Akili Interactive Labs has worked for five years to develop mobile video games that can help assess and treat cognitive disorders—and with that work, to accumulate enough clinical evidence to convince the FDA of the games’ benefits. Akili purposefully set the bar high for commercializing its technology, and the finish line may be almost in … Continue reading “Armed With $30M, Akili Plans Bigger Trial of Therapeutic Video Game”
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.
Aereo Vets Working on Wireless Internet Tech at Project Decibel
Chet Kanojia certainly is persistent. His last startup, streaming television service Aereo, took on the broadcasting industry and lost. Now, Kanojia appears poised to take on big incumbents again with a new venture, Project Decibel. The Boston-based startup isn’t saying much about what it’s been working on since it formed in late 2014, but it … Continue reading “Aereo Vets Working on Wireless Internet Tech at Project Decibel”
LearnLaunch Panel Predicts A.I.’s Future in the Classroom
The slow rise of artificial intelligence technologies in education seems to be playing out in much the same way that it has in other industries. A.I. is starting to demonstrate usefulness for specific applications, like helping teachers grade assignments and students sharpen their writing skills. But some technologies are still years away from reality, let … Continue reading “LearnLaunch Panel Predicts A.I.’s Future in the Classroom”
Boston Tech Watch: DraftKings, Plexxi, Flywire, MassCEC, & More
This week in Boston, we’re tracking new funds for tech companies and incubator programs, a pair of acquisitions, the latest challenger to the daily fantasy sports industry, and this year’s participants in a local accelerator for startups trying to improve society. —Nashua, NH-based Plexxi announced it raised an undisclosed amount of funding from GV, formerly … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: DraftKings, Plexxi, Flywire, MassCEC, & More”
Cleantech Evolves, But Will Investors Follow?
Cleantech might be turning a corner. But one important question is whether the evolving sector, showing signs of resurgence, can recapture the attention of disillusioned investors. After vast sums of venture capital were poured into cleantech in the latter half of the 2000s—peaking at $4.3 billion in 2011—the flow of money slowed over the past … Continue reading “Cleantech Evolves, But Will Investors Follow?”
Mega Deals Push 2015 VC to 15-Year High, But Slowdown Looming?
U.S. venture capitalists poured more money into private companies last year than they had since the height of the dot-com boom, but an investing drop off late in 2015 could signal that the VC gravy train is slowing down. New data out today show that VCs invested $58.8 billion across 4,380 deals in 2015. The … Continue reading “Mega Deals Push 2015 VC to 15-Year High, But Slowdown Looming?”
Boston Tech Watch: DraftKings, HubSpot, New Balance, Zagster, & More
This week, we’re tracking the latest news from the daily fantasy sports industry, what’s happening inside HubSpot, new money for several local startups, and a pair of wearable devices from Massachusetts companies. (It’s not all GE.) Read on for details. —Boston-based DraftKings and New York-based FanDuel will be allowed to continue operating in New York … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: DraftKings, HubSpot, New Balance, Zagster, & More”
Zerto, Led By Two Brothers and Data Storage Vets, Scoops Up $50M
One of Boston’s most heavily funded data-recovery software companies just took in another pile of cash. Zerto said Wednesday it raised $50 million in a Series E round that brings its total venture capital haul to more than $110 million since it was founded in the late 2000s. Institutional Venture Partners led the new round. … Continue reading “Zerto, Led By Two Brothers and Data Storage Vets, Scoops Up $50M”
Marketing Tech Starts Year Strong With 3 MA Deals
[Updated 1/12/16, 2:57 p.m. See below.] It’s still early in the year, but one of Massachusetts’s hottest tech sectors of 2016 is a potentially surprising one: marketing-related software. Investors have pumped nearly $40 million into a trio of local advertising and marketing software startups in the past week. The investments highlight some of the themes … Continue reading “Marketing Tech Starts Year Strong With 3 MA Deals”
Glimpsing Digital Publishing’s Future at Codex Hackathon at MIT
[Updated 1/12/16, 10:22 a.m. See below.] For the past 20 years, the story of the publishing industry has revolved largely around the rise of e-books, tablets, and Amazon. Call it “Digital Publishing 1.0.” But what will “Digital Publishing 2.0” look like? If the ideas born at a hackathon at the MIT Media Lab this past … Continue reading “Glimpsing Digital Publishing’s Future at Codex Hackathon at MIT”
Massachusetts Aims to Raise Its Stature in Digital Health
Massachusetts is home to a sizable healthcare technology sector—some 250 companies, according to state estimates, including names like American Well, Athenahealth, Kyruus, PillPack, and Maxwell Health. But a group of prominent stakeholders from the public and private sectors wants to take the state’s digital health cluster to new heights. An initiative announced Thursday aims to … Continue reading “Massachusetts Aims to Raise Its Stature in Digital Health”
Boston Tech Watch: EMC, DraftKings, RapidMiner, NaviNet, & More
This week, we’re tracking new funds for Boston-area software companies, looming job cuts at the state’s biggest tech company, the latest on the clashes between daily fantasy sports companies and state governments, and more. Read on for details. —RapidMiner raised $16 million in a round led by Nokia Growth Partners, with participation by previous investors … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: EMC, DraftKings, RapidMiner, NaviNet, & More”
Toast, From Endeca Vets, Orders Up $30M For Restaurant Software
Don’t underestimate seasoned software developers who come highly recommended—even when they’re building a product for an industry in which they have little experience. That’s the lesson that Bessemer Venture Partners’ Kent Bennett learned with Toast, the fast-growing Boston restaurant technology company that today announced a $30 million Series B round led by Bessemer. GV, formerly … Continue reading “Toast, From Endeca Vets, Orders Up $30M For Restaurant Software”
RallyPoint Networks, a LinkedIn for Military Vets, Adds $5M
RallyPoint Networks, an online professional networking service for current and former members of the military, has raised $5 million from investors, a new SEC filing shows. The Watertown, MA-based startup has now raised just shy of $12 million since it was founded in 2012, according to SEC documents. Its investors include DBL Investors, an early … Continue reading “RallyPoint Networks, a LinkedIn for Military Vets, Adds $5M”
A Midwesterner’s View of Boston Tech: 4 Takeaways, 4 Stories
When it comes to building vibrant tech hubs, the scenery might look different, but the ingredients are often the same. At least, that’s been my experience so far in writing about innovation for Xconomy in both Wisconsin and Massachusetts. When I moved from Milwaukee to Boston in September, I braced myself for an eye-opening and … Continue reading “A Midwesterner’s View of Boston Tech: 4 Takeaways, 4 Stories”
Bridge to Cures Eyes More Funds, Bigger Programs to Nurture Startups
Milwaukee’s small life sciences scene doesn’t usually grab the attention of big venture capital firms, so it’s perhaps surprising that a recent event attracted investors from the likes of Novartis and OrbiMed. The draw was the first healthcare innovation pitch event put on by Bridge to Cures—a Milwaukee-area nonprofit accelerator for healthcare companies spun out … Continue reading “Bridge to Cures Eyes More Funds, Bigger Programs to Nurture Startups”
Flying Cars, Robots, Virtual Doctors, & More Boston Tech Headlines
Before everyone checks out for the holidays, let’s take a look at a few recent headlines in the Boston-area tech world: —Soft Robotics raised $3 million in a Series A round expected to reach $5 million, BetaBoston reported. The round is being led by Material Impact Fund, with participation by Haiyin Capital and Taylor Ventures. … Continue reading “Flying Cars, Robots, Virtual Doctors, & More Boston Tech Headlines”
PTC Pushes Into Connected Factories With Kepware Acquisition
New England software company PTC continued its shift into providing backbone technology for the “Internet of Things” with a $100 million-plus acquisition of Kepware. The deal announced today gives Needham, MA-based PTC (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PTC]]) a foothold in factories worldwide. Kepware, a 20-year-old company based in Portland, ME, develops software that helps connect devices used in … Continue reading “PTC Pushes Into Connected Factories With Kepware Acquisition”
Acacia Aims to Go Public as Disappointing Year For Tech IPOs Closes
U.S. tech IPOs this year can probably be best described as scarce and underwhelming, but Acacia Communications will try to buck those trends with its initial public offering. The Maynard, MA-based telecommunications technology company announced intentions to go public in an SEC filing on Monday. It said it could raise up to $125 million, although … Continue reading “Acacia Aims to Go Public as Disappointing Year For Tech IPOs Closes”
Psilos VC: Digital Health Will Emerge as Top Performer in 2016
As 2015 winds down, it’s a good time to look into the crystal ball for one of the toughest industries to predict: healthcare. We recently picked the brain of David Eichler, a managing partner with New York-based venture capital firm Psilos Group. Eichler (pictured) focuses on investments in digital health and medical device companies, and … Continue reading “Psilos VC: Digital Health Will Emerge as Top Performer in 2016”
Fintech Startup Hyannis Turns Profit By Policing Electronic Trades
As the technologies used by the financial markets grow more sophisticated, so too do the potential disruptions to trading activity and the broader business world. The phrase “stock trade” used to conjure an image of a frenzied horde of humans shouting at each other on exchange floors. But these days, many of those trades are … Continue reading “Fintech Startup Hyannis Turns Profit By Policing Electronic Trades”
With Pierre Fabre Deal, Cellectar Shifts Strategy Under New CEO
Six months into his tenure as CEO of Cellectar Biosciences, Jim Caruso’s plan for retooling the business is taking shape. Having shelved its cancer diagnostics business, the Madison, WI-based biotech is going all-in on drugs and has found its first partner. Cellectar on Wednesday announced it will work with French drug company Pierre Fabre to develop … Continue reading “With Pierre Fabre Deal, Cellectar Shifts Strategy Under New CEO”
Boston Tech Watch: DraftKings, MassChallenge, Jibo, LovePop, & More
This week, we’re tracking expansions, funding deals, and legal battles in the tech community. —MassChallenge continued to expand its nonprofit accelerator program for startups to more locales outside of Boston. The newest program will be based in Switzerland’s Lake Geneva region and will launch next year, MassChallenge said in a press release on Sunday. That … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: DraftKings, MassChallenge, Jibo, LovePop, & More”
Crealta Spins Struggling Arthritis Drug Into $510M Horizon Payday
In two years, Crealta Pharmaceuticals turned a floundering treatment for a rare type of arthritis into an enticing asset. Now, it’s cashing out, to the tune of $510 million in cash. Crealta is being acquired by Dublin-based Horizon Pharma (NASDAQ: [[ticker:HZNP]]), which wants access to pegloticase (Krystexxa). It’s the only FDA-approved drug for treating chronic … Continue reading “Crealta Spins Struggling Arthritis Drug Into $510M Horizon Payday”
Wantable Delivers Growth in Crowded Monthly Box Subscription Sector
It’s always tough to pinpoint the exact moment when an industry has grown too saturated, but we might already be there with the number of e-commerce companies that deliver boxes of goods to monthly subscribers. You’ve probably heard of Birchbox (beauty products), Trunk Club (clothing), and Dollar Shave Club (razors). There are hundreds of others, … Continue reading “Wantable Delivers Growth in Crowded Monthly Box Subscription Sector”
After Gobbling $20M More, Harvest Power Still Hungry for Table Scraps
In recent years, the recycling of glass, paper, plastic, and metal has become second nature for most people. That’s thanks in part to cities and recycling companies making the process much easier by instituting things like single-stream recycling. Harvest Power is among the companies trying to make the recycling of organic waste—think table scraps, oil … Continue reading “After Gobbling $20M More, Harvest Power Still Hungry for Table Scraps”
Somna Therapeutics Grabs Early Reza Band Sales, Eyes Big 2016
Medical device companies spend so much money, time, and energy convincing the FDA to allow them to sell their products that it’s easy to forget that’s only one step toward a successful business. The next step is getting customers. Somna Therapeutics, a three-year-old startup in Germantown, WI, passed the first hurdle in March. And it’s … Continue reading “Somna Therapeutics Grabs Early Reza Band Sales, Eyes Big 2016”
Clammr Aims to Be an Instagram for Audio, Draw Listeners to Podcasts
Social media has made it incredibly easy to share short pieces of content in nearly every form. There’s Twitter and Facebook for text. Images have Instagram and Pinterest. Video has Vine. But what about audio? That’s what newcomer Clammr aspires to be—the go-to way to share bite-sized audio clips from your favorite podcasts and streaming … Continue reading “Clammr Aims to Be an Instagram for Audio, Draw Listeners to Podcasts”
Boston Tech Watch: Keurig, Codeship, Twine, Ve Interactive, & More
This week, we’re following new funding rounds and acquisitions in industries ranging from drones to coffee, plus a look at technologies that are helping authorities respond to mass shootings. Read on for details. —Keurig Green Mountain (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GMCR]]) is getting scooped up by an investor group led by Germany-based JAB Holding Co. for $13.9 billion. … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: Keurig, Codeship, Twine, Ve Interactive, & More”
Paul English’s Lola Envisions Easy Travel Powered By Mobile & Humans
The travel-booking process will become simpler, more personalized, and increasingly handled on smartphones—but with a renewed emphasis on consumers getting help from human experts. At least, that’s the vision presented Wednesday night at an event featuring four Boston-area travel tech startups, held at the Fort Point office of Blade Travel. That’s the former venture fund/startup … Continue reading “Paul English’s Lola Envisions Easy Travel Powered By Mobile & Humans”
WARF Leader Delays Retirement as Search For Replacement Continues
The search for a new leader of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation is taking longer than planned. The nonprofit known as WARF manages patents and licensing for the research juggernaut that is the University of Wisconsin-Madison. WARF is one of the oldest university technology transfer organizations in the U.S. and manages a $2.6 billion endowment. … Continue reading “WARF Leader Delays Retirement as Search For Replacement Continues”
GSK, Propeller Health Ink R&D Deal For Custom Respiratory Device
For better or worse, companies in seemingly every industry are starting to connect devices to the Internet, the idea being that data from the machines can provide fresh and useful insights. One example is Propeller Health, which makes data-collecting devices that snap onto medication inhalers used by asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. … Continue reading “GSK, Propeller Health Ink R&D Deal For Custom Respiratory Device”
Boston Tech Watch: Jibo, LovePop, Harvest Power, Cleantech Open
This week, we’re tracking several Boston-area startup funding announcements, although some investors are being tight-lipped about the size of their bets. We’ve also got cleantech companies making waves at a national competition. Read on for details. —Waltham, MA-based Harvest Power raised another $20 million in a funding round led by previous investors True North Venture … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: Jibo, LovePop, Harvest Power, Cleantech Open”
BomBoard Seeks Crowdfunding Fuel to Propel Modular Jet Ski to Market
We’re about to see if BomBoard is finally ready to rev its engine, or if it will sputter. After spending several years developing a smaller, cheaper, and modular version of the traditional jet ski, the Whitewater, WI-based startup launched a crowdfunding campaign for the product today. And there’s a lot riding on it. The Indiegogo … Continue reading “BomBoard Seeks Crowdfunding Fuel to Propel Modular Jet Ski to Market”
From Boston to Milwaukee, Lessons in Building Water Tech Clusters
Making a region synonymous with a particular industry requires patience, good timing, money, and taking the right approach to putting those pieces together. The same goes for building the organizations tasked with nurturing said industry. Take the New England Water Innovation Network (NEWIN), for example. The nonprofit aims to connect the region’s water technology startups … Continue reading “From Boston to Milwaukee, Lessons in Building Water Tech Clusters”
Placester’s Big Year Keeps Rolling With $27M More From NEA, Romulus
If Placester makes good on its vision of becoming a market leader with staying power, 2015 will be viewed as the year that the real estate software company turned the corner. Among the milestones this year: Placester snagged $15 million in a Series B funding round, grew from 43 employees to 105, and signed major … Continue reading “Placester’s Big Year Keeps Rolling With $27M More From NEA, Romulus”
Boston Tech Watch: Startup Deals, Robots, & Patent Lawsuits
This week in Boston, we’re tracking new funds for software companies, the latest happenings in the local robotics sector, and an update in an Akamai patent lawsuit. Read on for details. —PatientPing said it raised $9.6 million in a round led by Google Ventures and Fidelity affiliate F-Prime Capital, with participation by First Round Capital and … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: Startup Deals, Robots, & Patent Lawsuits”
Xconomy’s Healthcare Summit 2015: The Photos
The problems in healthcare are vast, and the potential solutions are wide-ranging. But as we saw at Xconomy’s annual Healthcare Summit this week, tackling today’s challenges in healthcare requires a combination of good ideas, laser focus, and plenty of help from your friends. In hearing from the entrepreneurs and investors on the front lines of … Continue reading “Xconomy’s Healthcare Summit 2015: The Photos”
Mimecast, Square IPOs Disappoint in Challenging Environment for Tech
[Updated 11/19/15, 4:33 pm. See below.] It’s a disappointing day for tech IPOs in Boston and elsewhere. Mimecast, a U.K. e-mail management and security firm with a significant presence in Watertown, MA, is set to go public Thursday with an offering of 7.75 million shares priced at $10 each, which raised $77.5 million. That fell … Continue reading “Mimecast, Square IPOs Disappoint in Challenging Environment for Tech”
Cogito Dials Up $5.5M for Software to Coach Customer Service Reps
As consumers, we’ve all had a frustrating experience (or several) talking with a customer service representative on the phone. Maybe the voice on the other end of the line was speaking too quickly, not really answering your question, or simply being rude. For many businesses, the volume of calls coming in to their call centers—millions … Continue reading “Cogito Dials Up $5.5M for Software to Coach Customer Service Reps”
ThinkingPhones Buys Fuze, Stays Aggressive in Communications
The way businesses communicate is evolving rapidly, and technology providers can’t afford to rest on their laurels if they want to win in this new world of mobile devices, cloud-based software, and video-conference tools. At least, that’s the strategy of ThinkingPhones, a fast-growing Cambridge, MA-based company that has been on a hiring and acquisition spree. … Continue reading “ThinkingPhones Buys Fuze, Stays Aggressive in Communications”
Three Takeaways As DraftKings, FanDuel Sue New York Attorney General
The fight over the online daily fantasy sports industry has entered the courthouse. On Friday, DraftKings and FanDuel filed separate lawsuits (see PDFs below) against New York attorney general Eric Schneiderman and the state of New York, challenging Tuesday’s cease-and-desist letter from Schneiderman’s office, which claims the two companies’ websites are illegal gambling operations under … Continue reading “Three Takeaways As DraftKings, FanDuel Sue New York Attorney General”
This Week in Boston Tech: Seed Funds, Stealthy Startup Deal, & More
Startups are raising seed funds, Paul English’s stealthy travel startup is making acquisitions, and an Israeli startup is setting up headquarters in the Boston area. Read on for more highlights of the past week in local tech. —Boston-based Spiro announced the launch of its personal sales assistant app and $1.5 million in seed funding from … Continue reading “This Week in Boston Tech: Seed Funds, Stealthy Startup Deal, & More”
DraftKings, FanDuel Follow Uber’s Playbook As Legal Battles Loom
Like other immensely popular but controversial tech startups in recent years, DraftKings and FanDuel have reached the critical juncture where, having already won over millions of users, they must now do the same with regulators. The open question is which way the pendulum swings: Will fantasy-sports companies emerge mostly victorious, as sharing-economy stars Uber and … Continue reading “DraftKings, FanDuel Follow Uber’s Playbook As Legal Battles Loom”
Perfecto Mobile Adds $35M to Test Apps Before They Reach Users
A buggy mobile app is one of the surest ways to turn off consumers. Perfecto Mobile helps businesses troubleshoot an app before it gets in the hands of users, then enables them to monitor and analyze performance after the app is released. And the Woburn, MA-based company just got a big boost from investors, to the tune … Continue reading “Perfecto Mobile Adds $35M to Test Apps Before They Reach Users”
Inside Bolt’s Boston Paradise For Hardware Engineers: Slideshow
Walk through the door of Bolt’s downtown Boston office, and at first glance it looks like any other startup hub these days. Small teams from several companies are seated at desks in the middle of an open room, typing away on their laptops or huddled in quiet discussion. Light floods in from tall windows and … Continue reading “Inside Bolt’s Boston Paradise For Hardware Engineers: Slideshow”
Fighting Noncompetes, Boosting Diversity on New NEVCA Head’s Agenda
The incoming leader of Massachusetts’s venture capital trade group has big shoes to fill, and she must quickly find her footing at a time when the local investor and tech communities stand at a crossroads. This week, Jody Rose took over as executive director of the New England Venture Capital Association (NEVCA). The New York … Continue reading “Fighting Noncompetes, Boosting Diversity on New NEVCA Head’s Agenda”
Boston Tech Company Watch: Gazelle, Tego, Raytheon, Akamai, & More
This week, we’re tracking acquisitions involving well-known tech companies, startups gobbling up venture capital, and an accelerator program for crowdfunding campaigns. Read on for details. —One of the most notable deals is Boston-based Gazelle’s acquisition by Outerwall (NASDAQ: [[ticker:OUTR]], the Bellevue, WA-based maker of Redbox and Coinstar kiosks. The purchase price was $18 million—which would … Continue reading “Boston Tech Company Watch: Gazelle, Tego, Raytheon, Akamai, & More”
In On-Demand Era, Grove Wants to Help You Grow Your Own Food
Consumers have grown used to the ability to order food at the push of a button and have it delivered to their doorstep within the hour. Will they be interested in using technology to grow it themselves at home, especially if it means more work and waiting several weeks to eat the food (which is … Continue reading “In On-Demand Era, Grove Wants to Help You Grow Your Own Food”
SnapApp Funding Continues Flurry of Boston Digital Marketing Deals
Online marketing companies have had a big week in the Boston area. The latest to cash in is SnapApp, which today announced a $12 million Series A round from Providence Equity Partners. SnapApp’s deal comes on the heels of yesterday’s $1.1 billion acquisition of Waltham, MA-based e-mail marketer Constant Contact (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CTCT]]) by Burlington, MA-based … Continue reading “SnapApp Funding Continues Flurry of Boston Digital Marketing Deals”