Category: National

Intel Capital Showcases 12 Startups, Shift to Data-Centric Strategy

The temperature in California’s Palm Desert hit 107 degrees Tuesday, but indoors at Intel Capital’s Global Summit meeting, the corporate venture arm said it has invested a cool $115 million so far this year. Intel Capital wasn’t ready to disclose exactly how many startups it has funded, but it highlighted a dozen tech companies that … Continue reading “Intel Capital Showcases 12 Startups, Shift to Data-Centric Strategy”

An Inside Look at CAR-T, Gene Therapy Launches at ‘What’s Hot’ May 16

Getting a new drugmaking technology through clinical development and to market is a major milestone, the culmination of years of scientific work. But the true test of how important that technology is comes afterwards, when the real world gets its hands on it. This type of story is playing out either right now, or soon … Continue reading “An Inside Look at CAR-T, Gene Therapy Launches at ‘What’s Hot’ May 16”

Intel Leads $20M Investment in Transparent A.I. Startup Gamalon

Gamalon, a startup that says it has developed artificial intelligence-like software that avoids some of the drawbacks of popular machine learning techniques, has received a big endorsement of its approach. On Tuesday, the Cambridge, MA-based company announced a $20 million Series A funding round led by Intel Capital. Other backers of the round included .406 … Continue reading “Intel Leads $20M Investment in Transparent A.I. Startup Gamalon”

Evelo IPO Raises $85M for Microbiome Drugs in Inflammation, Cancer

Evelo Biosciences now has $85 million to spend on its pipeline of drugs that target the human microbiome. The Cambridge, MA-based biotech priced its initial public offering of 5.3 million shares at $16, right at the midpoint of the $15 to $17 range it had previously set. Evelo’s shares are expected to begin trading on … Continue reading “Evelo IPO Raises $85M for Microbiome Drugs in Inflammation, Cancer”

Rapamycin Holdings Plans Tests of Old Immune Drug in Prostate Cancer

San Antonio — Executives at Rapamycin Holdings believe a decades-old drug used to prevent organ transplant rejection could find a new use as a treatment for prostate cancer, and hope to  begin a clinical trial as soon as this summer. San Antonio-based Rapamycin Holdings has developed a new formulation of the drug, also called rapamycin, which … Continue reading “Rapamycin Holdings Plans Tests of Old Immune Drug in Prostate Cancer”

Akili Grabs $55M, Seeking FDA Approval of First Video Game Therapy

[Corrected 5/9/18, 9:59 am. See below.] Akili Interactive Labs has scooped up another pile of cash to help bring its first product to the market: an experimental mobile video game aimed at assessing and treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Boston-based Akili said Wednesday it closed a $55 million Series C funding round led by Singapore-based … Continue reading “Akili Grabs $55M, Seeking FDA Approval of First Video Game Therapy”

Moderna’s Billions: Will Building Big Before an IPO Pay Off?

When Merck invested $125 million and deepened its ties with Moderna Therapeutics last week, it was more than just an evolution of the relationship between the two companies. It continued a high-stakes strategy by Cambridge, MA-based Moderna and its backers, and made them a case study for a rarely used method of company-building in biotech: … Continue reading “Moderna’s Billions: Will Building Big Before an IPO Pay Off?”

ThoughtSpot Nabs $145M To Democratize A.I.-Driven Data Analysis

ThoughtSpot, which enables its clients’ ordinary staffers to conduct advanced data analysis to inform their business decisions, announced today that it has raised $145 million in a Series D funding round. The big funding infusion will help ThoughtSpot expand its global customer base, and it’s also good news for the company’s R&D and commercialization centers … Continue reading “ThoughtSpot Nabs $145M To Democratize A.I.-Driven Data Analysis”

Fictiv Raises $15M To Connect Tech Innovators & Parts Manufacturers

Fictiv, a San Francisco software startup that links hardware developers with parts manufacturers in China, announced Tuesday that it has raised $15 million in a Series B funding round led by a China-based investment firm, alongside investments from well-known American tech backers such as Bill Gates and Intel. Fictiv’s goal is to speed up the … Continue reading “Fictiv Raises $15M To Connect Tech Innovators & Parts Manufacturers”

Steve Case: Focus on Dallas Startups that “Might Be the Next Amazon”

Dallas—Steve Case brought his Rise of the Rest tour to Dallas Monday, mingling with business and political leaders and offering advice to entrepreneurs who hope to join their ranks. “Dallas is clearly on the rise,” Case told an assembled group of entrepreneurs at Dallas brewery and taproom Community Beer Co. Still, that progress is endangered … Continue reading “Steve Case: Focus on Dallas Startups that “Might Be the Next Amazon””

Medical Engineering Innovations Raising $1.2M for Cancer Removal Tools

[Updated 5/16/18 8:14 a.m. See below.] Medical Engineering Innovations, a Madison, WI-based developer of medical devices that use radio frequency energy to remove cancer from the liver, is in the process of raising a $1.2 million Series A funding round, says Richard Schmidt, the startup’s president and CEO. Champaign, IL-based Serra Ventures is leading the equity funding round, … Continue reading “Medical Engineering Innovations Raising $1.2M for Cancer Removal Tools”

Takeda Strikes $62B Deal to Acquire Rare Disease Drug Maker Shire

Takeda Pharmaceutical has reached an agreement to acquire Shire after raising its offer for the rare disease drug company. Under the cash and stock agreement, Osaka, Japan-based Takeda will pay $30.33 in cash for each share of Shire (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SHPG]]). Shire shareholders will also receive 0.839 new Takeda shares or 1.678 Takeda American Depository Shares, … Continue reading “Takeda Strikes $62B Deal to Acquire Rare Disease Drug Maker Shire”

Buoy Health, CVS Partner on Chatbot That Helps Patients Find Care

Virtual assistants seem to be everywhere one turns today, both online and in the physical world. From voice-controlled gadgets like Google (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GOOGL]]) Home and Amazon’s (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]) Echo to the virtual chatbots some organizations’ websites use to greet visitors, these tools are attempting to help people get their questions answered more quickly. But some … Continue reading “Buoy Health, CVS Partner on Chatbot That Helps Patients Find Care”

Seismic Acquires Savo Group, Rival in Sales Enablement Software

[Updated 5/8/18 9:30 am. See below.] In the eight years since it was founded, Seismic has become a leader in the market for Web-based software used by corporations and other big customers to manage the online marketing materials created to support sales reps in the field. Today, the San Diego software-as-a-service company says it has agreed … Continue reading “Seismic Acquires Savo Group, Rival in Sales Enablement Software”

San Antonio University Takes Aim at Gap in Cybersecurity Workforce

San Antonio—The University of Texas at San Antonio plans to open a new cybersecurity center that its leaders hope will draw interest from organizations looking for prospective employees, including both private companies and the federal government. Called the National Security Collaboration Center, it will be a physical space that aims to be a central gathering … Continue reading “San Antonio University Takes Aim at Gap in Cybersecurity Workforce”

Drive.AI Launches Pilot Program of Self-Driving Vehicles in Texas

Frisco, TX—Self-driving vehicles are coming to car-crazy Texas. San Francisco-based drive.AI announced on Monday a partnership with the city of Frisco, TX, and private developer Hall Group, which plans to start a driverless car service in July. Four bright-orange vans—the same vehicles that serve as New York taxis—will be part of a six-month pilot project … Continue reading “Drive.AI Launches Pilot Program of Self-Driving Vehicles in Texas”

Activist Investor Elliott Management Eyes $7B Deal for Athenahealth

Elliott Management, the activist investor that purchased a 9 percent stake in Athenahealth last year, now wants to buy the whole company for nearly $7 billion, a deal that could bring more changes to the healthcare IT company. Elliott proposes to acquire Watertown, MA-based Athenahealth (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ATHN]]) for $160 per share in cash, the New … Continue reading “Activist Investor Elliott Management Eyes $7B Deal for Athenahealth”

Only Two Days Left to Nominate for the Xconomy Awards

Last year, the winners of the inaugural Xconomy Awards included a 30-year-old CEO of a young cell therapy startup commercializing his work from MIT (Armon Sharei; Young Innovator); a Dana-Farber oncologist who works closely with breast cancer patients as part of his research (Nikhil Wagle; Patient Partnership); an MIT technology licensing veteran who played a … Continue reading “Only Two Days Left to Nominate for the Xconomy Awards”

Will New Study Cut Guesswork for Depression Medicine Prescriptions?

[Updated 5/7/18, 5pm ET. See below.] Genetic testing that helps guide more precise cancer treatment is making its way into standard practice in major U.S. medical centers. Could the same eventually be true for depression? One test maker thinks it has finally gathered enough evidence to convince psychiatrists to order its product and make more … Continue reading “Will New Study Cut Guesswork for Depression Medicine Prescriptions?”

Mesosphere Raises $125M To Automate App Operations for Businesses

Mesosphere, which helps businesses deploy advanced apps and automate operations within their IT infrastructure, announced Monday that it has raised $125 million in a Series D funding round. San Francisco-based Mesosphere aims to make it easier even for non-tech companies, such as retailers and cruise ship lines, to develop new digital features, such as streaming … Continue reading “Mesosphere Raises $125M To Automate App Operations for Businesses”

Boston Tech Watch: Teradyne, American Well, Namogoo, Sentenai & More

[Updated 5/7/18, 12:17 pm. See below.] It’s time to catch up on some recent deals and other news from the Boston-area tech scene: —Teradyne (NYSE: [[ticker:TER]]), a North Reading, MA-based seller of robots and automatic test equipment for checking semiconductors and other electronics, recently said it purchased Denmark-based Mobile Industrial Robots, known as MiR, for … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: Teradyne, American Well, Namogoo, Sentenai & More”

Histogen Treatment for Female Hair Loss Cleared for Clinical Testing

San Diego’s Histogen, a regenerative medicine company with technology for using nascent skin cells to produce “cosmeceutical” products, says the FDA has given a green light to its application for an initial safety study of its hair stimulation product in women. In the United States, Histogen says hair loss affects over 40 million men and … Continue reading “Histogen Treatment for Female Hair Loss Cleared for Clinical Testing”

Renaissance Learning to Get New Private Equity Owner, Change CEOs

A California private equity firm that has previously bought and sold education software businesses has agreed to acquire Wisconsin Rapids, WI-based Renaissance Learning, the company said Thursday. Renaissance is being sold by one San Francisco-based private equity firm (Hellman & Friedman) to another (Francisco Partners), Renaissance said. The company did not include any specific financial … Continue reading “Renaissance Learning to Get New Private Equity Owner, Change CEOs”

Carbon Black CTO: “Right Time” For IPO; So Far, Wall Street Agrees

[Updated 5/4/18, 4:34 pm. See below.] Timing is everything in business. For private companies aiming to go public, it’s impossible to know the ideal moment to make a stock market debut. But Carbon Black chief technology officer Mike Viscuso is feeling good today, after his cybersecurity company’s stock performed well on its first day of … Continue reading “Carbon Black CTO: “Right Time” For IPO; So Far, Wall Street Agrees”

Duo CEO Says New Detroit Office is Chance to Learn, Grow & Engage

Duo Security, the cybersecurity startup valued at just over $1 billion, has offices in Michigan, Texas, California, and the United Kingdom. It could have chosen anywhere on Earth to locate its newest outpost, announced last month, but the company chose Detroit. In a city hungry for opportunities with loads of innovation in its DNA, it … Continue reading “Duo CEO Says New Detroit Office is Chance to Learn, Grow & Engage”

Under New Leaders, Name, PegEx Raises $8M for Waste Removal Software

In recent decades, everything from business cards to monthly bills and bank statements to medical charts detailing patients’ health histories have gone paperless. But one industry that still relies heavily on paper documents is regulated waste remediation, which involves removing hazardous materials from factories and other sites. That’s according to Eric Apfelbach, president and CEO … Continue reading “Under New Leaders, Name, PegEx Raises $8M for Waste Removal Software”

FDA Approval of Portola Drug Puts Firm in Line for $100M Payday

The FDA has approved a Portola Pharmaceuticals drug that reverses the effect of blood thinners in cases of life-threatening bleeding. The decision comes two years after the regulator rejected the drug due to manufacturing concerns. The agency still has some concerns about the drug, andexanet alfa (Andexxa). The drug’s label must carry a boxed warning … Continue reading “FDA Approval of Portola Drug Puts Firm in Line for $100M Payday”

Venture Firms to New York Wedding Startup Zola: ‘I Do’ to $100M

Most wedding registries are focused on the lead-up to the day of the ceremony. New York startup Zola also sees opportunity in connecting with—and making a sales pitch to—married couples years after they’ve tied the knot. Zola is an “e-commerce business disguised as a wedding company,” said Shan-lyn Ma, the startup’s founder and CEO, in … Continue reading “Venture Firms to New York Wedding Startup Zola: ‘I Do’ to $100M”

Bio Roundup: IDO Fallout, Express Scripts Dumps Amgen, Isaly Out & More

Here’s a case study of how fast things can change in biopharma. For a few years, a type of cancer drug called an IDO inhibitor was all the rage, a promising path to expanding the reach of immunotherapy. Major drug makers were dealing, too. Through acquisitions and alliances, they rolled out a spate of large-scale … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: IDO Fallout, Express Scripts Dumps Amgen, Isaly Out & More”

Carbon Black Raising $152M as Tech IPOs Stage Comeback

Into the breach goes Carbon Black. The Waltham, MA-based cybersecurity company said Thursday night that it is raising $152 million in an initial public stock offering by selling 8 million shares of its common stock at $19 per share. That gives Carbon Black an implied valuation of more than $1.2 billion. Carbon Black said its … Continue reading “Carbon Black Raising $152M as Tech IPOs Stage Comeback”

For Disaster Recovery, San Antonio’s EPIcenter Seeks Tech Solutions

San Antonio—Matthew Marchetti did what any good leader will during a time of difficulty. As dozens of requests for help poured in from victims of Hurricane Harvey in Houston last year, Marchetti and a few fellow vigilante rescuers decided to organize that scattered information into one single place: a website where people in need could … Continue reading “For Disaster Recovery, San Antonio’s EPIcenter Seeks Tech Solutions”

Toyota Research Institute to Open New Driverless Car Test Bed in MI

The state of Michigan notched another mobility-industry win today when the Toyota Research Institute (TRI) announced that a 60-acre parcel in Ottawa Lakes, MI, will be the home of a new autonomous vehicle development and testing facility, the first dedicated exclusively to TRI’s use. TRI is Toyota’s research arm, which aims to enhance the safety of … Continue reading “Toyota Research Institute to Open New Driverless Car Test Bed in MI”

Invenra Partners with Exelixis to Develop New Antibody Cancer Drugs

Invenra, a biotech startup that develops therapeutic antibodies for pharma companies, is joining forces with a Bay Area company to discover and develop new treatments for cancer. Madison, WI-based Invenra’s announcement late Wednesday that it will partner with South San Francisco, CA-based Exelixis (NASDAQ: [[ticker:EXEL]]) said that the companies will develop as many as seven … Continue reading “Invenra Partners with Exelixis to Develop New Antibody Cancer Drugs”

Spyce, MIT-Born Robotic Kitchen Startup, Launches Restaurant: Video

The Thai chicken bowl from Spyce Food’s new restaurant in downtown Boston wasn’t life-changing, but it’s one of the better meals I’ve had from a “fast casual” restaurant—and certainly the best I’ve had that was prepared mostly by robots. OK, it’s the first meal I’ve eaten that was cooked by a robotic system, with help … Continue reading “Spyce, MIT-Born Robotic Kitchen Startup, Launches Restaurant: Video”

Litigation in Israel and U.S. Mires RNA Drug Developer Arcturus

In the five years since it was founded, San Diego-based Arcturus Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ARCT]]) says it has built a versatile platform for developing a variety of RNA-based medicines. On the Arcturus website, the company’s pre-clinical development pipeline includes drugs for treating hepatitis B, cystic fibrosis, and other intractable rare diseases and disorders. But a bitter … Continue reading “Litigation in Israel and U.S. Mires RNA Drug Developer Arcturus”

San Antonio Startup Adds Funding to Treat PTSD with Magnetic Field

San Antonio—An imaging researcher who hopes to improve a method of treating depression and post-traumatic stress disorder has raised a round of funding to support a clinical study for his San Antonio company’s medical device. The business, Cerebral Magnetics, told federal securities regulators on April 9 it was seeking $1 million in an equity round … Continue reading “San Antonio Startup Adds Funding to Treat PTSD with Magnetic Field”

With $59M, Casma and Ex-Constellation CEO Take Aim at Cellular Trash

Scientists have known for decades that cells can recycle their own trash, but they’ve only recently started to figure out how. Casma Therapeutics is trying to prove that those insights could be useful in treating a wide range of diseases. Formed by Third Rock Ventures, Casma has secured a $58.5 million Series A round and … Continue reading “With $59M, Casma and Ex-Constellation CEO Take Aim at Cellular Trash”

New LLamasoft CEO Plans to Exploit Retail, Transportation Disruptions

Even though it’s been around for two decades, Ann Arbor, MI-based LLamasoft is one of the state’s biggest tech startup success stories. Llamasoft says its software optimizes the design of supply chains, enabling large, complex businesses to find ways to improve operations, lower risk, save money, and make faster decisions.The company has 400 employees in … Continue reading “New LLamasoft CEO Plans to Exploit Retail, Transportation Disruptions”

Unity Biotech IPO Raises $85M to Test Drugs for Diseases of Aging

Unity Biotechnology has yet to show that its drugs can treat diseases of aging in humans, but it now has $85 million to start those tests. The Brisbane, CA, drug developer priced its initial public offering late Wednesday by selling 5 million shares at $17 apiece, the midpoint of the $16 to $18 range it … Continue reading “Unity Biotech IPO Raises $85M to Test Drugs for Diseases of Aging”

Cord-Cutting for Kids: Video App Kanopy Adds Free Children’s Shows

If you’ve already liberated yourself from a cable subscription in favor of streaming video services over the Internet, you’re parcelling out your dollars to get the content you want most from services such as Netflix, Hulu, and N.B.A. League Pass. A lesser-known option, Kanopy, offers an unusual streaming subscription deal: Pay nothing, because your university … Continue reading “Cord-Cutting for Kids: Video App Kanopy Adds Free Children’s Shows”

TX Tech: Tyler’s Buying Spree, Trust Ventures, TheWaveVR, & More

Let’s catch up with innovation news from around the state. —Plano, TX-based Tyler Technologies (NYSE: [[ticker:TYL]]) has purchased Sage Data Security, a Portland, ME-based cybersecurity firm, according to a press release. Tyler makes public sector-related information management software, and the company says it has more than 15,000 local governments as customers. A few weeks ago, … Continue reading “TX Tech: Tyler’s Buying Spree, Trust Ventures, TheWaveVR, & More”

Flexera Buys MetaSaaS for Austin Startup’s SaaS Management Tool

Austin—A two-year-old tech startup that helps businesses manage their subscriptions to software-as-a-service applications has sold to software and security manager Flexera. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. Austin, TX-based MetaSaaS helps companies track the use of software-as-a-service, or SaaS, programs, and offers them help determining whether to stay subscribed based on how customers interact or … Continue reading “Flexera Buys MetaSaaS for Austin Startup’s SaaS Management Tool”

Refuge Bio Turns to China for $25M Financing of Precision CRISPR R&D

Refuge Biotechnologies, a company researching ways to use CRISPR gene editing to make cancer treatment more precise, has raised $25 million in financing to continue work on its preclinical drug pipeline. China-based 3SBio and Sequoia China led the Series B round of investment in the Menlo Park, CA, company. CRISPR-Cas9 technology uses modified versions of … Continue reading “Refuge Bio Turns to China for $25M Financing of Precision CRISPR R&D”

Soft Robotics Scoops Up $20M in Latest Logistics Automation Deal

Venture investment in logistics robot companies keeps coming. Today, Cambridge, MA-based Soft Robotics said it has raised $20 million in a new funding round led by Hyperplane Venture Capital. The deal brought in a slew of new investors, including Scale Venture Partners, Calibrate Ventures, Honeywell Ventures, Tekfen Ventures, and Yamaha Motor Ventures. They’re all looking … Continue reading “Soft Robotics Scoops Up $20M in Latest Logistics Automation Deal”

Save $100 Today on “What’s Hot in Boston Biotech” on May 16

We’re just a few weeks away from What’s Hot in Boston Biotech—and we’re offering you the chance to save $100 with our Procrastinator’s Special. It all takes place on Wednesday, May 16, at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard in Cambridge, MA. Join us for fireside chats, spotlight talks, interactive discussions, and more with … Continue reading “Save $100 Today on “What’s Hot in Boston Biotech” on May 16”

California’s Top Court Sets Tougher New Rules on Hiring “Gig Workers”

California employers who classify their workers as independent contractors will be consulting their lawyers today, says A. Mark Pope, an attorney who helped persuade the state’s highest court to establish sweeping new restrictions on hiring so-called “gig workers.” The California Supreme Court on Monday set new standards that will make it harder for companies in … Continue reading “California’s Top Court Sets Tougher New Rules on Hiring “Gig Workers””

Salesforce, SupplyKick, Springbuk Among Big Winners at Mira Awards

On Saturday, TechPoint, a nonprofit working to grow Indiana’s technology ecosystem, hosted its annual Mira Awards gala. The Miras honor the best and brightest in the Indiana tech community and cover a range of categories. With more than 1,300 attendees, TechPoint says its 19th annual Mira Awards gala was the biggest in the organization’s history. … Continue reading “Salesforce, SupplyKick, Springbuk Among Big Winners at Mira Awards”

Moving Beyond Obesity, Vivus Strikes $135M Deal for Digestive Drug

Sales of weight loss drugs have been light, and the Vivus drug Qsymia is no exception. Facing declining revenue as well as a looming mountain of debt, Vivus has been casting about for a new strategy. It looks like it’s found one. Campbell, CA-based Vivus (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VVUS]]) has agreed to pay $135 million for the … Continue reading “Moving Beyond Obesity, Vivus Strikes $135M Deal for Digestive Drug”