It’s that outlook time of year, and Mark Heesen, president of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), was in San Diego earlier this week, talking about the 2012 outlook for venture capital. Today he’ll make a similar presentation to the New Jersey Technology Council. Next week, John Taylor, the NVCA’s director of research is set … Continue reading “2012 Venture Outlook: Some Bright Spots and Some Gloom”
Category: Boston
Assholicism: Do CEOs Need to Be Jerks to Be Successful?
It’s a question as old as human nature. You’ve heard the stories, you know all the famous examples. Steve Jobs, Larry Ellison, Michael Eisner, the list goes on. All difficult characters with strong personalities—and hugely successful companies. So, in today’s ultra-competitive tech and business world, does a CEO have to be an asshole to be … Continue reading “Assholicism: Do CEOs Need to Be Jerks to Be Successful?”
Why Biogen Idec Got Out of the Corporate VC Business
Steve Holtzman got his first taste of corporate venture capital back in 1987, when he raised money from SR One, back when it was part of an old company known as Smith, Kline & French. The concept was unorthodox 25 years ago, yet over time, most every Big Pharma company has become an active equity … Continue reading “Why Biogen Idec Got Out of the Corporate VC Business”
Millennium, Vertex, Avila, & More Boston Life Sciences Newsmakers
It was a busy news week in the New England life sciences scene, with acquisitions, clinical data, and partnership deals. —Thanks to a new co-promotion deal, Genzyme will begin marketing a diagnostic test for thyroid cancer developed by South San Francisco-based Veracyte. Genzyme, the Cambridge, MA-based unit of Sanofi (NYSE: [[ticker:SNY]]) makes a common drug … Continue reading “Millennium, Vertex, Avila, & More Boston Life Sciences Newsmakers”
Celgene Acquires Avila Therapeutics for $350,000,000
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2499cad8-337f-4063-b44d-f647474f9561&Preview=1 Date 1/27/2012 Company Name Avila Therapeutics Mailing Address 45 Wiggins Avenue Bedford, MA 01730 Company Description Avila Therapeutics, Inc., is a venture-backed company focused on the discovery and development of novel small molecule therapeutics to address significant unmet clinical needs with an initial focus on cancer and viral diseases. Website http://www.avilatx.com … Continue reading “Celgene Acquires Avila Therapeutics for $350,000,000”
Verastem Bucks the Trend, Raises $55M in IPO
Cambridge, MA-based Verastem, the biotech startup seeking to make drugs against cancer stem cells, found a way to rustle up enough demand from investors to complete its initial public offering. The company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VSTM]]) said tonight that it raised $55 million by selling 5.5 million new shares at $10 apiece. It was a strong showing … Continue reading “Verastem Bucks the Trend, Raises $55M in IPO”
New England’s Emerging Biotech Stars
The New England biotech hub has been on a roll the past couple years, with the breakout success of Vertex Pharmaceuticals, the ongoing revival at Biogen Idec, Sanofi’s $20 billion acquisition of Genzyme, and the continuing concentration of Big Pharma R&D in Boston. But both the science and business of biotech move fast. So which … Continue reading “New England’s Emerging Biotech Stars”
Xconomist of the Week: Mark Lowenstein on Mobile’s Next Waves
Mark Lowenstein has made some pretty bold statements about what’s going to happen in the wireless industry this year. More mergers and acquisitions among mobile operators. Same goes for the handset makers. Mobile payments won’t take off just yet. And enterprises may have jumped the gun on tablets. Lowenstein, a Verizon Wireless veteran and now … Continue reading “Xconomist of the Week: Mark Lowenstein on Mobile’s Next Waves”
Shout Outs for Avila From Polaris, Atlas, & the Twittersphere
Avila Therapeutics, after just five years in business and $51 million in venture capital, made big news today when it agreed to be acquired by Celgene for $350 million upfront plus another $575 million in milestone payments. Naturally, there are a lot of people celebrating the success of the Bedford, MA-based company today around the … Continue reading “Shout Outs for Avila From Polaris, Atlas, & the Twittersphere”
Not Your Grandfather’s War
War really is going out of style. At least that’s what Joshua Goldstein, professor emeritus of international relations at American University, and Steven Pinker, a psychology professor at Harvard wrote in a New York Times op-ed piece last month. Throughout the editorial, Goldstein and Pinker dissect the meaning of “war” today, its various categorizations, and … Continue reading “Not Your Grandfather’s War”
New England’s Rising Biotech CEOs to Gather at April 4 Xconomy Event
The life sciences industry is booming in the Boston area. Witness some of our headlines just over the past few weeks: Flagship Ventures closed a $270 million fund to invest in new biotech companies; startups RaNA and Warp Drive Bio raised significant VC rounds; pharma giant Merck led a $10 million financing of diagnostics firm … Continue reading “New England’s Rising Biotech CEOs to Gather at April 4 Xconomy Event”
Monster Slashes 400 Jobs, Restructures for Profitability
Monster Worldwide (NYSE: [[ticker:MWW]]), the New York parent company of Maynard, MA-based Monster.com, the jobs and recruiting site, said in a regulatory filing that it has laid off about 400 employees, or 7 percent of its worldwide staff of 5,700. The layoffs include fewer than 100 job cuts in Massachusetts, according to the Boston Business … Continue reading “Monster Slashes 400 Jobs, Restructures for Profitability”
Celgene Buys Avila for $350M, Gaining Promising “Covalent” Drugs
[Updated 1/26/12 8:30 am. See below.] When Avila Therapeutics’ CEO Katrine Bosley spoke with Xconomy in December, she predicted the oncology world would show “a lot of excitement” for drugs that inhibit an enzyme called Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (Btk)—and in particular for Avila’s experimental compound in that category, AVL-292. Her words were prescient: Today Summit, NJ-based … Continue reading “Celgene Buys Avila for $350M, Gaining Promising “Covalent” Drugs”
Hadoop Meetup Feb. 15 Looks to Connect Big Data Community in Boston
Sometimes the most interesting gatherings have the strangest names. What does “Boston Hadoop Meetup Group” say to you? To me, it says “future of big data in Boston.” Hadoop is an open source data-analysis platform that is gaining popularity for helping companies and IT departments crunch huge amounts of information. The Hadoop meetup group in … Continue reading “Hadoop Meetup Feb. 15 Looks to Connect Big Data Community in Boston”
Mevion Medical Systems Receives $45,000,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a0b294e9-90cd-4930-8863-72f0412caa00&Preview=1 Date 1/26/2012 Company Name Mevion Medical Systems Mailing Address 300 Foster St Littleton, MA 01460 Company Description Mevion Medical Systems, Inc. is a radiation therapy company dedicated to advancing the treatment of cancer. As the pioneering developer of modern proton therapy systems, Mevion provides innovative, safe, and effective solutions by transforming … Continue reading “Mevion Medical Systems Receives $45,000,000 New Financing Round”
MC10 Obtains $2,000,000 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=16d07dee-dd4a-4a8e-8571-a032e624587a&Preview=1 Date 1/26/2012 Company Name MC10 Mailing Address 36 Cameron Avenue Cambridge, MA 02140 Company Description MC10 startup developing stretchable silicon technology developed at the University of Illinois. Website http://www.mc10inc.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $2,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. M&A Terms Venture Investor Aberdare … Continue reading “MC10 Obtains $2,000,000 New Round”
Constant Contact, Bluefin Labs, HP, & More Boston Dealmakers
An acquisition and startup financings made up the New England deals news this week. —Waltham, MA-based marketing software firm Constant Contact acquired the Boston startup CardStar, the developer of a mobile app for customer loyalty and rewards programs. The deal, whose terms were undisclosed, enables Constant Contact (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CTCT]]) to expand its marketing offerings for … Continue reading “Constant Contact, Bluefin Labs, HP, & More Boston Dealmakers”
Intrepid Labs: Boston’s Newest Co-Working Spot for Maturing Startups
Boston has no place for “serious, venture-backed startups” to grow from five employees to 25 employees, akin to San Francisco’s RocketSpace, or New York City’s General Assembly, says Mark Kasdorf. Enter Intrepid Labs, the co-working space he recently established in the former digs of another co-working space (Dogpatch Labs) at 222 Third Street near Kendall … Continue reading “Intrepid Labs: Boston’s Newest Co-Working Spot for Maturing Startups”
Family Affair: Courtagen Applies Management DNA to Genomics Startup
Woburn, MA-based Courtagen Life Sciences’ acquisition of Medicinal Genomics, announced January 18, is less notable for the technologies that are being merged than for the people who are coming together on the management team. Courtagen’s CEO is Brian McKernan, who co-founded the company in 2009 with his brother, Brendan, who is the startup’s president. Medicinal … Continue reading “Family Affair: Courtagen Applies Management DNA to Genomics Startup”
Angry at the Genome
In 2004, I was an enthusiastic postdoctoral researcher in Eric Lander’s lab at the Broad Institute, with the job I had dreamed of since I was 10 years old. Growing up in Paducah, KY, I read Isaac Asimov’s The Genetic Code. And while I understood nothing of its meaning, I fell in love with the … Continue reading “Angry at the Genome”
Meet the 13 New TechStars Boston Startups
The cool thing about TechStars is that it is often surprising. The startup accelerator and seed-stage investment firm, which runs programs in four cities around the U.S., announced its newest class of Boston entrepreneurs (the fourth so far) last night. And while I’ve heard of a couple of the startups, most of them are brand … Continue reading “Meet the 13 New TechStars Boston Startups”
Azuki Systems Lands $5,100,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e3aac3ce-343c-41f4-bf8d-24ee5d877eac&Preview=1 Date 1/25/2012 Company Name Azuki Systems Mailing Address 43 Nagog Park Acton, MA 01720 Company Description Leveraging the growing proliferation of digitized content, Web 2.0 enabled services and new wireless technologies, Azuki is leading the charge into a new era of mobile innovation and user experiences. We are changing the way … Continue reading “Azuki Systems Lands $5,100,000 New Financing”
“Vulture” Capital? Far From It
They say the first casualty of war is the truth. Based upon recent events in the U.S. presidential elections, it looks like the truth is a casualty in politics as well. Whether out of desperation, ignorance, or political convenience, current and former contenders for the Republican presidential nomination have been questioning the long-term economic value … Continue reading ““Vulture” Capital? Far From It”
Burgess, Cormier, Kane, and Lynch Join Mobile Madness Lineup on March 14
The speaker list for Mobile Madness 2012 keeps getting better and better. I’m still plugging away at the agenda, but wanted to post a quick update here. Boston’s premier conference on mobile software and devices, if I do say so myself, takes place the afternoon of March 14 at Microsoft NERD in Kendall Square. The … Continue reading “Burgess, Cormier, Kane, and Lynch Join Mobile Madness Lineup on March 14”
Apptopia Hopes to Bring Broker Flair To Mobile App Marketplace
The vast majority of mobile applications in the marketplace aren’t coming from well-established businesses, but experimental developers. The apps can even accrue a good user following, but those developers don’t exactly have the skills or desire to build a business around their creations. “It’s laughable how many times I’ve heard, ‘I didn’t get into this … Continue reading “Apptopia Hopes to Bring Broker Flair To Mobile App Marketplace”
Vertex Vows to Fight On With Alios Drugs in High-Stakes Hepatitis C Race
Vertex Pharmaceuticals went from king of the hill in the treatment of hepatitis C to yesterday’s news in about six wild months. But while many on Wall Street say Vertex’s big drug will soon become obsolete, Vertex and its small partner in South San Francisco have quietly put themselves in position to defend a big … Continue reading “Vertex Vows to Fight On With Alios Drugs in High-Stakes Hepatitis C Race”
XLerant Obtains $3,000,000 Series B Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=14880d4d-3d80-49d2-b031-289b94c9c6b2&Preview=1 Date 1/24/2012 Company Name XLerant Mailing Address 12 S. Main Street Norwalk, CT 06854 Company Description BudgetPak is the only budgeting tool that actually assists line managers in creating valid cost center budgets the first time around, saving countless hours of budget validation and rework. BudgetPak helps control budget inflation by … Continue reading “XLerant Obtains $3,000,000 Series B Funding Round”
Bluefin Labs Lands $12,000,000 Series B Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4a7ba534-dab4-42fe-9912-94019562e4ba&Preview=1 Date 1/24/2012 Company Name Bluefin Labs Mailing Address One Kendall Square B17001 Cambridge, MA 02139 Company Description The company is developing technology for analyzing and indexing sports video. Website http://www.bluefinlab.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $12,000,000 Transaction Round Series B Proceeds Purposes The new financing will be used to accelerate … Continue reading “Bluefin Labs Lands $12,000,000 Series B Financing Round”
OwnerIQ Acquires dijipop for Undisclosed Sum
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8d7ba0d8-0944-46db-a024-9e5f8a4c6285&Preview=1 Date 1/24/2012 Company Name dijipop Mailing Address 3 Davol Square Providence, RI 02903 Company Description We are a platform and sales solution that targets shoppers at the point-of-purchase. We connect brand marketing dollars with digital shelf space resulting in new revenue for retailers and higher sales for brands. Website http://www.dijipop.com Transaction … Continue reading “OwnerIQ Acquires dijipop for Undisclosed Sum”
Millennium Wins FDA OK for New Velcade, Looks to Fend Off Onyx
Millennium is the house that Velcade built, and today it’s gotten the green light to start marketing what it considers to be a new and improved version of the hit drug for multiple myeloma. The Cambridge, MA-based cancer drug developer, part of Japan-based Takeda Pharmaceuticals, said today it has gotten clearance from the FDA to … Continue reading “Millennium Wins FDA OK for New Velcade, Looks to Fend Off Onyx”
Hewlett-Packard Expands to Cambridge via Vertica’s “Big Data” Center
There’s a new big tech company in town. In fact, it’s arguably the world’s biggest technology company (by revenue), and it’s joining the ranks of IBM, EMC, Microsoft, Google, and, most recently, Amazon, in expanding to the Boston-Cambridge area. Palo Alto, CA-based Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: [[ticker:HPQ]]) has set up a new office in Cambridge, MA. The … Continue reading “Hewlett-Packard Expands to Cambridge via Vertica’s “Big Data” Center”
Biotech Is Raising More Cash, But Don’t Be Fooled: Startups are Hurting
Mark Twain used to toss around a saying about three kinds of lies. There are lies, damned lies, and statistics. This week in biotech, we saw some statistics that could lead some people to get a false impression that everything is just peachy in biotechland. If you measure the state of life science innovation by … Continue reading “Biotech Is Raising More Cash, But Don’t Be Fooled: Startups are Hurting”
GlassHouse Technologies Obtains $4,389,788 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=0e5d266b-4700-4824-acae-da88550feed0&Preview=1 Date 1/23/2012 Company Name GlassHouse Technologies Mailing Address 200 Crossing Boulevard Framingham, MA 01702 Company Description GlassHouse Technologies, Inc. provides services that help organizations solve the business problems of enterprise storage. From strategy through deployment and support, GlassHouse partners with clients to transform storage into a strategic advantage. GlassHouse clients include … Continue reading “GlassHouse Technologies Obtains $4,389,788 New Funding”
Agile Games 2012
This conference on interactive Agile software development is meant to be a rockin’ good time, according to its organizers. Register and check out the hype for yourself.
MassTLC 2012 Annual Meeting: Accelerating the Next Technology Revolution: Why Massachusetts will Dominate
The hot topics at this MTLC annual meeting include big data, cloud computing, and software as a service. Keynote speakers include Intuit chairman Bill Campbell and Fast Company founding editor William Taylor. Check out this Eventbrite page for more information and registration.
Infinity Offers Hint Of Effect With Pancreatic Cancer Drug
Infinity Pharmaceuticals released some preliminary data last June that suggested it may be onto something for pancreatic cancer, and now it has gathered a bit more evidence to support its case. The Cambridge, MA-based biotech company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:INFI]]) is announcing results today from a small study of 16 patients that suggest its experimental once-a-day pill, … Continue reading “Infinity Offers Hint Of Effect With Pancreatic Cancer Drug”
Genzyme, Veracyte Strike Deal to Market Thyroid Cancer Diagnostic
Veracyte has been gaining momentum the past few months with a new molecular diagnostic for thyroid cancer, and today it’s taking another step ahead by forming an alliance with Genzyme, the maker of a common drug for treating the disease. South San Francisco-based Veracyte said today that it has formed a global co-promotion deal with … Continue reading “Genzyme, Veracyte Strike Deal to Market Thyroid Cancer Diagnostic”
Tweet Chat Today with John Seely Brown on Education and the Future
There is hardly a more important topic to society than the future education. So I’m really looking forward to hosting a Tweetchat later today on education and the future. My guest will be John Seely Brown (@jseelybrown), the technology visionary who previously served as chief scientist of Xerox and also director of Xerox PARC, the … Continue reading “Tweet Chat Today with John Seely Brown on Education and the Future”
Boston’s Top 10 VC Deals of Q4: Warp Drive, Rapid7, & More
We’ve recently reported on venture capital deal trends from last quarter—for example, Massachusetts regained its No. 2 ranking behind California and ahead of New York in dollars and deals—but let’s take a closer look at some of those deals. Of the Boston area’s 10 biggest venture investment deals from the fourth quarter of 2011, six … Continue reading “Boston’s Top 10 VC Deals of Q4: Warp Drive, Rapid7, & More”
The 10 Social News Apps You Need to Try
Once upon a time, there was a magical innovation called RSS, for Rich Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication. It freed news articles, podcasts, and other content from their original homes on the Web and allowed news junkies to follow their favorite publications and blogs through story streams called news feeds, which could be bundled … Continue reading “The 10 Social News Apps You Need to Try”
Millennium, Looking to Fend Off Onyx, Awaits FDA Word on New Velcade
The drug that made Millennium into a biotech power is on the verge of getting a subtle but meaningful upgrade, just in time to help the company fend off a serious new competing therapy from South San Francisco-based Onyx Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ONXX]]). Cambridge, MA-based Millennium, the cancer drug unit of Takeda Pharmaceuticals, is awaiting word … Continue reading “Millennium, Looking to Fend Off Onyx, Awaits FDA Word on New Velcade”
Clarus Ventures Adjusts to Unpredictable Biotech World
[[Correction: 11:20 am ET]] It’s never been easy to make a buck in biotech venture capital, but there used to be more predictability and logic to it, according to Clarus Ventures’ Nick Galakatos. You’d invest a few million, or tens of millions, and push a new drug or device toward some scientific validation in a … Continue reading “Clarus Ventures Adjusts to Unpredictable Biotech World”
RueLaLa Secures $22,050,000 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=0ae76636-3d6f-4718-929f-6b9f9b3f496d&Preview=1 Date 1/20/2012 Company Name RueLaLa Mailing Address 10 Milk St Boston, MA 02108 Company Description We are the invitation-only destination for a life of style. Where Members delight in discovering private sale Boutiques that open daily – and stay open only for a short time. A community where Members shape the … Continue reading “RueLaLa Secures $22,050,000 New Round”
Currensee Garners $2,000,005 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f20f5b1a-1ead-477d-8056-840db923b7c1&Preview=1 Date 1/20/2012 Company Name Currensee Mailing Address 54 Canal Street 4th floor Boston, MA 02114 Company Description Currensee is the first Forex trading social network where like-minded traders can connect with each other and share unique ideas, insights and data based on the actual trading activity of the community. Website http://www.currensee.com … Continue reading “Currensee Garners $2,000,005 New Round”
Solx Lands $3,250,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3d8c46a9-580b-4c5a-9d12-f3366858b77a&Preview=1 Date 1/20/2012 Company Name Solx Mailing Address 230 Second Ave. Waltham, MA 02451 Company Description The SOLX Glaucoma Treatment System is the next generation treatment platform that has the potential to change the current approach to glaucoma therapy. Website http://www.solx.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $3,250,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds … Continue reading “Solx Lands $3,250,000 New Financing Round”
Alnylam Cuts One-Third of Workforce, To Save Cash for RNAi Clinical Plans
Cambridge, MA-based Alnylam Pharmaceuticals is getting rid of about one-third of its workforce, as it looks to save cash for clinical trials that it hopes will prove the value of its RNA interference drug technology. Alnylam (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ALNY]]) said today it’s cutting 33 percent of its staff, as it looks to concentrate its cash reserves … Continue reading “Alnylam Cuts One-Third of Workforce, To Save Cash for RNAi Clinical Plans”
Mobile Madness 2012-Total Mobility
In the five years since Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPhone, the mobile industry has changed radically. Wireless carriers are consolidating, and the battleground has shifted to mobile operating systems and platforms. Smartphones and tablets are ubiquitous, and they are transforming how we all shop, connect, get around, and lead our daily lives. In short, … Continue reading “Mobile Madness 2012-Total Mobility”
Xconomist of the Week Chris Rizik: Who Says A VC Has No Soul?
Chris Rizik is one of Michigan’s most important and successful venture capitalists. He’s the CEO and fund manager of Renaissance Venture Capital, a fund of funds that is perhaps best known for its early backing of the medical device company HandyLab, a University of Michigan spinout that was later purchased by New Jersey’s Becton Dickinson … Continue reading “Xconomist of the Week Chris Rizik: Who Says A VC Has No Soul?”
Join Us on March 14 for Mobile Madness 2012: Total Mobility
Everyone knows mobile is everywhere, and everything is mobile. Smartphones, tablets, and mobile software are transforming how we all shop, connect, get around, and lead our daily lives. In the five years since Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPhone, the mobile industry—and the tech world, more broadly—has changed radically. So what are the emerging opportunities, … Continue reading “Join Us on March 14 for Mobile Madness 2012: Total Mobility”
Constant Contact Buys CardStar, Moves Into Mobile Loyalty Tech
The evolution of Constant Contact continues. The Waltham, MA-based online marketing firm (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CTCT]]) said today it has acquired Boston-based CardStar, a maker of a mobile app that lets people consolidate their loyalty and rewards cards. Terms of the acquisition weren’t given. The deal represents Constant Contact’s first foray into mobile rewards technology aimed at … Continue reading “Constant Contact Buys CardStar, Moves Into Mobile Loyalty Tech”