Here are some of the latest headlines from the Boston-area tech community:
—Seattle-based Tableau Software (NYSE: [[ticker:DATA]]) said it acquired Empirical Systems, an automated statistical analysis startup that spun out of MIT’s Probabilistic Computing Project. The price wasn’t disclosed in a press release announcing the deal. Empirical employees will join Tableau, which is establishing a research and development office in Cambridge, MA, where Empirical is based.
—In an 11-2 vote, the Boston City Council reportedly passed restrictions on short-term home rentals through sites like Airbnb, most notably prohibiting renters and investors that own apartments or homes (but don’t live in them) from renting them out by the night, according to the Boston Globe. The ordinance now goes to Mayor Marty Walsh for approval. Read more from Boston Magazine.
—Boston-based healthcare technology startup Pillo received the first investment from Hackensack Meridian Health’s $25 million innovation center fund. The New Jersey-based healthcare organization is investing $250,000 cash in Pillo and providing up to $250,000 worth of services to support commercialization of its product, according to a company statement e-mailed to Xconomy.
Pillo said it’s developing a home health device with a touchscreen and voice recognition capabilities, which can dispense pills, order prescription refills online, enable video conferencing between users and their doctors, display data from electronic medical records, and alert family members if a user misses a medication dose. Pillo’s voice capabilities are powered by software from Orbita, another Boston-based healthtech startup.
—Continuum, a Boston-based company that provides software and services to managed IT service providers, said it expanded its cybersecurity capabilities with the acquisition of Carvir. The purchase price wasn’t disclosed.
—Boston-based Validity said it acquired BriteVerify for an undisclosed price. It was Validity’s second acquisition this year, following its purchase of CRMfusion in April. Validity sells software and services that help customers manage and confirm the integrity of their customer relationship management data.
