Focused on discovery and optimization challenges of small molecule drug candidates, this event provides many opportunities for scientists to create a customized program based on personal interests. New this year is “Epigenetic Inhibitor Discovery,” which nicely complements the most popular topics from previous years: Anti-Inflammatories, Protein-Protein Interactions, Macrocyclics and Constrained Peptides, Fragment-Based Drug Discovery, and … Continue reading “Ninth Annual Conference on Drug Discovery Chemistry”
Category: San Diego
WLSA Ninth Annual Convergence Summit
The Wireless Life Sciences Alliance’s 9th annual Convergence Summit bring together healthcare, technology, and wireless health communication leaders to address key issues facing digital health and health IT community. The two-day agenda features 40 speakers, interactive sessions, structured networking, wireless technology best practices, and industry demos. More information and online registration is here.
Celladon Gets FDA’s “Breakthrough Therapy” Status for Gene Therapy
[Corrected 4/10/14, 12:25 pm. See below.] The FDA has granted its “breakthrough therapy” designation for a gene therapy treatment in mid-stage development by San Diego’s Celladon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CLDN]]), for patients with advanced heart failure. The FDA notified the company in a letter sent by fax Wednesday from the Office of Cellular, Tissue and Gene Therapies, … Continue reading “Celladon Gets FDA’s “Breakthrough Therapy” Status for Gene Therapy”
Venture-Backed IPOs & Late-Stage Investments Surged in Q1
Venture capitalists saw the public markets awaken in the first quarter, and they’re betting the trend will continue. A new report from New York-based venture capital research firm CB Insights counts 35 venture-backed IPOs through the end of March, more than any single quarter since the fall of 2000. Mergers and acquisitions were also strong, … Continue reading “Venture-Backed IPOs & Late-Stage Investments Surged in Q1”
Software VC Tucks Fund for UC San Diego Deals into New Venture Fund
David Schwab, a managing director at Sierra Ventures, has created a new venture fund with an unusual provision—20 percent of the capital raised will be focused on commercializing innovations coming out of UC San Diego. Schwab, who joined Menlo Park, CA-based Sierra Ventures 18 years ago, said in a phone call yesterday that he is … Continue reading “Software VC Tucks Fund for UC San Diego Deals into New Venture Fund”
State-Level Equity Crowdfunding: The Next Big Thing
Just a few weeks ago, Facebook’s surprise $2 billion purchase of virtual reality headset developer Oculus riled up some of the startup’s earliest financial backers, who said they got a raw deal while the founders got rich. We’re talking about pre-order backers on Kickstarter here, not investors. But if new equity crowdfunding rules had been … Continue reading “State-Level Equity Crowdfunding: The Next Big Thing”
The Rise of the “People’s Web”
Silicon Valley is one of the most dynamic engines of capitalism the world has ever seen. For decades, technology providers focused on creating cutting-edge hardware and software designed to optimize efficiency, productivity, and data-based knowledge for large corporations. But today, many technology innovators are also working hard to level the playing field by providing individual … Continue reading “The Rise of the “People’s Web””
Kauffman Study: Weaker Entrepreneurship Spells Stronger Job Market
The U.S. saw slightly fewer businesses created last year, but there’s a silver lining: the poorer numbers nationwide likely indicate that a stronger job market relieved some of the pressure on people to start companies out of necessity. That’s among the takeaways from the latest Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity, an annual study from the … Continue reading “Kauffman Study: Weaker Entrepreneurship Spells Stronger Job Market”
Announcing Napa Summit 2014: Get An Invite to Xconomy’s Elite Confab
For the past two years, Xconomy has held an invitation-only event in the heart of California wine country with a general focus on the economy, emerging technology, competitiveness, and jobs—and spanning the range of topics we cover, from information technology to life sciences, healthcare, energy, cybersecurity, food, and much more (read on). We convene some … Continue reading “Announcing Napa Summit 2014: Get An Invite to Xconomy’s Elite Confab”
Big Data and Analytics in M2M Communications
There has been a lot of talk about the potential of Big Data in machine-to-machine (M2M) communications and the Internet of Things (IoT). The technology has matured to the point where remote sensors and devices generate Internet data in real time, and millions of connected customers eagerly seek valuable health, security, and financial information. CommNexus … Continue reading “Big Data and Analytics in M2M Communications”
CyberHive SAM Fest (Startups, Art, Music)
The SAM Fest is part of San Diego Startup Week. It is an all-day pitch event (with music and art) for cybersecurity, Internet-of-things, Big Data, and analytic companies. Industry leaders as well as a stellar lineup of startup companies will be showcasing their new technology concepts. Before kicking off, the San Diego CyberHive will lift … Continue reading “CyberHive SAM Fest (Startups, Art, Music)”
NoteVault Lands New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c467ded8-dde9-48e8-84c0-cb568c762756 Date 4/8/2014 Company Name NoteVault Mailing Address 3525A Del Mar Heights Rd. San Diego, CA 92130 USA Company Description NoteVault was founded to develop and deploy innovative service solutions for construction. Website http://www.notevault.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount Undisclosed Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes The investment will fund the company’s … Continue reading “NoteVault Lands New Financing”
Hortau Secures $3,500,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b99e2265-4af0-45fe-bce5-d395a8a9cc59 Date 4/8/2014 Company Name Hortau Mailing Address 3485 Sacramento Drive San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 USA Company Description Hortau specializes in wireless and web-based irrigation management. Hortau integrates proprietary soil sensing innovations with the latest information technologies to deliver the most advanced irrigation management solutions on the market. Website http://www.hortau.com Transaction … Continue reading “Hortau Secures $3,500,000 New Funding”
Crowdfunding Startups: Opportunities and Bottlenecks
There has been a bit of action for a while now in the crowdfunding world, and certain startups have been able to get themselves off the ground using Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and similar sites. By and large, these types of financings have gone to companies that are building physical products, digital games, and the like. Fundings … Continue reading “Crowdfunding Startups: Opportunities and Bottlenecks”
San Diego Life Sciences Roundup: Halozyme, NuVasive, Lumena, and More
[Corrected 4/8/14, 12:15 pm. See below.] It was a relatively quiet week for San Diego’s life sciences community. Here’s my wrap up of the latest developments over the past week. —The share price of San Diego’s Halozyme Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:HALO]]) fell by $3.16, or 27 percent, in heavy trading Friday, after the company said it … Continue reading “San Diego Life Sciences Roundup: Halozyme, NuVasive, Lumena, and More”
Solarflare Communications Garners $2,942,719 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=141af847-4824-4790-89ff-5a01f9f9ecb0 Date 4/7/2014 Company Name Solarflare Communications Mailing Address 7505 Irvine Center Drive Irvine, CA 92618 USA Company Description Solarflare Communications Inc. is a leading silicon vendor delivering Ethernet products that enable the rapid adoption of 10 Gigabit for data center and enterprise networks. Our products include 10GBASE-T PHYs and high-performance Ethernet … Continue reading “Solarflare Communications Garners $2,942,719 New Round”
Kaleo Lands $150,000,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d0efe5d2-cf43-4e5f-b58b-c5ba462f0133 Date 4/7/2014 Company Name Kaleo Mailing Address 841 Apollo Street El Segundo, CA 90245 USA Company Description Kaleo is an interactive knowledge network that puts the answers to essential business questions at a user’s fingertips. Kaleo captures and tags information to create an organically growing knowledge base. Users can find information … Continue reading “Kaleo Lands $150,000,000 New Funding Round”
Agios’s Blood Cancer Drug Shines in First Clinical Test
When David Schenkein left Genentech to lead Agios Pharmaceuticals in 2009, part of the draw was the fact that the Cambridge, MA-based startup was positioning itself as a trailblazer in a raw field of oncology—cancer metabolism. The idea, essentially, was to starve tumors by blocking the enzymes that help them gobble up nutrients. Five years … Continue reading “Agios’s Blood Cancer Drug Shines in First Clinical Test”
A Letter to the Year 2061 (If We Make It That Far)
Dear Citizens of 2061, If you’re reading this, congratulations. You’ve survived the first half of the 21st century, and you’ve evidently still got computers, libraries, virtual-reality visors, or some kind of communications system that enabled you to dig up these old scribbles. I have some questions for you. I know you can’t really write back, … Continue reading “A Letter to the Year 2061 (If We Make It That Far)”
Patients Are Customers. Who Knew?
I was finally getting to my giant pile of reading this week when I saw an article in Health Care Information Week that included the following sentence: As consumer satisfaction begins to have a bigger impact on the bottom line, more hospitals are hiring a chief patient experience officer (CXO) to treat patients like valued … Continue reading “Patients Are Customers. Who Knew?”
San Diego’s Lumena Files for IPO to Fund Liver Drug Trials
Lumena Pharmaceuticals has filed for a $75 million IPO, just a few weeks after the San Diego biopharmaceutical company raised $45 million in venture funding. Lumena was founded in 2011 to develop oral drugs for treating a rare group of metabolic disorders that cause bile acid to build up in the liver. Bile acids facilitate … Continue reading “San Diego’s Lumena Files for IPO to Fund Liver Drug Trials”
JumpStart Lands $13,000,000 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9442679c-9226-42e1-a8b1-93cf1dd04947 Date 4/4/2014 Company Name JumpStart Mailing Address 2377 Crenshaw Blvd Torrance, CA 90501 USA Company Description JumpStart develops educational games for children. Website http://www.jumpstart.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount $13,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes We are pleased to help provide the financing required to advance JumpStart’s efforts to expand its … Continue reading “JumpStart Lands $13,000,000 New Round”
Newlight Technologies Secures $9,200,000 Series C Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f42286fc-bf97-41cb-bbf2-a02bacb7f1b3 Date 4/4/2014 Company Name Newlight Technologies Mailing Address 2222 Michelson Drive Irvine, CA 92614 USA Company Description At Newlight, we believe that the most sustainable way to reduce the amount of carbon in the air is to use that carbon as a clean, cost-effective resource for the production of commercially useful … Continue reading “Newlight Technologies Secures $9,200,000 Series C Funding”
Sequent Medical Garners $20,000,000 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=891427c1-c309-4a58-a26d-d1fd638196eb Date 4/4/2014 Company Name Sequent Medical Mailing Address 11 Columbia Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 USA Company Description The company is dedicated to the development of innovative devices to advance the endovascular treatment of neurovascular disease conditions. Website http://www.sequentmedical.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $20,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds … Continue reading “Sequent Medical Garners $20,000,000 New Round”
Greentech Media Presents: Grid Edge Live
The inaugural Grid Edge Live is the authoritative industry gathering about the undeniable transition of the electric power industry into a next-generation, holistic, distributed energy system. The conference brings together power industry leaders, grid modernization technology vendors, distributed generation and storage professionals, policy experts, and commercial energy managers. Register today to take advantage of discount … Continue reading “Greentech Media Presents: Grid Edge Live”
Levels Beyond Raises $2.5M, Announces New Partnership with Sundance
Levels Beyond is leveling up. The Denver-based startup announced Thursday that it has raised $2.5 million, bringing the total it has raised to $7.5 million. That entire amount has come from TVC Capital, a small San Diego, CA-based growth equity firm that specializes in software deals. Levels Beyond also announced new partnerships with the Sundance … Continue reading “Levels Beyond Raises $2.5M, Announces New Partnership with Sundance”
With Tepid Growth in Software Startups, San Diego Turns to “Swarm”
San Diego’s software sector, struggling to gain some footing against a litany of setbacks, might be taking a step forward—but it will take a collective effort. A proposal to establish an investor forum that would draw dozens of local software and Internet investors to meet with selected Web entrepreneurs and tech founders is gaining momentum. … Continue reading “With Tepid Growth in Software Startups, San Diego Turns to “Swarm””
AwesomenessTV Acquires Big Frame for $15,000,000
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f604b9a3-54f0-4093-8782-75b8172dee74 Date 4/3/2014 Company Name Big Frame Mailing Address 8965 Lindblade Street West Hollywood, CA 90232 USA Company Description Big Frame is a media company that provides marketing and production resources for the biggest YouTube Influencers, and creates video advertising campaigns for top brands that reach the right audience next to premium … Continue reading “AwesomenessTV Acquires Big Frame for $15,000,000”
Note to Government: Mandate Cybersecurity, Then Get Out of the Way
The digital economy stands on uncertain ground. From Target to Adobe, cybercriminals have infiltrated the networks of some of the largest businesses in the United States, turning 2013 into a record-setting year for data breaches. Companies lost more than 800 million records in nearly 2,200 incidents, doubling the loss of the previous highest year, 2011, … Continue reading “Note to Government: Mandate Cybersecurity, Then Get Out of the Way”
In California Pilot Trial, AirPooler Offers Ride-Sharing in the Sky
How long are you willing to drive for a weekend getaway? Steve Lewis figures most folks are willing to drive two or three hours each way. If you live in the Bay Area, that means you might get as far as Mendocino. If you live in San Diego, sandwiched between the ocean and the desert, … Continue reading “In California Pilot Trial, AirPooler Offers Ride-Sharing in the Sky”
AutoAlert Obtains New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=27674966-374c-4483-be54-0249f7e52f13 Date 4/2/2014 Company Name AutoAlert Mailing Address 9050 Irvine Center Dr. Irvine, CA 92618 USA Company Description AutoAlert, Inc. was established with the intent of providing the automotive dealership industry with products and services designed to enhance sales efforts and sales opportunities. Website http://www.autoalert.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount Undisclosed … Continue reading “AutoAlert Obtains New Financing Round”
The Rubicon Project Secures $102,000,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=262c04af-5b18-4d01-8a31-072d7aeff38f Date 4/2/2014 Company Name The Rubicon Project Mailing Address 12181 Bluff Creek Drive 4th Floor Playa Vista, CA 90094 USA Company Description The Rubicon Project (NYSE: RUBI), the world leader in Yield Optimization technology, launched in 2007 with a mission to automate buying and selling across the $65 billion global online … Continue reading “The Rubicon Project Secures $102,000,000 New Financing Round”
Playing the CEO Card
When I was starting my second company, Sparkbuy, I was fortunate to meet a host of terrific technologists while shopping for a CTO. One of them was a brilliant guy named Adam Doppelt, one of the three co-founders of Urbanspoon. Adam told me that Urbanspoon never had a traditional CEO. They hadn’t raised money and … Continue reading “Playing the CEO Card”
Countdown to the Rock Stars of Innovation Summit: Whats Going On
We’re just a few days away from “The Rock Stars of Innovation Summit,” which is bringing together San Diego’s best and brightest innovation leaders to talk about the ideas spinning out of our local clusters in the life sciences, wireless technologies, and active lifestyle industries. The show begins at 8 a.m. this Friday, April 4, … Continue reading “Countdown to the Rock Stars of Innovation Summit: Whats Going On”
Industrial Toys Obtains $5,000,000 Series A Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=56a26a73-c37b-4468-bda7-77d3c7b70ca8 Date 4/1/2014 Company Name Industrial Toys Mailing Address 233 1/2 E. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91101 USA Company Description We’re huge fans of mobile gaming, but we think there aren’t enough great mobile games for core gamers and we’re committed to changing that. We’ll be mobile to the core, with games … Continue reading “Industrial Toys Obtains $5,000,000 Series A Funding Round”
San Diego Life Sciences Roundup: Zogenix, Arena, Sorrento, and More
San Diego’s Zogenix ran up against new political opposition to its opioid pain-killer, Zohydro. I have a rundown on the latest chapter in the ongoing Zohydro saga, along with the rest of the local life sciences news. —Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick declared a statewide public health emergency last week to combat the growing abuse of … Continue reading “San Diego Life Sciences Roundup: Zogenix, Arena, Sorrento, and More”
San Diego Startup Week: From Mobile to Maker and Beyond
San Diego Startup Week is five days of events, panels and parties in the downtown area, showcasing San Diego’s innovation community. Participants include entrepreneurs from all sectors, from mobile to maker, as well as investors, service providers, and others. San Diego Startup Week is organized by StartUp San Diego, an all-volunteer, grassroots group of entrepreneurs, … Continue reading “San Diego Startup Week: From Mobile to Maker and Beyond”
Appearing Briefly at Your Next Conference: “Whac-A-Mole” Speakers
Whac-A-Mole, for those of you who are not familiar with it, is a fast-paced arcade game in which mechanical moles pop quickly in and out of holes on a large board. You earn points by whacking them with a giant hammer whenever they pop out of their holes. You need really good reflexes to do … Continue reading “Appearing Briefly at Your Next Conference: “Whac-A-Mole” Speakers”
4 IT Mistakes All Startups Should Avoid
Information Technology (IT) can be a startup’s biggest asset. Take, for instance, the cloud, mobile devices, and social media—they have all opened up exciting new business opportunities for startups, while also offering them the tools to grow their business powerfully. Yet, we have seen multiple startups make critical IT mistakes. Consequently, their business operations become … Continue reading “4 IT Mistakes All Startups Should Avoid”
Gamblit Gaming Garners $12,000,000 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=09a172ae-0149-4555-bdf2-457a14e9c14a Date 3/31/2014 Company Name Gamblit Gaming Mailing Address 620 North Brand Blvd. 5th Floor Glendale, CA 91203 USA Company Description Gamblit Gaming is the leading technology provider in the emerging interactive entertainment meets gambling space, enabling a wide range of game genres to accommodate gambling experiences in online and on-site deployments … Continue reading “Gamblit Gaming Garners $12,000,000 New Round”
Adly Obtains New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8491c2e3-6149-40b1-8313-a2e20b1c48b6 Date 3/31/2014 Company Name Adly Mailing Address 2341 Weybridge Lane Los Angeles, CA 90077 USA Company Description Today’s most engaging conversations are sparked by celebrities. We can help you cut through the noise by matching your brand with the right celebrities. Website http://www.ad.ly Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount Undisclosed Transaction … Continue reading “Adly Obtains New Funding Round”
AlpineReplay Lands $2,300,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f69fc5a5-aa4c-48ca-968b-a778f0c9a36a Date 3/31/2014 Company Name AlpineReplay Mailing Address Undisclosed Huntington Beach, CA 92648 USA Company Description AlpineReplay gives skiers and snowboarders ultimate bragging rights. We measure speed, airtime, vertical, Calories, distance and more, on any mountain in the world. Compare and compete with anyone, including yourself, with the click of a single … Continue reading “AlpineReplay Lands $2,300,000 New Funding”
San Diego Venture Summit 2014 — and More!
The San Diego Venture Summit is part of a week-long celebration of technology innovation in San Diego. Hosted by the San Diego Venture Group, the half-day summit draws more than 700 guests, including over 100 VC investors, 30 cool startup companies, and an all-star cast of keynote speakers. More information and online registration is here. … Continue reading “San Diego Venture Summit 2014 — and More!”
San Diego Venture Group Presents: Inside Corporate Ventures
Corporate venture funding is the leading growth segment of the venture capital market. Today’s corporate VCs are leading deals, setting terms, and investing at earlier stages than ever before. Get the inside story from the head of corporate ventures at Qualcomm Ventures, SalesForce.com, and Amgen. More information and online registration is available here.
Expanding San Diego’s Cluster of Digital Health Innovation
San Diego has some of the leading companies in genomics, wireless telecommunications, and biotechnology—not to mention the biomedical research underway at The Scripps Research Institute, Salk Institute, and Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute. This convergence of trends is turning San Diego into a regional hub for digital health technologies. But will it scale? Join CommNexus and … Continue reading “Expanding San Diego’s Cluster of Digital Health Innovation”
West Health Investment Fund Sinks $7.5M into Reflexion Health
The Gary and Mary West Health Investment Fund said it has invested $7.5 million in Reflexion Health, a San Diego startup developing a system that uses Microsoft’s Kinect motion sensing system to help physical therapy patients with their rehab. Reflexion Health raised $4.25 million in seed funding from the same investment fund when the company … Continue reading “West Health Investment Fund Sinks $7.5M into Reflexion Health”
AirStrip Acquires Sense4Baby for Monitoring High-Risk Pregnancies
AirStrip, a mobile healthtech company based in San Antonio, TX, has acquired FDA-approved technology developed by San Diego’s Sense4Baby that enables doctors and other healthcare providers to monitor maternal-fetal vital signs on a smartphone or tablet. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The San Diego-based Gary and Mary West Health Investment Fund put … Continue reading “AirStrip Acquires Sense4Baby for Monitoring High-Risk Pregnancies”
Think Like a Founder Before Becoming One
February 2014 will go down in history as a month with two huge startup exits: Nest (acquired by Google for a whopping $3.2 billion) and WhatsApp (acquired by Facebook for an even more whopping $19 billion). If you haven’t caught the startup bug, there’s a good chance you will have caught it after this. What’s … Continue reading “Think Like a Founder Before Becoming One”
Sugary Foods Are Killing Us. The Internet, Not So Much.
When I’m jittery from too much caffeine, I don’t blame it on Starbucks. It’s not entirely Hershey’s fault that I have an unhealthy love of chocolate. And if, in a moment of idleness, I click on a headline like 35 Foods From Your Childhood That Are Extinct Now, I don’t blame BuzzFeed for wasting three … Continue reading “Sugary Foods Are Killing Us. The Internet, Not So Much.”
San Diego’s RuiYi Raises $15M for Pipeline of Biologic Therapeutics
San Diego-based RuiYi said has raised $15 million to advance its lead biologic drug candidate in China, and to expand its technology for generating additional monoclonal antibodies that represent a potential new class of biologics for treating a variety of diseases. In a statement yesterday, RuiYi says its lead compound, RYI-008, is the vanguard in … Continue reading “San Diego’s RuiYi Raises $15M for Pipeline of Biologic Therapeutics”