Austin—A group of Austin, TX, entrepreneurs and investors have partnered with city officials as well as the University of Texas at Austin to form AI Austin, an initiative to promote ethical uses of artificial intelligence. “Our goal is to create a practical and ethical compass for today’s AI technologies, and to build a foundation for … Continue reading “Austin Innovators Form Group to Promote Ethical Use of AI Tools”
Category: Texas
Toyota and Others Enabling Self-Driving Cars to Talk to Each Other
Drivers have plenty of ways to communicate with their fellow drivers, beyond the basic turn signal. Some methods are nice, like a friendly wave to beckon a merging car into your lane. Others, not so much. We’ve all probably cursed or honked at another driver, or been given the finger. But if driverless cars become … Continue reading “Toyota and Others Enabling Self-Driving Cars to Talk to Each Other”
Houston’s Biotech Innovation Community Reacts to Robbins Exit at TMC
Houston—The Texas Medical Center has accepted the resignation of its CEO, Robert Robbins, who has been chosen to be the next president of the University of Arizona. O. Holcombe Crosswell, chairman of the TMC board, said in a statement Wednesday that the TMC wishes Robbins well. “We thank Dr. Robbins for his contributions that have … Continue reading “Houston’s Biotech Innovation Community Reacts to Robbins Exit at TMC”
More Women, Minorities Join Angel Investor Group, Austin’s CTAN Says
Austin—The Central Texas Angel Network says it’s growing, and that the diversity of its membership is, too. The organization known as CTAN says its member base has increased to more than 160 individuals from about 120 two years ago, and that the group includes more women and minorities. Women now make up 25 percent of … Continue reading “More Women, Minorities Join Angel Investor Group, Austin’s CTAN Says”
DePinho Announces His Departure from Houston’s MD Anderson
[Updated 3/8/17 4:58 pm. See below.] Houston—Ronald DePinho, CEO of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, has announced he is stepping down after six years at the helm. “Chancellor William H. McRaven has asked me to stay on through the end of the Texas Legislative session, and we will be talking through the details … Continue reading “DePinho Announces His Departure from Houston’s MD Anderson”
Immigrants Are the Best of Humanity and the Strength of Our Nation
[Editor’s note: This post was adapted from Mohamad Ali’s speech at a naturalization ceremony at the JFK Library in Boston on March 8, 2017.] My fellow immigrants, buenas tardes, masa-al-khayr, and good afternoon! I am deeply moved by the opportunity to be here today, to share this momentous occasion with you, and to personally return … Continue reading “Immigrants Are the Best of Humanity and the Strength of Our Nation”
TMC CEO Robbins To Leave, Take Top University of Arizona Post
Houston—Texas Medical Center CEO Robert Robbins has been selected as the next president of the University of Arizona, and will visit the school’s Tucson, AZ, campus today. The Phoenix-based Arizona Board of Regents voted unanimously to hire Robbins as its 22nd president. “Dr. Robbins’ comprehensive experience as both a visionary leader and highly-respected physician, as well as … Continue reading “TMC CEO Robbins To Leave, Take Top University of Arizona Post”
Three Ways to Bolster The Innovation Ecosystem for Women
When the topic of encouraging more female leadership in the startup economy arises, discussions usually center on what women entrepreneurs should do differently. How they should present with greater authority, or how they should “dress the part” for their next investor pitch. Put frankly, how they should adopt any manner of different behaviors. I would … Continue reading “Three Ways to Bolster The Innovation Ecosystem for Women”
Bluegrass Vascular Gets Funding, Signs Distribution Deal With Merit
San Antonio — Bluegrass Vascular Technologies, a San Antonio company whose system for regaining access to obstructed veins received European regulatory approval last summer, has signed a deal that gives the medical device company a new equity investor and a distributor in Europe. Merit Medical Systems (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MMSI]]) made the investment, which is the company’s … Continue reading “Bluegrass Vascular Gets Funding, Signs Distribution Deal With Merit”
Ex-Vice President Biden to Speak About Cancer Moonshot at SXSW
[Updated 3/6/17 5:37 pm. See below.] Austin—Former vice president Joseph Biden will speak at the South By Southwest festival March 12, where he is expected to outline plans for his Biden Cancer Initiative. SXSW organizers said Biden will update attendees on the progress made under his leadership of the White House Cancer Moonshot as well … Continue reading “Ex-Vice President Biden to Speak About Cancer Moonshot at SXSW”
Ingeneron Gets $20M From Sanford Health For Stem Cell Treatment
Houston—Ingeneron, a Houston-based developer of a stem cell-based technology, announced Monday that it has raised $20 million from strategic partner Sanford Health. Ingeneron is developing a stem cell-based system meant to help patients recover from wounds and orthopedic ailments like a torn shoulder rotator cuff. In total, the company has raised $38 million from unspecified … Continue reading “Ingeneron Gets $20M From Sanford Health For Stem Cell Treatment”
Five Questions For … AT&T Connected Health Foundry Chief Nadia Morris
Houston—For Nadia Morris, the key is balance. An artist by temperament, she has successfully pursued a more technical career as a software engineer. (One measure? Morris has more than 20 patents in network security and mobile app development.) As the head of innovation at AT&T’s Connected Health Foundry at the Texas Medical Center, Morris is … Continue reading “Five Questions For … AT&T Connected Health Foundry Chief Nadia Morris”
Bio Roundup: Healthcare Is Hard, “Slow” FDA, Drugging RNA & More
In an address to Congress this week, President Donald Trump outlined many of his near-term goals, including an overhaul of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, even as public opinion has begun to shift in favor of the law. Trump toned down his typical blunderbuss rhetoric, but he had choice words for the … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Healthcare Is Hard, “Slow” FDA, Drugging RNA & More”
Capital Stockpile Grows as Venture Fund-Raising Hits Recent High
In the venture capital business, a rising tide lifts all boats. That’s the idea, at least. A new report released today by Seattle-based PitchBook shows that U.S. venture firms have plenty of capital to invest in new companies, after 328 venture funds raised a total of $51.6 billion in 2016. That’s a high-water mark for … Continue reading “Capital Stockpile Grows as Venture Fund-Raising Hits Recent High”
Snap Raises $3.4B in IPO, Soaring Trades Set Value Past $20B
Snap, which rose to unicorn status based on a social media app that creates quickly vanishing photos, attracted solid investor interest in an IPO that raised $3.4 billion and sent shares up more than 50 percent above the initial offering price during the first day of trading today. Snap (NYSE: [[ticker:SNAP]]) priced its IPO shares … Continue reading “Snap Raises $3.4B in IPO, Soaring Trades Set Value Past $20B”
Trump and Kalanick: Twin Chief Executives Face Similar Problems
In the rinse-repeat rhythm of Uber’s PR crises, it’s easy to miss that this particular cycle has been a long one. Uber’s latest wave of negative press began in January with a backlash against CEO Travis Kalanick’s role on President Donald Trump’s White House business advisory panel. There’s some irony here, because Trump and Kalanick … Continue reading “Trump and Kalanick: Twin Chief Executives Face Similar Problems”
The Right Tune: Marketing Startup Music Audience Exchange Raises $6M
Dallas—If you think about it, executing a successful marketing campaign is similar to a match-making exercise done well. But to try to ensure that a mutually beneficial relationship is formed, entrepreneur Nathan Hanks has added some data analytics to the match-making mix with his music-focused startup. “The brands we are working with are in need … Continue reading “The Right Tune: Marketing Startup Music Audience Exchange Raises $6M”
Evestra Signs Deal with Glemark for Generic Version of NuvaRing
San Antonio — Evestra, an early stage drug developer focused on women’s health, has made a deal with the U.S. division of Mumbai-based Glenmark Pharmaceuticals to try to bring its generic version of the NuvaRing birth control product to market. San Antonio-based Evestra’s product is still in development, and the companies say they are hoping … Continue reading “Evestra Signs Deal with Glemark for Generic Version of NuvaRing”
Texas Medical Center CEO Robert Robbins in Line For Top Arizona Post
[Updated 3/01/17 4:37 pm. See below.] Houston—Robert Robbins, the CEO of the Texas Medical Center, is one of two finalists vying to be the next president of the University of Arizona. The Phoenix-based Arizona Board of Regents announced Monday that the top two candidates are Robbins and Sethuraman Panchanathan, the executive vice president and chief research and … Continue reading “Texas Medical Center CEO Robert Robbins in Line For Top Arizona Post”
StemBioSys Lands Experimental UT Tech That Finds Young Stem Cells
San Antonio — StemBioSys, the life sciences company with a system for growing stem cells, has licensed an experimental technology from University of Texas Health San Antonio that may help identify healthy young adult stem cells among large pools of other cells. There’s plenty of research examining how to possibly use adult stem cells as treatments … Continue reading “StemBioSys Lands Experimental UT Tech That Finds Young Stem Cells”
Former FDA Commissioners Califf, McClellan Talk Healthcare’s Future
The top spot at the FDA remains vacant, and the change in presidential power has some healthcare observers wondering about possible changes for the regulator. One month removed from serving as FDA commissioner, Robert Califf says the agency can be improved through a combination of precedent, experience, and evidence. Califf, who served less than one … Continue reading “Former FDA Commissioners Califf, McClellan Talk Healthcare’s Future”
FDA Approves Houston Biotech Lexicon’s Carcinoid Syndrome Diarrhea Drug
Houston—Lexicon Pharmaceuticals announced Tuesday that the FDA has approved its treatment for diarrhea caused by carcinoid syndrome, telotristat ethyl (Xermelo). Lexicon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:LXRX]]) says it is the first orally administered therapy to treat carcinoid syndrome diarrhea in combination with somatostatin analog, or SSA, therapies, which target the root cause of the problem: overproduction of hormones. … Continue reading “FDA Approves Houston Biotech Lexicon’s Carcinoid Syndrome Diarrhea Drug”
TX Roundup: Xenex & data.world Funding, Accenture Hub, & Lynda Chin
Let’s get caught up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —When you spent your childhood in places like Dakar, Senegal, and Beirut, perhaps it’s not so surprising that, in adulthood, your travel itinerary would include the South Pole and outer space. NASA astronaut and serial inventor, Scott Parazynski, speaks about Thomas Edison and … Continue reading “TX Roundup: Xenex & data.world Funding, Accenture Hub, & Lynda Chin”
Nonprofit Seeds Exonics to Fund Push For CRISPR Duchenne Treatment
Two newly approved drugs slow the progression of the rare and deadly Duchenne muscular dystrophy, but nothing on the market actually reverses the march of the disease. An emerging group of experimental gene therapy and gene editing treatments designed to do so are creeping towards human clinical testing, however, and one of them has just … Continue reading “Nonprofit Seeds Exonics to Fund Push For CRISPR Duchenne Treatment”
Five Questions For … Astronaut & Serial Inventor Scott Parazynski
Houston—As children, many of us believed we would have out-of-this-world experiences as adults. Scott Parazynksi is actually living that childhood wish. As a NASA astronaut, Parazynski has flown on five shuttle missions and completed seven spacewalks, including at the International Space Station. A physician, he was the founding director of the University of Texas Medical … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Astronaut & Serial Inventor Scott Parazynski”
Xenex Gets $38M From Essex Woodlands, Others for Germ-Zapping Robots
San Antonio — Xenex Disinfection Services, the maker of a robot that rids hospital rooms of tiny bacteria and viruses that can potentially cause deadly infections, has raised $38 million of venture funding to hire new salespeople and spend more on research and development. Xenex’s technology, called LightStrike Germ-Zapping Robots, uses an inert gas, pulsed … Continue reading “Xenex Gets $38M From Essex Woodlands, Others for Germ-Zapping Robots”
To Spin Out of Rackspace Means New Life and, In One Case, Mark Cuban
San Antonio—It’s getting hard to keep track of the number of new startups that have spun out of Rackspace to make a go of it as private companies in the city’s downtown tech corridor, from Mailgun earlier this week and HelpSocial in 2014, to many others in the years between. But HelpSocial, which provides software … Continue reading “To Spin Out of Rackspace Means New Life and, In One Case, Mark Cuban”
Bio Roundup: Trump Backlash, Verdine Plans, Sarepta Sale & More
A short week makes for a shorter roundup. As we’ve come to expect, however, there was no dearth of health and life-sciences news from Washington, D.C. A bipartisan group of Congress members who oversee health policy countered President Donald Trump’s encouragement of vaccine skeptics; the real test will be the upcoming budget’s funding of Centers … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Trump Backlash, Verdine Plans, Sarepta Sale & More”
UT’s Lynda Chin Responds to Flap Over MD Anderson and Watson Project
Houston—A University of Texas System audit criticizing the administration of a $62 million partnership between MD Anderson Cancer Center and IBM Watson does not necessarily mean an end to the effort to treat cancer using artificial intelligence tools at the medical institution. That’s according to the researcher who led the project at MD Anderson, as … Continue reading “UT’s Lynda Chin Responds to Flap Over MD Anderson and Watson Project”
Accenture Opens First of 10 Innovation Centers in Houston
Houston—The city of Houston boasts a healthy supply of young educated workers and an abundance of private wealth, but its corporate ecosystem and risk aversion toward tech startups prevents its innovation community from realizing its full potential. That’s according to a new report by the consulting firm Accenture, which also announced on Wednesday the opening … Continue reading “Accenture Opens First of 10 Innovation Centers in Houston”
Rackspace Spinout Mailgun Raises $50M for API-Focused E-mail Service
San Antonio—For businesses sending out thousands or millions of receipts and marketing materials over e-mail to customers every year, there’s plenty to monitor. You have make sure those e-mails are delivered, that they stand out among the spam (or aren’t mistaken for it), that any customer replies go to the right employees, and that any … Continue reading “Rackspace Spinout Mailgun Raises $50M for API-Focused E-mail Service”
Sexual Harassment Claims Add to Turbulent Times for Uber
For the second time in less than a month, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick found himself fending off critical questions from his own employees at a Tuesday company-wide meeting. The last time, Kalanick was trying to justify remaining on President Trump’s economic advisory council after Trump issued a sudden travel ban against refugees and people from … Continue reading “Sexual Harassment Claims Add to Turbulent Times for Uber”
Amazon, Uber, and Bill Gates’s Robot Tax: An Automation Snapshot
As we gear up for Robo Madness 2017: A.I. Gets Real, our annual robotics and artificial intelligence conference at Google’s offices in Kendall Square, let’s connect a few dots around the topic of automation. In just the past day or two: —Uber has started testing self-driving cars in Tempe, AZ, after having its tests banned … Continue reading “Amazon, Uber, and Bill Gates’s Robot Tax: An Automation Snapshot”
Texas Roundup: Joseph Kopser, Data Refuge, TMC, uShip, EO2 Concepts
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —We have “Five Questions For” Joseph Kopser, an ex-Army officer and West Point professor who found a new mission as a transportation evangelist of sorts when he founded RideScout, an app that aggregated different modes of transportation. With the sale of his company to … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: Joseph Kopser, Data Refuge, TMC, uShip, EO2 Concepts”
Lumina Foundation Gives Odds For Edtech Innovation Under Trump
[Corrected 2/22/17, 9:35 am. See below.] Bipartisanship hasn’t exactly been the watchword in Washington over the past month as the new Trump administration grapples with stalled nominations, court battles over its travel ban, and investigations of campaign contacts with Russia. But deeply divided politicians may still find some common ground over education policy—in ways that … Continue reading “Lumina Foundation Gives Odds For Edtech Innovation Under Trump”
Five Questions For … Joseph Kopser, Ex-Army Officer, RideScout founder
Austin—Many entrepreneurs developing a consumer product attempt to incorporate that technology in their daily lives. For Joseph Kopser, that meant regular commutes from his home in Austin, TX, to pitch events and meetings in Houston without using a car—a rather unusual choice in Texas. Kopser was developing RideScout, an app that aggregated various transportation options—taxis, … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Joseph Kopser, Ex-Army Officer, RideScout founder”
Bio Roundup: CRISPR Drama, Marathon and PhRMA, the Price of Vision & More
News may be coming out of Washington, DC, at a breakneck pace, but concrete plans regarding the future of the nation’s healthcare system, the FDA, and the pharmaceutical industry have been much slower to materialize. The consternation about President Donald Trump’s coming pick for FDA commissioner was palpable this week at the BIO CEO & … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: CRISPR Drama, Marathon and PhRMA, the Price of Vision & More”
An Update on Tasktop—and the Future of Software Development
You can learn a lot from a quick breakfast meeting. I’m at a French bakery in Assembly Row in Somerville, MA, with executives from Tasktop Technologies, a software company Xconomy has covered for years. Inside, the smell of croissants and coffee. Outside, a coating of fresh snow, just enough to be dangerous. These are heady … Continue reading “An Update on Tasktop—and the Future of Software Development”
Rice, UH Libraries to Host Data Rescue Project Next Month
Houston—The University of Houston and Rice University library systems are working together to help preserve online federal data, as part of a national project aimed at safeguarding scientific research. “The ultimate goal is to raise awareness of having access to this information and preserving this information,” says Lisa Spiro, executive director of digital scholarship services … Continue reading “Rice, UH Libraries to Host Data Rescue Project Next Month “
After CEO Hire, uShip Adds $25M to Further Freight Shipping Software
Austin—UShip, one week after announcing it hired a new CEO, said the company has raised a $25 million round of funding from German shipping logistics company DB Schenker, which uShip signed a deal with last year. Schenker announced in July that it signed a five-year agreement to use uShip’s enterprise freight-focused software to match freight … Continue reading “After CEO Hire, uShip Adds $25M to Further Freight Shipping Software”
EO2 Concepts Aims to Impress CME With Med Device Study, Gain Funding
San Antonio — For chronic wounds, there’s a bevy of treatment options attracting the dollars spent on care, from stalwarts like Acelity’s negative-pressure therapies to more standard, basic dressings. Now, a San Antonio medical device company has a product that it believes can potentially be more effective than other treatments and limit healthcare costs. And EO2 … Continue reading “EO2 Concepts Aims to Impress CME With Med Device Study, Gain Funding”
FarmLogs Co-Founder on Growth, Agronomics, and U.S. Ag Policy
Ann Arbor, MI-based agtech company FarmLogs has been one of the fastest-growing startups in the state since its launch in 2012. Last month, it closed a $22 million Series C round led by Naspers Ventures, a global investing giant focused on companies addressing big societal needs in high-growth markets. FarmLogs has developed software that enables … Continue reading “FarmLogs Co-Founder on Growth, Agronomics, and U.S. Ag Policy”
With “Go,” Amazon Identifies Another Job It Can Do Better
Early last year, I “fired” talk radio along with NPR’s morning and evening editions. That same day, I “hired” Amazon Audible as my commute companion. It wasn’t a difficult decision. Audible is far better than its predecessors at doing the job I need done as I travel to and from my office – provide on-demand … Continue reading “With “Go,” Amazon Identifies Another Job It Can Do Better”
Texas Roundup: TMCx, Katie Mehnert, UT System, Authenticated Reality
Let’s get caught up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —Often those in medical fields come up with innovative ideas during the course of their work. What they lack, however, is experience in running a business, namely, raising money to help pay for research and development. Fundraising strategies for young medtech entrepreneurs was … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: TMCx, Katie Mehnert, UT System, Authenticated Reality”
Fintech VC Backing Dipped 13 Percent in 2016, Mirroring Rest of Tech
The final numbers on 2016 fintech funding deals are in from New York-based research firm and investment database CB Insights, and venture capitalists seem to be cooling on the industry. According to a report released today, financial technology companies around the world attracted $12.7 billion in venture capital across 836 investments last year. That is … Continue reading “Fintech VC Backing Dipped 13 Percent in 2016, Mirroring Rest of Tech”
Starting a Medtech Company? Try Skipping Venture Capital, VCs Say
San Antonio — What’s the best way to build a startup? Bootstrap it, raise little or no VC funding, and (ideally) sell it for hundreds of millions—or billions—of dollars, according to two venture capitalists. That’s what they did at least. Andrew Farquharson, now the managing director of InCube Ventures in San Jose, CA, was the chief … Continue reading “Starting a Medtech Company? Try Skipping Venture Capital, VCs Say”
TMCx Brings On Largest Class, HealthIT Startups from US & Abroad
Houston—The Texas Medical Center’s TMCx accelerator announced today its largest class of health IT startups, the fourth cohort for the program. The 24-member class includes three Australian companies that are taking part through the TMC’s new BioBridge health technology startup exchange, a program with the Health Informatics Society of Australia that allows Australian entrepreneurs to … Continue reading “TMCx Brings On Largest Class, HealthIT Startups from US & Abroad”
Amid Fake News, Authenticated Reality Launches “The New Internet”
Austin—At a time of fake news and “alternative facts,” it makes sense that a tech entrepreneur would try to find a way to innovate to ensure our encounters on the Internet are real. Chris Ciabarra, co-founder and CTO of Authenticated Reality, says the startup’s new browser—one that would require users to prove they are who … Continue reading “Amid Fake News, Authenticated Reality Launches “The New Internet””
Dear Tom Price: Bundled Payments Help Patients and Reduce Costs
With all the talk of repealing Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act (ACA), people have been taking a closer look at what the law has done for our healthcare system. It turns out the ACA is about a lot more than the problematic healthcare marketplaces. There’s the extension of parental insurance coverage to age 26 and … Continue reading “Dear Tom Price: Bundled Payments Help Patients and Reduce Costs”
Senate Confirms Price for HHS, But Stock Deals Still Raise Questions
The Senate confirmed Tom Price as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services early Friday morning by a 52-47 vote that, as expected, fell largely on party lines. Price is an orthopedic surgeon by training who has been a member of Georgia’s congressional delegation since 2004. He will now oversee a department that … Continue reading “Senate Confirms Price for HHS, But Stock Deals Still Raise Questions”