Category: Boston

DecImmune Therapeutics Lands $1,000,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3ed8cea5-66b7-40f0-86bb-6c55c76ed3f9&Preview=1 Date 9/27/2010 Company Name DecImmune Therapeutics Mailing Address One Blackfan Circle Rm. 10217 Boston, MA 02115 Company Description The company operates as a drug development company focused on inflammation. Website http://www.decimmune.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes The new funds will enable accelerated development of … Continue reading “DecImmune Therapeutics Lands $1,000,000 New Funding Round”

Harvest Automation Receives $1,300,000 Series A Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8c6f35f4-6398-47c6-a213-bb382abd3ee8&Preview=1 Date 9/27/2010 Company Name Harvest Automation Mailing Address 154 Main St Groton, MA 01581 Company Description Harvest was founded by a seasoned technology executive and a trio of robotics experts. The Company now comprises a diverse, commited team with expertise in sales and marketing, engineering (software, hardware, electrical, mechanical), project management, … Continue reading “Harvest Automation Receives $1,300,000 Series A Funding”

OnePIN Garners $1,865,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3ecf9e98-e1e1-4a48-863a-edb6a71f2202&Preview=1 Date 9/27/2010 Company Name OnePIN Mailing Address 2200 West Park Drive Westborough, MA 01581 Company Description OnePIN delivers innovative communication and collaboration applications via web and wireless services. OnePIN’s permission-based contact management system enables individuals and organizations to keep their personal contact information current. Website http://www.onepin.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction … Continue reading “OnePIN Garners $1,865,000 New Funding Round”

Where Acquires LocalGinger for Undisclosed Sum

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2baa7b6c-ec1d-4998-b063-aeaf3a10a4b8&Preview=1 Date 9/27/2010 Company Name LocalGinger Mailing Address 31 Green St. Newburyport, MA 01950 Company Description Sign up today and we’ll email you an unbelievable deal every few days for a business right around the corner. Website http://www.localginger.com Transaction Type M&A Transaction Amount Undisclosed Transaction Round Proceeds Purposes M&A Terms Financial terms … Continue reading “Where Acquires LocalGinger for Undisclosed Sum”

Rhythmia Medical Secures $4,999,990 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6eb309c5-ad41-41a6-8a5d-e83c8de0e70d&Preview=1 Date 9/26/2010 Company Name Rhythmia Medical Mailing Address 111 S. Bedford Street Burlington, MA 01803 Company Description Rhythmia Medical, Inc. was founded in 2004 by Doron Harlev and Leon Amariglio and is developing an innovative medical device for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmia. The market for the treatment of arrhythmia is … Continue reading “Rhythmia Medical Secures $4,999,990 New Funding”

The Progressive Business Leaders Network’s Fall Summit on Business Leadership and Public Policy: Inventing a More Sustainable Economy

The Progressive Business Leaders Network (PBLN) is a Massachusetts-based educational non-profit for CEOs and top officers who are committed to socially and environmentally responsible economic growth and the public policies that advance it. The aim of PBLN is to help “invent a more sustainable economy” that fosters lasting and shared prosperity as well as social and environmental justice. This ambition … Continue reading “The Progressive Business Leaders Network’s Fall Summit on Business Leadership and Public Policy: Inventing a More Sustainable Economy”

HBA Boston – Healthcare Business in Europe: What Opportunities Are You Missing?

Please join us on October 5, 2010 for an exciting discussion. Event Details: How has increased globalization within the life sciences industry affected expectations for international experience? What are the risks and rewards of working internationally? What are the similarities and differences in working within life sciences in Europe? These questions and more will be … Continue reading “HBA Boston – Healthcare Business in Europe: What Opportunities Are You Missing?”

New iPhone Accessory Tests Blood Sugar

There’s a new option in the works for diabetics who want to take greater control of their blood sugar levels—and communicate the data to their doctors. It’s a blood-sugar monitoring device that plugs into the iPhone or iPod Touch. French drug giant Sanofi-Aventis (NYSE:[[ticker:SNY]]), which co-developed the device with its partner AgaMatrix of Salem, NH, … Continue reading “New iPhone Accessory Tests Blood Sugar”

New CEO for Evergreen Solar

Marlboro, MA-based Evergreen Solar (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ESLR]]), a maker of solar-power products, announced today that it has moved Michael El-Hillow to the positions of president and CEO. El-Hillow, most recently Evergreen’s chief operating officer and chief financial officer, replaces Richard Feldt, who has taken a chief executive position at a privately held company that Evergreen did … Continue reading “New CEO for Evergreen Solar”

TimeTrade Gets $5.6M to Expand in Sales and Marketing Appointment Software

TimeTrade, an appointment scheduling software company in Tewksbury, MA, said today it has closed a $5.6 million Series D financing round led by Ascent Venture Partners. CommonAngels and other existing investors also participated in the round, which includes $1.7 million in convertible notes issued in December 2009. TimeTrade said it will use the money to … Continue reading “TimeTrade Gets $5.6M to Expand in Sales and Marketing Appointment Software”

How I Spent My Summer in Startup Boot Camp

Finals are over and it’s the first day of summer, but I’m not at home or relaxing at the beach. Instead, I’m sitting in a conference room with my two partners and the eight other young companies selected for the Betaspring Startup Accelerator, based in Providence, RI. At the podium in front of us stands … Continue reading “How I Spent My Summer in Startup Boot Camp”

Anybots, Y Combinator’s Housemate, Brings Remote-Controlled Robots to the White-Collar World

[Video included, please scroll down] Trevor Blackwell used to think that telepresence robots were all about manipulation: being able to grasp and move things from afar. So he and his colleagues at Mountain View, CA-based Anybots spent years building robots with beautifully articulated hands that users could operate over a standard Internet connection. The company’s … Continue reading “Anybots, Y Combinator’s Housemate, Brings Remote-Controlled Robots to the White-Collar World”

DataXu CEO Mike Baker on the Online Advertising Startup’s Move Into Mobile and Video

Things are evolving quickly over at DataXu. Six months after announcing a new $11 million round of venture financing, the Boston-based online advertising software firm has expanded its focus to help its corporate customers reach a wider swath of consumers wherever they are. Earlier this week, DataXu (pronounced “Data Zoo”) rolled out what it calls … Continue reading “DataXu CEO Mike Baker on the Online Advertising Startup’s Move Into Mobile and Video”

Novartis Edges Out Biogen Idec in Oral MS Drug Race, Ironwood Sells Microbia to DSM, RXi Teams With Eyegate, & More Boston-Area Life Sciences News

It was New England’s public life sciences companies that made the most news in the sector this week. —Ryan chatted with Mark Corrigan, CEO of Zalicus (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ZLCS]]), about the Cambridge, MA-based company’s efforts to rebuild its image among investors after a long period of upheaval. Originally known as CombinatoRx, the firm has seen the … Continue reading “Novartis Edges Out Biogen Idec in Oral MS Drug Race, Ironwood Sells Microbia to DSM, RXi Teams With Eyegate, & More Boston-Area Life Sciences News”

Alnylam Cuts 25-30% of Workforce, As Novartis Alliance Ends

Cambridge, MA-based Alnylam Pharmaceuticals is facing some big cuts now that one of its major partners is going its separate way. Alnylam (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ALNY]]) said today it is planning to cut about 25 to 30 percent of its workforce. The move came after one of Alnylam’s big partners, Novartis, effectively brought a five-year alliance to … Continue reading “Alnylam Cuts 25-30% of Workforce, As Novartis Alliance Ends”

Aspen Prices Secondary Public Offering

Aspen Technology (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AZPN]]), a Burlington, MA-based provider of software for optimizing manufacturing, announced today that it has priced a secondary public offering of 18 million shares at $9 per share. Private equity firm Advent International is selling all of the shares, and originally expected to sell 15 million shares, Aspen said. J.P. Morgan Securities … Continue reading “Aspen Prices Secondary Public Offering”

KangoGift Platform Sends Gift Vouchers Via Text, Brings Virtual Goods Convenience to Real-World Use

Virtual gifts are a nice way to send someone good thoughts online. But if you’re going to spend real money to get someone a virtual gift like a digital cupcake or bouquet of flowers, why not spend a bit more to get them something concrete? Now Cambridge, MA-based KangoGift makes online gift-giving just as convenient … Continue reading “KangoGift Platform Sends Gift Vouchers Via Text, Brings Virtual Goods Convenience to Real-World Use”

JNJ Mobile Secures $3,500,000 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=207e4de9-d156-4c7f-be97-af3610cccb23&Preview=1 Date 9/23/2010 Company Name JNJ Mobile Mailing Address 186 South St Boston, MA 02111 Company Description JNJ Mobile develops and publishes innovative mobile entertainment applications, including the premier mobile social networking service under the MocoSpace™ brand. Website http://www.jnjmobile.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $3,500,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes The … Continue reading “JNJ Mobile Secures $3,500,000 New Round”

Genzyme Boss Henri Termeer Not Ready To Sell to Sanofi, Ride Into the Sunset, Sources Say

Henri Termeer has invested most of his professional life building Cambridge, MA-based Genzyme (NASDAQ:[[ticker:GENZ]]) into a global biotech powerhouse, and it could all come to an unceremonious end if French drug giant Sanofi-Aventis (NYSE:[[ticker:SNY]]) succeeds in its efforts to acquire the company. Yet people close to the Genzyme CEO tell Xconomy that Termeer has plenty … Continue reading “Genzyme Boss Henri Termeer Not Ready To Sell to Sanofi, Ride Into the Sunset, Sources Say”

Forget the Facebook Movie; Here’s the TechStars Casting Call

All this talk about “The Social Network,” and Mark Zuckerberg this and that, got me thinking. What if they made a movie about a technology company that’s doing something really innovative now? A modest company that’s expanding nationally and helping to set the agenda and culture for a new generation of techie entrepreneurs…One with deep … Continue reading “Forget the Facebook Movie; Here’s the TechStars Casting Call”

Biogen Rival Reaches Finish Line with Oral Drug for MS

Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]), one of the world’s biggest makers of multiple sclerosis drugs, has some catching up to do in bringing an oral MS treatment to market. Swiss drug giant Novartis said today it has won FDA approval of an MS pill, which some see as more convenient than the injected treatments for the … Continue reading “Biogen Rival Reaches Finish Line with Oral Drug for MS”

RXi, EyeGate Team Up

RXi Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:RXII]]), a Worcester, MA-based developer of RNA interference treatments, said today it will collaborate with Waltham, MA-based EyeGate Pharma to deliver RNAi therapeutics to the eye for retinal disorders. Financial details weren’t given, but the partnership combines EyeGate’s expertise in delivering drugs into the eye non-invasively with RXi’s technology and resources in … Continue reading “RXi, EyeGate Team Up”

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals Sells Struggling Microbia Subsidiary to Royal DSM

The chemical giant Royal DSM has agreed to purchase the Lexington, MA-based bio-manufacturing firm Microbia from Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, according to a press release. DSM, based in Heerlen, The Netherlands, has not disclosed terms of the deal. Xconomy was unable to immediately reach representatives from Microbia and DSM about the transaction. Microbia (formerly Microbia Precision Engineering) … Continue reading “Ironwood Pharmaceuticals Sells Struggling Microbia Subsidiary to Royal DSM”

Focus on Discovery, Not Decision-Making, Is Key To Success

We’ve experienced a slew of “system” failures in the last years—corporate, regulatory, financial and technological—with disastrous results. Toyota suffered a huge hit to its sales and corporate prestige. The damage to the Gulf of Mexico is still being tabulated. And we’re even now trying to fully restart the economy after it was crippled by the … Continue reading “Focus on Discovery, Not Decision-Making, Is Key To Success”

IBM Acquires Netezza and OpenPages, Boston Scientific Buys Asthmatx, Massachusetts Startup Financing Rebounds, & More Boston-Area Deals News

Big Blue is gobbling up all of New England’s IT companies—or at least that’s the impression you’d get from this week’s deals news. —IBM (NYSE: [[ticker:IBM]]) announced it will acquire Waltham, MA-based OpenPages for an undisclosed sum. The Waltham firm, whose backers include Goldman Sachs, Globespan Capital Partners, Matrix Partners, Mesirow Financial, Sigma Partners, and … Continue reading “IBM Acquires Netezza and OpenPages, Boston Scientific Buys Asthmatx, Massachusetts Startup Financing Rebounds, & More Boston-Area Deals News”

Boston Vs. Silicon Valley: Lawsuits Filed Against Adobe, Google, PacBio (Who’s Next?)

OK, four lawsuits filed in a month—all in the same direction—makes a trend. (Though two are from the same company.) September is shaping up to be the month of Boston versus Silicon Valley, when it comes to tech and life sciences companies trying to protect their intellectual property. —The news today is that Newton, MA-based … Continue reading “Boston Vs. Silicon Valley: Lawsuits Filed Against Adobe, Google, PacBio (Who’s Next?)”

Laser Light Lands $13M for 3-D Cinema

Salem, NH-based Laser Light Engines, a maker of laser-driven light sources for 3-D and digital projectors, said today it has closed a $13 million Series B financing round from existing investors Braemar Energy Ventures and Harris & Harris Group, and from existing strategic partner IMAX. Laser Light, which is developing a custom light source for … Continue reading “Laser Light Lands $13M for 3-D Cinema”

ActiFio Adds $16M for Data Management

Waltham, MA-based ActiFio, a data management software startup, has raised $16 million from undisclosed investors, according to a regulatory filing. Bob Hower, general partner at Advanced Technology Ventures, is listed on the form as a director, and the Boston Business Journal has confirmed that ATV is a new investor in the company. Earlier this year, … Continue reading “ActiFio Adds $16M for Data Management”

MeYou Health Enters Social Gaming Realm with Daily Challenge for Improving Well-Being

Could social gaming be used to improve people’s health? Boston-based MeYou Health appears to think there’s a good chance the answer to that question is “yes.” The group plans to release an online social game this week called Daily Challenge, which attempts to get players and their friends on Facebook to adopt healthy behaviors and … Continue reading “MeYou Health Enters Social Gaming Realm with Daily Challenge for Improving Well-Being”

August Startup Financings in MA Rose Slightly to $143M, With Plenty of Smaller Deals

Startup deal-making in Massachusetts rebounded slightly last month. Thirty companies brought in $143.6 million in equity-based financing deals, which was almost a 10 percent increase from July’s total of $131.4 million, according to data provided by private company intelligence platform CB Insights. It’s not anything like the surge we saw in June, when Bay State … Continue reading “August Startup Financings in MA Rose Slightly to $143M, With Plenty of Smaller Deals”

A One-Size-Fits-All License Agreement: The Holy Grail of Tech Transfer?

One common complaint I hear from biotech entrepreneurs is that negotiating a license agreement with a university can be a nightmare. There are universities—some of them within the very top echelons of academia—that are infamous for having technology transfer people who are described as very difficult to work with. It’s not that surprising that these … Continue reading “A One-Size-Fits-All License Agreement: The Holy Grail of Tech Transfer?”

Boston Heart Lab Lands $10,000,000 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a739b096-a5a2-4b90-987d-66266384a075&Preview=1 Date 9/21/2010 Company Name Boston Heart Lab Mailing Address 2 Central Street Framingham, MA 01701-4163 Company Description Boston Heart Lab is a healthcare company that provides cardiovascular disease (CVD) management. Through our combination of proprietary lipid testing capability, sophisticated tools, advanced therapy guidelines, and patient support services, we are providing physicians, … Continue reading “Boston Heart Lab Lands $10,000,000 New Round”

Laser Light Engines Receives $13,000,000 Series B Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=0581098f-4333-4915-9363-efb7c02feb59&Preview=1 Date 9/21/2010 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 $13,000,000 Transaction Round Series B Proceeds … Continue reading “Laser Light Engines Receives $13,000,000 Series B Funding Round”

Aura Biosciences Receives $1,425,000 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7b549343-00fe-471c-8b92-d3ef1aacecb8&Preview=1 Date 9/21/2010 Company Name Aura Biosciences Mailing Address One Broadway, 14th Floor Cambridge, MA 02142 Company Description Aura Biosciences is a next generation biotech company – combining the expertise of leading academic institutions through research and licensing agreements, with the flexibility and efficiency of a dedicated team of in-house scientists, deal-makers, … Continue reading “Aura Biosciences Receives $1,425,000 New Round”

L-1 Acquired by Safran and BAE in $1.6B Merger Deal

L-1 Identity Solutions, a Stamford, CT-based maker of biometric technologies for security and identification, said today it has agreed to be acquired by French aerospace and defense company Safran for $12 per share in a merger transaction. As part of the deal, L-1 is first selling off a chunk of its business to U.K.-based BAE … Continue reading “L-1 Acquired by Safran and BAE in $1.6B Merger Deal”

Boston Scientific to Inhale Asthmatx in $194M Buyout

Boston Scientific (NYSE:[[ticker:BSX]]) is upping its investment in a new way of treating severe asthma. The Natick, MA-based medical device giant says today it has inked a deal to acquire Sunnyvale, CA-based Asthmatx for $193.5 million. Boston Scientific, which had previously been an investor in Asthmatx, has presumably been following the California firm’s progress for … Continue reading “Boston Scientific to Inhale Asthmatx in $194M Buyout”

Netezza Sold to IBM for $1.7B, Will Help Big Blue Tackle Big Data

The hits keep coming for IBM in Massachusetts—and this one is a biggie. The company (NYSE: [[ticker:IBM]]) announced this morning it plans to acquire Marlborough, MA-based Netezza (NYSE: [[ticker:NZ]]), the business analytics and data warehousing firm, for about $1.7 billion in cash. It will be Big Blue’s 18th acquisition of a company based in the … Continue reading “Netezza Sold to IBM for $1.7B, Will Help Big Blue Tackle Big Data”

The Future of Humankind Depends on Quality Science Education

Each decade produces new insights into science, especially life sciences, where we are learning more about ourselves. As our society becomes increasingly dependent on its scientific legacy, it becomes more and more important that each new generation understands the role of science in our lives. However, the accumulation of facts can be daunting to students … Continue reading “The Future of Humankind Depends on Quality Science Education”

Zalicus, Formerly the Bicoastal Biotech CombinatoRx, Seeks New Identity with Name Fit for a Warrior

Mark Corrigan, the chief executive of the biotech Zalicus (NASDAQ:[[ticker:ZLCS]]), has been shuttling back and fourth from Boston to New York this week as part of the Cambridge, MA-based firm’s effort to gain greater visibility on Wall Street. In fact, last Friday he was due to ring the closing bell at the NASDAQ stock market … Continue reading “Zalicus, Formerly the Bicoastal Biotech CombinatoRx, Seeks New Identity with Name Fit for a Warrior”

IBM’s Software Acquisition Strategy in Massachusetts (Plus Tips on Getting Acquired) From VP Mike Loria

If you looked at a map of IBM’s local operations and software acquisitions—17 in Massachusetts since 2003, out of a total of 60 worldwide—you might think the company’s headquarters was in Massachusetts, not New York. Between its recently opened Mass Lab in Littleton and Westford, MA (the firm’s biggest software development lab in North America), … Continue reading “IBM’s Software Acquisition Strategy in Massachusetts (Plus Tips on Getting Acquired) From VP Mike Loria”

GreenBytes Secures $3,499,998 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6507c514-9430-42d3-b13b-5c0f82789727&Preview=1 Date 9/19/2010 Company Name GreenBytes Mailing Address 15 Gray Lane Ashway, RI 02804 Company Description GreenBytes is the most efficient data storage system on the market today. An ultra high-efficiency NAS. Website http://www.green-bytes.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $3,499,998 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. SEC … Continue reading “GreenBytes Secures $3,499,998 New Round”

ActiFio Receives $15,999,998 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c8f0e801-2886-4b04-99bd-f3b851aebbae&Preview=1 Date 9/19/2010 Company Name ActiFio Mailing Address 19 Lanes End Weston, MA 02493 Company Description ActiFio is delivering a paradigm shift in the complexity and cost of IT storage ecosystem. Website http://actifio.appspot.com/ Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $15,999,998 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. SEC regulatory … Continue reading “ActiFio Receives $15,999,998 New Financing Round”

Can #NewTwitter Swim Faster Than a Fail Whale?

The Coast Guard reported Thursday that a ship entering San Francisco Bay struck a 25-foot whale and dragged it all the way to Berth 57 at the Port of Oakland, where it was pronounced DOA. (I’m not joking.) If you worked at San Francisco-based Twitter and you were looking for bad omens, this might be … Continue reading “Can #NewTwitter Swim Faster Than a Fail Whale?”

Lycera CEO Resigns After Less Than One Year, Michigan Startup Plans to Keep Boston Presence

The CEO of Lycera, one of Michigan’s high-profile biotech startups, has left the company after less than a year on the job. CEO Bill Sibold, the former Biogen Idec executive who was hired to lead the Plymouth, MI-based startup in January, has resigned to pursue other interests, Xconomy has confirmed. Sibold’s corporate biography no longer … Continue reading “Lycera CEO Resigns After Less Than One Year, Michigan Startup Plans to Keep Boston Presence”

Intel and the Three Ds of the App Store Business

Where are app stores going next? For the past few years, the app store model has spread through the wireless ecosystem like wildfire. There have been a few big winners and lots of…well, losers is probably too strong, but let’s say there are a lot of app stores that have yet to reach critical mass. … Continue reading “Intel and the Three Ds of the App Store Business”

Ironwood Drug Passes Clinical Test, Genzyme Cuts Jobs and Sheds Business Unit, Third Rock Closes $426M Fund, & More Boston-Area Life Sciences News

All eyes continued to be on Genzyme this week, but other New England life sciences companies had interesting developments to report as well. —Good Start Genetics, a three-year-old Boston startup built in part around technology from the Harvard lab of George Church, completed an $18 million Series A round of funding from OrbiMed Advisors, Safeguard … Continue reading “Ironwood Drug Passes Clinical Test, Genzyme Cuts Jobs and Sheds Business Unit, Third Rock Closes $426M Fund, & More Boston-Area Life Sciences News”