Here’s something to add to your decline-of-the-empire files: the U.S. is falling further behind in world rankings of average Internet connection speeds. That’s the verdict from the latest State of the Internet Report by Akamai (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AKAM]]), the Cambridge, MA-based networking company that handles about a third of global Web traffic. The latest stats cover … Continue reading “We’re Number 9! U.S. Slips in Internet Connection Ranking”
Category: National
An MVP Is Not a Cheaper Product—It’s About Smart Learning
A minimum viable product (MVP) is not always a smaller/cheaper version of your final product. Defining the goal for an MVP can save you tons of time, money and grief. Drones over the Heartland I ran into a small startup at Stanford who wants to fly unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) with a hyper-spectral camera over … Continue reading “An MVP Is Not a Cheaper Product—It’s About Smart Learning”
U-M Announces New Heads of Zell Lurie Institute, Center for Entrepreneurship
This week marks a changing of the guard for two key entrepreneurship programs at the University of Michigan. The Ross School of Business announced that Stewart Thornhill will replace the retiring Tom Kinnear as executive director of the Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, one of the oldest and highest ranked university entrepreneurial programs in … Continue reading “U-M Announces New Heads of Zell Lurie Institute, Center for Entrepreneurship”
Ex-Prometheus Exec Takes the Reins at Dallas’ Gradalis
Gradalis, a Dallas-based life sciences startup, announced today that it has hired pharmaceutical veteran Joseph M. Limber to lead the company as it further develops its personalized vaccine for ovarian cancer. Limber comes to Gradalis having already spent three decades in the life sciences industry. Most recently he lead Prometheus Pharmaceuticals in San Diego to … Continue reading “Ex-Prometheus Exec Takes the Reins at Dallas’ Gradalis”
Attention “Hands-On” VCs—Startups Aren’t That Interested
If you’re a venture capitalist, you might think it’s important to be a hands-on, energetic, innovative thought leader. But a new survey contends that’s not the way to attract startup CEOs. The National Venture Capital Association partnered with PR and marketing firms on the survey of VCs and entrepreneurs to find out what both sides … Continue reading “Attention “Hands-On” VCs—Startups Aren’t That Interested”
Work-Bench Heeds Call of Enterprise Startups, Revamps Its Co-Op Space
Plenty of shared and cooperative startup spaces pop up in this city, but the crew at Work-Bench thinks they can help a rapidly rising yet somewhat unsung part of the tech community. Like other innovation hubs, New York is brimming with startups that create apps and software for consumers—while the creators of enterprise technology make … Continue reading “Work-Bench Heeds Call of Enterprise Startups, Revamps Its Co-Op Space”
Surprise, the Tech News Didn’t Stop While I Was Away
I was away on vacation in a north-woodsy part of Michigan last week. Maybe you were out too, given that half of all Americans go on out-of-state vacations in July. But now I’m back, I’ve powered through the 1,000 e-mails in my inbox, and I’m catching up on a few of the Bay Area technology … Continue reading “Surprise, the Tech News Didn’t Stop While I Was Away”
Connect CEO Duane Roth in Coma with Head Injury After Bike Accident
[Updated 7/22/13 5:30 pm. See below.] Connect CEO Duane Roth has been hospitalized with a head injury after he slammed into a rock embankment in a bicycling accident Sunday morning near Lake Cuyamaca, about 52 miles east of San Diego. The impact broke his bicycling helmet, and Roth was flown by helicopter to the UC … Continue reading “Connect CEO Duane Roth in Coma with Head Injury After Bike Accident”
Yapert Steps into Limelight with $1.2M, Mobile Celebrity App Watcher
San Diego-based Yapert says it has raised $1.2 million in seed funding from Southern California’s Tech Coast Angels to roll out its social media mobile app for celebrity pix and vids. The startup raised $500,000 when it was founded last year, and the latest infusion brings total funding to $1.7 million. Yapert plans to use … Continue reading “Yapert Steps into Limelight with $1.2M, Mobile Celebrity App Watcher”
Denver Startup Helps Employees Become “Convercent” in Values, Culture
Bosses don’t have many ways to measure the health of their companies’ corporate culture. Sure, they can take surveys or try to extrapolate from indirect measures—or they can suddenly call the entire staff together, offer everyone the chance to quit with two months pay, and see who leaves. Patrick Quinlan, CEO of Convercent, tried the … Continue reading “Denver Startup Helps Employees Become “Convercent” in Values, Culture”
Michigan Angel Fund Makes First Investment in BioPhotonics
The Michigan Angel Fund (MAF), a new 70-member angel investing group managed by Ann Arbor SPARK, announced it has made its first investment—in East Lansing-based BioPhotonics Solutions. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. The MAF, a $2 million professionally managed equity fund formed last year, is the largest angel organization in Michigan. BioPhotonics Solutions is … Continue reading “Michigan Angel Fund Makes First Investment in BioPhotonics”
SynapDx Raises $15.4M From Google Ventures, Others, For Big Autism Study
The underlying biology behind autism is largely a mystery, and you need look no further than how it’s diagnosed for the evidence. A child has to go through a series of behavioral evaluations before a team of experts label him or her with the disorder and begin treatment. Unfortunately, statistics from the Centers for Disease … Continue reading “SynapDx Raises $15.4M From Google Ventures, Others, For Big Autism Study”
The Biotech IPO Phenomenon of 2013: Enjoy It While It Lasts
The year is only half over, but one of the biggest biotech stories of 2013 is going to be the resurgence of the biotech IPO market. It’s a good news/bad news story, depending on where you stand, and how far you look out into the future. First, the good. The IPO surge is a vote … Continue reading “The Biotech IPO Phenomenon of 2013: Enjoy It While It Lasts”
How to Save $200 Billion and Cure Hepatitis C
Wall Street is buzzing with anticipation about the first new all-oral drugs for hepatitis C approaching the market. The high rate of HCV infection and dissatisfaction with current treatments have created a potential multi-billion dollar bonanza for drug companies. It’s estimated that Gilead, the frontrunner in this race, will charge as much as $90,000 per … Continue reading “How to Save $200 Billion and Cure Hepatitis C”
Alcresta Grabs Another $10M to Boost Nutritional Supplements
People with stomach cancer often have trouble keeping their weight up. Despite taking nutritional supplements like Boost or Ensure, patients just can’t properly digest and absorb the needed calories and nutrients. But what if you could boost a Boost to fix the problem? This is the type of answer that Alcresta, a Newton, MA-based startup, … Continue reading “Alcresta Grabs Another $10M to Boost Nutritional Supplements”
OpenIncubate to Boost Open-Source Startups in Austin, Boston, and SF
[Updated at 2:06 p.m.] Austin, TX, will be one home to a new incubator designed to promote innovation in open-source technology. OpenIncubate is a joint project by Austin Ventures, Battery Ventures in Boston, and The Valley Fund, located in Menlo Park, CA. The firms hope to boost open-source startups in each region with mentoring and … Continue reading “OpenIncubate to Boost Open-Source Startups in Austin, Boston, and SF”
Top 5 Boston-Area Venture Deals in Q2 (With Some You May Have Missed)
Venture capitalists were a little slower in the Boston area during the second quarter of this year, investing less money across fewer deals than they had in each of the previous two years. But there were still some sizable checks being written, across healthcare, IT and software, and even—hold onto your hats—cleantech. Here’s a rundown … Continue reading “Top 5 Boston-Area Venture Deals in Q2 (With Some You May Have Missed)”
Northwest Venture Investment Steady in Second Quarter; Apptio Leads the Way
Venture capital investment in Pacific Northwest companies through the first half of 2013 was down compared to last year, but the second quarter itself marked a modest uptick. Investors plunged some $222.9 million into companies during the second quarter, a 39.5 percent increase on the first quarter of the year, and up 13.6 percent from … Continue reading “Northwest Venture Investment Steady in Second Quarter; Apptio Leads the Way”
VC Investment in Boulder-Denver Area Companies Climbs to $111M in Q2
Accera, a pharmaceutical developer based in Broomfield that’s developing an Alzheimer’s-fighting shake, led the pack of Colorado companies that received venture capital in the second quarter. Yes, you read that right. Well, actually Accera makes an FDA-approved food additive that patients take daily to slow the progression of Alzeheimer’s symptoms. The “medical food” product, known … Continue reading “VC Investment in Boulder-Denver Area Companies Climbs to $111M in Q2”
East Coast Life Sciences Roundup: Alkermes, Ensemble, Sinai, & More
A wave of sweltering heat may have enveloped the I-95 corridor this week, but life sciences companies kept churning out news on the East Coast anyway. Money raises, partnerships, and much more hit the wires the week. We’ve got it all below: —Cambridge, MA-based Alkermes (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ALKS]]) unveiled three new drug programs at its R&D … Continue reading “East Coast Life Sciences Roundup: Alkermes, Ensemble, Sinai, & More”
Don’t Call Me “Girl,” Sir: Women, Tech, and a Chat with Olivia Munn
It is long past time to stop regarding the presence of women in technology as an anomaly—yet achieving widespread acknowledgment of their work remains a challenge. Multiple organizations in New York—including Girls Who Code, Cornell NYC Tech, and L’Oréal—and across the country are taking on this task while also encouraging new generations of women to … Continue reading “Don’t Call Me “Girl,” Sir: Women, Tech, and a Chat with Olivia Munn”
VC Funding Levels Out as Early Stage Turns Up & Top 10 Deals
Consistent and modest are the words that seem to best describe U.S. venture capital activity during the second quarter, as VC investments remained more or less level with the first three months of 2013, according to recent data from several venture-tracking surveys. But the pace of venture investing is down in comparison to the second … Continue reading “VC Funding Levels Out as Early Stage Turns Up & Top 10 Deals”
San Diego Life Sciences Roundup: Regulus, Ocera, Lithera, and More
A number of San Diego life sciences companies appeared to be taking advantage of the strengthening biotech market on Wall Street by raising capital or repositioning themselves—or both. Here’s my rundown on the deals and other news. —San Diego-based Lithera, which is developing an injectable fat-reduction drug, said it has raised an additional $6.7 million … Continue reading “San Diego Life Sciences Roundup: Regulus, Ocera, Lithera, and More”
First Music Hack Day Builds Bridge Between Local Tech, Music Scenes
There might have been a time when the kids in bands and the kids who coded didn’t get along. But those days are in the past, and the upcoming Music Hack Day Denver is an example of that. Music Hack Day Denver is part of an international series of events that’s a few years old, … Continue reading “First Music Hack Day Builds Bridge Between Local Tech, Music Scenes”
Ensemble Adds to Cast of Partners With Alexion Deal
Ensemble Therapeutics can add Alexion Pharmaceuticals to the list of believers in its drug discovery engine. Cheshire, CT-based Alexion (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ALXN]]), the company that has made a fortune off of the super-expensive rare disease drug eculizumab (Soliris), has become the latest company to tap into Cambridge, MA-based Ensemble’s library of synthetic macrocycles—molecules intended to combine … Continue reading “Ensemble Adds to Cast of Partners With Alexion Deal”
MI Biotech Roundup: Rockwell, Metabolic Solutions Publish New Data
—Rockwell Medical, based in Wixom, MI, last week announced successful results from its Phase 3 trials of Soluble Ferric Pyrophosphate (SFP), an iron salt administered to dialysis patients through dialysate to replace the iron lost during dialysis. The data showed that in dialysis patients not receiving IV iron, SFP effectively delivers iron via dialysate and maintains … Continue reading “MI Biotech Roundup: Rockwell, Metabolic Solutions Publish New Data”
OncoMed Pharmaceuticals Soars in IPO Debut
The stock market can’t seem to get enough of biotech IPOs these days, and OncoMed Pharmaceuticals is the latest company to cash in. Redwood City, CA-based OncoMed Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:OMED]]) sold 4.8 million shares to IPO investors last night at $17 apiece, for a total fundraising haul of $81 million. But once the company first … Continue reading “OncoMed Pharmaceuticals Soars in IPO Debut”
Tableau Says Cloud Software Push Provides Flexibility
Tableau Software, the Seattle data visualization company that successfully debuted as a public company in May, is rolling out a software-as-a-service version of its main product. Tableau Online has the same functions as Tableau Server, allowing non-experts to analyze large datasets and create charts, maps, and other visualizations, says Ellie Fields, the company’s director of … Continue reading “Tableau Says Cloud Software Push Provides Flexibility”
Objective Logistics Beats Funding Crunch, Gains $5.3M, Loses Beard
Here’s a snapshot of one of the few Boston tech startups able to fight its way through the Series A funding crunch. Note the “financing beard” (like a hockey playoff beard) on the CEO in the photo. Objective Logistics, which makes software to help restaurants and retailers track employee performance, has hauled in $5.3 million … Continue reading “Objective Logistics Beats Funding Crunch, Gains $5.3M, Loses Beard”
Content Marketing Platform Helps Kapost Raise $5.6M Series C Round
First things first: it’s Kapost, pronounced like “kaboom.” The idea of blowing up—but only in the good way—seems apt, following Kapost’s announcement Thursday that it has raised a $5.6 million Series C round. Boulder-based Kapost has raised $8.2 million the past three years and develops content marketing software. Basically, it’s a robust content management system … Continue reading “Content Marketing Platform Helps Kapost Raise $5.6M Series C Round”
Google Ventures-Backed Nifti: Another Entrant in the Price-Tracking Wars
Google essentially owns the Web, but Amazon owns online shopping. And if a startup company can put itself between those two forces, there’s a good bet it’ll attract some interest from a big name in the tech industry—even if others have been trying something similar for a while now. That’s part of the story for … Continue reading “Google Ventures-Backed Nifti: Another Entrant in the Price-Tracking Wars”
SMC Bio Looks to Heal Bones With Carbohydrates, Not Stem Cells
The secret to regenerative medicine doesn’t really lie in a lab dish with stem cells, or some engineered protein that stimulates tissue growth, at least to the folks at one Bay Area biotech startup. The big regenerative medicine opportunity at SMC Biotechnology comes from an unlikely source—carbohydrates from pig intestines. SMC Bio, a little Redwood … Continue reading “SMC Bio Looks to Heal Bones With Carbohydrates, Not Stem Cells”
Roundup: UW Spinouts; Funding for Illumagear, Alpental Tech & More
[Corrected 7/17/13, 8:24 pm. See below.] The University of Washington is apparently exceeding the goals set by President Michael Young for accelerating commercialization of research and innovations from its labs. Also, a safety equipment clothing company and a startup by former Clearwire technology leaders got funding; Concur made more acquisitions; and Donuts landed the domain … Continue reading “Roundup: UW Spinouts; Funding for Illumagear, Alpental Tech & More”
RRE Ventures Grows with Hire from Lerer Ventures, Sees NY Flourishing
New York venture capital firm RRE Ventures said Wednesday it has hired Steve Schlafman, previously with Lerer Ventures, as a principal. Schlafman made the move to focus more on Series A than seed stage deals, says Stuart Ellman, RRE’s co-managing partner. Schlafman brings with him a history of work in the technology world. Prior to … Continue reading “RRE Ventures Grows with Hire from Lerer Ventures, Sees NY Flourishing”
Alkermes Adds Cancer, MS Drugs To Growing Portfolio
When you say the words multiple sclerosis treatment or cancer immunotherapy, Alkermes (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ALKS]]) isn’t the first company that comes to mind. But the Dublin and Waltham, MA-based biotech is trying to change that today as it rolls out a few key programs it has been keeping under wraps. At its R&D day today, Alkermes … Continue reading “Alkermes Adds Cancer, MS Drugs To Growing Portfolio”
Boston Roundup: Mark43, Privy, Akiban, Aquto, OLPC
Some seed funding, product debuts, and acquisition news to catch you up on a sweltering week around New England’s innovation scene: —There’s a name change and some new money for a Harvard-bred startup developing law enforcement software. Mark43, formerly called Nucleik, says it has raised $1.95 million in seed funding from several investors, including Spark … Continue reading “Boston Roundup: Mark43, Privy, Akiban, Aquto, OLPC”
Whole Foods Commits $1M to Grameen America for Detroit Microlending Program
As part of Texas-based Whole Foods’ investment in Detroit, its Whole Planet Foundation has committed $1 million to the microfinance organization Grameen America to assist Detroit entrepreneurs. Grameen America, which was founded by Nobel Peace Prize recipient Muhammad Yunus, is a domestic microfinance nonprofit assisting women in poverty and operating in New York City (its … Continue reading “Whole Foods Commits $1M to Grameen America for Detroit Microlending Program”
CyberFlow Analytics Raises $2M from Toshiba for Cybersecurity SaaS
CyberFlow Analytics, a San Diego network security startup officially incorporated just four months ago, said it already has landed a $2 million investment and strategic alliance with Toshiba America Electronic Components. CyberFlow said it plans to use the funding to commercialize its Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) security technology, which is intended to protect the proprietary and confidential … Continue reading “CyberFlow Analytics Raises $2M from Toshiba for Cybersecurity SaaS”
Startup MD: Group Aims to Help Houston Doctors Become Entrepreneurs
Physicians are used to having complete authority when in an operating room, a command-and-control environment that doesn’t allow for deliberation or consensus. That mentality, however, doesn’t work very well when it comes to entrepreneurship and building startups. “Physicians are terrible at entrepreneurship because they work in a bubble,” says Sudhen Desai, a Houston radiologist. “You … Continue reading “Startup MD: Group Aims to Help Houston Doctors Become Entrepreneurs”
Enbridge Funding Extends Series C Round to $31M for On-Ramp Wireless
It took longer than expected, but On-Ramp Wireless says today it has raised an additional $15 million in an expansion of the Series C funding round the San Diego company began last year. Much of the new capital came from Enbridge, the pipeline transport company based in Calgary, Alberta, and reflects the pipeline industry’s growing … Continue reading “Enbridge Funding Extends Series C Round to $31M for On-Ramp Wireless”
New York Rock Exchange Sells Fans Shares of the Music They Love
Setting up New York Rock Exchange, an Emeryville, CA-based marketplace that sells music lovers shares of individual songs, wasn’t easy for Jeff Annison, CEO and co-founder of Underground Labs. The idea itself was simple: allow fans to buy pieces of their favorite bands’ songs, letting them get a little closer to their beloved artists. But … Continue reading “New York Rock Exchange Sells Fans Shares of the Music They Love”
Ping Identity CEO Opens Up About $44M Series F Round, Potential IPO
Sign up Ping Identity in the race to become the preeminent company in identity access management. The Denver-based company announced Tuesday it has closed a $44 million Series F round that CEO Andre Durand said lays the groundwork for an IPO that could come next year, and helps Ping Identity stay in “pole position” in … Continue reading “Ping Identity CEO Opens Up About $44M Series F Round, Potential IPO”
CIC Says Expansion May Slow, Won’t Stop After Kimball Departure
The Cambridge Innovation Center‘s expansion plans have hit a speed bump. After several years as the leading hub of startup activity in the Boston area, the CIC has recently been working to expand its value-added real estate business to other cities. Those plans, however, were complicated with news today that the expansion project’s lead executive, … Continue reading “CIC Says Expansion May Slow, Won’t Stop After Kimball Departure”
Deposit a Gift Adds Crowdfunding to Its Cash Gift Registry Business
New York-based Deposit a Gift relaunched its platform Tuesday morning to push its new crowdfunding services for fundraising needs that range from school donations to even buying a first home. Deposit a Gift started out as a cash gift registry for weddings, babies, and other events (and items people want). CEO Dana Ostomel says she … Continue reading “Deposit a Gift Adds Crowdfunding to Its Cash Gift Registry Business”
Would More SEC Paperwork Really Scare Away Angel Investors?
[Updated 7/17 with correction, see below.] Letting startups advertise that they’re raising money is supposed to be a boon for early stage companies. But a big advocate for angel investors says new federal regulations could have the opposite effect. Those new rules, approved by the SEC last week, could effectively “kill angel investing” by making … Continue reading “Would More SEC Paperwork Really Scare Away Angel Investors?”
Intel’s Diane Bryant Blazing Trail From Data Centers to Next Era of IT
In a world of apps, big data, and cloud connectivity, it can be hard to remember that there’s more to tech innovation than just software. Then you meet someone like Diane Bryant, and your worldview shifts. Bryant is senior vice president and general manager of the datacenter and connected systems group at Intel. You know, … Continue reading “Intel’s Diane Bryant Blazing Trail From Data Centers to Next Era of IT”
U of H’s Bose Focused on Bringing Innovation to Market
Rathindra N. Bose’s business cards read the University of Houston’s vice chancellor/vice president for research and technology. But he should’ve chosen the job title: technology evangelist. You might not realize, he says, but the university is a top-tier research institution, graduating 300 PhD’s each year, with $150 million in research dollars, and a portfolio of … Continue reading “U of H’s Bose Focused on Bringing Innovation to Market”
Ceterix Comes Out With Tool to Repair, Not Remove, Knee Cartilage
The cushy crescents of cartilage in the middle of your knee joint—if you’re lucky to still have them—are called the menisci. They go bad for a lot of runners and athletes, as well as plenty of sedentary people as they get older. Now a Bay Area medical device startup has come out with a tool … Continue reading “Ceterix Comes Out With Tool to Repair, Not Remove, Knee Cartilage”
U.S. Venture Activity Remains Steady as IPOs Rise in Second Quarter
Venture-backed IPOs staged something of a comeback during the second quarter, as 22 VC-backed startups went public with an aggregated valuation of about $9.6 billion. Healthcare companies made up about half of those IPOs, according to the venture-data tracking firm, CB Insights. Still, it was a relatively modest period for VC activity. CB Insights says … Continue reading “U.S. Venture Activity Remains Steady as IPOs Rise in Second Quarter”
GIS Moves Online, Enhances Disaster Response with New Data Sources
John Heltzel may have delivered the deadpan quote of the week at the 2013 Esri Users Conference in San Diego, when he told a group of senior business executives, “It is not a good day in emergency management when the guy on The Weather Channel says he is coming to your state.” It happened to … Continue reading “GIS Moves Online, Enhances Disaster Response with New Data Sources”