Clearwire and Sprint have been attached at the hip for years, but that doesn’t mean it’s been a lovefest. Today, we’re seeing the final chapter in that up-and-down relationship, as Sprint has agreed to pay some $2.2 billion to buy out Clearwire’s other shareholders and take the wireless network wholesaler off the market. The deal, … Continue reading “Sprint (Finally) Buys Clearwire for $2.2B”
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.
Amazon’s Huge Appetite for Workers to Take a Bite Out of Boston
When Amazon.com purchased Kiva Systems this spring, a lot of people wondered whether the deal might signal an even bigger commitment to the tech scene in Massachusetts. As of this week, we can say the answer is yes. But it came in kind of a roundabout way. On Tuesday, Gov. Deval Patrick and Amazon announced … Continue reading “Amazon’s Huge Appetite for Workers to Take a Bite Out of Boston”
See You This Afternoon at Mobile Madness Northwest
We’re gearing up for Mobile Madness Northwest, Xconomy’s premier year-end conference examining the big changes and big ideas being driven by the mobile computing revolution. We’re really excited to see lots of old friends and plenty of new faces at this year’s event, which builds on the half-day conference’s debut in Seattle last year. We’ve … Continue reading “See You This Afternoon at Mobile Madness Northwest”
Boston Roundup: A123, Moderna, Wayfair, Skyhook, & More
Some big meltdown and fundraising news on our radar in the past week or so: —Major Chinese autoparts firm Wanxiang won a secretive bankruptcy auction for most of the assets of Waltham-based A123 Systems, the advanced battery maker that sought court protection late last year amid fallng orders and and manufacturing problems. But that’s not … Continue reading “Boston Roundup: A123, Moderna, Wayfair, Skyhook, & More”
Nike + TechStars: Another Licensing Deal for Top Startup Accelerator
TechStars, the top-tier startup accelerator program with branches across the country, is finding a bigger corporate appetite for its three-month startup “bootcamp” sessions. Nike has announced that it will partner with Boulder, CO-based TechStars for a version of the accelerator focused on using the sports apparel company’s Nike+ technology, which incorporates sensors and software to … Continue reading “Nike + TechStars: Another Licensing Deal for Top Startup Accelerator”
A123 Sells Bulk of Company to Wanxiang, Feds Must Approve
A123 Systems, the bankrupt advanced-battery company bankrolled in part by federal stimulus money, has agreed to sell its commercial business to China’s largest auto-parts manufacturer. But the twisted saga of the former cleantech poster child is not over—the U.S. federal government must still approve the transaction, a potentially big political hurdle. Following a four-day private … Continue reading “A123 Sells Bulk of Company to Wanxiang, Feds Must Approve”
A123 Goes on the Auction Block: Here’s How It Got This Bad
[Update 12/10: Chinese firm wins A123 auction, feds must approve deal.] A123 Systems was supposed to be a leading light in the next phase of clean-energy innovation in the U.S.—hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants, state-government support in Massachusetts and Michigan, deals to supply the batteries for luxury electric cars. In 2009, the … Continue reading “A123 Goes on the Auction Block: Here’s How It Got This Bad”
Boston Deals: Next Step, Adelphic, Ray Ozzie’s Talko, & More
Investments for startups tackling energy efficiency, mobile ads, and much more, along with some more droplets of news about a big name in tech’s next project are on the deals watch list so far this week: —Next Step Living, a Boston-based startup that analyzes and retrofits homes to help improve energy efficiency, has raised $18.2 … Continue reading “Boston Deals: Next Step, Adelphic, Ray Ozzie’s Talko, & More”
Mobile Madness NW: Big Ticket Sale Ends Today
Want to hear from some of the best minds from around the Northwest—and beyond—as we prepare for another year of big change in mobile computing? You’re in luck: We’ve got a big sale on tickets to Mobile Madness Northwest, Xconomy’s premier year-end event. But you’ll have to hurry, because our special sale price expires after … Continue reading “Mobile Madness NW: Big Ticket Sale Ends Today”
See You This Afternoon at Mobile Madness New York
We’re all ready to go for Mobile Madness New York, our big afternoon conference tackling the big trends and smartest ideas in the mobile computing revolution. If you’ve waited to get your tickets, do it now—pre-sales stop at 11 am, after which you’ll have to buy a walk-up ticket at the door. We’re really excited … Continue reading “See You This Afternoon at Mobile Madness New York”
Xconomist of the Week: Helen Greiner’s CyPhy Works Unveils Drones
After roughly three years in development and some $3 million in venture investment, iRobot co-founder Helen Greiner is showing off her newest robotic creations. But don’t be fooled by the cool things this new pair of aerial drones can do—the real advancement is the cable that connects them to the ground. Greiner’s robotics startup, CyPhy … Continue reading “Xconomist of the Week: Helen Greiner’s CyPhy Works Unveils Drones”
Mobile Madness Northwest: The Big Agenda for our Dec. 12 Forum
We’re getting pretty excited here at Xconomy for Mobile Madness Northwest, next week’s power-packed afternoon conference featuring some of the best and brightest minds tackling the mobile revolution around the Seattle region—and beyond. You can still get tickets for this special event, which runs from 2 pm to 5:30 pm at Town Hall in Seattle. … Continue reading “Mobile Madness Northwest: The Big Agenda for our Dec. 12 Forum”
“Pre-IPO” Acquia Lands Another $30M, Sees Sales Topping $56M
With so much focus on the rise of mobile devices, apps, and networks, it can be easy to forget that there’s still life left in the good old website, that basic element of the original Internet revolution. One of the companies proving that notion is Burlington, MA’s Acquia. Founded in 2007, Acquia offers a wide … Continue reading ““Pre-IPO” Acquia Lands Another $30M, Sees Sales Topping $56M”
Boston Deals: Incentive Targeting, Nantero, A123, TransMedics & More
[Updated 2:30 pm] A flurry of Boston-area investment and acquisition news hitting our radar screens today: —Incentive Targeting, a startup that priovides Web-based behavioral marketing services for grocery stores, has been acquired by Google. The startup has now confirmed the news, but isn’t providing any details. We don’t have any numbers to put with the deal yet, but … Continue reading “Boston Deals: Incentive Targeting, Nantero, A123, TransMedics & More”
Zaarly at Mobile Madness: 2013 a Big Year for the ‘Peer Economy’
When local commerce startup Zaarly set out to create specialized home pages for people selling goods and services, the company had plenty of digital expertise to draw from. But part of its homework was decidely old school. In San Mateo, CA, a city just south of San Francisco, the startup with high-profile venture capital backers … Continue reading “Zaarly at Mobile Madness: 2013 a Big Year for the ‘Peer Economy’”
Mobile Madness NW: Save Big on Tickets to See Siri’s Inventor & More
Great news for all you post-Thanksgiving bargain hunters: This is your last chance to save nearly 30 percent on tickets for Mobile Madness Northwest, our premier year-end conference bringing together some of the region’s top innovators. Our special saver rate expires after today, so be sure to pick up your tickets now for this afternoon … Continue reading “Mobile Madness NW: Save Big on Tickets to See Siri’s Inventor & More”
Mobile Madness: Last Day to Save $125 on Our Dec. 4 Conference
The leftovers are dwindling and the food coma’s well past. Maybe you camped out for a big sale, or spent Monday scouring the Web for deals. But if you’re still in the mood to save some serious cash, Thanksgiving isn’t quite over. That’s because today is the last chance to claim Thanksgiving Special tickets for … Continue reading “Mobile Madness: Last Day to Save $125 on Our Dec. 4 Conference”
Boston Deals: Swoop, OwnCloud, Lookout Gaming, Streetwise Media
Updated 2:50 pm A buffet of small Boston-area fundraising items to whet your appetite as Turkey Day approaches: —Cambridge-based Swoop, a startup that offers what it calls “native” advertising to help Web publishers make money from their content, has raised $3 million of a financing round that could grow to $5 million, according to a … Continue reading “Boston Deals: Swoop, OwnCloud, Lookout Gaming, Streetwise Media”
General Catalyst Co-Founder John Simon Joins Sigma Prime
Updated at 5:30 pm John Simon, a veteran venture investor and entrepreneur, has found his next job: Managing director at Boston’s Sigma Prime Ventures. Simon was a co-founder at Cambridge-based General Catalyst Partners, but announced in July that he was leaving the firm after 12 years. Simon also has served as an executive at several companies, … Continue reading “General Catalyst Co-Founder John Simon Joins Sigma Prime”
Data-Storage Startup Qumulo, Founded by Isilon Vets, Lands $24.5M
Some key participants in one of the Seattle area’s biggest tech company success stories of recent years are back with a new company. And as of today, they’ve got sizable backing from venture investors to attack the data storage market. The startup is Qumulo, a Seattle-based company that is announcing today a $24.5 million Series … Continue reading “Data-Storage Startup Qumulo, Founded by Isilon Vets, Lands $24.5M”
Mobile Madness NY: The Big Agenda for Our Dec. 4 Forum
We’re really excited about the group we’ve assembled for Mobile Madness New York, our Dec. 4 conference exploring the ways that mobile computing is transforming commerce, entrepreneurship, publishing, big business, and more. And today, we’re announcing the full lineup for this premier tech event, part of our multi-city Mobile Madness series that also includes Boston, … Continue reading “Mobile Madness NY: The Big Agenda for Our Dec. 4 Forum”
Zulily Adds $85 Million, Sees Sales on a $500M Annual Pace
It sounds pretty simple: Package big sales of sought-after goods for moms and kids and start selling each day at 6 am. But that little bit of e-commerce wizardry might be a lot bigger than it sounds—and it’s turned Zulily into one of the fastest-growing startups in the Seattle region, with monthly revenue now on … Continue reading “Zulily Adds $85 Million, Sees Sales on a $500M Annual Pace”
TechStars Boston: 13 New Startups, from Super-Springs to Baby Makers
It’s no surprise to hear someone running a startup accelerator praise their latest flock for tackling a broad set of problems. But when TechStars Boston managing director Katie Rae praised the latest class of graduates for the diversity of their ideas, it turns out she wasn’t just reciting the standard speech. On Wednesday night, that … Continue reading “TechStars Boston: 13 New Startups, from Super-Springs to Baby Makers”
Boston Deals: Activate Networks, Spindle, Arcadia Solutions, Cignifi
A midweek run through the companies making financing and acquisition news across the region: —Activate Networks, a provider of analytic software for businesses, reports that it has raised a $10 million Series B round of financing. The investment was led by Reed Elsevier Ventures, with participation from previous investor Excel Venture Management and new investor Premier, … Continue reading “Boston Deals: Activate Networks, Spindle, Arcadia Solutions, Cignifi”
Saver Rate Expires Today for Mobile Madness New York Dec. 4
We’re getting closer to the Dec. 4 kick-off for Mobile Madness New York, the Big Apple debut of our premier conference on how the explosion of mobile computing is changing the technology industry. And if you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, take note—the saver rate for this power-packed program is expiring after today. You’ll want … Continue reading “Saver Rate Expires Today for Mobile Madness New York Dec. 4”
Allied Minds: Boston Firm Details First Two Startups in Federal Deal
Boston investment firm Allied Minds made headlines recently for a new licensing agreement with the Defense Department—one that Allied Minds says is the first of its kind, allowing for far-reaching privatization of technology developed by the government. It’s hard to argue with the idea of trying to build more businesses on top of the many … Continue reading “Allied Minds: Boston Firm Details First Two Startups in Federal Deal”
Priceline Buys Kayak, Consolidating Online Travel Brands
A big deal today in online travel, with competitive implications for companies from coast to coast: Priceline.com, a stalwart of the industry, is buying up newer competitor Kayak in a cash-and-stock deal worth about $1.8 billion. It’s a pretty quick sale for Kayak, which just made its public-market debut this summer. Both Priceline (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PCLN]]) … Continue reading “Priceline Buys Kayak, Consolidating Online Travel Brands”
RunKeeper’s Marathon Plan for Startup Success: “We’re Not in a Rush”
You’d expect the founder of a successful fitness-tracking startup to be a pretty healthy guy. So when RunKeeper boss Jason Jacobs reports that he rode his bike to work despite the first few days of wintry Boston temperatures creeping in, it’s not a big surprise. But it wasn’t always a foregone conclusion that Jacobs would … Continue reading “RunKeeper’s Marathon Plan for Startup Success: “We’re Not in a Rush””
Alike Decodes the DNA of Places: Hear More at Mobile Madness Dec. 12
I haven’t been there in far too long, but I know all the details of my favorite Seattle coffee shop: The low light and loud music, the quirks of the baristas, which snacks are worth buying, and the best tables for silently banging out some writing work. I’d love to find more places just like … Continue reading “Alike Decodes the DNA of Places: Hear More at Mobile Madness Dec. 12”
Shareaholic Report: StumbleUpon Still Sliding, Pinterest No. 4
Ah, the fickle world of Web traffic. While the big guys like Facebook and Google stay atop the list of important sources for publishers, there’s always a good knife fight going on down on the lower rungs. Today we’ve got a fresh look at the state of play from Shareaholic, the Cambridge, MA, startup that … Continue reading “Shareaholic Report: StumbleUpon Still Sliding, Pinterest No. 4”
Google Ventures’ Rich Miner, Stamped CEO Stein at Mobile Madness NY
Few people have played a more instrumental role in the mobile computing revolution than Rich Miner. As the co-founder of Android, Miner spread the seeds of an operating system that has spread at a breathtaking pace, becoming the most widely used mobile OS in the world. In fact, some analysts say Android could surpass even … Continue reading “Google Ventures’ Rich Miner, Stamped CEO Stein at Mobile Madness NY”
Litle & Co. Sold for $361M in Payments Processing Consolidation
Helping money change hands has always been a good business. Smooth out the bumps in e-commerce payments, and you’re on another level altogether. That’s the driver behind today’s acquisition of Lowell, MA-based Litle & Co., a decade-old payments processing provider that counts some big names in e-commerce among its roster of clients. The company is … Continue reading “Litle & Co. Sold for $361M in Payments Processing Consolidation”
Storage & Health IT Deals: EMC, Nasuni, Recombinant Data, QuantiaMD
Plenty of deals to watch around Boston this week. Here are the big ones: —EMC (NYSE: [[ticker:EMC]]), the Hopkinton, MA-based data storage giant, has acquired Silver Tail Systems of Menlo Park, CA. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but weren’t expected to have a material effect on EMC’s earnings if the acquisition closes as … Continue reading “Storage & Health IT Deals: EMC, Nasuni, Recombinant Data, QuantiaMD”
Boston’s Rapid7 Appoints New CEO, Former Boss Tuchen Now an Advisor
Enterprise IT security provider Rapid7 has a new CEO, announcing today that former president and chief operating officer Corey Thomas has taken over for Mike Tuchen. Word of the CEO change came in a Friday news release, which buried the big news under some statistics about revenue growth and examples of its customers. No explanation … Continue reading “Boston’s Rapid7 Appoints New CEO, Former Boss Tuchen Now an Advisor”
Brad Feld: Is Big Data Bullshit? Not Quite, But Don’t Be Distracted
If you already find it hard to contemplate the flood of data flowing into businesses of all kinds, just wait. “Twenty years from now, the thing we call ‘big data’ will be tiny data,” said Brad Feld, managing director of Foundry Group. “It’ll be microscopic data. The volume that we’re talking about today, in 20 … Continue reading “Brad Feld: Is Big Data Bullshit? Not Quite, But Don’t Be Distracted”
Hear From Siri Co-Founder Adam Cheyer & More at Mobile Madness NW
We’re really excited to invite you to our next big Xconomy event in Seattle, Mobile Madness Northwest, happening the afternoon of Dec. 12. And we’ve got a big name in the technology world to help us kick things off. Adam Cheyer is one of three co-founders of Siri, the company behind the eponymous virtual personal … Continue reading “Hear From Siri Co-Founder Adam Cheyer & More at Mobile Madness NW”
Decide Rejects Ads, Rolls Out Memberships for Smart Shopping Service
Shopping recommendation service Decide is pulling the trigger on a very big change today, one that says a lot about the perils online startups can face when it’s time to turn their product into actual businesses. Decide, stocked with veterans of price-tracking service Farecast, offers a shopping recommendation service for consumers through its website and … Continue reading “Decide Rejects Ads, Rolls Out Memberships for Smart Shopping Service”
MassChallenge Winners: GRIT, LiquiGlide, RallyPoint, Strong Arm
The latest batch of MassChallenge startups have concluded their four-month blitz through the massive accelerator program, which attracted more than 1,200 applications from around the globe. And that means it’s time to hand out some checks. The final 26 startups gave their quick pitches at last night’s award ceremony, showcasing an impressive breadth of entrepreneurial … Continue reading “MassChallenge Winners: GRIT, LiquiGlide, RallyPoint, Strong Arm”
Wetpaint Starts Licensing its Facebook-Based Media Distribution Tech
Turns out all that celebrity gossip-mongering had a point. Wetpaint, the well-funded Seattle digital media startup headed by Blue Nile co-founder Ben Elowitz, is now licensing its Facebook-focused content distribution system to outside publishers. The first deal is with Hubert Burda Media, a German publisher that owns Web and traditional magazine titles. Terms weren’t disclosed, … Continue reading “Wetpaint Starts Licensing its Facebook-Based Media Distribution Tech”
Dunkin’ or Starbucks? Placed Tracks Consumer Moves to Find Out
If you’ve been to the Northeast, you’ve seen it firsthand. For some unexplainable reason, people go absolutely bonkers for Dunkin’ Donuts coffee. And thanks to mobile-marketing startup Placed, we can see just how rabid those customers are. When the Seattle-based startup tracked the movements of consumers in several cities around the country, it found that … Continue reading “Dunkin’ or Starbucks? Placed Tracks Consumer Moves to Find Out”
Boston Deals: Attivio, Perfecto, GrabCAD, Healthrageous, & More
Investors have been pouring more cash into Boston-area startups in recent days, targeting companies that tackle big data, mobile development, medical rehab, and more: —Attivio, a five-year-old company that sells data analysis software, has raised $34 million in growth financing. The investment was led by Oak Investment Partners, which joined previous investors Per-Olof Söderberg and Tenth … Continue reading “Boston Deals: Attivio, Perfecto, GrabCAD, Healthrageous, & More”
Why a Microsoft Smartphone Just Can’t Happen—Not Yet, Anyway
As Microsoft gears up to show off the newest generation of its smartphone software, there are growing questions about whether the software pioneer might start cranking out its own handsets, too. Microsoft’s certainly helping to stoke that idea by recasting itself as a “devices and services” company, as CEO Steve Ballmer just wrote in his … Continue reading “Why a Microsoft Smartphone Just Can’t Happen—Not Yet, Anyway”
Rapid7, Veracode, Boston Scientific, Vaxxas in the Boston Deals Roundup
Biotech and mobile security account for the notable deals making headlines around the Boston area in the past week: —IT security firm Rapid7, loaded up with nearly $60 million in venture capital, is boosting its portfolio of business services by acquiring Seattle-based Mobilisafe. Founded in 2010 by two veterans of T-Mobile, Mobilisafe just unveiled its … Continue reading “Rapid7, Veracode, Boston Scientific, Vaxxas in the Boston Deals Roundup”
Rapid7 Acquires Mobilisafe, Boosting Mobile Device Security
Looks like it’s a good time to be in the mobile security business. Seattle-based Mobilisafe, a startup that just rolled out its product in June, has been acquired by Boston IT security company Rapid7 for an undisclosed price. And Mobilisafe’s technology will live on—Rapid7 will start selling the product as of Wednesday, Mobilisafe co-founder Giri … Continue reading “Rapid7 Acquires Mobilisafe, Boosting Mobile Device Security”
Seattle Deals: Amazon, Buuteeq, Startup Weekend, Microsoft
A few pieces of Seattle-area news spanning real estate, startup financing, and acquisitions to catch up on before the weekend: —Amazon is expanding its real estate holdings in Seattle. In a filing with federal regulators, the e-commerce pioneer and ever-expanding tech leader says it’s buying 11 buildings it already occupies for about $1.16 billion. Amazon … Continue reading “Seattle Deals: Amazon, Buuteeq, Startup Weekend, Microsoft”
Opscode Expands Overseas as Enterprise Cloud Software Biz Grows
Opscode, a Seattle startup that offers cloud-computing software and services for businesses, is putting some of its recent venture cash to use with expansions in Europe and Asia. The new European office—which starts with just one London-based employee—will focus on sales and fostering the open-source community participating in Chef, the software system that Opscode created … Continue reading “Opscode Expands Overseas as Enterprise Cloud Software Biz Grows”
Rhapsody Beefs up Smart TV Offerings, Hints at More Features
The living room used to be the pinnacle of music listening: A big, shiny, multi-component stereo system, preferably with some big speakers stacked up alongside. With the 30th anniversary of the compact disc just passing, it’s hard to miss the fact that this ain’t how we listen to tunes anymore. “It went away after the … Continue reading “Rhapsody Beefs up Smart TV Offerings, Hints at More Features”
T-Mobile Merging with MetroPCS, Forming New Independent Carrier
T-Mobile, the fourth-place U.S. wireless carrier, is splitting from its German parent to compete in the domestic mobile market as a standalone public company. T-Mobile and MetroPCS, a smaller pre-paid carrier based in Texas, announced their plans to form a new company on Wednesday morning. MetroPCS and T-Mobile’s parent company, Deutsche Telekom, had confirmed a … Continue reading “T-Mobile Merging with MetroPCS, Forming New Independent Carrier”
T-Mobile & MetroPCS in Merger Talks, Companies Confirm
Updated 12:45 pm Pacific Fourth-place US mobile carrier T-Mobile, heading in a new direction after its failed merger with AT&T last year, is getting more serious about tying up with a smaller carrier. Bellevue, WA-based T-Mobile’s parent company, German carrier Deutsche Telekom, confirmed on Tuesday that it’s discussing a merger with MetroPCS, a small pre-paid wireless … Continue reading “T-Mobile & MetroPCS in Merger Talks, Companies Confirm”
Microsoft Azure Accelerator: 10 Startup Names to Watch
Microsoft’s partnership with the TechStars accelerator is taking another big step forward today: It’s announcing the first class of 10 startups admitted to the Azure cloud computing program. The software giant says it screened more than 600 applicants for the program, which houses startup founders in Microsoft’s office in the South Lake Union neighborhood—right near … Continue reading “Microsoft Azure Accelerator: 10 Startup Names to Watch”