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Category: Boston
7 Ways that Security Firm Rapid7 Is Bucking IT-Business Trends
In case you’ve forgotten, cybersecurity is still one of the biggest issues in the tech world—and one that is being fiercely contested by many companies in New England and beyond. One company that stands out from the fray is Boston-based Rapid7. We’ve previously written about the firm’s approach to developing software to protect against cyber-espionage … Continue reading “7 Ways that Security Firm Rapid7 Is Bucking IT-Business Trends”
MGH Medicine Head Ausiello to Join Oct. 4 Xconomy Life Science Forum
Boston is arguably the world’s greatest life sciences cluster. But what’s the long-term outlook—and how can it stay on top 20 years from now? These questions are at the heart of an evening forum that Xconomy is hosting on October 4 called Boston Life Sciences 2032. The lineup for this intimate discussion already featured some … Continue reading “MGH Medicine Head Ausiello to Join Oct. 4 Xconomy Life Science Forum”
SimpliVity Snaps Up $25M, Led by Kleiner Perkins, to Simplify IT
SimpliVity, a newly de-stealthed Westborough, MA-based startup, is announcing today that it has pulled in a $25 million Series B round of financing, led by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. Return SimpliVity investors Accel Partners & Charles River Ventures also joined the deal, which brings the total equity funding SimpliVity has raised to $43 million. … Continue reading “SimpliVity Snaps Up $25M, Led by Kleiner Perkins, to Simplify IT”
Who Should Life Science Pros Follow on Twitter?
[Updated: 6:45 pm ET] Last week, I made a case that Twitter has begun to come of age in biotech, and it’s now a must-read source of real-time industry news and information. But one helpful reader (on Twitter, of course) pointed out something was missing in that column: a list of people in the biotech … Continue reading “Who Should Life Science Pros Follow on Twitter?”
Aushon Biosystems Garners $5,538,232 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=78b04e73-cad1-489f-b914-078b6b5c887a&Preview=1 Date 9/24/2012 Company Name Aushon Biosystems Mailing Address 43 Manning Rd. Billerica, MA 01821 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. Aushon is leveraging its advanced engineering capabilities to develop a set of … Continue reading “Aushon Biosystems Garners $5,538,232 New Financing Round”
Why Too Many Startups Suck
While statistics are weak on startup success rates, the worst one I’ve seen suggests that 2 in 1000 venture backed startups will ever achieve $100-million or more in valuation. Another stat puts that number at 2 percent rather than 0.2 percent. Either way, the “hurdle” for successful, scalable startups is high, and it gets higher … Continue reading “Why Too Many Startups Suck”
WellnessFX Offers Insights—But Are Americans Ready to Be Healthy?
“It says here you drink four or more cups of coffee a day. Do you feel like you really need that much?” Yes. Yes, I do, thank you very much. I’m on the phone with a doctor in Sacramento. He’s looking at the results of the blood-chemistry tests I recently commissioned through WellnessFX, along with … Continue reading “WellnessFX Offers Insights—But Are Americans Ready to Be Healthy?”
Boston Scientific, Foundation, GnuBio, & More in Boston Life Sciences News
Grants, acquisitions, partnerships, and venture funding news was seen throughout the New England drug and devices industries this week. —Natick, MA-based Boston Scientific (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BSX]]) said that it signed a definitive agreement to acquire BridgePoint Medical, a Minneapolis, MN-based developer of a catheter systems for treating coronary artery disease. The deal, whose price tag was not disclosed, … Continue reading “Boston Scientific, Foundation, GnuBio, & More in Boston Life Sciences News”
Luminus Devices Receives $1,500,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c5930cd0-4006-4465-a787-5837ff2f7d23&Preview=1 Date 9/21/2012 Company Name Luminus Devices Mailing Address 1100 Technology Park Drive Billerica, MA 01821 Company Description Luminus Devices develops and manufactures innovative, high-power, solid state lighting solutions for high-definition televisions and other display products. Its patented PhlatLight (Photonic Lattice) technology and manufacturing processes deliver a new level of performance to … Continue reading “Luminus Devices Receives $1,500,000 New Financing Round”
DocTrackr Obtains $1,700,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=1e07b55d-0ac0-4c30-8237-bfbd440a6bd0&Preview=1 Date 9/21/2012 Company Name DocTrackr Mailing Address One Cambridge Center 6th Floor Cambridge, MA 02142 Company Description docTrackr is a seamless document management service that gives you control of your documents at all times, regardless of their location. Website http://www.doctrackr.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,700,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds … Continue reading “DocTrackr Obtains $1,700,000 New Financing”
Foundation Medicine Secures $42,500,000 Series B Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8762ba46-9d11-4175-ab0e-f87effe6343c&Preview=1 Date 9/21/2012 Company Name Foundation Medicine Mailing Address One Kendall Square Boston, MA 02139 Company Description The trick to beating cancer could be a single test that shows all known genetic traits in each person’s tumor, and that also matches those results to the best treatments. Website http://www.foundationmedicine.com Transaction Type Venture … Continue reading “Foundation Medicine Secures $42,500,000 Series B Financing”
Pixable Picked Up By SingTel for $26.5M
The New York-based startup Pixable, a provider of social photo sharing technology, is being acquired by Singapore Telecommunications for $26.5 million. Pixable has raised about $6.6 million from investors that include Menlo Ventures and Highland Capital Partners, and its most recent fundraise was a $3.6 million Series B round in April 2011. Pixable was founded … Continue reading “Pixable Picked Up By SingTel for $26.5M”
Azigo, Dyn, Pathogenica, and Smarterer: Boston Startup News
A quick look at what’s happening around the horn today: —Boston-based Pathogenica, a DNA-sequencing technology startup specializing in detecting pathogens, has formed an exclusive partnership with Life Technologies (NASDAQ: [[ticker:LIFE]]) to co-market and distribute its hospital-acquired infection biodetection kit in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Pathogenica started in 2009 and is led by CEO … Continue reading “Azigo, Dyn, Pathogenica, and Smarterer: Boston Startup News”
Third Rock’s MyoKardia Gets $38M for Genetic Forms of Heart Disease
When Boston Celtics star Reggie Lewis dropped dead during a shootaround 20 years ago, little was known about his underlying heart problem. It took an autopsy to confirm that he had a genetic defect known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which leads to thickening of the heart tissue and irregular heartbeats. Years later, as a slew of … Continue reading “Third Rock’s MyoKardia Gets $38M for Genetic Forms of Heart Disease”
Foundation Medicine Grabs $42.5M For Cancer Genome Test
You rarely, if ever, see hedge funds, drugmakers, venture capitalists, and diagnostic companies rally around any single idea in biotech. But that unusual cast of characters is coming together to put their money to work in a startup, Cambridge, MA-based Foundation Medicine. Foundation is announcing today it has snapped up $42.5 million in its Series … Continue reading “Foundation Medicine Grabs $42.5M For Cancer Genome Test”
Corporate Venture Activity Rebounds After Slump in Deals and Dollars
Corporate venture capital investments started strong and stayed high during the second quarter, with $2.1 billion invested in innovative startups throughout the United States during the three months that ended in June, according to a survey released today. That’s a 16 percent gain over the $1.8 billion that corporate VCs invested during the same quarter … Continue reading “Corporate Venture Activity Rebounds After Slump in Deals and Dollars”
Apperian Targets Big Enterprises for Mobile App Management in BYOD Era
If you’re like me, the biggest question about the iPhone 5 is how far you can dropkick it. Ditto the Nokia/Microsoft Lumia 820, the Motorola/Google Droid Razr M, the Kindle Fire HD…and pretty much every new device du jour. (I’m an equal-opportunity hater of screens—especially screens advertised incessantly on other screens—but I’m resigned to using … Continue reading “Apperian Targets Big Enterprises for Mobile App Management in BYOD Era”
Ensuring TPP Doesn’t Derail Innovation
From e-commerce and the iPad to new medical devices and cutting edge manufacturing breakthroughs, American innovation has been on hyper drive over the last decade and has dynamically altered the ways in which we work and live in today’s modern economy. Yet, now there are questions as to whether the United States will continue to … Continue reading “Ensuring TPP Doesn’t Derail Innovation”
Nuance, iRobot, Akamai, & More Boston Dealmakers
The last week has been full of acquisitions and funding news from New England’s robotics and IT industries. —Late last week Lilliputian Systems, a Wilmington, MA-based developer of portable power technology for electronics, said that it brought in $40 million in funding from Rusnano, the Russian investment fund. The financing round could hit a total … Continue reading “Nuance, iRobot, Akamai, & More Boston Dealmakers”
Jules Pieri on Curation, Trust, and Daily Grommet’s Deal with Rakuten
Yesterday the Lexington, MA-based e-retail startup Daily Grommet revealed it had closed a Series B round of funding led by Rakuten, a Japanese e-commerce and Internet giant with CEO Hiroshi “Mickey” Mikitani at its helm. Let me correct myself, though. Daily Grommet—which each day showcases an independently made, often unknown product with story and video—is … Continue reading “Jules Pieri on Curation, Trust, and Daily Grommet’s Deal with Rakuten”
iRobot Doubles Down on Floor Cleaning, Vacuums Up Evolution Robotics for $74M
The Boston tech scene is all about robots today. While Rethink Robotics was unveiling its new humanoid factory worker to the world, the godfather of commercial robotics was busy doubling down on its core strength. Bedford, MA-based iRobot (NASDAQ: [[ticker:IRBT]]), the maker of Roomba vacuum cleaners, said last night it is acquiring Evolution Robotics, the … Continue reading “iRobot Doubles Down on Floor Cleaning, Vacuums Up Evolution Robotics for $74M”
Rod Brooks and Rethink Reveal an Industrial Robot for the Masses
“Want to see some robots?” says Rodney Brooks. Yes I would, I say. And so would the rest of the world. Brooks is a renowned roboticist and artificial intelligence expert, the founder, chairman, and chief technology officer of Boston-based Rethink Robotics. In a previous life, he was an MIT faculty member for 25 years, and … Continue reading “Rod Brooks and Rethink Reveal an Industrial Robot for the Masses”
Laser Light Engines Garners $9,000,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=04a029e5-0ead-40f7-a5a7-bb73545dff26&Preview=1 Date 9/18/2012 Company Name Laser Light Engines Mailing Address 8 C Industrial Way Salem, NH 03079 Company Description Laser Light Engines is a new company developing an innovative digital light source to upgrade the future cinema experience. Website http://www.laserlightengines.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $9,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes … Continue reading “Laser Light Engines Garners $9,000,000 New Financing Round”
From San Diego to Boston: ValoreBooks CEO on SimpleTuition Deal
Back in August, I talked with entrepreneur Jonny Simkin about the sale of HubEdu, his San Diego online college textbook and retailing platform, to San Mateo, CA-based Rafter. Last week, Boston-based SimpleTuition said it had acquired ValoreBooks, another San Diego Web startup that enables students to order more than 18 million titles online. Financial terms … Continue reading “From San Diego to Boston: ValoreBooks CEO on SimpleTuition Deal”
Yes, Investing $100,000 in Boston-Area Companies Live on Stage Is Bananas
If there’s only one event you can attend this year—just one—it has to be the FutureM Shark Tank on October 25. That’s because you’re going to see real companies and real entrepreneurs receive $100,000 of actual money on the spot. And because you’ll get to view those companies through the eyes of luminaries like Fred … Continue reading “Yes, Investing $100,000 in Boston-Area Companies Live on Stage Is Bananas”
Yottaa, an Anti-Lean Startup, Makes Move to Undercut Compuware, Akamai, HP
Web infrastructure is a lucrative but tricky business. It requires a lot of resources and investment to come up with a compelling product. Now a Boston startup has a new set of offerings that broaden its scope on the Web—and could end up disrupting the big boys in the field. Yottaa, a three-year-old company known … Continue reading “Yottaa, an Anti-Lean Startup, Makes Move to Undercut Compuware, Akamai, HP”
Block Avenue Takes Big Data Approach to Neighborhood Ratings
In theory, Tony Longo is one of the last people who should be making bad decisions about which block to live on. He founded an online brokerage firm called CondoDomain (recently acquired by Better Homes Realty), and street location was the final factor when he decided where to live in New York City. But when … Continue reading “Block Avenue Takes Big Data Approach to Neighborhood Ratings”
Biotech Begins to Come of Age on Twitter
Two years ago, most everybody in biotech had heard of Twitter but most people were looking for reasons to ignore it. A year ago, people in the industry began realizing that even though they’re busy, it’s not a fad, and maybe they should see what the fuss was about. Now we’re just beginning to see … Continue reading “Biotech Begins to Come of Age on Twitter”
MetraTech Secures $30,741,235 Series A Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6fa4fdd4-e6bf-4952-8871-29d7b93878e2&Preview=1 Date 9/17/2012 Company Name MetraTech Mailing Address 200 West Street Waltham, MA 02451 Company Description MetraTech Corp. has established itself as a thought leader and a true innovator with its approach to billing, customer self-care, and partner management. Website http://www.metratech.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $30,741,235 Transaction Round Series A … Continue reading “MetraTech Secures $30,741,235 Series A Round”
UberSense Garners $1,100,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f5df186c-f710-4e68-915f-ce2db84d7638&Preview=1 Date 9/17/2012 Company Name UberSense Mailing Address 69 Calumet St Roxbury Crossing, MA 02120 Company Description At UberSense, we empower people to become better athletes. Sports lead to healthier, happier and active lives; to learn a sport and reach your maximum potential we believe in the need for quality feedback on … Continue reading “UberSense Garners $1,100,000 New Financing”
Unleash Video Codefest
Looking to create the next big video application? Check out this two-day event to collaborate and compete in building out video technologies for tablets, TVs, PCs, smart phones, and game consoles. You can register here.
WebInnoRocket
WebInno has handpicked founders from some of Boston’s fastest growing companies—aka rockets—for this month’s event. Those would be DataXu, HubSpot, and Gemvara. As usual, the side dish presentations will be showing off their wares too, so register here to check out the action.
Entretech Forum: Boston’s Entrepreneurs’ Network
Consider this event your startup “toolbox,” with its collection of speakers from Boston organizations known for fostering innovation. Those include MassChallenge, the Capital Network, Cleantech Open, and the Cambridge Innovation Center. Register here to take part in the discussion.
Why Journalists Shouldn’t Try to Think Like Investors
There are way more Bay Area tech companies than I can possibly cover, so I have to say no to a lot of story pitches. When I do that, I sometimes trot out the investor analogy. It goes like this: “I’m sort of like an angel or venture investor. Except I’m investing my time rather … Continue reading “Why Journalists Shouldn’t Try to Think Like Investors”
Tech Tidbits: Akamai, Lilliputian Make Waves
It has been a very busy news week around town, with no signs of slowing down. A few big deals we’re watching today… —Wilmington, MA-based Lilliputian Systems, a company developing portable-power technology for consumer electronics, has raised a distinctly non-Lilliputian round of equity funding: $40 million out of a planned $60 million, led by Rusnano, … Continue reading “Tech Tidbits: Akamai, Lilliputian Make Waves”
Athenahealth, iRobot, PerkinElmer, & More in Boston Life Sciences News
Plenty of public New England life sciences companies have been making headlines this week. —Anesthesia drug developer Annovation BioPharma socked away $8 million in funding from Atlas Venture, Partners Innovation Fund, and The Medicines Company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MDCO]]), which has the option to acquire the startup after it runs its clinical trial in the first half … Continue reading “Athenahealth, iRobot, PerkinElmer, & More in Boston Life Sciences News”
Linkable Networks Garners $3,225,475 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f127ba05-1003-4741-9d15-0b6bc488d0c7&Preview=1 Date 9/14/2012 Company Name Linkable Networks Mailing Address 268 Summer Street 5th Floor Boston, MA 02110 Company Description Linkable Networks is the bridge between advertisers, consumers, and financial Institutions, delivering to advertisers unprecedented accountability from online, mobile, email, print, TV, and radio advertising through online and in-store purchasing. Consumers receive one-click … Continue reading “Linkable Networks Garners $3,225,475 New Financing Round”
Lilliputian Systems Receives $40,000,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=bb9c5ed4-69db-4283-bd24-45ad74a00324&Preview=1 Date 9/14/2012 Company Name Lilliputian Systems Mailing Address 36 Jonspin Road Wilmington, MA 01887 Company Description Lilliputian has been rumored since 2001 to be developing a new kind of battery for electronic handheld devices and other applications. According to published reports, the company’s product is a combination of fuel cell and … Continue reading “Lilliputian Systems Receives $40,000,000 New Financing”
Aventa Technologies Garners $1,000,000 Series A Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7ddce3dc-3505-4a44-8aad-97fd851b4ac8&Preview=1 Date 9/14/2012 Company Name Aventa Technologies Mailing Address 44 Garden Street Unit 5 Danvers, MA 01923 Company Description Aventa Technologies is a manufacturer of thin film deposition equipment. We specialize in highly customized advanced vacuum deposition tools. All systems are configured for Continuous Flow / Roll to Roll Applications. Website http://www.aventatech.com … Continue reading “Aventa Technologies Garners $1,000,000 Series A Financing Round”
Intrepid Pursuits’ New App, Timbre, Makes Noise at Mass Innovation Nights
At my age, it’s hard to go out and see bands play at night. Plus, let’s just say my new neighborhood doesn’t have a lot of happening music venues. But a new mobile app from a local development shop might change that equation—at least for people at a hipper stage of life. Cambridge, MA-based Intrepid … Continue reading “Intrepid Pursuits’ New App, Timbre, Makes Noise at Mass Innovation Nights”
Student? Entrepreneur? I Choose Both
“At MIT, we reject the idea that you can’t be both a student and an entrepreneur” stated Bill Aulet, Managing Director of the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship, as he opened up the first Founders’ Skills Accelerator (FSA) Demo Day this past Saturday. Bill emphasized the importance of utilizing MIT’s resources to start your … Continue reading “Student? Entrepreneur? I Choose Both”
iWalk Chases Down $17M More for “Personal Bionics”
Prosthetics is a hot field these days. Coming off track star Oscar Pistorius’s Olympic efforts and some renewed interest in robotic exoskeletons for physical therapy, two things are clear: the technology is impacting lives, and there is plenty of money to be made. Now Bedford, MA-based iWalk, the developer of a powered prosthetic foot and … Continue reading “iWalk Chases Down $17M More for “Personal Bionics””
Xconomist of the Week: Sean MacLeod Says Stop Trying to Be SF
One of the most popular parlor games in Seattle, and every other city that isn’t in the center of the technology universe, starts with people asking themselves this: How can we become more like the San Francisco Bay Area? Sean MacLeod, president of Seattle’s Stratos Product Development and one of our Xconomists, says he’s heard … Continue reading “Xconomist of the Week: Sean MacLeod Says Stop Trying to Be SF”
Metal Oxygen Separation Technologies Lands $2,500,000 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=827143d7-46bc-45e1-954e-8f1df3dc89ec&Preview=1 Date 9/13/2012 Company Name Metal Oxygen Separation Technologies Mailing Address 11 Michigan Dr Natick, MA 01760 Company Description Metal Oxygen Separation Technologies, Inc. (MOxST) is developing new technologies for producing high-purity metals and pure oxygen gas directly from metal oxides at low cost and with zero direct environmental emissions. In addition … Continue reading “Metal Oxygen Separation Technologies Lands $2,500,000 New Round”
Metal Oxygen Separation Technologies Secures $2,500,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=827143d7-46bc-45e1-954e-8f1df3dc89ec&Preview=1 Date 9/13/2012 Company Name Metal Oxygen Separation Technologies Mailing Address 11 Michigan Dr Natick, MA 01760 Company Description Metal Oxygen Separation Technologies, Inc. (MOxST) is developing new technologies for producing high-purity metals and pure oxygen gas directly from metal oxides at low cost and with zero direct environmental emissions. In addition … Continue reading “Metal Oxygen Separation Technologies Secures $2,500,000 New Financing Round”
iWalk Obtains $17,000,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=88a9bc4e-13fc-456d-a8f2-c68a98c17455&Preview=1 Date 9/13/2012 Company Name iWalk Mailing Address 4 Crosby Drive Bedford, MA 01730 Company Description iWalk’s Mission is to be the leader in wearable devices for human augmentation. Website http://www.iwalkpro.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $17,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes iWalk will primarily use the funding to further develop … Continue reading “iWalk Obtains $17,000,000 New Financing”
Flybridge Capital Expands New York Office, Keeps Boston Roots
After investing in New York startups such as social targeting technology company 33Across, database software developer 10gen, and social media management system developer tracx, Boston’s Flybridge Capital Partners quietly set up an office on Broadway in February, led by general partner David Aronoff. On Monday Flybridge said it sent Matt Witheiler, a principal with the … Continue reading “Flybridge Capital Expands New York Office, Keeps Boston Roots”
PackBots, Roombas, and Now, Healthcare: The iRobot Story
Robots are in the air these days. They are also quite literally on the ground, in the water, and in many homes, businesses, warehouses, and manufacturing facilities. And they are making lots of money for their creators—something that would have been hard to believe just a few years ago. One company, arguably, has done more … Continue reading “PackBots, Roombas, and Now, Healthcare: The iRobot Story”
Handybook Hopes to Simplify Booking for Household Services in Boston & NYC
Most entrepreneurs don’t cite laziness as the inspiration for their business. But Oisin Hanrahan, founder of Handybook.com, says he and co-founder/roommate Umang Dua hated doing things like cleaning up their apartment or putting together Ikea furniture, and really hated the existing means for finding people to do those tasks. (Those means include Google search, Craigslist, … Continue reading “Handybook Hopes to Simplify Booking for Household Services in Boston & NYC”