Category: National

Social Entrepreneurship Challenge Awards $60K to Michigan Startups

On Friday, the Michigan Social Entrepreneurship Challenge, a statewide competition months in the making, concluded with a showcase celebrating the 11 startups that are this year’s winners. On the table were $60,000 in cash awards, a host of in-kind services provided by partner organizations, and admission to Michigan Corps’ Impact Investment Fellowship, a summer training … Continue reading “Social Entrepreneurship Challenge Awards $60K to Michigan Startups”

Cubic Adds Big Data and Analytics Subsidiary to Improve Transit Ops

After spending almost $21 million last year to acquire NextBus, a Bay Area business that uses GPS data and wireless networks to predict when the next bus will arrive at any given bus stop, San Diego’s Cubic (NYSE: [[ticker:CUB]]) has been looking for other ways to breathe new life into its transportation systems business. Today … Continue reading “Cubic Adds Big Data and Analytics Subsidiary to Improve Transit Ops”

Innovation Beers: 8 Great Tasting, Low ABV Brews

Summer is (gleefully for me) upon us. As the heat rises, innovators need fuel of all types—but perhaps most especially the beer type. At least that’s the way I see it. But not all beers fit the mold, so to speak, for what I have in mind: to be innovation beers, they need to be … Continue reading “Innovation Beers: 8 Great Tasting, Low ABV Brews”

BIO 2014: Why San Diego is a Hub for RNA R&D and Drug Development

Editor’s note: Arcturus CEO Joe Payne is set to give a company presentation Wednesday at the BIO 2014 convention in San Diego. —BVB Medicinal chemistry has come a long way since the first opiates were “prescribed” in 3500 B.C. Since then, we have seen advancements of science usher in over 1,100 FDA-approved drugs—with a substantial … Continue reading “BIO 2014: Why San Diego is a Hub for RNA R&D and Drug Development”

Wisconsin Roundup: 100health, Harley Electric Motorcycles, & More

The past week’s Wisconsin innovation headlines featured a broad mix of companies in healthtech, mobile apps, life sciences, and traditional manufacturing. Read on for details. —Executives from five Madison startups are in Silicon Valley this week meeting with five venture capital firms, including Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. Fishidy won a spot on the trip, … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: 100health, Harley Electric Motorcycles, & More”

BIO 2014: Antisense and Disruptive Technologies for Drug Discovery

Editor’s note: The BIO 2014 convention begins today in San Diego. Stanley Crooke is among the speakers at a breakout session Wednesday titled Blazing New Trails in Disruptive Innovation: Stem Cells, RNA and Epigenetics-Based Therapeutics. —BVB For the past 25 years I, with my colleagues at Isis Pharmaceuticals, have persevered in the creation and validation … Continue reading “BIO 2014: Antisense and Disruptive Technologies for Drug Discovery”

Tapping UCSF Invention, Roche and Versant Dive Into Myelin Repair

When mice chew through the insulation that protects a house’s wires, an electrician can repair the wires. People with multiple sclerosis, whose immune systems malfunction and attack the insulation of their own neural wires, don’t have that option. Helping them could be a very big deal in MS care. Swiss drug giant Roche, tapping into … Continue reading “Tapping UCSF Invention, Roche and Versant Dive Into Myelin Repair”

Cubist Wins FDA Approval for New Antibiotic Aimed at Skin Infections

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new Cubist Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CBST]]) antibiotic targeting a variety of skin infections, most notably those caused by the so-called MRSA bacteria, which has been named a serious public health threat by the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to a Cubist announcement. More specifically, … Continue reading “Cubist Wins FDA Approval for New Antibiotic Aimed at Skin Infections”

Seattle Roundup: Puppet Labs, Trupanion, GatheredTable, & More

The Amazon phone grabbed the tech headlines this week, with the e-commerce giant unveiling its new 3D instant shopping device here in Seattle on Wednesday. In other news, Portland, OR-based Puppet Labs pulled down a large Series E funding round; Trupanion, the Seattle pet insurance provider, filed for an initial public offering; and GatheredTable raised … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: Puppet Labs, Trupanion, GatheredTable, & More”

Tobocman: Eric Cantor’s Defeat Hardly the End of Immigration Reform

Steve Tobocman, director of the immigration reform group Global Detroit, was at the second annual Global Great Lakes Network Convening last week when he heard the news: Eric Cantor, the sitting House Majority Leader, had been defeated in a Republican primary by a political novice, Dave Brat, who ran a grassroots campaign on what amounts … Continue reading “Tobocman: Eric Cantor’s Defeat Hardly the End of Immigration Reform”

Spacecraft Maker Sierra Nevada Corp. Buys Wisconsin Supplier Orbitec

Sierra Nevada Corp., which is building the Dream Chaser spacecraft in Colorado, has acquired Madison, WI-based supplier Orbital Technologies Corp. for an undisclosed price. Orbital Technologies, commonly known as Orbitec, makes rocket engines that run on environmentally friendly fuel, as well as systems that moderate temperature and humidity in spacecraft, among other products. It has … Continue reading “Spacecraft Maker Sierra Nevada Corp. Buys Wisconsin Supplier Orbitec”

Innovation Hub: Stop Listening to the Same People

How do you break out of your old mindset, in a way that will fuel innovation? Try heading to 16th-century Florence, according to Frans Johansson, the best-selling author of The Medici Effect. Johansson notes that the wealthy Medici family corralled a truly diverse set of thinkers, put them in the same place, and watched creativity … Continue reading “Innovation Hub: Stop Listening to the Same People”

Q2’s Software Helps Community Banks Digitize Customer Operations

Q2 Holdings (NYSE: [[ticker:QTWO]]) sees big opportunity in the digitization of small banks. The Austin, TX- based company sells software to community financial institutions, including credit unions, so that they can offer banking services online and via mobile devices. In March, the company went public in a $101 million initial public offering, selling 7.8 million … Continue reading “Q2’s Software Helps Community Banks Digitize Customer Operations”

Pogoplug: One Service to Back Up All Your Devices

I’m a little obsessive when it comes to backups. In my Windows days, in the early 2000s, I used to make complete CD-ROM copies of my PC’s hard drive every couple of months. Until last year, I had two separate online backup services running on my Macbook Pro—Carbonite and Backblaze—along with an external hard drive … Continue reading “Pogoplug: One Service to Back Up All Your Devices”

Lessons From Serial Entrepreneur Brian Wiegand, A WI Exit Master

A lot of entrepreneurs would kill to have Brian Wiegand’s startup success rate. Three of his tech companies—BizFilings, NameProtect, and Jellyfish—achieved exits totaling $87 million, and only one—Alice—bit the dust. (Let’s give another one of his potential ventures, Edine.com, a grade of “incomplete” because it never officially launched, as he quickly pivoted to work on … Continue reading “Lessons From Serial Entrepreneur Brian Wiegand, A WI Exit Master”

East Coast Biotech Roundup: Bluebird, Moderna, Navitor, & More

New gene therapy data. New startups. More IPOs. Even more deals. Plenty of news to catch up on in this week’s roundup, all before your deputy biotech editor heads out of town for a vacation. Have a great week everyone, see you in July. But before that, here are your East Coast headlines: —Gene therapy … Continue reading “East Coast Biotech Roundup: Bluebird, Moderna, Navitor, & More”

San Diego Startup Week: What is a Startup?

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, perhaps better known these days as Oxforddictionaries.com, a startup is defined as “a newly established business.” To purists, perhaps, this might be true. But language evolves, and definitions change. One reason language evolves is because nuances come to light that need to be reconciled. Because language is a model … Continue reading “San Diego Startup Week: What is a Startup?”

Boston Tech Roundup: Bain Capital, Polaris, Onapsis, & More

[Updated 12:45 pm] We’ve got news on venture funds and startups around the greater Boston area raising money in this week’s collection of innovation sector headlines: —Bain Capital Ventures has filed SEC paperwork for a new investment pool of about $850 million, spread across two funds. Boston-based Bain Capital Ventures also has offices in New … Continue reading “Boston Tech Roundup: Bain Capital, Polaris, Onapsis, & More”

San Diego Startup Week: Moving to Silicon Valley Is Not an Option

When I started Dealstruck, one of the first questions most people would ask me was, “So, when are you moving to The Valley?” Repeatedly I was told, “There is no money in San Diego;” “There is no talent in San Diego;” and, so of course, “You can’t build a tech company in San Diego.” Through … Continue reading “San Diego Startup Week: Moving to Silicon Valley Is Not an Option”

Wisconsin Accelerator Enrolls Second Class of Water Tech Startups

The Water Council today revealed the second group of startups that will participate in its accelerator, as the Milwaukee-based organization continues its quest to create a water tech hub built around large local companies, university researchers, and up-and-coming ventures. Gov. Scott Walker was on hand to congratulate the graduates of last year’s pilot water tech … Continue reading “Wisconsin Accelerator Enrolls Second Class of Water Tech Startups”

West Coast Biotech Roundup: Burrill, Topol, Aduro, Receptos, & More

The ultimate West Coast biotech roundup is happening next week in San Diego. It’s the international BIO convention, which one biotech veteran described to us as a “sharknado” when we asked if he would be there. (He won’t be there.) Xconomy will definitely be there, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves. We’ve got the past … Continue reading “West Coast Biotech Roundup: Burrill, Topol, Aduro, Receptos, & More”

Sanofi Punts Cancer Drug Back to Merrimack

Merrimack Pharmaceuticals has been saying for some time that the Phase 2 studies of its cancer drug, MM-121, while missing their goals, have been helping it find the right groups of patients for a late-stage trial. Apparently, however, Sanofi isn’t buying that thesis. Merrimack (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MACK]]) said today that Sanofi has returned worldwide rights to … Continue reading “Sanofi Punts Cancer Drug Back to Merrimack”

TechTown Hires Paul Riser Jr. to Run Tech-Based Entrepreneurship

Last week, the Detroit-based business accelerator TechTown announced it had hired Paul Riser Jr. as its new managing director of technology-based entrepreneurship. Riser replaces Charlie Moret, who left earlier this year to lead the new nonprofit Invest Michigan, which manages the Michigan Pre-Seed Fund 2.0. Riser has an extensive background as an entrepreneur, information officer, … Continue reading “TechTown Hires Paul Riser Jr. to Run Tech-Based Entrepreneurship”

Poshly Turning Big Consumer Data into a Big Deal for Beauty Products

It may be nice to have lots of options when shopping—until it gets hard to make an actual choice. Poshly in New York believes it has an answer for such a dilemma in the beauty industry. The company gathers insights from consumers via online questionnaires on their needs in cosmetics, grooming, and other personal care … Continue reading “Poshly Turning Big Consumer Data into a Big Deal for Beauty Products”

Amazon’s Fire Phone: One Big Piece of a Real-World Shopping Push

Anyone who’s fallen into a wormhole of product recommendations can testify that buying things on Amazon.com is already pretty easy. With an Internet connection and a bank card, just about anything you can dream up is available around the clock, ready to be shipped to your door. But some things haven’t changed all that much … Continue reading “Amazon’s Fire Phone: One Big Piece of a Real-World Shopping Push”

Dallas Tech Startup Chui Crowdfunds an ‘Intelligent’ Doorbell

Smart gadgets are infiltrating many parts of our lives, but two Dallas entrepreneurs are focusing on a forgotten, but key, device we all use: the doorbell. Shaun Moore and Nazare Chafni founded 214 Technologies last year to manufacture Chui, a so-called “smart doorbell” that uses facial recognition to tell you who’s at the door. Chui, … Continue reading “Dallas Tech Startup Chui Crowdfunds an ‘Intelligent’ Doorbell”

BIO 2014: An Industry Surrounded by Insurmountable Opportunity

Biotech is riding the crest of a wave of public and private financial interest unparalleled in the 36-years since the founding of Genentech. Since 2012 public markets have committed $10.3 billion to more than 100 life-sciences IPOs, an industry record. Pharma has been buying/partnering with biotech on an unprecedented scale. Research breakthroughs from cancer immunotherapy … Continue reading “BIO 2014: An Industry Surrounded by Insurmountable Opportunity”

Boston VC Firms, Pharmas Team up on $23.5M Series A For Navitor

For close to a year, Navitor Pharmaceuticals has been quietly working behind the scenes with scientists at the Whitehead Institute on an approach to hit a well-known disease target in a novel way. Now the Cambridge, MA-based startup is stepping out of the shadows to unveil its plan with a big round of financing. Today, … Continue reading “Boston VC Firms, Pharmas Team up on $23.5M Series A For Navitor”

CyberHive’s Darin Andersen Outlines Expanded Plans as iHive Debuts

After launching the CyberHive San Diego incubator for local cybersecurity startups early last year, founder Darin Andersen has expanded into adjacent offices to establish what he calls iHive, a shared workspace and incubator for startups focused on the Internet of Things. The Internet of Things is a much-anticipated new wave of wireless connectivity, linking together … Continue reading “CyberHive’s Darin Andersen Outlines Expanded Plans as iHive Debuts”

SF Biotech Venture Vet Steve Burrill Dumped by LPs, Sued for Fraud

There’s more turmoil for G. Steven Burrill, the former accountant who has run a San Francisco biotech finance group under his own name for two decades. Burrill, known for his natty suits and pink shirts, is being sued for fraud by a former colleague for allegedly taking cash meant for investment and diverting it to … Continue reading “SF Biotech Venture Vet Steve Burrill Dumped by LPs, Sued for Fraud”

Galvanize CEO Opens Up About $18M Round, Plan to Create Ed Startup

Ever since Jim Deters and his co-founders launched Galvanize in Denver in October 2012, they’ve emphasized what they call the three C’s: community, capital, and curriculum. But, given Galvanize’s impressive co-working spaces in Denver, San Francisco, and Boulder, CO—as well as the Galvanize Ventures seed fund expected to total $7 million that it has quietly … Continue reading “Galvanize CEO Opens Up About $18M Round, Plan to Create Ed Startup”

MI Roundup: Contest Deadlines, Personnel Changes, New Investments, More

Here’s a look at news briefs from around Michigan’s innovation hubs: —Applications for the third annual Entrepreneur-YOU business plan competition are now being accepted from women-owned businesses or women with a hot startup idea. The competition will award cash prizes to six winners and coaching to 10 businesses, which includes advice on marketing, financial management, … Continue reading “MI Roundup: Contest Deadlines, Personnel Changes, New Investments, More”

NY Angels Chair Brian Cohen: Angel Investing is Slowing Down

Startups better bring their “A game” if they want to land early backers now. On Tuesday, Brian Cohen, chairman of New York Angels, shared more of his tough love with entrepreneurs—and spoke about angel investing slowing down. He was speaking at this year’s New York Venture Summit, hosted by youngStartup Ventures in the financial district, … Continue reading “NY Angels Chair Brian Cohen: Angel Investing is Slowing Down”

New WiTricity CEO: 2015 Will Show “Real Progress” for Wireless Power

[Updated 2:15 p.m.] It’s easy to forget that, just a decade ago, wireless Internet access wasn’t the first-world commodity we take for granted today. As the head of HP’s “mobile computing group” back then, Alex Gruzen had seen wi-fi make some steps toward the mainstream. But the true leap, he recalls, wouldn’t come until Intel … Continue reading “New WiTricity CEO: 2015 Will Show “Real Progress” for Wireless Power”

Texas Biotech ZS Pharma Makes Wall Street Debut, Raises $107M

ZS Pharma, which is making a therapy for kidney disease, makes its debut on the Nasdaq today after pricing its IPO at $18 per share, above its projected range of $15 to $17. The pricing of 5.9 million shares—versus the 5 million originally planned—raises $107 million and marks the first appearance on Wall Street in … Continue reading “Texas Biotech ZS Pharma Makes Wall Street Debut, Raises $107M”

“We Have to Find Our Way”: Eric Topol of Scripps on Connected Health

Eric Topol wears many hats. He is a practicing cardiologist, genomic researcher, chief academic officer of Scripps Health, and the head of the Scripps Translational Science Institute, one of more than 60 biomedical centers supported through an ambitious National Institutes of Health program created nearly 10 years ago to move basic medical research into the … Continue reading ““We Have to Find Our Way”: Eric Topol of Scripps on Connected Health”

Modern Meadow Grazes on $10M to Grow Leather Without Cows

Just because you like to eat meat or wear leather doesn’t mean you’re all that happy about the way these products are made. Few guests at Outback Steakhouse, for example, would really enjoy going out back to slaughter their own steer. And we can probably all agree—whether we’re carnivores or vegetarians—that the cattle industry is … Continue reading “Modern Meadow Grazes on $10M to Grow Leather Without Cows”

GenePeeks Takes on Preconception Testing With “Digital Babies”

Sperm banks only screen their donors for a handful of genetic diseases. Unfortunately, there are many more than that a donor could carry without having any telltale symptoms—and which could be passed on to a child. A startup called GenePeeks is looking to improve peoples’ odds of having a healthy baby—and beat a path towards … Continue reading “GenePeeks Takes on Preconception Testing With “Digital Babies””

Sage Therapeutics Readies IPO Pitch to Develop CNS Drugs

Sage Therapeutics made it pretty clear it was plotting an IPO when it added a group of public investment funds to its latest private financing round a few months ago. The Cambridge, MA-based company followed through today, filing papers outlining plans to tap Wall Street to develop drugs for rare neurological disorders. Sage aims to … Continue reading “Sage Therapeutics Readies IPO Pitch to Develop CNS Drugs”

With J&J Deals, Aduro’s Cancer Vaccines Have New Chance To Prove Worth

The idea behind Aduro BioTech’s experimental cancer treatment—turning a dangerous food-borne bacterium into a Trojan horse against tumors—may seem startlingly new. But the project arose a dozen years ago, and incubated slowly in three different companies, before emerging this summer into a long-awaited splash of sunlight. Just weeks ago, Berkeley, CA-based Aduro signed a licensing … Continue reading “With J&J Deals, Aduro’s Cancer Vaccines Have New Chance To Prove Worth”

American Family Ventures Exits Stealth Mode, Builds National Portfolio

American Family Insurance has quietly become perhaps the most active Wisconsin corporation in the local startup scene, but this week it made a splash with two high-profile announcements. The Madison, WI-based insurer’s venture capital arm participated in Chicago-based Review Trackers’ $2 million Series A funding round announced yesterday. Also yesterday, Microsoft announced a new startup … Continue reading “American Family Ventures Exits Stealth Mode, Builds National Portfolio”

San Diego Startup Week: Why Startup Culture Is Important

When bootstrapping a startup, money is always a factor. Growing a strong team with a limited budget is difficult, and even if you can get talent on board within your budget, keeping them can still be a challenge. The entrepreneurial fervor that fuels the team’s excitement and drive to create a big success only lasts … Continue reading “San Diego Startup Week: Why Startup Culture Is Important”

Scott McNealy’s Social Media Startup Wayin Tees Up $12.1M Round

Scott McNealy’s Denver-based social media startup Wayin has raised at least $12.1 million in a Series C round, according to a recent SEC filing. McNealy, the co-founder and longtime CEO of Sun Microsystems, and other Sun alumni launched Wayin in 2011, and McNealy is its chairman. The startup’s software collects social media postings from sites … Continue reading “Scott McNealy’s Social Media Startup Wayin Tees Up $12.1M Round”

San Diego Startup Week Kicks Off with Opening of New IoT Incubator

San Diego Startup Week begins at noon today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of iHive, a shared workspace and CyberTech “Internet of Things” incubator, and an afternoon pitchfest intended to highlight San Diego’s prowess in startups, art, and music. San Diego’s second annual Startup Week includes scheduled events, a downtown “startup crawl,” … Continue reading “San Diego Startup Week Kicks Off with Opening of New IoT Incubator”

Cloud Elements Closes $3.1M A Round to Make App Integration Easier

Cloud Elements, a Denver-based startup that makes software that developers can use to integrate their custom applications with cloud services like Dropbox and Salesforce, has closed a $3.1 million Series A round. Grotech Ventures and Icon Venture Partners led the round. Denver-based Galvanize Ventures also invested. Cloud Elements co-founder and CEO Mark Geene said his … Continue reading “Cloud Elements Closes $3.1M A Round to Make App Integration Easier”

Microsoft, American Family Insurance Launch Startup Accelerator

Microsoft announced a new startup accelerator today that will be housed at its headquarters outside Seattle and focused on companies innovating in home automation. Microsoft has formed a partnership with Madison, WI-based American Family Insurance, the nation’s eighth-largest provider of homeowners’ insurance (among other insurance products). Through its venture capital arm, American Family Ventures, the … Continue reading “Microsoft, American Family Insurance Launch Startup Accelerator”

Roundup: New Funds at Wisegate, Savara, Besomebody, & Dallas startups

[Updated 6/17/14 1:10 pm. See below.] Another week, another slew of startup financings in Texas. Here’s the latest news: —The Dallas Entrepreneur Center announced that Comerica Bank has funded a $50,000 pitch contest in North Texas. The DEC, a co-working space as well as incubator and accelerator, was founded a year ago by Trey Bowles, … Continue reading “Roundup: New Funds at Wisegate, Savara, Besomebody, & Dallas startups”

Yammer CTO Pisoni Visits NY, Talks Innovation in the Future of Work

Yammer keeps sharpening its knife as more rivals tread in its territory. On Monday, Microsoft held a group discussion on the future of work at its Times Square technology center. It was a chance for the company to show off how its enterprise social network software, Yammer, gets used by its customers. Companies such as … Continue reading “Yammer CTO Pisoni Visits NY, Talks Innovation in the Future of Work”