S&P Global Snaps Up Kensho for $550M as Wall Street Adopts A.I.

S&P Global plans to acquire Kensho Technologies for $550 million in a deal that demonstrates the increasing importance of data analytics and machine learning technologies on Wall Street. The acquisition price includes an unspecified mix of cash and stock, and is net of cash acquired, S&P Global (NYSE: [[ticker:SPGI]]) said in a press release. Artificial … Continue reading “S&P Global Snaps Up Kensho for $550M as Wall Street Adopts A.I.”

Esperion Touts Low Cholesterol Drug Price, But Not All Data are Ready

The cholesterol brawl is heating up again. A pair of next-generation cholesterol-lowering drugs known as PCSK9 inhibitors came to market in 2015 and have since struggled to gain traction. Now Ann Arbor, MI-based biotech Esperion Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ESPR]]) thinks it can do with a once-a-day pill called bempedoic acid what the PCSK9 blockers have not: … Continue reading “Esperion Touts Low Cholesterol Drug Price, But Not All Data are Ready”

Atomwise Raises $45M To Grow AI-Driven Drug Discovery Business

Atomwise, a San Francisco startup that’s using artificial intelligence to hunt for compounds that could make effective new drugs, announced today that it raised a $45 million Series A round. The small company, founded in 2012, mines the accumulated data about biochemical interactions to search for molecules with the properties needed to block faulty processes … Continue reading “Atomwise Raises $45M To Grow AI-Driven Drug Discovery Business”

Applied Research Associates Teams with MSU on Autonomous Vehicle R&D

The Michigan State University Foundation, an independent nonprofit that supports the commercialization of university inventions, has a new tenant in its 300,000-square-foot corporate research park in East Lansing. Applied Research Associates (ARA), a contract R&D firm based in Albuquerque, NM, has moved a team to Michigan in order to support MSU’s autonomous vehicle research and … Continue reading “Applied Research Associates Teams with MSU on Autonomous Vehicle R&D”

Washington State Restores Net Neutrality Rules, Hitting Back at FCC

Net neutrality is back online in Washington State. On Monday, Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill that restores a hotly debated—and recently repealed—set of protections for Internet users in the state. The new law prohibits broadband providers from slowing or blocking traffic to particular websites and Internet services. For consumer protection advocates and other net … Continue reading “Washington State Restores Net Neutrality Rules, Hitting Back at FCC”

EnsoData Raises $1.5M to Develop A.I.-powered Sleep Analysis Tools

An estimated 29.4 million adults in the U.S. suffer from sleep apnea, a major contributor to the “epidemic” of Americans not getting enough sleep, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sleep apnea—interruptions in breathing that can be caused by obstructions such as the tonsils—is a progressive disorder that can be life-threatening. But before … Continue reading “EnsoData Raises $1.5M to Develop A.I.-powered Sleep Analysis Tools”

Five Questions For: Melinda Richter, Global Head at JLabs

Healthcare innovation is very personal for Melinda Richter. She was an ambitious 26-year-old, posted by a global telecom company to Beijing as part of its fast-track leadership program. “I had the express intent of being president one day,” she says. “I thought I had the world by the tail.” But during a walk in the … Continue reading “Five Questions For: Melinda Richter, Global Head at JLabs”

Adicet Bio Founder and CEO Aya Jakobovits Retires

Aya Jakobovits, president and CEO of Adicet Bio, has retired. Jakobovits had led the Menlo Park, CA immunotherapy developer since she founded it in 2014. Adicet says Jakobovits will remain on the company’s board of directors and will continue to serve as an advisor. Donald Santel, Adicet’s executive chairman, will be the company’s interim CEO. … Continue reading “Adicet Bio Founder and CEO Aya Jakobovits Retires”

Pixability Taps Ex-Facebook Exec as CEO, Founder Takes Board Role

Bettina Hein is stepping down as CEO of Pixability, the Boston-based video advertising software company she founded a decade ago. David George is taking the helm of Pixability, and Hein (pictured) will shift to the role of executive chairwoman, the company announced Tuesday. According to George’s LinkedIn profile, he was previously Facebook’s (NASDAQ: [[ticker:FB]]) head … Continue reading “Pixability Taps Ex-Facebook Exec as CEO, Founder Takes Board Role”

Degreed Scores $42M to Grow Worker Training and Skills Platform

Degreed, a portal to online education and training resources for employers who want their workers to keep learning, announced today that it raised $42 million in a Series C fundraising round. The new capital, which brings Degreed’s fundraising total to $75 million, will fund a salesforce expansion that could make the company profitable within a … Continue reading “Degreed Scores $42M to Grow Worker Training and Skills Platform”

As Apple Takes Lead in Wearables, Whoop Grabs $25M to Expand

Whoop took a different approach to try and break into the crowded wearable device market: Start by winning over professional athletes, then gradually expand sales to a wider array of consumers. The Boston-based startup, which unveiled its biometrics-monitoring wristbands two-and-a-half years ago, has had success with the first goal. Now, it says it’s making progress … Continue reading “As Apple Takes Lead in Wearables, Whoop Grabs $25M to Expand”

Epic, Microsoft A.I. Tools Show Promise Predicting Health Problems

A Louisiana-based hospital network’s recent study of machine learning tools from Epic Systems provides the latest glimpse of healthcare’s possible future, if advocates of artificial intelligence technologies have their way. Ochsner Health System, which operates 30 hospitals and 80-plus clinics in Louisiana and Mississippi, says it’s among the dozens of healthcare organizations in the U.S. … Continue reading “Epic, Microsoft A.I. Tools Show Promise Predicting Health Problems”

May Mobility CEO: We’ll Beat Waymo, Uber, and Cruise to Market

When we spoke with Ed Olson, CEO of May Mobility, in January, he told us that his driverless-vehicle company had raised a little over $11 million in seed funding in 2017. Last week, May disclosed more details about its $11.5 million seed round: it was led by venture investment arms of Toyota and BMW, and … Continue reading “May Mobility CEO: We’ll Beat Waymo, Uber, and Cruise to Market”

Unum, Homology Plan IPOs, as Unum Reveals Two Patient Deaths

Two Boston-area biotech startups are shrugging off the recent stock market volatility as they press forward with plans for initial public stock offerings. Genetic therapies company Homology Medicines and cell therapy developer Unum Therapeutics each filed IPO paperwork with regulators late Friday. Unum’s filing revealed that two patients died in a Phase 1 trial late … Continue reading “Unum, Homology Plan IPOs, as Unum Reveals Two Patient Deaths”

2018 NEVY Awards

The NEVYs are Boston’s premier celebration of the venture ecosystem, and the only one truly uniting the Tech and Life Science communities. An “anti-awards show,” they spurn white tablecloths and boring speeches, instead embracing the vibe of Boston’s innovation economy: fast-paced, eccentric, colorful, and unapologetic. Attended by over 1000 of the region’s top innovators, investors, … Continue reading “2018 NEVY Awards”

MIT Sloan Healthcare and BioInnovations Conference

The 16th annual MIT Sloan Healthcare and BioInnovations Conference (SHBC) on “Pathways to Innovation in Healthcare” brings together industry, academic, investment, and policy leaders from around the healthcare industry to discuss the most pressing issues and exciting innovations in the sector. Attendees will enjoy hearing from 30+ speakers, panelists, and keynotes from industry luminaries such … Continue reading “MIT Sloan Healthcare and BioInnovations Conference”

TX Tech: Phunware Goes Public, Biden at SXSW, BioHouston, & More

Let’s start off the week with the latest innovation news from Xconomy Texas. —Phunware, an Austin, TX-based software maker, plans to go public following a merger with Stellar Acquisition III, based in Athens, Greece. The deal, which the company said is structured as a reverse merger, is expected to close by the end of June. … Continue reading “TX Tech: Phunware Goes Public, Biden at SXSW, BioHouston, & More”

Dermira Abandons Acne Drug After Phase 3 Flops, Stock Price Craters

Skin-drug company Dermira today announced that two pivotal Phase 3 trials testing its experimental acne drug, olumacostat glasaretil, failed to meet their main goals. The company said that based on those results, it expects to stop development of the drug, which was designed to treat people with moderate to severe acne. Dermira’s (NASDAQ [[ticker:DERM]]) stock … Continue reading “Dermira Abandons Acne Drug After Phase 3 Flops, Stock Price Craters”

San Diego Faces Its Future as a Tech Hub Without Qualcomm as Anchor

As Qualcomm (NASDAQ: [[ticker:QCOM]]) prepares for its annual shareholders meeting Tuesday, March 6, its takeover battle with Broadcom (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BRCM]]), has much of San Diego pondering a question reminiscent of a Joni Mitchell song: “Oh, don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone?” If Qualcomm accepts Broadcom’s … Continue reading “San Diego Faces Its Future as a Tech Hub Without Qualcomm as Anchor”

Vividion Lands $101M from Celgene to Develop Protein-Targeting Drugs

Vividion Therapeutics is partnering with Celgene to develop new drugs that modulate protein levels as a way of treating disease. Celgene (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CELG]]) will pay San Diego-based Vividion $101 million up front, which includes an equity investment. The partnership will last four years, but Celgene, based in Summit, NJ, has the option to pay more … Continue reading “Vividion Lands $101M from Celgene to Develop Protein-Targeting Drugs”

Duke and Enzyvant Take Rare Immune Disease to School with New Therapy

A healthy baby enters the world with the cells it needs to build immunity. But in some cases, the cell levels are dangerously low. Rarer still are those born without the organ needed to properly develop these immune cells. For babies who have this condition, called complete DiGeorge anomaly, even the common cold can become … Continue reading “Duke and Enzyvant Take Rare Immune Disease to School with New Therapy”

Paying for Gene Therapy, CRISPR in People, RNAi at “What’s Hot” on May 16

A new age of medicine is underway, and we’re only just beginning to grapple with the implications. The first U.S. gene therapy, for a rare form of vision loss, is now on the market. In 2017, the FDA also approved the first two CAR-T cell therapies for cancer, the first cancer drug based on a … Continue reading “Paying for Gene Therapy, CRISPR in People, RNAi at “What’s Hot” on May 16”

With $75M Alumnus Gift, UCSD Opens Data Science Institute

Amid intensifying global demand for workers who can extract insights from zettabytes of data, the University of California, San Diego held a dedication ceremony Friday for its new Halicioğlu Data Science Institute. The center, made possible by a $75 million gift from UC San Diego alumnus and early Facebook employee Taner Halicioğlu, is intended to … Continue reading “With $75M Alumnus Gift, UCSD Opens Data Science Institute”

Fasten Ends Ride-Hailing Service in Boston & Austin After Sale

[Corrected 3/3/18, 10:41 am. See below.] Fasten said its U.S. ride-hailing service will shut down Monday after the startup agreed to be acquired by Russia-based transportation network operator Vezet Group. The purchase price wasn’t disclosed. Boston-based Fasten had raised nearly $20 million in equity, debt financing, and other securities, according to SEC filings. Its investors … Continue reading “Fasten Ends Ride-Hailing Service in Boston & Austin After Sale”

Boston Tech Watch: Amazon, Akamai, Asics, Avid, Baroo, ShoeBuy & More

This week in Boston tech, we’re tracking a powerful cyber attack that Akamai Technologies reportedly helped to get under control, more Amazon expansion news, OpenView’s efforts to boost women investors and entrepreneurs, shoe companies’ local expansion, and more. Read on for details. —Software from Akamai (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AKAM]]) helped GitHub, the popular software development platform, fend … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: Amazon, Akamai, Asics, Avid, Baroo, ShoeBuy & More”

Walmart Unveils “Intelligent Food” System to Keep Produce Fresh

Food spoilage can cost big retailers like Walmart billions in losses. Now, the Arkansas-based giant says it has filed two patents on technology that can digitize the current inspection process for perishable goods. Called Eden, the initiative is in its early stages, but the idea is to use artificial intelligence and cameras to create a … Continue reading “Walmart Unveils “Intelligent Food” System to Keep Produce Fresh”

Akamai, Grousbeck’s Fund, Feature Labs & More Boston Deal News

It’s time to catch up on some of the latest venture funding and acquisition news from the Boston-area tech sector: —In a regulatory filing, Akamai Technologies (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AKAM]]) revealed the purchase prices for two acquisitions it made last year: $199.3 million in cash for Soasta and $180.3 million in cash for Nominum. Read more about … Continue reading “Akamai, Grousbeck’s Fund, Feature Labs & More Boston Deal News”

Mirror, Mirror On the Wall: How Does This Dress Look in Green?

These days, it’s not just Snow White’s stepmother who has a mirror that talks back. Thanks to augmented reality, Internet of Things, and data analytics technologies, more of us might be confronted with so-called “smart mirrors” the next time we try on clothes or accessories in a store. While mirrors are typically static pieces of … Continue reading “Mirror, Mirror On the Wall: How Does This Dress Look in Green?”

Bio Roundup: Funding Frenzy, Opioid Summit, Celgene Woes & More

Biotech startups rolled in cash this week. By our count, investors put more than $800 million into life-sciences startups in four days. The money came from a wide range of backers, not just traditional biotech venture firms. It’s early yet in 2018, but the current count could put life-sciences companies on pace to bust past … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Funding Frenzy, Opioid Summit, Celgene Woes & More”

India’s Wipro Buys Small Stake in Denim For App Security Business

San Antonio—An Indian tech company is paying $8.83 million to acquire a 33.3 percent stake in San Antonio-based Denim Group, a cybersecurity software development and consulting firm. Wipro, a global IT business based in Bangalore, India, that’s traded on public exchanges in both the U.S. and India, was interested in Denim Group in part because … Continue reading “India’s Wipro Buys Small Stake in Denim For App Security Business”

Roundup, Part Two: Venture Fellows, IoT Pitch Contest, Clinc, More

On Tuesday, we published a roundup of innovation briefs from across the state. The year has gotten off to such a busy start that we’re back with part two. Without further ado, here’s a look at Michigan’s recent technology news: —Last month, the Michigan Venture Capital Association kicked off its annual Venture Fellows program, which matches … Continue reading “Roundup, Part Two: Venture Fellows, IoT Pitch Contest, Clinc, More”

In 5D Deal, “Microlocation” Startup Humatics Eyes Smart Cities, Cars

As robots become more intelligent, mobile, and prevalent in everyday life, humans will have to figure out how to coexist with these more advanced machines. That prospect raises plenty of deep questions, but a simpler, more immediate concern is making sure mobile machines can navigate their surroundings without injuring humans or causing other kinds of … Continue reading “In 5D Deal, “Microlocation” Startup Humatics Eyes Smart Cities, Cars”

Nkarta Therapeutics Picks Paul Hastings for CEO

Paul Hastings has been named CEO of South San Francisco, CA-based Nkarta Therapeutics. Hastings most recently worked for Redwood City, CA, cancer drug developer OncoMed Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:OMED]]), where he was chairman and CEO. Hastings resigned from OncoMed on Jan. 1. Nkarta is developing cancer treatments based on natural killer (NK) immune cells.

Teva’s Marcelo Bigal Joins Purdue Pharma as Chief Medical Officer

Purdue Pharma has appointed Marcelo Bigal to serve as the Stamford, CT-based company’s chief medical officer. Bigal comes to Purdue from Teva Pharmaceutical (NYSE: [[ticker:TEVA]]), where he was chief scientific officer. Before joining Teva, Bigal was chief medical officer of Labrys Biologics, which Teva acquired in 2014 in order to add the company’s migraine drug … Continue reading “Teva’s Marcelo Bigal Joins Purdue Pharma as Chief Medical Officer”

DoorDash’s $535M Funding Round Means It’s Coming to 1,000 New Cities

DoorDash hit it big with a $535 million Series D round of funding led by Chinese business conglomerate SoftBank Group, the food delivery company announced this morning. It’s the largest financing for a U.S. food delivery service, according to Reuters, which said the funding gave DoorDash a $1.4 billion valuation, citing a person familiar with … Continue reading “DoorDash’s $535M Funding Round Means It’s Coming to 1,000 New Cities”

Sēqster Exits Stealth with Web-Based Tech for Managing Health Data

Sēqster, founded in 2016 to develop technology that enables individuals to aggregate and manage all of their own personal health information, emerged from stealth mode Wednesday. Comparing itself to the personal finance platform Mint.com, the San Diego startup says its platform integrates personal health information from a variety of sources, including electronic medical records (EMR), … Continue reading “Sēqster Exits Stealth with Web-Based Tech for Managing Health Data”

Xconomy Awards—2018 Nominations Are Open

[Correction 3/1/18, 11:07am ET, see below] The Xconomy Awards are back for the second year! Today, we are opening up nominations for the 2018 Awards, which celebrate the best people, companies, and organizations in the Boston/New England life sciences community. The 2017 inaugural awards were a huge success, with an impressive crop of nominations, a … Continue reading “Xconomy Awards—2018 Nominations Are Open”

Helix Raises $200M to Build Its DNA “App Store” Beyond the Family Tree

Thanks to advertising blitzes from companies like Ancestry.com and 23andMe, Joe and Jane Consumer might know that their genetic blueprint and $100 or so can dig up insights about their genealogy. San Carlos, CA-based startup Helix is banking on that budding curiosity to provide a market for all kinds of consumer apps fueled by a … Continue reading “Helix Raises $200M to Build Its DNA “App Store” Beyond the Family Tree”

Rubius Rolls Up Another $100M As Bio Funding Frenzy Continues

Like water spewing from a firehose, venture dollars are dousing life-science startups this week. The latest biotech on the receiving end is Rubius Therapeutics, a cell therapy developer that announced a $100 million round this morning. With the new cash, a “crossover” round including investors that back both private and publicly traded companies, Rubius has … Continue reading “Rubius Rolls Up Another $100M As Bio Funding Frenzy Continues”

Japan’s TDK Scoops Up Berkeley’s Chirp, Maker of Sonar Micro-Chip

Tokyo-based electronics giant TDK today announced its agreement to acquire startup Chirp Microsystems, whose miniaturized ultrasonic sensors are being tested in drones, robots, virtual reality systems, and smart home devices. David Horsley, co-founder and CTO of Berkeley, CA-based Chirp, says the company’s sonar chips have been drawing interest from companies in a range of emerging … Continue reading “Japan’s TDK Scoops Up Berkeley’s Chirp, Maker of Sonar Micro-Chip”

Aurora, Led by Google and Tesla Driverless Car Vets, Lands $90M

Aurora Innovation, a self-driving car startup whose founders have ties to Google, Tesla, and Uber, has raised $90 million in Series A funding co-led by Greylock Partners and Index Ventures. Along with the money, Greylock and Index are adding a member each to Aurora’s board of directors: Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn and partner … Continue reading “Aurora, Led by Google and Tesla Driverless Car Vets, Lands $90M”

Securing the Door: Amazon Buys Connected Doorbell Maker Ring

Amazon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]) has acquired smart-doorbell security system maker Ring as the company seeks to expand its home-security business. The purchase was first reported by Geekwire, which cited a separate report from Reuters that the deal is valued at about $1 billion. That would make Amazon’s purchase of Ring the third largest in the Seattle e-commerce … Continue reading “Securing the Door: Amazon Buys Connected Doorbell Maker Ring”

Activist Investor Scopia Gets Two Board Seats in Deal with Acorda

Acorda Therapeutics has cut a deal with Scopia Capital Management, enabling the activist investor that has previously pushed to sell the company, to name two directors to its board. Scopia will support the board members Acorda (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ACOR]]) nominates at its annual shareholder meeting this year as a part of the agreement. Scopia, which this … Continue reading “Activist Investor Scopia Gets Two Board Seats in Deal with Acorda”

Credtech Report Card: HackerRank, CodeFights, Credly, ACT, More

Educational technology companies are augmenting the traditional educational system with their online coursework offerings, but they’re also creating a competing universe where students can find alternate learning experiences that may qualify them for a job, even if they don’t have an academic degree. A core element in this universe is the invention of new kinds … Continue reading “Credtech Report Card: HackerRank, CodeFights, Credly, ACT, More”

Arcturus Fails to Ratify Auditor in Latest Fallout After CEO Firing

The schism between Arcturus Therapeutics’ board and its former chief executive is now putting the company at risk of missing key financial reporting deadlines, and possibly even losing its stock listing. The San Diego drug developer said late Monday that the typically routine step of ratifying the company’s auditor failed a shareholder vote. Arcturus (NASDAQ: … Continue reading “Arcturus Fails to Ratify Auditor in Latest Fallout After CEO Firing”

Xconomy Awards 2018

The Xconomy Awards are back! The second Annual Awards will celebrate the people, companies, and organizations that make the Boston life sciences ecosystem one of the most vibrant and innovative in the world. An esteemed panel of judges will help us pick the winners.

FDA Refuses to Review Celgene’s MS Drug, Says File “Insufficient”

Celgene’s bid to bring a potential blockbuster multiple sclerosis drug to the market was dealt a setback Tuesday after the FDA concluded the company’s application does not have enough information. Summit, NJ-based Celgene (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CELG]]) said that it has received a “refusal to file” letter from the regulator regarding its submission for ozanimod. The company … Continue reading “FDA Refuses to Review Celgene’s MS Drug, Says File “Insufficient””

San Antonio Tech Seizing the Momentum: The Photos

San Antonio—It hasn’t been easy for San Antonio to stand out among tech capitals like San Francisco, New York, Boston, or even Austin, its smaller neighbor to the north. For years, the Alamo city has had deep expertise in areas such cybersecurity, cloud computing, healthcare, and energy—but getting national recognition for that work has been … Continue reading “San Antonio Tech Seizing the Momentum: The Photos”