Six-month-old New York-based BetterCloud announced today it raised $2.2 million in a seed round with angel investors and backing from its own CEO David Politis. Software-as-a-service provider BetterCloud focuses on developing security and management software for businesses that use the Google Apps platform. BetterCloud, founded last November, plans to use the funding towards development of … Continue reading “BetterCloud Raises $2.2M, Gets Bullish on Google Apps for Enterprise”
Author: João-Pierre S. Ruth
After more than thirteen years as a business reporter in New Jersey, João-Pierre S. Ruth joined the ranks of Xconomy serving first as a correspondent and then as editor for its New York City branch. Earlier in his career he covered telecom players such as Verizon Wireless, device makers such as Samsung, and developers of organic LED technology such as Universal Display Corp.
João-Pierre earned his bachelor’s in English from Rutgers University.
Jumptap, Mobext, and Razorfish Talk Ad Strategy at Mobile Media Upfront
The rabbit-like spread of smartphones and tablets offers marketers a personal way to reach consumers, but the industry is still sorting out how best to harness this platform. Much like the rise of online advertising, caution and curiosity framed the early days of mobile advertising. Brands might push ads or apps on to smartphones, but … Continue reading “Jumptap, Mobext, and Razorfish Talk Ad Strategy at Mobile Media Upfront”
Q&A: Alan McGlade on His New Digital Media Fund
Former MTV executive Alan McGlade and venture capitalist Michael Yang launched Digital Entertainment Ventures (DEV) in New York recently to make early-stage investments in digital media companies. DEV’s total value has not been disclosed, but the fund has already backed Stagit, a Web-based live music platform, and Mad Humans, a mobile gaming company. McGlade, managing … Continue reading “Q&A: Alan McGlade on His New Digital Media Fund”
Gaming and Music Take Center Stage at Startup Weekend NYC
With the likes of Zynga championing social games, it is no surprise that startups are in a rush to capture their share of this sector. But what is surprising is the rise of New York innovators who are diving into this market. Gaming played a major part of this past weekend’s first ever gaming- and … Continue reading “Gaming and Music Take Center Stage at Startup Weekend NYC”
Box Looks to New York, Boston, and Seattle for Innovation
At a time when new rivals are emerging in the file-sharing industry, Box in Palo Alto, CA, is looking to New York and other markets as potential destinations for opening new offices and finding talent. Box is a venture-backed startup that has made name for itself in Silicon Valley. In recent weeks, however, the company … Continue reading “Box Looks to New York, Boston, and Seattle for Innovation”
Signpost Grabs $3.75M in Funding, Hires from AOL, and Moves into New Office
New York–startup Signpost says today it closed a $3.75 million Series A funding round led by Spark Capital. Signpost, an advertising platform that helps small merchants get their deals published online, previously raised more than $1 million. Its backers include Google Ventures and angel investors. Signpost isn’t just another Groupon. The company serves as a … Continue reading “Signpost Grabs $3.75M in Funding, Hires from AOL, and Moves into New Office”
Unroll.me CEO on Learning from Mistakes and Striking When the Market is Hot
Like many entrepreneurs, Josh Rosenwald ate a healthy slice of humble pie after his previous startup went under. So he planned carefully before committing to his latest endeavor. This time he believes he found a scalable idea he can monetize. That does not mean Unroll.me, his New York-based startup, is a sure bet, but he … Continue reading “Unroll.me CEO on Learning from Mistakes and Striking When the Market is Hot”
Fashion, Photos, and Marketing Loom Large Among Startups at ERA Demo Day
Graduates from the Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator’s winter class took the stage today at the New York Institute of Technology to impress investors and other attendees at its demo day event. Ten startups offered up their ideas on how to disrupt fashion, retail, marketing, and other industries that are rooted in the city yet extend far … Continue reading “Fashion, Photos, and Marketing Loom Large Among Startups at ERA Demo Day”
Sparkology Puts Elite Spin on Dating and Competes to Enter Y Combinator
As more dating websites chase the same customers, it gets harder to see the differences among these companies. Most promise lots of dates, but that does not always translate into successful matches. New York’s Sparkology believes its strategy of only accepting men educated at renowned universities sets it apart from its rivals—and might win the … Continue reading “Sparkology Puts Elite Spin on Dating and Competes to Enter Y Combinator”
NY Tech Day Brings Together Startups and Potential Investors
New York is teeming with events to showcase startups, but Thursday’s NY Tech Day presented a lineup of up-and-comers who, in some cases, drew more attention than big-name exhibitors such as tumblr. In its debut event, NY Tech Day brought out some 160 tech companies to the 69th Regiment Armory in New York’s Flatiron District. … Continue reading “NY Tech Day Brings Together Startups and Potential Investors”
Schoology Aims to Make the Honor Roll in Education Technology
Much like a promising class of new graduates, the fast-growing startups in education technology are landing big offers to get ahead. Money is flowing into these companies as they develop technology that puts new twists on the traditional classroom. Up and comer Schoology in New York raised $6 million on Monday in a funding round … Continue reading “Schoology Aims to Make the Honor Roll in Education Technology”
Birchbox Breaks into New Markets to Compete in Subscription Commerce
It takes a touch of finesse to win over consumers in a market crowded with e-tailers eager to ship products to one’s front door. Now New York’s Birchbox is finding out whether it has that touch. The e-retail company, which ships curated wares, made its first splash offering assorted cosmetics and beauty products for women … Continue reading “Birchbox Breaks into New Markets to Compete in Subscription Commerce”
Google Ventures-Backed Signpost Brings Repeat Business to Daily Deals
The daily deals sector may be overcrowded and highly competitive, but New York’s Signpost is leveraging a different approach to help attract customers to small merchants. The two-year-old startup operates as an advertising platform that gets deals published online on behalf of cafés, spas, restaurants, and other retailers. On the surface that sounds like the … Continue reading “Google Ventures-Backed Signpost Brings Repeat Business to Daily Deals”
Synchronoss Technologies Makes Strategic Moves to Boost Innovation
It can be tough for wireless carriers and users alike to sort out the increasingly complex mash-up of mobile devices and data. The ongoing releases of new handsets, software, and digital content makes it difficult to keep all the pieces working together smoothly. Synchronoss Technologies (Nasdaq: [[ticker:SNCR]]) in Bridgewater, N.J. develops software platforms that work … Continue reading “Synchronoss Technologies Makes Strategic Moves to Boost Innovation”
Betaworks-Backed News.me Puts a More Social Spin on News Medium
The ever-increasing use of social media to share stories can sometimes overwhelm users, but a New York-based startup has created a platform to curb such information overload. News.me, wholly funded by investor and business accelerator Betaworks, and born from a prototype created at The New York Times, curates news articles to help readers focus on … Continue reading “Betaworks-Backed News.me Puts a More Social Spin on News Medium”
Xconomist of the Week: Roger Ehrenberg Plans for Deeper Investments
Innovative use of data will change our world when you peer through the lens of Roger Ehrenberg, founder and managing partner of two-year-old IA Ventures in New York. From financial services to education and beyond, he sees opportunities to mine, harvest, cleanse, and analyze data in competitive ways. Armed with a $105 million fund that … Continue reading “Xconomist of the Week: Roger Ehrenberg Plans for Deeper Investments”
MK Capital-Backed DramaFever Brings International TV Shows to the Web
While some cable television channels such as BBC America offer entertainment from overseas, there are even more shows on the global stage looking for new audiences. DramaFever in New York provides access, via the Web and mobile devices, to those hard-to-find shows from countries such as Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. Seung Bak, co-founder of DramaFever, … Continue reading “MK Capital-Backed DramaFever Brings International TV Shows to the Web”
Nokia and Microsoft Try to Woo New York Developers to Windows Phone 7
[A previous version of this story inferred that Fresh Digital Group developed the TVPyx app. Viafo created the app.] It is no secret that Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android operating systems dominate the smartphone realm. But Microsoft and phone maker Nokia are marching in lockstep together in a bid to disrupt the near duopoly of … Continue reading “Nokia and Microsoft Try to Woo New York Developers to Windows Phone 7”
New York Social Game Makers Go Mobile to Grow in a Post-Zynga World
Online social games started out as popular distractions for the masses on Facebook. But these days how often do you actually play “Mafia Wars”? While some doubts have been raised by industry insiders about the early model for attracting players to social and casual games, a handful of companies in and around New York’s lesser … Continue reading “New York Social Game Makers Go Mobile to Grow in a Post-Zynga World”
Xconomist of the Week: Linda Rottenberg on Global Tech Boom
Tech blogs typically cover startups in North America and Europe that want to be the next Facebook-style success, but the innovation ecosystem is far more diverse and far-reaching. Linda Rottenberg, CEO and co-founder of New York nonprofit Endeavor Global, has spent the last 15 years or so championing an effort to connect mentors and investors … Continue reading “Xconomist of the Week: Linda Rottenberg on Global Tech Boom”
Medivo Leverages Mobile Strategy to Get Ahead in Health Information
With the world awash in health IT startups, New York’s Medivo is battling to prove it is different from other startups in this sector. So on March 7, the company—which operates a Web and mobile platform that connects doctors to their patients—acquired NYC neighbor WellApps, which creates mobile apps for monitoring symptoms of serious intestinal … Continue reading “Medivo Leverages Mobile Strategy to Get Ahead in Health Information”
Q&A: RTP Ventures’ Jalak Jobanputra Weighs in on New $120M Fund
RTP Ventures, a $120 million fund in New York, which also has offices in Boston, brought in Jalak Jobanputra early this month as a managing director and a founding partner. RTP was founded last year by Moscow-based ru-Net, a $700 million technology and Internet investment company, to extend its investment activity to the United States. … Continue reading “Q&A: RTP Ventures’ Jalak Jobanputra Weighs in on New $120M Fund”
GroupMe, OnSwipe, Gilt Groupe, and Others Prep SummerQAmp Program
When notable members of New York’s innovation scene, a rocker from New Jersey, and a former White House insider get together it is no mere jam session. Just such a coalition—including executives from New York’s Gilt Groupe, GroupMe, and OnSwipe—has started a national initiative to train a new work force in high-tech skills. That program, … Continue reading “GroupMe, OnSwipe, Gilt Groupe, and Others Prep SummerQAmp Program”
Accedo Broadband Plots NY Expansion to Capture Clients and Talent
Stockholm-based Accedo Broadband plans to set up New York offices in a strategic maneuver to get up close and personal with the consumer electronics giants it works with such as Samsung, Panasonic, and LG Electronics. Accedo, which develops apps and platforms that deliver content to televisions connected to the Web, plans to hire as many … Continue reading “Accedo Broadband Plots NY Expansion to Capture Clients and Talent”
Barry Diller-Backed Aereo Faces Legal Fight with TV Broadcasters
Outraged by Long Island City-based Aereo’s attempts to exploit a supposed loophole regarding the transmission of television shows, broadcasters have sued the startup to keep its service from launching on March 14. Experts say the broadcasters may have a legitimate case. If so, the litigation could jeopardize Aereo’s plan to offer its subscribers live streaming … Continue reading “Barry Diller-Backed Aereo Faces Legal Fight with TV Broadcasters”
Songza’s Music Strategy Poised to Disrupt Pandora, Spotify, iTunes
The team at Songza in Long Island City is chasing a trend in the music world: They’re moving away from downloads and towards streaming content. And the Songza folks are hoping their platform, which curates song lists for users, can stifle the likes of larger Internet music player Pandora. To leverage its curation strategy, company unveiled … Continue reading “Songza’s Music Strategy Poised to Disrupt Pandora, Spotify, iTunes”
Matt Harris to Pursue Growth Investments at Bain Capital Ventures
Village Ventures co-founder Matt Harris is busy preparing to become a managing director at the New York offices of Bain Capital Ventures, where he plans to explore investments in early and growth-stage companies in the financial-services sector. It is a bit of a homecoming for Harris, who started his investing career at Boston-based Bain in … Continue reading “Matt Harris to Pursue Growth Investments at Bain Capital Ventures”
Vaultive Raises $10M, Emerges from Stealth in Cloud Data Security
New York-based Vaultive, a provider of encryption technology for Internet data, announced today it raised $10 million in a Series A round led by .406 Ventures, Harmony Partners, and New Science Ventures. Vaultive’s technology is designed to help big companies comply with increasingly stringent regulations on information security. The company, founded in late 2008, previously … Continue reading “Vaultive Raises $10M, Emerges from Stealth in Cloud Data Security”
Solvate, backed by RRE Ventures and DFJ Gotham, to Shut Down on Mar. 1
Inability to scale is the culprit behind the pending demise of New York-based freelance talent search platform Solvate. In a note to users of Solvate, the five-year-old startup said it could not scale up the business “in its current configuration,” though it did not provide any details. The company had raised some $6.3 million since … Continue reading “Solvate, backed by RRE Ventures and DFJ Gotham, to Shut Down on Mar. 1”
AppSense Labs Competes with Google and Facebook for Tech Talent in NY
On the hunt for techies with entrepreneurial spirit, enterprise software developer AppSense announced today it formed a research division that has its epicenter at the company’s New York headquarters. AppSense Labs, as it is called, aspires to do more than hire new experts; it aims to disrupt the way the company’s technology is developed by … Continue reading “AppSense Labs Competes with Google and Facebook for Tech Talent in NY”
Take the Interview Takes Manhattan in Strategic and Practical Maneuver
In a strategic play to be closer to existing investors, potential backers, and her own personal support system, Danielle Weinblatt, the CEO of Take the Interview, has moved her startup from Cambridge, MA, to New York City and is on the hunt for more funding. Take the Interview has developed a platform for recruiters to … Continue reading “Take the Interview Takes Manhattan in Strategic and Practical Maneuver”
House Party Leverages On and Offline Strategy to Compete in Viral Marketing
Brand marketers often work themselves into a lather to generate buzz about their products on social networks, but tweets and “likes” may not be enough to drive sales. Social media company House Party in Irvington, NY, uses a different strategy that combines offline gatherings with online tools to get the word out to consumers. House … Continue reading “House Party Leverages On and Offline Strategy to Compete in Viral Marketing”
Barry Diller and IAC Back Aereo to Bring Live TV to Mobile Devices
In a world increasingly distracted by mobile devices, television broadcasters are searching for new ways to keep their shows in front of the audience. Rather than fight the mobile trend, TV station owners such as Hearst Television plan to bring their content to handheld devices in the somewhat near future. However, New York-based IAC (NASDAQ: … Continue reading “Barry Diller and IAC Back Aereo to Bring Live TV to Mobile Devices”
33Across Taps More User Data Than Facebook or Google for Marketers
In the race to make mountains of social Web data useful, social targeting technology company 33Across says it is getting ahead of the competition by gathering anonymous information from more users than even Facebook has access to. That might sound surprising. But thanks to its recent acquisition of Tynt Multimedia, New York-based 33Across has the … Continue reading “33Across Taps More User Data Than Facebook or Google for Marketers”
Big Players and Big Deals Needed to Help Solidify New York’s Tech Scene
Although New York basks in the Giants’ second Super Bowl victory in four years over the New England Patriots, the city’s startup scene still has hard work ahead if it expects to seriously compete with the more mature tech hubs such as Boston. With Facebook due to open engineering offices in New York this year … Continue reading “Big Players and Big Deals Needed to Help Solidify New York’s Tech Scene”
Spongecell Gets $10M Series B, Continues Growth in Ad Tech
In the fast-evolving advertising arena, Spongecell is a prime example of how a hard pivot with different technology in place can transform a company’s fortunes. On Tuesday the New York company, which adds interactive functions such as video and Twitter feeds to banner ads, announced it raised $10 million in a Series B round led … Continue reading “Spongecell Gets $10M Series B, Continues Growth in Ad Tech”
Timehop Revives Old Memories from Facebook, Foursquare, and Twitter
Everyone wants to recapture pieces of the past these days. Facebook for example changed all profiles to the timeline format this year, and others in the social media space are pursuing ways of tracking the past. New York-based Timehop has developed its own technology to let individuals recall content from their personal histories, via once-day … Continue reading “Timehop Revives Old Memories from Facebook, Foursquare, and Twitter”
Gotham Greens: Cleantech and Farm Tech Converge in Brooklyn
Hidden amid the technology startups clamoring for attention in New York, which is packed with media, data, and social networking players, is an unlikely company more interested in vegetables than video sharing. Gotham Greens Farms is out to prove its resilience by cultivating crops on rooftops in a landscape dominated by bricks, mortar, and steel. … Continue reading “Gotham Greens: Cleantech and Farm Tech Converge in Brooklyn”
Fred Wilson, Todd Dagres, and More Cheer NY’s Growth in the VC Game
Much like the New York Giants charging onto the football field, companies such as bitly, BarkBox, and Gilt Groupe—along with their backers—have upped the caliber of innovation expected from startups in New York. In response to this upswell of activity, Xconomy brought some 250 members of the local investor and entrepreneurial community together Wednesday to … Continue reading “Fred Wilson, Todd Dagres, and More Cheer NY’s Growth in the VC Game”
Examville, Coursekit, and Others Disrupt Learning to Get Ahead
New York is known as the home to some of the world’s biggest education publishers, such as Pearson and McGraw-Hill. Even Apple came to New York to make its big iPad textbook announcement two weeks ago. But what’s not as well known is that the city is also teeming with education technology startups—companies leveraging the Web, … Continue reading “Examville, Coursekit, and Others Disrupt Learning to Get Ahead”
New Kids on the Startup Block Coming to NY Venture Emergence
Rising stars in the local startup community BarkBox, HackNY, and Gotham Greens will be on hand at Xconomy Forum: New York’s Venture Emergence event on Feb. 1. They will enlighten the crowd with “burst” presentations, during which they’ll describe their companies and their growth plans. It’s all part of an exciting half-day event that will … Continue reading “New Kids on the Startup Block Coming to NY Venture Emergence”
Digital Media Center Brings Tech Players and Investors to Times Square
With a kind of candor that speaks of the motivation in the startup and investment communities, angel investor Jerry Neumann talked bluntly Tuesday evening about the companies he backs. “All of my entrepreneurs are irritating,” he said jokingly during a panel discussion at the Digital Media Center event held at Times Square in New York. … Continue reading “Digital Media Center Brings Tech Players and Investors to Times Square”
Producteev Launches Windows App to One-Up Competition in Task Management
New York’s Producteev released on Tuesday the first Windows desktop version of its task management software in an effort to become more ubiquitous than its rivals. Producteev’s software lets users who work collaboratively organize, update, and see who is responsible for getting specific jobs done. The platform can be accessed via mobile apps, the Web, … Continue reading “Producteev Launches Windows App to One-Up Competition in Task Management”
Finnish Startup Playmysong Raises Seed Round, Opens NYC Office
Finland’s Playmysong said in a press release it raised a seed round, $350,000 according to a spokesman, led by startup accelerator Lifeline Ventures and opened a New York office this month. The company plans to also set up shop in San Francisco in February. Playmysong’s Apple iOS and Web app lets users request songs to … Continue reading “Finnish Startup Playmysong Raises Seed Round, Opens NYC Office”
Georgia Startups Have New York on Their Minds at Flashpoint Demo Day
A flotilla of fifteen startups from Atlanta presented their ideas in New York on Wednesday for a demo day at the offices of Union Square Ventures. Merrick Furst, director of the Flashpoint accelerator at the Georgia Institute of Technology, said the program helps entrepreneurs develop their concepts beyond their startup phase. “They are trying to … Continue reading “Georgia Startups Have New York on Their Minds at Flashpoint Demo Day”
ShopKeep.com Raises $2.2M in Series A Round, Plans New Hires
New York’s ShopKeep.com says it raised $2.2 million in a Series A funding round led by Tribeca Venture Partners and TTV Capital. Contour Venture Partners also participated in the round. ShopKeep developed a point-of-sale platform that retailers can use on the Apple iPad as well as with Mac-powered registers. The company also provides Web-based software, which … Continue reading “ShopKeep.com Raises $2.2M in Series A Round, Plans New Hires”
MakerBot Industries Prints a New Dimension in Product Creation at CES
Three-year old MakerBot Industries in Brooklyn unveiled its new Replicator 3D printers at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, demonstrating how its technology can be used to create most anything users want to design—within a certain size, that is. A wide range of objects can be produced through 3D printing, which … Continue reading “MakerBot Industries Prints a New Dimension in Product Creation at CES”
Universal Display Sees Its OLED Technology Shine through Samsung at CES
When Samsung Electronics unveiled its new 55-inch screen organic LED television at the International Consumer Electronics Show, Universal Display (Nasdaq: [[ticker:PANL]]) in Ewing, NJ saw its own prospects rise. Organic LED (OLED) technology uses razor-thin layers of organic semiconductor material to generate light and electronic displays. It is an alternative to traditional LED and LCD … Continue reading “Universal Display Sees Its OLED Technology Shine through Samsung at CES”
From Flingo to Lantos to Shodogg: U.S. Startups Carve Out Niche at CES
For the first time ever, the International Consumer Electronics Show created a zone called Eureka Park specifically to showcase startups from across the country. Fledgling companies have come to CES before and can still be found elsewhere at the conference, but Eureka Park is a new way to highlight them at the 2012 show. At … Continue reading “From Flingo to Lantos to Shodogg: U.S. Startups Carve Out Niche at CES”
Microsoft’s Ballmer Focuses on Windows 8 in His Last CES Keynote
At his curtain call—for the moment anyway—at this year’s International Consumer Electronics Show, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer hyped his company’s efforts to innovate and compete across multiple platforms. Microsoft announced previously that after 2012 it will no longer give the keynote at CES. As they waited for seats Monday evening, some members of the press … Continue reading “Microsoft’s Ballmer Focuses on Windows 8 in His Last CES Keynote”