New England data-protection firm Datto is pushing deeper into IT networking technologies with the acquisition of Open Mesh. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed in Tuesday’s announcement. Open Mesh makes hardware and cloud-based software that it says enables IT professionals to implement secure wireless networks more quickly and cheaply than traditional networks. Open Mesh will … Continue reading “Datto Buys Open Mesh to Build Out Networking Business”
Author: Jeff Bauter Engel
Jeff, a former Xconomy editor, joined Xconomy from The Milwaukee Business Journal, where he covered manufacturing and technology and wrote about companies including Johnson Controls, Harley-Davidson and MillerCoors. He previously worked as the business and healthcare reporter for the Marshfield News-Herald in central Wisconsin.
He graduated from Marquette University with a bachelor degree in journalism and Spanish. At Marquette he was an award-winning reporter and editor with The Marquette Tribune, the student newspaper. During college he also was a reporter intern for the Muskegon Chronicle and Grand Rapids Press in west Michigan.
Meet the 15 New Early-Stage Venture Funds in Boston Tech: Slideshow
[Updated 2/6/17, 5:15 pm. See notes in photo slideshow.] Boston’s venture investing community looks a lot different today than it did just two years ago. A new crop of venture funds has emerged to back the next wave of technology startups and, as Xconomy observed last year, perhaps change the way companies get funded and … Continue reading “Meet the 15 New Early-Stage Venture Funds in Boston Tech: Slideshow”
Boston Tech Watch: IBM, Adelphic, Mylestoned, Everbridge & More
[Updated 1/26/17, 2:42 pm. See below.] This week in Boston tech, we’re tracking a string of acquisitions, funding rounds, and more. The moves include an acquisition by IBM Security, more funding for a telecom technology company that has raised $200 million-plus from investors, more money for “deathtech” startup Mylestoned, and the reaction of a local … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: IBM, Adelphic, Mylestoned, Everbridge & More”
Turbonomic Grabs $50M More Amid Flurry of New England IT Deals
Enterprise IT might not be the sexiest of technology areas, but it sure can attract truckloads of money. The latest deal is a $50 million investment in Boston-based Turbonomic, a nine-year-old virtualization and cloud management software maker formerly known as VMTurbo. General Atlantic led the funding round and was joined by previous Turbonomic investors Bain … Continue reading “Turbonomic Grabs $50M More Amid Flurry of New England IT Deals”
New Lexumo CEO on IoT, Startups & Government’s Role in Cybersecurity
Dan McCall thinks the timing is right for Lexumo, a Boston-area startup aiming to help secure the world’s rapidly growing collection of Internet-connected devices and embedded systems. And Lexumo’s leaders think McCall is the right person to take the two-year-old company to the next level. Last week, Lexumo announced it hired McCall as CEO. He … Continue reading “New Lexumo CEO on IoT, Startups & Government’s Role in Cybersecurity”
Google Buys Crashlytics, Trusteer Vets Return & More Boston Tech News
Boston-area tech companies are making moves at a furious pace in the early goings of 2017. This week, we’re catching up on a trio of acquisitions (including a deal involving Google and Twitter), a spate of startup funding news, and new leadership at a Draper Laboratory spinout company. Read on for the details. Changing Hands —Four … Continue reading “Google Buys Crashlytics, Trusteer Vets Return & More Boston Tech News”
HPE Scoops Up MA “Unicorn” SimpliVity for $650M, Ending IPO Talk
SimpliVity, a Massachusetts “unicorn” tech company with aspirations to go public, has opted instead to sell itself to Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) for $650 million in cash. The purchase price is about 2.4 times the amount of venture capital—$276 million—that eight-year-old SimpliVity had raised from Waypoint Capital, Accel, CRV, DFJ Growth, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & … Continue reading “HPE Scoops Up MA “Unicorn” SimpliVity for $650M, Ending IPO Talk”
Salsify Grabs $30M to Go Big in Product Content for Digital Retail
Salsify’s founders know what it takes to build a big, successful software company. They previously served in senior roles at Endeca, the enterprise search and e-commerce technology firm that became a pillar company in the Boston tech scene in the 2000s and was acquired by Oracle for over $1 billion in 2011. Now, they’re attempting … Continue reading “Salsify Grabs $30M to Go Big in Product Content for Digital Retail”
Neurala, With More Cash, Advances A.I. for Drones, Self-Driving Cars
Artificial intelligence software firm Neurala cut its teeth developing technology for government entities, including working on advanced navigation software for NASA’s planetary exploration robots. Now, as A.I. technologies move further into our daily lives, 11-year-old Neurala says it is starting to pick up momentum selling its technology to businesses that are working in drones, self-driving … Continue reading “Neurala, With More Cash, Advances A.I. for Drones, Self-Driving Cars”
VC Activity in Boston Dipped in 2016; Here Are the Top 10 Deals & Exits
Venture investments in Boston-area companies dipped in 2016, amid a slowdown in VC activity nationwide that some observers are calling a “return to normalization” after an investing frenzy in the previous two years. In the fourth quarter of 2016, Boston-area companies took in about $1.2 billion from investors via 132 deals. That was down from … Continue reading “VC Activity in Boston Dipped in 2016; Here Are the Top 10 Deals & Exits”
Biopharma Leaders Call for Gender Diversity Amid J.P. Morgan Conference
A group of more than 100 prominent life sciences executives, investors, and business leaders have signed an open letter calling on the industry to step up efforts to increase gender diversity. The letter was published Wednesday, on the second to last day of the annual J.P. Morgan healthcare conference in San Francisco (see full letter … Continue reading “Biopharma Leaders Call for Gender Diversity Amid J.P. Morgan Conference”
EzCater Gobbles $35M From Iconiq Capital, Insight Venture Partners
[Updated 1/11/17, 11:46 a.m. See below.] Boston online food-ordering company ezCater has hauled in another big venture capital round. Today the company announced a $35 million investment led by new backer Iconiq Capital; Insight Venture Partners, a previous ezCater investor, also chipped in. EzCater says it has raised $70 million in total venture capital, including … Continue reading “EzCater Gobbles $35M From Iconiq Capital, Insight Venture Partners”
Mobile App Firm Apperian Sold to Arxan as Security Demand Grows
Apperian, one of the early companies to build mobile applications for large enterprises, has been acquired by app-security firm Arxan. The purchase price wasn’t disclosed, so it’s hard to tell how good an outcome this is for Apperian and its investors. The Boston-based firm had raised just shy of $40 million from investors, including FirstFloor … Continue reading “Mobile App Firm Apperian Sold to Arxan as Security Demand Grows”
Kaminario Snags $75M as Big Money Flows Into Flash Storage
New year, new funding for data storage companies in the Boston area. The latest beneficiary is Needham, MA-based Kaminario, which today announced it received $75 million from investors. Private equity firm Waterwood led the round, with contributions from Sequoia, Pitango Venture Capital, Lazarus, Silicon Valley Bank, and Globespan Capital Partners. Kaminario said it has raised … Continue reading “Kaminario Snags $75M as Big Money Flows Into Flash Storage”
Boston Tech Watch: iRobot Backs Sense, Lola Grabs Cash, & More
[Updated 1/10/17, 11:28 am. See below.] Now that we’re settling into 2017, it’s time for a recap of some of the year’s early happenings in the Boston tech scene: —Diffeo said it acquired Meta Search for an undisclosed price. Cambridge, MA-based Diffeo provides software that it says acts as a sort of personal research assistant … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: iRobot Backs Sense, Lola Grabs Cash, & More”
New Bain Investor Yumin Choi on Obamacare’s Future, Surviving Cancer
Bain Capital Ventures has a new person leading its healthcare investments. Yumin Choi has joined the firm as a managing director, after a decade as a partner at HLM Venture Partners, a Boston-based, healthcare-focused venture firm. Choi has a deeper, more personal understanding of the healthcare industry than most investors. Two years ago, the 33-year-old … Continue reading “New Bain Investor Yumin Choi on Obamacare’s Future, Surviving Cancer”
PatientsLikeMe Nabs $100M, Works to Advance Personalized Medicine
PatientsLikeMe has spent the past 13 years building a vast online network of patients with chronic diseases—more than 500,000 people with over 2,700 conditions—who share experiences and health information with each other and with healthcare professionals. The idea is to connect patients and help them better understand their diseases and perhaps find ways to improve … Continue reading “PatientsLikeMe Nabs $100M, Works to Advance Personalized Medicine”
Bike-Sharing Firm Zagster Zooms Ahead With $10M Led by Edison
Bicycle-sharing startup Zagster has the wind at its back, thanks to a $10 million investment announced Thursday. Edison Partners led the Series B round of funding for Cambridge, MA-based Zagster. The company has now raised about $20 million total to date from investors, according to a spokesman. Zagster’s other backers include LaunchCapital, Fontinalis Partners, Clean … Continue reading “Bike-Sharing Firm Zagster Zooms Ahead With $10M Led by Edison”
Jet.com Grabs ShoeBuy for $70M as Walmart Expands E-Commerce Arsenal
Walmart is snapping up another company to build out its online shopping offerings, as the low-cost retail giant adapts to shifting consumer habits and duels with Amazon. Walmart (NYSE: [[ticker:WMT]]) and its prized e-commerce subsidiary Jet.com have acquired Boston-based ShoeBuy for about $70 million from IAC. The deal was announced Thursday, but closed on December … Continue reading “Jet.com Grabs ShoeBuy for $70M as Walmart Expands E-Commerce Arsenal”
Finally Gets $15M Jolt For New Take on Nikola Tesla Lightbulb Tech
Entrepreneurs are still trying to perfect the lightbulb, 138 years after Thomas Edison patented the incandescent lamp. One of the latest efforts comes from The Finally Light Bulb Company, a Boston-area startup commercializing an energy-efficient bulb partly based on technologies first developed by Edison’s rival, Nikola Tesla. And investors like the idea: Finally announced a … Continue reading “Finally Gets $15M Jolt For New Take on Nikola Tesla Lightbulb Tech”
Boston Tech Agenda 2017: 5 Things to Watch For This Year
For Boston’s technology scene, 2016 was the year of GE, a new crop of local venture funds, ambitious initiatives to spark startups, another failed attempt to reform Massachusetts noncompete rules, a few billion-dollar-plus deals, and a pair of IPOs. On a personal note, 2016 marked my first full year covering Boston tech for Xconomy. It … Continue reading “Boston Tech Agenda 2017: 5 Things to Watch For This Year”
2016’s Last Boston Tech Watch: Akamai, Neurable, Facebook, GM & More
[Updated 12/30/16, 2:30 pm. See below.] As we wave goodbye to 2016, let’s take a look at some of the year’s final moves in the Boston-area tech scene: —Akamai Technologies (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AKAM]]) acquired Cyberfend in a small cash deal. The price wasn’t disclosed, but Akamai said it’s not material to its financials. Based in Santa … Continue reading “2016’s Last Boston Tech Watch: Akamai, Neurable, Facebook, GM & More”
7 Ways to Secure Your Connected Devices Against Hackers
’Tis the season for giving gifts. And increasingly, those shiny new toys and gadgets can be connected to the Internet—from TVs to watches, speakers to Barbie dolls. That Internet connection opens up a ton of possibilities for how we can use and enjoy our new devices. (“Alexa, play my Christmas playlist on Spotify, and also … Continue reading “7 Ways to Secure Your Connected Devices Against Hackers”
Boston Tech Watch: Leonardo DiCaprio, MC10, OwnerIQ, BrainCo & More
With the holidays approaching, here is what’s been going on in the local technology scene: —San Francisco-based Cloudflare acquired Eager for an undisclosed price. The Cambridge, MA-based startup says its technology makes it easier for websites to install apps and software tools. Cloudflare offers Web performance and security products and services. You can read more … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: Leonardo DiCaprio, MC10, OwnerIQ, BrainCo & More”
Hopper Tracks Down $50M, Goes All In on Flight-Booking App
[Corrected 12/15/16, 6:24 pm. See below.] Hopper, the maker of an app that helps consumers find and book cheap flights, could become the Boston area’s next big travel technology company. It’s certainly one of the better-funded ones, thanks to a major investment announced today. In a press release, Hopper said it has raised $82 million … Continue reading “Hopper Tracks Down $50M, Goes All In on Flight-Booking App”
Hexadite Teams With Carbon Black & Others to Automate Cybersecurity
A new alliance between cybersecurity companies from across the U.S. aims to more tightly integrate their products and advance efforts to automate key security processes. The initiative—dubbed the Automated Security Alliance Program, or ASAP—is led by a Boston-based startup, Hexadite. Its initial group of partners includes some big names in the cybersecurity world: Carbon Black, … Continue reading “Hexadite Teams With Carbon Black & Others to Automate Cybersecurity”
Pulse@MassChallenge Pulls Heavily From MA for First Group of Startups
[Updated 12/13/16, 9:30 am, with link to list of companies.] Today MassChallenge revealed the 31 startups chosen for the inaugural six-month session of its new Boston digital health lab, Pulse@MassChallenge, and there are a lot of familiar faces. Eight of the companies that will participate are alumni of MassChallenge’s main startup accelerator program in Boston. … Continue reading “Pulse@MassChallenge Pulls Heavily From MA for First Group of Startups”
Nasuni Downloads $25M as Large Enterprises Commit to Cloud Storage
Nasuni has scooped up another heap of cash to push its cloud storage products to more big companies around the world. Today the Natick, MA-based firm announced $25 million in new funding. That includes a $17.5 million Series E equity round led by new investor Sigma Prime Ventures, with contributions from earlier backers Flybridge Capital … Continue reading “Nasuni Downloads $25M as Large Enterprises Commit to Cloud Storage”
Boston Tech Watch: Cybersecurity, Drones, Silent Discos, & More
[Updated 12/12/16, 2:54 pm. See below.] It’s mid-December, and that means a rush of tech news, as companies work feverishly to get deals done before the end of the year. Recent moves in the Boston area include American Express’s purchase of a local cybersecurity startup, more funding for the new cloud storage startup from Carbonite’s … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: Cybersecurity, Drones, Silent Discos, & More”
Vesper’s Waterproof Microphones Draw Interest from Amazon, Others
As we move toward a world where many (if not most) devices can be controlled by our voices, the ability to reliably capture those sounds becomes paramount. That spells opportunity for Vesper, a Boston-based startup that makes advanced microphone technology that could be used in smartphones, voice-controlled speakers, connected cars, and more. Investors like what … Continue reading “Vesper’s Waterproof Microphones Draw Interest from Amazon, Others”
Smack Might Be the Future of Social Apps, But I’m Not Cool Enough
I’ve got a confession to make: I don’t get Snapchat. I consider myself a generally tech-savvy person. I own a smartphone, I know my way around your average software program or mobile app, and I’m giddily hoping Santa delivers me an Amazon Echo Dot on Dec. 25. But even though I’m a 27-year-old tech journalist, … Continue reading “Smack Might Be the Future of Social Apps, But I’m Not Cool Enough”
PatientPing Gets $32M From Leerink, Andreessen for Health Info Sharing
PatientPing has raised $31.6 million from investors on both coasts to speed up adoption of its software that helps doctors track when their patients get admitted to or released from the hospital. The Series B funding round was led by Boston-based Leerink Transformation Partners and Andreessen Horowitz, the Silicon Valley venture firm that has backed … Continue reading “PatientPing Gets $32M From Leerink, Andreessen for Health Info Sharing”
Uber Buys New York’s Geometric Intelligence to Power New A.I. Lab
Uber is ratcheting up its efforts to advance artificial intelligence technologies as it pushes down the road toward self-driving vehicles. The ride-hailing app company has launched Uber AI Labs, a new division based in San Francisco focused on A.I. and machine learning research. The initial core team is made up of the 15 employees of … Continue reading “Uber Buys New York’s Geometric Intelligence to Power New A.I. Lab”
How Secure Are You? Find Out at The State of Cybersecurity Thursday
Are your security measures good enough? We’re not talking about the locks on your house. We’re talking about the security of your sensitive personal data—health records, bank account passwords, and more—and the cyber defenses protecting businesses’ computer systems, data, files, intellectual property, and other digital assets. It’s a crucial question that seemingly grows more urgent … Continue reading “How Secure Are You? Find Out at The State of Cybersecurity Thursday”
Boston Holiday Tech Watch: GiveHope, LovePop, Samsung, IBM & More
‘Tis the holiday season, and in this week’s roundup of Boston-area tech news, we’re covering funding for a pop-up greeting card startup and an initiative that encourages people to, instead of giving gifts, donate to nonprofits that support causes considered at risk after Donald Trump’s election. Meanwhile, in non-holiday-themed news, we’ve got a local nanotech … Continue reading “Boston Holiday Tech Watch: GiveHope, LovePop, Samsung, IBM & More”
Harvard Spinout Qstream Grabs $15M for App to Coach Sales Reps
The methods of honing the skills of sales people are getting more sophisticated, as companies turn to mobile technologies, data analytics, and even neuroscience to coax the best performance possible from their sales teams. Investors see promise here: Qstream announced today it closed a $15 million Series B funding round led by Polaris Partners. Qstream’s … Continue reading “Harvard Spinout Qstream Grabs $15M for App to Coach Sales Reps”
Founder Collective Closes Third Fund: $75M to Back Early-Stage Startups
Founder Collective has reloaded its stock of dry powder to fuel young startups. The venture firm today announced it has raised $75 million for its third fund, roughly the same aggregate size as its second. The firm was founded by a group of entrepreneurs in 2009, and launched with a $40 million seed-stage fund. Founder … Continue reading “Founder Collective Closes Third Fund: $75M to Back Early-Stage Startups”
Celgene Invests More in GNS Healthcare For Machine Learning Software
Celgene has made a second investment in GNS Healthcare and is tapping into the firm’s data analytics software to boost Celgene’s drug discovery and development efforts. Under an agreement announced Tuesday, Celgene (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CELG]]) has licensed the rights to use GNS Healthcare’s “Reverse Engineering and Forward Simulation” software. The technology crunches reams of health data—from … Continue reading “Celgene Invests More in GNS Healthcare For Machine Learning Software”
Boston Tech Watch: Dyn’s Payday, Self-Driving Car Tests, Akamai HQ
Before everyone bolts town for Thanksgiving, let’s take a look at some notable recent headlines in the Boston-area tech community: —This week’s big deal was Oracle’s acquisition of Dyn, the Manchester, NH-based Internet infrastructure firm targeted in a recent distributed denial-of-service attack that temporarily shut down many popular websites. The companies didn’t disclose financial terms, … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: Dyn’s Payday, Self-Driving Car Tests, Akamai HQ”
IRobot Pushes Deeper Into Japan With $14M+ Purchase of Distributor
IRobot will take over the direct sales and distribution of its consumer robotics products in Japan after inking an agreement to acquire the iRobot-related distribution business of its Tokyo-based partner, Sales On Demand Corporation (SODC). The cash deal is valued between $14 million and $16 million, and primarily includes product inventory, iRobot said. SODC employees who … Continue reading “IRobot Pushes Deeper Into Japan With $14M+ Purchase of Distributor”
3 Questions as DraftKings, FanDuel Agree to Fantasy Sports Merger
At long last, it’s official: DraftKings and FanDuel are merging to create an online fantasy sports behemoth. DraftKings announced the tie-up on its website, after weeks of rumors and news reports based on anonymous sources. Financial terms weren’t disclosed, but the news release calls the deal a “strategic merger of equals.” Here’s what we know … Continue reading “3 Questions as DraftKings, FanDuel Agree to Fantasy Sports Merger”
Voice-Analysis Software Firm Cogito Gets $15M Round Led by OpenView
Cogito has drawn another investment in its voice-analysis software business, to the tune of $15 million. The Series B funding round comes almost exactly a year after the Boston-based firm closed a $5.5 million Series A round. By our count, Cogito has raised around $25 million total from investors and over $5 million in grants, … Continue reading “Voice-Analysis Software Firm Cogito Gets $15M Round Led by OpenView”
Seventh Sense Biosystems Sucks In $10M for Simple Blood-Draw Device
Investors have pumped another $10 million into Seventh Sense Biosystems, as the company awaits FDA clearance to begin selling its device that aims to make blood draws quick and painless. The Series C funding comes from earlier Seventh Sense backers Novartis, LabCorp, Polaris Partners, and Flagship Ventures. The Medford, MA-based firm has raised $40 million … Continue reading “Seventh Sense Biosystems Sucks In $10M for Simple Blood-Draw Device”
Deals, Digs, & Gigs: Boston Tech News on DraftKings, IBM, GE, & More
Here’s a smattering of recent moves—acquisitions, new offices, and key hires—in the Boston-area tech sector: NEW DEALS —Boston-based DraftKings and New York-based FanDuel have reached an agreement to merge their online fantasy sports companies, according to a report from Dan Primack that cited anonymous sources. Both companies declined to comment to Primack, who reports that … Continue reading “Deals, Digs, & Gigs: Boston Tech News on DraftKings, IBM, GE, & More”
Spark Nabs $1B, Uber Challenger Gets $10.5M, & More Boston VC News
November has been a busy month for venture funding news in the Boston area. Spark Capital has $1 billion more to make tech bets, investors pumped $10.5 million into a local Uber competitor, the much-hyped robot startup Jibo sucked in more money, and Web optimization firm Yottaa raised more funds and hired a new CEO. … Continue reading “Spark Nabs $1B, Uber Challenger Gets $10.5M, & More Boston VC News”
Spoiler Alert Eats $2.5M to Grow Online Surplus Food Marketplace
About 42 million Americans struggled with “food insecurity” last year, meaning they lacked access to quality food or went hungry at times. Meanwhile, an estimated 30 to 40 percent of the nation’s food supply goes to waste, costing farms and businesses billions of dollars each year. The leaders of Boston startup Spoiler Alert think software … Continue reading “Spoiler Alert Eats $2.5M to Grow Online Surplus Food Marketplace”
Obamacare’s Future Under Trump? Learn More at Xconomy Healthtech Event Thursday
After Donald Trump’s upset victory in the presidential election, one of the biggest questions is what will happen to the Affordable Care Act. It’s a hugely important topic for businesses, the healthcare industry, and, of course, the American people. That’s why Xconomy is working on organizing an informal discussion about the future of Obamacare at … Continue reading “Obamacare’s Future Under Trump? Learn More at Xconomy Healthtech Event Thursday”
GE Digital’s $915M ServiceMax Deal Continues Equipment Software Push
It’s not the sexiest of tech products, but software that helps manage equipment maintenance is big business. The latest sign: GE Digital, the Boston-based industrial giant’s business focused on connected machines, is acquiring ServiceMax for $915 million. The Pleasanton, CA-based firm provides cloud-based software to direct the installation, maintenance, and repair of machines across a variety … Continue reading “GE Digital’s $915M ServiceMax Deal Continues Equipment Software Push”
Boston Tech Hiring Cools, Despite More Expansion at Wayfair, Amazon
After more than a year of robust growth in payrolls at Boston-area software companies, local hiring cooled off in the third quarter. Boston digital-tech firms added just 250 net new jobs in the most recent quarter—a paltry 1.1 percent increase in the total number of digital-tech employees from the previous quarter. That’s according to the … Continue reading “Boston Tech Hiring Cools, Despite More Expansion at Wayfair, Amazon”
Logz.io Downloads $16M Round Led By OpenView, Opens Boston Office
Logz.io, an Israel-based data analytics and security startup, announced today it raised a $16 million Series B funding round and recently relocated its New York office to Boston. Boston-based OpenView Venture Partners led the funding round. Earlier investors 83North and Giza Venture Capital also chipped in. Logz.io, which is based in Tel Aviv, has raised … Continue reading “Logz.io Downloads $16M Round Led By OpenView, Opens Boston Office”