Algae biofuel was hot, then cold. Now it looks to be warming up again—kinda, sorta, maybe. San Diego-based Cellana is the latest example of an aspiring algae biofuel company that has been given a chance to turn things around, after the hype of the past few years died down. The company (previously known as HR … Continue reading “Cellana Cuts Algae Biofuel Deal with Finland Oil Giant”
Category: San Diego
Connect with Connect Summer Networking Event
More than 700 business leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, researchers, capital providers, and professional services providers are expected to attend Connect with Connect, the premier networking event of the summer. Showcase Zones will host exhibits by over 40 of Connect portfolio companies specializing in digital life, action sports, life sciences, cyber and robotics, and cleantech and energy. … Continue reading “Connect with Connect Summer Networking Event”
The San Diego Design & Innovation Showcase
More than 30 design and innovation businesses will be exhibiting in the Connect San Diego Design & Innovation Showcase that precedes the annual Connect with Connect summer networking event. The showcase is intended to put a spotlight on Connect’s hottest portfolio companies in digital life, sports, active lifestyles, IT, robotics, cleantech, and energy. Tickets are … Continue reading “The San Diego Design & Innovation Showcase”
San Diego Startup Weekend No. 7
Launching a tech startup in San Diego is getting a little less formidable with the seventh startup weekend. Local entrepreneurs, developers, engineers, designers, and other startup enthusiasts will have the opportunity to share ideas and test their dreams. Startup Weekend is a global non-profit organization that supports the development of entrepreneurship by educating aspiring entrepreneurs … Continue reading “San Diego Startup Weekend No. 7”
Cool Planet Energy Systems Obtains $29,875,019 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=5f292deb-4a65-4826-8c96-5afbe4a1545e&Preview=1 Date 6/6/2013 Company Name Cool Planet Energy Systems Mailing Address 460 Calle San Pablo Camarillo, CA 93012 Company Description Cool Planet has developed a patented process that converts non-food biomass into gasoline through mechanical and chemical processes. Our process, known as the carbon negative fuel cycle creates drop-in gasoline and can … Continue reading “Cool Planet Energy Systems Obtains $29,875,019 New Round”
Porch Lands $6,250,000 Seed Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ee33cb69-76f4-4f68-bf24-dfdcec3d4fdd&Preview=1 Date 6/6/2013 Company Name Porch Mailing Address 1251 Emerald Street San Diego, CA 92109 Company Description Porch connects homeowners and home professionals, making it easy to discover inspiring home projects, learn what any project costs, and decide on the best service professional based on who neighbors and friends have used and … Continue reading “Porch Lands $6,250,000 Seed Financing Round”
vWise Secures $250,002 Series C Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3b264944-916a-4185-b126-f1bca5db2759&Preview=1 Date 6/6/2013 Company Name vWise Mailing Address 95 Enterprise Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 Company Description At vWise we create compelling rich-media internet applications based upon our custom E3 (that’s E-Cubed) platform. Our solutions utilize a mix of live-action HD video and interactive applications, to educate participants and guide them through a … Continue reading “vWise Secures $250,002 Series C Funding”
FDA Delay on New Drug Triggers Layoffs at San Diego’s Zogenix
Pressed by unexpected delays in a ruling from the FDA, San Diego-based Zogenix (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ZGNX]]) says it has laid off 55 employees—or 37 percent of its workforce—in an effort to conserve cash through the summer. The pharmaceutical company, which specializes in developing drugs for pain and central nervous system disorders, had expected the FDA to … Continue reading “FDA Delay on New Drug Triggers Layoffs at San Diego’s Zogenix”
Another Way SaaS Changes Everything
There are a lot of “new rules” in enterprise software sales. We discussed many of them in depth at a recent industry forum: it’s now a buying process and not a selling process, the steak dinner and golf game are out, the length of the sales cycle has shortened, and so on. Many of the … Continue reading “Another Way SaaS Changes Everything”
Isis Execs Upbeat as AstraZeneca Expands Cancer Drug Collaboration
Executives at Carlsbad-based Isis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ISIS]]) were upbeat in a conference call this week, after the company reported encouraging news on several fronts. The company said Monday it had received a $10 million milestone payment from AstraZeneca after the London-based pharmaceutical giant advanced their joint development of a drug for liver cancer and added … Continue reading “Isis Execs Upbeat as AstraZeneca Expands Cancer Drug Collaboration”
Calient Technologies Garners $12,227,747 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=580c18ae-31e5-4262-9c9a-42bb847d653e&Preview=1 Date 6/5/2013 Company Name Calient Technologies Mailing Address 27 Castilian Drive Goleta, CA 93117 Company Description Calient Technologies is a leading provider of intelligent, photonic switching systems and software that help service providers scale their networks for expanding bandwidth demands and deliver new wavelength services. Website http://www.calient.net Transaction Type Venture Equity … Continue reading “Calient Technologies Garners $12,227,747 New Funding”
Sonendo Garners $18,000,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3b217a89-e7fc-4829-87a2-bb8a5564b1d4&Preview=1 Date 6/5/2013 Company Name Sonendo Mailing Address 26061 Merit Circle Laguna Hills, CA 92653 Company Description Founded in 2006 as Dentatek Corporation by life science-focused accelerator Fjord Ventures, LLC, Sonendo is a privately-held company developing innovative technologies to transform endodontic therapy. Website http://www.sonendo.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $18,000,000 Transaction … Continue reading “Sonendo Garners $18,000,000 New Financing Round”
Arcturus Therapeutics Secures $1,300,000 Seed Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=21b833b9-8605-4d24-b93d-be65a44ddc0e&Preview=1 Date 6/5/2013 Company Name Arcturus Therapeutics Mailing Address 3210 Merryfield Row San Diego, CA 92121 Company Description Arcturus Therapeutics is poised to become an industry leader in the application of RNAi technologies for the treatment of disease and improved quality of life. The company’s aim is to develop breakthrough technology and … Continue reading “Arcturus Therapeutics Secures $1,300,000 Seed Round”
Daqri Obtains $15,000,000 Series A Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7628df0f-eb1c-4dc9-bbcc-c1b08e747614&Preview=1 Date 6/5/2013 Company Name Daqri Mailing Address 1201 West 5th Street Los Angeles, CA 90017 Company Description Daqri is a revolutionary vision-based augmented reality platform that allows for maximum flexibility of both content and distribution. daqri offers the first enterprise-class AR solution designed to empower organizations to visualize technical assets interactively … Continue reading “Daqri Obtains $15,000,000 Series A Funding Round”
Raising Capital and Going Public Under the JOBS Act
The Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act was enacted last year with the hope of making it easier for startups to raise capital by easing the red tape for certain initial public offerings (IPOs). While some provisions of the JOBS Act have yet to be implemented, the legislation has proved quite effective in relieving some … Continue reading “Raising Capital and Going Public Under the JOBS Act”
We Owe it to Patients to Provide a Reliable Supply of Medicines
Too often in recent years, medicines for life-threatening conditions have been in short supply. It is unnecessary and avoidable for patients, their families, and health care professionals to experience and worry about medicine availability on top of the anxiety caused by their medical conditions. A reliable supply of high-quality medications is something all drug makers … Continue reading “We Owe it to Patients to Provide a Reliable Supply of Medicines”
ASCO Wrap-Up: Cancer News from the West Coast
Anybody with a more than passing interest in cancer has been transfixed the last few days by the news coming out of Chicago. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting has been especially newsy this year, chock full of important clinical trial news—some good, some bad, and some that you’d have to give … Continue reading “ASCO Wrap-Up: Cancer News from the West Coast”
Surf Air Lands Series B Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e735208b-ae45-4fe8-929a-fcf20db6fd17&Preview=1 Date 6/4/2013 Company Name Surf Air Mailing Address 1207 4th St Santa Monica, CA 90401 Company Description Surf Air is a new membership-based air service providing short jaunts between California hot spots like Palo Alto, Monterey, Santa Barbara and L.A. Website http://www.surfair.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount Undisclosed Transaction Round … Continue reading “Surf Air Lands Series B Financing”
With $1.3M in Seed Funding, Arcturus Adds to RNAi Hub in San Diego
San Diego-based Arcturus Therapeutics, a startup founded earlier this year to develop new drugs based on RNA interference (RNAi) technology, says it has raised $1.3 million in seed funding from multiple individual investors in the United States and Canada. The startup, founded by pharmaceutical scientists and former Nitto Denko executives Joseph Payne and Pad Chivukula, … Continue reading “With $1.3M in Seed Funding, Arcturus Adds to RNAi Hub in San Diego”
10th Annual San Diego MIT Enterprise Forum Wine Social
A premier networking event matures with age, and the wine social organized annually by the San Diego chapter of the MIT Enterprise Forum is now in its 10th year. The MIT Enterprise Forum says its wine social is the premier networking event for San Diego’s technology and life sciences community, and now draws more than … Continue reading “10th Annual San Diego MIT Enterprise Forum Wine Social”
The New Cybersecurity Defense: A Proactive, Adversarial Approach
Rather than focusing on traditional reactive measures, cybersecurity experts are starting to deploy proactive, “offensive” approaches to protecting computer systems, networks, and individuals from attacks. This has stirred up much discussion and controversy from all sides. The San Diego chapter of the MIT Enterprise Forum brings together a leading group of cybersecurity experts to discuss … Continue reading “The New Cybersecurity Defense: A Proactive, Adversarial Approach”
Founders and CEOs: You Can’t Outsource Learning
In a startup instead of paying consultants to tell you what they learned you want to pay them to teach you how to learn. Roominate, one of my favorite Lean LaunchPad teams came out to the ranch last week for a strategy session. Alice and Bettina had taken an idea they had tested in the … Continue reading “Founders and CEOs: You Can’t Outsource Learning”
The Biotech IPO Scorecard: Who’s Up, Who’s Down in 2013
Remember Plexxikon? The Berkeley, CA-based company had a lot of talent for structural biology-based drug design, an impressive new treatment for melanoma, and a strong management team. Two years ago, nobody on Wall Street cared one whit. Plexxikon flirted with the idea of going public, found little interest, and sold itself off to Japan-based Daiichi … Continue reading “The Biotech IPO Scorecard: Who’s Up, Who’s Down in 2013”
With Big Bucks Chasing Big Data, Will Consumers Get a Cut?
As consumers, we’re often told a stampede of “big data” will soon make our lives better. Safer and cheaper healthcare, more effective government, lower prices at the corner store—it’s all possible when big companies start digging into the digital information produced by a constantly connected society. Today, the central bargain underwriting most of those lofty … Continue reading “With Big Bucks Chasing Big Data, Will Consumers Get a Cut?”
Making an Intelligent Deal with In-Q-Tel
Following a well-attended presentation in May about In-Q-Tel, the private technology acquisition company that serves the U.S. intelligence community, Mintz Levin partner Jonathan Cain will discuss how such investments are structured. Over two-thirds of the companies entering into an In-Q-Tel investment have never sold or licensed technology to the federal government, and for many it … Continue reading “Making an Intelligent Deal with In-Q-Tel”
11 Reasons Why Flickr, Not Facebook, Is the Place to Put Your Photos
What’s the best way to put your pictures on the Internet these days? There are at least two answers to that question. If you’re just asking which photo sharing service is the most popular, then Facebook is the hands-down winner. People upload roughly 350 million photos to the social network every day. Snapchat isn’t far … Continue reading “11 Reasons Why Flickr, Not Facebook, Is the Place to Put Your Photos”
Why Not Test a Supply Chain Model? What We’ve Got Isn’t Working
I find myself siding more with Flagship’s Noubar Afeyan than with Katrine Bosley in the intriguing conversation emerging in Xconomy in recent weeks over the supply chain model for early stage biotech. Today neither biotech nor pharma are producing a sufficient supply of new products. If we can’t figure out a way to profitably finance … Continue reading “Why Not Test a Supply Chain Model? What We’ve Got Isn’t Working”
RadPad Obtains $200,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=0566505f-b514-4a83-bf9c-1a6a364d39e2&Preview=1 Date 5/31/2013 Company Name RadPad Mailing Address 112 W 1st St Los Angeles, CA 90012 Company Description From listing a pad on the market and finding the perfect renter to looking for that awesome new pad to call home, RadPad is redefining what it means to rent. We’re bringing transparency and … Continue reading “RadPad Obtains $200,000 New Funding Round”
There’s Less Pie in the Sky as Wireless Health Gets Connected
Attendance at the annual Wireless-Life Sciences Convergence Summit in San Diego has remained relatively steady in recent years (the first conference was held in 2006), but there has been a phase change in the industry over the past year. As with many emerging technologies, the wireless health industry has been growing slowly, slowly, slowly—and then … Continue reading “There’s Less Pie in the Sky as Wireless Health Gets Connected”
Top 20 Under-the-Radar Trends in Innovation
What’s the most important trend in innovation that nobody is talking about? We at Xconomy reached out across our national network of innovation leaders (the Xconomists) to get some answers to this question, and to spur some intercity discussion. What we got back was astounding for its diversity and depth. And while it’s no longer … Continue reading “Top 20 Under-the-Radar Trends in Innovation”
At a Startup, Does Being the Only Woman in the Room Matter?
It’s hardly a secret that the male-dominated world of high-growth entrepreneurship doesn’t boast a treasure trove of women. Despite the fact that female-led start-ups have a track record of driving success, businesses founded by women account for less than 9 percent of venture funding. Considering that 50 percent of the people walking the earth are … Continue reading “At a Startup, Does Being the Only Woman in the Room Matter?”
San Diego Life Sciences Roundup: Nucelis, Evoke, PharmAkea & More
It was a week of diverse news from San Diego’s life sciences community, even with the Memorial Day holiday. From digital health to drug development, and a new center for stem cell imaging, here’s our wrap-up. —The Eighth Annual Wireless-Life Sciences Convergence Summit kicked off in downtown San Diego with a featured talk by Joseph … Continue reading “San Diego Life Sciences Roundup: Nucelis, Evoke, PharmAkea & More”
Assigning Credit and Blame to Biopharma R&D Chiefs
There’s been an awful lot of turnover lately among Big Biopharma R&D chiefs, with departures from Merck, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, AstraZeneca, Roche, and AbbVie. Their average tenure in this position was less than 7 years; the range was from less than 2 to 12. That’s similar to the average CEO tenure, which is only 8.4 … Continue reading “Assigning Credit and Blame to Biopharma R&D Chiefs”
San Diego’s Evoke Pharma Files IPO to Advance Gastrointestinal Drug
San Diego’s Evoke Pharma, founded in 2007 to advance a nasal spray used to treat diabetic gastroparesis, plans to raise $23.9 million through an IPO as an “emerging growth company,” according to a recent securities filing. Under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act of 2012, companies that qualify as an emerging growth company can … Continue reading “San Diego’s Evoke Pharma Files IPO to Advance Gastrointestinal Drug”
WaveTec Vision Systems Receives $2,000,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2f7a4e4f-aaed-4fdb-8dd0-bbb4a3f595d9&Preview=1 Date 5/29/2013 Company Name WaveTec Vision Systems Mailing Address 66 Argonaut Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 Company Description The company is developing a system to help optimize patient outcomes after intraocular lens replacement procedures. Website http://www.wavetecvision.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $2,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not … Continue reading “WaveTec Vision Systems Receives $2,000,000 New Financing”
Numecent Lands $13,600,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=fb9dd076-9f6f-4c9a-8979-6c48f70218ee&Preview=1 Date 5/29/2013 Company Name Numecent Mailing Address 15635 Alton Parkway Irvine, CA 92618 Company Description Numecent refers to a specific push-pull paging technology which allows software instructions and data to be demand-paged from the cloud in real-time. Website http://www.numecent.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $13,600,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes … Continue reading “Numecent Lands $13,600,000 New Financing Round”
NVCA: Venture Capital Finally Returned More Than It Took in 2012
It’s no secret that venture capital has struggled since the dot-com implosion. The latest dispatch from the industry’s U.S. trade group, however, says there might be some promising signs of better performance. In a new report wrapping up the 2012 performance for VCs, the National Venture Capital Association says the broad industry finally returned to the … Continue reading “NVCA: Venture Capital Finally Returned More Than It Took in 2012”
Applying “Innovation Arbitrage” to Develop Novel Medicines in China
[Editor’s Note: This post was co-authored by Jessica Yingling of Little Dog Communications.] Loosely defined, arbitrage is striking a combination of matching deals that capitalize upon an imbalance. Profit is gained from the difference between the market prices. With the Chinese government focusing on innovation through forward-looking national agendas for economic development, the opportunity to … Continue reading “Applying “Innovation Arbitrage” to Develop Novel Medicines in China”
Do You Have A Story to Tell? Here Are the Digital Tools You’ll Need
Back in January I got an invitation out of the blue to give a 1-hour talk at the Palo Alto Research Center—the Xerox-owned lab better known as PARC. The invitation was completely open-ended. The full extent of PARC’s guidance was “we think you would have a lot of interesting things to share.” If you’re a … Continue reading “Do You Have A Story to Tell? Here Are the Digital Tools You’ll Need”
Wireless Health Summit Looks to “Engaged Consumer” to Drive Change
In the beginning, the Wireless Health Convergence Summit was viewed as a way to bring innovation to reality, according to Rob McCray, a co-founder and CEO of the San Diego-based Wireless Life Sciences Alliance, which organizes the annual conference. “At that first meeting, we had some people who wondered why a technology company would want … Continue reading “Wireless Health Summit Looks to “Engaged Consumer” to Drive Change”
Ad.ly Garners $2,000,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=dabf94ac-093f-47c1-a7c1-5cd8618b39ad&Preview=1 Date 5/24/2013 Company Name Ad.ly Mailing Address 2341 Weybridge Lane Los Angeles, CA 90077 Company Description The company operates an in-stream advertising platform for Twitter. Website http://www.ad.ly Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $2,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. M&A Terms Venture Investor Siemer Ventures Venture … Continue reading “Ad.ly Garners $2,000,000 New Financing”
BlueCava Receives $625,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=0d66501a-974b-4502-bbe0-9e9f4b4e7082&Preview=1 Date 5/24/2013 Company Name BlueCava Mailing Address 131 Innovation Drive Irvine, CA 92617 Company Description The company has created the BlueCava Device Identification Platform that helps identify any device that is connected to the Internet. Website http://www.BlueCava.com Transaction Type IPO Transaction Amount $625,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were … Continue reading “BlueCava Receives $625,000 New Financing Round”
Falcon Obtains $18,000 Seed Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c3ba7d03-aa05-4418-80cc-8496cdb518e2&Preview=1 Date 5/24/2013 Company Name Falcon Mailing Address Undisclosed Los Angeles, CA 90001 Company Description Falcon is an app that lets a consumer navigate off-grid with personalized, shared maps. Website http://www.thefalconapp.com Transaction Type Accelerator Transaction Amount $18,000 Transaction Round Seed Proceeds Purposes The company will use the proceeds to accelerate its initial … Continue reading “Falcon Obtains $18,000 Seed Financing”
San Diego Life Sciences Roundup: Effector, Ignyta, and More
A startup with a new approach to cancer drug development made its debut this week in San Diego. We’ve got the details, along with other local news in life sciences and industrial biotechnology. —Effector Therapeutics, a San Diego startup developing anti-cancer drugs based on technology licensed from UC San Francisco, raised $45 million in a … Continue reading “San Diego Life Sciences Roundup: Effector, Ignyta, and More”
Mayer’s Challenge: Merging the Cultures of Yahoo and Tumblr
Yahoo + Tumblr is a good match because Tumblr has the huge and vibrant social network, but no revenues, while Yahoo lacks social, but knows how to earn money on ads. Yahoo + Tumblr are a bad match, because Yahoo is a company with 14,000 employees in a corporate organizational culture needing change, while Tumblr … Continue reading “Mayer’s Challenge: Merging the Cultures of Yahoo and Tumblr”
UCSD Entrepreneur Challenge: General Technology Innovation
Student finalists of the annual UCSD Entrepreneur Challenge will compete for $150,000 in combined cash and prizes. Teams in general technology innovation will present a 10-minute pitch, followed by five-minute Q&A. Finalists are GrollTex, Jacobs School of Engineering; OneLab, Biological Sciences; Lumawake, Rady School of Management; SaleShare, Rady School of Management. Winners will be selected … Continue reading “UCSD Entrepreneur Challenge: General Technology Innovation”
UCSD Entrepreneur Challenge: Life Sciences
Student finalists of the UCSD Entrepreneur Challenge will compete for $150,000 in combined cash and prizes. Four finalist teams will present a 10-minute pitch, followed by five-minute Q&A. The finalists in biotechnology and medical technologies are: Electrozyme; Jacobs School of Engineering; Wolf Biosciences, Jacobs School of Engineering ChemoTactics, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences; … Continue reading “UCSD Entrepreneur Challenge: Life Sciences”
Go East, Young Developers
This week, Yahoo announced the acquisition of Tumblr, and journalists, pundits, investors, and advertisers alike speculated on what the acquisition means for Tumblr users, for Yahoo’s future, and for the technology space overall. What was missing from the dialogue was what the acquisition could mean for the East Coast, specifically my hometown of New York … Continue reading “Go East, Young Developers”
Gesture Is the New Touch
Most of us spend many waking hours hunched over our smartphones and tablets. We peck away on our miniature keypads, squint at our tiny screens, and pinch and flick Web pages in order to improve our view. But what if there were a better way? The judges of the MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition think there … Continue reading “Gesture Is the New Touch”
Uncovet Lands $1,300,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4fd13fe0-33ad-4d85-8e68-45b187890c30&Preview=1 Date 5/22/2013 Company Name Uncovet Mailing Address 1410 2nd Street Santa Monica, CA 90401 Company Description Uncovet is a carefully curated and design-centric shop that unearths a daily pallet of fresh, rad, one-of-a-kind products for its members at a discounted rate. Uncovet’s staff of interior and fashion design experts hew the … Continue reading “Uncovet Lands $1,300,000 New Financing”