One thing’s for sure: in 20 years, people will still complain about the weather. Other than that, death, and taxes, pretty much anything goes. We’re thinking a lot about the long-range future of the New England innovation cluster. As part of our Boston 2035 conference on June 17, we’ve asked a number of speakers to … Continue reading “Three Predictions for Boston’s Innovation Scene in 2035”
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.
Boston 2035: Here’s the Agenda for New England’s Future on June 17
You want robots? We got robots. You want cybersecurity? We got cybersecurity. Healthcare and biotech? Yup, got those too, along with a healthy dose of marketing tech, big data analytics, entrepreneurship education, venture capital, and a few other pillars of the New England innovation ecosystem. It’s all coming to you on June 17 at Babson … Continue reading “Boston 2035: Here’s the Agenda for New England’s Future on June 17”
Exosuits, Startups, and VCs Swarm Around Harvard Robotics Meetup
If you want to catch a glimpse of venture capitalists in their natural habitat, check out the robotics meetups around town. That’s a takeaway from one such gathering of researchers and demos last Wednesday, hosted by the Wyss Institute and Harvard’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. A quick look around the room and you’d … Continue reading “Exosuits, Startups, and VCs Swarm Around Harvard Robotics Meetup”
CustomMade Will Continue After Wayfair Hires Staff, CEO Leaves
A quick update on a plucky startup we’ve covered over the past few years: CustomMade, an online marketplace that connects craft makers and consumers, has scaled back to eight employees but is continuing operations after the majority of its staff was hired by Wayfair, the Boston-based home goods retailer. The hiring news was first reported … Continue reading “CustomMade Will Continue After Wayfair Hires Staff, CEO Leaves”
Boston’s Innovation Future Hinges on People, Startups, Relationships
From time to time, we need to step back and think about the future. What will New England’s business and innovation community look like in 10 or 20 years? Where will it fit into the national and global picture? We can start by talking about the strengths of the region. Biotech, pharma, and healthcare have … Continue reading “Boston’s Innovation Future Hinges on People, Startups, Relationships”
Life in Burlington: An Update From Andy Ory of 128 Technology
OK, you started a technology company, took it public, and sold it to Oracle for $2 billion-plus. What do you do for an encore? If you’re Andy Ory, you go back to where you started. Ory, 48, is the co-founder and former CEO of the aforementioned Acme Packet, a networking tech company that ranks as … Continue reading “Life in Burlington: An Update From Andy Ory of 128 Technology”
Drizly Digs Up $13M to Fuel Expansion of Alcohol-Delivery App
Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit drinking. Boston alcohol-delivery startup Drizly has raised $13 million in Series A financing from investors including Polaris Partners, First Beverage Group, Suffolk Equity Partners, and the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America. Drizly makes a mobile app that lets users order beer, wine, and liquor from … Continue reading “Drizly Digs Up $13M to Fuel Expansion of Alcohol-Delivery App”
TechU Angels Looking for a Few Good MIT Startups, Not Just in Boston
You still hear it a lot around town: it’s hard to raise money for early-stage startups. The truth is it’s hard to raise money for anything. But there are an increasing number of options for entrepreneurs coming out of places like MIT and Harvard. One of the most recent is TechU Angels, a seed-stage angel … Continue reading “TechU Angels Looking for a Few Good MIT Startups, Not Just in Boston”
Hybrids and the Slash Generation: John Maeda Breaks the Funk
John Maeda is a hybrid kind of guy. Engineer/designer. Scientist/artist. Educator/venture capitalist. East Coast/West Coast. Asian/American. Able to straddle many worlds, without losing the essence of any of them. All those slashes make him hard to pin down—and that’s exactly how he likes it. Maeda is the design partner at VC firm Kleiner Perkins—he works … Continue reading “Hybrids and the Slash Generation: John Maeda Breaks the Funk”
Drones, Pills, and Gold: Boston Celebrates Startup Winners
In a hectic month for deals, product advances, and bogus NFL investigations, New England is taking time out to recognize emerging leaders in its tech and life sciences scene. Let’s get right to the highlights: —The third annual NEVY awards, organized by the New England Venture Capital Association, was a blast (with a “Solid Gold” … Continue reading “Drones, Pills, and Gold: Boston Celebrates Startup Winners”
Acquia, Actifio, Startup Institute Join Boston 2035 Lineup on June 17
‘Tis high season for tech and innovation events in New England. Just this week we have the NEVYs, the MITX Awards, and Tech State House Day. Now let’s talk about next month—and the next 20 years. On June 17, Xconomy is organizing a full-day conference at Babson College called Boston 2035. The big theme is … Continue reading “Acquia, Actifio, Startup Institute Join Boston 2035 Lineup on June 17”
Wearables Startup Neumitra Gets New Cash Amid Fitbit, Apple Buzz
Fitbit’s IPO filing and the Apple Watch have dominated the headlines on wearables and healthtech this week. But a number of New England startups have been quietly working on related technologies that could also have a big impact. One of those is Boston-based Neumitra, which has received a new investment from NetScientific, a U.K.-based healthcare … Continue reading “Wearables Startup Neumitra Gets New Cash Amid Fitbit, Apple Buzz”
Communal Culture Spawns Rental Startups in Construction, Healthcare
How does today’s “sharing economy” look to a guy who grew up in a commune in Missouri, without any technology like phones or computers? It looks familiar—and also like good business. Willy Schlacks was raised in a community that he calls a “mix of theocracy and communism.” He was 27 when he and his brother, … Continue reading “Communal Culture Spawns Rental Startups in Construction, Healthcare”
Cybereason Brings Consumer-Tech, Defense Investors Aboard for $25M
In case you haven’t heard, cyber attacks have become a pretty big deal. Many different security approaches have emerged from big companies and startups alike—but in trying to protect customers, a lot of them still miss the point. “The problem is usually you don’t see the magnitude of the attack, and you don’t have the … Continue reading “Cybereason Brings Consumer-Tech, Defense Investors Aboard for $25M”
Crayon Gets Cash to Bring Web Designs to the Marketing Masses
The world runs on marketing. Increasingly, that means digital marketing. Using software from companies like HubSpot, Marketo, and Eloqua, fortunes have been (and will be) made over the ability to attract potential customers via websites, social media, and e-mail—and get them to buy what sites are selling. Yet your average Joe Digital Marketer doesn’t have … Continue reading “Crayon Gets Cash to Bring Web Designs to the Marketing Masses”
Look Out, Comcast: Webpass Brings Wireless Internet Service to Boston
There’s a new player in the local Internet service provider wars. Its name is Webpass, and before you renew your cable or DSL contract with Comcast or Verizon, you might want to check it out. Webpass offers very high-speed Internet connections of 100, 200, or 500 megabits per second (Mbps) for residential customers, and the … Continue reading “Look Out, Comcast: Webpass Brings Wireless Internet Service to Boston”
Boston Angels Invest in Anti-Unicorn Apparel Company, Blank Label
Sick of those “unicorn” tech companies getting all the press? Well, Blank Label isn’t one of them. And that’s just fine with founder and CEO Fan Bi and his investors. Blank Label, which sells men’s clothing online and offline, has closed its first outside funding round: $1.1 million from a who’s who of young Boston-area … Continue reading “Boston Angels Invest in Anti-Unicorn Apparel Company, Blank Label”
Thought Industries Rides Edtech Wave, Merges Learning and E-Commerce
Online education is rapidly seeping into other, larger business sectors. LinkedIn’s $1.5 billion acquisition of Lynda.com is a leading example of edtech merging with professional networking and services. Earlier this month in Boston, textbook retailer and educational finance company Valore acquired Boundless, a maker of digital learning materials for college courses. Meanwhile, big publishers like … Continue reading “Thought Industries Rides Edtech Wave, Merges Learning and E-Commerce”
Doctors’ Views on Connected Health Depend on How Old They Are
Two-thirds of U.S. doctors age 40 and under believe a fully connected healthcare environment will be achieved within the next five years. For those over 40, though, the proportion falls to 39 percent—and they just might be laughing at the younger generation’s naiveté. That’s one of my takeaways from a new study by MedData Group, … Continue reading “Doctors’ Views on Connected Health Depend on How Old They Are”
Rethink Robotics Adds $13M More From Wellington, Others
More money going into a prominent robotics startup today: Boston-based Rethink Robotics has raised an additional $13.4 million led by Wellington Management Company. That brings Rethink’s Series D venture haul to an even $40 million, with GE Ventures and Goldman Sachs being the other big, recent investors in the company. Rethink Robotics has raised a … Continue reading “Rethink Robotics Adds $13M More From Wellington, Others”
Diving Deeper Into Cybersecurity, Recorded Future Reels In $12M
[Updated, 5/6/15. See below] Cyber attacks are so bad for business, they have made at least one rising tech company apply its broader data-analysis software to security problems. Recorded Future got started about five years ago—originally to develop technology for helping defense and financial analysts track global events and try to predict when and where … Continue reading “Diving Deeper Into Cybersecurity, Recorded Future Reels In $12M”
Announcing Boston 2035: Innovating the Future Starts Now
Twenty years is a long time to plan for. But as Bostonians (OK, Cantabrigians too), we like to think long-term around here. So now is a good time to discuss what the future of the high-tech and life sciences cluster in New England will look like in the year 2035. Looking out more than a … Continue reading “Announcing Boston 2035: Innovating the Future Starts Now”
Pixability Pumps Up in Video Marketing With $18M More
It’s been a long, interesting ride for Boston-based Pixability, a video marketing startup led by founder and CEO Bettina Hein (pictured). Now the market may finally be ready for the startup’s technology. The company has just raised an $18 million Series C round led by Jump Capital and Edison Partners. The new money brings Pixability’s … Continue reading “Pixability Pumps Up in Video Marketing With $18M More”
Placester Adds $15M to Expand in Real Estate Marketing
One of the Boston area’s fast-growing software startups is making progress in real estate marketing. Placester says today it has raised a $15 million Series B round, which brings its total funding to about $23 million. The round was led by New Enterprise Associates (a new investor), and previous investor Romulus Capital also participated. Placester … Continue reading “Placester Adds $15M to Expand in Real Estate Marketing”
Valore Acquires Boundless: The Netflix of Education Publishing?
A deal at the intersection of e-commerce and education technology is shining a light on some big trends in the publishing world. Those trends could help determine what higher-ed tools will look like years down the road. Valore, a Boston tech company formerly known as SimpleTuition, has acquired online-education startup Boundless for an undisclosed sum. … Continue reading “Valore Acquires Boundless: The Netflix of Education Publishing?”
Kayak Joins Growing Field of Tech Giants Hiring in Cambridge
The competition for technical talent in Kendall Square just got a little stiffer. Kayak, the online travel-search company, has recently moved into the neighborhood, and chief technology officer Giorgos Zacharia is spearheading an effort to build out the new office. Zacharia (pictured) leads a team of about 300 people spread out among four offices worldwide. … Continue reading “Kayak Joins Growing Field of Tech Giants Hiring in Cambridge”
Xconomy Boston’s Top Stories of Q1 2015: Editor’s Picks
One of our key tenets at Xconomy is to provide a deeper treatment of the most important or telling news of the day, month, or year. To that end, we like to look back on our top stories of the quarter and remind you of some of the headlines. A lot happened in technology and … Continue reading “Xconomy Boston’s Top Stories of Q1 2015: Editor’s Picks”
CoachUp Recruits NBA Star Stephen Curry as Part Owner, Looks to Grow
In today’s consumer startup world, celebrities can play a big role in getting companies noticed. Actors like Ashton Kutcher, Jennifer Aniston, and Jessica Alba have given immediate buzz to their startup projects. Retired sports stars like Magic Johnson, Steve Nash, and Derek Jeter are involved in various new ventures. Now a Boston startup has signed … Continue reading “CoachUp Recruits NBA Star Stephen Curry as Part Owner, Looks to Grow”
Facebook Looks to Double Boston Headcount, Bring Talent From Outside
V-shaped drones that beam Internet signals to the world? Virtual-reality experiences for social networking? Facebook may be working on such far-out projects, but the social media giant’s Boston-area office remains focused on grittier areas like data storage, compilers, networking, and security. Those are traditional strengths of the region, after all—though so is robotics. What’s new … Continue reading “Facebook Looks to Double Boston Headcount, Bring Talent From Outside”
Gearing Up for Robo Madness West on April 7: Here’s the Agenda
Robots and jobs. Robots and Steve Jobs. Robots and Steve Cousins. The cousins of all your favorite robots. Please forgive the word association frenzy. But all will be on display (or be discussed) on Tuesday, April 7, at SRI International in Menlo Park, CA. That afternoon, Xconomy is organizing its fourth annual Robo Madness West … Continue reading “Gearing Up for Robo Madness West on April 7: Here’s the Agenda”
With New Robot, Rodney Brooks and Rethink Are Thinking International
Is there sibling rivalry among robots? There is now. Rethink Robotics has unveiled its new robot, called Sawyer, as a complement to its first robot, Baxter. There is a family resemblance—screen face, long arm, red color—but the new machine is smaller, more precise, and holds the keys to the company’s expansion into global markets and … Continue reading “With New Robot, Rodney Brooks and Rethink Are Thinking International”
Rethink Unveils a New Manufacturing Robot Called Sawyer
There’s a new robot in town. His name is Sawyer. He has one arm and a gripper, a reach of 1 meter, and he weighs 42 pounds. He’s designed to work in manufacturing settings, doing things like testing circuit boards and other precise tasks. He’s apparently more agile and compact than his brother, Baxter, who was … Continue reading “Rethink Unveils a New Manufacturing Robot Called Sawyer”
How to Build a Men’s Health Startup: MHB Labs Gets Romulus Cash
If you watch your share of bad TV, you know how big the market is for erectile dysfunction, low testosterone, and urination problems. In other words, men’s health issues—and the drugs that supposedly treat them. What might surprise you is that a tech investor has just made an interesting deal in the sector. Boston-area venture … Continue reading “How to Build a Men’s Health Startup: MHB Labs Gets Romulus Cash”
Robo Madness Boston: The Photos and Takeaways
Our first-ever dedicated robotics event in Boston was a smash hit. Here’s hoping the local community can keep the momentum going and solidify its standing as a worldwide leader in the field. Huge thanks to our event sponsors who made the conference possible: Argosight, BDO, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, IDA Ireland, and iRobot. And … Continue reading “Robo Madness Boston: The Photos and Takeaways”
Massachusetts Tech Jobs, Investment Growing—But Not Fast Enough?
It’s a time of big economic and political changes in the Bay State. Massachusetts has a new governor, Boston has a relatively new mayor, and the University of Massachusetts will have a new president, to name just a few transitions. So it’s also a good time to take stock of where the local technology industry … Continue reading “Massachusetts Tech Jobs, Investment Growing—But Not Fast Enough?”
Playrific Prepares for Education App Bubble, With $4.7M in Tow
Get ready for some major consolidation in mobile apps for kids and education. So says one of the sector’s keen observers, tech entrepreneur Beth Marcus. Marcus is the CEO and co-founder of Playrific, a Boston-area software startup that works with brands and organizations to publish apps and content for kids. It’s not clear yet whether … Continue reading “Playrific Prepares for Education App Bubble, With $4.7M in Tow”
Grishin, Raibert, and More: Join Us at Robo Madness Boston on Wednesday
The robots are coming. So, apparently, are you. We are expecting a packed house at Google in Kendall Square this Wednesday, March 11. The occasion is Robo Madness Boston, our first-ever dedicated robotics event locally (hard to believe, I know). You can get registration info here, as well as the full agenda. It will be … Continue reading “Grishin, Raibert, and More: Join Us at Robo Madness Boston on Wednesday”
G20 Ventures Closes $63M Fund for East Coast Enterprise Tech
Smaller, faster, cheaper: it’s a trend in early-stage tech venture capital that mirrors the rise of the computing industry. The latest exhibit is G20 Ventures, a Boston-based investment firm that has closed its first fund at $63.45 million. G20 was founded by Bob Hower and Bill Wiberg, both general partners at Advanced Technology Ventures (ATV). … Continue reading “G20 Ventures Closes $63M Fund for East Coast Enterprise Tech”
The Robots of New England: An Innovation Slideshow
They come from all walks of life. Some work on factory floors or in warehouses. Others hang out in your home, doing menial tasks or trying to engage you on a social level. Yet others attach to your body and help you walk better or do rehabilitation exercises. New England has a distinguished history in … Continue reading “The Robots of New England: An Innovation Slideshow”
Top 3 Personal Health Tips From the Founders of Elysium
First of all, it’s not really an anti-aging startup. That’s one takeaway after sitting down with the founders of Elysium Health last week. The newly launched company is headquartered in New York City, with a network of advisors worldwide. It’s out to sell nutritional supplements to consumers online to improve their personal health, not necessarily … Continue reading “Top 3 Personal Health Tips From the Founders of Elysium”
New Harvard i-lab Head Talks Global Expansion, Startup Initiatives
The Harvard Innovation Lab’s incoming managing director isn’t wasting any time getting started. Jodi Goldstein, announced Wednesday as the lab’s successor to current head Gordon Jones as of June 1, is already working on expansion plans, including a possible new fund for supporting startups. Goldstein has been at the i-lab since its launch in 2011, … Continue reading “New Harvard i-lab Head Talks Global Expansion, Startup Initiatives”
Jodi Goldstein Named New Head of Harvard Innovation Lab
Harvard University has named a new managing director for its Innovation Lab to succeed outgoing head Gordon Jones, who is leaving in June. She is Jodi Goldstein, and her appointment is no surprise to the i-lab—or the innovation community. Goldstein has been with the Harvard Innovation Lab since its start in 2011. She has served … Continue reading “Jodi Goldstein Named New Head of Harvard Innovation Lab”
Marc Raibert Joins Robo Madness Boston, March 11: Here’s the Agenda
We’re two weeks away from one of the biggest robotics events in Boston tech history. Robo Madness Boston will take place the afternoon of Wednesday, March 11, at Google in Kendall Square. Here’s the full agenda, pending a few last-minute tweaks. I’m pleased to announce that famed roboticist Marc Raibert is joining the program. As a … Continue reading “Marc Raibert Joins Robo Madness Boston, March 11: Here’s the Agenda”
Humanyze Hits Up Investors to Support “People Analytics” in Business
You know the expression, “It’s all about the people”? One local startup has figured out a way to quantify that approach, using sensors and software in corporate settings. The startup is called Humanyze—it was formerly known as Sociometric Solutions—and it spun out of the MIT Media Lab in 2011. Since then, the eight-person company has … Continue reading “Humanyze Hits Up Investors to Support “People Analytics” in Business”
Dustin Smith, MIT Media Lab Alum and Startup Founder, Dies at 31
Xconomy is sad to report that Dustin Smith, an artificial-intelligence expert and co-founder of Boston startup Beansprock, has passed away at the age of 31. Smith died unexpectedly on Feb. 14. He had been diagnosed with a heart condition known as hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) more than 10 years ago, but his friends and family … Continue reading “Dustin Smith, MIT Media Lab Alum and Startup Founder, Dies at 31”
Sqrrl Scores $7M, Rolls Out New Software to Combat Security Breaches
In the arms race between hackers and security companies, understanding exactly how to protect corporate data is key. Now one startup has more money—and a new product—to bring to bear on the problem. Sqrrl has raised a $7 million Series B round led by new investor Rally Ventures. Previous investors Atlas Venture and Matrix Partners … Continue reading “Sqrrl Scores $7M, Rolls Out New Software to Combat Security Breaches”
RapidMiner Reloads With $15M From Boston Big-Data Investors
RapidMiner is getting settled in Boston’s tech community, and now it has some local cash to spend as well. The German-born analytics software company has raised a $15 million Series B financing round led by Boston-area investors Ascent Venture Partners and Longworth Venture Partners. Previous investors Earlybird Venture Capital and Open Ocean Capital, both based … Continue reading “RapidMiner Reloads With $15M From Boston Big-Data Investors”
Wanderu, With New iOS App, Pays Richard Branson a Visit
You wouldn’t be surprised to hear that the folks at online-travel startup Wanderu managed to avoid the Northeast’s most recent snowstorm. The company pegs itself as “Kayak for buses,” but its own travel last weekend involved flying. To Richard Branson’s private island, to be exact. Boston-based Wanderu is one of three companies that won an … Continue reading “Wanderu, With New iOS App, Pays Richard Branson a Visit”
Robo Madness Boston in One Month: iRobot, BiOM Join Program
While Greater Boston is reeling from the effects of one snowstorm after another, I’d like to paint a more hopeful picture for you. Imagine it is one month from today. Not quite spring, but close. Not getting warm yet, but at least the worst of the snow and cold should be behind us. And then … Continue reading “Robo Madness Boston in One Month: iRobot, BiOM Join Program”
Boston’s Top-Funded Kickstarter Tech Projects of the Past Year
Has traditional crowdfunding peaked? Maybe, maybe not. A lot of attention is now on equity crowdfunding, but the older model of consumers backing creative and technical projects is still going strong. The national stats for Kickstarter suggest the online platform continues to grow, though its growth may be slowing down. As my colleague Bruce Bigelow … Continue reading “Boston’s Top-Funded Kickstarter Tech Projects of the Past Year”