[Corrected, 11/1/17, 5:20 p.m. ET. See below.] The annual American Society of Hematology meeting is next month. But previews of the big data presentations are out today, yielding more insight into what promises to be the first major competition in CAR-T cell therapy: Treatments for people with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) who have run out of … Continue reading “ASH Sneak Peeks: Novartis, Juno Update CAR-T Lymphoma Competition”
Category: National
As Facebook Fights Fake News, LeCun Sees Bigger Role for A.I.
As top lawyers from Facebook, Google, and Twitter testify on Capitol Hill this week about Russians using their platforms to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, it’s becoming clearer that the fight against the spread of fake news won’t be won by humans alone. That’s according to Yann LeCun, a machine learning expert and … Continue reading “As Facebook Fights Fake News, LeCun Sees Bigger Role for A.I.”
WEDC, 3 Nonprofits to Invest $1M in Wisconsin-based Tech Startups
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. (WEDC) says it’s teaming up with three nonprofits on an initiative that will invest $1 million in early-stage technology businesses in Wisconsin. The goal is to provide grant funding and loans to startups headquartered in Wisconsin, and to help them advance products and services they’re developing beyond the proof-of-concept stage, … Continue reading “WEDC, 3 Nonprofits to Invest $1M in Wisconsin-based Tech Startups”
SailPoint & WatchGuard IPO, HX, Technium, ResMan, & More Texas News
Houston and the rest of the Texas Gulf Coast are largely back to business following Hurricane Harvey. Among the more notable news is Houston tech and civic leaders unveiling a new fund of funds aimed at better connecting the city’s large corporations and startups to venture capital across the country. —Houston Exponential is planned to … Continue reading “SailPoint & WatchGuard IPO, HX, Technium, ResMan, & More Texas News”
Ash & Erie Make a Splash on Shark Tank, Score Deal with Mark Cuban
As Venture for America prepares to host a demo day event in Detroit later this month, two entrepreneurs who met as part of the VFA program recently made a splash on Shark Tank, the ABC reality show that features young companies pitching celebrated investors for growth capital. We caught up with Steven Mazur, co-founder of … Continue reading “Ash & Erie Make a Splash on Shark Tank, Score Deal with Mark Cuban”
Techstars Sustainability Adds to Growth of Sponsored Accelerators
After Techstars opened its first program in Boulder, CO, in 2007, the startup accelerator program expanded into three cities over the next four years. But then the real growth started happening. In 2011, Techstars began launching accelerators that focused on startups innovating in a specific sector in partnership with big companies. It partnered with Nike … Continue reading “Techstars Sustainability Adds to Growth of Sponsored Accelerators”
Markforged Turns Profit, Grabs $30M From Siemens, Microsoft, Porsche
Now that the hype over 3D printing has died down, some of the industry’s surviving startups have figured out how to build healthy businesses. Four-year-old Markforged says it’s one of them. The Watertown, MA-based company—known for 3D printers that produce plastic parts strengthened by carbon fiber and other materials—says its revenues have increased significantly this … Continue reading “Markforged Turns Profit, Grabs $30M From Siemens, Microsoft, Porsche”
Sanofi Pulls Back from Voyager Gene Therapy Pact in Parkinson’s
A key study for Voyager Therapeutics and its experimental gene therapy for Parkinson’s disease will have to move ahead without help from pharmaceutical giant Sanofi, which has walked away from the deal. Global rights to Parkinson’s treatment VY-AADC01 are now squarely in the hands of Cambridge, MA-based Voyager (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VYGR]]). Two years ago, the company … Continue reading “Sanofi Pulls Back from Voyager Gene Therapy Pact in Parkinson’s”
Remitly Loads Up for Global Growth with $115M from PayU, Others
International money transfer business Remitly will add $115 million to its coffers through what would be the largest investment in a Seattle company in the last year. The investment—which requires Hart-Scott-Rodino approval due to its size, as well as sign-off from state regulators because Remitly is a licensed financial services provider—is expected to close by … Continue reading “Remitly Loads Up for Global Growth with $115M from PayU, Others”
Recorded Future Nabs $25M to Advance Cyber Threat Intelligence
Boston-area cybersecurity firm Recorded Future said Tuesday it has raised $25 million in Series E venture financing. The round was led by Insight Venture Partners, a new investor. The new money brings Recorded Future’s total venture haul to about $55 million, by my count. The Somerville, MA-based company’s previous investors include Google Ventures (GV), In-Q-Tel, … Continue reading “Recorded Future Nabs $25M to Advance Cyber Threat Intelligence”
New Survey Highlights “Lethargic Pace” of Healthcare Gender Equity
To close the healthcare and life sciences gender gap, there have been programs to move women into the boardroom. People are building mentoring networks. And there have been public pledges to do better. But women in the industry aren’t optimistic about big changes coming soon, according to a new report and survey from digital healthcare … Continue reading “New Survey Highlights “Lethargic Pace” of Healthcare Gender Equity”
Exact Sciences Plots Expansion Strategy as Cancer Test Sales Boom
Exact Sciences posted its fourth consecutive strong quarter—beating analysts’ and the company’s own projections of financial and business performance—and investors reacted favorably. Madison, WI-based Exact (NASDAQ: [[ticker:EXAS]]) develops diagnostic tests for several types of cancer. Its flagship product is Cologuard, a stool-based DNA test for colorectal cancer. Exact said it completed about 161,000 of the … Continue reading “Exact Sciences Plots Expansion Strategy as Cancer Test Sales Boom”
Last Chance to Save on “Healthcare + A.I. Northwest”
We are just a week away from “Healthcare + A.I. Northwest” —and we’re offering you a chance to save $80. Join us for an afternoon of keynote talks, fireside chats, and panel discussions that will delve into how artificial intelligence may transform healthcare. It all takes place the afternoon of Thursday, Nov. 9, at Cambia … Continue reading “Last Chance to Save on “Healthcare + A.I. Northwest””
Clinc’s A.I. Goes Global in Deal with Turkey’s Largest Private Bank
It has been a busy year for Clinc, the fintech startup based in Ann Arbor, MI. The company, which has developed a conversational artificial intelligence platform for financial institutions called Finie, has raised more than $6 million in a Series A round; embarked on a successful pilot project with USAA, the bank serving members of … Continue reading “Clinc’s A.I. Goes Global in Deal with Turkey’s Largest Private Bank”
Boston Tech Watch: Datto, Ultimaker, Brand Networks, Imprivata & More
[Corrected 11/8/17, 2:11 pm. See below.] This week in Boston tech, we’re tracking the latest private equity investments in tech startups; venture capital deals in cybersecurity, healthcare IT, and advanced materials production; and a pair of executive hires. Read on for details. —Datto, a Norwalk, CT-based provider of data protection and networking products, signed an … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: Datto, Ultimaker, Brand Networks, Imprivata & More”
As Russians Hacked U.S. Election, Did Big Tech Firms Break Any Laws?
News is constantly streaming out these days about the role of Facebook, Twitter, and Google in the 2016 presidential election; most disturbing to the public is the apparent use of social media, search, and video channels by Russian operatives seeking to influence U.S. voters. Critical lawmakers have blasted the big tech companies for failing to … Continue reading “As Russians Hacked U.S. Election, Did Big Tech Firms Break Any Laws?”
Investors Navigate Promise, Hype, in Funding A.I. for Healthcare
From a venture investment perspective, digital health is having a record year—one that has come as something of a surprise against the backdrop of federal policy uncertainty. But is investor interest extending into artificial intelligence applications for healthcare? That’s a topic we’ll explore at Xconomy’s Healthcare + A.I. Northwest event in Seattle on Nov. 9 … Continue reading “Investors Navigate Promise, Hype, in Funding A.I. for Healthcare”
Northwestern Mutual Launches $5M VC Fund to Support Local Startups
[Updated 10/31/17 11:01 a.m. See below.] Northwestern Mutual has in recent years begun supporting and working with more early-stage businesses, most notably through its 2015 acquisition of fintech startup LearnVest and creation of a $50 million venture capital fund. Now, the Milwaukee-based life insurance and financial services giant plans to inject $5 million into local startups … Continue reading “Northwestern Mutual Launches $5M VC Fund to Support Local Startups”
Corinnova Nets $6.1M from Wellcome for Heart Failure Medical Device
Houston—More than 12 million people in the United States and European Union have congestive heart failure, but there are only about 4,500 hearts available each year for transplant. LVADs—left ventricular assist devices—have been used to help some of these patients, but installing them means cracking open patients’ chests in expensive open-heart surgery and a month-long … Continue reading “Corinnova Nets $6.1M from Wellcome for Heart Failure Medical Device”
Q&A: Xconomy Award Winner Nikhil Wagle on Building Patient Partnerships
[Updated 10/30/ 9:33 am ET to include news of the data release and new tweets, see below.] You only have to see a few tweets from metastatic breast cancer patients and patient groups to see how they feel about the Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) Project and its leader, Nikhil Wagle (pictured). The breast cancer oncologist … Continue reading “Q&A: Xconomy Award Winner Nikhil Wagle on Building Patient Partnerships”
South Bend Code School Helps Get Underserved Kids on Career Path
A few years ago, Alexandra Liggins was a student at Notre Dame studying English and taking pre-med courses. When she began tutoring local high school students in South Bend, IN, she was disheartened by the number of kids who believed that if they weren’t on the path to college, they didn’t have many future job … Continue reading “South Bend Code School Helps Get Underserved Kids on Career Path”
San Diego Positions Itself as Autonomous Technology Proving Ground
UC San Diego is becoming a test bed for self-driving vehicle technology. With a campus that encompasses more than 3.3 square miles and a daytime population of roughly 65,000, “It’s a small city,” said Henrik Christensen, who is leading the new project as director of the university’s Institute for Contextual Robotics. Christensen, who announced the … Continue reading “San Diego Positions Itself as Autonomous Technology Proving Ground”
Apple Asks Appeals Court to Reverse Judgment in WARF Patent Case
Apple has requested that an appeals court reverse or reduce a judgment ordering the company to pay $506 million for infringing on a patent held by the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s technology transfer office. In a brief made public this week, Apple (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AAPL]]) says it didn’t infringe on a patent owned by the Wisconsin Alumni … Continue reading “Apple Asks Appeals Court to Reverse Judgment in WARF Patent Case”
Five Questions For … Jeff Reichman, Of Civic Tech Skunkworks Sketch City
Houston—For Sketch City founder Jeff Reichman, a guiding philosophy is love to learn. “If you follow that, you’re going to learn all sorts of cool stuff,” he says. “You can get a unique mix of skills and position yourself for really interesting stuff in your career.” The Philadelphia native came to Houston in 2009 to … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Jeff Reichman, Of Civic Tech Skunkworks Sketch City”
MSOE, Noncompetes, NASA, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
Keep up with the latest news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —The Milwaukee School of Engineering announced it’s building a $34 million facility devoted to artificial intelligence research and computational science education. The four-year college’s goal in constructing the 64,000-square-foot research center is to position MSOE “at the forefront in artificial intelligence, … Continue reading “MSOE, Noncompetes, NASA, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
Boston Blockchain Firms Shrug Off ICO Critics, Hunt for Talent
Blockchain technologies and digital currencies are arguably the most hyped and least understood areas of tech right now. Unbridled optimism about these emerging sectors—as well as interesting questions about how they’ll play out—were on display Thursday night at an event in Boston’s financial district featuring three local companies pitching virtual token sales. The main takeaway? … Continue reading “Boston Blockchain Firms Shrug Off ICO Critics, Hunt for Talent”
Tocagen Adopts “Seamless Pivotal Trial” for Brain Cancer Therapy
Three-year survival rates are rarely reported for a deadly form of brain cancer known as recurrent, high-grade glioma (HGG). Under the current standard of care, the median survival rate is seven to nine months. Yet San Diego-based Tocagen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:TOCA]]) says five patients in a high-dose cohort of its gene therapy treatment Toca 511 and … Continue reading “Tocagen Adopts “Seamless Pivotal Trial” for Brain Cancer Therapy”
CyberArk, BitSight, Gigavation Join Cybersecurity Lineup on Dec. 5
In the post-Equifax world, companies and individuals are trying to figure out the best way to shore up their tech defenses and keep their data, networks, and devices as safe as possible. On December 5, Xconomy is gathering a who’s who of cybersecurity leaders from Boston and beyond to discuss emerging threats, new tactics in … Continue reading “CyberArk, BitSight, Gigavation Join Cybersecurity Lineup on Dec. 5”
Bio Roundup: CBO’s Praise, Celgene’s Shock, Trump’s Opioid Plan & More
The White House and the FDA turned the spotlight on the nation’s opioid crisis. Blockbuster drugs from Alexion and Tesaro gained expanded approvals, but bad earnings news from Celgene and Biogen brought stocks down. Academics in the U.S. and China made progress with the gene editing technology CRISPR. And as the week’s biggest biotech deal … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: CBO’s Praise, Celgene’s Shock, Trump’s Opioid Plan & More”
Watch Out, VCs: A.I. Program Judges Startups at Boston Pitch Event
I rarely attend startup pitch competitions anymore. They’ve grown hackneyed over the past few years, thanks to a proliferation of such events and the popularity of the TV show “Shark Tank.” But a startup contest held Tuesday at a machine learning conference in Cambridge, MA, put a twist on the typical scenario: the startups were … Continue reading “Watch Out, VCs: A.I. Program Judges Startups at Boston Pitch Event”
Roundup: TechTown Awards, MCWT Competition, Detroit Initiatives, More
It has been a busy fall in Michigan, full of local tech and innovation news. Here’s a look at some of the recent announcements: —Earlier this month, TechTown Detroit hosted the Toast of the Town event to honor winners of its Salute awards, which recognize the best and brightest in the local startup ecosystem. The … Continue reading “Roundup: TechTown Awards, MCWT Competition, Detroit Initiatives, More”
Cloud-Focused Cybersecurity Center at UTSA Aims $5M at Unfilled Jobs
San Antonio—Encryption, access control, intrusion and fraud detection—the fundamentals of cybersecurity remain largely the same regardless of the type of computing infrastructure an organization uses. But the way IT professionals might apply those security methods to an analog computer versus computing on the cloud vary, for a pretty simple reason: people use different systems different … Continue reading “Cloud-Focused Cybersecurity Center at UTSA Aims $5M at Unfilled Jobs”
Gilt Groupe & Glam Squad’s Wilson Zeroes In On Your Closet With Fitz
Fitz wants to get in the closet with you. The New York-based company will send stylists to your clothes closet, help analyze what you wear and why, and reorganize the clothing and accessories that make the cut. “It’s really kind of cathartic,” says Fitz co-founder Alexandra Wilkis Wilson. “We help clients manage their wardrobes and … Continue reading “Gilt Groupe & Glam Squad’s Wilson Zeroes In On Your Closet With Fitz”
One Week Left to Register for Healthcare + A.I. at Pfizer
We’re in the final countdown to Xconomy’s newest event, Healthcare + A.I. Don’t worry, there are still a few seats available—but they’re going fast. On Nov. 2, we’ll gather innovative minds from across machine learning and healthcare to share their insights on the intersection of these fields. It’s all happening at Pfizer’s office in Cambridge, … Continue reading “One Week Left to Register for Healthcare + A.I. at Pfizer”
Terminated Blood Cancer Drug Springs Back to Life at SD Biotech
A blood cancer drug resurrected by the scientist who helped discover the compound, and who shepherded it through years of R&D, got a shot in the arm today, in the form of a $90 million financing deal with New York’s Oberland Capital. The financing paves the way for San Diego’s Impact Biomedicines to move forward … Continue reading “Terminated Blood Cancer Drug Springs Back to Life at SD Biotech”
Phoenix Pulls in $12M to Fuel Growth of Neutron Generators
Things are accelerating at Phoenix. The Monona, WI-based business, which manufactures particle accelerator-based neutron generators and other machines, has outgrown its current headquarters and plans to break ground on a new home next year, says vice president of business development Evan Sengbusch. Phoenix, which recently shortened its name from Phoenix Nuclear Labs, also plans to … Continue reading “Phoenix Pulls in $12M to Fuel Growth of Neutron Generators”
No Charm: PTC’s Duchenne Drug Rejected by FDA for Third Time
The FDA on Wednesday rejected a Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug from PTC Therapeutics, marking the third time that the regulator has quashed the company’s attempts to bring its drug to the market. Early this year, South Plainfield, NJ-based PTC (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PTCT]]) invoked a little-used rule to force an FDA decision. That strategy looked ill-advised last … Continue reading “No Charm: PTC’s Duchenne Drug Rejected by FDA for Third Time”
After Delays, “Social Robot” Jibo Enters Home Assistant Fray
After three years of hype and shipping postponements, Jibo is finally delivering its eponymous “social robot” to customers. The Boston-based company announced Wednesday that its robot is now for sale to the general public, with shipping set to begin in November. The price tag? $899. Jibo (pronounced JEE-bo) launched a crowdfunding campaign for the product … Continue reading “After Delays, “Social Robot” Jibo Enters Home Assistant Fray”
CRISPR Pioneer Zhang Details New Editing System Downstream From DNA
[Updated 10/25/17 4:26pm ET] Researchers at the Broad Institute have adapted the CRISPR-Cas gene editing system so that it can change the sequence of RNA, rather than edit DNA. RNA transports instructions from DNA in the nucleus to the cell’s protein-making machinery. CRISPR/Cas9-based drugs, which aim to correct genetic disease by making permanent changes to … Continue reading “CRISPR Pioneer Zhang Details New Editing System Downstream From DNA”
After Harvey’s Chaos, Tech Tools Provide Key Connection to Schools
Houston—Hurricane Harvey has faded from front-page newspaper headlines and the top of cable news, but for thousands of families, the chaos and dislocation are still very much top of mind. Luckily, some of them have been able to use technology to fill some basic needs in education and communication. Uma Dama, whose Sugarland, TX, home … Continue reading “After Harvey’s Chaos, Tech Tools Provide Key Connection to Schools”
As Drugs Fail, Some Researchers Urge a Return to Alzheimer’s Roots
As the quest to find treatments for Alzheimer’s disease keeps crashing against rocks, a group of researchers in the field want their peers to pay more attention to the part of the brain where Alzheimer’s disease first wreaks havoc. A new paper from the researchers, published this month in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, is … Continue reading “As Drugs Fail, Some Researchers Urge a Return to Alzheimer’s Roots”
Cord Cutting: How to Get High-Speed Internet Without Cable, 2017 Edition
Hey folks. If you’re thinking about breaking away from the cable monopolies and getting your data, music, and video in other ways, congratulations, I’m with you. I cut the cord back in 2009, and now millions of people are doing the same every year. With the growing interest in cord-cutting, you’d think it would be … Continue reading “Cord Cutting: How to Get High-Speed Internet Without Cable, 2017 Edition”
VelocityTX and OBr Plan to Bring Brazilian Startups to San Antonio
San Antonio — Another week, another announcement from VelocityTX, the rapidly expanding startup program launched last month to promote and aid young tech and bioscience businesses in South Central Texas. VelocityTX is now working to bring Brazilian startups from Rio de Janeiro to San Antonio as a part of a program it is starting with Outsource … Continue reading “VelocityTX and OBr Plan to Bring Brazilian Startups to San Antonio”
Partnership on AI Taps Obama Administration Tech Adviser as Director
An effort launched a year ago by big tech companies to address ethical and societal issues presented by the advancement of artificial intelligence has named as its first executive director a former top technology policy adviser in the Obama administration. Terah Lyons (pictured above right), who led government initiatives to develop machine intelligence strategies, will … Continue reading “Partnership on AI Taps Obama Administration Tech Adviser as Director”
MassMutual Ventures Launches Second $100M Fund
MassMutual is doubling down on its startup investments. MassMutual Ventures (MMV), the venture capital arm of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, on Tuesday announced the creation of its second $100 million venture fund. MMV, launched in 2014, has so far backed 20 companies with about $80 million from its $100 million first fund, according to … Continue reading “MassMutual Ventures Launches Second $100M Fund”
With New Funding, TAI Diagnostics Set to Launch Post-Transplant Test
TAI Diagnostics, a Milwaukee-area startup developing a non-invasive test to monitor patients’ health after they’ve received heart transplants, plans to begin selling its test early next year, says CEO Frank Langley. Launched in 2015, Wauwatosa, WI-based TAI—whose name stands for “Transplant and Immunology” and is pronounced “tie”—has raised about $13 million from investors so far, … Continue reading “With New Funding, TAI Diagnostics Set to Launch Post-Transplant Test”
What’s Hot in Bay Area Biotech on Dec. 6: Early Bird Rate Ends Soon
Grab your ticket to attend Xconomy’s annual biotech event in San Francisco, What’s Hot in Bay Area Biotech. Leaders in gene editing, microbiome, neuroscience, and other fields will discuss the opportunities and pitfalls, and emerging technologies in their industry. Join us on Dec. 6 at UCSF Mission Bay, home to QB3, the University of California’s … Continue reading “What’s Hot in Bay Area Biotech on Dec. 6: Early Bird Rate Ends Soon”
Delphi to Buy NuTonomy for $400M+ as Driverless Car Tie-ups Continue
Another big move today in the race to develop self-driving cars: Delphi Automotive has inked a deal to acquire NuTonomy, an autonomous vehicle software startup, for up to $450 million. The U.K.-based automotive supplier (NYSE: [[ticker:DLPH]]) will pay $400 million up front to acquire Boston-based NuTonomy, plus earn-outs of about $50 million, according to a … Continue reading “Delphi to Buy NuTonomy for $400M+ as Driverless Car Tie-ups Continue”
Announcing New York Biotech: The Future is Now on Dec. 11
Last year the New York City and state governments announced two initiatives designed to make New York a world-class biotech hub. If the right progress is made, 2018 could be a pivotal year in realizing this vision. Xconomy is convening a small group of influential New York life science leaders to host an interactive, town … Continue reading “Announcing New York Biotech: The Future is Now on Dec. 11”
With $50M of His Fortune, AppDynamics Founder Creates a Startup Factory
Jyoti Bansal, who was raised in a small town in India, earned a computer science degree in 1999, worked for three successful Silicon Valley startups, founded his first company in 2008 while still in his 20’s, and led it through its acquisition by Cisco early this year for $3.7 billion. He clearly had a knack … Continue reading “With $50M of His Fortune, AppDynamics Founder Creates a Startup Factory”