Category: Boston

Wearables Startup Neumitra Gets New Cash Amid Fitbit, Apple Buzz

Fitbit’s IPO filing and the Apple Watch have dominated the headlines on wearables and healthtech this week. But a number of New England startups have been quietly working on related technologies that could also have a big impact. One of those is Boston-based Neumitra, which has received a new investment from NetScientific, a U.K.-based healthcare … Continue reading “Wearables Startup Neumitra Gets New Cash Amid Fitbit, Apple Buzz”

East Coast Biotech Roundup: NY Bio, Synageva, Kadmon & More

Innovation clusters are built from the ground up. It’s a painstaking process, and takes years of work, a whole lot of money, and perhaps some luck to make them a reality. I’ve been chronicling that effort by New York biotech for a few years now, and a meeting in Manhattan this week produced a good … Continue reading “East Coast Biotech Roundup: NY Bio, Synageva, Kadmon & More”

GroupZOOM Receives $450,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4a43b944-e242-48e8-bae1-3b609b22d137 Date 5/8/2015 Company Name GroupZOOM Mailing Address 101 Main Street 14th Floor Cambridge, MA 02142 USA Company Description GroupZOOM Inc. operates as a pop-up mass transit network that provides a platform for customers to purchase tickets by utilizing vendors to complete trips. The company offers tickets directly to consumers on pop-up … Continue reading “GroupZOOM Receives $450,000 New Financing”

Communal Culture Spawns Rental Startups in Construction, Healthcare

How does today’s “sharing economy” look to a guy who grew up in a commune in Missouri, without any technology like phones or computers? It looks familiar—and also like good business. Willy Schlacks was raised in a community that he calls a “mix of theocracy and communism.” He was 27 when he and his brother, … Continue reading “Communal Culture Spawns Rental Startups in Construction, Healthcare”

Epic, IBM Unleash Watson Supercomputer on Electronic Health Records

In yet another high-profile partnership for Epic Systems, the healthcare software giant is teaming up with IBM to bring the supercomputing prowess of Watson to the medical records at the Mayo Clinic and beyond. Epic, based in the Madison, WI, suburb of Verona, has grown into a powerhouse in the electronic health records software industry … Continue reading “Epic, IBM Unleash Watson Supercomputer on Electronic Health Records”

Ex-AstraZeneca Exec to Lead Surface’s “Next-Gen” Immuno-Oncology Plan

Say “immuno-oncology” and investors come running these days. That’s because despite all of the advances biotechs have made harnessing the immune system to deal with cancer, there is still much we don’t understand about how the disease disarms our body’s defenses—and plenty to gain for those who can figure it out. No surprise, then, that … Continue reading “Ex-AstraZeneca Exec to Lead Surface’s “Next-Gen” Immuno-Oncology Plan”

ZS Genetics Obtains $170,000 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7b732f6b-7702-4ef3-b6ed-cc6c3ca93806 Date 5/7/2015 Company Name ZS Genetics Mailing Address 9 Audubon Road Wakefield, MA 01880 USA Company Description ZS Genetics is developing a third-generation DNA sequencing technology to address market needs in key areas of genomics research: what can be studied, the pace at which data can be understood and the cost … Continue reading “ZS Genetics Obtains $170,000 New Round”

FutureM 2015

Information and registration here. Celebrating its 6th year – FutureM brings together marketing and technology innovators for 3 days to contemplate and celebrate the future of marketing. We bring together the most relevant content and thought leaders, both locally and nationally, to create an environment of new ideas, connections, and inspiration. Named one of the … Continue reading “FutureM 2015”

Milestones Of Innovation 6: The Driving Force Of Moore’s ‘Law’

Few phrases have rung louder in the history of innovation than “Moore’s Law,” the amazingly potent guess, published 50 years ago on April 19, that the capacity of electronic circuits would double every couple of years. Since the 1968 founding of Intel, the world’s leading semiconductor-maker, that prediction has formed the basic doctrine of the … Continue reading “Milestones Of Innovation 6: The Driving Force Of Moore’s ‘Law’”

Alexion Shells Out $8.4B for Synageva In Rare Disease Mega-Deal

Got a wholly owned drug for a rare disease in late-stage testing? In biotech, that often makes you a buyout target. Witness Synageva Biopharma, which is about to be acquired by Alexion Pharmaceuticals for more than twice what it was worth just a day ago. Alexion, the rare disease drugmaker from Cheshire, CT, has agreed … Continue reading “Alexion Shells Out $8.4B for Synageva In Rare Disease Mega-Deal”

Cybereason Brings Consumer-Tech, Defense Investors Aboard for $25M

In case you haven’t heard, cyber attacks have become a pretty big deal. Many different security approaches have emerged from big companies and startups alike—but in trying to protect customers, a lot of them still miss the point. “The problem is usually you don’t see the magnitude of the attack, and you don’t have the … Continue reading “Cybereason Brings Consumer-Tech, Defense Investors Aboard for $25M”

908 Devices Secures $11,600,000 Series C Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=5c2b1b88-3007-4ffb-9f45-0929ca85e686 Date 5/6/2015 Company Name 908 Devices Mailing Address 27 Drydock Ave 7th Floor Boston, MA 02210 USA Company Description At the heart of our systems are molecular traps a thousand times smaller than those in conventional mass spectrometers. These diminutive traps can operate much closer to atmospheric pressures and enable us … Continue reading “908 Devices Secures $11,600,000 Series C Funding Round”

Cybereason Secures $25,000,000 Series B Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d5384c4b-e05d-4ef9-aaa2-52b26e4c93a8 Date 5/6/2015 Company Name Cybereason Mailing Address One Broadway 15th Floor Cambridge, MA 02142 USA Company Description Malops are malicious operations that are parts of a larger cyber attack. They represent discrete steps, from penetration to damage, with intermediate objectives – all aimed at the overall endgame operation. Detecting the attacker’s … Continue reading “Cybereason Secures $25,000,000 Series B Funding Round”

SessionM Banks $12M to Expand in Enterprise Mobile Marketing

SessionM, a mobile marketing startup based in Boston, is on a hot streak. The latest win came Tuesday, when the company announced it has raised a $12 million funding round. The round brings the total SessionM has raised to $38.5 million since it was founded in 2011. Causeway Media Partners led the round. The firm … Continue reading “SessionM Banks $12M to Expand in Enterprise Mobile Marketing”

Nara Logics Gets New CEO, Recruits Renowned Neuroscientist

One of the leaders in computational neuroscience is taking a role with Nara Logics, a Cambridge, MA, spinout from MIT that marries advanced brain-science research with computer science to create enterprise software capable of making big data manageable. The company announced Tuesday that computational neuroscience researcher Sebastian Seung will join its board of advisers. Seung … Continue reading “Nara Logics Gets New CEO, Recruits Renowned Neuroscientist”

Big Apple Biotech “Bootstraps” Forward at NewYorkBio Meeting

Tom Cirrito was dining out at a Mexican restaurant in midtown Manhattan over a decade ago when he overheard something that piqued his interest. At a table next to him, someone was talking about biotech. Cirrito, then an analyst at Piper Jaffray, was intrigued. He butted in, and his life changed. His restaurant neighbor was … Continue reading “Big Apple Biotech “Bootstraps” Forward at NewYorkBio Meeting”

Readying the Distributed Grid for the Big Energy Challenges of 2035

Predicting the future in the energy business is difficult for five years, let alone 20 years. That said, we feel the “better bet” is a future energy system that will be a lot more distributed as compared to the largely centralized grid of today. There will be much more generation and storage at the individual … Continue reading “Readying the Distributed Grid for the Big Energy Challenges of 2035”

SessionM Secures $12,000,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=bf346b25-31ca-4c1f-999e-3de5869ffe7b Date 5/5/2015 Company Name SessionM Mailing Address 311 Summer Street Boston, MA 02210 USA Company Description SessionM is the next generation consumer loyalty and engagement platform. The company’s cloud-based solutions integrate loyalty marketing technology with ad serving and data management capabilities to drive personalized consumer relationships through the mobile device. Website … Continue reading “SessionM Secures $12,000,000 New Funding Round”

Silk Therapeutics Secures $3,000,000 Series A Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=141ff002-428b-4eec-abac-d55a9539b459 Date 5/5/2015 Company Name Silk Therapeutics Mailing Address 196 Boston Ave. Medford, MA 02155 USA Company Description The founders of Silk Therapeutics are world-renowned for pioneering silk science to improve human health. Dr. Greg Altman (CEO) and Dr. Rebecca Horan (COO) have worked together for more than 15 years developing silk-based … Continue reading “Silk Therapeutics Secures $3,000,000 Series A Funding Round”

Using Telecom Tech, eCurv Looks to Lower Energy Bills, Raise Money

The year eCurv spent pitching its energy management software to potential customers has taught its founder a few lessons. “The opportunity is much bigger than we thought,” said Edison Almeida, founder and chief executive of the Cambridge, MA, startup, which raised $2.5 million last June and has its eyes on another round of financing by … Continue reading “Using Telecom Tech, eCurv Looks to Lower Energy Bills, Raise Money”

CyPhy Promises “Better Way to Fly” With New Consumer Drone

CyPhy Works’ co-founder and CEO Helen Greiner knows what it takes to get robots into the hands of consumers. As a co-founder of iRobot, she helped create the Roomba vacuum, which brought affordable and user-friendly robots into the home. Now she and CyPhy Works are trying to repeat that accomplishment with drones, and they think … Continue reading “CyPhy Promises “Better Way to Fly” With New Consumer Drone”

The Innovation Challenge: Assessing BioPharma Startups

Developing new medicines is really difficult and very expensive. A recent report, “Decline In Economic Returns From New Drugs Raises Questions About Sustaining Innovations,” suggests that the newest medicines are generating a negative rate of return across the industry. A viewpoint commonly found on the Web opines that Big Pharma has lost the ability to … Continue reading “The Innovation Challenge: Assessing BioPharma Startups”

Imprivata Buys HT Systems for $19M for Vein-Identifying Device

After spending 13 years providing security and authorization software for doctors, Imprivata has made its first acquisition and is adding a patient identification tool to its product line. Imprivata (NYSE: [[ticker:IMPR]]) is paying $19.1 million upfront to purchase HT Systems, a Tampa, FL-based maker of a device that can scan the veins in a person’s … Continue reading “Imprivata Buys HT Systems for $19M for Vein-Identifying Device”

East Coast Biotech Roundup: Celgene, Blueprint(s), Intarcia & More

One of East Coast biotech’s preeminent dealmakers was on the march this week: it agreed to one buyout, nabbed an option for another one, invested in an emerging field of science, and expanded its marriage with a high-flying partner—all before reporting its quarterly earnings on Thursday. Eager to find out who it is? Read on … Continue reading “East Coast Biotech Roundup: Celgene, Blueprint(s), Intarcia & More”

Believe It or Not, the Government Is Driving Healthcare Innovation

Editor’s note: Jay Sultan, principal strategy advisor at Edifecs, a global health information technology solutions company, has another take on what’s driving innovation in healthcare, following our earlier Xconomist Forum post by former Providence Health and Services CEO John Koster arguing that healthcare is transforming regardless of the Affordable Care Act.  Largely missing from the … Continue reading “Believe It or Not, the Government Is Driving Healthcare Innovation”

Bebaio Garners $1,500,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=25fd2f66-47e6-40cb-a1a4-43dd0bafd1b9 Date 5/1/2015 Company Name Bebaio Mailing Address 51 Melcher St. 1st Floor Boston, MA 02210 USA Company Description Bebaio helps businesses access the true power of the Internet of Things with the only solution for delivering transformative connected products experiences. Website http://www.bebaio.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,500,000 Transaction Round … Continue reading “Bebaio Garners $1,500,000 New Funding”

Crayon Gets Cash to Bring Web Designs to the Marketing Masses

The world runs on marketing. Increasingly, that means digital marketing. Using software from companies like HubSpot, Marketo, and Eloqua, fortunes have been (and will be) made over the ability to attract potential customers via websites, social media, and e-mail—and get them to buy what sites are selling. Yet your average Joe Digital Marketer doesn’t have … Continue reading “Crayon Gets Cash to Bring Web Designs to the Marketing Masses”

Bitcoin Startup Circle Grabs $50M to Add U.S. Dollar to Payment System

Circle, a bitcoin-based payment and money transfer business headquartered in Boston, has received $50 million in a new financing round led by Wall Street titan Goldman Sachs and Chinese venture capital firm IDG Capital Partners. The company is using the funding to add capabilities, such as letting its customers hold, send, and receive U.S. dollars. … Continue reading “Bitcoin Startup Circle Grabs $50M to Add U.S. Dollar to Payment System”

Triangle Tech Companies Tap Into Patient-Driven Healthcare Trends

As healthcare costs rise and doctor shortages loom, local technology companies are ramping up development of software to make physicians and treatment more accessible to patients nationwide. TouchCare, a Durham, NC-based startup, launched an Android-compatible version of its telemedicine mobile app earlier this month. And Polyglot, a Morrisville, NC-based software company that simplifies prescription instructions and tracks … Continue reading “Triangle Tech Companies Tap Into Patient-Driven Healthcare Trends”

With $46M Haul, MyoKardia Becomes Third Rock’s Latest IPO Prospect

MyoKardia got a stamp of validation with its first partnership last year. Now it’s become the latest in a string of biotechs to bring some “crossover” investors to the table. The South San Francisco, CA-based startup, which is developing targeted drugs for certain forms of heart disease, has bagged a $46 million Series B round. … Continue reading “With $46M Haul, MyoKardia Becomes Third Rock’s Latest IPO Prospect”

Reflections on the “Build to Buy,” Part 2: The Applicability Problem

In a prior Xconomy post, I explored the unwritten and often hidden challenges of successfully navigating and completing a ‘build to buy’ acquisition. The fundamental issue that underlies those challenges is that the acquirers in these deals are not in the business of developing a single asset in a disciplined, focused manner. These buyers are … Continue reading “Reflections on the “Build to Buy,” Part 2: The Applicability Problem”

Infinidat Garners $150,000,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=17e37997-207f-4f94-aa1d-081937fcc7bb Date 4/30/2015 Company Name Infinidat Mailing Address 35 Highland Circle Needham, MA 02494 USA Company Description INFINIDAT was founded in 2011 by industry veterans focused on solving the problems storage buyers face when they are forced to choose between cost, capacity, functionality, reliability and performance. INFINIDAT enables you to have it … Continue reading “Infinidat Garners $150,000,000 New Funding Round”

Cintell Obtains $800,000 Seed Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=94ce7421-261d-4fec-903b-614ca22bb80c Date 4/30/2015 Company Name Cintell Mailing Address 745 Atlantic Ave. Boston, MA 02111 USA Company Description Cintell is a cloud-based customer intelligence platform that enables companies to better understand their buyers and make stronger, more customer-centric decisions. Website http://www.cintell.net Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $800,000 Transaction Round Seed Proceeds Purposes … Continue reading “Cintell Obtains $800,000 Seed Financing”

PlateJoy Obtains $1,700,000 Series A Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=27f63732-6dd4-43f4-a6f8-ca545247f6f9 Date 4/30/2015 Company Name PlateJoy Mailing Address 1 Cambridge Center 5th Floor Cambridge, MA 02142 USA Company Description PlateJoy is turning meal planning, grocery shopping, and recipe creation into an an incredibly simple, healthy, and personalized 60 second process. Website http://www.platejoy.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,700,000 Transaction Round Series … Continue reading “PlateJoy Obtains $1,700,000 Series A Funding”

Circle Receives $50,000,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f47c5f54-ab43-4bf4-a90d-d53c6dd80a46 Date 4/30/2015 Company Name Circle Mailing Address 332 Congress Street 4th Floor Boston, MA 02210 USA Company Description Circle is about enabling global digital currency and transforming the world economy with secure, simple, and less costly technology for storing and using money. We’re as excited about Bitcoin and digital currency as … Continue reading “Circle Receives $50,000,000 New Funding Round”

Blueprint Medicines Bags $147M in Upsized IPO

Blueprint Medicines of Cambridge, MA, is the latest biotech to raise more cash than expected in an IPO. The developer of experimental cancer therapies sold 8.15 million shares at $18 apiece Wednesday evening, bringing in nearly $147 million, according to research firm Renaissance Capital. Last week, Blueprint projected it would sell 7.2 million shares at … Continue reading “Blueprint Medicines Bags $147M in Upsized IPO”

Health IT Venture Firm Rebrands as Flare Capital Partners, Closes $200M Fund

The healthcare technology-focused venture capital firm formerly known as Foundation Medical Partners is rebranding as Flare Capital Partners. The new name coincides with the close of a new $200 million fund, from which Flare has already made five investments, according to general partner Michael Greeley. Boston-based Flare decided to rebrand because of the heavy use … Continue reading “Health IT Venture Firm Rebrands as Flare Capital Partners, Closes $200M Fund”

Stealthy Data-Storage Unicorn Infinidat Breaks Out with $150M Round

Search for information about Infinidat, the latest data storage company founded by industry legend Moshe Yanai, and you’ll come up with surprisingly little. At least, you would until today. That’s likely to change after Infinidat announced Wednesday it has raised $150 million in a Series B round led by TPG Growth, the venture capital fund … Continue reading “Stealthy Data-Storage Unicorn Infinidat Breaks Out with $150M Round”

Ariad Searches For New Leader As Berger Steps Down, Ending Proxy Battle

Harvey Berger founded Ariad Pharmaceuticals, ran it for more than two decades, and stayed in charge even as the Cambridge, MA-based company’s fortunes turned sour a few years ago. Today, however, Berger has reached the end of that long, controversial road. Ariad (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ARIA]]) said this morning that Berger will retire as its chairman and … Continue reading “Ariad Searches For New Leader As Berger Steps Down, Ending Proxy Battle”

Fetch Unveils Robot Duo to Adapt Warehouses for Quick-Delivery Era

Consumers are getting spoiled—not only do they want movies on demand via digital networks, they also want physical things like books and diapers delivered almost as fast. Amazon, which has fueled these consumer expectations, uses colonies of Kiva robots in automated warehouses to help achieve its fast shipping times. Modest-sized retailers and distribution centers can’t … Continue reading “Fetch Unveils Robot Duo to Adapt Warehouses for Quick-Delivery Era”

In Venture Reinvention, Versant Sees Gains Amid Biotech Boom Times

There’s not much ice in San Francisco, where I grew up, so hockey metaphors often go right over my head. But I can’t resist noting that Versant Ventures, led by a former hockey player, has made big line changes this decade to be able to skate another day, while many of its biotech venture peers … Continue reading “In Venture Reinvention, Versant Sees Gains Amid Biotech Boom Times”

Indian Security Software Company Picks Boston to Start U.S. Move

What might be one of the biggest IT security companies you’ve never heard of is trying to make inroads in the U.S. market, and it’s making Boston its bridgehead. Quick Heal Technologies is an India-based software company that has grown to more than 10 million customers and more than 100 countries since it was founded … Continue reading “Indian Security Software Company Picks Boston to Start U.S. Move”

Intarcia, Still Private, Nabs $225M More For Diabetes Device

Few biotech startups have been as prolific as Intarcia Therapeutics at raising cash from private investors. And even with its implantable diabetes device in the midst of a massive, risky clinical trial, the Boston-based company still isn’t turning to Wall Street yet to keep its coffers full. Intarcia said late Monday night that it’s closed a … Continue reading “Intarcia, Still Private, Nabs $225M More For Diabetes Device”

Intarcia Therapeutics Obtains $225,000,000 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c1d7ce17-7fa9-4ab4-bb29-8cbe7d29cc28 Date 4/28/2015 Company Name Intarcia Therapeutics Mailing Address 155 Seaport Boulevard 11th Floor Boston, MA 02210 USA Company Description Intarcia Therapeutics Inc, a privately held pharmaceutical company, is developing therapies for the treatment of cancer, immunological, and infectious diseases. Website http://www.intarcia.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount $225,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds … Continue reading “Intarcia Therapeutics Obtains $225,000,000 New Financing Round”

Empathetics Secures $1,500,000 Series A Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c3f9d726-ed1e-4fac-a077-f539c3535562 Date 4/28/2015 Company Name Empathetics Mailing Address 745 Atlantic Ave 8th Floor Boston, MA 02111 USA Company Description Empathetics provides innovative empathy and interpersonal skills training for medical professionals leveraging new, scientifically proven methods that enhance human relationships and make medical practice more effective and efficient. Website http://www.empathetics.com Transaction Type Venture … Continue reading “Empathetics Secures $1,500,000 Series A Round”

Startups Vie for “Craigslist Killer” Title As Mobile Claims Focus

Startups have spent years trying to dethrone Craigslist as the ruler of selling used goods—and if not to dethrone, at least to capture some of its users for their apps. Now a new generation of competitors has risen up, all with the goal of converting some of the website’s 50 billion or so monthly pageviews … Continue reading “Startups Vie for “Craigslist Killer” Title As Mobile Claims Focus”

Look Out, Comcast: Webpass Brings Wireless Internet Service to Boston

There’s a new player in the local Internet service provider wars. Its name is Webpass, and before you renew your cable or DSL contract with Comcast or Verizon, you might want to check it out. Webpass offers very high-speed Internet connections of 100, 200, or 500 megabits per second (Mbps) for residential customers, and the … Continue reading “Look Out, Comcast: Webpass Brings Wireless Internet Service to Boston”

Next Step Living Garners $12,500,491 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b0c1e4e3-c1ac-4b86-91ef-13d1dc7476d2 Date 4/27/2015 Company Name Next Step Living Mailing Address 21 Drydock Ave 2nd Floor Boston, MA 02210 USA Company Description Next Step Living is a residential energy efficiency company, providing home energy diagnostics and improvements to the greater New England area. We are a socially-conscious. Website http://www.nextsteplivinginc.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction … Continue reading “Next Step Living Garners $12,500,491 New Financing Round”

MIT FinTech Conference

Information and registration here. MIT was the birth place of modern finance in the 1960s and its focus on evolving finance continues to this day. This past year alone saw some major developments. MIT launched the Bitcoin project—which provides students with Bitcoin to spend around the community. The Martin Trust Center for Entrepreneurship launched a … Continue reading “MIT FinTech Conference”