The Central Intelligence Agency has invested in Colossal through its nonprofit VC investment arm, In-Q-Tel, reports The Intercept. Named in honor of Q—the tech genius from the James Bond novels and movies—the VC firm was founded in 1999 to keep U.S. intelligence agencies on the cutting edge of "innovative and impactful technologies coming out of Silicon Valley and beyond."
So why Colossal? "Strategically, it’s less about the mammoths and more about the capability," In-Q-Tel says.
In August, Colossal Biosciences announced it is working to "de-extinct" the Tasmanian tiger with the help of an Australian university and “marsupial biobanking.” It didn't take long for the TV show "Jeopardy" to notice—and work it into an answer.
In this week’s North Texas deal flow, you’ll also find news about crowdfunding platform Harvest Return landing $2.5M; Supply’s acquisition by Foundry Brands; Moss Adams acquiring local CPA firm Kurtz & Company P.C.; Tri Global Energy being acquired for $270M by Canada's Enbridge; and more.
Dallas-based Colossal Biosciences, the de-extinction company behind plans to bring back the woolly mammoth and thylacine, developed its own software solution "after reviewing everything available on the market." Now it's sharing the platform with the launch of Form Bio.
The spinout's technology tools can help drive the “entire molecular revolution” that is occurring in the life sciences and biotech space, in addition to bolstering the Lone Star state as a hub for the industry, says Chief Strategy Officer Claire Aldridge.
What companies are finding funding or having a big exit? From startup investments to grants and acquisitions, Dallas Innovates tracks what’s happening in North Texas money.
Colossal launched last September with a plan to "de-extinct" the woolly mammoth by using CRISPR genetic engineering to create a mammoth-elephant hybrid.
With a total raise of $75 million to date, the startup aims to
have its first set of mammoth-elephant hybrid calves "in 4 to 6 years," co-founder and CEO Ben Lamm told us. But Colossal's goals extend much further—with the potential "to advance human health, enhance food production, reduce environmental impact, and optimize animal health and welfare."
The Eos—a refrigerator-sized green energy solution powered by machine intelligence—captures and sequesters carbon from the atmosphere using algae. Hypergiant founder Ben Lamm, who's trying to bring back the woolly mammoth with his new startup Colossal, looks back at the development of Eos, and what it could mean for the world.
It's not "Jurassic Park," but it's almost as amazing. Hypergiant founder Ben Lamm is launching a new biosciences and genetics startup—Colossal—with $15 million in private funding. The goal: Use genomics to "de-extinct" the woolly mammoth and re-wild it on the Arctic tundra. Lamm's co-founder, Harvard geneticist Dr. George Church, says this "grand vision" could lead to big opportunities in conservation, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and more.
Farooq will also join the Board of Directors and be the GM of Products at the Texas-based startup. The move is expected to set Hypergiant up for accelerated growth.
A fleet of mini-satellites working together in space will update actions and tasks ‘on the fly’ based on emerging scenarios and mission needs, says CEO Ben Lamm. That’s something that’s never been done before.
That ability to update, collect, and share data in space—in real time—is an evolution for defense and commercial use cases.
The startup, spun out of Hypergiant Sensory Sciences, plans to use the funding to power its "first-of-its-kind" Extended Reality environment, which can be used to build AI-models to give businesses and organizations a new way to view their physical world.
With his new role on the Executive Advisory Board, Nye is looking to develop AI systems in two areas he deeply cares about: climate change and space exploration. "We need to think big," he said, "and I'm very optimistic about what AI can do to make the world quite a bit better."
The funding comes roughly a year after Hypergiant launched out of stealth—a year filled with growing revenue (eight figures in the first 12 months), A-list partnerships (Microsoft, Adobe, SAP, Booz Allen, Nvidia), and launching three separate businesses under the parent company.
Conversable will join LivePerson in "taking conversational commerce to the 'Main Street' market," according to Conversable co-founder Ben Lamm. Conversation technology is a “transformative interface,” he says.
North Texas is a big place, with plenty to do, see, hear, and watch. We scour the internet every week to find events and activities for you. As always, things may change at any time, so be sure to check the official website or registration page for the latest details....
A few years ago, the digital leadership team of a globally recognized motorcycle brand reached out to us after completing a major digital refresh. They had followed every recommended best practice....
The prospect of electric “air taxis” buzzing around Texas skies just got a boost from the Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and the FAA announced that eight proposals—including one in Texas—have been selected as part of the brand-new Advanced Air Mobility and Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP)....
Dallas management and financial consulting firm Embark has named Laura Neal as its chief revenue officer. With more than 20 years of leadership experience in revenue growth and sales, Neal comes with a track record of establishing high-performing teams and guiding sustained growth across professional services and advisory organizations, Embark said....
North Texas is a big place, with plenty to do, see, hear, and watch. We scour the internet every week to find events and activities for you. As always, things may change at any time, so be sure to check the official website or registration page for the latest details....
A few years ago, the digital leadership team of a globally recognized motorcycle brand reached out to us after completing a major digital refresh. They had followed every recommended best practice....
The prospect of electric “air taxis” buzzing around Texas skies just got a boost from the Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and the FAA announced that eight proposals—including one in Texas—have been selected as part of the brand-new Advanced Air Mobility and Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP)....
Dallas management and financial consulting firm Embark has named Laura Neal as its chief revenue officer. With more than 20 years of leadership experience in revenue growth and sales, Neal comes with a track record of establishing high-performing teams and guiding sustained growth across professional services and advisory organizations, Embark said....