Some big names were on the agenda yesterday at the 2011 Convergence Summit, which is being held in a downtown San Diego hotel under the auspices of the nonprofit Wireless-Life Sciences Alliance. A couple of the speakers actually delivered some interesting news: —Qualcomm (NASDAQ: [[ticker:QCOM]]) chairman and CEO Paul Jacobs made the first unexpected announcement … Continue reading “News From the Wireless Health Summit: Topol Plans a Medical School for Techies, the X Prize Plans a Challenge for Trekkies, & FDA Official Shows ‘Telepresence’”
Category: San Diego
Halozyme Could Get $83M in Licensing Deal
San Diego’s Halozyme Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:HALO]]) says it will receive an upfront payment of $9 million and potential future milestone payments of $74 million under an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with Exton, PA-based ViroPharma (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VPHM]]). Halozyme is licensing the use of its recombinant human hyaluronidase in the development of a subcutaneous formulation of human … Continue reading “Halozyme Could Get $83M in Licensing Deal”
Raising Capital At-The-Market: a Prescription for a Solid Long-Term Financing Strategy
Companies in emerging industries such as the life sciences are constantly looking for funding, but uncertainty in the capital markets has made this a time-sensitive, challenging and expensive process to execute. The capital markets, particularly over the last few years, and especially for research and development-intensive biopharmaceutical companies, have been unpredictable, making timing of financings … Continue reading “Raising Capital At-The-Market: a Prescription for a Solid Long-Term Financing Strategy”
Jitterbug Offers Personal Emergency Service
Jitterbug, the San Diego-based subsidiary of mobile virtual network operator GreatCall, says it has launched its 5Star mobile personal emergency response system to subscribers who use the Jitterbug J phone. The service, available for an additional $15 a month, enables users to press 5 and * (5Star) to get connected to a customer service representative … Continue reading “Jitterbug Offers Personal Emergency Service”
Scentsa Media Gets Series A Funding
San Diego’s Huntington Capital Fund II has made a Series A preferred investment in Carlsbad, CA’s Crescent House Publishing, which operates Scentsa, the technology software and services platform focused on fragrances and perfumes, and the Scentsa Media Networks. Partner Tim Bubnack says Huntington is not disclosing the size of the deal, which is at the … Continue reading “Scentsa Media Gets Series A Funding”
Qualcomm and the X Prize Foundation Move to Energize Diagnostics with $10M ‘Tricorder Prize’
Qualcomm (NASDAQ: [[ticker:QCOM]]) chairman and CEO Paul Jacobs revealed today that the San Diego-based wireless technology giant has been working with the X Prize Foundation to develop criteria for a new $10 million X Prize grand challenge that is straight out of Star Trek—a “Tricorder X Prize.” The idea—which is still being distilled—is to offer … Continue reading “Qualcomm and the X Prize Foundation Move to Energize Diagnostics with $10M ‘Tricorder Prize’”
San Diego’s MIR3 Expands Mass Notification Technology to Social Media Networks
On the day a Magnitude 9 earthquake and major Tsunami struck Japan, customers of MIR3 used the San Diego company’s automated notification system to transmit more than 650,000 real-time messages around the world. “The minute it happened, I checked with engineering and our customers were using every modality of communications—SMS [text messaging], e-mail, phone calls,” … Continue reading “San Diego’s MIR3 Expands Mass Notification Technology to Social Media Networks”
Meritage Pharma Passes Key Test With Drug to Reduce Swelling of the Food Pipe
[Update: 11:30 am] San Diego-based Meritage Pharma set out a few years ago to develop a unique drug for people who suffer from a dangerous allergy that causes swelling and narrowing of the esophagus. Now it has some hard data to suggest that it’s on the right track. Meritage (pronounced MARE-uh-tazh) is announcing today that … Continue reading “Meritage Pharma Passes Key Test With Drug to Reduce Swelling of the Food Pipe”
Takeda Bets on Fate Therapeutics
Japan-based Takeda Pharmaceutical said it has made an equity investment in San Diego-based Fate Therapeutics, the developer of stem cell technology. The amount wasn’t disclosed, but the announcement comes a few weeks after Fate disclosed in regulatory filings that it has increased the size of its current equity financing to $36 million, and pulled in … Continue reading “Takeda Bets on Fate Therapeutics”
SDEE Presents: The Success and Failure of Serial Entrepreneurship
The San Diego Entrepreneurs Exchange, or SDEE, has scheduled a provocative panel discussion about entrepreneurial successes and failures. The focus of the meeting is how serial entrepreneurs have navigated their way through success and failure to build companies. We hope to provide a forum for a lively interactive discussion that should prove entertaining, if not … Continue reading “SDEE Presents: The Success and Failure of Serial Entrepreneurship”
Connect with Connect Summer Soirée
The annual summertime “Connect with Connect” event attracts more than 750 business leaders and 50 exhibitors from San Diego’s most innovative industries. Grab a handful of business cards and check out a series of exhibitor “zones” in Life Sciences, Cleantech, Digital Life, Action and Sport, Mobile Health, Nearsourcing, Biomimicry and Cyber and Robotics. Get into … Continue reading “Connect with Connect Summer Soirée”
How Did You Start Your Company? Tell the Entrepreneurs’ Census
Are we in another tech bubble? Is all the money going to Social, Local and B2C? Any love for B2B out there? And is it true that all you need to get funded these days is a new buzzword and a flashy smile? Although startup companies produce essentially all the new jobs in the United … Continue reading “How Did You Start Your Company? Tell the Entrepreneurs’ Census”
Super Heat Games Garners $1,600,000 Series A Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=797ca187-9264-489b-b043-178b2736f552&Preview=1 Date 5/10/2011 Company Name Super Heat Games Mailing Address Undisclosed Encinitas, CA 92023 Company Description SUPER HEAT Games, Inc. designs, develops, and markets collectible action sports trading card games, showcasing the world’s top professional athletes in action sports, including skateboarding, snowboarding, motocross, surfing and BMX Website http://www.SuperHeatGames.com Transaction Type Venture Equity … Continue reading “Super Heat Games Garners $1,600,000 Series A Financing Round”
Elcelyx Therapeutics Lands $8,075,006 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=bc2b1c98-c12a-49f2-932e-1b60aedd39c8&Preview=1 Date 5/10/2011 Company Name Elcelyx Therapeutics Mailing Address 12730 High Bluff Dr San Diego, CA 92130 Company Description Elcelyx Therapeutics of San Diego is a stealth mode diabetes related biotechnology company. Website Undisclosed Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $8,075,006 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. SEC … Continue reading “Elcelyx Therapeutics Lands $8,075,006 New Funding”
Fate Therapeutics Lands New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=bc013acd-954b-4126-b9bf-74a39f45ba01&Preview=1 Date 5/10/2011 Company Name Fate Therapeutics Mailing Address 3535 General Atomics Court San Diego, CA 92121 Company Description The company’s revolutionary platform focuses on both regenerative and reprogramming medicine. Fate’s regenerative medicine platform involves developing drugs that awaken adult stem cells in the body to repair damaged cells and tissues. Fate’s … Continue reading “Fate Therapeutics Lands New Funding”
Verdezyne Closes Funding Round
Carlsbad, CA-based Verdezyne, which has been developing industrial biotechnology processes for making adipic acid and other sustainable chemicals and fuels, says today it has closed a new funding round. While the amount of funding was not disclosed, Verdezyne says two of the investors, BP Alternative Energy Ventures and DSM Venturing B.V., joined in the round … Continue reading “Verdezyne Closes Funding Round”
ImThera Raises $1.8M
San Diego’s ImThera Medical has raised about $1.8 million of a planned $2 million financing round that includes both equity and rights to acquire securities, according to a recent regulatory filing. ImThera, which has been developing an implantable neurostimulation device for treating obstructive sleep apnea, says the funds will be used for the next phase … Continue reading “ImThera Raises $1.8M”
Expanding Wireless Health Summit Looks to Inform and Change Patient Behavior
After years of carefully shepherding San Diego’s emerging mobile health industry, Rob McCray says the sixth annual wireless health convergence summit that begins tomorrow in downtown San Diego isn’t just about “convergence” any more. McCray, who is CEO of the nonprofit Wireless-Life Sciences Alliance (WLSA), instead sounded a theme that seems to resonate in these … Continue reading “Expanding Wireless Health Summit Looks to Inform and Change Patient Behavior”
Motorola Mobility Stays Put, RadiSys Acquires Continuous Computing, Watchwords From Qualcomm’s Town Hall Meeting, & More San Diego BizTech News
Much of San Diego’s tech news came out of the mobile industry last week, along with a dash of cleantech and a dollop of software. In other words, a feast for the hungry reader. —The big deal of the week came when Hillsboro, OR-based RadiSys (NASDAQ: [[ticker:RSYS]]) announced an agreement to acquire privately held Continuous … Continue reading “Motorola Mobility Stays Put, RadiSys Acquires Continuous Computing, Watchwords From Qualcomm’s Town Hall Meeting, & More San Diego BizTech News”
Why Are Drugs Getting Such Weird Brand Names?
Oddball product names are one of the occupational hazards of biotech writing. Drugs in particular can be hard to spell, and often hard to pronounce. While I can practically type telaprevir, telaprevir, telaprevir in my sleep at this point, I can almost feel the reader reaction when that scientific name flows from my keyboard. ZZZ…. … Continue reading “Why Are Drugs Getting Such Weird Brand Names?”
Adconion Obtains $34,000,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=353e6149-fecc-4f53-9f50-25055521d014&Preview=1 Date 5/9/2011 Company Name Adconion Mailing Address 1322 3rd Street Promenade 2nd Level Santa Monica, CA 90401 Company Description We are one of the largest independent global digital advertising networks. As a leading partner for large publishers, advertisers and agencies we make performance advertising work by efficiently connecting all parties on … Continue reading “Adconion Obtains $34,000,000 New Funding Round”
SBIR Overhaul Stalls In the Senate, to the Detriment of VC-Backed Innovation
Venture capital-backed startups got a slap on the back this week, but that was followed by a slap in the face in the latest round of Washington political gamesmanship over how much lawmakers should or should not encourage venture capital-backed innovation. So far, the battle to enhance U.S. innovation is taking yet another hit. What … Continue reading “SBIR Overhaul Stalls In the Senate, to the Detriment of VC-Backed Innovation”
All Things Connected: Qualcomm Executives Talk About Mobile Complexity
What do the top executives at Qualcomm view as the key developments as mobile communications accelerate with the proliferation of smartphones, tablets, and other wireless devices? At a town hall forum last night at the wireless giant’s San Diego headquarters, Qualcomm chairman and CEO Paul Jacobs said the mobile experience has gone through a critical … Continue reading “All Things Connected: Qualcomm Executives Talk About Mobile Complexity”
How Do You Like to Get Your Xconomy Content? Check Out Our New Look on Facebook
Facebook, for me at least, has mainly been about looking for newly updated photos of my two-year-old nephew who lives two time zones away in the Midwest. But I’m well aware this isn’t a mainstream point of view, and that many of the online social network’s 600 million global users really like to get their … Continue reading “How Do You Like to Get Your Xconomy Content? Check Out Our New Look on Facebook”
The News Embargo Is Dead. TechCrunch Killed It. Let’s Move On.
My passion is for storytelling, and the stories that fascinate me most are about new technologies, how they’re brought into being, and how they’re changing everyday life. But there’s a wrinkle that’s been distracting me from doing my best work and getting it out to the readers who will appreciate it most. It’s called the … Continue reading “The News Embargo Is Dead. TechCrunch Killed It. Let’s Move On.”
Advanced Presentation Skills
Biocom is hosting this interactive, hands-on workshop, which offers a unique opportunity for life sciences execs to sharpen their company’s story. The person responsible for making a presentation has a lot to gain or lose—whether the talk is set for a prospective strategic partner, communicating to a company’s board of directors, or preparing a presentation … Continue reading “Advanced Presentation Skills”
Windows Phone 7 Unleashed Hackathon
The new Nokia-Microsoft partnership means the Windows Phone 7 operating system is a hot space for app programmers. This 12-hour event is for everyone, from seasoned veterans to newbies just starting with .NET development. The first half includes a lecture and hands-on-lab with technical trainer and consultant Bret Stateham. The second half is dedicated to … Continue reading “Windows Phone 7 Unleashed Hackathon”
Presentation Advantage: Gaining an Edge
Can we talk? Is your message clear? Do you know how to connect with your audience? Will your presentation spark the action you want? The person responsible for making a presentation has a lot to gain or lose—whether the talk is set for a prospective strategic partner, communicating to a company’s board of directors, or … Continue reading “Presentation Advantage: Gaining an Edge”
The Neurology of Taste
The chemosensation of taste is unique to other senses in that it sits at the interface between external and internal environments. The brain must evaluate not just the identity and magnitude of a stimulus, but also the potential consequences of ingesting it. San Diego State University’s Thomas Scott will review neurophysiological and behavioral findings that … Continue reading “The Neurology of Taste”
InterDigital Open House
InterDigital is hosting an open house at its new facility in San Diego. After almost 40 years of solving the wireless industry’s most-difficult technical challenges from their East Coast offices near Philadelphia, New York, and Montreal, InterDigital has established a West Coast research lab and development center in San Diego. More information about InterDigital is … Continue reading “InterDigital Open House”
Structuring and Financing the Cleantech Deal
Advances in the cleantech industry could help the United States ease its dependence on foreign oil, improve the environment, and fuel the national economy. The federal government is responding to clean tech innovation favorably by implementing policies designed to foster entrepreneurship and innovation in this sector. A new fast-track patent examination process for cleantech companies, … Continue reading “Structuring and Financing the Cleantech Deal”
Mad Catz Repays $14.5M Debt
San Diego’s Mad Catz Interactive (AMEX: [[ticker:MCZ]]), which sells videogame enhancements and interactive accessories, says today it has repaid $14.5 million in convertible debt that the company incurred when it acquired the Saitek group of companies in 2007. The financing included about $12.2 million raised last month through a private stock placement arranged by Roth … Continue reading “Mad Catz Repays $14.5M Debt”
Awarepoint Secures $14M
San Diego’s Awarepoint, which uses a Zigbee-based wireless mesh sensor network for real-time tracking of patients, medical devices, and hospital equipment, has closed on $14 million in debt financing, according to a pair of recent regulatory filings (here and here). Awarepoint said last month it had acquired Charlotte, NC-based Patient Care Technology Systems, although no … Continue reading “Awarepoint Secures $14M”
New Health IT Startup Targets Military Programs, Allylix Sniffs New Market for Nootkatone, Biocept Builds Team, & More San Diego Life Sciences News
Much of the local biotech news over the past week was focused on several early stage companies, which are busily raising money and building their leadership teams. We have the latest news for you here. —A new San Diego health IT startup, Cognitive Medical Systems, recruited a veteran software CEO to serve as president and … Continue reading “New Health IT Startup Targets Military Programs, Allylix Sniffs New Market for Nootkatone, Biocept Builds Team, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”
ImThera Medical Receives $1,846,600 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=96932dcb-1f60-43b6-8b87-cd9962dc767b&Preview=1 Date 5/5/2011 Company Name ImThera Medical Mailing Address 11232 El Camino Real San Diego, CA 92130 Company Description ImThera Medical is a privately funded, early-stage company developing a novel, patent-pending, neurostimulation medical device for the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Website http://www.imtheramedical.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,846,600 Transaction … Continue reading “ImThera Medical Receives $1,846,600 New Funding”
Qualcomm Convenes Town Hall Meeting at Critical Juncture
At the market research and consulting firm CCS Insight, Boston-based analyst John Jackson says he views San Diego-based Qualcomm (NASDAQ: [[ticker:QCOM]]) as a company “that faces some tectonic shifts in an industry that used to be known as the telecom industry.” Now telecom has converged with computing and the Internet, and Jackson says it’s all … Continue reading “Qualcomm Convenes Town Hall Meeting at Critical Juncture”
San Diego Magazine Top Tech Exec Awards
San Diego Magazine’s Top Tech Exec Awards recognizes the most outstanding Information Technology executives who work in San Diego, as nominated by their peers and clients. An independent panel of judges will decide who best meets the criteria, and winners will be recognized at a special awards reception the magazine is hosting at The Paddock … Continue reading “San Diego Magazine Top Tech Exec Awards”
Optimer Spokeswoman Killed
Optimer Pharmaceuticals spokeswoman Christina Donaghy was killed in a car crash Sunday in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA, a suburban coastal community about 25 miles north of San Diego, according to a report today in The San Diego Union-Tribune. Donaghy, 43, was in the back seat of a 1974 Porche Targa when the driver lost control on Manchester … Continue reading “Optimer Spokeswoman Killed”
In the Age of Health Reform, Healthcare IT to the Rescue?
Talking about health insurance is a good way to clear a room. It is a rare person who is excited to interact with their insurance company or who can understand the explanation of benefits they receive in the mail detailing all of the things that the insurance carrier has decided not to pay on their … Continue reading “In the Age of Health Reform, Healthcare IT to the Rescue?”
Did ViaSat Network Carry Live Feed of Commando Raid on Osama bin Laden?
In an interview on the PBS News Hour last night, CIA Director Leon Panetta describes the U.S. raid on the Pakistan compound where Osama bin Laden was killed—saying that neither he nor President Obama watched the actual shooting of bin Laden as it happened inside the main building. Yet both were apparently watching a live … Continue reading “Did ViaSat Network Carry Live Feed of Commando Raid on Osama bin Laden?”
NeuroVigil Raises Seed-Stage Financing
San Diego-based NeuroVigil, which has developed a wireless sensor and related technology to analyze human brainwave patterns, says it has closed its first round of financing. In its statement Monday, the startup did not identify the amount of funding or investors, saying only that the round “was led by an anonymous American industrialist and technology … Continue reading “NeuroVigil Raises Seed-Stage Financing”
Oregon’s RadiSys Acquires San Diego’s Continuous Computing in Deal Valued at $120M
Hillsboro, OR-based RadiSys (NASDAQ: [[ticker:RSYS]]), which provides hardware and software for Internet-based telecommunications, has agreed to acquire San Diego’s Continuous Computing, a privately held company whose wireless infrastructure technologies are based on a set of software protocols called Trillium. Under terms of the deal, RadiSys agreed to pay roughly $120 million, which includes $73 million … Continue reading “Oregon’s RadiSys Acquires San Diego’s Continuous Computing in Deal Valued at $120M”
Software Equity Group Sees Improving Valuations, M&A Activity, in Software Sector
There were 394 software buyouts and mergers around the world during the first three months of 2011, with the cumulative value of all deals totaling $8.3 billion, according to a M&A tracking report from the San Diego-based Software Equity Group. That was down from the 421 M&A deals that amounted to a total value of … Continue reading “Software Equity Group Sees Improving Valuations, M&A Activity, in Software Sector”
San Diego Health IT Startup, Cognitive Medical Systems, Recruits DefenseWeb CEO
Cognitive Medical Systems, a previously unknown health IT startup based in San Diego, is today naming local software industry veteran Douglas Burke as president—and employee No. 4. Burke, who was previously the CEO of San Diego-based DefenseWeb Technologies, announced the move in an e-mail blast to his professional contacts yesterday. Mary Lacroix, a longtime health … Continue reading “San Diego Health IT Startup, Cognitive Medical Systems, Recruits DefenseWeb CEO”
AwarePoint Lands $14,000,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=21071857-306d-485a-be18-31eeec443368&Preview=1 Date 5/3/2011 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 Lands $14,000,000 New Funding”
NeuroVigil Receives Seed Stage Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c991c3ec-d3ca-4a0e-a2d8-a889fa93be67&Preview=1 Date 5/3/2011 Company Name NeuroVigil Mailing Address 7606 Fay Avenue La Jolla, CA 92037 Company Description NeuroVigil, Inc. is dedicated to the betterment of the human condition. By merging neuroscience, non-invasive wireless brain recording technology and advanced computational algorithms, an accurate and automated reading of brain wave data is rapidly generated. … Continue reading “NeuroVigil Receives Seed Stage Funding”
RadiSys Acquires Continuous Computing for $120,000,000
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=788152e5-2a48-467f-bd7f-81fc7d6280c2&Preview=1 Date 5/3/2011 Company Name Continuous Computing Mailing Address 9450 Carroll Park Drive San Diego, CA 92121 Company Description Continuous Computing provides Network Service-Ready Platforms that enable telecom equipment manufacturers to rapidly deploy converged communications. Website http://www.ccpu.com Transaction Type M&A Transaction Amount $120,000,000 Transaction Round Proceeds Purposes M&A Terms Consideration for the … Continue reading “RadiSys Acquires Continuous Computing for $120,000,000”
Hale, Royston Join Biocept Board
San Diego-based Biocept, a cancer diagnostics and advanced laboratory services company, recently announced that David Hale has joined its board of directors as executive chairman—a move that could pave the way for Hale to eventually step in as the company’s CEO. Forward Ventures partner Ivor Royston also has joined Biocept as a director. Royston was … Continue reading “Hale, Royston Join Biocept Board”
Sony Takes Online Entertainment Website Offline
[Updated 5/2/11 5:35 pm. See below.] A hacker attack that eviscerated the San Diego data center for the Sony PlayStation Network last month apparently led Sony to also shut down its Station.com online gaming website today. The episode involving the PlayStation Network prompted Sony executives to bow in apology in Tokyo yesterday, according to The … Continue reading “Sony Takes Online Entertainment Website Offline”
Service-now Hires New CEO, Fallbrook Yanks IPO Filing, VoIP Specialist VoxOx Launches iPhone App, & More San Diego BizTech News
Is software-as-a-service provider Service-now.com be poised to become San Diego’s next big thing? We’ve got that and the rest of the local tech news, and our roundup starts now. —San Diego-based Service-now.com co-founder Fred Luddy told me he expects the company’s revenue to double every year for the foreseeable future. So it’s hard to underscore … Continue reading “Service-now Hires New CEO, Fallbrook Yanks IPO Filing, VoIP Specialist VoxOx Launches iPhone App, & More San Diego BizTech News”