Don’t look now, but 128 Technology is looking to go big. The Burlington, MA-based startup says today it has raised $21.5 million in Series C funding. The company, led by veterans of Acme Packet (now part of Oracle), is on a quest to reinvent routing technologies for the Internet and other networks. The new money … Continue reading “128 Technology Takes In $21.5M to “Transform People’s Networks””
Author: Gregory T. Huang
Greg is a veteran journalist who has covered a wide range of science, technology, and business. As former editor in chief, he overaw daily news, features, and events across Xconomy's national network. Before joining Xconomy, he was a features editor at New Scientist magazine, where he edited and wrote articles on physics, technology, and neuroscience. Previously he was senior writer at Technology Review, where he reported on emerging technologies, R&D, and advances in computing, robotics, and applied physics. His writing has also appeared in Wired, Nature, and The Atlantic Monthly’s website. He was named a New York Times professional fellow in 2003.
Greg is the co-author of Guanxi (Simon & Schuster, 2006), about Microsoft in China and the global competition for talent and technology. Before becoming a journalist, he did research at MIT’s Artificial Intelligence Lab. He has published 20 papers in scientific journals and conferences and spoken on innovation at Adobe, Amazon, eBay, Google, HP, Microsoft, Yahoo, and other organizations. He has a Master’s and Ph.D. in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT, and a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Silicon Valley’s LifeSite Snaps Up Personal-Data App Mustbin
A new acquisition in the Boston tech scene today: Mustbin, a mobile app for organizing and securing personal data such as photos and documents, is getting bought by LifeSite, a “digital vault” startup based in Mountain View, CA. Terms of the deal aren’t being disclosed. The deal is an “asset-only” acquisition, according to a spokeswoman, … Continue reading “Silicon Valley’s LifeSite Snaps Up Personal-Data App Mustbin”
With $29M in New Cash, Echodyne Advances “Radar Vision” for Machines
[Updated, 5/23/17, 5:50am. See below] One of the Northwest’s most intriguing startups has a new wad of cash. Bellevue, WA-based Echodyne said it has raised $29 million in Series B funding led by New Enterprise Associates. The company’s previous investors also participated in the round; they include Bill Gates, Paul Allen’s Vulcan Capital, Madrona Venture … Continue reading “With $29M in New Cash, Echodyne Advances “Radar Vision” for Machines”
Boundless Co-Founders Unveil New Startup, Blissfully, in New York
The Boundless boys are at it again. Ariel Diaz and Aaron White, who previously co-founded Boston education startup Boundless, have moved to New York City to pursue a new tech venture. The new company is called Blissfully, and it recently raised a $1.5 million seed funding round led by Eric Paley at Founder Collective. Blissfully … Continue reading “Boundless Co-Founders Unveil New Startup, Blissfully, in New York”
5 Takeaways From the WannaCry Ransomware Attack
This may be the incident that finally pushes ransomware into the mainstream—and also forces both organizations and malicious hackers to adapt their approaches when it comes to this type of attack. The “WannaCry” virus, which first hit companies and healthcare services on Friday, has infected some 300,000 computer systems in 150-odd countries. By exploiting a … Continue reading “5 Takeaways From the WannaCry Ransomware Attack”
Harvard Startup Competition Yields Winners in Computing, Fintech, Health
The full range of student entrepreneurship at Harvard University was on display Tuesday. The sixth annual President’s Innovation Challenge awards drew several hundred people to the Harvard Innovation Lab to meet the 15 finalists of the yearlong competition. At stake was $310,000 in prize money. You might think if you’ve seen one student-startup contest, you’ve … Continue reading “Harvard Startup Competition Yields Winners in Computing, Fintech, Health”
Announcing Xconomy Impact, June 22: Here’s What It’s About
This summer, we are convening some of the biggest names in technology and innovation to talk about how they plan to make a real impact on society. This is Xconomy Boston’s ninth annual tech conference in June, and it’s one of our top events of the year. This year’s conference is called Impact, and it’s … Continue reading “Announcing Xconomy Impact, June 22: Here’s What It’s About”
Cazalot to Lead Techstars Boston, Wants to Energize Local Community
The first thing to know about Clément Cazalot is that he is French. The second thing is that he co-owns a new French restaurant in Boston’s South End, called Frenchie. It has a killer wine list and excellent food, based on a recent visit. The tech startup community will also want to know that Cazalot … Continue reading “Cazalot to Lead Techstars Boston, Wants to Energize Local Community”
Joining G20, Troiano Is Latest Boston Tech Exec to Move Into VC
Mike Troiano doesn’t sit still. In fact, it’s hard to believe he has been chief marketing officer at enterprise IT firm Actifio for five years. But now he has taken a full-time position as a partner at G20 Ventures, the Boston venture capital firm founded by Bob Hower and Bill Wiberg. Troiano has some experience … Continue reading “Joining G20, Troiano Is Latest Boston Tech Exec to Move Into VC”
The Xconomy Roadmap: Top 15 Innovation Areas to Watch (and Disrupt)
It is a time of great transitions in the technology and business world. Key advances in areas like machine intelligence, agriculture, and healthcare seem poised to transform society—and everyday life. But it can be hard to keep up with the latest news in fields as disparate as cybersecurity, food tech, and cancer therapeutics—let alone understand … Continue reading “The Xconomy Roadmap: Top 15 Innovation Areas to Watch (and Disrupt)”
Robo Madness 2017: The Photos and Takeaways
Third time’s a charm… and our third annual Robo Madness conference in Boston had plenty of that. (So did the first two.) From live robot demos to provocative discussions on the opportunities and challenges in artificial intelligence, our speakers really delivered on this year’s theme: A.I. Gets Real. Huge thanks to our host, Google, whose … Continue reading “Robo Madness 2017: The Photos and Takeaways”
IRobot CEO Rolls Out Nonprofit, RISE, Focused on Eco-Robots
Colin Angle was diving off the coast of Bermuda with his wife, Erika, when he saw some unusual fish: bright stripes, big spines, slow-moving. The captain of their boat said they were lionfish, an invasive species that has been wreaking havoc on fish stocks and reef ecosystems in the western Atlantic. Lionfish populations are hard … Continue reading “IRobot CEO Rolls Out Nonprofit, RISE, Focused on Eco-Robots”
RightHand Robotics Picks Up $8M to Automate Next-Gen Warehouses
A funny thing happened in the five years since Amazon acquired warehouse automation firm Kiva Systems for $775 million. The logistics robot market has taken off, with different competing systems shuttling inventory around to try to speed up order fulfillment. But tasks requiring manual dexterity are still hard to automate. Now, several companies and research … Continue reading “RightHand Robotics Picks Up $8M to Automate Next-Gen Warehouses”
Robo Madness on Tuesday: Demos From Boston Dynamics, Soft Robotics, Piaggio
Hard to believe, but we’re just a day away from Robo Madness 2017, our third annual Boston conference on robotics and artificial intelligence. It’s all happening at Google’s offices in Kendall Square tomorrow afternoon. The full agenda is here. In addition to talks and discussions, there will be three live demos in the program, each … Continue reading “Robo Madness on Tuesday: Demos From Boston Dynamics, Soft Robotics, Piaggio”
Visible Measures Sold to AcuityAds for $10M in Video Adtech
One of Boston’s biggest bets in advertising tech has been acquired for a fraction of what investors pumped into it. Visible Measures, a video analytics company, is getting scooped up by Toronto, Canada-based AcuityAds for $10 million in cash. The deal is expected to close around the end of March. Visible Measures was founded in … Continue reading “Visible Measures Sold to AcuityAds for $10M in Video Adtech”
Cyber Buyout: Veracode Acquired by CA Technologies for $614M
In one of the biggest tech acquisitions of the year to date, Veracode is getting bought by CA Technologies for $614 million in cash. The deal is expected to close next month. Veracode had raised more than $100 million in venture funding from investors that include .406 Ventures, Atlas Venture (which became Accomplice), StarVest Partners, … Continue reading “Cyber Buyout: Veracode Acquired by CA Technologies for $614M”
Here’s the Agenda for Robo Madness 2017 at Google on March 28
Heard enough about A.I. lately? Yeah, me too. Now it’s time to sort the facts from the hype. On March 28, we’re gathering technology and business leaders to discuss the future of artificial intelligence and robotics. It’s all happening at Robo Madness 2017: A.I. Gets Real on March 28 at Google in Kendall Square, Cambridge, … Continue reading “Here’s the Agenda for Robo Madness 2017 at Google on March 28”
Amazon, Uber, and Bill Gates’s Robot Tax: An Automation Snapshot
As we gear up for Robo Madness 2017: A.I. Gets Real, our annual robotics and artificial intelligence conference at Google’s offices in Kendall Square, let’s connect a few dots around the topic of automation. In just the past day or two: —Uber has started testing self-driving cars in Tempe, AZ, after having its tests banned … Continue reading “Amazon, Uber, and Bill Gates’s Robot Tax: An Automation Snapshot”
An Update on Tasktop—and the Future of Software Development
You can learn a lot from a quick breakfast meeting. I’m at a French bakery in Assembly Row in Somerville, MA, with executives from Tasktop Technologies, a software company Xconomy has covered for years. Inside, the smell of croissants and coffee. Outside, a coating of fresh snow, just enough to be dangerous. These are heady … Continue reading “An Update on Tasktop—and the Future of Software Development”
CyPhy, Mitsubishi, and Soft Robotics Join Robo Madness on March 28
While Boston suffers through its first real snow day of the year, I wanted to update you on Robo Madness: A.I. Gets Real. We’re mapping out the program for our March 28 conference at Google in Kendall Square (looking forward to that spring weather). This will be our annual convention of robotics and artificial intelligence … Continue reading “CyPhy, Mitsubishi, and Soft Robotics Join Robo Madness on March 28”
Announcing Robo Madness 2017: A.I. Gets Real on March 28 at Google
It’s time for Xconomy’s third annual robotics and artificial intelligence conference in Boston. In previous years, we’ve highlighted areas such as manufacturing, logistics, and medical robots. This year, the focus is on A.I.-related software—applied to hot areas like autonomous vehicles, virtual assistants, and connected devices. But there will also be discussion about the role of … Continue reading “Announcing Robo Madness 2017: A.I. Gets Real on March 28 at Google”
Business Leaders Talk Trump’s Impact on Visas, Drug Pricing, Insurance
Perhaps you’ve heard about the inauguration of one Donald J. Trump. Xconomy has been asking prominent members of the national innovation community for their thoughts on the incoming administration and its potential impact on their companies and industries. Here are responses from four business leaders in different cities across Xconomy’s network. Alex Lash, our national … Continue reading “Business Leaders Talk Trump’s Impact on Visas, Drug Pricing, Insurance”
Edtech Venture Funding Down in 2016, But Still Tops $1B
While we’re looking at venture deal numbers from the past year, let’s consider the education technology industry, which isn’t broken out by sector in the general reports I’ve seen. A recent study by EdSurge, an edtech information firm, shows venture funding for U.S. education tech companies totaled $1.03 billion (across 138 deals) in 2016. Those … Continue reading “Edtech Venture Funding Down in 2016, But Still Tops $1B”
Rethink Robotics Adds $18M to Funding Pot Amid Automation Debate
One of New England’s leading robotics companies has raised new money for the new year. Boston-based Rethink Robotics says it has closed $18 million as part of a Series E funding round. A regulatory filing from this week shows the equity round could grow to $33 million. Private equity firm Adveq participated in the latest … Continue reading “Rethink Robotics Adds $18M to Funding Pot Amid Automation Debate”
Top Stories of 2016 for Xconomy Boston: Editor’s Picks
You heard me. Here are my picks for our local stories of the year in technology, life sciences, and business innovation: 1. Xerox CTO Sophie Vandebroek Steps Down, With Eyes on Boston 2. Smack Might Be the Future of Social Apps, But I’m Not Cool Enough 3. In Year of CAR-T Trouble, Can Bluebird, Penn … Continue reading “Top Stories of 2016 for Xconomy Boston: Editor’s Picks”
Starry Scoops Up $30M as Fixed Wireless Field Heats Up
Starry, a wireless broadband startup based in Boston and New York, has raised $30 million in new equity funding, according to a regulatory filing. The investors in the round weren’t named, but the company’s previous backers include KKR, IAC, Tiger Global, and other venture capitalists. The startup is led by CEO Chet Kanojia, the founder … Continue reading “Starry Scoops Up $30M as Fixed Wireless Field Heats Up”
The State of Cybersecurity: Photos and Takeaways
‘Tis the season to be careful. We live in uncertain times—made even more perilous by the specter of cyber attacks on every level of business. But there’s a lot that can be done to improve things. To dive deeper into the threats and opportunities, Xconomy convened the top names in cybersecurity from around Boston and … Continue reading “The State of Cybersecurity: Photos and Takeaways”
Katie Vale, Digital Learning and Tech Leader From Boston, Dies at 51
Xconomy is sad to report that Katie Vale, a mainstay of the New England education and technology community, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, Nov. 27. She was 51. Vale was a close friend of the Xconomy family and participated in many Boston-area education and tech efforts and mentoring programs, among other things. Most recently, she … Continue reading “Katie Vale, Digital Learning and Tech Leader From Boston, Dies at 51”
The State of Cybersecurity on Dec. 8: Here’s the Agenda
2017 is shaping up to be a dramatic year indeed. In technology, business, and government, one of the most crucial problems to work on is cybersecurity. The current cyber threat landscape affects everything from corporate and consumer data to the critical infrastructure our society runs on. On December 8, Xconomy is hosting a special conference … Continue reading “The State of Cybersecurity on Dec. 8: Here’s the Agenda”
What’s Hot in Boston Healthtech: The Photos
There are more questions than answers—maybe that’s the way healthcare will always be. Still, we need to ask them. And we did, at Xconomy’s What’s Hot in Boston Healthtech conference at the Broad Institute last Thursday. Some big themes emerged. “Wellness” is hard to define, and even harder to measure. Even with all the healthcare … Continue reading “What’s Hot in Boston Healthtech: The Photos”
Oracle Acquires Dyn, Continuing Its New England Software Takeover
Oracle has a thing for buying up Boston-area software and networking companies. Usually, they’re pretty significant companies, too. Since 2010, the Redwood Shores, CA-based software giant (NYSE: [[ticker:ORCL]]) has acquired Phase Forward, Art Technology Group, Endeca, Acme Packet, and now Dyn. Oracle said Monday it is acquiring Dyn, an Internet infrastructure company based in Manchester, … Continue reading “Oracle Acquires Dyn, Continuing Its New England Software Takeover”
Dyn’s New CEO on Business and Security in the Age of “Volatile Internet”
Tumultuous times these are. Amid mounting security threats, cyber attacks, and fallout from the U.S. presidential election, someone’s got to keep an eye on the Internet infrastructure that the world’s businesses run on. One of those players is Dyn, a Manchester, NH-based provider of DNS (Domain Name System) services. But Dyn is in transition itself. … Continue reading “Dyn’s New CEO on Business and Security in the Age of “Volatile Internet””
Watson Health and Broad Institute Team Up for $50M Cancer Collaboration
IBM Watson Health has been inking some big partnerships lately. Today the Cambridge, MA-based division of Big Blue said it has formed a five-year, $50 million research collaboration with the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. IBM is footing the whole bill and contributing other resources as well. The organizations are teaming up to study … Continue reading “Watson Health and Broad Institute Team Up for $50M Cancer Collaboration”
Trump’s Election Stunner: Tech and Life Sciences Leaders React
Still processing what this will mean for technology, business, society, and humanity—I guess it’s going to take a while. In the meantime, here are 10 notable reactions from around the Xconomy network, mostly via Twitter. As you might guess, they are a mix of outrage, resiliency, hope, rationalizing, grandstanding, and some calls for calm and … Continue reading “Trump’s Election Stunner: Tech and Life Sciences Leaders React”
Hack This: Xconomy to Host the State of Cybersecurity on Dec. 8
The end may be near. No, I’m not talking about the U.S. presidential election. I’m talking about the chances of a catastrophic cyber attack on our companies and infrastructure (though the two may be related). With the mounting number of vulnerabilities out there—see last month’s massive Internet attack—what can we all do to help secure … Continue reading “Hack This: Xconomy to Host the State of Cybersecurity on Dec. 8”
Facebook Boston Grows to 100 People, Expands Networking Projects
Facebook’s Boston-area office is about three years old, and seems to be hitting a critical mass. With a headcount of about 100, the engineering center is supporting some of the company’s most visible products—as well as leading projects that could pay off further down the road. The local office—at One Broadway in Kendall Square, Cambridge, … Continue reading “Facebook Boston Grows to 100 People, Expands Networking Projects”
Here’s the Agenda for What’s Hot in Boston Healthtech on Nov. 17
The older I get, the more often I am reminded of big problems in our healthcare system. I don’t have the answers, but I do have some questions. One of them is how much technology can help solve these problems—long wait times, high costs, failures of communication—and how fast that could happen. On November 17, … Continue reading “Here’s the Agenda for What’s Hot in Boston Healthtech on Nov. 17”
In Cloud Security Move, Akamai Scoops Up Soha Systems
Akamai has announced its second acquisition in less than a week. The Cambridge, MA-based technology company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AKAM]]) said Tuesday it has acquired Soha Systems, a startup based in Sunnyvale, CA. Terms of the all-cash deal were undisclosed. Soha makes software to help businesses remotely and securely access applications hosted in data centers and hybrid … Continue reading “In Cloud Security Move, Akamai Scoops Up Soha Systems”
MIT Accelerator STEX25 Launches With Five Boston-Area Startups
There’s a new startup accelerator program at MIT. This one is pretty different from what you might be expecting. The program, called STEX25, is being run by MIT’s Industrial Liaison Program as part of its Startup Exchange (STEX). The latter has been around for about two years, and its goal is to connect big companies … Continue reading “MIT Accelerator STEX25 Launches With Five Boston-Area Startups”
From Art Collecting to Allego: Meet the Busiest CEO in Boston Tech
Yuchun Lee has a plan, or a thesis, for everything. The tech entrepreneur is perhaps best known for leading Unica, a marketing software company that went public and was bought by IBM for $480 million in 2010. He was also a member of the famed MIT blackjack team in the ‘90s, and is still barred … Continue reading “From Art Collecting to Allego: Meet the Busiest CEO in Boston Tech”
Business Leaders Convene for What’s Hot in Boston Healthtech on Nov. 17
Boston has something special going on in terms of health-related technologies and applications: world-renowned medical facilities, training institutions, academic researchers, health IT companies, startups, and investors. Yet the future of healthtech—and Boston’s place in it—is uncertain. As things like health analytics, genomics, telemedicine, and wearables become more integrated into hospitals and home life, new opportunities … Continue reading “Business Leaders Convene for What’s Hot in Boston Healthtech on Nov. 17”
Boston Tech Watch: DraftKings, Everbridge, GE & NuTonomy
As summer winds down, we are tracking tech startups, big companies, a proposed IPO, and a couple of sectors fraught with regulatory challenges (daily fantasy sports and self-driving vehicles): —General Electric’s new Boston headquarters officially opened on Monday. About 175 employees have moved into the Fort Point offices, and the energy and manufacturing giant expects … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: DraftKings, Everbridge, GE & NuTonomy”
TripAdvisor Buys Citymaps, Ramps Up Competition With Google, Others
One of the giants in online travel is making a move to solidify its standing. TripAdvisor, based in Needham, MA, said today it has acquired New York City-based Citymaps. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the companies say Citymaps will continue to operate as a standalone business. Citymaps developed a mapping app that … Continue reading “TripAdvisor Buys Citymaps, Ramps Up Competition With Google, Others”
Ayar Labs Gets $2.5M to Go After Optical Chips for Data Centers
This startup sits at the intersection of electronics, optics, energy efficiency, and the Internet. It is where more than a decade of academic research meets a multibillion-dollar market. This is the story of Ayar Labs. The San Francisco startup, which has roots in Cambridge, MA, and Boulder, CO, is trying to solve a fundamental problem … Continue reading “Ayar Labs Gets $2.5M to Go After Optical Chips for Data Centers”
Newly Public Acacia Targets Data Centers, Wants to Be the Next Intel
They are the few, the proud, the tech companies that have gone public this year. Acacia Communications is one of them. The Maynard, MA-based networking company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ACIA]]) raised $103.5 million in its IPO in May. That remains the Boston area’s only tech IPO of 2016. Meanwhile, San Francisco-based software firm Twilio went public in … Continue reading “Newly Public Acacia Targets Data Centers, Wants to Be the Next Intel”
Foundry Group, Autodesk Lead $35M Deal With Formlabs in 3D Printing
Here’s the classic life cycle of an emerging technology: a big hype curve, a trough of disillusionment, and then slow but steady adoption. 3D printing looks to be right on schedule. Now, one of the leading startups in the sector is solidifying its position for the long haul. Formlabs, based in Somerville, MA, said today … Continue reading “Foundry Group, Autodesk Lead $35M Deal With Formlabs in 3D Printing”
Volition Closes $250M Fund to Invest in Bootstrapped Businesses
Boston-based growth equity firm Volition Capital says it has raised a $250 million third fund, its largest to date. The firm is trying to carve out a niche by investing in small but established tech companies that have strong revenue growth and, ideally, have raised little to no outside capital. It’s a sign of increasing … Continue reading “Volition Closes $250M Fund to Invest in Bootstrapped Businesses”
Nuance Buying TouchCommerce for $215M in Digital Customer Service
Speech and interface tech company Nuance Communications said Thursday it is acquiring southern California firm TouchCommerce for $215 million in cash and stock. The deal is expected to close by the end of September. Burlington, MA-based Nuance (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NUAN]]) plans to integrate TouchCommerce’s customer service products into its suite of systems for helping big companies … Continue reading “Nuance Buying TouchCommerce for $215M in Digital Customer Service”
Cyber Consolidation: Carbon Black Buys Confer in Endpoint Security
In what could be another sign of a shakeout in the cybersecurity industry, Carbon Black says today it has acquired fellow Boston-area security firm Confer Technologies. The deal has closed, but financial terms weren’t given. Both companies focus on endpoint security—software that helps organizations detect and respond to threats against computers, devices, and servers. Waltham, … Continue reading “Cyber Consolidation: Carbon Black Buys Confer in Endpoint Security”
CyberGRX Gets $9M to Manage Security Risks From Business Partners
An interesting cybersecurity startup emerged from stealth mode in Denver today. CyberGRX, which develops cyber risk management software, said it has closed $9 million in Series A funding, led by Allegis Capital. The company’s other investors include a mix of venture firms such as Blackstone, TenEleven Ventures, Rally Ventures, GV, and MassMutual Ventures, and security … Continue reading “CyberGRX Gets $9M to Manage Security Risks From Business Partners”