Our latest Who Knew? list of quirky details on prominent members of the Boston-area innovation community included this one: “Chuck McDermott, general partner at RockPort Capital Partners, dropped out of Yale University to pursue a career as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist. McDermott led a country rock band, Chuck McDermott and Wheatstraw, which drew huge … Continue reading “VC McDermott Rocks to Cleantech”
Category: Boston
PermissionTV Gives Video Publishers Permission to Get Creative
Interactive video is finally being reborn. In the mid-1990s, multimedia artists publishing on CD-ROMs developed a huge catalog of techniques for letting viewers interact with digital video. But as I noted in a column a couple of months go, all of that wisdom seemed to go out the window around 2000, when the broadband Web … Continue reading “PermissionTV Gives Video Publishers Permission to Get Creative”
.406 Ventures Backs Open-Source Video Firm, Thermo Fisher Boosts RNAi Efforts, Cubist Bonds with AstraZeneca, & More Deals News
My favorite deal from last week was the last one, but it’s a little hard to capture the idea of core-sampling frozen sperm in a headline. (Or at least a headline suitable for a family publication such as our own.) —Castile Ventures of Waltham, MA, led a $13 million Series B investment in Sunnyvale, CA’s … Continue reading “.406 Ventures Backs Open-Source Video Firm, Thermo Fisher Boosts RNAi Efforts, Cubist Bonds with AstraZeneca, & More Deals News”
The Collaboration Paradox: Why So Many Leaders Sabotage Their Own Collaborations—and Some Tactics for Getting Things Right
In high-tech fields such as nanotechnology and “smart” devices, breakthroughs increasingly demand the integration of multiple technical fields. Knowing how to achieve real collaboration will make the difference between success and failure. But many people are very skeptical when asked to join collaborations, because the majority of these end up being dominated by the same … Continue reading “The Collaboration Paradox: Why So Many Leaders Sabotage Their Own Collaborations—and Some Tactics for Getting Things Right”
Agios Pharmaceuticals Lands $33,000,000 Series A Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=13e2d2d7-5d74-489f-aeb4-a168957eac5f&Preview=1 Date 7/7/2008 Company Name Agios Pharmaceuticals Mailing Address 29 Newbury Street Boston, MA 02116 Company Description Agios is a biopharmaceutical company at the forefront of one of the most exciting new areas of cancer research: cancer metabolism. Cancer metabolism represents a breakthrough understanding of how cancer cells become addicted to using … Continue reading “Agios Pharmaceuticals Lands $33,000,000 Series A Financing”
Paragon Lake Lands $5,800,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8a16c7a7-e698-4fd9-8e8a-c14b58d7277f&Preview=1 Date 7/6/2008 Company Name Paragon Lake Mailing Address 92 Hayden Avenue Lexington, MA 02421 Company Description At Paragon Lake, our philosophy is simple: Help independent jewelers deliver customized fine jewelry in a way that is both easy and accessible to consumers. We believe that every piece of jewelry should be tailored … Continue reading “Paragon Lake Lands $5,800,000 New Financing”
The Missing Piece in Climate Policy: Renewable Heating and Cooling
It ain’t real sexy, but it’s key: heating and cooling. As the event description reads, “To date, efforts to combat climate change have emphasized reducing fossil fuel emissions through renewable energy technologies that produce less, if any, CO2 emissions. However, most renewable energy policies have only focused on the transportation and electricity sectors, and have … Continue reading “The Missing Piece in Climate Policy: Renewable Heating and Cooling”
Boston Entrepreneurs’ Network Sunset Cruise and Networking Evening
Head out on the high seas—make that Boston Harbor—for the Boston Entrepreneurs’ Network’s 6th annual sunset cruise and networking evening.
Resolvyx Experiment Shows Fish-Oil Derivative Tamps Down Asthma, Inflammation
Fish oil is good for you, we get it. Now we also know, thanks to scientists connected to Bedford, MA-based Resolvyx Pharmaceuticals, that if you give mice tiny doses of a fish oil derivative, you can suppress two specific proteins that play a role in asthma, and other inflammatory diseases. Researchers at Brigham & Women’s … Continue reading “Resolvyx Experiment Shows Fish-Oil Derivative Tamps Down Asthma, Inflammation”
Totspot, WebNotes, Zeer Get Top Billing at Next Web Inno
If you’re feeling like it’s been a long time since the last Web Innovators Group gathering in Cambridge, you’re right. The series has been on hiatus since the last meeting on April 2. The main reason: organizer David Beisel, a vice president at venture firm Venrock, got married and went honeymooning. (Congratulations, David!) If you’ve … Continue reading “Totspot, WebNotes, Zeer Get Top Billing at Next Web Inno”
Boston Scientific Stent, With New Drug Coating, Wins FDA Approval
Boston Scientific (NYSE: [[ticker:BSX]]) said today the FDA has approved a new type of stent for propping open clogged coronary arteries. The FDA cleared for sale the Promus stent that secretes everolimus, a drug designed to reduce scar tissue around the device and reduce blockages. Natick, MA-based Boston Scientific currently sells the Taxus stent coated … Continue reading “Boston Scientific Stent, With New Drug Coating, Wins FDA Approval”
Allied Minds Finances Harvard-Northeastern Startup
In March, we wrote about local investment firm Allied Minds, which has a strategy of investing very early in technology developed in university research labs. Today, Allied Minds announced that it has invested in CryoXtract, a startup launched by researchers from Harvard University and Northeastern University. The inventors of the technology around which CryoXtract was … Continue reading “Allied Minds Finances Harvard-Northeastern Startup”
Cubist Agrees to Promote AstraZeneca Antibiotic
Cubist Pharmaceuticals, the Lexington, MA-based maker of the Cubicin antibiotic, said today it has agreed to promote Merrem, another intravenous antibiotic drug made by AstraZeneca. Cubist, (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CBST]]) will receive a minimum of $20 million a year in revenue under the deal, and the figure could go higher based on Merrem sales, the company said. … Continue reading “Cubist Agrees to Promote AstraZeneca Antibiotic”
Zink’s Mobile Photo Printer Hits Stores This Weekend
Back in January we profiled Zink Imaging, a Bedford, MA, startup breathing new life into an inkless photo printing technology first developed (pardon the pun) at Polaroid before that company’s bankruptcy and dismantlement. This weekend, the first commercial printer based on Zink’s technology will reach consumers—and ironically, it bears the Polaroid brand. The Polaroid PoGo … Continue reading “Zink’s Mobile Photo Printer Hits Stores This Weekend”
CVS Teams with Microsoft, Epix Makes Another Bid at Approval, Thermo Ups RNAi Ante, & More Life Sciences News
OK, “& more” is stretching it this week. But with the long weekend looming, Boston-area life sciences firms can be forgiven if they’re taking things a little easy. —The biggest prescription drug provider in the United States, Woonsocket, RI-based CVS Caremark, teamed up with Microsoft (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MSFT]]) to offer consumers Web-based health information management tools. … Continue reading “CVS Teams with Microsoft, Epix Makes Another Bid at Approval, Thermo Ups RNAi Ante, & More Life Sciences News”
Buzzwire Adds 22 New Mobile Content Channels
Buzzwire, the Bedford, MA, startup that revealed just a couple of weeks ago that it had reached a deal with AT&T to make its streaming media service available to AT&T cellular subscribers, announced today that it has added 22 new content partners to that service. The new Internet audio and video providers whose content will … Continue reading “Buzzwire Adds 22 New Mobile Content Channels”
Looking at the World Through a Paper-Towel Tube: the Future of the Mobile Web Browser
If you want to search the Internet, you’ll probably use your PC rather than your cell phone. But that’s likely to change in the future, I was told the other night at this month’s Mobile Monday Boston event, which focused on how to make better Web browsers for mobile devices. This month’s venue was Orange … Continue reading “Looking at the World Through a Paper-Towel Tube: the Future of the Mobile Web Browser”
IRobot Grand Opening Pretty Grand
Updated with photos from the event: I missed all the speeches, sorry about that. But I still had a great time yesterday afternoon at the grand opening of iRobot’s new headquarters—touring the offices, with its multiple coffee stations and places for employees to hang bikes, examining the Seaglider underwater vehicle, watching a demo of the … Continue reading “IRobot Grand Opening Pretty Grand”
Social Media Lead Generation: The Business of Using Blogs, Podcasts, Message Boards and Facebook
MITX sponsors a morning seminar on using social media tools for marketing. From the MITX event listing: “In a world where attention is scarce, where traditional marketing and sales efforts are not as effective as the past, social media tools are suddenly being taken seriously as effective ways to drive awareness, build relationships, and build … Continue reading “Social Media Lead Generation: The Business of Using Blogs, Podcasts, Message Boards and Facebook”
Progress Acquires Mindreef
Bedford, MA-based Progress Software, which makes software that allows companies to tie legacy business applications together into so-called service oriented architectures (SOA), said yesterday that it has acquired smaller competitor Mindreef. The Hollis, NH-based company, which makes software for building, testing, and maintaining SOA systems, had raised $4 million in a 2003 venture funding round … Continue reading “Progress Acquires Mindreef”
Xconomy’s Cloud Computing Forum—Speaker Slides
Updated: A number of information-hungry attendees of our cloud computing event came up to me during and after the event to request that we post speaker slides. Only about half the speakers actually used slides, and for various reasons they weren’t always comfortable with posting them. But a few—starting with former IBM executive Irving Wladawsky-Berger … Continue reading “Xconomy’s Cloud Computing Forum—Speaker Slides”
At Mascoma, Taxpayers Foot Much of the Biofuel Bill
As part of a strategy to accelerate development of its biomass-to-ethanol technology, Cambridge, MA-based Mascoma appears to be sparking a little competition between state governments anxious to host the facilities that will bring the technology to market first. On Friday, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm announced an agreement between Mascoma, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, forestry … Continue reading “At Mascoma, Taxpayers Foot Much of the Biofuel Bill”
Who’s Afraid of an IPO? Everybody, At the Moment
There are two main doors that a venture-backed company can go through to provide a payday for its early investors: go public, or get acquired. And for the time being, the first door has slammed shut. In the second quarter of 2008, which ended yesterday, there were no initial public offerings by venture-backed companies in … Continue reading “Who’s Afraid of an IPO? Everybody, At the Moment”
Aveksa Wants to Control Europe
Software developer Aveksa, based in Waltham, MA, announced today that it will open a headquarters for Europe, the Middle East and Africa in London. Aveksa’s business is “enterprise access governance solutions”–in other words, controlling who has access to what information inside a company.
Alseres Raises $5 Million From Former Director, Robert Gipson
Alseres Pharmaceuticals, (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ALSE]]) a developer of neurological drugs and diagnostics, said today it raised $5 million in convertible debt from Robert Gipson, a General Partner of Ingalls & Snyder Value Partners, and a former director of the company. Gipson can convert the loan principal into shares of the company’s stock at $2.50 a share. … Continue reading “Alseres Raises $5 Million From Former Director, Robert Gipson”
Boston VCs Beam $13 Million into California Firm Out to Bridge Cellular and WiFi Networks
Two Boston area venture capital firms, Castile Ventures and Battery Ventures, both of Waltham, MA, have invested big in Agito Networks, a mobile technology company based in Sunnyvale, CA, the companies announced today. Castile led the $13 Million series B round, which also includes Japan’s ITX International. Battery led Agito’s $9 million Series A round … Continue reading “Boston VCs Beam $13 Million into California Firm Out to Bridge Cellular and WiFi Networks”
.406 Ventures Leads Kaltura Series B Round
Boston-based venture firm .406 Ventures is the lead investor in a Series B funding round for Kaltura, a Brooklyn, NY-based startup that makes an open-source Internet video platform used by Wikipedia and other publications. The size of the round was not disclosed, but CNET reported that the company said it was “significantly larger” than the … Continue reading “.406 Ventures Leads Kaltura Series B Round”
Build Guild
From the Build Guild website: “Created by two Salem web geeks, Marc Amos & Angelo Simeoni, the Build Guild is a monthly event (Starting in July 2008, and occurring every 2nd Tuesday of the month) where folks in the web industry—designers, coders, project managers, hobbyists, etc.—can get together to talk web, debate industry topics, share … Continue reading “Build Guild”
Tech Tuesdays: Gadgets & Gatherings
Join your fellow geeks, tech savvy professionals, DIY-ers, press, and other industry luminaries for an informal gathering hosted by the Mass Technology Leadership Council at The Skellig in Waltham. Bring your laptops, robots, OLPC XO’s, Amazon Kindles, new cell phones, gadgets, and other new-fangled devices. LCD projector and wi-fi will be available for ad hoc … Continue reading “Tech Tuesdays: Gadgets & Gatherings”
Business of Software 2008
Top speakers from around have been invited to speak at the Business of Software 2008, a “Joel on Software” conference being held in Boston, September 3rd – 4th. Confirmed speakers include: * Joel Spolsky, founder of Fog Creek software, author of several books and the man behind the joelonsoftware blog * Seth Godin, Business Week’s … Continue reading “Business of Software 2008”
Mobile Internet World
From the conference website: “Mobile Internet World attracts attendees from the entire mobile Internet ecosystem. Executives from around the globe attend to learn about the state-of-the-art and state-of-the-practice of the mobile Internet, what role they can play and how they can profit from its opportunities…The first day, October 21 is the pre-conference day, which includes … Continue reading “Mobile Internet World”
What is Reed Sturtevant Up to in Microsoft’s Cambridge Development Lab?
Back in September, we talked to former Eons chief technology officer Reed Sturtevant just before his first day on the job as the head of a special Microsoft advanced development lab opening in Kendall Square, right next to MIT and a stone’s throw from Google’s own lab. An update late last year brought the news … Continue reading “What is Reed Sturtevant Up to in Microsoft’s Cambridge Development Lab?”
$37 Million for Nanotech Insulation, $25 Million for ImmunoGen, $325 Million for Evergreen Solar, & More Deals News
Aren’t things supposed to slow down in the summer? There was lots of dealmaking happening in New England last week, across life sciences and high-tech fields. —Northborough, MA-based Aspen Aerogels, which makes nanotech-based insulation, raised $37 million from Arcapita Ventures, Lehman Brothers Venture Partners, Reservoir Capital Group, and RockPort Capital Partners. —Waltham, MA-based ImmunoGen (NASDAQ: … Continue reading “$37 Million for Nanotech Insulation, $25 Million for ImmunoGen, $325 Million for Evergreen Solar, & More Deals News”
Skyhook Blends GPS, Cellular into Wi-Fi Location-Finding System
Imagine if Microsoft admitted that people might like to run the Macintosh operating system on their Windows computers. Or if Apple made it possible to run Windows alongside Mac OS X. (Oh wait, they already did that.) Well, that’s a little bit like what Boston’s Skyhook Wireless is announcing this week. After spending five years … Continue reading “Skyhook Blends GPS, Cellular into Wi-Fi Location-Finding System”
Alice Therapeutics, Inc. Receives $300,000 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=0484687b-d008-4b7e-9f2a-1713210e3783&Preview=1 Date 6/30/2008 Company Name Alice Therapeutics, Inc. Mailing Address Undisclosed Waltham, MA 02451 Company Description The company is developing biotechnology-based technologies. Website Undisclosed Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $300,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. M&A Terms Venture Investor Advanced Technology Ventures
Acumentrics Corporation Garners $1,254,600 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9a481c22-236e-47e1-849d-2474aa5d49b1&Preview=1 Date 6/30/2008 Company Name Acumentrics Corporation Mailing Address 20 Southwest Park Westwood, MA 02090 Company Description The company quickly became an industry leader in rugged AC and DC uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) for military and industrial power conditioning and backup. Our RuggedUPS products are trusted in punishing environments found in war, … Continue reading “Acumentrics Corporation Garners $1,254,600 New Financing”
Passport Systems Inc. Receives $2,670,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d9c3ecb4-6cf9-4244-a2f4-770412dd9dc6&Preview=1 Date 6/30/2008 Company Name Passport Systems Inc. Mailing Address 70 Treble Cove Road, 1st Floor Billerica, MA 01862 Company Description Passport was founded in December 2002 with the express purpose of commercializing NRF technology to solve one of the world’s most pressing security problems, the non-intrusive inspection of cargo containers. Website … Continue reading “Passport Systems Inc. Receives $2,670,000 New Funding”
Aras Corporation Secures $1,625,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=fc75786c-5b94-429e-bc46-7cc27b2096ab&Preview=1 Date 6/30/2008 Company Name Aras Corporation Mailing Address 300 Brickstone Square Andover, MA 01810 Company Description Aras Corporation is a provider of enterprise Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software. Aras Innovator(TM) is an engineering business application suite with comprehensive out-of-the-box functionality that addresses the rigorous requirements of discrete manufacturing operations for divisions … Continue reading “Aras Corporation Secures $1,625,000 New Financing”
Parcxmart Technologies Receives $568,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7413396b-2df5-4198-958d-c0b9b640f794&Preview=1 Date 6/30/2008 Company Name Parcxmart Technologies Mailing Address 83 Lafayette Road, P.O. Box 365 Hampton Falls, NH 03844 Company Description The Parcxmart™ card and patent-pending payment solution is America’s first fully-functional parking and local merchant smart card payment system. Load and reload money onto the card, and cardholders have a convenient … Continue reading “Parcxmart Technologies Receives $568,000 New Financing”
Lessons From a Year of (Our) Startup Life
You know how, in the excitement of a new relationship, you often find yourself celebrating dozens of little “anniversaries?” The day you met, first date, first… You get the idea. Building a company is like that, with so many milestones to be passed and, a year hence, commemorated. First business plan. First viable business plan. … Continue reading “Lessons From a Year of (Our) Startup Life”
Jingle Jumps Back to Bay State—From Silicon Valley
Jingle Networks, the company behind the advertising-supported directory assistance service 1-800-FREE411, is returning to its Massachusetts roots. The venture-funded startup, which was founded in Burlington, MA, in 2005, announced yesterday that it’s moving its corporate headquarters to Bedford, MA, after several years in Menlo Park, CA. The move coincides with a change in leadership at … Continue reading “Jingle Jumps Back to Bay State—From Silicon Valley”
Moon Madness: Multimedia Treasures from the Apollo Era
Last October marked the 50th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s launch of Sputnik, the world’s first artificial satellite. And next month, Sputnik’s American offspring, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, will also hit its 50th birthday. The milestone has occasioned the biggest flurry of media retrospectives on the space program since Ron Howard’s 1995 film … Continue reading “Moon Madness: Multimedia Treasures from the Apollo Era”
Notes From Xconomy’s Cloud Computing Extravaganza
“Ask not just what the cloud can do for you, but what you can do with the cloud.” — Sim Simeonov, Polaris Venture Partners “My opinion is this is a land grab.” — John Landry, former CTO of Lotus, founder, Lead Dog Ventures “The key is the location of your data. The land grab is … Continue reading “Notes From Xconomy’s Cloud Computing Extravaganza”
CVS Caremark, Microsoft Form Partnership To Help Consumers Track Their Health Data
CVS Caremark, the nation’s largest provider of prescription drugs, is joining forces with Microsoft (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MSFT]]) to help consumers keep better track of their health information, the companies said today in a statement. The deal allows consumers to do things like download a full list of their prescriptions filled at a pharmacy or by mail … Continue reading “CVS Caremark, Microsoft Form Partnership To Help Consumers Track Their Health Data”
Kraft Group Backs Online Talk-Radio Platform
The Kraft Group in Foxborough, MA—which not only owns the New England Patriots but invests heavily in technology ventures such as the Matchmine recommendation engine and the Patriots’ own media-rich website—is the lead investor in a $4.6 million Series A funding round announced yesterday for New York-based social media site BlogTalkRadio. BlogTalkRadio’s Web-based software allows … Continue reading “Kraft Group Backs Online Talk-Radio Platform”
The Cloud Crowd: Photos from Xconomy’s June 24 Cloud Computing Forum
Bob just finished a writeup of our June 24 forum, “The Promise and Reality of Cloud Computing,” which was held at Akamai Headquarters in Kendall Square and was a huge success, with over 150 people in attendance. But we also wanted to offer you a few photos from the event, which had a stellar lineup … Continue reading “The Cloud Crowd: Photos from Xconomy’s June 24 Cloud Computing Forum”
Fear, Competition, and Greed: A Checklist for Making Your Deal Hot to VCs
An entrepreneur asked me at a recent networking event, “So, what makes a deal ‘”hot’” to a venture capitalist?” Of course I told her the stock answer that you would likely get from every VC when presented with that question, something like, “It is a great team with domain experience solving a tough problem in … Continue reading “Fear, Competition, and Greed: A Checklist for Making Your Deal Hot to VCs”
Evergreen Solar Plans $300M Note Sale
Evergreen Solar (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ESLR]]) of Marlboro, MA today announced it plans to sell $300 million worth of senior convertible notes to help fund the completion of its Devens, MA, plant and to begin construction of a new manufacturing facility. Much of the capacity at the Devens plant is now spoken for, thanks to a recent … Continue reading “Evergreen Solar Plans $300M Note Sale”
Aspen Aerogels Scores $37 Million Venture Round For Nanotech Insulation
Aspen Aerogels, the maker of nanotechnology-based insulation products, has snagged $37 million in venture capital, according to a statement on the company’s website. The privately-held company, based in Northborough, MA, received the investment from Arcapita Ventures, Lehman Brothers Venture Partners, Reservoir Capital Group, and RockPort Capital Partners. The company says its aerogel-based insulation products are … Continue reading “Aspen Aerogels Scores $37 Million Venture Round For Nanotech Insulation”
Boston, Seattle Investors Pony Up for Twitter
Twitter, whose hybrid text messaging/social networking/microblogging service has made missives of 140 characters or less into the hottest new form of Internet communication, announced yesterday that it’s finally accepted a major venture funding round. The news couldn’t have come early enough for Twitter addicts, who have been increasingly frantic lately about the service’s frequent outages. … Continue reading “Boston, Seattle Investors Pony Up for Twitter”