With the recent release of the NYC Jobs Blueprint, the Partnership for New York City makes it pretty clear it wants the next mayor to embrace the innovation community. In addition to laying out several policy proposals, the Partnership also offered $20 million for the city’s next administration to put towards the establishment of urban … Continue reading “Partnership for New York City Wants Urban Tech Campuses Across City”
Category: National
Natera Grabs $55M For Push into Prenatal Genetic Screening
Two months after jumping into the market with a non-invasive prenatal screening test for Down syndrome and other genetic disorders, San Carlos, CA-based Natera is raising a lot of investment cash to seize the opportunity. Natera is announcing today it has raised $54.6 million in a Series E financing composed of a mix of equity … Continue reading “Natera Grabs $55M For Push into Prenatal Genetic Screening”
Texas, and Its Maverick Entrepreneurs, Propel Innovation
Texas has always had a larger-than-life reputation. Big business, big politics—even big hair—the state’s outsized persona often takes center stage in our national story. No matter where I’ve traveled, be it in a village in Nepal or the glitzy hotels of Hong Kong, when I say “Texas,” I receive a smile and a flash of … Continue reading “Texas, and Its Maverick Entrepreneurs, Propel Innovation”
Google Fiber Spurs Telcos to Action, but Monopoly Fears Linger
Google’s foray into offering super-fast Internet and TV service sure looks like the kind of thing that could grow into a vertical monopoly. But the reactions of established service providers are proving the company’s point—that there’s not enough competition in the telecommunications industry. This week, we saw evidence that Google Fiber—which offers TV service and … Continue reading “Google Fiber Spurs Telcos to Action, but Monopoly Fears Linger”
Cheezburger Lays Off 24, Restructures to Focus on Mobile
Cheezburger Network, which publishes well-known humor sites such as I Can Has Cheezburger and FAIL Blog, is laying off two dozen employees as it prepares to restructure for mobile-focused publishing. Perhaps more significantly, the Seattle-based company is hoping to swap its current Web advertising model for a new focus on longer-term, integrated sponsorships. In an … Continue reading “Cheezburger Lays Off 24, Restructures to Focus on Mobile”
Aveo’s Stock Plunges As Day of Reckoning Nears For Cancer Drug
Aveo Oncology (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AVEO]]) has seen its share of ups and downs over the past year as it has fought to prove the worth of its kidney cancer drug, tivozanib. Now the moment of truth is at hand, with an independent advisory panel choosing whether to recommend the drug to the FDA. On Thursday, the … Continue reading “Aveo’s Stock Plunges As Day of Reckoning Nears For Cancer Drug”
Three Schools, Three Startups: Boston Buzzing with Business Plan Finalists
If you try to keep up with all the business-plan contests and student startup competitions in the Boston area, you will go mad. I’m making the rounds this spring, but I won’t be able to write about everything I see (or even most things). Instead, here’s a snapshot of three companies/teams that happened to grab … Continue reading “Three Schools, Three Startups: Boston Buzzing with Business Plan Finalists”
Fab.com Expands, Acquires, and Goes Brick-and-Mortar
The ambitions for the future of New York-based flash sales site Fab are taking shape. Jason Goldberg, the company’s CEO, detailed in a blog post today his company’s plans for expansion on a variety of fronts. Fab has relaunched as a design store selling original products, as well as items from outside suppliers, and has expanded its Web … Continue reading “Fab.com Expands, Acquires, and Goes Brick-and-Mortar”
Siri Co-Creator Questions Texas A&M Texting-and-Driving Study
The co-inventor of Siri has a bone to pick with the media. A rash of stories last week—reporting on a study released by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) in College Station, TX—implied that using voice-to-text mobile applications such as Siri and Vlingo while you drive is no safer than texting while driving. But Adam … Continue reading “Siri Co-Creator Questions Texas A&M Texting-and-Driving Study”
Searching for Talent, Houston Startup Datafiniti Moves to Austin
Datafiniti’s mission is to harness the infinite data of the Web into useable intelligence for its customers. The Houston-based company has built a catalog of structured data available on the Internet and allows customers to generate custom reports based on various search categories. Consider it a Google-like search engine that gives you more than links … Continue reading “Searching for Talent, Houston Startup Datafiniti Moves to Austin”
Xconomy Opens in Texas, Expanding Roundup of Innovation Across U.S.
I’ve been coming to Texas regularly for more than 20 years—first to meet my future in-laws, and ever since to visit a growing extended family network around the state. I didn’t envision opening a Texas business arm on that initial visit (I didn’t have a business), but ever since launching Xconomy in mid-2007, I’ve been … Continue reading “Xconomy Opens in Texas, Expanding Roundup of Innovation Across U.S.”
Xconomy, Welcome to Texas, Where Energy Will Be Solved!
It’s great that Xconomy is finally getting to Texas. Which is not to say that I’m rooting for Austin over “Baustin.” Innovation is not a zero-sum game. Or, as they say around these parts, we know you’re not from Texas, but we’re glad you’re here. On the other hand, I spent 10 years trying to … Continue reading “Xconomy, Welcome to Texas, Where Energy Will Be Solved!”
Stealthy No More, Skillz Brings Cash Tournaments to Mobile Games
Andrew Paradise is at it again. Scarcely a year after confirming he’d sold his last company, AisleBuyer, to Intuit, the Boston-area entrepreneur and angel investor is taking his latest company out of stealth mode. Skillz (fka Lookout Gaming), which has offices in Boston and San Francisco, is trying to make a splash in the mobile … Continue reading “Stealthy No More, Skillz Brings Cash Tournaments to Mobile Games”
Jobaline Brings Technology to Overlooked Hourly Job-Seekers, Employers
Seattle-area startup Jobaline is out to solve some big problems for workers and employers in the huge, underserved world of hourly labor. The company’s technology platform is meant to match job applicants—many of whom lack regular Internet access—with employers struggling with constant turnover, high ratios of applicants to openings, and inefficient hiring processes. After a … Continue reading “Jobaline Brings Technology to Overlooked Hourly Job-Seekers, Employers”
Supply Chains Are Orderly. Biotech Innovation Is Messy
I was intrigued by the concept of an “innovation supply chain” for biotech raised in last week’s Xconomy discussion with Noubar Afeyan of Flagship Ventures. The basic idea is that if there’s agreement about certain experiments, results, and value with a pharma company, then a biotech company can focus on delivering those results, the pharma … Continue reading “Supply Chains Are Orderly. Biotech Innovation Is Messy”
How Learning Chinese and Attending HBS Helped Me Found a Company
When I was in high school, I never thought I was very good at languages. Just ask my Spanish teacher. In college, it took a bet with my sister to make me start studying Mandarin. Based on my previous track record, she thought there was no way I could master one of the world’s most … Continue reading “How Learning Chinese and Attending HBS Helped Me Found a Company”
Rue La La’s Fischman Out as CEO—Joining Other Flash-Sales Execs
If you’re the CEO of a flash-sales fashion site, you might want to make sure your resume is in order. The career prospects are looking a little rocky right now. Today, Boston-based Rue La La abruptly announced that founder Ben Fischman was being replaced as CEO. Steve Davis, an e-commerce veteran who has been the … Continue reading “Rue La La’s Fischman Out as CEO—Joining Other Flash-Sales Execs”
Startup Booster Erik Mitisek Takes Lead at State Tech Association
A familiar face from Denver’s startup scene is now leading the largest advocacy group for Colorado’s tech industry. Erik Mitisek started as the Colorado Technology Association’s CEO today. Mitisek is one of the driving forces behind Denver Startup Week and the BuiltInDenver website, and he is a co-chair of Startup Colorado. Mitisek also is a … Continue reading “Startup Booster Erik Mitisek Takes Lead at State Tech Association”
Qiagen Buys Ingenuity Systems, Biology Software Player, for $105M
Ingenuity Systems, a 15-year veteran of the biological software business, showed today that you can make money not just by generating DNA data, but by helping scientists figure out what it means. Redwood City, CA-based Ingenuity said today it has agreed to be acquired by Netherlands-based Qiagen for $105 million in cash. Ingenuity, a private … Continue reading “Qiagen Buys Ingenuity Systems, Biology Software Player, for $105M”
Blavatnik Gives Harvard $50M for Life Sciences Initiatives
Businessman and philanthropist Len Blavatnik has donated $50 million to Harvard University to help spur the creation of new, innovative drugs. Harvard will form two related initiatives with the gift from the Blavatnik Family Foundation, hoping to turn university research into viable business projects that don’t stall because they run out of money. The first … Continue reading “Blavatnik Gives Harvard $50M for Life Sciences Initiatives”
Analytics Woven Into Fashion Among the Ideas at ERA Demo Day
Showing off the results of a longer, more robust program, the Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator held a demo day last Friday at IAC’s headquarters in the Chelsea neighborhood. This fourth batch of startups to graduate from the accelerator put data and software to work in such sectors as retail apparel, online dating, residential real estate, and … Continue reading “Analytics Woven Into Fashion Among the Ideas at ERA Demo Day”
Rapt.fm Offers Online Space for Freestyle Rappers to Battle
My friend Troy has a rapping alter ego he calls Masta Flow. At parties, after a certain number of beverages have been consumed, Masta Flow often makes an appearance. Masta Flow’s freestyle raps usually veer toward the scatological and are often cringeworthy because of clumsy execution. On one occasion, when Masta Flow popped up and … Continue reading “Rapt.fm Offers Online Space for Freestyle Rappers to Battle”
Announcing Xconomy Napa Summit 2013: New Rules for Growth
Finally, the economy seems to be heading in the right direction, but frustratingly slowly—and peril lurks around every sequester corner. Is that the new normal in this age of rising healthcare costs, venture capital belt-tightening, and a nearly broken Congressional system that can’t see fit to invest properly in vital areas such as research and … Continue reading “Announcing Xconomy Napa Summit 2013: New Rules for Growth”
Placester Picks Up $2.5M to Push Real Estate Publishing Market
Here’s another snapshot of a tech startup making its way through the Series A crunch. This one hasn’t officially “made it” yet, but it seems to be doing just fine. The startup is Placester, a real-estate Web publishing company based in Cambridge, MA, and it is announcing a seed financing round of $2.5 million from … Continue reading “Placester Picks Up $2.5M to Push Real Estate Publishing Market”
Man vs. Machine: Can Software Trump Editors in the Newsfeed Wars?
Suddenly, digital newsfeeds are the hottest thing in consumer tech. Big tech companies have been frantically opening their wallets in recent weeks to buy out small startups making mobile-friendly applications that use software to pull together news from innumerable sources around the Web. Last week, it was Google paying a reported $30 million or more … Continue reading “Man vs. Machine: Can Software Trump Editors in the Newsfeed Wars?”
RainDance Secures $20M, and a Believer in Myriad Genetics
RainDance Technologies always thought its droplet technology platform had the potential to attract the powerhouses of the world of genomic research. Three years after introducing its first commercial product, it has now found the big-name ally with a big sales force to support that thesis—Myriad Genetics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MYGN]]). The Lexington, MA-based company today not only … Continue reading “RainDance Secures $20M, and a Believer in Myriad Genetics”
Six Reasons Why Illumina Has Nothing to Fear from Thermo/Life
Illumina doesn’t need luck. But the San Diego-based company just caught a break this month, which will make it easier to continue crushing all who dare challenge its supremacy in genomics. The gift I’m referring to was the mega-merger a couple weeks ago between Waltham, MA-based Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE: [[ticker:TMO]]) and Carlsbad, CA-based Life … Continue reading “Six Reasons Why Illumina Has Nothing to Fear from Thermo/Life”
Forma Strikes $200M Deal With Celgene to Discover Cancer Drugs
Forma Therapeutics has never had trouble finding partners who want access to its early-stage drug discovery team, when most companies are cutting back there. But the Watertown, MA-based company is entering into a different kind of deal with Celgene that could turn Forma into a bigger enterprise that discovers, develops, to someday markets its own … Continue reading “Forma Strikes $200M Deal With Celgene to Discover Cancer Drugs”
Kickstart, a Utah-Based Seed Investor, Adds $26M to Regional Pot
There’s more money for entrepreneurs and startups in the Rocky Mountain West, following Kickstart Seed Fund’s announcement this week that it has raised $26 million to make seed-stage investments. Kickstart is based in Salt Lake City and invests in companies in Utah, Colorado, and the rest of the region, managing director Gavin Christensen said. This … Continue reading “Kickstart, a Utah-Based Seed Investor, Adds $26M to Regional Pot”
RunPee App Tells You When It’s Safe to Take Potty Breaks at Movies
With summer fast approaching, chances are many people will cram into movie theaters for a couple hours to watch superheroes and spaceships streak across the screen, and drink gallons of sugary beverages. The RunPee app suggests to users the optimal times between explosions and plot points for the resulting dash to the restroom. That may … Continue reading “RunPee App Tells You When It’s Safe to Take Potty Breaks at Movies”
Schmidt: Google Glass Critics “Afraid of Change,” Society Will Adapt
Google Glass is just getting into the hands of developers, and you’re still many months away from seeing consumers walking around with the voice-activated computer display/camera devices on their faces. So just take a breath, Google chairman Eric Schmidt says, before you jump to the worst conclusions about how Glass will ruin privacy or human … Continue reading “Schmidt: Google Glass Critics “Afraid of Change,” Society Will Adapt”
LearnLaunch On the Move as Ed-Tech Market Heats Up in Boston
The school year may be heading down the home stretch, but tech companies in the education sector are finding things are just starting to pick up—particularly in New England. That’s according to Eileen Rudden, the co-founder of LearnLaunch, a local nonprofit focused on bringing the education and business communities together. Rudden also helps run LearnLaunchX, … Continue reading “LearnLaunch On the Move as Ed-Tech Market Heats Up in Boston”
Boston: Reclaiming Its Place as a Technology Hub
The battle for bragging rights as the United States’ epicenter for technology innovation has been waging between Boston and Silicon Valley since the 1980s. Remember Route 128 proudly proclaiming itself back in the ‘90s as “America’s Information Highway”? Against a backdrop of the recession, however, it may have been hard for either region to celebrate … Continue reading “Boston: Reclaiming Its Place as a Technology Hub”
Automatic’s App Puts Your Smartphone in Charge of Your Car
My car is probably the dumbest machine I own. It’s a 2000 Honda Accord, meaning it’s got none of the cool in-dash electronics found in today’s latest models, like the MyFord Touch entertainment system from Ford, the OnStar safety and navigation system from GM, or the iDrive computer system from BMW. But what I do … Continue reading “Automatic’s App Puts Your Smartphone in Charge of Your Car”
Can Biotech Learn From the TV Production Market?
The recent Xconomy piece on Noubar Afeyan’s ideas for a biotech ”innovation supply chain” got me thinking about how other industries strike a reasonable balance between their big distributors and smaller creative types. I don’t work in the biotech sector but, as a 37-year-old with cystic fibrosis, I am interested in the end-products. I live … Continue reading “Can Biotech Learn From the TV Production Market?”
Riding Strong Growth, SD’s ServiceNow Sets Off Wall Street Stampede
Shares of San Diego’s ServiceNow (NYSE: [[ticker:NOW]]), which provides cloud-based IT services to big customers, gained $5.77—or more than 15 percent—to close at $43.39 a share yesterday in trading that was nearly four times the company’s recent average volume. The stampede came after ServiceNow posted first-quarter financial results late Wednesday that surpassed Wall Street expectations—with … Continue reading “Riding Strong Growth, SD’s ServiceNow Sets Off Wall Street Stampede”
East Coast Life Sciences Roundup: Bind, Gen9, Radius, Cydan
Hello, Xconomy readers! I figured I’d formally introduce myself here, as I’ve grabbed the reins on these East Coast Life Sciences roundups and will be compiling them moving forward. I’ve been an avid Xconomy reader for several years while working as a healthcare writer for The Deal, and have always admired the quality of the … Continue reading “East Coast Life Sciences Roundup: Bind, Gen9, Radius, Cydan”
Big Database, Big Deal: Datalogix Raises $25M Series B Round
For all the attention given to online advertising and shopping, one could forget the vast majority of purchases are made in ‘the real world.’ Datalogix understands that, and the company’s deep knowledge of how to use transaction data is why it closed the $25 million Series B round announced today. Institutional Venture Partners of Menlo … Continue reading “Big Database, Big Deal: Datalogix Raises $25M Series B Round”
Chris Anderson, Rod Brooks, & More Stars of Robotics: The Video
If you missed Xconomy’s April 11 forum Robots Remake the Workplace—or if you were there and you want to see some of the talks again—we have a special treat for you. Our friends at SRI International, the host site for the event, recorded the proceedings and just posted the eight-part video on YouTube. For your … Continue reading “Chris Anderson, Rod Brooks, & More Stars of Robotics: The Video”
Esperion Therapeutics Raises $33M to Further Clinical Trials
The Ann Arbor-based biotech company Esperion Therapeutics announced today that it has completed a $33 million round of preferred stock financing. Longitude Capital led the round, with Aisling Capital, Alta Partners, Domain Associates, Arboretum Ventures, and Asset Management participating. Longitude’s founder and managing director, Patrick Enright, will join Esperion’s board as a result of the financing deal. … Continue reading “Esperion Therapeutics Raises $33M to Further Clinical Trials”
New UW, PNNL Institute Attracts Supercomputing Expert Dunning
The Northwest Institute for Advanced Computing (NIAC) has landed supercomputing luminary Thom Dunning Jr., who will help lead the effort to tie together two of the region’s top centers of computing research. Dunning comes to the NIAC after a career that has included stints at several universities and national laboratories—including Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, which … Continue reading “New UW, PNNL Institute Attracts Supercomputing Expert Dunning”
Industry Ventures Provides Little-Known Pressure Valve for LPs
In business lore, venture capitalists are revered as steely-eyed daredevils, directing millions of dollars to unproven, potentially brilliant ideas through sheer force of acumen. But it’s a largely undeserved reputation. Few VCs ever put their own money on the table. The real gamblers in the venture industry are the limited partners (LPs)— the individuals or … Continue reading “Industry Ventures Provides Little-Known Pressure Valve for LPs”
Radius Health, Still Private, Raises Another $43M
Radius Health has been lukewarm about diving into the public markets over the past year. But since its inception in 2003, the Cambridge, MA-based biotech has been sure about one thing: it has no problem whatsoever raising cash from private financiers for its osteoporosis drug, as it proved once again on Thursday by lining up … Continue reading “Radius Health, Still Private, Raises Another $43M”
Cydan, the NEA Startup Machine, Scours the Globe for Orphan Drugs
What if you could create a biotech startup focused on treating a rare disease, with a drug candidate already in hand, and high odds of success in clinical trials? That’s the concept that crystallized in former MedImmune executive David Mott’s mind through decades of experience in the life sciences sector. The idea ultimately led him … Continue reading “Cydan, the NEA Startup Machine, Scours the Globe for Orphan Drugs”
San Diego Life Sciences Roundup: Avalon’s GSK Deal, Illumina, & More
Even with the big BIO International Convention in Chicago this week, San Diego still managed to make life science headlines, as Avalon Ventures unveiled a pharma partnership that could bring nearly a half-billion dollars in startup capital to San Diego. We have that and the rest of the local life sciences news over the past … Continue reading “San Diego Life Sciences Roundup: Avalon’s GSK Deal, Illumina, & More”
Hate Facebook Ads? Nanigans Says Numbers Don’t Lie
As a garden-variety user, you might hate the increasing number of advertisements popping up on your Facebook feed. You may complain about them, perhaps quite loudly—even though that’s the price of an otherwise free service. But that doesn’t mean those ads aren’t working. Just ask Nanigans, a Boston-based ad technology startup. The company, which helps … Continue reading “Hate Facebook Ads? Nanigans Says Numbers Don’t Lie”
SSD Developer Fusion-io Buys CO-based NexGen Storage for $119M
NexGen Storage, a developer of data storage technology based in Louisville, CO, has been acquired by Fusion-io in a $119 million deal, the companies announced today. The acquisition is a sizable sale for a Colorado tech company and believed to be one of the largest exits in the past decade. Fusion-io (NYSE: [[ticker:FIO]]) is paying … Continue reading “SSD Developer Fusion-io Buys CO-based NexGen Storage for $119M”
Pivotal Seeks Better Enterprise Cloud, with EMC Roots and GE Cash
Can you think of the last time you heard about a startup that had 1,250 employees and a valuation of over $1 billion on the day it launched? I can’t. But then, Pivotal isn’t your typical startup. Unveiled today at a San Francisco press event led by its CEO Paul Maritz, Pivotal is an independent … Continue reading “Pivotal Seeks Better Enterprise Cloud, with EMC Roots and GE Cash”
Startup MovingWorlds Helps Professionals Volunteer In Developing World
Mark Horoszowski wants to make it easier for people with business expertise to help organizations in emerging economies, which he describes with the neologism “experteering.” He came upon the idea while trying to do exactly that on a year-long trip to countries including Nepal, Malaysia, and Indonesia in 2011. Horoszowski had fallen out of love … Continue reading “Startup MovingWorlds Helps Professionals Volunteer In Developing World”
Spark Capital: Startups Shouldn’t Have to Pay Our Legal Bills
Don’t let it be said that venture capitalists are a greedy bunch. Well, not all of them, anyway. Bijan Sabet, a general partner at Boston-based Spark Capital, says the firm will now start paying its own legal costs when it invests “at the earliest days of the company.” Why’s that notable? As Sabet explains on … Continue reading “Spark Capital: Startups Shouldn’t Have to Pay Our Legal Bills”