Before we head into the holiday week, Texas startups are wrapping up fundraising, acquisitions, and new expansions. Here is the latest news from Xconomy Texas: —Austin-based Apollo Endosurgery said it raised $60.7 million in a planned $63.7 million Series C financing. The medical device company had 11 investors in this round, according to a filing … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: Apollo Endosurgery, Pros Holdings, START”
Category: Texas
News, Social Networking Meet in Prismatic’s “Interest Network”
Over the last 20 years, three new technologies have come together to reshape the way information enters our lives. First, of course, there was the Web, starting around 1993. Then came social networking, starting around 2003. And finally—hugely amplifying the effects of the first two—came broadband-capable smartphones and tablets, starting in 2007. Any one of … Continue reading “News, Social Networking Meet in Prismatic’s “Interest Network””
Ube Lands $760,650 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4d82d5fd-cc91-4aef-b764-8bca358394cd Date 12/19/2013 Company Name Ube Mailing Address 701 Brazos Street Austin, TX 78701 Company Description Ube has created a WiFi smart dimmer that replaces the dumb light dimmer you have in your wall with an intelligent one that is connected to the internet. We have a companion smart phone app that … Continue reading “Ube Lands $760,650 New Financing”
Houston’s Decisio Crunches Patient Data for Better Care
Doctors and nurses in Houston’s Memorial Hermann Hospital scramble among hospital beds, making split-second decisions on treatment based on experience and a half-dozen blinking screens flashing different vital signs. “There are a lot of data sets—plus, blood on the floor,” says Bryan Haardt, chief executive officer of the Houston-based medtech startup Decisio Healthcare. It’s a … Continue reading “Houston’s Decisio Crunches Patient Data for Better Care”
Betting on the Recurring Revenue Market
Big companies are betting big on recurring revenue—that is, pricing plans designed to guarantee continuing income, as opposed to one-time payments. They believe that if they play their hands correctly, this strategy will deliver profitability and growth. We’ve been watching the red-hot recurring revenue market closely, and in recent months, we’ve seen one established company … Continue reading “Betting on the Recurring Revenue Market”
For CytRx’s Insiders, What a Difference a Day Makes
CytRx (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CYTR]]) investors had a lot to be happy about last week. The good times came on Wednesday, Dec. 11, after the small cap biotech announced encouraging summary results from a mid-stage clinical trial of its doxorubicin conjugate, aldoxorubicin, in patients getting their initial treatment for soft tissue sarcoma. This announcement sent Los Angeles-based … Continue reading “For CytRx’s Insiders, What a Difference a Day Makes”
Apollo Endosurgery Garners $60,727,392 Series C Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d25c3f6c-bf58-4676-aa7a-e782dee625de Date 12/17/2013 Company Name Apollo Endosurgery Mailing Address 1120 S. Capital of Texas Hwy Austin, TX 78746 Company Description Apollo Endosurgery is a world leader in device and procedure development in the fields of Transluminal (NOTES, Transgastric), and Intraluminal Surgery (Therapeutic Endoscopy). Website http://www.apolloendo.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $60,727,392 … Continue reading “Apollo Endosurgery Garners $60,727,392 Series C Financing”
Texas Roundup: New Funding in Austin and Dallas; Tate’s Transition
For some Texas startups, the holidays came a little early with new funding. Also, Houston’s Capital Royalty announces a management transition. Here’s the latest innovation news from Texas. —Datical, a technology startup based in Austin, TX, said Monday it has raised $3 million in Series A funding. The money will be used by Datical to … Continue reading “Texas Roundup: New Funding in Austin and Dallas; Tate’s Transition”
Xconomy Launches in Wisconsin: Innovation Isn’t Something We Fly Over
There are no flyover zones in the United States. That’s the way Xconomy views the map, anyway, because we see innovation happening all over America. So it is with great pleasure that today we are launching Xconomy Wisconsin, the ninth hub in our growing national network. It is our third launch this year—after Boulder-Denver and … Continue reading “Xconomy Launches in Wisconsin: Innovation Isn’t Something We Fly Over”
What Was Hyped, and What Fell Out of Favor, This Year in Biotech
Every year, Science magazine profiles its “Breakthrough of the Year.” People get excited. But what many readers don’t fully appreciate is that these discoveries—at least in biomedicine—are almost always decades away from turning into useful new drugs, diagnostics, or other products that advance human health. There are, shall we say, kinks that need to be … Continue reading “What Was Hyped, and What Fell Out of Favor, This Year in Biotech”
How Nelson Mandela Inspired Me to Fight Infectious Disease
[Editor’s Note: Alan Aderem is a former political activist from South Africa who now serves as the President of Seattle BioMed, a research institute that focuses on global infectious diseases.] My first response to Nelson Mandela’s death was one of profound loss and sadness. This feeling was soon replaced by recognition of Mandela’s mammoth contributions … Continue reading “How Nelson Mandela Inspired Me to Fight Infectious Disease”
A Revolution is Taking Place in the Treatment of Blood Cancers
I try to avoid sensationalizing early clinical trial results presented at medical conferences, what’s commonly known as “hype over hope.” But at this year’s annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) in New Orleans I was struck by the thought that I was a witness to the beginning of a revolution in the … Continue reading “A Revolution is Taking Place in the Treatment of Blood Cancers”
Datical Lands $3,000,000 Series A Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b5c902e4-e6fd-4d86-a854-48b40853af57 Date 12/16/2013 Company Name Datical Mailing Address 600 Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 Company Description Datical is founded on the fundamental philosophy of bridging the gap between phenomenal open source IT projects and the needs of enterprise customers. Website http://www.datical.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $3,000,000 Transaction Round Series A … Continue reading “Datical Lands $3,000,000 Series A Round”
Former MIT President Charles Vest Dead of Cancer at 72
[Updated, Dec. 14, 2013–see below] Charles Vest, one of the leading contemporary figures of higher education, engineering, and science, and an early friend of Xconomy, has passed away. He was 72, and the cause was cancer, according to an announcement from MIT. Chuck, as most people called him, was the down home, congenial president of “the … Continue reading “Former MIT President Charles Vest Dead of Cancer at 72”
Houzz—the Alluring App for Home Remodelers and Wannabes
The first time you open the Houzz app on your Apple or Android tablet, you’ll take in the midcentury modern living rooms with their Eames sofas and Noguchi coffee tables, the gleaming neo-Craftsman bungalows surrounded by herb gardens, and the outdoor kitchens complete with wood-fired pizza ovens, and you’ll think you’ve landed inside the digital … Continue reading “Houzz—the Alluring App for Home Remodelers and Wannabes”
State Economic Rankings Don’t Measure Up
This post was co-written with Yasuyuki Motoyama and Jared Konczal. A few weeks ago, a new ranking was published measuring “opportunity” on a state-by-state basis. Vermont came out on top as the friendliest state for upward mobility, scoring well on both the Community and Education metrics. Someone from Vermont e-mailed us here at the Kauffman … Continue reading “State Economic Rankings Don’t Measure Up”
There May Be More to the FDA/23andMe Story Than Meets the Eye
Consumers and life science startup companies alike are reacting strongly to the recent decision by the FDA to restrict the genetic testing company, 23andMe, from marketing its genetic testing service. In our day-to-day work, we are frequently approached with a gamut of regulatory questions from both large and small life science companies navigating the intersection … Continue reading “There May Be More to the FDA/23andMe Story Than Meets the Eye”
Vista Equity Laying Groundwork to Move Three San Diego Companies
Vista Equity Partners, the private equity firm that spent $2.8 billion this year acquiring San Diego’s Active Network, Websense, and Omnitracs, intends to move all three companies to Texas, according to a source in senior management who is familiar with the plans. The relocation would be completed in 2014, affecting a total of up to … Continue reading “Vista Equity Laying Groundwork to Move Three San Diego Companies”
Starmount Receives Series A Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=72ed8609-9bfb-405a-a25f-1a614c7ca8e2 Date 12/12/2013 Company Name Starmount Mailing Address 3300 Duval Road Austin, TX 78759 Company Description Starmount develops software solutions that bring the richness of the web and the power of mobile into the store, where retailers can create more personalized, relevant, and dynamic interactions. From mobile selling to interactive kiosks, transforms … Continue reading “Starmount Receives Series A Financing Round”
Silvercar Lands $1,000,005 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9791c1c4-8bbd-49fc-a38c-3f42999a9684 Date 12/12/2013 Company Name Silvercar Mailing Address 712 Congress Ave. Austin, TX 78701 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 a … Continue reading “Silvercar Lands $1,000,005 New Funding Round”
Simpli.fi Garners $16,000,000 Series A Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8d7fbf9a-abfc-4807-9565-84aaf131083b Date 12/12/2013 Company Name Simpli.fi Mailing Address 1407 Texas Street Fort Worth, TX 76102 Company Description Simpli.fi is a full-service, Demand-Side Platform or DSP. Practically this means that we help Advertisers, Networks, and Agencies to purchase display (e.g. banners) inventory on an impression-by-impression basis from thousands of publishers across all Supply-Side … Continue reading “Simpli.fi Garners $16,000,000 Series A Financing”
U.S. IPO Activity in 2013 on Track for Highest Level in 9 Years
As the IPO counter continues to roll, the EY accounting firm says it estimates 2013 will ring up a total of 222 U.S. IPOs (or maybe 223), with cumulative proceeds generating a total of about $59.7 billion. EY has counted 211 IPOs as of yesterday, and 10 more IPOs are on the calendar for this … Continue reading “U.S. IPO Activity in 2013 on Track for Highest Level in 9 Years”
E-Retail Startups Aim to Make Holiday Shopping Easier, Texas Style
It doesn’t seem like the “most wonderful time of the year” when you’re trapped in a slow vehicular death march in a mall parking garage, looking for that one available spot—as the radio station blares “The Little Drummer Boy” for the 4,349th time. It’s enough to bring out the Scrooge in all of us. But … Continue reading “E-Retail Startups Aim to Make Holiday Shopping Easier, Texas Style”
Apptive Garners $650,000 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4f71bd58-8f0e-43ed-a4a1-c2952b7d1dc2 Date 12/11/2013 Company Name Apptive Mailing Address 1001 S Capital of Texas Hwy. Austin, TX 78746 Company Description Apptive enables eCommerce merchants to create and manage awesome native mobile apps without any coding or technical knowledge required. Learn more about our company and mission here! Website http://www.apptive.com Transaction Type Venture Equity … Continue reading “Apptive Garners $650,000 New Round”
Assure360: Expanding Its Business Around a Private Cloud
In September, the Farmington Hills, MI-based IT support firm NDeX rebranded and relaunched as Assure360 with a new mission: to provide private, cloud-based data management to companies in highly regulated industries like banking, legal, and insurance. It’s an interesting company to watch as it settles into a broader and more ambitious sales strategy. “We were … Continue reading “Assure360: Expanding Its Business Around a Private Cloud”
Novartis, Gilead, Genentech & More: An ASH 2013 Wrap-Up
Advances in the treatment of blood cancer were in the news this week. If you missed some of the signal while seeing a lot of noise from press releases, tweets, and analyst reports coming from the American Society of Hematology conference, don’t feel bad. There weren’t a whole lot of major new revelations that I … Continue reading “Novartis, Gilead, Genentech & More: An ASH 2013 Wrap-Up”
Mars One Foundation Picks Lockheed Martin to Develop First Landing Plan
It’s “Mars or Bust” for the nonprofit Mars One foundation, which seeks to lead the first privately funded mission to the Red Planet, and the path to the Martian surface will go through Colorado. Mars One’s long-term goal is to create a permanent human settlement on Mars, but first it needs to prove it can … Continue reading “Mars One Foundation Picks Lockheed Martin to Develop First Landing Plan”
Austin’s Zebra Imaging Closes $5M Loan to Boost Retail 3-D Holograms
Zebra Imaging closed on $5 million in a planned $5.2 million debt financing obtained, in part, to see the company through the budgetary chaos of the federal government’s two-week shutdown in October. Chuck Scullion, Zebra’s CEO, called the deal “a bridge loan to ease over that timing.” The cash is important since Zebra’s primary customers … Continue reading “Austin’s Zebra Imaging Closes $5M Loan to Boost Retail 3-D Holograms”
The Zebra Lands $3,000,000 Seed Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=06bd886f-6df3-4dd7-99c8-24ee05463d93 Date 12/10/2013 Company Name The Zebra Mailing Address 301 Chicon St. Austin, TX 78702 Company Description The Zebra simplifies car insurance by allowing drivers to anonymously compare dozens of insurance companies in real-time. Drivers begin seeing estimated quotes with as little as two pieces of information. Real-time updates provide a transparent … Continue reading “The Zebra Lands $3,000,000 Seed Financing”
How Do You Want to Spend the Next Four Years of Your Life?
As our Lean LaunchPad for Life Sciences class winds down, a good number of the 26 teams are trying to figure out whether they should go forward to turn their class project into a business. Given that we’ve been emphasizing evidence-based entrepreneurship and the Investment Readiness Level, I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised when … Continue reading “How Do You Want to Spend the Next Four Years of Your Life?”
The Problem with Bitcoin
One purpose of writing this piece is a vague hope of being proven wrong by some economist who knows better than me. That would be nice. Because what I have come to think about Bitcoin is not nice. Before writing this piece, I presented my common-sense critique to Bitcoin proponents, and so far nobody has … Continue reading “The Problem with Bitcoin”
12 Things the Pharma Industry Can Do to Rebuild Real Public Trust
Remember when Merck was the most admired company in America? When pharmaceutical companies ranked among the most respected of all industries, because of their achievements for human health and well-being? I don’t. I was born in 1975, putting me smack in Generation X. I started paying attention to the business of biomedical innovation, as a … Continue reading “12 Things the Pharma Industry Can Do to Rebuild Real Public Trust”
LiquidFrameworks Receives $5,000,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b24d6a6b-6af4-4176-b7f5-fb0849bfc57d Date 12/9/2013 Company Name LiquidFrameworks Mailing Address 24 E Greenway Plaza Houston, TX 77046 Company Description LiquidFrameworks has quickly established a reputation for providing an innovative and cost-effective software solution for field force automation in the FieldFX product suite. Website http://www.liquidframeworks.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $5,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed … Continue reading “LiquidFrameworks Receives $5,000,000 New Financing Round”
Apollo Endosurgery Highlights Austin’s Growing MedTech Cluster
The startup spotlight in Austin has long focused on the city’s techie scene of software startups, app developers, and the like, but a medtech community has been developing, too. And Dennis McWilliams, who currently runs Apollo Endosurgery, has been along for much of that growth. From his days working at the University of Texas’ IC² … Continue reading “Apollo Endosurgery Highlights Austin’s Growing MedTech Cluster”
High-Tech Holidays: The Xperience Gift Guide, 2013 Edition
Wait, what? Cyber Monday was four days ago, and you still haven’t finished your holiday gift buying? Don’t worry, we haven’t either. But we thought we’d take some time away from our busy shopping schedules to help you find the best presents for the gadget geeks in your life. In the slideshow above, we’ve collected … Continue reading “High-Tech Holidays: The Xperience Gift Guide, 2013 Edition”
NSS Labs Receives Series A Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b91f8fda-9d2a-4c09-8834-e20ed64d7afa Date 12/6/2013 Company Name NSS Labs Mailing Address 206 Wild Basin Road Building A Austin, TX 78746 Company Description NSS Labs, Inc. is the world’s leading information security research and advisory company, with unparalleled expertise in the complex aspects of information security across a wide range of technologies. CEOs, CIOs, CISOs, … Continue reading “NSS Labs Receives Series A Funding”
Fallbrook Technologies Secures $35,000,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ddfc83d2-81d9-425c-aeda-ef3460a3193a Date 12/6/2013 Company Name Fallbrook Technologies Mailing Address 2620 Brushy Creek Loop Cedar Park, TX 78613 Company Description Fallbrook Technologies is a research and development company manufacturing advanced transmission systems. Website http://www.fallbrooktech.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount $35,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Fallbrook will use most of this to continue … Continue reading “Fallbrook Technologies Secures $35,000,000 New Funding”
FDA’s Culture Is Genetically Dominant Over 23andMe’s Business Model
I’ve been following the 23andMe saga with dread and fascination and frustration since it hit in late November. If you’re not up to date, David Dobbs has the canonical collection of stories to get you there. This is a post about business models and culture clashes. It’s long. I should also start by disclosing that my former … Continue reading “FDA’s Culture Is Genetically Dominant Over 23andMe’s Business Model”
An Innovative Cleantech Strategy: Invest in Solar PV for Nonprofits
For decades we’ve been led to believe that donating money is the only way to financially support a nonprofit organization committed to a mission we care about. However, what if there was a different way to support nonprofits that could also provide a modest financial return? Perhaps the biggest challenge for nonprofits that want to … Continue reading “An Innovative Cleantech Strategy: Invest in Solar PV for Nonprofits”
A Tablet App from Invention Labs Helps Kids with Speech Disabilities
The field of educational technologies is going through an exciting period. From massively open online courses (MOOCs) like MIT’s OCW or edX and Khan Academy to a range of tablet and smartphone applications, the field is rife with exciting innovations that have dramatically changed the face of education. There is a higher degree of self-learning … Continue reading “A Tablet App from Invention Labs Helps Kids with Speech Disabilities”
AcousticEye Obtains $7,000,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=86e23ab8-7d44-4996-a0a4-59b74d59e1af Date 12/5/2013 Company Name AcousticEye Mailing Address 12 Greenway Plaza Houston, TX 77046 Company Description AcousticEye is a pioneer in non-traversing tube and pipe inspection for heat exchangers and boilers. Serving the global non-destructive testing (NDT) industry, the Company’s innovative solution aims to increase operational efficiency in the oil and gas, … Continue reading “AcousticEye Obtains $7,000,000 New Financing Round”
Mozido Secures $30,000,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4bfbfbf6-c051-4b55-b2f4-7ee9e36478fb Date 12/5/2013 Company Name Mozido Mailing Address 1601 South Mopac Expressway Austin, TX 78746 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 $30,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes … Continue reading “Mozido Secures $30,000,000 New Funding”
Cleantech Overcoming Challenges, Rough Years, Tesla VC Investor Says
Building revolutionary companies is not easy, and bad times have to be expected and endured. But dark days don’t dissuade visionaries. Ask Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, or the innovators who built Silicon Valley’s greatest companies. In the eyes of Ira Ehrenpreis, an early investor in Tesla Motors (NASDAQ: [[ticker:TSLA]]) and a current director, it shouldn’t … Continue reading “Cleantech Overcoming Challenges, Rough Years, Tesla VC Investor Says”
Fallbrook Technologies Gets $35M To Boost Its Transmission System
Fallbrook Technologies, a suburban Austin automotive cleantech company, announced Wednesday it had secured a $35 million loan. The company is initially drawing down on $25 million of the total and will use most of this to continue development and licensing on its NuVinci transmission, which it says is a greener and more fuel-efficient transmission technology … Continue reading “Fallbrook Technologies Gets $35M To Boost Its Transmission System”
Quest Inspar Lands $4,200,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9a474019-1b58-4929-8be8-a71850a34d4d Date 12/4/2013 Company Name Quest Inspar Mailing Address 410 Pierce Street Houston, TX 77002 Company Description Our business is the development and delivery of improved rehabilitative solutions that extend the useful life of pressurized pipeline systems, whether subterranean or an elevated installation. Website http://www.questinspar.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $4,200,000 … Continue reading “Quest Inspar Lands $4,200,000 New Financing”
Longhorn Startup Demo Day in Austin
Longhorn Startup Lab invites you to Demo Day where the group will showcase thirteen undergraduate startups from its Fall 2013 class. Keynote speakers are Mark Cuban, founder of Broadcast.com and owner of the Dallas Mavericks, and Cotter Cunningham, founder of RetailMeNot. For more information and to register, click here.
Houston’s Rebellion Photonics Helps Spot Dangerous Leaks
It’s not every startup that gets a Twitter endorsement from MC Hammer. But that’s the sort of year it’s been for Houston-based Rebellion Photonics, which makes a real-time hyperspectral camera that can detect poisonous or potentially explosive gas leaks from oil refineries or rigs. While the startup has been selling its camera since its founding … Continue reading “Houston’s Rebellion Photonics Helps Spot Dangerous Leaks”
Modern Day Scrooges Are Ruining Our Health Care System
More than a 150 years ago Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol introduced the character Ebenezer Scrooge, who was the embodiment of greed, “tight-fisted…. a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire.” If Dickens were alive today he’d recognize that … Continue reading “Modern Day Scrooges Are Ruining Our Health Care System”
Zebra Imaging Obtains $1,097,001 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=298bee71-7f30-4a27-872f-356fd9b35c36 Date 12/3/2013 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 $1,097,001 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. … Continue reading “Zebra Imaging Obtains $1,097,001 New Funding”
Society of Physician Entrepreneurs Meeting
The Houston chapter of the Society of Physician Entrepreneurs is hosting Dr. Mitch Eggars of Adient Medical, who will give a talk on “Principles to consider when determining if your idea has commercial potential,” and Robert Tucci of the Houston Angel Network/HALO Fund, who will give a brief discourse on “Principles to consider from the … Continue reading “Society of Physician Entrepreneurs Meeting”