Author: LauraLorek@gmail.com (Page 1 of 351)

Colossal Biosciences co-founder Ben Lamm joined actor Joe Manganiello at SXSW to discuss the company’s groundbreaking work in de-extinction and genetic engineering, revealing advances that could reshape conservation efforts and potentially extend human lifespans.

The Dallas-based startup, which has raised over $435 million in private funding, aims to bring back extinct species like the woolly mammoth and Tasmanian tiger (thylacine) through genetic engineering. Lamm highlighted that beyond the headline-grabbing de-extinction work, Colossal is developing technologies with applications in conservation, medicine and environmental remediation.

“Modern conservation isn’t working,” Lamm said. “The speed at which we’re eradicating species… we’re going to lose up to 50% of all biodiversity between now and 2050.”

Seven Key Takeaways:

1. Woolly Mouse Success: Colossal has created a genetically modified “woolly mouse” with mammoth genes, demonstrating that their genetic editing techniques work with high precision. This serves as a bridge to their mammoth resurrection project.
2. Genetic Recovery Process: The company uses DNA from museum specimens, living relatives, and convergent evolution analysis to reconstruct extinct species’ genomes, as exemplified by their work on the thylacine.
3. Environmental Impact: Reintroducing extinct keystone species could help combat climate change by preserving permafrost and restoring damaged ecosystems, potentially generating carbon credits.
4. Cancer Research Implications: While studying elephant cells for the mammoth project, researchers discovered mechanisms related to how elephants naturally resist cancer, which could have applications in human medicine.
5. Global Biobank Need: Lamm advocated for a “Manhattan Project-scale” effort to create a comprehensive biobank of endangered species’ genetic material before they disappear.
6. Business Model: Colossal monetizes its technology through spinoff companies, including one focused on plastic degradation and another on computational biology for human applications.
7. Longevity Research: Lamm predicted that within 20 years, advances in synthetic biology would lead to “longevity escape velocity,” where human lifespans could be significantly extended.

The session also touched on ethical considerations, with Lamm arguing that the choice not to pursue de-extinction technologies would be unethical given the ongoing biodiversity crisis. “I think we have a moral obligation and an ethical obligation to pursue technologies to at least undo some of the sins of the past,” he said.

Manganiello, who appears to be an investor in the company, expressed fascination with Colossal’s work and its potential to inspire younger generations to pursue science.

The company expects to continue quarterly meetings with federal government agencies to address ethical concerns and ensure transparency as their genetic engineering technologies advance.

Scientists at Colossal Biosciences have created genetically engineered mice with mammoth-like traits, marking a significant step toward the company’s ambitious goal of “de-extinction” of the woolly mammoth, the company announced Friday.

The “Colossal Woolly Mouse” exhibits multiple traits similar to those that once helped mammoths survive frigid environments, including dramatically altered coat color, texture and thickness. The mice resulted from simultaneous modification of seven genes in a single genome-editing process.

“The Colossal Woolly Mouse marks a watershed moment in our de-extinction mission,” said Ben Lamm, co-founder and CEO of Colossal Biosciences. “By engineering multiple cold-tolerant traits from mammoth evolutionary pathways into a living model species, we’ve proven our ability to recreate complex genetic combinations.”

The company’s mammoth team identified key genes that impact hair and cold-adaptation traits through analyzing 121 mammoth and elephant genomes. Researchers then used a combination of gene-editing technologies to make eight edits simultaneously across seven genes.

The resulting mice display mammoth-like features including longer hair — up to three times the length of normal mice — woolly hair texture, wavy coats and golden coloration instead of the typical black or brown. The mice also carry modifications to genes involved in lipid metabolism, similar to those found in mammoths.

Dr. Beth Shapiro, chief science officer at Colossal, called the achievement “an important step toward validating our approach to resurrecting traits that have been lost to extinction.”

The genetic engineering breakthrough has implications beyond the laboratory, serving as a model for studying cold-climate adaptations in mammals and demonstrating how multiple genes work together to create physical traits.

Colossal Biosciences was founded by Lamm and Harvard geneticist George Church with the goal of using CRISPR gene-editing technology for species de-extinction. The company aims to resurrect extinct species like the woolly mammoth and thylacine (Tasmanian tiger) by recreating their genetics in living related species.

Lamm and actor Joe Manganiello will discuss the implications of the Woolly Mouse project at the SXSW conference in Austin on Sunday.

Renowned futurist Amy Webb delivered a sobering assessment of emerging technology convergences at South by Southwest on Saturday, warning that humanity has crossed into what she terms “the beyond” — a new era where artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and advanced sensors are merging to create unprecedented capabilities and challenges.

Webb, CEO of the newly rebranded Future Today Strategy Group (FTSG), presented findings from her organization’s 1,000-page annual Tech Trends Report, highlighting several developments that could fundamentally reshape society:

“Living intelligence is going to rewrite the rules of our reality as we know it today, and we are not prepared,” Webb told the audience. “Living intelligence is a system that can sense and learn and adapt and evolve.”

Key takeaways from Webb’s presentation include:

1. Multi-agent AI systems are developing the ability to collaborate, assign tasks, and make decisions without human input — demonstrated in recent experiments where autonomous agents spontaneously organized themselves, formed alliances, and developed their own communication methods.
2. AI systems are increasingly adopting non-human languages like Microsoft’s “Droid speak” to communicate with each other three times faster than when using human languages, which Webb described as “clumsy, imprecise and sometimes inaccurate” for machine communication.
3. The integration of physical sensors with AI is transforming systems from passive observers to active controllers, with examples ranging from injectable microscopic devices for human bodies to implantable electrodes that allow paralyzed individuals to control computers through thought.
4. Biology and technology are converging in startling ways, including the creation of the first commercial computers made with living human neurons, which Webb described as “the first living machines.”
5. Scientists are developing materials with properties not found in nature — “metamaterials” — including bricks that function like lungs to filter pollution and buildings that can switch between rigid and flexible states during earthquakes.
6. The fields of robotics and AI are making rapid advances, with Webb noting that embodiment through robots may be necessary for achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI), as “AGI doesn’t exist without embodiment much in the same way that our human intelligence doesn’t really exist outside of a body.”
7. Major tech companies are rushing toward commercialized robots within five years, despite public statements suggesting longer timelines, with Webb highlighting recent breakthroughs in robot dexterity and adaptation.
8. The convergence of these technologies is creating what Webb calls a “technology supercycle” — a decades-long period of economic expansion followed by eventual correction or realignment.
9. Advancements in generative biology mean “anybody can get biology predictions in minutes,” potentially disrupting pharmaceutical companies and manufacturers of physical products.
10. New capabilities in biological manufacturing include growing human teeth in pigs, creating rice with cow genes, and developing “sperm bots” to tackle fertility challenges.
11. Webb expressed concern about the ethical implications of these technologies, asking “whose brain parts are in these computers?” regarding the new neural computing systems.
12. The trends indicate a lack of coordinated planning or vision for the future being created, with Webb stating “there’s no vision for the world that we inhabit right now, there’s no long-term plan, there is no strategy.”
13. Webb warned that focusing too much on immediate discomforts — what she calls the “stone in your shoe effect” — prevents organizations and leaders from engaging in necessary long-term planning.
14. Public-private partnerships around these technologies could lead to problematic outcomes, with Webb presenting scenarios where technologies developed for consumer comfort could eventually be weaponized for political control.
15. The decisions made in the next decade “are going to determine the long-range fate of human civilization,” according to Webb’s research, requiring better strategic foresight and planning.

Webb concluded by urging attendees to challenge their existing beliefs and prepare for dramatic changes: “Remember you create the future every day with the decisions that you make. Every decision is a doorway that you can walk through to make tomorrow better.”

The 18th edition of Webb’s annual Tech Trends Report is available free online through the Future Today Strategy Group website.

Colossal Biosciences, a Dallas-based de-extinction company, has reached a $10.2 billion valuation, marking its status as Texas’s first “decacorn” startup. The company, co-founded by serial entrepreneur Ben Lamm and synthetic biology pioneer George Church, is working to bring extinct species back to life while developing technologies for conservation and human health.

On the Ideas to Invoices podcast, Lamm revealed that Colossal has already spun out two successful businesses, with a third announcement expected in late 2025 or early 2026. The company focuses on three flagship species: the woolly mammoth, Tasmanian tiger, and dodo.

The mammoth project, currently in its editing phase, has achieved approximately 25 gene edits in Asian elephant cell lines. Lamm says they remain on track for a late 2028 release date, though he suggests another species might be revived before then.

Colossal has marked several scientific milestones, including generating a 99.9% complete ancient genome for the Tasmanian tiger and successfully making 300 stacked edits in a single cell line. The company is also developing artificial womb technology, which could revolutionize both de-extinction and conservation efforts by eliminating the need for surrogate mothers.

“We’re not just bringing these species back exactly as they were,” Lamm explained. “We’re engineering improvements.” One example is their work to make mammoths resistant to EHP, a disease that currently kills 20% of baby elephants annually.

The company employs a three-dimensional model for species selection, weighing ecological impact, indigenous peoples’ perspectives, and conservation benefits. They actively collaborate with local communities, conservation groups, and government agencies.

Colossal is also advocating for the establishment of global “bio vaults” to preserve animal genetic diversity, similar to existing seed vaults for plants. The company has raised an additional $50 million for their foundation to support conservation technologies.

Beyond wildlife conservation, their research could have significant implications for human health, particularly in treating genetic diseases requiring multiple gene edits. Their advances in multiplex editing—the ability to edit multiple parts of the genome simultaneously—could revolutionize genetic medicine.

Unlike Lamm’s previous ventures, which were built for acquisition, he describes Colossal as a long-term, 25-plus year mission. The company maintains extensive partnerships with indigenous groups, conservationists, universities, and government agencies.

The revived species will be released in their natural habitats, with the mammoth targeted for the northernmost states of the United States and eventually Canada. Lamm emphasizes that the reintroduction process will be carefully managed, with extensive human oversight and intervention.

For more information about Colossal’s Tasmanian tiger project and their collaborative approach, visit colossal.com/tasmania.

The Ideas to Invoices podcast is listed below. Or you can download on Apple, Spotify, Amazon or whereever you get your podcasts.

Female founders of consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies sharedtheir entrepreneurial journeys during a panel discussion recently, highlighting the challenges and opportunities in building consumer brands from the ground up.

The panel, moderated by Michelle Breyer, chief marketing officer of SKU, Austin’s CPG accelerator, featured Sarah Vilenskiy of Blossom Essentials, Ruth Stedman of A Pup Above, and Delisa Harper of Funky Mello.

EisnerAmper, Unnanu, Active Capital, Lumen Insurance Technologies, and Perkins Coie sponsored the Second Annual Female Founders Outlook 2025 at Zilker Lodge, which benefits Austin Sunshine Camps.

The founders revealed diverse approaches to funding their ventures. While Funky Mello secured $200,000 through friends and family, and A Pup Above attracted angel investors, Blossom Essentials chose to remain bootstrapped despite industry pressure to seek venture capital.

“We’re actually still bootstrapping today,” Vilenskiy said. “It’s not an easy thing to do when you see so many companies growing so quickly around you, but we still own 80% of our company.”

Distribution strategies varied among the panelists. A Pup Above found early success in pet specialty retail stores, which Stedman described as more forgiving to early-stage companies. Meanwhile, Blossom Essentials built its customer base through digital marketing before expanding to retail channels.

Harper’s Funky Mello demonstrated significant evolution, transforming from a farmers market business in 2017 to a retail brand now present in 200 stores, including Whole Foods and HEB. The company initially raised $10,000 through Kickstarter to purchase their first commercial mixer.

The founders emphasized the critical role of mentorship in their growth. SKU’s accelerator program provided crucial guidance in areas including fundraising, retail strategy, and public relations.

On hiring strategy, the panelists advocated for caution with early full-time employees. “I would never recommend hiring any W2s first,” Vilenskiy said, suggesting startups begin with contractors and boutique agencies to maintain flexibility.

For those with co-founders, complementary skill sets proved essential. Harper described how she handles marketing and HR while her co-founder manages sales and operations, though she noted the importance of maintaining boundaries when working with a spouse.

The discussion highlighted the evolving nature of entrepreneurship. “The company will grow at a rapid rate,” Stedman said. “What it was a year ago, two years ago, it was not what it is today, and so you constantly have to be evolving.”

SKU, which hosted the panel, has a track record of successful alumni, including Siete Foods, a female-founded Mexican food company that sold to PepsiCo for $1 billion last year.

Women entrepreneurs continue to face significant systemic barriers in accessing capital and building businesses, despite making up 40% of business owners, according to a panel of prominent female business leaders and investors at a recent Female Founders Outlook event.

EisnerAmper, Unnanu, Active Capital, Lumen Insurance Technologies, and Perkins Coie sponsored the Second Annual Female Founders Outlook 2025 at Zilker Lodge, which benefits Austin Sunshine Camps.

Carla McDonald, founder of Dynabrand Ventures and Chair of Austin Mayor Kirk Watson’s Task Force for Women Entrepreneurs, highlighted that the percentage of venture capital funding going to women founders has remained stagnant at around 1-2% over the past decade, and in some cases, is declining.

“I also want to say that Angel investing is the brightest spot in this bleak and dismal kind of ecosystem because 40% of all Angel investors are women,” McDonald said. “I always encourage women to go seek out Angel investments I think they’ll have an easier road.”

Lauren Washington, founder and CEO of Fundr, developed a platform to change how startups get funded after witnessing systemic barriers in traditional funding models that disproportionately affect women founders.

“When it’s systemic, it’s insidious and falls into a lot of different categories,” Washington said. “Some of it is social, some is the fact that networks are really held tight, and most of the capital, particularly those first checks in, are made through who you know. It’s who you are connected to and women are often left out of some of those networks. It’s still unfortunately a bit of an old boys club some of it is around internal and unconscious bias.”

The panel, which included investors, a banking executive, and education leaders, identified several key challenges:

• Women founders typically receive half the funding amount compared to male counterparts pitching identical business plans
• Female entrepreneurs often undervalue their companies during fundraising
• Access to networks and meaningful mentorship remains limited
• Legal and political pushback against programs designed to close funding gaps

Heidi Leach, VP of startup banking at JP Morgan, emphasized that women entrepreneurs often undersell themselves. “When we price our products, we price them too low, which affects our ability to have strong profit margins,” Leach said. She also said women undervalue their startups when seeking venture capital.

However, the panel also identified opportunities in the current market. Women entrepreneurs tend to be more capital efficient, which could be advantageous in the current economic climate where venture funding has become more selective.

Mellie Price, executive director of Texas Entrepreneurship at the University of Texas, stressed the importance of educational programs focusing on financial literacy and business fundamentals. “There’s a lot of shame that people carry about not knowing that,” Price said. “But that’s what it takes to win.”

The panelists emphasized the critical role of mentorship in advancing women’s entrepreneurship, particularly highlighting the value of both traditional mentoring relationships and peer-to-peer support networks.

Carla McDonald, founder of Dynabrand Ventures, advised entrepreneurs to expect challenges. “You’re going to face three existential threats where you think it’s over,” McDonald said. “But it’s really important in that moment to have a mentor who will help you through.”

Austin is poised for transformative changes in supporting women entrepreneurs, following recommendations from a mayoral task force that has already sparked significant initiatives, task force chair Carla McDonald announced at a recent Female Founders Outlook event.

McDonald, founder of Dynabrand Ventures, revealed that the Better Business Bureau Foundation has secured approval to open Austin’s first Women’s Business Center, addressing a critical gap in resources for women business owners in the Texas capital.

“Austin ranks sixth nationally for venture capital deals and dollars, but less than 1% of those dollars reach women founders — even worse than the 2% national average,” McDonald told the audience of more than 100 attendees at the Zilker Lodge. EisnerAmper, Unnanu, Active Capital, Lumen Insurance Technologies, and Perkins Coie sponsored the Second Annual Female Founders Outlook 2025.

The task force, established by Mayor Kirk Watson in summer 2023, spent eight months surveying 370 women entrepreneurs and consulting stakeholders nationwide. Their findings highlighted significant disparities, including difficulties accessing SBA loans and venture capital, particularly for profitable women-led businesses.

Despite these challenges, women entrepreneurs own 40% of Austin’s businesses, contributing over $5 billion to the local economy and employing more than 100,000 people, according to McDonald.

The Austin Chamber of Commerce has responded to the task force’s recommendations by forming an Entrepreneurs Council to better integrate women founders into the broader business community. Additionally, a local venture capital firm is considering leading a capital pledge to increase investments in women-led startups.

“The future for Austin women entrepreneurs has never been brighter,” McDonald said. “This is a transformative moment for us as members of the community to lean in and meet the moment.”

The Women’s Business Center, expected to open within months, will provide free business training, access to capital, and federal contract certification opportunities for women entrepreneurs.

The Mayor’s Task Force for Austin Women Entrepreneurs’ full report can be found here.

Silicon Hills News announced Friday it will host its first-ever “Batty Awards,” celebrating the achievements of Austin’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, on March 5th at The Parlor Room on Rainey Street.

The irreverent awards ceremony, playing on Austin’s famous bat colony, will recognize outstanding achievements across the technology and startup community.

“Austin’s entrepreneurial spirit deserves recognition that matches the city’s unique character,” said Laura Lorek, editor of Silicon Hills News. “The Battys celebrate both business excellence and our community’s distinctive culture.”

Award categories include:

“Batman Entrepreneur of the Year” for outstanding male founder

“Batwoman Entrepreneur of the Year” for outstanding female founder

“The Dawn Patrol” for most promising early-stage startup

“The Night Flyer” for most impressive pivot or turnaround

“The Echo Locator” for excellence in market research

“The Colony Builder” for outstanding company culture

“The Great Migration” for successful business relocation to Austin

“The Moonlight Maven” for best bootstrapped company

“The Guano Guru” for Venture Capitalist of the Year

“The Guardian Bat” for Angel Investor of the Year

“The Sonar Superstar” for most innovative technology

“The Bat Signal” for best marketing campaign

“The Wingspan Wonder” for fastest-growing company

“The Night’s Watch” for best cybersecurity company

“The Neural Night Navigator” for excellence in artificial intelligence

“The Bridge Builder” for outstanding community impact

“The Bat Cave Creator” for best workplace environment

The ceremony begins at 6 p.m. with a networking reception followed by the awards presentation. The event takes place at The Parlor Room, located in Austin’s bustling Rainey Street district.

For more information about the awards or to purchase tickets, visit Eventbrite for early bird tickets. The event sells out every year, so get a ticket now when they are available.

Pankaj Kedia, a renowned Silicon Valley technology executive, gave the keynote address at the U.S. India Chamber of Commerce and Austin AI Valley talk on AI at the Austin Central Library Tuesday night.

Kedia is currently focused on shaping, accelerating, and bringing the benefits of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to society at large as an investor, advisor, and thought leader. Previously, he was an accomplished tech intrapreneur, having incubated a series of new businesses at Intel and Qualcomm.

Generative AI is expected to add between $2.6 Trillion to $4.4 Trillion by 2030 in additional value to the economy due to increased productivity across all sectors from high tech, retail and banking to media, entertainment and agriculture, according to one of Kedia’s slides, citing data from McKinsey.

Already, the “magnificient seven” as Kedia dubs them, the top AI companies in the U.S. including Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Meta and Tesla, have seen a $10 Trillion increase in market capitalization since the introduction of Chat GPT in November of 2022. Today, those top seven companies are now worth $17.7 Trillion. That’s what Kedia calls the “AI premium.”

And even the introduction of China’s DeepSeek in the past few weeks is not going to change the momentum of Slicon Valley AI startups and the established players, Kedia said. It shook things up, but the head of DeepSeek is Liang Wenfeng who is a hedge fund manager and co-founder of High-Flyer who made a lot of money by shorting Nvidia’s stock when DeepSeek hit the market, Kedia said.

1. AI is Moving Faster Than the Internet

• Kedia emphasized how AI’s progress is outpacing even the internet and mobile technologies. Just like the internet transformed industries, AI is set to do the same but at an even quicker pace.

2. AI is Global, with Widespread Adoption

• AI is not limited to a few countries or industries. It’s being deployed globally, from Mexico to India, and is transforming sectors like healthcare, sports, fitness, and finance. AI is truly global with more than 100 countries active in AI research and development efforts, Kedia said.

3. The Role of Private Companies in AI Development

• Some of the biggest leaps in AI are happening in the private sector, with companies achieving valuations that are magnitudes larger than those of past internet-era companies. The financial backing and innovation in the private market are fueling AI’s rapid growth.

4. Investing in AI and Startups

• Kedia shared his experiences as an investor and emphasized the importance of identifying the right opportunities early. The key to success is finding businesses that use AI to address real-world problems, even at the earliest stages of development.

5. AI’s Impact on Existing Industries

• AI is reshaping industries, and it’s critical for businesses to integrate AI technologies to remain competitive. Companies in healthcare, for example, have already started deploying AI-driven diagnostics and management tools, which is creating efficiencies and improving outcomes. For example, Kedia cites Eastman, a global specialty materials company with $10 billion in revenue, based in Kingsport, Tenn., has saved $200 million in 2023 in its manufacturing processes by using an AI platform to optimize heat transfer fluid management.

6. The Importance of Reinforcement Learning

• Pankaj touched on how reinforcement learning and optimization techniques are reshaping industries, with a particular focus on how AI models are becoming more efficient by using smaller parameters. This is leading to more sustainable and effective AI solutions.

7. AI’s Potential in Healthcare

• One of the most impactful applications of AI is in healthcare. AI is not only improving diagnostics but also revolutionizing personalized treatments, early disease detection, and patient care management.

8. Challenges with AI Adoption

• While AI’s potential is enormous, there are significant challenges around its deployment, including ethical concerns, data privacy, and ensuring that AI models are designed to avoid biases. These issues need to be addressed for AI to be deployed safely and responsibly.

Overall, Kedia thinks we are in the AI era and that it is bigger and bolder than previous tech revolutions. And AI is going to transform every sector.

A new ambitious infrastructure project aimed at advancing artificial intelligence capabilities in the United States has been announced, with major technology companies pledging $500 billion in investments over the next four years.

In a news conference on Tuesday, President Donald Trump talked about the venture, which the Associated Press reported is already underway and dates back to 2024.

Stargate Project, led by SoftBank and OpenAI, will begin immediate deployment of $100 billion to construct AI infrastructure, with its first buildout located in Abilene, Texas. The project aims to bolster American technological leadership, potentially creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and generating significant economic impact.

Masayoshi Son of SoftBank will serve as chairman of the initiative, with SoftBank managing financial aspects and OpenAI handling operational responsibilities. Initial equity funders include SoftBank, OpenAI, Oracle, and MGX.

Key technology partners in the project include Arm, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Oracle, and OpenAI. The collaboration will focus on developing and operating advanced computing systems, building on existing partnerships, including OpenAI’s long-standing relationship with NVIDIA dating back to 2016 and a newer partnership with Oracle.

The project is positioned as more than a technological investment, with leaders describing it as critical to national security and the re-industrialization of the United States. Project representatives emphasized their commitment to developing artificial intelligence for “the benefit of all humanity,” with a particular focus on advancing artificial general intelligence (AGI).

While the initial campus is established in Abilene, Texas, the project team is evaluating potential sites across the country for additional infrastructure developments. The project will continue OpenAI’s existing collaboration with Microsoft, including increased consumption of Azure cloud services.

Project leaders portrayed Stargate as a transformative step in AI development, expressing optimism about the technology’s potential to “elevate humanity” through strategic technological investment.

No specific timeline for complete infrastructure deployment was provided, though the initial $100 billion investment is set to begin immediately.