Aereo’s legal war ended in the chambers of the U.S. Supreme Court, but other startups should be wary. In spite of CEO Chet Kanojia’s audacity, on Wednesday the New York-based company that thought it could trump television broadcasters lost its closely watched case. Since its introduction to the public in 2012, doubts swirled whether Aereo’s … Continue reading “Could Fallout from Aereo Ruling Have “Chilling Effect On Startups”?”
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.
Connected Devices and the Internet of Things Knocking at Your Door
If someone builds a better doorknob, will the world beat a path to their door? Well, at least the competition will drop by for a look. That was the case at last week’s Digital Experience gadget show in New York. It was one of several events that Pepcom puts on each year where consumer electronics … Continue reading “Connected Devices and the Internet of Things Knocking at Your Door”
Poshly Turning Big Consumer Data into a Big Deal for Beauty Products
It may be nice to have lots of options when shopping—until it gets hard to make an actual choice. Poshly in New York believes it has an answer for such a dilemma in the beauty industry. The company gathers insights from consumers via online questionnaires on their needs in cosmetics, grooming, and other personal care … Continue reading “Poshly Turning Big Consumer Data into a Big Deal for Beauty Products”
NY Angels Chair Brian Cohen: Angel Investing is Slowing Down
Startups better bring their “A game” if they want to land early backers now. On Tuesday, Brian Cohen, chairman of New York Angels, shared more of his tough love with entrepreneurs—and spoke about angel investing slowing down. He was speaking at this year’s New York Venture Summit, hosted by youngStartup Ventures in the financial district, … Continue reading “NY Angels Chair Brian Cohen: Angel Investing is Slowing Down”
Yammer CTO Pisoni Visits NY, Talks Innovation in the Future of Work
Yammer keeps sharpening its knife as more rivals tread in its territory. On Monday, Microsoft held a group discussion on the future of work at its Times Square technology center. It was a chance for the company to show off how its enterprise social network software, Yammer, gets used by its customers. Companies such as … Continue reading “Yammer CTO Pisoni Visits NY, Talks Innovation in the Future of Work”
Flashpoint Makes Return Visit to New York for a Demo Day
It can be worthwhile to look beyond one’s surrounding geography to discover new ideas. Eleven new graduates and two alumni of the Atlanta, GA-based Flashpoint accelerator hosted a demo day this week in New York. Flashpoint has come to town before, giving its teams a chance to connect with the local investor and innovation scene. But … Continue reading “Flashpoint Makes Return Visit to New York for a Demo Day”
Celebs Taking Charge of Their Social Media Personas through WhoSay
It is not a question of if, but how celebrities will be part of the social media landscape. Whether it is a sighting of a movie star on vacation or a singer dropping by a nightclub, photos and stories about celebs tend to flood social streams. While such content is often pushed by entertainment news, … Continue reading “Celebs Taking Charge of Their Social Media Personas through WhoSay”
HouseTab Stakes Out a Social Spot in Mobile Payments
Ever want to buy a drink for a pal at a bar? What if that friend is across town? HouseTab, based in New York, has developed a mobile app that makes that all possible at participating restaurants and other establishments. Released in late May for Apple’s iOS, HouseTab is not the first mobile payments app … Continue reading “HouseTab Stakes Out a Social Spot in Mobile Payments”
Maker Movement and Laptops for Kids in Techstars NYC Latest Class
There is a bit of real world thinking happening at Techstars NYC. Last Thursday, the latest class of startups from the accelerator held a demo day. A nonprofit determined to get laptops to more kids and the influence of the so-called “Maker Movement” surfaced amid the software-focused startups. Techstars runs a separate program with R/GA … Continue reading “Maker Movement and Laptops for Kids in Techstars NYC Latest Class”
Microsoft Hosts Chat in New York About Making Design More Human
There is no question anymore; Microsoft wants to prove it can design technology for appeal and function alike. Last night in New York, the company held a private gathering to let a few of its designers talk about their tradecraft. Microsoft admitted it has not been known as a design diva, but in recent years … Continue reading “Microsoft Hosts Chat in New York About Making Design More Human”
New York Tech Meetup Calls for Action in Fight Over Net Neutrality
Last night’s New York Tech Meetup kicked off with a loud outcry to preserve net neutrality. Usually the monthly gathering dives right into tech demos from early stage innovators, but another matter took center stage this time. At stake is the level playing field, enforced by federal regulations, for companies of any size to reach … Continue reading “New York Tech Meetup Calls for Action in Fight Over Net Neutrality”
Ad Analytics Provider Yieldex Expands Overseas with London Office
New York-based Yieldex said Monday it has opened an office in London, staffed with a couple of veterans of AOL Networks and the Rubicon Project. Yieldex is a provider of online ad analytics and forecasting for content publishers and advertisers. The company also runs a marketplace used to buy and sell targeted digital ads. In … Continue reading “Ad Analytics Provider Yieldex Expands Overseas with London Office”
Jibe Using Data Analytics, New Cash to Shake Up Job Recruiting Scene
People want jobs and many companies are hiring, but finding the right mutual fit can still be hard. Now, with $20 million in a recent Series C funding round, Jibe in New York thinks it can make the hiring process easier on both sides of the table. The company developed cloud-based software that enterprises use … Continue reading “Jibe Using Data Analytics, New Cash to Shake Up Job Recruiting Scene”
Next Class of NYU Summer Launchpad Accelerator to Start Monday
The semester may be over, but some student entrepreneurs at New York University are about to head back to class. A 10-week summer accelerator for recent grads of NYU kicks off Monday with its second batch of young startups. There are more cross-disciplinary groups this time around, says Frank Rimalovski, executive director of the NYU … Continue reading “Next Class of NYU Summer Launchpad Accelerator to Start Monday”
UP Global Hires Enrique Godreau III For Its New York Expansion
The folks at UP Global are busy this week at a summit in Las Vegas, but that has not kept them from announcing a notable hiring. Enrique Godreau III was named a senior vice president with the organization, which runs programs to mentor and encourage entrepreneurs to build their ideas into businesses. Godreau will officially … Continue reading “UP Global Hires Enrique Godreau III For Its New York Expansion”
The Lighter Side, and a Touch of Shadow, in New York’s Tech Scene
[Corrected 5/25/14 6:30 pm, See below.] It has been a celebratory few days here as another Internet Week New York fades into memory. Mayor Bill de Blasio essentially asked local innovators to collaborate with his administration to further the city’s growth. And there was plenty of revelry among the who’s who of New York techies. … Continue reading “The Lighter Side, and a Touch of Shadow, in New York’s Tech Scene”
Danish Social Media Management Startup Falcon Social Opens NY Office
The Danes have landed in New York. Last week Falcon Social opened up its U.S. office here, expanding from its Copenhagen headquarters. CEO and founder Ulrik Bo Larsen believes his company’s software gives enterprises a comprehensive way to manage and monitor social media that others do not. “It’s not enough to have a Radian6 [software] … Continue reading “Danish Social Media Management Startup Falcon Social Opens NY Office”
Aereo CEO Remains Defiant vs. TV Foes, Sees Unbundling Ahead
For a man whose startup is fighting for survival before the U.S. Supreme Court, Chet Kanojia claims he does not lose any sleep over the matter. Actually, the founder and CEO of Aereo said he gets little sleep at all as he pushes his company’s plans forward—rather than agonizing over legal battles. “We started this … Continue reading “Aereo CEO Remains Defiant vs. TV Foes, Sees Unbundling Ahead”
Mayor de Blasio Pushes Five-Borough Tech Plan at Internet Week NY
Change. On Monday, there was plenty of change on New York Mayor Bill de Blasio’s mind. Praising the merits of the city’s technology community—and talking disruption—he gave the opening speech for Internet Week New York. The first-term mayor took the opportunity to share some of his vision for New York’s future. It was the kickoff … Continue reading “Mayor de Blasio Pushes Five-Borough Tech Plan at Internet Week NY”
Drawing Water from Thin Air & Peloton Bikes Stream Video Spin Classes
Last week The Luxury Review in New York offered a lineup of opulent wares and sleek cars. Amid the high-end baubles was novel technology such as video-streaming fitness bikes from New York-startup Peloton and a machine from Untapped Water Systems to draw drinking water from the air. The Luxury Review is part of Rand Luxury, … Continue reading “Drawing Water from Thin Air & Peloton Bikes Stream Video Spin Classes”
Video Gets Streamed via Cell Networks and a Dose of Metadata Curation
Every day, video seems to become more mobile and malleable. Dropping by this week’s Streaming Media East conference in New York gave glimpses of new ways video can be handled and used. The two-day event featured plenty of expert panels, but I spent a few minutes Tuesday chatting up the folks from LiveU and Ramp. … Continue reading “Video Gets Streamed via Cell Networks and a Dose of Metadata Curation”
Sprinklr Sets Off to Cut Down Noise in Social Media Monitoring
There is plenty of chatter about brands on social media these days; figuring out how to use that information can be tricky, though. Whether it is the outrage of a disgruntled customer or the praise of a happy one, people are not squeamish about speaking their minds online about companies. Sprinklr, based in New York, … Continue reading “Sprinklr Sets Off to Cut Down Noise in Social Media Monitoring”
Talkspace Raises $2.5M Seed Round for Therapist Texting Service
New York-based counseling startup Talkspace said Monday it raised a $2.5 million seed round from investors Spark Capital and Softbank. Talkspace connects people anonymously via mobile devices and the Web to licensed therapists for help with relationships, anxiety, and other problems. The service includes Unlimited Messaging Therapy that, for a fee, lets people text therapists without revealing their … Continue reading “Talkspace Raises $2.5M Seed Round for Therapist Texting Service”
EndlessTV App Launches, Brings Television-style Experience to Mobile
Watching video on smartphones just got a bit more like flipping through channels on TV. On Wednesday, EndlessTV released its flagship app, offering personalized video viewing on mobile devices. There are many apps for streaming YouTube-style videos on mobile devices, but EndlessTV thinks its simplified approach sets it apart. New York-based EndlessTV already offers a collection … Continue reading “EndlessTV App Launches, Brings Television-style Experience to Mobile”
A Little Look at Big Data: Microsoft Research NYC Opens Up for a Visit
Monday night, in New York’s Flatiron District, Microsoft Research opened its doors to give the world a glimpse of what its data scientists are up to. Jennifer Chayes, co-founder of the New York lab and managing director at Microsoft Research New England in Cambridge, MA, cut the ribbon last evening for the latest home of … Continue reading “A Little Look at Big Data: Microsoft Research NYC Opens Up for a Visit”
First Class of Startups Chosen for New York Fashion Tech Lab
Fashion has always been huge in New York, and now a local lab created to nurture tech startups in this industry is welcoming its inaugural class. The New York Fashion Tech Lab is a collaborative effort by Springboard Enterprises, the Partnership Fund for New York City, and others. The eight chosen startups will go through a … Continue reading “First Class of Startups Chosen for New York Fashion Tech Lab”
Equity Crowdfunding Platform Return on Change Has Million-Dollar Baby
It may happen in careful, tiptoeing steps, but a local equity crowdfunding platform is maturing. On Wednesday, New York-based Return on Change revealed that a cleantech startup, Geostellar, used its website to close a $1 million round. It is the first company using Return on Change to break seven figures in one campaign, giving some … Continue reading “Equity Crowdfunding Platform Return on Change Has Million-Dollar Baby”
Data, Dinner Parties, and . . . a Monkey Take Over ERA Demo Day
Everyone relax; it was not a real monkey lurking around the presenters’ stage at demo day. On Tuesday, 10 startups graduated from the Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator (ERA) in New York. A diverse array of themes were on display. Part of the class presented ideas for helping businesses understand and use data; other startups had a … Continue reading “Data, Dinner Parties, and . . . a Monkey Take Over ERA Demo Day”
Mobile App Hitlist Aims to Be a Travel Agent with Social Connections
Why choose a trip destination alone when friends can help? That is the central pitch behind the Hitlist app developed by TripCommon in New York. This recent entry in digital travel booking helps users consult friends while figuring out where they want to go on vacation. Getting the input of people who have already been … Continue reading “Mobile App Hitlist Aims to Be a Travel Agent with Social Connections”
The Arts Meet Coding: Fractured Atlas Fellowship for Tech Training
That old cliché about actors waiting tables to eat might get upended by a fellowship in technology. Local artists could find their future “day jobs” in software development—thanks to Fractured Atlas. This New York-based nonprofit develops cloud-based management platforms for arts organizations and individual artists. Founder Adam Huttler says the fellowship he has introduced will … Continue reading “The Arts Meet Coding: Fractured Atlas Fellowship for Tech Training”
Kittyo Puts Lasers and Smartphones to Work for Playtime With Pets
Cats, lasers, and smartphones. As the adoration of cats continues to dominate the Interwebs (though squeaky baby sloths are catching up), it was only a matter of time before other technologies got thrown into the mix. Kittyo is a forthcoming device that will be used in homes to shoot a laser dot that people can … Continue reading “Kittyo Puts Lasers and Smartphones to Work for Playtime With Pets”
Recyclebank Curates Earth-Friendly Wares for New E-Shop One Twine
Recyclebank has spent the past 10 years helping people set up community recycling programs all across the U.S. and United Kingdom. Now, on Earth Day, it is taking the plunge into e-commerce with One Twine, an online shop dedicated to eco-friendly products. The new initiative, which launched Tuesday, was prompted by Recyclebank members, who wanted … Continue reading “Recyclebank Curates Earth-Friendly Wares for New E-Shop One Twine”
Decisive, Born From Texting.ly, Brings Real-Time Info to Mobile Ads
Tuesday morning, another local player in mobile advertising technology had its public launch—and its DNA may look a bit familiar. The problem it is trying to solve in adtech looks familiar, too. Decisive has developed a platform that lets businesses, usually small to midsize, set up mobile ad campaigns and see the results in real-time. … Continue reading “Decisive, Born From Texting.ly, Brings Real-Time Info to Mobile Ads”
Birchbox Gets $60M For Expansion, New Hires, and Marketing Push
Beauty startup Birchbox said Monday it raised $60 million in a Series B round led by Viking Global Investors, with a raft of others participating. The New York company made its initial splash shipping monthly shipments of beauty and grooming product samples to subscribers. Of late, though, Birchbox has trumpeted the growth of its e-commerce … Continue reading “Birchbox Gets $60M For Expansion, New Hires, and Marketing Push”
Vidyo’s Technology Tapped to Bring Video Calls to Swiss Companies
Swiss businesses are using a bit of U.S. know-how for their videoconferencing needs. Vidyo, based in Hackensack, NJ, said Thursday that Swisscom drew upon its software for a service for multi-person video calls. Swisscom, based in Ittigen, Switzerland, is a provider of information and communications technology. The company said it created a service called Vidia … Continue reading “Vidyo’s Technology Tapped to Bring Video Calls to Swiss Companies”
Lasers for Regrowing Hair and Robots That Learn March on NY
If you needed more evidence that hardware is a “thing” again, a peek into last week’s DigitalFocus show in New York might convince you. Digital showcase organizer Pepcom hosts such technology events every season, giving electronics makers a chance to impress analysts and the media. Gadgets that have already been around the block turn up … Continue reading “Lasers for Regrowing Hair and Robots That Learn March on NY”
E-mail Adtech Player LiveIntent Finds its Stride, Plans More Growth
New York’s LiveIntent is just settling into its latest offices, but the company is already planning to bulk up its ranks. Dave Hendricks, president at the e-mail ad technology company, says LiveIntent’s staff of 100 will “grow radically again this year,” as it puts funding it raised to work. Content publishers use LiveIntent’s software to … Continue reading “E-mail Adtech Player LiveIntent Finds its Stride, Plans More Growth”
NASA On a Mission to Seek New Ideas at Hackathon for Space Tech
Space can be a frontier—in a non-Star Trek way. Like gold miners of old, some technologists see opportunities for disruption and commercialization beyond our atmosphere. NASA’s annual International Space Apps Challenge, coming up this weekend, will be a chance for innovators around the world to spawn ideas that might boldly go amongst the stars. The … Continue reading “NASA On a Mission to Seek New Ideas at Hackathon for Space Tech”
New York Wears Digital Heart on Its Sleeve, Talks Up Tech Job Growth
This spring, New York seems to want to prove it is a not-so-secret garden for technology. A study released last week paints a picture of a city with a chance to grow more rapidly—if it works harder at embracing technology. Several organizations—Google, the New York Tech Meetup, the Association for a Better New York, Citi, and … Continue reading “New York Wears Digital Heart on Its Sleeve, Talks Up Tech Job Growth”
Big Data Analytics and Cloud Computing Brought FinTech Jobs to NY
On Tuesday, the Partnership for New York City said technology has played a significant role in job growth in the city. According to a blog post from the partnership’s NYC Jobs Blueprint initiative, the city’s technology sector saw employment grow by 21 percent from 2006 to 2012. That outpaced the national rate of 12 percent in … Continue reading “Big Data Analytics and Cloud Computing Brought FinTech Jobs to NY”
Tech Startups Bringing Information, Action to Disaster Recovery
When calamity strikes, emergency responders offer the most vital form of relief to those affected—but technology can also lend a helping hand. New tools are being created to find out what happened in a disaster and then take action, thanks to innovations startups have developed. That can mean anything from getting quick access to live … Continue reading “Tech Startups Bringing Information, Action to Disaster Recovery”
CPXi Raises $30M, in Its First Funding Round, for Digital Ad Tech
Digital media holding company CPXi has raised $30 Million, its first outside funding. The sole investor in the round was the Business Development Corporation of America. On top of its funding news, New York-based CPXi also promoted chief marketing officer Jeff Hirsch to be its president. He will retain responsibility for overseeing marketing at the … Continue reading “CPXi Raises $30M, in Its First Funding Round, for Digital Ad Tech”
SmartAsset Gets $5.2M to Deliver Answers to Financial Questions
With a $5.2 million Series A round in its pocket, SmartAsset in New York said Tuesday it plans to add new features to its software that answers personal finance questions. Founded in 2011, SmartAsset is a graduate of the summer 2012 Y Combinator class and is also backed by North Bridge Venture Partners. The latest funding … Continue reading “SmartAsset Gets $5.2M to Deliver Answers to Financial Questions”
Columbia University Startup Lab Coming to WeWork SoHo West
Summer in the city will see a new home emerge for entrepreneurs to get dirty and gritty, working on their ideas. Come June, a lab for New York startups founded by Columbia University grads will open its doors, says Richard Witten, special advisor to the university’s president. Mentors and programs drawn from university and alumni … Continue reading “Columbia University Startup Lab Coming to WeWork SoHo West”
Synthesio to Put $20M Round Towards New Hires & California Expansion
This seems to be the age of helping marketers better understand data from social media. New York-based Synthesio, a developer of software for analyzing comments about brands in the social sphere, recently said it raised $20 million in a Series B round led by Idinvest Partners. With that new funding, the company plans double its … Continue reading “Synthesio to Put $20M Round Towards New Hires & California Expansion”
First Class of Connected Devices Debuts from R/GA Accelerator
Lock a few startups in a room with some hardware for 90 days and they might come out with something big. That was the hope with the inaugural class of the R/GA Connected Devices Accelerator, which held a demo day on Tuesday in New York. The accelerator, formed as a partnership between digital marketing agency … Continue reading “First Class of Connected Devices Debuts from R/GA Accelerator”
Seth Green-Backed Shodogg Learns New Tricks After Pivoting
It is not easy to drop the idea that brought a startup to market and then chart a new course. When I first came across Shodogg at International CES 2012, the company had unveiled its software for consumers to share videos between TVs and other connected devices. The startup hit the annual trade show along … Continue reading “Seth Green-Backed Shodogg Learns New Tricks After Pivoting”
Already On Watch: MSpy Monitoring Software Preloaded on Some Phones
It just got a bit easier to snoop on some smartphones. MSpy, a developer of communication monitoring technology, said Wednesday it is selling smartphones preloaded with its software. Available models include the iPhone 5s, Samsung Galaxy S4, Nexus 5, and HTC One. The startup’s software can be used to track phones’ activities, including voice calls, … Continue reading “Already On Watch: MSpy Monitoring Software Preloaded on Some Phones”
In Like a Lion: Techstars Alum DigitalOcean Leads March in NY Funding
March is not even half over and more than $64 million in new funding has been announced for startups in New York. DigitalOcean, a cloud-hosting startup and Techstars alum, said last Thursday it raised $37.2 million in a Series A round led by Andreessen Horowitz, with IA Ventures and CrunchFund also participating. Though the startup … Continue reading “In Like a Lion: Techstars Alum DigitalOcean Leads March in NY Funding”
PowerBridgeNY Draws New Ideas in Energy from the Academic Well
Lots of universities try to turn lab research into real businesses. Backing from a New York state agency may give some innovations in energy a head start. Last week, 13 teams from area universities pitched ideas to a panel of venture capitalists and energy industry experts, hoping to win a piece of grant funding. Some … Continue reading “PowerBridgeNY Draws New Ideas in Energy from the Academic Well”