San Francisco is the center of the tech world. But after three months in Europe, my conclusion is that there’s a major new contender as a great place to start startups: Berlin. In this article I’ll tell you about the companies and investors I got the chance to work with, and then talk about the … Continue reading “Three Months in Berlin: One Tech Entrepreneur’s Journey”
Category: Texas
Texas Roundup: Capital Factory, DEC, UT-Dallas, & Austin Biosciences
The latest innovation news in Texas includes new accelerator partnerships, a new Big Data master’s program in Big D, and a deep dive into biosciences’ place in the Austin economy. —Google (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GOOG]]) announced Tuesday that Austin would be latest node on its now eight-city Tech Hub Network, a program that both hosts accelerator programs … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: Capital Factory, DEC, UT-Dallas, & Austin Biosciences”
LanternCRM Obtains $250,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e5cfbafc-8942-4bac-aafc-f6f40b91ab09 Date 5/7/2014 Company Name LanternCRM Mailing Address 701 Brazos Street Austin, TX 78701 USA Company Description LanternCRM crafts software that helps small businesses communicate more effectively. Calls, emails, support tickets, and more are automatically pulled into the app and organized. Website http://www.lanterncrm.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $250,000 Transaction Round … Continue reading “LanternCRM Obtains $250,000 New Funding”
Google Buys Austin’s Adometry, Maker of Online Marketing Dashboard
Google has purchased Austin, TX, online ad attribution company Adometry for an undisclosed price, the companies announced today. Adometry creates a sort of digital dashboard for chief marketing officers to help them evaluate which tactics—a retailer’s online ad or through a Google search—resulted in a customer making a purchase. “We couldn’t be more excited to … Continue reading “Google Buys Austin’s Adometry, Maker of Online Marketing Dashboard”
Houston’s GripeO Markets Online Customer Service Platform
Social media is chockablock with complaints from consumers less than satisfied with products and services. But one Houston startup says it has a platform that makes it more likely those #badservice hashtags will get the attention of the purported offenders. Launched in early March, GripeO is a website and a mobile app designed to standardize … Continue reading “Houston’s GripeO Markets Online Customer Service Platform”
Burnt Out? Try a ‘Careercation’
You’re CRAZY! I was getting used to hearing that when I told family and friends that I was selling everything I owned and buying one-way tickets to New Zealand to travel around the world with my wife and 10-month-old daughter. After being a serial entrepreneur for over a decade, I was flat burnt out. I … Continue reading “Burnt Out? Try a ‘Careercation’”
Zebra Imaging Obtains $5,000,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b9d21229-c447-4ae2-adfe-3d03949cbd86 Date 5/6/2014 Company Name Zebra Imaging Mailing Address 9801 Metric Blvd Austin, TX 78758 USA Company Description Zebra Imaging develops digital hologram technology that provides high-resolution 3D images in monochrome or color without distortions. Website http://www.zebraimaging.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $5,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were … Continue reading “Zebra Imaging Obtains $5,000,000 New Financing”
Google Acquires Adometry for Undisclosed Sum
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7a10ebe8-d0c0-4688-8450-bdf15bfd0381 Date 5/6/2014 Company Name Adometry Mailing Address 6801 N. Capital of Texas Highway Austin, TX 78731 USA Company Description Adometry, formerly Click Forensics, Inc., is the leading provider of ad analytics and traffic quality solutions for the online advertising community. Website http://www.adometry.com Transaction Type M&A Transaction Amount Undisclosed Transaction Round Proceeds … Continue reading “Google Acquires Adometry for Undisclosed Sum”
4 Weeks Until Our Napa Summit on June 2-3–Request Your Invitation
We all know it’s important to get out of our boxes at times. By taking in new ideas from leaders outside of our own fields, we can return to face day-to-day challenges with fresh perspective and energy. Sometimes getting out of the box also means getting out of our comfort zones. But sometimes it’s better … Continue reading “4 Weeks Until Our Napa Summit on June 2-3–Request Your Invitation”
Organizing For Aging—An Investment Imperative
Starting now, venture capitalists should reflect on an opportunity that probably occupies them very little. They know they are in the medical progress business, having financed numerous hard-won successes in developing drugs and diagnostics for rare diseases. Along with general material progress, the application of DNA science and genomics in biotechnology is giving millions of … Continue reading “Organizing For Aging—An Investment Imperative”
Cultivating Accountability in the Workplace
Accountability is one of the most important aspects of any business. A company that holds its employees accountable for the choices they make and the tasks they perform witnesses high levels of productivity and efficiency. In a startup too, a shared sense of accountability among employees makes all the difference in how they approach their … Continue reading “Cultivating Accountability in the Workplace”
Soft Spots: Five Places Where Silicon Valley’s Bubble Could Pop
The main premise of J.J. Abrams’ Fringe—unquestionably one of the three best sci-fi shows made for television in this century, alongside Battlestar Galactica and Doctor Who—is that there’s a second, nearly identical universe coterminous with ours. The wall between the parallel worlds remains impenetrable until a grief-stricken scientist, Walter Bishop, figures out how to cross … Continue reading “Soft Spots: Five Places Where Silicon Valley’s Bubble Could Pop”
Innovation Hub: Jason Fried on the End of the Workplace
Jason Fried wants us to forget about meetings, stop talking to our managers, and avoid coming into the office. Mostly. Fried, the co-founder and CEO of the software company Basecamp, believes many workplaces are dysfunctional and should be reinvented. Why? And what’s Fried’s vision of the new office? I sat down to talk with him … Continue reading “Innovation Hub: Jason Fried on the End of the Workplace”
GlobeRanger Acquired by Japan’s Fujitsu for RFID Business
[Updated 5/2/14 1:41 pm. See below.] A suburban Dallas maker of RFID technologies specialized for the U.S. military was bought Friday by Japanese electronics giant Fujitsu to shore up its portfolio of national security and defense-related products and services. [Comments from GlobeRanger CEO George Brody and Bill Sproull at the Richardson Economic Development Partnership added.] “The opportunity … Continue reading “GlobeRanger Acquired by Japan’s Fujitsu for RFID Business”
Halcyon Biomedical Aims to “Wash” Blood for Safer Transfusions
Nearly 10 million people in America donate blood every year, which starts the clock ticking on a perishable product becoming less and less useable. Blood cells can get damaged during donation or in the storage process. Burst cells, for example, could lead to inflammation or blood clots in a recipient. The longer blood sits before … Continue reading “Halcyon Biomedical Aims to “Wash” Blood for Safer Transfusions”
At Two-Year Mark, JOBS Act Is Regulation Even A Biotech Can Love
It’s been two years since President Obama signed the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act into law and revamped the rules that govern private companies trying to raise money from all types of investors. The biotech crowd, usually hard pressed to find good things to say about federal regulation, couldn’t be more pleased with the … Continue reading “At Two-Year Mark, JOBS Act Is Regulation Even A Biotech Can Love”
PivotDesk Launches in 23 New Markets in Rapid Nationwide Expansion
Fresh off raising a $3.8 million Series B round, PivotDesk is expanding its footprint dramatically, announcing today it is launching its service in 23 new markets. The move nearly quintuples the startup’s number of markets and puts it in hubs such as Chicago, Seattle, and Austin, TX. PivotDesk is a Boulder CO-based startup that has … Continue reading “PivotDesk Launches in 23 New Markets in Rapid Nationwide Expansion”
New Napa Speakers: Kawasaki on Startups, Ashenfelter on Wine
McLuhan said that the medium is the message. Here at Xconomy, we agree, and we think it even goes for the venues we pick for our events. When we hold a big conference in a university lecture hall, the message we’re sending is: deep thoughts and nuanced arguments coming. If we gather at the campus … Continue reading “New Napa Speakers: Kawasaki on Startups, Ashenfelter on Wine”
BioPharma Learns From Marvel, Begins Real Life Search For “X-Men”
Biopharma employees read, as you might expect, a wide spectrum of scientific journals and trade publications. What might be surprising is that their reading lists appear to have expanded recently to include classic Marvel comics. What’s led me to this conclusion? The Belgian pharmaceutical company UCB has sponsored an Innovation Challenge on the InnoCentive Website … Continue reading “BioPharma Learns From Marvel, Begins Real Life Search For “X-Men””
CPRIT Oversight Committee Meeting
The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas’ oversight committee meeting will convene in a public meeting. For more information, contact Ellen Read at [email protected].
Austin ‘A-List’ Gala
The Austin Chamber of Commerce hosts the Austin A-list “Hottest Startups” Awards Ceremony for Spring 2014 and a discussion of the state of innovation in the city.
Interstate Equity Crowdfunding Roundtable and Lunch
Invited Speakers include: John Morgan – State Securities Board Amir Mirabi – Director, Governor’s Office for Small Business Economic Development Lauren McKinney – Director, Governor’s Office for Small Business Economic Development Joy Schoffler – Owner, Leverage PR and CFIRA (Crowdfund Intermediary Regulatory Advocates) board member Gordon Walton – Gaming Special Interest Group Nathan Roach, Partner, RAM … Continue reading “Interstate Equity Crowdfunding Roundtable and Lunch”
Milwaukee Has Startup Ecosystem Elements, Awaits Chain Reaction
Obviously the startup communities on the coasts are different than those in “flyover country” (as it is often referred to). I’d like to comment on some of the differences between two startup communities I am familiar with: Boston and Milwaukee. While I grew up in Milwaukee, I left after high school to go to MIT … Continue reading “Milwaukee Has Startup Ecosystem Elements, Awaits Chain Reaction”
Opvizor Obtains New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=164061d9-13f3-44b7-9591-a3a53a99b8ce Date 4/29/2014 Company Name Opvizor Mailing Address 4141 Southwest Freeway Houston, TX 77027 USA Company Description Opvizor is a simple-to-use expert, in-depth analysis system that pro-actively detects VMware and/or NetApp configuration and operating issues within uploaded protocol files, configuration, event and performance data. Website http://www.opvizor.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount … Continue reading “Opvizor Obtains New Round”
Texas Roundup: Funds for Virtuix, Ortho Kinematics; FPX Buys Glider
Here is the latest innovation news for Xconomy Texas for the past week. —Virtuix, a Houston-based virtual reality gaming startup, has raised $3 million in seed funding from investors such as Mark Cuban, the Houston Angel Network, and Tekton Ventures in San Francisco. The company’s product, the Omni, is a 360-degree treadmill on which users … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: Funds for Virtuix, Ortho Kinematics; FPX Buys Glider”
“Top of Rockies” Honors Xconomy’s Davidson with 2 First Place Awards
We’re proud to report this morning that one of our own has added his name to the summit log in the “Top of the Rockies” journalism competition awards, a program organized by the Colorado Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Michael Davidson, who joined Xconomy just over a year ago as editor of … Continue reading ““Top of Rockies” Honors Xconomy’s Davidson with 2 First Place Awards”
GroundMetrics Lands $2.7M to Expand Geophysical Survey Technology
San Diego-based GroundMetrics says it has raised over $2.7 million to advance its geophysical sensing technology in an extended Series B financing led by Cowboy Technology Angels, an Oklahoma angel group comprised of alumni and friends of Oklahoma State University. GroundMetrics was founded four years ago with advanced electromagnetic sensing technology developed by Quasar Geophysical … Continue reading “GroundMetrics Lands $2.7M to Expand Geophysical Survey Technology”
Beauty Is Everywhere, Except On Your TV Screen. Time to Change That.
Your mother probably taught you to turn off the TV when you weren’t watching it. That made sense, back in the day: television sets used to consume a lot of juice. Today, they don’t. If you bought the largest, most electricity-guzzling flat-screen TV you could find and left it on all the time, you’d still … Continue reading “Beauty Is Everywhere, Except On Your TV Screen. Time to Change That.”
Riskpulse Garners $525,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4517eb0e-a15f-404e-89e6-d32fa1d6d81c Date 4/25/2014 Company Name Riskpulse Mailing Address 3925 W. Braker Lane 3rd Floor Austin, TX 78759 USA Company Description Cygnus is the hub of a rapidly-expanding database of hazards, from natural disasters to sickness to crime and theft. We ingest these hazards, factor them into a risk score for each of … Continue reading “Riskpulse Garners $525,000 New Financing Round”
MD Anderson Leverages IBM Watson in Cancer-Fighting Efforts
Even a powerful “mind” like Watson needs regular checkups. Mike Rhodin, senior vice president for IBM’s Watson Group, was in Austin Wednesday meeting with staff in the group’s emerging technologies and strategies departments. The Texas capital is a key node in Watson, IBM’s big artificial intelligence project, whose endeavors include a collaboration with the University … Continue reading “MD Anderson Leverages IBM Watson in Cancer-Fighting Efforts”
Virtuix Receives $3,000,000 Seed Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=1484f950-f731-446e-a27d-c83abdc0c291 Date 4/24/2014 Company Name Virtuix Mailing Address 2221 W. Dallas St. Houston, TX 77019 USA Company Description The Virtuix Omni is now available for pre-order. Thanks to more than 3,000 Kickstarter backers, the Virtuix Omni has been funded. Take advantage of our pre-order pricing and reserve your spot in line by … Continue reading “Virtuix Receives $3,000,000 Seed Round”
Ortho Kinematics Garners $6,292,611 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ff988c1c-9dbb-4eb7-bdb5-fbc70b88484b Date 4/24/2014 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 Venture Equity Transaction Amount $6,292,611 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were … Continue reading “Ortho Kinematics Garners $6,292,611 New Financing”
Corporate Acquisitions of Startups: Why Do They Fail?
For decades large companies have gone shopping in Silicon Valley for startups. Lately the pressure of continuous disruption has forced them to step up the pace. More often than not the results of these acquisitions are disappointing. What can companies learn from others’ failed efforts to integrate startups into large companies? The answer – there … Continue reading “Corporate Acquisitions of Startups: Why Do They Fail?”
Texas Roundup: Neos, See Forge, Ilumi, M-87, Food on the Table
Here’s the startup innovation news from Xconomy Texas this week. —Neos Therapeutics announced Wednesday it has secured a $20 million loan facility with Hercules Technology Growth Capital (NYSE: [[ticker:HTGC]]) and that it raised $18 million in a recent Series C funding round, an increase from the $15.5 million initially reported. The suburban Dallas company makes … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: Neos, See Forge, Ilumi, M-87, Food on the Table”
As Websense Leaves Town, Iboss Network Security Takes Center Stage
When fraternal twins Paul and Peter Martini founded a startup now known as iboss Network Security in San Diego in 2003, another local company was already becoming one of the dominant providers of Web gateway security technology. For the next decade or so, iboss operated in the background while San Diego’s Websense rose into the … Continue reading “As Websense Leaves Town, Iboss Network Security Takes Center Stage”
How To Fund a “Fat Startup”
These days, we focus a lot more on lean startups than startups that require capital to get going. The entire industry has moved away from the “fat” startup category. Investors expect that you will have your product launched, customer acquisition model fleshed out fully, and a team in place before Series A. However, infrastructure software, … Continue reading “How To Fund a “Fat Startup””
Mozido Obtains $63,472,242 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8a58462c-1492-4236-a77c-025e714dd45f Date 4/23/2014 Company Name Mozido Mailing Address 1601 South Mopac Expressway Austin, TX 78746 USA Company Description Across mobile phones, through point-of-sale terminals, over the Internet – Mozido offers the services your customers need, where they need them. Website http://www.mozido.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $63,472,242 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds … Continue reading “Mozido Obtains $63,472,242 New Round”
Neos Therapeutics Garners $20,000,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=15b9460d-3c3f-453d-b691-9eedfdf8962d Date 4/23/2014 Company Name Neos Therapeutics Mailing Address 2940 N Hwy 360 Grand Prairie, TX 75050 USA Company Description Neos Therapeutics is a specialty pharmaceutical company that focuses on time-release technologies. We have developed a broad, cutting-edge portfolio of processes that allow for tailored and independent release profiles of single and … Continue reading “Neos Therapeutics Garners $20,000,000 New Financing Round”
Kimbia Obtains $674,999 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8ea05126-146b-439e-8780-d9142c3e0ecc Date 4/23/2014 Company Name Kimbia Mailing Address 1050 E. 11th Street Austin, TX 78702 USA Company Description In 2007, KIMBIA was created in response to what we saw as a lack of dynamic, flexible and easy-to-use software solutions for cause organizations. We recognized that existing software options imposed technological barriers, high … Continue reading “Kimbia Obtains $674,999 New Round”
MolecularMatch Uses Health IT Software for Better Clinical Trials
Connecting cancer patients to clinical trials that could help them is an expensive and inefficient process. Houston’s MolecularMatch says they have a better way, an approach that combines Google search with Match.com. “What we do is take publicly available information and package it so that it’s actionable,” says MolecularMatch CEO Kevin Coker. “We distill the … Continue reading “MolecularMatch Uses Health IT Software for Better Clinical Trials”
A Big Day for Xconomy: Introducing Elise Craig and Alex Lash
At a growing media startup like Xconomy, there’s no task more thrilling than welcoming new editors and writers on board. Today is especially exciting, because I’ve got not one but two additions to tell you about. First, I’m extremely pleased to announce that Elise Craig has joined us as the new Editor of Xconomy San … Continue reading “A Big Day for Xconomy: Introducing Elise Craig and Alex Lash”
Minerva’s Plan to Disrupt Universities: A Talk with CEO Ben Nelson
[Updated, see below] Traditional four-year universities have always had to compete for students. They’re vying not only against each other, but against community colleges, the military, online institutions like University of Phoenix, and, in an age of increasing economic pressure on the middle class, the work world. (Some 34 percent of U.S. high school graduates … Continue reading “Minerva’s Plan to Disrupt Universities: A Talk with CEO Ben Nelson”
Texas Roundup: Funds for FireHost, Silvercar; UTSA Joins Microsoft
Here is the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas this week: —Cloud security company FireHost raised $25 million Wednesday in a Series E funding round, in order to pay for sales and marketing support as well as technology advances. The Richardson, TX-based company has now raised a total of $59 million in the last four … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: Funds for FireHost, Silvercar; UTSA Joins Microsoft”
First-Quarter Venture Funding at $9.6B in U.S., Highest Since 2001
Right out of the gate, venture capital funding surged nationwide during the first three months of 2014—driven largely by substantial investments in expansion-stage IT and software companies, according to the MoneyTree Report being released today. Eight of the ten biggest deals involved IT, software, or Web companies based in Northern California. (The top 10 deal … Continue reading “First-Quarter Venture Funding at $9.6B in U.S., Highest Since 2001”
M87 Lands $3,000,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ff874bce-17e5-4fc9-9ee1-77d9849a1973 Date 4/18/2014 Company Name M87 Mailing Address 211 E. 7th Street Austin, TX 78701 USA Company Description M87’s Routing at the Edge (RATE) technology improves the performance of data networks by moving routing intelligence and network selection decisions to the device, which is most aware of real-time connectivity conditions. Website http://www.m-87.com … Continue reading “M87 Lands $3,000,000 New Financing Round”
Myriad RBM Test Helping to Mine Secrets of Normal Immune System
Scientists have long known that an abnormal immune system can help cause diseases such as asthma and Type 1 diabetes. But to understand what makes an immune system abnormal, it’s important to know exactly what a normal immune system looks like. Oddly enough, few large-scale studies have been done to explore the immune systems of … Continue reading “Myriad RBM Test Helping to Mine Secrets of Normal Immune System”
How I Raised Seed Capital from a Sand Hill Road VC in 24 Hours
Much to many entrepreneurs’ chagrin, having an idea is not enough to start a company. Being able to fundraise is just as important as the big idea. I’ve been very frank in sharing how one of my startup companies failed because I did not have sufficient funding to compete, so I know how long and … Continue reading “How I Raised Seed Capital from a Sand Hill Road VC in 24 Hours”
Silvercar Secures $5,000,000 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=df0b7b26-745a-4f48-a3b0-68bef467658d Date 4/16/2014 Company Name Silvercar Mailing Address 712 Congress Ave. Austin, TX 78701 USA Company Description Silvercar is the airport car rental experience reimagined for you, the connected business traveler. We put the power back in your hands, enabling you to bypass lines, avoid complexity and frustration, and drive away in … Continue reading “Silvercar Secures $5,000,000 New Round”
FantasySalesTeam Garners New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e1b6c651-966a-4fb3-a860-6b102ed54f16 Date 4/16/2014 Company Name FantasySalesTeam Mailing Address 603 Davis Street Austin, TX 78701 USA Company Description FantasySalesTeam was developed by sales professionals for sales professionals. It was designed by a team of software industry veterans and people that have been in the trenches by phone, foot, and plane selling and managing … Continue reading “FantasySalesTeam Garners New Financing Round”
FireHost Secures $25,000,000 Series E Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=bae1baa2-9725-4afb-9adb-7783d0e4e463 Date 4/16/2014 Company Name FireHost Mailing Address 2360 Campbell Creek Richardson, TX 75082 USA Company Description FireHost is the leader in Secure Cloud Hosting and delivers web hosting solutions to eCommerce, SaaS, healthcare IT and security companies around the world. Website http://www.firehost.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $25,000,000 Transaction Round … Continue reading “FireHost Secures $25,000,000 Series E Round”