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.

StorSimple Scores $10.5M Led by Ignition

Santa Clara, CA-based StorSimple announced it has closed a $10.5 million Series C financing round led by Ignition Partners, based in the Seattle area. The company’s other previous investors, including Index Ventures, Mayfield Fund, and Redpoint Ventures, also participated in the round. StorSimple, which has raised a total of $31.5 million to date, focuses on … Continue reading “StorSimple Scores $10.5M Led by Ignition”

Vigix Raises $1.5M More, Looks to Reinvent Vending with Networked Kiosks

News flash: This company actually makes physical stuff for businesses. Not social software, not a mobile app or backend system, not a retail website or aggregator. And it has been able to raise some new money to expand its product. Its goal: to provide automated kiosks (see image, right) for dispensing everything from loyalty cards … Continue reading “Vigix Raises $1.5M More, Looks to Reinvent Vending with Networked Kiosks”

XSITE 2011, TechStars Demo Day, the Bruins, and Coolio: 25 Things to Remember From Boston’s Hell Week

Ladies and gentlemen, after last week I hereby declare the end of high season for tech events in Boston. We’ve had our celebrations, drunk our grain, and talked our heads off. Now, before we start getting some things done around here, let’s reflect just a little more. The following took place during a 24-hour period … Continue reading “XSITE 2011, TechStars Demo Day, the Bruins, and Coolio: 25 Things to Remember From Boston’s Hell Week”

Kyruus Lands $5.5M from Highland, Venrock, Others

Boston-based Kyruus, a health-IT startup whose name I cannot spell, said today it has raised a $5.5 million Series A round led by Highland Capital Partners, Venrock, and Gerson Lehrman Group. Angel investors Jonathan Bush, Ed Park, John Goldsmith, and James Golden also participated in the financing. Kyruus has developed a software platform that includes … Continue reading “Kyruus Lands $5.5M from Highland, Venrock, Others”

CSN Stores, Bootstrapped No More, Takes In $165M from Battery, Spark, Great Hill, HarbourVest

So much for becoming a billion-dollar company without taking venture capital. But I guess we saw this coming. Boston-based CSN Stores, an online retailer and bootstrapped success story, has raised a first financing round of $165 million from Battery Ventures, Great Hill Partners, HarbourVest Partners, and Spark Capital. The news was reported in the Wall … Continue reading “CSN Stores, Bootstrapped No More, Takes In $165M from Battery, Spark, Great Hill, HarbourVest”

OwnerIQ Raises $7M More

Boston-based OwnerIQ, an advertising tech startup, has closed a new $7 million financing round from existing investors including Atlas Venture, CommonAngels, Kepha Partners, and the Massachusetts Technology Development Corporation, as well as new investor Longworth Venture Partners. The news was first reported by Online Media Daily. OwnerIQ, which started in 2006, focuses on targeting advertising … Continue reading “OwnerIQ Raises $7M More”

Performable Picked Up by HubSpot

Cambridge, MA-based HubSpot, a marketing tech company, has acquired fellow Cambridge startup Performable, which focuses on marketing automation. Terms of the deal weren’t announced, but Performable’s 18-person team, including founder and CEO David Cancel, will join HubSpot (now more than 260 strong) at the latter company’s headquarters on First Street. Cancel will become HubSpot’s chief … Continue reading “Performable Picked Up by HubSpot”

Nuance to Acquire Speech Software Firm SVOX

[Updated 6/17/11 with terms. See below] Some big news in the world of speech software today. Burlington, MA-based Nuance Communications (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NUAN]]) is acquiring Zurich-based embedded speech software firm SVOX, Xconomy has learned from a source with knowledge of the deal. The acquisition price wasn’t disclosed, but is said to be in the triple-digit millions … Continue reading “Nuance to Acquire Speech Software Firm SVOX”

Just Write Checks, Be Humble but Unstoppable, and Boston VCs Are Dinosaurs: 10 Highlights from Angel Bootcamp

The pace of tech startup events is a little out of control this week. You can thank (or curse) David Beisel, Jon Pierce, Coolio, TechStars, DartBoston, Xconomy, and many others for that. With some more time and distance, though, we might all look back at this week as a flashpoint in history when the tech … Continue reading “Just Write Checks, Be Humble but Unstoppable, and Boston VCs Are Dinosaurs: 10 Highlights from Angel Bootcamp”

60 Seconds with Smarterer CEO Jennifer Fremont-Smith

Smarterer, a Boston-based tech startup, is generating some buzz this week, having demoed its product at the WebInno meeting last night. The company started in the fall of 2010, founded by Dave Balter, Jennifer Fremont-Smith, and Michael Kowalchik. It provides crowdsourced skills tests on digital, social, and other techie tools—think Twitter, Ruby, Matlab, Photoshop. Job … Continue reading “60 Seconds with Smarterer CEO Jennifer Fremont-Smith”

Hero’s Journey: A Look Inside This Year’s Class of TechStars Boston Startups

Incubator, schmincubator. The innovation community has had its fill of incubators and accelerators, hasn’t it? Well, this one is a little different. As echoes of Commencement speeches die down around town, it’s fitting that the 12-week startup bootcamp known as TechStars Boston is graduating its newest class of companies tomorrow. What’s interesting about this group—compared … Continue reading “Hero’s Journey: A Look Inside This Year’s Class of TechStars Boston Startups”

Gilt Groupe’s Alexandra Wilkis Wilson at XSITE This Thursday: We’ll Talk Company Culture, Challenges, Growth Strategy

It’s not often I get a chance to chat about men’s fashion in a public forum. Well, it ain’t gonna happen this time either. That’s because I know next to nothing about fashion (just ask my colleagues)—but I do know something about the technology industry, and the fascinating stories of the people behind today’s leading … Continue reading “Gilt Groupe’s Alexandra Wilkis Wilson at XSITE This Thursday: We’ll Talk Company Culture, Challenges, Growth Strategy”

Krush Comes Out of Stealth, Driving to Own the “Product Graph” for Action Sports Fans, Brands

What do you get when you cross a Jewish guy from Argentina with a Turkish Muslim from London, and a female entrepreneur from New York who, by all accounts, shouldn’t even be alive? Answer: You get Krush. The Cambridge, MA-based Internet startup is unveiling its new site today. The company has an intriguing vision for … Continue reading “Krush Comes Out of Stealth, Driving to Own the “Product Graph” for Action Sports Fans, Brands”

GrabCAD Grabs Cash

Estonia- and Cambridge, MA-based startup GrabCAD announced today via TechCrunch that it has raised $1.1 million in seed funding from Boston-area investors Matrix Partners, Atlas Venture, NextView Ventures, and angel investors. GrabCAD, a member of the current class of TechStars Boston startups, has developed an online marketplace for connecting mechanical design engineers with manufacturing and … Continue reading “GrabCAD Grabs Cash”

Pfizer Forms $100M Research Partnership with Boston-Area Schools and Hospitals

Let’s see if this produces some much-needed new drugs for Pfizer’s pipeline. The New York City-based pharmaceutical giant (NYSE: [[ticker:PFE]]) announced today it is starting a five-year, $100 million research collaboration in Boston with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Children’s Hospital Boston, Harvard University, Partners HealthCare, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts … Continue reading “Pfizer Forms $100M Research Partnership with Boston-Area Schools and Hospitals”

The Final Xpo Startup for XSITE on June 16… and What Might Have Been

What do recycling and a rectal exam have in common? Well, people tend to put off both things as long as they can. And, OK, they’re both a little more difficult (and one is a lot more uncomfortable) than you’d like them to be. I can even speak with, shall we say, recent authority on … Continue reading “The Final Xpo Startup for XSITE on June 16… and What Might Have Been”

Buuteeq Brings In $3.5M for Hotel Marketing

Seattle-based Buuteeq, a startup focused on digital marketing software for independent hotels, said today it has raised $3.5 million in Series A financing. The round was led by aQuantive co-founder Mike Galgon and angel investor Geoff Entress, with participation from Benaroya Capital and others. Buuteeq (no, that’s not a misprint) makes cloud-based software that helps … Continue reading “Buuteeq Brings In $3.5M for Hotel Marketing”

Universities Are Key to Revitalizing Boston’s Startup Scene, Say Leaders of Angel Bootcamp, Harvard Innovation Lab, and MassChallenge

Commencement season is coming to a close, which means a lot of students and recent graduates are leaving town. That might be a good thing if you’re trying to get a seat at Crema Café near Harvard or Flour Bakery near MIT, but it ain’t good for local startups. The brain drain of Boston-area tech … Continue reading “Universities Are Key to Revitalizing Boston’s Startup Scene, Say Leaders of Angel Bootcamp, Harvard Innovation Lab, and MassChallenge”

Constellation Pharma Raises $15M for Epigenetic Drugs

Cambridge, MA-based Constellation Pharmaceuticals said today it has raised $15 million in a Series B extension from its existing investors, including Third Rock Ventures, The Column Group, Venrock Associates, SR One, and Altitude Life Science Ventures. Constellation, whose Series B now totals $37 million (after a $32 million A round in 2008-09) is working to … Continue reading “Constellation Pharma Raises $15M for Epigenetic Drugs”

The Next Boston-Area IPO, New Incubators, Unsung Heroes, and the Lost (& Found) Generation: 10 Tech Tidbits

As we enter the summer months, I wanted to give readers a quick look into my reporter’s notebook. I have been shifting into high gear with events and other things, but once the storm passes I’ll be writing more again. Meanwhile, I’m hearing tons of interesting stuff from the local startup and innovation community, some … Continue reading “The Next Boston-Area IPO, New Incubators, Unsung Heroes, and the Lost (& Found) Generation: 10 Tech Tidbits”

Novophage Nets $5.7M from Flybridge, Others

Boston-based Novophage has raised $5.7 million in a Series A financing round led by Flybridge Capital Partners. Founder Collective, Boston University, and strategic investors Chevron Technology Ventures and The Kraft Group also participated in the round. The news was first reported by Scott Kirsner of the Boston Globe. Novophage engineers viruses (phages) to combat bacterial … Continue reading “Novophage Nets $5.7M from Flybridge, Others”

Calling All Startups: We Want You to Speak at XSITE on June 16 (If You Are The One)

OK, let’s cut to the chase here. We’re looking for The One. One more cool, young startup that could change the world. We’ve got 11 confirmed. We want an even dozen. Do you have what it takes? The setting: It’s our third annual flagship conference, XSITE, at Babson College on June 16, and the startup … Continue reading “Calling All Startups: We Want You to Speak at XSITE on June 16 (If You Are The One)”

Look Out, Mean Girls and Slackers: Objective Logistics Tracks Work Habits in Restaurants to Boost Sales

Slackers hate it. Go-getters love it. And store owners and managers? Well, so far they seem to be buying it. I’m talking about Objective Logistics, a New Bedford, MA-based software startup that’s looking to transform work environments, starting with restaurants and retail stores. “It’s polarizing as hell,” says CEO and co-founder Phil Beauregard. If you … Continue reading “Look Out, Mean Girls and Slackers: Objective Logistics Tracks Work Habits in Restaurants to Boost Sales”

BuyWithMe Buys Groop Swoop, Keeps Expanding

New York-based BuyWithMe, an online group-buying startup founded in Boston, said today it has acquired Groop Swoop, a San Francisco-based deals site. Terms of the purchase were not given, but it’s an example of further consolidation in the daily deals sector led by Groupon and LivingSocial. The acquisition comes on the heels of BuyWithMe’s purchase … Continue reading “BuyWithMe Buys Groop Swoop, Keeps Expanding”

TenMarks, Education Software Startup, Looks to Improve Kids’ Math Skills as Summer Beckons

You wouldn’t know it from the weather until yesterday, but summer is on its way. Soon classes will be out of session and students of all ages will be running wild. What that means, besides more Commencement speeches (and, soon, being able to get a seat at a Harvard or Davis Square café), is that … Continue reading “TenMarks, Education Software Startup, Looks to Improve Kids’ Math Skills as Summer Beckons”

QD Vision, Crimson Hexagon, and Other Boston Startup Financings Fit Trend Across Industries

Busy day for company financings, as everyone gets ready for the holiday weekend (and unofficial start of summer). It’s worth noting the step up in dollar amounts as you go from Internet software and social media ($5M), to nanotech/materials ($22M), to cleantech and energy ($57M), to biotech/pharma and life sciences ($91M). Yes, biotech and energy … Continue reading “QD Vision, Crimson Hexagon, and Other Boston Startup Financings Fit Trend Across Industries”

$6M More for Harvest Power

Waltham, MA-based Harvest Power, a cleantech and waste management startup with operations in Seattle and Vancouver, BC, said today it has raised $6 million from new investor SAM Private Equity, based in Zurich. The deal is an extension of Harvest’s Series B round, first announced in March, which now totals $57.7 million. The company was … Continue reading “$6M More for Harvest Power”

Michael Schreck Back in Boston as New Zmags CEO; Digital Publishing Firm Shifts to Commerce

Here in Boston, we fret about losing tech talent and leadership to the West Coast. So today, let’s celebrate the return of one of our own. Michael Schreck has joined Boston-based digital publishing firm Zmags as its new CEO, as of earlier this month. Schreck, a prominent investor and entrepreneur, has spent the past eight … Continue reading “Michael Schreck Back in Boston as New Zmags CEO; Digital Publishing Firm Shifts to Commerce”

BzzAgent Bought by Tesco’s Dunnhumby, Brings Social Marketing Expertise to Retail Giant

Boston social-marketing company BzzAgent said today it is being acquired by U.K.-based consumer analytics firm Dunnhumby, a subsidiary of retail giant Tesco. Terms were not disclosed, but various media reports put the acquisition price at $60 million, contingent on BzzAgent hitting certain milestones. BzzAgent started in 2001 and has amassed a network of 800,000 consumer … Continue reading “BzzAgent Bought by Tesco’s Dunnhumby, Brings Social Marketing Expertise to Retail Giant”

Mobile Startup Session M Emerges with $6.5M from Highland, KPCB

Interesting news in the mobile scene today. Session M, a new Boston-area startup, announced it has raised $6.5 million in Series A financing from Highland Capital Partners, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (iFund), and mobile industry leaders. Bob Davis from Highland and Matt Murphy from KPCB serve on the company’s board. As is often the … Continue reading “Mobile Startup Session M Emerges with $6.5M from Highland, KPCB”

DataXu, Recent Investment in Tow, Helps Brands Follow Consumers as More Ads Go Digital

Here’s a quick snapshot of a local tech company that lots of people talk about, but not usually in much depth. Probably because it focuses on helping online advertisers understand consumers, but it’s not for consumers. Boston-based DataXu has been growing fast over the past year, and now has offices in Boston, New York, San … Continue reading “DataXu, Recent Investment in Tow, Helps Brands Follow Consumers as More Ads Go Digital”

Wherefore Art Thou Angels? Boston Startup Scene Gears Up for Angel Bootcamp on June 14 (and Wants a Little More Froth)

Yes, I’m well aware that “wherefore” means “for what reason.” In this case, the reasons for being an active angel investor in Boston have to do with being part of a bigger and collaborative ecosystem, giving back to the startup community, and helping create the future of technology. It’s exciting stuff—especially in this day and … Continue reading “Wherefore Art Thou Angels? Boston Startup Scene Gears Up for Angel Bootcamp on June 14 (and Wants a Little More Froth)”

Microsoft’s Qi Lu Talks Future of the Web: Look Out, Facebook, Groupon, Apple, and (Oh Yeah) Google

If Microsoft has its way, you’ll soon be Skyping on your Windows Phone with 500 of your closest Facebook friends about the latest daily deals in your city. Then you’ll find those local businesses through Bing, which will help you decide which ones to pursue—and will help both merchants and consumers cash in on those … Continue reading “Microsoft’s Qi Lu Talks Future of the Web: Look Out, Facebook, Groupon, Apple, and (Oh Yeah) Google”

Iron Mountain Sells Online Backup and Other Digital Businesses to Autonomy for $380M

Boston-based Iron Mountain, the data management and protection company, said today it is selling its online backup and recovery, digital archiving, and eDiscovery businesses to San Francisco- and Cambridge, U.K.-based Autonomy for $380 million in cash. The deal is expected to close within 45 to 60 days. Iron Mountain (NYSE: [[ticker:IRM]]), founded in 1951, is … Continue reading “Iron Mountain Sells Online Backup and Other Digital Businesses to Autonomy for $380M”

Microsoft’s Online Head Qi Lu: Skype Deal Is “Key Addition” of Marquee Consumer Brand

Microsoft’s biggest acquisition to date was on display this week, in Boston. I’m not talking about Skype. I’m talking about Qi Lu. Lu, the president of Microsoft’s online services division, was in town on Wednesday to meet with employees at the firm’s New England Research and Development Center (NERD) in Cambridge, MA, and, in addition … Continue reading “Microsoft’s Online Head Qi Lu: Skype Deal Is “Key Addition” of Marquee Consumer Brand”

As IPO Market Thaws, Carbonite Files to Go Public with Growing Data-Backup Business

Han Solo was once frozen in “carbonite.” Now Boston’s namesake tech company is emerging from a different kind of deep freeze. When we last spoke this winter, David Friend said his online data backup firm, Carbonite, was in the late stages of filing for an IPO. The man is true to his word. Boston-based Carbonite … Continue reading “As IPO Market Thaws, Carbonite Files to Go Public with Growing Data-Backup Business”

At Metcalfe’s Party for MIT $100K Finalists, a Preview of Startups Presenting at Tonight’s Finale

It was high society meets tech entrepreneurship last night. The setting: Bob Metcalfe’s townhouse in the Back Bay. The occasion: an annual reception and dinner before the finale of the MIT $100K Business Plan Contest, which takes place tonight at Kresge Auditorium. The players: all the finalists and event organizers, plus a few venture capitalists … Continue reading “At Metcalfe’s Party for MIT $100K Finalists, a Preview of Startups Presenting at Tonight’s Finale”

Do You Really Need an Incubator? Join the Debate at XSITE on June 16

Although nobody seems to like the term “incubator”—mostly because of failures from the dot-com era—it’s clear that mentorship and accelerator programs like Y Combinator, TechStars, and MassChallenge have taken off in the mainstream consciousness of innovation. They provide lots of coaching, financial support, office space, and connections to investors and other startups. Yet in most … Continue reading “Do You Really Need an Incubator? Join the Debate at XSITE on June 16”

PeerTransfer, Inspired by Raw Deals for International Students, Rolls Out Online Tuition Payment Service

You might call it the perfect up-and-coming Boston tech startup. A mix of higher education, financial services, and a global market. The brainchild of an MIT student entrepreneur. A company with the support of a young, well-connected Boston venture capitalist and many notable angel investors. I’m talking about Cambridge, MA-based peerTransfer, which has 17 employees … Continue reading “PeerTransfer, Inspired by Raw Deals for International Students, Rolls Out Online Tuition Payment Service”

Goby, with New iPhone App, Shifts Focus from Activity Search to Mobile Recommendations

Please…not yet another recommendation engine for telling me where I should eat, what clothes to buy, or which places to visit on my trips. Didn’t StyleFeeder get acquired by Time Inc. last year? Didn’t Where just get bought by PayPal? But I guess that’s why startups keep trying to innovate with recommendations—if they do it … Continue reading “Goby, with New iPhone App, Shifts Focus from Activity Search to Mobile Recommendations”

Akamai, Riverbed Team Up to Speed Cloud Applications, Wherever They May Run

This deal is all about combining Internet optimization and WAN optimization to accelerate enterprise adoption of hybrid cloud networks. Got that? Let’s try to deconstruct this considerable jargon. Cambridge, MA-based Akamai Technologies (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AKAM]]) and San Francisco-based Riverbed Technology (NASDAQ: [[ticker:RVBD]]), two big players in IT performance management, are announcing today a unique strategic alliance. … Continue reading “Akamai, Riverbed Team Up to Speed Cloud Applications, Wherever They May Run”

A Rundown of Can’t-Miss Boston-Area Innovation Events: MIT Sloan CIO, MassTLC, Angel Bootcamp, XSITE, and More

[Updated 5/8/11. See below] It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of events, it was the age of allergies, it was the epoch of objectivity, it was the epoch of PR and self-promotion, it was the season of writing stories, it was the season of prescription … Continue reading “A Rundown of Can’t-Miss Boston-Area Innovation Events: MIT Sloan CIO, MassTLC, Angel Bootcamp, XSITE, and More”

Sensobi Acquired by GroupMe for Group Texting

Cambridge, MA-based Sensobi, a startup that makes an address book for the BlackBerry, has been acquired by New York-based GroupMe. Financial terms of the deal weren’t given. Sensobi started in 2009 and was a member of the inaugural class of TechStars Boston. Its co-founders, Ajay Kulkarni and Andy Cheung, have joined GroupMe, itself a mobile-messaging … Continue reading “Sensobi Acquired by GroupMe for Group Texting”

Harvard Innovation Lab Head, Gordon Jones, Talks Goals and Challenges in Creating the Newest Incubator in Town

He says he is “part entrepreneur, part educator…part ambassador, part politician.” Who is this masked man? He’s Gordon Jones, the inaugural director of the Harvard Innovation Lab, and until last week many people in the startup community might not have known who he was. I’m just starting to get to know him, having talked with … Continue reading “Harvard Innovation Lab Head, Gordon Jones, Talks Goals and Challenges in Creating the Newest Incubator in Town”

Jumptap Confirms $25M Financing for Mobile Ads

Cambridge, MA-based Jumptap, a maker of mobile advertising software, said today it has raised $25 million from new and existing investors. The new investors were not disclosed, but AllianceBernstein, General Catalyst, Redpoint Ventures, Summerhill Ventures, Valhalla Partners, WPP, and Cyber Communications are among the firm’s previous backers. About a month ago, Xconomy (and other outlets) … Continue reading “Jumptap Confirms $25M Financing for Mobile Ads”

RPX, Defensive Patent Firm, Goes from Zero to $160M IPO in Less than Three Years—Thoughts from Boston Investor CRV

As examples of ultra-fast growth in the tech world, people like to talk about Groupon and Zynga. While they are phenomenal success stories, neither of those companies is publicly traded yet—nor, for that matter, are Twitter or Facebook. Well, how about a different kind of tech company that started in 2008 and held its IPO … Continue reading “RPX, Defensive Patent Firm, Goes from Zero to $160M IPO in Less than Three Years—Thoughts from Boston Investor CRV”

TaskRabbit Takes In $5M Series A

San Francisco-based TaskRabbit, an online service-networking startup with roots in Boston, said today it has closed $5 million in Series A financing led by Shasta Ventures, with Baseline Ventures, First Round Capital, Floodgate, Collaborative Fund, and 500 Startups also participating in the round. The company, led by founder and CEO Leah Busque, runs a marketplace … Continue reading “TaskRabbit Takes In $5M Series A”