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.

Aushon Secures $6.5M Financing to Help Support Acquisition

Billerica, MA-based Aushon BioSystems, which provides microarray tools and services for biomarker analysis, has secured $6.5 million in new financing, the company announced. North Bridge Venture Partners was the sole source of the financing, which was used partly to support the Aushon’s recent acquisition of Thermo Fisher Scientific’s SearchLight Protein Array business and technology, the … Continue reading “Aushon Secures $6.5M Financing to Help Support Acquisition”

Charles River Ventures Closes $320M Fund

Money may be scarce–but to many investors, economic downturns are the best time to invest in startup companies. Valuations are lower, and conditions ripe for disruption. Perhaps reflecting that outlook, Charles River Ventures, based in Waltham, MA, and Menlo Park, CA, announced today that it has closed its 14th fund, the $320 million CRP XIV. … Continue reading “Charles River Ventures Closes $320M Fund”

LaunchCapital Announces Investments in Six Startups

Massachusetts venture investors have long taken heat for the perception, at least, that they shy away from very early-stage (read, risky but potentially game-changing) investments—and many folks have pointed to a relative dearth of venture firms that specialize in seed-stage plays. In recent months, though, there seems to be a definite uptick in interest in … Continue reading “LaunchCapital Announces Investments in Six Startups”

How Massachusetts Should Boost Innovation—A Compendium of Reader Ideas (And A Call for More)

How should Massachusetts strengthen and grow its innovation ecosystem? What are the best ways to foster entrepreneurship, improve the high-tech work force, and entice companies, whether here already or thinking about a local presence, to expand in the Bay State? Last month, after witnessing a flurry of talk focused on addressing such issues by rebranding … Continue reading “How Massachusetts Should Boost Innovation—A Compendium of Reader Ideas (And A Call for More)”

Android Co-Founder Miner Reportedly Tapped to Help Run New $100 Million Google Venture Fund

Rich Miner, the driving force behind Google’s Android operating system for mobile phones and a longtime leader in Massachusetts communications software circles, reportedly will join Google Ventures, a $100 million venture fund the search giant is said to be forming. Rumors of the planned venture fund have been in the air since last summer. More … Continue reading “Android Co-Founder Miner Reportedly Tapped to Help Run New $100 Million Google Venture Fund”

How Green Are Boston’s Green VCs?

(Updated listings — see below) Back in his Navy days as a Top Gun pilot, Jim Matheson of Flagship Ventures—call sign Fuzzy—burned his share of jet fuel. But now that he’s a cleantech investor, he’s more careful about his carbon footprint, tooling around in his red Toyota Prius and buying carbon offsets for his Cirrus … Continue reading “How Green Are Boston’s Green VCs?”

General Catalyst Lands Facebook Co-Founder to Help Create Next Generation of Web Media Startups

As is often (too often) told in local innovation circles, Boston venture capitalists turned down funding Facebook, the company headed to Silicon Valley—and the rest is a sore spot in New England Internet VC history. But now one of the three founders of Facebook, Chris Hughes, is returning in a big way to the New … Continue reading “General Catalyst Lands Facebook Co-Founder to Help Create Next Generation of Web Media Startups”

Y Combinator, Sequoia, and Lessons for the Recession

In January, Paul Graham announced that Y Combinator would no longer operate in the summers out of Cambridge, MA, but instead would stay year round in its other home of Mountain View, CA. The reason he put forth was the impending birth of his new child and the decision that California was the better place … Continue reading “Y Combinator, Sequoia, and Lessons for the Recession”

2009 Massachusetts Biotechnology Council Annual Meeting

Biotechnology is a mainstay of the Massachusetts innovation economy, and there is no better place to take the pulse of the overall sector than at the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council’s annual meeting. The day’s events will center around findings from the new 2015 Strategic Report. There’s a great lineup of speakers who include: * Governor Deval … Continue reading “2009 Massachusetts Biotechnology Council Annual Meeting”

Paul Graham on Why Boston Should Worry About Its Future as a Tech Hub—Says Region Focuses On Ideas, Not Startups

For entrepreneurs and investors alike, it was a sad day back in January, when Y Combinator founder Paul Graham announced he would stay in Silicon Valley year round and give up splitting his startup incubation activities between Mountain View and Cambridge, MA, where Y Combinator has traditionally held forth each summer. On his website, Graham … Continue reading “Paul Graham on Why Boston Should Worry About Its Future as a Tech Hub—Says Region Focuses On Ideas, Not Startups”

Of FIRST Robotics “Lunacy” and A Shout Out to “Dancin'” Woz

“Robot coming through…Robot.” That was the cry, heard throughout the day Saturday at Boston University’s Agganis Arena, scene of the Boston regional finals of the annual FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotics competition. The robots were constantly on the move as teams ushered them back and forth from the competition area—think … Continue reading “Of FIRST Robotics “Lunacy” and A Shout Out to “Dancin’” Woz”

Paul Graham Angel Investing Conference—Live Streaming Now

I just learned that there is a very interesting angel investing conference, happening as I type this, in Silicon Valley. The confab, bringing together angels and entrepreneurs, was organized by Paul Graham, of Y Combinator. It is live streaming here on Justin.tv. A parade of speakers seems to be imparting some great advice on angel … Continue reading “Paul Graham Angel Investing Conference—Live Streaming Now”

How to Collect Baseball Cards: A Few Thoughts for Coping With the Downturn

I have approximately 7,000 baseball cards in my collection. These treasures are arranged in numerical order, in long and slender cardboard “card boxes,” with the typical box containing cards from a single year. The vast majority of my collection hails from the sixties. My heyday covered the years 1962 through 1965, when I collected every … Continue reading “How to Collect Baseball Cards: A Few Thoughts for Coping With the Downturn”

Here’s An Idea to Stimulate Massachusetts Innovation: Focus on Substance, Not Image

Unless you’ve been on an innovation vacation in recent months, it’s been hard to miss all the talk here in Massachusetts about finding a new “brand” for the state’s IT community—you know, as a way to compete with those who’ve gone to (or were already on) the Dark Side, aka Silicon Valley. I’ve got lots … Continue reading “Here’s An Idea to Stimulate Massachusetts Innovation: Focus on Substance, Not Image”

IRobot Co-Founder Greiner Launches Stealth Robotics Company, The Droid Works

Massachusetts’ growing robotics cluster just got bigger. For the second time in less than six months, an iRobot co-founder has launched a robotics startup. Helen Greiner told me in an e-mail yesterday that she has formed a stealth company called The Droid Works. “Our first project is in the UAV [unmanned aerial vehicle] space, and … Continue reading “IRobot Co-Founder Greiner Launches Stealth Robotics Company, The Droid Works”

New England VCs Well Down Midas List—Oxford’s Fambrough Leads Pack

Mike Moritz, John Doerr. John Doerr, Mike Moritz. It seems like those two Silicon Valley names perennially head Forbes’ Midas List of top VCs, often taking turns in the No. 1 spot. This year (like last year, though) it’s Doerr, of Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, in the first position, with Moritz of Sequoia Capital … Continue reading “New England VCs Well Down Midas List—Oxford’s Fambrough Leads Pack”

MTTC Early-Stage Life Sciences Technology Conference V

Our friends over at the Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center, led by Xconomist Abigail Barrow, always put on a great conference featuring the latest life sciences technology from state research institutions and recently formed  companies spun off from those institutions (this is the fifth year, hence the V). The presentations are fast-paced and lively, the audience … Continue reading “MTTC Early-Stage Life Sciences Technology Conference V”

SOURCE Boston 2009

The SOURCE conferences focus on the business of computer security, from technology to business practices, through what are billed as highly interactive sessions and networking opportunities. At this year’s Boston conference, the early bird rate is being extended to anyone who attended last year, no matter when they signed up—and to anyone those people refer. … Continue reading “SOURCE Boston 2009”

Healthcare Policy—Delivering the ‘Get-Well’ Plan

How do industry, government, innovators, clinicians, and investors work together to create both “health” and “wealth”? Such “Connected Health” is the subject of this evening forum at the British Consulate-General Boston, the full title of which is, Healthcare Policy—Delivering the ‘Get-Well’ Plan: The Role of Connected Health. Speakers include: —Dr. JudyAnn Bigby, Secretary of Health … Continue reading “Healthcare Policy—Delivering the ‘Get-Well’ Plan”

Metcalfe Misses Xconomy Band Battle—Climbs Kilimanjaro Instead

A few weeks ago, after sending out a notice reminding folks of our then-upcoming Xconomy Battle of the Tech Bands on January 22, I got an e-mail back from Bob Metcalfe of Polaris Venture Partners. It read: “Thanks for inviting me…but darn, on January 22, I will be returning from Africa, having just climbed (I … Continue reading “Metcalfe Misses Xconomy Band Battle—Climbs Kilimanjaro Instead”

OLPC 2.0: After Layoffs, One Laptop Foundation Reboots With New Focus and Big Plans

For those inspired by Nicholas Negroponte’s vision of bringing affordable computing to every child on the planet, it was a sad day early this month when the One Laptop Per Child Foundation he founded announced it was laying off half its staff and undertaking a significant reorganization. Negroponte himself isn’t crying, though—he is working on … Continue reading “OLPC 2.0: After Layoffs, One Laptop Foundation Reboots With New Focus and Big Plans”

Boston Biotech Business Development Conference

How do life sciences companies continue to develop their business activities in the current economic environment? Well, top executives from Big Pharma and leading biotechs, among others, are convening for the third annual Boston Biotech Business Development Conference to share their insights “on the current and future outlook for licensing, M&A and other business development … Continue reading “Boston Biotech Business Development Conference”

2009 MassTLC Annual Meeting: Seizing Opportunity in Tough Economic Times

You can curl up and hide, or you can try and use the turmoil of hard economic times to gain ground on your competitors and take advantage of other opportunities. The annual meeting of the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council is focused on the latter. And in addition to the lively discussion, there will be a … Continue reading “2009 MassTLC Annual Meeting: Seizing Opportunity in Tough Economic Times”

MIT 100K Entrepreneurship Competition

The MIT 100K Entrepreneurship Competition has grown into one of the nation’s premier student-oriented business plan contests. This evening event consists of the Executive Summary Contest Finale and the Business Plan Contest Kick-off. There are a slew of 100K tracks, each with its own cash winners, who then compete for the grand prize. Tracks include: … Continue reading “MIT 100K Entrepreneurship Competition”

CloudSwitch Floating on $7.4M Funding Round

Stealth cloud computing company CloudSwitch has taken in $7.4 million in Series A funding co-led by Atlas Venture and Matrix Partners. The news was first reported by Scott Kirsner on his blog, and confirmed by Atlas partner Axel Bichara. Little information is available about Waltham, MA-based CloudSwitch, whose placeholder website merely says it is in … Continue reading “CloudSwitch Floating on $7.4M Funding Round”

Paul Graham and Y Combinator to Leave Cambridge, Stay in Silicon Valley Year Round

Viaweb founder Paul Graham and his legendary startup incubator Y Combinator, which is arguably the most vibrant, innovative technology startup school in the country, are no longer going to be part of the summer scene in the Boston area. In a message posted on the Y Combinator website (I think last night sometime), Graham has … Continue reading “Paul Graham and Y Combinator to Leave Cambridge, Stay in Silicon Valley Year Round”

Pink Slip Pick Me Up—Get a Free Ticket to Tomorrow’s Battle of the Tech Bands

It’s a small gesture, we know. But if you have been laid off from a job in tech, life sciences, or tech investing we’d like to offer you some spirit-boosting—not to mention a chance to make connections that could lead to new job opportunities—at tomorrow night’s Xconomy Battle of the Tech Bands here in Cambridge. … Continue reading “Pink Slip Pick Me Up—Get a Free Ticket to Tomorrow’s Battle of the Tech Bands”

San Diego’s First Xconomy Forum: Physics for Future Presidents

The United States will have a new president in four days. But if it were you, how should science and technology guide you in making key decisions in areas like energy, the environment, and fighting terrorism? Should we invest heavily in solar power or electric cars? What is the real potential of nuclear technology—either as … Continue reading “San Diego’s First Xconomy Forum: Physics for Future Presidents”

Robotics Pioneer Brooks Called to Jury Duty—at Sundance Film Festival

I know for a fact that robotics guru and Xconomist Rod Brooks was looking forward to next Thursday’s Xconomy Battle of the Tech Bands 2, both because it’s across the street from his Central Square-based Heartland Robotics company—and because he’s spoken enthusiastically about rocking out with us several times. So it was a blow when … Continue reading “Robotics Pioneer Brooks Called to Jury Duty—at Sundance Film Festival”

Nuance to Sell $175M in Stock

Private equity powerhouse Warburg Pincus will buy 17.4 million shares, or $175 million worth, of Nuance Communications (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NUAN]]) common stock, Nuance announced today. The Burlington, MA-based speech and imaging technology company said it will use the funds to support M&A activity and general corporate purposes. Warburg Pincus will also acquire a warrant to purchase … Continue reading “Nuance to Sell $175M in Stock”

Tempest in a Tea Kettle: CO2Stats Founder Caught in Frenzy Around Environmental Costs of a Google Search

(Jan. 14, 2009—Further updated and corrected with comments from the Sunday Times of London and Alex Wissner-Gross—see below) Updated and corrected, see below: I just got off the phone with Alex Wissner-Gross, co-founder of Cambridge, MA-based CO2Stats (the recent Y Combinator alumnus firm is run out of an apartment here in Kendall Square), who is … Continue reading “Tempest in a Tea Kettle: CO2Stats Founder Caught in Frenzy Around Environmental Costs of a Google Search”

GreenFuel Hit By Big Layoffs—Nearly Half Staff Let Go This Morning

GreenFuel Technologies, the Cambridge, MA-based algae farming company that was seemingly rebounding from technical setbacks and massive layoffs in the summer of 2007, has this morning laid off close to 50 percent of its staff. We received a tip about the layoffs this morning, and they were confirmed by CEO Simon Upfill-Brown in a telephone … Continue reading “GreenFuel Hit By Big Layoffs—Nearly Half Staff Let Go This Morning”

Kauffman Foundation Entrepreneur Fellowship Program Launches in Boston and Silicon Valley

Right now there’s really only one great educational institution for those who want to learn how to be an entrepreneur, and it’s called the School of Hard Knocks. That isn’t to say there aren’t some wonderful classes and programs in entrepreneurship at places like MIT, Stanford, and other universities. But those are typically short-lived courses … Continue reading “Kauffman Foundation Entrepreneur Fellowship Program Launches in Boston and Silicon Valley”

Spark Capital Heads List of Boston VCs Most Exposed to Web 2.0 Tailspin

Updated, Jan. 8, 8:40 am—see below: Everyone knows that when it comes to Internet investing, New England VCs are low flyers compared to their high-flying Silicon Valley counterparts—and a lot of folks around here are always asking why Boston investors can’t be more like the Web venture gurus out west. Well, turns out New England … Continue reading “Spark Capital Heads List of Boston VCs Most Exposed to Web 2.0 Tailspin”

OLPC Lays Off Half Its Staff—Refocusing Mission and Talking About the $0 Laptop

The One Laptop Per Child Foundation, the great dream of MIT Media Lab founder Nicholas Negroponte to bring low-cost, educational computing to children in the world’s developing nations and beyond, announced today a major layoff and refocusing of its mission. Only 32 staff will remain, about half the current number, according to Negroponte’s post on … Continue reading “OLPC Lays Off Half Its Staff—Refocusing Mission and Talking About the $0 Laptop”

EMC Confirms Acquisition of Some SourceLabs Assets and Staff to Bolster Cloud Business, Denies Swik.net Part of Deal

EMC has acquired some of the assets and personnel of Seattle’s SourceLabs and will integrate them into its cloud computing business, the Hopkinton, MA-based company confirmed today. But contrary to news reports over the weekend, EMC has not acquired all of SourceLabs—nor has it acquired the Swik.net open-source documentation project run by SourceLabs, an EMC … Continue reading “EMC Confirms Acquisition of Some SourceLabs Assets and Staff to Bolster Cloud Business, Denies Swik.net Part of Deal”

Of Drivable Airplanes, Hair-Raising, OLPC, Card-Counting, Black Silicon, & More: New England’s Top Innovation Stories of 2008

What did the New England innovation community devote itself to, struggle with, and just plain obsess over in 2008? Well, as you might expect, the answer was far different from 2007. Last year at this time we were reminiscing about iRobot’s legal battles with Robotic FX, the upheaval at Mitsubishi’s computer research lab in Cambridge, … Continue reading “Of Drivable Airplanes, Hair-Raising, OLPC, Card-Counting, Black Silicon, & More: New England’s Top Innovation Stories of 2008”

Wishing You A Healthy and Happy Holiday Season; Posting Will Be Light

Another year is coming to an end, and for us at Xconomy it has been an action-packed 12 months. Not only has our flagship Boston site grown beyond our expectations, we have also launched Xconomy Seattle and Xconomy San Diego, building our own small, but rapidly growing, network. We’d like to take this occasion to … Continue reading “Wishing You A Healthy and Happy Holiday Season; Posting Will Be Light”

Take an Innovation Tour of India

The world might not be completely flat, but a bulldozer has been working overtime on leveling the global innovation playing field—and many previously emerging nations are establishing themselves as serious competitors to the U.S. India is near the top of the list. Previously known in the technology world as a place for cheap outsourcing of … Continue reading “Take an Innovation Tour of India”

Y Combinator Startup Posterous Raises Round, Launches Group Blog Feature

This past summer, I had a great time at the Y Combinator Demo Day, schmoozing with guests and watching some altogether fascinating demos from the incubator’s latest batch of startup companies. One of those that made my list of favorite demos was Posterous, which today announced a $750,000 funding round from a group of high … Continue reading “Y Combinator Startup Posterous Raises Round, Launches Group Blog Feature”

ExaGrid Bytes into $12M Round

Westborough, MA-based disk-based backup solutions company ExaGrid Systems has garnered $12 million in Series D funding, PE Hub reports. Participants include previous investors Highland Capital Partners, Sigma Partners, and Lehman Brothers Venture Partners. The company has reportedly taken in some $87 million in venture funding since its 2002 founding.

ATV Promotes Energy Leader Friendly

Waltham, MA-based Advanced Technology Ventures has promoted New England clean energy maven Andrew Friendly to principal, the firm announced today. Friendly co-heads the Renewable Energy Business Network and serves on the New England Clean Energy Council’s advisory board. He also represents ATV on the boards of AltaRock Energy and Solar Junction. His promotion came as … Continue reading “ATV Promotes Energy Leader Friendly”

Flybridge Unveils Scholarship Program to Help Students Network and Stay in MA

Massachusetts is home to perhaps the world’s greatest concentration of top colleges and universities, many of them rich in the science and engineering education that forms the backbone of our high-tech economy. But one rap the Bay State has taken is that many graduates leave for jobs on the West Coast and other places rather … Continue reading “Flybridge Unveils Scholarship Program to Help Students Network and Stay in MA”

Spire Shines with $54.9M Solar Contract

Bedford, MA-based Spire Corp (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SPIR]]), a leading supplier of equipment for manufacturing solar photovoltaic power modules, announced today that it has won a $54.9 million contract to supply solar cells for a photovoltaic factory at the Federal Correctional Institution in Otisville, NY. The contract was awarded by Federal Prison Industries.

Xconomy’s Top 9 List of How to Deal With the Downturn Now Up to 12 As More Good Advice Pours In

A few weeks ago we ran a story called How to Handle the Downturn: Xconomy’s Top 9 List of Top 10 Lists. We’d been combing the Web looking for an even ten Top 10 advice lists—but came up one short. Since that time, the advice has continued to flow. One list of particular note, from … Continue reading “Xconomy’s Top 9 List of How to Deal With the Downturn Now Up to 12 As More Good Advice Pours In”

An Energetic Thank You to Our Energy Innovation Forum Speakers and Sponsors

The British consulate on Memorial Drive was hopping last night as roughly 125 people gathered for our Energy Innovation forum, which featured a great panel led by Xconomist Bill Aulet of the MIT Entrepreneurship Center—and an incredible chat between Paul “Charlie Rose” Maeder of Highland Capital Partners and energy-efficiency guru Amory Lovins, co-founder and chairman … Continue reading “An Energetic Thank You to Our Energy Innovation Forum Speakers and Sponsors”