[Updated 8/2/17 2:29 p.m. See below.] John Biondi, who since 2014 has directed Discovery to Product—a program that helps students, faculty, and staff at the University of Wisconsin-Madison turn ideas into companies—says he’s leaving the organization later this month. Biondi’s last day will be Aug. 31, he says in an interview with Xconomy. “We have … Continue reading “John Biondi to Step Down as Director of UW’s Discovery to Product”
Azuqua Gets $10.8M Round for Platform to Integrate Cloud Apps
It should come as no surprise that Cloud City has a proliferation of tech companies helping businesses manage the proliferation of cloud apps. One of these is Azuqua, a four-year-old Seattle startup building software that allows businesses to integrate their various cloud applications to serve specific needs. The company announced a $10.8 million Series B … Continue reading “Azuqua Gets $10.8M Round for Platform to Integrate Cloud Apps”
CytoBioScience Plans Merger With Publicly Traded Skyline Medical
San Antonio — CytoBioScience, a startup that sells a device used to screen drug formulations, has plans to merge with a Minnesota-based medical device maker that’s traded on the Nasdaq market for companies with smaller market capitalizations. CytoBioScience announced today it signed a letter of intent to merge with Eagan, MN-based Skyline Medical (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SKLN]]), … Continue reading “CytoBioScience Plans Merger With Publicly Traded Skyline Medical”
FluGen, Startup Developing Universal Flu Vaccine, Raises $5.5M
FluGen, an early-stage company developing vaccine candidates designed to protect against multiple types of influenza, has raised $5.5 million in debt financing. Twenty-five investors participated in the funding round, according to an SEC filing. Madison, WI-based FluGen has now raised more than $27 million from investors since launching in 2007. In July 2016, FluGen initiated … Continue reading “FluGen, Startup Developing Universal Flu Vaccine, Raises $5.5M”
With FDA Nod, Agios, Celgene Get Speedy OK For Blood Cancer Drug
[Updated, 2:10 pm ET, see below] The FDA approved a new blood cancer drug today. Called enasidenib (Idhifa), it’s the latest therapy sold by Celgene, the big cancer drugmaker from Summit, NJ. But the news is significant for other reasons. The drug is the first product to come from the labs of Agios Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: … Continue reading “With FDA Nod, Agios, Celgene Get Speedy OK For Blood Cancer Drug”
Trump Campaign Digital Director Parscale Sells Firm to CloudCommerce
San Antonio—Giles-Parscale, the digital marketing company that rose to fame during President Trump’s campaign by handling the online work during the candidate’s surprise victory, has sold to a California business for $9 million in stock, according to news reports. The San Antonio marketing firm is selling to CloudCommerce, which helps businesses integrate with enterprise e-commerce … Continue reading “Trump Campaign Digital Director Parscale Sells Firm to CloudCommerce”
Athenahealth Looks to Make Changes in Health IT Strategy, Leadership
Change is coming to one of the biggest companies in healthcare IT. Watertown, MA-based Athenahealth said today that its board and management team are reviewing its operations, strategy, and leadership in an effort to cut costs and boost profits, among other things. The news comes on the heels of the 20-year-old company’s (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ATHN]]) quarterly … Continue reading “Athenahealth Looks to Make Changes in Health IT Strategy, Leadership”
LogMeIn to Buy Israeli A.I. Company Nanorep for $45M
LogMeIn has agreed to acquire Nanorep, an Israeli firm that makes customer service software using artificial intelligence technologies, for around $45 million. The Boston-based company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:LOGM]]) said it expects to pay up to an additional $5 million in “contingent cash payments to certain continuing employees of Nanorep upon their achievement of milestone and retention targets” … Continue reading “LogMeIn to Buy Israeli A.I. Company Nanorep for $45M”
CyberTech Founder Andersen Named to Head Nxt Robotics Startup
Nxt Robotics, a San Diego startup developing robots for private security, has named San Diego CyberHive and CyberTech founder Darin Anderson as CEO. Jeff Debrosse, the San Diego cybersecurity expert who founded Nxt Robotics in 2014, will continue as CTO, according to a statement from the company. Andersen and Debrosse worked together a decade ago … Continue reading “CyberTech Founder Andersen Named to Head Nxt Robotics Startup”
Homology Med Bags $83.5M More, Fueling Push For Gene Editing Twist
One day after the release of a Nature Medicine paper warning of the potential hazards of testing CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in humans, Homology Medicines, a startup advancing a different genetic surgery technique, has just grabbed a big round of funding to make its own clinical push. Homology, of Bedford, MA, wrapped up an $83.5 million … Continue reading “Homology Med Bags $83.5M More, Fueling Push For Gene Editing Twist”
Booster Fills Up With $20M for On-Demand Gas—Is It ‘Sustainable’?
Add refueling your car to the list of mundane tasks you don’t have to put on your to-do list. Booster Fuels, a service that brings gas to parked cars on-demand, said Tuesday it has raised $20 million to continue growing in the two large markets where it operates: the San Francisco Bay Area and Dallas-Forth … Continue reading “Booster Fills Up With $20M for On-Demand Gas—Is It ‘Sustainable’?”
CDI, Novascan, WID, 4490, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
Coverage and analysis of Taiwan-based Foxconn’s announcement that it will invest $10 billion to build an electronic display-making plant in Wisconsin has dominated business news around the state lately. However, there have also been numerous notable happenings apart from the Foxconn saga. Let’s catch up on some of them: —Cellular Dynamics International scrapped plans to … Continue reading “CDI, Novascan, WID, 4490, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
Foxconn Deal Draws Praise, Skepticism, and Interest from Other Firms
Over the past week, business news in Wisconsin has been dominated by Taiwan-based Foxconn’s announcement that it plans to invest $10 billion to build a facility in the state’s southeastern corner—exact location still to be determined—and manufacture LCD displays for televisions and other electronics there. State officials have said the plant could employ as many … Continue reading “Foxconn Deal Draws Praise, Skepticism, and Interest from Other Firms”
Flex Pharma Picks Interim Executive William McVicar for CEO
Flex Pharma’s (NASDAQ: [[ticker:FLKS]]) interim CEO, William McVicar, is now officially the company’s top executive. McVicar had been serving as interim CEO of Boston-based Flex since June. He first joined Flex in April as president of research and development. Before joining Flex, McVicar was chief scientific officer of Lexington, MA-based Inotek Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ITEK]]). Last … Continue reading “Flex Pharma Picks Interim Executive William McVicar for CEO”
Oil and Gas Networking Website Oilpro Says It’s Shutting Down
Houston—Oilpro, a networking and social media website geared to the oil and gas industry, said Monday it is shutting down operations. No reason was given for the closure. In an e-mail to members, Oilpro told them they could download any content on their profiles until Wednesday, Aug. 2, after which the site will be taken … Continue reading “Oil and Gas Networking Website Oilpro Says It’s Shutting Down”
Invitae Expands Gene Test Menu With Good Start, CombiMatrix Deals
Gene tester Invitae has been clear about the company’s ambitions to make genetic information a standard part of medical practice at all stages of patient care. The San Francisco company is now aiming to offer genetic testing at the earliest stages of life by acquiring two companies that specialize in screening prospective parents and newborns. … Continue reading “Invitae Expands Gene Test Menu With Good Start, CombiMatrix Deals”
CRISPR Pioneer Zhang Preaches Extra Caution In Human Gene Editing
A leading genome-editing researcher is urging extra caution as drug companies race to turn the landmark technology he helped create into human medicine. In a paper published today in Nature Medicine, Feng Zhang of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and colleague David Scott argue that researchers should analyze the DNA of patients before … Continue reading “CRISPR Pioneer Zhang Preaches Extra Caution In Human Gene Editing”
Hackathon Aims to Unearth Natural Resources Tech in Houston
Houston—An Australian group trying to spur innovation in the natural resources sector is headed to Houston to host a hackathon in partnership with BHP Petroleum. Unearthed, which is based in Perth, Australia, has hosted similar hackathons all over the world and will be bringing its “Digital Tribes” series to Texas for the first time in … Continue reading “Hackathon Aims to Unearth Natural Resources Tech in Houston”
Disrupt Indy: Can Data Forge the Path to Inclusive Tech Ecosystems?
U.S. tech startups and investment firms have long been thought of as the domain of white men—because historically, they have been. Although that may be changing as more big tech corporations are pressured to release their diversity statistics and change hiring policies, one only needs to look at the statistics to confirm that women, members … Continue reading “Disrupt Indy: Can Data Forge the Path to Inclusive Tech Ecosystems?”
A.I. Chip Race Redraws Competitive Map Among Tech Firms, Chipmakers
It’s been a long time since tech’s biggest companies could be sorted into discrete buckets according to the products they pioneered—-Google, the search software giant; Apple, the computer and mobile device innovator; e-commerce leader Amazon; business software stalwart Microsoft; and social media engine Facebook. Since then, these major innovators have built on a common resource—increasingly … Continue reading “A.I. Chip Race Redraws Competitive Map Among Tech Firms, Chipmakers”
Aduro Biotech Names Andrea van Elsas Successor to CSO Thomas Dubensky
Aduro Biotech (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ADRO]]) chief scientific officer Thomas Dubensky is leaving to run his own discovery and research company, according to the cancer immunotherapy developer. Berkeley, CA-based Aduro says Dubensky’s resignation will be effective Aug. 31. He had served as Aduro’s chief scientific officer since 2011. Andrea van Elsas, currently CSO of Aduro Biotech Europe, … Continue reading “Aduro Biotech Names Andrea van Elsas Successor to CSO Thomas Dubensky”
Petra Pharma Names Brian O’Callaghan CEO and Fills CSO, CFO Posts
Brian O’Callaghan has been appointed CEO of Petra Pharma, a New York biotech developing drugs to treat cancer and metabolic diseases. O’Callaghan’s experience includes senior positions at Pfizer (NYSE: [[ticker:PFE]]), Novartis (NYSE: [[ticker:NVS]]), Merck Serono, NPS, and Covance. Petra also named David McElligott chief scientific officer, and David Renas chief financial officer. The company, which … Continue reading “Petra Pharma Names Brian O’Callaghan CEO and Fills CSO, CFO Posts”
Invenra Signs On With Merck in Antibody Discovery Partnership
Invenra has had success developing therapeutic antibodies for its own drug research, and for the research of others. Now the Madison, WI-based company has signed on with pharma giant Merck, which hopes Invenra’s antibody expertise can help it develop new drugs. Under the terms of the recent agreement, Invenra will discover antibodies against a target … Continue reading “Invenra Signs On With Merck in Antibody Discovery Partnership”
Five Questions For … Tom Luby, Head of JLabs @ TMC in Houston
Houston—The business of healthcare is in Tom Luby’s blood. It started during a childhood often spent in a family room in the back of his parents’ pharmacy listening to them interact with patients and their caregivers. Those experiences led him to a biology degree at the State University of New York College at Plattsburgh and … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Tom Luby, Head of JLabs @ TMC in Houston”
Agtech Perspectives From Two Days With the Crop Chemicals Crowd
Spraying chemicals on crops has been a standard farming practice for decades. Pesticides and fungicides aren’t going away, but they are ceding some ground to new biological products that aim to help plants in different ways. The past year has seen market launches for microbial products developed to help plants resist stresses from pests and … Continue reading “Agtech Perspectives From Two Days With the Crop Chemicals Crowd”
Amid Slow VR Growth, Virtual Hangouts Startup AltspaceVR to Shut Down
Despite advances in virtual reality technology and plenty of hype, the medium has yet to take off in the way its advocates envision. The latest reminder is the demise of AltspaceVR, a Redwood City, CA-based startup that hosts social experiences in virtual venues. The four-year-old company announced in a blog post Friday that it will … Continue reading “Amid Slow VR Growth, Virtual Hangouts Startup AltspaceVR to Shut Down”
Eyeing Consumers Needing Car Repairs, CarCalmly Plans August Launch
San Antonio—People who drive spend about 50 minutes on the road per day, according to consulting firm McKinsey. And while laws discourage people from using a cell phone while driving, it’s no secret those drivers probably have smartphones nearby. Some tech startups are seeking opportunities in the auto industry, by using data they can get … Continue reading “Eyeing Consumers Needing Car Repairs, CarCalmly Plans August Launch”
Redfin IPO Raises $138M, Stock to Begin Trading Friday
[Updated, 1:40pm PT. See below] Redfin, a real estate software firm based in Seattle, priced its initial public offering at $15 a share on Thursday, above the projected range of $12 to $14. The IPO raised $138 million, and the company’s stock is set to begin trading on the Nasdaq today under the symbol “RDFN.” … Continue reading “Redfin IPO Raises $138M, Stock to Begin Trading Friday”
Bio Roundup: GOP Drama, Immunotherapy Setbacks, Pharma Revamps
Two failed cancer studies this week provided a fresh reminder how little researchers and clinicians understand about immunotherapy’s vagaries: why it works for some people and not for others. The results, in lung cancer and head-and neck cancer, add to recent failures in multiple myeloma and bladder cancer and splash cold water on a sector … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: GOP Drama, Immunotherapy Setbacks, Pharma Revamps”
Michigan’s Biggest Startup Competition Now Accepting Applications
The annual Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition will return to Detroit in November, and event organizers are on the hunt for the state’s most promising tech startups to participate. At stake is more than $1 million in cash and prizes, including a whopping $500,000 grand prize. Accelerate Michigan is the state’s largest startup competition, and it … Continue reading “Michigan’s Biggest Startup Competition Now Accepting Applications”
Houston’s Zenus Brings Facial Recognition Software to Event Check-Ins
Houston—For all the technological innovation on display at the annual South By Southwest Interactive festival, registration and check-in is still largely done the old-fashioned way. Similar to other large conventions, an attendee waits in line, hands over an ID to a registrar, gets a picture taken for a badge, and then receives the usual conference … Continue reading “Houston’s Zenus Brings Facial Recognition Software to Event Check-Ins”
Modeled After Google’s, ScaleFT Security Tech Entices Rackspace, VCs
Austin and San Antonio—Technology, of course, gives us all greater access to information than ever before. In the context of security, however, that’s often a big problem. Companies have historically set up boundaries around the information they’re trying to protect—firewalls and virtual private networks that either aim to keep unwanted people out or allow restricted … Continue reading “Modeled After Google’s, ScaleFT Security Tech Entices Rackspace, VCs”
DataCamp Nabs $4M for Data Science Courses, Moves to NY
Data scientists remain in high demand. But these days, many types of professionals can boost their career prospects if they have at least a basic level of “data literacy,” says Jonathan Cornelissen. That’s part of the reason why he says his online education company, DataCamp, has been growing over the past couple of years. DataCamp, … Continue reading “DataCamp Nabs $4M for Data Science Courses, Moves to NY”
Tesaro Cashes In Again on PARP Blocker With $100M Takeda Deal
Tesaro rode the clinical success of a cancer drug called niraparib (Zejula) to a three-fold increase in value over the past year. Today it’s cashed in the drug again, striking a licensing deal with Japan’s Takeda Pharmaceutical. Takeda is paying Waltham, MA-based Tesaro (NASDAQ: [[ticker:TSRO]]) $100 million up front for the rights to niraparib in … Continue reading “Tesaro Cashes In Again on PARP Blocker With $100M Takeda Deal”
Immunotherapy Shakeup: AstraZeneca Inks Merck Deal as Drug Combo Fails
Despite all the great progress made harnessing the immune system to fight cancer, there is still much work to be done to maximize its potential. The latest evidence: disappointing results today from a roughly 1,100-patient study called “Mystic,” a highly anticipated trial from AstraZeneca testing a combination of immunotherapies in newly diagnosed lung cancer patients. … Continue reading “Immunotherapy Shakeup: AstraZeneca Inks Merck Deal as Drug Combo Fails”
VentureWell Brings Med Tech Acceleration Program to TechTown Detroit
When TechTown Detroit co-hosted a med health summit earlier this year, it was intended to foster collaboration, highlight companies in the sector, and break down silos to advance the regional ecosystem. That work is starting to pay off. VentureWell , the Hadley, MA-based nonprofit med tech accelerator, was in Detroit earlier this summer to run … Continue reading “VentureWell Brings Med Tech Acceleration Program to TechTown Detroit”
Foxconn to Build Plant in WI, Giving Support to Trump’s Jobs Pledges
After weeks of hints, rumors, and speculation, it’s now official: Foxconn, the world’s largest contract manufacturer, said it will invest $10 billion over the next three years to build an enormous plant in Southeastern Wisconsin and make electronics displays there. President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and several Wisconsin politicians, including Gov. Scott Walker … Continue reading “Foxconn to Build Plant in WI, Giving Support to Trump’s Jobs Pledges”
Abeona Therapeutics Appoints Juan Ruiz Chief Medical Officer
Juan Ruiz has joined New York gene therapy developer Abeona Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ABEO]]) as chief medical officer. Ruiz’s experience includes executive positions at Lykera Biomed and Digna Biotech, both Spain-based companies. Abeona’s lead drugs are gene therapy candidates for the rare enzyme deficiency disorder Sanfilippo syndrome type A, and epidermolysis bullosa, which is a rare … Continue reading “Abeona Therapeutics Appoints Juan Ruiz Chief Medical Officer”
Judge Increases Award to WARF in Apple Patent Case to $506M
A federal judge ruled earlier this week that Apple must pay an additional $272 million to the organization that manages patents and licensing of intellectual property for the University of Wisconsin-Madison for infringing one of its patents, according to court documents. The additional award follows a court ruling in October 2015 ordering Cupertino, CA-based Apple … Continue reading “Judge Increases Award to WARF in Apple Patent Case to $506M”
IRobot Buys French Distributor as Home Robotics Plan Picks Up Steam
[Corrected 7/28/17, 3:36 pm. See below.] Roomba vacuum maker iRobot says it has struck an agreement to acquire Robopolis, a Lyon, France-based distributor of iRobot products, for $141 million in cash. The deal is aimed at boosting iRobot’s (NASDAQ: [[ticker:IRBT]]) distribution network and ensuring “global brand consistency,” the Bedford, MA-based company says in a press … Continue reading “IRobot Buys French Distributor as Home Robotics Plan Picks Up Steam”
Warehouse Robotics Maker 6 River Systems Grabs $15M
[Updated 7/26/17, 4:56 pm, with comments from co-CEO.] 6 River Systems has scooped up $15 million from investors to help push its robots into more warehouses. The new funding round was led by Norwest Venture Partners, with contributions from earlier backers, including venture firm Eclipse and consumer robotics company iRobot (NASDAQ: [[ticker:IRBT]]), according to a … Continue reading “Warehouse Robotics Maker 6 River Systems Grabs $15M”
Dallas IoT Software Maker Prodea Acquires California Rival Arrayent
Dallas—Prodea Systems, a suburban Dallas maker of Internet-connected software, has acquired a California-based competitor, Arrayent. “There are more and more services and systems and devices that would become smart and try to deliver information,” Anousheh Ansari, Prodea’s co-founder and CEO, said in an interview. “For example, we have connected dishwashers and refrigerators, but none of … Continue reading “Dallas IoT Software Maker Prodea Acquires California Rival Arrayent”
Tetraphase Claws Back From Failed Study, Eyes FDA Filing With New Data
New data have given new life to Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:TTPH]]), which now has a shot to bring an experimental antibiotic to market despite a failed trial in the past. The Watertown, MA, company reported positive results late Tuesday in a 500-patient Phase 3 study of its lead antibiotic, eravacycline, in patients with complicated intra-abdominal … Continue reading “Tetraphase Claws Back From Failed Study, Eyes FDA Filing With New Data”
VR Startup Visbit Adds Support for Game Site Unity, and a Web Player
For filmmakers and game designers, virtual reality technology has created a quirky playground of the imagination where characters can actually run into themselves at a bar, and where viewers’ eyebrows can be made invisible to widen their views of the sky. Meanwhile, more practical folk are creating the technical tools that make it easier for … Continue reading “VR Startup Visbit Adds Support for Game Site Unity, and a Web Player”
Illumina Accelerator Sees ‘Huge Impact in Genomics’ in New Startups
Genomics startups are increasing in number and quality, so much so that three-year-old Illumina Accelerator has expanded with its latest class to accommodate five of them. Xconomy got an early look at the specialty accelerator’s sixth cohort, which includes a company named for a butterfly and the accelerator’s first digital health startup. Illumina (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ILMN]]), … Continue reading “Illumina Accelerator Sees ‘Huge Impact in Genomics’ in New Startups”
Re:purpose Aims to Close Tech Talent Gap with Culture Fit, Curation
The gap between the number of open tech jobs and the number of qualified candidates to fill them is an ongoing challenge in many parts of the country. In Michigan, that problem is especially acute. Doing a keyword search for IT jobs on Pure Michigan Talent Connect, the state’s employment website, reveals more than 16,000 … Continue reading “Re:purpose Aims to Close Tech Talent Gap with Culture Fit, Curation”
Wisconsin Company Offers to Put RFID Chips in Employees’ Bodies
[Updated 7/26/17 10:51 a.m. See below.] Why store information on a thumb drive when you can store it directly in your thumb? Three Square Market, a River Falls, WI-based company that helps clients equip their offices with miniature stores that offer more variety and convenience than vending machines, says it recently offered employees the opportunity … Continue reading “Wisconsin Company Offers to Put RFID Chips in Employees’ Bodies”
Exact Sciences Again Boosts Sales Projections for Flagship Product
Exact Sciences continues to raise the bar. Strong sales for Exact’s (NASDAQ: [[ticker:EXAS]]) flagship product, the colorectal cancer test Cologuard, led the Madison, WI-based company to boost its 2017 revenue forecast to between $230 million and $240 million. That marks the second consecutive quarter that the company has increased sales projections for its stool-based DNA … Continue reading “Exact Sciences Again Boosts Sales Projections for Flagship Product”
Convoy Raises $62M From Gates, Y Combinator for Trucking Marketplace
Convoy, a startup trying to modernize the way truck drivers connect with customers, just got a $62 million boost from investors including the Y Combinator Continuity Fund and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. The Seattle startup, which makes technology that would automate the work of freight brokerages and dispatchers, announced the Series B funding round that … Continue reading “Convoy Raises $62M From Gates, Y Combinator for Trucking Marketplace”
Toast Devours $101M for Restaurant Tech, Plans to Hire 1,000
Toast, the fast-growing restaurant technology company, has just been served a heaping portion of venture capital to continue expanding. On Tuesday, the Boston-based company announced a $101 million investment led by new backers Generation Investment Management—whose co-founder and chairman is former Vice President Al Gore—and Lead Edge Capital. Bessemer Venture Partners and other earlier Toast … Continue reading “Toast Devours $101M for Restaurant Tech, Plans to Hire 1,000”