Boston-based Backchannelmedia, whose technology allows viewers of cable and broadcast TV shows and commercials to request information via e-mail whenever a “clickable moment” icon appears onscreen, has signed a deal with West Point, GA-based digital cable TV provider Knology to offer Backchannelmedia’s service to Knology customers in the Southeast and South Dakota. Up to now, … Continue reading “Backchannelmedia Signs Knology Deal”
Author: Wade Roush
Between 2007 and 2014, I was a staff editor for Xconomy in Boston and San Francisco.
Since 2008 I've been writing a weekly opinion/review column called VOX: The Voice of Xperience. (From 2008 to 2013 the column was known as World Wide Wade.)
I've been writing about science and technology professionally since 1994. Before joining Xconomy in 2007, I was a staff member at MIT’s Technology Review from 2001 to 2006, serving as senior editor, San Francisco bureau chief, and executive editor of TechnologyReview.com. Before that, I was the Boston bureau reporter for Science, managing editor of supercomputing publications at NASA Ames Research Center, and Web editor at e-book pioneer NuvoMedia.
I have a B.A. in the history of science from Harvard College and a PhD in the history and social study of science and technology from MIT. I've published articles in Science, Technology Review, IEEE Spectrum, Encyclopaedia Brittanica, Technology and Culture, Alaska Airlines Magazine, and World Business, and I've been a guest of NPR, CNN, CNBC, NECN, WGBH and the PBS NewsHour. I'm a frequent conference participant and enjoy opportunities to moderate panel discussions and on-stage chats.
My personal site: waderoush.com
My social media coordinates:
Twitter: @wroush
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Massachusetts IT Collaborative’s Report Is Data-Rich, Policy-Poor: A News Analysis
Here in Massachusetts, we’re very good at collecting data. This is the state that gave birth to the spreadsheet, after all. But when it comes to launching coordinated action to solve the problems confronting one of the state’s biggest industries, we’re a bit slower. Back in February, the administration of Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick pulled … Continue reading “Massachusetts IT Collaborative’s Report Is Data-Rich, Policy-Poor: A News Analysis”
ModusLink Gets Tech For Less
ModusLink Global Solutions (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MLNK]]), a Waltham, MA-based supply chain management and e-business outsourcing provider, said today that it has acquired Boulder, CO-based e-retailer Tech For Less for $30 million in cash. Tech For Less refurbishes and sells consumer electronic equipment and business machines returned by customers.
Movik Nabs $8.5 Million
Movik, a Littleton, MA, startup developing software to speed delivery of content to mobile devices, has raised $8.5 million in new equity-based financing, according to regulatory documents filed Friday. Existing investors Highland Capital Partners and North Bridge Venture Partners participated in the round. Movik CEO Ramji Raghavan is a former general manager at Telsima, founder … Continue reading “Movik Nabs $8.5 Million”
Boston-Power CEO Sees “Immense” Pressure to Curb Carbon Emissions at Copenhagen Summit
Quite a few clean energy companies around Boston have a stake in the outcome of the international climate change talks that start this week in Copenhagen, Denmark. If nations set more aggressive goals for greenhouse-gas emissions cuts, after all, they’ll have a greater need for technologies to reduce their carbon emissions. But only one local … Continue reading “Boston-Power CEO Sees “Immense” Pressure to Curb Carbon Emissions at Copenhagen Summit”
Next Week’s Cloud Computing “Unpanel” Gives the Pulpit to the People
For Xconomy’s Cloud3 Forum on the nuts and bolts of cloud computing on December 10, we’re pulling in experts from major, global cloud players like Akamai, EMC, Iron Mountain, and Microsoft, as well as up-and-coming local companies like Allurent, Cloudswitch, Litl, Sonian, and Pixily. But no matter how great the speakers, we know that listening … Continue reading “Next Week’s Cloud Computing “Unpanel” Gives the Pulpit to the People”
Restructuring at Avid Technology
Avid Technology (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AVID]]), the Tewksbury, MA-based maker of media editing software, disclosed in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission this week that it will pay out $7 million to $9 million in termination benefits as part of a workforce restructuring plan to be completed by the end of the first quarter of … Continue reading “Restructuring at Avid Technology”
Progress Software Cuts Staff
In an announcement this week, Bedford, MA-based Progress Software (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PRGS]]) said it plans to reduce its global workforce by 12 to 14 percent as part of a restructuring of its sales, development, and marketing divisions. Some 220 to 260 workers will be affected, a spokesperson told the Boston Globe. Progress offers a large variety … Continue reading “Progress Software Cuts Staff”
Stylefeeder Dissects Shopping Trends By Zip Code; Victoria’s Secret is Hot in Seattle, Hurley Beachwear is Tumbling in San Diego, Marc Jacobs is de Rigueur in Boston
Cambridge, MA-based Stylefeeder is bending more brainpower toward the study of online shopping behavior than virtually any other startup I know. The personalized product recommendation company has seven full-time employees, and five of them actually write code. Recently, they’ve been coding up some cool algorithms that show site visitors a customized set of products depending … Continue reading “Stylefeeder Dissects Shopping Trends By Zip Code; Victoria’s Secret is Hot in Seattle, Hurley Beachwear is Tumbling in San Diego, Marc Jacobs is de Rigueur in Boston”
Startups Affiliated with Cambridge Innovation Center Pass $1 Billion in Venture Funding
Tim Rowe says he has happy news to share at the Cambridge Innovation Center’s 10th anniversary party tomorrow night (see main story). The founder and CEO of the rental office facility has long had a spreadsheet showing how much money venture capital firms have invested in CIC companies, and last month, he says, the total … Continue reading “Startups Affiliated with Cambridge Innovation Center Pass $1 Billion in Venture Funding”
Cambridge Innovation Center Turns 10; Looking Inside a Landmark for Boston-Area Entrepreneurs
Tim Rowe, the founder of the Cambridge Innovation Center, may be the only CEO in the whole building who doesn’t have his own desk. To be accurate, he’s got half of one: he shares it with his assistant Midori Williams. But he probably won’t have it for long, as he and Williams happily pick up … Continue reading “Cambridge Innovation Center Turns 10; Looking Inside a Landmark for Boston-Area Entrepreneurs”
Contour Semiconductor Rounds Up $8M
North Billerica, MA-based Contour Semiconductor has raised $8 million in new equity financing, according to regulatory documents filed today. The company produces Flash memory chips for mobile-device data storage at low cost and high volume using proprietary photolithographic techniques that reduces the number of steps involved in manufacturing. The company’s investors include Fairhaven Capital Partners, … Continue reading “Contour Semiconductor Rounds Up $8M”
OwnerIQ Raises $5.8 Million
Boston-based OwnerIQ, which provides advertisers and retailers with targeted marketing data about users who download the product manuals available through its websites, has raised $5.82 million in Series C funding, according to regulatory documents filed today. CEO Jay Habegger says that the funds came from Atlas Venture, Common Angels, Egan Managed Capital, Kepha Partners, and … Continue reading “OwnerIQ Raises $5.8 Million”
SimpleTuition Buys TuitionCoach
SimpleTuition, a startup headquartered in Newton, MA, that helps college students apply for state and federal loans, announced today that it has acquired TuitionCoach, a San Mateo, CA-based website that provides personalized financial guidance for college students and their families. SimpleTuition, which closed a $6 million Series C funding round in January 2009 with backing … Continue reading “SimpleTuition Buys TuitionCoach”
Wind Blade Test Facility Breaks Ground
Massachusetts officials welcomed the groundbreaking today of the Wind Technology Testing Center at the Boston Autoport in Charlestown. Funded through a $25 million stimulus grant from the Department of Energy, the center will be the first in North America with the ability to test blades for commercial wind turbines that are longer than 50 meters. … Continue reading “Wind Blade Test Facility Breaks Ground”
In the Venture Business, Small Is Beautiful, Charles River Ventures Argues—And Funds Are About to Get Much Smaller
The average return on venture capital investments for the year ending June 30, 2009, was -17 percent, according to figures released by the National Venture Capital Association in October. The 3-year return was +1.3 percent, the 5-year return was +5.7 percent, and the 10-year return was +14.3 percent. Over all of these time frames, venture … Continue reading “In the Venture Business, Small Is Beautiful, Charles River Ventures Argues—And Funds Are About to Get Much Smaller”
$2M for Cedar Point Communications
Derry, NH-based Cedar Point Communications has raised $2 million out of a planned $3.4 million round of debt, the company revealed in regulatory documents filed November 24. The company, which makes voice-over-Internet-Protocol switching hardware used by cable and telephone operators, has raised $70 million in venture funding to date from Ascent Venture Partners, Battery Ventures, … Continue reading “$2M for Cedar Point Communications”
Panraven Raises $2.7 Million
Cambridge, MA-based Panraven, which offers online image editing tools that allow users to create hard-bound photo books, has raised $2.7 million out of a planned $3 million funding round involving debt, equity, and warrants, according to regulatory documents filed last week. The company’s investors include Castanea Partners, Dace Ventures, and Draper Fisher Jurvetson, according to … Continue reading “Panraven Raises $2.7 Million”
E-Retail Traffic Is Way Up This Holiday Season, Akamai Says—But Don’t Get Too Excited
Holiday shopping traffic on retail websites is up dramatically this year over 2008 levels, according to Cambridge, MA-based Akamai. The company’s Retail Net Usage Index—which includes a highly representative sample of companies engaged in e-commerce—hit a peak level on “Black Friday,” the day after Thanksgiving, that was 35 percent higher than traffic for the same … Continue reading “E-Retail Traffic Is Way Up This Holiday Season, Akamai Says—But Don’t Get Too Excited”
FitnessKeeper Chases Down $400,000 in Seed Funding
FitnessKeeper, the Boston startup behind the GPS-based RunKeeper iPhone application used by thousands of runners to track and share their outings, has raised its first round of seed funding from a group of local angel and venture investors. It’s a small amount of capital by the standards of many technology startups—just $400,000—but FitnessKeeper founder and … Continue reading “FitnessKeeper Chases Down $400,000 in Seed Funding”
Revolutionary Angels Defends Business Plan Competition Amidst Widespread Criticism
A post last week on the New York Times’ “You’re the Boss” small business blog examined the phenomenon of business plan competitions with high entry fees, with the focus largely on Revolutionary Angels, a Cambridge, MA-based competition we profiled in early October. The post questioned whether the $4,995 entry fee that Revolutionary Angels charges companies … Continue reading “Revolutionary Angels Defends Business Plan Competition Amidst Widespread Criticism”
Renewable Energy Trust Moves to Clean Energy Center
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed legislation this week that gives the Renewable Energy Trust, formerly a unit of the quasi-public Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, a new home: the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. The Renewable Energy Trust—an investment fund that comes from surcharge on Massachusetts electrical consumers of about $6 per ratepayer per year—supports a range of … Continue reading “Renewable Energy Trust Moves to Clean Energy Center”
Xconomy Innovators’ Lunch Is at Noon Today—Free Pizza at our Cambridge Office
Calling all startup entrepreneurs, tech & life sciences veterans, and Xconomy fans: If you haven’t left town for Thanksgiving yet and you fancy a free slice or two, come on over to our Cambridge office today at noon for an impromptu pizza party. We’re at 101 Rogers Street, Suite 402, in the Old Foundry Works … Continue reading “Xconomy Innovators’ Lunch Is at Noon Today—Free Pizza at our Cambridge Office”
AutoVirt Adds Another $5M
AutoVirt just keeps adding to its Series A round. In January 2008, the Nashua, NH-based data migration startup announced it had raised $4 million from Kepha Partners and Sigma Partners. In November 2008, the same funders pitched in $4 million more. And according to regulatory documents filed this month, it has now raised another $5 … Continue reading “AutoVirt Adds Another $5M”
The Pizza is On Us at Xconomy’s Innovators’ Lunch, Noon Wednesday
How do you tell the hardcore innovators and entrepreneurs from the sissies? They’re the ones who are still working on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. To celebrate all that hard work—and to nourish our loyal readers with some authentic startup food before we all have to endure a weekend of turkey—we’re inviting all Xconomy fans who … Continue reading “The Pizza is On Us at Xconomy’s Innovators’ Lunch, Noon Wednesday”
Undoing the Wasteful Incentives of the Energy World, Giving Innovators a Shot: A Talk With State Energy Secretary Ian Bowles
In a state that prides itself on leadership in tomorrow’s energy technologies, Ian Bowles is the point man. He’s Secretary of Massachusetts’ Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, a new position created under Gov. Deval Patrick to oversee a hodgepodge of state agencies controlling everything from utility regulation to agriculture to the state’s parks … Continue reading “Undoing the Wasteful Incentives of the Energy World, Giving Innovators a Shot: A Talk With State Energy Secretary Ian Bowles”
Ingenico Invests in Roam Data
Boston-based Roam Data, which makes software that allows merchants to process payments via cell phones, said last week that it has raised $6.5 million in new funding. Ingenico Ventures—a unit of payment solutions provider Ingenico SAS—and George Wallner, founder and former CEO of Hypercom, were the lead investors in the round, the company said.
Will Cloud Computing Kill the Operating System? We’ll Debate That, and Much More, at Cloud3
Ever since Google released more details about its Chrome OS project last week, tech blogs and the Twittersphere have been burning up with arguments about the merits of Google’s idea for a Web-based operating system for a new generation of netbook computers. InfoWorld has already declared that “Chrome OS will fail—big time,” given that a … Continue reading “Will Cloud Computing Kill the Operating System? We’ll Debate That, and Much More, at Cloud3“
Nexx Systems Gets Next $4M
Nexx Systems, a Billerica, MA-based maker of equipment used in the metallization and packaging of silicon wafers used in both electronics and photovoltaic applications, has raised $4 million in a sale of convertible preferred stock, according to a November 13 regulatory filing. The funds for the eight-year-old firm came from existing investors Enterprise Partners Venture … Continue reading “Nexx Systems Gets Next $4M”
Day Software, Web 2.0 Content Management Specialist, Moving U.S. Headquarters to Boston
Wails of lamentation spread across the local tech community every time an entity like Zendesk or Greylock or Y Combinator departs Boston for parts west. But today we have a different tale to report. Day Software (SIX: [[ticker:DAYN]]) a Zurich, Switzerland-based content management software specialist that builds interactive websites for Fortune-1000 giants like Adobe and … Continue reading “Day Software, Web 2.0 Content Management Specialist, Moving U.S. Headquarters to Boston”
SS&C Buys TheNextRound
TheNextRound, a Framingham, MA-based startup that makes software for private equity and alternative investors, has been acquired by Windsor, CT-based SS&C Technologies for an undisclosed amount, according to an SS&C announcement today. SS&C makes financial management software for insurance companies, hedge funds, banks and credit unions, real estate companies, and other institutions.
$31.3M for Cambridgesoft
Cambridge, MA-based Cambridgesoft, which makes software for life sciences companies, disclosed in regulatory documents filed November 17 that it has raised $31.3 million in new equity-based financing. Cambridgesoft first announced the funding round (though not the amount) in a November 16 release that named new investor Health Evolution Partners and existing investor Goldman Sachs as … Continue reading “$31.3M for Cambridgesoft”
Brown, IBM Switch On Supercomputer
A new IBM supercomputer opened at Brown University’s Center for Computation and Visualization in Providence, RI, today is 50 times faster than Brown’s next best machine and is the most powerful computer in Rhode Island, according to an announcement from IBM (NYSE: [[ticker:IBM]]). Researchers at Brown and other institutions intend to use the 1,440-processor machine … Continue reading “Brown, IBM Switch On Supercomputer”
Using Google’s Building Maker to Change the Face of Boston
When I was in fifth grade, I wanted to be an architect. (I also wanted to be a geneticist, a meteorologist, and an astronaut. I guess I wound up doing the next best thing to all of those sci/tech careers—writing about them.) I loved my junior builder kit, a collection of little plastic columns and … Continue reading “Using Google’s Building Maker to Change the Face of Boston”
A Week of Woe for Genzyme, A CPR App for Your iPhone, A Better Treatment for Opioid Dependence, and More Boston-Area Life Sciences News
Believe it or not, the troubles besetting Genzyme (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GENZ]]) were not the only life science stories coming out of the Boston area this week, although they sure grabbed most of the attention. So let’s get them all out of the way first: —On Friday the 13th, the FDA said bits of steel, rubber, and … Continue reading “A Week of Woe for Genzyme, A CPR App for Your iPhone, A Better Treatment for Opioid Dependence, and More Boston-Area Life Sciences News”
Mobilizing the Web for the Developing World: Inside the World Wide Web Foundation with CEO Steve Bratt, Part 2
Yesterday we ran the first part of our interview with Steve Bratt, the CEO of the new World Wide Web Foundation, which was unveiled on November 15 by Web inventor Tim-Berners-Lee. The foundation aims to empower people in developing regions to access “life-critical information” on the Web using mobile phones and other simplified interfaces. Bratt, … Continue reading “Mobilizing the Web for the Developing World: Inside the World Wide Web Foundation with CEO Steve Bratt, Part 2”
How Fast Is Your Cloud Connection? Apparent Networks Can Tell You
One of the great things about doing your computing in the cloud is that you don’t have to worry about which machines your jobs are running on, or whether they have the right software on them, or even what city they’re in. Indeed, that’s the whole point. But one of the less ideal things about … Continue reading “How Fast Is Your Cloud Connection? Apparent Networks Can Tell You”
Slam Dunk for Dunkin’ Donuts at MITX Interactive Awards
For the fourteenth year in a row, the Massachusetts Innovation and Technology Exchange—far better known as MITX (pronounced my-tex)—handed out its Interactive Awards tonight, in a sold-out ceremony at the Marriott Copley Place Hotel in Boston. The awards honor the most creative digital advertising and marketing campaigns devised by companies and agencies in the New … Continue reading “Slam Dunk for Dunkin’ Donuts at MITX Interactive Awards”
Foster Hinshaw Back in Command at Dataupia; News of Company’s Death Greatly Exaggerated, He Says
From all outward appearances, Cambridge, MA-based data warehousing appliance maker Dataupia and its founder Foster Hinshaw have both been through near-death experiences this year. Heart problems forced to Hinshaw to step down as CEO in January. Dataupia’s board brought in not just a new leader, Tony Sirianni, but a new strategy, concentrating on selling software … Continue reading “Foster Hinshaw Back in Command at Dataupia; News of Company’s Death Greatly Exaggerated, He Says”
Kindle and Sharing and Mobile, Oh My! 5 More Ways to Use Xconomy
Here at Xconomy we may not be on the absolute bleeding edge of media technology—usually we’re too busy writing about the latest stuff to adopt it right away ourselves—but when there’s a cool new way to get our content out, we try to take advantage of it as soon as we can. In that spirit, … Continue reading “Kindle and Sharing and Mobile, Oh My! 5 More Ways to Use Xconomy”
TechStars Boston Gets a Jump on Summer, Switches to Spring; Applications Open Now
[Updated 9:05 a.m., 11/16/09, see below] David Cohen, the co-founder of Boulder, CO-based venture incubator program TechStars, sent Xconomy a note this morning to say that the Boston version of TechStars is coming back to town a bit earlier than expected. The 2010 session of TechStars Boston will take place in the spring, rather than … Continue reading “TechStars Boston Gets a Jump on Summer, Switches to Spring; Applications Open Now”
Steve Bratt, CEO of New World Wide Web Foundation, Details Plans To Make the Web More Usable in the Developing World
Only 25 percent of adults around the world have access to a computer that they can use to reach the Web. But 75 percent have access to a mobile phone. So the simplest way to open up the wealth of information on the Web to more people would be to make it usable via voice … Continue reading “Steve Bratt, CEO of New World Wide Web Foundation, Details Plans To Make the Web More Usable in the Developing World”
MyPunchbowl.com Acquires Group Travel Site I’m In, Transforms It Into Party Vendor Directory
Framingham, MA-based Punchbowl Software, the company behind party planning site MyPunchbowl.com, said today that it has acquired the assets of I’m In, a group vacation website formerly owned by Waltham, MA-based GroupGo. Punchbowl’s founder and CEO Matt Douglas says the local search tools created by I’m In have enabled MyPunchbowl to launch a new local … Continue reading “MyPunchbowl.com Acquires Group Travel Site I’m In, Transforms It Into Party Vendor Directory”
Report: SEC Probing 3Com for Potential Insider Trading
The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating whether a surge in call option trading on 3Com shares just hours before the announcement that Hewlett-Packard would take over the Marlborough, MA-based networking equipment maker for $2.7 billion was a result of insider knowledge of the deal, Bloomberg and other outlets are reporting today. Trading in call … Continue reading “Report: SEC Probing 3Com for Potential Insider Trading”
Last Day to Bid on Lord of the Rings Online Collector’s Edition! Auction Benefiits Science Club for Girls, Technology Underwriting Greater Good
It’s day 6 of our 7-day auction to raise funds for two of our favorite causes, Science Club for Girls and Technology Underwriting Greater Good. So hurry to eBay, because as of this writing you’ve only got about 20 hours left to bid on the amazing Lord of the Rings Online Collector’s Edition boxed set, … Continue reading “Last Day to Bid on Lord of the Rings Online Collector’s Edition! Auction Benefiits Science Club for Girls, Technology Underwriting Greater Good”
Ex-Microsoftie Don Dodge Going to Google
It turns out that Don Dodge—famous among entrepreneurs for putting a personal face on Microsoft’s operations in New England, until his unceremonious termination earlier this month—was only in job limbo for about about an hour and a half. Dodge sends Xconomy word this morning that he has been hired by Microsoft archrival Google. Vic Gundotra, … Continue reading “Ex-Microsoftie Don Dodge Going to Google”
A Day of Straight Talk on Cloud Computing, Coming December 10
Where is “the cloud”? It’s everywhere and nowhere; it’s the power of algorithms distributed across entire networks but concentrated down to the screen of your wireless laptop; it’s the sum of all the world’s on-demand computing jobs, churning away in big data centers in secure, undisclosed locations, flinging their inputs and outputs across the electronic … Continue reading “A Day of Straight Talk on Cloud Computing, Coming December 10”
ZoomAtlas—Helping You Reconnect With Friends from The Old Neighborhood
Say you’d like to look up an old friend from high school. You have no idea what happened to him after college, and you can’t find him on Facebook. But you do remember the address of his house down the street from your childhood home. What if there was a Web-based map where you could … Continue reading “ZoomAtlas—Helping You Reconnect With Friends from The Old Neighborhood”
Brightcove Debuts “Express” Video Hosting
To make it easier for small Web publishers to host videos on their sites, Cambridge, MA-based Brightcove will announce today that it is rolling out an “Express Edition” service starting at $99 per month. The company’s previous lowest-end offering cost several hundred dollars per month. At the new $99 monthly level—which doesn’t require a monthly … Continue reading “Brightcove Debuts “Express” Video Hosting”
Energy Networking Groups Merge
The Renewable Energy Business Network (REBN), a networking group for cleantech professionals with 10,000 members across 17 local chapters and a strong presence in the Boston area, has merged with the Clean Economy Network Foundation (CENF), a young cleantech policy research and education organization based in Washington, DC. The news came today in an e-mail … Continue reading “Energy Networking Groups Merge”