There’s some news on the homeland security front today. Reveal Imaging Technologies, based in Bedford, MA, said it is being acquired by SAIC, the McLean, VA-based government contractor giant also known as Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: [[ticker:SAI]]). Financial terms of the deal weren’t released, but the acquisition is expected to close by the end … Continue reading “Reveal Imaging, Makers of Airport Screening Technologies, Sold to SAIC”
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.
Elemental Talks About Its $7.5M Series B, and Cashing In on the New Economics of Online Video
The online video market just got a little hotter. Last month, my colleague Luke broke the news that Elemental Technologies, a parallel-processing video software startup in Portland, OR, had raised a new financing round. Today the company is talking for the first time about the deal and where it stands in an increasingly competitive—and lucrative—market. … Continue reading “Elemental Talks About Its $7.5M Series B, and Cashing In on the New Economics of Online Video”
Practically Green, Led by Former Globe Exec, Uses Social Media and Game Mechanics to Spread Green Living
Everyone has their own green environmental “a-ha” moment. Maybe it’s seeing birds drowning in oil, or paying $4 a gallon for gas, or reading about the plastic trash heap the size of Texas swirling around in the Pacific Ocean. For Susan Hunt Stevens, it was discovering her young son had serious food and environmental allergies, … Continue reading “Practically Green, Led by Former Globe Exec, Uses Social Media and Game Mechanics to Spread Green Living”
Double-Take’s $242M Sale Brings Windows Data Protection to IBM-Focused Firm, Vision Solutions
Here’s an interesting snapshot of a Boston-area public tech company getting bought by a West Coast firm. In May, we reported that Southborough, MA-based Double-Take Software was being acquired by Vision Solutions, based in Irvine, CA, in a deal worth $242 million. Today, Vision is announcing that the acquisition has officially closed. Double-Take (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DBTK]]) … Continue reading “Double-Take’s $242M Sale Brings Windows Data Protection to IBM-Focused Firm, Vision Solutions”
Lucky 13: Xconomy Boston’s Top Stories of 2010 (So Far)
Ever feel like you can’t catch up to the endless stream of news and information bombarding you in the tech-business world? Well, today we’re going to get caught up, at least a little bit. Having just landed back in Boston this week, I’ve been getting up to speed on all of our stories and sources … Continue reading “Lucky 13: Xconomy Boston’s Top Stories of 2010 (So Far)”
Picis Bought by Ingenix
Wakefield, MA-based Picis, a maker of Web-based software systems for hospitals, is being acquired by Ingenix, a healthcare intelligence and analytics company based in Eden Prairie, MN. Financial terms of the deal weren’t announced, but Ingenix says it will maintain the Picis office in Wakefield as well as its other operations in the U.S. and … Continue reading “Picis Bought by Ingenix”
RPI Raises $5M from Huntington Capital, Carves Out Photo Printing Niche in Digital Age
Here’s a company that you might not think would make the pages of Xconomy. But it’s made it, baby. RPI, based in Tukwila, WA, south of Seattle, prints photo books and other custom-designed products like greeting cards, invitations, calendars, notebooks, and posters. That’s right, it actually produces physical stuff for customers. And today, RPI announced … Continue reading “RPI Raises $5M from Huntington Capital, Carves Out Photo Printing Niche in Digital Age”
Oclaro Buys Mintera for $12M Plus Bonuses
San Jose, CA-based Oclaro (NASDAQ: [[ticker:OCLR]]), an optical communications and laser technology firm, announced today it has acquired Mintera, based in Acton, MA, for $12 million in cash upfront. The deal could be worth as much as $32 million in total, if Mintera reaches cumulative revenues of $70M over the next 18 months. Mintera’s annual … Continue reading “Oclaro Buys Mintera for $12M Plus Bonuses”
Actifio, With New VC Bucks, Wants to “Virtualize” Data Management, Become the Next Data Domain
Take two of the more impenetrable terms in the IT industry, “data management” and “virtualization,” and put them together. What do you get? The doubly difficult moniker of “data management virtualization.” To an outsider, this might sound like enough jargon to kill a small child. But it’s actually pretty straightforward. What’s more, the sector could … Continue reading “Actifio, With New VC Bucks, Wants to “Virtualize” Data Management, Become the Next Data Domain”
Jeff Glass on Bain Capital Ventures’ New Innovation Center, the Startup Ecosystem, and the Future of Group Buying
Venture capitalists are getting back to their roots. Amid the smaller exit markets, some contraction in the VC industry, and a general reset of investments to a lower level than two or three years ago, venture firms are making some key changes. Some are moving toward earlier-stage investments, while others are making more later-stage deals—and … Continue reading “Jeff Glass on Bain Capital Ventures’ New Innovation Center, the Startup Ecosystem, and the Future of Group Buying”
Anaptyx Installs Free Wi-Fi in Greenway Parks—Rest of Boston to Follow?
When last we checked in with Ken Carnesi, the co-founder and CEO of Anaptyx, he was busy setting up a free Wi-Fi network in Harvard Square. He was also starting to bring his Boston-area company’s wireless Internet service, meant primarily for apartments and condo buildings, to new cities around the country. Today he’s helping to … Continue reading “Anaptyx Installs Free Wi-Fi in Greenway Parks—Rest of Boston to Follow?”
SmartBear Adds to Growing Software Cluster in Beverly
There’s a prominent new software company headquartered in Beverly, MA. Until now, I had always associated the seaside town with its great old theaters, museums, and having a great white shark brought into the harbor in the mid-1990s (random, I know). From now on, I’ll think of software. There are already quite a few tech … Continue reading “SmartBear Adds to Growing Software Cluster in Beverly”
VC Investment in New England Declines in Second Quarter (Two Out of Three Surveys Say); Top 10 Deals Dominated by Biotech
It’s always dangerous to read too much into one quarter’s venture capital stats. But the national and regional VC numbers released over the weekend suggest that venture investment in New England is leveling off to a new set point—significantly higher than a year ago, but down compared to its recent quarter-to-quarter growth. That’s according to … Continue reading “VC Investment in New England Declines in Second Quarter (Two Out of Three Surveys Say); Top 10 Deals Dominated by Biotech”
TechStars Set to Open in Seattle: A Photo Tour of the New Space (and Bar)
It’s a shame I’m moving away from this neighborhood. South Lake Union in Seattle, I mean. Because just three blocks away from my soon-to-be-former apartment, the next big startup experiment is about to begin. TechStars, the seed-stage investment fund and mentorship program started in Boulder, CO, and now in Boston, is about to open in … Continue reading “TechStars Set to Open in Seattle: A Photo Tour of the New Space (and Bar)”
Peter Lee to Head MSR Redmond
Microsoft Research announced today that Peter Lee has been named the managing director of Microsoft Research Redmond, effective this fall. Lee was previously director of the Transformational Convergence Technology Office at the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Before that, he was head of Carnegie Mellon University’s computer science department and had served as … Continue reading “Peter Lee to Head MSR Redmond”
EVO Media’s Geoff Nuval Talks About the New DevHub, Adding Fun to Business, and the Future of Gamification
With all the talk about “gamification” of the Web—adding video game mechanics to websites to boost customer engagement, loyalty, and spending—it’s time we spoke in depth with a Seattle company that really has taken the trend to heart. EVO Media Group, the maker of the DevHub website-building software platform, has been around since late 2007. … Continue reading “EVO Media’s Geoff Nuval Talks About the New DevHub, Adding Fun to Business, and the Future of Gamification”
New Tech Clusters, Energy Boom, and VC Survival: Some Early Themes to Watch
Every so often, we like to step back and take stock of the bigger innovation trends we’re seeing across our network of cities. Though I haven’t quite landed permanently in Boston yet (glad to miss those flash floods), a few themes have caught my eye that I want to explore in more depth. They have … Continue reading “New Tech Clusters, Energy Boom, and VC Survival: Some Early Themes to Watch”
Gamify This: Seattle Web Experts Give Pointers on Using Game Mechanics for Good and Evil
They are the holy triumvirate of the “gamification” movement here in Seattle. OK, I just made that up. But if you want to learn how to use video-game mechanics to enhance your business’s website, drive traffic and customers, and maybe boost your revenues, you could do worse than to talk to Scott Dodson, Neil Patel, … Continue reading “Gamify This: Seattle Web Experts Give Pointers on Using Game Mechanics for Good and Evil”
Bain Announces Virtual Innovation Center
Boston-based Bain Capital Ventures said today it has rolled out a new outreach and resource site for early-stage entrepreneurs. The Bain Capital Ventures Innovation Center is a virtual center geared toward helping startups do things like network, build their teams, get introductions to partners and service providers, find local events, and attend office hours with … Continue reading “Bain Announces Virtual Innovation Center”
XL Hybrids Ups Investment Round to $1.8M, Plans to Convert Commercial Vehicles to Hybrids
This is one of the stealthiest and most intriguing cleantech companies in New England. XL Hybrids, based in Somerville, MA, has just received $300,000 in investment from an undisclosed professional fund, which brings its total seed funding to just over $1.8 million. The company previously had raised a little more than $1.5 million in angel … Continue reading “XL Hybrids Ups Investment Round to $1.8M, Plans to Convert Commercial Vehicles to Hybrids”
Voice Chat Firm Vivox Lands $2M from Peacock Equity
Vivox, the Natick, MA-based voice software startup, said today it has received a $2 million equity investment from Peacock Equity, a fund that is run jointly by GE Capital’s Media, Communications & Entertainment business and NBC Universal. The company says the money will be used to fuel its growth, expand into new markets, and enhance … Continue reading “Voice Chat Firm Vivox Lands $2M from Peacock Equity”
Aprigo, Incubated by Cedar Fund, Leads Charge in Data Security and Storage for Google Docs
With more companies putting more of their data and services in the Internet cloud, someone has to help them manage all those bits in an efficient and controllable way. Now a Waltham, MA, startup called Aprigo is trying to position itself as the leader when it comes to important challenges in data security and storage. … Continue reading “Aprigo, Incubated by Cedar Fund, Leads Charge in Data Security and Storage for Google Docs”
Dell, eBay, HP Use Microsoft Cloud
Microsoft announced today that Dell, eBay, Fujitsu, and Hewlett-Packard have signed agreements to use the Redmond, WA, company’s Windows Azure software platform for cloud computing. Financial terms of the partnerships weren’t given, and the details and goals of each agreement are different. Dell, for example, is partnering with Azure to help deliver cloud-based services for … Continue reading “Dell, eBay, HP Use Microsoft Cloud”
Microsoft Gives $1.4M in Faculty Grants
Microsoft Research announced today at its annual Faculty Summit that it has awarded a $200,000 fellowship grant to each of seven young computer science faculty members: Raanan Fattal from Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Cyrill Stachniss from University of Freiburg; Evimaria Terzi of Boston University; Haiying (Helen) Shen of Clemson University; Doug Downey of Northwestern University; … Continue reading “Microsoft Gives $1.4M in Faculty Grants”
Visterra, Previously Parasol, Expands with $6M
Visterra, a Cambridge, MA-based developer of therapies and diagnostics for flu and other viruses, has raised a $6 million round of venture funding from Flagship Ventures, Lux Capital, and Polaris Venture Partners. The news was reported earlier by PE Hub and Mass High Tech. Visterra, formerly called Parasol Therapeutics, was spun out of the MIT … Continue reading “Visterra, Previously Parasol, Expands with $6M”
Backupify Moves to Boston, Shifts Focus to Help Businesses Manage Google Apps Data
This is the story of a little tech startup that recently has relocated to Boston. The company started in late 2008 by focusing on a consumer problem: helping people back up their e-mail and social media data from Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, and so on. Now it has adjusted its strategy to sell the technology to … Continue reading “Backupify Moves to Boston, Shifts Focus to Help Businesses Manage Google Apps Data”
Sex, Power, and Money: Dave McClure Tells Web Startups to Tap Into Consumers’ ‘Reptilian Psyche’
Dave McClure is a dynamic guy. I had the pleasure of hearing him speak to a small audience of tech startup founders in Seattle earlier this week. His impassioned message to entrepreneurs was, first of all, to take risks and be ambitious, and second, to build something that people really, really care about. That sounds … Continue reading “Sex, Power, and Money: Dave McClure Tells Web Startups to Tap Into Consumers’ ‘Reptilian Psyche’”
Mall Networks Lands $6.6M More to Push Online Shopping and Rewards Platform
Online shopping—and rewards programs in particular—seem to be on the rise. Mall Networks, a promoter of online customer loyalty programs, has closed a new $6.6 million round of venture funding, according to a regulatory filing with the SEC. Attempts to reach the company, which is headquartered in Lexington, MA, and has an office in Silicon … Continue reading “Mall Networks Lands $6.6M More to Push Online Shopping and Rewards Platform”
Super Angels and Seed Funds: Sim Simeonov’s Advice for Investors and Entrepreneurs
Angel investors have good reasons for passing on your startup company. But they should make more, not fewer investments over the long run, in order to maximize their returns. That’s what I took away from Sim Simeonov’s guest analysis in PE Hub last week. But it turns out there’s much more to the story. Simeonov, … Continue reading “Super Angels and Seed Funds: Sim Simeonov’s Advice for Investors and Entrepreneurs”
Venrock Raises $350M Fund
Venture capital firm Venrock, which has offices in Silicon Valley, Cambridge, MA, New York, and Israel, announced today it has closed a new $350 million fund that will be focused on early-stage technology, healthcare, and energy companies. This is the firm’s sixth venture fund, and it follows a $600 million fund raised in 2007. Venrock … Continue reading “Venrock Raises $350M Fund”
What Google’s $700M Acquisition of ITA Means to Boston, and to Competition with Expedia, Bing, and Kayak
This deal has a little bit of everything. A compelling startup story, technology used by millions of consumers, big company strategy and competition, antitrust issues, and, on top of all that, a really significant local innovation angle. I’m talking, of course, about last week’s $700 million acquisition of Cambridge, MA-based ITA Software by Google. ITA’s … Continue reading “What Google’s $700M Acquisition of ITA Means to Boston, and to Competition with Expedia, Bing, and Kayak”
Skyhook Teams Up with Samsung
Boston-based Skyhook Wireless, a geo-location software firm, announced today it has formed a partnership with Samsung Electronics to put its location-aware technology on Samsung mobile devices. Financial details weren’t given, but the deal adds a significant player to Skyhook’s growing list of partners, which includes Apple (iPhone and iPad), Motorola (Android phones), Dell, Qualcomm, and … Continue reading “Skyhook Teams Up with Samsung”
ITA Software Bought by Google for $700M, Shifting Balance of Power in Travel Search
Score a big one for travel search. This deal was a long time in coming, but Cambridge, MA-based ITA Software is being acquired by Google for about $700 million in cash. There were rumors earlier, and the companies have now confirmed they have signed a definitive agreement. ITA makes the behind-the-scenes software that organizes data … Continue reading “ITA Software Bought by Google for $700M, Shifting Balance of Power in Travel Search”
Amazon Upgrades Kindle DX E-Reader with New E Ink Display
Can this device take on the iPad? Last night, Seattle-based Amazon.com announced its new version of the Kindle DX (its larger e-reader device), which it touts as having “50 percent better contrast for the clearest text and sharpest images,” as well as a slew of other features including long battery life, 3G wireless connectivity, and … Continue reading “Amazon Upgrades Kindle DX E-Reader with New E Ink Display”
Medify, Incubated at Voyager Capital, Raises $1.3M to Reshape Health IT for Consumers
It’s not quite two guys in a garage getting their big break, but it’s close. Medify, a healthcare IT startup incubated at Seattle-based Voyager Capital, said today it has raised $1.3 million in first-round venture funding. Voyager put in $1 million, and the rest was from angel investors and the founders. The stealth company is … Continue reading “Medify, Incubated at Voyager Capital, Raises $1.3M to Reshape Health IT for Consumers”
Longworth and OVP Put $4M Into Symform, Raise Stakes in Cloud Data Storage
Some interesting bicoastal news in cloud computing today. Seattle startup Symform, a maker of cloud storage and data protection technology, has raised $4 million in its second round of funding, led by Boston-area VC firm Longworth Venture Partners. Original investor OVP Venture Partners, based in Kirkland, WA, also participated in the round. As part of … Continue reading “Longworth and OVP Put $4M Into Symform, Raise Stakes in Cloud Data Storage”
Fear Not, Boston Entrepreneurs: Betahouse Is Expanding, Founder Says Local Techies Need More Confidence
Jon Pierce is an unassuming young man who just might hold the keys to the kingdom. The Boston tech startup kingdom, that is. OK, that’s the kind of bluster he probably hates to see, especially in the media. Pierce is about community first—and that’s why he’s particularly important. He is the founder of Betahouse, a … Continue reading “Fear Not, Boston Entrepreneurs: Betahouse Is Expanding, Founder Says Local Techies Need More Confidence”
Rodney Brooks, Founder of iRobot and Heartland Robotics, To Retire From MIT
Famed robotics expert Rodney Brooks, the former director of MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), is retiring from academic duties at MIT as of this week. The co-founder and former chief technical officer of Bedford, MA-based iRobot will be focusing full-time on his newest company, Heartland Robotics, based in Cambridge, MA. Brooks’s new … Continue reading “Rodney Brooks, Founder of iRobot and Heartland Robotics, To Retire From MIT”
10 Stories from Xconomy Seattle’s Early Days (With Some Added Perspective)
There has been plenty of tech-business news in the past week to put Seattle on the national radar. But it takes years to understand the innovation community here; I’ve only scratched the surface so far. So, in honor of my colleague Thea’s first week on the job, I thought it would be useful to look … Continue reading “10 Stories from Xconomy Seattle’s Early Days (With Some Added Perspective)”
Boston-Power Pulls In $60M More to Push Battery Technologies Into Electronics, Cars, and Utilities
One of New England’s most prominent cleantech companies is making strides today in a very active field. Westborough, MA-based Boston-Power, a maker of advanced lithium-ion batteries and energy storage technologies, says it has raised $60 million in Series E growth equity funding, co-led by existing investors Foundation Asset Management and Oak Investment Partners. Previous investors … Continue reading “Boston-Power Pulls In $60M More to Push Battery Technologies Into Electronics, Cars, and Utilities”
BuddyTV, Flixster Join Forces
Seattle-based BuddyTV and San Francisco-based Flixster announced today they have formed a long-term partnership to create what they call “the ultimate social network for entertainment fans.” BuddyTV.com is the biggest independent online TV community, while Flixster is the biggest online movie community (comprising Flixster.com and RottenTomatoes.com). Financial terms of the partnership weren’t disclosed, but it … Continue reading “BuddyTV, Flixster Join Forces”
Extreme Reach Raises $9M More to Improve Distribution and Tracking of Video Ads
Score one for digital video advertising. Extreme Reach, a Needham, MA-based maker of distribution software for video ads, said yesterday it has closed $9 million in Series B financing, made up of $7 million in equity and $2 million in term debt. The round was led by one of the company’s original investors, Village Ventures. … Continue reading “Extreme Reach Raises $9M More to Improve Distribution and Tracking of Video Ads”
Greenhorn Connect, Growing Fast, Looks to Continue “Snowball Effect” of Young Tech Entrepreneurs
If you’re a young entrepreneur in the Boston area, you need to know about Greenhorn Connect. It’s a fast-growing resource site that, as its name suggests, connects entrepreneurs, college students, and recent grads with startup jobs, events, guides, and other activities. Greenhorn just launched a new job board last week that aims to help young … Continue reading “Greenhorn Connect, Growing Fast, Looks to Continue “Snowball Effect” of Young Tech Entrepreneurs”
Nuance Acquires ShapeWriter, Ramps Up Pressure on Seattle Startup Swype
Memo to mobile-interface companies: Nuance is on the prowl. The speech-recognition and imaging software giant (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NUAN]]), based in Burlington, MA, has acquired ShapeWriter, a Silicon Valley-based spinout from the IBM Almaden Research Center, for an undisclosed sum. Nuance has not spoken publicly about the acquisition, but a message on the ShapeWriter website as of … Continue reading “Nuance Acquires ShapeWriter, Ramps Up Pressure on Seattle Startup Swype”
MIT Startup peerTransfer Wins Global Entrepreneurship Competition in Barcelona
[Updated 2:30 pm 6/21/10 (see bottom).] Score one for Boston innovation—and MIT startups in particular. Cambridge, MA-based peerTransfer, an online money transfer and global payments company spun out of MIT, has won the 20,000-Euro prize for the most promising early-stage startup in the HIT Global Entrepreneurship Competition. The award was given late last week as … Continue reading “MIT Startup peerTransfer Wins Global Entrepreneurship Competition in Barcelona”
You Can Go Home Again: Five Themes to Watch in the Boston Innovation Scene
Sometimes you have to leave a place in order to really appreciate it. That’s not the case for me and Boston. I’ve always loved this area—but coming home after a two-year stint away makes for a nice opportunity to put my appreciation down in words. So, as the incoming Editor of Xconomy Boston, I hope … Continue reading “You Can Go Home Again: Five Themes to Watch in the Boston Innovation Scene”
How Seattle Startups Could Lead the World: Five Technology Themes to Watch
As I reflect on my time in the Northwest, I find myself gravitating toward the bigger picture: which areas of technology and business innovation is this region poised to really own over the next few years? After giving us the likes of Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing, McCaw Cellular, and Starbucks, surely Seattle is ready for an … Continue reading “How Seattle Startups Could Lead the World: Five Technology Themes to Watch”
Cleantech Open Names Semifinalists
The Cleantech Open, a national business plan competition for energy and clean technology startups, announced yesterday its 16 semifinalists for the Pacific Northwest region (as well as teams from other parts of the country). The Northwest companies are Aquapulser, Arcimoto, Clarian Power, Columbia Power Technologies, CyVolt Energy Systems, EnVitrum, Greenstone International, Hydrovolts, Innovatus Energy, LaserMotive, … Continue reading “Cleantech Open Names Semifinalists”
Affirmed Networks Nabs $11M
Waltham, MA-based Affirmed Networks, a stealth telecom startup, has raised $10.9 million out of an equity offering of $11.5 million, according to a regulatory filing. The news was reported earlier by Mass High Tech, which confirmed the company is being incubated at Charles River Ventures and is also backed by Matrix Partners. The report says … Continue reading “Affirmed Networks Nabs $11M”
Washington Companies Raised $36M in May, as Startups and VCs Adjust to Economic Climate
Things might be starting to turn around in the Seattle-area economy, but that doesn’t mean startups are raking in the dough. It’s becoming clear that, with the exception of maybe one or two big deals a month, venture funding for young companies in the Northwest has stabilized to a much lower level than we were … Continue reading “Washington Companies Raised $36M in May, as Startups and VCs Adjust to Economic Climate”