Every day, I come across loads of interesting material that I’d love to blog about but can’t because I don’t have the time or the right venue. I usually just stick this stuff into Evernote and tell myself I’ll write about it later. Well, it’s later. In today’s column I want to round up a … Continue reading “Reporter’s Notebook: A Dozen Digital Media Discoveries”
Category: San Diego
Why Do I Love Drug Regulation? Simple: It Keeps Us Safe
I frequently read comments from pundits and politicians decrying the US drug regulatory system, specifically the FDA. Many of these people, reading from the same PR playbook, will try to convince you that regulation is the primary factor in stifling innovation. But based on history, I am convinced that without adequate government regulation, companies in … Continue reading “Why Do I Love Drug Regulation? Simple: It Keeps Us Safe”
Disparities in First Quarter VC Activity, the San Diego Subsidence, and Top 10 Local Deals
“”Figures often beguile me,” Mark Twain wrote more than a century ago, as he worked his way up to the proposition that “There are three kinds of lies: ‘lies, damn lies, and statistics.’” I wonder what the cantankerous Twain would say today about the disparities in data concerning venture capital activity that are issued each … Continue reading “Disparities in First Quarter VC Activity, the San Diego Subsidence, and Top 10 Local Deals”
Zacharon Aligns with Pfizer, Conatus Raises Big Bucks, Software Veteran Wins Wireless Institute Challenge, & More San Diego Life Sciences News
A couple of San Diego biotechs have managed to raise some venture capital in recent weeks. We’ve got details on their good fortune, along with the rest of the local life sciences roundup. —In its first big partnership with a major pharmaceutical, San Diego’s Zacharon agreed to share its expertise in developing small-molecule drugs that … Continue reading “Zacharon Aligns with Pfizer, Conatus Raises Big Bucks, Software Veteran Wins Wireless Institute Challenge, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”
Regulus, UCSD Form Alliance
San Diego-based Regulus Therapeutics, the developer of microRNA therapies, said today it has formed a research collaboration with UC San Diego. The partners will seek to develop microRNA therapies that work to block new blood vessel formation (anti-angiogenesis), as a way to treat various diesases, Regulus said in a statement. Financial terms of the deal aren’t … Continue reading “Regulus, UCSD Form Alliance”
Looking Up: First Quarter Venture Capital Deals & Dollars Rise
Venture capital investments surged during the first three months of 2011, driven mostly by sharply increased funding for Internet and cleantech-renewable energy startups, according to CB Insights, a New York information and data services firm. Venture investors sunk a total of $7.5 billion into 738 deals throughout the country during the first quarter, a 27 … Continue reading “Looking Up: First Quarter Venture Capital Deals & Dollars Rise”
FLUD Secures $1,000,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=98da5ed0-cc6a-473b-962f-3c118d181aeb&Preview=1 Date 4/14/2011 Company Name FLUD Mailing Address Undisclosed San Diego, CA 92121 Company Description FLUD is a modern, beautiful and personalized mobile news ecosystem with a vision to empower it’s users to interact with each other to access, engage and broadcast content that is relevant to them. You probably visit hundreds … Continue reading “FLUD Secures $1,000,000 New Financing”
MarketShare Lands $32,000,000 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=740f8843-fb9c-445d-ab39-ead36de8722f&Preview=1 Date 4/14/2011 Company Name MarketShare Mailing Address 11100 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90025 Company Description MarketShare’s platform provides a combination of technology, data, modeling and business intelligence solutions that lead to improved decision-making for businesses. Website http://www.MarketShare.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $32,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes … Continue reading “MarketShare Lands $32,000,000 New Round”
Verimatrix Raises $7.5M
San Diego’s Verimatrix has raised $7.5 million of a planned $7.6 million from investors, according to a regulatory filing earlier this week. Verimatrix spokeswoman Kelly Foster, who is in Las Vegas, NV, with the company at NAB 2011 (the National Association of Broadcasters’ annual convention) says the funding is related to the company’s recent acquisition … Continue reading “Verimatrix Raises $7.5M”
Verve Wireless in a Growth Spurt
Verve Wireless, which provides a technology platform to traditional media companies for mobile advertising, has been on a tear in recent weeks—raising additional capital, filling out its management team, and recruiting five digital media leaders for its board of advisors. In a recent regulatory filing, Verve disclosed that it has raised $3.5 million of a … Continue reading “Verve Wireless in a Growth Spurt”
Conatus Adds $7.5M, Closes Series B Round
San Diego’s Conatus Pharmaceuticals says it has closed the Series B round of funding that began in February with a $7.5 million investment by MPM Capital of South San Francisco, CA. In a statement yesterday, the company says it has raised a total of $32.5 million in this round. Conatus plans to use the proceeds … Continue reading “Conatus Adds $7.5M, Closes Series B Round”
NewBlue Joins EvoNexus Incubator
EvoNexus, the pro bono technology incubator supported by San Diego’s CommNexus non-profit industry group, has taken in NewBlue, a fledgling startup developing integrated video effects technologies. NewBlue is focused on supporting the coming introduction of Vibop, a patent-pending, cloud-based technology that enables social networking and shared video across smartphones and other mobile devices.
Ford, Chasing Nissan and Chevy, Rolling Out Focus EV in San Diego, Other Key Markets
After investing roughly $1 billion to overhaul a Ford F150 truck factory in Wayne, MI, the Ford Motor Co. has begun to introduce a new generation of electric and hybrid electric automobiles in the United States. Ford has targeted San Diego as a key beachhead for the initial commercial rollout of its all-electric car, following … Continue reading “Ford, Chasing Nissan and Chevy, Rolling Out Focus EV in San Diego, Other Key Markets”
West Wireless Health Institute Awards $10K Incentive Prize
San Diego’s West Wireless Health Institute has awarded a $10,000 incentive prize to a Rhode Island software developer who answered a challenge the institute issued six months ago in conjunction with the Veterans Affairs Innovation Initiative (VAi2). The institute’s challenge called for development of a cost-effective wireless device or mobile app that enables VA patients … Continue reading “West Wireless Health Institute Awards $10K Incentive Prize”
Conatus Pharmaceuticals Secures $7,500,000 Series B Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2ae1534d-de9f-47da-8ce7-5801603bfe74&Preview=1 Date 4/13/2011 Company Name Conatus Pharmaceuticals Mailing Address 4365 Executive Drive San Diego, CA 92121 Company Description The Conatus team pioneered the science of apoptosis and the clinical development of pan caspase inhibitors, validating this first-in-class technology. Conatus has well established relationships with key opinion leaders in the fields of hepatology, … Continue reading “Conatus Pharmaceuticals Secures $7,500,000 Series B Financing”
Verimatrix Secures $7,499,996 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=59aa2424-1b22-45b3-8662-d2fa962263a9&Preview=1 Date 4/13/2011 Company Name Verimatrix Mailing Address 6825 Flanders Drive San Diego, CA 92121 Company Description Verimatrix is the leading provider of digital content protection solutions with a global customer base including leading telecommunications providers in Europe, North America and Asia. Website http://www.verimatrix.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $7,499,996 Transaction … Continue reading “Verimatrix Secures $7,499,996 New Funding”
Shrink Nanotechnologies Acquires Nanopoint
Carlsbad, CA-based Shrink Nanotechnologies, a public company that trades over the counter under the ticker symbol INKN, says it plans to acquire Honolulu, HI-based Nanopoint in an all-stock deal. Based on today’s price of Shrink Nano at 10 cents a share, the deal could eventually be worth close to $6.6 million if Nanopoint meets certain … Continue reading “Shrink Nanotechnologies Acquires Nanopoint”
Verimatrix Acquires Germany’s Comvenient
San Diego-based Verimatrix, a venture-backed company that provides software-based content security technologies in pay-TV networks for telecommunication providers, has acquired Comvenient, a longtime German partner, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. Financial terms were not disclosed. Both companies provide security for Internet protocol TV. Verimatrix investors include Mission Ventures, Sun America Ventures, JK&B Capital, Cipio … Continue reading “Verimatrix Acquires Germany’s Comvenient”
Webby Award Nominees Include New York, Boston, San Francisco, San Diego, and Seattle Internet Innovators
OK, so they’re not quite the Emmys. And this being New York, they’re not even the Tonys. But for the city’s legions of Web developers and interactive advertisers they might as well be the Oscars. That’s right, it’s time for the 15th Annual Webby Awards. The nominees were announced today in New York. The Webby … Continue reading “Webby Award Nominees Include New York, Boston, San Francisco, San Diego, and Seattle Internet Innovators”
The Kinsella Debate Continues over Pharma versus Biotech, Worlds in Collision
Almost two months ago, Kevin Kinsella of San Diego’s Avalon Ventures, fired off some shots heard ’round the world, saying that Big Pharma’s hardball acquisition tactics and mercenary business practices have been pushing biotech ventures to the point of extinction. In Paris, France, Antoine Papiernik of Sofinnova Partners responded by contacting me and saying, in … Continue reading “The Kinsella Debate Continues over Pharma versus Biotech, Worlds in Collision”
Translating a New Business Model for Personalized Medicine
The San Diego MIT Enterprise Forum hosts AltheaDx CEO Franscois Ferre in this case study of a new paradigm for personalized medicine. While personalized medicine holds the potential to create a new standard of healthcare, there are challenges: How can companies earn revenue in this undertaking? What are the likely challenges for and objections from … Continue reading “Translating a New Business Model for Personalized Medicine”
UC San Diego 30th Annual Research Expo at the Jacobs School of Engineering
UC San Diego’s Jacobs School of Engineering hosts more than 250 M.S. and Ph.D. students, who will display their research results at a poster session at this annual event that was was created to strengthen ties between industry and academia. Hear technical talks by the Jacobs School’s world-renowned faculty, and a keynote address by Greg … Continue reading “UC San Diego 30th Annual Research Expo at the Jacobs School of Engineering”
CIO Innovation Forum 2011: What CIOs Want to Buy
The San Diego Software Industry Council has organized this colloquium on corporate IT, and recruited Barbara Gomolski, VP of IT Metrics and Finance for CIO Research at Gartner to serve as a keynote speaker. The CIO panel will discuss emerging technology trends, innovation with market-facing products and services, innovation with internal business operations, how to … Continue reading “CIO Innovation Forum 2011: What CIOs Want to Buy”
San Diego Venture Group Hires First President, Senturia Talks Entrepreneurship, Maxwell Arranges Financing, & More San Diego BizTech News
Venture capital for early stage companies remains a serious concern among San Diego’s high tech startups. We have details on how that is being addressed, along with a wrap-up on the rest of the week’s biztech news. —The San Diego Venture Group has hired a local VC, Windward Ventures co-founder David Titus, to serve as … Continue reading “San Diego Venture Group Hires First President, Senturia Talks Entrepreneurship, Maxwell Arranges Financing, & More San Diego BizTech News”
Open Source Biology Deserves a Shot
Gene sequencing has gotten incredibly fast and cheap, and researchers around the world are pouring huge volumes of genomic data onto their private servers, in the hope they will sift through it all to make groundbreaking discoveries. Should so much genomic data be so closely guarded, or should it be poured into a free and … Continue reading “Open Source Biology Deserves a Shot”
Mushroom Networks Advances Technology for Live Field Broadcasts
When I profiled San Diego’s Mushroom Networks last June, the venture-backed developer of “broadband bonding” technology had just introduced Teleporter, a hardware package that enables a broadcast journalist to send high-quality digital video over local cellular networks. One year later, the company says its Teleporter technology is now available with HD capability. Mushroom Networks says … Continue reading “Mushroom Networks Advances Technology for Live Field Broadcasts”
The Renewables Plus: An Introduction to Clean Energy
Understanding and implementing clean technology is becoming a business requirement, but keeping pace with the cleantech industry can be difficult. While there is no shortage of information, gathering and acting upon it can be time consuming. This program offers a one-day, in-depth look at renewable energy generation, including biofuels, solar, wind, smart grid, utility integration, … Continue reading “The Renewables Plus: An Introduction to Clean Energy”
With iMovie on the iPad 2, Video Editing Is Fun Again
As much as I loved the original Apple iPad, there was one thing about the device that stuck in my craw: the missing cameras. It was an easy guess when the original product debuted 12 months ago that Apple would rectify the omission in a near-future version. What annoyed me was the certainty that at … Continue reading “With iMovie on the iPad 2, Video Editing Is Fun Again”
Astute Networks Receives $3,199,998 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3f00e183-ebda-4780-add4-9457d316a05d&Preview=1 Date 4/8/2011 Company Name Astute Networks Mailing Address 16516 Via Esprillo San Diego, CA 92127 Company Description Astute Networks designs and markets intelligent silicon-based protocol acceleration technologies to OEM partners worldwide. Website http://www.astutenetworks.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $3,199,998 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. SEC … Continue reading “Astute Networks Receives $3,199,998 New Funding Round”
MEDomics Obtains New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f1b02391-68f8-45e4-a3ef-ab0eacc72473&Preview=1 Date 4/8/2011 Company Name MEDomics Mailing Address 426 N. San Gabriel Ave. Azusa, CA 91702 Company Description MEDomics is a provider of sequence-based DNA diagnostic testing and collaborative research services. Website http://www.medomics.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount Undisclosed Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes This second capital infusion from SpaGus will … Continue reading “MEDomics Obtains New Financing”
Digital Healthcare Systems Raises $1.1M
Digital Healthcare Systems, a San Diego startup that was founded in 2009 as My Aftercare, has raised $1.1 million of a planned $2.4 million from undisclosed investors, according to a regulatory filing done earlier this week. CEO Steven Severin might want to reconsider that name change, though, as it’s easy to confuse the San Diego … Continue reading “Digital Healthcare Systems Raises $1.1M”
Forbes Ranks Detroit, Other Xconomy Cities Poorly In Minority Entrepreneurship
Forbes recently ranked the best cities for minority entrepreneurs and perhaps not surprisingly, Detroit finished near the bottom of the list. Despite Detroit’s large African American population, the magazine ranked the Motor City 47th out of 52 metropolitan areas. You can probably blame the usual suspects: lack of venture capital, the loss of population, downsizing … Continue reading “Forbes Ranks Detroit, Other Xconomy Cities Poorly In Minority Entrepreneurship”
Active Network Expands Schwaggle Deals
San Diego’s Active Network says today it’s planning a nationwide roll-out of its Schwaggle deal program, beginning this month with targeted offerings three times a week on fitness products and services, golf tee times, and other event registrations in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. The Active Network, which operates Active.com, launched its Schwaggle deals … Continue reading “Active Network Expands Schwaggle Deals”
Zacharon Nabs $210M Deal With Pfizer to Tackle Orphan Diseases
San Diego-based Zacharon Pharmaceuticals just struck its first really big partnership. The company, backed by Avalon Ventures, said today it has formed an alliance with New York-based Pfizer that could be worth as much as $210 million to develop drugs for rare diseases. Specific financial terms weren’t provided in today’s statement, but Zacharon will get … Continue reading “Zacharon Nabs $210M Deal With Pfizer to Tackle Orphan Diseases”
Optimer Antibiotic Gets Panel Nod, CareFusion Buys Vestara, Tracon Raises $16.5M, & More San Diego Life Sciences News
The past week was big for life sciences news in San Diego, with acquisitions, funding deals, and important advances in new antibiotics grabbing much of the attention. We’ve got it rounded up for you here. —An FDA advisory panel voted 13-0 in favor of recommending approval of a new antibiotic that San Diego’s Optimer Pharmaceuticals … Continue reading “Optimer Antibiotic Gets Panel Nod, CareFusion Buys Vestara, Tracon Raises $16.5M, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”
Digital Healthcare Systems Lands $1,122,068 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=33c2fd42-3f59-4a63-b54b-59b495c84932&Preview=1 Date 4/7/2011 Company Name Digital Healthcare Systems Mailing Address 6390 Greenwich Dr. San Diego, CA 92122 Company Description The company is developing unspecified health-care related software systems. Website Undisclosed Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,122,068 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Undisclosed M&A Terms Venture Investor Undisclosed
CareFusion Acquires Vestara
San Diego’s CareFusion (NYSE: [[ticker:CFN]]) says it has acquired Vestara, an Irvine, CA, company with technology that automatically identifies, sorts, and segregates hazardous and non-hazardous pharmaceutical waste for proper disposal. CareFusion, which plans to rebrand Vestara’s EcoRex technology as the Pyxis EcoStation, did not disclose the cost of its acquisition. However, the Health Data Management … Continue reading “CareFusion Acquires Vestara”
Report: Tracon Raises $16.5M
San Diego-based Tracon Pharmaceuticals has raised $16.5 million of a targeted $24.5 million round from investors, according to a recent report in VentureWire. Tracon CEO Charles Theuer declined to comment today, saying through a spokeswoman that the company has issued “no official press release.” VentureWire did not identify the investors, but noted that Paramount BioSciences … Continue reading “Report: Tracon Raises $16.5M”
In Anatomy of Revolutions, UCSD’s Fowler Points to the “Strong Ties” of Online Social Networks
When I met last month with James Fowler, the UC San Diego expert on social networks, one of several topics we discussed was the role that Twitter played—or might have played—in the recent political revolutions that overturned governments in Egypt and Tunisia. A lot of research will be coming out on the topic, Fowler said, … Continue reading “In Anatomy of Revolutions, UCSD’s Fowler Points to the “Strong Ties” of Online Social Networks”
Optimer Inks Potential $47.5M-Plus Deal with Cubist to Help Sell Antibiotic
On the heels of a favorable FDA advisory panel vote on its experimental antibiotic, San Diego-based Optimer Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:[[ticker:OPTR]]) says today that Cubist Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:[[ticker:CBST]]) has agreed to help sell the drug in the U.S. The deal calls for Lexington, MA-based Cubist to co-promote the Optimer antibiotic, fidxomicin (Dificid), for two years; the drug is … Continue reading “Optimer Inks Potential $47.5M-Plus Deal with Cubist to Help Sell Antibiotic”
San Diego Venture Group Hires VC David Titus in New Role to Raise the Tide of Capital, Innovation
After spending the past two years studying the ebb of innovation capital in San Diego, David Titus hopes to now do something about it—by stepping into a new role as the first full-time president of the San Diego Venture Group, a local non-profit networking group. Until now, the SDVG has operated mostly as the host … Continue reading “San Diego Venture Group Hires VC David Titus in New Role to Raise the Tide of Capital, Innovation”
AnaBios Receives $800,000 Series A Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6bebb5a2-24a5-44ad-a800-0c0618ef2e16&Preview=1 Date 4/6/2011 Company Name AnaBios Mailing Address 3030 Bunker Hill St. San Diego, CA 92109 Company Description AnaBios Corporation is a unique contract research organization that will deploy assays and develop databases for the testing of efficacy and safety of drugs in development. This novel platform will create a paradigm shift … Continue reading “AnaBios Receives $800,000 Series A Financing Round”
Waitt and Wild: A Conversation with Gateway computer co-founder Ted Waitt and Neil Senturia
San Diego serial entrepreneur Neil Senturia has coaxed Gateway founder Ted Waitt to sit down for a discussion about the challenges of running a fast-growth, high technology enterprise. The San Diego chapter of the MIT Enterprise Forum is hosting the event. A networking reception begins at 5 p.m. Online registration is here.
10th Conference on Women in Science and Technology
The Women in Science and Technology conference was established to empower women at all levels of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to enhance their careers through networking, discussion, and workshops. The one-day conference includes workshops, round-tables, and seminars for individuals at all stages of their careers in both academia and industry. More information and … Continue reading “10th Conference on Women in Science and Technology”
Celgene’s San Diego Drug Discovery Engine
Through research, acquisitions, and mergers, Celgene (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CELG]]) has built a robust product portfolio and drug pipeline in hematology and oncology. The Summit, NJ-based company has more than 4,000 employees worldwide, including substantial operations in San Diego, and is ranked as one of the top 10 fastest growing biotech stocks. The San Diego Biotechnology Network … Continue reading “Celgene’s San Diego Drug Discovery Engine”
How to Approach Small Business Investing Like an Angel Investor or Venture Capitalist
The California Small Business Development Center, Business & Entrepreneurship Center, Startup Circle, and ActSeed are reprising a seminar held last month for people who want to learn how to evaluate small business investment opportunities. The two-hour workshop covered the ins and outs of finding, assessing, and engaging startups and entrepreneurs. Some of the 40 people … Continue reading “How to Approach Small Business Investing Like an Angel Investor or Venture Capitalist”
Optimer Wins FDA Panel Nod, Still Wrestling With Language to Describe Benefit
San Diego-based Optimer Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:OPTR]]) won the blessing of an FDA advisory panel today for its novel antibiotic, but now the big issue will likely be how the benefit of the drug will be communicated to doctors and patients. Advisors to the FDA at a meeting in Silver Spring, MD voted 13-0 in favor … Continue reading “Optimer Wins FDA Panel Nod, Still Wrestling With Language to Describe Benefit”
Words of Wisdom from the Dumbest Guy in the Room: A Q&A with San Diego Serial Entrepreneur Neil Senturia
The way Neil Senturia talks about his “rules” for entrepreneurship reminds me of the way the Pirates of the Caribbean adhere to the pirate code—which is to say the code of conduct among buccaneers is really more what you would call guidelines than actual rules. Senturia describes his rules as immutable and inviolate. But if … Continue reading “Words of Wisdom from the Dumbest Guy in the Room: A Q&A with San Diego Serial Entrepreneur Neil Senturia”
As Google Retools its Search Engine, Content Farms Lose Traction
If you’ve noticed a recent change when you do an Internet search using Google, you’re not alone. Google is trying to improve the quality of the results it delivers to Web searchers and in a major way. Google is so focused on search result quality that they’re paying extra attention to items they believe negatively … Continue reading “As Google Retools its Search Engine, Content Farms Lose Traction”
Biotix Raises $2M to Help Fund Growth
Biotix, a San Diego company that supplies pipette tips, reagent reservoirs, and other laboratory consumables, has raised $2 million of a planned $4 million Series B equity round, according to a recent regulatory filing. Biotix plans to use the proceeds “to help with the growth that we’ve experienced and expand our current operations,” spokeswoman Mickie … Continue reading “Biotix Raises $2M to Help Fund Growth”