Here are some of the latest headlines from the Boston-area tech sector: —TechSandBox, a high-tech startup incubator located about 30 miles west of Boston, announced that it will shut down at the end of July due to “lack of sustainable funding.” The nonprofit opened in 2013 and helped start more than 50 companies, it said … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: TechSandBox, BitSight, Upserve, DBmaestro & More”
Category: National
Forward Health Group Inks Deal with Dialysis Clinic Chain
[Corrected 7/10/17 5:02 p.m. See below.] Fresenius Medical Care North America, an organization that provides healthcare for patients with kidney failure and other chronic conditions, recently signed a multiyear agreement to license software developed by Madison, WI-based Forward Health Group. Michael Barbouche, founder and CEO of Forward Health Group, says his company will begin installing … Continue reading “Forward Health Group Inks Deal with Dialysis Clinic Chain”
Eli Lilly Pledges $52M to Life Sciences Partnership with Purdue
Injectable medications rank among Eli Lilly’s top-selling products. The Indianapolis drug giant is now scouting for new innovations in injectable medicine and it hopes to find them in its backyard. Lilly (NYSE: [[ticker:LLY]]) announced Thursday that it is committing $52 million to a five-year research collaboration with Purdue University. Lilly says it wants to improve … Continue reading “Eli Lilly Pledges $52M to Life Sciences Partnership with Purdue”
Bayer Signs Deal with San Diego’s SlantRange to Analyze Farm Data
SlantRange, a San Diego startup that specializes in providing agricultural data and analytics for farmers, has landed its first strategic agreement with a major agribusiness company. In a statement today, SlantRange says it is now working to collect and analyze crop data for Bayer Crop Science, a division of Bayer’s North American operations based in … Continue reading “Bayer Signs Deal with San Diego’s SlantRange to Analyze Farm Data”
With Triage System, Companies See Toehold for A.I. in Radiology
This story is part of an ongoing Xconomy series on A.I. in healthcare. Other stories cover big-company efforts, a genomics hackathon, the impact on doctors and patients, and business models of A.I. in healthcare. Years ago, radiology underwent a radical transformation with the shift from film to widespread use of digital image displays. That set … Continue reading “With Triage System, Companies See Toehold for A.I. in Radiology”
Celgene Builds Up Cancer Drug Pipeline With BeiGene Deal
Celgene wants a shot at a bigger slice of the global cancer drug market, and the company is turning to China to do it. Summit, NJ-based Celgene has reached a deal with BeiGene, based in Beijing, for rights to a cancer immunotherapy still in clinical trials. The deal announced late Wednesday calls for Celgene (NASDAQ: … Continue reading “Celgene Builds Up Cancer Drug Pipeline With BeiGene Deal”
Building Bridges: IATA Aims to Foster Innovation Across the Americas
Houston—In recent weeks, about 50 students from five Latin American universities have been exploring ways to promote innovative technologies related to connected cars and automotive production. The group has spent the last two weeks in the central Mexican city of Puebla, which is home to manufacturing plants for many multinational car companies such as Volkswagen … Continue reading “Building Bridges: IATA Aims to Foster Innovation Across the Americas”
5 Privacy Worries on 4 Wheels: Staying Safe in the Connected Car Era
As modern vehicles are upgraded to include Internet-enabled technologies designed to access, store, and transmit data for entertainment and safety purposes, consumers are presented with a double-edged sword. On one hand, these connected systems provide important convenience benefits for consumers, but on the flip side, motor vehicles are being exposed to a growing number of … Continue reading “5 Privacy Worries on 4 Wheels: Staying Safe in the Connected Car Era”
New U-M Grant Funding Will Advance Clinical Research, Train Teachers
Two new grant programs administered by the University of Michigan aim to improve health and education for residents of the Great Lakes State. One, in partnership with automotive supplier Bosch, helps teachers with hands-on learning projects in the areas of energy, science, engineering, technology, and the environment; the other helps U-M researchers and faculty get … Continue reading “New U-M Grant Funding Will Advance Clinical Research, Train Teachers”
California Firm Invests in Beloit Aviation Software Maker Comply365
The cockpit of an airplane is usually the target for most innovations in aviation technology. Over the past decade, at least some of that attention has focused on the pilot’s “flight bag,” a mainstay of the flight deck. The term refers to the box-like briefcase that holds everything a pilot might need: the aircraft operating … Continue reading “California Firm Invests in Beloit Aviation Software Maker Comply365”
FDA Halts Merck’s Multiple Myeloma Trials After Patient Deaths
Nearly a month after Merck paused enrollment in three clinical trials in multiple myeloma to gather more information about patient deaths, the FDA has now put a stop to those studies altogether. Merck (NYSE: [[ticker:MRK]]) said Wednesday that the FDA has placed a complete hold on two Phase 3 trials testing its immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab … Continue reading “FDA Halts Merck’s Multiple Myeloma Trials After Patient Deaths”
San Antonio Medical Device Contractor NuPak Sold to NJ-Based Katena
San Antonio—NuPak Medical, a contract manufacturer of medical devices, has been purchased for an undisclosed amount by its largest customer, Denville, New Jersey-based Katena Products. The news of the acquisition was first reported by the San Antonio Business Journal. NuPak, which was founded in San Antonio in 1997, manufactures medical products such as dental implants, … Continue reading “San Antonio Medical Device Contractor NuPak Sold to NJ-Based Katena”
Acer Therapeutics Announces Reverse Merger With Houston’s Opexa
[Updated 6/6/17, 8:04 am] Houston—Opexa Therapeutics is the target of a reverse merger with Acer Therapeutics, a privately held pharmaceutical company based in the Boston area. In a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission Monday, the companies announced the arrangement and also said that Cambridge, MA-based Acer would receive $15.7 million in a financing … Continue reading “Acer Therapeutics Announces Reverse Merger With Houston’s Opexa”
Baidu Acquires Seattle Natural Language Startup KITT.AI
KITT.AI, a startup spun out of the Seattle-based Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence in 2015 and backed by investors including Amazon’s Alexa Fund, has been acquired by Chinese technology giant Baidu. KITT.AI makes technology to enable voice interaction with digital devices and services, including a platform that allows people to “wake up” devices with a … Continue reading “Baidu Acquires Seattle Natural Language Startup KITT.AI”
Flying Car Company Terrafugia Sold to Chinese Automaker Geely
Terrafugia, a Boston-area company that has been working on flying cars since 2006, is being acquired by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, an automotive manufacturer based in Hangzhou, China. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. The news was first reported by the South China Morning Post, but Xconomy has independently been tracking rumors about … Continue reading “Flying Car Company Terrafugia Sold to Chinese Automaker Geely”
Xconomy Awards: Nomination Deadline Extended Until Friday, July 7
Venture funding in Boston and Massachusetts life sciences hit an all-time high in 2015, more than double the levels of 2006, and job numbers are projected to keep growing. Who is driving this phenomenal growth? We need your help in selecting the top innovators, startups, and organizations for the inaugural Xconomy Awards. The Awards will … Continue reading “Xconomy Awards: Nomination Deadline Extended Until Friday, July 7”
A.I., Uber & What’s Next in Tech: Q&A With Kayak Founder Paul English
Technology can’t solve every problem. Sometimes engineers overlook human-driven solutions to the world’s biggest challenges. That was one of the takeaways from my chat with Paul English at Xconomy’s recent business conference, IMPACT, held at the Museum of Science in Boston. The serial entrepreneur is best known as the co-founder and former chief technology officer … Continue reading “A.I., Uber & What’s Next in Tech: Q&A With Kayak Founder Paul English”
Renaissance VC’s Chris Rizik Wins EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award
Detroit/Ann Arbor Xconomist Chris Rizik is an interesting guy. He’s a venture capitalist who runs his own soul music website on the side; as a graduate of both Michigan State University and the University of Michigan, he roots for both teams despite a bitter rivalry between them; he’s a close friend of Governor Rick Snyder, … Continue reading “Renaissance VC’s Chris Rizik Wins EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award”
What’s the Business Model for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare?
This story is part of an ongoing Xconomy series on A.I. in healthcare. Other stories cover big-company efforts, a genomics hackathon, and the impact on doctors and patients. These are heady times for using artificial intelligence to extract insights from healthcare data—in particular, from the tidal wave of information coming out of fields like genomics … Continue reading “What’s the Business Model for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare?”
Redfin Files for IPO, Discloses ‘Redfin Now’ Home Flipping Business
Seattle-based online real estate brokerage Redfin is filing to raise up to $100 million in an initial public offering. The offering paperwork filed Friday afternoon by the 15-year-old company also revealed a new business it has quietly been testing called Redfin Now, which began purchasing properties earlier this year with the intent to refurbish and … Continue reading “Redfin Files for IPO, Discloses ‘Redfin Now’ Home Flipping Business”
Case, M-WERC, Gener8tor, Synesis, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist
A tech celebrity’s upcoming visit, a new partnership for an energy consortium, and a liquid nutrition spinout company are among these recent headlines from Wisconsin’s innovation community: —Steve Case, co-founder of the Internet pioneer America Online, will appear at Green Bay’s Lambeau Field for two days in mid-October as part of his “Rise of the … Continue reading “Case, M-WERC, Gener8tor, Synesis, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist”
Seattle Week in Review: State Budget, Startup Funding, Asteroid Day
The clock ticks toward midnight and the deadline for the state of Washington to pass a two-year budget or face a government shutdown. Lawmakers just released the 600-odd page, $43.7 billion budget for public review Friday morning. It was negotiated secretly. Some of the headlines include a 13.5 percent spending increase, and a $7.3 billion … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: State Budget, Startup Funding, Asteroid Day”
Breathe For Change Provides Teaching Tools to Help Fight Burnout
Amy Kazda knows the value of exercises with a calming effect. Kazda, who teaches music at two elementary schools in Madison, WI, said that many of her students come to her classroom directly from gym class. Often, they still have adrenaline pumping through their veins. “Their minds are racing, and their bodies are maybe racing, … Continue reading “Breathe For Change Provides Teaching Tools to Help Fight Burnout”
Texas Medical Center Leadership Turmoil: Here are the Latest Moves
Houston—The Texas Medical Center’s leadership upheaval continued this week with the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center announcing that it eliminated executive vice president roles as part of a new leadership structure. As a result, executive vice presidents Ethan Dmitrovsky, Thomas Buchholz, and Dan Fontaine have been relieved of those duties. Buchholz will continue … Continue reading “Texas Medical Center Leadership Turmoil: Here are the Latest Moves”
Grand Ventures’ First Investment is in Big Data Startup Astronomer
Grand Ventures, the West Michigan venture capital firm investing in early-stage tech startups, has closed its first deal. The firm contributed an undisclosed amount to Cincinnati-based big data startup Astronomer’s $3.5 million seed round. The funding was led by San Francisco’s Wireframe Ventures and Ohio’s CincyTech; other investors include Frontline Ventures, Drummond Road Capital, CoreNetwork … Continue reading “Grand Ventures’ First Investment is in Big Data Startup Astronomer”
Bio Roundup: Senate Drama, A.I. Stories, Data Dives, Shkreli & More
There is no Obamacare replacement, at least not as of this writing. The Senate Republicans are fractured, with a handful of conservatives and moderates each giving a cold shoulder to their chamber’s version of healthcare reform, the Better Care Reconciliation Act. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office report Monday put the bill’s potential effects in stark … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Senate Drama, A.I. Stories, Data Dives, Shkreli & More”
As Big Pharma Flocks to Science Exchange, Norwest Leads $28M Funding
Some biology PhD’s become entrepreneurs because there are only so many posts around for university professors. But Elizabeth Iorns had scored one of those coveted entry-level academic jobs, so there was a lot at stake in 2011, when she was deciding whether to give it up to launch a startup. Six years later, Iorns says … Continue reading “As Big Pharma Flocks to Science Exchange, Norwest Leads $28M Funding”
After Sale to Accenture, Intrepid Eyes Next Chapter in Mobile Tech
When Mark Kasdorf started his software design and development shop, Intrepid Pursuits, in 2010, mobile apps were basically a box for businesses to check off on their corporate to-do list. “It kind of felt like everyone needed an app, and no one knew why,” Kasdorf recalls. “These people within larger companies vaguely remembered messing up” … Continue reading “After Sale to Accenture, Intrepid Eyes Next Chapter in Mobile Tech”
Side Effect Weighs on Early Results for Alkermes’ Schizophrenia Drug
The early results are in for a Phase 3 clinical trial testing Alkermes’ schizophrenia drug, and the company’s drug worked just as well as a medication already used to treat the psychiatric condition. But so far, it hasn’t distinguished itself on the side effect profile. Weight gain is a common side effect of psychiatric medications, … Continue reading “Side Effect Weighs on Early Results for Alkermes’ Schizophrenia Drug”
Make.TV Enables Professional Live Video Production in the Cloud
Anyone with a smartphone can do a form of live video broadcasting on social media. Anyone with a drone can rig up a version of their own news chopper. But as live, amateur video proliferates, professional broadcasters need to both distinguish their content with higher production values, and incorporate the myriad video streams washing over the … Continue reading “Make.TV Enables Professional Live Video Production in the Cloud”
Mission (To Be) Accomplished: Building Houston’s Innovation Ecosystem
Houston—Houston has all the ingredients to be an economic powerhouse, but the city won’t be able to become one unless civic and business leaders support the city’s fledgling tech community. That finding, and other recommendations on how to support an “innovation strategy” for the city, were presented today to the Houston City Council task force members … Continue reading “Mission (To Be) Accomplished: Building Houston’s Innovation Ecosystem”
Tri-D Dynamics Aspires to Print Rocket Components for New Space Age
In tech circles, amid the chatter about terrestrial innovations such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and genomics, there’s excitement building around another important emerging sector: private space travel. Tesla’s Elon Musk, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Virgin’s Richard Branson, and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen all have private space ventures underway. NASA is once again ramping up its … Continue reading “Tri-D Dynamics Aspires to Print Rocket Components for New Space Age”
Cleantech Startups Aim to Mitigate, Use, and Adapt to Increasing CO2
It can be hard to wrap your mind around the scale of change necessary to restore the Earth’s climate trajectory to one that will restore conditions resembling those in which modern civilization blossomed. It requires nothing short of “a movement to unmake and rebuild the world we were born into,” in the words of futurist and … Continue reading “Cleantech Startups Aim to Mitigate, Use, and Adapt to Increasing CO2”
New Blood: Zielke Transfers Reins of Tech Wildcatters Accelerator
[Corrected 6/30/17, 12:40 pm, and updated 7/3/17, 11:44 am. See below.] Dallas—After a year of presiding over management shuffles, Tech Wildcatters co-founder Gabriella Draney Zielke is announcing an executive change that hits close to home. Zielke is handing over day-to-day duties of the Dallas-based accelerator program to Ricky Tejapaibul, a relative newcomer to North Texas with a … Continue reading “New Blood: Zielke Transfers Reins of Tech Wildcatters Accelerator”
Atlas Venture Unveils New $350M Fund for Seed Biotech Investments
Life sciences venture capital firm Atlas Venture now has $350 million in fresh capital to invest in the early stage biotech companies in the U.S. and around the world. The new fund is Cambridge, MA-based Atlas’ eleventh. Atlas partner Bruce Booth says in a blog post that the firm began raising funds in April, bringing … Continue reading “Atlas Venture Unveils New $350M Fund for Seed Biotech Investments”
Propel Marketing Rebrands as ThriveHive to Stand Out in Noisy Field
ThriveHive is back. The name, that is. Quincy, MA-based Propel Marketing announced this week it will now go by ThriveHive. That’s the name of the local marketing-tech startup Propel acquired last year for $11.8 million in cash. Propel continued to use the ThriveHive name in marketing its products and services, but the full rebranding is … Continue reading “Propel Marketing Rebrands as ThriveHive to Stand Out in Noisy Field”
Salesforce, Cloudflare Entice A.I. App Developers To Build On Their Platforms
Two big San Francisco tech companies put out the welcome mat for third party developers this week, hoping to enrich their platforms with new apps that make use of artificial intelligence tools and other novel capabilities. Both Salesforce and Cloudflare are offering developers a large ready-made user base, tech support, and a shot at pools … Continue reading “Salesforce, Cloudflare Entice A.I. App Developers To Build On Their Platforms”
Progress Buys Mobile Backend Company Kinvey for $49M
[Updated 6/29/17, 8:33 am. See below.] Kinvey, one of the early players in mobile backend services, has been acquired by Progress for $49 million in cash. Progress, a 36-year-old software firm, has for years offered products and services for building, deploying, and managing business applications. Lately, it’s been focusing on making those tools more robust and sophisticated—a … Continue reading “Progress Buys Mobile Backend Company Kinvey for $49M”
Scanalytics to Collaborate with Cisco After Winning IoT Competition
Scanalytics, a Milwaukee-based developer of Internet-connected floor mats and complementary software that helps customers track foot traffic and other activity in physical spaces, says it has begun working with the Silicon Valley tech giant Cisco Systems to integrate some of the two companies’ products. San Jose, CA-based Cisco (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CSCO]]) recently sponsored a competition in … Continue reading “Scanalytics to Collaborate with Cisco After Winning IoT Competition”
LogicBio Lands $45M for Gene Therapies in Rare Pediatric Diseases
Gene therapy offers the potential for a long-lasting, if not permanent, treatment for an inherited disease, but cells that divide rapidly, such as those in the liver, present a thorny problem. Because of how they insert themselves in the cells, some forms of gene therapy get “diluted” as the cells divide. It’s a particular problem … Continue reading “LogicBio Lands $45M for Gene Therapies in Rare Pediatric Diseases”
Vivace Therapeutics Comes Out of Stealth With $25M for Cancer Drugs
Vivace Therapeutics, a San Mateo, CA-based biotech that has kept quiet about its research until now, has reached across the Pacific Ocean to close $25 million in financing to support its work developing drugs to target two different mechanisms of cancer biology. New investor Cenova Capital, based in China, led the Series B round of … Continue reading “Vivace Therapeutics Comes Out of Stealth With $25M for Cancer Drugs”
Buckle Up: Driverless Cars Going Full Speed Ahead at Mcity
From the outside, you wouldn’t expect the humble Ford Fusion to contain technology that could upend the global transportation paradigm—until you notice the LIDAR unit whirring on its roof. LIDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote sensor technology that uses pulses of light to produce a 3D picture of the surrounding … Continue reading “Buckle Up: Driverless Cars Going Full Speed Ahead at Mcity”
New Study: DNA Tests For Healthy People Have “Uncertain Value”
Genome sequencing is becoming more common for people diagnosed with cancer. Should it become part of a healthy person’s checkup, too? A new study published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine questions the practicality of making DNA tests standard for people who don’t have a cancer diagnosis or aren’t trying to identify a mysterious … Continue reading “New Study: DNA Tests For Healthy People Have “Uncertain Value””
U.S. IPOs Surge Amid Nettlesome Risks; Top 10 Deals So Far in 2017
[Updated 6/27/17 5:00 pm. See below.] Improving economic fundamentals are stoking the IPO pipeline in the United States and elsewhere, according to a report issued Tuesday by the global consultant and accounting firm EY. Eighty companies raised a total of $22 billion on U.S. exchanges during the first half of 2017, according to the report … Continue reading “U.S. IPOs Surge Amid Nettlesome Risks; Top 10 Deals So Far in 2017”
Fighting Harassment, Raising Funds, & More Boston Tech News
Summer is here, but news from the Boston-area tech community hasn’t slowed down. Here are some of the recent headlines: —In a Medium blog post, the New England Venture Capital Association (NEVCA) pledged more action to fight discrimination and sexual harassment. The initiatives are partly a response to sexual harassment allegations against venture capitalist Justin … Continue reading “Fighting Harassment, Raising Funds, & More Boston Tech News”
Globalscape Adds Software to Compete in Crowded SaaS Data Business
San Antonio—Transferring data among software programs is becoming increasingly important as more companies use products such as Salesforce (NYSE: [[ticker:CRM]]) and Hubspot (NYSE: [[ticker:HUBS]]), marketing and sales data collectors that don’t necessarily integrate information from different sources easily. Companies that help businesses transfer data between software programs, using application program interfaces and sometimes more advanced … Continue reading “Globalscape Adds Software to Compete in Crowded SaaS Data Business”
Catalant Scoops Up $41M to Boost Business Consulting Marketplace
It’s officially summer in Boston—the mercury is rising, and the venture capital is flowing. The latest local startup to cash in is Catalant Technologies, which on Tuesday morning announced it received a $41 million investment. Catalant joins CloudHealth Technologies, which announced a $46 million Series D funding round on Tuesday. And last week, Rubius Therapeutics … Continue reading “Catalant Scoops Up $41M to Boost Business Consulting Marketplace”
Alder Drug Cuts Down Migraines in Study, But Still Trails Rivals
Alder BioPharmaceutical’s migraine drug successfully reduced the frequency of headaches in a key clinical trial, early results that the biotech says lay the groundwork for its plans to file for FDA approval next year. Bothell, WA-based Alder (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ALDR]]) has been studying its drug eptinezumab in patients who have episodic migraine, defined as experiencing between … Continue reading “Alder Drug Cuts Down Migraines in Study, But Still Trails Rivals”
A Sign of Success? Startup Co-Working Space Start Houston Closes
Houston—Five years ago this month, Gaurav Khandelwal and Apurva Sanghavi opened the doors of Start Houston, a co-working space in the shadow of Houston’s downtown that hosted a monthly demo day for tech startups. “There was a tremendous need,” Khandelwal says. “The meetups we were attending were at restaurants, bars, or in people’s homes all … Continue reading “A Sign of Success? Startup Co-Working Space Start Houston Closes”
CloudHealth Gets $46M as IT Management Sector Heats Up
CloudHealth Technologies says today it has snapped up $46 million in funding, continuing a surge of investments in companies that help businesses manage their cloud storage. The Series D funding round was led by new backer Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, with contributions from Meritech Capital Partners, .406 Ventures, Sapphire Ventures, and Scale Venture Partners. … Continue reading “CloudHealth Gets $46M as IT Management Sector Heats Up”