Category: Texas

Assigning Credit and Blame to Biopharma R&D Chiefs

There’s been an awful lot of turnover lately among Big Biopharma R&D chiefs, with departures from Merck, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, AstraZeneca, Roche, and AbbVie. Their average tenure in this position was less than 7 years; the range was from less than 2 to 12. That’s similar to the average CEO tenure, which is only 8.4 … Continue reading “Assigning Credit and Blame to Biopharma R&D Chiefs”

OrthoAccel Obtains $2,500,000 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=38d89002-7ed9-4f20-b9b5-505b990be257&Preview=1 Date 5/29/2013 Company Name OrthoAccel Mailing Address 6575 West Loop South Bellaire, TX 77401 Company Description The AcceleDent System is currently in a randomized controlled clinical trial at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. This trial was enrolled under an Investigational Device Exemption. FDA will be reviewing … Continue reading “OrthoAccel Obtains $2,500,000 New Round”

NVCA: Venture Capital Finally Returned More Than It Took in 2012

It’s no secret that venture capital has struggled since the dot-com implosion. The latest dispatch from the industry’s U.S. trade group, however, says there might be some promising signs of better performance. In a new report wrapping up the 2012 performance for VCs, the National Venture Capital Association says the broad industry finally returned to the … Continue reading “NVCA: Venture Capital Finally Returned More Than It Took in 2012”

Applying “Innovation Arbitrage” to Develop Novel Medicines in China

[Editor’s Note: This post was co-authored by Jessica Yingling of Little Dog Communications.] Loosely defined, arbitrage is striking a combination of matching deals that capitalize upon an imbalance. Profit is gained from the difference between the market prices. With the Chinese government focusing on innovation through forward-looking national agendas for economic development, the opportunity to … Continue reading “Applying “Innovation Arbitrage” to Develop Novel Medicines in China”

Epilepsy Device Pioneer Cyberonics Still Evolving After 25 Years

Long before the explosion in the personal electronics field brought us iPods and iPhones, biomedical engineers were making devices to interact with the personal electrical “circuitry” that regulates the human heart and other organs. Back in 1958, Minneapolis, MN-based Medtronic produced its first battery-operated, portable pacemaker to stimulate nerves in the malfunctioning heart. It looked … Continue reading “Epilepsy Device Pioneer Cyberonics Still Evolving After 25 Years”

Startup Diary: Looking Back on Life in an Accelerator

[Editor’s Note: Justin Lee is a co-founder of TheSquareFoot, a two-year-old Web-based commercial leasing platform based in Houston. He and his three co-founders were part of the most recent class of the Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator in New York, which started in January and ended with the accelerator’s fourth Demo Day earlier this month.] I had … Continue reading “Startup Diary: Looking Back on Life in an Accelerator”

Do You Have A Story to Tell? Here Are the Digital Tools You’ll Need

Back in January I got an invitation out of the blue to give a 1-hour talk at the Palo Alto Research Center—the Xerox-owned lab better known as PARC. The invitation was completely open-ended. The full extent of PARC’s guidance was “we think you would have a lot of interesting things to share.” If you’re a … Continue reading “Do You Have A Story to Tell? Here Are the Digital Tools You’ll Need”

Datical Secures $1,000,000 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=02a1ed3d-f78a-4abd-874c-8fc8ebf975d1&Preview=1 Date 5/24/2013 Company Name Datical Mailing Address 3925 West Braker Lane Austin, TX 78759 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 Debt Transaction Amount $1,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds … Continue reading “Datical Secures $1,000,000 New Financing Round”

Under Purple Spotlights, Surge Accelerator’s Startups Make Their Debut

The mimosas and Bloody Marys began flowing before 9 a.m. at Houston’s House of Blues, setting up a rock-concert after-party feel for the coming out party for a group of energy startups. The entrepreneurs were the headliners at Wednesday’s Surge Day, the 2nd annual Demo Day featuring Surge Accelerator’s latest class of entrepreneurs. The companies … Continue reading “Under Purple Spotlights, Surge Accelerator’s Startups Make Their Debut”

Mayer’s Challenge: Merging the Cultures of Yahoo and Tumblr

Yahoo + Tumblr is a good match because Tumblr has the huge and vibrant social network, but no revenues, while Yahoo lacks social, but knows how to earn money on ads. Yahoo + Tumblr are a bad match, because Yahoo is a company with 14,000 employees in a corporate organizational culture needing change, while Tumblr … Continue reading “Mayer’s Challenge: Merging the Cultures of Yahoo and Tumblr”

Chasm.io Lands Seed Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2bd74256-7e08-4ea6-98ef-7ab6a3b08ddd&Preview=1 Date 5/23/2013 Company Name Chasm.io Mailing Address 800 Brazos Austin, TX 78703 Company Description Chasm.io is a content marketing network, where influencers and brands share content that they want to see promoted. Rather than getting paid for sharing sponsored content, it’s more of a quid pro quo system, where influencers are … Continue reading “Chasm.io Lands Seed Funding Round”

Texas Venture Capital Market “Weak,” But Still Shows Promise

[Corrected 5/24/13, 8:23 am. See below.] Blair Garrou came to Houston in 1996, intending to stay four years while his wife completed her degree in veterinary medicine at Texas A&M University in nearby College Station. He was working in the banking industry, focusing on energy, but as the price of oil fell to $10 a barrel … Continue reading “Texas Venture Capital Market “Weak,” But Still Shows Promise”

Inova Labs Garners $12,000,000 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a4197058-0347-4d5e-a9ff-091f880c676f&Preview=1 Date 5/22/2013 Company Name Inova Labs Mailing Address 3500 Comsouth Rd. Austin, TX 78744 Company Description The company has developed a portable oxygen concentrator product line. Website http://www.lifechoiceoxygen.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 Undisclosed

Compare Metrics Obtains $4,200,000 Series A Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=0548dc24-3d7b-4a87-a7aa-f8e458d08d2d&Preview=1 Date 5/22/2013 Company Name Compare Metrics Mailing Address 7600 Burnet Rd Austin, TX 78757 Company Description Compare Metrics is addressing these challenges and creating the next generation of product discovery through Adaptive Commerce. Our goal is to power highly unique navigation and comparison experiences that inspire better and more confident buying … Continue reading “Compare Metrics Obtains $4,200,000 Series A Funding Round”

UT Horizon Fund Aims to Build, and Capture, Value from Its Startups

Campuses at the University of Texas, such as the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, can boast of star-studded faculties to rival the innovative scientific leadership at UC San Francisco, UC Berkeley and Stanford University. In 2009, the 15-institution University of Texas system was second only to the powerhouse University of California system in the … Continue reading “UT Horizon Fund Aims to Build, and Capture, Value from Its Startups”

The Star Thrower, or How Healthcare Looks to Consumers

It is always interesting how events find ways of connecting themselves together even when they seem so unrelated. I was at my sister Alexis’ graduation from law school on Friday, where I had gone directly from leaving a several day event organized by Health Evolution Partners. At the event I had occasion to meet with … Continue reading “The Star Thrower, or How Healthcare Looks to Consumers”

Juan Enriquez on the Forces Shaping Innovation: A Napa Summit Preview

What are the most powerful forces affecting innovation and the economy? That is one of the key questions facing the nation as we inch our way out of the economic mire. Juan Enriquez may not have all the answers, but he has some deep insights into the path forward, and a way of framing the … Continue reading “Juan Enriquez on the Forces Shaping Innovation: A Napa Summit Preview”

Venture Debt as Growth Capital? You Bet.

It’s easy to understand why most discussions about the state of venture capital investing paint a pessimistic view. Access to institutional equity dollars is increasingly limited for new entrepreneurs and early stage companies, and an anemic fundraising environment for VC firms is contributing to the long-anticipated “VC shakeout.” We’re also at a cyclical low in … Continue reading “Venture Debt as Growth Capital? You Bet.”

Houston’s Hackers Gather to Help City Solve Problems

In groups of twos and threes, the constituents lined up to take potshots at the assembled city officials. “Just about any fifth-grader could do it better,” said Yan Digilov, speaking of the city’s request for proposals process. “We just hope to retire a lot of fax machines.” In the audience, Houston Mayor Annise Parker gamely … Continue reading “Houston’s Hackers Gather to Help City Solve Problems”

Appconomy Aims for Share of China’s Mobile Shopping Market

We’ve all been there, standing in a superstore, shopping list in hand. We stare at the dozens and dozens of rows of consumer products before us and don’t have a clue where to find anything. But if you’re in China, Appconomy has something that might help. The company, which is based in both Austin, TX, … Continue reading “Appconomy Aims for Share of China’s Mobile Shopping Market”

The Top Five Traits to Look For in Prospective Startup Employees

Most successful entrepreneurs will tell you that the fastest way to kill a startup is to hire the wrong people. It’s true. As someone who has helped build multiple startups, I cannot overstate the importance of assembling a stellar core team. They are the ones who will transform your ideas into reality, and help you … Continue reading “The Top Five Traits to Look For in Prospective Startup Employees”

Zillions of Biotech Conferences Want You. Which Should You Attend?

Biotech industry conferences are happening, somewhere on this green Earth, every day. If you’ve been around a while, and you’ve attended a few, chances are you get invitations, or marketing pitches, that ask you to attend a different meeting every day. If you’re new to the business, you may not be on all the lists. … Continue reading “Zillions of Biotech Conferences Want You. Which Should You Attend?”

Nine Lessons for Innovators from a Nobel Prize-Winning Psychologist

I was pretty slow about getting around to reading Thinking, Fast and Slow. The career-capping book by Princeton psychologist Daniel Kahneman, one of the founders of behavioral economics, spent months on all the bestseller lists back in 2011. I finally picked up a paperback copy a couple of weeks ago. The book is mainly about … Continue reading “Nine Lessons for Innovators from a Nobel Prize-Winning Psychologist”

XBiotech Takes Aim at Inflammation That Weakens Cancer Patients

Few could accuse XBiotech CEO John Simard of failing to think big. The Austin, TX-based startup he founded in 2005 is testing a novel biological drug candidate that is aiming to treat the persistent inflammation that makes cancer patients feel so weak in their final months and years. XBiotech also created a new method to … Continue reading “XBiotech Takes Aim at Inflammation That Weakens Cancer Patients”

ProspX Secures $8,247,643 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=10d9efb7-74d7-459e-a713-5b589ed1c424&Preview=1 Date 5/17/2013 Company Name ProspX Mailing Address 7600B N Capital of TX 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 $8,247,643 New Round”

Bellicum in Trials with Cancer Vaccine, Cell-Suicide Switches

Less than a decade after being hatched out of a Texas university, Houston-based Bellicum Pharmaceuticals is in the midst of clinical trials on two innovative cancer therapies that, if successful, could result in new ways of attacking and killing off harmful cells. The company uses a platform technology called chemical induction of dimerization, and is … Continue reading “Bellicum in Trials with Cancer Vaccine, Cell-Suicide Switches”

Gradalis’s Fang Bares Its Teeth in Fighting Ovarian Cancer

Gradalis today revealed early details of a study indicating that its personalized cancer vaccine could delay recurrences of ovarian cancer in advanced stage patients by at least a year. The Dallas-based startup, founded in 2005, presented results of a phase II clinical trial of the vaccine at the annual meeting of the American Society of … Continue reading “Gradalis’s Fang Bares Its Teeth in Fighting Ovarian Cancer”

TechStars Accelerator Plants Flag in People’s Republic of Austin

We don’t know if the people at TechStars like live music, barbecue, SXSW, and bats—but we definitely know they like startups, and that’s why they’re launching a new program in Austin, TX. TechStars CEO David Cohen announced this morning that Austin will be the home of the newest TechStars accelerator. The program offers about a … Continue reading “TechStars Accelerator Plants Flag in People’s Republic of Austin”

Akimbo Receives $850,000 Seed Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9bc0de31-4b3c-4d91-96c0-4d6a2475c1cd&Preview=1 Date 5/15/2013 Company Name Akimbo Mailing Address 112 East Pecan Street San Antonio, TX 78205 Company Description The Akimbo Card is designed to meet the needs of the modern prepaid cardholder. Prepaid cards are employed by a variety of consumers, including those looking for a bank account alternative, a budgeting tool … Continue reading “Akimbo Receives $850,000 Seed Round”

Make Cyber Security Training Mandatory

The online world can be a dangerous place for the unprepared. And it’s just going to get worse. It’s time to teach cyber security as integral part of the high school and college curriculum and to all corporate employees. I grew up in New York City and for a few years heaven on earth for … Continue reading “Make Cyber Security Training Mandatory”

Cloudant Raises $12M from Rackspace and Others, Opens SF Office

There’s some more fuel for the online database arms race today: Boston-based Cloudant has secured a new $12 million investment round. The money will bankroll Cloudant’s general growth, which includes a new office in San Francisco, complementing Cloudant’s previous footprint in Boston, Seattle, and Bristol, England. New investors in the new Series B round are Devonshire Investors, … Continue reading “Cloudant Raises $12M from Rackspace and Others, Opens SF Office”

Student Startups Cardiovate and Invictus Tackle Big Medtech Markets

[Corrected 5/14/2013, 5:20 pm. See below.] Months before she received her PhD degree last spring, Jordan Kaufmann co-founded her own company. Her first office was a shed in her backyard, but her plan was to outdo big medical device companies like Minneapolis, MN-based Medtronic (NYSE: [[ticker:MDT]]) by making one of their products obsolete. Kaufmann’s company, … Continue reading “Student Startups Cardiovate and Invictus Tackle Big Medtech Markets”

Henri Termeer on Startups, Drug Prices, Getting Older (Part 2)

Yesterday, we ran the first part of a wide-ranging interview with Henri Termeer, the legendary biotech entrepreneur and former CEO of Cambridge, MA-based Genzyme. He spoke about what kinds of startups he likes to get involved in, the trend toward drug companies working on rare diseases, and efforts to repair pharma’s damaged reputation. Today, he … Continue reading “Henri Termeer on Startups, Drug Prices, Getting Older (Part 2)”

Postmaster Lands $590,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7878e461-727b-4826-a772-7fd2bec7e198&Preview=1 Date 5/14/2013 Company Name Postmaster Mailing Address 701 Brazos St Austin, TX 78701 Company Description Postmaster is an Austin, TX based technology company that specializes in small-package logistics optimization. Website http://www.postmaster.io Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount $590,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. SEC regulatory filing. M&A … Continue reading “Postmaster Lands $590,000 New Financing”

Bootstrapping Products with Services

Because it’s often so difficult for entrepreneurs to obtain seed funding for their startups, bootstrapping is one of the best methods to self-fund their projects. And offering a service is one of the best ways to go. This, by the way, remains a controversial point of view, and most industry observers will take the position … Continue reading “Bootstrapping Products with Services”

Henri Termeer on Startups, Drug Prices, Getting Older (Part 1)

Henri Termeer could have easily faded away into obscurity a couple years ago. The biotech pioneer could have relaxed at his oceanside home in Maine, played a little golf. Or, if he wanted, he could have made loads of money at a private equity firm. Certainly, he didn’t need to mess around with hungry little … Continue reading “Henri Termeer on Startups, Drug Prices, Getting Older (Part 1)”

Webflakes Receives $3,000,000 Series A Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=92b4cded-3c4c-4afd-8052-9d5d8e44a7d2&Preview=1 Date 5/11/2013 Company Name Webflakes Mailing Address 10685-B Hazelhurst Dr Houston, TX 77043 Company Description Webflakes is a unique, one of a kind platform that brings together international bloggers, translators and readers who share their passion for high-quality content in topics that interest them. Our unique positioning will enable you to … Continue reading “Webflakes Receives $3,000,000 Series A Funding Round”

Life After PowerPoint: Prezi Zooms Ahead in Digital Storytelling

Not every speech is improved by visual aids. Abraham Lincoln made do without PowerPoint at Gettysburg (though wags have tried to reimagine that), and Franklin Roosevelt’s voice on the radio in 1933 calmed a nation rattled by the Great Depression and cemented the New Deal. But there’s high oratory, and then there’s the old-fashioned presentation, … Continue reading “Life After PowerPoint: Prezi Zooms Ahead in Digital Storytelling”

Ensysce’s Bet: Combining Two Risky Drug Technologies That Add Up

At one edge of the sprawling Texas Medical Center in south central Houston, near a slew of hospitals and research hubs including the renowned MD Anderson Cancer Center, three floors of an office tower are reserved to nurture startup companies. The incubator is one of the initiatives that have sprung up in Texas to expand … Continue reading “Ensysce’s Bet: Combining Two Risky Drug Technologies That Add Up”

Cloud Seeding: Rackspace’s Soft Spot for Startups

There are at least three good reasons for a startup to apply to an accelerator or incubator program: the mentorship, the networking connections, and the money (around $100,000 if your company gets into a top-tier accelerator like Y Combinator). But at most accelerators, there’s another, lesser-known benefit: the swag—as in the free, or virtually free, … Continue reading “Cloud Seeding: Rackspace’s Soft Spot for Startups”

The 600-Hour Data Dilemma For Healthcare

The healthcare industry is slow moving. While beginning to adopt technology for logistical issues including electronic medical records and appointment scheduling, the focus of these efforts is narrow and off-base. True impact on human health now requires technology architecture which addresses the critical data issues faced by the healthcare industry today. Over the last 10 … Continue reading “The 600-Hour Data Dilemma For Healthcare”

From U.S. Beachhead, MediaTek Faces Qualcomm & Other Mobile Giants

A big Taiwanese tech company you probably haven’t heard of is starting to make noise in the U.S. Based out of several hubs around the country, it is positioning itself to gain a foothold in the local market for chips used in smartphones, tablets, and wireless networks. In recent years, Hsinchu, Taiwan-based MediaTek has opened … Continue reading “From U.S. Beachhead, MediaTek Faces Qualcomm & Other Mobile Giants”

Will $28M in Debt Financing Push Good Start Genetics to Big Finish?

Six years ago, Good Start Genetics was just an idea in the genetics research labs of Harvard. Today, it is a full-fledged company with more than 85 employees, a diagnostic testing system on the market, and now another $28 million in its pocket to continue growing. Capital Royalty, a Houston, TX-based investment firm that works … Continue reading “Will $28M in Debt Financing Push Good Start Genetics to Big Finish?”

Exit Early and Often: A New Age of Limited Options for Entrepreneurs

I rarely meet an entrepreneur (or one of their investors) who doesn’t believe their venture will be a runaway hit. In three to five years, I hear over and over, we’ll be able to go public or sell big, providing huge returns for those who got into the deal early. Many won’t reach that mark. … Continue reading “Exit Early and Often: A New Age of Limited Options for Entrepreneurs”

Wireless Seismic Secures $12,500,000 Series D Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=10d8f51b-bb09-4833-8650-46ddbb82c4c1&Preview=1 Date 5/8/2013 Company Name Wireless Seismic Mailing Address 13100 Southwest Freeway Sugar Land, TX 77478 Company Description Wireless Seismic was formed in 2006 to develop and introduce the RT 1000, a revolutionary seismic data acquisition system to the exploration and production industry, which capitalizes on emerging technologies in the seismic, wireless … Continue reading “Wireless Seismic Secures $12,500,000 Series D Financing Round”

Roundup: Dell Cloud Buy, Obama in Austin, Houston Hackathon, TechRanch Partner

Notable Texas technology news in recent days includes Dell’s acquisition of Enstratius, a tech-centric visit to Austin by President Obama, a Houston government initiative to spur “civic hackers,” and an international partnership for Austin’s TechRanch. Details follow: —Dell aims to bolster its cloud management software offering with the acquisition of Minnesota-based Enstratius. Terms of the … Continue reading “Roundup: Dell Cloud Buy, Obama in Austin, Houston Hackathon, TechRanch Partner”

Ambiq Micro Continues Growth From Austin Base

When we last caught up with University of Michigan spin-off company Ambiq Micro, it was moving its microcontroller development operation to Austin, TX. Co-founder Scott Hanson told AnnArbor.com at the time that the reason behind the move was Texas’ wealth of talent. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that one of Ambiq Micro’s lead investors, DFJ … Continue reading “Ambiq Micro Continues Growth From Austin Base”