Category: Texas

Q2 Holdings Lands $100,891,310 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=99014a44-7fd8-46eb-8ac2-2a1915aa981b Date 3/20/2014 Company Name Q2 Holdings Mailing Address 13785 Research Blvd. Austin, TX 78750 USA Company Description Q2 Holdings (NYSE: QTWO) is dramatically changing how banks and credit unions address the echannel and thus enabling financial institutions to focus on competing better and serving the needs of their markets. Q2ebanking provides … Continue reading “Q2 Holdings Lands $100,891,310 New Funding Round”

Phunware Garners $30,000,000 Series E Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=dfd1f630-053e-4477-9ae9-9a5c3f23c2c3 Date 3/19/2014 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 $30,000,000 Transaction … Continue reading “Phunware Garners $30,000,000 Series E Round”

Get the Heck Out of the Building in Founder’s School: Part 2

With a ~$2 billion endowment the Kauffman Foundation is the largest non-profit focused on entrepreneurship in the world. Giving away $80 million to every year (~$25 million to entrepreneurial causes) makes Kauffman the dominant player in the entrepreneurship space. Kauffman launched Founders School – a new education series to help entrepreneurs develop their businesses during … Continue reading “Get the Heck Out of the Building in Founder’s School: Part 2”

Texas Roundup: Bio2 Medical, Oxane Materials, Alkami Tech, Illumitex

A summary of the news-in-brief from Texas’s innovation community in the last week. (Yes, there was more going on than just South By Southwest:) — Bio2 Medical has raised $5.8 million out of a possible $7.5 million equity financing round from 10 investors, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday. … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: Bio2 Medical, Oxane Materials, Alkami Tech, Illumitex”

Vazata Garners $2,000,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ea852ce6-4116-41ae-881a-9fcf9271d67a Date 3/17/2014 Company Name Vazata Mailing Address 6900 Dallas Pkwy Plano, TX 75024 Company Description Horizon Data Center Solutions, LLC, doing business as Vazata, operates as an infrastructure-as-a-service provider. It offers managed services, such as vServices, a multi-tenant, private, or hybrid cloud. Website http://www.vazata.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $2,000,000 … Continue reading “Vazata Garners $2,000,000 New Financing”

ImageVision Obtains $1,747,645 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3c3a3543-c208-4ed6-8cd5-c600fc727b1b Date 3/17/2014 Company Name ImageVision Mailing Address 312 N. Powell Parkway Anna, TX 75409 Company Description We are the pioneer in the automated content moderation and compliance industry. Our visual recognition and detection solutions help enterprises, web publishers, advertisers and mobile operators who deal with large quantities of video, photo, and … Continue reading “ImageVision Obtains $1,747,645 New Financing”

Convey Computer Obtains $2,999,999 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=debcf187-4838-48ca-9ab6-4f3a1d65f271 Date 3/17/2014 Company Name Convey Computer Mailing Address 1302 E. Collins Boulevard Richardson, TX 75081 USA Company Description The company is designing applications to improve the performance of microprocessor servers. Website http://www.conveycomputer.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount $2,999,999 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. SEC regulatory filing. … Continue reading “Convey Computer Obtains $2,999,999 New Funding”

For Products, Technology Still Matters

Popular media has seriously overshot on the relative importance of marketing and design versus technology for product companies. Just spend some time perusing the usual outlets and you’ll quickly forget that startups employ technologists. What’s scary is it’s not just media—the rest of the world is starting to follow. The number of companies, raising very … Continue reading “For Products, Technology Still Matters”

From Cosimo to Cosmos: The Medici Effect in Culture and Technology

Deep inside the Palazzo Vecchio, the tall stone fortress that has served as the seat of government power in Florence since the 14th century, there’s a room called the Sala delle Carte Geografiche, the Hall of Maps. The cabinets lining the walls, which once held scientific instruments and other precious items, are decorated with 53 … Continue reading “From Cosimo to Cosmos: The Medici Effect in Culture and Technology”

Bio2 Medical Obtains $5,873,199 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=0d9032ed-411e-46ef-b460-f7c4a6c286f9 Date 3/14/2014 Company Name Bio2 Medical Mailing Address 12621 Silicon Drive San Antonio, TX 78249 Company Description Develops medical devices for the treatment of pulmonary embolism. Website http://www.bio2medical.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $5,873,199 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. SEC regulatory filing. Contact technology company … Continue reading “Bio2 Medical Obtains $5,873,199 New Funding Round”

South By Southwest: Interactive 2014 in Pictures

Panel discussions and parties. “Meatups” and Mario Kart. SXSW Interactive aimed to have a little something for everyone. And considering that more than 30,000 people came to downtown Austin for this year’s festival, the variety is probably a good thing. Here is a very unscientifically collected group of photos crowdsourced from Xconomy readers over the … Continue reading “South By Southwest: Interactive 2014 in Pictures”

Oxane Materials Garners $10,020,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3ce1bcb3-a226-49ef-a2f1-4ed3dce8219c Date 3/13/2014 Company Name Oxane Materials Mailing Address 467 West 38th Street Houston, TX 77018 Company Description Oxane Materials, Inc. is an energy-focused nanoproducts company. The principal product under development is an oil and gas recovery enhancer, OxFrac. Follow-on products include sour gas abatement technologies, high temperature stable PEM fuel cell … Continue reading “Oxane Materials Garners $10,020,000 New Funding Round”

Capital Factory Pitch Day Offers Peek at Upcoming Austin Innovation

In addition to “Is SXSW too big?” another comment I heard frequently during the four days of Interactive was, “Josh Baer is everywhere.” And Baer, founder of Austin’s Capital Factory, did pop up ubiquitously over the festival, whether its was as his virtual avatar on social media or in person at the Austin Hilton and … Continue reading “Capital Factory Pitch Day Offers Peek at Upcoming Austin Innovation”

Alkami Technology Garners $7,611,670 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=20baa04e-5adb-4de0-bfea-7711c18e1aef Date 3/12/2014 Company Name Alkami Technology Mailing Address 5601 Granite Parkway Plano, TX 75024 Company Description Our Online Banking Suite and ORB Platform represent a quantum leap forward in the level of control and customization given to the FI, while revolutionizing the user experience provided to customers and members. Website http://www.alkamitech.com … Continue reading “Alkami Technology Garners $7,611,670 New Round”

South By Southwest Interactive—The Compulsory Tech Pilgrimage

Thirty thousand people have come to Austin, TX, for “Spring Break for Geeks.” You might know it as South By Southwest Interactive. What started as a small music festival in central Texas 27 years ago is now a heaving throng of entrepreneurs, investors, gurus, and groupies—each hoping to discover, or be, the next big thing. … Continue reading “South By Southwest Interactive—The Compulsory Tech Pilgrimage”

Illumitex Obtains $2,066,851 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6526c5e4-4704-4e33-9259-0d01576d2ab9 Date 3/11/2014 Company Name Illumitex Mailing Address 5307 Industrial Oaks Blvd Austin, TX 78735 Company Description The company operates as an solid state lighting development company. Website http://www.illumitex.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $2,066,851 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. SEC regulatory filing. Contact technology company … Continue reading “Illumitex Obtains $2,066,851 New Financing Round”

WigWag Secures New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=845fda8f-80f8-4c2d-be6f-6c01b61be632 Date 3/11/2014 Company Name WigWag Mailing Address 4009 Banister Lane Austin, TX 78704 Company Description There are a lof of devices which can be controlled through your smartphone or across the Internet. Instead of having to control everything through an App, WigWag let’s you make these devices do things automatically for … Continue reading “WigWag Secures New Financing Round”

WigWag Receives New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=845fda8f-80f8-4c2d-be6f-6c01b61be632 Date 3/11/2014 Company Name WigWag Mailing Address 4009 Banister Lane Austin, TX 78704 Company Description There are a lof of devices which can be controlled through your smartphone or across the Internet. Instead of having to control everything through an App, WigWag let’s you make these devices do things automatically for … Continue reading “WigWag Receives New Round”

Five Ways To Avoid Losing Money as An Angel Investor

I have an angel investor friend—let’s call this friend “Alex.” Alex has great deal flow and works hard to pick the best opportunities for investment. Alex has been frustrated over the past several years, however, because she doesn’t seem to be making any money. This is despite solid operational performance by several of the companies … Continue reading “Five Ways To Avoid Losing Money as An Angel Investor”

ProspX Secures $1,873,585 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4dc7acf4-a79e-4c20-ab36-db389134aeca Date 3/10/2014 Company Name ProspX Mailing Address 7600B N Capital of Texas Hwy Austin, TX 78731 Company Description ProspX was founded in 2005 by industry veterans that saw a unique opportunity to improve many of the inefficiencies that exist in today’s $500 billion dollar a year commercial insurance industry. Website http://www.prospx.com … Continue reading “ProspX Secures $1,873,585 New Funding”

Uplogix Lands $471,846 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=5a81dacb-57cf-40a4-9685-f541401f00e0 Date 3/9/2014 Company Name Uplogix Mailing Address 7600B N. Capital of Texas Hwy. Austin, TX 78731 Company Description Uplogix is the leading provider of Enterprise Edge Management solutions. Website http://www.uplogix.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount $471,846 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. SEC regulatory filing. Contact technology … Continue reading “Uplogix Lands $471,846 New Funding Round”

SolarBridge Technologies Secures $42,000,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=1f4410ee-b4a3-4fdb-866d-773f699b3229 Date 3/7/2014 Company Name SolarBridge Technologies Mailing Address 9229 Waterford Centre Blvd. Austin, TX 78758 Company Description SolarBridge Technologies is making solar energy easier, more reliable and more affordable. SolarBridge and its partners are working together to drive solar adoption by delivering AC modules to the residential and commercial markets. Website … Continue reading “SolarBridge Technologies Secures $42,000,000 New Funding Round”

Surveying And Mapping Lands New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=87df1dc5-48c6-4d9b-ab21-af7154b35897 Date 3/7/2014 Company Name Surveying And Mapping Mailing Address 4801 Southwest Parkway Austin, TX 78735 Company Description SAM, Inc.’s complete geospatial approach gives us the tools and skills to develop efficient and customized solutions for projects of any scale. This gives our clients the benefit of a single point of contact … Continue reading “Surveying And Mapping Lands New Financing”

Zayo Group Acquires CoreXchange for Undisclosed Sum

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=0cb378b4-a5f6-4b43-ba07-bf66f54723f2 Date 3/7/2014 Company Name CoreXchange Mailing Address 1950 N.Stemmons Freeway Dallas, TX 75207 Company Description CoreXchange is the industry’s first network access exchange, providing high performance network based solutions to business enterprises and service providers based on their individual performance needs and network requirements. Website http://www.corexchange.com Transaction Type M&A Transaction Amount … Continue reading “Zayo Group Acquires CoreXchange for Undisclosed Sum”

ZS Pharma Raises $55M to Develop Drug to Treat Hyperkalemia

ZS Pharma, a Fort Worth-area biotech developing a chronic kidney disease drug, has raised $55 million in new equity financing. ZS Pharma will use the Series D funding round to continue to develop its lead drug candidate, ZS-9, an experimental treatment for people with hyperkalemia, and get the company to the point of filing new … Continue reading “ZS Pharma Raises $55M to Develop Drug to Treat Hyperkalemia”

ZS Pharma Secures $55,000,000 Series D Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=40de0b74-d652-4b38-9974-eff2f47db3bf Date 3/6/2014 Company Name ZS Pharma Mailing Address 508 Wrangler Drive Coppell, TX 75019 Company Description Founded in 2008, ZS Pharma, Inc. is a privately held specialty pharmaceutical company located inFort Worth, Texas. It is focused on the development and commercialization of proprietary oral sorbent technology that will significantly improve the … Continue reading “ZS Pharma Secures $55,000,000 Series D Financing Round”

Dallas Biotech Neos Therapeutics Raises $15.5M for ADHD Drugs

Neos Therapeutics has raised $15.5 million in a Series C round of venture financing to further develop its controlled-release technology for ADHD medications. The biotech startup says it has developed a mechanism for making liquids and pills that deliver their doses in a gradual, controlled manner over time, instead of all at once. Neos, based … Continue reading “Dallas Biotech Neos Therapeutics Raises $15.5M for ADHD Drugs”

Farewell, Xconomy Readers. I’m Going to Climb a New Mountain

This is my last week on the job at Xconomy. After almost six years, I’m moving on. I’m going to finish writing a biography of Leroy Hood, the pioneer of high-speed DNA sequencing and genomic-based personalized medicine. And then I’ll see what’s next. When I first joined Xconomy, it had been founded 10 months earlier … Continue reading “Farewell, Xconomy Readers. I’m Going to Climb a New Mountain”

4 Ways to Stop Social Media from Blowing Up In Your Startup’s Face

Social media offers startups a powerful platform to cost-effectively market their products and services, get their brand recognized, and engage with a wide audience of customers. Yet social media also throws up multiple risks. Many of these risks—be they security and privacy risks, compliance risks, or reputational risks—are not new. However, companies have become more … Continue reading “4 Ways to Stop Social Media from Blowing Up In Your Startup’s Face”

Biscotti Obtains $500,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3dba803f-4fa3-4345-845f-6cb591a9c80f Date 3/5/2014 Company Name Biscotti Mailing Address 5900 S. Lake Forest Drive McKinney, TX 75070 Company Description Biscotti Inc. is a consumer electronics company that designs, builds and markets high-definition video calling products for the home. Website http://www.biscotti.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $500,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds … Continue reading “Biscotti Obtains $500,000 New Financing”

Data Miner EquityMetrix Digitizes Energy’s Back Office

In energy exploration, millions, if not billions, of investment dollars are still largely tracked by paper. And paper is easily lost. A typical well changes hands about five times, according to Tom Agnew, founder and CEO of EquityMetrix in Dallas. “Every time the ownership changes, the records get boxed up and shipped to new company,” … Continue reading “Data Miner EquityMetrix Digitizes Energy’s Back Office”

Supreme Court Should Scale Back Securities Class Actions

Class-action lawsuits against publicly traded companies, which ironically are meant to protect investors like me, have officially jumped the shark.  That was the only conclusion I could come to after learning last week that one firm alone, Levi & Korsinsky, is suing not one, but three companies I invest in—Aegerion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AEGR]]), Sarepta Therapeutics … Continue reading “Supreme Court Should Scale Back Securities Class Actions”

Why It’s Time to Retire the Term “Life Sciences”

I originally thought about titling this piece “Life Sciences, Biosciences, BioPharma, Biotech, and Healthcare: What’s the Difference?” but that was simply too unwieldy. Many people use these terms interchangeably without thinking about what they specifically refer to, and which types of jobs and activities they encompass. Are they all the same thing? I don’t think … Continue reading “Why It’s Time to Retire the Term “Life Sciences””

Bob Doyle and the Magic of Merlin, the First Mobile Game

If you sat down to make a list of the key turning points in the history of mobile computing, you’d definitely have to include 2007, the year Apple released the iPhone. Its glowing touchscreen became a personalized portal to our friends, to the Web, and to hundreds of thousands of games and other specialized apps. … Continue reading “Bob Doyle and the Magic of Merlin, the First Mobile Game”

How to Tell When a Startup Is Ready for Investment

Since 2005 startup accelerators have provided cohorts of startups with mentoring, pitch practice, and product focus. However, accelerator Demo Days are a combination of graduation ceremony and pitch contest, with the uncomfortable feel of a swimsuit competition. Other than “I’ll know it when I see it”, there’s no formal way for an investor attending Demo … Continue reading “How to Tell When a Startup Is Ready for Investment”

Noesis Energy Lands $5,999,999 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b64b6c99-c717-483a-8b12-2f049041ca5e Date 2/28/2014 Company Name Noesis Energy Mailing Address 303 North Mopac Expwy Austin, TX 78759 Company Description Every year US commercial and industrial organizations spend over $350 billion on energy and it’s estimated that over $70 billion is wasted due to inefficient buildings, outdated lighting, poorly performing HVAC systems and more. … Continue reading “Noesis Energy Lands $5,999,999 New Funding Round”

A New Era for Microsoft: Overcoming the Innovator’s Dilemma

I don’t know if Microsoft will be a $300 billion company 50 years from now, but I do know one thing: selecting Satya Nadella as CEO gives it a better chance than some of the names that were discussed in the news since Steve Ballmer announced he would be stepping down. The reason is simple: … Continue reading “A New Era for Microsoft: Overcoming the Innovator’s Dilemma”

Zebra Imaging Obtains $535,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d9415641-c013-4f89-b4d3-fa4503824b85 Date 2/27/2014 Company Name Zebra Imaging Mailing Address 9801 Metric Blvd Austin, TX 78758 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 Debt Transaction Amount $535,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. … Continue reading “Zebra Imaging Obtains $535,000 New Funding Round”

IT Startups from Brazil, the UK, and Dallas Join Tech Wildcatters

PledgeCents is going back to school. The Houston-based education crowdfunding site has joined the latest class at the Dallas-based accelerator Tech Wildcatters, which began its three-month program this week. Two grade-school friends started the site, which aims to connect educational causes with donors beyond a localized geographic area, last August. Right now, the site features … Continue reading “IT Startups from Brazil, the UK, and Dallas Join Tech Wildcatters”

Encore Entrepreneurs: They’re Older and They Have More Insurance

OK, I want you to take a quick test and answer the question with the first thing that comes to mind: What does a “start-up entrepreneur” look like? OK, do you have a picture in your mind? If you are like most people, I bet your first thought was someone who looks suspiciously like a … Continue reading “Encore Entrepreneurs: They’re Older and They Have More Insurance”

Austin’s SpareFoot, ‘Hotels.com of Self-Storage,’ Gets $10M to Grow

As a college junior in 2008, Chuck Gordon was headed to Singapore for a study abroad program but, first, he needed to find a place to store his stuff. Storage units near his school, the University of California at Los Angeles, were going to cost him about $1,000. “My dad told me he was not … Continue reading “Austin’s SpareFoot, ‘Hotels.com of Self-Storage,’ Gets $10M to Grow”

SecureNOK Rides the Wave With Cyberdefense for Energy Companies

Technology advances have made it easier than ever to install and monitor drilling platforms hundreds of miles out into the sea or deep into isolated parts of our planet. But it’s that very connectedness that makes these facilities so vulnerable to attack. Enter SecureNOK, a Norway-born and Houston-bred energy cybersecurity startup, which says its software … Continue reading “SecureNOK Rides the Wave With Cyberdefense for Energy Companies”

An Executive’s Guide to Not Screwing Up Partnerships

Everyone loves partnerships. These fancy sounding deals are also often called “strategic alliances,” “co-marketing agreements,” “channel sales,” or in Continental Europe, “a coöperation” (sounds quite nice and German, doesn’t it?). Partnerships are prestigious, and they whisper to you the sweet possibilities of easy revenue. In Silicon Valley, they are generally run with lots of fanfare … Continue reading “An Executive’s Guide to Not Screwing Up Partnerships”

Austin’s Zello Finds Itself Key Tool Among Venezuela Protestors

An Austin startup is playing a starring role in anti-government protests in Venezuela. Zello, an app that essentially allows walkie-talkie style communication on a smartphone, was already a popular app in the South American country. But on Friday, CEO Bill Moore says he noticed a severe drop in users. The Venezuelan government had blocked the … Continue reading “Austin’s Zello Finds Itself Key Tool Among Venezuela Protestors”

The Inside Story: What CISOs Know About Cybersecurity

In the wake of aggressive press coverage of recent major breaches at companies from Target to Neiman Marcus, cybersecurity has finally moved out of the shadows to become a top-of-mind issue at major enterprises. The new focus is dramatically changing the landscape for security leaders and business executives, who no longer struggle to convince their … Continue reading “The Inside Story: What CISOs Know About Cybersecurity”

BioHouston Life Science Forum Spotlights Texas Biotech Innovation

Life sciences leaders gathered last week in a Rice University auditorium for BioHouston’s Life Science Forum where they heard keynotes and panel discussions on Texas biotech’s challenges and promise. But the key work of boosting innovation may have been happening across the courtyard, where BioHouston had arranged a series of personal meetings connecting entrepreneurs with … Continue reading “BioHouston Life Science Forum Spotlights Texas Biotech Innovation”

Hiring in Biotech is Tricky. But Algorithms Won’t Save the Day

People who appreciate baseball stats agree: Jonny Gomes of the Boston Red Sox is a below-average player. Yet, if you pay attention to his intangibles, he looks better. Even with lousy performance data, he was credited with playing a key role last fall in helping his team win the World Series. The Gomes example reminds … Continue reading “Hiring in Biotech is Tricky. But Algorithms Won’t Save the Day”