Propeller Health, a Madison, WI-based startup that makes Internet-connected inhalers and sensors designed to help asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, says it is teaming up with Novartis to build an add-on sensor for the Swiss pharma giant’s Breezhaler device. The agreement, announced on Wednesday, is focused on patients with COPD who live … Continue reading “Propeller Health, Novartis to Develop Add-On Sensor for Breezhaler”
With Rackspace Layoffs, Eyes Turn to Rising San Antonio Tech Economy
San Antonio—There’s never a good time to be laid off. But maybe some times are better than others? Rackspace is cutting about 270 jobs in the U.S.—some 6 percent of its 4,500-person workforce—the company’s CEO Taylor Rhodes announced yesterday, almost five months after it was acquired by private equity firms for $4.3 billion. The layoffs … Continue reading “With Rackspace Layoffs, Eyes Turn to Rising San Antonio Tech Economy”
Communications Tech Firm Fuze Gulps $104M, Eyes IPO in 2018
Investors just heaped another pile of money on Fuze, already one of the better-funded tech companies in New England. Today, the Cambridge, MA-based software firm announced a $104 million equity investment led by Wellington Management Company. Other investors in the round include Greenspring Associates and earlier Fuze backers Summit Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners, and G20 … Continue reading “Communications Tech Firm Fuze Gulps $104M, Eyes IPO in 2018”
New CEO of Shipping Software Maker uShip Eyes Mobile, International
Austin—Shipping logistics software developer uShip has hired a new CEO, Mike Williams, two months after co-founder and CEO Matt Chasen announced he was resigning from the Austin, TX, company to pursue other early stage startup work. Williams was previously the general manager of corporate real estate services at Accruent, another Austin company that sells software … Continue reading “New CEO of Shipping Software Maker uShip Eyes Mobile, International”
Bayer Enlists Trana Discovery to Find New Fungicides for Field Crops
When disease decimated Ireland’s potatoes in 1845, farmers were at a loss to explain what caused their staple crop to rot in the fields. The blight continued in successive growing seasons and by 1851, more than one million deaths were attributed to what came to be known as the “Great Famine.” Fungicides can now prevent … Continue reading “Bayer Enlists Trana Discovery to Find New Fungicides for Field Crops”
Higher Ed’s Warning: Travel Ban Undermines U.S. Tech Training & Hiring
The more than 125 U.S. tech companies that joined the ongoing court battle against the Trump administration’s travel ban have detailed the many business hindrances it could pose, such as stranding foreign-born employees outside the country, and discouraging talented workers abroad from taking jobs here. But all companies, including tech leaders such as Apple, Google, … Continue reading “Higher Ed’s Warning: Travel Ban Undermines U.S. Tech Training & Hiring”
MichBio Presents: Women Building Success in Biosciences
This interactive session will feature a networking breakfast and moderated discussion with investor and author Kelly Hoey as she provides insights regarding strategies to help form genuine relationships and harness the power of your network to accomplish goals. For more information, click here.
Cultivating Women Leaders
This inaugural event, with the theme “Embracing Our Inner Strength,” is designed to give young women the tools they need to realize their potential as leaders. Two-time Olympic medalist Danielle Scott-Aruda will give the keynote address. For details, click here.
Greenlight Business Model Competition
Entrepreneurs will network with investors and pitch their early-stage startup ideas to a panel of judges for the chance to win $40,000 and other prizes. Applications to pitch are due by March 1, 2017. To learn more, click here.
Women of Color Task Force Career Conference
This event, with the theme “U-M Staff: The Heart of Maize and Blue,” will focus on professional development. Guest speakers include journalist Roland S. Martin and teacher/activist Jane Elliott. For details and registration, click here.
Semyon Dukach Talks Latest Techstars Boston Class, His Last at Helm
[Corrected 2/9/17, 11:45 a.m. See below.] This year’s session of the Techstars Boston startup accelerator will be the last one led by Semyon Dukach. In a blog post published Monday, Dukach unveiled the 13 companies accepted into the latest program and announced that he will be leaving Techstars Boston after this session, his fourth as … Continue reading “Semyon Dukach Talks Latest Techstars Boston Class, His Last at Helm”
Madison Healthtech Startup Catalyze Rebrands As ‘Datica’
Scaling a mountain, even a figurative one, sometimes requires making changes on the fly. Catalyze, an early-stage healthtech company based in Madison, WI, previously used a mountaineering theme when choosing names for its primary software applications. It chose the climbing term Redpoint for its health data integration product, while its hosting and compliance offering was … Continue reading “Madison Healthtech Startup Catalyze Rebrands As ‘Datica’”
AI Without the Costly GPU Chips? Seattle Startup Xnor.ai Sees a Way
Picture a world in which cameras, sensors, watches, and other devices, equipped with commodity computer chips, recognize and understand what’s happening around them. The basic devices are there now—billions of them—but they can’t handle the complex, resource-hungry algorithms that identify objects in pictures or translate text from one language to another, the kinds of inferences … Continue reading “AI Without the Costly GPU Chips? Seattle Startup Xnor.ai Sees a Way”
Trump’s Immigration Policies Threaten to Thwart Economic Growth
For the entire staff at Global Detroit, the Executive Orders from President Trump on immigration, refugees, the so-called Muslim ban, and the wall have been devastating and deeply distressing. They challenge our sense of American values and history. Beyond our personal and moral reactions, however, the Executive Orders also may have some impact on the … Continue reading “Trump’s Immigration Policies Threaten to Thwart Economic Growth”
Biotech Leaders Sign Letter Condemning Trump’s Travel Ban
The blowback from U.S. business leaders to President Trump’s travel ban continues—today from a throng of biotech executives. This morning, 165 U.S. biotech leaders have signed a letter voicing “deep concern and opposition” to the order, which bars entry to the U.S. to refugees and immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries. The Jan. 27 order placed … Continue reading “Biotech Leaders Sign Letter Condemning Trump’s Travel Ban”
Hardware Startups Accelerator makerSeed Set to Launch in Dallas
Dallas—A new accelerator for hardware innovation is being hatched in Texas. MakerSeed, which will be based at the University of Texas at Dallas, will focus on student startups and entrepreneurs developing technologies in wearables, IoT, robotics, and other hardware specialties. “I realized there’s kind of a grassroots maker community and a lot of talent in … Continue reading “Hardware Startups Accelerator makerSeed Set to Launch in Dallas”
Exact Sciences, OnKöl, Fiserv, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist
Get caught up to speed on news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Madison-based Exact Sciences (NASDAQ: [[ticker:EXAS]]) said that Cologuard, the company’s stool-based DNA test for colorectal cancer, is slated to be included in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Advantage Star Ratings. CMS publishes the Star Ratings each … Continue reading “Exact Sciences, OnKöl, Fiserv, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist”
Kentucky Biotech CEO’s Message For McConnell: I’ll Be Muslim, Too
President Trump’s order to bar refugees and immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries is on temporary hold, and a court hearing later today could eventually force a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court. One of the latest biotech executives to speak out against the ban is in the backyard of Mitch McConnell (R-KY), the top Republican … Continue reading “Kentucky Biotech CEO’s Message For McConnell: I’ll Be Muslim, Too”
MyoKardia Hires Chief Operating Officer, and VP of Medical Affairs
June Lee is joining MyoKardia (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MYOK]]) to become the South San Francisco-based heart drug developer’s chief operating officer. Lee comes to MyoKardia from the faculty of the University of California, San Francisco. Before joining UCSF, Lee worked in clinical development at Genentech. MyoKardia also named Radhika Tripuraneni the company’s vice president of medical affairs. … Continue reading “MyoKardia Hires Chief Operating Officer, and VP of Medical Affairs”
AB BioTechnologies Invests $10.5M to Build Manufacturing Facility
AB BioTechnologies, the Bloomington, IN-based drug development and services company, announced last month that it will invest $10.5 million to build a new 23,000-square-foot facility. The expansion signals a new direction for the company: It plans to add manufacturing capabilities and help clients “advance their drugs from concept to clinic under one roof,” says CEO … Continue reading “AB BioTechnologies Invests $10.5M to Build Manufacturing Facility”
Desktop Metal Gets $45M From GV, BMW, & Lowe’s, Preps Product Launch
Desktop Metal is one of the better-funded Boston-area startups without a product on the market. But it plans to change that this year, and now the company has even more cash to help get its initial metal 3D printing system across the finish line. Today, Desktop Metal announced it raised a $45 million Series C … Continue reading “Desktop Metal Gets $45M From GV, BMW, & Lowe’s, Preps Product Launch”
With $294M, Kamen Hopes to Bring Regenerative Medicine “Up to Scale”
Dean Kamen is, among other things, an inventor, entrepreneur, and leader in the technology and nonprofit fields. The products he and his company, Manchester, NH-based DEKA Research & Development, have helped create over the years include the first portable insulin delivery system, an electronic wheelchair that can climb and descend stairs, a robotic prosthetic arm, … Continue reading “With $294M, Kamen Hopes to Bring Regenerative Medicine “Up to Scale””
Tesora Bought by Stratoscale in Data Center Tech Consolidation
The deal-making and investment in New England’s enterprise IT sector continues. Today, Stratoscale announced its acquisition of Cambridge, MA-based Tesora, a database-as-a-service provider. Deal terms weren’t disclosed, but the purchase price probably wasn’t huge. Herzliya, Israel-based Stratoscale has raised about $70 million from investors including Battery Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Cisco Investments, Intel Capital, and … Continue reading “Tesora Bought by Stratoscale in Data Center Tech Consolidation”
As Iraqi Immigrant, Bio CEO Sees Pros and Cons in U.S. Travel Ban
Noori Barka came to California on an H-1B visa in 1986 to work for Santa Monica-based Specialty Laboratories, a medical diagnostics company best known for its clinical testing services. Barka said he had just completed his doctorate in immunology in Belgium, and moved to America with his wife, Evelyn, and his son, David, who was … Continue reading “As Iraqi Immigrant, Bio CEO Sees Pros and Cons in U.S. Travel Ban”
Building Healthier Athletes: NFL’s 1st and Future Contest in Houston
Houston—The Texas Medical Center had its most high-profile stage yet to showcase its efforts to develop Houston’s biotech innovation community with the NFL’s 1st and Future startup pitch contest. The competition, held Saturday morning at the medical center’s TMCx accelerator, began with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and TMC CEO Bobby Robbins touting the city’s healthcare … Continue reading “Building Healthier Athletes: NFL’s 1st and Future Contest in Houston”
Biomedical Research Has Support, But Questions Linger About Funding
In December, the U.S. Department of Defense provided an update on the total amount of funding pledged to the Advanced Tissue Biofabrication Manufacturing Innovation Institute. A total of $294 million, including $80 million from the DoD, has now been committed to the public-private initiative, which is aimed at developing innovative manufacturing techniques that could be … Continue reading “Biomedical Research Has Support, But Questions Linger About Funding”
UWM Research Foundation Licenses Fluid Dynamics Tech to Ohio Firm
A foundation that assists with technology transfer at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has licensed software designed to educate people about fluid dynamics and air flow to an Ohio-based company, the school said. Tom Hansen, a graduate student at UWM’s School of Freshwater Sciences, developed digital tools designed to let users make ripples in, and perform other … Continue reading “UWM Research Foundation Licenses Fluid Dynamics Tech to Ohio Firm”
Seattle Week in Review: MSFT Calls for Exceptions to Immigration Ban
[Updated 2/3/17 4:22 p.m. See below.] The Trump administration’s immigration ban remained a top concern for technology companies, including major Seattle-area stalwarts that this week joined with Washington state to challenge it. Microsoft, while acknowledging that the broader debate over the ban must continue, sought a process to exempt certain people from the ban. In other news, … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: MSFT Calls for Exceptions to Immigration Ban”
Microsoft Moving Michigan Tech Center to Downtown Detroit
Bedrock Detroit, the real estate company tied to Quicken Loans chairman Dan Gilbert, announced today that it has successfully lured Microsoft to downtown Detroit. The Redmond, WA-based technology giant (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MSFT]]) has maintained a 52,000-square-foot tech center in Southfield, a suburb of Detroit, since 2010. But Microsoft’s planned 2018 relocation to the Motor City is being … Continue reading “Microsoft Moving Michigan Tech Center to Downtown Detroit”
Bio Roundup: Travel Ban, Pharma in DC, Biogen Splits, PCSK9 Wins
Folks had just clocked out last Friday when the Trump Administration announced a travel ban that threw airports around the country into chaos. That announcement set the tone for this week in life sciences. Many in biopharma blasted Trump’s order and tried to grapple with its implications. At the same time, a handful of the … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Travel Ban, Pharma in DC, Biogen Splits, PCSK9 Wins”
Five Questions For … Manoj Saxena, AI Investor & Ex-IBM Watson Chief
Austin—Humanity is entering the age of homo digitalis. That’s the view of Manoj Saxena, the former general manager of IBM’s Watson Solutions in Austin, TX, and now a venture capitalist who focuses on artificial intelligence startups. The way he sees it, technological advances in machine learning and virtual reality can be combined to create a new … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Manoj Saxena, AI Investor & Ex-IBM Watson Chief”
Robots Might Eat Your Job, But Being Human Could Get You A New One
Robots and artificial intelligence software could eventually render human workers obsolete in virtually every industry, but that shift will likely take at least 30 to 50 years to play out. In the meantime, it’s important to focus on properly preparing people for the jobs that will be available over the next decade or so, and … Continue reading “Robots Might Eat Your Job, But Being Human Could Get You A New One”
Perceivant Using Edtech to Bring Health and Wellness to College Kids
In 2012, after Brian Rowe sold the analytics company he co-owned, iGoDigital, to ExactTarget for $21 million, he knew he wanted to move on to a new adventure in the startup realm. He just wasn’t sure what it would be. “I wanted to do something where I could use my strong analytics background, but I … Continue reading “Perceivant Using Edtech to Bring Health and Wellness to College Kids”
No Details Yet, But Amgen Touts Success in Big Heart Drug Study
Amgen revealed on Thursday that its cholesterol lowering drug, evolocumab (Repatha)—part of a new class of heart treatments called PCSK9 inhibitors—has reduced the risk of heart attacks and strokes in a massive, 27,500 patient trial. Thousand Oaks, CA-based Amgen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMGN]]) didn’t disclose the actual magnitude of the benefit evolocumab produced in the study, an … Continue reading “No Details Yet, But Amgen Touts Success in Big Heart Drug Study”
Survey Reveals Seattle Startup Gender Gap as Techstars Struggles
Men and women in Seattle startups agree that men have more opportunities for advancement and typically fit in better with their company’s culture, according to a survey focused on gender of employees at smaller, growing companies. That’s one of several findings of the survey, Catalyze Seattle, released Thursday, which takes in responses from 315 people … Continue reading “Survey Reveals Seattle Startup Gender Gap as Techstars Struggles”
Drug-Hunting Startup From Scripps Attracts Celgene Alum, $50M Backing
A team of decorated academic chemists in San Diego have been working since 2014 on a biotech startup that aims to find new drugs faster. The company now has a lot of cash in the bank and a well-known biopharma scientist to guide it. Vividion Therapeutics is launching with $50 million pledged from investment firms … Continue reading “Drug-Hunting Startup From Scripps Attracts Celgene Alum, $50M Backing”
Nohla Therapeutics Names Kathleen Fanning President & CEO
Nohla Therapeutics has appointed Kathleen Fanning its new president and chief executive. Before joining Seattle-based Nohla, Fanning served as chief operating officer at VentiRx Pharmaceuticals. She has also held various posts at Cell Therapeutics, CellPro, and Zeneca Pharmaceuticals (now AstraZeneca). Nohla is developing therapies from umbilical cord blood to treat blood disorders.
Synthetic Genomics Exec Joins Agenovir as Chief Scientific Officer
Bolyn Hubby is joining antiviral drug developer Agenovir to become the company’s chief scientific officer. Hubby comes to South San Francisco-based Agenovir from Synthetic Genomics, where she was vice president of vaccines and antimicrobials research and development. Her experience also includes posts at Liquidia Technologies and AlphaVax. Last year, Agenovir raised $10.6 million to apply … Continue reading “Synthetic Genomics Exec Joins Agenovir as Chief Scientific Officer”
Tarveda Nabs $30M More as Versant Helps Fund Cancer Drug Push
A year after rebranding around a new clinical strategy, Tarveda Therapeutics has raised $30 million in help push its experimental cancer drugs through early clinical testing. New investor Versant Ventures led the Series D round, which included earlier investors New Enterprise Associates, Novo A/S, NanoDimension, and Flagship Pioneering. The new capital for Watertown, MA-based Tarveda … Continue reading “Tarveda Nabs $30M More as Versant Helps Fund Cancer Drug Push”
Insurer UHC Will Cover Biogen Spine Drug, But With Limits And Proof
[Updated, 1:57 pm E.T., see below] Another major U.S. health insurer, UnitedHealthCare, has said it would cover the first-ever approved drug for the rare disease spinal muscular atrophy, a closely watched bellwether in the national debate over drug prices. While UHC’s policy is less restrictive than the one disclosed recently by rival insurer Anthem, UHC … Continue reading “Insurer UHC Will Cover Biogen Spine Drug, But With Limits And Proof”
Announcing Robo Madness 2017: A.I. Gets Real on March 28 at Google
It’s time for Xconomy’s third annual robotics and artificial intelligence conference in Boston. In previous years, we’ve highlighted areas such as manufacturing, logistics, and medical robots. This year, the focus is on A.I.-related software—applied to hot areas like autonomous vehicles, virtual assistants, and connected devices. But there will also be discussion about the role of … Continue reading “Announcing Robo Madness 2017: A.I. Gets Real on March 28 at Google”
Accomplice Shakeup, CoachUp Layoffs, Alexa Lab, & More Boston Tech News
[Updated 2/2/17, 3:47 pm. See below.] Here are some of the latest happenings in the Boston-area tech community: —Chris Lynch and Cort Johnson are leaving Accomplice, and the Cambridge, MA-based early-stage tech venture firm is reportedly growing its San Francisco staff. Accomplice will also consolidate its Boston Syndicates (BOSS) and Maiden Lane (an AngelList syndicate) … Continue reading “Accomplice Shakeup, CoachUp Layoffs, Alexa Lab, & More Boston Tech News”
Royalty Pharma Pays $90M to Cytokinetics for Heart Drug Royalties
Royalty Pharma, a New York-based company that buys up rights to royalty streams of potentially revenue-producing drugs, is paying $90 million for a for a chance to reap 4.5 percent royalty on possible sales of an experimental heart drug being developed by Cytokinetics and its partner, Amgen. South San Francisco-based Cytokinetics (Nasdaq:[[ticker:CYTK]]) plans to use … Continue reading “Royalty Pharma Pays $90M to Cytokinetics for Heart Drug Royalties”
EatStreet Grows Through Partial Acquisition of Pennsylvania Startup
Since launching in 2010, the Madison, WI-based startup EatStreet has fueled its growth by raising venture capital, introducing its food ordering technology in hundreds of cities across the U.S., and bringing on dozens of new employees. Now comes news that EatStreet has made what co-founder and CEO Matt Howard calls its first “highlighted acquisition.” The … Continue reading “EatStreet Grows Through Partial Acquisition of Pennsylvania Startup”
ClearMotion Absorbs $100M for Tech That Delivers Smoother Car Rides
Investors have poured $100 million into ClearMotion, an MIT spinout that sees opportunity in the shift toward autonomous vehicles. ClearMotion’s Series C funding round was led by J.P. Morgan Asset Management, along with New Enterprise Associates, Qualcomm Ventures, World Innovation Lab, and Eileses Capital. The Woburn, MA-based startup says it has raised more than $130 … Continue reading “ClearMotion Absorbs $100M for Tech That Delivers Smoother Car Rides”
Seed-Stage Deals Show Growing Diversity of Agtech Investments
Fundraising is tough for startups but it’s particularly difficult in agriculture, a sector that has fewer firms focused on agtech investments. The dynamics are starting to change, though. A growing number of early-stage agtech startups are raising money and they’re pulling capital from a broader pool of sources, according to a new report from AgFunder, … Continue reading “Seed-Stage Deals Show Growing Diversity of Agtech Investments”
LearnLaunch to Embed Edtech Startups at a New England Prep School
[Corrected 2/6/17, 8:29 am. See below.] In trying to perfect their products, tech entrepreneurs often say it’s crucial to receive direct feedback from their end users. That’s not always simple for education technology startups selling products and services to K-12 schools, which can be slow-moving and have a lot of bureaucracy to overcome. A new … Continue reading “LearnLaunch to Embed Edtech Startups at a New England Prep School”
BeeHex Aims to Bring 3D Printing to Food, One Pizza at a Time
Houston—Who would have thought that the humble pizza could be an icon of innovation? BeeHex founder and CEO Anjan Contractor says the ubiquitous pie is the perfect way to illustrate the possibilities of its chief product—a 3D printer that can “cook.” “It’s strategic; we realize going after all food types is not efficient,” he says. … Continue reading “BeeHex Aims to Bring 3D Printing to Food, One Pizza at a Time”
Better Together, or Apart? Biogen, Bioverativ Head Down Separate Paths
Biogen, one of the largest biotechnology companies in the world, was at a crossroads in 2016. An experimental drug for the memory-robbing scourge, Alzheimer’s disease, had shown signs of promise. That meant long, expensive, and risky Phase 3 trials lay ahead for Biogen to see if the early signals were more than a mirage. So … Continue reading “Better Together, or Apart? Biogen, Bioverativ Head Down Separate Paths”
Many Washington Tech Giants in Vocal Opposition to Immigration Ban
When Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a lawsuit to invalidate the Trump administration’s executive order temporarily banning immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries, he did so with the explicit support of two giants of the tech industry. Amazon and Expedia filed legal briefs outlining the order’s negative impacts to their businesses and employees, … Continue reading “Many Washington Tech Giants in Vocal Opposition to Immigration Ban”