Allure Security Technology, a Boston-area cybersecurity startup with roots at Columbia University, announced Thursday it has raised $5.3 million in seed funding to grow its staff and enhance its software that is aimed at helping businesses protect against data loss. The investment was led by Boston-based Glasswing Ventures, an early-stage venture firm that backs companies … Continue reading “Columbia Spinout Allure Security Bags $5.3M to Guard Business Data”
Botkeeper Tallies $4.5M Investment to Automate Accounting Tasks
Bookkeeping is time-consuming, repetitive, and boring—unless you’re into that kind of thing. Sounds like a job for a machine. Software isn’t sophisticated enough to handle all of the work involved in recording transactions and managing businesses’ finances, but money is being poured into artificial intelligence technologies aimed at shifting more of the workload from humans … Continue reading “Botkeeper Tallies $4.5M Investment to Automate Accounting Tasks”
With Medical Records Tools, Apple Wades Deeper Into Digital Health
[Updated 1/24/18 4:09 p.m. See below.] Apple said Wednesday it plans to introduce new features that will allow iPhone users to access parts of their medical records through the company’s Health app. The move could impact the interoperability of health records software and spark more competition in the health IT industry. Cupertino, CA-based Apple (NASDAQ: … Continue reading “With Medical Records Tools, Apple Wades Deeper Into Digital Health”
Boston Scientific Pumps $90M Into Heart Device Startup Millipede
Boston Scientific is infusing medical device company Millipede with $90 million, an equity investment that comes with the option to acquire the startup outright. According to the agreement, Marlborough, MA-based Boston Scientific (NYSE: [[ticker:BSX]]) must exercise its option to acquire Millipede before the startup completes its ongoing clinical trial for its heart valve repair device—as … Continue reading “Boston Scientific Pumps $90M Into Heart Device Startup Millipede”
SoftBank Continues Funding Spree, Leads $865M Round for Katerra
Katerra, a building construction startup inspired by the efficient practices of electronics manufacturing, announced today it has raised $865 million in a Series D fundraising round led by the SoftBank Vision Fund. The company was co-founded in 2015 by Michael Marks, the former CEO of contract electronics manufacturer Flextronics. Katerra has large-scale ambitions that match the … Continue reading “SoftBank Continues Funding Spree, Leads $865M Round for Katerra”
Health Analytics Firm Springbuk Closes $20M Round, Plans Hiring Spree
It’s been a great month for the Indianapolis innovation community. Indiana’s capital city made the list of 20 municipal finalists vying to become the location of Amazon’s second headquarters, and a spate of local tech startups have hit new milestones. One of those startups, Springbuk, announced last week that it has raised $20 million in … Continue reading “Health Analytics Firm Springbuk Closes $20M Round, Plans Hiring Spree”
Have $100M, Looking For Ideas: NYCEDC Begins Search For a NY Bio Campus
If you had $100 million to create an epicenter for New York biotech, what would you do with it? The New York City Economic Development Corp., a quasi-governmental agency supporting job growth in New York, has put that question to the private sector. The NYCEDC has called for proposals asking a “mission-driven organization or joint … Continue reading “Have $100M, Looking For Ideas: NYCEDC Begins Search For a NY Bio Campus”
GoDaddy Picks Up Online Marketing Business Main Street Hub for $125M
Austin—Website hosting company GoDaddy is paying $125 million to acquire Austin online marketing business Main Street Hub, giving the hosting company an inside line to the world of social media. Main Street Hub hires “branding experts”—people it describes as photographers, writers, designers, and marketers—to manage social media networks for small businesses. They create content and … Continue reading “GoDaddy Picks Up Online Marketing Business Main Street Hub for $125M”
Facebook, Amazon Snap Up Boston Cybersecurity Startups Confirm, Sqrrl
Facebook and Amazon are turning to Boston tech companies to beef up their cybersecurity capabilities. Facebook (NASDAQ: [[ticker:FB]]) has acquired Confirm.io, while Amazon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]) has purchased Sqrrl, according to posts on the two Boston-area security startups’ respective websites. Terms weren’t disclosed for either deal. An unspecified number of Confirm employees are joining Facebook’s local … Continue reading “Facebook, Amazon Snap Up Boston Cybersecurity Startups Confirm, Sqrrl”
NeuroPointDX Turns to Crowdfunding to Get Key Study Past Finish Line
Autism is hard to diagnose—there’s currently no medical test to diagnose the disorder, and teams of experts typically make diagnosis decisions based on their assessments of patients’ behavior. NeuroPointDX aims to change that with a test that could potentially diagnose the condition by analyzing the metabolism of a child from a small blood sample. NeuroPoint, … Continue reading “NeuroPointDX Turns to Crowdfunding to Get Key Study Past Finish Line”
Should Startups Extend the Window to Exercise Options?
Pinterest did it. Square did it. And Coinbase did it, too. These unicorns have all given departing employees more than the standard 90 days to exercise their stock options. They’ve extended the window to exercise options for employees who have at least a minimum period of service. The tech recruiting site Triplebyte urged an even … Continue reading “Should Startups Extend the Window to Exercise Options?”
Facebook Touts Countermeasures to Election Hacking: Are They Enough?
Facebook expanded its mea culpa on Monday for failing to prevent “bad actors” such as Russian entities from using the social media platform to distort democratic processes—notably the U.S. presidential election in 2016. The company unveiled another series of measures it’s taking to prevent malefactors, who hide behind false names, from spreading fake and incendiary … Continue reading “Facebook Touts Countermeasures to Election Hacking: Are They Enough?”
Announcing “Robo Madness 2018: Homecoming” at iRobot on April 12
Robo Madness is back. Xconomy’s fourth annual robotics and artificial intelligence conference in the Boston area will be held April 12 at iRobot’s headquarters in Bedford, MA. The theme this year is “Homecoming,” as robotics and A.I. have seeped into the fabric of everyday life and are hitting home. Join us during National Robotics Week … Continue reading “Announcing “Robo Madness 2018: Homecoming” at iRobot on April 12″
Disney, Family Offices Back Second Bio Startup from Tech Entrepreneur Haney
To launch his first biotech startup, Dragonfly Therapeutics, Bill Haney went to private family offices, including one linked to the Disney family, rather than venture firms. Now the tech investor, entrepreneur and filmmaker is at it again, leaning on some of the same investors to fund Skyhawk Therapeutics, a new company joining an emerging race … Continue reading “Disney, Family Offices Back Second Bio Startup from Tech Entrepreneur Haney”
Hey Alexa, What’s in a Name? Actually, Let’s Call You Amazon
With “Hey Google” and “Alexa” echoing from the expo halls of Las Vegas to millions of homes, the hype around voice-controlled computing is reaching a new peak in early 2018. Voice-controlled devices are permeating our world, and this new user interface is the future of computing—or so we are told by the companies purveying it. … Continue reading “Hey Alexa, What’s in a Name? Actually, Let’s Call You Amazon”
Tmunity Reels in $100M for “Next Generation” Cancer Immunotherapy
[Updated 1/23/18, 11:21 a.m. See below.] Two therapies from the emerging field of engineered T cells won FDA approval to treat blood cancers last year, and the scramble is on to treat more types of cancer. Led by Usman “Oz” Azam (pictured above), the executive who once led Novartis’s cell and gene therapy group, Tmunity … Continue reading “Tmunity Reels in $100M for “Next Generation” Cancer Immunotherapy”
Cargo Zooms Ahead with New Cash, Plans to Expand to 10 Cities
Score one for mobile convenience stores. Cargo, a New York City-based graduate of the Techstars Mobility accelerator, announced Monday it has raised more money from investors, reached its one millionth passenger, and will soon expand from test markets in New York, Chicago, and Boston to new cities . We caught up with Cargo founder and … Continue reading “Cargo Zooms Ahead with New Cash, Plans to Expand to 10 Cities”
Xconomy Presents: Robo Madness 2018—Homecoming
After years of hype, robotics and artificial intelligence have seeped into the fabric of everyday life and are hitting home. Cars, trucks, and even lawn mowers are gaining self-driving capabilities. Retail and logistics are becoming more automated. Virtual and robotic assistants can answer questions, make decisions, and recognize human emotions in some cases. Our homes … Continue reading “Xconomy Presents: Robo Madness 2018—Homecoming”
BioCryst, Idera Plan Merger in Tie-Up of Rare Disease Drug Developers
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals and Idera Pharmaceuticals have struck a deal to combine into a single company focused on treatments for rare diseases. The stock deal announced Monday calls for each share of Research Triangle Park, NC-based BioCryst (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BCRX]]) to be exchanged for 0.50 shares of the new company. Idera (NASDAQ: [[ticker:IDRA]]) shareholders will get 0.20 … Continue reading “BioCryst, Idera Plan Merger in Tie-Up of Rare Disease Drug Developers”
Luna DNA Uses Blockchain to Share Genomic Data as a “Public Benefit”
A San Diego startup says it has adapted the blockchain technology that underpins digital currencies like Bitcoin for use as a distributed database for genomic information. Luna DNA’s efforts mark one of the early attempts to apply blockchain technology in healthcare, as advocates of the much-hyped technology try to make use of it in sectors … Continue reading “Luna DNA Uses Blockchain to Share Genomic Data as a “Public Benefit””
Amazon Go Reviews: Praise for Shopping Speed, Caution Around Privacy
Whole Foods has always been on the bleeding edge of improving the efficiency of the grocery store checkout. The New York Times praised the chain a decade ago for its single-line strategy, which other retailers copied. Other trade publications have noted unique tactics Whole Foods uses in its busiest stores, like the color-coded system at … Continue reading “Amazon Go Reviews: Praise for Shopping Speed, Caution Around Privacy”
Paytronix Rings Up $65M to Boost Customer Loyalty Software Business
Paytronix Systems, a seventeen-year-old software company that manages customer rewards programs and other sales initiatives for restaurants and convenience store chains, said Monday it pulled in $65 million in funding from Great Hill Partners, a Boston-based private equity firm. Newton, MA-based Paytronix previously raised a little over $2 million from investors, according to SEC filings. … Continue reading “Paytronix Rings Up $65M to Boost Customer Loyalty Software Business”
With $20B to Spend, Sanofi, Celgene Bet Big on Hemophilia, CAR-T
Two top drugmakers, Sanofi and Celgene, agreed on Monday morning to shell out more than $20 billion combined, cinching deals for hemophilia drug maker Bioverativ and cell therapy developer Juno Therapeutics. Each agreement represents an expensive, risky bet on a crowded, rapidly changing field. In one acquisition, Sanofi is buying Waltham, MA-based Bioverativ (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIVV]]), … Continue reading “With $20B to Spend, Sanofi, Celgene Bet Big on Hemophilia, CAR-T”
Why Spark and Watchdog ICER Don’t See Eye-to-Eye on $850K Gene Therapy
The first gene therapy approved in the U.S. costs $850,000. Announcing the price on Jan. 3, its owner Spark Therapeutics held out the possibility of some relief, such as installment payments, or slim rebates if the drug, a one-time shot into each eye to reduce or reverse inherited vision loss, doesn’t work or wears off. … Continue reading “Why Spark and Watchdog ICER Don’t See Eye-to-Eye on $850K Gene Therapy”
Democratization of Automation: The Next Generation of Industrial Robotics
In the coming years, artificial intelligence will have many transformative impacts, but the one perhaps most resembling science fiction will be the rise of autonomous physical systems: real-world systems that can make decisions for themselves. Of these autonomous systems, self-driving cars have captured the most attention. But the field of manufacturing, which represents one-sixth of … Continue reading “Democratization of Automation: The Next Generation of Industrial Robotics”
Exact, Spectrum, PerBlue, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
It was a newsy week for Wisconsin’s innovation community. Catch up on some of the major happenings with these recent headlines: —Exact Sciences’ (NASDAQ: [[ticker:EXAS]]) stock price finished the trading day on Wednesday down nearly 10 percent after the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) published the results of a study evaluating a liquid biopsy … Continue reading “Exact, Spectrum, PerBlue, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
Eli Lilly’s Eiry Roberts Joins Neurocrine as Chief Medical Officer
Eiry Roberts is Neurocrine Biosciences’ (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NBIX]]) new chief medical officer. Roberts comes to the San Diego biotech company from Eli Lilly (NYSE: [[ticker:LLY]]), where her roles included serving as vice president of clinical pharmacology, and vice president of R&D in the company’s biomedicines business unit. Roberts succeeds Christopher O’Brien, who will retire in February. … Continue reading “Eli Lilly’s Eiry Roberts Joins Neurocrine as Chief Medical Officer”
Trieza Therapeutics Appoints Jeno Gyuris Chief Scientific Officer
Trieza Therapeutics has named Jeno Gyuris its chief scientific officer. Cambridge, MA-based Trieza is developing cancer immunotherapies that use viruses to prompt an anti-tumor response. Gyuris’ experience includes senior scientific posts at two other Boston-area biotechs, Aveo Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AVEO]]) and Quiet Therapeutics.
After Whirlwind 2017, May Mobility Plans to Expand Driverless Fleet
May Mobility, the autonomous vehicle startup based in Ann Arbor, MI, had an action-packed 2017. The company launched in January, completed a stint in the Y Combinator accelerator over the summer, put driverless shuttles on downtown Detroit streets through a small pilot program in October, and raised more than $11 million over the course of … Continue reading “After Whirlwind 2017, May Mobility Plans to Expand Driverless Fleet”
Q&A: Dell Med’s DeSalvo Talks Social Health Startups, Data Ownership
Karen DeSalvo has experience working in the public sector, but she’s hardly what you’d call a government bureaucrat. DeSalvo, who is trained as a physician, served as the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology from 2014 to 2016 under President Barack Obama. During some of the time she headed the ONC, as the office is … Continue reading “Q&A: Dell Med’s DeSalvo Talks Social Health Startups, Data Ownership”
Boston Tech Watch: ICO Crackdown, “Shark Tank” Startups & More
[Updated 1/19/18, 2:47 pm. See below.] This week in Boston tech, we’re tracking legal action against a so-called “initial coin offering,” hiring sprees, a pair of acquisitions, several venture funding rounds, and more. Read on for details. —Massachusetts securities regulators are wading into the murky waters of cryptocurrencies and “initial coin offerings.” The office of … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: ICO Crackdown, “Shark Tank” Startups & More”
UTA Using Robots, Shakespeare to Study Ways to Address Loneliness
Dallas—In healthcare, robots are being created to help with tasks like disinfecting hospital rooms or alerting patients when it’s time to take medications. A study at the Emotional Robotics Living Lab at the University of Texas at Arlington is even exploring how human-robot connection can help fight depression. “We are looking at robots that would be … Continue reading “UTA Using Robots, Shakespeare to Study Ways to Address Loneliness”
Bio Roundup: Spark’s Road Ahead, Juno Rumors, Merck’s Big Day & More
The most overblown health story of the week was President Trump’s health exam. America learned Trump is in perfect health and has “great genes.” He takes Propecia. He doesn’t have heart problems, had a perfect cognitive test score, and is one pound shy of obese. This scintillating information led to a new social media phenomenon, the … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Spark’s Road Ahead, Juno Rumors, Merck’s Big Day & More”
Tougher “Immigration” Policies On Foreign Tech Crossing U.S. Border
It’s not only people from other countries that are struggling harder to get into the United States these days, it seems. Technology from foreign nations may also be subject to stricter “immigration” rules. The national origins of tech devices and services wasn’t a front-burner question—at least for the general public—until the issue came up at … Continue reading “Tougher “Immigration” Policies On Foreign Tech Crossing U.S. Border”
IU Spinout CyUtil Helps VR Developers Create More Immersive Products
Imagine you’re a world history teacher in rural Indiana who wants to give students the chance to tour the great pyramids of Egypt—feeling the sun’s warmth on their faces and smelling the aromatic spices used to cook the food eaten by pharaohs—without leaving the state. Thanks to virtual reality technology being developed by Indiana University … Continue reading “IU Spinout CyUtil Helps VR Developers Create More Immersive Products”
Absences, Surprises in Amazon’s Final List of 20 Cities for HQ2
And then there were 20. Amazon has winnowed down the field of 238 submissions from communities around North America vying to host a second headquarters (HQ2) of the Seattle-based tech giant. Most large cities with existing or emerging tech hubs appear on the list, from Austin, TX, and Boston, MA, to Washington, DC, and Toronto, … Continue reading “Absences, Surprises in Amazon’s Final List of 20 Cities for HQ2”
Accomplice Reloads With $205M Fund After Makeover
Accomplice, one of the Boston area’s prominent early-stage venture firms, has restocked its dry powder to invest in tech startups. Accomplice raised $205 million for its second fund, according to a spokesperson. The firm announced the new fund in a blog post Thursday. Partner Jeff Fagnan (pictured) declined to comment further. The fund marks a … Continue reading “Accomplice Reloads With $205M Fund After Makeover”
Bluegrass Vascular Opens U.S. Clinical Trial for Obstructed Veins
San Antonio—Bluegrass Vascular Technologies has started to enroll patients in a U.S. clinical trial for its catheter system for regaining access to obstructed veins. Bluegrass says it eventually will study 30 patients at 10 research centers across the U.S. in the next year, including St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, CA, and Houston Methodist Hospital in … Continue reading “Bluegrass Vascular Opens U.S. Clinical Trial for Obstructed Veins”
Austin Accelerator Sputnik ATX Picks Four Startups for First Class
Austin—Sputnik ATX has selected four startups to join its first accelerator class in Austin, only a few months after the city’s newest accelerator program opened its doors. Sputnik says it received 207 applications from startups in 10 states and 9 different countries, and narrowed the pool down to four less than a month after its … Continue reading “Austin Accelerator Sputnik ATX Picks Four Startups for First Class”
Pandion Raises $58M to Bring Cancer-Fighting Tactics to Immune Disorders
Many drugs for inflammatory and autoimmune disorders work by suppressing the immune system, an approach that puts patients at risk of infection among other side effects. Pandion Therapeutics is developing antibody drugs that it says could instead work with the immune system, potentially offering a safer, more targeted treatment. The Cambridge, MA, biotech has now … Continue reading “Pandion Raises $58M to Bring Cancer-Fighting Tactics to Immune Disorders”
Advancing A.I. for Business: Google Unveils Tools, Indico Nabs $4M
Tech companies continue to develop software tools and services aimed at unlocking the potential benefits of artificial intelligence for all businesses, regardless of whether or not they have skilled data scientists on staff. Two of the latest examples come from a startup, Boston-based Indico, and a tech giant, Google. Today, Indico announced it pulled in … Continue reading “Advancing A.I. for Business: Google Unveils Tools, Indico Nabs $4M”
Detroit Auto Show Puts Big Focus on Mobility Technologies, Startups
The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) kicked off this week in Detroit, allowing industry affiliates and media to get an early look before the show opens to the public this weekend. For the second year in a row, NAIAS highlighted the mobility sector’s potential business models and offered glimpses of how the trillion-dollar market … Continue reading “Detroit Auto Show Puts Big Focus on Mobility Technologies, Startups”
VelocityTX Turns to Chile to Bolster San Antonio’s Startup Scene
San Antonio—Four new businesses from Chile will be opening up shop in San Antonio in late 2018, joining a program run by the emerging technology startup center, VelocityTX. VelocityTX, a resource center for entrepreneurs and startups that’s also trying to attract more businesses to San Antonio, is planning to bring four companies from a group … Continue reading “VelocityTX Turns to Chile to Bolster San Antonio’s Startup Scene”
Nordic to Move Into Management Consulting After Partial Acquisition
Nordic, a healthcare consulting firm that advises on implementations of computerized patient records software and other projects, said Tuesday that it had acquired part of The Claro Group. Madison, WI-based Nordic said its acquisition of Chicago-based Claro’s revenue cycle transformation practice marks the Wisconsin company’s first foray into “the technology-agnostic management consulting world.” Up to … Continue reading “Nordic to Move Into Management Consulting After Partial Acquisition”
In “Age of Amazon,” All Retailers Are Tech Companies, Even Walmart
Technology took center stage this week as the nation’s retailers made their annual pilgrimage to New York. At the National Retail Federation’s three-day conference, which ended Tuesday, the discussion centered on both the disruptive effects and potential promise of e-commerce technologies. Kate Ancketill, the CEO of GDR Creative Intelligence, a retail trends consultancy, said retailers … Continue reading “In “Age of Amazon,” All Retailers Are Tech Companies, Even Walmart”
CircleCI Nabs $31M to Enhance DevOps Platform With Automation Tools
CircleCI, which offers tools for companies seeking to speed up the process of developing their own software, announced today that it has raised $31 million in a Series C fundraising round. The San Francisco-based company, founded in 2011, offers one of the software development platforms that provide frequent, automated tests of the interim versions of … Continue reading “CircleCI Nabs $31M to Enhance DevOps Platform With Automation Tools”
From DARPA to Vecna: New CEO on How Automation Can “Elevate” Humans
[Updated 1/18/18, 9:33 am. See below.] Dan Patt spent the past six years surveying the robotics field, holding a couple of positions with the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) that enabled him to work on self-driving cars, drones, and other automation technologies. Now, he’s jumping into the private sector and going all in … Continue reading “From DARPA to Vecna: New CEO on How Automation Can “Elevate” Humans”
Titan Spine, Which Saw Major Sales Growth in 2017, Raises $7.8M
Titan Spine, a Mequon, WI-based company that sells surgical implants designed for spinal surgeons to use when operating on patients, raised more than $7.8 million from investors across two separate funding rounds that closed in late December. Titan’s products include a line of titanium “Endoskeleton” cages that are implanted to stabilize a patient’s spinal cord … Continue reading “Titan Spine, Which Saw Major Sales Growth in 2017, Raises $7.8M”
Three Takes on How Tech Can Rebuild Trust in 2018
Rounding out our series of perspectives and prognostications for the new year, we asked people in Xconomy’s network about trust in the tech industry. Specifically, if you think public perception about the tech industry took a turn for the worse in 2017, what should the industry do to rebuild trust in 2018? Here are responses … Continue reading “Three Takes on How Tech Can Rebuild Trust in 2018”
Eiger Bio’s Hypertension Drug Flunks Phase 2 Trial, Shares Tumble
An Eiger BioPharmaceuticals drug being tested for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension has failed a mid-stage study, and the drug developer says it will stop work on the compound for that condition. News of the clinical trial failure cut the value of shares in Palo Alto, CA, based Eiger (NASDAQ: [[ticker:EIGR]]) nearly in half. … Continue reading “Eiger Bio’s Hypertension Drug Flunks Phase 2 Trial, Shares Tumble”