Monday, July 13, 2015CardiAQ Acquired By Edwards Lifesciences For $400MIrvine-based CardiAQ has agreed to be acquired by Edwards Lifesciences, in a deal worth up to $400M, the two companies said this morning. Edwards Lifesciences said it would pay $350M in cash plus up to $50M in earnout for CardiAQ, which was venture backed by Advent Venture Partners, OrbiMed Advisors and Versant Ventures. CardiAQ develops transcatheter mitral valve replacement systems, used for heart surgery. Edwards Lifesciences is also based in Irvine.
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GrollTex Gets Seed FundingSan Diego-based GrollTex, a new startup spinning out of the University of California, San Diego, has scored a seed funding round. The funding came from The Triton Fund and the Tech Coast Angels. Size of the funding was not disclosed. According to The Triton Fund, GrollTex will use the funding to accelerate commercialization of the company's technology. GrollTex's technology is based on mass producing graphene, which is a material being aimed at use in such things as water desalination membranes (More info...)
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CrowdStrike Raises $100M From Google, OthersIrvine-based CrowdStrike, the developer of security software led by George Kurtz, said this morning that it has raised $100M in a Series C financing round, which was led by Google Capital, and also included Rackspace, Accel, and Warburg Pincus. The company develops endpoint protection software-as-a-service, which is used to protect computers against cyber attacks. The company says it has now raised $156M in funding for its software. The company says it has been selling its software to Fortune 50 (More info...)
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iZSearch Gets Seed Funding, Launches Internet Search SiteCarlsbad-based iZSearch said this morning that it has raised a round of seed funding, and also launched its web-based Internet search site. According to iZSearch, the company recently closed a seed funding round from the Tech Coast Angels and Integrity Applications Incorporated (IAI). Size of that funding round was not announced. According to iZSearch, it has developed an alternative Internet search engine, focused on privacy, minimal ads, and convenient navigation features.
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Yardi Debuts New SoftwareSanta Barbara-based Yardi, the developer of real estate investment management and property management software, has launched a new product, aimed at the military housing market. According to Yardi, its new MILITARYCafe software is aimed at property owners looking to market to both the military and civilians looking for on-base or off-based housing. Yardi said its new software helps personnel searching online for properties filter properties by service type, pay grade, service branch, and other p (More info...)
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AnaptysBio Names CFOSan Diego-based AnaptysBio, which is developing antibodies to treat inflammation and other issues, has named Robert E. Hoffman as its new Chief Financial Officer. Hoffman was most recently CFO of Arena Pharmaceuticals, and also served at Polaris Group, also as CFO. He sits on the boards of CombiMatrix Corporation, MabVax Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. and Kura Oncology. AnaptysBio currently has a number of programsnning with Novartis, Gilead, Celgene, Momenta and TESARO.
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Epic Sciences Names Board MemberSan Diego-based Epic Sciences has named Gregory C. Critchfield to its board of directors, the company said this morning. Critchfield is the chairman, president and CEO of Sera Prognostics, and also has was previously President of Myriad Genetics. Epic Sciences is developing diagnostics products aimed at personalized treatment and management of cancer. The company's backers include RusnanoMedInvest (RMI), Arcus Ventures, Domain Associates, Roche Venture Fund, and Pfizer, among others.
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