Category: Texas

Tyler Jacks, Cancer Moonshot Panel Co-Chair, Discusses Roadmap

The Obama administration wants to speed up cancer research with its “Cancer Moonshot” program—packing 10 years’ worth of work on prevention and treatment programs into five is one of its rallying cries. Agreeing on what to do, and how to do it, is the first step. The FDA agreed this summer to reorganize the way … Continue reading “Tyler Jacks, Cancer Moonshot Panel Co-Chair, Discusses Roadmap”

San Antonio Tech Academy Creates Cybersecurity Course for Veterans

San Antonio—A technical career school affiliated with Rackspace is announcing a new training program focused on cybersecurity, a move that comes as more companies around the nation are seeking workers with highly technical training, especially in Internet security. The Rackspace Open Cloud Academy is starting a 12-week course on cybersecurity for job-seeking veterans with experience … Continue reading “San Antonio Tech Academy Creates Cybersecurity Course for Veterans”

From Partner to Purchaser: Tesoro Buys Madison Biofuels Maker Virent

Lee Edwards says that for a small company like Madison, WI-based Virent, which he leads as president and CEO, partnering with larger businesses can help it do more, faster. Virent, which is developing biofuels aimed at replacing crude oil, sports an impressive roster of collaborators. It includes Coca-Cola (NYSE: [[ticker:KO]]), Honda (NYSE: [[ticker:HMC]]), and Minnesota-based Cargill, … Continue reading “From Partner to Purchaser: Tesoro Buys Madison Biofuels Maker Virent”

Dallas Software Startup Qentelli Aims to Improve Quality Assurance

Dallas—Quality assurance is usually done after something is built: At the end of the assembly line process, does the car drive? When it comes to software application development, at least, Dallas startup Qentelli wants to make that process more “agile” and bring modern methodology to testing practices. A sequential process—build the software first, then test … Continue reading “Dallas Software Startup Qentelli Aims to Improve Quality Assurance”

New Cybersecurity Alliance Continues Trend of Industry Collaboration

For the cybersecurity industry, 2016 is shaping up to be the year of alliances. There have been a series of tie-ups, as security-tech companies try to boost their businesses and amplify their products via acquisitions. IBM bought Resilient Systems, Cisco Systems snapped up CloudLock, Symantec acquired Blue Coat, and Carbon Black purchased Confer, to name … Continue reading “New Cybersecurity Alliance Continues Trend of Industry Collaboration”

Immunotherapy Clinical Tests Spur Hope, and Plenty of Headaches

Thanks to remarkable results in a small group of patients, including former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, cancer immunotherapy has spurred talk of once impossible-to-imagine cures and has gained its share, perhaps more than its share, of hype. But immunotherapy is also creating new challenges and exacerbating old ones for doctors, patients, and researchers. These new … Continue reading “Immunotherapy Clinical Tests Spur Hope, and Plenty of Headaches”

Cepheid, Propelled By Seattle Chemists, Sells to Danaher for $4B

Molecular diagnostic test maker Cepheid has been acquired by Washington, DC-based Danaher (NYSE: [[ticker:DHR]]) in a deal valued at about $4 billion, the companies announced this morning. Sunnyvale, CA-based Cepheid (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CPHD]]) has been scaling up its testing service for more than a decade, now offering a variety of molecular-based diagnostic tests for maladies such … Continue reading “Cepheid, Propelled By Seattle Chemists, Sells to Danaher for $4B”

Overcoming the Cybersecurity Skills Gap

For several years now, the “cybersecurity skills gap” has been a top challenge for organizations. The statistics are well-vetted, and they tell a clear story: —There are many unfilled security jobs: The industry is facing 1.5 million unfilled IT security jobs globally by 2020. —The hiring problem is getting harder to figure out: Ninety-two percent of businesses say it’s … Continue reading “Overcoming the Cybersecurity Skills Gap”

Building the Next Generation of CEOs: Houston’s Fannin Names Fellows

Houston—Fannin Innovation Studio has named five new fellows as part of its program to help nurture biotech and life sciences executives. The fellows, most of whom have PhDs, have specialties in neurosciences, systems biology, economics, and cellular biology. They will work alongside the executive leadership of companies in Fannin’s portfolio. The fellows will be given … Continue reading “Building the Next Generation of CEOs: Houston’s Fannin Names Fellows”

Fair Warning: Super Saver Rate is Ending Soon for Texas Disruptors!

Xconomy is bringing together a great group of leaders for a not-to-be-missed event on October 27 at TMCx in Houston. Get ready for a great day full of insightful talks with some of the top leaders across the Texas space, biotech, virtual reality, and healthcare industries. Check out our confirmed speakers—and keep an eye out … Continue reading “Fair Warning: Super Saver Rate is Ending Soon for Texas Disruptors!”

Bio Roundup: RIP Roger Tsien, Novartis CAR-T Wheel, Zika News & More

A man who helped shed light—fluorescent light—on biology died far too early, at the age of 64. Nobel Prize winner Roger Tsien, a UC San Diego chemist, passed away in Oregon this week. No cause of death has been announced. He helped turn a jellyfish protein into an invaluable lab tool that every researcher knows … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: RIP Roger Tsien, Novartis CAR-T Wheel, Zika News & More”

Criquet Shirts Receives $1,400,000 Series A Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ecbeb842-78f3-4070-95f2-fdc0f7c042e0 Date 9/2/2016 Company Name Criquet Shirts Mailing Address 1603 S. 1st St. Austin, TX 78704 USA Company Description We look at classic country club style with a fresh set of eyes. Our inspiration often comes from iconic shirts we recollect from the past as well as the occasional vintage store treasure. … Continue reading “Criquet Shirts Receives $1,400,000 Series A Funding”

Dallas’s Health Wildcatters Welcomes New Group of Health IT Startups

Dallas—Health Wildcatters, the Dallas accelerator geared toward supporting healthcare innovations, reported its latest cohort of 10 startups. The class features startups that are developing technologies to affect mental health, improve clinical trials, and create a Priceline-type website for medical imaging centers, among other needs. The companies hail from around the United States, but several of … Continue reading “Dallas’s Health Wildcatters Welcomes New Group of Health IT Startups”

Texas Roundup: Rackspace, PatientIO, Circular Board, Bluegrass Vascular

Let’s get caught up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas, which includes two notable acquisitions in San Antonio and Austin. —San Antonio biotech Cardiovate closed a $350,000 round of convertible notes from the University of Texas Horizon Fund, Targeted Technology, and angel investors. The four-year-old company is building a medical device scaffolding that … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: Rackspace, PatientIO, Circular Board, Bluegrass Vascular”

With Scaffold for Regenerating Arteries, Cardiovate Raises $350,000

San Antonio — An early stage San Antonio startup that aims to repair or replace clogged arteries with regenerated tissue has closed a small financing round from angel investors, The University of Texas Horizon Fund, and Targeted Technology, according to its CEO. Cardiovate, founded in 2012, closed a $350,000 round of convertible notes from the … Continue reading “With Scaffold for Regenerating Arteries, Cardiovate Raises $350,000”

Ingrain Secures $1,500,000 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=60103908-2ae4-433e-8417-878e1c9b0557 Date 9/1/2016 Company Name Ingrain Mailing Address 3733 Westheimer Road 2nd Floor Houston, TX 77027 USA Company Description Ingrain’s mission is to provide a fast and efficient flow of detailed and accurate information about the porosity, permeability, resistivity, and elastic properties of rock samples. Website http://www.ingrainrocks.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction … Continue reading “Ingrain Secures $1,500,000 New Financing Round”

Robart Brothers Seek “Unconventional” Funds for Energy Tech Startups

Houston—In a post-Surge Ventures environment, what’s the most viable way to invest in and support the growth of local, young energy technology companies? That’s the question in front of Chris Robart, and his brother Alex, as they develop their investment firm Unconventional Capital. The brothers got their firm up and running just as Kirk Coburn, … Continue reading “Robart Brothers Seek “Unconventional” Funds for Energy Tech Startups”

HelpSocial Obtains $2,397,573 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=28b83e4c-8cc4-4ceb-aa6a-0784af70a8e5 Date 8/31/2016 Company Name HelpSocial Mailing Address 110 East Houston Street San Antonio, TX 78205 USA Company Description A platform built for providing world class customer service through social media. Website http://www.helpsocial.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $2,397,573 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. 20 investors … Continue reading “HelpSocial Obtains $2,397,573 New Financing”

Under New Owners, Petco’s Digital Strategy Emerges in Petnet Deal

Petco, the privately held pet supplies company based in San Diego, said today it led a $10 million Series A financing in Los Angeles-based Petnet, a three-year-old startup developing technology-enabled pet feeders and pet food delivery service. The new funding will enable Petnet to expand its product line and sales and marketing capabilities. An existing … Continue reading “Under New Owners, Petco’s Digital Strategy Emerges in Petnet Deal”

Path Cleared for Bluegrass Vascular’s Vein-Access Device in Europe

San Antonio —  [Updated 3:04 p.m. See below.] A San Antonio medical device startup called Bluegrass Vascular Technologies has received European approval to sell its system for regaining access to obstructed veins, focusing largely on patients who receive dialysis treatment for kidney failure. The company announced today that European regulators have given the company the go-ahead, … Continue reading “Path Cleared for Bluegrass Vascular’s Vein-Access Device in Europe”

Station Houston Hires Ex-Thiel Executive, Marks Growth Milestones

Houston—Like the startups it was founded to help, Station Houston has hit a few milestones that executives say point to the growth of the technology startup hub. For one, Station has brought on Jessica Whitman Hart, a former executive at PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel’s investment firm Thiel Capital, as a keystone to formally hire and … Continue reading “Station Houston Hires Ex-Thiel Executive, Marks Growth Milestones”

Four Ways to Stay Safe While Using Public Wi-Fi

No matter how hard we try to unplug on vacation, most of us simply don’t—or can’t—disconnect. The availability of free Wi-Fi is sometimes too hard to resist. While we’re in a carefree state of mind, it’s especially easy to bend the rules. Even when using Wi-Fi at a familiar business, you could be putting your … Continue reading “Four Ways to Stay Safe While Using Public Wi-Fi”

Athenahealth Finds Patient-Facing Mobile App in Buyout of Patient IO

Austin—Athenahealth is buying an Austin, TX, software company with a service that aims to help healthcare providers encourage patients to follow a healthcare plan they might receive after a visit to a doctor or hospital. Watertown, MA-based Athenahealth (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ATHN]]) is paying an undisclosed amount for Filament Labs, a three-year-old startup that does business as … Continue reading “Athenahealth Finds Patient-Facing Mobile App in Buyout of Patient IO”

The XX Factor: Fixing Biotech’s Gender Imbalance in the C-Suite

Women continue to be vastly under-represented in management and executive-level positions throughout the life science industry—an inequity that came into the spotlight earlier this year when a biotech consulting firm hired female models to improve the male-female ratio at its convention after-party. The catalyzing event sparked a much-needed debate into a serious challenge that has … Continue reading “The XX Factor: Fixing Biotech’s Gender Imbalance in the C-Suite”

Revionics Garners New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=aff6bc28-f888-4140-8291-de3353bad3be Date 8/29/2016 Company Name Revionics Mailing Address 5000 Plaza on the Lake Austin, TX 78746 USA Company Description Revionics is a leading provider of End-to-End Merchandise Solutions, including shopper-centric assortments, micro and macro space allocation, pricing, promotions and markdowns. Website http://www.revionics.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount Undisclosed Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds … Continue reading “Revionics Garners New Financing Round”

As Rackspace Sells to Apollo for $4.3B, Locals and Cloud Feel Impact

San Antonio—Even though it now has more than $2 billion in annual revenue, Rackspace is a company whose roots are in the nimble startup world. That’s epitomized by a decision in the late 1990s, when the company’s co-founders—Richard Yoo, Dirk Elmendorf, and Pat Condon—transitioned the business from being an Internet service provider and app developer … Continue reading “As Rackspace Sells to Apollo for $4.3B, Locals and Cloud Feel Impact”

Circular Board Founder Carolyn Rodz Puts New Spin on the Accelerator

Houston—There is a lot of discussion in the startup world about how to better support women entrepreneurs. Carolyn Rodz decided to tackle one aspect of it: the accelerator. “We wanted to take best practices from accelerators like Techstars and Y Combinator, and build something that is for women,” says Rodz, who launched the Circular Board … Continue reading “Circular Board Founder Carolyn Rodz Puts New Spin on the Accelerator”

Bio Roundup: Mylan’s Shock, Hillary’s 3%, Duchenne Lessons & More

It was the tweet heard around the biotech world, again. Mylan bumped up the price of the EpiPen 400 percent, presidential nominee Hillary Clinton responded with a tirade against drug price hikes, and—much like when Clinton railed against drug pricing last year—biotech indexes promptly plummeted more than 3 percent. Last year, Clinton’s target was Martin … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Mylan’s Shock, Hillary’s 3%, Duchenne Lessons & More”

Duchenne Lessons: Advocates For Rare Spinal Disease Have Eyes on FDA

[Updated, 1:09 pm ET, see below] Heather and Jessica Tomko will tell you that they’re nothing alike. They’ve got different interests, different tastes in movies, television, and music. If Jessica hates a gift, Heather probably loves it. Heather just scored tickets to see the Broadway show Hamilton and can’t wait. Jessica sighs. “You can’t get … Continue reading “Duchenne Lessons: Advocates For Rare Spinal Disease Have Eyes on FDA”

Nepris Receives $1,000,000 Seed Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7ba8f5b6-1c5b-483e-8886-531dbf8c5000 Date 8/26/2016 Company Name Nepris Mailing Address 1800 Preston Park Blvd. Plano, TX 75093 USA Company Description Nepris provides an online platform to connect companies, professionals, and experts to expand education outreach to classrooms while providing teachers a way to reach out to and connect with professionals around the world. Website … Continue reading “Nepris Receives $1,000,000 Seed Financing Round”

Genesys Talent Obtains $2,100,000 Seed Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=243b24aa-805f-47b5-a594-a4e103803c63 Date 8/26/2016 Company Name Genesys Talent Mailing Address 1400 Post Oak Boulevard Houston, TX 77056 USA Company Description Genesys is a Talent Cloud innovator focused on providing exceptional experiences for our curated talent resources as well as enterprise companies seeking accelerated and broader access to an ever-expanding talent spectrum. Genesys is … Continue reading “Genesys Talent Obtains $2,100,000 Seed Financing”

Roundup: S3 Ventures, TMCx, George Peoples, Disruptors in Houston

Let’s catch up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —S3 Ventures has closed on a new $75 million fund—its sixth, the Austin American-Statesman reported Tuesday. The Austin, TX-based venture firm’s fifth fund, closed in 2013, also totaled $75 million and was S3’s largest fund at the time. S3 has made investments in a … Continue reading “Roundup: S3 Ventures, TMCx, George Peoples, Disruptors in Houston”

TripAdvisor Buys Citymaps, Ramps Up Competition With Google, Others

One of the giants in online travel is making a move to solidify its standing. TripAdvisor, based in Needham, MA, said today it has acquired New York City-based Citymaps. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the companies say Citymaps will continue to operate as a standalone business. Citymaps developed a mapping app that … Continue reading “TripAdvisor Buys Citymaps, Ramps Up Competition With Google, Others”

Presenting Texas Disruptors, Oct. 27: DePinho, Metcalfe, Saxena & More

Houston—The Texas innovation community has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, which has helped spotlight technological and business advances in healthcare, space, aviation, transportation, and other industries. On October 27 at the Texas Medical Center’s TMCx accelerator in Houston, Xconomy is hosting our first-ever “Disruptors” conference in Texas, a daylong forum featuring some … Continue reading “Presenting Texas Disruptors, Oct. 27: DePinho, Metcalfe, Saxena & More”

In Wake Of Infamous Biotech Party, 20 Women Join New Exec Training

[Updated 8/24/16, 1 a.m. See below.] A new program to prepare high-ranking women in the biotech industry for corporate board seats has unveiled its first class of 20. In other circumstances the five-day workshop, scheduled this fall at George Washington University in the nation’s capital, might go unnoticed among the sea of executive training programs … Continue reading “In Wake Of Infamous Biotech Party, 20 Women Join New Exec Training”

Why Resilient Teams Are More Important Than Big Ideas

How important is having a “big idea” for startups? Ideas can generate a lot of buzz and capture attention from investors and potential customers, but long-term success really depends on the capabilities of the team. It’s often said that investors typically look for an “A” team with a “B” idea rather than a “B” team … Continue reading “Why Resilient Teams Are More Important Than Big Ideas”

How a War on Climate Change Could Restore Economic Growth in America

What’s the biggest, scariest threat facing the United States right now? I know for sure that it’s not immigration, free trade, or “radical Islamic terrorism.” And I’m going to resist the easy answer that it’s Donald Trump. But I have a hard time deciding which of these two very real challenges is more urgent: a) … Continue reading “How a War on Climate Change Could Restore Economic Growth in America”

San Antonio Life Science Executives Plan Medtech Product Workshops

San Antonio — A life sciences professional development and advocacy organization has plans to host four medtech-focused workshops that aim to teach people working in the sector about different aspects of bringing a medical device to market. Called “Bedside to Bench to Bedside: Developing and Clinically Introducing Medical Technologies,” the workshop series is being hosted … Continue reading “San Antonio Life Science Executives Plan Medtech Product Workshops”

Intelligence + Maturity = Better Leaders

There are plenty of smart executives in the world, but they often make poor leaders. That’s because it takes both intelligence and maturity to excel at leadership. And when I say maturity, I don’t necessarily mean age, although generally more life experience is helpful. Maturity is the ability to manage oneself in challenging situations and to … Continue reading “Intelligence + Maturity = Better Leaders”

A Window Opens For Federal Financial Aid at Edtech Programs Within Colleges

This week brought some encouraging news for educational technology companies and code schools, whose students often can’t qualify for federal grants and loans. The Obama administration is moving ahead with an experiment that makes federal student aid available for a small number of degree or certificate programs offered through partnerships between established higher education institutions … Continue reading “A Window Opens For Federal Financial Aid at Edtech Programs Within Colleges”

Empathy, Curiosity Key in Making Medical Device Innovations Work

Houston—The challenge of healthcare innovation is that it’s about more than making technology work. The bottom line is that any advance in health IT or medical devices must be considered with one thing in mind, said Todd Dunn, director of innovation at Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City, UT: The innovation is going to be used … Continue reading “Empathy, Curiosity Key in Making Medical Device Innovations Work”

War, Surgery, and Cancer Vaccines: Meet San Antonio’s George Peoples

San Antonio — [Corrected 11:57 a.m. See below.] Cancer surgeries are long, arduous, and require detailed planning. There are always surprises. One measure of a surgeon is how he or she handles the unexpected. Just ask George Peoples—he’s operated on more than a thousand tumors. “You’re going to deal with certain anatomical structures that most people will … Continue reading “War, Surgery, and Cancer Vaccines: Meet San Antonio’s George Peoples”

Bio Roundup: FDA Says No, PCSK9 Value Fight, CRISPR Intrigue & More

When the Olympics roll around, many watchers get into a sport they previously hadn’t thought much about. This time for me, it’s volleyball. The men’s and women’s games, both indoor and beach versions, are fast, aggressive, with lightning-quick adjustments and subtle teamwork required every time a ball is dug out and popped in the air. … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: FDA Says No, PCSK9 Value Fight, CRISPR Intrigue & More”

VUV Analytics Garners $6,500,000 Series B Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4cea749c-b798-4e27-a050-c1757570c132 Date 8/19/2016 Company Name VUV Analytics Mailing Address 611 Eagle Lakeway, TX 78734 USA Company Description VUV Analytics: Making Vacuum Ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy available to the general scientific community for the first time. Website http://www.vuvanalytics.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $6,500,000 Transaction Round Series B Proceeds Purposes Given our ramping … Continue reading “VUV Analytics Garners $6,500,000 Series B Funding”

Governments Pay for Research, Jobs in San Antonio Tech and Science

San Antonio — Finding funding for tech and life science ventures is no easy endeavor, be it an academic setting or in the corporate world. Government groups in Texas announced this week that they’re providing money to both sectors in San Antonio to boost research and job growth. The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas … Continue reading “Governments Pay for Research, Jobs in San Antonio Tech and Science”

Roundup: FloSports, Aidant, Tech Wildcatters, Bayou Startup Showcase

Let’s get caught up with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —Dallas accelerator Tech Wildcatters announced Tuesday the first startup to reach its top milestone in its new “Gauntlet” program. Selery Fulfillment will receive a $100,000 investment, the largest in the accelerator’s history. The startup provides integrated storage and shipping management for small to … Continue reading “Roundup: FloSports, Aidant, Tech Wildcatters, Bayou Startup Showcase”

Pharma’s Productivity Problem: Finding More Blockbuster Drugs

A recent Wall Street Journal article that raised the possibility of Biogen as the target of another huge pharma buyout cited the lack of productivity as a major driver of M&A in the pharmaceutical industry.  The authors made the point that, given the size of companies today, a single garden-variety blockbuster hardly moves the needle. … Continue reading “Pharma’s Productivity Problem: Finding More Blockbuster Drugs”

FloSports Garners $21,200,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=61513230-f528-43c5-9e8d-3c76140d9c60 Date 8/17/2016 Company Name FloSports Mailing Address 2922 E Cesar Chavez St. Austin, TX 78702 USA Company Description FloSports is a direct-to-consumer, subscription-based sports media company located in Austin, Texas. Through live streaming of premier events, original video programming, and weekly studio shows, FloSports is unlocking a world of sports coverage … Continue reading “FloSports Garners $21,200,000 New Financing”