Sam Friedman can thank Bruce Willis for the inspiration behind his parking technology company, ParkMe. Friedman and cofounder Alex Israel were straight out of college, with some spare time on their hands, when they headed to the movies to see the latest Die Hard sequel. But when they arrived at the Los Angeles area theater, … Continue reading “Circling the Block? ParkMe Lets Drivers Reserve Spots—At a Discount”
Category: Texas
VC 101: Houston Fund Gives Students Startup Investing Experience
The University of Houston has waded into the venture capital market. Administrators have launched the new Cougar Venture Fund this fall as part of its entrepreneurship curriculum for graduate business students. “The goal is to teach students in an entrepreneurial finance class about raising money for a startup, what the options are, how to evaluate … Continue reading “VC 101: Houston Fund Gives Students Startup Investing Experience”
RainDance Nets $35M in Debt Financing To Continue Growth Push
RainDance Technologies is just five months removed from raising $20 million from a group of investors. So there’s no way the company would turn back around and tap the debt market for more cash, right? “As you often hear venture CEOs, or [venture capitalists] say, you take money when you don’t need it—not when you … Continue reading “RainDance Nets $35M in Debt Financing To Continue Growth Push”
The Best Biotech Graduate Schools in Real Life
[Updated 2 pm ET 9/30] Let’s imagine, for a second, you are someone in your 20s or 30s, getting started in the biotech industry. You want to work somewhere you can acquire a well-rounded set of experiences over the next five to 10 years so that you will have what it takes to be qualified … Continue reading “The Best Biotech Graduate Schools in Real Life”
Veros Systems Obtains $3,000,000 Series A Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ef8676f0-687d-4a79-a8d0-0894cc5d489f Date 9/23/2013 Company Name Veros Systems Mailing Address 5914 Courtyard Dr. W. Austin, TX 78730 Company Description Veros Systems enables industrial customers to maximize production by providing actionable intelligence on their electrically-driven machines. Website http://www.verossystems.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $3,000,000 Transaction Round Series A Proceeds Purposes The investment comes … Continue reading “Veros Systems Obtains $3,000,000 Series A Round”
10 Ways to Live Longer, Without Help from Google
With a simple blog post or news exclusive, Google can instantly glamorize any field of research, whether it’s teaching cars to drive themselves, sending robotic rovers to the Moon, blanketing Earth with wireless data from balloons, or—this week—helping people live longer. The airiest of promises from the company evokes the world’s awe and admiration, and … Continue reading “10 Ways to Live Longer, Without Help from Google”
Cinegif Receives $500,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4e52cfb6-d550-4747-9b00-b5664535c9a7 Date 9/20/2013 Company Name Cinegif Mailing Address 712 Congress Austin, TX 78701 Company Description Cinegif is an Austin, Texas-based software development company whose patented video conversion software helps marketers communicate and tell a story, without the file size, complexity, and cost of traditional video. Website http://www.cinegif.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction … Continue reading “Cinegif Receives $500,000 New Financing Round”
Dallas GiveCamp
Dallas GiveCamp is a weekend-long event where software developers, designers, and project managers donate a weekend to create apps for charities and non-profit organizations. These apps could range from the development of a new website, a small data-collection application to keep track of members, or whatever else the nonprofit needs. Register here.
Annual Luncheon Celebrating Women in Science
BioHouston’s annual lunch to honor women in Houston who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership in science and technology. This year’s honorees include: Annell Bay, Marathon Oil Company Janet S. Butel, Baylor College of Medicine Naomi Halas, Rice University Guillermina (Gigi) Lozano, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Registration deadline: October 28. Click here to register.
BioHouston Breakfast Forum
“The Evolution of Houston’s Translational Research Hub” Speakers: C. Casey Cunningham, Cindy Farach-Carson, Robert Robbins, Robert L. Satcher Click here to register.
5th Annual Texas Life Science CEO Summit
An invitation-only event for life science CEOs in Texas to network and exchange ideas in an informal setting. Register at: www.biohouston.org For more information, contact: Kim Case at BioHouston at [email protected]
Healthcare Megatrends, Part 1: Shifting Risk
While debates continue on the pros and cons of health reform, one fact remains: the marketplace is changing. There has been approximately $1 trillion in health care M+A activity since 2008. Payers are becoming providers, providers are becoming payers and placing insurance products on the exchanges, benefit consultants are creating exchanges, payers are looking increasingly … Continue reading “Healthcare Megatrends, Part 1: Shifting Risk”
Space Health Innovation Challenge
The Space Health Innovation Challenge is a hackathon sponsored by Health 2.0 and co-organized by Enventure and the Health 2.0 Houston chapter to provide new perspectives on problems faced by the Johnson Space Center that will keep astronauts healthy while living in space or traveling in NASA’s Orion spacecraft during deep space missions. For more information, see: www.MissionToMarsHealth.com
Rice Distinguished Entrepreneur Speaker Series: Rod Canion
Canion, the founder & CEO of Compaq Computers, has a reading, reception, and signing for his just released book “Open: How Compaq Ended IBM’s PC Domination and Helped Invent Modern Computing.” No charge to attend. Click here to register.
Blue Jean Networks Obtains $50,000,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e0b4fed9-1549-4623-9a11-0cc3731762b7 Date 9/18/2013 Company Name Blue Jean Networks Mailing Address 4521 S. Hulen St Fort Worth, TX 76109 Company Description At Blue Jean Networks, our mission is to make video communications as easy and pervasive as audio communications, enabling more effective collaboration at work, at home, and on the road. Our cloud-based … Continue reading “Blue Jean Networks Obtains $50,000,000 New Financing Round”
Drillinginfo Lands $25,125,006 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b0119786-16b4-4551-b716-159734963b34 Date 9/18/2013 Company Name Drillinginfo Mailing Address P.O. Box 5545 Austin, TX 78763 Company Description Drillinginfo is the premier information resource for the oil and gas industry. We provide a comprehensive array of data, information, intelligence, services and tools for anyone actively involved in exploration, production, services, financing and investing in … Continue reading “Drillinginfo Lands $25,125,006 New Round”
Simplilearn Obtains $10,000,000 Series B Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=1cd47dae-c991-4b34-afa2-a94850a29648 Date 9/18/2013 Company Name Simplilearn Mailing Address 10685-B Hazelhurst Houston, TX 77043 Company Description Our mission is to consistently provide best in class quality education to working professionals via robust technology platform with a focus to achieve 100% customer delight. Website http://www.simplilearn.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $10,000,000 Transaction Round … Continue reading “Simplilearn Obtains $10,000,000 Series B Funding”
Rice Alliance Showcases Breadth of Cleantech Startups, Investors
The first misconception that needs to be banished is that cleantech and traditional energy are different. So began Rice University’s latest Energy and Clean Technology Venture Forum last week, a pitch-day for energy startups as well as a forum for venture and angel investors to discuss trends in the industry. “We need to get away … Continue reading “Rice Alliance Showcases Breadth of Cleantech Startups, Investors”
Don’t Be Naïve: 7 Things to Know Before Taking a Biotech Startup Job
You’ve spent years working hard to hone your skills in science, medicine, or business. You’ve accomplished things, and you have the talent and desire to do more. You may be bored, or stuck at a dead end job in academia, Big Biotech, or Big Pharma. You are intrigued by a job posting you just saw … Continue reading “Don’t Be Naïve: 7 Things to Know Before Taking a Biotech Startup Job”
Do VCs Add Value?
Vinod Khosla’s recent comment during an interview with Michael Arrington that 95 percent of VCs don’t add value (and that 70-80 percent might actually add negative value in their advising) got me thinking about the underlying dynamics of the question. I agree with Khosla that a surprisingly large portion of VCs add little value, but … Continue reading “Do VCs Add Value?”
Xtera Communications Secures $9,970,317 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e03f7187-1e25-47c3-8e75-4725c66bac83 Date 9/15/2013 Company Name Xtera Communications Mailing Address 500 W. Bethany Dr. Allen, TX 75013 Company Description Xtera Communications 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. The company serves … Continue reading “Xtera Communications Secures $9,970,317 New Financing”
Dallas Startup Pure Discovery Gets $10 Million for Smarter Search
A Dallas startup has raised $10 million to further develop its “post-search” business. Pure Discovery is a search platform that aims to refine search beyond the keyword model we use today. Their product, Brainspace, aims to create a data “brain” that reads documents and uses artificial intelligence to connect it with other documents that relate … Continue reading “Dallas Startup Pure Discovery Gets $10 Million for Smarter Search”
Mentoring Startups is Hard: Five Ways to Be a Better Mentor
Mentoring has become a more significant part of the economy today than since, perhaps, apprenticeships in the Craftsman Age. Why? The rise of entrepreneurship and our expanding freelance economy are driving massive transformation, and workers are increasingly required to find their own means of making a living. During the Industrial age, most labor was focused … Continue reading “Mentoring Startups is Hard: Five Ways to Be a Better Mentor”
Virtuix Opens a Virtual World at Your Feet, in Your living Room
Virtual reality has become a very real startup niche for Jan Goetgeluk. Six months ago, the Belgian immigrant left his job at J.P. Morgan in Houston to focus full-time on Virtuix, a startup that makes the Omni, a 360-degree treadmill that creates virtual environments for gamers. In July, he launched a Kickstarter campaign, hoping to … Continue reading “Virtuix Opens a Virtual World at Your Feet, in Your living Room”
The iPhone 5S and 5C: Everything Is Amazing and Nobody Is Happy
Our expectations about how fast personal technology should evolve have come totally unglued from reality. That was all I could think this week as I surveyed media and consumer commentary about the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C, which Apple unveiled at a Sept. 10 press event. From any reasonable point of view, these new … Continue reading “The iPhone 5S and 5C: Everything Is Amazing and Nobody Is Happy”
Together Mobile Lands $2,090,000 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=61c18b17-896b-4608-87b7-18915ac327d5 Date 9/13/2013 Company Name Together Mobile Mailing Address 8300 N. Lamar Blvd Austin, TX 78753 Company Description At Together, we believe that brands compete in the attention economy — that consumer attention is in short supply but powerful when harnessed Website http://www.togethermobile.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $2,090,000 Transaction Round … Continue reading “Together Mobile Lands $2,090,000 New Round”
EmailFilm Technologies Obtains $234,483 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6892a120-d4f5-4c83-bbf0-540ef10b3c9b Date 9/13/2013 Company Name EmailFilm Technologies Mailing Address 303 Camp Craft Road Austin, TX 78746 Company Description EmailFilm Technologies, founded in 2006, developed software designed to enable for full-content videos to be HTML-compatible and included in emails. Website Undisclosed Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $234,483 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes … Continue reading “EmailFilm Technologies Obtains $234,483 New Funding”
Zebra Imaging Lands $2,981,999 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ae5e6bf2-951b-458e-bce6-66183adb65ab Date 9/13/2013 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 $2,981,999 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. … Continue reading “Zebra Imaging Lands $2,981,999 New Funding Round”
PureDiscovery Lands Series C Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a693f951-d5b6-4ba4-8bdf-133281dc3357 Date 9/12/2013 Company Name PureDiscovery Mailing Address 2130 Commerce St. Dallas, TX 75201 Company Description PureDiscovery’s BrainSpace is reinventing the art of information discovery for Publishers and their subscribers. The unique platform enables Publishers to transform their content sources into dynamic machine intelligences—Brains—that semantically connect users to relevant information, wherever it … Continue reading “PureDiscovery Lands Series C Financing”
TelaDoc Secures $15,000,004 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8108fc28-3f90-44f8-96d4-1d7bb1997e82 Date 9/12/2013 Company Name TelaDoc Mailing Address 4100 Spring Valley Dallas, TX 75244 Company Description TelaDoc, Inc. is a Texas corporation that performs several tasks as a business associate of the TelaDoc Physician Association (PA). TelaDoc, Inc. is not licensed to practice medicine and must contract with one or more professional … Continue reading “TelaDoc Secures $15,000,004 New Funding Round”
Affinium Pharmaceuticals Lands $11,900,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=95b1c4d7-602e-4be2-b75a-423c60814dde Date 9/12/2013 Company Name Affinium Pharmaceuticals Mailing Address 7000 North Mopac Expwy 2nd Floor Austin, TX 78731 Company Description Affinium is a pharmaceutical company focused on the clinical development of antibacterials. Our lead development program encompasses a potent, orally available, novel antibiotic class for the treatment of antibiotic resistant staphylococcal infections. … Continue reading “Affinium Pharmaceuticals Lands $11,900,000 New Financing”
Ordoro Receives $456,165 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=dde35f27-0fda-4fda-ba50-c79332d3de78 Date 9/12/2013 Company Name Ordoro Mailing Address 101 W 6th St Austin, TX 78701 Company Description Ordoro is a provider of a web-based order and web-based inventory management service. Website http://www.ordoro.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $456,165 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. SEC regulatory filing. … Continue reading “Ordoro Receives $456,165 New Funding Round”
Kauffman Report: It Takes Decades to Build a Startup Hub
The Kauffman Foundation caused a stir in economic-development circles last month with a report showing that high-tech startups are more evenly spread across the United States than many people assume. When researcher Ian Hathaway, an economic advisor with the advocacy group Engine, ranked metropolitan areas in terms of their per-capita density of high-tech startups, his … Continue reading “Kauffman Report: It Takes Decades to Build a Startup Hub”
Xconomy is Looking for Detroit Innovation Champions
In 2010, Xconomy opened its fourth news bureau in Detroit, joining Boston, Seattle, and San Diego. Even though this was a time when record numbers of global media were parachuting into town and writing stories showcasing “ruin porn” and what they deemed as the hopelessness of the Motor City’s plight, Xconomy had a different mission … Continue reading “Xconomy is Looking for Detroit Innovation Champions”
Icahn Withdraws Opposition to Dell Buyback Offer
After months of legal wrangling this summer, it looks like Michael Dell will get his company back. Billionaire activist investor Carl Icahn conceded defeat yesterday in his bid to prevent Dell Computer from being brought private in the bid led by Dell’s founder. In a letter to shareholders, Icahn reiterated his opposition to the buyout, … Continue reading “Icahn Withdraws Opposition to Dell Buyback Offer”
5 Reasons You Should Drop Everything and Start Growing Bugs
Around the world, since the dawn of time, humans have eaten insects. The Western aversion to the idea is a recent phenomenon. With feed conversion ratios double that of chicken, and nearly six times that of beef, edible species like the common house cricket are a popular food source worldwide. In countries such as Thailand, … Continue reading “5 Reasons You Should Drop Everything and Start Growing Bugs”
Houston’s C-Voltaics Takes Nanotech From Solar Power to Stain Protection
If a Houston-based startup has its way, more red-wine drinkers of the world could dare to wear white. The young company, C-Voltaics, has come up with a chemical solution that it says will stain-proof wood, carpets, and even your best white clothing from water, coffee, red wine, or other damaging substances. C-Voltaics’ product is called … Continue reading “Houston’s C-Voltaics Takes Nanotech From Solar Power to Stain Protection”
Are Some Degrees Better than Others for Big Pharma Leaders?
Biopharmaceutical companies are under a great deal of financial pressure these days, and many are tinkering with long established business models. There can be no doubt that the industry is in flux as a result of pricing pressures from insurance companies, changing patent regulations and expirations, healthcare reform, and an increased focus on proving significant … Continue reading “Are Some Degrees Better than Others for Big Pharma Leaders?”
Which VCs Are Poised to Profit From the Biotech IPO Boom?
Biotech venture capitalists, as a group, haven’t had much to cheer about the past few years. But this is shaping up to be the year the storyline changes, thanks to the ripple effect from the biotech IPO class of 2013. The story of biotech venture capital over the past few years, as many readers know … Continue reading “Which VCs Are Poised to Profit From the Biotech IPO Boom?”
Get Your Own Personal NPR Station with Swell
We’ve hit the time of year dreaded by all public radio fans: pledge drive season, when stations hold your favorite NPR and American Public Media programs hostage until enough listeners pay up. Until recently, there’s only been one way around this semiannual torture ritual, and it’s only been available to listeners of KQED here in … Continue reading “Get Your Own Personal NPR Station with Swell”
ChartSpan Obtains $250,000 Seed Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=bfec63a1-24d4-4726-931f-1f485ffd7d72 Date 9/6/2013 Company Name ChartSpan Mailing Address 3300 Taft St Houston, TX 77006 Company Description ChartSpan is a health & lifestyle company enabling patients to capture, store, and share personal health records on their smartphone, computer or tablet. Website http://www.chartspan.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $250,000 Transaction Round Seed Proceeds … Continue reading “ChartSpan Obtains $250,000 Seed Funding Round”
ZeOmega Lands $21,500,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e4aff9ee-cd00-443f-9a1d-892df3df5a8b Date 9/6/2013 Company Name ZeOmega Mailing Address 3010 Gaylord Parkway Frisco, TX 75034 Company Description ZeOmega, founded in 2001, provides a powerful population health management platform for payers, providers and value-based care organizations. Our high-value, strategic solution is designed to integrate workflow, analytics, content and communication capabilities. Website http://www.zeomega.com Transaction Type … Continue reading “ZeOmega Lands $21,500,000 New Financing Round”
Geoforce Lands New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=990c8c00-f925-49d4-86d0-dd5194e20939 Date 9/6/2013 Company Name Geoforce Mailing Address 750 Canyon Drive Coppell, TX 75019 Company Description Geoforce is a privately held company that was founded in 2007 by oil and gas veterans who directly understood the dire need for a better way to manage the high-value, mobile, remote, mission-critical assets of companies … Continue reading “Geoforce Lands New Funding”
Smart Pipe Obtains $12,000,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e4567c82-38ae-40c6-a237-e52b808a4f27 Date 9/6/2013 Company Name Smart Pipe Mailing Address 1426 Vander Wilt Lane Katy, TX 77449 Company Description Pipeline Rehabilitation, Replacing urbanized pipelines, High pressure, large diameter pipelines. Website http://www.smart-pipe.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $12,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. M&A Terms Venture Investor Enbridge … Continue reading “Smart Pipe Obtains $12,000,000 New Financing Round”
Crowdfunding A Better Classroom, One Penny At A Time
Entrepreneurs are turning to crowdfunding to help ease the pinch in school budgets. Online platforms are already used to boost fledgling culinary or music careers, to help pay for medical expenses or support new ideas for TV shows. So it’s not a surprise that entrepreneurs have turned to crowdfunding to innovate in the education sector. … Continue reading “Crowdfunding A Better Classroom, One Penny At A Time”
5 Things Biotechs Should Do to Take Advantage of The Boom
We are currently enjoying a much needed resurgence in the biotechnology industry. The industry has been the best performing sector in the stock market for the last two years and it appears it will be again this year. This performance has enabled companies to raise capital, either publicly or privately, in record amounts. We expect … Continue reading “5 Things Biotechs Should Do to Take Advantage of The Boom”
Promoter.io Secures New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f7447a15-24a6-42a3-b8c5-657aa6955af9 Date 9/5/2013 Company Name Promoter.io Mailing Address 112 E Pecan St 10th Floor San Antonio, TX 78205 Company Description Net Promoter campaigns provide a level of comprehensive feedback that you don’t get from traditional surveys. We’ll help find strategic and actionable insights through deep analysis of the data, so you can … Continue reading “Promoter.io Secures New Financing Round”
Set.fm Garners $1,200,000 Seed Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d2eb0e9a-8c15-49b8-9c80-b7ca431f1259 Date 9/5/2013 Company Name Set.fm Mailing Address 2301 Alta Vista Ave Austin, TX 78704 Company Description Set.fm is built by music lovers for music lovers. Our free app helps working musicians tap into additional revenue streams. With Set.fm, artists can instantly capture, promote, and sell recordings of their live performances. It’s … Continue reading “Set.fm Garners $1,200,000 Seed Financing”
Platform Ecosystems in Big Data
I have written about the platform eco-system trend in technology recently. To recap, a business that has been gaining ground in the tech world is the technology platform developer network model, wherein large numbers of developers can use the platform to build their businesses cost-effectively without the handicap of huge infrastructure expenditure. Some of the … Continue reading “Platform Ecosystems in Big Data”
Extreme Reach Goes to Extreme Lengths With $485M DG Deal
Before autumn arrives in full swing, let’s take a closer look at one of the biggest deals of the summer. I’m talking about Needham, MA-based Extreme Reach, a video-ad delivery startup, buying the TV advertising business of Digital Generation (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DGIT]]), based in Irving, TX, for $485 million in cash. Here’s why the deal is … Continue reading “Extreme Reach Goes to Extreme Lengths With $485M DG Deal”