This time of year, all eyes in e-commerce are heavily focused on 2016 strategies for growing sales, keeping customers happy, and expanding channels. Consumer shopping behaviors are shifting too, forcing brands and retailers to be even more agile, though they’re currently struggling just to keep up. There is a disconnect in the industry between how … Continue reading “2016: The Year We Give Shoppers What They Want”
Category: Texas
Introducing Xconomy’s New Fintech Channel
Whether you think Apple Pay or bitcoins, lending or mobile banking, not to mention new ways to protect our financial information, a revolution is underway when it comes to the technology behind finance. What’s more, this revolution is playing out all over the country—not just in the financial hubs of New York or Silicon Valley … Continue reading “Introducing Xconomy’s New Fintech Channel”
Vapor IO Secures Series A Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=eab65228-8c72-420d-be5c-0219ed5c899f Date 12/4/2015 Company Name Vapor IO Mailing Address Undisclosed Austin, TX 78730 USA Company Description Vapor IO has introduced the world’s first hyper collapsed and truly data defined data center solution ready to lead our industry towards embracing the knowledge economy. Through our open source hardware and software, we’ve made the … Continue reading “Vapor IO Secures Series A Funding”
Avalon, TPG Lead $15M Deal to Advance Metformin as Cancer Drug
Metformin has long been the first-line drug of choice for treating type 2 diabetes. While insulin may be better known (it’s been available since the 1920s), metformin was introduced in the UK in 1958 (FDA approval in the U.S. occurred in 1995), and metformin is now believed to be the most widely prescribed anti-diabetic drug … Continue reading “Avalon, TPG Lead $15M Deal to Advance Metformin as Cancer Drug”
Gene Edit Summit Leaders Stop Shy Of Call To Ban Germline Changes
No call for a ban. No moratorium. But the scientists and ethicists who convened this week’s once-in-a-generation summit in Washington, DC, say that the practice of editing human DNA in a way that can be passed to future generations is “irresponsible” until there’s a body of evidence that it is safe, that it works, and … Continue reading “Gene Edit Summit Leaders Stop Shy Of Call To Ban Germline Changes”
Occipital Acquires Lynx Laboratories, Expands 3-D Scanner Capabilities
Occipital, a San Francisco startup founded by two University of Michigan alums, has acquired Austin, TX-based Lynx Laboratories, maker of mobile 3-D scanning technology. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, although Occipital’s vice president of marketing, Adam Rodnitzky, said the entire Lynx Laboratories team of seven employees has been absorbed by his company. … Continue reading “Occipital Acquires Lynx Laboratories, Expands 3-D Scanner Capabilities”
Austin’s Stellarray Looks to Develop the Next Wave of X-Ray
Austin, TX’s Stellarray aims to democratize access to radiography. Right now, imaging machines like CT scanners are large, bulky, and expensive, and usually housed in major medical centers. “We’re taking an open architecture approach to radiography,” says Mark Eaton, Stellarray’s founder and CEO. “We want to make it affordable and portable.” Stellarray has developed imaging … Continue reading “Austin’s Stellarray Looks to Develop the Next Wave of X-Ray”
With $42M Deal, Evariant Goes Big in Health Marketing, Analytics
Hospitals worry about patient care, but they also worry about making money. Now one health IT company has more money of its own to bring to bear on the problem. Evariant, a Farmington, CT-based maker of healthcare marketing and analytics software, says today it has raised a $42.3 million Series C round. The deal was … Continue reading “With $42M Deal, Evariant Goes Big in Health Marketing, Analytics”
Soliton Garners $9,000,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b41115d7-4f4b-4149-acde-0d35df897829 Date 12/2/2015 Company Name Soliton Mailing Address 1225 North Loop West Houston, TX 77008 USA Company Description Soliton’s leadership team has extensive experience with spinoff companies out of M.D. Anderson. Walter Klemp, Soliton’s CEO, was formerly the CEO of Houston-based Tyrell Inc., a life science company that made an acne treatment … Continue reading “Soliton Garners $9,000,000 New Funding”
Ortho Kinematics Lands $728,608 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=10d5fca8-ae6c-4b88-9606-9b565993eaf7 Date 12/2/2015 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 $728,608 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not … Continue reading “Ortho Kinematics Lands $728,608 New Funding Round”
CPA Global Acquires Innography for Undisclosed Sum
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9831e9d3-b32c-4f18-9b18-63a8a7ddb5ff Date 12/2/2015 Company Name Innography Mailing Address 3900 N. Capital of Texas Hwy. Austin, TX 78746 USA Company Description Innography launched its intellectual property business intelligence software as a service (SaaS) platform in 2007. Website http://www.innography.com Transaction Type M&A Transaction Amount Undisclosed Transaction Round Proceeds Purposes M&A Terms Financial terms of … Continue reading “CPA Global Acquires Innography for Undisclosed Sum”
Austin Fintech Company Q2 Holdings Acquires Iowa Software Firm
Q2 Holdings, an Austin, TX, fintech company, announced Tuesday it has acquired Des Moines, IA-based Social Money for $10.6 million. Social Money makes cloud-based software that targets millennial consumers as well as populations called “underbanked,” who are frequently minorities or immigrants who do not interact with the mainstream financial sector. In particular, Social Money’s SmartyPig … Continue reading “Austin Fintech Company Q2 Holdings Acquires Iowa Software Firm”
What Three Biotechs Could Tell Us About The Pfizer-Allergan Merger
The long-speculated Pfizer-Allergan merger, announced last week with a $160 billion price tag, is officially in motion and lurching toward inevitability. Inevitability doesn’t equal certainty for many involved in the deal. Tens of thousands of employees could potentially get the axe, while dozens of smaller companies partnered with the two behemoths wait to see if … Continue reading “What Three Biotechs Could Tell Us About The Pfizer-Allergan Merger”
The Power of Big Data for Startups
These days, the National Football League, BMW, and Uber have something in common — they’re all experimenting with big data in exciting new ways. The NFL is using big data to help football fans track how fast and how far their favorite players sprint during a game. BMW is using big data to help drivers … Continue reading “The Power of Big Data for Startups”
Dallas’s Aristos Aims to Micro-Size Investment for Tech Startups
Felipe Mendoza’s first experience at a startup, Monterrey Networks, ended up with a sale to computing giant Cisco Systems. Exhilarated by success, Mendoza says he threw himself into another startup, one that “was not bought by Cisco.” Though the second startup was a bust, Mendoza says both experiences hooked him to entrepreneurship and the challenges … Continue reading “Dallas’s Aristos Aims to Micro-Size Investment for Tech Startups”
From Adviser to CEO: Morris Miller on Xenex’s Disinfecting Robots
When Xenex Disinfection Services was first launching, Morris Miller was an adviser to the company’s founders. Given his experience as a co-founder and former CEO of Rackspace, (NYSE: [[ticker:RAX]]), the San Antonio, TX-based cloud computing giant, Miller would provide insight into building a business from Xenex’s key product, a robot that uses pulses of xenon-based … Continue reading “From Adviser to CEO: Morris Miller on Xenex’s Disinfecting Robots”
symplr Lands New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6fe9d574-f656-43ff-a146-5a14fa768a4d Date 11/25/2015 Company Name symplr Mailing Address 616 Cypress Creek Pkwy Houston, TX 77090 USA Company Description Our mission, here at symplr, is to lead the industry in simple, easy-to-implement compliance and credentialing solutions and services. We cover all the angles—providing your business with a means of credentialing & managing providers, … Continue reading “symplr Lands New Financing”
TMC’s New Innovation Chief Aims to Boost Houston Biotech Ecosystem
A veteran of commercialization and tech transfer efforts at universities like Harvard and Tufts and Boston Children’s Hospital, Erik Halvorsen was, at first, puzzled at receiving an offer to lead those initiatives at the Texas Medical Center. “The Texas Medical Center? I had never heard of that hospital,” he says, laughing. “But, of course, I … Continue reading “TMC’s New Innovation Chief Aims to Boost Houston Biotech Ecosystem”
ParLevel Garners $666,000 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8fe513d1-7370-4690-a3f5-d1743b708521 Date 11/24/2015 Company Name ParLevel Mailing Address 112 East Pecan Street San Antonio, TX 78205 USA Company Description We have developed a machine-agnostic, low-cost device that connects any vending machine to the most powerful vending management system in the world. Vending machine operators eliminate guesswork by knowing which machines need service, … Continue reading “ParLevel Garners $666,000 New Round”
Roundup: Station Houston, Launch Health, Pryor Medical, DEC, Fannin
The first blast of wintry air has come to Texas this week of Thanksgiving. Before we get to the turkey, let’s catch up with the latest innovation news. —Houston will be home to a new startup hub. Station Houston is looking to launch in early 2016 and is the brainchild of Emily Keeton, a Houston … Continue reading “Roundup: Station Houston, Launch Health, Pryor Medical, DEC, Fannin”
Small Molecules: The Silent Majority of Pharmaceutical Pipelines
The pharmaceutical industry is constantly evolving. There always seem to be new, innovative therapeutic approaches emerging that capture our imagination and advance our ability to make a difference in the lives of patients. Take, for example, T-cell therapy for cancer, microbiome therapies, and CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, each of which could potentially have a significant impact … Continue reading “Small Molecules: The Silent Majority of Pharmaceutical Pipelines”
Paris Rampage Rekindles Conflict Over Government-Proof Encryption
The recent terrorist attacks in Paris were executed with guns and bombs in the physical terrain of city streets and cafe terraces. But the horrific incident is reviving government calls for greater control of the cyber environment. A host of top U.S. officials including the directors of the CIA and FBI, Senator Dianne Feinstein, New … Continue reading “Paris Rampage Rekindles Conflict Over Government-Proof Encryption”
New Space Health Challenge Aimed at Life Science Innovators
An important untapped resource for biotech researchers? That’s the final frontier. So say the organizers of a new startup initiative called the Launch Health Challenge, a year-long effort to help healthcare entrepreneurs leverage the environment of space in order to accelerate their proposed medical devices and, possibly, therapies. “Many researchers don’t know how easy it … Continue reading “New Space Health Challenge Aimed at Life Science Innovators”
enVerid Systems Receives $107,000 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=95b87a2b-a2b6-4da3-9406-b4e9383f2b1e Date 11/20/2015 Company Name enVerid Systems Mailing Address 1445 North Loop West Houston, TX 77008 USA Company Description enVerid Systems was founded by a group of experienced entrepreneurs driven by a common passion for more efficient energy use and protection of our health, environment and resources. We are committed to improving … Continue reading “enVerid Systems Receives $107,000 New Round”
Michael Lang to Head Product Development for Texas Cancer Agency
The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas has hired a former biotech executive as its new chief product development officer. Michael Lang formerly had leadership positions NanoVision, a Pennsylvania cancer diagnostics company, and Dallas-based Galt Medical, a medical device company. He succeeds Tom Goodman, a former vice president of business development at Arizona Technology Enterprises—the … Continue reading “Michael Lang to Head Product Development for Texas Cancer Agency”
Slowing the Global Spread of Climate-Sensitive Infectious Diseases
Climate change is already suspected of causing legions of deaths every year as a result of extreme weather events: heat waves and floods; degradation of water supplies and sanitation with negative impacts on agriculture; and air pollution, which, in 2012, was responsible for 7 million deaths—one in eight deaths worldwide. But climate change is also … Continue reading “Slowing the Global Spread of Climate-Sensitive Infectious Diseases”
Cybersecurity Firm Assured Enterprises Moves Headquarters to Austin
The secret to building a robust cybersecurity firm? Hire video gamers. That’s partly why Assured Enterprises announced last week it was relocating its headquarters to Austin, TX, from northern Virginia. CEO Stephen Soble told me that engineering talent is top of the 3-year-old cybersecurity company’s to-do list. “They are comfortable thinking outside of the box,” … Continue reading “Cybersecurity Firm Assured Enterprises Moves Headquarters to Austin”
Keeping Score, Clinical Watchdogs Push Drugmakers For More Open Data
Should drug companies publicly release all data from the tests they conduct on human volunteers? A growing number of parties say yes, and last week, a group of academics unveiled a scorecard to spotlight companies that have recently kept their clinical data hidden from public view—and those that have made the data available. As with … Continue reading “Keeping Score, Clinical Watchdogs Push Drugmakers For More Open Data”
Big Bucks, Tiny Bubbles: Ex-Biogen Exec’s Exosome Startup Nabs $80M
Exosomes were once thought of as cellular garbage bins, bubbles filled with waste and shipped out for elimination. But a more sophisticated view of exosomes—and a better understanding of their biological role—has led companies to exploit their diagnostic and therapeutic potential. The latest startup is Codiak BioSciences, which has just reeled in over $80 million … Continue reading “Big Bucks, Tiny Bubbles: Ex-Biogen Exec’s Exosome Startup Nabs $80M”
Umbel Obtains $7,995,870 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=24c214d2-f2da-4b19-b2c1-ec5424b59e81 Date 11/17/2015 Company Name Umbel Mailing Address 800 Cesar Chavez Austin, TX 78701 USA Company Description Umbel is the standard for digital audience measurement. We leverage the power of big data Analytics and the validated principles of Market Research to deliver revenue-generating insights for publishers and brands that need to effectively … Continue reading “Umbel Obtains $7,995,870 New Round”
With Secure Data Storage Tool, Neone Focuses on Selective Sharing
[Updated 11/17/15, 8:36 a.m. See below.] Internet security can seem a distant, extraneous issue until it directly affects you, in the form of something like stolen credit card information or a photo that goes public when you didn’t intend it to. For the founder of Austin, TX-based Neone, the issue of security extends beyond merely shared … Continue reading “With Secure Data Storage Tool, Neone Focuses on Selective Sharing”
Stealth Co Unveiling, New Speakers Added to Nov. 17 Healthcare Event
Two great new speakers—one of whom will bring a major new company out of stealth mode—have just joined the lineup for Tuesday’s Healthcare Summit 2015. If you were on the fence before, you should get off it fast. If you are interested in the future of healthcare, you will not want to miss these new elements. The summit … Continue reading “Stealth Co Unveiling, New Speakers Added to Nov. 17 Healthcare Event”
Pryor Medical’s Reboa Device Aims to Prevent Internal Bleeding Deaths
Nobody should bleed to death. That sums up the mission of San Antonio, TX-based Pryor Medical Devices, which has licensed technology from the San Antonio Military Medical Center that could prevent internal bleeding from causing death. “For the Army, the number one problem is truncal hemorrhage,” says Pryor co-founder and CEO David Spencer, referring to … Continue reading “Pryor Medical’s Reboa Device Aims to Prevent Internal Bleeding Deaths”
Xtera Communications Secures $25,000,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=da658b19-f2b6-408f-a93d-2f780ee54e00 Date 11/13/2015 Company Name Xtera Communications Mailing Address 500 W. Bethany Dr. Allen, TX 75013 USA Company Description Xtera Communications (NASDAQ: XCOM) makes long-haul fiber-optic transmission equipment used for both terrestrial and undersea transport. Its Nu-Wave systems increase the bandwidth capability of fiber-optic strands, making converged voice and data communications possible. … Continue reading “Xtera Communications Secures $25,000,000 New Funding Round”
How Foreign-Born Workers Spark Employment and Innovation
The way critics tell it—including presidential hopefuls as varied as Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump—high-skilled foreign workers are job stealers. If these candidates have their way, living and working in the U.S. will become harder, not easier, for foreign talent. This protectionism, the theory goes, will positively impact the quantity and quality of American jobs: … Continue reading “How Foreign-Born Workers Spark Employment and Innovation”
Houston’s Cricket Huddle Aims to Create Online Community of Fans
Some of sports’ biggest stars played at Houston’s Minute Maid Park Wednesday. Their names were Sachin and Shane; the game was cricket. Never heard of it, you say? “There are thousands of people who play in cricket leagues all over Houston,” says Rugved Damle, co-founder of Cricket Huddle, a Houston-based online community for fans of … Continue reading “Houston’s Cricket Huddle Aims to Create Online Community of Fans”
Broomly Garners $1,300,000 Seed Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b6fcb583-e77c-4b4b-ad81-ff6cca3e081f Date 11/11/2015 Company Name Broomly Mailing Address Undisclosed Austin, TX 98258 USA Company Description All your home needs at a touch of a button. Conveniently book and manage all of your appointments with our app. Website http://www.broomly.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,300,000 Transaction Round Seed Proceeds Purposes The company … Continue reading “Broomly Garners $1,300,000 Seed Financing Round”
Houston’s Fannin Launches New Biotech, Exotect, to Treat Asthma
Asthma treatments have typically focused on treating inflammation and constricted airways. Houston’s Fannin Innovation Studio has launched a company that tackles the disease’s third symptom: reducing overproduction of mucus. The company, called Exotect, is still in the early stages. Stemming from research led by Burton Dickey, chair of the pulmonary department at the University of … Continue reading “Houston’s Fannin Launches New Biotech, Exotect, to Treat Asthma”
Shelfbucks Obtains $6,500,000 Series A Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8b45e60d-2628-4e5e-9f49-36496dcd4475 Date 11/10/2015 Company Name Shelfbucks Mailing Address 401 Congress Ave. Austin, TX 78701 USA Company Description Shelfbucks aims to level the playing field between physical and online retail. We will revolutionize the brand to consumer channel through mobile. Website http://www.shelfbucks.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $6,500,000 Transaction Round Series A … Continue reading “Shelfbucks Obtains $6,500,000 Series A Financing Round”
Big Deals in Texas (ZS Pharma, HomeAway, Gravitant) & Other News
Let’s get caught up on the latest innovation news in Texas. —AstraZeneca scoops up Texas-born biotech ZS Pharma in a $2.7 billion deal. The British drug maker announced the purchase Friday, saying that ZS Pharma’s key therapy, ZS-9, which is being developed to fight chronic kidney disease, will boost its pipeline of drugs that fight cardiovascular … Continue reading “Big Deals in Texas (ZS Pharma, HomeAway, Gravitant) & Other News”
Seven Major Cancer Centers To Pool Patients’ Gene, Health Data
Here and there, the genetic information of a cancer patient has helped a doctor find that person the right drug or steer her away from the wrong one. But the use of genetic knowledge to improve people’s health is in its infancy. That’s why seven major cancer treatment centers in North America and Europe are … Continue reading “Seven Major Cancer Centers To Pool Patients’ Gene, Health Data”
AstraZeneca Buys Texas-Born Biotech ZS Pharma in $2.7B Deal
British drugmaker AstraZeneca said Friday it is acquiring ZS Pharma for $2.7 billion. ZS Pharma was founded in the Fort Worth suburb of Coppell, TX, and relocated to San Mateo, CA following the company’s $107 million IPO last year. The biotech’s primary drug, ZS-9, aims to reduce levels of potassium levels in patients who have … Continue reading “AstraZeneca Buys Texas-Born Biotech ZS Pharma in $2.7B Deal”
Four Strategies for Startups to Finish the Year Strong
It’s that time of the year again. While many are looking forward to the holiday season and counting down to the end of the year, businesses are engaged in the planning process for next year. No matter the size of your business, now is a great time to reflect on the past year, evaluate what … Continue reading “Four Strategies for Startups to Finish the Year Strong”
To Be or Not To Be An Equity Crowdfunding Portal?
After the pioneering crowdfunding sites Indiegogo and Kickstarter set up shop roughly seven years ago, other entrepreneurs were saying, “Why didn’t I think of that?” Those fundraising platforms quickly scaled up, offering inventors, artists, and others an online meeting place where they could appeal for contributions to get their projects off the ground. The fundraising … Continue reading “To Be or Not To Be An Equity Crowdfunding Portal?”
Dallas’s Traxo Creates Digital Dashboards for Harried Travelers
We have a world with AirBnb, OpenTable, Uber, and TicketMaster. Andres Fabris wants to bring it all together. “It’s a smart agent in your pocket,” says Fabris, the founder and CEO of Dallas-based travel app Traxo. The app not only keeps track of itineraries for transportation and accommodation, it uses artificial intelligence to offer suggestions … Continue reading “Dallas’s Traxo Creates Digital Dashboards for Harried Travelers”
OraMetrix Receives $4,000,981 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=5265dbf4-81ed-4171-8203-5bd8777bc2e5 Date 11/5/2015 Company Name OraMetrix Mailing Address 2350 Campbell Creek Blvd. Richardson, TX 75082 USA Company Description Our proprietary technology system, the SureSmile system, represents a significant leap forward in orthodontics because it allows the use of precision digital tools throughout all phases of the orthodontic treatment process – diagnosis, treatment … Continue reading “OraMetrix Receives $4,000,981 New Round”
Expedia Buys Austin’s HomeAway for $3.9B
HomeAway, the provider of an online marketplace for vacation rentals, has sold to Expedia for $3.9 billion in cash and Expedia stock, the third multibillion-dollar deal involving an Austin, TX, company this fall. Seattle-based Expedia set HomeAway (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AWAY]]) in its sights because it has been seeking a way to enter the “alternative accommodations” sector … Continue reading “Expedia Buys Austin’s HomeAway for $3.9B”
Proofpoint Acquires Socialware for $9,000,000
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ef05ea1c-a0d0-4589-804e-c7ab5770c524 Date 11/4/2015 Company Name Socialware Mailing Address 6500 River Place Blvd. Austin, TX 78730 USA Company Description Socialware bridges the gap between the enterprise and social networks to transform the way that companies and their employees engage, connect and communicate with clients, partners and one another. Our solutions allow companies to … Continue reading “Proofpoint Acquires Socialware for $9,000,000”
Even With New Crowdfunding Rules, No Easy Path Forward For Biotechs
[Corrected 11/3/15, 1:18pm. See below.] As Xconomy reported Friday, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has finally filled in the missing pieces in the equity crowdfunding puzzle, giving private startups clearer rules about selling equity to the investor masses through Internet portals. In her opening remarks before the SEC commissioners voted 3-1 to approve nationwide … Continue reading “Even With New Crowdfunding Rules, No Easy Path Forward For Biotechs”
IBM Acquires Gravitant for Undisclosed Sum
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=831a96de-5c0c-4952-8740-2c40226b8e7b Date 11/3/2015 Company Name Gravitant Mailing Address 11940 Jollyville Rd Austin, TX 78759 USA Company Description Founded by innovative executives with over five decades of experience in Enterprise IT Management, operations research, and service oriented architectures (SOA), Gravitant is a leader in the cloud brokerage and management space. Website http://www.gravitant.com Transaction … Continue reading “IBM Acquires Gravitant for Undisclosed Sum”