The vast majority of findings published in high-profile biomedical research publications can’t be reproduced by independent laboratories. Multiple groups have come to this same shocking conclusion in recent years, and it has deservedly generated considerable attention. It matters because the ability to reproduce a result is fundamental to establishing the legitimacy of a new research … Continue reading “Scientific Reproducibility: Raising the Standards for Biomedicine”
Category: New York
East Coast Biotech Roundup: Scholar Rock, Dicerna, Eleven, & More
Just when you thought the biotech IPO stampede was over, the holiday break came, and with it, a new batch of prospective publicly-traded life sciences companies. Those stories and more below as the roundup returns from a short vacation: —Growth factors are well known in the biotech world, but a new Cambridge, MA-based startup named … Continue reading “East Coast Biotech Roundup: Scholar Rock, Dicerna, Eleven, & More”
The Future of Education: 10 Trends To Watch
It is that time of the year when we tend to pause, reflect, and look forward. What have we achieved in the year just passed? What are the highlights of culture, business, technology, and trends that we have observed around us? For me, the most exciting and positive movement at present is in the domain … Continue reading “The Future of Education: 10 Trends To Watch”
New Online Services Put You Back in Command of Your 401(k)
If you’re still in search of a New Year’s resolution, here’s one you’re free to borrow from me: Become a more active and self-reliant manager of your retirement investment accounts, using some of the affordable new tools available online. This week I’ve been exploring two of the leading services, Jemstep and Personal Capital. After just … Continue reading “New Online Services Put You Back in Command of Your 401(k)”
Agilis Biotherapeutics Obtains $8,000,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=19ebe756-83d3-4a1e-9da9-5f8061f38301 Date 1/3/2014 Company Name Agilis Biotherapeutics Mailing Address Undisclosed New York, NY 11000 Company Description Agilis Biotherapeutics, LLC, is a biotechnology company focused on designing and engineering first-in-class DNA-based therapeutics to improve and save the lives of patients affected by life-threatening or fatal rare diseases for which there are no or … Continue reading “Agilis Biotherapeutics Obtains $8,000,000 New Financing Round”
Here’s What Mobile Industry Insiders See Ahead for 2014
By now, you should know the truly big stories in the mobile sector: Samsung’s rise to challenge Apple, Microsoft finally acquiring Nokia, Google leaping into wearables, more moves toward carrier consolidation. But if you want to get a jump start on some of the biggest trends shaping up in the mobile industry, you could do … Continue reading “Here’s What Mobile Industry Insiders See Ahead for 2014”
Tinypass Lets Web Publishers Put Different Paywall Options in Play
Figuring out how to make money from online content is still akin to trying to build the better mouse trap. Publishers try many different ways to sell access to articles, videos, and other media—and sometimes fall flat on their faces. But one New York-based startup hopes to make it easier for such sites to figure … Continue reading “Tinypass Lets Web Publishers Put Different Paywall Options in Play”
Tech Bubble Leaks Air, Healthcare Bests Biotech, & More for 2014
The coming year will see some good news and some bad news in tech. Here are five predictions. • IPOs: This past year witnessed an extraordinary resurgence in IPO activity for venture-backed companies. It felt much like 1999 right before the crest of the wave. With modest growth, unsustainably high valuation multiples, little excess left for … Continue reading “Tech Bubble Leaks Air, Healthcare Bests Biotech, & More for 2014”
Integral Ad Science Secures $29,999,987 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2e49cdd6-588d-4c1c-ba97-ba8041ce8f04 Date 1/2/2014 Company Name Integral Ad Science Mailing Address 37 E. 18th St. 7th Floor New York, NY 10003 Company Description Since launching the industry’s first preventative brand safety solution in 2009, powered by our constant growth and innovation, we have built a global media valuation platform that is integral to … Continue reading “Integral Ad Science Secures $29,999,987 New Financing Round”
The Year in Innovation: Xconomy’s Top 13 Stories of 2013
If you only have time to read a few of our articles from the past year, these are the ones. These are editor’s picks (mine). They are not based on Web traffic, but rather on a subjective weighting of their impact, significance, and representation of our mission and geographies. Xconomy is now in 9 regions … Continue reading “The Year in Innovation: Xconomy’s Top 13 Stories of 2013”
Remembering James L. Vincent, Longtime Biogen Leader
Are they making innovators quite like James L. Vincent any more? This question, spurred by Vincent’s death on Dec. 5, has more edge these days as we worry how Americans are going to keep inventing, making, and selling new things to earn a good living in a sharply competitive world. More bluntly, do the innovators … Continue reading “Remembering James L. Vincent, Longtime Biogen Leader”
Help Wanted: Houston vs. Austin and the Search for the Best IT Talent
Last May, we announced that we were moving Datafiniti to Austin. A big reason for our move was the lack of a suitable talent pool from which to hire. There was a lot of skepticism—perhaps surprisingly so—around our reasoning. At the time, we provided what I thought was a healthy dose of data to back … Continue reading “Help Wanted: Houston vs. Austin and the Search for the Best IT Talent”
Critical Mention Lands $1,000,000 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3ee91673-f6cd-4d41-b0dd-9e58cf0b57fa Date 12/31/2013 Company Name Critical Mention Mailing Address 521 Fifth Avenue 16th Floor New York, NY 10175 Company Description Critical Mention Inc. is a leading provider of television search and monitoring services. Critical Mention’s CriticalTV online platform provides customers with a full-featured system for tracking current and archival video clips as … Continue reading “Critical Mention Lands $1,000,000 New Round”
ClearServe Holdings Lands New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=92f3f2df-3e70-40ca-a12e-e91a65ea795e Date 12/31/2013 Company Name ClearServe Holdings Mailing Address Undisclosed New York, NY 10010 Company Description ClearServe Holdings, LLC is a wealth management platform company. Website Undisclosed Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount Undisclosed Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. M&A Terms Venture Investor Scout Ventures
Why Angels Should Keep Their Distance from Crowdfunding in 2014
There’s certainly been a lot of uncertainty in the angel and venture capital arenas over the past decade, and understandably so. Add to that, the lure of crowdfunding—a nearly $3 billion business in 2012—and it’s led some angel groups to consider if there is a role for individual investors in crowdfunding their deals. My advice … Continue reading “Why Angels Should Keep Their Distance from Crowdfunding in 2014”
Women-led Startups Show New York’s Tech Scene Not Just a Boys’ Club
Though it might seem that way to some, technology never was strictly the domain of men. The programming languages of Rear Adm. Grace Hopper and the algorithms of Ada Lovelace run deeply in the digital DNA of computer science. Women do found and build startups, as we have seen in New York this past year. … Continue reading “Women-led Startups Show New York’s Tech Scene Not Just a Boys’ Club”
Why Business and Personal Email Are Not the Same
We all carry certain expectations about email from our private lives into a corporate setting. Some of those expectations are met, but in other ways business email is very different from consumer email. These differences can be confusing at best and, at worst, lead to major problems for organizations. The Inside and the Outside To … Continue reading “Why Business and Personal Email Are Not the Same”
ScrollMotion Lands $5,036,436 Series D Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=22a3d270-b1e7-4d81-842f-10748dfc589d Date 12/30/2013 Company Name ScrollMotion Mailing Address 7 Penn Plaza New York, NY 10001 Company Description Our solution makes it easy for businesses to create the same engaging mobile content, distribute it globally, and track it securely. We can help transform the way your employees work, sell and communicate in today’s … Continue reading “ScrollMotion Lands $5,036,436 Series D Round”
Neverware Receives $4,156,914 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=75c5809f-c9de-4345-be6b-36382c8cffe2 Date 12/30/2013 Company Name Neverware Mailing Address 902 Broadway 4th Floor New York, NY 10010 Company Description Neverware’s mission is to produce innovative technologies that make life easier for our clients, and save them money along the way. Website http://www.neverware.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $4,156,914 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds … Continue reading “Neverware Receives $4,156,914 New Funding Round”
Good, Business, and Good Business
Here in the 20-teens, the roles of for-profit businesses, non-profit organizations, government, NGO’s, foundations, investors and philanthropists are beginning to blur together. We are quickly finding ourselves in a world where it is not only possible to do good while doing business, but expected. This is quite a change from the “Friedman Doctrine” that claimed … Continue reading “Good, Business, and Good Business”
Mortar Data Garners $900,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8a73a2c0-dff0-439a-ab8e-2caf6adedfab Date 12/27/2013 Company Name Mortar Data Mailing Address One Liberty Plaza 24th Floor New York, NY 10006 Company Description Mortar makes Hadoop easy. If you’re sitting on a pile of under-utilized data, Mortar can have you up and running in under an hour, with no special training. Website http://www.mortardata.com Transaction Type … Continue reading “Mortar Data Garners $900,000 New Financing”
4 Tech Trends That Will Impact Risk and Compliance Efforts in 2014
Once business organizations reach a certain size, their leaders have to start thinking systematically about how to structure reporting relationships to ensure vital information reaches the top; how to identify and account for the internal and external risks that could hobble the company; and how to ensure the organization is complying with a skein of … Continue reading “4 Tech Trends That Will Impact Risk and Compliance Efforts in 2014”
My Top Picks in Bio-Venture Innovations, and Predictions for 2014
I am a biotech VC, but not a techie. So I don’t follow stem cells, gene therapy, and other similar “blockbuster” technologies in the life sciences. Rather than looking at all the gosh-and-golly stuff going into the biotech pipeline, I wait to see what is coming out of the other end. So far, very little … Continue reading “My Top Picks in Bio-Venture Innovations, and Predictions for 2014”
We Ask the Xconomists: Some Quick Predictions for the New Year
As 2013 drew to a close, we asked some of our Xconomists to ponder innovation, past and future, and to give us their predictions for the breakout innovations they expect to see in their respective fields. Here’s what they had to say: Texas Xconomist Blair Garrou, managing director at Mercury Fund in Houston: I’m excited … Continue reading “We Ask the Xconomists: Some Quick Predictions for the New Year”
BrightFarms Secures $3,168,674 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=326ac9d1-c19f-42ab-8532-a0329141bac3 Date 12/26/2013 Company Name BrightFarms Mailing Address 211 East 48th Street New York, NY 10017 Company Description BrightFarms designs, finances, builds and operates hydroponic greenhouse farms at supermarkets, eliminating time, distance and cost from the food supply chain. There is no cost to the supermarket retailer, only an obligation to purchase … Continue reading “BrightFarms Secures $3,168,674 New Financing”
SnagFilms Garners $6,472,731 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7db0604d-b5b9-4f65-9bb0-bbcce162131d Date 12/26/2013 Company Name SnagFilms Mailing Address 665 Broadway New York, NY 10012 Company Description SnagFilms.com is a website where you can watch full-length documentary films for free, but we’re also a platform that lets you snag a film and put it anywhere on the web. Website http://www.snagfilms.com Transaction Type Venture … Continue reading “SnagFilms Garners $6,472,731 New Funding Round”
Zerve Receives $1,842,999 Series D Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=cb78841a-0b73-45c1-aa2f-fc9eec90cc49 Date 12/26/2013 Company Name Zerve Mailing Address 333 Hudson Street 6th Floor New York, NY 10013 Company Description Zerve is a service that connects buyers and sellers of the world’s best activities. Website http://www.zerve.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,842,999 Transaction Round Series D Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not … Continue reading “Zerve Receives $1,842,999 Series D Funding”
Priori Legal Pairs Data and the Web to Connect Lawyers with Small Biz
Searching for an attorney might not be fun. But many businesses, even tiny ones with tight budgets, wind up needing their services. A pair of Yale law school grads says their online marketplace, Priorilegal.com, makes it easier for small businesses to find lawyers who are willing to work on the cheap, matching attorneys to the … Continue reading “Priori Legal Pairs Data and the Web to Connect Lawyers with Small Biz”
Observations From Korea’s Creative Economy 2013 Conference
Innovation is one of those goals that transcends borders. Spurring technology innovation, and through it the creation of new industries that accelerate job growth, is always high on the agenda of any advanced economy. But what if you had to change the culture of an entire nation at the same time? That’s a major part … Continue reading “Observations From Korea’s Creative Economy 2013 Conference”
A Need to Know: Adding DNA and Geomedicine Data to Patient Records
It takes a lot of patience to be a patient. There are about 1.2 billion physician office visits annually in the United States, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. The center, which has collected data on this subject for decades, also reports that patients wait an average of just “north” of 11 minutes … Continue reading “A Need to Know: Adding DNA and Geomedicine Data to Patient Records”
Age of Surprise
For about 500 years, it seems that we’ve been living in an era of permanent surprise, of unanticipated discoveries like Columbus’ landfall in what he thought was an outpost of China. Ever since, we have been conditioned to expect the unexpected. And around 1760, about halfway through our age, we entered the factory era that … Continue reading “Age of Surprise”
General Catalyst Raises $675M, Wants to Grow Silicon Valley Office
Venture capital firm General Catalyst Partners has raised $675 million for its seventh investment fund, saying it wants to continue investing in fast-growing companies from coast to coast—with a special focus on Silicon Valley. The deal, announced today, comes about two years after General Catalyst raised $500 million for its sixth fund. The firm has invested … Continue reading “General Catalyst Raises $675M, Wants to Grow Silicon Valley Office”
DFJ Growth Backs Foursquare, Barry Schuler Sees an “Inflection Point”
Dennis Crowley seemed to be on a quest in 2013 to change minds about—and revive the prospects for—his company Foursquare. Earlier this year, Foursquare rolled out new versions of the check-in app, adding real-time recommendations and other features. But now, Crowley has the input of a former CEO of AOL. Last Thursday, word came that … Continue reading “DFJ Growth Backs Foursquare, Barry Schuler Sees an “Inflection Point””
Diverse Software Developer Talent—A Gift That Keeps on Giving
Here’s a fresh take on the spirit of giving: Ten Washington technology companies have agreed to “pay it forward” by supporting Seattle’s first not-for-profit coding academy focused on preparing women who show technical aptitude, but have little or no technical experience, to become software developers. During the Technology Alliance’s early days in the mid-1990s, Washington … Continue reading “Diverse Software Developer Talent—A Gift That Keeps on Giving”
10 Tips for Maximizing the JP Morgan Healthcare Experience
San Francisco, we’re coming. Of course, you are ready for the biotech onslaught. The cab drivers, hotel people, cops, security dudes, restaurant and bar staff—you all know the drill come January. So what about all the healthcare industry capitalists? Are you ready to make the most of this week when all the decision makers and … Continue reading “10 Tips for Maximizing the JP Morgan Healthcare Experience”
Aviary Lands $2,044,025 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4bf0a27b-d407-4258-b15c-17c765641898 Date 12/23/2013 Company Name Aviary Mailing Address 243 W 30th St 11th Floor New York, NY 10001 Company Description Aviary’s robust suite of online creative tools is fundamentally democratizing digital creation. Whereas the market for digital goods was once reserved exclusively for creators using proprietary desktop software, Aviary is delivering creative … Continue reading “Aviary Lands $2,044,025 New Funding Round”
Kinex Pharmaceuticals Secures $300,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9ed33f54-130f-4555-9051-5f0b427ad59a Date 12/23/2013 Company Name Kinex Pharmaceuticals Mailing Address 701 Ellicott Street Buffalo, NY 14203 Company Description Kinex is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of next generation therapies for cancer and immunomodulatory diseases. Website http://www.kinexpharma.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $300,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes … Continue reading “Kinex Pharmaceuticals Secures $300,000 New Funding”
3FLOZ Obtains $1,000,000 Seed Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c789c5da-16bb-4426-97cb-8a71fbcd8c78 Date 12/21/2013 Company Name 3FLOZ Mailing Address 100 John St. New York, NY 10038 Company Description Alexi and Kate created 3floz.com, as a one stop shop for all of your favorite TSA friendly beauty products. Website http://www.3floz.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,000,000 Transaction Round Seed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes … Continue reading “3FLOZ Obtains $1,000,000 Seed Round”
Kurtosys Systems Lands $8,000,000 Series C Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b86ad890-f593-4926-8953-98d4a73f10c1 Date 12/21/2013 Company Name Kurtosys Systems Mailing Address 594 Broadway 2nd Floor New York, NY 10012 Company Description Kurtosys is a global provider of digital technology to the financial sector. Since 2002, our team of industry experts have been using digital media to transform the way that financial information is shared … Continue reading “Kurtosys Systems Lands $8,000,000 Series C Round”
Hightower Secures $2,120,000 Seed Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ce16ab00-2e7b-4e89-a396-eec6dec3c684 Date 12/21/2013 Company Name Hightower Mailing Address Undisclosed New York, NY 11000 Company Description Hightower uses leasing activity data to instantly create analytical insights into commercial real estate portfolios. Owners can organize assets by fund, region, or asset manager, and use Hightower to monitor and diagnose leasing performance. Website http://www.gethightower.com Transaction … Continue reading “Hightower Secures $2,120,000 Seed Funding Round”
News, Social Networking Meet in Prismatic’s “Interest Network”
Over the last 20 years, three new technologies have come together to reshape the way information enters our lives. First, of course, there was the Web, starting around 1993. Then came social networking, starting around 2003. And finally—hugely amplifying the effects of the first two—came broadband-capable smartphones and tablets, starting in 2007. Any one of … Continue reading “News, Social Networking Meet in Prismatic’s “Interest Network””
East Coast Biotech Roundup: Curoverse, Sia, Trinity, & (Much) More
Time to bid an adieu to 2013. Xconomy will go on a little holiday break once Christmas rolls around next week, so this’ll be the last roundup of the year. True to form in what’s been a wild year for biotech—the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index is up more than 50 percent since Jan. 2— it’s jam-packed. … Continue reading “East Coast Biotech Roundup: Curoverse, Sia, Trinity, & (Much) More”
Knewton Garners $51,000,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=71737170-2aa1-4c82-91c6-5e3efcde8ac9 Date 12/20/2013 Company Name Knewton Mailing Address 100 5th Avenue New York, NY 10011 Company Description Knewton has developed the industry’s most powerful adaptive learning engine, customizing educational content to meet the needs of each student. Whereas traditional classrooms and textbooks provide the same material to every student, Knewton dynamically matches … Continue reading “Knewton Garners $51,000,000 New Financing”
Knewton Obtains $51,000,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=71737170-2aa1-4c82-91c6-5e3efcde8ac9 Date 12/20/2013 Company Name Knewton Mailing Address 100 5th Avenue New York, NY 10011 Company Description Knewton has developed the industry’s most powerful adaptive learning engine, customizing educational content to meet the needs of each student. Whereas traditional classrooms and textbooks provide the same material to every student, Knewton dynamically matches … Continue reading “Knewton Obtains $51,000,000 New Funding”
Warby Parker Garners $60,000,000 Series C Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=eee31563-57db-493a-83f2-ea16e9591e58 Date 12/20/2013 Company Name Warby Parker Mailing Address 161 Avenue of the Americas 2nd Floor New York, NY 10013 Company Description Warby Parker was founded with a rebellious spirit anda lofty objective: to create boutique-quality, classically crafted eyewear at a revolutionary price point. Website http://www.warbyparker.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount … Continue reading “Warby Parker Garners $60,000,000 Series C Financing”
Jack Dorsey & Harlem Small Business Owners Discuss Entrepreneurship
A different kind of show went on stage at the Apollo Theater in New York on Tuesday night. Square CEO and Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey kicked off a conversation with small business owners in Harlem about their goals and needs. It was the final “Let’s Talk” chat for the year, a series of panels sponsored … Continue reading “Jack Dorsey & Harlem Small Business Owners Discuss Entrepreneurship”
Floored Garners $5,260,000 Series A Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=af39a361-5dee-4fa7-b915-1f321d40341d Date 12/19/2013 Company Name Floored Mailing Address 96 Spring St. New York, NY 10012 Company Description Floored is a New York-based developer of 3D modeling software for the commercial real estate market. Website http://www.floored.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $5,260,000 Transaction Round Series A Proceeds Purposes We have built a … Continue reading “Floored Garners $5,260,000 Series A Funding Round”
Rheonix Lands $14,000,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=82ecfa3b-fba2-49e1-bbd4-3a8849a20339 Date 12/19/2013 Company Name Rheonix Mailing Address 22 Thornwood Drive Ithaca, NY 14850 Company Description Rheonix, Inc. is exploiting its novel, patented, polymer chip microfluidic technology to introduce products that address some of the hottest issues in global healthcare today: Avian Influenza, HPV, TB, Dengue Fever, AIDS, SARS, bioterrorism, affordable healthcare … Continue reading “Rheonix Lands $14,000,000 New Financing Round”
Rheonix Secures $14,000,000 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=82ecfa3b-fba2-49e1-bbd4-3a8849a20339 Date 12/19/2013 Company Name Rheonix Mailing Address 22 Thornwood Drive Ithaca, NY 14850 Company Description Rheonix, Inc. is exploiting its novel, patented, polymer chip microfluidic technology to introduce products that address some of the hottest issues in global healthcare today: Avian Influenza, HPV, TB, Dengue Fever, AIDS, SARS, bioterrorism, affordable healthcare … Continue reading “Rheonix Secures $14,000,000 New Round”
FlyCleaners Receives $2,000,000 Seed Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=45d83305-da5e-42e3-9ba9-5649cfd2f644 Date 12/19/2013 Company Name FlyCleaners Mailing Address 20 W 22nd St. New York, NY 10010 Company Description FlyCleaners offers convenience without cost, premium service without premium prices. Summon us via the FlyCleaners app and we’ll pickup and deliver your laundry and dry cleaning, on demand, any time between 6:00 AM and … Continue reading “FlyCleaners Receives $2,000,000 Seed Financing”