Splitting a cab fare isn’t usually what you’d call a high-tech activity, even with millions of people carrying sophisticated Internet portals in their pockets and purses. Researchers at MIT think it’s about time that changed. By analyzing a year’s worth of New York City cab rides, MIT’s Sensable City Lab was able to see just … Continue reading “Hiding in 172M Cab Rides: A New Frontier for the ‘Sharing Economy’”
Author: Curt Woodward
Curt covered technology and innovation in the Boston area for Xconomy. He previously worked in Xconomy’s Seattle bureau and continued some coverage of Seattle-area tech companies, including Amazon and Microsoft.
Curt joined Xconomy in February 2011 after nearly nine years with The Associated Press, the world's largest news organization. He worked in three states and covered a wide variety of beats for the AP, including business, law, politics, government, and general mayhem.
A native Washingtonian, Curt earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA. As a past president of the state's Capitol Correspondents Association, he led efforts to expand statehouse press credentialing to online news outlets for the first time.
Carriers Lost Round One Against WhatsApp. Can They Rebound?
The day after Mark Zuckerberg spent up to $19 billion on WhatsApp, the world’s wireless carriers suddenly had a lot to say about their own big plans for Internet-based mobile messaging. Third-place U.S. carrier Sprint announced that its competitor app, Messaging Plus, was going to be pre-installed on most of its new Android smartphones. French … Continue reading “Carriers Lost Round One Against WhatsApp. Can They Rebound?”
Boston Tech Roundup: Optio Labs, AppZero, Hadapt, North Bridge
We’ve got a couple of startup financing deals, some layoffs, and venture capitalist retirements in this quick rundown of Boston-area innovation news to end the week: —Optio Labs, a Boston-based company that makes security software for mobile devices, has raised a $10 million Series A investment. The money comes from Optio Labs’ parent company, Allied … Continue reading “Boston Tech Roundup: Optio Labs, AppZero, Hadapt, North Bridge”
Wayfair Confirms $157M Series B as IPO Looms
One of the Boston area’s most closely watched private tech companies is sure giving people a lot to watch lately. Wayfair, the e-commerce company that sells home goods ranging from sofas to power drills, confirmed on Friday that it’s raised a $157 million Series B investment round. The money came from growth-capital investors and was … Continue reading “Wayfair Confirms $157M Series B as IPO Looms”
Boston Roundup: HubSpot, Veveo, Clarity, CounterTack, Smarterer
Some news tidbits to catch up on from the last week around New England technology: —Online marketing software maker HubSpot is inching closer to an IPO. The Wall Street Journal reports that the Cambridge, MA-based company is working with Morgan Stanley on the deal, but the timing remains unclear. HubSpot has been vocal about its … Continue reading “Boston Roundup: HubSpot, Veveo, Clarity, CounterTack, Smarterer”
Athletes Look to Tech for Performance, Injury Help at Harvard
Veteran NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has been around big-time football his whole life, even roaming the sidelines as a high school ball boy while his father, Don, played tight end for the New England Patriots. So you can believe it when he says that, despite the game’s big budgets and slick production, not much has changed … Continue reading “Athletes Look to Tech for Performance, Injury Help at Harvard”
NuoDB Scales Up Database Business with $14.2M from Dassault
It’s been about a year since NuoDB released its first product, a new kind of database software designed for the era of cloud computing. The Cambridge, MA-based company had all of the frills you might expect for the occasion, including testimonials from early customers who said they’d put the new technology through its paces. That … Continue reading “NuoDB Scales Up Database Business with $14.2M from Dassault”
IBM Buys Online Database Provider Cloudant as Cloud Wars March On
IBM is taking another bite out of the cloud software world as it tries to keep up with much younger technology companies. Today, IBM announced it was buying Boston-based Cloudant, an online database software provider. The price wasn’t revealed. Cloudant had raised about $15 million in private investment since it was founded in 2008. Cloudant’s … Continue reading “IBM Buys Online Database Provider Cloudant as Cloud Wars March On”
Boston Tech Roundup: Irrational, Wayfair, Spark, ClickSoftware
[Updated 8:40 a.m.] Layoffs, IPO filings, investment, and an acquisition in this trip through a few of the week’s storylines around the greater Boston technology sector: —Irrational Games, developers of the big console franchise BioShock, has abruptly shut down. In a post on the company’s website, co-founder Ken Levine says he wants to build a … Continue reading “Boston Tech Roundup: Irrational, Wayfair, Spark, ClickSoftware”
Skyhook Wireless Sold While Patent Lawsuits Drag On
Skyhook Wireless was one of the Boston tech sector’s early showcase companies in the mobile era. But battles with big technology companies hampered that promise, and in late 2012 a new CEO arrived from one of the company’s investors to help right the ship. Today, we’re seeing the results: Skyhook is being sold to TruePosition, … Continue reading “Skyhook Wireless Sold While Patent Lawsuits Drag On”
Born Online, Fashion Startups Still Flock to Bricks and Mortar
Ministry of Supply has its high-tech credentials pretty well nailed. The Boston-based company was founded by a group of MIT students who wanted to make comfortable, durable men’s dress clothes out of scientifically advanced materials. Its first shirt employed temperature-regulating technology also found in NASA space suits. Some of its clothes are knitted by robots. … Continue reading “Born Online, Fashion Startups Still Flock to Bricks and Mortar”
Boston Tech Roundup: Carbonite, BlueConic, CodeShip, Accelerators
This week saw the founder of a publicly traded tech company stepping down from his job, while some startups raised Series A rounds to relocate to Boston and local accelerators made some moves: —Carbonite founder David Friend is leaving his job as president and CEO of the online computer backup company. Carbonite (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CARB]]) said … Continue reading “Boston Tech Roundup: Carbonite, BlueConic, CodeShip, Accelerators”
Avalara Adds $30M to Fuel Sales-Tax Software Growth
Sales-tax software might sound like a boring business. But don’t tell that to the folks at Avalara. The nearly 10-year-old company, based a short ferry ride away from Seattle on Bainbridge Island, embraces the normally staid world of e-commerce backend services and enterprise software with a fun-loving culture that includes a company “tiki bar” and … Continue reading “Avalara Adds $30M to Fuel Sales-Tax Software Growth”
Swirl Rolls Out `Indoor GPS’ at Alex and Ani Stores Nationwide
It’s one of those smartphone-era technology breakthroughs that you’re constantly hearing will happen very soon: an “indoor GPS” system for retailers, allowing shopkeepers to send their would-be customers digital coupons and other goodies tailored to the place they’re standing in the store. Brick-and-mortar retailers would probably like to start using these systems if they could … Continue reading “Swirl Rolls Out `Indoor GPS’ at Alex and Ani Stores Nationwide”
WTIA Buys Troubled NWEN in Nonprofit Consolidation
The Washington Technology Industry Association, the state’s top trade group for tech companies, is taking over another nonprofit that serves tech entrepreneurs. The WTIA announced today that it’s acquiring the Northwest Entrepreneur Network, which laid off its director last month as it sought to restructure. The deal involved some payment, but the exact figures were not … Continue reading “WTIA Buys Troubled NWEN in Nonprofit Consolidation”
Boston Tech Roundup: DataXu, Imprivata, Flashnotes
A few financing deals that percolated up around the Boston area this week: —Boston-based advertising software company DataXu has raised another $10 million and added a new board member. The new cash was revealed in an SEC filing this week, and the company confirmed to the Boston Business Journal that the money came from existing … Continue reading “Boston Tech Roundup: DataXu, Imprivata, Flashnotes”
With Nadella, Microsoft Avoids Drastic Change at CEO
The announcement of longtime Microsoftie Satya Nadella as the company’s new CEO was no surprise when it finally, officially came Tuesday. Last week’s early reports of the choice ensured that the Microsoft board’s plans were fully floated before the cameras and conference calls were set into motion. So there was no big reaction from Wall … Continue reading “With Nadella, Microsoft Avoids Drastic Change at CEO”
PillPack Starts Offering Online, Personalized Prescription Service
TJ Parker grew up in a pharmacy family. And when running a drug store is the family business, your first jobs include delivering medications to people’s homes—the kind of up-close view of the American healthcare system that many people never get. That’s where Parker first got familiar with the elaborate routines that some people have … Continue reading “PillPack Starts Offering Online, Personalized Prescription Service”
$2B Wayfair Valuation a Big Statement in Winner-Take-All E-Commerce
Snow flurries are flying in the Northeast, but the competition in home furnishings e-commerce seems to be getting hotter by the moment—and Boston-based Wayfair is making a pretty convincing case to be the leader, even if you have to read between the lines to see it. Last week, San Francisco-based home-goods seller One Kings Lane … Continue reading “$2B Wayfair Valuation a Big Statement in Winner-Take-All E-Commerce”
Boston Roundup: CloudLock, HubSpot, Ministry of Supply, EMC
[Updated 9:40 a.m.] Some fundraising and annual financials to spice up your midweek: —CloudLock, a Waltham, MA-based seller of data security software for businesses, has raised a $16.5 million Series C round. The investment was led by Bessemer Venture Partners, with previous backers Cedar Fund and Ascent Venture Partners also contributing. The company last raised … Continue reading “Boston Roundup: CloudLock, HubSpot, Ministry of Supply, EMC”
Internet Attacks via Indonesia Drop Off After Big Spike
A few months ago, Internet traffic routing company Akamai noticed something interesting: a significant rise in the amount of attack traffic coming from Indonesia, making that country the world’s top launching pad for malicious hackers. It didn’t last. Attacks originating from Indonesian IP addresses have dropped back into their previous No. 2 spot in Akamai’s … Continue reading “Internet Attacks via Indonesia Drop Off After Big Spike”
Dragon Innovation Offers $100K Investment for $1M Crowdfunding Wins
Crowdfunding campaigns have made it much easier for small companies to corral a bunch of pre-orders from an online fanbase. But it’s not always smooth sailing once the money starts piling up—especially for companies that make electronic gadgets. Startups like Pebble and Lockitron, each of which raised millions of dollars in early orders, have struggled … Continue reading “Dragon Innovation Offers $100K Investment for $1M Crowdfunding Wins”
Care.com Raising $91M in IPO
Online caregiver marketplace Care.com is raising about $91 million in its initial public stock offering, topping its previously projected price in the Boston area’s first venture-backed technology IPO in more than a year. The Waltham, MA-based company sold its shares Friday night at $17 each, slightly higher than an earlier estimated price range of $14-$16. … Continue reading “Care.com Raising $91M in IPO”
Mendix Raises $25M to Expand Enterprise Software Platform
Lots of big-business software just plain sucks. Which sounds like the perfect opportunity for a startup to make some waves, of course—and a magnet for venture capital investment. Boston-based Mendix is one of the companies trying to build a big business in that niche. And as of today, it’s got another $25 million in VC … Continue reading “Mendix Raises $25M to Expand Enterprise Software Platform”
Boston Roundup: Kensho, Drizly, Change Collective, UberVu
A foursome of deals from around the region in this midweek update: —Kensho, a Cambridge, MA-based developer of financial software, says it has raised $10 million in venture capital. The startup is testing a software product called Warren, which Kensho says will allow investors to perform research with natural-language queries—kind of like a Siri approach … Continue reading “Boston Roundup: Kensho, Drizly, Change Collective, UberVu”
Bolt Looks for Later-Stage Startups as Hardware Heats Up
For the past couple of years, entrepreneurs and investors have been warming to the idea that Internet-connected gadgets will spawn some of the next great technology companies. Last week, Google made an emphatic endorsement by plunking down $3.2 billion in cash for smart-thermostat maker Nest. Suddenly, in startup land, hardware is everywhere. One of the … Continue reading “Bolt Looks for Later-Stage Startups as Hardware Heats Up”
Apple, Amazon, Samsung, & More Settle Boston Univ. Patent Lawsuits
The technology industry’s biggest names have given in and settled patent lawsuits from Boston University, which has launched an enormous legal assault in the past two years to lock down licensing fees before a key patent expires. The university announced the biggest chunk of settlements on Wednesday, noting that 25 of the companies being sued … Continue reading “Apple, Amazon, Samsung, & More Settle Boston Univ. Patent Lawsuits”
Boston Roundup: ClearSky Data, Backupify, Flashnotes, OnCorps, & More
Updated 10:20 am Eastern Here are a few recent financing deals, including some on the stealthy and secretive side, from around the region: —Highland Capital Partners and General Catalyst have put $12 million into a stealthy new enterprise IT startup called ClearSky Data. The news comes via Scott Kirsner at Boston.com, who spoke with founders … Continue reading “Boston Roundup: ClearSky Data, Backupify, Flashnotes, OnCorps, & More”
Murfie Shows Promise as an Online CD Market—With Some Catches
Back in the old days, when music was imprisoned on CDs, you might be able to pick up a few extra bucks by hauling your discs to the local music store and trying to sell back the albums that you didn’t listen to anymore. It was kind of like a low-stakes pawn shop: they didn’t … Continue reading “Murfie Shows Promise as an Online CD Market—With Some Catches”
Inside Tony Hsieh’s Quiet Plan to Bankroll Hardware Startups
When Jen McCabe joined smartphone robot startup Romotive, the crew was still in its frantic post-Kickstarter afterglow—a flood of pre-orders, an apartment full of parts, nonstop sessions of assembling and shipping products. Soon enough, though, the manic energy gave way to some cold realities. Even with relatively cheap components, cloud-based software, and enthusiastic crowdfunders, building … Continue reading “Inside Tony Hsieh’s Quiet Plan to Bankroll Hardware Startups”
Boston Roundup: MC10, PeerTransfer, CO Everywhere, Bridge Boys
A few fundraising deals you may have missed over the holidays: —MC10, which makes thin, flexible, sensor-packed electronics, has raised nearly $20 million more in equity financing. It’s not clear who the investors in the round were, since the news comes via the bare-bones SEC filing and there’s no additional word on the company’s website. The … Continue reading “Boston Roundup: MC10, PeerTransfer, CO Everywhere, Bridge Boys”
IRobot’s New Floor-Cleaning Bot a Key to Company’s Future
IRobot has built a pretty large business on the gee-whiz proposition of letting robotic vacuum cleaners tidy up around the house. But the company won’t get truly huge until home cleaning robots are as commonplace as dishwashers or sonic toothbrushes. That’s a big part of the thinking behind the company’s introduction of a new robot, … Continue reading “IRobot’s New Floor-Cleaning Bot a Key to Company’s Future”
Brightcove Spends $49M for Ad-Tech Company Unicorn Media
Boston-based online video company Brightcove is paying $49 million, mostly in stock, for a smaller private company that specializes in digital video advertising technology. Brightcove says it will continue offering products from Tempe, AZ-based Unicorn Media once the deal is complete, and turn the Unicorn offices into a Brightcove branch operation. The purchase involves about … Continue reading “Brightcove Spends $49M for Ad-Tech Company Unicorn Media”
Here’s What Mobile Industry Insiders See Ahead for 2014
By now, you should know the truly big stories in the mobile sector: Samsung’s rise to challenge Apple, Microsoft finally acquiring Nokia, Google leaping into wearables, more moves toward carrier consolidation. But if you want to get a jump start on some of the biggest trends shaping up in the mobile industry, you could do … Continue reading “Here’s What Mobile Industry Insiders See Ahead for 2014”
Boston Roundup: GNS, DailyFeats, Wymsee, Moontoast, Where Angels
It wouldn’t be the holidays without a good old-fashioned news dump. Here’s a few deals that have popped up on the radar while most people are getting ready for a few days off: —GNS Healthcare, a “big data” healthcare company, has filed paperwork for a nearly $10 million equity fundraising. GNS has compiled a database … Continue reading “Boston Roundup: GNS, DailyFeats, Wymsee, Moontoast, Where Angels”
General Catalyst Raises $675M, Wants to Grow Silicon Valley Office
Venture capital firm General Catalyst Partners has raised $675 million for its seventh investment fund, saying it wants to continue investing in fast-growing companies from coast to coast—with a special focus on Silicon Valley. The deal, announced today, comes about two years after General Catalyst raised $500 million for its sixth fund. The firm has invested … Continue reading “General Catalyst Raises $675M, Wants to Grow Silicon Valley Office”
Boundless Settles Copyright Lawsuit From Textbook Publishers
Online education startup Boundless has settled a copyright lawsuit from three major college textbook publishers, moving the young company past a turbulent period that saw business growth, but also the departure of two of its three co-founders. A settlement had been in the works for some time, as we reported this summer. The lawsuit was … Continue reading “Boundless Settles Copyright Lawsuit From Textbook Publishers”
Boston Roundup: Infinio, Rethink Robotics, Boston Dynamics
Fundraising, layoff, and acquisition news from around the IT software and robotics sectors in the past few days: —Infinio, a Cambridge, MA-based IT software developer, says it has raised a $12 million Series B investment. The money comes from existing backers, including Bessemer Venture Partners, Highland Capital Partners, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Osage University Partners. The … Continue reading “Boston Roundup: Infinio, Rethink Robotics, Boston Dynamics”
Wetpaint Acquired by Viggle for $30M, a Loss for Investors
Wetpaint, a digital publisher that focused on churning out entertainment and celebrity news distributed over social media, has been acquired by “second screen” TV app maker Viggle for $30 million in cash and stock. The deal will be a disappointment for Wetpaint’s investors, who poured about $40 million into the company—venture firms DAG Ventures, Accel Partners, … Continue reading “Wetpaint Acquired by Viggle for $30M, a Loss for Investors”
Care.com Seeks $80M IPO, Still Unprofitable
Care.com, an online marketplace for childcare, tutoring, and other personal services, has made its IPO paperwork public. We knew this was coming—media reports had already picked up on the Waltham, MA-based company’s confidential IPO filing, which companies with less than $1 billion in annual sales can do under new federal rules. Care.com is seeking $80 million … Continue reading “Care.com Seeks $80M IPO, Still Unprofitable”
Swoop: Taking a Cue from Google to Make Web Ads Suck Less, Pay More
Banner ads are nearly 20 years old, and they’re not really getting better. It’s widely accepted that almost nobody clicks on them, at least on purpose. But their cheap prices and endless volume have continued to attract billions of dollars in annual marketing budgets anyway. Cambridge, MA-based startup Swoop thinks it can help fight the … Continue reading “Swoop: Taking a Cue from Google to Make Web Ads Suck Less, Pay More”
Boston Roundup: FirstFuel, ownCloud, Lagoa, Novomer
A quick trip through some cleantech, software, and materials fundraising news around the region: —FirstFuel Software, which specializes in energy-efficiency analysis for commercial buildings, has raised an $8.5 million Series B investment. The Lexington, MA-based company says new and existing investors supplied the money, including German utility E.ON. FirstFuel has now raised a total of nearly … Continue reading “Boston Roundup: FirstFuel, ownCloud, Lagoa, Novomer”
Toyota Licenses Wireless Battery Charging Tech from WiTricity
Toyota is getting more serious about wireless charging for its electric cars, and a Boston-area company is benefitting. The world’s largest car-maker says it is licensing patents from Watertown, MA-based WiTricity, an MIT spinout that has developed technology to recharge batteries without using wires. The two companies didn’t say how much money the deal is … Continue reading “Toyota Licenses Wireless Battery Charging Tech from WiTricity”
Boston Roundup: Volition Capital, Freight Farms, Technical Machine
A few notable fundraising deals: —Volition Capital, a spinout from Boston-based Fidelity Investments’ venture operation, has finished raising its second growth equity fund at more than $170 million. The firm, led by co-founder and managing partner Larry Cheng, showed up in the news this summer when it filed SEC paperwork for the first $80 million … Continue reading “Boston Roundup: Volition Capital, Freight Farms, Technical Machine”
Superpedestrian Starts Selling “Copenhagen Wheel” Electric Bike Kits
At first glance, this square-faced building about a mile from the MIT campus doesn’t look like the kind of place that’s fixing the future of urban transportation. Not until the doors swing open and a guy zips into the street, piloting a bike that sports a big red disc affixed to the rear wheel. This … Continue reading “Superpedestrian Starts Selling “Copenhagen Wheel” Electric Bike Kits”
Akamai to Acquire Security Company Prolexic for $370M
Akamai is beefing up its defenses against Internet attackers. The Cambridge, MA-based network company, best known for handling about a third of the Web’s traffic globally, is paying $370 million to acquire Prolexic, a Web security company. Prolexic sells security software that protects data centers and big-business Internet applications from distributed denial of service (DDoS) … Continue reading “Akamai to Acquire Security Company Prolexic for $370M”
Boston Roundup: Care.com, Sonian, QD Vision, Rest Devices
—Care.com, a Waltham, MA-based operator of Web search services for finding babysitters and other personal service providers, has reportedly filed secret paperwork for an IPO. The Wall Street Journal has that report, citing anonymous sources, part of the new routine for IPOs under secret filing provisions of the Jobs Act. Care.com has raised some $110 … Continue reading “Boston Roundup: Care.com, Sonian, QD Vision, Rest Devices”
DraftKings Rounds Up $24M for Fantasy Sports Games
It’s kind of a no-brainer that running a gambling business can make you money. But the laws around that industry are, shall we say, a bit restrictive. There’s also a bit of social backlash to contend with—just ask the people who wanted to plant new casinos outside of Boston, only to see voters respond with … Continue reading “DraftKings Rounds Up $24M for Fantasy Sports Games”
Boston Roundup: CoachUp, Clypd, Terrafugia, Nuance
Some startup funding news—including an unusual crowdfunding candidate—and a bit of Wall Street intrigue for a local tech giant in this week’s quick checkup on news from around the region: —CoachUp, a Boston-based startup that connects people with private sports trainers, says it has raised an additional $6.7 million in Series A investment. The round … Continue reading “Boston Roundup: CoachUp, Clypd, Terrafugia, Nuance”
Big Sale Ends Today for Our “Hardtech Revolution” Event 12/9
OK, thrill-seekers and bargain-lovers, here’s a deadline for you: today’s the last day to grab special Saver Rate tickets for our Dec. 9 event, “The Hardtech Revolution: Makers, Markets, & Mobile” hosted by AppNexus. Why should you attend? It’s the one place where you’ll get an in-depth look at the leading edge of technology innovation … Continue reading “Big Sale Ends Today for Our “Hardtech Revolution” Event 12/9″