[Updated, 1:05pm] Big universities are trying to figure out this venture capital thing. Should they form partnerships with specific venture firms? Should they start their own funds and incubators? How best to do that? The latest exhibit is the venture firm Xfund (originally called Experiment Fund), which is affiliated with Harvard University and says it … Continue reading “Xfund Closes $100M Fund as Venture Firms and Universities Get Cozier”
Category: Boston
Epidemics, Inequality, and Narcissism: Tech Agenda 2015 Highlights
If you were at the Fidelity Center for Applied Technology on Tuesday afternoon, you were in for a treat. Xconomy’s Tech Agenda 2015 conference hit on some of the most important trends to watch for in the coming year—across industries as diverse as robotics, security, e-commerce, venture capital, and big data. And from perspectives that … Continue reading “Epidemics, Inequality, and Narcissism: Tech Agenda 2015 Highlights”
Fast-Growing Maxwell Nets $26M More to Manage Your Healthcare
Two years ago, Maxwell Health started up with 12 employees and a plan to make benefits enrollment more user-friendly than the mind-numbing, paper-wasting process it typically is. Now, the Boston-based company has 70 employees and counting in several cities and barely resembles its former self. It aims to be, essentially, the go-to operating system for … Continue reading “Fast-Growing Maxwell Nets $26M More to Manage Your Healthcare”
Maxwell Health Garners $26,400,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=987a8e67-7fe1-4732-a615-61193cd3c3be Date 12/4/2014 Company Name Maxwell Health Mailing Address 131 Tremont St. 3rd Floor Boston, MA 02111 USA Company Description Maxwell Health dramatically simplifies employee benefits for businesses, with a SaaS platform and service experience that reduces the cost of benefits while also improving employee health. Added benefits include a concierge service … Continue reading “Maxwell Health Garners $26,400,000 New Funding”
Drone Makers Worry FAA Rules Will Quash Industry
Having a drone deliver a package to your doorstep minutes after ordering it online would bring instant gratification to a new level. But there’s a problem: that and many other commercial uses of drones are illegal in the U.S. under current regulations. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is working on rules to govern the use … Continue reading “Drone Makers Worry FAA Rules Will Quash Industry”
ThinkingPhones Calls Up $56M to Unify Communications in the Mobile Age
The world of business communications is changing fast with the proliferation of mobile devices, cloud-based software, and video systems. One Boston-area company has been evolving with those trends, and now it has a lot more money to expand. Cambridge, MA-based Thinking Phone Networks has raised $56.7 million in a Series D financing led by Technology … Continue reading “ThinkingPhones Calls Up $56M to Unify Communications in the Mobile Age”
Milwaukee Energy Incubator Channels Manufacturing Past to Power Future
Milwaukee has made efforts over the past several years to establish itself as a global hub for water technology, a push that gained momentum last year with the opening of The Water Council’s Global Water Center and the launch of a water tech startup accelerator there. Now, a coalition of big companies, academic researchers, and … Continue reading “Milwaukee Energy Incubator Channels Manufacturing Past to Power Future”
Thinking Phone Networks Lands $56,700,000 Series D Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9e2384be-e4b9-46bc-88e6-51aa264cd06d Date 12/3/2014 Company Name Thinking Phone Networks Mailing Address 54 Washburn Ave. Cambridge, MA 02140 USA Company Description Thinking Phone Networks helps enterprises define their unified communications vision and simplify execution of that vision by deploying collaboration services via its cloud-based software platform, driving dramatic business process improvement and significantly reduced … Continue reading “Thinking Phone Networks Lands $56,700,000 Series D Round”
Desalitech Obtains $11,000,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=87105815-ff76-4dfb-b5be-5861d8745e75 Date 12/3/2014 Company Name Desalitech Mailing Address One Gateway Center Newton, MA 02458 USA Company Description Desalitech provides resource and cost efficient water production and treatment solutions. Commercial CCD installations have run continuously for over four years in a broad range of industrial, agricultural and municipal applications. Website http://www.desalitech.com Transaction Type … Continue reading “Desalitech Obtains $11,000,000 New Financing”
Misfit Wearables Lands $40,000,000 Series C Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=35b414dc-ba3d-4ec0-bf7e-8e4126d8d651 Date 12/3/2014 Company Name Misfit Wearables Mailing Address 411 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139 USA Company Description We are developing highly wearable sensor products and services for wellness and medical applications. Website http://www.misfitwearables.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $40,000,000 Transaction Round Series C Proceeds Purposes With the new funding round … Continue reading “Misfit Wearables Lands $40,000,000 Series C Round”
With Crossover Cash, Seres Health Aims For Big Microbiome Milestones
Seres Health of Cambridge, MA, announced two big steps Tuesday. First, it says it has raised $48 million in a Series C round from public investors, which is often a sign among biotech companies that a push toward an IPO is on the horizon. If indeed that is the company’s intent—as CEO Roger Pomerantz (pictured) … Continue reading “With Crossover Cash, Seres Health Aims For Big Microbiome Milestones”
Desalitech Builds on Boston-Area Water Tech Cluster With $11M Funding
When Governor Deval Patrick leaves office at the end of the year, he will be remembered for fostering the growth of Massachusetts’ life sciences and energy technology industries. Less known is a fledgling water technology cluster, which also received a hand from the Patrick administration. One company in the state’s water cluster—Newton, MA-based Desalitech—today announced … Continue reading “Desalitech Builds on Boston-Area Water Tech Cluster With $11M Funding”
Mobile-First Comes to Daily Fantasy Sports Games, With Draft
Coming off the Thanksgiving weekend of football action, it’s a good time to look at the future of online fantasy sports. Two tech companies, DraftKings and FanDuel, own the vast majority of the daily-game market, where people bet real money on the performance of athletes they choose for their “teams.” But there’s still room in … Continue reading “Mobile-First Comes to Daily Fantasy Sports Games, With Draft”
Startups in the ‘Burbs: TechSandBox Plans Accelerator Outside 128
Despite all the startup accelerators and education programs out there, it’s hard to name any in the suburbs that target an older, more experienced demographic. That could be about to change. TechSandBox, a year-old co-working space in Hopkinton, MA, is making plans to start an accelerator program that would admit about eight companies and provide … Continue reading “Startups in the ‘Burbs: TechSandBox Plans Accelerator Outside 128”
More Biotechs Belly-Up These Days but Dendreon Still “One of a Kind”
Biotech companies rarely go bankrupt. Sitting where I sit, that bit of conventional wisdom comes around every so often, although it doesn’t generate quite the same buzz as Halley’s Comet or a wardrobe malfunction. Bankruptcy just doesn’t get America jawing over the water cooler on Monday morning. (I can’t imagine why.) If your cooler is … Continue reading “More Biotechs Belly-Up These Days but Dendreon Still “One of a Kind””
Veniam Wants to Build a Smart City One WiFi Bus at a Time
What if municipal WiFi wasn’t provided by the Googles of the world, but by the city transit authority? Using technology from startup Veniam, city-wide WiFi could come from a fleet of moving vehicles. Mountain View, CA-based Veniam on Monday is announcing a $4.9 million Series A round to fund its expansion in the U.S. The … Continue reading “Veniam Wants to Build a Smart City One WiFi Bus at a Time”
Prescription Drug Pricing: The Fine Line Between Value and Greed
Value. It’s one of the most frequently used buzzwords on both Wall Street and in healthcare. Virtually every press release from a publicly traded company assures us that its latest acquisition/layoff/tax inversion/sale of assets was designed “to increase shareholder value.” But what exactly is “value” and how is it measured? Here are some definitions from … Continue reading “Prescription Drug Pricing: The Fine Line Between Value and Greed”
Seres Health Garners $47,999,977 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=753d7c2a-63f4-490b-89f2-7fc8581d3112 Date 12/2/2014 Company Name Seres Health Mailing Address 161 First Street Cambridge, MA 02142 USA Company Description Seres Health is a clinical stage biotherapeutic company focused on discovering and developing Ecobiotic therapeutic products to treat important diseases by targeting the underlying biology of the human microbiome. Website http://www.sereshealth.com Transaction Type Venture … Continue reading “Seres Health Garners $47,999,977 New Financing”
Kaminario Garners $53,000,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=273676b6-18e6-4f72-9ec3-9be10bf9e1d3 Date 12/2/2014 Company Name Kaminario Mailing Address 275 Grove St. Newton, MA 02466 USA Company Description Kaminario boasts world-class system, storage and applications performance professionals, with an experienced management team. Combined, they pool their knowledge and expertise in storage systems, networking, operating systems, BI and data processing to provide cutting edge … Continue reading “Kaminario Garners $53,000,000 New Financing”
Boston City Council Looks for Fees, Numbers from Uber & Lyft
Mobile-tech startups Uber and Lyft have been operating “ridesharing” services illegally in Boston since 2013. City officials say they’re ready to end that run, but they’re hoping to incorporate the popular car-for-hire apps into existing taxi regulations instead of simply shutting them down. It will probably come with a price, and more transparency about the … Continue reading “Boston City Council Looks for Fees, Numbers from Uber & Lyft”
With Souped-Up Rituxan, Unum Plots First Foray Into T-Cell Therapy
Unum Therapeutics emerged from stealth a few weeks ago with its own twist on the increasingly crowded field of cellular immunotherapy. Today the Cambridge, MA-based company is disclosing more details, not the least of which is that the technology is ready to be tested in patients. Any cell-based immunotherapy effort is bound to attract attention … Continue reading “With Souped-Up Rituxan, Unum Plots First Foray Into T-Cell Therapy”
After Unlikely Idenix Sale, Renaud Jumps to RaNA to Outfox Junk DNA
When Ronald Renaud sold the company he was leading, Idenix Pharmaceuticals, to Merck for $3.85 billion six months ago, it was one of biotech’s more unexpected recent turnarounds. In 2012, the FDA had halted two of Idenix’s two most advanced drug prospects in the ultra-competitive hepatitis C space, and rivals were moving ahead full steam. … Continue reading “After Unlikely Idenix Sale, Renaud Jumps to RaNA to Outfox Junk DNA”
Analysis: After a Boom-and-Bust Era, More Modest Growth at Polaris
Polaris Partners’ latest venture fund, announced last week at $450 million, looks like a solid reward from its investors after a string of initial public offerings for its portfolio companies. But that reward is noticeably smaller than it might have been a generation ago, when Polaris had early success and was supplied with a huge … Continue reading “Analysis: After a Boom-and-Bust Era, More Modest Growth at Polaris”
Aushon Biosystems Secures $8,013,645 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=fefd1212-e8a3-4cef-8c61-66fc14756aff Date 11/26/2014 Company Name Aushon Biosystems Mailing Address 43 Manning Rd. Billerica, MA 01821 USA Company Description Aushon BioSystems Inc. is a small, privately owned corporation applying advanced engineering and systems-engineering approaches to the challenges of developing life science markets. Website http://www.aushon.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $8,013,645 Transaction Round … Continue reading “Aushon Biosystems Secures $8,013,645 New Funding”
How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Tap the Ways
These days you can post updates about your life on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and many other social media sites. You can send e-mails for private or targeted messages. You can text someone if it’s urgent (God forbid you actually talk to them). Indeed, we seem better connected to people we care about than ever before. … Continue reading “How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Tap the Ways”
The Healthcare Summit 2014: The Photos
It was a beautiful, brisk fall day last Tuesday at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln, MA. Xconomy took over the entire museum for the day for our second, invitation-only Healthcare Summit. The day featured a series of chats and interactive panels with leaders from around the country in everything from genomics to … Continue reading “The Healthcare Summit 2014: The Photos”
Polaris Partners Adds $450M for Seventh Fund
Polaris Partners, a Boston-based venture capital firm with heavy historical ties to MIT’s biotech research labs, has raised $450 million for a seventh fund. The new fund is slightly larger than the $400 million targeted in initial SEC filings earlier this year, likely buoyed by a string of recent portfolio company IPOs in the healthcare … Continue reading “Polaris Partners Adds $450M for Seventh Fund”
The Risks and Opportunities in a Startup: Age 2-5 Years
In my previous article, I discussed the key risks and opportunities that startups face when they’re just starting out. This time, I’d like to go one step further to the second phase of a startup’s growth: age 2-5 years. This is a critical period. The initial excitement of starting a business is over, and now … Continue reading “The Risks and Opportunities in a Startup: Age 2-5 Years”
BioMarin Gambles $840M on Prosensa’s Duchenne Drug
It wasn’t too long ago that Prosensa Holding was kicked to the curb by Wall Street investors. Following a failed Phase 3 trial for its Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy drug and a decision by GlaxoSmithKline to dump a partnership between the two companies, Prosensa lost around 90 percent of its total market value. Since then, however, … Continue reading “BioMarin Gambles $840M on Prosensa’s Duchenne Drug”
MassChallenge Winner From MIT Aims to Kill Cancer With a “Squeeze”
Among the slew of challenges in drug development, there’s this: how can you efficiently get a big molecule, like a protein or nucleic acid, into a cell? That quandary has bedeviled a number of efforts to make and deliver drugs over the years, but it has also provided room for creative thinkers—including one from MIT … Continue reading “MassChallenge Winner From MIT Aims to Kill Cancer With a “Squeeze””
Symbiota Maps Plant Microbiome to Boost Crop Yields
The role of the trillions of microbes in the human body is poorly understood—and that’s even more so in plants. A growing number of companies are trying to harness the power of microscopic bugs that live in and around plants to reinvent how agriculture is done. Last week, I visited a greenhouse where scientists are … Continue reading “Symbiota Maps Plant Microbiome to Boost Crop Yields”
Teaching Entrepreneurship, the Pirate Code, and MIT’s Bill Aulet
If there was a theme to Bill Aulet’s swing through San Diego last week, it was that entrepreneurship is a skill that can be learned. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that entrepreneurship can be taught. In fact, if there was a subtext to Aulet’s presentation at UC San Diego, it would have to be, “Let’s … Continue reading “Teaching Entrepreneurship, the Pirate Code, and MIT’s Bill Aulet”
eBrevia Garners $1,500,000 Seed Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=03a7df9d-7c57-4118-bad1-160537ff309b Date 11/24/2014 Company Name eBrevia Mailing Address 175 Atlantic Street Stamford , CT 06901 USA Company Description eBrevia is commercializing natural language processing technology developed at Columbia University to assist corporate attorneys, in-house counsel, and business executives in performing a variety of tasks more efficiently, accurately, and cost effectively. Website http://www.ebrevia.com … Continue reading “eBrevia Garners $1,500,000 Seed Financing Round”
Kensho Lands $15,000,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e2b2f731-3951-4958-b192-b5c4723e8d2d Date 11/24/2014 Company Name Kensho Mailing Address 17 Dunster St. Cambridge, MA 02138 USA Company Description Kensho combines natural language search queries, graphical user interfaces, and secure cloud computing to create a new class of analytics tools for investment professionals. Website http://www.kensho.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $15,000,000 Transaction Round … Continue reading “Kensho Lands $15,000,000 New Funding”
Verizon Wireless Pulls Curtain Back a Bit on Its Innovation Program
At a gathering held for reporters last night in New York, folks from Verizon Wireless sought to talk up some of the ways the wireless carrier works with third-party technology developers. Nothing groundbreaking was announced, yet Verizon Wireless of Basking Ridge, NJ, seemed anxious to prove that it has its hands in more than just smartphones and tablets—even though they … Continue reading “Verizon Wireless Pulls Curtain Back a Bit on Its Innovation Program”
East Coast Biotech Roundup: Agios, Vertex, Epizyme, Celldex, & More
One of the year’s biggest cancer meetings took place this week in Barcelona, and many biotechs from the East Coast were angling for the spotlight. Some wowed investors, others, not so much. We’ve got the ups and downs and the rest of the week’s news and tidbits below: —Agios Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AGIO]]) was one of … Continue reading “East Coast Biotech Roundup: Agios, Vertex, Epizyme, Celldex, & More”
Data Companies Carve Out Niche In DNA Test Interpretation
For more than a decade researchers have been unleashing a deluge of information about the role of genes in disease, based on automated sequencing of DNA. Genetic tests on individual patients are slowly becoming more common, more detailed, and less costly. But patients won’t benefit if their doctors don’t know what to make of those … Continue reading “Data Companies Carve Out Niche In DNA Test Interpretation”
Vecna CTO Builds Solar-Powered Volkswagen Bus—And it Actually Works
Trying to run an electric car from solar cells on the car’s roof makes no sense—or so I thought. Earlier this week, I met with Daniel Theobald, the CTO of healthcare company Vecna, who has been driving a solar-powered Volkswagen bus for a year. His project won’t transform the auto industry overnight. But by taking … Continue reading “Vecna CTO Builds Solar-Powered Volkswagen Bus—And it Actually Works”
What We Haven’t Told You About Tech Agenda 2015, and Why
When we started recruiting speakers for Xconomy’s Tech Agenda 2015, we had a few major goals: Assemble a group of top-notch leaders that represents a healthy cross-section of innovation happening today. Make sure they’re all women. Make the program about tech, not “women in tech.” That third part is why, in marketing Tech Agenda, we’ve … Continue reading “What We Haven’t Told You About Tech Agenda 2015, and Why”
RedTail Solutions Obtains $215,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=21f014b3-e8d5-4d4f-b302-b555bf2c318e Date 11/21/2014 Company Name RedTail Solutions Mailing Address 112 Turnpike Road Westborough, MA 01581 USA Company Description Its customer base consists of mid-market suppliers to retail, grocery and industrial segments, handling the exchange of thousands of their purchase orders, invoices, and shipping transactions every month with more than 150 of the … Continue reading “RedTail Solutions Obtains $215,000 New Financing Round”
Essess Garners $6,000,000 Series A Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f00042ae-49f4-4cb3-80a0-cd4023856522 Date 11/21/2014 Company Name Essess Mailing Address 25 Thomson Place Boston, MA 02210 USA Company Description Essess is based on technology developed in the Field Intelligence Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Website http://www.essess.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $6,000,000 Transaction Round Series A Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes … Continue reading “Essess Garners $6,000,000 Series A Financing Round”
CloudLock Secures $6,700,097 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=27bfdd23-f06f-4961-88fe-eaf4e0823402 Date 11/21/2014 Company Name CloudLock Mailing Address 203 Crescent Street Waltham, MA 02453 USA Company Description Headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, CloudLock is the cloud data protection company that enables control of data while gaining the collaboration and cost savings benefits of the cloud. Website http://www.cloudlock.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount … Continue reading “CloudLock Secures $6,700,097 New Financing”
Seattle’s Fred Hutch Taps a Harvard, Merck Vet As New President
The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle has unveiled D. Gary Gilliland as its new president and director. He steps to the helm with a strong tailwind, as the center’s research is part of a new field that has shown early promise eradicating leukemia from some of the sickest patients in the country. Gilliland … Continue reading “Seattle’s Fred Hutch Taps a Harvard, Merck Vet As New President”
Biofuel Survivor Joule Lands New CEO, Plans Larger CO2-to-Fuel Plants
The list of advanced biofuel companies that failed to live up to their ambitions is long and discouraging. Joule Unlimited, though, appears to be making progress despite the headwinds of skeptical investors and, more recently, falling oil prices. The Bedford, MA-based company last week said that Serge Tchuruk joined as CEO. He was the chairman … Continue reading “Biofuel Survivor Joule Lands New CEO, Plans Larger CO2-to-Fuel Plants”
InfoBionic Secures $17,000,000 Series B Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=adcea4ce-931a-4dde-a6fd-c73f6a39ed71 Date 11/20/2014 Company Name InfoBionic Mailing Address 600 Suffolk Street Lowell, MA 01854 USA Company Description The MoMe System is a one device, one solution patient monitoring platform that allows physicians to quickly and accurately diagnosis and treat patients. Website http://www.infobionic.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $17,000,000 Transaction Round Series … Continue reading “InfoBionic Secures $17,000,000 Series B Round”
5nine Software Obtains New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=1504e2f4-857b-41df-bae8-e69700b72660 Date 11/20/2014 Company Name 5nine Software Mailing Address 100 Cummings Center Beverly, MA 01915 USA Company Description 5nine Software is the leading virtualization management and security company, offering the first and only agentless security solution for Microsoft Hyper-V. Website http://www.5nine.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount Undisclosed Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds … Continue reading “5nine Software Obtains New Financing Round”
CF Foundation Cashes Out on Kalydeco in $3.3B Sale to Royalty Pharma
Vertex Pharmaceuticals has developed a drug that has changed the way cystic fibrosis is treated for some patients with a specific genetic mutation. And now the non-profit organization that helped fund its development is reaping the rewards in a $3.3 billion deal—the largest, ever, of its kind. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has sold the royalty … Continue reading “CF Foundation Cashes Out on Kalydeco in $3.3B Sale to Royalty Pharma”
Smarterer Sold to Utah-Based Pluralsight for $75M
One of the Boston area’s most active entrepreneurs has found a buyer for one of his startups. Dave Balter’s Smarterer, an online job-skills testing service, has been acquired by Utah-based online training company Pluralsight for $75 million. The roughly 18-person Smarterer team will continue working on the company in Boston with a strong budget behind it, … Continue reading “Smarterer Sold to Utah-Based Pluralsight for $75M”
With Uber Investor Driving, Cue Raises $7.5M for Personal Dx Device
The VC who placed a $26.5 million bet on Uber in 2011 is now leading a $7.5 million investment round in Cue, a San Diego startup developing a wireless diagnostic device that enables consumers to run clinical lab tests at home to measure their own health. In a statement from Cue yesterday, Sherpa Ventures managing … Continue reading “With Uber Investor Driving, Cue Raises $7.5M for Personal Dx Device”
Saver Rate Ends Today for The Tech Agenda 2015—Save $100
Our big year-end innovation conference, Tech Agenda 2015, is coming up fast—the afternoon of Dec. 2, at the Fidelity Center for Applied Technology in downtown Boston. So consider this your fair warning that today is the final chance to save $100 by cashing in our Saver Rate tickets for this blockbuster event, which features some of … Continue reading “Saver Rate Ends Today for The Tech Agenda 2015—Save $100”