The day before Thanksgiving, folks here hit on the idea of bringing those hard-working entrepreneurs who were still in town over to our new headquarters for an almost-spur-of-the-moment Innovators’ Lunch. We had so much fun—except when I spilled the Greek salad all over the carpet—that we decided on the spot to do it quasi regularly. … Continue reading “It’s Snowing Today, So Let’s Have the Next Xconomy Innovators’ Lunch at Noon Tomorrow (Friday): the Pizza is on Us”
Author: Robert Buderi
Bob is Xconomy's founder and chairman. He is one of the country's foremost journalists covering business and technology. As a noted author and magazine editor, he is a sought-after commentator on innovation and global competitiveness. Before taking his most recent position as a research fellow in MIT's Center for International Studies, Bob served as Editor in Chief of MIT's Technology Review, then a 10-times-a-year publication with a circulation of 315,000. Bob led the magazine to numerous editorial and design awards and oversaw its expansion into three foreign editions, electronic newsletters, and highly successful conferences. As BusinessWeek's technology editor, he shared in the 1992 National Magazine Award for The Quality Imperative.
Bob is the author of four books about technology and innovation. Naval Innovation for the 21st Century (2013) is a post-Cold War account of the Office of Naval Research. Guanxi (2006) focuses on Microsoft's Beijing research lab as a metaphor for global competitiveness. Engines of Tomorrow (2000) describes the evolution of corporate research. The Invention That Changed the World (1996) covered a secret lab at MIT during WWII. Bob served on the Council on Competitiveness-sponsored National Innovation Initiative and is an advisor to the Draper Prize Nominating Committee. He has been a regular guest of CNBC's Strategy Session and has spoken about innovation at many venues, including the Business Council, Amazon, eBay, Google, IBM, and Microsoft.
A Very Brief Follica Update for Our Loyal Readers
Ever since it announced its $5.5 million Series A funding round in January 2008, we have covered the news of Follica, the Boston area startup out to bring a scientific approach to developing novel ways of treating and, perhaps one day even curing, baldness and other hair-follicle disorders. These stories, including news of Follica’s $11 … Continue reading “A Very Brief Follica Update for Our Loyal Readers”
Kendall Square Gets a Logo to Go With Its Motto
First came the motto, now comes the logo. Back in October, we brought you the news that Kendall Square (via the Kendall Square Association, of which Xconomy is a member) had adopted a motto: The Future Lives Here. I wrote then that adopting a motto was only fitting, since “there is arguably no other place … Continue reading “Kendall Square Gets a Logo to Go With Its Motto”
Announcing Xconomy Battle of the Tech Bands 3: Seattle vs. Boston
Are you tired of this whole East Coast vs. West Coast rivalry? Do you want it settled once and for all? What better way to do so than with a knock-down drag-out fight— with bass, drums, and guitars. That’s the idea behind Xconomy Boston’s third annual Xconomy Battle of the Tech Bands. The theme of … Continue reading “Announcing Xconomy Battle of the Tech Bands 3: Seattle vs. Boston”
MIT Media Lab Director Aims to Transform Healthcare—By Bringing Patients Front and Center
An avalanche of new technology promises to transform healthcare. You’ve heard a lot about it: Electronic medical records. New ways to mine genomic data to match patients with the right medicines. Everything from iPhone apps and robots to help you exercise or take your meds. Not to mention relatively “old” advances like digital imaging and … Continue reading “MIT Media Lab Director Aims to Transform Healthcare—By Bringing Patients Front and Center”
Oneforty Raises $1.2M More to Develop Twitter App Store
Oneforty, the Brighton, MA-based Twitter app store startup that has wooed and wowed angel investors on both coasts, has taken in about $1.25 million in new funding, to go along with $372,525 it had previously raised from debt financing that was converted to equity, according to an SEC filing today. The filing indicates the total … Continue reading “Oneforty Raises $1.2M More to Develop Twitter App Store”
Bay State Venture Funding Perked Up in November: There Were Even Some Energy Deals
Entrepreneurs and anyone else interested in the Bay State’s high-tech economy had more than Thanksgiving to be thankful for last month. After a big dip in October, venture funding for Massachusetts startups seemed to get cooking again in November, as $186 million was infused into 22 deals. The result was a solid 10 percent rise … Continue reading “Bay State Venture Funding Perked Up in November: There Were Even Some Energy Deals”
Polaris to Open Dogpatch Labs in New York
Attention East Coast entrepreneurs—another incubator is on its way. Polaris Venture Partners is announcing today that it is opening a Dogpatch Labs branch—this time in New York City. This will be the third Dogpatch incubator, and the second on the East Coast. The Waltham, MA-based venture firm opened its first Dogpatch on San Francisco’s Pier … Continue reading “Polaris to Open Dogpatch Labs in New York”
First Dogpatch Labs Exit: Google Buys Former Y Combinator Company AppJet
Back in May, when I profiled the original Dogpatch Labs, launched by Polaris Venture Partners in San Francisco, I snapped the accompanying picture of a mannequin wearing an AppJet t-shirt. AppJet was a Y Combinator company a few summers back that had moved into the Dogpatch space on Pier 38. Now, it turns out, the … Continue reading “First Dogpatch Labs Exit: Google Buys Former Y Combinator Company AppJet”
The State of High-Tech and Life Sciences Executive Compensation Quiz: Answers and A Bit of Perspective on What You Can Expect in 2010
The end of the year is a time when compensation is on a lot of people’s minds—particularly with company committees busy working to set executive salary, bonus, and equity compensation for the coming year. Last week, I gauged Xconomy readers’ thoughts on the subject with a short quiz on tech- and life-sciences-executive compensation. The questions … Continue reading “The State of High-Tech and Life Sciences Executive Compensation Quiz: Answers and A Bit of Perspective on What You Can Expect in 2010”
Quiz: The State of Technology and Life Sciences Executive Compensation
The Boston area is a breeding ground for life sciences and technology innovation. Startups and more established companies are everywhere—and so are the engineers, scientists, CTOs, and operating, finance, and sales whizzes that make these enterprises hum. But what are all these folks paid—in salary, bonus, and stock? Are CEOs really the best compensated? How … Continue reading “Quiz: The State of Technology and Life Sciences Executive Compensation”
Under the Radar Deals: 10 (+1) New England October Financings You Never Heard About
The big picture is great. But at Xconomy, we also like the smaller details, which often fill in or round out the big picture—and make everything more clear. So it is when it comes to company financing rounds. We always bring you stories about the main venture deals in the region and a list of … Continue reading “Under the Radar Deals: 10 (+1) New England October Financings You Never Heard About”
Massachusetts Startup Funding Slowed Way Down in October—But Early Stage Deals Gained
It wasn’t just the leaves that began to fall in the Bay State in October: last month also saw a big falloff in venture deal-making. After a (relatively) spectacular September in which $228 million was pumped into 25 Massachusetts funding deals, investors only managed to shell out $169 million in 19 deals in October. It … Continue reading “Massachusetts Startup Funding Slowed Way Down in October—But Early Stage Deals Gained”
3Com Founder Bob Metcalfe Weighs in on News HP Has Purchased His Old Firm for $2.7 Billion
It was a newsroom holiday today at Xconomy, but Hewlett-Packard didn’t get the memo that we were off: the California company founded by Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard announced today that it would acquire 3Com for $2.7 billion. You can read all about the acquisition deal at a host of news outlets, including the New … Continue reading “3Com Founder Bob Metcalfe Weighs in on News HP Has Purchased His Old Firm for $2.7 Billion”
Don Dodge Weighs In On Leaving Microsoft, What’s Next, and Friends Old and New
It was big news here in New England last week when Don Dodge announced on his blog that he had been laid off from Microsoft as part of some 800 layoffs at the software powerhouse. Dodge had been a regular on the innovation scene here in New England—and around the world, really—and was known as … Continue reading “Don Dodge Weighs In On Leaving Microsoft, What’s Next, and Friends Old and New”
Cambridge Public Library Grand Opening: A Beautiful Library for a Great Innovation City
When they write the book on great libraries of the world, a few legendary names will come to mind: Alexandria; Pergamum (the city where papyrus is said to have been invented) in what is now Turkey; the British Library; the New York Public Library; and of course, the U.S. Library of Congress. The new public … Continue reading “Cambridge Public Library Grand Opening: A Beautiful Library for a Great Innovation City”
Clean Energy Week Preview: Of Green Ties and 52 Startups
We’ve noticed a slowing of venture investment in cleantech and other aspects of energy here in New England. But put any green investment pessimism on hold this week—as today marks the start off what’s being touted as the third annual Clean Energy Week here in Massachusetts. In a week of charged-up presentations from Springfield to … Continue reading “Clean Energy Week Preview: Of Green Ties and 52 Startups”
The Story of Google Friend Connect: Google Cambridge’s First Wholly Home-Grown Product
[Updated and corrected, see below—Also see end of story for news of Google announcement of Nov. 4] In May 2008, Google moved into colorful (hey, it’s Google) new offices in the heart of Kendall Square. Governor Deval Patrick played ping-pong at the grand opening with Google site director Steve Vinter. And since then, Google Cambridge … Continue reading “The Story of Google Friend Connect: Google Cambridge’s First Wholly Home-Grown Product”
Under the Radar Deals: 10 New England High-Tech Financings You Haven’t Heard About
There’s a big argument over whether venture capitalists and even angel investors are doing as many early stage or small deals these days. The general sentiment is that no, they aren’t. Since we began our monthly roundup of Massachusetts venture deals back in June, however, we’ve argued that the data doesn’t support that view: virtually … Continue reading “Under the Radar Deals: 10 New England High-Tech Financings You Haven’t Heard About”
My Worst Boss Ever: Hard-Earned Lessons on Entrepreneurship and Leadership From Members of Boston’s Innovation Community
Bosses come and bosses go. Great bosses can inspire and mentor and lead through the toughest times. Really bad bosses can poison and divide an organization, and lead it to ruin even if things aren’t that bad. In the course of my career I’ve come across many a successful person with a bad-boss tale to … Continue reading “My Worst Boss Ever: Hard-Earned Lessons on Entrepreneurship and Leadership From Members of Boston’s Innovation Community”
Kendall Square Adopts a Motto: “The Future Lives Here”
There is arguably no other place on Earth with the concentrated innovation power of Kendall Square. Within a few-block radius of the Kendall Square T station on Main Street on the edge of the MIT campus, you can find an unprecedented collection of startups, large company labs and offices, and non-profit organizations, from the One … Continue reading “Kendall Square Adopts a Motto: “The Future Lives Here””
VC Playoffs: Red Sox (MA) Vs. Yankees (NY)—A Graphic Comparison
[Corrected, October 22, 2009 — see below] I really hate the Yankees (sorry Bijan). Nothing good has come of them for me, except the time back in the early 90s when I was at Yankee Stadium with Trip Hawkins of Electronic Arts fame and Richard Nixon was sitting across the aisle, and two Secret Service … Continue reading “VC Playoffs: Red Sox (MA) Vs. Yankees (NY)—A Graphic Comparison”
The Past and Future of Venture Capital
This is Terry McGuire’s fifth big economic downturn as a venture capitalist, the first being Black Monday in 1987. But when he gets together to chat with Peter Brooke tomorrow night, he’ll be the inexperienced one. That’s why I’m incredibly excited about our Xconomy Forum tomorrow night, which will be held at the offices of … Continue reading “The Past and Future of Venture Capital”
Top 10 (+ 1) New England Venture Deals of Q3 2009
We’ve brought you a lot of third-quarter venture data in the last week or so—and we’re not done yet (hint: I have something special coming up for you baseball fans). But we haven’t gotten around to our usual Top 10 deals list. So let me remind you, it was a pretty good quarter here in … Continue reading “Top 10 (+ 1) New England Venture Deals of Q3 2009”
Notes from Dogpatch Labs’ Housewarming Party—and a List of Initial Inhabitants
It was a cold and drizzly night (how’s that for original writing?) last Thursday, and I was running late. But Dogpatch Labs Cambridge was holding its housewarming party across the street from Xconomy World Headquarters, so I braved the elements to stop in. I walked into a crowded house of 70 folks or so, boxes … Continue reading “Notes from Dogpatch Labs’ Housewarming Party—and a List of Initial Inhabitants”
TechStars Boston is Homeless, But Will Return in 2010—Director Finds Shelter in Dogpatch Labs
One of the worst things that happened in the Boston entrepreneurial community this year was that Y Combinator decamped to do all its incubating of new tech companies in Silicon Valley. One of the best things that happened was that a few months later, TechStars moved right in to fill the void. The incubator camp … Continue reading “TechStars Boston is Homeless, But Will Return in 2010—Director Finds Shelter in Dogpatch Labs”
Join Xconomy at Demo Meet-Up Next Thursday
Demo conference executive producer (and VentureBeat founder) Matt Marshall and his posse will be in town next Thursday scouting out startups interested in unveiling their companies or products at the spring edition of the semi-annual tech event. We’re planning on knocking back a beer or two (or maybe something stronger) with Matt and the Demo … Continue reading “Join Xconomy at Demo Meet-Up Next Thursday”
Deep Dive Into MA Deals Data for Q3—With Lots of Pictures
Just about everyone loves a good pie…chart, that is. If you’re one of those, read on. On Tuesday, we ran a story here in Boston about all the September venture deals in Massachusetts—and then my colleague Bruce followed that up a bit later that same day with a national roundup of third-quarter venture figures. Both … Continue reading “Deep Dive Into MA Deals Data for Q3—With Lots of Pictures”
Investors Lighted $228M Fire Under Massachusetts Startups in September
It wasn’t just school that people got back to in September—it was startup funding. After slowing noticeably in August, the total venture investment into Massachusetts startups last month hit its highest level since we began tracking the monthly figures in June. All told, investors put $228 million into 25 deals involving Bay State startups. That … Continue reading “Investors Lighted $228M Fire Under Massachusetts Startups in September”
How Twitter Got an App Store: The Oneforty Story (Part 2)
The second big thing in the genesis of Twitter app store oneforty (the first being proof that a real economy was possible on Twitter—see Part 1 of the oneforty story) was that Laura Fitton couldn’t find anyone besides herself to manage the company. As readers of the initial installment of this story will remember, Fitton … Continue reading “How Twitter Got an App Store: The Oneforty Story (Part 2)”
Angels Who Charge Entrepreneurs to Pitch: the Debate Heats Up
It’s an Xconomy holiday today, but I couldn’t resist a quick pointer post to an argument heating up across the Web—one that is related to a story we ran here last week about a new Cambridge, MA-based group, Revolutionary Angels, which announced its plans to hold a quarterly business plan competition. Revolutionary Angels drew fire … Continue reading “Angels Who Charge Entrepreneurs to Pitch: the Debate Heats Up”
Reed Sturtevant Leaves Microsoft Startup Labs
Barely two years after he joined Microsoft here in Cambridge, MA, to launch its new Startup Labs, Reed Sturtevant is leaving the company to “pursue other interests,” Microsoft announced today. Sturtevant’s departure was part of a broader announcement that Ray Ozzie, to whom Sturtevant reported, had reorganized his group to create the new Future Social … Continue reading “Reed Sturtevant Leaves Microsoft Startup Labs”
How Twitter Got an App Store: The Oneforty Story (Part 1)
“Ohh, Twitter needs an app store.” It was coming up on Christmas of 2008. Laura Fitton was writing a chapter on the top 10 applications for Twitter for her book Twitter for Dummies when the thought struck her like a tweet out of the blue. She jumped up from her office in Brighton, MA, and … Continue reading “How Twitter Got an App Store: The Oneforty Story (Part 1)”
Allurent Names New CEO As Co-Founder Chung Moves Upstairs
Allurent co-founder Joe Chung today stepped down (or rather up to executive chairman) as CEO of the online shopping interface and e-commerce company, Xconomy has learned. Graeme Grant, formerly the chief operating officer, has been named to take his place at the helm of the Cambridge, MA-based company. Reached by phone, Chung, an Xconomist, confirmed … Continue reading “Allurent Names New CEO As Co-Founder Chung Moves Upstairs”
Group from Atlas Venture, General Catalyst Form Non-Profit to Promote Youth Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation
For the past three years, Jeff Fagnan of Atlas Venture and Hemant Taneja of General Catalyst Partners have teamed up to hold a charity wine tasting and auction event to raise money for select non-profit groups. This year, the pair tell me, they are going themselves one better—setting up their own organization to more directly … Continue reading “Group from Atlas Venture, General Catalyst Form Non-Profit to Promote Youth Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation”
A123Systems IPO Could Bring $10M-Plus Windfall for Boston University, Sources Say. (MIT’s Stake Likely Not Too Shabby, Either.)
In early 2002, a little startup named A123Systems was looking for a place to, well, start up. Even though the company had been formed to commercialize technology invented at MIT, the lithium-ion battery developer found just the space it needed across the river at Boston University, inside what’s now called the Photonics Center Incubator. The … Continue reading “A123Systems IPO Could Bring $10M-Plus Windfall for Boston University, Sources Say. (MIT’s Stake Likely Not Too Shabby, Either.)”
Silicon Valley Beats Boston in VC-Backed Flameouts, Too
As you might have noticed around Boston, a lot of people like to whine about how California and especially Silicon Valley are, well, just better at startups. Entrepreneurs flock to California, where venture capitalists take more risks. Why, oh why, can’t we be more like Silicon Valley? Well, it turns out VCs and entrepreneurs in … Continue reading “Silicon Valley Beats Boston in VC-Backed Flameouts, Too”
Facet Board Recommends Rejecting Biogen Bid
[Clarified Oct. 1—see below] Directors of Facet Biotech (NASDAQ:[[ticker:FACT]]) have unanimously recommended that its shareholders reject Biogen Idec’s $14.50 per share takeover bid, an all cash deal worth some $355 million, the California company announced today. Biogen (NASDAQ:[[ticker:BIIB]]) had proposed acquiring Facet, its partner in developing an antibody drug for multiple sclerosis, in early September. … Continue reading “Facet Board Recommends Rejecting Biogen Bid”
Flying High at Babson: Len Schlesinger Wants to Create the Equivalent of the Airline Industry’s Star Alliance for Teaching Entrepreneurship
Len Schlesinger wryly refers to himself as president of the finest business school between Route 128 and I-495. And indeed, Wellesley, MA-based Babson College is, for many folks around Boston (and elsewhere), often over-shadowed by Hub institutions I don’t need to name. Yet Babson is also one of the country’s top business schools. I’m not … Continue reading “Flying High at Babson: Len Schlesinger Wants to Create the Equivalent of the Airline Industry’s Star Alliance for Teaching Entrepreneurship”
Covidien to Buy Aspect Medical for $210M
Irish healthcare products giant Covidien (NYSE:[[ticker:COV]]) has reached an agreement to purchase Aspect Medical Systems (NASDAQ:[[ticker:ASPM]]), a Norwood, MA-based company specializing in braining monitoring technology, for approximately $210 million in cash, Covidien announced today. Aspect, founded in 1987, will become part of Covidien’s Oximetry and Monitoring product line inside the Medical Devices segment, according to … Continue reading “Covidien to Buy Aspect Medical for $210M”
Peter Brooke and Terry McGuire Team Up for Unprecedented Discussion of Venture Capital and Private Equity—Sign Up Fast for the Next Xconomy Forum
As the world digs out from under the effects of one of the greatest economic crises in history, there are few people who can survey the financial landscape and provide experience, perspective, and wisdom the way Peter Brooke can. The chairman and founder of Advent International and before that the founder of TA Associates, Brooke … Continue reading “Peter Brooke and Terry McGuire Team Up for Unprecedented Discussion of Venture Capital and Private Equity—Sign Up Fast for the Next Xconomy Forum”
New VC in Boston: Arch Venture Partners Opens Small Office With Eye Toward Basic Science, Multidisciplinary Collaborations
[Updated, Sept. 22, 11:15 am. See end of story] You might have seen Alex Rives around town in the past year, particularly if you’ve spent time hanging out at coffee shops near MIT, Harvard Medical School, and other bastions of basic research. He’s the one invariably wearing dark jeans and a sport coat over a … Continue reading “New VC in Boston: Arch Venture Partners Opens Small Office With Eye Toward Basic Science, Multidisciplinary Collaborations”
A Map of Venture Investments Around the U.S.
It’s no secret to those in the innovation community that venture-backed companies are central to America’s economic prosperity. But in its ongoing effort to help reinforce that message—perhaps particularly in light of its current efforts to fight President Obama’s idea of regulating venture capital firms as investment advisers—the National Venture Capital Association this morning released … Continue reading “A Map of Venture Investments Around the U.S.”
Mascoma Inks Biofuels Deal with Chevron Technology Ventures
Lebanon, NH-based Mascoma announced today that it has entered into a two-year biofuels processing and supply deal with Chevron Technology Ventures. Under the agreement, the terms of which were not disclosed, CTV will supply feedstock that Mascoma will convert to cellulosic ethanol. A byproduct of that conversion is energy-rich lignin, which Mascoma will then provide … Continue reading “Mascoma Inks Biofuels Deal with Chevron Technology Ventures”
Funding for Massachusetts Startups Slower, but Still Strong, in August; Early-Stage Deals Predominate
The pace of everything in Massachusetts seems to slow in August, and startup financings were not an exception this year. But despite the tail off from July’s big deal-making surge, investments in Bay State startups looked pretty good last month. All told, VCs pumped $179.2 million into 21 deals, according to data provided to Xconomy … Continue reading “Funding for Massachusetts Startups Slower, but Still Strong, in August; Early-Stage Deals Predominate”
Dog Patch Labs Is Just the Latest in a Rash of New Initiatives to Help Boston Entrepreneurs—And It All Seemed to Start When Y Combinator Left Town
[Updated October 5, 2009—see below] Today was a good day for Boston area entrepreneurs, as Polaris Venture Partners announced the opening of a new startup incubation and geek hangout space, Dog Patch Labs Cambridge, which will open next week on Third Street not far from Kendall Square. Dog Patch Cambridge, which I wrote about earlier … Continue reading “Dog Patch Labs Is Just the Latest in a Rash of New Initiatives to Help Boston Entrepreneurs—And It All Seemed to Start When Y Combinator Left Town”
Polaris to Open Dog Patch Labs Incubator in Cambridge
Boston entrepreneurs, start your yipping. Polaris Venture Partners is announcing today that it is opening a counterpart to its fast-growing San Francisco-based Dog Patch Labs startup incubator near Kendall Square here in Cambridge, MA. Dog Patch Labs Cambridge, as it’s aptly called, will officially open for business next week and will be housed in the … Continue reading “Polaris to Open Dog Patch Labs Incubator in Cambridge”
CEOs to Follow on Twitter, What Tweaks VCs, What Entrepreneurs Should Copy, Making Cleantech Pay, & Other Recent Boston Blog Posts to Peruse
Coming out of the long weekend, with summer vacations over, I can feel the pace of entrepreneurial action quicken. With a lot of people out of town or chillin’ the past few weeks, I thought it might be a good time to highlight some interesting recent blog posts you might have missed from various local … Continue reading “CEOs to Follow on Twitter, What Tweaks VCs, What Entrepreneurs Should Copy, Making Cleantech Pay, & Other Recent Boston Blog Posts to Peruse”
Kai-Fu Lee, Founder of Microsoft’s China Research Lab, Quits Google to Head $115M Startup Incubator in China
Kai-Fu Lee, the charismatic former Microsoft VP and founding director of the company’s research lab in Beijing who reported last week that he was quitting as head of Google’s China arm, has announced that he has raised $115 million to create a new incubator for high-tech startups in China. The new organization, Innovation Works, will … Continue reading “Kai-Fu Lee, Founder of Microsoft’s China Research Lab, Quits Google to Head $115M Startup Incubator in China”
Bicoastal Brain Scramble? Company Cultures Boiled Down to One Word, Part 2—Boston vs. Seattle
This is a special, bi-coastal edition of the X Factor (it doesn’t usually run in Seattle). For my column on Tuesday, I surveyed seven Boston-area startup CEOs and asked them to characterize their company cultures in one word. Truth be told, I canvassed nine CEOs, but only seven got back to me before my deadline. … Continue reading “Bicoastal Brain Scramble? Company Cultures Boiled Down to One Word, Part 2—Boston vs. Seattle”