Educational technology companies are augmenting the traditional educational system with their online coursework offerings, but they’re also creating a competing universe where students can find alternate learning experiences that may qualify them for a job, even if they don’t have an academic degree. A core element in this universe is the invention of new kinds … Continue reading “Credtech Report Card: HackerRank, CodeFights, Credly, ACT, More”
Category: Texas
San Antonio Tech Seizing the Momentum: The Photos
San Antonio—It hasn’t been easy for San Antonio to stand out among tech capitals like San Francisco, New York, Boston, or even Austin, its smaller neighbor to the north. For years, the Alamo city has had deep expertise in areas such cybersecurity, cloud computing, healthcare, and energy—but getting national recognition for that work has been … Continue reading “San Antonio Tech Seizing the Momentum: The Photos”
Houston Tech’s Relief Efforts For Harvey Morph Into Ongoing Support
Houston—Six months ago, Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, flooding much of the city and forcing the sudden evacuation of tens of thousands from their homes. To help with recovery and relief, the city’s tech community came together to create websites and apps to help rescue people and connect them to relief efforts. Tech groups also set … Continue reading “Houston Tech’s Relief Efforts For Harvey Morph Into Ongoing Support”
TX Tech: Luxe Co-Working, Mass Challenge, RVshare, Hypergiant & More
As you get ready for the weekend, let’s take a moment to run down the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —Since we spend so much of our time working, Work Well Win believes we might as well do it in a healthier fashion. The self-described “wellness” co-working space is based in Greenwich, CT, and … Continue reading “TX Tech: Luxe Co-Working, Mass Challenge, RVshare, Hypergiant & More”
Bio Roundup: Meldonium Slip, Kratom Crackdown, Zinc Fingers & More
The 2018 Winter Olympics will end soon, and we did not skate through these games without a performance-enhancing drug allegation rearing its ugly head. This time, the drug in question was meldonium (Mildronate), a product widely available over the counter in Russia and some Eastern European countries. Though Latvian pharmaceutical company Grindeks markets meldonium for … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Meldonium Slip, Kratom Crackdown, Zinc Fingers & More”
Smart Cities Initiative Spurs “Gigabit Apps” for Next-Gen Internet
In late 2015, the National Science Foundation awarded a $6 million grant to the non-profit organization U.S. Ignite to help drive the development of next-generation “gigabit applications,” as part of a broader effort to create “smart gigabit communities” throughout the U.S. The idea was to both help cities improve local services and spur the development … Continue reading “Smart Cities Initiative Spurs “Gigabit Apps” for Next-Gen Internet”
Evestra Snags DoD Grant For Experimental Breast Cancer Drug Research
San Antonio—A small Texas biotech that develops women’s health products, including a generic birth control ring, has received a $960,000 grant from the Department of Defense to continue early stage work on experimental treatments for triple-negative breast cancer. Evestra, which is located just outside of San Antonio, in Schertz, TX, plans to use the three-year … Continue reading “Evestra Snags DoD Grant For Experimental Breast Cancer Drug Research”
Forget Perfume Counters: Phlur’s A.I. Is E-Commerce’s Scent Sherpa
Austin—It stands to reason that if any industry could resist the tidal wave of e-commerce, it would be the fragrance business. After all, how can you smell a perfume or cologne online to decide if you like the scent? But Eric Korman, founder and CEO of Phlur, says the startup can make it easier for … Continue reading “Forget Perfume Counters: Phlur’s A.I. Is E-Commerce’s Scent Sherpa”
ImmunoMet Therapeutics Appoints Vincent O’Neill Chief Medical Officer
Vincent O’Neill has been named chief medical officer of cancer drug developer ImmunoMet Therapeutics. O’Neill, a medical oncologist, most recently worked at Mirna Therapeutics where he was chief medical officer. His experience also includes positions at Genentech, Roche, GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: [[ticker:GSK]]), Sanofi (NYSE: [[ticker:SNY]]), and Exosome Diagnostics. In a separate executive move, ImmunoMet appointed Allan … Continue reading “ImmunoMet Therapeutics Appoints Vincent O’Neill Chief Medical Officer”
Vectra Scores $36M for AI-Enhanced Cyberattack Detection
Vectra, one of the cybersecurity companies vying to beef up threat detection using artificial intelligence, announced Wednesday it raised $36 million in a Series D funding round led by new investor Atlantic Bridge. San Jose, CA-based Vectra scans the patterns of data flowing through a client’s network in a continuous, automated hunt for suspicious activity, … Continue reading “Vectra Scores $36M for AI-Enhanced Cyberattack Detection”
XRC Labs Chief Anthos: Retailers Must Adopt “Test and Learn” Culture
As college undergraduates, my roommate and I had what we called a “monowardrobe.” That’s how we described the contents of the closet that lined a wall in our dorm room. We each organized our own clothing on either side, but since we both wore the same size in clothing and shoes, we “shopped” for outfits … Continue reading “XRC Labs Chief Anthos: Retailers Must Adopt “Test and Learn” Culture”
TX Tech: Funds for True Wealth & Phunware, Rackspace Layoffs, & More
Happy Friday! Before we get started on the weekend, let’s catch up with the latest innovation news in Texas. —A group of companies that use blockchain technology are forming an organization to advocate for issues related to the technology. Called the Austin Blockchain Collective, the group wants to “advance blockchain-based education to the local community … Continue reading “TX Tech: Funds for True Wealth & Phunware, Rackspace Layoffs, & More”
Bio Roundup: Trump’s Budget, Biogen’s AD Reveal, Hugin’s Run & More
Another week of White House chaos and American gun violence. Amid it all, we tried to parse what the Trump administration’s 2019 budget proposal meant for the biomedical and life-science worlds. There was talk of tackling high drug prices in the budget document, but nothing to give Medicare direct negotiating power with drug companies or … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Trump’s Budget, Biogen’s AD Reveal, Hugin’s Run & More”
Europe’s New Data Privacy Rules Nourish U.S. Privacy Tech Sector
Take a look at this blurb for a session about data privacy at the upcoming RSA conference on cybersecurity. It sounds a polite warning: “The importance of privacy is often alluded to in generalized, value-laden terms that, while sincere, don’t necessarily help privacy be taken seriously in the enterprise risk management process.” That situation is … Continue reading “Europe’s New Data Privacy Rules Nourish U.S. Privacy Tech Sector”
Texas Grocer H-E-B Buys Delivery App Favor in Bid for Tech Growth
San Antonio—H-E-B, the retail and grocery store giant that operates 400 stores in Texas and Mexico, is acquiring delivery app Favor. Favor, which connects people with on-demand “runners” who deliver groceries, food, and more to customers, will become a wholly owned subsidiary of H-E-B, which is headquartered in San Antonio and is the largest private … Continue reading “Texas Grocer H-E-B Buys Delivery App Favor in Bid for Tech Growth”
Don’t Miss “San Antonio Tech: Seizing the Momentum” on Feb. 20
San Antonio—There’s a rustling of change in San Antonio. In a city often most associated with the Alamo, the River Walk, and the Spurs, a tech ecosystem has been taking shape and shifting the city’s business culture. A surging startup community, a group of blossoming sectors, and a rush of capital are stimulating San Antonio’s … Continue reading “Don’t Miss “San Antonio Tech: Seizing the Momentum” on Feb. 20″
MSU, Texas A&M to Study How Driverless Cars Affect Future Workforce
This week, the Ypsilanti Township, MI-based American Center for Mobility, in collaboration with AARP and Waymo, announced that it has commissioned a study on how autonomous vehicles will impact transportation jobs in the future. The study is being conducted by Michigan State University and Texas A&M’s Transportation Institute. According to a press release, the purpose … Continue reading “MSU, Texas A&M to Study How Driverless Cars Affect Future Workforce”
Paths of Carbonite and Mozy “Come Full Circle” in Data Backup Deal
[Updated 2/27/18, 2:29 pm. See below.] Before Dropbox and Google Drive, there was Carbonite and Mozy. Both of those pioneer firms launched in 2005, and were among the early players in online data backup services. They enabled people to pay a few bucks a month for software that automatically encrypts the information on their hard … Continue reading “Paths of Carbonite and Mozy “Come Full Circle” in Data Backup Deal”
Shipping Wars: Walmart Launches Free Delivery for Sam’s Club Members
In order to better position itself against competitors like Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: [[ticker:COST]]) and Amazon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]), Sam’s Club, the bulk retailer owned by Walmart (NYSE: [[ticker:WMT]]), is now offering free shipping for many items as part of a revamping of its membership programs. With a $100 annual fee—just one dollar more than the cost … Continue reading “Shipping Wars: Walmart Launches Free Delivery for Sam’s Club Members”
Startups Peddle Innovative Tools to Fight Tech’s #MeToo Problem
As the last year has shown, the tech industry has a significant problem with sexual harassment and ensuring that women are treated equitably in the workplace. Now, some founders are seeking to use tech tools such as chatbots, artificial intelligence, analytics, and mobile to help clients remedy those deficiencies. One of those founders is Heather … Continue reading “Startups Peddle Innovative Tools to Fight Tech’s #MeToo Problem”
FDA’s Rachel Sherman on Right to Try, Succession Trouble & More
The opioid crisis. Right to Try legislation. The first human trials of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology. These are just a few of the many topics at the feet of the FDA this year. Speaking at the BIO CEO & Investor Conference in New York on Tuesday, principal deputy commissioner Rachel Sherman, the FDA’s second in … Continue reading “FDA’s Rachel Sherman on Right to Try, Succession Trouble & More”
UT Health San Antonio Awards $200K to Fill Early Stage Funding Gaps
San Antonio — [Corrected 2/14/18, 10:45 a.m. See below.] Money is one of the primary hurdles for innovators and entrepreneurs hoping to turn an idea into a product—particularly in the life sciences, where a drug or device can easily fail despite millions spent on research. The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio has … Continue reading “UT Health San Antonio Awards $200K to Fill Early Stage Funding Gaps”
Trump Budget Touts Lower Drug Prices, But No Medicare Negotiation
As president-elect, Donald Trump in January 2017 slammed drug companies for “getting away with murder” and said he supported Medicare negotiation. He vowed during last month’s State of the Union speech that drug prices “will come down.” Today, his administration’s fiscal 2019 budget proposal laid out what it calls a “comprehensive” strategy to lower drug … Continue reading “Trump Budget Touts Lower Drug Prices, But No Medicare Negotiation”
Buying Shoes? Digital Stylists Use A.I. to Suggest Clothing to Match
The black skirt had multiple personas. The fact that it was made of leather gave it an edgy vibe, but its A-line fit-and-flair cut was more flirty and feminine. “I fell in love with it,” says Michelle Bacharach, co-founder of FindMine. “But as soon as I brought it home, I wondered, ‘how do I wear … Continue reading “Buying Shoes? Digital Stylists Use A.I. to Suggest Clothing to Match”
Execs Talk Hurdles As Immunotherapy Combos, CAR-T Launches Progress
With multiple products on the market and many more coming, it’s easy to think that cancer immunotherapy has arrived. In reality, however, we’ve only just begun to figure out how to coax the immune system into killing cancer. That’s why a mad dash is on to expand its reach, and a panel of experts invested … Continue reading “Execs Talk Hurdles As Immunotherapy Combos, CAR-T Launches Progress”
As Trump Budget Addresses Opioid Crisis, BIO Report Reveals Scarce Pain Drug Development
[Updated 2/12/2018, 1:37pm ET, see below.] With the opioid epidemic showing little sign of letting up, new ways of treating chronic pain are desperately needed. But the development of non-addictive, non-opioid pain drugs lags far behind drug R&D for other diseases (I wrote a few months ago about why that is), and a report from … Continue reading “As Trump Budget Addresses Opioid Crisis, BIO Report Reveals Scarce Pain Drug Development”
Cybersecurity Startup Infocyte Lands $5.2M, Hires Dell GM as CEO
San Antonio—Internet cybersecurity startup Infocyte has added a $5.2 million Series B round of funding to build out sales of its flagship product, and has hired a new CEO. Curtis Hutcheson, the former general manager of Dell’s software businesses focused on security, is taking the helm at San Antonio-based Infocyte, which sells software that automates … Continue reading “Cybersecurity Startup Infocyte Lands $5.2M, Hires Dell GM as CEO”
Genentech’s Grossman Named Bellicum Pharma Chief Medical Officer
William Grossman has been appointed chief medical officer of Bellicum Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BLCM]]). Grossman comes to the Houston biotech company from Genentech, where he was group medical director, cancer immunotherapy. Bellicum develops immunotherapies for cancers and blood disorders. In January, the company disclosed that the FDA halted a clinical trial testing its lead drug, BPX-501, … Continue reading “Genentech’s Grossman Named Bellicum Pharma Chief Medical Officer”
Think3 Launches $1B Fund to Help Founders “Take More Shots on Goal”
Austin—Serial entrepreneur Andy Tryba has launched a $1 billion private equity fund in Austin aimed to help “modestly growing” software companies find exits. “We developed this fund to enable founders to take more shots on goal,” Tryba, Think3’s founder and CEO, said in a press release. “Founders should think of ‘time’ as their portfolio—making the call … Continue reading “Think3 Launches $1B Fund to Help Founders “Take More Shots on Goal””
Bio Roundup: Lung Cancer Questions, Migraine Races, HIV Battle & More
The top biopharma story of the week involves the fast-moving field of lung cancer, which, as we’ve written previously, has several key trials reading out in 2018. A big domino fell this week: data from a two-drug immunotherapy combination developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb. But the results, touted as positive, left more questions than answers. First, … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Lung Cancer Questions, Migraine Races, HIV Battle & More”
Instant Gratification: Whole Foods, Target Offer Same-Day Delivery
[Updated 2/8/18, 1:39 pm.] The race is on to sign up consumers seeking same-day delivery of groceries, household items, and personal goods. Late on Wednesday, Amazon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]) announced it has started free two-hour delivery of products from Whole Foods Market, the most significant example of the e-commerce giant using technology at the Austin, TX-based … Continue reading “Instant Gratification: Whole Foods, Target Offer Same-Day Delivery”
As Rackspace Battled and Befriended Amazon, San Antonio Tech Matured
San Antonio—The Alamo city has never received much credit for its work in technology. One local executive likes to say that San Antonio works on the plumbing of the Internet. Compared to Austin, a renowned tech capital about 90 miles to the north of San Antonio, that description seems pretty accurate. Austin holds hip tech … Continue reading “As Rackspace Battled and Befriended Amazon, San Antonio Tech Matured”
Texas Tech: RigUp Funds, TMCx Startups, SpaceX Launch & HQ2 Rumors
The latest cold front that’s swept through Texas doesn’t help the hump day blues, but distract yourself with another cup of something warm and catch up with the innovation news in Texas’s startup ecosystem. —Austin energy startup RigUp raised $15.8 million in a Series B round, according to a company press release. Investors include Quantum Energy … Continue reading “Texas Tech: RigUp Funds, TMCx Startups, SpaceX Launch & HQ2 Rumors”
Two Weeks Until San Antonio Tech: Seizing the Momentum—Win Tickets!
In just a few weeks, Xconomy is hosting it’s first public event in the Alamo City, San Antonio Tech: Seizing the Momentum. It’s all happening on Feb. 20 at the Pearl Stable—take a look at the agenda and full line up of speakers. How can the region become a national leader in the industry? We … Continue reading “Two Weeks Until San Antonio Tech: Seizing the Momentum—Win Tickets!”
Medical and Patient Groups Warn Congress Against “Right to Try”
Dozens of medical organizations and patient advocacy groups are pushing back against so-called “right-to-try” legislation that passed the Senate in August and is now under consideration in the House. An open letter sent today to House leaders is the latest opposition to the Republican-led push to give desperate patients access to experimental drugs without FDA … Continue reading “Medical and Patient Groups Warn Congress Against “Right to Try””
Walmart Brings Virtual Reality to Retail With Purchase of Spatialand
Walmart’s tech incubator in Silicon Valley, Store No 8, has acquired Spatialand, a virtual reality software firm, as its third portfolio company. While much of the focus in using VR has been on gaming and entertainment, “virtual reality has the potential to reinvent the consumer experience—with an experience we call contextual commerce,” according to a … Continue reading “Walmart Brings Virtual Reality to Retail With Purchase of Spatialand”
Pay It Forward: Capital Drives Bio Innovation in San Diego & Beyond
After starting Organovo in 2007, I spent much of the next decade as CEO seeking financing to advance our bioprinting technology. Because I stepped out of an operational role early last year, I am now in a position of providing financing to aspiring life sciences entrepreneurs. The change has caused me to reflect a bit … Continue reading “Pay It Forward: Capital Drives Bio Innovation in San Diego & Beyond”
E-Commerce Firm Dearduck Uses A.I. in the Hunt for the Perfect Gift
Houston—Knowledge is power, but too much of a good thing can render data meaningless. That’s the struggle many retailers have in an age of data analytics. Think about the retailer e-mails we receive daily or the ads that appear on Google or our social media sites. Though based on our Web searches, those ads don’t … Continue reading “E-Commerce Firm Dearduck Uses A.I. in the Hunt for the Perfect Gift”
Entrepreneurs Look to Angels and Micro-VCs for Cash
You don’t need me to tell you it’s a rough world out there for startups. Venture capitalists have been unusually stingy lately, hanging on to billions of dollars they’d typically be channeling into promising young companies. When those investors do open their wallets, they’re shunning risky investments in favor of what the Wall Street Journal … Continue reading “Entrepreneurs Look to Angels and Micro-VCs for Cash”
A Startup Ecosystem Pioneer, Houston Tech Center Closes After 19 Years
Houston—The Houston Technology Center, the city’s oldest organization dedicated to boosting local startups, has been shut down. HTC, founded as a non-profit in 1999, was last October brought under the umbrella of a new initiative called Houston Exponential. HX, as it is called, was unveiled as a comprehensive citywide approach to boosting Houston’s community for … Continue reading “A Startup Ecosystem Pioneer, Houston Tech Center Closes After 19 Years”
Bio Roundup: Wilson’s Warning, Amazon’s Health Biz, Moderna Cash & More
The State of the Union address was…. long. At one hour and 20 minutes, President Trump fell about 9 minutes shy of the high mark. But those who stayed tuned in heard comments about several health policy matters. The president credited the FDA for a record number of generic drug approvals in 2017, which PwC … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Wilson’s Warning, Amazon’s Health Biz, Moderna Cash & More”
Xconomy Bookclub: “Inferior” Peruses Science’s Historic #MeToo Bias
In his now infamous memo, ex-Google engineer James Damore cited scientific evidence to illustrate why women may not be suited for jobs at some of today’s leading tech companies. Women, he argued, are biologically more attuned to “people” jobs rather than “thing” jobs, like those in technology. But what Damore was doing, others pointed out, … Continue reading “Xconomy Bookclub: “Inferior” Peruses Science’s Historic #MeToo Bias”
Techstars, Air Force Reveal First Boston Accelerator Investments
[Updated 2/1/18, 9:52 am. See below.] Techstars today announced the companies participating in the inaugural session of its new autonomous technology startup accelerator program in Boston, and, as advertised, there are a lot of drones involved. Six of the 10 participating companies are focused on unmanned aerial vehicles, including businesses focused on designing and making … Continue reading “Techstars, Air Force Reveal First Boston Accelerator Investments”
Look Out, Investors: Cryptocurrency Values Slide As Warnings Take Off
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have seen dramatic but volatile price surges during the past year. But this month their billions in estimated market value are eroding, amid widening suspicions against one trading platform, a half-billion-dollar heist from another exchange, and an awakened global regulatory community. Warnings are on the rise from regulators, researchers, banking executives—and … Continue reading “Look Out, Investors: Cryptocurrency Values Slide As Warnings Take Off”
Bellicum Reveals Brain Injuries, FDA Halt on Lead T-Cell Product
Bellicum Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BLCM]]) of Houston divulged Wednesday that its lead T-cell therapy program BPX-501 has been put on hold by the FDA. The treatment, for certain people undergoing bone marrow transplant, uses two components: off-the-shelf T cells to replace those killed in the transplant process, and a pill that acts as a “kill switch” … Continue reading “Bellicum Reveals Brain Injuries, FDA Halt on Lead T-Cell Product”
As A.I. Takes Off, We Need a Plan to Deal with Societal Disruption
As an Xconomist, I have been asked to predict what technology might really take off in 2018. My response is something of a “cheat” in that it relates to artificial intelligence (AI), a technology that has been poised to take off next year for the past several decades and a topic about which I have … Continue reading “As A.I. Takes Off, We Need a Plan to Deal with Societal Disruption”
Your Smart City Is Stupid
Cities have been called a repository of possibilities. What they haven’t been called, at least until recently, is smart. These days, however, the term “smart city” is everywhere, pimped by tech giants like IBM, Google, and Cisco, and embraced by various mayors, city managers, and chief innovation officers from Silicon Valley to Rio to Dubai. … Continue reading “Your Smart City Is Stupid”
After Paper Shakes Sector, Gene Therapy Leader Jim Wilson Talks Safety
[Updated, 1/31/18, see below] Gene therapy pioneer James Wilson and University of Pennsylvania colleagues sounded an alarm Tuesday morning about the use of gene therapy to treat severe diseases like spinal muscular atrophy and Duchenne muscular dystrophy, sending a chill across the sector. Shares of several companies inched downward as word spread about the UPenn … Continue reading “After Paper Shakes Sector, Gene Therapy Leader Jim Wilson Talks Safety”
Free Coffee, Workshops, and … Money? Geekdom Begins Offering Grants
San Antonio—Geekdom, the six-year-old co-working space in downtown San Antonio, has added a new perk to the free coffee, workshops, and mentorship opportunities it offers its more than 1,700 members: a chance at winning a $10,000 grant each month. The grant money will come directly from Geekdom, which is calling the program The Community Fund. … Continue reading “Free Coffee, Workshops, and … Money? Geekdom Begins Offering Grants”
Texas Tech Watch: Austin’s Impact Hub, Arundo Analytics & Procyrion
[Updated 1/31/18, 4:44 pm. See below.] One of the less pleasant innovations running around these days is strains of flu that seem to be hitting everyone. I, unfortunately, was not immune and out last week. Let’s get caught up on a few news items. Up first: Austin’s Impact Hub accelerator, which incubates companies with civic … Continue reading “Texas Tech Watch: Austin’s Impact Hub, Arundo Analytics & Procyrion”