Freshdesk Secures $5,000,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=0fbc5d66-8dd5-465b-9761-d72ada9e003c&Preview=1 Date 4/27/2012 Company Name Freshdesk Mailing Address 340 S Lemon Ave Walnut, CA 91789 Company Description Freshdesk is your answer to today’s customer support needs. With Freshdesk there is nothing to download or install – you don’t have to babysit your helpdesk or worry about server upgrades and patches. You focus … Continue reading “Freshdesk Secures $5,000,000 New Funding”

Big Data, Big Biology, and the ‘Tipping Point’ in Quantified Health

Two of the biggest trends in technology innovation are converging—and as they come together, there is a chance to accomplish something rare in San Diego. Something exponential. One of these forces is “big data,” the ever-increasing capabilities of computers and analytic software to move from gigabytes to terabytes, petabytes, and beyond. The other is “big … Continue reading “Big Data, Big Biology, and the ‘Tipping Point’ in Quantified Health”

Announcing Xconomy’s Napa Summit: Keeping America Growing

As the Presidential campaign heats up, one of the most pressing issues on the minds of candidates and voters alike is the future of American growth and competitiveness. So it is our great pleasure to announce an exclusive Xconomy gathering dedicated to exploring this vital issue with some of the most knowledgeable experts on the … Continue reading “Announcing Xconomy’s Napa Summit: Keeping America Growing”

Xconomist of the Week: Michael Greeley Dissects the VC Data

Michael Greeley is no pessimist. Eeyores don’t get picked to run the New England Venture Capital Association, as Greeley did from 2005 to 2008, and they don’t win gubernatorial appointments to state entrepreneurship boards. But he’s more willing than most VCs to talk about troubling trends in the innovation economy. So we paid attention earlier … Continue reading “Xconomist of the Week: Michael Greeley Dissects the VC Data”

ParAccel Receives $20,000,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2920f34b-0766-492b-97cc-f1eb2ea6fd82&Preview=1 Date 4/26/2012 Company Name ParAccel Mailing Address 9920 Pacific Heights Blvd. San Diego, CA 92121 Company Description The company develops data warehousing software for use by enterprises and other data-intensive organizations. Website http://www.paraccel.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $20,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes The company will use the investment … Continue reading “ParAccel Receives $20,000,000 New Funding Round”

Illumina Opens Apple-Inspired App Store for DNA Software Developers

San Diego-based Illumina has talked openly about how it is inspired by the way Apple integrates hardware and software, and now it’s taking another cue from the consumer technology colossus. Illumina, the market-leading maker of DNA sequencing instruments, said today it is creating an open platform for genomic software developers to make apps for scientific … Continue reading “Illumina Opens Apple-Inspired App Store for DNA Software Developers”

Vycon Lands $3,177,984 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=389147d4-2b92-426a-b895-f1ecbb063f9c&Preview=1 Date 4/25/2012 Company Name Vycon Mailing Address 23695 Via Del Rio Yorba Linda, CA 92887 Company Description VYCON is a manufacturer of technologically advanced flywheel based energy storage systems. VYCON uses patented technology in rotating machinery to provide equipment that is reliable, long lasting and essentially maintenance free. Website http://www.vyconenergy.com Transaction … Continue reading “Vycon Lands $3,177,984 New Funding”

Independa Garners $735,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c58d0539-51c3-44c7-9071-01c1b66996fa&Preview=1 Date 4/25/2012 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 Garners $735,000 New Financing”

The Napa Summit: Keeping America Growing

How do we keep America competitive and growing? To explore this vital question, Xconomy is tapping its national network of Xconomists, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and other leading members of the innovation community for an intimate, invitation-only summit in the heart of California’s wine country. This extraordinary day-and-a-half-long, off-the-record retreat will feature candid chats, entrepreneur and … Continue reading “The Napa Summit: Keeping America Growing”

The JOBS Act—The “IPO On-Ramp” Makes IPOs Easier

Enacted with great fanfare in early April, the JOBS Act is intended to improve access to the public capital markets for startup companies. The cornerstone of the act is the creation of an “IPO on ramp” which provides “emerging growth companies” up to five years following their IPO to come into full compliance with various … Continue reading “The JOBS Act—The “IPO On-Ramp” Makes IPOs Easier”

Zui.com Adds “FaceTube” as MattyB Helps March Traffic Surge Past 2M

First came the Internet browser, with a new approach to parental controls. Then came Zui.com, an Internet search engine for kids that has grown to serve more than 2 million youthful users a month in less than nine months. Today, San Diego-based Zui.com is introducing “Facetube,” a new feature of Zui.com that operates like a … Continue reading “Zui.com Adds “FaceTube” as MattyB Helps March Traffic Surge Past 2M”

DataPop Garners $7,000,000 Series B Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=57bb2c31-9be2-4610-8d0b-38aef46e784a&Preview=1 Date 4/24/2012 Company Name DataPop Mailing Address 6464 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood, CA 90028 Company Description DataPop makes every ad relevant by enabling marketers to turn their offers into targeted, unique messages on a massive scale. Website http://www.DataPop.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $7,000,000 Transaction Round Series B Proceeds Purposes DataPop … Continue reading “DataPop Garners $7,000,000 Series B Round”

Playsino Obtains $1,500,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=29b3419d-22df-47a6-8ddf-9a349466bff0&Preview=1 Date 4/24/2012 Company Name Playsino Mailing Address 310 Wilshire Blvd Santa Monica, CA 90405 Company Description Playsino, a social casino games company, brings the exciting world of live-action gaming to mobile and social platforms globally. The company is run by proven entrepreneurs and game industry veterans. Playsino, formally Titan Gaming, is … Continue reading “Playsino Obtains $1,500,000 New Financing”

AstraZeneca Reloads its Pipeline with Ardea Deal, Could be Still Hunting

AstraZeneca (NYSE: [[ticker:AZN]]), the global pharmaceutical giant based in London, is replenishing its drug pipeline with its acquisition of San Diego’s Ardea Biosciences (NASDAQ: [[ticker:RDEA]]), which was disclosed by both companies earlier today. Britain’s second-largest drugmaker also could still be hunting, and might even have another San Diego company in its sights, according to press … Continue reading “AstraZeneca Reloads its Pipeline with Ardea Deal, Could be Still Hunting”

Sapphire Energy CEO Jason Pyle’s Parting Thoughts on Big Biofuel

After stepping down as the founding CEO of San Diego’s Sapphire Energy, Jason Pyle tells me he’s accomplished a number of key initiatives at the algae-based biofuels startup, and basically that it’s time to move on. His departure surprised me. Founding CEOs don’t often walk away from startups that have amassed a $1 billion valuation … Continue reading “Sapphire Energy CEO Jason Pyle’s Parting Thoughts on Big Biofuel”

What Are the Hottest Targets in Biotech Today?

Hardly anybody wants new drugs that act like a sledgehammer, bashing diseased and healthy cells like old-school cancer chemotherapy. Many drugs today are supposed to be smart enough to work like laser-guided missiles that hit the diseased cells and mostly spare the healthy ones. But if your goal is to create one of these amazing … Continue reading “What Are the Hottest Targets in Biotech Today?”

Viddy Lands New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=55428cc6-7888-4553-840f-cf401646fed3&Preview=1 Date 4/23/2012 Company Name Viddy Mailing Address Undisclosed Venice, CA 90291 Company Description Viddy is a simple way for anyone to capture, produce, and share beautiful videos with the world. Record a moment of your life, give it that cinematic look with our production packs, and share it with those who … Continue reading “Viddy Lands New Financing”

Biotix Holdings Obtains $2,195,000 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=98720b79-60ff-406e-8b32-f02b63a2e26f&Preview=1 Date 4/23/2012 Company Name Biotix Holdings Mailing Address 9880 Mesa Rim Road San Diego, CA 92121 Company Description Our goal is to give you the best tips imaginable. We believe we have succeeded with the advanced pipette tip technology available only from Biotix. Website http://www.biotixinc.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount … Continue reading “Biotix Holdings Obtains $2,195,000 New Financing Round”

San Diego Bootstrappers Breakfast

Join a meetup group of entrepreneurs who eat problems for breakfast. Bootstrappers collaborate and discuss innovative ways to operate more efficiently, gain revenue and reach company goals. More information and online registration is here.

How We Sold Our Company

The San Diego Venture Group has organized its regular monthly breakfast meeting around a discussion with local founders and entrepreneurs who have sold their companies. Find out how they sold, to whom they sold, and what they’re doing now. More information and online registration is here.

Funding Without Wires: An Industry Overview

Representatives from Qualcomm Ventures and Verizon Ventures are joining Jeff Belk, managing director of ICT168, to discuss global growth opportunities in the Information and communication technology sector. The session is intended to provide an overview of San Diego’s mobile start-ups; entrepreneurs looking to expand their understanding of accessing venture capital in the mobile space; and … Continue reading “Funding Without Wires: An Industry Overview”

CoffeeTable Aims to Reinvent Catalog Shopping for the iPad Era

When e-commerce startup CoffeeTable was brand new, the company occupied a table at San Francisco’s Dogpatch Labs, right across from another startup called Burbn. The week Burbn launched its iPhone app, CoffeeTable’s lead engineer “started to see that it was going to take off, and decided to switch over and join them,” says Ben Choi, … Continue reading “CoffeeTable Aims to Reinvent Catalog Shopping for the iPad Era”

San Diego’s Q1 Venture Activity Surges on One Mega Deal

Boosted by a $144-million “mega deal” that Sappire Energy disclosed a few weeks ago, VC investments in San Diego climbed to a four-year high during the first quarter of 2012, according to a pair of VC surveys being released today. San Diego’s bouyant trend, however, ran counter to a significant downward trend in overall VC … Continue reading “San Diego’s Q1 Venture Activity Surges on One Mega Deal”

Lifecrowd Secures $5,000,000 Series A Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=47d6c3b9-aa83-4802-8117-63aef267c3d3&Preview=1 Date 4/20/2012 Company Name Lifecrowd Mailing Address Undisclosed Santa Monica, CA 90044 Company Description Lifecrowd is a marketplace for social activities connecting people, interests and culture. Lifecrowd inspires its online community to experience life offline by providing a platform for both discovering and hosting local activities. By integrating individual social graphs, … Continue reading “Lifecrowd Secures $5,000,000 Series A Round”

Cirro Secures $2,500,000 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=75bfad7e-f34c-498f-8886-b5b41fcec8ea&Preview=1 Date 4/20/2012 Company Name Cirro Mailing Address 31920 Del Obispo San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 Company Description This is a seed stage company in stealth mode. Website http://www.cirro.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $2,500,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. SEC regulatory filing. M&A Terms Venture … Continue reading “Cirro Secures $2,500,000 New Financing Round”

CEO Changes in Planned Succession at San Diego’s Sapphire Energy

I thought the best presentation at the “Rock Stars of Innovation Summit” a few weeks ago was a chat between two co-founders of San Diego’s Sapphire Energy—CEO Jason Pyle and Steve Briggs, the UC San Diego cellular biologist and a member of Sapphire’s advisory board. It turns out that was Pyle’s last public appearance in … Continue reading “CEO Changes in Planned Succession at San Diego’s Sapphire Energy”

SD Life Sciences Roundup: Accelrys, Illumina, & RainTree Oncology

There was a mix of news out of San Diego’s life sciences community over the past week. Get your briefing here. —San Diego’s Sotera Wireless said the FDA has cleared its ViSi Mobile System, a wireless device that enables healthcare providers to continuously monitor their patients’ vital signs in hospitals. Continuous monitoring systems, which can … Continue reading “SD Life Sciences Roundup: Accelrys, Illumina, & RainTree Oncology”

How to Build a Billion-Dollar Startup

The quickest way to create a billion dollar company is to take basic human social needs and figure out how to mediate them online. Look at the first wave of the Web/mobile/cloud startups that have done just that: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Match.com, Pandora, Zynga, WordPress, LinkedIn. It’s your turn. Hard-Wired This week I’m in New … Continue reading “How to Build a Billion-Dollar Startup”

Xconomist of the Week: Ramsinghani On Microinvesting in a Company Town

There is a lot of talk these days in post-industrial American cities like Detroit about transforming the “brawn economy” into the brain economy. Detroit Xconomist Mahendra Ramsinghani, who runs Invest Detroit’s First Step Fund, is on the front lines of that battle to economically recalibrate. “As a community, generation after generation got up and went … Continue reading “Xconomist of the Week: Ramsinghani On Microinvesting in a Company Town”

Aeolus Pharmaceuticals Receives $690,050 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=32cf15df-6d7a-4d91-aecd-14de2b4546e4&Preview=1 Date 4/19/2012 Company Name Aeolus Pharmaceuticals Mailing Address 26361 Crown Valley Parkway Mission Viejo, CA 92691 Company Description Aeolous Pharmaceuticals (BB: AOLS) is a biopharmaceutical company that is developing a new class of catalytic antioxidant compunds, referred to as manganoporphyrins, for diseases and disorders of the central nervous system, respiratory system, … Continue reading “Aeolus Pharmaceuticals Receives $690,050 New Funding Round”

Illumina Stays Independent, Roche Walking Away

Illumina will remain an independent company, at least for now. The San Diego-based company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ILMN]]), the market leading maker of DNA sequencing instruments, fended off a hostile takeover bid by Roche as its shareholders re-elected the four members of the Illumina board who were opposed by Roche nominees. Roche said in a statement that it … Continue reading “Illumina Stays Independent, Roche Walking Away”

Small is Beautiful in Q1 Venture Deals as VCs Write Lots of Checks

Venture investors wrote lots of checks during the first three months of 2012, but the amounts were small, according to the venture capital activity report being released today by CB Insights, the New York data services firm. The firm counted 785 venture deals during the quarter that ended March 31, marking the second-highest deal count … Continue reading “Small is Beautiful in Q1 Venture Deals as VCs Write Lots of Checks”

AwarePoint Secures $14,000,002 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6ce6980d-73c0-4e78-a098-8047e7c7e277&Preview=1 Date 4/18/2012 Company Name AwarePoint Mailing Address 600 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Company Description In 2002, the founders of Awarepoint recognized that despite the tremendous potential of active RFID technologies to improve operational efficiency in medium and large businesses, there were no solutions on the market that offered good … Continue reading “AwarePoint Secures $14,000,002 New Funding Round”

Eucalyptus Systems Garners $30,000,000 Series C Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=58319c9a-edf0-4713-a420-a306ba09d53a&Preview=1 Date 4/18/2012 Company Name Eucalyptus Systems Mailing Address 6755 Hollister Ave. Goleta, CA 93117 Company Description We started Eucalyptus as a research project in the Computer Science Department at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The purpose of VGrADS was to investigate novel programming language and runtime system techniques for large-scale … Continue reading “Eucalyptus Systems Garners $30,000,000 Series C Financing Round”

Accelrys Takes on Productivity Gap with Scientific Lifecycle Software

[Corrected 5/1/12, 10:35 am. See below.] Amid a nationwide effort to spur a renaissance in American manufacturing, San Diego-based Accelrys (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ACCL]]) is flipping on the switch today for technology that represents a culmination of much of the strategy that CEO Max Carnecchia outlined for me last year. At that time, Carnecchia explained how the … Continue reading “Accelrys Takes on Productivity Gap with Scientific Lifecycle Software”

Optimism and Innovation

There are many opinions on the essential elements for innovation. One component is particularly crucial, and one of my favorite quotes on the matter is by Intel co-founder Robert Noyce, who said “Optimism is an essential ingredient for innovation. How else can the individual welcome change over security, adventure, over staying in safe places?” Having … Continue reading “Optimism and Innovation”

Driving for a Better Way to Engage Consumers in their Own Health

Attention to health is life’s greatest hindrance—Plato Let’s just say you own a car. You have undoubtedly purchased insurance for the car and if you are diligent and worried about value and performance, you also are diligent about maintenance. You get the oil changed according to schedule, you fill it with the right kind of … Continue reading “Driving for a Better Way to Engage Consumers in their Own Health”

TheComplete.me Lands $1,220,000 Seed Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=de56b5ce-129e-4798-875f-5be8c4735e52&Preview=1 Date 4/17/2012 Company Name TheComplete.me Mailing Address Undisclosed Encino, CA 91316 Company Description We are the Internet’s first social dating network where people share their interests, aspirations and friends from social networks to meet new people through interest matching. Website http://www.thecomplete.me Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,220,000 Transaction Round Seed … Continue reading “TheComplete.me Lands $1,220,000 Seed Financing Round”

Abbott’s Humira, the 3rd-in-Class Drug That Toppled Lipitor as No. 1

Sometimes the biggest success stories in business never make it to the magazine covers. There’s no single Eureka moment, no surprise turning point, no redemption, no swashbuckling CEO delivering the goods. There’s just a team pursuing genius like Edison once said: through 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration. Dull as it may sound, there … Continue reading “Abbott’s Humira, the 3rd-in-Class Drug That Toppled Lipitor as No. 1”

Fisker Automotive Receives $18,588,288 Series D Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f525cb1e-2b39-457e-a9f0-5aeffe1f8f35&Preview=1 Date 4/16/2012 Company Name Fisker Automotive Mailing Address 5515 E. La Palma Anaheim, CA 92807 Company Description The company manufactures and sells electric automobiles with extended range. Website http://www.fiskerautomotive.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $18,588,288 Transaction Round Series D Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. SEC regulatory filing-amended. M&A … Continue reading “Fisker Automotive Receives $18,588,288 Series D Financing Round”

EndPlay Garners New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=498ca64e-834c-4242-aac5-8e85c4dd9cf1&Preview=1 Date 4/16/2012 Company Name EndPlay Mailing Address 5870 W. Jefferson Blvd Studio H Los Angeles, CA 90016 Company Description EndPlay is a leading provider of SaaS Content Management, Engagement and Monetization solutions delivered in the cloud. Powered by its unique ‘Intelligent Rendering’ technology, EndPlay’s end-to-end Platform provides a streamlined user experience … Continue reading “EndPlay Garners New Round”

Biocom 6th Annual Medical Device & Diagnostics Expo

Biocom’s device and diagnostics expo brings together a diverse group of large and small companies with the trendsetters, venture capital investors, and industry leaders. The Biocom expo offers the chance to see what the future holds by viewing the hottest life-saving technologies that exist today coming out of Southern California.

San Diego MIT Enterprise Forum: Tech Expo

San Diego’s MIT Enterprise Forum is hosting a technology fiesta that’s intended to showcase up-and-coming tech companies through collaborative competition. The expo is bringing together the best and brightest entrepreneurs, tech experts and industry leaders San Diego has to offer. More information and online registration is here.

Southern California Life Sciences Innovation Conference

The Southern California Innovation Conference brings together approximately 350 top business experts, capital providers and successful entrepreneurs to explore the latest business models, threats, and trends in the innovation economy. This all-day conference will cover drug development, medical devices, diagnostics, wireless health, big data, and future trends, financing, leveraging commercial partnerships, and new business and … Continue reading “Southern California Life Sciences Innovation Conference”

Industrial Design and Innovation Showcase

Connect and San Diego Sports Innovators have organized this showcase for industrial design to illustrate how product design can provide a competitive advantage by appealing to customers on multiple levels. Industrial design can add value in the eyes of the user and position your company as a brand leader. More information and online registration is … Continue reading “Industrial Design and Innovation Showcase”

The 9th Annual San Diego Security Summit

The San Diego-based Security Summit has organized a two-day workshop that will focus on security technologies and services being developed here as a test bed for innovation in defense and homeland security. Topics covered will include first responders, border protection, port and maritime security, secure communications and C4ISR, as well as the Navy and Marines. … Continue reading “The 9th Annual San Diego Security Summit”

Kullect Reinvents Blogging for the Smartphone Era

Blogs are coming up on their 15th birthday—the term “weblog” was coined in December 1997, according to Wired (though it wasn’t shortened to “blog” until 1999). What’s interesting is how little the form has changed in that time. A typical blog is still just a collection of text-based essays or articles and comments written on … Continue reading “Kullect Reinvents Blogging for the Smartphone Era”

My SD Science: Whats Next in Genomics?

Hear from cutting edge scientists about their work in genomics, how their work is making an impact, and why their work has the potential to revolutionize how diseases are diagnosed and treated. The two keynote speakers will be Nicholas Shork, professor of molecular and experimental medicine at the Scripps Research Institute and Director of Bioinformatics … Continue reading “My SD Science: Whats Next in Genomics?”

MindFrame Receives $3,846,473 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2a5afae1-9aae-4196-b78d-0cdc65c4d14e&Preview=1 Date 4/13/2012 Company Name MindFrame Mailing Address 12 Goodyear Irvine, CA 92618 Company Description The MindFrame Therapy System is a breakthrough two-step treatment that delivers rapid reperfusion and clot capture and retrieval. By restoring blood flow quickly, the system is designed to help doctors deliver optimal outcomes. Website http://www.MindFrameInc.com Transaction Type … Continue reading “MindFrame Receives $3,846,473 New Financing”