San Diego’s StartupCircle hosts entrepreneur and real estate investor Alex Roudi to discuss his role in bringing Silicon Valley’s Plug and Play tech incubator program to San Diego. Plug and Play San Diego offers an opportunity for startups in the region to secure $25,000 in funding and entry in the StartupCamp program, culminating in an … Continue reading “Investor Alex Roudi and Plug and Play San Diego”
Category: San Diego
After Clinical Trial Setback, San Diego’s MediciNova Sets New Course
MediciNova (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MNOV]]) didn’t have much of a fallback strategy last May, when the San Diego biotech reported that a mid-stage trial of bedoradrine sulfate for intravenous treatment of acute asthma attacks “did not statistically meet the primary endpoint.” Investors responded by voting with their feet, hitting the exit in a sell-off that cut the … Continue reading “After Clinical Trial Setback, San Diego’s MediciNova Sets New Course”
Programming Literacy Done Right: It’s About the Tools
Bonnie Nardi is an anthropologist who studies interactions between humans and computers. In 1993, she published her first book, A Small Matter of Programming. The book’s thesis is bold and simple: every human being can, and should, learn to program computers. The book didn’t get much attention outside of academia and is now long out … Continue reading “Programming Literacy Done Right: It’s About the Tools”
PatientSafe Raises $20M to Push Market Adoption of Health IT Device
San Diego’s PatientSafe Solutions, which developed a handheld smart device to improve nursing care, says today it has raised $20 million in a Series C round of financing led by the Merck Global Health Innovation fund. Existing investors TPG Capital, Camden Partners, and Psilos Group joined in the round. PatientSafe introduced its flagship health IT … Continue reading “PatientSafe Raises $20M to Push Market Adoption of Health IT Device”
Biotech CEOs See Insurers as the New Boogeymen, Not FDA
Most biotech executives would have said a few years ago that the FDA was the No. 1 barrier standing in the way of business success. It was the one thing they worried about most. But now biotech CEOs appear to be more concerned about a new kind of threat, coming from the people who pay … Continue reading “Biotech CEOs See Insurers as the New Boogeymen, Not FDA”
My Report Card for JP Morgan Healthcare Conference Picks
Forecasting trends in an industry that you cover every day, if you take time to think about it, is not that hard. Checking back a year later to see how right you were? That can be a little uncomfortable. Rather than add to the pile of predictions people have already made about biotech in 2013, … Continue reading “My Report Card for JP Morgan Healthcare Conference Picks”
After the Show: 2013 Technology Trend Forecast
CommNexus has organized “CES Exposed” to review the good, bad, and ugly from the 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show, which begins this week in Las Vegas. Mike Freeman, technology business reporter for U-T San Diego, and San Diego entrepreneur Gary Rayner, founder and CEO of LifeProof will moderate the discussion. More information and online registration … Continue reading “After the Show: 2013 Technology Trend Forecast”
Optimizing the Board: Best Practices for Directors and Advisors
Connect has organized this presentation by Procopio partner William Eigner to help entrepreneurs, startup founders, CEOs, and current and prospective board members understand how best to seek outside expertise that companies need to provide credibility, contacts, counseling, and cash. The session covers recruiting, managing, incentivizing, and showcasing a board. The workshop also covers governance practices, … Continue reading “Optimizing the Board: Best Practices for Directors and Advisors”
Illumina Acquires Verinata Health, Prenatal Testmaker, For $350M
Illumina spent much of the last year trying to avoid being swallowed up by a bigger corporate fish, and now it has taken a gulp of its own out of the fast-growing market for prenatal genetic tests. The San Diego-based genetic instrument maker (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ILMN]]) said tonight it has agreed to pay $350 million upfront, … Continue reading “Illumina Acquires Verinata Health, Prenatal Testmaker, For $350M”
San Diego Global Life Science Partnering Conference
Biocom’s Third Annual Global Life Science Partnering Conference is an exclusive global partnering and networking forum that brings together senior executives and business development professionals from leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies. The conference includes include case study presentations, individual company presentations, one-on-one meetings, and numerous networking opportunities. More information and online registration is here.
FDA Perspective: Analyze the Regulatory Landscape for Outsourcing
Along with the many benefits of outsourcing comes increased responsibilities—for defining roles and maintaining regulatory compliance. Biocom has invited FDA Quality Manager Marlene Swider to provider her perspective. Understanding FDA guidance can help life sciences companies navigate these arrangements and better determine the appropriate actions for both sponsor and license holder. More information and online … Continue reading “FDA Perspective: Analyze the Regulatory Landscape for Outsourcing”
Mobility and Big Data: Why They Need Each Other to Thrive
Mobile devices and apps will generate seven exabytes of data by 2015, a number that will continue to double and perhaps triple each year. Not only are huge volumes of data/content being communicated through mobile networks, but there has been unexpected growth in related communications and transactions, such as: —Salesforce.com getting 60 percent of its … Continue reading “Mobility and Big Data: Why They Need Each Other to Thrive”
On Corporate Valuations
Connect has organized this program with the Allen Matkins law firm to cover a range of issues and topics focused on valuation issues related to intellectual property in licensing, manufacturing, and M&A transactions. The program includes a discussion of how valuation methodologies can optimize transaction outcomes, valuations related to buy and sell agreements, shareholder agreements, … Continue reading “On Corporate Valuations”
Healthcare Challenges and Technology Opportunities
The US healthcare system is undergoing fundamental changes that will have profound effects on patients, providers, and the industry that supports them. CommNexus has invited Dr. Carlos Nunez, CareFusion’s chief medical officer and senior vice president of medical affairs to highlight the economic, political and demographic forces behind these changes, and how the application of … Continue reading “Healthcare Challenges and Technology Opportunities”
SD Life Sciences Roundup: Organovo, Aethlon, & Deals, Deals, Deals
San Diego’s life sciences community saw a spurt of venture deals over the past week. We’ve got a roundup for everyone who’s been on vacation. —Ignyta, a San Diego startup focused on improving the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune disorders, said it had raised a total of $6 million for its … Continue reading “SD Life Sciences Roundup: Organovo, Aethlon, & Deals, Deals, Deals”
10 Apps That Will Make You Feel Smarter & More Cultured in 2013
Right before the holidays, I shared a list of 20 Must-Have Apps for That Tablet Under the Tree. That list focused on apps for the iPad and Android tablets, and it was intended as an introductory guide for new tablet owners eager to test-drive their gifts with apps that really showcase the capabilities of today’s … Continue reading “10 Apps That Will Make You Feel Smarter & More Cultured in 2013”
Sialix Moves into SD’s Janssen Labs to Focus on Inflammatory Target
Experts in nutrition science have long fretted about the correlation between diets that are rich in certain foods—such as red meat and dairy products—with an increased risk of heart attacks, cancer, and other diseases associated with inflammation. Ajit Varki, a UC San Diego professor of molecular and cellular medicine, has identified a potential explanation—from an … Continue reading “Sialix Moves into SD’s Janssen Labs to Focus on Inflammatory Target”
Independa Obtains $5,000,000 Series A Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a77d496f-148d-42be-9de8-58ea1c97a084&Preview=1 Date 1/3/2013 Company Name Independa Mailing Address 3525 Del Mar Heights Road San Diego, CA 92130 Company Description At Independa, Inc., our vision and passion is to usher in a world where integrated technologies vastly enrich the lives of family caregivers and their elderly loved ones. When caregivers consider where to … Continue reading “Independa Obtains $5,000,000 Series A Round”
Latest Venture Funding Deepens Independa’s Ties with LG Electronics
Independa, the San Diego startup developing Web-based services for the elderly, says today it has closed its Series A financing at $5 million. In a telephone interview this afternoon, Independa CEO Kian Saneii says the round is more of a round-up that includes all of the company’s prior equity funding, the conversion of $2.35 million … Continue reading “Latest Venture Funding Deepens Independa’s Ties with LG Electronics”
CES Countdown: Startups Plant their Flags and Changes Coming to TV
Each January the makers of gadgets big and small bring an electronic carnival to Las Vegas as they tease the world with glimpses of devices they plan to unleash during the coming year. A few changes are in store for next week’s International CES, held at the Las Vegas Convention Center and nearby hotels. After … Continue reading “CES Countdown: Startups Plant their Flags and Changes Coming to TV”
Ending the Culture of Illness through Healthy Eating
[Editor’s note: To tap the wisdom of our distinguished group of Xconomists, we asked a few of them to answer this question heading into 2013: What makes you optimistic?] As a person who has worked in the healthcare field for over 25 years, I am extremely optimistic about the recent trend towards the democratization of healthful behavior and … Continue reading “Ending the Culture of Illness through Healthy Eating”
Ignyta Lands $6,000,000 Series B Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f45a285a-3005-47b2-baaa-8a4e15318d27&Preview=1 Date 1/1/2013 Company Name Ignyta Mailing Address 11575 Sorrento Valley Road San Diego, CA 92121 Company Description Ignyta, Inc. is a scientifically driven biotechnology company catalyzing personalized medicine in autoimmune diseases. Our goals are to revolutionize the quality of biomarkers and tests available to rheumatologists and patients to help them make … Continue reading “Ignyta Lands $6,000,000 Series B Financing”
City Hill Leads $6M Financing to Pioneer RA Diagnostics at Ignyta
San Diego-based Ignyta, founded in 2011 as NexDx with a focus on improving the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, says today its Series B financing has expanded to $5.5 million—about $2.5 million more than its original target. With a $500,000 loan provided in June by Silicon Valley Bank, Ignyta says its Series B financing … Continue reading “City Hill Leads $6M Financing to Pioneer RA Diagnostics at Ignyta”
The Fiscal Cliff Is Forcing a Biomedical Day of Reckoning
Sarah Palin, the onetime candidate for the second-highest elected office in the U.S., once delivered a rant on the campaign trail about waste she perceived in federal support of fruit fly research. Scientists everywhere were appalled. Regardless of whether Palin knew about the historic importance of the drosophila to genetics, they were furious that a … Continue reading “The Fiscal Cliff Is Forcing a Biomedical Day of Reckoning”
Some Xconomy San Diego Predictions for 2013
Editor’s note: As a New Year’s exercise, we asked a select group of Xconomists to answer this question: “What does your gut tell you will happen in 2013, even though you don’t have data to prove it? Here’s a sampling from several San Diego Xconomists: Ramesh Rao: Surreptitious behavioral data gathering and the appearance of … Continue reading “Some Xconomy San Diego Predictions for 2013”
The War on Success Will Rage On
[Editor’s note: To tap the wisdom of our distinguished group of Xconomists, we asked a few of them to answer this question heading into 2013: “What does your gut tell you will happen this year even though you don’t have data to prove it?”] The war on success will continue on and capital gains taxes will … Continue reading “The War on Success Will Rage On”
A Wake-Up Call for Angel Investors
[Editor’s note: To tap the wisdom of our distinguished group of Xconomists, we asked a few of them to answer this question heading into 2013: What does your gut tell you will happen in the coming year even though you don’t have data to prove it?] Mindless angel investing in unvalidated ideas will get a jolt. Over … Continue reading “A Wake-Up Call for Angel Investors”
My Best Mistake
[Editor’s note: To tap the wisdom of our distinguished group of Xconomists, we asked a few of them to answer this question heading into 2013: “What was your best mistake?”] Hmmm—I know what my worst one was. Best one was probably pushing Jascha Franklin-Hodge to go to MIT instead of keeping him full time at … Continue reading “My Best Mistake”
A Pivotal Year in Mobile, Energy, Automobiles, Education
[Editor’s note: To tap the wisdom of our distinguished group of Xconomists, we asked a few of them to answer this question heading into 2013: What does your gut tell you will happen in the coming year even though you don’t have data to prove it?] This is a pivotal year in mobile, we are seeing the … Continue reading “A Pivotal Year in Mobile, Energy, Automobiles, Education”
Vertos Medical Garners $2,052,644 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=84d609c5-4957-4d27-8985-735004dc7cdd&Preview=1 Date 12/27/2012 Company Name Vertos Medical Mailing Address 101 Enterprise Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 Company Description Vertos Medical is a privately held, medical device company that has pioneered percutaneous interventional devices used in the treatment of common spinal diseases, such as lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Website http://www.vertosmed.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction … Continue reading “Vertos Medical Garners $2,052,644 New Funding Round”
A Banner Year for New Drugs
[Editor’s note: To tap the wisdom of our distinguished group of Xconomists, we asked a few of them to answer this question heading into 2013: “What does your gut tell you will happen this year even though you don’t have data to prove it?”] I think there will be even more FDA approvals for New Molecular … Continue reading “A Banner Year for New Drugs”
OneRoof Energy Lands $2,500,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=cf74360f-4085-41ae-b900-0278a84538c5&Preview=1 Date 12/26/2012 Company Name OneRoof Energy Mailing Address 4445 Eastgate Mall Road San Diego, CA 92121 Company Description OneRoof Energy is a San Diego, California based company that develops, owns, and operates solar energy generation systems for the residential market. Website http://www.oneroofenergy.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount $2,500,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed … Continue reading “OneRoof Energy Lands $2,500,000 New Financing Round”
Paper and Airplanes: The Long Road to Obsolescence
As the years go by, I increasingly find the history of the future as interesting as the future itself. We’ve all seen lists of incredibly bad technological predictions, and of course it’s always fun to smugly reflect on how wrong a smart person can be. Grandiose predictions of the future of technology often lead to … Continue reading “Paper and Airplanes: The Long Road to Obsolescence”
What Makes You Optimistic? Xconomists Chime In.
One of the great pleasures of helping to grow Xconomy over the last five-plus years has been getting to know the diverse and fascinating group of people we call the Xconomists, and getting to hang out with them at our various events around the country. And these last few months it has seemed that many … Continue reading “What Makes You Optimistic? Xconomists Chime In.”
Tough B Rounds and Valuations, New Business Models in 2013
[Editor’s note: To tap the wisdom of our distinguished group of Xconomists, we asked a few of them to answer this question heading into 2013: “What does your gut tell you will happen this year even though you don’t have data to prove it?”] I expect many companies looking for their Series B rounds to … Continue reading “Tough B Rounds and Valuations, New Business Models in 2013”
Water Mission to Israel (Day 4): Bringing It All Back Home
Wednesday, December 19th, marked the last day the full delegation was together in Israel. Several members headed for the airport to catch late-night flights after the final dinner, while a number of smaller groups are remaining behind to pursue additional meetings and touring activities over the coming days. The morning sessions were dedicated to open … Continue reading “Water Mission to Israel (Day 4): Bringing It All Back Home”
Water Mission to Israel (Day 3): Startup Day in Startup Nation
Tuesday, December 18th, was the midpoint of the Mission agenda and the centerpiece event of the trip. The Massachusetts Delegation hosted the W.E.T. Revolution at Tel Aviv University in the lovely and historic Green House, which was apparently originally built as part of a Palestinian Village, and at various times since has been part of … Continue reading “Water Mission to Israel (Day 3): Startup Day in Startup Nation”
An Xconomy Experiment in Crowdfunding, Colorado Style
Back in 2007, when Bob Buderi tapped out the first news story for the Xconomy Boston website, he wrote, “Ours is a grassroots endeavor, supported by some of the world’s great innovators and business leaders.” Our founding CEO and editor-in-chief took their lessons of entrepreneurship to heart—assembling a team of extraordinarily talented journalists who have … Continue reading “An Xconomy Experiment in Crowdfunding, Colorado Style”
20 Must-Have Apps for That Tablet Under the Tree
It’s time for the third annual version of “iStocking Stuffers,” the holiday apps edition of my weekly column World Wide Wade. The slide show above covers 20 of my favorite apps from 2012, which makes it my longest list yet: the 2010 edition of this guide had just 10 apps, and the 2011 version had 15. … Continue reading “20 Must-Have Apps for That Tablet Under the Tree”
Elcelyx Therapeutics Secures $3,000,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d0283457-0175-4fa8-ac09-df34582606d5&Preview=1 Date 12/21/2012 Company Name Elcelyx Therapeutics Mailing Address 11995 El Camino Real San Diego, CA 92130 Company Description Elcelyx Therapeutics of San Diego is a stealth mode diabetes related biotechnology company. Website http://www.elcelyx.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $3,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. SEC … Continue reading “Elcelyx Therapeutics Secures $3,000,000 New Financing”
Can (Should?) A Young Biotech Company Still Go Long?
It used to be that every young biotech company’s goal was to “go long,” to become a FIPCO (fully integrated pharmaceutical company…remember when that phrase was in vogue?), selling its own product and running a sustainable business. These days, that’s rarely in anyone’s business plan. And yet at the same time, I’ve heard public market … Continue reading “Can (Should?) A Young Biotech Company Still Go Long?”
Xconomist of the Week: Alexis Borisy Still Likes Early Stage Biotechs
The trending topic among biotech people and the people who fund them these days is that it is almost impossible to scrounge up financing for startups in the earliest stages of drug development. As Xconomy’s Luke Timmermanwrote in July, the amount of money invested in first-round biotech financings fell by 60 percent in the first … Continue reading “Xconomist of the Week: Alexis Borisy Still Likes Early Stage Biotechs”
Obalon Therapeutics Obtains $5,000,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=31411550-dd10-4354-8040-00312095d43d&Preview=1 Date 12/20/2012 Company Name Obalon Therapeutics Mailing Address 12481 High Bluff Drive San Diego, CA 92130 Company Description The company is developing unspecified drug treatments for human disease. Website Undisclosed Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $5,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. SEC regulatory filing. M&A … Continue reading “Obalon Therapeutics Obtains $5,000,000 New Financing Round”
Naviscan PET Systems Lands $1,000,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f0f50b30-83aa-45be-be67-a6b43aa5bc51&Preview=1 Date 12/20/2012 Company Name Naviscan PET Systems Mailing Address 6865 Flanders Drive San Diego, CA 92121 Company Description Naviscan PET Systems, Inc., founded in 1995, designs and develops compact, high-resolution positron emission tomography (PET) scanners that are intended to guide challenging radiological and surgical procedures, and to guide minimally invasive therapy … Continue reading “Naviscan PET Systems Lands $1,000,000 New Funding Round”
Sauer Energy Obtains $15,000,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=40cd8b79-aa23-41a3-a1b6-b3dce3f6da4a&Preview=1 Date 12/20/2012 Company Name Sauer Energy Mailing Address 4670 Calle Carga Camarillo, CA 93012 Company Description Sauer Energy manufactures highly effective small wind Turbine Systems that can be roof mounted on homes or small buildings. The Sauer Energy Turbine Systems potentially offer the fastest return of investment to the owner and … Continue reading “Sauer Energy Obtains $15,000,000 New Funding”
Lithera Garners $20,600,000 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a070e621-a3f9-4c80-898a-e690137c5b11&Preview=1 Date 12/20/2012 Company Name Lithera Mailing Address 9191 Towne Centre Drive San Diego, CA 92122 Company Description Lithera develops products for aesthetic medicine to enhance well-being and improve quality-of-life. Website http://www.lithera.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $20,600,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. M&A Terms Venture … Continue reading “Lithera Garners $20,600,000 New Round”
Sightly Receives $5,600,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e810d80f-bce5-4a5e-8351-af3ff19c01f9&Preview=1 Date 12/20/2012 Company Name Sightly Mailing Address 43174 Business Park Drive Temecula, CA 92590 Company Description At Sightly we excel at driving people to click, to call, to visit and to remember – You. With Sightly, growing your local business has never been easier. Website http://www.sightly.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction … Continue reading “Sightly Receives $5,600,000 New Financing Round”
With New SD Factory, Soitec Joins Top 3 U.S. Solar Panel Makers
In his first official proclamation, newly elected San Diego Mayor Bob Filner declared today as “Soitec Day” in the nation’s eighth largest city, capping a grand opening ceremony for a new solar panel factory completed here recently by Soitec, the French semiconductor manufacturer. The automated plant was designed to make concentrating photovoltatic (CPV) solar panels … Continue reading “With New SD Factory, Soitec Joins Top 3 U.S. Solar Panel Makers”
Domain-Rusnano Partnership Invests $93 Million in Three Biotechs
Last March, life sciences venture firm Domain Associates and Russia’s state-owned Rusnano announced that they will jointly invest as much as $760 million in biotech. Today the partnership announced it is putting $93 million of that money into three Domain portfolio companies, bringing to four the number of deals they’ve done so far. Marinus Pharmaceuticals of … Continue reading “Domain-Rusnano Partnership Invests $93 Million in Three Biotechs”
Five Tips for Building a Successful Relationship with the FDA
I recently led an initiative to communicate more proactively and frequently with the leaders of the FDA about issues specifically related to improving the agency’s focus on innovative biomedical and therapeutic technologies. At San Diego’s Biocom, where I am CEO, we believe that both industry and regulators can benefit from an atmosphere of open communication … Continue reading “Five Tips for Building a Successful Relationship with the FDA”