[Updated 10/6/17, 8:09 am. See below.] Houston—As Hurricane Harvey whirled toward the Texas Gulf Coast, a volunteer group of techies in Texas and other parts of the country gathered in a Slack channel to develop tools that could help with rescue, recovery, and relief efforts. Nearly six weeks later, that group of volunteers—with some coming … Continue reading “As Relief Moves to Recovery, Questions About FEMA’s Tech Corps”
Invenra, Developer of Therapeutic Antibodies, Raises $2.9M
Invenra, a Madison, WI-based startup that develops therapeutic antibodies for pharmaceuticals companies and other clients, has raised more than $2.9 million from investors, according to a regulatory filing. Twenty-five investors participated in the equity funding round, according to the filing, which was made public on Thursday. Invenra, founded in 2011, has now raised more than … Continue reading “Invenra, Developer of Therapeutic Antibodies, Raises $2.9M”
Under New Ownership, San Diego’s Ad-Juster Names Dennis Clerke CEO
Ad-Juster, a San Diego adtech startup acquired earlier this year by the investment arm of China’s Innotech International Group, Wednesday named local software entrepreneur Dennis Clerke as CEO. He succeeds Ad-Juster founder and president Mike Lewis, who has left the company. Clerke (a San Diego Xconomist) was previously the CEO of Sunnyvale, CA-based NetSeer, an … Continue reading “Under New Ownership, San Diego’s Ad-Juster Names Dennis Clerke CEO”
Strata Oncology, UCSF Partner to Offer $25M in Free Tumor Sequencing
Ann Arbor, MI-based Strata Oncology this week announced a new partnership with the University of California, San Francisco, to provide $25 million in free tumor sequencing nationwide for men with metastatic prostate cancer. Called StratifyProstate, the initiative aims to dramatically increase enrollment in relevant precision medicine trials, says Strata CEO Dan Rhodes. Despite the significant promise … Continue reading “Strata Oncology, UCSF Partner to Offer $25M in Free Tumor Sequencing”
Ramp Founder Wilde Takes Over Indico as Reality Sets In for A.I.
[Updated 10/5/17, 6:21 pm. See below.] Technology companies like IBM have arguably overhyped the capabilities of their artificial intelligence technologies over the past few years. But some executives believe the field is turning a corner, and businesses are starting to deliver practical applications of A.I. “There’s some reality setting in,” says Boston software executive Tom … Continue reading “Ramp Founder Wilde Takes Over Indico as Reality Sets In for A.I.”
Contemplating E-Sports, NFL, and Fandom with Taunt CEO Ben Gilbert
While I can understand professional video game playing, I was, until recently, baffled by the millions of avid fans of e-sports. I didn’t get why people—perhaps more than 300 million—would spend countless hours watching someone else manipulate the controls when they could be playing themselves, or doing any number of other things. A recent conversation … Continue reading “Contemplating E-Sports, NFL, and Fandom with Taunt CEO Ben Gilbert”
Fresenius Medical’s Angelo Moesslang Joins InGeneron as CEO
Regenerative medicine company InGeneron has appointed Angelo Moesslang CEO. Before joining Houston-based InGeneron, Moesslang was CFO of Fresenius Medical Care North America, part of German company Fresenius Medical Care. Earlier this year, InGeneron raised $20 million to support clinical testing of a stem cell-based system meant to aid recovery from wounds and orthopedic injuries.
Impel NeuroPharma Names Jon Congleton President and CEO
Jon Congleton has been named president and CEO of Seattle-based Impel NeuroPharma. Congleton was most recently president and CEO of Nivalis Therapeutics in Boulder, CO. Impel is developing intranasal drug treatments for central nervous system disorders.
Xconomy Award Winner Lita Nelsen Reflects on a Career in Tech Transfer: Q&A
When Lita Nelsen first started working at MIT’s Technology Licensing Office (TLO) over 30 years ago, Kendall Square was home to only a few biotech companies, and spinning out new startups from MIT was more of an incidental thing (as she told Xconomy last year). But that changed drastically during Nelsen’s time there (including more … Continue reading “Xconomy Award Winner Lita Nelsen Reflects on a Career in Tech Transfer: Q&A”
What’s Hot in Cybersecurity on Dec. 5: Threat Stack, Cybereason & More
[Updated 10/5/17, 8:08am, with new speakers.] Advances in cybersecurity continue to be top of mind for everyone from business and tech leaders to consumers. You don’t have to look further than Equifax or Yahoo to get the feeling that no data or network is safe from hackers. Companies and organizations of all sizes are adjusting … Continue reading “What’s Hot in Cybersecurity on Dec. 5: Threat Stack, Cybereason & More”
Could Behavioral Finance Play a Role in Boosting Our Economic Health?
Times are a bit bleak in these United States. Between mass shootings, hurricanes, political turmoil, a resurgent white supremacist movement, threats of a nuclear showdown with North Korea, massive consumer data breaches, and uncertainty over immigration, healthcare, and other major domestic policies, it has not been an easy year for many of us. The resulting … Continue reading “Could Behavioral Finance Play a Role in Boosting Our Economic Health?”
Paul English’s Lola Unveils Revamped App for Business “Road Warriors”
Some observers of mobile technologies wonder if they’re killing people’s “do-it-yourself” mentality, as a multitude of apps enable users to hire others to tackle tasks for them on demand, from grocery shopping and delivery to assembling their furniture. One area where smartphone owners apparently don’t want to completely hand off a task to someone else? … Continue reading “Paul English’s Lola Unveils Revamped App for Business “Road Warriors””
Palleon Lands $48M to Develop New Type of Checkpoint Cancer Drug
[Corrected 10/4/17, 9:11 a.m. See below.] A Waltham, MA biotech aiming to activate more parts of the immune system in the fight against tumors announced a $47.6 million Series A round of funding from a syndicate of corporate investors. Palleon Pharmaceuticals is developing three antibodies that aim to reactivate immune system activity after having been … Continue reading “Palleon Lands $48M to Develop New Type of Checkpoint Cancer Drug”
Amicus Therapeutics’ Pompe Drug Data Show Improved Muscle Movement
[Updated 10/5/17, 3:35 pm. See below.] Amicus Therapeutics has its sights set on a second approved drug after reporting that its Pompe disease treatment helped patients reduce the muscle-wasting effects of the genetic disease. The results were from a small, 20-patient study, however, and the Amicus drug will have to pass muster in a larger … Continue reading “Amicus Therapeutics’ Pompe Drug Data Show Improved Muscle Movement”
AltspaceVR Finds New Home in Microsoft’s Mixed Reality Ecosystem
AltspaceVR, one of the forerunners of shared social experiences in virtual reality spaces, has been saved from extinction by Microsoft, which announced Tuesday that it is acquiring the four-year-old company. The Redwood City, CA-based startup had sounded its own death knell on July 28, announcing that it planned to shut down Aug. 3 due to the … Continue reading “AltspaceVR Finds New Home in Microsoft’s Mixed Reality Ecosystem”
After Buyout, Grommet CEO Pieri Says: “Ace Wants Us to Be Ourselves”
For Jules Pieri, the purchase of a majority stake in her company, The Grommet, by Ace Hardware was perhaps preordained. “How fitting is it that our company is named after a humble piece of hardware?” she asks. “There is some destiny at work here.” Also at work was a year-long partnership with the national cooperative … Continue reading “After Buyout, Grommet CEO Pieri Says: “Ace Wants Us to Be Ourselves””
BomBoard Charts New Course After the Startup Founder’s Death
BomBoard, a startup that has developed a smaller, cheaper, and modular version of the traditional jet ski, is seeking help to commercialize its flagship product following the death of founder John West. West died in early August “due to an aggressive cancer,” says Anders Stubkjaer, chief financial officer of Whitewater, WI-based BomBoard, and now also … Continue reading “BomBoard Charts New Course After the Startup Founder’s Death”
Ultragenyx Sweetens Offer, Dimension Tx Agrees to $151M Acquisition
Two weeks after making a surprise bid for Dimension Therapeutics, Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical is now set to acquire the gene therapy company in a deal valued at $151 million. Ultragenyx (NASDAQ: [[ticker:RARE]]) announced Tuesday that it has reached an agreement to acquire Cambridge, MA-based Dimension (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DMTX]]) for $6 per share. The Novato, CA-based rare disease … Continue reading “Ultragenyx Sweetens Offer, Dimension Tx Agrees to $151M Acquisition”
Celebrating Boston Life Sciences: Xconomy Awards Gala Slideshow
We at Xconomy were thrilled to see such a great turnout at our first-ever Awards Gala—350 people from the Boston life sciences community filled a Hynes Convention Center ballroom. As Bob Buderi, our founder and editor-in-chief, said in his opening remarks on September 26 before a sold-out crowd: We clearly struck a chord. Top scientists, … Continue reading “Celebrating Boston Life Sciences: Xconomy Awards Gala Slideshow”
Software Startup MedSpoke Adds Physician Users, Mulls New Funding
San Antonio—MedSpoke, a startup with software that aims to make the process of verifying a physician’s credentials easier, is picking up momentum and might seek a new round of funding as soon as the first quarter of 2018, according to CEO Jonathan Larson. The San Antonio company has already had some conversations with healthcare-focused venture … Continue reading “Software Startup MedSpoke Adds Physician Users, Mulls New Funding”
ServiceNow Buys San Diego Specialist in Customer Experience, Design
[Clarified 10/10/17, 11:15 am. See below.] ServiceNow (NYSE: [[ticker:NOW]]), the Santa Clara, CA-based giant that provides cloud-based IT services, is boosting its emphasis on human-centered design with its acquisition of Telepathy, a San Diego specialist in customer experience and design. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “ServiceNow chose us because of the design … Continue reading “ServiceNow Buys San Diego Specialist in Customer Experience, Design”
Infinidat, Now Profitable, Nabs $95M Investment at $1.6B Valuation
Infinidat, the six-year-old data-storage firm led by EMC co-founder Moshe Yanai, announced today it has bagged $95 million from investors. The Series C funding round was led by Goldman Sachs Private Capital Investing, and earlier backer TPG Growth contributed. The company’s private investors now value Infinidat at $1.6 billion, according to a press release. Its … Continue reading “Infinidat, Now Profitable, Nabs $95M Investment at $1.6B Valuation”
Cullinan Oncology Emerges with $150M to Build Cancer Drug Portfolio
It’s no secret that discovering and developing cancer drugs is an expensive and risky endeavor. But Cullinan Oncology is betting that a financial approach, rather than a purely scientific one, can improve the odds, and it has raised $150 million to test its approach. The Series A investment for Cambridge, MA-based Cullinan was co-led by … Continue reading “Cullinan Oncology Emerges with $150M to Build Cancer Drug Portfolio”
Genomics Startup Sema4 Appoints Jamie Coffin President and COO
Jamie Coffin has been appointed president and chief operating officer of Stamford, CT-based health IT startup Sema4. Before joining Sema4, Coffin was the CEO of Birmingham, AL-based Source Medical Solutions. His experience also includes senior management posts at Dell and IBM (NYSE: [[ticker:IBM]]). Sema4 spun out of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai … Continue reading “Genomics Startup Sema4 Appoints Jamie Coffin President and COO”
Arvinas Promotes John Houston to President and CEO
John Houston has been named president and CEO of Arvinas. He will also join the board of directors of the New Haven, CT, drug developer. Houston initially joined Arvinas in January as president of research and development and chief scientific officer. Before Arvinas, Houston spent 18 years in various roles at Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: [[ticker:BMY]]). … Continue reading “Arvinas Promotes John Houston to President and CEO”
New Ford Engagement Center to Focus on STEAM Skills, Economic Growth
In 2015, the first Ford Resource and Engagement Center (FREC) opened in Southwest Detroit to provide a place outside of the downtown area for people to learn new skills and develop new talents. A heavy focus was put on programs that involved STEAM—that’s STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) plus an “A” for arts—and economic … Continue reading “New Ford Engagement Center to Focus on STEAM Skills, Economic Growth”
Curious About Angel Investing? Experts Offer Perspective
Startup companies are reshaping many parts of our nation—Detroit included. The city is transforming itself into a hub for digital manufacturing, self-driving cars, and automotive software and technologies. External attention on Detroit is ramping up, as organizations like Techstars Mobility raise the region’s profile and events like Steve Case’s Rise of the Rest tour, taking … Continue reading “Curious About Angel Investing? Experts Offer Perspective”
CRISPR Therapeutics Switches CEOs As It Approaches First Clinical Study
With its first clinical trial possibly just months away, one of the leading biotech firms using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology to make drugs is turning to a new CEO. CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CRSP]]), a company split between Cambridge, MA, and Switzerland, said this morning that founding CEO Rodger Novak will hand the reins to the … Continue reading “CRISPR Therapeutics Switches CEOs As It Approaches First Clinical Study”
CarGurus, a Profitable Tech Company, Aims to Raise $162M in IPO
CarGurus is moving closer to becoming the Boston area’s first tech IPO of 2017. The Cambridge, MA-based firm aims to raise as much as $162.15 million in its initial public offering, according to a document filed with the SEC late last week. That would value CarGurus—which operates an online marketplace for buying and selling new … Continue reading “CarGurus, a Profitable Tech Company, Aims to Raise $162M in IPO”
Endocyte Adds Phase 3-Ready Prostate Cancer Drug with ABX Deal
Four months after two Endocyte drug candidates stumbled in early-stage studies, sparking a corporate shakeup, the company has signed a deal landing an experimental prostate cancer treatment that it says is ready for Phase 3 clinical trials. West Lafayette, IN-based Endocyte (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ECYT]]) says it paid $12 million up front to German biochemicals company ABX … Continue reading “Endocyte Adds Phase 3-Ready Prostate Cancer Drug with ABX Deal”
KSQ Bets on CRISPR-Juiced Drug Discovery With $76M & Ex-Genzyme CEO
CRISPR-Cas9 makes headlines as a gene editing tool for potential therapies, but pharma and biotech are also using it to as a tool to discover new drugs. A high-powered startup, KSQ Therapeutics, is the latest firm to join their ranks. Flagship Pioneering and Polaris Partners have been incubating the Cambridge, MA, company since 2015. KSQ … Continue reading “KSQ Bets on CRISPR-Juiced Drug Discovery With $76M & Ex-Genzyme CEO”
Visualize Harvey, Startup Funding, TMC Medtech Firm Updates, & More
—Hurricane Harvey’s landfall on the Texas Gulf Coast was catastrophic, causing damage to communities from Corpus Christi, TX, to Beaumont on the border of Texas and Louisiana. The storm also disabled Houston, the nation’s fourth largest city. Rice University’s Kinder Institute created a “story map” with storm-related data to illustrate the economic cost of the … Continue reading “Visualize Harvey, Startup Funding, TMC Medtech Firm Updates, & More”
Wind Startup Evokes Puerto Rico’s Plight, Wins EvoNexus Pitch Event
San Diego’s Uprise Energy won the audience vote for best presentation at EvoNexus Demo Day, with a pitch that highlighted how its mobile wind turbines could help alleviate the plight of Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria’s apocalyptic devastation. The startup event drew more than 400 people to Qualcomm’s San Diego headquarters late … Continue reading “Wind Startup Evokes Puerto Rico’s Plight, Wins EvoNexus Pitch Event”
Gener8tor, Shine, Cellectar, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
Stay current on news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Gener8tor announced the six startups chosen to receive investments and mentorship during its latest 12-week accelerator program, which kicked off last month and runs through November. The program is being run out of Gener8tor’s Milwaukee offices, and three of the companies in the … Continue reading “Gener8tor, Shine, Cellectar, & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition
One of the state’s biggest events for startups and venture investors is back, as growth-stage companies compete for up to $1 million in cash and in-kind prizes, including a $500,000 grand prize. The competition also offers plenty of opportunities for entrepreneurial networking. For details, click here.
Five Questions For … Austin Biotech Entrepreneur Paul Lammers
Austin—Two years ago, Paul Lammers was riding the cancer immunotherapy wave in biotech. His firm, Mirna Therapeutics, hit the Nasdaq after raising $80.5 million in an IPO. Two years and one unsuccessful early stage clinical trial later, Mirna is history. In May, the company was absorbed in a reverse merger with Cambridge, MA-based Synologic, whose shareholders … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Austin Biotech Entrepreneur Paul Lammers”
TiECon Detroit: Ignite2Disrupt
Explore the world of digital connectivity across a variety of industries at this annual event, which also includes a mobility startup competition. Keynote speakers and panel discussions will cover everything from talent and immigration to smart cities and cryptocurrencies. To learn more, click here.
Michigan Drone Conference
Eastern Michigan University hosts this event featuring local experts in unmanned systems and representatives from ASSURE, the FAA’s drone research center, who will be on hand to showcase new partnerships, resources, and potential funding opportunities. For details and registration, click here.
Integr8
Automation Alley hosts this global conference dedicated to the technologies shaping the future. Topics include robotics, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, the Internet of Things, advanced manufacturing, and more. Experts will lead panel discussions and breakout sessions. For more information, click here.
TechTown Detroit’s Toast of the Town
Join roughly 400 movers and shakers at this gala celebrating entrepreneurship in Detroit. At the event, TechTown will announce the winners of the Salute Awards, which recognize the local startup ecosystem’s “rock stars.” For tickets and more information, click here.
Techstars Mobility Demo Day
The 11 companies in the 2017 Techstars Mobility cohort will pitch their startups on stage to a crowd of investors, entrepreneurs, and mobility experts. There will also be networking opportunities and panel discussions. For details and registration, click here.
gBETA, Gener8tor’s Free Accelerator Program, Is Expanding to Detroit
Gener8tor, a Wisconsin-based organization that holds training programs for startups and invests in them, will soon hold its first program in Michigan, if its website is any indication. gBETA is a series of free, seven-week accelerator programs run by Gener8tor that help entrepreneurs with things like pitching their products, adding users and customers, and raising … Continue reading “gBETA, Gener8tor’s Free Accelerator Program, Is Expanding to Detroit”
Twitter Joins Facebook in Political Hot Seat Over Election Hacking
Ordinarily, Twitter’s announcement that some of its users can now send tweets twice as long as its signature 140-character limit, and that this freedom could be broadened to others, would have been the company’s top news of the week. But instead, Twitter, like Facebook before it, is under the national microscope as government investigations of … Continue reading “Twitter Joins Facebook in Political Hot Seat Over Election Hacking”
Boston Tech Watch: Leerink, E14 Fund, Jobcase, Freight Farms & More
This week in Boston tech, we’re tracking a new $313 million growth equity fund for digital health companies, more money for an MIT Media Lab fund, layoffs at Freight Farms, and the arrival of another autonomous vehicle software startup, among other news. Read on for details. —Leerink Transformation Partners announced it raised $313 million for … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: Leerink, E14 Fund, Jobcase, Freight Farms & More”
Bio Roundup: Graham-Cassidy, Axovant Fail, SpringWorks Launches & More
After drug pricing, count drug shortages among the hot button issues sparking patient ire. Last year, the FDA says, 23 drug shortages were reported, down from 26 the previous year (and 251 in 2011). But Hurricane Maria’s direct strike on Puerto Rico might put the progress made on reducing shortages to the test. The Pharmaceutical … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Graham-Cassidy, Axovant Fail, SpringWorks Launches & More”
Epic Opens App Orchard Marketplace, Helping Hospitals Share Software
Epic Systems has opened its App Orchard, a program allowing hospitals and clinics that use Epic’s patient records software to share apps they’ve built and browse third-party digital health products that have been configured to work with Epic. Sumit Rana, senior vice president of research and development at Verona, WI-based Epic, said App Orchard makes … Continue reading “Epic Opens App Orchard Marketplace, Helping Hospitals Share Software”
Deciphera IPO Drums Up $128M for Cancer Drug Studies
Three life sciences companies went public late Wednesday and raised more than $300 million combined. They were headlined by Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, which pulled in $127.5 million in an upsized IPO. The Waltham, MA-based cancer drug developer priced its shares at $17 apiece, which was on the high end of the $15 to $17 range it … Continue reading “Deciphera IPO Drums Up $128M for Cancer Drug Studies”
Dassault to Pay $400M for Exa in Engineering Software Consolidation
Dassault Systèmes has agreed to acquire Exa Corporation, a seller of product simulation software, in a deal valued at about $400 million. Dassault said it will pay $24.25 per share for Burlington, MA-based Exa (NASDAQ: [[ticker:EXA]]), a 43 percent premium to Exa’s closing stock price on Wednesday, the day before the deal was announced. Exa’s … Continue reading “Dassault to Pay $400M for Exa in Engineering Software Consolidation”
In TaskRabbit’s Sale to Ikea, Lessons for Retail Tech’s Future
“Gig economy” startup TaskRabbit has sold to Ikea, the furniture maker whose customers often turned to TaskRabbit’s online marketplace for help. It will be important to watch how other traditional retailers like Walmart and online sellers like Wayfair respond in the broader competition for tech talent and platforms. This is now a world where retail … Continue reading “In TaskRabbit’s Sale to Ikea, Lessons for Retail Tech’s Future”
GSK’s Chris Carpenter Joins Rubius as Chief Medical Officer
Chris Carpenter has been appointed chief medical officer of Cambridge, MA-based Rubius Therapeutics. Carpenter was most recently senior vice president and head of the cancer epigenetics department at GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: [[ticker:GSK]]). His experience also includes posts at Merck (NYSE: [[ticker:MRK]]) and Harvard Medical School. Earlier this year, Rubius raised $125 million to bring its engineered … Continue reading “GSK’s Chris Carpenter Joins Rubius as Chief Medical Officer”