What a week to round up. Against a backdrop of regulatory approvals, strategic deals, and R&D initiatives, a fresh salvo of life sciences IPOs signaled a resurgence in public offerings already running ahead of last year’s pace. We also saw moves to resolve weeks of drama at The Scripps Research Institute in San Diego and … Continue reading “West Coast Biotech Roundup: IPOs, Gilead, Sofinnova, & Denouements”
Category: National
Detroit Chosen as Location for $148M Manufacturing Innovation Center
In February, President Barack Obama announced that Michigan had won a competitive national bidding process to host the new, $148 million American Lightweight Manufacturing Innovation Institute (ALMII) created as part of the National Network of Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI) initiative. This week, officials revealed that ALMII will be headquartered on Rosa Parks Boulevard in Detroit’s Corktown … Continue reading “Detroit Chosen as Location for $148M Manufacturing Innovation Center”
Seattle Roundup: Zillow+Trulia, Pacific Crest, Anomo, Comr.se, & More
Zillow could be pursuing its biggest online real estate rival, Trulia, if a report from Bloomberg is to be believed. Another Northwest M&A deal is also going down: KeyCorp has an agreement to acquire Pacific Crest Securities. Meanwhile, big companies including Oracle and Alibaba are setting up shop in Seattle and a few smaller ones … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: Zillow+Trulia, Pacific Crest, Anomo, Comr.se, & More”
Dave Eggers’s “The Circle” Fails as Satire, Succeeds as Prophecy
When the anti-utopian book The Circle, the latest novel from McSweeney’s founder Dave Eggers, came out last October, reviewers hailed it as a “provocative” and “foreboding” warning about the spiritual costs of excessive sharing and transparency on the Internet. The Guardian even called it “a deft modern synthesis of Swiftian wit with Orwellian prognostication.” But … Continue reading “Dave Eggers’s “The Circle” Fails as Satire, Succeeds as Prophecy”
Ability Network Exit a Win For WI Investors Outside Metro Hubs
When Boston-based Summit Partners acquired a majority stake in Minneapolis-based healthtech firm Ability Network in April for $550 million, the deal got no press in nearby Wisconsin. That wasn’t a surprise: Ability Network has no major presence in the Badger State. But the deal, which was among the largest healthtech transactions nationwide in the first … Continue reading “Ability Network Exit a Win For WI Investors Outside Metro Hubs”
Oracle to Hire 100 for Cloud Development Center in Seattle
Oracle is the latest technology giant to set up shop in Cloud City, WA—also known as Seattle—in search of talented engineers. The Redwood Shores, CA, enterprise IT giant is planning to hire 100 engineers to staff a new Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Development Center in downtown Seattle. It will be led by Craig Kelly and Don … Continue reading “Oracle to Hire 100 for Cloud Development Center in Seattle”
Wide Open Spaces Creates Online Community for Anglers & Hunters
Denis O’Dwyer wants to bring the power of the Internet to the Great Outdoors. His startup, Wide Open Spaces, is designed as an online community targeting hunters and fishing enthusiasts, a one-stop shop to buy gear, research new techniques, and discover a new place to while away an afternoon. “This is participatory,” he says. “You’re … Continue reading “Wide Open Spaces Creates Online Community for Anglers & Hunters”
Cypher Genomics’ Analytics Tech Gains Some Cred in Illumina Deal
It’s probably just a matter of time before a new company combines the rapidly advancing technologies of genome sequencing, genetic diagnostics, and Big Data to become the Google of bioinformatics. Cypher Genomics would like to claim that title, though it’s too early to tell if the three-year-old San Diego startup will be able to pull … Continue reading “Cypher Genomics’ Analytics Tech Gains Some Cred in Illumina Deal”
Sarepta Abruptly Fires CSO and RNA Vet Krieg
Sarepta Therapeutics is already one of the most controversial, volatile stocks in the biotech sector. And the Cambridge, MA-based company is in for another rocky day today, as a regulatory filing revealed that the company has axed chief scientific officer and longtime biotech veteran Art Krieg—who’d only been on board since January. Sarepta (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SRPT]]) … Continue reading “Sarepta Abruptly Fires CSO and RNA Vet Krieg”
BioCryst Bets on New Ebola Drug to Fight Bioterror, Outbreak Threats
The unfortunate few infected by Ebola learn quickly that the rare disease is a near-certain death sentence. Outbreaks have led to fatality rates up to 90 percent, according to the World Health Organization. Treatment options are limited: no approved vaccines or drugs for treating Ebola exist, the WHO says. As the current virus outbreak continues … Continue reading “BioCryst Bets on New Ebola Drug to Fight Bioterror, Outbreak Threats”
Raleigh’s ThinkHouse Live-In Accelerator: Think Maker Faire, Not MTV
Yes, ThinkHouse is a place where eight young entrepreneurs, all in their early 20s, apply for a chance to live under the same roof for nine months while they start their own businesses. But here are some images to put out of your mind right from the start: Video cameras. Confessional interviews. Rivalry, backstabbing, and … Continue reading “Raleigh’s ThinkHouse Live-In Accelerator: Think Maker Faire, Not MTV”
Reflections on RTP
Having moved to the Research Triangle Park region in 1987 when my husband was recruited to Glaxo, I now realize that we chose “the right place at the right time.” I started a post-doctorial fellowship at UNC-Chapel Hill and eventually became a clinical scientist at Burroughs Wellcome, and we enjoyed raising a family in Chapel … Continue reading “Reflections on RTP”
North Carolina Innovation, From Barcodes to Berries
If you’ve made a retail purchase recently, chances are good you used technology developed in Research Triangle Park without even realizing it. The modern day barcode has its origins in the 1970s research of IBM scientists Joseph Woodland and George Laurer. Their work in IBM’s RTP labs was accompanied by the scanning technology to read … Continue reading “North Carolina Innovation, From Barcodes to Berries”
Xconomy Launches in Raleigh-Durham—10th Cluster in Our Network
Innovation, North Carolina style—at last. Ever since writing the original Xconomy business plan, I’ve been looking forward to the day when we began covering innovation in the Tar Heel state. Now, I am extremely happy to announce, that day has come. Xconomy Raleigh-Durham is officially off the ground, and with its launch we have grown … Continue reading “Xconomy Launches in Raleigh-Durham—10th Cluster in Our Network”
J&J Immunology Exec on Investing at the Crossroads of the Microbiome
When Roger Pomerantz, the CEO of Cambridge, MA-based Seres Health said last week that he’s preparing to take his company public off of a promising, early study, it wasn’t just the natural next step for a biotech startup. It also marked a key transition point for an entire field of scientific research. After a lot … Continue reading “J&J Immunology Exec on Investing at the Crossroads of the Microbiome”
Venture Capital Had a Great 2013—But Public Markets Were Still Better
In an industry obsessed with creating the next big thing, it can be easy to forget that a lot of big ideas simply crash and burn. So here’s a little reminder: Last year, American venture capitalists put together their best annual performance since 1999. But it still wasn’t good enough to beat the public stock … Continue reading “Venture Capital Had a Great 2013—But Public Markets Were Still Better”
Badger Fund of Funds to Pump $90M-plus Into Wisconsin Startup Scene
The plan for Wisconsin’s new fund-of-funds program is starting to come into focus. The headline: The Badger Fund of Funds could ultimately result in at least five new funds investing a minimum of $90 million in more than 100 Wisconsin startups over the next several years. That’s the biggest takeaway from a presentation Tuesday by … Continue reading “Badger Fund of Funds to Pump $90M-plus Into Wisconsin Startup Scene”
Socrata on a Tear With Open Data Network and European Project
The last year has been a good one for Seattle-based Socrata, which provides technology to help governments open access to data. The company finished 2013 on a rapid growth pace—more than doubling revenue and employees—and continued that momentum into this year, adding 22 new customers in the first quarter, compared to 44 in all of … Continue reading “Socrata on a Tear With Open Data Network and European Project”
Gilead Edges Into Cancer Field With FDA OK of Calistoga Drug
Gilead Sciences snapped up a Seattle company called Calistoga Pharmaceuticals a few years back as part of a plan to treat cancer, not just HIV, as it’s long been known for. Today, the Foster City, CA-based company will get that chance, because it just got clearance to begin selling the cancer drug that attracted it … Continue reading “Gilead Edges Into Cancer Field With FDA OK of Calistoga Drug”
MI Roundup: Plymouth Ventures, DTE app, MTRAC awards, Beringea, more
Here’s a look at news from around Michigan’s innovation hubs: —Ann Arbor-based Plymouth Ventures has announced the final close for its $60 million Plymouth Venture Partners III (PVPIII) fund. The fund will invest in growth-stage startups headquartered in the Great Lakes region. Managing partner Mark Horne says the fund-raising process for PVPIII took eight months. … Continue reading “MI Roundup: Plymouth Ventures, DTE app, MTRAC awards, Beringea, more”
With New $40M Funding Round, LogRhythm Continues March to IPO
Another month, another Colorado tech company closing a big venture round that puts it on track for a potential IPO. LogRhythm said this week it closed a $40 million Series E round. The round brings the total investment raised by the Boulder, CO-based IT security firm, which was founded in 2003, to $71.5 million. LogRhythm … Continue reading “With New $40M Funding Round, LogRhythm Continues March to IPO”
JW Player Gets into Chromecast, Puts Second Screen Strategy in Play
New York-based JW Player on Tuesday said its Web video player had come to Google Chromecast, with plans to stream content on more connected devices. Never heard of the JW Player? CEO and co-founder Dave Otten says that it is possible you have already used it: “If you watch video off of YouTube, there’s a decent … Continue reading “JW Player Gets into Chromecast, Puts Second Screen Strategy in Play”
Solar Survivors: Bay Area Startups Innovate Under the Radar
The solar industry has had a brutal shakeout, making it very difficult for any solar energy startup to introduce next-generation cell technology. But, despite the fierce global price competition—and the flight of many venture investors from solar—there are a few signs that interest in novel solar technology is picking up. Milipitas, CA-based Solexel on Tuesday … Continue reading “Solar Survivors: Bay Area Startups Innovate Under the Radar”
Key Risk Conversations to Have With Your Board and Investors
Building a startup is a risky business. The only way to stay ahead of the risks is to be aware and informed about them. The board of directors, in particular, needs to know enough about the risks in the business to make well-rounded strategic decisions. As for investors, most of them do their own risk … Continue reading “Key Risk Conversations to Have With Your Board and Investors”
Fypio Aims at Online Real Estate Industry with Buyer-Centric Focus
When Michael Koh moved to San Diego in 2010, he expected to start a real estate business focused on luxury residential properties, much like the one he had created (and sold) in Argentina over the previous 11 or 12 years. Instead, he came up with an idea for a mobile app and Web-based technology that … Continue reading “Fypio Aims at Online Real Estate Industry with Buyer-Centric Focus”
Teradata-Hadapt Deal Signals Big-Data Buyouts as Big Firms Move In
It’s a familiar storyline: Boston-area startup develops promising technology, starts to build a real business, and then gets snapped up by a West Coast giant. The startup in this case is Cambridge, MA-based Hadapt, which has been acquired by Teradata, the Ohio-based data warehousing company with big operations in San Diego. Terms of the deal … Continue reading “Teradata-Hadapt Deal Signals Big-Data Buyouts as Big Firms Move In”
Alphabet Energy Wants to Be the “Intel of Waste Heat Recovery”
Alphabet Energy wants to make electricity from hot air. The Hayward, CA-based company later this year will release what it says will be the first large-scale thermoelectric generator to convert heat from industrial activities into usable power. Earlier this month, Alphabet Energy licensed a material developed at Michigan State University that will go into the … Continue reading “Alphabet Energy Wants to Be the “Intel of Waste Heat Recovery””
“Donut Settle” Recruiting Blitz Ruffles Feathers in Laid-back Austin
The tech world is known for its rather unorthodox ways of doing things. But a recent gambit by Austin, TX-based Bigcommerce caused offense to some in the city’s famously laid-back tech community. Bigcommerce, a maker of e-retail software for small businesses, is on a growth streak, and to get the attention of hard-to-recruit engineers and … Continue reading ““Donut Settle” Recruiting Blitz Ruffles Feathers in Laid-back Austin”
Stanley Gives Broad Institute $650M Gift For Psych Research
The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard in Cambridge, MA, has struck a number of industry partnerships over the past few years to try to discover new drugs for cancer, bacterial and viral infections, and other diseases. Today, it’s landed one of the largest research gifts ever to try to unearth treatments in the notoriously … Continue reading “Stanley Gives Broad Institute $650M Gift For Psych Research”
San Diego’s EdgeWave Raises $6M to Counter Intense Cyber Attacks
In the “Spy vs. Spy” world of cybersecurity, everything changes and nothing stays the same. So it should come as no surprise that EdgeWave, a San Diego-based cybersecurity company, has been through a few transmutations since it was founded in 1995 as St. Bernard Software. As part of its latest transformation, EdgeWave says today it … Continue reading “San Diego’s EdgeWave Raises $6M to Counter Intense Cyber Attacks”
Synlogic Gets $30M From Atlas, NEA to Turn Smart Bugs Into Drugs
Synthetic biology has become something of a biotech buzz-phrase—lots of lab experiments and hype, yet little tangible impact on patients to show for it. Still, new ideas keep coming out of the startup world to finally harness the potential that comes with genetically engineering biological parts and systems, with the promise of making a huge … Continue reading “Synlogic Gets $30M From Atlas, NEA to Turn Smart Bugs Into Drugs”
Cellectar, an OTC Stock, Eyes Nasdaq Jump to Boost Profile, Prospects
Cellectar Biosciences is trying to move from an over-the-counter (OTC) stock to trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange—and the stakes are high for the small Madison, WI-based biotech. Winning approval to join the Nasdaq stock exchange could give Cellectar a boost in bringing its cancer drugs and imaging products to market—assuming the company can capitalize … Continue reading “Cellectar, an OTC Stock, Eyes Nasdaq Jump to Boost Profile, Prospects”
MoneyTree Reports $121M in MI Venture Deals Last Quarter
Venture Capital investors had a very active second quarter of 2014, according to the latest MoneyTree report. VCs invested almost $13 billion in 1,114 U.S. startups during the second quarter, which is the highest level of VC funding in 13 years. Michigan also had a banner quarter for VC activity, with $121 million invested in … Continue reading “MoneyTree Reports $121M in MI Venture Deals Last Quarter”
Ping Identity Unveils Mobile App, Strategy for “Post-Password Era”
With new, increasingly dangerous computer and network security threats continuously emerging, it’s difficult to imagine life without that most basic, universal security measure—the password. But that’s exactly what Ping Identity, a Denver-based network security company, is trying to create. In the process, it wants to capture a piece of the $40 billion IT security market … Continue reading “Ping Identity Unveils Mobile App, Strategy for “Post-Password Era””
Starting Unicorn Companies: FireEye
Last November, Cowboy Ventures’ Ailene Lee wrote a post on Techcrunch titled Welcome To The Unicorn Club: Learning From Billion-Dollar Startups. In it, she offered a list of companies that have had billion dollar exits, and analyzed some of the common threads. In this series, I would like to look at some of the ‘unicorn’ … Continue reading “Starting Unicorn Companies: FireEye”
Which Boston VCs Write the Most Checks in Their Own Backyard?
When longtime Boston venture capital firm CRV recently announced it was focusing more intensely on West Coast companies for its newest fund, we took a look at the history and showed that it had been sending its money to California for quite some time. But we also wondered how other notable VC firms in Boston would … Continue reading “Which Boston VCs Write the Most Checks in Their Own Backyard?”
Sexism and Misogyny in Tech: How Investors Can Help Drive Change
The image of some technology startups has been tarnished of late by bad behavior. It might be up to investors who are board members to ensure changes get made. Accusations of sexism and misogyny have circled Tinder, the dating-app startup owned by IAC. If the charges prove to be true, it is just one recent … Continue reading “Sexism and Misogyny in Tech: How Investors Can Help Drive Change”
DraftKings CEO on DraftStreet, FanDuel, & Future of Fantasy Sports
A fast-rising startup in consumer tech just got bigger by acquiring a competitor. DraftKings, a Boston-based fantasy sports company, bought New York-based DraftStreet for an undisclosed sum last week. The move signals consolidation in the field and sets up a showdown for the number-one position. DraftKings got started in 2011 and has raised some $35 … Continue reading “DraftKings CEO on DraftStreet, FanDuel, & Future of Fantasy Sports”
At SeeChange, Giving Insured Patients Incentives to Stay Healthy
Before he founded SeeChange Health in 2008, CEO Martin Watson was working on new products for UnitedHealthcare Strategy, a wing of the giant healthcare network. As he looked at how the insurance sector was evolving, he thought United should start developing narrower products to help patients be more involved in their own healthcare. “Ultimately, it … Continue reading “At SeeChange, Giving Insured Patients Incentives to Stay Healthy”
Wisconsin Roundup: Exits, New Jobs, FDA Approval, & More
In this week’s roundup of Wisconsin innovation and technology news, we’re tracking a startup’s exit, ballooning staff at the state’s largest healthtech firm, FDA approval for a medical device, a groundbreaking for a medical isotopes factory, and the new leader of a key Madison business park. Read on for details. —Madison-based Idle Free Systems was … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Exits, New Jobs, FDA Approval, & More”
Big Wave of Q2 VC Funding Washes Ashore in San Diego with $222M
So how did San Diego fare as the biggest wave of venture capital funding in 13 years swept across the United States, sloshing capital into startups from Silicon Valley to New York, and from Seattle to Houston? The answer is just OK. Venture capital firms invested a total of $222.4 million in 26 deals in … Continue reading “Big Wave of Q2 VC Funding Washes Ashore in San Diego with $222M”
Boston Tech Roundup: Care.com, Plastiq, DraftKings
Here’s a trio of deals that popped up around the Boston area this week, ranging from a public Web company to smaller startups: —Care.com, a publicly traded online marketplace for nannies and other caregivers, has acquired a consumer e-commerce company. Care.com says it is paying $31 million up front in cash and stock for Citrus … Continue reading “Boston Tech Roundup: Care.com, Plastiq, DraftKings”
Colorado Startups Raise $151M in Q2 as National VC Investments Surge
The amount venture capitalists are betting on startups is approaching highs last seen during the dot-com era, and Colorado’s emerging companies continue to hold their own. Colorado companies raised $150.8 million from venture capital firms during the second quarter, according to the MoneyTree report that was released Friday. The amount is nearly a 34 percent … Continue reading “Colorado Startups Raise $151M in Q2 as National VC Investments Surge”
From Fitness to Fashion, Gener8tor’s Summer Program a Diverse Mix
The latest class of startups accepted into Wisconsin-based Gener8tor’s accelerator features a strong Badger State flavor and a diverse mix of sectors—from fitness to fashion, big data to education. On Friday, Gener8tor announced the five companies participating in its three-month program in Milwaukee, which begins today and culminates with an October pitch event to investors … Continue reading “From Fitness to Fashion, Gener8tor’s Summer Program a Diverse Mix”
German Accelerator Makes NY Debut, Brings More Startups to the City
After winning it all at the World Cup, this week Germany introduced another team eager to score big. The German Accelerator, which helps startups from Deutschland make headway in the U.S., has expanded its operations to New York. The three-month program was originally launched in 2011 as the German Silicon Valley Accelerator in San Francisco. … Continue reading “German Accelerator Makes NY Debut, Brings More Startups to the City”
Number of Investments in Colorado Companies Reaches Five Year High
Last year was almost a billion-dollar year for Colorado’s venture-backed companies, and over the past five years investors have bet $4.2 billion on emerging companies in the state. That’s according to CB Insights, a New York City-based company that tracks venture capital and private equity investments. The firm released a report this week taking a … Continue reading “Number of Investments in Colorado Companies Reaches Five Year High”
Automation Alley’s #hackDPL Event Yields New Library App
When the tech and business association Automation Alley opened an office in Detroit last fall, it wanted to find a way to give back to the community. Officials with the Detroit Public Library (DPL) had said to Automation Alley’s director of member relations, Cynthia Hutchison, that they were concerned that the library was behind other … Continue reading “Automation Alley’s #hackDPL Event Yields New Library App”
TX Roundup: Student startups, Shell GameChanger, MTPV, & Fallbrook
Here is the latest innovation news from the Texas community: —We take another look at Startup Summer School, this time visiting student entrepreneurs at the University of Houston’s RedLabs accelerator. Last week, we profiled ProsthetiTech, a Rice University startup building a robotic arm for wheelchair users. —Energy entrepreneurs got a chance to get in the … Continue reading “TX Roundup: Student startups, Shell GameChanger, MTPV, & Fallbrook”
East Coast Biotech Roundup: Acceleron, Seres, Sage, & More
The megamerger resurfaced this week, as Dublin’s Shire, a rumored acquisition target on and off for years that has 1,500 employees in Lexington, MA, agreed to be bought by North Chicago, IL-based AbbVie in a $55 billion tax inversion deal. Biotech stocks, meanwhile, underwent a massive sell-off after Federal Chairwoman Janet Yellen called the sector … Continue reading “East Coast Biotech Roundup: Acceleron, Seres, Sage, & More”
There Was Life Before Smartphones, But Who Can Remember It?
I’m lakeside this week in northern Michigan, hanging out with my extended family. It’s been interesting to observe my six-year-old nephew, who won’t go anywhere without a Power Rangers Megaforce robot in one hand and a Ty Monstaz plush toy in the other. They’re right beside him at the breakfast table, on the dock, at … Continue reading “There Was Life Before Smartphones, But Who Can Remember It?”