When the conversation turns to government and technology, all too frequently the narrative becomes one of hopelessness. Healthcare.gov, the ancient computer sitting on the desk at the DMV, and the recent attacks by hackers on various government departments all help to reinforce this story of futility. And, inevitably, the questions get framed as, “Why can’t … Continue reading “Reframing the Conversation About Technology and Government”
Category: Raleigh-Durham
BDSI Cancer Pain Drug Approved Again, Search Continues for New Partner
BioDelivery Sciences International now expects its breakthrough cancer pain treatment to return to the market in 2016—seven years after the FDA first approved the company’s drug. Raleigh, NC-based BioDelivery Sciences (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BDSI]]) said Thursday that the FDA granted the company supplemental approval on a new formulation of Onsolis. The drug administers the painkiller fentanyl through … Continue reading “BDSI Cancer Pain Drug Approved Again, Search Continues for New Partner”
Dr. Frances Kelsey: American Hero, Government Regulator
Dr. Frances Kelsey passed away last week at the ripe old age of 101. She was a true hero in every sense of the word. How did she achieve this status? She did not pull someone out of a burning building. Didn’t dive into a lake to rescue a drowning child. Never threw herself on … Continue reading “Dr. Frances Kelsey: American Hero, Government Regulator”
Why San Diego Is Better than Silicon Valley for AI Startups
Xconomy recently gathered some of the region’s leading minds in brain research and artificial intelligence for a discussion about research on the brain, and emerging areas of neurotechnology innovation . It was a mix of investors, academics, and entrepreneurs. Leading our discussion was UC San Diego Professor Ralph Greenspan, who helped advise President Obama to … Continue reading “Why San Diego Is Better than Silicon Valley for AI Startups”
Raleigh-Durham Roundup: Merz, ChannelAdvisor, UNC, & More
Here are the headlines from the last week in North Carolina biotech, tech, and startup news. —Ulthera, a subsidiary of Raleigh skin products company Merz North America, received FDA clearance on a medical device for treating cellulite. Merz points to clinical trial results showing that the Cellfina System can reduce the appearance of cellulite for … Continue reading “Raleigh-Durham Roundup: Merz, ChannelAdvisor, UNC, & More”
With $16M Series B, Antiva Hopes to Kill Cancer-Causing HPV
Antiva Biosciences may have a new name, but its mission is the same: to develop the first antiviral therapy meant to stop human papillomavirus infections from turning into cancer. The Menlo Park, CA-based company, founded in San Diego three years ago as Hera Therapeutics by Karl Hostetler, now has some funding to pursue its vision. … Continue reading “With $16M Series B, Antiva Hopes to Kill Cancer-Causing HPV”
SoloPro Secures New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3a708099-a4f4-4a6c-8a13-3728ebb170fe Date 8/6/2015 Company Name SoloPro Mailing Address 201 West Main Street Durham, NC 27701 USA Company Description SoloPro is a trusted community platform that enables the ultimate home buyer rebate of 3% for do-it-yourself home buyers by connecting them to real estate agents who offer their unbundled services for a small … Continue reading “SoloPro Secures New Funding Round”
Simply Hired Ranks Top Tech Regions In Mid-Summer Jobs Report Card
Simply Hired, an international job search engine based in Sunnyvale, CA, put out some sunny news for U.S. job hunters today—especially if you’re a tech-savvy worker. Positions for technology workers made up almost 10 percent of the millions of U.S. job listings tracked by the company in July. Nationwide, openings in all sectors rose for … Continue reading “Simply Hired Ranks Top Tech Regions In Mid-Summer Jobs Report Card”
FDA Taps DNAnexus to Build Platform for Crowdsourcing Diagnostics
There is an FDA project underway that could help change the way molecular diagnostics are developed, evaluated, and regulated in the U.S. one day, should things go the way the agency intends. And Mountain View, CA-based DNAnexus is getting the first crack at building the platform at the plan’s heart. DNAnexus, the genomics analytics startup … Continue reading “FDA Taps DNAnexus to Build Platform for Crowdsourcing Diagnostics”
Stock Options—a Golden Ticket?
When is a stock option a golden ticket, when is it of no consequence, and when is it a losing proposition? These are important questions for people in the startup world, where stock and stock options are a key part of most compensation packages. Startup companies like using stock because it costs little at a … Continue reading “Stock Options—a Golden Ticket?”
AvidXchange Receives $129,500,022 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c797e9cc-0af1-4edb-84f5-76d8d54e182d Date 8/5/2015 Company Name AvidXchange Mailing Address 1111 Metropolitan Avenue Charlotte, NC 28204 USA Company Description AvidXchange is the leader in on-demand invoice management services. More customers trust their accounts payable data to AvidXchange than to any other company in the world. Website http://www.avidxchange.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $129,500,022 … Continue reading “AvidXchange Receives $129,500,022 New Financing Round”
As White House Hosts Demo Day, Techstars and Others Push Diversity
It’s no secret that the tech industry has diversity problems. Xconomy has covered the topic extensively, highlighting various allegations of misogyny, sexism, and harassment that occur at startups, as well as folks who are trying to change it for the better. That includes individuals like Robin Hauser Reynolds, who described the work of her documentary, … Continue reading “As White House Hosts Demo Day, Techstars and Others Push Diversity”
Premier Boosts Health IT Capabilities with $400M CECity Acquisition
Healthcare technologies company Premier hasn’t been shy about using acquisitions to build a portfolio that can offer more services to hospitals. Now the Charlotte, NC-based company is bolstering its capabilities to measure and improve hospital care with a $400 million deal to acquire CECity, marking the company’s sixth—and biggest—acquisition since going public in 2013. Under … Continue reading “Premier Boosts Health IT Capabilities with $400M CECity Acquisition”
Ex-Chelsea Tx CEO Oliveto Takes Head Seat at Galleon Pharma
Joseph Oliveto steered Charlotte, NC-based Chelsea Therapeutics to a $658 million sale to Danish drugmaker Lundbeck A/S in May 2014. Today, he’s resurfaced as the new CEO of Galleon Pharmaceuticals, a Horsham, PA-based developer of treatments for sleep apnea and other breathing-control disorders. Galleon’s previous CEO, James Mannion, has retired and will serve as a … Continue reading “Ex-Chelsea Tx CEO Oliveto Takes Head Seat at Galleon Pharma”
In Tough Diagnostics World, Will Ruling Out Cancer Be Good Business?
The high cost of cancer treatments is a huge topic of conversation these days. One way to trim those costs is to not give treatments to people who don’t need them. That sounds like a no-brainer, but it’s a knotty problem, and it’s at the heart of the current debate over the nationwide practice of … Continue reading “In Tough Diagnostics World, Will Ruling Out Cancer Be Good Business?”
Taking the Social Media Plunge at the C-Level
“You’ve got to play to win.” “With great risk, comes great reward.” Both of those popular phrases address the same concept – that in order for a company to grow, the leaders must be invested in every aspect of the business and willing to embrace technology, communication, and social changes. That idea is especially important … Continue reading “Taking the Social Media Plunge at the C-Level”
Debugging the Gender Gap: Filmmaker Warns of Economic Crisis in Tech
As a former stockbroker, Robin Hauser Reynolds knows what it’s like to be a woman in a field dominated by men. Over the past couple of years, the San Francisco Bay Area film director and self-described feminist has immersed herself in another industry that has become notorious for its gender gap: tech. Poor gender diversity … Continue reading “Debugging the Gender Gap: Filmmaker Warns of Economic Crisis in Tech”
Drug Discovery in Seattle 2015: An Updated History
The drug discovery and development process is a difficult one that takes considerable expertise in both the research and business realms. Seattle (and the rest of Washington state) currently has approximately 112 drug-focused biotechnology companies, 17 of which are publicly traded either in the U.S. or Japan. The area also has a number of non-profit … Continue reading “Drug Discovery in Seattle 2015: An Updated History”
Lea(R)n Secures $800,000 Seed Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9fb20268-d3d2-4fc3-b506-dd8007d66a80 Date 7/31/2015 Company Name Lea(R)n Mailing Address 310 S. Harrington St. Raleigh, NC 27601 USA Company Description We are educators, data scientists, designers, clinicians, and thought leaders. With your help, we can change the way the world learns. Website http://www.learntrials.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $800,000 Transaction Round Seed Proceeds … Continue reading “Lea(R)n Secures $800,000 Seed Funding”
vTv Therapeutics IPO Raises $117M For Alzheimer’s, Diabetes Drugs
[Updated 7/30/15, 4:48 pm. See below.] Drug developer vTv Therapeutics has joined the ranks of biotech companies going public, raising $117 million in an initial public offering mainly financing late-stage clinical trial work on an Alzheimer’s disease drug candidate that Pfizer pursued, then dropped. The High Point, NC-based company offered 7.8 million shares at $15 … Continue reading “vTv Therapeutics IPO Raises $117M For Alzheimer’s, Diabetes Drugs”
Baebies Lands $13,000,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=1e370529-ebaf-4cc8-a37f-384cb47f7272 Date 7/30/2015 Company Name Baebies Mailing Address 615 Davis Drive Durham, NC 27709 USA Company Description Our passion is our mission: saving babies’ lives. We’re leading the way in advanced newborn screening, and we’re bringing new technology, new tests, and new hope to parents and healthcare professionals worldwide. Website http://www.baebies.com Transaction … Continue reading “Baebies Lands $13,000,000 New Financing”
Semprius Obtains $501,648 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=31a8be39-081d-40a6-a9ff-4f6249fadd0d Date 7/29/2015 Company Name Semprius Mailing Address 4915 Prospectus Drive Durham, NC 27713 USA Company Description Semprius, Inc. is commercializing a newly invented process for printing high performance single crystal semiconductors on any substrate, including glass, plastic and other semiconductor materials. Website http://www.semprius.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount $501,648 Transaction Round … Continue reading “Semprius Obtains $501,648 New Financing”
Baebies Hauls In $13M For Newborn Screening Technology
Baebies, a diagnostics developer aiming to make neonatal screening easier and more widely accessible, has raised $13 million in equity financing as the company moves forward developing and testing its technology. The Durham, NC-based company said investors in the oversubscribed round included Rex Health Ventures; DUMAC, an investment group controlled by Duke University; Cunning Capital; … Continue reading “Baebies Hauls In $13M For Newborn Screening Technology”
Qlik CEO Lars Björk Discusses Big Data and Artificial “Stupidity”
Big data has been a hot topic for awhile now, putting companies such as Qlik in an in-demand market—that also gets noisier and noisier by the hour. Startups and larger software developers trip over each other trying be the service that sorts out mountains of digital information. Microsoft has teams of researchers here constantly creating … Continue reading “Qlik CEO Lars Björk Discusses Big Data and Artificial “Stupidity””
Raleigh-Durham Roundup: Chimerix, vTv, Biotech Center, & More
Here are headlines from the past week in North Carolina biotech and cleantech news. —A Chimerix (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CMRX]]) antiviral being studied as a smallpox countermeasure showed positive results in a trial evaluating the drug in animals. The Durham company is studying brincidofovir under the FDA’s animal efficacy rule, which is used to test a drug’s … Continue reading “Raleigh-Durham Roundup: Chimerix, vTv, Biotech Center, & More”
Are Qualcomm Layoffs a Disaster for San Diego—or an Opportunity?
After years of strong corporate and financial growth, the pace of change in the wireless industry has forced a massive global layoff at San Diego-based Qualcomm (NASDAQ: [[ticker:QCOM]]. If the wireless giant had only 1,000 employees, a layoff of 150 folks would not be big news. But with a worldwide payroll of 31,000, and a … Continue reading “Are Qualcomm Layoffs a Disaster for San Diego—or an Opportunity?”
Scynexis Sells CRO Business to Avista, Turns Focus to Antifungal Drug
Scynexis, which has straddled the drug business as both a drug developer and a services provider for other pharmaceutical companies, is now exclusively focused on developing its own drugs. The Durham, NC, company announced Thursday that it has sold its contract research business to Avista Pharma Solutions for an undisclosed price. Scynexis (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SCYX]]) will … Continue reading “Scynexis Sells CRO Business to Avista, Turns Focus to Antifungal Drug”
Companies May Stay Private as VCs Invest $32.5B, Report Says
As record levels of venture funding piles into startups, more companies may stay private rather than file for initial public offerings, according to venture capital database CB Insights and accounting firm KPMG. Private companies raised more than $32.5 billion in the second quarter of 2015, with about half of the total coming from 61 deals … Continue reading “Companies May Stay Private as VCs Invest $32.5B, Report Says”
Are Humans the Key to Discovery in a World of Digital Abundance?
We are drowning in content. Blogs made everyone a journalist. Self-publishing made everyone an author. YouTube made everyone a filmmaker. iTunes made everyone a musician. Publishing houses, record labels, and newsrooms have lost their long-held position as gatekeepers of taste. This is largely a good thing, particularly for aspiring artists. I’m a novelist. FG Press … Continue reading “Are Humans the Key to Discovery in a World of Digital Abundance?”
With New Alzheimer’s Data, Biogen Refines Plans For Big Trial
Despite the billions of dollars poured into Alzheimer’s disease research, the disorder remains a biological riddle with no cure. That’s why even hints of progress—encouraging signs in early studies, for example—garner so much attention. And that’s why an update from an experimental drug from Biogen is front and center this morning. Today, at the annual … Continue reading “With New Alzheimer’s Data, Biogen Refines Plans For Big Trial”
In Biotech, Everyone’s Going Public. What’s Your Excuse?
Biotechs everywhere are going public these days. You might have heard. Approaching the traditional market lull in August, we’re up to nearly 40 life science IPOs in 2015, by my own count, with plenty more lined up. That’s more than half way to last year’s mark and already past the 2013 total. I weighed in … Continue reading “In Biotech, Everyone’s Going Public. What’s Your Excuse?”
Cicero Lands $1,000,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=1d6beafc-36f2-4046-ab66-d5c56f1b6188 Date 7/21/2015 Company Name Cicero Mailing Address 8000 Regency Pkwy Cary, NC 27518 USA Company Description Cicero provides businesses the ability to maximize every interaction from intra-company back office applications to those that take place between employees, customers and vendors while extending the value of the best of breed applications in … Continue reading “Cicero Lands $1,000,000 New Funding Round”
Alzheimer’s Drug Firm vTv Therapeutics Sets Terms for $125M IPO
Drug developer vTv Therapeutics is moving forward with its plans for a public stock offering to support late-stage clinical development of its Alzheimer’s disease drug. The High Point, NC-based company on Monday set terms for its IPO, proposing to offer 7.8 million shares in the range of $15 to $17 per share. At the midpoint, … Continue reading “Alzheimer’s Drug Firm vTv Therapeutics Sets Terms for $125M IPO”
Rock the House—from Silicon Valley to China
It’s that time of the quarter, when venture capital fundraising data are released by the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), possibly leaving all the sophisticated investors across the industry wringing their collective hands about frothiness. The latest data shows that VCs in 2Q15 raised over $10.4 billion (slightly revised upward from the amount first announced … Continue reading “Rock the House—from Silicon Valley to China”
Sharing Economy Companies Sharing the Heat In Contractor Controversy
[Corrected 7/31/15, 2:34 pm. See below.] For some time, Uber and other Silicon Valley tech companies have been fighting off lawsuits and other claims that their labor practices are unfair to on-demand workers they classify as independent contractors rather than as employees. The heat mounted this week on a number of fronts. The issue took … Continue reading “Sharing Economy Companies Sharing the Heat In Contractor Controversy”
NephroGenex Aims to Raise $7.5M for Diabetic Nephropathy Drug
NephroGenex has finally priced a stock offering to pay for more late-stage clinical trial work on its treatment for a deadly diabetes complication, but the company needed to slash its offering twice in order to pull it off. Raleigh, NC-based NephroGenex [[NASDAQ: [[ticker:NRX]]) aims to raise $7.5 million from a secondary stock offering of 1.5 … Continue reading “NephroGenex Aims to Raise $7.5M for Diabetic Nephropathy Drug”
Venture Investing Hits Record $19B in Second Quarter
[Updated 7/17/15, 7:40 a.m. See below.] There’s plenty of talk about a potential bubble in the market, whether in tech, biotech, or elsewhere. True or not, one fact that’s real is that there is plenty of money flowing into startups. The second quarter of 2015 produced the highest level of venture funding since at least 2010, and possibly … Continue reading “Venture Investing Hits Record $19B in Second Quarter”
Amazon Web Services to Draw Power from North Carolina Wind Farm
When the first commercial-scale wind farm in the southeastern United States comes online in North Carolina, it will help power the cloud offerings of Amazon Web Services (AWS). AWS, the cloud services subsidiary of Seattle-based Amazon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]), announced Monday that it has contracted with Iberdrola Renewables to construct and operate a 208-megawatt wind farm … Continue reading “Amazon Web Services to Draw Power from North Carolina Wind Farm”
Milestones Of Innovation 10: First Close-Up Of A Planet
Today, NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft, after more than nine years, 3 billion miles, and a brief view of Jupiter’s moon Io, is scheduled to capture the first close-up pictures from the distant minor planet Pluto and its flock of moons. It’s a fine way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this kind of high-tech virtual … Continue reading “Milestones Of Innovation 10: First Close-Up Of A Planet”
Raleigh-Durham Roundup: Iberdrola, TransEnterix, Inmar, & More
Here are the latest headlines in North Carolina cleantech, biotech, and tech news: —The first commercial-scale wind farm in the South is now slated for the North Carolina coast. Spanish company Iberdrola Renewables plans to spend $600 million to erect 102 wind turbines on 22,000 acres near Elizabeth City, and could add up to 50 … Continue reading “Raleigh-Durham Roundup: Iberdrola, TransEnterix, Inmar, & More”
Five Lessons Every App Startup Should Learn
Mobile devices create plenty of pitfalls for entrepreneurs. The nuances of nailing not only the on-screen user experience, but the broader experience of integrating a piece of software into one’s everyday life dramatically increases the risk of failure. As a mobile entrepreneur, you have more variables that you need to test and control in your … Continue reading “Five Lessons Every App Startup Should Learn”
Nuvotronics Secures $15,000,001 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d8b94050-533e-4a9d-8eec-769dfc25602b Date 7/13/2015 Company Name Nuvotronics Mailing Address 2305 Presidential Drive Durham, NC 27703 USA Company Description The most power in the smallest solid state package. Ultra-compact millimeter wave power modules leverage high efficiency air-core microcoax combiners for highest power per unit volume. Website http://www.nuvotronics.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $15,000,001 … Continue reading “Nuvotronics Secures $15,000,001 New Round”
Tech Bubble Talk Focuses on IPO Dearth, Overpriced Rounds, and China
The question is no longer whether we are in a tech bubble—we are—but rather what it all means for the future. And maybe the near future. Everyone seems to agree the market conditions are very different from 2000, but so what? Uber’s valuation is north of $40 billion, and the company is losing money as … Continue reading “Tech Bubble Talk Focuses on IPO Dearth, Overpriced Rounds, and China”
EyeGate Deals Treatment Rights to Valeant to Pay for Clinical Trials
EyeGate Pharmaceuticals, a Waltham, MA-based company that has been seeking FDA approval for an eye disease drug for years, is sacrificing future worldwide rights to a treatment for uveitis to get enough money from drug behemoth Valeant Pharmaceuticals International to put the therapy back on regulatory track. In exchange for an undisclosed upfront cash payment and milestones, … Continue reading “EyeGate Deals Treatment Rights to Valeant to Pay for Clinical Trials”
21st Century Cures Act Passes House, Now Must Navigate Senate
The U.S. House of Representatives took a big step this morning toward major changes in the federal government’s relationship to biomedical research, funding, and regulation. The chamber passed the 21st Century Cures Act, a bill championed early on by a Democrat and a Republican, by a vote of 344-77, an astonishing percentage in this age … Continue reading “21st Century Cures Act Passes House, Now Must Navigate Senate”
Cree Bolsters Power & RF Business with APEI Acquisition
LED and semiconductor technologies company Cree has acquired Arkansas Power Electronics International, or APEI, a maker of electronics components used in power, telecommunications, and renewable energy applications, the company announced today. Cree (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CREE]]) disclosed no financial terms for the acquisition of privately held APEI. Durham, NC-based Cree said that APEI will continue to operate … Continue reading “Cree Bolsters Power & RF Business with APEI Acquisition”
SEAL Innovation Dives Into Pool Safety with Wearable Drowning Sensor
Drowning does not happen the way most people think. On television and in movies, a frantic swimmer kicks, thrashes, and shouts, says Graham Snyder, an emergency room physician. But real-life drowning is nearly silent. Drowning swimmers say nothing because they can barely breathe, Snyder explains. Rather than thrash, they bob up and down before quietly … Continue reading “SEAL Innovation Dives Into Pool Safety with Wearable Drowning Sensor”
“Global Health” Must Mean Global Health
The research community and pharmaceutical industry have made many life-saving and life-improving advances in global health over the past 20 years, and that’s certainly life-affirming news. But the time has come to ask ourselves a very pointed, and perhaps uncomfortable, question: “Are we defining ‘global health’ the right way?” And, more specifically, “How do we … Continue reading ““Global Health” Must Mean Global Health”
For Biotech Cowboys, It’s No Ride Into The Sunset
[Corrected 7/8/15, 3:48pm. See below.] Some people who’ve made it big in biotech drive fast cars. Some take outlandish vacations. Some don’t take any vacations at all. (I’m sure you know the type.) But for a few San Francisco Bay Area biotech veterans, the reward for a long, successful career is the chance to swap … Continue reading “For Biotech Cowboys, It’s No Ride Into The Sunset”
Reveal Mobile Lands $750,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9279b99c-6ce8-4f16-9d47-066f71553c90 Date 7/8/2015 Company Name Reveal Mobile Mailing Address 2619 Western Blvd. Raleigh, NC 27606 USA Company Description Reveal Mobile builds mobile audience analytics from three distinct sources. We use traditional latitude & longitude, app behaviors, and the world’s first beacon-powered audience database. Website http://www.revealmobile.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $750,000 … Continue reading “Reveal Mobile Lands $750,000 New Financing Round”