Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4281097a-f6ce-4e38-a3a6-35929f661100&Preview=1 Date 7/22/2011 Company Name Diversion Mailing Address 10940 Wilshire Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90024 Company Description Diversion was formed in early 2010 with a clear goal to provide the necessary fusion between the entertainment industry and the current social gaming renaissance. Website http://www.diversion.la Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount Undisclosed Transaction … Continue reading “Diversion Secures New Round”
Category: San Diego
Bristol-Myers Acquires Amira Pharmaceuticals for $325 Million, Scoops Up Lung Drug
The people in San Diego who discovered a multi-billion dollar asthma drug for Merck have captured the attention of Big Pharma once again. Amira Pharmaceuticals, a privately held company in San Diego, has agreed to be acquired by New York-based Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: [[ticker:BMY]]) for $325 million in cash upfront, plus additional milestone payments of … Continue reading “Bristol-Myers Acquires Amira Pharmaceuticals for $325 Million, Scoops Up Lung Drug”
Biotech is Biggest Winner in Second-Quarter VC Funding, Zogenix Strategy Unfolds, Intellikine Builds Clinical Trial Capabilities, & More San Diego Life Sciences News
There’s been a deluge of venture capital news over the past week, and a flash flood of VC cash during the second quarter went mostly to San Diego’s life sciences sector. Our briefing begins now. —San Diego venture firms invested a total of $198.2 million in 29 local startups during the second quarter that ended … Continue reading “Biotech is Biggest Winner in Second-Quarter VC Funding, Zogenix Strategy Unfolds, Intellikine Builds Clinical Trial Capabilities, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”
San Diego Chalks Up $198M in Venture Capital, But Where Have All the Software Deals Gone?
[Corrected 7/21/11, 2:45 am. See below.] The single largest technology sector in San Diego today is software. According to the Connect First Quarter 2011 Innovation Report, San Diego’s software industry accounted for 35 percent of the region’s 5,900 private technology companies, while the combined number of private biotech and medical device companies accounted for just … Continue reading “San Diego Chalks Up $198M in Venture Capital, But Where Have All the Software Deals Gone?”
ZestCash Receives $19,000,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=0ca4de8f-41b8-414f-b335-3091f0de2cad&Preview=1 Date 7/21/2011 Company Name ZestCash Mailing Address 6427 West Sunset Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90028 Company Description ZestCash offers a fair and transparent alternative for people who need short-term loans but do not have access to traditional credit. We designed ZestCash loans to help people meet their basic life needs without … Continue reading “ZestCash Receives $19,000,000 New Financing Round”
YouMail Lands $2,153,718 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d2a529d4-740e-49b7-94dd-f89d1b8876c0&Preview=1 Date 7/21/2011 Company Name YouMail Mailing Address 2102 Business Center Dr Irvine, CA 92612 Company Description YouMail is a patented, easy, fun and social mobile messaging experience that allows subscribers to create unique outgoing voice greetings for individual inbound callers, based on caller ID. Website http://www.youmail.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction … Continue reading “YouMail Lands $2,153,718 New Financing Round”
PixelFish Obtains $4,000,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=232b1ab9-e4d9-4947-9509-be73a9941fc7&Preview=1 Date 7/21/2011 Company Name PixelFish Mailing Address 21250 Hawthorne Blvd. Torrance, CA 90503 Company Description We make producing high-impact, broadcast-quality video easy and affordable. Website http://www.PixelFish.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $4,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes McIntyre said PixelFish will use the new capital to continue to build out … Continue reading “PixelFish Obtains $4,000,000 New Funding Round”
Bristol-Meyers Squibb Acquires Amira Pharmaceuticals for $475,000,000
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b754a444-4991-4362-9dda-10b4ff3f239b&Preview=1 Date 7/21/2011 Company Name Amira Pharmaceuticals Mailing Address 9535 Waples Street San Diego, CA 92121 Company Description Amira Pharmaceuticals is a privately-held biopharmaceutical company, focused on leveraging the deep expertise of a team of scientists in the field of inflammatory diseases. Website http://www.amirapharm.com Transaction Type M&A Transaction Amount $475,000,000 Transaction Round … Continue reading “Bristol-Meyers Squibb Acquires Amira Pharmaceuticals for $475,000,000”
Is Lady Gaga’s Backplane Based in San Diego? Inquiring Minds Want to Know
[Updated 8/24/11, 8:35 pm. See below.] Here’s a tantalizing tidbit for all the Little Monsters and online celebrity gossip mongers: In a breakout of data from the MoneyTree Report on venture capital investments that were made in San Diego during the three months that ended June 30, there is an interesting entry for a $1 … Continue reading “Is Lady Gaga’s Backplane Based in San Diego? Inquiring Minds Want to Know”
How a VC-Style Investment System Can Support a More Just and Humane World
If you were to look under the hood of any big-name IPO these days – such as LinkedIn, Pandora, and someday, Facebook – you’d see a highly sophisticated coordination of capital sources that fueled each to that highly coveted spot: Seed or “Angel” money that got the idea off the ground was followed by early-stage … Continue reading “How a VC-Style Investment System Can Support a More Just and Humane World”
VC Dollars Rise Above Pre-Recession Level in MoneyTree’s Second-Quarter Survey
Venture capital activity improved slightly year-over-year, with a total of $7.5 billion invested in 966 new companies nationwide during the quarter that ended June 30th, according to the MoneyTree Report released today. Investment levels represented the highest quarterly total since the pre-recessionary second quarter of 2008, according the report, which is prepared by the National … Continue reading “VC Dollars Rise Above Pre-Recession Level in MoneyTree’s Second-Quarter Survey”
Gaikai Receives $30,000,000 Series C Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9ae62ec1-0e2c-4148-a7df-cda6e4d2e9fe&Preview=1 Date 7/20/2011 Company Name Gaikai Mailing Address 65 Enterprise Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 Company Description Gaikai is a revolutionary new technology that lets you play any game online in your browser. In the age of the cloud, when all your documents, email, photos and videos are instantly reachable online, it seems … Continue reading “Gaikai Receives $30,000,000 Series C Round”
FindTheBest.com Garners $6,000,000 Series A Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=af727f8a-1c99-40bc-8236-e9c3e5c68c84&Preview=1 Date 7/20/2011 Company Name FindTheBest.com Mailing Address 509 E. Montecito Street Santa Barbara, CA 93103 Company Description The company operates as a social comparison engine website. Website http://www.findthebest.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $6,000,000 Transaction Round Series A Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. M&A Terms Venture Investor Kleiner … Continue reading “FindTheBest.com Garners $6,000,000 Series A Funding Round”
Transactis Acquires Data Impact for Undisclosed Sum
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e6f6026d-701c-4a90-934d-72b0c57a0877&Preview=1 Date 7/20/2011 Company Name Data Impact Mailing Address 5432 Bolsa Ave. Huntington Beach, CA 92649 Company Description With its online invoice presentment and payment and robust online document repository, Data Impact is restructuring the infrastructure through which businesses get paid for their goods and services. Website http://www.dataimpact.com Transaction Type M&A Transaction … Continue reading “Transactis Acquires Data Impact for Undisclosed Sum”
ViaSat-1 Launch Delayed
Carlsbad, CA-based ViaSat is delaying its revised launch of the ViaSat-1 satellite by a few weeks, until August or September, according to the website Satellite Today. ViaSat CEO Mark Dankberg confirmed to the online news provider that Space Systems/Loral discovered a malfunction in a solar panel aboard a previous satellite, the Telstar 14R, which prompted … Continue reading “ViaSat-1 Launch Delayed”
Waring Succeeds Bicker as CEO at CleanTech San Diego
Lisa Bicker has tendered her resignation as CEO of CleanTech San Diego, the non-profit industry group that has helped organize and focus regional efforts to stimulate sustainable business practices and build on San Diego’s emerging capabilities as an innovation cluster in cleantech and renewable energy technologies. Bicker, who was the group’s first CEO, wrote in … Continue reading “Waring Succeeds Bicker as CEO at CleanTech San Diego”
Report Shows San Diego’s Innovation Economy Strengthening, Except in Venture Capital
Private research organizations employ almost 31,000 people in San Diego County, more than the number of similar employees in any other California county, according to a new quarterly innovation report from Connect, the local non-profit group for technology and entrepreneurship. Researchers teased that statistic from U.S. Department of Labor data for the third quarter of … Continue reading “Report Shows San Diego’s Innovation Economy Strengthening, Except in Venture Capital”
Zogenix Strategy Unfolds as it Unveils Plans for Next Drug-and-Device Combo
When I talked to Zogenix CEO Roger Hawley last summer about the San Diego company’s development of a needle-free drug delivery device, he said the startup’s plan hadn’t changed much since Zogenix (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ZGNX]]) was founded in 2006. The company began selling its first product, a needle-free device with a fast-acting painkiller for migraines, early … Continue reading “Zogenix Strategy Unfolds as it Unveils Plans for Next Drug-and-Device Combo”
Intel Acquires Fulcrum Microsystems for Undisclosed Sum
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ec3d67bd-1025-462d-8d39-c93fef551758&Preview=1 Date 7/19/2011 Company Name Fulcrum Microsystems Mailing Address 26630 Agoura Road Calabasas, CA 91302 Company Description Fulcrum Microsystems Inc. is a fabless semiconductor company. The company pioneered the market for low-latency component interconnects, and is focused on leveraging its innovative clockless semiconductor design technology to field a complete line of standards-based … Continue reading “Intel Acquires Fulcrum Microsystems for Undisclosed Sum”
Venture Activity Rises Nationwide, Daylight Solutions’ Infrared Technology Heating Up, Smaller Startups Are Hiring Fewer, & More San Diego BizTech News
The venture news was flying last week like beach chairs in a hurricane, and the Xconomy forecast calls for more venture activity data this week. Get your biztech briefing quick, before I think up any more metaphors. —We got the early returns on quarterly venture capital activity, and more surveys are expected to follow in … Continue reading “Venture Activity Rises Nationwide, Daylight Solutions’ Infrared Technology Heating Up, Smaller Startups Are Hiring Fewer, & More San Diego BizTech News”
Ormet Raises $1.7M
Ormet Circuits, a San Diego company with proprietary technology for printing circuit patterns on a variety of materials, has raised more than $1.7 million from equity investors, according to a recent regulatory filing. On its website, Ormet says its technology can print circuits with high electrical and thermal conductivity and good solderability on cardboard, plastic, … Continue reading “Ormet Raises $1.7M”
Encouraged by Early Work on Anti-Cancer Drug, Intellikine Hires New Head for Clinical Trials
San Diego’s Intellikine will be four years old in another month, and CEO Troy Wilson tells me he’s feeling very excited about the venture-backed biotech’s progress so far in developing its pipeline of anti-cancer drugs, including its lead candidate designated INK128. As Luke has reported previously, Intellikine’s research is focused on PI3K, shorthand for a … Continue reading “Encouraged by Early Work on Anti-Cancer Drug, Intellikine Hires New Head for Clinical Trials”
Stop the M&A Obsession: Biotech Needs More Companies to Stay Independent
Given what investment bankers did to the financial system just a couple years ago, it surprises me how many people still accept what they have to say at face value. But quite a few people in biotech are still lapping up all sorts of short-sighted, destructive advice from the financial powers that be. The latest … Continue reading “Stop the M&A Obsession: Biotech Needs More Companies to Stay Independent”
Patterns in Big Data: Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining
Attracting renowned industry executives, as well as high-caliber practitioners, faculty, researchers, and students, KDD 2011 is the top forum to present and discuss technology and science advances in data mining and predictive analytics. For the first time, the conference will include an “Industry Practice Expo,” a new track of invited talks from leading experts in … Continue reading “Patterns in Big Data: Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining”
BioBriefing for the Non-Science Professional
This one-day course provides a concise overview of the key concepts of the drug development process. Classes are specifically geared toward the non-science professional who needs to better understand industry terminology, science, techniques and issues. Become more instrumental in your company’s success by understanding the science and technology driving the pharmaceutical industry. More information and … Continue reading “BioBriefing for the Non-Science Professional”
Military Contracting: Capitalizing on IP and Collaborations
The Intellectual Property and Military Special Interest Groups of CommNexus are hosting a joint session on issues that can arise under federal acquisition regulations and defense acquisition regulations. Such issues include IP rights, the Small Business Innovation Research Program, IP issues and contract issues that can arise between a contractor and the government. More information … Continue reading “Military Contracting: Capitalizing on IP and Collaborations”
Attracting and Retaining Maritime Technology
Representatives of the City of San Diego, Port of San Diego, San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp., and the North County Economic Development Council are set for a roundtable discussion on economic development and how it relates to maritime technology industry in the region. Followed by a reception and networking event. More information and online … Continue reading “Attracting and Retaining Maritime Technology”
Virtual Biotech Part 1: Effectively Outsourcing Drug Discovery
Changes in the drug discovery landscape have presented many tough challenges for our region, including downsizing for larger companies and a dearth of VC funding for startups. The San Diego Biotechnology Network (SDBN) has organized this event to explore the new opportunities within this challenge, as drug companies also are hungry for drug candidates to … Continue reading “Virtual Biotech Part 1: Effectively Outsourcing Drug Discovery”
Acutus Medical Secures $1,000,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4efcc2a2-ec01-4faf-b0cb-557e871c6ba0&Preview=1 Date 7/17/2011 Company Name Acutus Medical Mailing Address 11225 West Bernardo Court San Diego, CA 92127 Company Description Acutus Medical is a San Diego venture-backed medical device company focused on developing a breakthrough technology in the electrophysiology. Website Undisclosed Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes … Continue reading “Acutus Medical Secures $1,000,000 New Funding”
The Young & the Restless: Winning the Race for America’s Best Talent
The well-educated and talented 25-to-34-year-olds who make up America’s workforce of the future are ditching the suburbs for the urban cores (at a rate of 2 to 1). Joe Cortright, an economist who specializes in regional economic analysis, innovation, and industry clusters, is headlining this event on what San Diego can do to attract and … Continue reading “The Young & the Restless: Winning the Race for America’s Best Talent”
Getting the Data Out: Join in USA.gov Hack Day
Measured Voice has organized 1.USA.gov Hack Day in San Diego as part of its work with USA.gov, the official portal of the U.S. government. Similar events are taking place in San Francisco and Washington D.C. to encourage programmers, entrepreneurs, and curious citizens to come together and explore data created by 1.USA.gov and to find new … Continue reading “Getting the Data Out: Join in USA.gov Hack Day”
LetterMPress: An iPad App That Brings New Meaning to Movable Type
If you’re a follower of this column, you know that I write a lot about apps for the iPhone and iPad. It’s not just because I’m an Apple fan. It’s also because these revolutionary touchscreen-based devices are attracting some of today’s most creative developers, who are writing software unlike anything we’ve ever seen on other … Continue reading “LetterMPress: An iPad App That Brings New Meaning to Movable Type”
Celladon Raises $400K
San Diego-based Celladon, which is developing drug candidates that target a key enzyme deficiency apparent in heart failure, has secured $400,000 in a debt and securities financing, according to a recent regulatory filing. In late June, Celladon said a clinical study of its lead candidate, which is intended to restore a key enzyme that regulates … Continue reading “Celladon Raises $400K”
Aptera Motors Raises $2.2M
Carlsbad, CA-based Aptera Motors, developer of a teardrop-shaped three-wheel electric vehicle called the Aptera 2e, has raised more than $2.2 million in equity and rights, according to a recent regulatory filing. The cleantech automaker, which has been awaiting a key federal loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy, said in May that it plans … Continue reading “Aptera Motors Raises $2.2M”
Assay Depot Creates Online Market for Pfizer, Advanced BioHealing Expands, Organovo Finds Market for Bio-Printing Technology, & More San Diego Life Sciences News
Bio-engineering tissue for use in humans seems to be gaining ground in San Diego, with Organovo and Advanced BioHealing reporting progress on separate fronts. We have that and more as part of our weekly review of local life sciences news. —After developing an Amazon.com-like site that connects biotech scientists with clinical research organizations (CROs) that … Continue reading “Assay Depot Creates Online Market for Pfizer, Advanced BioHealing Expands, Organovo Finds Market for Bio-Printing Technology, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”
Institutes Of Medicine Pain Report May Aid Medical Device Makers
When the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released its report on chronic pain late last month, medical device makers cheered. “A landmark report,” a Boston Scientific press release gushed. “Chronic pain is a major public health issue, and we applaud Congress [and] the IOM…for their thoughtful recommendations,” Medtronic senior vice president Tom Tefft said in a … Continue reading “Institutes Of Medicine Pain Report May Aid Medical Device Makers”
Geppert Named Interim CEO of Economic Development in San Diego
William “Bill” Geppert, who retired just five months ago as the head of Cox Communications in San Diego, has stepped in to serve as interim CEO of the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp. (EDC). Geppert, a Cox senior vice president and general manager, agreed to serve until the end of 2011. He is not … Continue reading “Geppert Named Interim CEO of Economic Development in San Diego”
Second-Quarter VC Activity: Wish They All Could Be California Deals
Venture capital activity that surged during the first three months of 2011 continued to rise through the second quarter, as funding for Internet startups soared by 69 percent over the same quarter last year, according to CB Insights, a New York information and data services firm. In its quarterly venture capital activity report, CB Insights … Continue reading “Second-Quarter VC Activity: Wish They All Could Be California Deals”
Organovo’s Bio-Printing Technology Yields Unanticipated Revenue from Pharma Partners
When I met Organovo CEO Keith Murphy last year, he was searching for commercially viable products the San Diego startup could use to support its business while advancing its long-term goal of using living cells to create kidneys and other vital organs. More recently, a visibly excited Murphy told me he’s discovered an unmet need … Continue reading “Organovo’s Bio-Printing Technology Yields Unanticipated Revenue from Pharma Partners”
Scopely Lands New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=134a3822-da0b-4088-88eb-5044a9f5ec49&Preview=1 Date 7/13/2011 Company Name Scopely Mailing Address 3780 Wilshire Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90010 Company Description The hottest new consumer web startup in Los Angeles, Scopely is in stealth mode preparing to disrupt a segment of the social web that is ripe for innovation. The Scopely team includes 12 senior engineers … Continue reading “Scopely Lands New Financing Round”
Qualcomm Promotes Grob to CTO
San Diego’s Qualcomm (NASDAQ: [[ticker:QCOM]]), the world’s largest developer of wireless chips used in mobile devices, says today that Matt Grob has been promoted to executive vice president and chief technology officer (CTO). The company says Roberto Padovani decided to transition out of his role as CTO. As the wireless giant’s technology leader, Grob will … Continue reading “Qualcomm Promotes Grob to CTO”
Mitek Moves to Nasdaq
San Diego’s Mitek Systems, which signaled its plans to move to the Nasdaq exchange a couple of months ago, says its shares will begin trading on Nasdaq Thursday. The move is an added bit of credibility for Mitek, which has emerged over the past two years as a leading provider of mobile payment and transaction … Continue reading “Mitek Moves to Nasdaq”
Sotera Wireless Raises $7M
San Diego’s Sotera Wireless, which specializes in non-invasive technology for measuring patients’ vital signs, has raised $7 million in a combination of debt, rights to acquire securities, and securities, according to a recent regulatory filing. Almost $350,000 in additional funding consists of warrants convertible to preferred shares that have not been exercised. Sotera, which was … Continue reading “Sotera Wireless Raises $7M”
San Diego’s Assay Depot Creates Private e-Commerce Sites for Pfizer, Other Big Pharmas
Entrepreneurs are often advised to stay nimble during the startup years of a new venture, so they can quickly change direction as new business opportunities present themselves. But San Diego’s Assay Depot could qualify as a case study in agility. The venture that began five years ago as a clinical research organization (CRO) dramatically changed … Continue reading “San Diego’s Assay Depot Creates Private e-Commerce Sites for Pfizer, Other Big Pharmas”
There is a New Clinical Trial of a Novel Drug for African Sleeping Sickness. Who Cares?
I do. Millions of Africans do. Two of the world’s wealthiest people do. And against all odds, two U.S. biotech companies do too. The story starts in Africa where about 7,000 new cases of sleeping sickness happen each year. If diseases could be classified as cruel and unusual, sleeping sickness would be at the top … Continue reading “There is a New Clinical Trial of a Novel Drug for African Sleeping Sickness. Who Cares?”
Northrop Grumman Leads $15M Round for Daylight Solutions
San Diego’s Daylight Solutions, a six-year-old startup that specializes in mid-infrared laser technology, says today it raised $15 million in a Series C round of equity financing led by Northrop Grumman (NYSE: [[ticker:NOC]]), the Los Angeles defense contractor. The funding comes less than a week after Daylight Solutions said its proprietary semiconductor laser had successfully … Continue reading “Northrop Grumman Leads $15M Round for Daylight Solutions”
Startups Making Do with Fewer Workers, Kauffman Study Shows
Has the air gone out of the American economy? That’s the troubling suggestion of a new study showing how, even before the current downturn, fewer new firms were being formed and those that did open for business were hiring fewer workers. Titled “Starting Smaller, Staying Smaller: America’s Slow Leak in Job Creation,” the report looks … Continue reading “Startups Making Do with Fewer Workers, Kauffman Study Shows”
Active Network Brings Schwaggle Home
After launching its daily deal program in the Bay Area seven months ago, the Active Network is bringing its Schwaggle program to its hometown San Diego market. The San Diego-based company says its area residents will now be able to access local deals on sports and fitness-related products and services and discount registrations for local … Continue reading “Active Network Brings Schwaggle Home”
Sequenom, Illumina Team Up on Down Syndrome Test
A noninvasive diagnostic test for fetal Down syndrome is the hoped-for outcome a deal announced today under which Sequenom, the genetic testing vendor, will obtain tools from Illumina, which develops large-scale systems for genetic analysis. No dollar value was put on the three-year agreement, which calls for Sequenom and its subsidiaries to purchase sequencing equipment … Continue reading “Sequenom, Illumina Team Up on Down Syndrome Test”
Fewer Funds Raise More Capital as Venture Industry Contracts Around “Brand Name” VCs
The U.S. venture capital industry is raising more capital for fewer funds so far this year, continuing a contraction in the number of venture firms, according to a couple of rival surveys released today. While the $2.7 billion raised by VC firms during the second quarter marked a 28 percent increase over the $2.1 billion … Continue reading “Fewer Funds Raise More Capital as Venture Industry Contracts Around “Brand Name” VCs”