Houston—Katie Mehnert watched her father lose his engineering job during the energy industry’s depression in the 1980s, and swore to him she would avoid oil and gas jobs. But she did eventually join the ranks of oil and gas workers, even deciding to form her own energy startup, Pink Petro, which aims to not only bring … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Katie Mehnert, Founder and CEO of Pink Petro”
Category: Texas
Bio Roundup: Travel Ban Block, Gilead Shock, Dean Kamen Talk & More
The biotech community pushed back against President Donald Trump’s order to block travelers and refugees this week, and not much later, a federal court did, too. Patient advocates have scored big wins with recent approvals of rare disease treatments, but they’re not as happy with insurers’ coverage decisions or with Trump’s promises of massive FDA … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Travel Ban Block, Gilead Shock, Dean Kamen Talk & More”
Often Advocates Of Faster FDA, Patient Groups Wary Of Trump Deregulation
In the biomedical world, perhaps the biggest question looming over President Donald Trump’s upcoming pick for Food and Drug Administration commissioner is how drastically that person will help roll back FDA regulations. Trump said at last week’s meeting in Washington D.C., with pharmaceutical executives that he wanted to slash FDA rules by 75 to 80 … Continue reading “Often Advocates Of Faster FDA, Patient Groups Wary Of Trump Deregulation”
San Francisco Appeals Court Upholds Stay on Trump’s Travel Ban—For Now
The Trump administration’s travel ban will remain on a temporary hold under an order issued today by a federal appeals court in San Francisco, which held that the government had failed to make its case for lifting a stay won through a court challenge by the state of Washington. That means that for the time … Continue reading “San Francisco Appeals Court Upholds Stay on Trump’s Travel Ban—For Now”
Xconomy Is Growing: We Need Great Salespeople in SF, Texas, and NY
Since Xconomy’s founding nearly a decade ago, we have grown from a single bureau in Boston to having editors covering 11 innovation clusters around the United States. And over this time, we have cultivated a reputation for outstanding news coverage and events across high-tech business sectors—from information technology to life sciences and beyond. In the … Continue reading “Xconomy Is Growing: We Need Great Salespeople in SF, Texas, and NY”
Spredfast Says It Will Close Its Madison Office, Eliminating 47 Jobs
In August 2015, Spredfast, an Austin, TX-based developer of social media management software, acquired Madison, WI-based Shoutlet for an undisclosed sum. In a message announcing the deal, Spredfast said that the staff and headquarters of Shoutlet—which sold cloud-based software to help measure the impact of online marketing campaigns—would “become Spredfast’s newest development center.” Now, a … Continue reading “Spredfast Says It Will Close Its Madison Office, Eliminating 47 Jobs”
Texas Roundup: Rackspace, 1st and Future, Manoj Saxena, & BeeHex
Let’s get caught up on the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —San Antonio cloud computing company Rackspace is cutting 270 jobs in the U.S.—about 6 percent of its 4,500-person workforce—the company’s CEO Taylor Rhodes announced. The move comes almost five months after Rackspace was acquired by private equity firms for $4.3 billion. To help … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: Rackspace, 1st and Future, Manoj Saxena, & BeeHex”
With Rackspace Layoffs, Eyes Turn to Rising San Antonio Tech Economy
San Antonio—There’s never a good time to be laid off. But maybe some times are better than others? Rackspace is cutting about 270 jobs in the U.S.—some 6 percent of its 4,500-person workforce—the company’s CEO Taylor Rhodes announced yesterday, almost five months after it was acquired by private equity firms for $4.3 billion. The layoffs … Continue reading “With Rackspace Layoffs, Eyes Turn to Rising San Antonio Tech Economy”
New CEO of Shipping Software Maker uShip Eyes Mobile, International
Austin—Shipping logistics software developer uShip has hired a new CEO, Mike Williams, two months after co-founder and CEO Matt Chasen announced he was resigning from the Austin, TX, company to pursue other early stage startup work. Williams was previously the general manager of corporate real estate services at Accruent, another Austin company that sells software … Continue reading “New CEO of Shipping Software Maker uShip Eyes Mobile, International”
Trump’s Immigration Policies Threaten to Thwart Economic Growth
For the entire staff at Global Detroit, the Executive Orders from President Trump on immigration, refugees, the so-called Muslim ban, and the wall have been devastating and deeply distressing. They challenge our sense of American values and history. Beyond our personal and moral reactions, however, the Executive Orders also may have some impact on the … Continue reading “Trump’s Immigration Policies Threaten to Thwart Economic Growth”
Biotech Leaders Sign Letter Condemning Trump’s Travel Ban
The blowback from U.S. business leaders to President Trump’s travel ban continues—today from a throng of biotech executives. This morning, 165 U.S. biotech leaders have signed a letter voicing “deep concern and opposition” to the order, which bars entry to the U.S. to refugees and immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries. The Jan. 27 order placed … Continue reading “Biotech Leaders Sign Letter Condemning Trump’s Travel Ban”
Hardware Startups Accelerator makerSeed Set to Launch in Dallas
Dallas—A new accelerator for hardware innovation is being hatched in Texas. MakerSeed, which will be based at the University of Texas at Dallas, will focus on student startups and entrepreneurs developing technologies in wearables, IoT, robotics, and other hardware specialties. “I realized there’s kind of a grassroots maker community and a lot of talent in … Continue reading “Hardware Startups Accelerator makerSeed Set to Launch in Dallas”
Kentucky Biotech CEO’s Message For McConnell: I’ll Be Muslim, Too
President Trump’s order to bar refugees and immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries is on temporary hold, and a court hearing later today could eventually force a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court. One of the latest biotech executives to speak out against the ban is in the backyard of Mitch McConnell (R-KY), the top Republican … Continue reading “Kentucky Biotech CEO’s Message For McConnell: I’ll Be Muslim, Too”
Building Healthier Athletes: NFL’s 1st and Future Contest in Houston
Houston—The Texas Medical Center had its most high-profile stage yet to showcase its efforts to develop Houston’s biotech innovation community with the NFL’s 1st and Future startup pitch contest. The competition, held Saturday morning at the medical center’s TMCx accelerator, began with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and TMC CEO Bobby Robbins touting the city’s healthcare … Continue reading “Building Healthier Athletes: NFL’s 1st and Future Contest in Houston”
Bio Roundup: Travel Ban, Pharma in DC, Biogen Splits, PCSK9 Wins
Folks had just clocked out last Friday when the Trump Administration announced a travel ban that threw airports around the country into chaos. That announcement set the tone for this week in life sciences. Many in biopharma blasted Trump’s order and tried to grapple with its implications. At the same time, a handful of the … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Travel Ban, Pharma in DC, Biogen Splits, PCSK9 Wins”
Five Questions For … Manoj Saxena, AI Investor & Ex-IBM Watson Chief
Austin—Humanity is entering the age of homo digitalis. That’s the view of Manoj Saxena, the former general manager of IBM’s Watson Solutions in Austin, TX, and now a venture capitalist who focuses on artificial intelligence startups. The way he sees it, technological advances in machine learning and virtual reality can be combined to create a new … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Manoj Saxena, AI Investor & Ex-IBM Watson Chief”
Seed-Stage Deals Show Growing Diversity of Agtech Investments
Fundraising is tough for startups but it’s particularly difficult in agriculture, a sector that has fewer firms focused on agtech investments. The dynamics are starting to change, though. A growing number of early-stage agtech startups are raising money and they’re pulling capital from a broader pool of sources, according to a new report from AgFunder, … Continue reading “Seed-Stage Deals Show Growing Diversity of Agtech Investments”
BeeHex Aims to Bring 3D Printing to Food, One Pizza at a Time
Houston—Who would have thought that the humble pizza could be an icon of innovation? BeeHex founder and CEO Anjan Contractor says the ubiquitous pie is the perfect way to illustrate the possibilities of its chief product—a 3D printer that can “cook.” “It’s strategic; we realize going after all food types is not efficient,” he says. … Continue reading “BeeHex Aims to Bring 3D Printing to Food, One Pizza at a Time”
Still No Official Word From Biopharma Groups About Trump Travel Ban
Four days after President Donald Trump issued an order to temporarily ban U.S. entry for people from seven Muslim-majority countries—and for all refugees—the drug industry’s two main lobbying groups have remained silent, even while individual executives in the industry have voiced opposition. The main life science trade group in California has also stayed on the … Continue reading “Still No Official Word From Biopharma Groups About Trump Travel Ban”
Ex-Xerox CTO Vandebroek Named Chief Operating Officer of IBM Research
When I last spoke to Sophie Vandebroek in December, it was for a kind of exit interview as she prepared to leave her longtime job as Xerox’s CTO and head of its worldwide research organization. We went over highlights of her Xerox tenure, her outlook on key technology trends for 2017 and beyond—the Internet of … Continue reading “Ex-Xerox CTO Vandebroek Named Chief Operating Officer of IBM Research”
Texas Roundup: Comey at SXSW, CTAN, RealCo, Fannin, “Trump and Dump”
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —The slow pace of a research environment—not to mention a couple of ER trips for “lab-related accidents,” sent Erik Halvorsen down a career path in technology transfer. Halvorsen, who now directs the Texas Medical Center’s Innovation Institute, speaks about that journey, how commercialization became … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: Comey at SXSW, CTAN, RealCo, Fannin, “Trump and Dump””
Cybersecurity in 2017: Goal, Illusion, or Oxymoron?
Here at the (relative) beginning of 2017, we can safely say that the previous year was among the most significant in history from a cybersecurity standpoint. Nation-state actions, in the form of the assumed Russian interference in the U.S. elections (especially the presidential race) and in the leaks of e-mails from the Clinton campaign, dominated … Continue reading “Cybersecurity in 2017: Goal, Illusion, or Oxymoron?”
Bio Roundup: Trump News, Anthem’s Stand, Diversity by 2056 & More
It was a wild week in biotech and on Capitol Hill. A new study showed it may take another 40 years to achieve gender parity in public biotech boardrooms. Tensions continued to mount between drugmakers and payers over the rising costs of rare disease drugs. A flurry of deals took place, headlined by Johnson & … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Trump News, Anthem’s Stand, Diversity by 2056 & More”
Five Questions For … Erik Halvorsen of TMC’s Innovation Institute
Houston—With one year of medical school down, Erik Halvorsen was well on his way to becoming a doctor when a realization struck him: He didn’t actually want to treat patients. “I was much more interested in asking questions and I wanted to find answers to things that people never did before,” he says. So, instead … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Erik Halvorsen of TMC’s Innovation Institute”
Jounce Gets $102M As Biotech IPOs Gain Steam in ’17
Jounce Therapeutics has gone ahead of its projections and raised roughly $102 million in an IPO, continuing an early, yet successful trend for biotechs trying to go public in 2017. The Cambridge, MA, company sold close to 6,365,000 shares at $16 apiece, almost 1 million more shares than it proposed to sell a few weeks … Continue reading “Jounce Gets $102M As Biotech IPOs Gain Steam in ’17”
Well Beyond Care Wins CTAN-Rice Alliance Pitch Competition in Austin
Austin—A group of early stage startups pitched to a movie theater full of attorneys, investors, and others in the Austin, TX startup world for a chance to win funding from the Central Texas Angel Network, ATX Seed Ventures, Aquila Commercial, and Corsa Ventures. Of the 10 pitches, one winner was picked: Well Beyond Care, an … Continue reading “Well Beyond Care Wins CTAN-Rice Alliance Pitch Competition in Austin”
Polish Subsidiary of San Antonio Firm Gets $4.6M for Endometriosis
San Antonio — A subsidiary of Evestra, a San Antonio life sciences company focused on women’s health, has received a $4.6 million grant to develop an experimental drug for endometriosis, a painful condition related to overgrowth of tissue in the uterus. Evestra Onkologia Sp., Evestra’s Polish-based subsidiary that’s focused on oncology therapeutics, is using the … Continue reading “Polish Subsidiary of San Antonio Firm Gets $4.6M for Endometriosis”
RealCo Accelerator Opens in San Antonio for Internet Tech Startups
San Antonio—There is a new startup accelerator in San Antonio that provides early stage funding, mentorship, and more for business-to-business Internet tech companies. RealCo’s accelerator program lasts up to 15 months and offers startups as much as $125,000 in early operating capital for a small equity stake in return. The accelerator is led by partners … Continue reading “RealCo Accelerator Opens in San Antonio for Internet Tech Startups”
Inspired by NFL Teammate, Aethlon Seeks Diagnostic for Brain Injuries
Just as the NFL marketing machine is stoking the build-up to Super Bowl LI, a San Diego diagnostic company headed by a former Denver Broncos player has unveiled plans for a new clinical study of traumatic brain injuries among retired NFL players. Exosome Sciences, a subsidiary of San Diego’s Aethlon Medical (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AEMD]]), said today … Continue reading “Inspired by NFL Teammate, Aethlon Seeks Diagnostic for Brain Injuries”
Report: Biotech VCs Perpetuate Boardroom Gender Gap
If power in the business world is centered in the boardroom, women in biotech have a long way to go to get their fair share—and the venture community deserves much of the blame. That’s according to British recruitment firm Liftstream and its new study of biotech companies that went public in the recent boom years. … Continue reading “Report: Biotech VCs Perpetuate Boardroom Gender Gap”
EquipmentShare Gets $26M to Leverage Data Analytics in Construction
Dallas—EquipmentShare, a data analytics and software startup geared to the construction industry, has raised $26 million in funding. The investment round was led by Insight Venture Partners and existing investor Romulus Growth, with participation from Y Combinator, another previous investor. The money will be used to expand its geographic reach and further develop new products. … Continue reading “EquipmentShare Gets $26M to Leverage Data Analytics in Construction”
Texas Roundup: Azaya, StemBioSys, Next Coast, Querium, Favor, MacroFab
Let’s get caught up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —First, we have “Five Questions For …” Gabriella Draney Zielke, co-founder and CEO of the Tech Wildcatters accelerator in Dallas. In this installment, we talk about her “accidental” journey to entrepreneurship, lessons learned about managing people, and her interest in astrophysics and space. … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: Azaya, StemBioSys, Next Coast, Querium, Favor, MacroFab”
Business Leaders Talk Trump’s Impact on Visas, Drug Pricing, Insurance
Perhaps you’ve heard about the inauguration of one Donald J. Trump. Xconomy has been asking prominent members of the national innovation community for their thoughts on the incoming administration and its potential impact on their companies and industries. Here are responses from four business leaders in different cities across Xconomy’s network. Alex Lash, our national … Continue reading “Business Leaders Talk Trump’s Impact on Visas, Drug Pricing, Insurance”
“Five Questions For … ” Tech Wildcatters CEO Gabriella Draney Zielke
Dallas—A lot of founders I meet say they always knew they wanted to start their own companies. Tech Wildcatters co-founder Gabriella Draney Zielke says her journey into entrepreneurship was an accidental one. Working at a fractional jet company at age 19, she tells me, she joined an aviation software startup company with her then-husband. A … Continue reading ““Five Questions For … ” Tech Wildcatters CEO Gabriella Draney Zielke”
Bio Roundup: Tom Price, Patient Conflicts, Orphan Games & More
The new president of the United States, Donald Trump, is being sworn in today amid a storm of questions about the plans that he, and those who might work for him, have in store for American healthcare and medicine. Trump’s nominee to run the $1 trillion Health and Human Services Department, Tom Price, answered—or didn’t … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Tom Price, Patient Conflicts, Orphan Games & More”
Cytori Buys San Antonio-based Azaya’s Drug Delivery Tech for Stock
San Antonio — Cytori Therapeutics, a San Diego, CA-based developer of drugs that use patients’ own fat tissues to make cellular therapies, is buying the assets of San Antonio-based Azaya Therapeutics in a mostly stock deal, with potential future payments that are dependent on the progress of two drug candidates Cytori is acquiring. Azaya shareholders … Continue reading “Cytori Buys San Antonio-based Azaya’s Drug Delivery Tech for Stock”
StemBioSys Taps VWR to Distribute Stem Cell Products in U.S., Canada
San Antonio — StemBioSys has signed a deal to have its stem cell production products distributed in the U.S. and Canada by VWR (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VWR]]), a distributor of lab products to the life sciences industry, according to CEO Bob Hutchens. StemBioSys had a busy 2016, signing similar deals to have companies in Japan, Sweden, and South … Continue reading “StemBioSys Taps VWR to Distribute Stem Cell Products in U.S., Canada”
Want to Ruin Your Relationships? Ask Family and Friends to Fund Your Startup
When you need cash to fuel your startup, it’s tempting to “think local.” The people with the strongest ties to you—relatives, friends, college roommates, running buddies, and co-workers—are the ones who believe in you. You’d probably turn first to them for financial support. Capital fronted by these folks might be the quickest, easiest cash you’ll … Continue reading “Want to Ruin Your Relationships? Ask Family and Friends to Fund Your Startup”
Dems Grill HHS Nominee Price About Trump Comments, Stock Holdings
[Note: This report was co-authored by deputy biotech editor Ben Fidler.] Tom Price, the man who could oversee an overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system, answered often pointed questions this morning from U.S. senators about his views, his plans for Obamacare, and personal financial transactions. Price, an orthopedic surgeon by training, is President-elect Donald Trump’s … Continue reading “Dems Grill HHS Nominee Price About Trump Comments, Stock Holdings”
Next Coast Ventures Latest Addition to Austin’s Investment Ecosystem
Austin—Mike Smerklo, co-founder of Next Coast Ventures in Austin, says his venture firm brings a key ingredient to investing: entrepreneurial experience. “We just believe that relevant experience is more important than anecdotal evidence,” he says of himself and co-founder Tom Ball, who have led companies such as ServiceSource, Nucleus Growth, Openfield, and eCoupons, which was … Continue reading “Next Coast Ventures Latest Addition to Austin’s Investment Ecosystem”
Jungle Disk Gets Additional Funding A Year After Rackspace Spinout
Jungle Disk, a data backup company that spun out of Rackspace about a year ago, has raised more funding to help the company market itself and add more customers. Jungle Disk isn’t disclosing how much it raised or whom it’s from. The money comes on top of the $11 million in venture funding the company … Continue reading “Jungle Disk Gets Additional Funding A Year After Rackspace Spinout”
Seeking Profitability, Favor Reverses Expansion to Focus on Texas
Austin—Favor, the startup with a mobile app that offers to deliver anything, is closing all of its operations outside of Texas, including in cities such as Boston and Denver. The move to work only in Texas, where Austin, TX-based Favor offers its app-based delivery service in 15 cities, is an attempt to push the company … Continue reading “Seeking Profitability, Favor Reverses Expansion to Focus on Texas”
Texas Roundup: EnergyFunders, Neal Murthy, Xenex, Xeris, LiveOak
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news from Texas. —Initially set up as a crowdfunding-type platform for small to medium oil and gas operators, EnergyFunders has now expanded its services beyond providing cash. The site, which launched in 2015, also connects operators to hardware and specialized talent they might need to fully realize their … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: EnergyFunders, Neal Murthy, Xenex, Xeris, LiveOak”
Video Trends Point to Changing Ways Companies Reach Consumers
The top emerging trends that will affect our business in 2017 are a mixture of how consumers digest information online, video trends, and the continued growth of live video. The way people digest information online has shifted over time from being text based to photo based to now being very video based. Facebook forecasts that … Continue reading “Video Trends Point to Changing Ways Companies Reach Consumers”
Crowdfunding Site EnergyFunders Expands to Offer More Than Just Money
Houston—EnergyFunders started out as a website to connect smaller oil and gas operators to interested investors. Turns out, the need wasn’t only in the matchmaking but in playing therapist throughout the relationship of a drilling project. “The project is a living thing,” says Philip Racusin, EnergyFunders co-founder. “It’s not a one-and-done transaction. We’ve developed an … Continue reading “Crowdfunding Site EnergyFunders Expands to Offer More Than Just Money”
Biotech Roundup: JPM Deals, Gender Diversity, PCSK9 Battle & More
[Corrected, 1/14/16, see below] This past week, the biopharma industry made its annual January pilgrimage to San Francisco for the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference. 2016 was a whirlwind year in biotech, and the biopharma gods rewarded attendees with a multi-day monsoon to slog through to get from one meeting to the next. Earlier today, Alex … Continue reading “Biotech Roundup: JPM Deals, Gender Diversity, PCSK9 Battle & More”
Five Questions For … Houston Entrepreneur and Investor Neal Murthy
Houston—Don’t call Neal Murthy an innovator. Sure, he’s founded and sold companies in behavioral simulation software, energy consulting, and social ventures, and he is an avid investor and mentor to entrepreneurs. His interests range from biotech to artificial intelligence to the social impacts of playing games. “I love to get my hands on something new … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Houston Entrepreneur and Investor Neal Murthy”
Notes From The JPM ’17 Vortex: Trump, Rainstorms & The Price You Pay
[Editor’s note: Ben Fidler contributed to this report] The week of frenetic data sharing, deal talking, and party hopping of the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference—and the events that have mushroomed around it—took a punch to the gut just as most attendees were wrapping up and checking their outbound flight status. The incoming party-pooper-in-chief, Donald Trump, … Continue reading “Notes From The JPM ’17 Vortex: Trump, Rainstorms & The Price You Pay”
Startup Resolution 2017: Embrace Believers, Bounce Skeptics & Keep Moving
The holiday period is a great time for reflection and then behavior modification – often referred to as resolutions. While a bit artificial to the logical engineer, this opportunity can be helpful. This year, my favorite insight came from a former student and employee, Elliot Cohen, co-founder of PillPack. While thinking about the major aspirational … Continue reading “Startup Resolution 2017: Embrace Believers, Bounce Skeptics & Keep Moving”
U-M Gets $2M to Study Xenex Robots’ Ability to Sanitize Hospitals
San Antonio—With $2 million in funding from the NIH, researchers at the University of Michigan are going to study the effectiveness of a San Antonio company’s robot that disinfects hospital rooms. Xenex Disinfection Services sells robots that use pulses of xenon-based ultraviolet light to kill so-called drug-resistant “superbugs”—organisms like Clostridium difficile (C. diff) or methicillin-resistant … Continue reading “U-M Gets $2M to Study Xenex Robots’ Ability to Sanitize Hospitals”