Aspiring entrepreneurs are welcome to take a tour and learn more about the various programs TechTown offers to help people get their startups off the ground. For details and registration, click here.
Infinity Drug Fails in Pancreatic Cancer Trial, Shares Fall
Bad news out today from Infinity Pharmaceuticals. The Cambridge, MA-based biotech company said it is halting a mid-stage clinical trial of its drug for pancreatic cancer early after learning that patients were living longer in the placebo comparison group. Infinity (NASDAQ: [[ticker:INFI]]) shares fell more than 30 percent after the news. The trial of 122 … Continue reading “Infinity Drug Fails in Pancreatic Cancer Trial, Shares Fall”
2012 and Beyond: What Does the Investment Climate Look Like from a VC’s Perspective?
NYC Tech Connect presents the Riverside Chats speaker series, featuring Barbara Dalton, vice president of Pfizer Venture Investments, and Liam Ratcliffe, General Partner, New Leaf Venture Partners. Dalton (one of our Xconomists) and Ratcliffe will discuss current and future trends in VC investing. Register here.
Business Development Basics: Strategies and Tactics
Scott Pollack of American Express will lead this hands-on overview of the ins-and-outs of business development. You’ll develop a framework for understanding the ins and outs of deal-making in this fun, engaging, interactive class. Register here.
Brand Matters: Turning Your Brand Into a Competitive Advantage
Join Phin Barnes, principal at First Round Capital, for an enlightening evening workshop on defining your brand and maximizing the leverage this can create. Participants will work through customer definition, brand values, and messaging to either design a brand and craft a consistent brand voice, or apply the exercises to their existing companies. Register here.
The Other 99 Percent: Entrepreneurs
In my recent piece Reengineering Capitalism I highlighted a phenomenon that the global entrepreneurship ecosystem is paying very little attention to: Over 99 percent of entrepreneurs who seek funding get rejected. Yet, the entire world is focused on the 1 percent that is “fundable.” The media, when pitched a startup story, is interested in who … Continue reading “The Other 99 Percent: Entrepreneurs”
Start-Up Business Incubators in NYC
Come to this afternoon panel discussion to gather advice from many of New York’s startup incubators about how to find the right home for your business idea. You’ll hear from representatives from 10 incubators, including General Assembly, Women Innovate Mobile, BioBAT, and Varick Street. Register here.
Angels, Accelerators & Incubators: The New Funders of Health Innovation
Accelerators, incubators, government innovation grants, privately-funded competitions—these are just some of the funding options available to entrepreneurs today. Join NYC Health Business Leaders for an evening panel discussion about how these funding vehicles work and how they can help you get your business off the ground. Speakers include Steve Hochberg, managing partner, Ascent Biomedical Ventures, … Continue reading “Angels, Accelerators & Incubators: The New Funders of Health Innovation”
Technology You Can Touch
New York Investment Fund’s NYC Tech Connect presents an evening of networking for entrepreneurs in bioscience, hardware, material science, and cleantech. Schmooze with engineers, venture scientists, and fellow entrepreneurs and make connections to enhance your business. Register here.
Mobile Technology and Social Change
The New York Technology Council presents this panel discussion about the impact of mobile technology on social justice. Come to this event for forward-looking insight into the ways that social connectivity is being integrated into mobile operating systems, the persuasiveness of mobile computing, and how simple text messages can drive social movements. Register here.
New Kids on the Startup Block Coming to NY Venture Emergence
Rising stars in the local startup community BarkBox, HackNY, and Gotham Greens will be on hand at Xconomy Forum: New York’s Venture Emergence event on Feb. 1. They will enlighten the crowd with “burst” presentations, during which they’ll describe their companies and their growth plans. It’s all part of an exciting half-day event that will … Continue reading “New Kids on the Startup Block Coming to NY Venture Emergence”
2012 Venture Outlook: Some Bright Spots and Some Gloom
It’s that outlook time of year, and Mark Heesen, president of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), was in San Diego earlier this week, talking about the 2012 outlook for venture capital. Today he’ll make a similar presentation to the New Jersey Technology Council. Next week, John Taylor, the NVCA’s director of research is set … Continue reading “2012 Venture Outlook: Some Bright Spots and Some Gloom”
Assholicism: Do CEOs Need to Be Jerks to Be Successful?
It’s a question as old as human nature. You’ve heard the stories, you know all the famous examples. Steve Jobs, Larry Ellison, Michael Eisner, the list goes on. All difficult characters with strong personalities—and hugely successful companies. So, in today’s ultra-competitive tech and business world, does a CEO have to be an asshole to be … Continue reading “Assholicism: Do CEOs Need to Be Jerks to Be Successful?”
OncoGenex Stays in Prostate Cancer Fray, After J&J, Medivation
Prostate cancer was once a backwater for innovation, but suddenly it’s become one of the most competitive battlegrounds in all of biotech. And one of the darkhorses in this race, Bothell, WA and Vancouver, BC-based OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, is getting ready to show next week whether it has another contender in the pipeline. OncoGenex (NASDAQ: [[ticker:OGXI]]) … Continue reading “OncoGenex Stays in Prostate Cancer Fray, After J&J, Medivation”
Why Biogen Idec Got Out of the Corporate VC Business
Steve Holtzman got his first taste of corporate venture capital back in 1987, when he raised money from SR One, back when it was part of an old company known as Smith, Kline & French. The concept was unorthodox 25 years ago, yet over time, most every Big Pharma company has become an active equity … Continue reading “Why Biogen Idec Got Out of the Corporate VC Business”
Millennium, Vertex, Avila, & More Boston Life Sciences Newsmakers
It was a busy news week in the New England life sciences scene, with acquisitions, clinical data, and partnership deals. —Thanks to a new co-promotion deal, Genzyme will begin marketing a diagnostic test for thyroid cancer developed by South San Francisco-based Veracyte. Genzyme, the Cambridge, MA-based unit of Sanofi (NYSE: [[ticker:SNY]]) makes a common drug … Continue reading “Millennium, Vertex, Avila, & More Boston Life Sciences Newsmakers”
Celgene Acquires Avila Therapeutics for $350,000,000
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2499cad8-337f-4063-b44d-f647474f9561&Preview=1 Date 1/27/2012 Company Name Avila Therapeutics Mailing Address 45 Wiggins Avenue Bedford, MA 01730 Company Description Avila Therapeutics, Inc., is a venture-backed company focused on the discovery and development of novel small molecule therapeutics to address significant unmet clinical needs with an initial focus on cancer and viral diseases. Website http://www.avilatx.com … Continue reading “Celgene Acquires Avila Therapeutics for $350,000,000”
Cozi Group Garners $3,000,000 Series C Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2185de1a-0fc0-4c06-8b12-3e2cbc65bc41&Preview=1 Date 1/27/2012 Company Name Cozi Group Mailing Address 506 Second Avenue Seattle, WA 98104 Company Description Cozi delivers a new type of service called family-ready software services. These are created specifically with family dynamics in mind, with an emphasis on making life easier, less stressful and more fun for busy families. … Continue reading “Cozi Group Garners $3,000,000 Series C Financing Round”
Murfie Lands $1,400,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d484da0d-b18e-4b70-9083-c7a071220aa9&Preview=1 Date 1/27/2012 Company Name Murfie Mailing Address 1 S. Pinckney St Madison, WI 53703 Company Description Murfie is part marketplace, part community; a throwback to your neighborhood record store with a digital update. Website http://www.murfie.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,400,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not … Continue reading “Murfie Lands $1,400,000 New Funding”
S.E.A. Medical Systems Secures $3,000,000 Series B Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=bc3109f7-328d-426a-8052-018d04cc9e4f&Preview=1 Date 1/27/2012 Company Name S.E.A. Medical Systems Mailing Address 3350 Scott Boulevard Bldg 33 Santa Clara, CA 95054 Company Description S.E.A. Medical Systems, Inc. is a privately held medical device company dedicated to making intravenous (IV) drug delivery safer for patients. We are developing medical devices that catch serious or life-threatening … Continue reading “S.E.A. Medical Systems Secures $3,000,000 Series B Funding”
Curebit Obtains $1,200,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a8d344ad-9f2f-4aa2-a265-11396f426d18&Preview=1 Date 1/27/2012 Company Name Curebit Mailing Address 1061 Market Street San Francisco, CA 94103 Company Description Curebit makes it easy to tap into customer referrals by giving you a platform to implement campaigns that encourage customers to refer their friends. Its a powerful, proven and simple to use platform for growing … Continue reading “Curebit Obtains $1,200,000 New Funding Round”
HydroNovation Secures New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ffed8064-bd4c-4e24-a95e-49c52958b294&Preview=1 Date 1/27/2012 Company Name HydroNovation Mailing Address 750 B Portola Street San Francisco, CA 94129 Company Description An innovative, clean technology currently used industrially to make high purity water for pharmaceutical and medical applications – now adopted for salt and chemical free residential, commercial, food and beverage water treatment and conditioning … Continue reading “HydroNovation Secures New Funding”
955 Dreams Obtains $3,250,000 Seed Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=20b42fd0-bab7-4d31-92d9-56a8226f0928&Preview=1 Date 1/27/2012 Company Name 955 Dreams Mailing Address 655 Castro Mountain View, CA 94041 Company Description We’re a small group of hackers and designers who are working on mobile products that will engage and excite you. We love what we do and we hope you love what we build. Website http://www.955dreams.com … Continue reading “955 Dreams Obtains $3,250,000 Seed Round”
Verbling Garners $1,000,000 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c2aa140d-2745-45fb-9b2a-62eb531b6f48&Preview=1 Date 1/27/2012 Company Name Verbling Mailing Address 575 Middlefield Rd Palo Alto, CA 94301 Company Description Verbling is the instant way to practice and learn a language. Website http://www.verbling.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes The new funding will be used towards hiring. M&A Terms … Continue reading “Verbling Garners $1,000,000 New Round”
Joyent Obtains $85,000,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=5207e0fd-e40e-4a83-a885-a5959b39f990&Preview=1 Date 1/27/2012 Company Name Joyent Mailing Address 345 California Street San Francisco, CA 94104 Company Description Joyent has been providing Infrastructure as a Service since 2004, before anyone called it cloud computing. Today, Joyent is the only cloud computing company that has built its own complete technology stack, runs a major … Continue reading “Joyent Obtains $85,000,000 New Funding”
Nearbuy Systems Garners $1,532,328 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f6b888ba-051b-4f8a-8612-bed6c07ddf7c&Preview=1 Date 1/27/2012 Company Name Nearbuy Systems Mailing Address 3565 Haven Avenue Menlo Park, CA 94025 Company Description Nearbuy provides indoor micro-location solutions that increase revenue, enhance the brand experience, and reduce operating expense at a cost that makes business sense Website http://www.nearbuysystems.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,532,328 Transaction Round … Continue reading “Nearbuy Systems Garners $1,532,328 New Round”
SocialGuide Garners $400,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f0ceddcb-7637-4133-bc23-000eb5ea303a&Preview=1 Date 1/27/2012 Company Name SocialGuide Mailing Address 68 Jay St. Brooklyn, NY 11201 Company Description The company operates a website that allows users to find out what’s on television in a social network format. Website http://www.socialguide.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount $400,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not … Continue reading “SocialGuide Garners $400,000 New Funding”
Stretch Receives $5,067,782 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b65f896e-8236-42da-b60c-0c4b707053d1&Preview=1 Date 1/27/2012 Company Name Stretch Mailing Address 1322 Orleans Drive Sunnyvale, CA 94089 Company Description Stretch Inc. is delivering a family of software configurable processors, the first to embed programmable logic within the processor. Website http://www.stretchinc.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $5,067,782 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were … Continue reading “Stretch Receives $5,067,782 New Funding Round”
Murfie Lands $1,400,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d484da0d-b18e-4b70-9083-c7a071220aa9 Date 1/27/2012 Company Name Murfie Mailing Address 7 S. Pinckney St Madison, WI 53703 Company Description Murfie is part marketplace, part community; a throwback to your neighborhood record store with a digital update. Website http://www.murfie.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,400,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not … Continue reading “Murfie Lands $1,400,000 New Financing”
Verastem Bucks the Trend, Raises $55M in IPO
Cambridge, MA-based Verastem, the biotech startup seeking to make drugs against cancer stem cells, found a way to rustle up enough demand from investors to complete its initial public offering. The company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VSTM]]) said tonight that it raised $55 million by selling 5.5 million new shares at $10 apiece. It was a strong showing … Continue reading “Verastem Bucks the Trend, Raises $55M in IPO”
Long-Awaited Remake of RealNetworks is Under Way-Again
About a year ago, RealNetworks said the elimination of about 10 percent of its workforce officially marked the end of a difficult restructuring period, one that saw nearly 400 layoffs since 2009 and left the digital-media pioneer more focused, efficient, and ready for the future. Turns out that was just a prelude. On Thursday, the … Continue reading “Long-Awaited Remake of RealNetworks is Under Way-Again”
Xconomy and Connect present: The Rock Stars of Innovation
In its fourth year, this program (previously known as The La Jolla Research & Innovation Summit) showcases the scientists, entrepreneurs, and investors who are ROCK STARS in their fields to an exclusive audience limited to venture capital partners, institutional investors, academic leaders, and technology and life sciences executives. This marquee event kicks off with a … Continue reading “Xconomy and Connect present: The Rock Stars of Innovation”
New England’s Emerging Biotech Stars
The New England biotech hub has been on a roll the past couple years, with the breakout success of Vertex Pharmaceuticals, the ongoing revival at Biogen Idec, Sanofi’s $20 billion acquisition of Genzyme, and the continuing concentration of Big Pharma R&D in Boston. But both the science and business of biotech move fast. So which … Continue reading “New England’s Emerging Biotech Stars”
University of Michigan Biomedical Innovation Summit
Join global participants representing academia, government, and industry as they discuss commercialization strategies, emerging technology, and success stories. Event also includes panel discussions, networking, and keynote speeches. For more information, click here.
BOOM! the New Economy Peer Networking Group
Entrepreneurs age 50 and older are invited to attend this meeting and learn more about the programs TechTown has to offer. For more details, click here.
Detroit Harmonie: An International Experience
This second annual event will have live music, food, and the announcement of $50,000 in funding for startups led by social entrepreneurs. Detroit Harmonie is a nonprofit organization founded to break down racial barriers and foster a dynamic community that attracts the next generation of business leaders. Tickets for the event are $20 in advance … Continue reading “Detroit Harmonie: An International Experience”
J&J’s Janssen Launches $250,000 Challenge to Improve Transition Care
Janssen Healthcare Innovation, part of Johnson & Johnson’s reconstituted R&D operation in San Diego, is announcing an incentive prize challenge with awards totaling $250,000 for technology solutions that improve care for patients who’ve just been discharged from a hospital. Janssen says it’s working with the National Transitions of Care Coalition to establish criteria and to … Continue reading “J&J’s Janssen Launches $250,000 Challenge to Improve Transition Care”
Detroit Startup Weekend
This 54-hour event invites participants to brainstorm, develop a business plan, and create a prototype of a working startup as teams compete to come up with the winning idea. Participants will also hear presentations from industry leaders and receive feedback from local entrepreneurs. For info and registration, click here.
Xconomist of the Week: Mark Lowenstein on Mobile’s Next Waves
Mark Lowenstein has made some pretty bold statements about what’s going to happen in the wireless industry this year. More mergers and acquisitions among mobile operators. Same goes for the handset makers. Mobile payments won’t take off just yet. And enterprises may have jumped the gun on tablets. Lowenstein, a Verizon Wireless veteran and now … Continue reading “Xconomist of the Week: Mark Lowenstein on Mobile’s Next Waves”
Shout Outs for Avila From Polaris, Atlas, & the Twittersphere
Avila Therapeutics, after just five years in business and $51 million in venture capital, made big news today when it agreed to be acquired by Celgene for $350 million upfront plus another $575 million in milestone payments. Naturally, there are a lot of people celebrating the success of the Bedford, MA-based company today around the … Continue reading “Shout Outs for Avila From Polaris, Atlas, & the Twittersphere”
Not Your Grandfather’s War
War really is going out of style. At least that’s what Joshua Goldstein, professor emeritus of international relations at American University, and Steven Pinker, a psychology professor at Harvard wrote in a New York Times op-ed piece last month. Throughout the editorial, Goldstein and Pinker dissect the meaning of “war” today, its various categorizations, and … Continue reading “Not Your Grandfather’s War”
Yahoo Challenges Apple with a Cocktail of Mobile Publishing Tools
This is a story about what goes on under the hood of your smartphone or tablet device. It’s also about Yahoo, the troubled Santa Clara-CA based advertising and information giant. But Yahoo doesn’t make a single mobile gadget of its own. So what’s the connection? It turns out that Yahoo (NASDAQ: [[ticker:YHOO]]) has ambitious plans … Continue reading “Yahoo Challenges Apple with a Cocktail of Mobile Publishing Tools”
New England’s Rising Biotech CEOs to Gather at April 4 Xconomy Event
The life sciences industry is booming in the Boston area. Witness some of our headlines just over the past few weeks: Flagship Ventures closed a $270 million fund to invest in new biotech companies; startups RaNA and Warp Drive Bio raised significant VC rounds; pharma giant Merck led a $10 million financing of diagnostics firm … Continue reading “New England’s Rising Biotech CEOs to Gather at April 4 Xconomy Event”
Monster Slashes 400 Jobs, Restructures for Profitability
Monster Worldwide (NYSE: [[ticker:MWW]]), the New York parent company of Maynard, MA-based Monster.com, the jobs and recruiting site, said in a regulatory filing that it has laid off about 400 employees, or 7 percent of its worldwide staff of 5,700. The layoffs include fewer than 100 job cuts in Massachusetts, according to the Boston Business … Continue reading “Monster Slashes 400 Jobs, Restructures for Profitability”
Google Search Plus Your World: An Offer You Can’t Refuse
I’ve been taking in Google’s recent release of “Search, plus your world” (or SPYW as the cool kids say) over the last several days, reflecting on what it means for Wetpaint and other media companies; but perhaps even more importantly, deeply understanding what it indicates about Facebook and Google themselves. As we all know by … Continue reading “Google Search Plus Your World: An Offer You Can’t Refuse”
Celgene Buys Avila for $350M, Gaining Promising “Covalent” Drugs
[Updated 1/26/12 8:30 am. See below.] When Avila Therapeutics’ CEO Katrine Bosley spoke with Xconomy in December, she predicted the oncology world would show “a lot of excitement” for drugs that inhibit an enzyme called Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (Btk)—and in particular for Avila’s experimental compound in that category, AVL-292. Her words were prescient: Today Summit, NJ-based … Continue reading “Celgene Buys Avila for $350M, Gaining Promising “Covalent” Drugs”
San Diego Life Sciences Roundup: Illumina, Sequenom, Acutus, & More
The unsolicited $5.7 billion offer that Roche made for Illumina will no doubt dominate San Diego’s biotech news for weeks to come. We have it and more. —Switzerland’s Roche offered $5.7 billion, or $44.50 a share, for San Diego-based Illumina (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ILMN]] in a hostile bid disclosed yesterday. Roche’s bid to stake a claim in … Continue reading “San Diego Life Sciences Roundup: Illumina, Sequenom, Acutus, & More”
Theraclone, VLST Founders Form New Antibody Startup, V-Gene
Two of the scientific founders of a couple of Seattle’s best-funded biotech startups have come together in a new company that aims to create a valuable antibody drug candidates while burning through the least amount of venture capital possible. The new Seattle-based company, called V-Gene, is being started by combining a couple of technologies developed … Continue reading “Theraclone, VLST Founders Form New Antibody Startup, V-Gene”
Hadoop Meetup Feb. 15 Looks to Connect Big Data Community in Boston
Sometimes the most interesting gatherings have the strangest names. What does “Boston Hadoop Meetup Group” say to you? To me, it says “future of big data in Boston.” Hadoop is an open source data-analysis platform that is gaining popularity for helping companies and IT departments crunch huge amounts of information. The Hadoop meetup group in … Continue reading “Hadoop Meetup Feb. 15 Looks to Connect Big Data Community in Boston”
Mevion Medical Systems Receives $45,000,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a0b294e9-90cd-4930-8863-72f0412caa00&Preview=1 Date 1/26/2012 Company Name Mevion Medical Systems Mailing Address 300 Foster St Littleton, MA 01460 Company Description Mevion Medical Systems, Inc. is a radiation therapy company dedicated to advancing the treatment of cancer. As the pioneering developer of modern proton therapy systems, Mevion provides innovative, safe, and effective solutions by transforming … Continue reading “Mevion Medical Systems Receives $45,000,000 New Financing Round”