First, let me get this out up front—I’m ripping off the idea for this column from my colleague Greg Huang, editor of Xconomy Seattle. Thanks Greg! Second, I spend a lot of time talking with venture capitalists about the startup business, and with entrepreneurs about venture capitalists AND the startup business. But those can be … Continue reading “7 Boston Startup CEOs Boil Their Company Culture Down to One Word”
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.
EMC Seeds Its Cloud Offerings, Acquires FastScale Technology
Hopkington, MA-based information storage and management company EMC announced today that it has acquired FastScale Technology, a Santa Clara, CA, provider of software platforms and applications for enterprises. EMC said in a statement that the acquisition will strengthen its cloud computing capabilities by dramatically increasing “the performance and scalability of private cloud infrastructures.” Terms of … Continue reading “EMC Seeds Its Cloud Offerings, Acquires FastScale Technology”
The Greater Boston Mobile Cluster Quiz: Answers and A Bit of Commentary
Maybe it was the new mobile friendly version of Xconomy (at m.xconomy.com) that we launched a few weeks ago. Or maybe it was just the fact that I’ve been on the road a lot lately. But in any case, last Thursday I had mobile on my mind and so rummaged around data from Mobile Monday … Continue reading “The Greater Boston Mobile Cluster Quiz: Answers and A Bit of Commentary”
The Webloyalty Settlement: A Great Graphic Lesson in Marketing Practices
Yesterday morning, Wade wrote a story about the recent settlement agreement in a class-action lawsuit involving Connecticut-based Webloyalty, which runs various discount programs offered to consumers as they wrap up e-commerce transactions. The case involved allegations that Webloyalty violated state and federal laws by failing to disclose some details about its offerings, such as the … Continue reading “The Webloyalty Settlement: A Great Graphic Lesson in Marketing Practices”
Xconomy Had a Bad Internet Day—But We’re Up and Running Again
Fingers crossed—it looks like we finally have our site back up and running. Most stories reposted, most lost comments restored. It has been a long, not-so-fun day here at Xconomy. Our site crashed around 11:30 am EDT and we didn’t get things back up and running until some eight or nine hours later. We have … Continue reading “Xconomy Had a Bad Internet Day—But We’re Up and Running Again”
The Greater Boston Mobile Cluster Quiz
Note to readers, August 27, 10:20 pm: Since our site was down for virtually the entire day, we are leaving the quiz open over the weekend. Instead of posting the results on Friday, August 28 as planned, we will post them the following Monday. Boston is home to one of the country’s top clusters of … Continue reading “The Greater Boston Mobile Cluster Quiz”
State of Venture Quiz 2: Answers and Commentary
Do you get the feeling deal flow is picking up a bit? Well, you might be right. But does that make things better for entrepreneurs? Not necessarily. As Boston lawyer John Hession sums up: “The market is improving. That doesn’t necessarily mean that deal terms are improving or valuations are improving. It means the number … Continue reading “State of Venture Quiz 2: Answers and Commentary”
State of Venture Quiz No. 2: Deal Terms
A couple weeks ago, I colluded with Michael Greeley, general partner at Flybridge Capital Partners and chairman of the New England Venture Capital Association, to round up some statistics about venture capital here in the Boston area. I then tested readers’ knowledge of the trends with the inaugural State of New England Venture Quiz. The … Continue reading “State of Venture Quiz No. 2: Deal Terms”
A Visit to Olin College: A Design-Oriented Future of American Engineering
[Updated and corrected, August 11—see below] Anyone who has spent much time in universities knows that openness, teamwork, and collaboration are widely taught, but not always widely practiced. And when it comes to implementing entirely new models of education, well, let’s just say that institutional barriers, turf wars, bureaucracy, and tradition all too often derail … Continue reading “A Visit to Olin College: A Design-Oriented Future of American Engineering”
Bay State Startup Investments Soared in July—Internet the Busiest Sector
Investments in Massachusetts startups rose as fast in July as the Red Sox have fallen in August. Venture investors poured some $215 million into a whopping 25 deals last month. That marked a 54 percent jump over the $139.5 million invested in 15 deals in June, according to data provided to Xconomy by ChubbyBrain, a … Continue reading “Bay State Startup Investments Soared in July—Internet the Busiest Sector”
Do Non-Competes Curtail Startup Investments? Brownsberger and Rowe Do A Data Dive and Kick Off A Deeper Discussion
The argument over non-compete clauses in employment agreements is front and center in most discussions over ways Massachusetts can square up better against Silicon Valley. Proponents of getting rid of non-competes argue that they curtail innovation. Fearful of getting sued when they leave their employers, so the theory goes, would-be entrepreneurs either forego starting their … Continue reading “Do Non-Competes Curtail Startup Investments? Brownsberger and Rowe Do A Data Dive and Kick Off A Deeper Discussion”
Microsoft Sells Razorfish to Publicis for $530M
Microsoft’s online advertising agency Razorfish has been sold to French advertising company Publicis Groupe for approximately $530 million, the French concern announced today, confirming last week’s reports that it was bidding on Razorfish. The sale had been reported before the confirmation by the Wall Street Journal and PaidContent, and perhaps by others. Publicis said in … Continue reading “Microsoft Sells Razorfish to Publicis for $530M”
Up to 2,600 Jobs That Won’t Be Coming to MA—Boston-Power CEO “Incredibly Disappointed” to Miss Out on DOE Funds
Boston-Power CEO Christina Lampe-Onnerud says she was “incredibly disappointed” and “frankly a little surprised” when the U.S. Department of Energy today announced $1.5 billion in battery-related grants—and none of it went to her company. The Westborough, MA-based firm had requested $100 million to build a state-of-the-art “green” battery-manufacturing plant in Auburn, MA. “I have this … Continue reading “Up to 2,600 Jobs That Won’t Be Coming to MA—Boston-Power CEO “Incredibly Disappointed” to Miss Out on DOE Funds”
Bill Aulet Takes Reins of MIT Entrepreneurship Center from Ken Morse
Bill Aulet, an Xconomist and one of the most energetic advocates for entrepreneurship and innovation in the Boston area, has been appointed acting director of the MIT Entrepreneurship Center, according to an announcement made internally yesterday by MIT Sloan School of Management Dean David Schmittlein. Aulet takes the reins from fellow Xconomist Ken Morse, the … Continue reading “Bill Aulet Takes Reins of MIT Entrepreneurship Center from Ken Morse”
State of New England Venture Quiz: Answers and Commentary
Yesterday, I put out a five-question quiz about the state of venture capital in New England. The questions were culled from data gathered or analyzed by Michael Greeley, chairman of the NEVCA and a general partner with Flybridge Capital Partners, and from the first quarter Venture Insights report by Ernst & Young. Today, we have … Continue reading “State of New England Venture Quiz: Answers and Commentary”
AEB Beams Up $14.2M for Energy-Efficient Manufacturing
Wilmington, MA-based Advanced Electron Beams has raised $14.2 million in a Series C round of financing, the company announced today. AEB, whose compact electron beam technology is employed to initiate chemical reactions in various industrial processes, says it will use the money to accelerate sales growth and develop new applications designed to enable energy-efficient manufacturing. … Continue reading “AEB Beams Up $14.2M for Energy-Efficient Manufacturing”
Quiz: The State of New England Venture
There’s a lot of talk these days—well, always, really—about the state of venture capital in New England. A lot of it centers on comparisons with Silicon Valley VCs, and most of it isn’t good. Some common complaints or accusations: —New England venture capitalists don’t take risks. —They don’t invest in early stage ventures. —They are … Continue reading “Quiz: The State of New England Venture”
Matrix Closes $600M Investment Fund(s)
Waltham, MA-based Matrix Partners has closed its ninth fund, raising $600 million for investments in software, mobile, consumer internet, communications, and systems startups, according to a press release. While the announcement only mentions one fund, PE Hub reported today, following up on its report earlier this week, that two funds were actually raised—the main Matrix … Continue reading “Matrix Closes $600M Investment Fund(s)”
What’s an Entrepreneur To Do? Amidst Mixed Signals for Economic Recovery, Four Experts Share Strategies for Startup and Business Success
The economic climate these days reminds me of the famous line about the weather at the “Crosby Clambake” golf tournament (now the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am) held each February on California’s Monterey peninsula, in unpredictable conditions that shift quickly from sun to cold and rain: “There’s plenty of it.” So it seemed a good … Continue reading “What’s an Entrepreneur To Do? Amidst Mixed Signals for Economic Recovery, Four Experts Share Strategies for Startup and Business Success”
IBM Top Massachusetts Official Mohamad Ali Leaves for Big Job at Avaya
Mohamad Ali, IBM’s senior state official for Massachusetts, has left Big Blue after more than 13 years to join enterprise communications equipment company Avaya, Ali announced in a personal e-mail this afternoon. Ali, who started at Avaya on Wednesday with the title of senior vice president of corporate development, has responsibility for all M&A activity … Continue reading “IBM Top Massachusetts Official Mohamad Ali Leaves for Big Job at Avaya”
Massachusetts Startup Fundraising Tallied $145M in June—Early Stage Venture Holds Its Own
Led by the Bay State’s strong healthcare sector, Massachusetts startups attracted just over $145 million in investment in June. That’s the tally from our new partner, ChubbyBrain, a New York-based information services company developing tools for investors, startups, and aspiring entrepreneurs. Health care companies—spanning drug development, medical devices, and consumer health and wellness—were the focus … Continue reading “Massachusetts Startup Fundraising Tallied $145M in June—Early Stage Venture Holds Its Own”
Microsoft Unveils Logo for “NERD”
Microsoft’s New England Research & Development Center at One Memorial Drive here in Cambridge, MA—NERD, as it is so affectionately called inside and outside the company—has quickly become one of the central gathering spots for the Boston tech community. In late March, the company opened a big conference area on its second floor, and almost … Continue reading “Microsoft Unveils Logo for “NERD””
The “Least Worst,” General Catalyst’s Two-for-One Sale, Turning Your Umbrella Upside Down, and Other Gems From Xconomy’s Star-Studded Venture Panel
“The rest of the economy is now dealing with the uncertainty that we deal with every day in a good economy. We do that by choice, they’re doing it now out of necessity.” The scene was XSITE, the Xconomy Summit on Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship, held on June 24 at Boston University. The speaker was … Continue reading “The “Least Worst,” General Catalyst’s Two-for-One Sale, Turning Your Umbrella Upside Down, and Other Gems From Xconomy’s Star-Studded Venture Panel”
Xconomy Marks Two Years as The Source for Innovation News
For the last few months, we here at Xconomy have been extremely busy planning XSITE, the Xconomy Summit on Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship, which packed the auditorium at the Boston University School of Management on Wednesday. At some point in the hullabaloo, we remembered we had another important event fast approaching—tomorrow, in fact—the second anniversary … Continue reading “Xconomy Marks Two Years as The Source for Innovation News”
A Huge Thank You to XSITE 2009 Sponsors, Speakers, Partners, and Attendees–and a Special Shout-Out to One Particular Friend of Xconomy
We are taking a deep breath here at Xconomy. On Wednesday we held our biggest, most ambitious event ever: the Xconomy Summit on Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship, aka XSITE 2009, at Boston University. All told, some 400 people attended the all-day event at BU’s School of Management, which featured what we think is the year’s … Continue reading “A Huge Thank You to XSITE 2009 Sponsors, Speakers, Partners, and Attendees–and a Special Shout-Out to One Particular Friend of Xconomy”
EMC Opens Research Arm in Cambridge, Joins MIT Media Lab as Sponsor
EMC has joined the growing ranks of major information technology companies boosting their R&D presence in Kendall Square, creating EMC Research Cambridge, a small research arm near MIT. It has already moved the headquarters of RSA Laboratories to the new outpost, and has signed on as a corporate sponsor of the MIT Media Lab. The … Continue reading “EMC Opens Research Arm in Cambridge, Joins MIT Media Lab as Sponsor”
Why EMC Wants to Build a High Performance Data Center in Holyoke
Scene: An abandoned brick building along the Connecticut River. The image dissolves, then reforms to show a new, ultra-modern factory in its place. Move to interior shot of computers and server banks. Brilliant academics ponder the future. Highly trained young professionals walk purposefully, the future alive in their eyes. I have no idea whether the … Continue reading “Why EMC Wants to Build a High Performance Data Center in Holyoke”
XSITE Agenda Complete: Speakers and Organizations Come From All Corners of The New England Innovation Ecosystem
We are incredibly excited about XSITE 2009—The Xconomy Summit on Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship happening next Wednesday at Boston University—and we are especially pumped today because we have just filled the last open speaker slot for the event. The more than 50 organizations participating in the event, listed below in alphabetical order, come from all … Continue reading “XSITE Agenda Complete: Speakers and Organizations Come From All Corners of The New England Innovation Ecosystem”
WiTricity Charges Up For Electric Vehicle Market
Imagine that after a long day on the road, you drive your new electric car into your garage, the battery almost drained. But you don’t worry about running a cord to the charging station and plugging into your vehicle—the garage takes care of recharging for you, without you doing a thing. When you leave for … Continue reading “WiTricity Charges Up For Electric Vehicle Market”
State Set to Make Big, “Green” High Performance Computing Announcement: Effort to Bring Jobs to Western MA
Updated with additional detail June 9, 8:10 pm; further update and a correction added June 10, 7:15 am—see below A university, industry, and Massachusetts government coalition is set to announce a major initiative in high performance computing later this week, Xconomy has learned. Official sources are guarded, and specifics were hard to come by tonight. … Continue reading “State Set to Make Big, “Green” High Performance Computing Announcement: Effort to Bring Jobs to Western MA”
Biogen Idec Confirms Second Icahn Pick Elected to Board of Directors
Carl Icahn has landed a one-two punch on Biogen Idec. Today, the Cambridge, MA-based biotech confirmed what the activist investor had proclaimed last week—that two members of Icahn’s board slate have been elected to Biogen’s board of directors. This afternoon, the company acknowledged that Richard Mulligan, a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School and … Continue reading “Biogen Idec Confirms Second Icahn Pick Elected to Board of Directors”
Where Innovation Happens—A Still-Forming Map of Boston’s Growing Tech Lab Cluster
Where does technological innovation happen around Boston? What are the sources of new software and hardware creations? You’ve probably heard about Google and Microsoft moving to Cambridge in the past couple of years—but did you know Microsoft has two labs in Cambridge, not one? Or that another Silicon Valley company has a research lab just … Continue reading “Where Innovation Happens—A Still-Forming Map of Boston’s Growing Tech Lab Cluster”
Exclusive: Icahn’s Picks For Biogen Idec Board on Why They Think They Won 2 Seats, Who’s Likely Out, and Plans for the Future
(Updated with Biogen Idec announcement of preliminary results, 3:18 pm, June 4—see below) When last we left the cliffhanger that was yesterday’s Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]) annual meeting: the forces of billionaire investor Carl Icahn claimed they had won two of four director seats up for election. The New York Times was reporting Icahn had … Continue reading “Exclusive: Icahn’s Picks For Biogen Idec Board on Why They Think They Won 2 Seats, Who’s Likely Out, and Plans for the Future”
The Health 2.0 Hub, Boston’s Secret Entertainment Cluster, A Path to Market for Energy Innovations, Dean Kamen, and more XSITEment
There are three weeks and one day to go before XSITE—the Xconomy Summit on Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship, which we are holding at Boston University on June 24—and we are pumped. We are finalizing the agenda, and have added a host of fantastic new speakers, including inventor extraordinaire Dean Kamen. We’re also putting the finishing … Continue reading “The Health 2.0 Hub, Boston’s Secret Entertainment Cluster, A Path to Market for Energy Innovations, Dean Kamen, and more XSITEment”
Of Venture Socialism and the Future of VCs—The Story of Jo Tango and Kepha Partners
This is a story of a different breed of venture capital firm—one so different it practices venture socialism. At least that’s how the founder of Waltham, MA-based Kepha Partners, Josaphat “Jo” Tango, describes it. (Before all you entrepreneurs beat a path to his door thinking he shares more of the wealth back with you, let’s … Continue reading “Of Venture Socialism and the Future of VCs—The Story of Jo Tango and Kepha Partners”
Dog Patch Lab—An Entrepreneur’s Kennel
Ceiling fans lolling high overhead, starfish in trawler nettings slung on one wall, funked-out wood floors, bar stools, round tables, comfy couches, a big bowl laden with fruit, huge windows overlooking the pier. No cubicles, just work areas with signs indicating where one company ends and another begins—and sometimes no signs at all. The whole … Continue reading “Dog Patch Lab—An Entrepreneur’s Kennel”
Paragon Lake Out to Dazzle Jewelry Buyers with Virtual Customization
You could say that her love of jewelry brought Deborah Besemer out of early retirement. But while that might have a certain, shall we say, ring of truth to it, it’s really only one facet of the story. There were other, more important factors, such as the opportunity to challenge herself in a new arena … Continue reading “Paragon Lake Out to Dazzle Jewelry Buyers with Virtual Customization”
Ksplice Wins MIT $100K—Software Updates With No Reboots
It’s not every day that someone posts a guest column for Xconomy in the morning and wins $100,000 in the evening. But that’s exactly what happened with Ksplice, which is working on technology that lets computer users install software updates while applications are running, avoiding a system restart and the lost productivity that can come … Continue reading “Ksplice Wins MIT $100K—Software Updates With No Reboots”
Follica Gets New CEO, Gears Up for More (Hair and Business) Growth
Follica, the Boston-area startup out to bring a scientific approach to helping hair-loss sufferers re-grow their locks, is preparing for some new growth of its own. The firm, run since its late 2006 inception by founding CEO Daphne Zohar of Boston’s PureTech Ventures, announced today the hiring of a new president and CEO, William Ju, … Continue reading “Follica Gets New CEO, Gears Up for More (Hair and Business) Growth”
Green VC Danielson Leaves General Catalyst for DOE Post
Dave Danielson, founder of the MIT Energy Club and Boston’s greenest VC, has left his position as senior associate at General Catalyst Partners for the U.S. Department of Energy. As an automated e-mail response explains: “I will be making a transition from my role as a member of the General Catalyst Partners’ Cleantech investment team … Continue reading “Green VC Danielson Leaves General Catalyst for DOE Post”
Boston VCs Grok Social Media—So Can We Please Not Tell That Facebook Story Anymore?
The X Factor, which debuted last week without yet having a name, is a mostly weekly column featuring conversations with local innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors. It’s a legendary story of doom here in Boston (folks around here kind of like gloomy stories)—how the local VCs passed on this idea called Facebook, the kids from Harvard … Continue reading “Boston VCs Grok Social Media—So Can We Please Not Tell That Facebook Story Anymore?”
MIT 100K and Energy Prize—Impressions From the Finalist Party
The five track winners for the MIT 100K business plan competition were announced on Friday. These teams will compete in the finals on Wednesday, along with the winner of its sister contest, the MIT Clean Energy Prize competition (that team will be announced next Tuesday). All five track winners, and three of the five Energy … Continue reading “MIT 100K and Energy Prize—Impressions From the Finalist Party”
The Recovery Starts Here—Xconomy Announces XSITE 2009 Event to Celebrate Innovation in New England
In case you haven’t noticed it, the recovery is underway. The economy is affecting all aspects of business, of course. But every day here at Xconomy we write about the unrelenting pace of innovation and see firsthand how, if anything, the pace has picked up during the recession—nothing like hard times to get the creative … Continue reading “The Recovery Starts Here—Xconomy Announces XSITE 2009 Event to Celebrate Innovation in New England”
Facebook Co-Founder Settles in at General Catalyst: Out to Learn and Help Young Entrepreneurs
This article is a prototype for a new, still-unnamed weekly column featuring conversations with local innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors. Picture the prospects for innovation if entrepreneurial college students brimming with energy and ideas—as they always are—learned to better vet and shape those ideas into concepts with real business potential, gaining the self-confidence and sense of … Continue reading “Facebook Co-Founder Settles in at General Catalyst: Out to Learn and Help Young Entrepreneurs”
A Big Thank You to Our Tomorrow’s Biotech Sponsors and Underwriters
We had a jammed-packed, illuminating afternoon yesterday, with more than 200 people streaming into Biogen Idec’s headquarters in Kendall Square for our latest Xconomy Forum: Tomorrow’s Biotech–Innovators and Innovations. Luke posted a writeup earlier today, and will have more next week. But meanwhile, we’d also like to give a big shout out to our sponsors, … Continue reading “A Big Thank You to Our Tomorrow’s Biotech Sponsors and Underwriters”
Venture Funds Did Badly in 2008—But Maybe Not That Badly
We all know that just about every type of financial performance index for the last year showed a sharp turn downward. This definitely held true for venture capital. The National Venture Capital Association and Thomson Reuters today released Q4 2008 venture capital performance numbers showing that VC funds as a whole—early, balanced, and later stage … Continue reading “Venture Funds Did Badly in 2008—But Maybe Not That Badly”
Xconomy Wins Its Twitter Struggle–How Wade Reclaimed Our Good Name
After a months-long struggle, Xconomy has finally evicted the squatter who usurped our namesake account on Twitter. It took perseverance, Zen, and knowing folks in high Tweeting places to pull it off. But as of last night, Xconomy is on the Twitter air. Thank you Bijan. Thank you Twitter. And thanks to CNET for the … Continue reading “Xconomy Wins Its Twitter Struggle–How Wade Reclaimed Our Good Name”
U.S. Venture Funding Plummets (Yada Yada), But New England Less So—Region’s Top 10 Deals of Q1
The silver lining in the big black rain clouds that were this weekend’s first quarter venture capital investment reports was that New England actually did better than just about anywhere else. As Bruce reported on Saturday, the nation’s venture outlays in Q1 tanked more than 50 percent, to their lowest levels in more than a … Continue reading “U.S. Venture Funding Plummets (Yada Yada), But New England Less So—Region’s Top 10 Deals of Q1”
Polaris’ Simeonov Strikes Out on Own—Forms Advisory Firm While Looking for the Next Big Thing
Simeon “Sim” Simeonov, a longtime technology partner at Polaris Venture Partners, has left the venture company to launch his own endeavor—an advisory firm to help startups. Simeonov put together the website for his firm, FastIgnite, over the weekend. The homepage shows a turtle with a rocket strapped to its back, with a lit match primed … Continue reading “Polaris’ Simeonov Strikes Out on Own—Forms Advisory Firm While Looking for the Next Big Thing”
The Climate for Early-Stage Life Sciences Startups—And 12 Companies Seeking Weather-Proof Investors
Life goes on, even in the face of great tragedy. Startup life also goes on, even in the face of great economic decline. That was one message that came through loud and clear yesterday at the Early-Stage Life Sciences Technology Conference, an annual event (this was the fifth) put on by the Massachusetts Technology Transfer … Continue reading “The Climate for Early-Stage Life Sciences Startups—And 12 Companies Seeking Weather-Proof Investors”