When SoftTech VC partner Charles Hudson came through San Diego last month, he explained why his firm is increasingly taking bigger stakes—and bigger risks—in funding early stage tech companies. He also explained what SoftTech is looking for when it invests in startups outside Silicon Valley. As one of the first “micro VCs” in the Bay … Continue reading “SoftTech’s Hudson Talks Strategy, Key Factors in Out-of-Town Deals”
Category: National
Radius Health Recharges IPO After Two Week Hiatus
Apparently, the chilly market conditions that derailed Radius Health’s IPO a few weeks ago have warmed up. Just 12 days after postponing a $75 million IPO—the second time it has pulled a stock offering since 2012—the Cambridge, MA-based company late Wednesday stepped back into the queue once again. Radius still has the same underwriters—Cowen & … Continue reading “Radius Health Recharges IPO After Two Week Hiatus”
Ascent Solar Technologies Helps Create Sun-Powered Drone
Ascent Solar Technologies is taking to the skies. The Thornton, CO-based manufacturer of thin-film photovoltaic modules announced this week that an unmanned aerial vehicle—also commonly known as a drone or unmanned aircraft system—using Ascent’s photovoltaic film recently made its first successful test flights. The drone was developed by Silent Falcon UAS Technologies, which is based … Continue reading “Ascent Solar Technologies Helps Create Sun-Powered Drone”
Science and Art: Why Choose? A Biotech Entrepreneur’s Dual Life
Science and the arts are often pictured as polar opposites: Scientists methodically pursue facts and truth, while artists soar over the landscape of everyday detail to imagine their own worlds. But there are actually great similarities. Scientists and artists both challenge the current maxims of their fields. And many young people have struggled to choose … Continue reading “Science and Art: Why Choose? A Biotech Entrepreneur’s Dual Life”
Gener8tor Grad OpenHomes Raises Seed Funds to Grow Staff, Launch App
Madison, WI-based OpenHomes, a startup that helps people buy and sell homes online, has raised $180,000 in seed funds that will help it expand staff and develop a mobile app, the company said today. Investors include Milwaukee-based CSA Partners, Oshkosh, WI-based Angels on the Water, Wisconsin startup accelerator Gener8tor, and individuals including Mark Bakken, CEO … Continue reading “Gener8tor Grad OpenHomes Raises Seed Funds to Grow Staff, Launch App”
Roundup: Ann Arbor SPARK, WSU, MCWT, Beringea, Start Garden, FarmLogs
Here’s a look at news from around Southeast Michigan’s innovation community: —Ann Arbor SPARK held its annual meeting yesterday at the University of Michigan’s North Campus Research Complex, where the business development organization detailed the results of its work over the past year. According to SPARK, its efforts netted $148 million in new investments committed … Continue reading “Roundup: Ann Arbor SPARK, WSU, MCWT, Beringea, Start Garden, FarmLogs”
Boston 2034: The Big Agenda for Our June 10 Innovation Conference
We’re just three weeks away from Xconomy’s biggest conference yet: Boston 2034, an all-day look at what it will take to keep New England on the front lines of innovation 20 years from now. In a time of intense change, it’s a topic that will inspire some equally intense ideas and opinions. And we’re planning … Continue reading “Boston 2034: The Big Agenda for Our June 10 Innovation Conference”
1Q VC Data: What Just Happened?
The National Venture Capital Association recently released data on first-quarter investment activity, which always makes for an interesting read, at least on long plane rides. Point of fact, this past quarter was exceptional in many ways—and arguably somewhat unexpected. The headlines read that $9.5 billion was invested in 951 companies, an amount we have not … Continue reading “1Q VC Data: What Just Happened?”
Just a Few Slots Left for Napa Summit June 3—Request An Invite
We are just under two weeks away from the Napa Summit 2014: The Xconomy Retreat on the Economy, Jobs, and Growth. It is one of our most special events of the year. Not only does it have an incredible speaker lineup, it is multidisciplinary, offering a rare chance to step out of your zone of … Continue reading “Just a Few Slots Left for Napa Summit June 3—Request An Invite”
Dyn Acquires Renesys, Adding Internet Monitoring Chops
With super-smart engineering graduates just about everywhere you look and plenty of behind-the-scenes companies putting their brains to use, New England’s technology sector is instrumental in keeping the digital world humming right along. Just don’t tell that to everyone mesmerized by the hot new take on photo-sharing apps or anonymous messaging services. “The Internet’s run … Continue reading “Dyn Acquires Renesys, Adding Internet Monitoring Chops”
Milwaukee-based SpotHopper Wants to Be Pandora For Watering Holes
[Corrected 5/21/14, 8:53 am. See below.] Movie and TV series addicts have Netflix. Adventurous music aficionados have Pandora. But there’s arguably no equivalent go-to mobile app or software program for people who are planning a fun night on the town and want help scouting bars that match their tastes and mood. That’s what the makers … Continue reading “Milwaukee-based SpotHopper Wants to Be Pandora For Watering Holes”
DocSend Goes Step Beyond Sharing With Document Analytics
B2B document sharing services are nothing new, but DocSend, a San Francisco-based startup that launched out of TechCrunch Disrupt earlier this month, could change how you work—and let you check up on the people you collaborate with. Unlike Dropbox and Box, services that simply allow sharing and file storage, DocSend applies analytics and tracking to … Continue reading “DocSend Goes Step Beyond Sharing With Document Analytics”
Incubation Station Turns Eye to Austin’s Consumer Products Startups
Austin is rightly known for its tech hardware and software startups, but Shari Wynne felt there was a need to support other entrepreneurs, namely, those making consumer products. So, she took a page out of the book of tech accelerators like Techstars and Capital Factory and founded Incubation Station in 2012, a 14-week program to … Continue reading “Incubation Station Turns Eye to Austin’s Consumer Products Startups”
Aereo CEO Remains Defiant vs. TV Foes, Sees Unbundling Ahead
For a man whose startup is fighting for survival before the U.S. Supreme Court, Chet Kanojia claims he does not lose any sleep over the matter. Actually, the founder and CEO of Aereo said he gets little sleep at all as he pushes his company’s plans forward—rather than agonizing over legal battles. “We started this … Continue reading “Aereo CEO Remains Defiant vs. TV Foes, Sees Unbundling Ahead”
Engaged Learning, Backed by Gates Foundation, Adapts to Each Student
When University of Washington computer science professor Zoran Popović describes his effort to dramatically change the way kids learn math, you can pick up echoes of personalized medicine, targeted online advertisements, and even choose-your-own adventure books. As in virtually every other sphere of business and life, the technology-driven transformation of education from a data-poor to a … Continue reading “Engaged Learning, Backed by Gates Foundation, Adapts to Each Student”
Mayor de Blasio Pushes Five-Borough Tech Plan at Internet Week NY
Change. On Monday, there was plenty of change on New York Mayor Bill de Blasio’s mind. Praising the merits of the city’s technology community—and talking disruption—he gave the opening speech for Internet Week New York. The first-term mayor took the opportunity to share some of his vision for New York’s future. It was the kickoff … Continue reading “Mayor de Blasio Pushes Five-Borough Tech Plan at Internet Week NY”
With Banks, Insurers Knocking, Context Relevant Lands $21M to Answer
Context Relevant has focused its big data analysis software on deep-pocketed financial services firms that are looking for an edge, demand tight security, and are willing to pay for it. The strategy appears to be winning as the Seattle-based startup has raised $21 million in new capital to hire 100 people over the next 18 … Continue reading “With Banks, Insurers Knocking, Context Relevant Lands $21M to Answer”
ZS Pharma Ends Texas Biotech IPO Dry Spell With $86M Pitch
Biotechs all over the country have been rushing into the IPO queue over the last year—just, as it turns out, not in Texas. That changed this past week, when ZS Pharma, a suburban Fort Worth, TX, biotech, revealed plans to go public and raise as much as $86 million from investors. ZS Pharma is developing … Continue reading “ZS Pharma Ends Texas Biotech IPO Dry Spell With $86M Pitch”
After Time For Family, Reflection, VC Samuels Emerges At Venrock
After a two-year hiatus to care for her son, longtime Bay Area biotech investor Camille Samuels has returned to the venture spotlight. Samuels is joining Venrock, a diversified venture capital firm founded in 1969, with what she calls a broader remit than she’s had in the past. She’ll still scout for biopharma and consumer health … Continue reading “After Time For Family, Reflection, VC Samuels Emerges At Venrock”
Ophthotech, Novartis Team up on $1B Deal for Eye Drug
Ophthotech has said for some time that it’s been looking for a partner to help with international sales of Fovista, its experimental drug for age-related macular degeneration in clinical trials. Today the location New York-based company is announcing that it has found such a partner in Novartis, and has cut a deal with Swiss pharma … Continue reading “Ophthotech, Novartis Team up on $1B Deal for Eye Drug”
Austin’s Step One Aims to Put the Customer in Charge of Customer Care
Calling customer service—or navigating the maze of an online help desk—is among the most frustrating chores for consumers who are dealing with product problems. Turns out, it’s not that much fun for the companies either. One Austin startup says its software can make the experience better for all. “There are typical things that people call … Continue reading “Austin’s Step One Aims to Put the Customer in Charge of Customer Care”
Frustrated Student Artists Can Meet Amateur Art Buyers on Folyo
After Victoria Bujny spent last summer interning at Google, she wanted to celebrate the end of her tenure there by purchasing a piece of original artwork. “I went to a gallery, but I felt out of place and uncomfortable,” Bujny says. “I wondered if it’s not at a gallery, where do people get art?” Bujny … Continue reading “Frustrated Student Artists Can Meet Amateur Art Buyers on Folyo”
Tamr Emerges With $16M to Crack Data Curation for Enterprises
One of the Boston tech scene’s most dynamic duos is at it again. Yes, Andy Palmer and Michael Stonebraker are coming out of stealth with their latest company. Cambridge, MA-based Tamr, formerly known as Data Tamer, makes software aimed at helping big companies manage and connect their many data sources; the idea is to give … Continue reading “Tamr Emerges With $16M to Crack Data Curation for Enterprises”
Wisconsin Roundup: Cloud, Solar, Speed Dating, & More
Here are a few recent notable news items in Wisconsin’s tech and innovation community: —Helios Solar Works, a Milwaukee solar panel startup that filed for receivership and shut down last year, will reopen under its new Chinese parent company, Chinaland Solar Energy—but not in Wisconsin. Instead, the company will relocate to North Carolina, according to … Continue reading “Wisconsin Roundup: Cloud, Solar, Speed Dating, & More”
Uvize Determined to Help Veterans Make Transition to College Life
Stepping off the military base—or battlefield—and on to a college campus can be a surprisingly difficult transition, but Uvize, a Boulder, CO-based startup, is looking to change that. Uvize is a software startup that develops what co-founder and CEO Dave Cass calls virtual veterans centers. Veterans can use its online community features to connect with … Continue reading “Uvize Determined to Help Veterans Make Transition to College Life”
Clever Breaking Sign-on Barriers to Make Edtech Easier for Teachers
One of the chief imports of Northern California is former Harvard undergraduates and MBAs who flock to the Silicon Valley to change the world. The arrival of Facebook’s founders set the storyline for other alumni teams, including the three Harvard friends who reunited to form Clever, a fast-growing San Francisco educational technology startup with a … Continue reading “Clever Breaking Sign-on Barriers to Make Edtech Easier for Teachers”
Boston Tech Roundup: CRV, Mobiquity, Ditto Labs, Groupize
A few deals of note that perked up around the New England innovation scene in recent days: —Charles River Ventures appears to have done well in the IPO of Zendesk, an online customer service software company. The Boston-based venture firm was a Series A investor in the company and held nearly a quarter of its … Continue reading “Boston Tech Roundup: CRV, Mobiquity, Ditto Labs, Groupize”
Will Paul English’s Blade Boost Consumer Tech in Boston?
Be careful how you e-mail Paul English. Or talk to him, for that matter. That’s one message I got from the Kayak co-founder when I met him at Blade, his new venture-creation outfit and startup workspace in South Boston. It was a few hours before Blade’s opening gala on Friday, and English (pictured) took time … Continue reading “Will Paul English’s Blade Boost Consumer Tech in Boston?”
Concept 3D Raises $1.25M to Advance Its Mapping and Energy Software
After years of working with universities to develop interactive maps and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to develop energy assessment software, Concept 3D is setting off to explore new territory. The Boulder, CO-based software and services company has closed a $1.25 million funding round, according to SEC documents. Concept 3D co-founder and CEO Oliver Davis … Continue reading “Concept 3D Raises $1.25M to Advance Its Mapping and Energy Software”
Check Out Our Napa Summit Agenda—Get Your Invite for June 2-3 Event
It’s one of the most special events Xconomy holds—an invitation-only confab in the Napa Valley for roughly 80-90 special guests and speakers. And the Napa Summit 2014, set for June 2-3, is shaping up to be our best ever. We have a power-packed array of speakers, from pioneers in their fields to some of the … Continue reading “Check Out Our Napa Summit Agenda—Get Your Invite for June 2-3 Event”
Welcome to the Seven-Year Technology Pause
What’s even harder to endure than the collapse of an economic or technology bubble? The long lull that follows. The current bubble hasn’t popped quite yet—and it might not, at least not in the sudden and messy way that the dot-com bubble did, in March 2000. What’s just as possible is that that we’ll see … Continue reading “Welcome to the Seven-Year Technology Pause”
Innovation Hub: David Pogue Does Some Trendspotting
David Pogue is a tastemaker. His reviews in The New York Times—and now on Yahoo—are widely followed. He has 1.5 million Twitter followers. And he’s always on the lookout for new trends. So, what is he intrigued by right now? And what does he think is overhyped? I put it to Pogue. [The following interview … Continue reading “Innovation Hub: David Pogue Does Some Trendspotting”
East Coast Biotech Roundup: LTI, SolveBio, Proteon, & More
Abstracts from this year’s annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology came out this week, which means it was another week when Big Pharma took center stage. Immuno-oncology drugs from Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: [[ticker:BMY]]), Merck (NYSE: [[ticker:MRK]]), Roche/Genentech, and AstraZeneca (NYSE: [[ticker:AZN]]) (some of which, incidentally, were acquired from biotech in the first … Continue reading “East Coast Biotech Roundup: LTI, SolveBio, Proteon, & More”
With Novartis Deal Dead, Proteon Embarks on Plan B With $45M Round
Proteon Therapeutics almost became a piece of Novartis’ portfolio before an option-to-buy deal with the Swiss pharma giant fell apart last summer. Now it’s going down a different path altogether—one that looks like it might take the Waltham, MA-based company all the way to Wall Street. Proteon is announcing today that it’s raised a $45 … Continue reading “With Novartis Deal Dead, Proteon Embarks on Plan B With $45M Round”
West Coast Biotech Roundup: Lumena/Shire, Isis, Janssen Labs & More
A new wave of buyout fervor included the acquisition of San Diego’s Lumena Pharmaceuticals, Janssen Labs unveiled plans for a new incubator in South San Francisco, and Statos Genomics raised capital in Seattle. Here is the past week’s roundup of news up and down the left coast. —San Diego’s Lumena Pharmaceuticals, founded in 2011 to … Continue reading “West Coast Biotech Roundup: Lumena/Shire, Isis, Janssen Labs & More”
Roundup: StratoScientific, Pro.com, Seattle Steam, Bitcoin Miners, & More
It was a very good week for a new father-and-son medical devices company, StratoScientific. Another home improvement startup, Pro.com, is revving up in Seattle. Seattle Steam is being acquired by Brookfield Asset Management. Bitcoin miners are opening up shop in Eastern Washington because of the low cost of electricity. And Code Fellows has a new … Continue reading “Roundup: StratoScientific, Pro.com, Seattle Steam, Bitcoin Miners, & More”
New England VCs Grab Major Role in Campaign Against Non-Competes
This week, the New England Venture Capital Association threw a big party to celebrate the Boston innovation sector, complete with awards for the hottest startups, rock n’ roll-themed costumes, and hundreds of people packed into a big downtown theater. It’s exactly the kind of fun event you’d expect from such a trade group, whose members … Continue reading “New England VCs Grab Major Role in Campaign Against Non-Competes”
NeuMoDx and Jeff Williams Capitalize on Lessons Learned at Handylab
Jeff Williams is one of Michigan’s most successful biotech entrepreneurs, with two of Michigan’s biggest exits—Accuri and Handylab—on his ledger. Now he’s hoping the third time’s a charm, too. Williams’ new molecular diagnostic startup, NeuMoDx, just closed a $21 million Series B round in April. Pfizer Ventures led the round, with participation from Baird Capital … Continue reading “NeuMoDx and Jeff Williams Capitalize on Lessons Learned at Handylab”
Geppetto Avatars Melds Emotion of Disney, Smarts of KITT
[Corrected 5/15/14, 3:41 pm. See below.] The fact that Norrie Daroga considers Walt Disney the forefather of his company’s interactive virtual characters is telling, and not just because Geppetto Avatars was partly named after the woodcarver who created Pinocchio, the puppet who dreamed of being a real boy, in Disney’s classic 1940 animated film, “Pinocchio.” … Continue reading “Geppetto Avatars Melds Emotion of Disney, Smarts of KITT”
Joining Boston 2034 on 6/10: Rob Go, Geoff Chapin, Kara Miller, & More
We are busy finalizing the agenda for Boston 2034, our biggest conference to date. The theme of the day is to look out 20 years and think about what it will take to build the innovation city of the future. It’s all happening on Tuesday, June 10, at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston. … Continue reading “Joining Boston 2034 on 6/10: Rob Go, Geoff Chapin, Kara Miller, & More”
At the Threshold of a New Digital Health Landscape
After decades of development, digital health has arrived at a gateway that is reminiscent of the days when the brick-sized cell phone was ready to advance to the first flip phone, with a world of innovation beyond. Industry leaders will be offering their thoughts on what that world could look like in presentations today and … Continue reading “At the Threshold of a New Digital Health Landscape”
The Davis Dilemma: New Energy for Innovation, But Where to Grow?
Every economic development official in the country knows the story. In 1951, Frederick Terman, then the dean of engineering at Stanford University, decided to set aside 200 acres of Stanford-owned fruit orchards in Palo Alto for the new Stanford Industrial Park. The park was soon home to Varian Associates, Shockley Transistor, and Hewlett-Packard, as well … Continue reading “The Davis Dilemma: New Energy for Innovation, But Where to Grow?”
Over Pizza and Chinese? Sprig Delivers Sustainable Meals on Demand
[Corrected 5/15/09, 11:50 am. See below.] When Sprig co-founders Gagan Biyani and Neeraj Berry went looking for a head chef for their newly founded healthy meal delivery startup, they received hundreds of resumes. Then they held between 60 and 80 meetings with potential candidates. They found a lot of great cooks, but no one who … Continue reading “Over Pizza and Chinese? Sprig Delivers Sustainable Meals on Demand”
U of H’s Quoz Capital Will Channel Foreign Investment into Startups
The University of Houston will announce today a deal with private investors to create a venture fund to boost its technologies and create a dedicated entrepreneurial center near campus. “This agreement is not just about the technologies, it’s about the whole ecosystem,” says Roth Bose, the university’s vice chancellor/vice president for research and technology. “The … Continue reading “U of H’s Quoz Capital Will Channel Foreign Investment into Startups”
Foundation Gives $31.2M to Support UW Entrepreneurial Researchers
The University of Washington today announced a $31.2 million gift from the Washington Research Foundation to support interdisciplinary, entrepreneurial researchers working on protein design, data science, clean energy, and neuroengineering. Xconomy first reported on the funding, which represents a new giving strategy for the foundation, in March. A few details were announced today that were … Continue reading “Foundation Gives $31.2M to Support UW Entrepreneurial Researchers”
Polis: Startups Can’t Ignore Politics, Must Make Voices Heard
Entrepreneur-turned-Congressman Jared Polis has a brutal truth for entrepreneurs who don’t pay attention to politics. “Wouldn’t it be nice if you could safely ignore politics?” asked Polis, the Democrat who represents Boulder, CO, in the U.S. House of Representatives. “But that’s not the case. The biggest principle to remember is if you’re not at the … Continue reading “Polis: Startups Can’t Ignore Politics, Must Make Voices Heard”
Video Gets Streamed via Cell Networks and a Dose of Metadata Curation
Every day, video seems to become more mobile and malleable. Dropping by this week’s Streaming Media East conference in New York gave glimpses of new ways video can be handled and used. The two-day event featured plenty of expert panels, but I spent a few minutes Tuesday chatting up the folks from LiveU and Ramp. … Continue reading “Video Gets Streamed via Cell Networks and a Dose of Metadata Curation”
Roundup: Compare Metrics, Zebra Imaging & Cypress Raise New Funds
A rare cool front has blown through Texas—it’s in the low 60s and breezy in Houston in mid-May—so here’s a quick-and-dirty roundup of innovation news so you can spend the rest of your time outside and enjoy the weather. —Compare Metrics in Austin, TX, announced it had completed a $3.8 million fundraise Wednesday. The company, … Continue reading “Roundup: Compare Metrics, Zebra Imaging & Cypress Raise New Funds”
Fort Collins-based Beagle Fetches Go Code Colorado’s Top Prize
A team from Fort Collins took home the top prize last week at the inaugural Go Code Colorado challenge. The event is a competition sponsored by the state of Colorado to encourage startups to use public data collected by state agencies to create apps that can solve problems for businesses. Beagle earned a $25,000 contract … Continue reading “Fort Collins-based Beagle Fetches Go Code Colorado’s Top Prize”
Celldex, Bristol-Myers Cut Deal on Immuno-Oncology Combo Trial
[Updated, 10:15 am ET] Big pharmaceutical companies everywhere are playing the mix and match game to come up with the best possible combination of immunotherapy drugs to treat cancer. Hampton, NJ-based Celldex Therapeutics has become the latest beneficiary of that strategy through a deal today with Bristol-Myers Squibb. Celldex (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CLDX]]) and Bristol-Myers (NYSE: [[ticker:BMY]]) … Continue reading “Celldex, Bristol-Myers Cut Deal on Immuno-Oncology Combo Trial”