Category: Boston

Clean Energy Council, Ignite Prizes Honor Boston-Area Energy Innovators

It must be Clean Energy Week in Boston, judging from all of the trophies, plaques, and award checks being handed out to the region’s energy and cleantech innovation leaders. We wanted to tell you about the winners in two of this week’s biggest events: the MIT Enterprise Forum’s Ignite Clean Energy Prize business plan competition … Continue reading “Clean Energy Council, Ignite Prizes Honor Boston-Area Energy Innovators”

Alnylam Eyes RNAi for Manufacturing Drugs

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, a Cambridge, MA-based developer of RNA-interference drugs, said today that it sees a new business opportunity in using its gene-silencing technology to increase the output of biomanufacturing processes. The company, which has already successfully licensed its RNAi technology for drugs, is looking to make additional money from its science by licensing it for … Continue reading “Alnylam Eyes RNAi for Manufacturing Drugs”

Negotiating a Better Series A Deal

[Updated 11/18/09, see below] This post is about how to get a better deal from VCs investing in your first round of financing. It is also about how to make the deal into a win-win. The idea for the post came from an exchange with @bakespace about some of the resources for entrepreneurs on FastIgnite. … Continue reading “Negotiating a Better Series A Deal”

Cautious Perspectives on Recovery in the IPO, M&A, and Credit Markets

The second half of 2009 provided a good measure of optimism, easing some of the pain investors felt toward the end of 2008 and in early 2009. The stock market has been volatile but up significantly overall. There are signs of increased lending activity. Mergers and acquisitions have picked up. And there’s a pulse in … Continue reading “Cautious Perspectives on Recovery in the IPO, M&A, and Credit Markets”

Dossia Off to Slow Start with Personal Electronic Health Records

Dossia is nearly three years from launching to provide electronic personal health records for major U.S. employers. And though the vision to provide employees of self-insured companies with a secure and portable electronic record of their health information is still alive, so far one company is offering the records to its workers. The Cambridge, MA-based … Continue reading “Dossia Off to Slow Start with Personal Electronic Health Records”

Boston’s Faneuil Hall Is a Finalist for Google Street View Visit—Vote Now, Then Meet Trike Builder Dan Ratner

Being journalists, we here at Xconomy try to refrain from bald political statements or endorsements. We’d never ask you to “vote early and often” for any candidate for office. But this week we can cheerfully recommend that you subvert the democratic process by going to www.google.com/trike and voting as many times as you can for … Continue reading “Boston’s Faneuil Hall Is a Finalist for Google Street View Visit—Vote Now, Then Meet Trike Builder Dan Ratner”

3Com Founder Bob Metcalfe Weighs in on News HP Has Purchased His Old Firm for $2.7 Billion

It was a newsroom holiday today at Xconomy, but Hewlett-Packard didn’t get the memo that we were off: the California company founded by Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard announced today that it would acquire 3Com for $2.7 billion. You can read all about the acquisition deal at a host of news outlets, including the New … Continue reading “3Com Founder Bob Metcalfe Weighs in on News HP Has Purchased His Old Firm for $2.7 Billion”

Aileron’s New Class of Drugs Shown to Get Inside Cells to Block Prime Cancer Target

Cambridge, MA-based Aileron Therapeutics has bet the company on the idea that it has discovered a whole new class of drugs that, like RNA interference, can hit targets in the body that are beyond the reach of conventional chemical compounds and biotech therapies. Today, scientists are reporting the drugs can achieve this goal and block … Continue reading “Aileron’s New Class of Drugs Shown to Get Inside Cells to Block Prime Cancer Target”

Pulmatrix Pulls in $30.2M, GenArts Gobbles Up Wondertouch, BioVex Bags $30M, & More Boston-Area Deals News

Several of New England’s tech and life sciences firms got juicy deals the past week and a half. —Boston’s RunMyErrand, an online clearinghouse where busy people can find helpers for odd jobs, raised $1 million in a Series A venture financing round. The cash, from California investors Baseline Ventures and Maples Investments, will help the … Continue reading “Pulmatrix Pulls in $30.2M, GenArts Gobbles Up Wondertouch, BioVex Bags $30M, & More Boston-Area Deals News”

Right Brains Wanted: Sanofi-Aventis Wants to Tap the Creative Genius of Boston-Area Biotechs

Sanofi-Aventis (NYSE: [[ticker:SNY]]) hosted a large event at its R&D site in Cambridge, MA, yesterday to make its pitch for why Boston-area biotech companies should want to form partnerships with the French drug giant. It was an impressive show of force by the company, which has historically kept a lower profile in local biotech circles … Continue reading “Right Brains Wanted: Sanofi-Aventis Wants to Tap the Creative Genius of Boston-Area Biotechs”

HP Acquires 3Com Corporation for $2,700,000,000

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=94fdfc82-aa60-4f2b-ba0f-1ead93415159&Preview=1 Date 11/11/2009 Company Name 3Com Corporation Mailing Address 350 Campus Drive Marlborough, MA 01752-3064 Company Description Throughout our 30-year history, 3Com has been an innovator in developing networks for global enterprises of all sizes. Since the company’s inception and delivery of its first Ethernet transceiver and adapter, 3Com has consistently offered … Continue reading “HP Acquires 3Com Corporation for $2,700,000,000”

Don Dodge Weighs In On Leaving Microsoft, What’s Next, and Friends Old and New

It was big news here in New England last week when Don Dodge announced on his blog that he had been laid off from Microsoft as part of some 800 layoffs at the software powerhouse. Dodge had been a regular on the innovation scene here in New England—and around the world, really—and was known as … Continue reading “Don Dodge Weighs In On Leaving Microsoft, What’s Next, and Friends Old and New”

Vertex Turns $109M Debt Into Stock

Vertex Pharmaceuticals, the Cambridge, MA-based developer of treatments for hepatitis C, said today that investors who hold about $109 million worth of debt securities have converted those holdings into equity stakes. The deal doesn’t leave Vertex debt free, because the company still has to pay back $35 million in principal, at a 4.75 percent interest … Continue reading “Vertex Turns $109M Debt Into Stock”

Xconomy Auction for Charity—Autographed Collector’s Edition of Turbine’s Lord of the Rings: Mines of Moria

Do you love fantasy role-playing games? Do you enjoy collecting one-of-a-kind autographed artifacts? Do you like supporting good causes? Then this is your lucky week. Through the generosity of the good folks at Turbine, the Westwood, MA-based publisher of online fantasy games, Xconomy has obtained an amazing Collector’s Edition boxed set of Turbine’s most popular … Continue reading “Xconomy Auction for Charity—Autographed Collector’s Edition of Turbine’s Lord of the Rings: Mines of Moria”

Three New England Deal Stories: Startups Pursuing Emotional Sensors, Drugs for Pets, & Mobile Video Raise Some Bucks

We spotted three New England startups today that have recently filed papers with the SEC to report new rounds of equity financing. Other than their common geographic ties to region, it’s tough to see any relationship among these firms. But here’s a brief synopsis of the deals and what each company does: —Waltham, MA-based Affectiva … Continue reading “Three New England Deal Stories: Startups Pursuing Emotional Sensors, Drugs for Pets, & Mobile Video Raise Some Bucks”

Ironwood Gets $75M Deal From Astellas to Market Bowel Drug in Asia

[Update: 10:42 am Eastern, 11/10/09] Cambridge, MA-based Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, the developer of a treatment for chronic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome, has formed a partnership with Japan-based Astellas Pharma to market the drug in Japan and certain other countries in Asia. Ironwood will get $75 million in upfront and pre-commercial milestone payments as well as … Continue reading “Ironwood Gets $75M Deal From Astellas to Market Bowel Drug in Asia”

Hamilton Thorne Raises $2.2M

Beverly, MA-based Hamilton Thorne, which makes laser equipment used in stem-cell research labs and fertility clinics, has raised $2.2 million in a private stock placement and debt conversion deal, according to an announcement released last week. A the same time, the company, which recently completed a merger with Ottawa, Ontario-based Calotto Capital, will soon be … Continue reading “Hamilton Thorne Raises $2.2M”

Cambridge Public Library Grand Opening: A Beautiful Library for a Great Innovation City

When they write the book on great libraries of the world, a few legendary names will come to mind: Alexandria; Pergamum (the city where papyrus is said to have been invented) in what is now Turkey; the British Library; the New York Public Library; and of course, the U.S. Library of Congress. The new public … Continue reading “Cambridge Public Library Grand Opening: A Beautiful Library for a Great Innovation City”

BioVex Nails Down Another $30M To Finish Pivotal Study of Cancer-Killing Virus

BioVex, the Woburn, MA-based company aspiring to create the first FDA-approved cancer-killing virus, has raised an additional $30 million in private financing to finish off a pivotal clinical trial needed to prove the virus is good enough to reach the U.S. market. This latest round brings BioVex’s grand total of financing this year to $70 … Continue reading “BioVex Nails Down Another $30M To Finish Pivotal Study of Cancer-Killing Virus”

Tokai Pushes Edge With Three-Pronged Attack on Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer has been one of the hot fields for new biotech drug development this year, and now Cambridge, MA-based Tokai Pharmaceuticals is getting into the game with a drug that it hopes will someday help men live longer and push the boundaries of science even further. Tokai, which raised $22 million in May from … Continue reading “Tokai Pushes Edge With Three-Pronged Attack on Prostate Cancer”

Former Pfizer R&D Chief Joins PureTech Ventures as Senior Partner

PureTech Ventures says it has swelled its ranks with another Big Pharma veteran. John LaMattina, former president of global research and development at Pfizer, has joined the Boston-based venture firm as senior partner. PureTech has also promoted previous firm associates Eric Elenko and Steve Muniz to partner. LaMattina—who retired from New York-based Pfizer (NYSE:[[ticker:PFE]]) in … Continue reading “Former Pfizer R&D Chief Joins PureTech Ventures as Senior Partner”

BioVex Garners $30,000,000 Series F Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ffb186d1-ab19-4295-9783-f0ee4d4c8c77&Preview=1 Date 11/10/2009 Company Name BioVex Mailing Address 34 Commerce Way Woburn, MA 01801 Company Description The Company is developing a new class of potent biologics for the treatment of cancer and prevention of infectious disease. Website http://www.biovex.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $30,000,000 Transaction Round Series F Proceeds Purposes The … Continue reading “BioVex Garners $30,000,000 Series F Funding”

Life Technologies Acquires BioTrove for Undisclosed Sum

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6cdd13e2-5e29-41b6-b290-c932c46b2563&Preview=1 Date 11/10/2009 Company Name BioTrove Mailing Address 12 Gill Street Woburn, MA 01801 Company Description BioTrove, Inc. is a privately held biotechnology company focused on leveraging revolutionary micro- and nano-scale engineering solutions to overcome current bottlenecks in pharmaceutical drug discovery and biotechnology. Website http://www.biotrove.com Transaction Type M&A Transaction Amount Undisclosed Transaction … Continue reading “Life Technologies Acquires BioTrove for Undisclosed Sum”

Helicos Takes Itself Off Block

Helicos Biosciences (NASDAQ: [[ticker:HLCS]]) said today that it has decided to call off discussions that could lead to a sale of the company, because of its “improving standalone prospects and its current market valuation.” The Cambridge, MA-based company hired Thomas Weisel Partners consider strategic alternatives earlier this year, and will continue to work with the … Continue reading “Helicos Takes Itself Off Block”

Founder Collective Debuts with $40M

The new Somerville, MA-based venture fund Founder Collective made a public debut today in a blog post by founder Chris Dixon, the CEO and co-founder of New York-based Hunch. Joining Dixon in the collective are serial entrepreneurs Eric Paley (Brontes Technologies), Dave Frankel (Internet Solutions), Mark Gerson (Gerson Lehrman Group), Zach Klein (Vimeo), Bill Trenchard … Continue reading “Founder Collective Debuts with $40M”

Boston’s Mobile Startups React to Google’s $750M AdMob Purchase

I was at the offices of uLocate, a Boston startup with a suite of location-aware information services for mobile phones, when I heard today’s news about Google’s $750 million acquisition of San Mateo, CA-based AdMob, which runs one of the largest mobile advertising networks. “It’s a very good thing,” commented Walt Doyle, uLocate’s CEO, who … Continue reading “Boston’s Mobile Startups React to Google’s $750M AdMob Purchase”

Litl Webbook Ships Today

The Litl Webbook, a new home media computer unveiled by Boston-based Litl last week, officially ships to buyers starting today. The $699 device, which is available from Amazon and directly from Litl’s website, has already attracted a wide range of reactions, from Netbook Choice‘s “intriguing” to Engadget‘s “unbelievably overpriced.” Xconomy was the first to cover … Continue reading “Litl Webbook Ships Today”

Clean Energy Week Preview: Of Green Ties and 52 Startups

We’ve noticed a slowing of venture investment in cleantech and other aspects of energy here in New England. But put any green investment pessimism on hold this week—as today marks the start off what’s being touted as the third annual Clean Energy Week here in Massachusetts. In a week of charged-up presentations from Springfield to … Continue reading “Clean Energy Week Preview: Of Green Ties and 52 Startups”

Concert Starts HIV Trial, Bags $12M From Glaxo to Help Challenge Gilead’s Once-Daily Pill

Concert Pharmaceuticals, the Lexington, MA-based company that chemically modifies existing drugs to make them more attractive, has started human testing of an HIV medication which it hopes will help GlaxoSmithKline wrestle back market share it has been losing to Gilead Sciences, the world’s largest maker of HIV drugs. Concert will receive a $12 million payment … Continue reading “Concert Starts HIV Trial, Bags $12M From Glaxo to Help Challenge Gilead’s Once-Daily Pill”

Startup Failure: Seattle’s Stigma, Boston’s Chip on Its Shoulder, and Silicon Valley’s Badge of Honor

“People say if you fail in Seattle, you’re screwed,” said Marcelo Calbucci. “If you fail in the Bay Area, you just have a badge of honor.” We were at the TechStars reunion event in Seattle last week, listening to early-stage investors Brad Feld, Andy Sack, Steve Hall, Greg Gottesman, Shawn Broderick, and Chris Sheehan speak … Continue reading “Startup Failure: Seattle’s Stigma, Boston’s Chip on Its Shoulder, and Silicon Valley’s Badge of Honor”

Viridity Points to Greener, and Cheaper, Data Centers

Any company that owns or manages a data center, even a small one, knows how power-hungry they can be. It’s not unusual for operators of large data centers—say, 50,000 square feet—to pay $10 million a year or more for electricity. Under those circumstances, companies have every incentive to look to virtualization and other technologies that … Continue reading “Viridity Points to Greener, and Cheaper, Data Centers”

Ion Torrent, Stealthy Company Tied to Harvard’s George Church, Nabs $23M Venture Deal

Ion Torrent Systems, a company advised by Harvard University genomics pioneer George Church, has raised $23 million in new capital to develop what it calls on its website “groundbreaking and highly disruptive technology” and to hire people who “want to do what it takes to put a dent in the universe.” The company, which has … Continue reading “Ion Torrent, Stealthy Company Tied to Harvard’s George Church, Nabs $23M Venture Deal”

LogMeIn Stockholders To Cash In

Woburn, MA-based remote control software company LogMeIn (NASDAQ: [[ticker:LOGM]]), which went public in July, said today that early investors plan to sell 2.9 million of their shares in a secondary public offering. At this afternoon’s share price of around $19.35, that would bring the stockholders some $56.1 million. Venture backers Prism VentureWorks and Polaris Venture … Continue reading “LogMeIn Stockholders To Cash In”

Bitwave Raises $1.3M of $6M Round

Bitwave Semiconductor of Chelmsford, MA, has raised $1.33 million out of a planned $6 million Series C equity funding round, according to regulatory documents. The company makes radio-frequency integrated circuits for portable devices. Bitwave collected $10 million in Series B funding from Apex Venture Partners, TVM Capital, and ECentury Capital Partners in August, 2008.

Is it Real or Is It High Dynamic Range? How Software Is Changing the Way We Look at Photographs

You know how listening to music on a friend’s pricey Bose headphones makes it harder to tolerate your tinny little speakers at home, or watching your favorite show on a high-definition screen spoils you for regular TV? I’m at a moment like that in the way I look at photographs. For the last few weeks, … Continue reading “Is it Real or Is It High Dynamic Range? How Software Is Changing the Way We Look at Photographs”

Game Over for Zeemote

Zeemote, a Chelmsford, MA-based startup that developed a handheld game controller for use with games on mobile handsets, has closed its doors and is putting its assets up for sale, according to a story today in Mass High Tech. Founded in 2005 by Boston-area entrepreneur Beth Marcus, the company worked with handset manufacturers Nokia, Samsung, … Continue reading “Game Over for Zeemote”

A Tale of Three Cities: How Boston, Boulder, and Seattle Measure Up as Tech Innovation Hubs

I was chatting with a couple of local investors at the TechStars (seed fund and mentorship program) event in Seattle on Wednesday. They thought the VC panel discussion of the startup climate and culture in different cities around the country was boring. If you’re an entrepreneur or investor, they said, that’s just where you are, … Continue reading “A Tale of Three Cities: How Boston, Boulder, and Seattle Measure Up as Tech Innovation Hubs”

BitWave Semiconductor Lands $1,330,000 Series C Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=181ba811-5c9c-4e20-a092-b900fc152a64&Preview=1 Date 11/6/2009 Company Name BitWave Semiconductor Mailing Address 900 Chelmsford Street Lowell, MA 01851 Company Description Since its inception, BitWave has been dedicated to the development of a universal programmable transceiver, the Softransceiver™ RFIC to meet this industry problem. The patent pending technology embodied in the product is unique and will … Continue reading “BitWave Semiconductor Lands $1,330,000 Series C Funding Round”

GreatCall Paid With Stock for MobiWatch

A regulatory filing made last month by GreatCall, the San Diego-based parent of Jitterbug, offers some insight into the value of Jitterbug’s acquisition of Waltham, MA-based MobiWatch. Jitterbug announced the deal yesterday but declined to comment beyond its press release. The filing shows that GreatCall provided 630,000 shares of common stock to MobiWatch and its … Continue reading “GreatCall Paid With Stock for MobiWatch”

Gloucester Pharma Wins FDA Approval of Drug for Rare Skin Cancer

Gloucester Pharmaceuticals has won clearance to start selling its first cancer drug in the U.S. The Cambridge, MA-based biotech company said today it has gotten the green light from the FDA to start marketing its romidepsin treatment, under the brand name Istodax, for patients with a rare malignancy of the skin known as cutaneous T-cell … Continue reading “Gloucester Pharma Wins FDA Approval of Drug for Rare Skin Cancer”

**SOLD OUT**Xconomy Forum: Cloud3

In barely two years, cloud computing has transformed itself from a nebulous newcomer into a fixture of the IT landscape that no high-tech company, investor, or entrepreneur can afford to ignore. At the same time, cloud options—from Software as a Service to Platform as a Service to Infrastructure as a Service, and from private clouds … Continue reading “**SOLD OUT**Xconomy Forum: Cloud3“

Evergreen Solar to Move Solar Panel Production from Massachusetts to China

[Updated and corrected—8:30 pm ET on 11/05/09]Marlboro, MA-based Evergreen Solar (NASDAQ:[[ticker:ESLR]]) said it will move its solar panel production from Massachusetts to China—dealing a blow to the clean technology economy in the commonwealth. Evergreen plans to begin migrating the manufacturing of solar panels out of its Devens, MA, plant to a facility under construction in … Continue reading “Evergreen Solar to Move Solar Panel Production from Massachusetts to China”

Build it Boldly, and Pharma Will Come—and More Wisdom from Boston’s Biotech and Pharma Elite at Xconomy Forum

It was an inspiring afternoon yesterday at Xconomy’s latest event, “Pharma’s Bet on Boston Innovation,” in Cambridge, MA. Local industry pioneers such as Millennium CEO Deborah Dunsire and Sirtris CEO Christoph Westphal talked about how game-changing technologies and sound business strategies have attracted big pharmaceutical outfits to invest in their respective companies. Our speakers also … Continue reading “Build it Boldly, and Pharma Will Come—and More Wisdom from Boston’s Biotech and Pharma Elite at Xconomy Forum”

Six Easy Pieces: Google CEO Eric Schmidt Talks with Boston Journalists

There must be some new force pulling West Coast tech CEOs to visit Boston. Last month, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was in town; yesterday it was Google CEO Eric Schmidt. To mark the unusual occasion, Google invited a raft of journalists to its offices in Cambridge for an open, on-the-record roundtable discussion with Schmidt. Google’s … Continue reading “Six Easy Pieces: Google CEO Eric Schmidt Talks with Boston Journalists”

Konarka Finding New Partners for Power Plastic, But Faces Major Market Hurdles

Konarka Technologies, the Lowell, MA-based developer of flexible materials that convert light into electricity, is showing how everyday items like handbags and umbrellas can be turned into power generators. But the eight-year-old firm will need to collect a lot more juice before it can become a commercial success. The company—which has raised $150 million from … Continue reading “Konarka Finding New Partners for Power Plastic, But Faces Major Market Hurdles”

Enlight Biosciences Forms Partnership with Abbott Labs

There’s big news about Enlight Biosciences breaking here at the Xconomy Forum: Pharma’s Bet on Boston Innovation. Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:[[ticker:ABT]]) has joined the consortium of big pharmas that are supporting Enlight, according to CEO David Steinberg; the Boston-based startup is out to develop platform technologies to help large drug companies like Abbott streamline the processes … Continue reading “Enlight Biosciences Forms Partnership with Abbott Labs”

Keeping Details to a Minimum, San Diego’s Jitterbug Announces Acquisition of MobiWatch of Waltham, MA

San Diego-based Jitterbug, the simple-to-use wireless phone and services provider, says today it has acquired MobiWatch, a startup in Waltham, MA, developing mobile personal emergency response services. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Jitterbug says the deal will provide its users with personal safety services that are intuitive, reliable and deliverable through its Samsung-made … Continue reading “Keeping Details to a Minimum, San Diego’s Jitterbug Announces Acquisition of MobiWatch of Waltham, MA”

Microsoft Dumps Don Dodge

Don Dodge, admired by many technology entrepreneurs as Microsoft’s enthusiastic ambassador to the startup world, is one of those swept up in today’s big round of layoffs at the software giant. Dodge was director of business development for the Emerging Business Team, working from Microsoft’s offices in Cambridge, MA. Dodge revealed the news in a … Continue reading “Microsoft Dumps Don Dodge”