Category: Raleigh-Durham

Innovation vs. Healthcare Spending: Biotech’s Biggest Looming Challenge

Let’s start with the good news. We are at the beginning of a transformation in human health, treating diseases in ways that we could only speculate about in the recent past. While biology isn’t quite engineering (yet), biotech has become a technology-based, high-growth, high-wage space, all while working to cure cancer. Doing well by doing … Continue reading “Innovation vs. Healthcare Spending: Biotech’s Biggest Looming Challenge”

Five Cybersecurity Trends to Watch in 2016

To no one’s surprise, cybersecurity continued to be a key area of concern and struggle among organizations of all sizes in 2015. However, buried amongst the constant news cycle of new attacks and sophisticated breaches is the fact that more business leaders are understanding the importance of cybersecurity and its potential impact on the organization. … Continue reading “Five Cybersecurity Trends to Watch in 2016”

Pharmabros, Designer Babies, And Other Final Words For 2015

Every three months, Oxford Dictionaries releases its new entries, and modern language mavens everywhere have a field day. A few of my favorites from the summer update: weak sauce, microaggression, cupcakery, and at the risk of perpetuating wholly unfair stereotypes about journalists, beer o’clock. With that, I kick off my final column of 2015, a … Continue reading “Pharmabros, Designer Babies, And Other Final Words For 2015”

The Scientist and the Student: Thoughts on Lessons Learned From a Mentor

What is a key relationship or turning point that helped you get to where you are today? This is a great question. I suspect because it comes up so often in interviews, we tend to underplay the importance of the topic. We get familiar with the answer and over time, lose the tacit feel for … Continue reading “The Scientist and the Student: Thoughts on Lessons Learned From a Mentor”

Location Everywhere: What We’ll See in 2016

2016 is going to be a pivotal year for location- and proximity-based technology solutions. Companies across industries are testing the deployment of location aware infrastructures, opening up a world of possibilities. Location technology adoption will likely mirror that of social networks over the past 10 years. On balance, and with good direction, location-enabled experiences are … Continue reading “Location Everywhere: What We’ll See in 2016”

Five Trends Ready to Disrupt In-Store Retail in 2016

With 2015 coming to a close, retailers are looking ahead for the next wave of technology that will impact in-store innovation. While we’re still waiting for some popular 2015 predictions to take off, including the merging of online recommendation engines with in-store visits, other trends such as e-commerce sites opening more brick and mortar locations … Continue reading “Five Trends Ready to Disrupt In-Store Retail in 2016”

The Big Value Creation Trend of 2015: Q&A with Jonathan Medved

When OurCrowd founder and CEO Jonathan Medved gives a talk about crowdfunding, as he did at the recent Stocktoberfest conference in San Diego, there is one particular slide in his deck that is something of a show stopper. Medved says it is the one slide that tells the whole story—explaining in one bar chart why … Continue reading “The Big Value Creation Trend of 2015: Q&A with Jonathan Medved”

MapAnything Obtains $7,300,000 Series A Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c303dddf-62eb-42cf-9d53-2231c27db054 Date 12/22/2015 Company Name MapAnything Mailing Address 5727 Westpark Dr. Charlotte, NC 28217 USA Company Description MapAnything is the most comprehensive mapping and geo-analytics solution available to Salesforce users. This 100 percent native application provides mapping, schedule planning, route optimization, real time geo-location, territory management, analytics, and adds a Map-Centric User … Continue reading “MapAnything Obtains $7,300,000 Series A Financing”

Novan Therapeutics Raises $30M Ahead of Acne Drug’s Phase 3 Trial

Novan Therapeutics has pocketed $30 million in new financing as the company ramps up for late-stage clinical trials on its lead drug—a treatment for acne. Durham, NC-based Novan reported positive Phase 2 clinical trial results for its acne drug, SB204, in September. At that time, the company said it planned to begin enrollment in two … Continue reading “Novan Therapeutics Raises $30M Ahead of Acne Drug’s Phase 3 Trial”

Patient Investors, Impatient Researchers Essential for Clean Energy Future

Maybe it’s something in the Seattle air that we share, but over the last few weeks, I’ve learned that Bill Gates and I worry about similar things. In interviews with The Atlantic and The Washington Post Gates said: “Historically, it takes more than 50 years before you have a substantial shift in energy generation, but … Continue reading “Patient Investors, Impatient Researchers Essential for Clean Energy Future”

The Best Podcasts of 2015: A Guide for New Listeners

The percentage of Americans who say they’ve never listened to a podcast is steadily shrinking, but it’s still pretty large — 67 percent, according to a 2015 survey by Edison Research and Triton Digital. I’m going to assume for a minute that you’re in this uninitiated group. You know what podcasts are, and you’re vaguely … Continue reading “The Best Podcasts of 2015: A Guide for New Listeners”

Digital Business, Data-Driven Consumers, and the Dark Web

It’s that time of year again, where we look ahead to determine what tech trends will make the most significant impact in 2016. From my view, data analytics and our digital way of life will increasingly transform the world and the nature of business. Here are a few ways I see that playing out in … Continue reading “Digital Business, Data-Driven Consumers, and the Dark Web”

The Day After His Arrest, Martin Shkreli Is Out At Turing Pharma

Martin Shkreli was arrested for securities fraud yesterday, and today he has one fewer business to run. Turing Pharmaceuticals announced this morning Shkreli has resigned his post as CEO. His departure from Turing marks the second time he has built a company, only to leave under no small amount of controversy. The federal government is … Continue reading “The Day After His Arrest, Martin Shkreli Is Out At Turing Pharma”

Financial Tech Firm DealCloud Lands $5.3M in Growth Financing

The uptick in merger and acquisition activity across business sectors is contributing to demand for software to manage all of the information gathered and analyzed leading up to a deal. DealCloud, which specializes in M&A software, is ramping up to feed the appetite for these financial tools with a $5.3 million round of growth financing. … Continue reading “Financial Tech Firm DealCloud Lands $5.3M in Growth Financing”

DealCloud Lands $5,300,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e15ac9b0-90d8-4b5a-90e8-107e4d2de573 Date 12/17/2015 Company Name DealCloud Mailing Address 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28206 USA Company Description DealCloud was formed in 2010 by a passionate team with deep experience in the investment banking, private equity, and enterprise software industries to bring technology-enabled efficiency to the M&A and capital raising processes. … Continue reading “DealCloud Lands $5,300,000 New Funding Round”

From Google to Novartis: Business Showed Up Big at World Climate Talks

When negotiators from 195 countries met in Paris to hammer out an agreement to fight climate change, the two-week meeting in December was notable for many reasons. In an historic accord, the nations set a goal of limiting the warming of the planet to below 2 degrees C—even as low as 1.5 degrees C. The … Continue reading “From Google to Novartis: Business Showed Up Big at World Climate Talks”

Novan Therapeutics Receives $30,409,735 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8526c094-78c9-4309-a5f0-d7290b9f85b8 Date 12/16/2015 Company Name Novan Therapeutics Mailing Address 4222 Emperor Boulevard Durham, NC 27703 USA Company Description Novan uses a licensed nitric oxide technology, developed at the lab of Schoenfisch, to give medical devices an antimicrobial coating, helping to fight bacteria. Website http://www.novantherapeutics.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $30,409,735 Transaction … Continue reading “Novan Therapeutics Receives $30,409,735 New Round”

London Notebook: Conversations Inside The Biomedical Golden Triangle

Xconomy had reporters in eight locales when I joined in the spring of 2014. Since then, we have expanded into Texas and North Carolina, adding two more locales where we cover the life sciences and much more. We’re always looking for the next place to put down roots. One big place on our radar is … Continue reading “London Notebook: Conversations Inside The Biomedical Golden Triangle”

Bunker Labs’ RTP Base Charts Entrepreneurial Course for Veterans

Military veterans may not realize it, but skills they learned in the armed forces are not much different from skills that entrepreneurs use to succeed in business. So says Dean Bundschu, an Army veteran and executive director of Bunker Labs RDU, a business accelerator for veterans now open in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park. Veterans … Continue reading “Bunker Labs’ RTP Base Charts Entrepreneurial Course for Veterans”

Austin, Denver Score High in U.S. List of Software Engineer Pay

If you are a software engineer, you are in demand. This you know. What you may not know is how your salary stacks up to that of your peers around the country. For that, I present to you the State of U.S. Salaries Report, courtesy of a San Francisco company called Hired. To no one’s … Continue reading “Austin, Denver Score High in U.S. List of Software Engineer Pay”

Your Startup Should Try a Switchback Strategy

When it comes to startup strategies, many entrepreneurs assume there is one optimal path. They may need to experiment or “pivot” initially among alternatives, but once they fix on an ideal strategy they simply need to execute. For example, a startup attempting to commercialize a new technology faces the strategic choice of whether to “go … Continue reading “Your Startup Should Try a Switchback Strategy”

Youth Digital Lands $1,999,999 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=abdc9f47-f72d-4780-a932-4eab44c88c41 Date 12/9/2015 Company Name Youth Digital Mailing Address 311 Providence Road Chapel Hill, NC 27514 USA Company Description We believe that computer science skills and concepts should be taught to every child. At Youth Digital, our vision is to make technology education accessible to children around the world in a manner … Continue reading “Youth Digital Lands $1,999,999 New Funding”

At Hematological Meeting, More Than Just Biotech Data Runs Blood Red

[Editor’s note: Deputy Biotechnology Editor Ben Fidler co-wrote this story.] The annual American Society for Hematology meeting, held this year in Orlando, FL, ends today. The meeting is a showcase for new data, drugs, and approaches to treat cancers like leukemia, rare genetic diseases, and other maladies that originate in or otherwise affect blood. But … Continue reading “At Hematological Meeting, More Than Just Biotech Data Runs Blood Red”

Pozen, Tribute Pharma Nix Ireland Move in Favor of Canada HQ

Pozen has formally selected Canada for its new headquarters after it merges with Canada-based Tribute Pharmaceuticals, abandoning plans for an Ireland base of operations that could give the combined company a lower tax rate but could also put it in the crosshairs of U.S. regulators trying to clamp down on corporate maneuvering to evade taxes. … Continue reading “Pozen, Tribute Pharma Nix Ireland Move in Favor of Canada HQ”

2016: The Year We Give Shoppers What They Want

This time of year, all eyes in e-commerce are heavily focused on 2016 strategies for growing sales, keeping customers happy, and expanding channels. Consumer shopping behaviors are shifting too, forcing brands and retailers to be even more agile, though they’re currently struggling just to keep up. There is a disconnect in the industry between how … Continue reading “2016: The Year We Give Shoppers What They Want”

Introducing Xconomy’s New Fintech Channel

Whether you think Apple Pay or bitcoins, lending or mobile banking, not to mention new ways to protect our financial information, a revolution is underway when it comes to the technology behind finance. What’s more, this revolution is playing out all over the country—not just in the financial hubs of New York or Silicon Valley … Continue reading “Introducing Xconomy’s New Fintech Channel”

Gene Edit Summit Leaders Stop Shy Of Call To Ban Germline Changes

No call for a ban. No moratorium. But the scientists and ethicists who convened this week’s once-in-a-generation summit in Washington, DC, say that the practice of editing human DNA in a way that can be passed to future generations is “irresponsible” until there’s a body of evidence that it is safe, that it works, and … Continue reading “Gene Edit Summit Leaders Stop Shy Of Call To Ban Germline Changes”

Larry Altstiel Named vTv Therapeutics Chief Medical Officer

Alzheimer’s drug developer vTv Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VTVT]]) has named Larry Altstiel the High Point, NC, company’s chief medical officer. Altstiel’s experience includes research and management roles at Pfizer (NYSE: [[ticker:PFE]]) and Eli Lilly (NYSE: [[ticker:LLY]]). Most recently, Altstiel was CEO of Provectra Biotherapeutics, which is developing a gene therapy for neurogenerative diseases. Last July, vTv … Continue reading “Larry Altstiel Named vTv Therapeutics Chief Medical Officer”

Netsertive Lands $9,000,000 Series C Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=79693d0a-e05d-4f7e-91c2-dcf49c5fbed7 Date 12/2/2015 Company Name Netsertive Mailing Address 2400 Perimeter Park Drive Morrisville, NC 27560 USA Company Description We wrote the book on using technology to localize online marketing for small & medium businesses and deliver national online exposure through local online channels. Website http://www.netsertive.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $9,000,000 … Continue reading “Netsertive Lands $9,000,000 Series C Round”

What Three Biotechs Could Tell Us About The Pfizer-Allergan Merger

The long-speculated Pfizer-Allergan merger, announced last week with a $160 billion price tag, is officially in motion and lurching toward inevitability. Inevitability doesn’t equal certainty for many involved in the deal. Tens of thousands of employees could potentially get the axe, while dozens of smaller companies partnered with the two behemoths wait to see if … Continue reading “What Three Biotechs Could Tell Us About The Pfizer-Allergan Merger”

Bioventus Fleshes Out Bone-Healing Portfolio with BioStructures Deal

Bioventus, a company that develops biological products aimed at helping bones heal, has acquired medical device company BioStructures in a move to expand its own offerings for bone graft surgeries. Durham, NC-based Bioventus disclosed no financial terms for the deal, which gives it access to BioStructures’ commercialized bone-healing products, along with technologies still in research … Continue reading “Bioventus Fleshes Out Bone-Healing Portfolio with BioStructures Deal”

Alexandria Rolls Out Plans for Its RTP Innovation Cluster

Alexandria Real Estate Equities’ vision to turn a mostly undeveloped property in Research Triangle Park into its latest life science cluster is moving forward with a first phase intended to boost offerings for early-stage startups. Pasadena, CA-based Alexandria (NYSE: [[ticker:ARE]]), which operates science and technology campuses across the country, announced the RTP plans today. Alexandria … Continue reading “Alexandria Rolls Out Plans for Its RTP Innovation Cluster”

Novozymes, TranS1, Symberix, & More in NC Innovation News

Here are some of the top headlines in recent North Carolina biotech, tech, and cleantech news: —Novozymes (NASDAQ OMX: [[ticker:NZYM]]) and Monsanto (NYSE: [[ticker:MON]]) set an ambitious target of having their agricultural microbials reach between 250 million and 500 million acres of U.S. farmland by 2025. Currently, microbial products from the two companies are used … Continue reading “Novozymes, TranS1, Symberix, & More in NC Innovation News”

Small Molecules: The Silent Majority of Pharmaceutical Pipelines

The pharmaceutical industry is constantly evolving. There always seem to be new, innovative therapeutic approaches emerging that capture our imagination and advance our ability to make a difference in the lives of patients. Take, for example, T-cell therapy for cancer, microbiome therapies, and CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, each of which could potentially have a significant impact … Continue reading “Small Molecules: The Silent Majority of Pharmaceutical Pipelines”

PharmatrophiX Obtains $10,300,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7e698b05-ff59-4ccd-a7d2-964032855b69 Date 11/23/2015 Company Name PharmatrophiX Mailing Address 2300 Wells Fargo Capitol Center Raleigh, NC 27601 USA Company Description PharmatrophiX is a biotech working on drugs that prevent neurodegenerative disease. Founded by Stanford researcher Frank Longo, PharmatrophiX is developing a class of drugs that mimic the activity of proteins called neurotrophins, which … Continue reading “PharmatrophiX Obtains $10,300,000 New Funding Round”

Paris Rampage Rekindles Conflict Over Government-Proof Encryption

The recent terrorist attacks in Paris were executed with guns and bombs in the physical terrain of city streets and cafe terraces. But the horrific incident is reviving government calls for greater control of the cyber environment. A host of top U.S. officials including the directors of the CIA and FBI, Senator Dianne Feinstein, New … Continue reading “Paris Rampage Rekindles Conflict Over Government-Proof Encryption”

Newcomers Help Fuel Rise of Raleigh’s Startup Community

The tech startup community’s emergence in Raleigh, NC, shows itself in different ways, such as the expansion of co-working space or a company that lands investment from an out-of-state venture capital firm. At VergeNC this week, that progress was apparent in a show of hands. Will Hardison, host of the monthly event for entrepreneurs and … Continue reading “Newcomers Help Fuel Rise of Raleigh’s Startup Community”

Waving White Flag, Celladon Merges With Rare Disease Co. Eiger Bio

A slew of companies have gone public amidst gene therapy’s recent renaissance, and technological advances have gotten these types of treatments closer than they’ve ever been to impacting healthcare in the U.S. But today, Celladon offered a reminder of how quickly it can all go wrong in gene therapy. The San Diego biotech and its … Continue reading “Waving White Flag, Celladon Merges With Rare Disease Co. Eiger Bio”

Slowing the Global Spread of Climate-Sensitive Infectious Diseases

Climate change is already suspected of causing legions of deaths every year as a result of extreme weather events: heat waves and floods; degradation of water supplies and sanitation with negative impacts on agriculture; and air pollution, which, in 2012, was responsible for 7 million deaths—one in eight deaths worldwide. But climate change is also … Continue reading “Slowing the Global Spread of Climate-Sensitive Infectious Diseases”

Keeping Score, Clinical Watchdogs Push Drugmakers For More Open Data

Should drug companies publicly release all data from the tests they conduct on human volunteers? A growing number of parties say yes, and last week, a group of academics unveiled a scorecard to spotlight companies that have recently kept their clinical data hidden from public view—and those that have made the data available. As with … Continue reading “Keeping Score, Clinical Watchdogs Push Drugmakers For More Open Data”

Salvaged From Bankruptcy, TranS1 Medical Device Finds New Life

Spinal fusion is a complex procedure that requires a surgeon to navigate through muscle, nerves, and organs before reaching bone. TranS1, a Raleigh, NC, medical device company, developed an alternative: a minimally invasive medical device that can fuse the lowest spinal joint in less time, at less cost, and with faster patient recovery. TranS1, named … Continue reading “Salvaged From Bankruptcy, TranS1 Medical Device Finds New Life”

Unitive Receives $7,500,000 Series A Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=5c48e28c-4091-4534-bd0a-ba3f104b4f9c Date 11/16/2015 Company Name Unitive Mailing Address 4512 South Miami Blvd. Durham, NC 27709 USA Company Description Unitive tracks all decisions made and records data on all applicants and candidates that come through the system. Get reports to track improvement of diversity objectives across departments, divisions and your entire organization. Website … Continue reading “Unitive Receives $7,500,000 Series A Round”

Stealth Co Unveiling, New Speakers Added to Nov. 17 Healthcare Event

Two great new speakers—one of whom will bring a major new company out of stealth mode—have just joined the lineup for Tuesday’s Healthcare Summit 2015. If you were on the fence before, you should get off it fast. If you are interested in the future of healthcare, you will not want to miss these new elements. The summit … Continue reading “Stealth Co Unveiling, New Speakers Added to Nov. 17 Healthcare Event”

How Foreign-Born Workers Spark Employment and Innovation

The way critics tell it—including presidential hopefuls as varied as Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump—high-skilled foreign workers are job stealers. If these candidates have their way, living and working in the U.S. will become harder, not easier, for foreign talent. This protectionism, the theory goes, will positively impact the quantity and quality of American jobs: … Continue reading “How Foreign-Born Workers Spark Employment and Innovation”

Milestones of Innovation 11: Blackouts and the Safety of the Grid

While we party upstairs in our micro-age of whirling electrons and dancing apps, there’s some rumbling down in the basement. In a new book called Lights Out, the television journalist Ted Koppel has been reminding us to be very worried about the reliability of one of the central innovations of modernity. He’s talking about our … Continue reading “Milestones of Innovation 11: Blackouts and the Safety of the Grid”

Entegrion Obtains $526,474 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=93477b9c-235d-4754-ba3c-0c1e95a0a6b7 Date 11/9/2015 Company Name Entegrion Mailing Address 79 TW Alexander Drive Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 USA Company Description Entegrion specializes in technologies for the control of hemorrhage, wound management, and associated tissue repair. Website http://www.entegrion.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount $526,474 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not … Continue reading “Entegrion Obtains $526,474 New Financing”

Photofy Garners $370,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=340d9ff3-7208-4903-8b1a-2637d6a56a47 Date 11/9/2015 Company Name Photofy Mailing Address 107 Fayetteville Street Raleigh, NC 27601 USA Company Description Photofy is a social content creation and photo editing engine for iOS and Android that enables people to take the images they love, add their own unique touch and then share with the world. Website … Continue reading “Photofy Garners $370,000 New Financing”