Startups

When Geert Cauwenbergh needed money for a life sciences startup in 2002, he knew where to turn: venture capitalists.

Karyopharm Therapeutics of Natick has produced promising results as it develops its cancer drug, KPT-330. Now, the startup is exploring other potential applications for its technology. Karyopharm CEO Dr. Michael Kauffman said the startup has tested KPT-330 in a topical gel on animal subjects and gotten positive results in treating wounds that are difficult to heal. The startup is also studying other applications for autoimmune diseases, but Kauffman said it was too early to discuss those in detail.

A little over five years ago, Peter Rucinski couldn't have told you the first thing about yoga.

Milford biotech startup Prothelia Inc. announced it has entered into an agreement with a Connecticut-based drug company to further develop Prothelia's clinical-stage treatment for the rare form of muscular dystrophy known as MCD1A. Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc., which specializes in treatments for rare diseases, will have an option to acquire Prothelia and license its clinical-state treatment, Laminin-111, after entering into a “strategic agreement” with Prothelia and its research partner, the University of Nevada Reno (UNR), according to a statement from Prothelia.

Who says innovation has to be complicated? Many inventions are seen as solutions to problems. One day, Gary Richard saw how people who enjoy canned, carbonated beverages couldn't put down their drinks for long stretches without those drinks losing some of their fizz or taste.

The decision to take a company public isn't an easy one, said Paul Brannelly, senior vice president of finance and administration at Karyopharm Therapeutics in Natick. The money and time spent on activities related to public trading are considerable, according to Brannelly. Being public somewhat limits executives' ability to make quick business decisions. But Karyopharm, a clinical-stage drug company that is developing treatments for solid tumors as well as cancers of the blood, saw pursuing an initial public offering (IPO) this fall as an opportunity to shore up financing as it continues the lengthy clinical trial process that it hopes will lead to approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

What has your company done for you lately? If you work at a young technology company, the answer may differ slightly from that of the average employee in another industry. The tech companies seem to lead the way in designing workplace perk programs designed to lure candidates and keep talented employees, with Google an obvious example. It counts free on-site haircuts, laundry service and table games among its famous perks.

As an engineer, Mark Durrenberger has plied his craft in the nuclear energy and information technology fields. When he formed New England Breeze Solar — later renaming it New England Clean Energy — he engineered the formation of a new business in a relatively new industry: solar installation. His efforts in growing the business earned him Business Leader of the Year honors (for small businesses and entrepreneurs) in 2012 from the Worcester Business Journal.

SimpliVity Corp., a Westborough-based IT startup, said it has secured $58 million in Series C financing to support continued growth.

A Northborough company that provides lending services for people who buy mobile homes, will expand outside New England, establishing operations in Maryland, Delaware and New York. Chris Schofield, who founded Priority Funding in 2003, made the decision to grow to the south and west after maximizing the company's potential in New England. Schofield said Priority Funding has serviced about 3,500 loans for its clients, who provide financing on mobile homes built on leased land, and now he sees great potential to grow the business outside the region.