, Coder, VanillaSoft & More TX Tech
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news in Texas. —The Dallas-based Innov8te Smart Cities Incubator has named the six startups in its first program, according to a press release. The startups are using technology to help local governments sync data in currently siloed departments, analytics to help cities measure business and individual tourism, and … Continue reading “Smart Cities Startups, Upswing, Coder, VanillaSoft & More TX Tech”
Agrilyst Rebrands as Artemis, Lands $8M for Indoor Farming Software
Agrilyst, an agtech startup that has commercialized software that helps manage indoor farms and greenhouses, is unveiling a new name and additional capital. The company is now called Artemis and it has raised an $8 million Series A round of funding. Astanor Ventures and Talis Capital co-led the investment announced Wednesday. Other investors include New … Continue reading “Agrilyst Rebrands as Artemis, Lands $8M for Indoor Farming Software”
With $120M, AlloVir Faces Big Test of Cell Therapy to Fight Infection
In healthy people, viruses are kept in check by the immune system. But for immunocompromised patients, such as those undergoing transplant procedures, a viral infection is potentially deadly. AlloVir is developing a cell therapy intended to control infections while a patient’s immune system recovers. Houston-based AlloVir is preparing its lead candidate for late-stage testing and … Continue reading “With $120M, AlloVir Faces Big Test of Cell Therapy to Fight Infection”
California Life Sciences Fueled by Education, Established Companies
New medicines, devices, and diagnostics produced by the life sciences community in California are giving clinicians better tools to fight disease and improve quality of life for patients around the world. Emerging technologies, such as stem cell and gene therapies, are beginning to make their mark. According to the California Life Sciences Association (CLSA)’s latest … Continue reading “California Life Sciences Fueled by Education, Established Companies”
AI Startup Clinc Snags $52M Series B to Expand Offices, Markets
Ann Arbor, MI-based startup Clinc, which is focused on developing conversational artificial intelligence software for use in chatbots, has raised $52 million in a Series B round, the company announced this week. The round was led by Insight Partners, with participation from DFJ Growth, Drive Capital, and Hyde Park Venture Partners. As part of the … Continue reading “AI Startup Clinc Snags $52M Series B to Expand Offices, Markets”
Sebastian Thrun and Udacity Launch New Self-Driving Nanodegree
[Corrected 5/21/19, 11:04 am. See below.] Sebastian Thrun first made his mark on autonomous vehicle development at the dawn of that industry, when he led a Stanford team whose robot car Stanley won the $2 million DARPA Grand Challenge in 2005 by racing driverless through the Mojave Desert for 132 miles. These days, Thrun seems … Continue reading “Sebastian Thrun and Udacity Launch New Self-Driving Nanodegree”
Merck Preempts Peloton Therapeutics IPO With $1B Acquisition Deal
Merck has reached a deal to acquire Peloton Therapeutics, and its Phase 3-ready kidney cancer drug, for $1.05 billion. Under the agreement announced Tuesday, Merck (NYSE: [[ticker:MRK]]) will pay the sum in cash up front. If Peloton’s drug candidates reach the market and hit sales targets, shareholders of privately held Pelton could gain up to … Continue reading “Merck Preempts Peloton Therapeutics IPO With $1B Acquisition Deal”
Guardicore Raises $60M and Moves US HQ to Boston From San Francisco
US-Israeli cybersecurity startup Guardicore is moving its American headquarters from San Francisco to Boston after hiring a Massachusetts marketing executive and raising a $60 million funding round. The Tel Aviv-based company’s decision to run American operations from Boston is a well-worn path for high-tech firms, with more than 200 Israeli-founded businesses employing more than 9,000 … Continue reading “Guardicore Raises $60M and Moves US HQ to Boston From San Francisco”
Reneo Pharma Launches with $50M to Target Energy-Depleting Diseases
Yet another new biotech company has been founded in San Diego by serial entrepreneur Mike Grey and other alumni of rare disease startup Lumena Pharmaceuticals. Reneo Pharmaceuticals, which has offices in San Diego and in the UK, announced Monday it has raised $50 million to advance a compound it is testing as a therapy for … Continue reading “Reneo Pharma Launches with $50M to Target Energy-Depleting Diseases”
Auth0 Gets “Unicorn” Status as It Raises $103M for Security Tools
Auth0, a Bellevue, WA-based developer of user identification and login tools for software makers and large businesses, announced Monday it has raised $103 million in new financing. Under the terms of the deal, investors valued Auth0 at more than $1 billion, putting it among the ranks of tech startup “unicorns.” Sapphire Ventures, based in Silicon … Continue reading “Auth0 Gets “Unicorn” Status as It Raises $103M for Security Tools”
ACC’s New Fashion Incubator Follows Growth of Industry in Austin
Austin— Though small, Austin’s fashion-technology community is growing. Not only have more businesses started moving to the city, now a new program at Austin Community College is hoping to further drive innovation in the industry. “We are looking to create a full pipeline (of resources) for promising designers,” says Nina Means, director of the newly … Continue reading “ACC’s New Fashion Incubator Follows Growth of Industry in Austin”
MedCo Touts New Data for Long-Lasting Heart Drug as Reckoning Looms
The Medicines Co. and partner Alnylam Pharmaceuticals have presented new evidence supporting the long-term use of their RNA-based cholesterol lowering therapy inclisiran, which is meant to be a longer lasting alternative to a new crop of heart drugs called PCSK9 inhibitors. At a medical meeting in Miami, Medicines Co. (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MDCO]]) reported that 290 patients … Continue reading “MedCo Touts New Data for Long-Lasting Heart Drug as Reckoning Looms”
Nomination Deadline Extended for Xconomy Awards Boston
We’ve received a lot of great nominations for this year’s Xconomy Awards Boston, but we’ve had several people ask for more time to get their nominations in. So we are extending the deadline until Friday, May 24 at 5pm eastern. This will be the final deadline—please get your nominations in soon for the top people, … Continue reading “Nomination Deadline Extended for Xconomy Awards Boston”
HAP Partners With Livongo on Tech-Enabled Diabetes Compliance Program
As digital health applications continue to grow in popularity, yet achieve only mixed results, one area in which tech-enabled tools have found success is among diabetes patients. Health Alliance Plan (HAP), a Detroit-based nonprofit health insurance provider, wants to leverage that success with a new program in partnership with Mountain View, CA-based Livongo, maker of … Continue reading “HAP Partners With Livongo on Tech-Enabled Diabetes Compliance Program”
San Diego Life Sciences Roundup: MedCrypt, LunaDNA, Dynacure & More
Let’s catch up with the latest life sciences news in San Diego. — Cybersecurity company MedCrypt, which makes software to protect medical devices, raised a $5.3 million Series A funding round. The company says it will use the new funds to hire new salespeople and engineers and further develop its technology, which medical devices vendors … Continue reading “San Diego Life Sciences Roundup: MedCrypt, LunaDNA, Dynacure & More”
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Buying Supercomputer Pioneer Cray for $1.3B
Hewlett-Packard Enterprise will pay $1.3 billion to acquire Cray, a Seattle business that develops software used in supercomputers and other high-powered machines. High-performance computing technologies, such as those developed by Cray, are seen as central to sorting through “the explosion of data” resulting from innovations in areas like artificial intelligence and data analytics, HPE says. … Continue reading “Hewlett Packard Enterprise Buying Supercomputer Pioneer Cray for $1.3B”
PlanetM Awards New Grants to Advance Mobility Pilots in Michigan
PlanetM, the state of Michigan-backed business development organization, has announced a new batch of grants that aim to entice mobility startups and corporations to pilot their innovations in Michigan, or test and validate their technology at one of Michigan’s proving grounds. PlanetM has awarded a total of $440,000 in grants to five companies. The startups … Continue reading “PlanetM Awards New Grants to Advance Mobility Pilots in Michigan”
Bio Roundup: Generic Drugs Graft, ASCO Ahead, ElevateBio Rises & More
Generic drugs are supposed to give consumers more choices and a counterweight to more costly branded medications. During his tenure as FDA commissioner, Scott Gottlieb often spoke about generics as a market force that could help tame climbing drug prices. But such tools only work when companies play fair. A lawsuit is now claiming that … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Generic Drugs Graft, ASCO Ahead, ElevateBio Rises & More”
Boston Tech Watch: Hydrow, Sea Machines, Toast, Pillar & More
[Updated, 9:05 am. See below] Another $100 million for early stage investing in Boston. Check-out machines are becoming clock-in machines. A hundred-plus startups join MassChallenge’s latest cohort in Boston. Read on for more of this week’s Boston tech news. —Rowing machine startup Hydrow added $7 million to the $20 million it raised in its Series … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: Hydrow, Sea Machines, Toast, Pillar & More”
Apptio Continues Acquisition Spree With Deal to Buy Cloudability
Apptio, a Bellevue, WA-based company that helps corporate technology leaders manage their IT spending, announced Thursday it has agreed to acquire Cloudability, a Portland, OR-based developer of software for tracking cloud-computing expenditures. Apptio’s news release announcing the deal did not disclose any of its financial terms. The deal, which comes on the heels of other … Continue reading “Apptio Continues Acquisition Spree With Deal to Buy Cloudability”
ASCO Abstracts: Breast Cancer, Precision Treatments in the Spotlight
The world’s biggest annual cancer conference is just around the corner. Data presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting each year can change medical practice and make or break companies whose drugs are under the microscope. That’s what makes even the “abstracts,” or snippets of data revealed a few weeks before the meeting, … Continue reading “ASCO Abstracts: Breast Cancer, Precision Treatments in the Spotlight”
BioClarity, Maker of “Clean, Green” Skincare Products, Raises $13M
BioClarity, which sells plant-based skincare products to online shoppers, announced Wednesday that it has raised a $13 million investment round. The San Diego-based company is part of Adigica Health, an e-commerce company founded in 2016 to develop and market direct-to-consumer healthcare products. Prolog Ventures led the round with a $6 million investment; BioClarity said earlier … Continue reading “BioClarity, Maker of “Clean, Green” Skincare Products, Raises $13M”
ViaCyte, Fate & More: Xconomy Awards San Diego Big Idea Finalists
The finalists in the Big Idea category of the Xconomy Awards San Diego are pursuing ambitious goals in pursuit of better ways of improving health. Their approaches range, from a new way to deliver insulin to patients with Type 1 diabetes to an innovative method to detect brain trauma that could reduce the need for … Continue reading “ViaCyte, Fate & More: Xconomy Awards San Diego Big Idea Finalists”
Laurie Glimcher To Headline Xconomy Keynote Series in Boston in September
As groundbreaking therapies and diagnostics are coming to market, more patients are benefiting from the promise of precision medicine, but many are not, or aren’t able to access the latest treatments and technologies. What are hospitals and drug and diagnostic developers doing to make sure more cancer patients will go on to lead long, healthy … Continue reading “Laurie Glimcher To Headline Xconomy Keynote Series in Boston in September”
Pillar Fuels Second Go-Round With $100M Fund for Boston Startups
It took a few more years than initially planned, but early-stage venture firm Pillar has raised the $100 million fund it wanted. Launching with fanfare in 2016 under former North Bridge Venture Partners’ Jamie Goldstein, Pillar set its sights on $100 million for its debut fund but ended up raising just $57 million. It has since … Continue reading “Pillar Fuels Second Go-Round With $100M Fund for Boston Startups”
Whiskey Coffee, Immigration, AI: MassChallenge’s New Austin Cohort
Austin—MassChallenge has picked the 74 early-stage companies that will eventually compete for a portion of $500,000 in cash as a part of its Austin accelerator program. They’re startups that are developing products in a wide range of sectors, including life sciences, agriculture, and artificial intelligence. A majority of the startups are from Texas, although some … Continue reading “Whiskey Coffee, Immigration, AI: MassChallenge’s New Austin Cohort”
Karat Gets $28M for Software, Team That Assess Job-Seeking Engineers
Karat, a Seattle-based startup that uses a combination of software and a stable of freelance interviewers to help tech companies assess job applicants, announced Wednesday it has raised $28 million in new funding. Tiger Global Management led the Series B funding round, Karat says. Other participating investors included return backers Norwest Venture Partners and 8VC. … Continue reading “Karat Gets $28M for Software, Team That Assess Job-Seeking Engineers”
Ginkgo Eyes Antibiotics With Deal for Warp Drive’s Gene “Mining” Tech
Microbes designed by Ginkgo Bioworks are used in consumer products such as fragrances and beverages, and they’re undergoing research for applications in agriculture and medicine. The synthetic biology company has been pushing to expand its technology to more uses, and its latest deal moves the firm further into pharmaceutical research. Boston-based Ginkgo said Wednesday that … Continue reading “Ginkgo Eyes Antibiotics With Deal for Warp Drive’s Gene “Mining” Tech”