Category: San Diego

Biotech Roundup: Hellos, Goodbyes, “Cures” Delays And Trial News

The week started on a reflective note. Our San Diego editor Bruce Bigelow penned a personal goodbye to entrepreneur Larry Bock, who died last week of pancreatic cancer at the age of 56. And then the news flowed, from a fast reprieve for Juno Therapeutics to no mercy for Elizabeth Holmes. There were other goodbyes: … Continue reading “Biotech Roundup: Hellos, Goodbyes, “Cures” Delays And Trial News”

‘Megadeals’ Dominate Q2 as VCs Invest $15.3B, and Top 10 Deals

Showing little concern for stock-market volatility or worries over the Brexit, venture capital firms pumped $15.3 billion into 961 deals across the United States during the three months that ended June 30, according to the MoneyTree Report on venture capital activity. It was the 10th consecutive quarter that venture firms put at least $10 billion … Continue reading “‘Megadeals’ Dominate Q2 as VCs Invest $15.3B, and Top 10 Deals”

Why Entrepreneurs Should Care About Inequality and Divisiveness

The horrific news of recent weeks has amplified America’s long-simmering tensions and many divisions, and cast a new and disturbing light on the nature of social and economic inequality in this economy. The shootings that targeted police officers at a peaceful protest in Dallas, which followed the officer-involved shooting deaths of Philando Castile near Minneapolis … Continue reading “Why Entrepreneurs Should Care About Inequality and Divisiveness”

How Cyber Visibility Protects Against the Abnormal & the Immoral

Another day, another breach. For many Bostonians, the “privacy incident” recently disclosed by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)—which reportedly involved the personal information of 4,300 dental patients stored by a software vendor—hit close to home in many ways, as most of us have at one time or another been to MGH for ourselves or a loved … Continue reading “How Cyber Visibility Protects Against the Abnormal & the Immoral”

Sienna Biopharmaceuticals Garners $12,000,000 Series A Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b7c065d5-79c8-4ee0-8187-3037bdb933e2 Date 7/13/2016 Company Name Sienna Biopharmaceuticals Mailing Address 30721 Russell Ranch Road Westlake Village, CA 91362 USA Company Description Sienna Biopharmaceuticals is a company focused on the discovery, clinical development and commercialization of products in aesthetics and dermatology based on scientific breakthroughs that dramatically improve patient outcomes and physicians’ practice of … Continue reading “Sienna Biopharmaceuticals Garners $12,000,000 Series A Financing”

From Drones to Sharing Economy, Don’t Disrupt the Disruptors

Napa Valley met the Silicon Valley at the recent Xconomy Retreat on Technology, Jobs, and Growth (aka the Napa Summit). Experts in cutting-edge technology huddled with business leaders and investors in the California wine country to explore what’s on, and just over, the technological horizon. Over the course of the two-day event, drones and the … Continue reading “From Drones to Sharing Economy, Don’t Disrupt the Disruptors”

As Drone Navigation Advances, SlantRange Focuses on Farm Analytics

As the Federal Aviation Administration sets new rules for commercial operations of unmanned aircraft, legions of new startups are using drones to perform all kinds of tasks—from aerial inspections to mapping, imaging, and analysis. Whether these new businesses can succeed will depend on a variety of factors, including restrictions on autonomous flight that government regulators … Continue reading “As Drone Navigation Advances, SlantRange Focuses on Farm Analytics”

AcuFocus Receives $1,866,084 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6840c1a2-71ca-4dee-816b-8b8e4ef8ec51 Date 7/12/2016 Company Name AcuFocus Mailing Address 32 Discovery Irvine, CA 92618 USA Company Description AcuFocus is the market leader in small aperture technology, providing physicians and patients unique, reliable and long-term solutions for presbyopia and cataracts. Website http://www.acufocus.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,866,084 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes … Continue reading “AcuFocus Receives $1,866,084 New Financing Round”

An Homage to Larry Bock, Who Had God’s Hand on His Shoulder

When I told Larry Bock in an e-mail about four months ago that I had been diagnosed with cancer, the renowned San Diego life sciences investor asked if he might see me at UC San Diego’s Moores Cancer Center. “Maybe we can share an infusion room,” he replied. “I will be sending good thoughts your … Continue reading “An Homage to Larry Bock, Who Had God’s Hand on His Shoulder”

Biotech Roundup: Fighting Addiction, Obama Precision, Juno Deaths & More

This week started with celebrations of America’s birthday, and it has been dominated—biotech-wise—by America’s government. The Obama administration continued its high-profile involvement in the life sciences by updating its Precision Medicine Initiative, easing limits on doctors who want to fight opioid addiction, and stopping a clinical trial in one of the hottest biomedical fields, cancer … Continue reading “Biotech Roundup: Fighting Addiction, Obama Precision, Juno Deaths & More”

NextVR Lands $20,000,000 Series B Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=be75c10b-38ab-416c-a984-7e4094d0b229 Date 7/8/2016 Company Name NextVR Mailing Address 345 Third St. Laguna Beach, CA 92651 USA Company Description NextVR is a pioneer in capturing and delivering immersive, high-definition, live and recorded virtual reality experiences. Website http://www.nextvr.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $20,000,000 Transaction Round Series B Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were … Continue reading “NextVR Lands $20,000,000 Series B Financing”

Pernix Therapeutics Slashes Staff to Shake Up Sales Strategy

Pernix Therapeutics is slashing its headcount by more than 20 percent as the specialty pharmaceutical company tries to move toward profitability after a streak of acquisitions. Morristown, NJ-based Pernix (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PTX]]) will cut 60 workers, mostly from its neurology sales staff, the company said today. As of the end of 2015, Pernix reported a headcount … Continue reading “Pernix Therapeutics Slashes Staff to Shake Up Sales Strategy”

Recruitment Goal In Obama Precision Med Study: 1M in 3 or 4 Years

The Obama administration’s push to sign up one million Americans for a long-term health study will start in New York, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Tucson, AZ, top health officials said today. National Institutes of Health director Francis Collins (pictured) and FDA commissioner Rob Califf spoke on a call this afternoon to update the Precision Medicine Initiative, … Continue reading “Recruitment Goal In Obama Precision Med Study: 1M in 3 or 4 Years”

Homee Secures $5,000,000 Series A Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f4e60c9b-176f-4509-9c06-585456a1ff40 Date 7/6/2016 Company Name Homee Mailing Address 8899 Beverly Blvd. 9th Floor West Hollywood, CA 90048 USA Company Description Homee was created to solve one problem: buying furniture sucks. Harder yet is finding the right furniture to bring a room together. We can all agree that we want our space to … Continue reading “Homee Secures $5,000,000 Series A Funding Round”

Netki Obtains $3,500,000 Seed Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3b2154a7-8980-4e60-813b-745de6ebfcab Date 7/6/2016 Company Name Netki Mailing Address 6433 Topanga Canyon Boulevard Canoga Park, CA 91303 USA Company Description Netki is bringing industry solutions to the bitcoin and crypto currency communities to enhance uptake in the mass market. Our first product, the Netki Wallet Name Service translates easy to remember names like … Continue reading “Netki Obtains $3,500,000 Seed Funding Round”

3 Things You (Probably) Don’t Know about Indiana Innovation

People who live outside of Indiana probably know a few things about it: The Indianapolis 500, a.k.a. “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” is run every Memorial Day weekend; Indiana limestone was used to build the Empire State Building, the National Cathedral, and the Pentagon; and Indiana sugar cream pie is the best dessert ever. But … Continue reading “3 Things You (Probably) Don’t Know about Indiana Innovation”

Xconomy’s Top Innovation Stories of the Half Year

Here we are at the midpoint of 2016 already. Time to look back on the past six months—and some of the top stories of the year so far. The following represent a cross-section of what Xconomy offers on a daily basis: in-depth reporting from the front lines of technology and business innovation; coverage from 11 … Continue reading “Xconomy’s Top Innovation Stories of the Half Year”

Milestones of Innovation 12: Overflight Of Russia’s Ultimate Weapons

Sixty years ago, on the Fourth of July, 1956, the American President gained a capacity that has never been lost: clear pictures from above of Russia’s thermonuclear weapons delivery system. Because the images ended up shrinking the world’s appetite for tools of ultimate destruction, it is hard to think of a more significant innovation. The … Continue reading “Milestones of Innovation 12: Overflight Of Russia’s Ultimate Weapons”

Biotech Roundup: Moonshots, Pink Slips, Gilead, Brexit & More

The word of the week was “moonshot,” as U.S. Vice President Joe Biden’s cancer initiative convened a summit in Washington, DC. At the gathering, Biden took verbal shots at scofflaw cancer researchers and at drug prices, while the FDA said it would take a shot at restructuring the way it evaluates oncology products. Gilead Sciences … Continue reading “Biotech Roundup: Moonshots, Pink Slips, Gilead, Brexit & More”

Why Finance Should Take a Page Out of the Credit Card Industry’s Book

U.S. federal and financial regulators recently advised banks nationwide to assess the strength of their safeguards against cyber fraud. The warning comes after a string of cyber heists and attempted heists against banks around the world, including the $81 million theft from the Bangladesh central bank. These crimes have opened the financial industry’s eyes to … Continue reading “Why Finance Should Take a Page Out of the Credit Card Industry’s Book”

Kin Community Lands $13,500,000 Series D Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7cb6d202-106e-4a84-9e79-0442a9599294 Date 7/1/2016 Company Name Kin Community Mailing Address 1728 Olympic Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90404 USA Company Description Kin is a community of creators passionate about helping people on their journey home via engaging, top-quality content. We value creativity, generosity, and integrity in everything we do. Website http://www.kincommunity.com Transaction Type Venture … Continue reading “Kin Community Lands $13,500,000 Series D Financing”

ScoreStream Obtains $1,750,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e7e3d1a0-bfd8-4281-87e1-b9602c7c35c9 Date 7/1/2016 Company Name ScoreStream Mailing Address 101 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 USA Company Description ScoreStream allows fans to share information about football, baseball, basketball, soccer, volleyball and lacrosse with their friends and family. Fans can create their own teams or use our database of high schools in the … Continue reading “ScoreStream Obtains $1,750,000 New Funding Round”

Thoughtful Media Group Garners $14,308,237 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a159cd5a-9c38-4590-beee-e0ae92768239 Date 7/1/2016 Company Name Thoughtful Media Group Mailing Address 14724 Ventura Blvd. Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 USA Company Description Thoughtful Media Group was started by veterans of the entertainment and media industries, having literally pioneered the term branded entertainment in 2003 with the first of tens of millions of advertising dollars … Continue reading “Thoughtful Media Group Garners $14,308,237 New Financing Round”

Parrable Garners $2,481,702 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=1772f154-102f-4691-b16f-0732f6ce3a9d Date 7/1/2016 Company Name Parrable Mailing Address 102 Cross Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 USA Company Description Parable.com is the online presence for The Parable Group family of independently-owned retail partner stores, including Parable Christian Stores—the largest Christian retail franchise. Website http://www.parable.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $2,481,702 Transaction … Continue reading “Parrable Garners $2,481,702 New Financing Round”

Jukin Media Lands $2,500,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a873bb21-3e25-4a61-adf4-c33a31c0a68f Date 7/1/2016 Company Name Jukin Media Mailing Address 5764 W. Jefferson Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90016 USA Company Description FailArmy is owned and operated by Jukin Media Inc. All video content is protected under copyright and published with permission by the original content creator. Website http://www.failarmy.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction … Continue reading “Jukin Media Lands $2,500,000 New Funding”

SnapMD Receives $1,531,986 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=48276c4e-25dc-4786-b034-cf5cc583e04c Date 7/1/2016 Company Name SnapMD Mailing Address 121 Lexington Drive Glendale, CA 91203 USA Company Description SnapMD will play a pivotal role in transforming medical care in America. Our goal is to make the highest quality of care available to all. We recognize that America needs accountable, affordable and high quality … Continue reading “SnapMD Receives $1,531,986 New Financing”

New Bootstrap Fund Pulls Itself Up in World of Health IT Deals

Healthtech entrepreneur Parker Hinshaw and his wife Jean Balgrosky said they intended to take a step back when they founded Bootstrap Incubation near San Diego in the fall of 2012. They wanted to combine Hinshaw’s experience in starting and growing health IT startups with Balgrosky’s expertise in strategic IT planning and overhauling healthcare IT networks—but … Continue reading “New Bootstrap Fund Pulls Itself Up in World of Health IT Deals”

Riding Moonshot, FDA Will Revamp Its Cancer Practice. To What End?

As part of a national cancer “moonshot” initiative led by Vice President Joe Biden, the FDA said Wednesday it would retool the way it evaluates cancer treatments and tests. But to what end? The goals of the FDA’s new Oncology Center of Excellence remain vague, as does its structure. In a speech Wednesday morning at … Continue reading “Riding Moonshot, FDA Will Revamp Its Cancer Practice. To What End?”

Harvard’s Springer Gets $51.5M From Pharmas, Others, For Latest Startup

Inside our bodies, our cells move around, communicate, form new tissue, and heal wounds with the help of proteins called integrins. But when disease occurs, integrins get the wrong cues and do damage—they might help tumors grow, or promote inflammation or scarring inside the body.  Several drugs to block bad integrin behavior and treat a … Continue reading “Harvard’s Springer Gets $51.5M From Pharmas, Others, For Latest Startup”

Woven Digital Receives $18,500,000 Series B Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=572c86aa-e5ce-4520-a622-02f999b6b65b Date 6/30/2016 Company Name Woven Digital Mailing Address 10381 Jefferson Blvd. Culver City, CA 90231 USA Company Description Woven Digital is a millennial focused digital media company, producing and distributing relevant pop culture content to millions of users per day. Website http://www.woven.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $18,500,000 Transaction Round … Continue reading “Woven Digital Receives $18,500,000 Series B Financing”

All Def Digital Garners $10,000,000 Series B Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=82bb93d7-2c90-4d95-89d2-acc0c939b0fc Date 6/30/2016 Company Name All Def Digital Mailing Address 11821 Mississippi Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90025 USA Company Description Laughs. Beats. Rhymes with @unclerush. Curated by @Iam_ChrisB Website http://www.alldefdigital.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $10,000,000 Transaction Round Series B Proceeds Purposes The Culver City, Calif-based media brand will use the … Continue reading “All Def Digital Garners $10,000,000 Series B Funding”

BandwidthX Garners New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=40ad33fa-b712-4d07-8c8f-ea98c42168d3 Date 6/30/2016 Company Name BandwidthX Mailing Address 5796 Armada Drive Carlsbad, CA 92008 USA Company Description BandwidthX operates a cloud-based marketplace where both Mobile Operators and Internet Service Providers can define their value for data capacity in real time and are automatically matched when their values align. Website http://www.bandwidthx.com Transaction Type … Continue reading “BandwidthX Garners New Funding”

ProducePay Secures $2,500,000 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=1141b141-e14f-441d-896d-52e7d66760b3 Date 6/30/2016 Company Name ProducePay Mailing Address 555 W 5th Street 31st Floor Los Angeles, CA 90013 USA Company Description We provide fresh-produce farmers (growers), distributors, shippers, and marketers with new ways to access cash flow and increase sales when it is needed most. ProducePay’s online platform allows produce buyers and … Continue reading “ProducePay Secures $2,500,000 New Financing Round”

No Stairway (Infringement) and the Importance of Shared Design Tools in Innovation

Led Zeppelin just won a major copyright case defending against infringement claims from the estate of Randy California—songwriter for the band Spirit. At first listen, the opening guitar part of Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven does sound a lot like California’s guitar part in the middle of Taurus. But as I explain in a longer blog … Continue reading “No Stairway (Infringement) and the Importance of Shared Design Tools in Innovation”

With $18M, Reflexion Health Expands Physical Therapy Technology

Reflexion Health, a San Diego startup founded in 2012 at the nonprofit West Health Institute, is moving to commercialize Vera, its physical rehabilitation system based on Microsoft Kinect’s motion tracking technology. After recently raising $18 million in Series B funding, the healthtech company also plans to add new products as it expands nationally among U.S. … Continue reading “With $18M, Reflexion Health Expands Physical Therapy Technology”

Abreos Biosciences Lands Seed Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=64d0b941-d3ea-4262-a969-3ed9fb1c7756 Date 6/29/2016 Company Name Abreos Biosciences Mailing Address 3550 General Atomics Ct G02 San Diego, CA 92121 USA Company Description Abreos Biosciences is an early stage biotech company pioneering assays for detection of biologic drugs using its proprietary Veritope technology. Abreos develops laboratory-based and point-of-care assays that enable personalized dosing and … Continue reading “Abreos Biosciences Lands Seed Funding Round”

Modern Meadow Collects $40M for Real Leather With ‘No Cow Involved’

Modern Meadow, a New York-based company that has developed a method of turning living cells into materials used to make leather that mimics animal hide, has received a $40 million Series B funding to begin manufacturing and commercializing its leather products. The company has developed a line of cells that produce collagen, a protein that … Continue reading “Modern Meadow Collects $40M for Real Leather With ‘No Cow Involved’”

Regulus Shares Crumble As FDA Halts Testing of Hepatitis C Drug

A new wave of drugs has changed the way hepatitis C is treated. Regulus Therapeutics has not been part of that wave, but the company’s plans to join it took a big hit this afternoon. La Jolla, CA-based Regulus (NASDAQ: [[ticker:RGLS]]) said that the FDA has suspended the clinical testing of  its lead drug, RG-101, … Continue reading “Regulus Shares Crumble As FDA Halts Testing of Hepatitis C Drug”

Brexit and the Impact in the London Startup Industry

Editor’s note: Xconomy invited Marcelo Calbucci, a Seattle serial entrepreneur and startup stalwart who just announced plans to move with his family to London, to reflect on the Brexit vote. No, the skies are not falling. The U.K. vote to exit the European Union has passed, and there is an enormous amount of uncertainty right … Continue reading “Brexit and the Impact in the London Startup Industry”

Exagen Diagnostics Garners $2,100,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e5860062-3950-4293-a696-86857ea24a13 Date 6/27/2016 Company Name Exagen Diagnostics Mailing Address 1261 Liberty Way Vista, CA 92081 USA Company Description Exagen Diagnostics is a rheumatology specialty company that focuses on the diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of autoimmune connective tissue disease. Website http://www.exagen.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount $2,100,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds … Continue reading “Exagen Diagnostics Garners $2,100,000 New Funding Round”

Thrive Market Receives $111,000,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=bd13f326-5ea2-44ca-93a1-c182ce880164 Date 6/27/2016 Company Name Thrive Market Mailing Address 12031 Jefferson Blvd. Culver City, CA 90230 USA Company Description Thrive Market is a membership e-commerce platform on a mission to make the world’s highest quality natural and organic products affordable for every American family. For $60 per year, Thrive Market members get … Continue reading “Thrive Market Receives $111,000,000 New Funding”

Plant Prefab Receives $3,000,000 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=61071677-947d-4cb0-993c-fe6662c65264 Date 6/27/2016 Company Name Plant Prefab Mailing Address 375 South Cactus Avenue Rialto, CA 92376 USA Company Description Plant Prefab,Inc. was founded in 2015 and is commercializing technologies to build prefabricated dwellings. Website Undisclosed Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $3,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes The latest round of investment … Continue reading “Plant Prefab Receives $3,000,000 New Financing Round”

Biotech Roundup: CRISPR’s 1st Trial, IPO Insiders, Zika & More

It’s a week for the history books. The United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union last night, triggering worldwide financial fears and, perhaps, a breakup of the U.K. itself. Closer to home, Cleveland (pictured) celebrated LeBron James & the Cavaliers’ historic comeback that brought the city its first sports title in over 50 years. … Continue reading “Biotech Roundup: CRISPR’s 1st Trial, IPO Insiders, Zika & More”

Chatmeter Receives $918,270 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=680a7592-8284-4c29-84a0-4ab2abdc6127 Date 6/24/2016 Company Name Chatmeter Mailing Address 401 B St. San Diego, CA 92101 USA Company Description ONE dashboard makes enterprise analytics easy. Complete local brand and reputation management for chains, franchises and agencies with multiple locations. Website http://www.chatmeter.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $918,270 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes … Continue reading “Chatmeter Receives $918,270 New Funding Round”

Google Fiber Buys Webpass in Wireless Internet Land Grab

Google Fiber plans to acquire Webpass in a deal that trims the ranks of independent Internet service providers—an industry already maligned for its lack of competition—but ultimately could boost consumer access to high-speed Internet. San Francisco-based Webpass has spent the past 13 years working to bring ultra-fast wireless Internet access to homes (primarily large apartment … Continue reading “Google Fiber Buys Webpass in Wireless Internet Land Grab”

San Diego Sees Strong Cybersecurity Growth As Firms Seek Talent

San Diego’s cybersecurity workforce has grown by nearly 15 percent over the past two years, according to a study released today by the Cyber Center of Excellence, a nonprofit industry group created to boost cybersecurity jobs and technologies in the region. The center commissioned the report to help quantify the economic impact of the cybersecurity … Continue reading “San Diego Sees Strong Cybersecurity Growth As Firms Seek Talent”

The Evolution of the App Stores

In many ways, Apple and Google are following similar paths. At their annual developer conferences, Google I/O, held last month, and Apple’s WWDC, last week they both announced updates to their development platforms. Google is making major improvements to Android Studio, while Apple is continuing to invest in Swift and announced Playgrounds, an exciting new … Continue reading “The Evolution of the App Stores”