The RSA Conference, one of the cybersecurity industry’s largest annual events, opened in San Francisco this week amid a barrage of unsettling news, as both nations and companies drew boundary lines and formed alliances in a cyber universe that seems increasingly combative. In the United States, a growing awareness of the weaponization of cyber skills, … Continue reading “Cyberwar Theme Resounds At RSA; Tech Giants Unveil Joint Strategy”
Healthfinch Seeks to Take Automation in Healthcare Up a Level
The late 19th century saw a number of advances in elevator equipment. For example, the first electric elevator was built in 1880, and manufacturers introduced safety bumpers and automatic stopping technology in subsequent decades. By 1900, many models of elevator had gone “driverless” and could be controlled by someone inside without any specialized knowledge. As … Continue reading “Healthfinch Seeks to Take Automation in Healthcare Up a Level”
Money, Money, Money: Funds for AI, Cryptocurrency & Other TX Startups
Welcome to part two of our roundup of innovation news from Xconomy Texas, featuring new investments in Lone Star State startups. (Click here for part one.) —PullRequest, an Austin, TX, startup that uses artificial intelligence technologies to help coders find bugs in software before its launch, has raised $8 million in funding. The Series A … Continue reading “Money, Money, Money: Funds for AI, Cryptocurrency & Other TX Startups”
Agtech Startup Inocucor Enters Plant Nutrition with ATP Acquisition
[Updated, 4/20/18, 4:49 pm ET. See below.] Inocucor, an agtech startup that develops and sells microbial products intended to improve plant and soil health, is now expanding its reach with a deal that gives it a market position in plant nutrition. Denver-based Inocucor announced Tuesday that it has acquired plant nutrition company ATP Nutrition. No … Continue reading “Agtech Startup Inocucor Enters Plant Nutrition with ATP Acquisition”
Nike Buys Invertex, Mark Cuban Backs Billshark, & More TX Tech News
I was out last week, exploring the rocky terrain of Big Bend National Park out in West Texas. Let’s catch up on the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas, part 1. (Part 2, chock full of startup funding news, is next.) —The first-ever Austin Cannabis Entrepreneur (or, ACE) conference is being held this Thursday and … Continue reading “Nike Buys Invertex, Mark Cuban Backs Billshark, & More TX Tech News”
Grab the Early Bird Rate for What’s Hot in Seattle Biotech on June 12
Leaders from the life sciences industry are coming together for Xconomy’s special event on Seattle biotech on June 12 at Cambia Grove. Act now to get the best price on tickets for what we expect will be a sold-out event! Join us to hear from the Emerald City’s top life science entrepreneurs, scientists, investors, and … Continue reading “Grab the Early Bird Rate for What’s Hot in Seattle Biotech on June 12”
Xconomy Forum Rides Wave of Big Data/Big Bio Startups in San Diego
As the Xconomy Forum on Big Data Meets Big Biology draws near, one of the best arguments for understanding the significance of the convergence of data science and the life sciences may lie in what came out of the 2013 sale of San Diego’s EcoATM. Founded by several veterans of the wireless semiconductor industry, EcoATM … Continue reading “Xconomy Forum Rides Wave of Big Data/Big Bio Startups in San Diego”
Marketing Chatbot Firm Drift Grabs $60M Led By Sequoia, Sans HubSpot
David Cancel and Elias Torres built their last startup, a marketing automation company called Performable, with just $3 million from venture capitalists. They raised that funding round in late 2009, and about 18 months later they sold the company to HubSpot (NYSE: [[ticker:HUBS]])—a larger sales and marketing tech firm based in Cambridge, MA—for a reported … Continue reading “Marketing Chatbot Firm Drift Grabs $60M Led By Sequoia, Sans HubSpot”
Livongo Health Grows with Purchase of Weight Loss Startup Retrofit
Livongo Health, a Bay Area-based developer of devices and software for managing chronic health conditions, has acquired Retrofit, a Chicago startup that develops programs designed to help people lose weight and prevent disease. Mountain View, CA-based Livongo, which last week raised a $105 million round of outside investment, says that its purchase of Retrofit will … Continue reading “Livongo Health Grows with Purchase of Weight Loss Startup Retrofit”
DemandJump Raises $6M for Marketing Tech Focused on Where, Not Who
DemandJump, the Indianapolis-based marketing software startup, has raised a $6 million Series A round of financing. Investing in the round were Steve Case’s Rise of the Rest Fund, Flyover Capital, Cultivation Capital, 4G Ventures, Sigma Prime Ventures’ managing director Bob Davoli, and Hyde Park Venture Partners. Since the company was founded in 2015, it has … Continue reading “DemandJump Raises $6M for Marketing Tech Focused on Where, Not Who”
U.S. Funding for Biomedical Research Takes Upturn
At the end of March, Congress passed a $1.3 trillion spending bill to fund federal agencies for the rest of the fiscal year and avert another government shutdown. The 2,232-page legislation included a $3 billion funding increase for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the second largest in the health agency’s history. Other research and … Continue reading “U.S. Funding for Biomedical Research Takes Upturn”
Adecco to Buy General Assembly for $412.5M to Grow Tech Workforce
The Adecco Group, the global staffing and worker training giant, has inked a $412.5 million agreement to acquire General Assembly, a tech training and career development company that offers courses online and at 20 campuses worldwide. The deal underscores the growing demand for software coding and other digital skills—and employers’ increased willingness to turn to … Continue reading “Adecco to Buy General Assembly for $412.5M to Grow Tech Workforce”
Alkermes Depression Drug Review Goes Ahead After FDA About-Face
Less than a month after the FDA refused to review Alkermes’ new drug application for the company’s depression drug, the agency has changed its mind, according to a statement from the company. After it “clarified certain aspects of the NDA submission”, Alkermes said Monday that the FDA will now accept the application without requiring additional … Continue reading “Alkermes Depression Drug Review Goes Ahead After FDA About-Face”
Seeking to Join Top Tech Hubs, Houston Plans an Innovation District
Houston—Houston’s tech renaissance could spring from the former location of one of the country’s top business innovators. A shuttered Sears store, located in the city’s Midtown area, has been designated as ground zero of a new tech-focused innovation district, a project that officials hope will help place Houston among the nation’s top tech hubs. “We … Continue reading “Seeking to Join Top Tech Hubs, Houston Plans an Innovation District”
Shire is Selling Cancer Business for $2.4B to Focus on Rare Disease
Shire plans to exit cancer drug development through a deal to sell its oncology unit to a French company, Servier, for $2.4 billion cash. Dublin, Ireland-based Shire (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SHPG]]), which operates a U.S. headquarters in Lexington, MA, says the deal helps it tighten its rare disease drug focus. Meanwhile, privately held Servier says adding Shire’s … Continue reading “Shire is Selling Cancer Business for $2.4B to Focus on Rare Disease”
For More Lung Cancer Patients, the Promise of No Chemo Looms Larger
[Editor’s note: Ben Fidler co-authored this report.] A decade from now, it’s possible that immunotherapy will have made a big dent in lung cancer, which is by far the deadliest type of the disease. Drugs from several companies have worked their way forward, initially for patients who have failed chemotherapy, and now, in some cases, … Continue reading “For More Lung Cancer Patients, the Promise of No Chemo Looms Larger”
Commense Selects Merrimack Pharma Veteran Edward Stewart for CEO
Microbial therapies developer Commense has appointed Edward “Tad” Stewart to serve as the Boston company’s president and CEO. Stewart was most recently chief business officer of Cambridge, MA-based Crescendo Biologics. Before that, he spent 15 years at Merrimack Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MACK]]) as senior vice president, business development. Commense emerged from Boston startup creator PureTech in … Continue reading “Commense Selects Merrimack Pharma Veteran Edward Stewart for CEO”
Novan Makes Kelly Martin’s CEO Role Permanent
Kelly Martin has been named permanent CEO of Novan (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NOVN]]). The Morrisville, NC-based drug developer appointed Martin interim CEO last June, part of a corporate shakeup in which the company laid off 20 percent of its staff and shifted founding CEO Nathan Stasko to chief scientific officer. Those moves followed the failure of SB204, … Continue reading “Novan Makes Kelly Martin’s CEO Role Permanent”
Livongo, Led By Ex-Allscripts CEO, Gets $105M for Health Tech Tools
Livongo Health, a startup that develops connected devices and software for patients with diabetes and other chronic conditions, said earlier this week it had raised $105 million from investors to support further development of its technology. Livongo’s latest financing round was led by Kinnevik and General Catalyst Partners, which reportedly helped incubate the startup and … Continue reading “Livongo, Led By Ex-Allscripts CEO, Gets $105M for Health Tech Tools”
Sonodontics, Locker Lifestyle Win Big at GreenLight Competition
We have a smaller startup ecosystem in Michigan, and that sometimes makes it seem like the same companies are always pitching at startup competitions. That was not the case with this year’s installment of the GreenLight Business Competition, which featured 20 startups from around the state presenting their business plans to a panel of expert … Continue reading “Sonodontics, Locker Lifestyle Win Big at GreenLight Competition”
Boston Tech Watch: Terrafugia, Akamai, Brightcove, Zaius & More
It’s time to catch up on some of the latest Boston tech news: —Zaius, a Boston-based marketing technology startup, said it pulled in a $30 million investment, bringing its venture capital haul to $50.8 million. Insight Venture Partners led the Series B funding round, and earlier Zaius backers Matrix Partners, Underscore VC, and Leaders Fund … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: Terrafugia, Akamai, Brightcove, Zaius & More”
On Eve of RSA, Fortanix and Cybereason Talk Encryption, Cyberwar
Ambuj Kumar says he’ll face a higher hurdle than the other nine finalists in the RSAC Innovation Sandbox Contest on Monday, when he’ll have three minutes to convince judges that his startup, Fortanix, deserves to win the prestigious competition. The Sandbox contest is one of the kick-off events at RSA Security’s huge annual conference in … Continue reading “On Eve of RSA, Fortanix and Cybereason Talk Encryption, Cyberwar”
Onapsis Bags $31M as U.S. Cybersecurity Funding Slows
The U.S. cybersecurity industry has seen a decline in venture capital investments recently, but Boston-area security startups are having a good week. On Tuesday, Boston-based ObserveIT said it recently pulled in a Series B investment led by Bain Capital Ventures. The Boston Business Journal reported the initial amount was $16 million, but that number could … Continue reading “Onapsis Bags $31M as U.S. Cybersecurity Funding Slows”
Bio Roundup: Lung Cancer Showdown, Gene Therapy Deals, IPO Busts
This weekend, cancer immunotherapy will once again take biopharma’s center stage. At one of the year’s big cancer meetings, investors, researchers, and many others will have a close eye on a group of presentations touting new lung cancer regimens that combine immunotherapies with other treatments. The presentations could shift the dynamics of the fast-moving landscape, … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Lung Cancer Showdown, Gene Therapy Deals, IPO Busts”
Karamba Security Snags $10M from WTI, Contemplates Acquisition Targets
Karamba Security, an automotive cybersecurity startup based in Hod Hasharon, Israel, and Bloomfield Hills, MI, announced this week that it has closed on $10 million in financing from Silicon Valley’s Western Technology Investment. That brings the total amount raised to $27 million since the company’s 2016 inception. David Barzilai, Karamba’s co-founder and executive chairman, says … Continue reading “Karamba Security Snags $10M from WTI, Contemplates Acquisition Targets”
Bridge Medicines Hires Renzetti as Chief Scientific Officer
Louis Renzetti has been appointed chief scientific officer of New York-based Bridge Medicines. Renzetti most recently worked as chief research and early development officer of Gotham Therapeutics, another New York biotech startup. Before that, he was senior vice president of drug discovery and early development for Waltham, MA-based X-Rx. His experience also includes early drug … Continue reading “Bridge Medicines Hires Renzetti as Chief Scientific Officer”
Assembly Biosciences Picks Papkoff for Chief Scientific Officer
Assembly Biosciences (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ASMB]]) has appointed Jackie Papkoff senior vice president and chief scientific officer, microbiome. Papkoff most recently was a senior vice president for Cambridge, MA-based Evelo Biosciences. Carmel, IN-based Assembly is developing treatments for disorders associated with the human microbiome. Last year, Assembly began a collaboration agreement with Allergan (NYSE: [[ticker:AGN]]) to develop … Continue reading “Assembly Biosciences Picks Papkoff for Chief Scientific Officer”
Research Shows How Inhaler Data Help Patients Breathe, Cities Plan
In 2014, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation committed to fund a first-of-its-kind study of asthma and air quality in Louisville, KY, in part because the organization wanted to see whether patient-generated data could influence public policy. The study, which was also funded by the American Lung Association and several local foundations, involved providing hundreds of … Continue reading “Research Shows How Inhaler Data Help Patients Breathe, Cities Plan”
Despite Pain Drug’s Mid-Stage Miss, Adynxx Plans a Larger Phase 3 Test
An Adynxx pain drug has failed to meet the main goal of a mid-stage study, but the company instead points to results in a subset of patients that it says are strong enough to justify advancing the treatment into a larger Phase 3 clinical trial. Adynxx develops drugs to block proteins that control genes that … Continue reading “Despite Pain Drug’s Mid-Stage Miss, Adynxx Plans a Larger Phase 3 Test”
As Novartis Buys In to Gene Therapy, GSK Bows Out with Orchard Deal
Novartis just bet close to $9 billion on the future of gene therapy, a boost for a field that hasn’t yet seen commercial success. In the same week, GlaxoSmithKline, which has one of the few gene therapies on the market but has struggled to sell it, is asking out. The British pharma giant will send … Continue reading “As Novartis Buys In to Gene Therapy, GSK Bows Out with Orchard Deal”
Procrastinators’ Special! Save on Big Data Meets Big Biology 4/26
The countdown clock is running for Big Data Meets Big Biology, and time is almost up to grab a seat for Xconomy’s half-day forum that will convene technology and life science innovators and influencers. Register today and save with our Procrastinator’s Special while it lasts. This is an event you don’t want to miss, and … Continue reading “Procrastinators’ Special! Save on Big Data Meets Big Biology 4/26”
Boston VC Continues Surge in Q1; Here are the Top 10 Deals
Venture capital continued to flow to Boston-area companies at a prolific rate during the first quarter of 2018, as investors picked up where they left off last year. In the first three months of the year, venture capitalists pumped more than $2.7 billion into companies located in the Boston metropolitan area, according to data from … Continue reading “Boston VC Continues Surge in Q1; Here are the Top 10 Deals”
GrocerKey Strengthens Ties to Woodman’s with New $2.5M Funding Round
GrocerKey, a startup that has developed white-label software to help grocery stores create an online presence, said it has raised $2.5 million in a funding round led by Woodman’s Market, an early GrocerKey customer. Other participants in the investment include Dunnhumby Ventures, the venture capital arm of Dunnhumby, a subsidiary of U.K. retail giant Tesco … Continue reading “GrocerKey Strengthens Ties to Woodman’s with New $2.5M Funding Round”
No “Pink Tax”: Billie, a Shave Club for Women, Raises $6M
[Corrected, 4/11/18, 4:48 p.m. ET. See below.] Billie, a direct-to-consumer seller of monthly shaving and body care products subscriptions, has raised $6 million in new funding. The New York-based startup, which launched in November, previously raised $2.5 million. This latest round of funding was led by Silverton Partners in Austin and included existing investors Female … Continue reading “No “Pink Tax”: Billie, a Shave Club for Women, Raises $6M”
RubrYc Therapeutics Spins Out of HealthTell and Closes $10M Financing
RubrYc Therapeutics announced the closing of $10 million in financing as the startup presses ahead in its efforts to discover new antibody drugs. With the financing, San Ramon, CA-based RubrYc says it has completed its spinoff from HealthTell, a company that has developed tests for analyzing the immune system’s response to disease. RubrYc was founded … Continue reading “RubrYc Therapeutics Spins Out of HealthTell and Closes $10M Financing”
Super Saver Rate Ending—NY Biotech: Bringing Back the Expats on 6/21
You can grab your ticket now to attend confirmed speakers: Steve Holtzman, President & CEO, Decibel Therapeutics Jeremy Levin, CEO & Chairman of the Board, Ovid Therapeutics David Epstein, Executive Partner, Flagship Pioneering Jenna Foger, Senior Vice President – Science & Technology, Alexandria Venture Investments The super saver rate discount ends tomorrow, so hurry and
With New Data, Drug Combos, Lung Cancer Experts Scramble to Keep Pace
When oncologist Renato Martins finished his medical training, advanced lung cancer was almost certainly a quick death sentence. “I knew, by name, every patient who had survived two years,” he says. Thanks in large part to the arrival of cancer immunotherapy, things are much different today. While lung cancer remains by far the leading cause … Continue reading “With New Data, Drug Combos, Lung Cancer Experts Scramble to Keep Pace”
InterVision Buys Bluelock, Plans to Grow Disaster Recovery Services
Bluelock, the Indianapolis “disaster-recovery-as-a-service” startup, has been acquired by InterVision, a managed IT consultancy headquartered in St. Louis, MO, and Santa Clara, CA. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Bluelock CEO Christopher Clapp says he and one of the company’s founders will be using Bluelock’s sale “as an opportunity to do a … Continue reading “InterVision Buys Bluelock, Plans to Grow Disaster Recovery Services”
Zuckerberg Fields Senate Queries On Data Privacy, Russia, Mueller
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, sitting alone at a small table, weathered hours of questioning Tuesday at a Senate committee hearing where lawmakers accused his company of everything from deceiving users and hosting hate speech to political “censorship.” Zuckerberg, sipping water, responded calmly as 44 senators peppered him with questions about political data firm Cambridge Analytica’s … Continue reading “Zuckerberg Fields Senate Queries On Data Privacy, Russia, Mueller”
San Diego VC Funding Hits $547.2M in Q1; Ideaya Leads Top 10 Deals
Venture capital investors sank $547.2 million into 37 startup companies throughout San Diego County during the first three months of 2018, maintaining roughly the same level of venture funding seen in recent quarters, according to the Venture Monitor Report. The amount of capital invested in the San Diego area was up slightly from the $541.2 … Continue reading “San Diego VC Funding Hits $547.2M in Q1; Ideaya Leads Top 10 Deals”
Jazz Pharma’s Craig Parker Tapped for Surrozen CEO Post
Surrozen has appointed Craig Parker to serve as CEO of the South San Francisco, CA, regenerative medicines developer. Parker takes the place of Tim Kutzkey, a managing partner at The Column Group, the venture capital firm that led Surrozen’s $33 million Series A financing last year. Kutzkey will now become chairman of Surrozen’s board of … Continue reading “Jazz Pharma’s Craig Parker Tapped for Surrozen CEO Post”
Abeona Therapeutics Names Alexion’s Thiel CEO, Miller Shifts to CSO
Carsten Thiel has been appointed CEO of Abeona Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ABEO]]). He succeeds Timothy Miller, who will remain president of the Dallas-based company and also take on new duties as chief scientific officer. Thiel comes to Abeona from New Haven, CT-based Alexion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ALXN]]), where he was executive vice president and chief commercial officer. … Continue reading “Abeona Therapeutics Names Alexion’s Thiel CEO, Miller Shifts to CSO”
Healthfinch Raises $6M to Automate Routine Patient Care Tasks
[Updated 4/11/18 8:57 a.m. See below.] Healthfinch, a startup whose software automates routine tasks performed by physicians and others who care for patients in clinics, has raised $6 million from investors, says co-founder and CEO Jonathan Baran. Madison, WI-based Healthfinch has developed applications for tasks like fulfilling medication requests and planning visits to the doctor’s office. … Continue reading “Healthfinch Raises $6M to Automate Routine Patient Care Tasks”
Circle CEO Allaire on Bitcoin, Blockchain & the Bank of the Future
Depending on whom you talk to, cryptocurrencies could be the biggest bubble in history or the backbone of the future global economy—or both. The reality is it’s too early to say. The industry must still navigate a host of issues, including wild price swings, global regulatory uncertainty, cyber threats, and technological limitations of blockchain systems, … Continue reading “Circle CEO Allaire on Bitcoin, Blockchain & the Bank of the Future”
Movatic Allows Hardware Makers to Tap into Shared Mobility Market
When Ansgar Strother co-founded A2B Bikeshare in 2012, he was on a mission to make bike-sharing more affordable and accessible. The company’s approach involved a kiosk-free “smart bike, dumb rack” model that put the technology of a rental kiosk onto the bike itself through a touchscreen interface mounted on the handlebars, allowing customers to pay … Continue reading “Movatic Allows Hardware Makers to Tap into Shared Mobility Market”
Expectations Rise on Q1 Surge in Venture Funding; and Top 10 Deals
[Updated 4/11/18 10:13 am. See below.] Venture capital investors poured more than $28.2 billion into U.S. companies during the first three months of 2018—marking the strongest single quarter in at least a dozen years, according to the Venture Monitor Report released today by Seattle-based PitchBook and the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA). The $28.2 billion that … Continue reading “Expectations Rise on Q1 Surge in Venture Funding; and Top 10 Deals”
With Alzheimer’s Failure, vTv Fares No Better Than Old Partner Pfizer
When vTv Therapeutics reacquired its ineffective Alzheimer’s drug from Pfizer in 2011, it thought it could produce better results by testing it in a larger group of patients. On Monday, vTv’s gambit proved unsuccessful. Like so many other Alzheimer’s drugs before it, vTv’s azeliragon failed, taking millions of investor dollars with it. It could not … Continue reading “With Alzheimer’s Failure, vTv Fares No Better Than Old Partner Pfizer”
Zuckerberg Faces Congress On Privacy “Mistakes,” While FTC Probe Looms
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s trial by fire has already begun in Washington, DC, this week as he prepares to testify before two committees of Congress about the company’s failure to prevent the profiles of at least 87 million users from falling into the hands of political data firm Cambridge Analytica. Zuckerberg was already meeting in … Continue reading “Zuckerberg Faces Congress On Privacy “Mistakes,” While FTC Probe Looms”
Cybersecurity Firm Carbon Black Advances IPO After Years of Rumors
Carbon Black is moving closer to a long-anticipated initial public stock offering. The Boston-area cybersecurity company filed an S-1 document with the SEC on Monday indicating it might raise up to $100 million in an IPO, although that number could shift if Carbon Black ends up going public. It has applied to trade on the … Continue reading “Cybersecurity Firm Carbon Black Advances IPO After Years of Rumors”
E-Commerce Startups Open Door to Endless Virtual Closet
The sharing economy is moving into our bedroom closets. We already apply this idea to transportation (Uber vs. taxi) and vacation accommodations (Airbnb vs. hotel). Now, thanks to a growing number of e-commerce companies, the ability to share goods and services is being applied to our wardrobes through programs that offer clothing rentals for a … Continue reading “E-Commerce Startups Open Door to Endless Virtual Closet”