Editor’s note: This piece was originally posted on Textio’s company blog. “Hey Siri, how’s the weather today?” “OK Google, remind me to pay the power bill.” “Alexa, tell me a joke!” Bots are eating the world. Whether you are an enterprising app developer building the essential software to bring a virtual Taylor Swift into your … Continue reading “Why Bots Aren’t the Real AI Disruption: The Quiet Rise of Headless AI”
Category: San Diego
Bio Roundup: CRISPR Appeal, Bristol Deals, Stock Pumping & More
It may have been a short holiday week, but there was plenty of news on the CRISPR front. In the ongoing battle for rights to the landmark gene editing technology, the faction led by the University of California appealed the U.S. decision in favor of the Broad Institute. Elsewhere, Bristol-Myers Squibb flipped assets, a top … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: CRISPR Appeal, Bristol Deals, Stock Pumping & More”
Tocagen IPO Raises $85M to Test Gene Therapy in Brain Cancer Trials
Tocagen raised $85 million in its stock market debut today, and underwriters saw enough demand to increase the number of shares in the initial public offering. Tocagen has been developing a gene therapy treatment for a deadly type of brain cancer. San Diego-based Tocagen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:TOCA]]) priced its offering of 8.5 million shares at $10 … Continue reading “Tocagen IPO Raises $85M to Test Gene Therapy in Brain Cancer Trials”
The Human Impact of Machine Learning in Medical Diagnostics & More
In January, UC San Diego announced that a group of scientists had succeeded in training a computer to tell the difference between a person with a “healthy” intestine from someone with inflammatory bowel disease by analyzing the genetic makeup of the microbes in their gut. Less than two weeks later, scientists at Stanford University said … Continue reading “The Human Impact of Machine Learning in Medical Diagnostics & More”
Lymber, Founded in Early 2016, Surprised by Mindbody’s Buyout Offer
Lymber was barely a year old when Mindbody (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MB]]) announced recently that it acquired the San Diego mobile app developer. Lymber, named as a 2017 Xconomy San Diego startup to watch, has developed a technology platform that enables mobile users to book openings in fitness and wellness classes. “We’re basically an Expedia for fitness … Continue reading “Lymber, Founded in Early 2016, Surprised by Mindbody’s Buyout Offer”
Clinical Research Expert Succeeds Organovo’s Founding CEO
San Diego-based Organovo (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ONVO]]), which specializes in 3D biological printing technology, said Tuesday its board has named Taylor J. Crouch to succeed Keith Murphy as CEO. According to a statement from the company, Murphy, who co-founded Organovo in 2007, is “stepping down as chief executive officer to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities, effective April 21.” He … Continue reading “Clinical Research Expert Succeeds Organovo’s Founding CEO”
Cirius Therapeutics Raises $40M to Expand Ongoing Liver Study
A $40 million transfusion led by Frazier Healthcare Partners and Denmark’s Novo A/S is bringing fresh life to a Michigan biotech working to advance a new experimental drug for treating a type of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. As part of the financing, Kalamazoo-based Octeta Therapeutics has been rechristened Cirius Therapeutics, and three San Diego-based biotech … Continue reading “Cirius Therapeutics Raises $40M to Expand Ongoing Liver Study”
The Otonomy Story and the Human Impact of Innovation
[Editor’s note: Jay Lichter will discuss his personal odyssey in drug development on April 19 at The Xconomy Forum on the Human Impact of Innovation. Online registration is here.] I am a pharmaceutical scientist and a biotech venture capitalist. I start companies that are focused on creating new drugs. So when my doctor told me … Continue reading “The Otonomy Story and the Human Impact of Innovation”
Athena’s 19th Annual Pinnacle Awards Gala
More than 600 leaders in science, technology, and business are gathering for Athena’s 19th annual Pinnacle Awards gala. The event honors those who excelled in the recognition, promotion, and mentorship of women in STEM. The Pinnacle Awards offers a dynamic environment of high-value networking and inspiring exposure to best of the best in overall professional development and … Continue reading “Athena’s 19th Annual Pinnacle Awards Gala”
San Diego Social Media Startup Soci Adds Austin Office, Raises $8.5M
Soci, a San Diego startup that created a Web platform for managing social media, has closed on $8.5 million in Series A financing that will be used to build on the company’s recent growth, including a second office in Austin, TX, according to co-founder and CEO Afif Khoury. The five-year-old startup, which had 35 employees … Continue reading “San Diego Social Media Startup Soci Adds Austin Office, Raises $8.5M”
Startups Share your Predictions for Free Admission to Human Impact of Innovation
We are a little over a week away from the Xconomy Forum on the Human Impact of Innovation and we’re excited to announce that thanks to a generous sponsor we have a block of 25 complimentary tickets to give to bootstrapped entrepreneurs in San Diego. It all takes place at The Ilumina Theater at the … Continue reading “Startups Share your Predictions for Free Admission to Human Impact of Innovation”
Bio Roundup: Gottlieb Talks Vax, Acorda’s Axe, Adams, 23andMe & More
In the nation’s capital, healthcare and life sciences were on center stage. Or stages, actually. On Capitol Hill, FDA commissioner nominee Scott Gottlieb, the drug industry’s favorite pick, told senators his extensive industry ties wouldn’t cloud his judgment or create conflicts. At a downtown convention center, Joe Biden slammed the Trump administration’s budget-cutting plans. And … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Gottlieb Talks Vax, Acorda’s Axe, Adams, 23andMe & More”
First-Quarter Venture Funding Slumps in San Diego, and Top 10 Deals
Thirty-seven venture-backed companies in the San Diego area collected almost $350 million in new funding during the first three months of 2017, according to data released this week as part of the latest Venture Monitor report from the National Venture Capital Association and Seattle-based PitchBook. That was down 39 percent from the $574.5 million that … Continue reading “First-Quarter Venture Funding Slumps in San Diego, and Top 10 Deals”
FDA OKs 23andMe’s Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Tests, With Caution
[Updated 4/6/17, 7:42 pm. See below.] Consumers who aren’t squeamish about spitting into a tube and sending it to a lab can now have 23andMe test those samples to assess their risk of developing Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and eight other disorders. On Thursday, the FDA gave the Mountain View, CA-based genetic testing startup the green light … Continue reading “FDA OKs 23andMe’s Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Tests, With Caution”
AACR Review: Biden Fired Up, Incyte Doubles Up, BMS Up And Down
The American Association for Cancer Research held its annual meeting this week in Washington, DC, a convenient venue for former Vice President Joe Biden to deliver a broadside against the Trump administration’s proposed budget cuts in science funding. For Biden, it’s personal. In the final year of the Obama administration, he championed a push for … Continue reading “AACR Review: Biden Fired Up, Incyte Doubles Up, BMS Up And Down”
Arivale and Scripps Leaders to Chat at April 19 Xconomy Forum
A little over two years ago, President Obama laid out his vision for one of the nation’s most ambitious medical research programs—an effort to amass genomic data from at least 1 million Americans. The big idea behind the president’s Precision Medicine Initiative is to use data from genomics, biosensors, blood tests, and other sources to … Continue reading “Arivale and Scripps Leaders to Chat at April 19 Xconomy Forum”
Some Cause for Optimism in Hired’s Research on Gender Wage Gap
Amid the ongoing conversation about gender discrimination in the tech industry, and recent sexual harassment claims against some of its biggest names, here’s some sort-of good news about women in tech: When companies make job offers to both men and women, women receive lower salary offers 63 percent of the time for the same job, … Continue reading “Some Cause for Optimism in Hired’s Research on Gender Wage Gap”
Zavante Plans FDA Filing After Antibiotic Hits Clinical Trial Goals
As bacteria develop resistance to older antibiotics, doctors are clamoring for new options that work on these drug- resistant strains. Zavante Therapeutics has been researching one drug as a possible alternative and, with results from a key clinical trial now in hand, the company is preparing to file for FDA approval early next year. San … Continue reading “Zavante Plans FDA Filing After Antibiotic Hits Clinical Trial Goals”
FDA Nominee Scott Gottlieb To Anti-Vaccine Crowd: Get Over It
In what passes for a short hearing these days in Washington, DC, the Trump White House’s pick to run the Food and Drug Administration, Scott Gottlieb, spent less than three hours fielding questions from a Senate committee Wednesday morning. Amid predictable splits between Republican praise for his past industry experience and Democrat fire over potential … Continue reading “FDA Nominee Scott Gottlieb To Anti-Vaccine Crowd: Get Over It”
Slowdown Continues in First-Quarter VC Funding—and Top 10 Deals
Is a caution flag flying? While U.S. venture firms refueled last year by raising a near-record $51.6 billion, they also eased off the throttle in terms of their investment activity during the first quarter of 2017, according to data released today by Seattle-based PitchBook and the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA). According to the latest … Continue reading “Slowdown Continues in First-Quarter VC Funding—and Top 10 Deals”
Stealthy San Diego-based Viracta Steps Into Light with $18.5M
Viracta Therapeutics, a San Diego anti-cancer biotech that has been operating below the radar for nearly two years, is today disclosing an initial closing on what could amount to as much as $18.4 million in Series B financing. Viracta plans to use the proceeds to advance its lead drug candidate into mid-stage trials for treating … Continue reading “Stealthy San Diego-based Viracta Steps Into Light with $18.5M”
Agenda Posted for Xconomy’s Human Impact of Innovation on April 19
We have posted the agenda for Human Impact of Innovation, which happens on April 19 at The Illumina Theater at the Alexandria Torrey Pines in San Diego. Xconomy is convening this meeting with leaders from academia and industry to talk about some big innovations that are expected to bring major changes on people’s lives. Machine … Continue reading “Agenda Posted for Xconomy’s Human Impact of Innovation on April 19”
Angionetics Nears Key Gene Therapy Trial for Coronary Heart Disease
Christopher Reinhard will tell you there is nothing unusual about the 20-plus years he’s spent getting an experimental heart therapy to late-stage clinical trials. “Very rarely will you get a short story on development of a drug,” said Reinhard (above), who is a principal investor and the CEO of San Diego-based Angionetics. Two decades “is … Continue reading “Angionetics Nears Key Gene Therapy Trial for Coronary Heart Disease”
How Battling New Epidemics Helps Fight Age-Old Killers
Washington state has reported nearly 300 cases of mumps this winter and experts predict this may be the state’s worst flu season in years, a stark reminder of how dangerous even familiar viruses can be. While the Ebola and Zika outbreaks have dominated the headlines in recent years, they are part of a paradigm we … Continue reading “How Battling New Epidemics Helps Fight Age-Old Killers”
Bio Roundup: New Drug Bonanza, Vertex’s Triple Play, CAR-T Race & More
As far as singular weeks go for biotech, this was a big one. Three highly anticipated drugs were approved. One is the first injectable medication for eczema. Another might help fend off the recurrence of ovarian cancer. And a third offers hope for people with severe forms of multiple sclerosis. Another drug, a new combination … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: New Drug Bonanza, Vertex’s Triple Play, CAR-T Race & More”
Echo Raises $7.5M to Meet Big Orders for Hybrid Digital Microscope
Echo, a San Diego startup that has developed a digital, all-in-one microscope, says today it has closed on $7.5 million in a Series A round led by San Francisco-based Dolby Family Ventures and Southern California’s Tech Coast Angels. In a phone interview this afternoon, founder Eugene Cho (the E.Cho in Echo) tells me the three-year-old … Continue reading “Echo Raises $7.5M to Meet Big Orders for Hybrid Digital Microscope”
Mary Lou Jepsen, Moonshots, and the Human Impact of Innovation
As expressions go, “moonshot” has recently been gaining a lot of popularity in the media vernacular. Many folks assume that it arose with NASA’s Apollo 11 mission to the moon. But it’s a matter of debate. The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, for example, credits commentator Vin Scully for inventing the term to describe the soaring home … Continue reading “Mary Lou Jepsen, Moonshots, and the Human Impact of Innovation”
ViaCyte Working with Gore to Improve its Synthetic Pancreas Device
San Diego-based ViaCyte said today it is collaborating with W.L. Gore & Associates, the privately held company that makes Gore-Tex fabrics, medical devices, and other products, in a bid to improve its stem cell-derived treatment for diabetes. Under their collaborative research agreement, ViaCyte said it will work with Gore to develop a next-generation version of … Continue reading “ViaCyte Working with Gore to Improve its Synthetic Pancreas Device”
Ionis Pharma Spins Out Lipid Disorder Unit Akcea with Plans for IPO
Akcea Therapeutics, an Ionis Pharmaceuticals subsidiary focused on rare lipid disorders, is spinning out of its parent with plans for an initial public stock offering as it prepares to file for FDA approval for its lead drug. The Akcea stock offering could reach as much as $100 million, according to paperwork filed with securities regulators. … Continue reading “Ionis Pharma Spins Out Lipid Disorder Unit Akcea with Plans for IPO”
Former NASA Chief Sees Coming “Tidal Wave” in Machine Intelligence
Dan Goldin founded KnuEdge (initially known as Intellisis) in 2005 to realize his vision for neural-based computing—and to fundamentally transform the way humans interact with machines. As he puts it, “a tidal wave is coming. It’s going to be bigger than the Internet. It looks and feels like the early ‘90s—but better.” To get a … Continue reading “Former NASA Chief Sees Coming “Tidal Wave” in Machine Intelligence”
Intel Combines Global AI Work Under Former Nervana Systems CEO
Roughly seven months after Intel (NASDAQ: [[ticker:INTC]]) acquired San Diego-based Nervana Systems, the chipmaker is consolidating its portfolio of artificial intelligence businesses in one group, headed by former Nervana CEO Naveen Rao. Rao (pictured above right) will report directly to Intel CEO Brian Krzanich, spokesman Daniel Francisco said today. Rao plans to remain in San … Continue reading “Intel Combines Global AI Work Under Former Nervana Systems CEO”
Bio Roundup: Trumpcare Wavers, Amgen Courts Payers, Critics Circle PTC
Who knew healthcare could be so complicated? This week, President Trump and the GOP saw first hand, as a feverish rally to get their healthcare bill through the House of Representatives on Thursday stalled before a vote. Elsewhere in Washington DC, drug pricing continued to be a political football. Two well known congressional drug pricing … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Trumpcare Wavers, Amgen Courts Payers, Critics Circle PTC”
Today Only: Save $70 for Human Impact of Innovation on April 19th
Xconomy is convening life sciences and technology founders, executives, investors, and entrepreneurs for an afternoon of fireside chats and solo talks at Human Impact of Innovation. A few topics we’ll cover include: quantified health and scientific wellness, fighting cancer, self-driving vehicles, cybersecurity, precision medicine, and so much more. What are the emerging opportunities for investors … Continue reading “Today Only: Save $70 for Human Impact of Innovation on April 19th”
Amid Gender Gap Talk, Mentor Network Emerges For Women In Health, Bio
It’s been more than a year since an infamous party with hired models in cocktail dresses captured the biotech community’s attention at the 2016 J.P. Morgan conference. There has been plenty of talk since about closing biotech’s notable gender gap. At this year’s J.P Morgan conference, for example, a group of 100 life science executives … Continue reading “Amid Gender Gap Talk, Mentor Network Emerges For Women In Health, Bio”
Building a Local Innovation Ecosystem
Co-authored with Rudy Gadre, general partner at Founders’ Co-op. Western Washington is already home to some of the most innovative people, companies, and academic programs in the world. And yet we should be doing much more to connect and support our local innovators, to attract more agents of change to the region, and to help them … Continue reading “Building a Local Innovation Ecosystem”
Join David Baltimore, Nicole Glaros, Nathan Myhrvold, & More at Our Napa Summit
Year after year, Xconomy has gathered exemplary business leaders, investors, and far-seeing technologists to our most prestigious event—The Napa Summit. This year is no different. Come join us in the heart of wine country on June 8 and 9 to listen to visionary speakers and connect with fellow innovators. The Napa Summit is by invitation-only, … Continue reading “Join David Baltimore, Nicole Glaros, Nathan Myhrvold, & More at Our Napa Summit”
Human Longevity Hires Data Scientist Away from Microsoft
David Heckerman, a computational biologist who led the genomics team at Microsoft over the last several years, has joined Human Longevity Inc. (HLI), the San Diego startup with the ambitious goal of creating the world’s most comprehensive database of human genomic information. Heckerman, a medical doctor with multiple degrees in computer science, physics, and mathematics, … Continue reading “Human Longevity Hires Data Scientist Away from Microsoft”
Esports Startup Cayke Wins Audience Vote at EvoNexus Demo Day
Cayke, a San Diego startup that has developed video editing software to automate the process of creating GIFs and highlight clips from long-running video game streams, was the top vote-getter of seven startups that presented at the EvoNexus Spring Demo Day. Karan Wadhera, Cayke co-founder and CEO, told several hundred attendees at the event last … Continue reading “Esports Startup Cayke Wins Audience Vote at EvoNexus Demo Day”
Murata Pays $68M for Arctic Sand, to Combine with Peregrine Semi
Japan’s Murata Manufacturing has acquired Arctic Sand Technologies of Burlington, MA, and plans to combine Arctic Sand’s low-power semiconductor technology with its San Diego-based subsidiary, Peregrine Semiconductor. The purchase price was $68 million, according to a Peregrine spokeswoman. Arctic Sand, an MIT spinout founded in 2010, has developed semiconductor technology that consolidates a number of … Continue reading “Murata Pays $68M for Arctic Sand, to Combine with Peregrine Semi”
Waving White Flag, Cerulean Merges With Dare Bio, Sells Cancer Drugs
Cerulean Pharma may have been able to survive one brush with death, but the second has proven fatal. Today, the Waltham, MA, company announced plans to merge with a privately held women’s health company, Dare Bioscience, and sell off, for a pittance, the cancer drugs that were once its prized assets. Under the terms of … Continue reading “Waving White Flag, Cerulean Merges With Dare Bio, Sells Cancer Drugs”
Wrapify Q&A: Adhesive Giant Puts $3M in Car Advertising Schtick
After the adhesive products maker Avery Dennison (NYSE: [[ticker:AVY]]) recently made a $3 million investment in San Diego-based Wrapify, we tracked down Wrapify CEO James Heller, and stuck him with a few questions about the deal. Heller founded Wrapify in early 2015 with the idea of creating a business that would pay motorists to wrap … Continue reading “Wrapify Q&A: Adhesive Giant Puts $3M in Car Advertising Schtick”
Talking Driverless Cars, March Madness on Stocks and Jocks Radio
I hit the airwaves Friday morning to talk venture capital, startups, self-driving cars, and March Madness. Stocks and Jocks, a Chicago-based weekday business and sports talk radio program, invited me on the show to share my thoughts on some of the latest trends in the startup world. Hosts Tom Haugh and Kathy Dervin bantered with … Continue reading “Talking Driverless Cars, March Madness on Stocks and Jocks Radio”
With New Data, Amgen Promises Refund If Cholesterol Drug Doesn’t Work
Stung by slow sales of its next-generation anti-cholesterol drug, Amgen hopes new clinical data, released this morning, will spur doctors to boost prescriptions and—perhaps more important—drive insurers to loosen their restrictions. The data, from a massive study of more than 27,000 patients, come at a time when drug and healthcare prices are a top U.S. … Continue reading “With New Data, Amgen Promises Refund If Cholesterol Drug Doesn’t Work”
Bio Roundup: Trump Budget, FDA Chief, CAR-T Qs, CRISPR Cash, & More
If it wasn’t clear that the Trump administration disdained most types of scientific inquiry and practice, the White House’s proposed budget drove the point home. The top-line figures: a nearly 20 percent cut in the National Institutes of Health, and a 30 percent cut in the Environmental Protection Agency. These and other cuts to programs … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Trump Budget, FDA Chief, CAR-T Qs, CRISPR Cash, & More”
Doing “Defense the Silicon Valley Way” Pays for Daylight Solutions
Startups that develop advanced military technologies often never come to light. But San Diego’s Daylight Solutions has managed to openly thrive in two very different markets. The company has advanced its specialized solid-state laser technology for customers in both the defense industry and commercial sector. Paul Larson, who co-founded Daylight Solutions with CEO Tim Day … Continue reading “Doing “Defense the Silicon Valley Way” Pays for Daylight Solutions”
Machine Learning 201: Exploring the Market for New Business
2016 will be remembered for many things, not least as the year that AI and machine learning stepped into the technological and cultural spotlight. Advances in applied machine learning fueled our enthusiasm for smarter, more talkative devices. It impacted how we learned about and processed the news—and fake news—of the national elections. Automation grew in … Continue reading “Machine Learning 201: Exploring the Market for New Business”
CRISPR Organs? eGenesis Raises $38M For Pig-To-Human Transplants
One of the companies trying to revive the once-failed notion of xenotransplantation—transplanting animal organs or tissues into humans—has raised a significant round of cash. The $38 million Series A round announced by Cambridge, MA-based firm eGenesis comes as the field of human-compatible organs grown in animals, while still years from real products, is back in … Continue reading “CRISPR Organs? eGenesis Raises $38M For Pig-To-Human Transplants”
Tax Reform and Choice of Business Entity
Choice of entity—how an entrepreneur decides to conduct the business—is a key decision with critical tax and non-tax implications. In the coming months, the White House is expected to release a detailed tax reform plan which, among other things, may include a significant reduction in corporate tax rates. If the anticipated changes are adopted, should … Continue reading “Tax Reform and Choice of Business Entity”
Human Longevity Offers Genome Sequencing Through MassMutual
Human Longevity Inc., founded in 2014 by the gene pioneer J. Craig Venter to create a database for interpreting the human genome (and to make healthcare more proactive instead of reactive) said it has signed a partnership deal with MassMutual. Beginning today, San Diego-based Human Longevity plans to offer its whole genome sequencing service to … Continue reading “Human Longevity Offers Genome Sequencing Through MassMutual”
Airlines Must Improve IT Infrastructure Now or Pay Later
At the tail end of this past holiday season—on one of the busiest travel days of the year—thousands of arriving international passengers found themselves stuck for hours in the line at customs, waiting to be processed. It wasn’t a terror alert, mechanical failure, or nefarious cyberattack that caused long lines and huge delays for travelers … Continue reading “Airlines Must Improve IT Infrastructure Now or Pay Later “