How will the media habits of families, especially those with young kids, evolve in the era of the tablet computer? I got an interesting perspective on that question over the holidays, which I spent with my brother and his family in Alaska. Jamie and his wife Jen Athey have two loveable children, aged four (Kieran) … Continue reading “Gathering Around the Tablet: A Glimpse of the Future”
Category: San Diego
San Diego Life Sciences Roundup: Isis, Elevation, Proacta, and More
As the time draws near for the annual J.P. Morgan Global Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, it seems as if there has been a surge in deals for local life sciences companies. Here’s our rundown: —Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]) agreed to pay Carlsbad, CA-based Isis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ISIS]]) $29 million, with the potential for more … Continue reading “San Diego Life Sciences Roundup: Isis, Elevation, Proacta, and More”
Nimble Obtains $1,000,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=5a262ba8-f5e7-4ed0-a980-3cdadc98f99f&Preview=1 Date 1/6/2012 Company Name Nimble Mailing Address PO Box 3313 Santa Monica, CA 90408 Company Description Nimble’s core benefit lies in its ability to unify email, calendar activities and the most popular social channels (LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter), and automatically link this functionality to business contacts. Instead of jumping from application … Continue reading “Nimble Obtains $1,000,000 New Financing”
Survey: Tech Executives Saw More Pay in 2011, Life Sciences Inched Up
[Updated 1:45 p.m. ET] Executive compensation held relatively steady in 2011 among privately-held life sciences companies, while their peers in the technology sector continued to see salary increases, according to the annual CompStudy survey produced by executive search firm J. Robert Scott and law firm WilmerHale in collaboration with Noam Wasserman, associate professor of business administration … Continue reading “Survey: Tech Executives Saw More Pay in 2011, Life Sciences Inched Up”
With StarCite Deal, Active Network Deepens Focus on Business Events
[Updated 1/5/12 8:05 am. See below.] San Diego’s Active Network (NYSE: [[ticker:ACTV]]) made roughly 50 acquisitions since it was founded (in 1998), but the company has become more deliberate about its deals since it paused in 2010 to overhaul its Software as a Service technology and prepare for last year’s IPO. The Active Network provides … Continue reading “With StarCite Deal, Active Network Deepens Focus on Business Events”
NeuroGenetic Pharmaceuticals Obtains New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7afda954-04eb-4aee-ab6a-b64f917f067c&Preview=1 Date 1/5/2012 Company Name NeuroGenetic Pharmaceuticals Mailing Address 445 Marine View Ave Del Mar, CA 92014 Company Description NeuroGenetic Pharmaceuticals is a privately held biotech company founded in 2009 with worldwide exclusive rights to a platform of gamma-secretase modulators. Website http://www.neurogeneticpharmaceuticals.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount Undisclosed Transaction Round Undisclosed … Continue reading “NeuroGenetic Pharmaceuticals Obtains New Funding”
As Internet TV Soars, Verimatrix Software Keeps the “Pay” in Pay-TV
Since it was founded in 2000, San Diego-based Verimatrix has raised about $50 million in institutional venture funding and spent untold hours of software programming to address a relatively simple problem nagging the pay-TV industry for more than a decade. As Verimatrix CEO Tom Munro puts it, “We keep people from watching television without paying … Continue reading “As Internet TV Soars, Verimatrix Software Keeps the “Pay” in Pay-TV”
Isis, Biogen Strike Potential $299M Deal For Rare Spine Disorder Treatment
Isis Pharmaceuticals has found a new partner in Biogen Idec that’s betting a large amount of money on a new therapy for a rare spinal disorder in newborns. Weston, MA-based Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]) said today that it has agreed to work with Carlsbad, CA-based Isis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ISIS]]) on an experimental antisense drug for … Continue reading “Isis, Biogen Strike Potential $299M Deal For Rare Spine Disorder Treatment”
Novo Leads New $30M Round for San Diego’s Elevation Pharmaceuticals
San Diego’s Elevation Pharmaceuticals says today it’s raised $30 million in Series B funding, which is expected to carry the startup through its mid-stage trials for a new aerosol drug for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The fresh round was led by Denmark’s Novo Ventures life sciences fund, which keeps an office in San … Continue reading “Novo Leads New $30M Round for San Diego’s Elevation Pharmaceuticals”
Loosen the Rules Stifling IPOs by Venture-Backed Startups
[Editor’s Note: We asked selected Xconomists a series of questions designed to zero in on the big issues of the year, including “What would you be willing to throw a punch over?”] What would I be willing to throw a punch over? Solving the small-cap IPO bottleneck … to unleash the job creating potential of … Continue reading “Loosen the Rules Stifling IPOs by Venture-Backed Startups”
vWise Lands $601,500 Series C Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=975c3b02-3dbc-4918-baff-3c0a4a0b1178&Preview=1 Date 1/4/2012 Company Name vWise Mailing Address 25 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 Lands $601,500 Series C Round”
Transphorm Secures $5,500,001 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4ae53542-fb84-4d6a-b501-664fde907d4c&Preview=1 Date 1/4/2012 Company Name Transphorm Mailing Address 115 Castilian Dr. Goleta, CA 93117 Company Description Transphorm is engaged in developing novel solutions to enhance global efficiency by revolutionizing the generation and use of clean energy. Website http://www.transphormusa.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $5,500,001 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes … Continue reading “Transphorm Secures $5,500,001 New Financing Round”
Elevation Pharmaceuticals Obtains $30,000,000 Series B Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b2eacac8-254f-409a-8231-c69cfda3142e&Preview=1 Date 1/4/2012 Company Name Elevation Pharmaceuticals Mailing Address 11455 El Camino Real San Diego, CA 92130 Company Description Founded in 2008, Elevation Pharmaceuticals is developing a pipeline of improved aerosol drug products for COPD patients. Our founding team has a successful track record starting companies and building dedicated teams to develop … Continue reading “Elevation Pharmaceuticals Obtains $30,000,000 Series B Funding”
SD BizTech Roundup: Qualcomm, Razer, Avalon’s Zynga Windfall, & More
Been on vacation? Get back up to speed with our end-of-the-holidays roundup of San Diego tech news. —Almost half of the top 50 venture-backed startups had at least one founder who was an immigrant, according to a study from the National Foundation for American Policy. Such findings led author Stuart Anderson, who also is executive … Continue reading “SD BizTech Roundup: Qualcomm, Razer, Avalon’s Zynga Windfall, & More”
Diabetes Drugs Could Cure Cancer
[Editor’s note: As a New Year’s exercise, we asked a select group of Xconomists to answer this question: “What’s the craziest idea out there that just might succeed?”] Drugs for type 2 diabetes have the potential to become effective therapies for certain types of cancers. Tumor cells have increased energy needs, and starving them of … Continue reading “Diabetes Drugs Could Cure Cancer”
VelQuest Bought by Accelrys for $35M
‘Tis the season for end-of-year acquisitions to be announced, now that everyone’s back at work. Hopkinton, MA-based VelQuest, a maker of pharmaceutical and medical device-related software, has been acquired by San Diego-based Accelrys (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ACCL]]), the scientific R&D software firm, for $35 million in cash. VelQuest started in 1999 and is led by CEO and … Continue reading “VelQuest Bought by Accelrys for $35M”
Counting Coups: Better, Fewer Deals in 2011 for Venture-Backed Cos.
2011 was a year of bigger deals and fewer exits for venture-backed companies, according to data being released today by Dow Jones VentureSource. VentureSource says that venture-backed companies netted $53.2 billion through a total of 522 deals of all kinds in 2011—mergers, buyouts, and IPOs. That was a 14 percent decline in the number of … Continue reading “Counting Coups: Better, Fewer Deals in 2011 for Venture-Backed Cos.”
Healthcare That Works
[Editor’s note: As a New Year’s exercise, we asked a select group of Xconomists to answer this question: “What’s the craziest idea out there that just might succeed?”] Reinventing the absolutely dysfunctional healthcare delivery system in the U.S. It is a daunting idea, as it requires major changes in 100 years worth of doctor and … Continue reading “Healthcare That Works”
All-Electric Transportation
[Editor’s note: As a New Year’s exercise, we asked a select group of Xconomists to answer this question: “What’s the craziest idea out there that just might succeed?”] All-electric commercial boats, ships, railway engines, and aircraft. The hyper-convergence of energy generation, battery storage, electric vehicle systems development, and electric charging infrastructure has first focused commercially … Continue reading “All-Electric Transportation”
Technology That Finally Helps Learning
[Editor’s note: As a New Year’s exercise, we asked a select group of Xconomists to answer this question: “What’s the craziest idea out there that just might succeed?”] That technology can actually play a significant positive role in education. The false promises go back at least 100 years—to extravagant claims by Thomas Edison. Certainly “computers … Continue reading “Technology That Finally Helps Learning”
Alternative Online Payments: The Dream That Refuses to Die
[Editor’s note: As a New Year’s exercise, we asked a select group of Xconomists to answer this question: “What’s the craziest idea out there that just might succeed?” ] After nearly twenty years of failed attempts, I’m still a believer in the potential transformative power of the “crazy idea” of alternative Internet payment systems, particularly … Continue reading “Alternative Online Payments: The Dream That Refuses to Die”
TodoCast Secures $1,636,120 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=95e73490-132a-4867-8beb-2080270d15fa&Preview=1 Date 12/29/2011 Company Name TodoCast Mailing Address 31831 Camino Capistrano San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 Company Description TodoCast is an interactive streaming platform and media services company for live events, brands and producers looking to reach passionate fans with Live Internet Broadcasts. Website http://www.todocast.tv Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,636,120 … Continue reading “TodoCast Secures $1,636,120 New Funding”
Uptake Medical Garners $35,101,217 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f14a0ad0-e958-4957-b355-bcef7f73fa41&Preview=1 Date 12/29/2011 Company Name Uptake Medical Mailing Address 1173 Warner Ave Tustin, CA 92780 Company Description Uptake Medical Corporation is a Seattle-based medical device company dedicated to improving the lives of patients suffering from emphysema and other types of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD). Website http://www.uptakemedical.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction … Continue reading “Uptake Medical Garners $35,101,217 New Financing”
CoolPlanetBioFuels Obtains Series C Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=11087acc-c17d-4a37-9af2-c34b653afbb3&Preview=1 Date 12/29/2011 Company Name CoolPlanetBioFuels Mailing Address 460 Calle San Pablo Camarillo, CA 93012 Company Description CoolPlanetBioFuels, based in Camarillo, California, is developing a revolutionary thermal/mechanical processor that directly inputs raw biomass such as woodchips, crop residues and non-food fuel crops, and produces distinct gas streams for catalytic upgrading to conventional … Continue reading “CoolPlanetBioFuels Obtains Series C Financing Round”
Healthy Transgenic Foods
[Editor’s note: We asked a group of Xconomists to answer the following question: “If you could patent one thing, what would it be?”] Transgenic foods that are programmed and cultivated not so much to lower costs at the risk of ruining health and the environment, but the opposite—like a tomato that produces lots of Omega3 … Continue reading “Healthy Transgenic Foods”
The Top 10 Traffic-Getting Stories at Xconomy San Diego
A decade ago, when newspaper and magazine editors prepared their rundown of the year’s most important news stories, they really were just choosing the articles that they thought had the most impact. That was old media. Today, everything is measured and anything can be quantified—at least on the Internet. In cyberspace, people vote with their … Continue reading “The Top 10 Traffic-Getting Stories at Xconomy San Diego”
Cure for Diabetes
[Editor’s note: We asked a group of Xconomists to answer the following question: “If you could patent one thing, what would it be?”] If I can only pick one, I’d patent a functional cure for diabetes—whether it’s an artificial pancreas, a treatment to spare beta cells, or a means to prevent insulin resistance. However it … Continue reading “Cure for Diabetes”
Bacteria to Do Our Bidding
[Editor’s note: We asked a group of Xconomists to answer the following question: “If you could patent one thing, what would it be?”] Broad claims covering delivery of therapeutics using engineered bacteria. Synthetic biology tools emerging in just the last few years have made this possible. The trick, of course, is precise control. If I … Continue reading “Bacteria to Do Our Bidding”
Beyond the iPad to the hPad
[Editor’s note: We asked a group of Xconomists to answer the following question: “If you could patent one thing, what would it be?”] Two patents: a. A low-cost holographic pad: an “hPad,” which would sit on your desk and project three-dimensional fixed and moving images. It would include a touchscreen-like functionality. This would not only … Continue reading “Beyond the iPad to the hPad”
Beyond the Tablet Wars: Apple, Amazon, and the Cloud
Much has been written on the battle between Apple and Amazon. Certainly Steve Jobs’ passing has made us all reflect, and perhaps on a much deeper level than before, on the man and the empire he created. In many ways, the companies are more alike than they are different. What makes them both remarkable players … Continue reading “Beyond the Tablet Wars: Apple, Amazon, and the Cloud”
A Sweet Deal: How Amira Reinvented Itself as a Drug Discovery Engine
The sale of Amira Pharmaceuticals will likely go down as one of the standout life sciences deals of 2011—it certainly ranks as one of the biggest payouts in San Diego, where Amira was founded in 2005. But what may be more significant than hitting the bell in the strongman game at the biotech carnival is … Continue reading “A Sweet Deal: How Amira Reinvented Itself as a Drug Discovery Engine”
Avalon’s Kinsella Toasts Debut Vintage of Another Venture
Avalon Ventures founder Kevin Kinsella has demonstrated his prowess in biotech deals, and even in backing an occasional Broadway musical. Now, just in time for the holidays, he’s uncorking the debut vintage of cabernet sauvignon from Kinsella Estates, a winery he and his wife Tamara acquired in Northern California’s Sonoma County four years ago. “The … Continue reading “Avalon’s Kinsella Toasts Debut Vintage of Another Venture”
15 Great Apps for that iPad Under the Tree
The iPad 2 won’t be the only tablet turning up as a holiday gift this year: it’s finally got some real competition in the form of the more affordable Kindle Fire. But let’s face it: you don’t buy (or give someone) a Kindle Fire because of the apps. The device is designed primarily as a … Continue reading “15 Great Apps for that iPad Under the Tree”
Enabling the Cleantech Revolution
[Editor’s note: We asked a group of Xconomists to answer the following question: “If you could patent one thing, what would it be?”] It is a very dynamic time for the emerging cleantech market, and success will only be ensured if strong technologies are combined in systems that work the first time. So, if I … Continue reading “Enabling the Cleantech Revolution”
24-Hour, Full-Genome Scans
[Editor’s note: We asked a group of Xconomists to answer the following question: “If you could patent one thing, what would it be?”] A DNA sequencing technology that results in full genome scans in less than 24 hours. This would enable real-time profiling of cancer patients, which would be of tremendous value in determining the … Continue reading “24-Hour, Full-Genome Scans”
Proacta Secures $500,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=57c36bcd-f159-4e7f-b37c-ddebdb49f45d&Preview=1 Date 12/23/2011 Company Name Proacta Mailing Address 4275 Executive Square La Jolla, CA 92037 Company Description Proacta is developing a new generation of cancer drugs that uniquely target physiological attributes of solid tumors. Proacta’s first lead program, a hypoxia targeted small-molecule prodrug, is designed to improve the outcomes of current treatment … Continue reading “Proacta Secures $500,000 New Financing”
San Diego Life Sciences Roundup: Intellikine, Somaxon, and More
—Merry Christmas, Troy Wilson! Japan’s Takeda Pharmaceutical agreed to pay $190 million upfront, plus another $120 million in future milestone payments, to acquire Intellikine, the San Diego biotech that CEO Wilson co-founded in 2007. Takeda wants to combine Intellikine’s portfolio of small molecule drugs in the PI3 kinase pathway, a hot target in cancer biology, … Continue reading “San Diego Life Sciences Roundup: Intellikine, Somaxon, and More”
How Not to Name a Startup: The Curse of the Camel Case
What’s in a tech startup name? More specifically, is there a correlation between the type of name a company has and its success? That’s a question every startup founder and investor should be interested in. Because if there is a correlation, then using a name-based strategy for picking winners would be, well, about as good … Continue reading “How Not to Name a Startup: The Curse of the Camel Case”
NexSteppe Garners $16,000,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=70133068-976a-4792-8148-6d03e0ded94b&Preview=1 Date 12/22/2011 Company Name NexSteppe Mailing Address 4417 Vista Del Preseas Malibu, CA 90265 Company Description NexSteppe is dedicated to pioneering the next generation of scalable, reliable, cost-effective feedstock solutions for the biofuels, biopower and biobased products industries. Website http://www.nexsteppe.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $16,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds … Continue reading “NexSteppe Garners $16,000,000 New Financing”
Game Peripheral Maker Razer Raises $50M in First Round
Carlsbad, CA-based Razer bills itself as a maker of “professional gaming” hardware, which always struck me as an oxymoron, like “jumbo shrimp.” Nevertheless, Razer just demonstrated how serious it is, raising $50 million in a Series A round venture round led by the IDG-Accel China Capital Fund, a global investment fund established by IDG and … Continue reading “Game Peripheral Maker Razer Raises $50M in First Round”
Immigrants Fill Top Ranks of Venture-Backed Tech Startups
Immigrant entrepreneurs are playing important roles at U.S. technology startups, with immigrants serving in key management and product development positions at 37 of the top 50 venture-backed companies—or roughly three out of every four of the startups—according to a study released yesterday. “It’s clear that America gains a great deal when we’re open to talent, … Continue reading “Immigrants Fill Top Ranks of Venture-Backed Tech Startups”
The Move to Value-Based Pricing for Prescription Drugs
The standard marketing value equation taught in business school states value equals utility or benefits less costs. Because the relationship between the price of medicines and the value they deliver isn’t always clear, there are those who would argue that the established marketing value equation has not been universally applied by the pharmaceutical industry. The … Continue reading “The Move to Value-Based Pricing for Prescription Drugs”
Takeda Pharmaceutical Acquires Intellikine for $310,000,000
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7c3decc5-ad56-4290-ab23-4154fb33d394&Preview=1 Date 12/21/2011 Company Name Intellikine Mailing Address 10931 N. Torrey Pines Rd. La Jolla, CA 92037 Company Description Intellikine is a leader in the discovery and development of novel, small molecule therapies targeting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. Website http://www.intellikine.com Transaction Type M&A Transaction Amount $310,000,000 Transaction Round Proceeds Purposes M&A Terms Under … Continue reading “Takeda Pharmaceutical Acquires Intellikine for $310,000,000”
Millennium: Takeda Acquires San Diego’s Intellikine for $190M Upfront
Japan-based Takeda Pharmaceuticals, which has its cancer drug development operations in Cambridge, MA, said today it is acquiring San Diego-based Intellikine to get ahold of the startup’s portfolio of cancer drugs. Takeda said it has agreed to pay $190 million upfront, plus another $120 million in future milestone payments, to acquire privately held Intellikine. Through … Continue reading “Millennium: Takeda Acquires San Diego’s Intellikine for $190M Upfront”
Qualcomm Co-Founder Irwin Jacobs Plans to Retire from Board
San Diego’s Qualcomm (NASDAQ: [[ticker:QCOM]]) says founding CEO Irwin Jacobs plans to retire from the board this spring, marking his final separation from the San Diego wireless technology giant. Jacobs, 78, co-founded Qualcomm in 1985, and served as chairman and CEO through the company’s first two decades. During the trying early years, Jacobs led a … Continue reading “Qualcomm Co-Founder Irwin Jacobs Plans to Retire from Board”
Zogenix Sets Timetable for New Painkiller Drug
San Diego-based Zogenix (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ZGNX]]) has an update today on its development of an extended-release and acetaminophen-free formulation of the painkiller, hydrocodone bitartrate, which the company plans to market as Zohydro oral capsules. After agreeing on submission requirements for its reformulated drug in a series of meetings with regulators at the FDA, Zogenix says it … Continue reading “Zogenix Sets Timetable for New Painkiller Drug”
Under Generic Pressure, San Diego’s Somaxon Looks for New Options
Business hasn’t gotten any easier over the past six months for San Diego’s Somaxon Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SOMX]]), which says it has hired the investment banking firm Stifel Nicolaus Weisel to help the company assess its strategic options. The company also laid off 60 percent of its employees who aren’t out in the field. The company … Continue reading “Under Generic Pressure, San Diego’s Somaxon Looks for New Options”
In Search of Next Killer App, SweetLabs Partners with Kabam on Games
SweetLabs co-founder Chester Ng tells me a new class of intense social network games are threatening to disrupt some of the established players in the desktop gaming business, such as Activision Blizzard’s World of Warcraft and Electronic Arts’ Star Wars franchise. Perhaps. Today, as EA releases its much-anticipated Star Wars: The Old Republic, San Diego-based … Continue reading “In Search of Next Killer App, SweetLabs Partners with Kabam on Games”
Quarterly Lands Seed Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=185857a4-0084-4d22-b155-47eda1a2b0ca&Preview=1 Date 12/20/2011 Company Name Quarterly Mailing Address P.O. Box 69307 West Hollywood, CA 90069 Company Description Quarterly is a new way to connect with the people you follow and find interesting. We spend so much of our lives connecting with people online that we forget the value of tangible interactions that … Continue reading “Quarterly Lands Seed Funding”
ReVision Therapeutics Obtains $500,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=5f2e0401-46ec-49db-a991-e5a7b51846c5&Preview=1 Date 12/20/2011 Company Name ReVision Therapeutics Mailing Address 5626 Oberlin Drive San Diego, CA 92121 Company Description ReVision Therapeutics is focused on developing fenretinide for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in the elderly. There are currently no treatments for the dry form of AMD, … Continue reading “ReVision Therapeutics Obtains $500,000 New Financing”