Category: San Diego

San Diego Venture Group’s Annual PitchFest and VC Auction

Hear three finalists in SDVG’s annual business plan competition and cast your ballot during the dinner and evening activities. The SDVG will present the winner with a $20,000 check. After dinner, bid on the opportunity to spend several hours with one of the venture capitalists who’s donated their time. Open to SDVG members and non-members. … Continue reading “San Diego Venture Group’s Annual PitchFest and VC Auction”

A Practical Guide to Doing a Startup Right

An evening forum for entrepreneurs focused on issues they invariably must confront in starting their own company. Topics include deciding whether to form an LLC, “C” Corp or “S” Corp., how much stock to set aside for employees consultants board members and others, and developing the right funding strategy. 

San Diego’s Moores Gives $2.1 Million to Scripps Research Institute

Software tycoon and San Diego Padres owner John Moores has contributed $2.1 million to kick off a $50 million fund-raising initiative for The Scripps Research Institute. The San Diego facility says the campaign is intended to expand current research programs and recruit elite scientists to the institute’s laboratories in San Diego and Jupiter, FL. Moores, who co-founded … Continue reading “San Diego’s Moores Gives $2.1 Million to Scripps Research Institute”

Biofuels as an Alternative to Fossil Fuel

Presented by Mintz Levin. Featured speaker Shimon Gepstein, Faculty of Biology and Head of the Technion’s William and Cynthia Marcus Family/New England Region Center for Pre-University Education, will talk about new developments in the production of biofuels as an alternative to fossil fuel, and their industrial and business applications. Register at Mintz Levin.

Oil Wildcatter Comes Clean on Green Technology Investments

Jay Potter has been in the financial services business for more than 20 years, mostly as the president and principal of Nexcore Capital, a San Diego securities dealer and investment banking firm. For much of that time, though, Potter was a wildcatter. He’d raise capital from investors on behalf of companies like Sterling Energy Resources … Continue reading “Oil Wildcatter Comes Clean on Green Technology Investments”

Know What Your Tech and Life Sciences Executive Peers Are Paid? Compensation Study Tells All—Plus New Insights on Clean-Tech CEO Pay

It’s too early to know the full impact of the economic meltdown on executive compensation at private technology and life sciences companies. Alas, 2008—or at least the first three fiscal quarters of it—could be viewed next year as the end of the good old days of executive compensation. Still, for those of you who want … Continue reading “Know What Your Tech and Life Sciences Executive Peers Are Paid? Compensation Study Tells All—Plus New Insights on Clean-Tech CEO Pay”

Comfortably Un-Numb: Novalar Pitches Drug To Reverse Dental Anesthesia

Getting a shot of anesthesia at the dentist’s office is not most people’s idea of fun. Once that’s over, the cavity gets filled, or gums get power-cleaned, then patients usually have the dubious pleasure of waiting five or six hours with a numb mouth that’s not much good for talking or drinking. If you aren’t … Continue reading “Comfortably Un-Numb: Novalar Pitches Drug To Reverse Dental Anesthesia”

Attention, Startups: Move to New England. Your Gay Employees Will Thank You.

If you’re trying to decide where to build your new tech startup, California obviously has a lot of attractions. You’ll be close to the heart of the venture capital community. Non-compete agreements, which are said to slow innovation in states like Massachusetts, are illegal in the Golden State. The weather is beautiful year-round. And let’s … Continue reading “Attention, Startups: Move to New England. Your Gay Employees Will Thank You.”

Flipswap Secures New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=effe2c6d-b6d4-4f8c-b3ec-70962ba753ff&Preview=1 Date 11/14/2008 Company Name Flipswap Mailing Address 2771 Plaza Del Amo Torrance, CA 90503 Company Description Flipswap makes it easy to give mobile phones a second shot at life by offering fast, free and eco-friendly ways to trade them in. The average American buys a new cell phone every 12 months, … Continue reading “Flipswap Secures New Round”

Metabasis Closes Satellite Office in Michigan and Lays Off 35 People

In a move to preserve cash and reduce expenses, San Diego’s Metabasis (NASDAQ: MBRX) announced plans to close its facility in Ann Arbor, MI, and eliminate about 35 jobs there, almost a third of the company’s staff. After the cutbacks, the company will have about 90 employees. The biotech, which is developing novel small molecule drugs … Continue reading “Metabasis Closes Satellite Office in Michigan and Lays Off 35 People”

Ardea Biosciences Secures Venture Loan

Ardea Biosciences (Nasdaq:RDEA) says it has entered into an $8 million growth capital loan agreement with Oxford Finance Corp. and Silicon Valley Bank. Ardea President and CEO Barry Quart says the loan, which includes warrants entitling the lenders to buy 56,000 shares to 2015, provides greater flexibility in “ongoing partnering discussions” and allows the drug development company to fund operations into … Continue reading “Ardea Biosciences Secures Venture Loan”

Cardium Completes Debt Financing Transaction

Cardium Therapeutics (Amex: CXM) says it raised $6 million in debt financing that includes warrants to purchase shares of its common stock. Cardium says the Barone Group acted as lead investor in the deal, which replaces a prior debt financing that was paid off in the previous quarter. Empire Asset Management acted as financial advisor … Continue reading “Cardium Completes Debt Financing Transaction”

Tracking San Diego Tech Layoffs

Cash is king. It’s an old adage. But in good times, people seem to take it as meaning that spending cash is king. In hard times like the present, it’s all about conservation of cash. And as the economic woes from Wall Street spill out into the tech sector, companies are announcing widespread layoffs as … Continue reading “Tracking San Diego Tech Layoffs”

Sapphire Energy, Backed by Bill Gates, Tries to Tone Down the Hype as it Makes Gasoline From Algae

Sapphire Energy has not provided many details about its technology since CEO Jason Pyle stepped into the limelight six months ago to announce the San Diego startup has developed a revolutionary process for turning pond scum into high-octane gasoline. “I have no intention of being secretive,” Pyle told me at the inaugural networking meeting of … Continue reading “Sapphire Energy, Backed by Bill Gates, Tries to Tone Down the Hype as it Makes Gasoline From Algae”

The Active Network Actively Expanding

The first thing that popped into my brain when San Diego’s Active Network said it has acquired three more companies was kudzu—also known as “mile-a-minute vine” and “the vine that ate the South.” Just a year and a half ago, the online business officially known as The Active Network had 730 employees, including 265 at … Continue reading “The Active Network Actively Expanding”

Insurance Software Developer Ebix Buys ConfirmNet

Atlanta-based Ebix announced yesterday that it signed a deal to buy San Diego’s ConfirmNet, the latest in a series of acquisitions in the certificate of insurance tracking industry. Ebix, which develops software and e-commerce capabilities for the insurance industry, said it signed a deal to purchase ConfirmNet on Nov. 1. In a later filing with … Continue reading “Insurance Software Developer Ebix Buys ConfirmNet”

OpenCandy Bites into $3.5M

OpenCandy, a San Diego startup that inserts software advertisements into the series of screens consumers see when installing Windows software, said today that it has raised $3.5 million in Series A venture funding. Backers include Bessemer Venture Partners, O’Reilly AlphaTech Ventures, and angels Reid Hoffman of LinkedIn and Jordan Greenhall, co-founder and former CEO of … Continue reading “OpenCandy Bites into $3.5M”

Novocell Aims to Coax Stem Cells to Fight Diabetes, One Step at a Time

Ed Baetge’s dream is that his company, San Diego-based Novocell, will someday make human embryonic stem cells that will manage to produce all the insulin patients need to control their blood sugar. If things break right for Novocell, this treatment will navigate a thicket of animal tests over the next three to four years, demonstrate … Continue reading “Novocell Aims to Coax Stem Cells to Fight Diabetes, One Step at a Time”

San Diego’s “Predictive Analytics” Companies—The Map

Already you are probably asking yourself, “What the heck is predictive analytics?” It encompasses a variety of disciplines and technologies, typically using software that applies advanced mathematics or statistics to analyze pools of data and make forecasts about current or future events. Who would have predicted that San Diego would emerge as one of the … Continue reading “San Diego’s “Predictive Analytics” Companies—The Map”

Torrey Pines Therapeutics Sells Alzheimer’s Program to Partner

TorreyPines Therapeutics (NASDAQ:TPTX) says it has agreed to sell its Alzheimer’s disease genetics research program for $1.5 million to partner Eisai Co. TorreyPines will record the payment from the Nov. 6 deal in its fourth quarter financial results, the company said today in a filng with government regulators. 

Amylin Cuts 340 Jobs, One Fourth of Staff, To Cope With Falling Diabetes Drug Demand

One of San Diego’s anchor biotech companies, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, has decided to cut one-fourth of its local staff, or about 340 jobs. The company said it had to make the move because it has been dealt a double-whammy of setbacks in the past couple months, with declining demand for its lead diabetes drug, combined with … Continue reading “Amylin Cuts 340 Jobs, One Fourth of Staff, To Cope With Falling Diabetes Drug Demand”

Optimer Shares Skyrocket, as Drug Halts Deadly Bacterial Infection in Trial

Optimer Pharmaceuticals has good news today for people with a serious bacterial infection. The San Diego-based biotech company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:OPTR]]) said its experimental drug was slightly better at curing patients than the standard antibiotic for C.Difficile bacterial infection, and was significantly better at preventing the nasty bug from coming back after treatment. Shares of the … Continue reading “Optimer Shares Skyrocket, as Drug Halts Deadly Bacterial Infection in Trial”

San Diego Makes Stem Cells a Rallying Cry for New Era in Life Sciences

It has been seven years since the Bush Administration restricted federal funding on human embryonic stem cells, and four years since California voters responded by passing Proposition 71. The initiative jump-started stem cell research here by providing $3 billion in state funding for “regenerative medicine” over the next decade. Since then, the term “stem cells” … Continue reading “San Diego Makes Stem Cells a Rallying Cry for New Era in Life Sciences”

Simple DNA Test Spots Deadly MRSA Bacteria; Adnavance Aims To Take It Mainstream

If San Diego-based Adnavance Technologies plays its cards right, it won’t be long before it’s selling a simple DNA test that will tell doctors within a couple hours whether their patients have a potentially deadly MRSA bacterial infection. There will be no more need to send samples to a highly-skilled technician running an expensive DNA … Continue reading “Simple DNA Test Spots Deadly MRSA Bacteria; Adnavance Aims To Take It Mainstream”

Hopeful About Federal Funding, Worried About Federal Regulations

It is too early to even venture a guess as to how this administration will approach innovation. I’m hopeful for continued federal research funding (NIH, NSF, DOE, etc) which is the core of U.S. superiority in innovation. Other than dealing with the financial crisis and recession, I’m concerned about increased regulation, trade restrictions, and healthcare … Continue reading “Hopeful About Federal Funding, Worried About Federal Regulations”

Boeing Completes Tapestry Acquisition

Chicago-based aerospace giant Boeing said today that it has finalized the purchase, for an undisclosed sum, of San Diego’s Tapestry Solutions, a 350-employee company that specializes in command-and-control, modeling, and simulation software for military and security organizations. The acquisition was first announced September 26.

In the World of Total Information Awareness, “The Last Enemy” Is Us; A TV Show Good Enough to Inspire a Political Rant

If you thought the notorious Total Information Awareness program went away when Congress eliminated funding for the Pentagon’s mass-surveillance experiment in 2003, you were misled. The program itself may have been dismantled, but as an investigation by the Wall Street Journal detailed in March, many pieces of it were simply transferred to other federal agencies, … Continue reading “In the World of Total Information Awareness, “The Last Enemy” Is Us; A TV Show Good Enough to Inspire a Political Rant”

Illumina Shows its Stuff to Wall Street, Stock Still Slides

San Diego’s Illumina has a pretty amazing story to tell about exponential growth. The maker of genetic analysis tools has beaten or matched Wall Street earnings forecasts for a dozen quarters in a row. It has grown from 239 employees in 2004 to an estimated 1,604 by the end of this year. But when it … Continue reading “Illumina Shows its Stuff to Wall Street, Stock Still Slides”

Obama’s Innovative Campaign Was a Template for His Presidency

In an Obama/Biden administration, we can expect much more of a focus on science, math, and technology as critical skills for leadership and competitiveness in a complex world. On the campaign trail, Obama focused on science and technology research, education, and practice as an area for investment. His own sophisticated use of the Internet for … Continue reading “Obama’s Innovative Campaign Was a Template for His Presidency”

After the Election: Thoughts on Outsourcing and Personalized Medicine

One largely non-technical issue I feel strongly about is President-elect Obama’s misguided pronouncements on outsourcing. I think America needs to create new high-quality jobs and not resort to public policy to cling to jobs that can and will get done elsewhere. Preserving “old fashioned” jobs sounds quaint and romantic but would trap people in jobs that … Continue reading “After the Election: Thoughts on Outsourcing and Personalized Medicine”

Bracing for Storm, Veoh Lays Off 18 Percent

Updated Nov. 6, 2:45 PST; See below for details about Veoh San Diego’s Veoh, one of the top Web-based providers of video and TV programming, has laid off 20 people, or 18 percent of its 110-employee payroll. The cutbacks, reported by PaidContent, TechCrunch, and others, apparently are intended to help the startup survive hard times … Continue reading “Bracing for Storm, Veoh Lays Off 18 Percent”

Innovation Through Compromise: Alfredo Ramirez and the Global Hawk Robot Spy Plane

The way Alfredo Ramirez talks, the Global Hawk does not epitomize an avant-garde aerospace design—even though the robotic spy plane operates at the uppermost boundaries of advanced military aircraft. The 46-year-old Ramirez is the lead designer for the Global Hawk, a high-altitude UAV, or unmanned aerial vehicle. I recently sat down with him to discuss … Continue reading “Innovation Through Compromise: Alfredo Ramirez and the Global Hawk Robot Spy Plane”

Invitrogen Will Change Name to Life Technologies

Invitrogen, the San Diego-based maker of lab products, said it plans to change its name to Life Technologies when it completes the acquisition of Foster City, CA-based Applied Biosystems. The new company will trade on the NASDAQ exchange under the ticker “LIFE.” Instruments will continue to be sold under the Applied Biosystems brand name, while … Continue reading “Invitrogen Will Change Name to Life Technologies”

Navy to Test Vical Vaccine Combo

San Diego-based biotech firm Vical (NASDAQ:[[ticker:VICL]]) reports that the Naval Medical Research Center plans to conduct tests and early clinical trials of a DNA vaccine formulated with its vaccine adjuvant (Vaxfectin) with a needle-free injection system for potentially lethal dengue infections. Vical plans to manufacture the vaccine and adjuvant under a $1.3 million contract, and … Continue reading “Navy to Test Vical Vaccine Combo”

GetBack Media Inc Lands $17,000,000 Series A Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9b4cc752-bbb4-4cfa-8eb8-090af68c1082&Preview=1 Date 11/6/2008 Company Name GetBack Media Inc Mailing Address 2036 Armacost Avenue Los Angelos, CA 90025 Company Description GetBack.com is the only online community and pop-culture destination built around the music, movies, games, and events you love. We’re a bunch of pop culture freaks dedicated to wakin’ up memories of the … Continue reading “GetBack Media Inc Lands $17,000,000 Series A Funding”

Machinima.com Secures $3,850,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=0b586b27-d905-4bfb-bf3b-10aba0f0f394&Preview=1 Date 11/6/2008 Company Name Machinima.com Mailing Address Undisclosed Los Angeles, CA 90040 Company Description Machinima.com is the premiere online entertainment network showing original videos from your favorite video games. Watch thousands of trailers, gameplay, montages, music videos and original machinima series and movies created in World of Warcraft, Halo, Sims 2, … Continue reading “Machinima.com Secures $3,850,000 New Financing”

Mogreet, Inc. Receives $5,000,000 Series B Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f40dec35-bc50-4634-b6ac-5298ba665b51&Preview=1 Date 11/6/2008 Company Name Mogreet, Inc. Mailing Address 16795 Monte Hermoso Drive Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 Company Description The company provides text messaging, content and technology. Website http://www.mogreet.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $5,000,000 Transaction Round Series B Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. M&A Terms Venture Investor DFJ … Continue reading “Mogreet, Inc. Receives $5,000,000 Series B Financing”

TelCentris Unlox Product Box with VoxOx

Updated Nov. 5, 4 pm PST: See below for details on funding TelCentris, a new San Diego company, says it has released a beta version of its free consumer service called VoxOx, which combines Voice-over-Internet telephony and other types of communications into a single screen on a computer desktop. The company says its universal communicator service is … Continue reading “TelCentris Unlox Product Box with VoxOx”

Historic Obama Win Also Sets Web Traffic Records

At 11:00 pm Eastern time last night—when the polls closed on the U.S. West Coast and most TV news outlets called the election in favor of the new President-elect, Barack Obama—Internet users streamed to news websites in unprecedented numbers, according to Cambridge, MA-based Akamai. The company, which has been measuring Internet traffic to news, retail, … Continue reading “Historic Obama Win Also Sets Web Traffic Records”

The Resurrection of a Onetime Internet Incubator—Not!

Some folks might have felt like it was déjà vu all over again when San Diego-based IdeaEDGE announced the launch of its new online services product, called the “Socialwise Group Gifting Platform.” In its statement Monday, IdeaEDGE said it plans to launch its Web-based Socialwise platform on Nov. 10. The company says its technology makes … Continue reading “The Resurrection of a Onetime Internet Incubator—Not!”

Aires Pharmaceuticals Emerges from Stealth Mode With Drug for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Aires Pharmaceuticals may have a way to help patients with a rare, deadly lung disease get a little more oxygen, and maybe even live a little longer. The San Diego startup is developing an inhalable form of nitrite that could improve the lives of patients with high blood pressure in the vessels leading to the … Continue reading “Aires Pharmaceuticals Emerges from Stealth Mode With Drug for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension”

Miles Electric Vehicles Receives $13,000,000 Series B Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=43ee284f-b09d-4c04-972c-b9359c2a90b8&Preview=1 Date 11/5/2008 Company Name Miles Electric Vehicles Mailing Address 3100 Airport Avenue Santa Monica, CA 90405 Company Description Miles Electric Vehicles is dedicated to changing the world one car at a time by building safe, comfortable and affordable all electric cars and trucks that make it easy for individuals and fleets … Continue reading “Miles Electric Vehicles Receives $13,000,000 Series B Round”

Amylin, Alkermes Shares Plunge On Possible FDA Delays

San Diego-based Amylin Pharmaceuticals and its partner, Cambridge, MA-based Alkermes, both took a dive in the stock market today after they said they might face regulatory delays in developing a new diabetes drug. The companies said the FDA might ask them to run another clinical study before they can receive approval of a once-weekly form … Continue reading “Amylin, Alkermes Shares Plunge On Possible FDA Delays”

Amylin Shareholder Floats Idea of Selling Company

Activist shareholders are circling Amylin Pharmaceuticals. Eastbourne Capital, which owns a 12.5 percent stake in the San Diego-based biotech company, said on Monday that it is looking at ways to boost the stock price, including possibly selling the company, according to this Reuters report. Much has been made about declining demand for exenatide (Byetta), the … Continue reading “Amylin Shareholder Floats Idea of Selling Company”

Tysabri: The Big Multiple Sclerosis Drug That Emerged From “The Hutch”

The most effective drug on the market today for patients with multiple sclerosis has roots in a dingy old lab in the 1980s on Seattle’s First Hill. It was there that a pair of young scientists at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Bill Carter and Elizabeth Wayner, made key discoveries that paved the way … Continue reading “Tysabri: The Big Multiple Sclerosis Drug That Emerged From “The Hutch””

Evolution Robotics Inc Receives $13,880,000 Series B Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4ce40f93-0d30-43ea-a0a9-2818167b4132&Preview=1 Date 11/4/2008 Company Name Evolution Robotics Inc Mailing Address 1055 E. Colorado Blvd Pasadena, CA 91106 Company Description Evolution Robotics, Inc. develops state-of-the-art robotics solutions, and partners with original equipment manufacturers to integrate those technologies into new and more intelligent products. Whether used within autonomous robots for commercial or consumer use, … Continue reading “Evolution Robotics Inc Receives $13,880,000 Series B Round”