Last month I connected by phone with Extend Media‘s founder and president Keith Kocho. At the time, Kocho was sole leader of the Boston-based startup, which makes video management software for media companies. Given that Extend specializes in delivering video content across multiple platforms—over the broadband Internet to PCs, over traditional cable networks to TV … Continue reading “Extend Media Expands Video Delivery Options for Cable Providers—But Will They Bite Fast Enough to Stop Defections?”
Category: Boston
Can Business Schools Teach Entrepreneurship?
When the Dow is sitting at half its 52-week high, the U.S. economy is shedding about a half million jobs a month, and the financial institutions of entire countries are collapsing, it’s as good a time as any to do some hard thinking about your professional future. At business schools these days, more and more … Continue reading “Can Business Schools Teach Entrepreneurship?”
Basho Technologies Inc Garners $2,000,000 Series B Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ca92f9e0-9fce-4b42-87fc-91b3bd9ca1f5&Preview=1 Date 4/9/2009 Company Name Basho Technologies Inc Mailing Address 196 Broadway Cambridge, MA 02139 Company Description Basho Technologies delivers sales software and services that drive more deals more efficiently to generate more revenue. Sales professionals no longer need to guess what works and what doesn’t as they navigate the sales process. … Continue reading “Basho Technologies Inc Garners $2,000,000 Series B Funding Round”
HighRoads Inc. Secures $1,500,000 Series C Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=1e6347c8-9904-43ca-b45e-91b643b81e6e&Preview=1 Date 4/9/2009 Company Name HighRoads Inc. Mailing Address 150 Presidential Way Woburn, MA 01801 Company Description IE-Engine Inc. is the leading developer of Human Resource Cost Management (HRCM) software. The Company’s Web-based applications enable HR decision makers at Global 1000 organizations to make better strategic decisions, reduce costs and increase the … Continue reading “HighRoads Inc. Secures $1,500,000 Series C Round”
When is Venture Capital Right for your Early Stage Company?
From the event sponsor: “The Capital Network (TCN), an organization for entrepreneurs seeking funding, presents When is Venture Capital Right for your Early Stage Company? You’re an entrepreneur with a great idea and you need money to keep going. Is venture capital the right source? What are the benefits and trade-offs of working with a … Continue reading “When is Venture Capital Right for your Early Stage Company?”
Xconomy Forum Speakers: Exciting But Tricky Times for Mobile Entrepreneurs
A standing-room-only crowd gathered yesterday for Xconomy’s Forum on the Future of Mobile Innovation in New England, hosted by Microsoft at its gorgeous new New England Research and Development Center (or NERD, as Microsoft’s Reed Sturtevant called it). Google’s Rich Miner, MIT’s Sandy Pentland, and two panels’ worth of mobile entrepreneurs were on hand to … Continue reading “Xconomy Forum Speakers: Exciting But Tricky Times for Mobile Entrepreneurs”
Fetzer New CEO of Cerulean Pharma
Oliver Fetzer has been named the new CEO of Cerulean Pharma, a Cambridge, MA-based developer of nanoparticle-based drugs for cancer and other diseases, according to the company. Fetzer, who was previously senior vice president of corporate development and R&D at Lexington, MA-based Cubist Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:[[ticker:CBST]]), is taking over the chief executive post from veteran biotech … Continue reading “Fetzer New CEO of Cerulean Pharma”
Spark Capital Backs Brownsberger’s Bill to Ban Non-Competes
Boston’s Spark Capital came out publicly today in favor of Massachusetts House Bill 1794, which would outlaw non-compete agreements in employment contracts in the state. The venture firm has been vocal on the issue for some time—its partners helped found the Alliance for Open Competition and sent Governor Deval Patrick an open letter opposing non-compete … Continue reading “Spark Capital Backs Brownsberger’s Bill to Ban Non-Competes”
Clinical Data Sheds Cogenics, Codon Devices Codes, Mass Medical Angels Revs Up, & More Boston-Area Life Sciences News
The news this week from New England’s life sciences sector is all across the spectrum, with a new angel group forming to launch new companies and several firms struggling (and in one case, failing) to survive. —Bob hosted a panel at the Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center’s fifth annual Early-Stage Life Sciences Technology Conference and came … Continue reading “Clinical Data Sheds Cogenics, Codon Devices Codes, Mass Medical Angels Revs Up, & More Boston-Area Life Sciences News”
Bio Bigwigs from Boston and Beyond Gather in Cambridge to Discuss Future of Drug Development, Venture Capital, and Deals with Pharma
There’s little arguing (at least from me) that the hottest ticket in town yesterday was the Boston Red Sox’ opening day game at Fenway Park—but for ardent biotech fans in the Hub there was arguably no better place to be than across the Charles River in Cambridge for the Boston Biotech Business Development Conference. The … Continue reading “Bio Bigwigs from Boston and Beyond Gather in Cambridge to Discuss Future of Drug Development, Venture Capital, and Deals with Pharma”
Management Health Solutions, Inc. Garners $2,000,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=0238fb70-a3c0-4fd4-a489-61975bb83574&Preview=1 Date 4/8/2009 Company Name Management Health Solutions, Inc. Mailing Address PO BOX 320548 Fairfield, CT 06825 Company Description Management Health Solutions, Inc. (MHS) offers a range of services to the health care industry designed to improve efficiency and financial performance. Our service line includes third party physical inventory services, data cleansing … Continue reading “Management Health Solutions, Inc. Garners $2,000,000 New Funding Round”
Radie Named TransMolecular CEO
Cambridge, MA-based TransMolecular, a developer of cancer drugs based on a molecule derived from scorpion venom, said today it has named Robert Radie as its president and CEO. Before joining TransMolecular as a business development consultant, Radie held leadership roles at Prestwick Pharmaceuticals, Morphotek, and Vicuron Pharmaceuticals.
Segway, GM Collaborate on Next-Generation Personal Transport
I had to check the calendar when I heard about this to make sure it wasn’t still April Fool’s Day. It appears that Bedford, NH-based Segway and Detroit-based General Motors (NYSE: [[ticker:GM]]) are joining forces to develop a new electric-powered, two-seater vehicle that, like the famous Segway Personal Transporter (PT), balances on two wheels. The … Continue reading “Segway, GM Collaborate on Next-Generation Personal Transport”
Epix Saga Continues with Sale of Imaging-Drug Rights, Exchange Offer
Epix Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:[[ticker:EPIX]]), a Lexington, MA-based biotech firm struggling to survive, has revealed two separate deals today—the sale of certain market rights to its cardiovascular imaging agent and an exchange offer for $100 million in debt—aimed at shoring up its balance sheet and avoiding bankruptcy. Epix sold U.S./Puerto Rican, Canadian, and Australian marketing rights to … Continue reading “Epix Saga Continues with Sale of Imaging-Drug Rights, Exchange Offer”
See You This Afternoon at the [Sold Out!] Xconomy Forum on Mobile Innovation in New England
[Update 12:15 p.m. I’ll be live-tweeting from the event. You can follow me at http://www.twitter.com/wroush. Please use the hash tag #xconmobile if you’re tweeting or blogging about the event.] We’re packing up our laptops, posters, and banners in a couple of hours and heading over to Microsoft’s New England Research and Development Center for Xconomy’s … Continue reading “See You This Afternoon at the [Sold Out!] Xconomy Forum on Mobile Innovation in New England”
Alkermes, Swinging For the Fence, Touts New Anti-Addiction Drug
Alkermes is in the midst of a makeover. The Cambridge, MA-based company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ALKS]]) is morphing from a steady-as-she-goes developer of technology that improves drugs for partners into a more classic biotech that swings for the fence. This means Alkermes is now getting in the high-risk and high-reward game that goes with developing new drugs … Continue reading “Alkermes, Swinging For the Fence, Touts New Anti-Addiction Drug”
Polaris’ Simeonov Strikes Out on Own—Forms Advisory Firm While Looking for the Next Big Thing
Simeon “Sim” Simeonov, a longtime technology partner at Polaris Venture Partners, has left the venture company to launch his own endeavor—an advisory firm to help startups. Simeonov put together the website for his firm, FastIgnite, over the weekend. The homepage shows a turtle with a rocket strapped to its back, with a lit match primed … Continue reading “Polaris’ Simeonov Strikes Out on Own—Forms Advisory Firm While Looking for the Next Big Thing”
Ember Corporation Lands $8,000,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=03fded87-b8b5-41e5-9212-bbbe63aaa4e1&Preview=1 Date 4/7/2009 Company Name Ember Corporation Mailing Address 47 Farnsworth Street Boston, MA 02210 Company Description Ember enables communication among embedded microcontrollers with standards-based wireless mesh networking semiconductors and software. Website http://www.ember.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $8,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. M&A Terms … Continue reading “Ember Corporation Lands $8,000,000 New Funding Round”
A123Systems Will Supply Batteries for Chrysler’s Electric Vehicles
If struggling automaker Chrysler survives its current financial crisis, it will likely come out the other end with a different owner (the Obama Administration wants it to link up with Italy’s Fiat) and a different lineup of vehicles. In fact, it’s already working on a line of electric-only automobiles, including five Dodge, Jeep, and Chrysler … Continue reading “A123Systems Will Supply Batteries for Chrysler’s Electric Vehicles”
Everypoint Launches News Reader for Java Phones
Back in December 2008 we wrote about the launch of Everypoint, a Boston startup working on a platform that makes it easy for developers to write cool iPhone-like applications for Java-capable phones, which includes most feature phones (i.e. non-smartphones) these days. To seed developer efforts, Everypoint started out by releasing a few of its own … Continue reading “Everypoint Launches News Reader for Java Phones”
Lilliputian Discovers $25M, Biovex Bags $40M, Clinical Data Cedes Cogenics to Beckman Coulter for $17M, & More Boston-Area Deals News
This past week saw a decent amount of venture dealmaking for Massachusetts tech and life sciences firms, with Woburn’s BioVex and Wilmington’s Lilliputian Systems scoring the biggest rounds. —Boston-area biotech startup TargAnox closed a $5.1 million Series A funding round led by Ascent Biomedical Ventures. Partners Innovation Fund contributed $250,000 to the round and helped … Continue reading “Lilliputian Discovers $25M, Biovex Bags $40M, Clinical Data Cedes Cogenics to Beckman Coulter for $17M, & More Boston-Area Deals News”
Ember Raises $8 Million on Strength of Obama Administration’s Smart Grid Plans
Ember, the Boston-based maker of wireless mesh-networking chipsets for communications between devices such as utility meters and thermostats, will announce today that it has topped off its coffers with an $8 million funding round from a group of venture firms and strategic partners. CEO Robert LeFort says that if government stimulus spending on energy efficiency … Continue reading “Ember Raises $8 Million on Strength of Obama Administration’s Smart Grid Plans”
MedAptus, Inc. Obtains $6,000,000 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=57f688f9-ecfc-43dd-9605-5c1859768423&Preview=1 Date 4/6/2009 Company Name MedAptus, Inc. Mailing Address 176 Federal Street, 3rd Floor Boston, MA 02110 Company Description Physician-founded MedAptus was incorporated in 1999 with the belief that in order for point-of-care technologies to make sense, they must be easy to use, deliver demonstrable financial benefits and also leverage an organization’s … Continue reading “MedAptus, Inc. Obtains $6,000,000 New Round”
Ember Corporation Obtains $8,000,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=03fded87-b8b5-41e5-9212-bbbe63aaa4e1&Preview=1 Date 4/6/2009 Company Name Ember Corporation Mailing Address 47 Farnsworth Street Boston, MA 02210 Company Description Ember enables communication among embedded microcontrollers with standards-based wireless mesh networking semiconductors and software. Website http://www.ember.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $8,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes The money will be used “to support … Continue reading “Ember Corporation Obtains $8,000,000 New Financing”
NuView Systems Inc Garners $5,000,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=740cbefe-bb7a-4f98-9296-e62a9609c997&Preview=1 Date 4/6/2009 Company Name NuView Systems Inc Mailing Address 200 Brickstone Square, Suite 303, Andover, MA 01810 Company Description NuView Systems Inc. specializes in comprehensive HR and Payroll solutions to global companies.NuView also provides implementation assistance, project management, on-site training, customizatio n, data conversion, on-going support and interfaces to benefit carriers, … Continue reading “NuView Systems Inc Garners $5,000,000 New Funding Round”
Boston Cyberarts Festival
The biennial Boston Cyberarts Festival is the first and largest collaboration of artists working in new technologies in all media in North America, encompassing visual arts, dance, music, electronic literature, web art, and public art. Events take place at locations in and around Boston, including theatres, museums, galleries, artists’ studios, educational institutions, and other public … Continue reading “Boston Cyberarts Festival”
Cambridge Science Festival
The Cambridge Science Festival, presented by the MIT Museum, showcases Cambridge as an internationally recognized leader in science, technology, engineering, and math. A multifaceted, multicultural event held every spring, the festival makes science accessible, interactive and fun. Events range from a seminar on building augmented-reality GPS games to a “Listening Party” hosted by Jad Abumrad … Continue reading “Cambridge Science Festival”
Magen BioSciences Sold for $14.5M, Codon Devices Closing Doors
These probably aren’t the rosy endings that VC backers had in mind when the promising Boston-area life sciences startups Magen BioSciences and Codon Devices were launched in recent years. But the news today is that Waltham-based Magen has been sold for less than it raised in its first round of financing, and the Boston Globe … Continue reading “Magen BioSciences Sold for $14.5M, Codon Devices Closing Doors”
600 Jobs Cut at MKS
Andover, MA-based MKS Instruments (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MKSI]]), which makes measurement and control equipment for advanced manufacturing processes, said today that it reduced its global workforce by 600 positions, or about 23 percent, at the end of the first quarter. The cuts are expected to save $40 million per year, helping the company to weather a falloff … Continue reading “600 Jobs Cut at MKS”
PE Fund Acquires M/A-COM
Lowell, MA-based wireless chipmaker M/A-COM Technology Solutions, formerly a unit of UK-based Cobham, has been acquired by John Ocampo, owner of GaAs Labs, a California private equity fund specializing in semiconductor companies, M/A-COM announced today. Ocampo paid $30 million in cash and $30 million in senior loan notes, and could pay up to $30 million … Continue reading “PE Fund Acquires M/A-COM”
A Visit to the Capitol Markets (Part 4—Final Installment)
April 2—(I am back aboard Delta Airlines, this time in Seat 7B, slowly moving up in life…much smoother, too). As expected, the two-day junket went quickly. Today was mainly a series of briefs from the Department of Energy’s Program Managers (the professional/career DOE staffers that manage the various technology verticals). In many ways, it was … Continue reading “A Visit to the Capitol Markets (Part 4—Final Installment)”
Alnylam Starts Liver Cancer Trial
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ALNY]]), the Cambridge, MA-based developer of RNA interference drug technology, said today it has started an early-phase clinical trial of a treatment for liver cancer. The trial is important because it is Alnylam’s first attempt to make an RNAi drug that can circulate throughout the body, as CEO John Maraganore explained in … Continue reading “Alnylam Starts Liver Cancer Trial”
Xconomy’s Mobile Innovation Forum Coming on Tuesday—Don’t Miss It
If you followed the the CTIA convention in Las Vegas this week, then you’ve been steeped in news about things like the Palm Pre, Skype for the iPhone, Firefox’s Fennec mobile browser, 4G services from Verizon and Clearwire, Kindle competitors from Verizon, AT&T, and News Corp., and new application stores for Blackberry, Nokia, and Windows … Continue reading “Xconomy’s Mobile Innovation Forum Coming on Tuesday—Don’t Miss It”
Infoscitex Foundation 2009 Fundraising Golf Tournament
Attention golfers: here’s your chance to hit the links and raise money for science education at the same time. The Infoscitex Foundation awards college scholarships to financially disadvantaged high school students possessing a high degree of interest and excellence in mathematics, science or technology. More information here, registration here.
Mass Medical Angels Forms to Invest in Life Sciences Startups-And Get the Ball Rolling for VCs
Richard Anders, a veteran Boston-area entrepreneur and investor, has long shown an interest in life sciences through his affiliations with the Museum of Science in Boston, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology program, and other organizations. Along the way, he’s seen a major problem: many promising life sciences inventions never reach … Continue reading “Mass Medical Angels Forms to Invest in Life Sciences Startups-And Get the Ball Rolling for VCs”
China Hybrid Maker Chooses A123
SAIC Motor Corporation, a state-owned carmaker in Shanghai, China, plans to use iron-phosphate-based lithium ion batteries from Watertown, MA-based A123 Systems for a new gasoline-electric hybrid car that could be available in China by 2010, according to a report yesterday in the Wall Street Journal. The Journal said A123 executives would not confirm the report, … Continue reading “China Hybrid Maker Chooses A123”
Will Hunch Help You Make Decisions? Signs Point to Yes
Last week I wrote about Twitter, a flawed and difficult-to-grasp social media technology that nonetheless becomes addictive once you get the hang of it—so much so that it’s quickly changing the way many people communicate. This week I’m going to write about Hunch, a flawed and difficult-to-grasp social media technology that nonetheless becomes addictive once … Continue reading “Will Hunch Help You Make Decisions? Signs Point to Yes”
Sepaton Wins $15.5M Series F Round
Marlborough, MA-based Sepaton, a maker of “virtual tape library” backup appliances and data deduplication software for enterprise data protection, said today that it has secured a $15.5 million Series F funding round. The round was led by new investor Focus Ventures of Palo Alto, CA. Existing investors Jerusalem Venture Partners, Menlo Ventures, Valhalla Partners, and … Continue reading “Sepaton Wins $15.5M Series F Round”
Sepaton, Inc. Lands $15,500,000 Series F Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4949bff7-c158-4ebc-97a6-f484256d7407&Preview=1 Date 4/3/2009 Company Name Sepaton, Inc. Mailing Address 400 Nickerson Road Marlborough, MA 01752 Company Description SEPATON is enabling companies of any size to comply with demanding data storage and retrieval requirements by changing the rules of data protection. We provide innovative backup/restore solutions that are cost-effective, intelligent and reliable. The … Continue reading “Sepaton, Inc. Lands $15,500,000 Series F Round”
Cadec Global Locates $4M
Manchester, NH-based Cadec Global, which makes GPS tracking, logging, and safety equipment for fleets of trucks, said today that it has raised $4 million in new capital from existing investor Thule Investments of Reykjavik, Iceland.
Imprivata Buys IdentiPHI’s Biometric Technology
Lexington, MA-based Imprivata, the password management compay we first profiled in November 2007, said today that it has acquired the assets of IdentiPHI, an Austin, TX-based maker of systems that replace password-based access to Windows systems with biometric or smart-card-based access. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Lilliputian Ties Down $25M
Wilmington, MA-based Lilliputian Systems, which is developing fuel cells small enough to power mobile phones and laptops, has raised an additional $25 million in venture funding from a group of new and existing investors, according to a report today in Mass High Tech. The new investors are Stata Venture Partners of Needham, MA, and Altira … Continue reading “Lilliputian Ties Down $25M”
Dimdim Upgrades Its Alternative Web Conferencing System
In last week’s interview with Dimdim CEO DD Ganguly and chief marketing officer Steve Chazin, I hinted that the 5.0 version of the Methuen, MA, company’s Web-based conferencing software was nearing release. Well, today it’s out. Organizations tired of paying high prices to use systems like Cisco’s WebEx, Citrix’s GoToMeeting, and Microsoft’s Live Meeting may … Continue reading “Dimdim Upgrades Its Alternative Web Conferencing System”
CLDA to Sell Cogenics for $17M
Clinical Data (NASDAQ:[[ticker:CLDA]]) has agreed to sell its Cogenics division, an outsourced genomics research business, to Orange County, CA-based life sciences company Beckman Coulter (NYSE:[[ticker:BEC]]) for about $17 million, according to a press release. Newton, MA-based Clinical Data says the deal is expected to close this month and will provide more capital to fund late-stage … Continue reading “CLDA to Sell Cogenics for $17M”
A Visit to the Capitol Markets (Part 3)
~5pm, April 1—Outside the Library of Congress (it’s raining lightly, and hordes of students are milling about). A full day of running around Capitol Hill began yesterday with the New England Clean Energy Council masses arriving at the Capitol Building just as it was having a security alert—again, April Fool’s or not? Turned out to … Continue reading “A Visit to the Capitol Markets (Part 3)”
New E-Mail Management Software from EMC Helps Companies Cope with Litigation
It’s a rare event for EMC, the Hopkinton, MA-based storage and information management giant that has been on an acquisition spree over the last few years, to launch a new product line in-house. But that’s what’s happening this week as EMC rolls out “SourceOne,” a new family of software products designed to help companies prepare … Continue reading “New E-Mail Management Software from EMC Helps Companies Cope with Litigation”
Lilliputian Systems Lands $28,000,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=593c67cd-6b09-446d-9dd1-31b5ec6eea03&Preview=1 Date 4/2/2009 Company Name Lilliputian Systems Mailing Address 6 Keenan Road Winchester, MA 01890 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 Lands $28,000,000 New Funding”
A Visit to the Capitol Markets (Part 2)
Spring has sprung in DC—the Cherry Blossoms are out, and the buses full of students are everywhere. First stop for the day was Congressman Barney Frank’s office to discuss an initiative to develop a clean energy accelerator park in New Bedford, MA. More on this later, but a few immediate takeaways: —The prep work for … Continue reading “A Visit to the Capitol Markets (Part 2)”
RoboBusiness Conference and Expo
Robotics Trends mounts its 6th annual RoboBusiness Conference and Exposition April 15-16, 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts. The company calls it “the ‘must attend’ event for those interested in the business and technical issues related to the development of the personal, service and mobile robotics industry…the only industry event dedicated to the issue of applying emerging … Continue reading “RoboBusiness Conference and Expo”
Nano-Terra in Water Treatment Deal
Nano-Terra, a Cambridge, MA, nanotechnology research and development firm, has formed an alliance with Minneapolis-based multi-industry company Pentair (NYSE:[[ticker:PNR]]) to develop new surface materials for water treatment, according to a press release. Financial details of the alliance weren’t disclosed. Xconomy contributor Neil Savage wrote that Nano-Terra was founded by renowned Harvard chemistry professor George Whitesides … Continue reading “Nano-Terra in Water Treatment Deal”