Add refueling your car to the list of mundane tasks you don’t have to put on your to-do list. Booster Fuels, a service that brings gas to parked cars on-demand, said Tuesday it has raised $20 million to continue growing in the two large markets where it operates: the San Francisco Bay Area and Dallas-Forth … Continue reading “Booster Fills Up With $20M for On-Demand Gas—Is It ‘Sustainable’?”
Category: Texas
Oil and Gas Networking Website Oilpro Says It’s Shutting Down
Houston—Oilpro, a networking and social media website geared to the oil and gas industry, said Monday it is shutting down operations. No reason was given for the closure. In an e-mail to members, Oilpro told them they could download any content on their profiles until Wednesday, Aug. 2, after which the site will be taken … Continue reading “Oil and Gas Networking Website Oilpro Says It’s Shutting Down”
Hackathon Aims to Unearth Natural Resources Tech in Houston
Houston—An Australian group trying to spur innovation in the natural resources sector is headed to Houston to host a hackathon in partnership with BHP Petroleum. Unearthed, which is based in Perth, Australia, has hosted similar hackathons all over the world and will be bringing its “Digital Tribes” series to Texas for the first time in … Continue reading “Hackathon Aims to Unearth Natural Resources Tech in Houston”
Disrupt Indy: Can Data Forge the Path to Inclusive Tech Ecosystems?
U.S. tech startups and investment firms have long been thought of as the domain of white men—because historically, they have been. Although that may be changing as more big tech corporations are pressured to release their diversity statistics and change hiring policies, one only needs to look at the statistics to confirm that women, members … Continue reading “Disrupt Indy: Can Data Forge the Path to Inclusive Tech Ecosystems?”
A.I. Chip Race Redraws Competitive Map Among Tech Firms, Chipmakers
It’s been a long time since tech’s biggest companies could be sorted into discrete buckets according to the products they pioneered—-Google, the search software giant; Apple, the computer and mobile device innovator; e-commerce leader Amazon; business software stalwart Microsoft; and social media engine Facebook. Since then, these major innovators have built on a common resource—increasingly … Continue reading “A.I. Chip Race Redraws Competitive Map Among Tech Firms, Chipmakers”
Five Questions For … Tom Luby, Head of JLabs @ TMC in Houston
Houston—The business of healthcare is in Tom Luby’s blood. It started during a childhood often spent in a family room in the back of his parents’ pharmacy listening to them interact with patients and their caregivers. Those experiences led him to a biology degree at the State University of New York College at Plattsburgh and … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Tom Luby, Head of JLabs @ TMC in Houston”
Eyeing Consumers Needing Car Repairs, CarCalmly Plans August Launch
San Antonio—People who drive spend about 50 minutes on the road per day, according to consulting firm McKinsey. And while laws discourage people from using a cell phone while driving, it’s no secret those drivers probably have smartphones nearby. Some tech startups are seeking opportunities in the auto industry, by using data they can get … Continue reading “Eyeing Consumers Needing Car Repairs, CarCalmly Plans August Launch”
Bio Roundup: GOP Drama, Immunotherapy Setbacks, Pharma Revamps
Two failed cancer studies this week provided a fresh reminder how little researchers and clinicians understand about immunotherapy’s vagaries: why it works for some people and not for others. The results, in lung cancer and head-and neck cancer, add to recent failures in multiple myeloma and bladder cancer and splash cold water on a sector … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: GOP Drama, Immunotherapy Setbacks, Pharma Revamps”
Houston’s Zenus Brings Facial Recognition Software to Event Check-Ins
Houston—For all the technological innovation on display at the annual South By Southwest Interactive festival, registration and check-in is still largely done the old-fashioned way. Similar to other large conventions, an attendee waits in line, hands over an ID to a registrar, gets a picture taken for a badge, and then receives the usual conference … Continue reading “Houston’s Zenus Brings Facial Recognition Software to Event Check-Ins”
Modeled After Google’s, ScaleFT Security Tech Entices Rackspace, VCs
Austin and San Antonio—Technology, of course, gives us all greater access to information than ever before. In the context of security, however, that’s often a big problem. Companies have historically set up boundaries around the information they’re trying to protect—firewalls and virtual private networks that either aim to keep unwanted people out or allow restricted … Continue reading “Modeled After Google’s, ScaleFT Security Tech Entices Rackspace, VCs”
Immunotherapy Shakeup: AstraZeneca Inks Merck Deal as Drug Combo Fails
Despite all the great progress made harnessing the immune system to fight cancer, there is still much work to be done to maximize its potential. The latest evidence: disappointing results today from a roughly 1,100-patient study called “Mystic,” a highly anticipated trial from AstraZeneca testing a combination of immunotherapies in newly diagnosed lung cancer patients. … Continue reading “Immunotherapy Shakeup: AstraZeneca Inks Merck Deal as Drug Combo Fails”
VentureWell Brings Med Tech Acceleration Program to TechTown Detroit
When TechTown Detroit co-hosted a med health summit earlier this year, it was intended to foster collaboration, highlight companies in the sector, and break down silos to advance the regional ecosystem. That work is starting to pay off. VentureWell , the Hadley, MA-based nonprofit med tech accelerator, was in Detroit earlier this summer to run … Continue reading “VentureWell Brings Med Tech Acceleration Program to TechTown Detroit”
Dallas IoT Software Maker Prodea Acquires California Rival Arrayent
Dallas—Prodea Systems, a suburban Dallas maker of Internet-connected software, has acquired a California-based competitor, Arrayent. “There are more and more services and systems and devices that would become smart and try to deliver information,” Anousheh Ansari, Prodea’s co-founder and CEO, said in an interview. “For example, we have connected dishwashers and refrigerators, but none of … Continue reading “Dallas IoT Software Maker Prodea Acquires California Rival Arrayent”
Five Questions for … Factom Co-Founder and CEO Peter Kirby
Austin—Peter Kirby describes his foray into entrepreneurship as “following threads of curiosity.” “That’s always led me to interesting places,” he says. “In this case, my curiosity was around Bitcoin.” That led him to Factom, a blockchain startup in Austin for which he is co-founder and CEO. Factom is a 3-year-old blockchain company that counts healthcare … Continue reading “Five Questions for … Factom Co-Founder and CEO Peter Kirby”
Aeglea CEO David Lowe Resigns, Anthony Quinn to be Interim Chief
Aeglea BioTherapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AGLE]]), an Austin biotech company, announced late Thursday that David Lowe has resigned as the company’s president, CEO and director, effective immediately, according to a press release. Anthony Quinn has been appointed to serve as interim chief executive officer while the company conducts a comprehensive search for a permanent chief executive officer. … Continue reading “Aeglea CEO David Lowe Resigns, Anthony Quinn to be Interim Chief”
Self Lender Raises More Cash to Help Consumers Build Credit
Austin—Self Lender, a credit-building loan app, reports that it has raised $5 million in funding. Investors include Deep Space Ventures in Dallas, Silverton Partners in Austin, Acumen Venture Partners, and Accion Venture Lab, says James Garvey, Self Lender’s founder and CEO. The company previously raised $2 million in 2015, SEC filings show. The two-year-old startup, … Continue reading “Self Lender Raises More Cash to Help Consumers Build Credit”
Bio Roundup: Obamacare Persists, FDA Approves, Vertex Wows & More
The attempt to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act took a major hit this week from Senate GOP holdouts who said the Better Care Reconciliation Act either tore down Medicaid too much or left too much of the ACA in place. A straight-up repeal, floated by Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, was also shot … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Obamacare Persists, FDA Approves, Vertex Wows & More”
Iron Yard, Coding School With Three Texas Campuses, Shuts Down
The Iron Yard coding school, which has campuses in Dallas, Houston, and Austin, TX, announced Thursday that it is shutting down operations. In a blog post on the school’s website, communications director Lelia King wrote that “the Iron Yard has made the difficult decision to cease operations at all campuses after teaching out remaining summer … Continue reading “Iron Yard, Coding School With Three Texas Campuses, Shuts Down”
New Frontier: Space Center Crowdfunds for Mission Control Facelift
[Updated 7/25/17 5:18 pm. See below.] Houston—Houston, Mission Control has a problem. The storied control room at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston—recognizable to many of us from 1960s news clips of the dawn of the Space Age––is in need of a face-lift. And so, Space Center Houston, the visitor’s center for the JSC, has turned … Continue reading “New Frontier: Space Center Crowdfunds for Mission Control Facelift”
Christopher Ahlberg: The Full Xconomy Voices Interview
The second episode of Xconomy’s new podcast, Xconomy Voices, features Recorded Future co-founder and CEO Christopher Ahlberg. His Somerville, MA-based cybersecurity company monitors both the public, visible Web and the Internet’s darker corners for “threat intelligence” that can help its clients prepare for, and fend off, cyber attacks. Ahlberg’s background in data analytics and his … Continue reading “Christopher Ahlberg: The Full Xconomy Voices Interview”
BioAffinity Raises $4M to Continue Tests on Lung Cancer Diagnostic
San Antonio—BioAffinity Technologies, the maker of a diagnostic test that is currently focused on lung cancer, announced it has raised $4 million in a Series A funding. Investors in the round include family offices and high net worth individuals on the East and West coasts, says Maria Zannes, bioAffinity’s CEO. With the new investment, the … Continue reading “BioAffinity Raises $4M to Continue Tests on Lung Cancer Diagnostic”
A.I. Prizes, Coming to Healthcare, Hit $1M Mark in Cancer Contests
This story is part of an Xconomy series on artificial intelligence in healthcare. Some of the other stories cover a genomics hackathon, A.I. and radiology, and the impact on doctors and patients. In the classic 1967 film “The Graduate,” Dustin Hoffman’s just-out-of-college character gets one word of career advice from a family friend: plastics. In … Continue reading “A.I. Prizes, Coming to Healthcare, Hit $1M Mark in Cancer Contests”
Laing Tapped to Lead New Capital City Innovation District in Austin
Austin—The Texas capital is already known as a hub for young innovative tech companies. Now, Austin is working on expanding its entrepreneurial portfolio with a new innovation zone targeting biotech. Austin leaders recently announced that Christopher Laing will be the first executive director of the Capital City Innovation District, a 14-acre zone in downtown Austin … Continue reading “Laing Tapped to Lead New Capital City Innovation District in Austin”
Xconomy Voices, Episode 2: Christopher Ahlberg of Recorded Future
On our new Xconomy Voices podcast, we find the smartest, most successful entrepreneurs and innovators in Xconomy’s network of cities and regions, and we ask them to open up about what they’re working on, what they’re excited about, and why they think their company, product, or idea is going to take the world by storm. … Continue reading “Xconomy Voices, Episode 2: Christopher Ahlberg of Recorded Future”
Google Glass Upgrades to Business Class, With Enterprise Edition
When Ian Shakil co-founded a company in 2012 to deploy Google Glass in doctor’s offices, his team had never possessed a set of the computer-enhanced eyewear that Google debuted that year. Google wasn’t yet selling the augmented reality glasses, which were being touted as the next big thing in consumer electronics, not as business tools. … Continue reading “Google Glass Upgrades to Business Class, With Enterprise Edition”
Tech Leaders Decry “Bathroom Bills” Aimed at Transgender People
Austin—The Texas Legislature convened today in a special session and among the issues lawmakers will debate include controversial “bathroom bills,” legislation that would require transgender people to use restrooms that match the sex of their birth. Prominent tech leaders—from IBM, Google, Facebook, Dell, and other companies—have come out against these types of bills. These leaders … Continue reading “Tech Leaders Decry “Bathroom Bills” Aimed at Transgender People”
What Internet Pioneer Vint Cerf Sees in San Diego (and Other Hubs)
The Internet pioneer Vinton Cerf came to San Diego recently on an unusual quest—to meet with dozens of local technology leaders and assess what the region has to offer in terms of innovation. It was Veni, Vidi, Vinti. He came. He saw. He Cerfed. The visit was unusual in part because of Cerf himself. As … Continue reading “What Internet Pioneer Vint Cerf Sees in San Diego (and Other Hubs)”
Roundup: Nomad Health & Blinker Arrive in Texas, SourceDay, & More
Let’s get caught up on the latest news from Xconomy Texas. In the last week, two startups announced they’re now offering their services in the Lone Star State. —Nomad Health, an online market for healthcare jobs, has started offering placements for short-term nurse vacancies in Texas, and plans to roll that service out nationwide, according … Continue reading “Roundup: Nomad Health & Blinker Arrive in Texas, SourceDay, & More”
Startup WiseWear Connects With Ingenu on Wearable Security Device
San Antonio—WiseWear, a San Antonio-based wearable technology maker, has created a new product that uses a low-power wireless network to help users stay connected to an emergency alert services around the globe. The company and its partner on the device, San Diego-based Ingenu, plan to sell it as a small, circular piece of Internet-connected technology … Continue reading “Startup WiseWear Connects With Ingenu on Wearable Security Device”
Five Questions for … Austin Biotech Entrepreneur Laura Bosworth
Austin—A few minutes of conversation have made up many of the pivot points in Laura Bosworth’s professional life. Bosworth is the founder and CEO of TeVido BioDevices, an Austin regenerative medicine company aiming to use 3D printing technology to construct a more natural nipple in breast reconstruction. Her path to entrepreneurship came, she says, from … Continue reading “Five Questions for … Austin Biotech Entrepreneur Laura Bosworth”
Bio Roundup: PDUFA Progress, BCRA Redux, CAR-T Thumbs Up, & More
Government and industry are rife with awkward acronyms. Take PDUFA, for example. First passed in 1992, the Prescription Drug User Fee Act allows the FDA to collect fees from biopharmaceutical companies when they apply for drug approval; those funds are designated for the regulator’s drug evaluation work. Congress must reauthorize the law every five years … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: PDUFA Progress, BCRA Redux, CAR-T Thumbs Up, & More”
Unanimous Advice To FDA: Approve Landmark CAR-T Cancer Therapy
The first ever approval of a new kind of cancer immunotherapy called CAR-T is one step closer. A 10-member panel of doctors and researchers who advise the Food and Drug Administration recommended with a rare unanimous vote that the agency approve a treatment for kids and young adults with a severe form of leukemia who … Continue reading “Unanimous Advice To FDA: Approve Landmark CAR-T Cancer Therapy”
Accenture Acquires Austin Data Analytics Company Clearhead
Austin—Clearhead, which helps companies “personalize” digital tools used by their customers, has been acquired by Accenture (NYSE: [[ticker:ACN]]). The Austin, TX-based company has developed data analytics software that helps its customers, who are companies such as USAA and CVS Pharmacy, improve and personalize their digital tools aimed at end users, such as online shoppers. Clearhead … Continue reading “Accenture Acquires Austin Data Analytics Company Clearhead”
AngelMD Aims to Harness Houston Physician Braintrust for Investments
Houston—In the last few years, Houston’s biotech community has made big strides in assembling the ingredients needed to build a robust innovation ecosystem. But one factor, capital, remains in short supply, says Dan Parsley of angelMD. That’s partly why the Seattle-based investment platform opened a Houston office last September. The idea is to help bridge … Continue reading “AngelMD Aims to Harness Houston Physician Braintrust for Investments”
San Antonio’s eHealthScreenings Sold to PE-Owned Premise Health
San Antonio—A Tennessee-based company that manages businesses’ onsite health clinics has acquired San Antonio-based eHealthScreenings, a company that offers biometric health screenings and that has developed software to collect and analyze data from those screenings. The acquirer, Premise Health, didn’t disclose terms of the deal in a press release issued Tuesday. EHealthScreenings was founded in … Continue reading “San Antonio’s eHealthScreenings Sold to PE-Owned Premise Health”
Dell Wirelessly Charging PC Marks WiTricity’s First Consumer Device
A new Dell tablet/laptop hybrid computer that can be charged without a power cord hits shelves this week. The new device, called the Latitude 7285 (pictured above), signals the continued spread—albeit slowly—of consumer electronics that can be juiced up wirelessly. The wireless charging technology embedded in the “2-in-1 notebook computer” comes from Watertown, MA-based WiTricity, … Continue reading “Dell Wirelessly Charging PC Marks WiTricity’s First Consumer Device”
Austin’s Riskpulse Formed in the Vortex of Two Weather-Tech Startups
Austin—For businesses that ship anything from mayonnaise to car parts, a change in temperature or an unexpected storm can mean bigger problems than just rotten eggs or stalled repairs. In this age of “just in time manufacturing,” entire factories might need to halt production if the right parts aren’t delivered, potentially costing thousands of dollars … Continue reading “Austin’s Riskpulse Formed in the Vortex of Two Weather-Tech Startups”
Under Silicon Valley’s Rough Turf, Tunnels of Women’s Networks Spread
[Corrected 7/11/17, 11:02 am. See below.] Revelations about gender bias and crude sexual harassment at Uber have been followed by similar claims by women against Silicon Valley venture capital investors, leaving a weary impression that the deck is almost hopelessly stacked against women in tech. But women aren’t facing these challenges alone, female entrepreneurs say—not … Continue reading “Under Silicon Valley’s Rough Turf, Tunnels of Women’s Networks Spread”
VC “Self-Correction” Continues in Second Quarter, and Top 10 Deals
[Updated 7/12/17, 8:38 am, to add MoneyTree data. See below.] U.S. venture capital investments are showing more signs of returning to steady levels. Investors pumped $21.78 billion into 1,958 companies in the second quarter, according to data from the quarterly Venture Monitor report from Seattle-based PitchBook and the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA). The number … Continue reading “VC “Self-Correction” Continues in Second Quarter, and Top 10 Deals”
Roundup: LiveOak, Memorial Hermann, AT&T, March Capital, & DigniCap
Let’s catch up on the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —LiveOak Venture Partners announced today it has led a $4.7 million funding round for Telestax, which makes a technology that combines traditional telecommunications with new business apps in order to provide real-time communications tools that can scale. Telestax supports 900 million calls and 200 … Continue reading “Roundup: LiveOak, Memorial Hermann, AT&T, March Capital, & DigniCap”
Five Questions For … Fannin Innovation Studio’s Atul Varadhachary
Houston—Blame it on Bollywood, maybe, but growing up, Atul Varadhachary had his head in the stars. Like many Indians, he considered what he calls the “straightforward path” of pursuing a career in engineering or medicine. “But I really wanted to be an astrophysicist,” he says. Varadhachary got admission to both engineering and medical schools and … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Fannin Innovation Studio’s Atul Varadhachary”
From Proving Ground to Air Force, San Antonio Builds IT Security Cluster
San Antonio—With a major Air Force unit, the year-old Build Sec Foundry startup incubator, and new dedicated facilities at the port, San Antonio has a host of assets positioning the city as a center of innovation and entrepreneurship in one of the most in-demand specialties of the broader IT industry: cybersecurity. Build Sec, housed at … Continue reading “From Proving Ground to Air Force, San Antonio Builds IT Security Cluster”
Bio Roundup: BCRA Fireworks, Shkreli Muzzled, Endo Pulls Drug & More
The Fourth of July was this week, but members of Congress didn’t need to crane their necks skyward to see fireworks. Senators returned to their districts, where local news offered blistering headlines about the potential impact of the Republican plan to replace the Affordable Care Act. Independence Day typically lets lawmakers mingle with constituents at … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: BCRA Fireworks, Shkreli Muzzled, Endo Pulls Drug & More”
With Triage System, Companies See Toehold for A.I. in Radiology
This story is part of an ongoing Xconomy series on A.I. in healthcare. Other stories cover big-company efforts, a genomics hackathon, the impact on doctors and patients, and business models of A.I. in healthcare. Years ago, radiology underwent a radical transformation with the shift from film to widespread use of digital image displays. That set … Continue reading “With Triage System, Companies See Toehold for A.I. in Radiology”
Building Bridges: IATA Aims to Foster Innovation Across the Americas
Houston—In recent weeks, about 50 students from five Latin American universities have been exploring ways to promote innovative technologies related to connected cars and automotive production. The group has spent the last two weeks in the central Mexican city of Puebla, which is home to manufacturing plants for many multinational car companies such as Volkswagen … Continue reading “Building Bridges: IATA Aims to Foster Innovation Across the Americas”
5 Privacy Worries on 4 Wheels: Staying Safe in the Connected Car Era
As modern vehicles are upgraded to include Internet-enabled technologies designed to access, store, and transmit data for entertainment and safety purposes, consumers are presented with a double-edged sword. On one hand, these connected systems provide important convenience benefits for consumers, but on the flip side, motor vehicles are being exposed to a growing number of … Continue reading “5 Privacy Worries on 4 Wheels: Staying Safe in the Connected Car Era”
San Antonio Medical Device Contractor NuPak Sold to NJ-Based Katena
San Antonio—NuPak Medical, a contract manufacturer of medical devices, has been purchased for an undisclosed amount by its largest customer, Denville, New Jersey-based Katena Products. The news of the acquisition was first reported by the San Antonio Business Journal. NuPak, which was founded in San Antonio in 1997, manufactures medical products such as dental implants, … Continue reading “San Antonio Medical Device Contractor NuPak Sold to NJ-Based Katena”
Acer Therapeutics Announces Reverse Merger With Houston’s Opexa
[Updated 6/6/17, 8:04 am] Houston—Opexa Therapeutics is the target of a reverse merger with Acer Therapeutics, a privately held pharmaceutical company based in the Boston area. In a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission Monday, the companies announced the arrangement and also said that Cambridge, MA-based Acer would receive $15.7 million in a financing … Continue reading “Acer Therapeutics Announces Reverse Merger With Houston’s Opexa”
Texas Medical Center Leadership Turmoil: Here are the Latest Moves
Houston—The Texas Medical Center’s leadership upheaval continued this week with the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center announcing that it eliminated executive vice president roles as part of a new leadership structure. As a result, executive vice presidents Ethan Dmitrovsky, Thomas Buchholz, and Dan Fontaine have been relieved of those duties. Buchholz will continue … Continue reading “Texas Medical Center Leadership Turmoil: Here are the Latest Moves”
Bio Roundup: Senate Drama, A.I. Stories, Data Dives, Shkreli & More
There is no Obamacare replacement, at least not as of this writing. The Senate Republicans are fractured, with a handful of conservatives and moderates each giving a cold shoulder to their chamber’s version of healthcare reform, the Better Care Reconciliation Act. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office report Monday put the bill’s potential effects in stark … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Senate Drama, A.I. Stories, Data Dives, Shkreli & More”