[Corrected 12/01/16, 10:19 am. See below.] Houston—The Texas Medical Center’s startup accelerator TMCx will host a demo day Thursday featuring medical device startups. The group of nine startups have been housed at TMCx over the last three months working on projects including devices for more precise spinal tap procedures, an exoskeleton for seniors and the physically … Continue reading “Houston’s TMCx Accelerator Debuts First Class of Device Startups”
Category: Texas
How to Lower Drug Prices, Improve Care, and Save Pharma
I recently received a note from a longtime friend who questioned me on the issue of pharma pricing. I answered with the always-reliable alleviating-the-scourge-of-disease-through-the-miracle-of-modern-medicine defense of “free-market pricing.” My friend, who is not in the pharmaceutical business, responded: The fundamental flaw in your argument centers on the notion that there is any relevance to “market … Continue reading “How to Lower Drug Prices, Improve Care, and Save Pharma”
Roundup: Geekdom, Prytime Medical, Hangar, Houston Startup Week, & More
Let’s catch up with the latest news from Xconomy Texas. —San Antonio’s Geekdom Fund has raised $6.7 million for its new fund called Geekdom Fund II. According to a regulatory finding, the firm may raise as much as $15 million to invest on IT startups. Founded in 2014, the Geekdom Fund has focused mostly on … Continue reading “Roundup: Geekdom, Prytime Medical, Hangar, Houston Startup Week, & More”
Catapult Health Garners $10,000,000 Series B Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=5f742f46-3136-4c1b-8f98-33596aacf07f Date 11/16/2016 Company Name Catapult Health Mailing Address 8144 Walnut Hill Lane Dallas, TX 75231 USA Company Description Catapult Health provides on-site health care services to companies seeking to lower the risks and reduce the costs associated with employee health care. Website http://www.catapulthealth.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $10,000,000 Transaction … Continue reading “Catapult Health Garners $10,000,000 Series B Funding Round”
Geekdom Fund Raising Up to $15M For Second Startup Investment Fund
San Antonio—Geekdom Fund, an early stage San Antonio venture capital firm focused on IT startups, has raised $6.7 million for a new fund, Geekdom Fund II. The firm may raise as much as $15 million, according to a regulatory filing. Founded in 2014 by Michael Girdley, Don Douglas, Mike Troy, and Cole Wollak, Geekdom Fund … Continue reading “Geekdom Fund Raising Up to $15M For Second Startup Investment Fund”
The New Crowdfunding Rules: Will They Really Help Startups?
Hailed as the true democratizer of private investment, crowdfunding has been attracting both headlines and a fast-growing pile of cash. In May of 2016, rules from the Securities and Exchange Commission went into effect that will democratize the process even further. These new rules will open the doors to more investors, but they also pose … Continue reading “The New Crowdfunding Rules: Will They Really Help Startups?”
Ortho Kinematics Garners $1,495,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a5f13092-55fa-4ae1-a56e-e0772e8e1095 Date 11/15/2016 Company Name Ortho Kinematics Mailing Address 110 Wild Basin Road Austin, TX 78746 USA Company Description Ortho Kinematics, Inc. is a spine diagnostics company focused on spine motion analysis products and services. Website http://www.orthokinematics.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount $1,495,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not … Continue reading “Ortho Kinematics Garners $1,495,000 New Funding Round”
Prytime Medical Gets OK to Sell Anti-Hemorrhaging Device in Europe
San Antonio — [Updated 11/15/16, 4:15 p.m. See below.] Prytime Medical Devices, a Texas-based company with a medical device that’s used in trauma patients, has received approval to sell its lead product in Europe. Prytime, which is headquartered near San Antonio in Boerne, TX, sells a catheter that can be used in emergency and critical care situations … Continue reading “Prytime Medical Gets OK to Sell Anti-Hemorrhaging Device in Europe”
Inaugural Houston Startup Week Promotes Close-Knit Tech Community
Houston—Startup Week is a staple in many tech communities, a high-profile effort to both support fledgling entrepreneurs and highlight a city’s home-grown innovations. And now the country’s fourth largest city has joined their ranks. Houston held its first Startup Week last week, featuring events to teach founders marketing strategy, fundraising techniques, product development, and other … Continue reading “Inaugural Houston Startup Week Promotes Close-Knit Tech Community”
This Old Coffee Factory in San Antonio Might Upend Manufacturing
San Antonio—There’s an industrial factory about two miles southeast of downtown San Antonio that was built for a coffee company but, sometime after the 1970s, it became home to an HVAC business. That was lucky, the factory’s current owner says, because there’s at least one room in the 26,000-square-foot complex with air conditioning. That’s the … Continue reading “This Old Coffee Factory in San Antonio Might Upend Manufacturing”
Bio Roundup: Trump’s Triumph, Election Fallout, CRISPR Arguments & More
The presidential election ended with Donald Trump’s stunning victory and Republican retention of the House and Senate. Now, the U.S. healthcare sector will try to figure out what it all means. Drug company stocks got a boost with the defeat of Hillary Clinton, a vocal critic of drug prices. But Trump’s plans are unclear. Will … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Trump’s Triumph, Election Fallout, CRISPR Arguments & More”
Klever Logic Receives $3,000,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=51c29a0d-5af7-4805-b8c7-bffe393de6d0 Date 11/11/2016 Company Name Klever Logic Mailing Address 700 Lavaca Street Austin, TX 78701 USA Company Description Through our Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) cloud-based platform, parking providers enjoy control and visibility of their operations. Website http://www.kleverlogic.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $3,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes The funds will go towards … Continue reading “Klever Logic Receives $3,000,000 New Financing”
Pristine Secures $1,283,510 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ebfa9b92-370e-47c4-a2aa-e87e3fda4323 Date 11/11/2016 Company Name Pristine Mailing Address 206 E. 9th Street Austin, TX 78701 USA Company Description Pristine EyeSight is a video communication platform optimized for Google Glass in healthcare. 1st person, wireless, hands free video. Website http://www.pristine.io Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,283,510 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds … Continue reading “Pristine Secures $1,283,510 New Financing”
Illumitex Lands $3,996,412 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d72cb9bf-5be3-4725-8812-f3284c784848 Date 11/11/2016 Company Name Illumitex Mailing Address 6301 East Stassney Lane Austin, TX 78744 USA Company Description Ilumitex manufacturers energy-efficient LED grow lights for greenhouses, hydroponics and research. Illumitex LED grow lights improve plant growth and save electricity Website http://www.illumitex.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $3,996,412 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds … Continue reading “Illumitex Lands $3,996,412 New Financing Round”
Trump Team Outlines Healthcare Agenda—No Mention of Drug Prices
The incoming Trump administration has posted an outline of its healthcare agenda on its transition website. There is no mention of drug pricing or what the administration might do about frequent price increases, such as Mylan’s EpiPen practice, that critics say are unsubstantiated and unethical. During the campaign, Trump’s official platform called for a change … Continue reading “Trump Team Outlines Healthcare Agenda—No Mention of Drug Prices”
Dallas’ Take Command Health Wants to Make Health Plan Shopping Easier
Dallas—Now that we’ve made it through Election Day, let’s brace ourselves for Benefits Enrollment season. This month, many of us will dive into the sometimes difficult-to-understand world of co-payments, premiums, prescription drug plans, and the like as we renew our company-sponsored benefits package. For Americans who work for themselves, the purchasing a healthcare plan can … Continue reading “Dallas’ Take Command Health Wants to Make Health Plan Shopping Easier”
Quick, How Might the Alien Spacecraft Work?
[This post is about the movie “Arrival“; there are no movie spoilers here.] “It’s an interesting script,” said someone on our PR team. It’s pretty common for us to get requests from movie-makers about showing our graphics or posters or books in movies. But the request this time was different: could we urgently help make … Continue reading “Quick, How Might the Alien Spacecraft Work?”
New U.S. “Roadmap” Lays Out Routes to Accelerate Robotic Technologies
Robotics technology is progressing faster than expected for self-driving cars, and drones are becoming ubiquitous throughout the United States, according to a lead scientist overseeing a robotics technology roadmap released last week. But robotics is moving slower than expected in some key areas, such as the development of dexterous gripper technology, intuitive user interfaces, and … Continue reading “New U.S. “Roadmap” Lays Out Routes to Accelerate Robotic Technologies”
Has Technology Made Election Polls More Accurate? Not Yet
Statistical models, simulations, social media outreach, and the capacity to analyze big data sets—you’d think by now that technology would have delivered election forecasts that more reliably predicted Donald Trump’s victory in the 2016 presidential race. But most pollsters—and the people who relied on them—were gobsmacked by Trump’s upset wins, not only in battleground states … Continue reading “Has Technology Made Election Polls More Accurate? Not Yet”
Trump’s Election Stunner: Tech and Life Sciences Leaders React
Still processing what this will mean for technology, business, society, and humanity—I guess it’s going to take a while. In the meantime, here are 10 notable reactions from around the Xconomy network, mostly via Twitter. As you might guess, they are a mix of outrage, resiliency, hope, rationalizing, grandstanding, and some calls for calm and … Continue reading “Trump’s Election Stunner: Tech and Life Sciences Leaders React”
In Trump-GOP Tsunami, Blue-State Healthcare Ideas Swamped
[Updated, 11/9/16, 1:20 p.m. See below.] The 2016 U.S. election is over. The country has been rocked by the presidential race, with Donald Trump taking the White House. Every facet of American policy, our attitudes toward power and governance, even our national character will be topics of debate in coming months. Our healthcare system will … Continue reading “In Trump-GOP Tsunami, Blue-State Healthcare Ideas Swamped”
RealSavvy May Add SF, LA to Social Real Estate Apps After Funding
Austin—RealSavvy, the Austin, TX-based startup behind a real estate app with Pinterest-like qualities for home buyers and agents, is looking to expand to cities outside of the state after receiving a new round of funding last month, co-founder and CEO Rick Orr tells Xconomy. The company received $1.6 million in October from FF Angel, an … Continue reading “RealSavvy May Add SF, LA to Social Real Estate Apps After Funding”
Golf Apparel Startup Wins $25K at San Antonio Pitch Contest
San Antonio—An e-commerce golf clothing business called The Country Club Collection won the $25,000 top award at the Stumberg Prize Competition hosted by Trinity University in San Antonio. The Country Club Collection liquidates unsold inventory from country club pro shops and golf outlets through its website, according to Luis Martinez, the director of Trinity’s Center … Continue reading “Golf Apparel Startup Wins $25K at San Antonio Pitch Contest”
Texas Roundup: Brainspace, Disruptors, Phunware, Chiron, Fountainhead
Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news in Texas: —Dallas’s Brainspace, a machine-learning software startup, has been acquired by private equity firms Medina Capital and BC Partners to become part of a larger cybersecurity and data services company. The new joint venture will be composed of 57 data centers and four software companies, including Brainspace. … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: Brainspace, Disruptors, Phunware, Chiron, Fountainhead”
TrendKite Garners $16,300,000 Series D Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a5e210ae-e96a-4b9e-92f6-91a13e99bee4 Date 11/8/2016 Company Name TrendKite Mailing Address 800 Brazos St. Austin, TX 78701 USA Company Description TrendKite is an Austin, Texas based company that was founded in 2012 with the mission to help organizations better understand what the world thinks of them and react accordingly. Website http://www.trendkite.com Transaction Type Venture Equity … Continue reading “TrendKite Garners $16,300,000 Series D Financing”
Texas Innovators in Health, Space, Energy, A.I. & More: The Disruptors Photos
Texas innovation is as varied as the state is large. At Disruptors, a daylong forum held recently in Houston, Xconomy brought together entrepreneurs, investors, and other innovators to speak of their advances in investing, medical devices, virtual reality, and other sectors. The event was held at the Texas Medical Center’s accelerator, TMCx, and attracted about … Continue reading “Texas Innovators in Health, Space, Energy, A.I. & More: The Disruptors Photos”
The Five Major Tech Trends of 2016
As we draw closer to the end of 2016, it is important that we take a moment to look back and reflect on all of the ways technology has inspired us, and transformed the way we live and do work. As technology becomes more pervasive in our lives, we increasingly look for simple but secure, … Continue reading “The Five Major Tech Trends of 2016”
What Should Be on the Next President’s Cybersecurity Agenda?
From a hack of Democratic National Committee e-mails to fears that cyber attackers will attempt to interfere with tomorrow’s election, cybersecurity emerged as a crucial theme in this grueling presidential campaign. Neither candidate has said a lot about how he or she would address cybersecurity issues as president, although Hillary Clinton has offered more details … Continue reading “What Should Be on the Next President’s Cybersecurity Agenda?”
Nonprofit LifeNet Acquires Biotech With San Antonio Presence
San Antonio — Virginia nonprofit LifeNet Health has acquired the assets of a biotech company that has a top executive based in San Antonio. In acquiring Birmingham, AL-based Vivo Biosciences, LifeNet gets a cell-based technology used to test and analyze the safety and effectiveness of experimental drugs. The nonprofit, which claimed $217.9 million in assets at … Continue reading “Nonprofit LifeNet Acquires Biotech With San Antonio Presence”
Sanofi’s Experience With Dengvaxia May Speed Development of Zika Vaccine
Dengvaxia, the first licensed vaccine for dengue virus, has now been approved in 11 countries where dengue is endemic. But sales of the vaccine, which were initially projected to reach €200 million this year, barely reached €20 million in the first half of the year, with little sign of picking up. Sanofi Pasteur, the group … Continue reading “Sanofi’s Experience With Dengvaxia May Speed Development of Zika Vaccine”
Bio Roundup: Clinical Shirkers, AMD Worriers, ASH Fallers & More
Our previous roundup came out last week before news broke that Susan Lindquist, a highly decorated and thoughtful researcher into the inner workings of proteins, passed away. She was 67. First at the University of Chicago and then MIT’s Whitehead Institute, Lindquist helped biologists see that all kinds of organisms—including ourselves—share errors of protein folding … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Clinical Shirkers, AMD Worriers, ASH Fallers & More”
Californians Still Hate Trump, But More Uncertain About Drug Companies
The polls are tightening. Millions of people are still making up their minds. National figures are making last-minute pitches. The decision could have huge implications for people across the U.S. We’re talking of course about next week’s vote on Proposition 61 in California, an attempt to control drug prices in the nation’s most populous state. … Continue reading “Californians Still Hate Trump, But More Uncertain About Drug Companies”
The Necessity of Innovation
Innovation is at the heart of wealth creation. Innovation is at the heart of job creation. Innovation is at the heart of building better lives for everyone. And innovation can be increased by conscious support. Innovation is enhanced by a culture of innovation, encouragement of talented inventors and entrepreneurs, collaboration between academics and business people, … Continue reading “The Necessity of Innovation”
San Antonio’s Fountainhead Raising Money to Back Up Biomed Incubator
San Antonio—A San Antonio venture capital firm that recently created a biotech and medical device incubator is raising additional funding and may make investments in the coming months, according to managing partner Brian Kieser. Fountainhead Investment Partners has about $3 million committed to its FIP Venture Fund and plans to invest in biotech and medical … Continue reading “San Antonio’s Fountainhead Raising Money to Back Up Biomed Incubator”
Phunware Secures $22,000,000 Series F Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=59e752b7-238a-498a-a314-e3ea00f6e462 Date 11/3/2016 Company Name Phunware Mailing Address 7800 Shoal Creek Blvd. Austin, TX 78757 USA Company Description As experts in communications, networking, infrastructure, telephony, gaming and design, we combine innovative, powerful technology with beautiful design to create unparalleled branded mobile experiences. Website http://www.phunware.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $22,000,000 Transaction … Continue reading “Phunware Secures $22,000,000 Series F Financing”
Fallbrook Technologies Garners $3,400,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d894bb0e-d336-4e93-b61b-f5d7c5f4d9e2 Date 11/3/2016 Company Name Fallbrook Technologies Mailing Address 2620 Brushy Creek Loop Cedar Park, TX 78613 USA Company Description Inventor of the NuVinci continuously variable planetary (CVP) technology, we’re revolutionizing the way power is transmitted — without gears. Website http://www.fallbrooktech.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount $3,400,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes … Continue reading “Fallbrook Technologies Garners $3,400,000 New Financing Round”
Austin’s Phunware Raises $22M for App Development Platform
Austin—Phunware, which makes mobile apps for multinational corporations, announced Wednesday that it has raised $22 million. The funding brings the company $10 million shy of its goal of $50 million for its Series F round. The investment was led by Khazanah Nasional Berhad, the strategic investment fund of the government of Malaysia; Wavemaker Partners; and … Continue reading “Austin’s Phunware Raises $22M for App Development Platform”
Xconomy Announces Channel Focused on the Future of Education
Since its inception more than nine years ago, Xconomy has focused its coverage on the business of high technology—across information technology, life sciences, healthcare, energy, robotics, and much more. But underlying all that, in a sense, is education. We have long run stories about STEM education, educational technology, and more—and even put out a special … Continue reading “Xconomy Announces Channel Focused on the Future of Education”
Clinton and Trump Platform Analysis: Which Is Best for Education Companies?
With election day less than a week away, voters are trying to imagine what turns the country might take under each of the presidential hopefuls. Tech entrepreneurs are likely considering how hospitable the new leadership might be to their specific industry sectors. Educational technology is one field worth examining, even though education hasn’t been a … Continue reading “Clinton and Trump Platform Analysis: Which Is Best for Education Companies?”
San Antonio Cancer Foundation Donates $17M To Cancer Center
San Antonio—[Updated 5:07 p.m. See below.] The nonprofit San Antonio Cancer Foundation announced this morning that it is giving $17 million for improvements to the Cancer Therapy & Research Center, according to a spokeswoman for the center. The cash will help build a renovated welcome center for patients, a diagnostic suite, an expanded pharmacy, and … Continue reading “San Antonio Cancer Foundation Donates $17M To Cancer Center”
Chiron Health Adds $1M in Seed Funds for Physician Video Chat System
Austin—Chiron Health, a telemedicine company with a system developed to let doctors and meet and chat with patients over video, has added about $1 million in equity funding to its seed round, according to CEO Andrew O’Hara. The company added the funding in early October, and it brings Chiron’s total seed round to $4.7 million, … Continue reading “Chiron Health Adds $1M in Seed Funds for Physician Video Chat System”
Grace Hopper Conference Shines Light on Coding School for Afghan Girls
Houston— The tech industry can be difficult for women and under-represented minorities. For Fereshteh Forough, the degree of difficulty in recruiting women to the field is greater still. And so are the stakes. “There are general challenges, and there are Afghanistan challenges,” she said. Forough is the founder of Code to Inspire, a coding academy … Continue reading “Grace Hopper Conference Shines Light on Coding School for Afghan Girls”
On Front Lines Of Price Dispute, Eye Doctors Wary of New Drug Data
Drugs that treat a form of vision loss known as age related macular degeneration aren’t just big business. They’re also a controversial part of the national debate over high drug prices, and their increased use has put ophthalmologists in the crosshairs of insurers, the federal government, and the press. “Retina practices are under significantly increased … Continue reading “On Front Lines Of Price Dispute, Eye Doctors Wary of New Drug Data”
FireScope Obtains New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=191add76-19da-4958-882f-245f2777ed21 Date 10/31/2016 Company Name FireScope Mailing Address 3414 Midcourt Road Carrollton, TX 75006 USA Company Description FireScope offers complete IT monitoring, from user experiences to applications, servers, storage and network, with the ability to correlate individual events to their larger impact on services and users. Website http://www.firescope.com Transaction Type Venture Equity … Continue reading “FireScope Obtains New Funding”
Solovis Lands $1,250,000 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=91a85bcf-a85d-4fd7-93eb-823ff1a70679 Date 10/31/2016 Company Name Solovis Mailing Address 701 Commerce St. Dallas, TX 75202 USA Company Description You’re not just getting great software. We’ve sat in your seat and wished there was a better way, so we built it. We provide a multi-asset class portfolio management and reporting system. Website http://www.solovis.com Transaction … Continue reading “Solovis Lands $1,250,000 New Round”
Bio Roundup: Drug Pricing, Cystic Fibrosis Showdown, Myovant & More
The 2016 election is (thankfully) almost here, and as one biotech analyst noted this week, a possible Democratic victory is to blame for a big October sell-off in biotech stocks. Since Donald Trump’s infamous “Access Hollywood” tape was released on October 7, Leerink Partners analyst Geoffrey Porges wrote, biotech investors have lost $50 billion. The … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Drug Pricing, Cystic Fibrosis Showdown, Myovant & More”
BrainCheck Obtains $3,000,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7623f2cf-b4d5-473f-8cc6-49ebed715d8e Date 10/28/2016 Company Name BrainCheck Mailing Address 2450 Holcombe Blvd. Houston, TX 77021 USA Company Description BrainCheck is an innovative, easy-to-use concussion management system. Website http://www.braincheck.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $3,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes It has closed $3 million of initial funding to expand its use in … Continue reading “BrainCheck Obtains $3,000,000 New Funding”
Despite Low Crop Prices, Corporate and VC Agtech Investments Soar
Prices for agricultural commodities such as corn, soy, and wheat are at their lowest levels in years, but investment in agricultural technology has never been better. Venture capital firms have increased their agtech investments by 80 percent since 2012, bringing total VC investment in the sector to a total of $3 billion in 2015, according … Continue reading “Despite Low Crop Prices, Corporate and VC Agtech Investments Soar”
Roundup: Techstars Leaves, U.K. Healthcare Firms Arrive, & Other News
Let’s get caught up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas: Austin: —Techstars Ventures and Texas-based angel investors have added $1 million to the $1.6 million previously raised by NuPark, an Austin startup with video technology to help schools and governments better manage parking. NuPark says its software can help customers manage permit sales, … Continue reading “Roundup: Techstars Leaves, U.K. Healthcare Firms Arrive, & Other News”
RackN Receives New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=bf135169-d6c0-4ab2-b7fe-228fe07528b0 Date 10/26/2016 Company Name RackN Mailing Address 4900 Timberline Dr. Austin, TX 78746 USA Company Description RackN provides a composable, template-driven, self-service software platform for automating multi-cloud and hybrid infrastructure lifecycle management. Website http://www.rackn.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount Undisclosed Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes The additional funding will allow … Continue reading “RackN Receives New Financing”