Qualcomm’s Irwin Jacobs Becomes CEO Emeritus, 20 Years After IPO

Qualcomm shareholders gave a standing ovation to Irwin Jacobs, who marked his passage into emeritus status at the San Diego wireless giant’s annual meeting today, 20 years after he convened the company’s first meeting as a public company. Jacobs said in December that he planned to step down from the board at the company he … Continue reading “Qualcomm’s Irwin Jacobs Becomes CEO Emeritus, 20 Years After IPO”

National Venture Capital Association 2012 Annual Meeting

From the event site: “Join venture capitalists from around the globe at the 2012 NVCA Annual Meeting—the largest and most well regarded venture capital industry gathering offering unparalleled opportunities to connect with leading venture capitalists, learn from successful entrepreneurs, industry veterans and thought leaders as well as be inspired by new ideas and the collective … Continue reading “National Venture Capital Association 2012 Annual Meeting”

Disease Foundations Play Growing Role in Biotech Business Model

California is home to the largest concentration of biotechnology companies in the world. They are responsible for 27 percent of the nation’s biomedical pipeline and they received $2.6 billion in venture capital investment in 2011, by far the largest sum for any state. For the first time ever, California’s life sciences companies will have a … Continue reading “Disease Foundations Play Growing Role in Biotech Business Model”

Oncothyreon Shares Tumble on Lung Cancer Study Speculation

Seattle-based Oncothyreon saw its shares plummet today amid speculation among investors that its experimental lung cancer vaccine isn’t going to work. Oncothyreon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ONTY]]) shares fell 3.14 a share, or 37 percent, to $5.27 at 11 am Eastern today. The sell-off was triggered by news that Oncothyreon’s partner, Germany-based Merck KGaA, said an independent monitoring … Continue reading “Oncothyreon Shares Tumble on Lung Cancer Study Speculation”

SessionM, Led by GameLogic and Quattro Vets, Unveils Mobile Ad Platform

If there’s a new angle to mobile advertising, Lars Albright has seen it. That’s why his latest company, Boston-based SessionM, is so interesting. Albright previously co-founded Quattro Wireless, the Boston-area ad-tech firm that Apple picked up for about $275 million in 2010. Before that, he was a vice president at m-Qube, the mobile marketing startup … Continue reading “SessionM, Led by GameLogic and Quattro Vets, Unveils Mobile Ad Platform”

Foodspotting CEO: It’s About Discovery, Not Food Porn

As Foodspotting founder and CEO Alexa Andrzejewski prepared for the launch of the company’s third-generation app last month, she had an interesting challenge: making potential users realize that the service is more than just a photo sharing app for serious foodies. “It’s kind of not what we intended—it sounds very niche,” she says. “It’s not … Continue reading “Foodspotting CEO: It’s About Discovery, Not Food Porn”

Q&A: KeyView’s Holistic Stance on Fostering Health IT Startups

One week after unveiling itself as a new player in the health-investing landscape, New York-based KeyView Partners is releasing today a guide for entrepreneurs who want to succeed in the booming health IT startup space. The report—which is called iHealth Ecosystem and has an accompanying website—identifies six major trends driving change in the health care … Continue reading “Q&A: KeyView’s Holistic Stance on Fostering Health IT Startups”

San Diego’s Aragon Raises $42 Million, Targets Hormone-Driven Cancers

Aragon Pharmaceuticals, a San Diego startup targeting hormone-driven cancers, has raised $42 million in a Series C financing led by a new investor, the Topspin Fund, a Long Island, NY-based firm affiliated with the hedge fund Renaissance Technologies. Aragon CEO Richard Heyman tells me the life sciences startup was founded in 2009 to advance work … Continue reading “San Diego’s Aragon Raises $42 Million, Targets Hormone-Driven Cancers”

Nasty Gal Secures $9,000,000 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9579f2e8-9714-4d05-b238-9e7738ea1476&Preview=1 Date 3/6/2012 Company Name Nasty Gal Mailing Address 523 W. 6th Street Los Angeles, CA 90027 Company Description Nasty Gal is a global online destination for fashion-forward, free-thinking girls. In 2006, founder Sophia Amoruso started an eBay store selling a highly curated selection of vintage pieces. In just five short years, … Continue reading “Nasty Gal Secures $9,000,000 New Round”

Aragon Pharmaceuticals Obtains $42,000,000 Series C Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f44304db-9839-48df-b3c0-da8dc9787003&Preview=1 Date 3/6/2012 Company Name Aragon Pharmaceuticals Mailing Address 12780 El Camino Real San Diego, CA 92130 Company Description Aragon Pharmaceuticals is a San Diego based biopharmaceutical company focused on developing a pipeline of new anti-endocrine therapies targeting the biology of hormone resistant cancers. Website http://www.aragonpharmaceuticals.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount … Continue reading “Aragon Pharmaceuticals Obtains $42,000,000 Series C Financing Round”

SignNow Lands $2,000,000 Series A Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=baf0806f-e3ed-4f04-b409-f31c0bc640e9&Preview=1 Date 3/6/2012 Company Name SignNow Mailing Address 2901 W Coast Hwy. Newport Beach, CA 92663 Company Description SignNow, Inc. is a company startup seeking to bring the millennia-old practice of using hardcopy signatures into the digital age through user-friendly, consumer-oriented Web applications. Website http://www.signnow.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $2,000,000 … Continue reading “SignNow Lands $2,000,000 Series A Financing”

Connotate Acquires Fetch Technologies for Undisclosed Sum

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=03b38140-5737-46f7-91bb-34db2b81bc88&Preview=1 Date 3/6/2012 Company Name Fetch Technologies Mailing Address 841 Apollo St. El Segundo, CA 90245 Company Description Fetch Technologies enables organizations to access, aggregate and use real-time information from websites. Fetch’s enterprise solution is tailored to fit each customer’s needs and navigate websites to instantly deliver meaningful, useful and usable data … Continue reading “Connotate Acquires Fetch Technologies for Undisclosed Sum”

Virdia Lands $30,000,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c8705eaf-7c6a-40c4-b000-0167b94d5fc0&Preview=1 Date 3/6/2012 Company Name Virdia Mailing Address Undisclosed Redwood City, CA 94065 Company Description Virdia is a leading developer of cellulosic sugars and lignin for use in the renewable chemicals, bio-energy and nutrition industries. The company’s CASE proprietary process converts a wide range of cellulosic feedstock, including wood, energy crops and … Continue reading “Virdia Lands $30,000,000 New Funding”

Virdia Obtains $30,000,000 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c8705eaf-7c6a-40c4-b000-0167b94d5fc0&Preview=1 Date 3/6/2012 Company Name Virdia Mailing Address Undisclosed Redwood City, CA 94065 Company Description Virdia is a leading developer of cellulosic sugars and lignin for use in the renewable chemicals, bio-energy and nutrition industries. The company’s CASE proprietary process converts a wide range of cellulosic feedstock, including wood, energy crops and … Continue reading “Virdia Obtains $30,000,000 New Financing Round”

Jumio Obtains $25,000,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b48c3e97-2600-4dba-87f3-aa2ade00f992&Preview=1 Date 3/6/2012 Company Name Jumio Mailing Address 1971 Landings Dr. Mountain View, CA 94043 Company Description The company provides an online and mobile payment system. Website http://www.jumio.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $25,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. M&A Terms Venture Investor Andreessen Horowitz Venture … Continue reading “Jumio Obtains $25,000,000 New Funding”

Singapore Telecommunications Acquires Amobee Media Systems for $321,000,000

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e5ff5888-b3e7-47b0-81ac-defcf6554bac&Preview=1 Date 3/6/2012 Company Name Amobee Media Systems Mailing Address 100 Marine Parkway Redwood City, CA 94065 Company Description Amobee Media Systems has built and designed the first and only telco-grade ad-serving solution 100% dedicated to mobile operators, allowing them to ad-fund all non-voice related applications and services: WAP Browsing, Video & … Continue reading “Singapore Telecommunications Acquires Amobee Media Systems for $321,000,000”

Remedy Pharmaceuticals Garners $292,506 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7e5a7186-ffd1-453c-8ad9-dbf13bc344ce&Preview=1 Date 3/6/2012 Company Name Remedy Pharmaceuticals Mailing Address 802 6th Avenue New York, NY 10001 Company Description Remedy Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical stage company developing small molecule drugs targeting NCCa-ATP channels in acute central nervous system injury including traumatic brain injury, stroke, and spinal cord injury. Website http://www.remedypharmaceuticals.com Transaction Type … Continue reading “Remedy Pharmaceuticals Garners $292,506 New Funding”

Verdant Power Lands $530,000 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=5f3184cd-9c0f-41d5-abc3-e604f8058472&Preview=1 Date 3/6/2012 Company Name Verdant Power Mailing Address 888 Main Street New York, NY 10044 Company Description A renewable energy company, Verdant Power seeks to generate mechanical and electrical power in a cost-effective manner, causing minimal or no ecological impact, and with consideration for social equity. Website http://www.verdantpower.com Transaction Type Venture … Continue reading “Verdant Power Lands $530,000 New Financing Round”

Article One Partners Lands $7,000,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9edb3eaa-ef08-48a6-851f-f0705a15d174&Preview=1 Date 3/6/2012 Company Name Article One Partners Mailing Address 488 Madison Ave 19th Floor New York, NY 10022 Company Description Article One isn’t a technology for your teenage sibling or grandmother. It won’t help you access Twitter or aggregate your online profiles. What it will do is enable virtually every one … Continue reading “Article One Partners Lands $7,000,000 New Funding”

ZeaChem Receives New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=861a288b-e085-4a9f-abbb-ef698c2f2e5a&Preview=1 Date 3/6/2012 Company Name ZeaChem Mailing Address 165 South Union Boulevard Lakewood, CO 80228 Company Description ZeaChem uses innovative fermentation and chemical process technologies to change the economics of renewable, cellulosic ethanol. Website http://www.zeachem.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount Undisclosed Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Together, ITOCHU and ZeaChem will … Continue reading “ZeaChem Receives New Funding Round”

Drilling Info Obtains $165,000,000 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d5b183b2-b2d1-4a2e-ae7d-056d6d1075c0&Preview=1 Date 3/6/2012 Company Name Drilling Info Mailing Address P.O. Box 5545 Austin, TX 78763 Company Description Drillinginfo is the premier information resource for the oil and gas industry. We provide a comprehensive array of data, information, intelligence, services and tools for anyone actively involved in exploration, production, services, financing and investing … Continue reading “Drilling Info Obtains $165,000,000 New Round”

How to Build a Business on Facebook: Brand Networks, Nanigans, & More

Facebook may not have an office in the Boston area, but it certainly has friends here. Take, for instance, the startups that are building their businesses on top of the social-networking giant—and have some thoughts on where the company is headed. Last week, those startups (among many others) watched the first-ever Facebook Marketing Conference in … Continue reading “How to Build a Business on Facebook: Brand Networks, Nanigans, & More”

MIT Business in Gaming Conference

MIT’s Business in Gaming conference is back for a fourth year, and nicely precedes the PAX East pre-party and conference. MIT’s event isn’t just for gamers, but will cover the more business-minded gaming subjects like corporate finance, managing startups, avoiding creative burnout, and marketing and branding strategies. Register here.

Tech Twurl:Whiz Kid Runs Online Enterprise From His Dorm Room

Usman Majeed is not your typical college student (though, admittedly, my concept of the modern college student is heavily shaped by Texts From Last Night). He studies neuroscience at Michigan State University in preparation for med school, and, in his off hours, he runs a successful online business called Tech Twurl, where he buys old … Continue reading “Tech Twurl:Whiz Kid Runs Online Enterprise From His Dorm Room”

Connect Bestows ‘Hall of Fame’ Award on Hybritech Founder Ted Greene

Biotech pioneer Ted Greene was a little teary-eyed when he stepped to the lectern last week to acknowledge his role as the founder of a San Diego biomedical diagnostics startup called Hybritech—and the parade of life sciences companies that followed. “I would like to thank the wonderful people who joined me on the wonderful adventures … Continue reading “Connect Bestows ‘Hall of Fame’ Award on Hybritech Founder Ted Greene”

Google’s Rules of Acquisition: How to Be an Android, Not an Aardvark

In the technology world, acquisitions so often go awry that it’s a wonder big corporations keep shelling out to buy smaller ones at all. Just look at disasters like News Corp’s acquisition of MySpace, eBay’s acquisition of Skype, or more recently, AOL’s acquisition of TechCrunch. Acquirers are so likely to overpay for their purchases, misjudge … Continue reading “Google’s Rules of Acquisition: How to Be an Android, Not an Aardvark”

Songza’s Music Strategy Poised to Disrupt Pandora, Spotify, iTunes

The team at Songza in Long Island City is chasing a trend in the music world: They’re moving away from downloads and towards streaming content. And the Songza folks are hoping their platform, which curates song lists for users, can stifle the likes of larger Internet music player Pandora. To leverage its curation strategy, company unveiled … Continue reading “Songza’s Music Strategy Poised to Disrupt Pandora, Spotify, iTunes”

From MIT’s Media Lab to Time Warner’s: Innerscope’s Biometric Tech

It doesn’t take a neuroscientist to know that the past two New England Patriots vs. New York Giants Super Bowl games have been emotionally charged for fans. But it might take one to measure the more under-the-surface emotional responses to advertising throughout the games. That’s where Boston-based Innerscope Research comes in. Founded in 2006, Innerscope … Continue reading “From MIT’s Media Lab to Time Warner’s: Innerscope’s Biometric Tech”

Five Reasons Illumina Should Fight Roche’s Insulting Low-Ball Bid

Illumina is like the Apple of the genomics business. Tools made by the San Diego company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ILMN]]) are revered by genomics researchers around the world just like millions of consumers love their iPhones and iPads. And Illumina holds its dominant position at an enviable moment in history, as we’re heading into a scientific golden … Continue reading “Five Reasons Illumina Should Fight Roche’s Insulting Low-Ball Bid”

Digital Doctoring: Lowering the Cost of Healthcare Through Innovation

Connect and the West Wireless Health Institute have organized this presentation as a Frontiers in Science and Technology lecture. Dr. Joseph Smith, the institute’s chief medical and science officer, has been invited to discuss efforts to create an affordable and connected healthcare system. More information and online registration is here.

The 10th SABPA Science & Technology Forum: Frontiers in Oncology

The annual Science & Technology Forum organized by the Sino-American Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Professionals’ Association (SABPA) will focus this year on new frontiers in cancer research. Topics include translational medicine, pharmacogenetics, personalized medicine, epigenetics, cancer stem cells, preclinical models, and oncology clinical design. Opportunities and challenges present in cancer drug development in San Diego life … Continue reading “The 10th SABPA Science & Technology Forum: Frontiers in Oncology”

CellScape Garners $9,345,014 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=0d22bb98-64e8-46a3-aafe-d22079fbde3a&Preview=1 Date 3/5/2012 Company Name CellScape Mailing Address 465 Fairchild Dr. Building A Mountain View, CA 94043 Company Description The company is developing technology to enable noninvasive, fetal genetic testing in the period between the eight weeks and 14 weeks of pregnancy. Website http://www.cellscapecorp.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $9,345,014 Transaction … Continue reading “CellScape Garners $9,345,014 New Funding Round”

Cloud Sherpas Acquires GlobalOne for Undisclosed Sum

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=364a706c-4953-4df5-9bc7-00b9a76ddcb3&Preview=1 Date 3/5/2012 Company Name GlobalOne Mailing Address 2 Wall Street 5th Floor New York, NY 10005 Company Description GlobalOne is a cloud solution provider providing strategy, implementation, and support services with focus on client management (CRM), cloud computing (development and strategy), and social business. The GlobalOne team brings together individual professionals … Continue reading “Cloud Sherpas Acquires GlobalOne for Undisclosed Sum”

Tuning into Wireless Health: Ideas and Opportunities in Life Sciences

The San Diego Entrepreneurs Exchange (SDEE) has invited prominent leaders in wireless health to talk about opportunities in this emerging sector of innovation and why San Diego has become a mecca for wireless health startups. Speakers include PatientSafe Solutions President Joe Condurso, Burrill & Co. Managing Director Dirk Lammerts, Independa CEO Kian Saneii, Qualcomm Ventures … Continue reading “Tuning into Wireless Health: Ideas and Opportunities in Life Sciences”

ITADSecurity Secures $75,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a7e9ac40-ddcc-4301-9bbc-e0c9ec7f62ea&Preview=1 Date 3/3/2012 Company Name ITADSecurity Mailing Address 30 Wilsondale St Dover, MA 02030 Company Description ITADSecurity, Inc. is focused on the concept of mitigating the risk of an organizational data breach with an application called “The Watchdog”. This cutting-edge application reduces the number of data breaches associated with physical data-bearing devices. … Continue reading “ITADSecurity Secures $75,000 New Financing”

Connect and Xconomy Present: The Rock Stars of Innovation 1 Stop Tour

For the young entrepreneurs who work at the vanguard of innovation, there may be no more important topic to address in San Diego these days than the scarcity of venture funding. While venture funding nationwide has regained most of the ground lost during the Great Recession, the overall mix has been changing and the venture … Continue reading “Connect and Xconomy Present: The Rock Stars of Innovation 1 Stop Tour”

Investor Feedback Forum and Pitch Showdown

Ultra Light Startups presents this evening of startup pitches, feedback from experts, and networking. Nine companies will present, including Take the Interview, Dealsurf, and Favorly. Panelists include Murat Aktihanoglu of ER Accelerator, Phineas Barnes of First Round Capital, Dennis Mortensen of Visual Revenue, and Bill Reinisch of Paladin Capital Group. Register here.

How Zite’s News App Altered the Zeitgeist in Personalized Publishing

It’s just past noon on March 30, 2011. The entire executive team from Zite is at the Sharon Heights Starbucks in Menlo Park—the usual hangout for entrepreneurs making the venture circuit. They’re killing time between VC meetings on Sand Hill Road, and they’re a little nervous. But it’s not because of the meetings, or the … Continue reading “How Zite’s News App Altered the Zeitgeist in Personalized Publishing”

Ad Tech Boom Continues With $1M Funding of Precision Health

Ever since Xconomy New York launched almost a year ago, we’ve been tracking the incredible rise of advertising technology startups in the city. Now we can add another up-and-comer to the list: New York-based Precision Health Media, which announced Wednesday that it has raised $1 million in a Series B, bringing its total venture haul to … Continue reading “Ad Tech Boom Continues With $1M Funding of Precision Health”

CytomX Therapeutics Seeks to One-Up Lilly, Amgen Cancer Drugs

There are lots of little biotech companies with dreams of beating the big boys, and one of those classic storylines is playing out in South San Francisco at CytomX Therapeutics. CytomX has fixed its attention on making an engineered antibody drug (which it calls a Probody) that is more precisely targeted to cancer cells, and … Continue reading “CytomX Therapeutics Seeks to One-Up Lilly, Amgen Cancer Drugs”

The Canary Mask: From Side Project to Orders in a Weekend

About a week ago, Jerome Healy’s idea for creating cheap, durable, reusable filter masks for developing countries was pretty much just that—an idea. He’d developed some prototypes of the masks for an industrial design project while at the University of Washington, and even took a few variations over to India to research whether people would … Continue reading “The Canary Mask: From Side Project to Orders in a Weekend”

Concert, Alere, TremRx, & More Names from Boston Life Sciences News

Acquisitions, licensing deals, and companies emerging from stealth mode made up the New England life sciences news this week. —My colleague Arlene took a closer look at the Alzheimer’s drugmaker Satori Pharmaceuticals, which last week scored a $15 million venture funding round. Cambridge, MA-based Satori is looking to an unusual source to develop Alzheimer’s drugs: … Continue reading “Concert, Alere, TremRx, & More Names from Boston Life Sciences News”

Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Acquires Boston Biomedical for $2,630,000,000

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9f565cfa-590f-4799-9763-c323f10712e5&Preview=1 Date 3/2/2012 Company Name Boston Biomedical Mailing Address 333 Providence Hwy. Norwood, MA 02062 Company Description Boston Biomedical, Inc. is a privately held biotechnology company focusing on research and development of novel therapeutics to treat cancer. Website http://www.Bostonbiomedical.com Transaction Type M&A Transaction Amount $2,630,000,000 Transaction Round Proceeds Purposes M&A Terms DSP will acquire BBI for up to $2.63 billion in total which includes $200 million upfront, up to $540 … Continue reading “Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Acquires Boston Biomedical for $2,630,000,000”