A Bose side project in the automotive industry will get new life in the hands of a new owner. ClearMotion, a heavily funded MIT spinout working to commercialize technology aimed at making bumpy car rides go more smoothly, announced Wednesday it has acquired related technologies developed by Bose. The purchase price wasn’t disclosed. Framingham, MA-based … Continue reading “ClearMotion Buys Bose’s Car Suspension Tech to Deliver Smooth Rides”
Category: Boston
Logz.io Collects $23M Round Led by OpenView, Will Double Boston Staff
The flood of data flowing from machines keeps rising, and that means more demand for companies like Logz.io that aim to help IT departments effectively monitor all that information. Now, investors are pouring more money into the software firm to help accelerate its growth. On Wednesday, Logz.io announced it raised $23 million in a Series … Continue reading “Logz.io Collects $23M Round Led by OpenView, Will Double Boston Staff”
Inozyme Gets $49M From Sanofi, Novo to Tackle Rare Infant Disease
Sanofi and Novo Nordisk this morning have put their venture arms to work. The two joined up with two venture firms to back a $49 million round for a fledgling startup, Inozyme Pharmaceuticals. The company aims to develop a therapy for an ultra-rare infant disorder—and possibly some more prevalent diseases too. The startup, based in … Continue reading “Inozyme Gets $49M From Sanofi, Novo to Tackle Rare Infant Disease”
Autodesk Leads $12M Round for Assemble Systems in Latest Boston Deal
Autodesk, the 3D design and engineering software giant, is continuing its investing spree in Boston-area technology startups. The latest beneficiary is Assemble Systems, which on Tuesday announced it received a $12 million Series A funding round led by Autodesk’s Forge Fund. Earlier backers Satterfield Vintage Investments and Assemble Investments also chipped in, according to a … Continue reading “Autodesk Leads $12M Round for Assemble Systems in Latest Boston Deal”
Poshmark Picks Up $87.5M to Power the Social, Digital Wardrobe
Poshmark, a social media e-retail company, has raised $87.5 million in a Series D investment round led by Singapore sovereign wealth fund Temasek. That brings the total funding raised by the Redwood City, CA-based company to $160 million. Other investors in the firm include Mayfield, Menlo Ventures, GGV Capital, Inventus Capital, SoftTech VC, Union Grove … Continue reading “Poshmark Picks Up $87.5M to Power the Social, Digital Wardrobe”
ImmusanT Gets $40M From Arch, Vatera to Continue Celiac Vaccine Quest
ImmusanT has spent years developing an immunotherapy meant to help people with celiac disease tolerate gluten. Today, on the verge of its most substantial clinical test to date, the company has also come up with its biggest round of funding from some well-known backers. Arch Venture Partners has joined previous ImmusanT backer Vatera Healthcare Partners … Continue reading “ImmusanT Gets $40M From Arch, Vatera to Continue Celiac Vaccine Quest”
In a Precision Step, Bayer Writes Loxo $400M Check for Two Cancer Drugs
The latest evidence of the progress of targeted cancer drugs came this morning in the form of a $400 million check. That’s what Bayer will pay, up front, to Loxo Oncology, a company that has the chance to be the second, following Merck, to win approval of a drug for tumors with a specific genetic … Continue reading “In a Precision Step, Bayer Writes Loxo $400M Check for Two Cancer Drugs”
Register Today & Save on What’s Hot in Cybersecurity on Dec. 5
Winter is coming—and so is our second annual cybersecurity conference based in Boston. On December 5, we’ll be gathering leading security tech experts to discuss “What’s Hot in Cybersecurity” at WGBH’s offices in Brighton. At the event we’ll cover topics such as protecting your business from cyber attacks, national security and policy issues, and the … Continue reading “Register Today & Save on What’s Hot in Cybersecurity on Dec. 5”
With $25M, Torque Aims for a More Targeted Cell Therapy for Cancer
Genetic engineering a patient’s own immune cells to make them better cancer fighters is the latest tool in oncology, following FDA approvals of two such therapies this year. But executives at Torque Therapeutics say cell therapy can be further improved by enlisting T cells to carry a drug payload that prompts a more targeted and … Continue reading “With $25M, Torque Aims for a More Targeted Cell Therapy for Cancer”
DFJ Co-Founder Jurvetson Exits Firm Amid Harassment Charges
[Updated 11/15/17, 11:10 am. See below.] One of Silicon Valley’s most prominent venture capital firm founders has joined the list of VCs who departed from their positions this year in the wake of sexual harassment allegations. Steve Jurvetson, co-founder of Draper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ), confirmed via a Twitter post Monday that he has left the … Continue reading “DFJ Co-Founder Jurvetson Exits Firm Amid Harassment Charges”
GE Stock Sinks Further After Revealing Job & Dividend Cuts
[Corrected 11/13/17, 5:57 pm. See below.] General Electric is making cuts as its new CEO tries to simplify the industrial behemoth and turn around its languishing stock price. On Monday, CEO John Flannery (pictured right) outlined a plan to focus on its healthcare, aviation, and power businesses, while shedding at least $20 billion worth of assets, … Continue reading “GE Stock Sinks Further After Revealing Job & Dividend Cuts”
Acquia Taps Former Autonomy and HP Exec Sullivan to Be Next CEO
[Updated 11/13/17, 3:37 pm, with comments from executives.] There’s about to be a new leader at Acquia, one of the Boston area’s more closely watched enterprise tech companies. On Monday, the Web content management software company named Michael Sullivan as its CEO, effective next month. The 52-year-old, pictured at right, has spent more than 25 … Continue reading “Acquia Taps Former Autonomy and HP Exec Sullivan to Be Next CEO”
First Star Ventures Pushes Deeper Into Genomic Data & Blockchain
First Star Ventures might be Boston’s most interesting early-stage startup investor you’ve never heard of. The venture firm has flown somewhat under the radar since it launched three years ago as Procyon Ventures. But it’s starting to make more noise. First Star announced its new moniker last month. “We got tired of people mispronouncing Procyon,” … Continue reading “First Star Ventures Pushes Deeper Into Genomic Data & Blockchain”
Milestones of Innovation 14: The Biggest Damn Firecracker I Ever Saw
At exactly 7 a.m. on Nov. 9, 1967, the roof of the press viewing stand at Cape Canaveral began shaking from what was happening more than three miles from us. The sky seemed to be cracking as a gleaming 363-foot tall rocket began pushing up from Launch Pad 39 and eastward over the Atlantic. As … Continue reading “Milestones of Innovation 14: The Biggest Damn Firecracker I Ever Saw”
Juno Dissects ROCKET Deaths, Will Aim Better CAR-T at Leukemia
When five patients with a difficult type of leukemia died last year in a clinical trial run by Juno Therapeutics, it was a big setback for the Seattle biotech and its plans for cutting-edge CAR-T cancer therapy. A year later, Juno is finally explaining what happened and promising to return with a new product. The … Continue reading “Juno Dissects ROCKET Deaths, Will Aim Better CAR-T at Leukemia”
Bio Roundup: Barron Joins GSK, Sage Bounces Back, Valeant Dumps Addyi
Call it a week of second chances. Multiple biotechs breathed new life into drugs sorely in need of it. Sage Therapeutics proved a drug that had failed a trial a rare form of epilepsy could be the first ever approved therapy for postpartum depression. Otonomy, reviving a hearing loss drug thought to be on the … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Barron Joins GSK, Sage Bounces Back, Valeant Dumps Addyi”
What Sean Parker Shares with Einstein and the Labradoodle’s Inventor
Sean Parker, Facebook’s first president, just joined a group that’s a favorite topic of history listicles: He’s an innovator who has become abashed by the breakthrough he helped to create. Parker, in an interview with Axios on Wednesday, said Facebook’s founders consciously exploited “a vulnerability in human psychology,” by luring users into an addictive engagement … Continue reading “What Sean Parker Shares with Einstein and the Labradoodle’s Inventor”
Pfizer’s Karen Reeves Joins AZTherapies as Chief Medical Officer
AZTherapies has appointed Karen Reeves chief medical officer. Reeves joins the Boston company from Pfizer (NYSE: [[ticker:PFE]]), where she held multiple senior leadership positions in research and development, and regulatory and safety. Before Pfizer, Reeves was head of global medical science at Astellas Pharma Global Development. AZTherapies develops treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, ischemic stroke, and … Continue reading “Pfizer’s Karen Reeves Joins AZTherapies as Chief Medical Officer”
What’s Hot in Cybersecurity: Here’s the Agenda for Dec. 5 at WGBH
It feels like December already in Boston. So, here’s an update on our annual cybersecurity conference at WGBH, which is happening on December 5. If you want to hear the latest information about threats and defenses for your company, network, or personal information, you won’t want to miss it. We still have a few pieces … Continue reading “What’s Hot in Cybersecurity: Here’s the Agenda for Dec. 5 at WGBH”
Sage Bounces Back, Eyes FDA Filing for Postpartum Drug
There may be a new treatment on the horizon for postpartum depression, an often severe form of depression that affects women after childbirth. Sage Therapeutics reported this morning that an experimental neurological drug known as brexanolone succeeded in two Phase 3 trials, setting the stage for an FDA approval filing next year. Cambridge, MA-based Sage … Continue reading “Sage Bounces Back, Eyes FDA Filing for Postpartum Drug”
Bose Develops Prototype “Sleepbuds” After Buying San Diego Startup
Bose, the privately held maker of headphones, loudspeakers, and other electronics for audiophiles, has acquired Hush, a San Diego startup founded by three undergraduate engineering students to develop “smart” noise-masking earbuds designed to help users sleep. The Framingham, MA, audio giant has incorporated the Hush technology in a prototype product that Bose is testing in … Continue reading “Bose Develops Prototype “Sleepbuds” After Buying San Diego Startup”
Microsoft’s Strategy for Finding What’s Next in Healthcare A.I.
[Updated 11/10/17, 10:25 a.m. See below.] Microsoft is applying the same model it used to launch its quantum computing and chatbot efforts to innovation in healthcare, signaling the company’s ambition and optimism about the transformative potential of artificial intelligence technologies in this enormous endeavor. Peter Lee is the Microsoft Research executive in charge of the … Continue reading “Microsoft’s Strategy for Finding What’s Next in Healthcare A.I.”
With $40M for Exonics, Duchenne’s Gene Therapy, CRISPR Race Heats Up
Exonics Therapeutics, one of the players in an emerging race to use gene therapy or gene editing techniques to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy, has just landed a big round of funding to take its first treatment into clinical testing. The Cambridge, MA, company, seeded last year by a subsidiary of the nonprofit group CureDuchenne, will … Continue reading “With $40M for Exonics, Duchenne’s Gene Therapy, CRISPR Race Heats Up”
JumpFiber Gives San Antonio Cord Cutters New Internet Option
San Antonio—Starting a new Internet service business is no easy task, from building the technological infrastructure to wooing customers away from ubiquitous cable companies. But JumpFiber, a new wireless Internet service provider in San Antonio, isn’t shying away from the challenge, and it will now attempt to follow in the footsteps of similar companies like … Continue reading “JumpFiber Gives San Antonio Cord Cutters New Internet Option”
Boston Tech Watch: TripAdvisor, MassChallenge, Twine Health & More
This week in Boston tech, we’re tracking trouble at TripAdvisor, the closure of a co-working space in Harvard Square, the winners of the latest MassChallenge Boston accelerator program, a pair of acquisitions, and venture investments that span cleantech, edtech, cannabis tech, and more. Read on for details. —It’s been a challenging past few days for … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: TripAdvisor, MassChallenge, Twine Health & More”
Panorama Education Gets $16M for “Social-Emotional Learning” Tools
Panorama Education announced Tuesday that it raised $16 million from several high-profile tech investors to accelerate the adoption of its software tools aimed at boosting K-12 students’ social and emotional skills and college readiness. The Series B funding round was led by Emerson Collective, whose founder and president is Laurene Powell Jobs, the billionaire entrepreneur … Continue reading “Panorama Education Gets $16M for “Social-Emotional Learning” Tools”
ThirdChannel Collects $7M to Boost Analytics for Physical Stores
Despite talk that e-commerce is killing brick-and-mortar retail, the vast majority of shopping still takes place in physical stores. But it’s often easier to monitor inventory, analyze consumer spending habits, and make on-the-fly adjustments for digital storefronts than it is for their real-world counterparts. A Boston-area startup called ThirdChannel wants to help change that, aiming … Continue reading “ThirdChannel Collects $7M to Boost Analytics for Physical Stores”
Rightpoint Buys Mobile Firm Raizlabs to Form “Agency of the Future”
Raizlabs, one of the Boston area’s best-known mobile app development shops, has been acquired by Rightpoint, a Chicago-based consulting firm. The purchase price wasn’t disclosed. With the addition of Raizlabs, the combined companies employ 400 people across nine U.S. offices. The two firms’ Boston offices will consolidate, while Raizlabs’ Oakland, CA, office adds a new … Continue reading “Rightpoint Buys Mobile Firm Raizlabs to Form “Agency of the Future””
Xenetic Bio’s Maguire is Out as CEO, Eisenberg Named Successor
Scott Maguire has stepped down as CEO of Xenetic Biosciences (NASDAQ: [[ticker:XBIO]]), and the Lexington, MA, company has named chief operating officer Jeffrey Eisenberg to be his successor. No reason for Maguire’s departure was given. In an SEC filing, the company says Maguire’s employment agreement was terminated on Nov. 3 and under terms of a … Continue reading “Xenetic Bio’s Maguire is Out as CEO, Eisenberg Named Successor”
Is Your Company Independent or Co-Dependent?
Steve Jobs was once famously quoted stating, “the secret of my success is that we have gone to exceptional lengths to hire the best people in the world.” Employees are a critical part of any company’s backbone, no matter the size or industry of the business. They are the driving force that executes the company … Continue reading “Is Your Company Independent or Co-Dependent?”
Xconomy Newcomer Award Winner Amy Schulman on Boston Biotech Life
Amy Schulman is relatively new not just to Boston, but also to biotech. Before she moved to Boston in 2014 to join Polaris Partners, she was a partner at a major law firm and then worked at Pfizer in New York, where she served as general counsel and also headed up its huge consumer healthcare … Continue reading “Xconomy Newcomer Award Winner Amy Schulman on Boston Biotech Life”
Black Duck Aims to “Build a Powerful Company” Under Wing of Synopsys
Synopsys thinks it has found a beautiful swan in Black Duck Software. While the 14-year-old Boston-area company was by no means an “ugly duckling” before, it has transformed several times on the way to its half-billion-dollar sale to Synopsys—and it will likely continue to grow and change under its new parent company. Mountain View, CA-based … Continue reading “Black Duck Aims to “Build a Powerful Company” Under Wing of Synopsys”
Biotech Roundup: Opioid News, ASH Preview, Boston Bio IPOs & More
The rising death toll from opioids has prompted policymakers to try various ways to take on the problem. President Trump’s opioid commission released its final report this week, calling for expansion of drug courts, better physician training, and penalties for insurers that don’t cover treatment. But the commission did not say how much its recommendations … Continue reading “Biotech Roundup: Opioid News, ASH Preview, Boston Bio IPOs & More”
Congress Urges Tech Firms to Control Content—But With Qualms
At Congressional hearings this week on Russia’s use of social media to interfere with the 2016 U.S. election, lawmakers pressed Facebook, Twitter, and Google to take exhaustive measures to stop the same thing from happening again. Lawmakers urged the companies to scour their networks to root out foreign advertisers, trolls, and bots; to eliminate messages … Continue reading “Congress Urges Tech Firms to Control Content—But With Qualms”
Black Duck Software to Be Acquired by Synopsys for $565M
Over the summer, Black Duck Software CEO Lou Shipley told Xconomy that a potential acquirer would have to propose a “really good deal” for his company to agree to a sale. Apparently, Black Duck got that offer. The Burlington, MA-based cybersecurity company announced Thursday it has agreed to be acquired by Mountain View, CA-based Synopsys … Continue reading “Black Duck Software to Be Acquired by Synopsys for $565M”
PathAI Grabs $11M to Build A.I. Tools for Pathology
Investors continue to pour millions of dollars into startups attempting to apply artificial intelligence technologies to various problems in healthcare. The latest beneficiary is PathAI, a Cambridge, MA-based company developing A.I. software aimed at helping pathologists be more efficient and accurate in diagnosing disease. PathAI co-founder and CEO Andy Beck tells Xconomy that his company … Continue reading “PathAI Grabs $11M to Build A.I. Tools for Pathology”
Optimus Ride Drives Off With $18M for Autonomous Vehicle Tech
[Updated 11/2/17, 10:01 am, with CEO comments.] Boston’s self-driving vehicle startups are on a roll. This morning, Optimus Ride said that investors have pumped $18 million into the company in a new funding round. The news follows the announcement last month that global auto parts supplier Delphi (NYSE: [[ticker:DLPH]]) agreed to purchase NuTonomy for up … Continue reading “Optimus Ride Drives Off With $18M for Autonomous Vehicle Tech”
UpCurve Buys Closely to Boost ThriveHive’s Marketing Tech Offerings
The trend of consolidation in the marketing technology sector continues: Quincy, MA-based UpCurve announced this morning it has acquired Closely, the Denver-based startup behind the social marketing mobile app, Perch. Terms weren’t disclosed. Eight-year-old Closely, led by MapQuest co-founder Perry Evans, previously raised at least $3.6 million from investors, according to SEC filings. UpCurve, formerly … Continue reading “UpCurve Buys Closely to Boost ThriveHive’s Marketing Tech Offerings”
Spero, Allena Nab $152M As Bio IPOs, With Insider Help, Continue Roll
Two biotechs, Spero Therapeutics and Allena Therapeutics, are headed for the Nasdaq this morning at valuations they’d been aiming for. Their stock offerings are the latest sign of the health of the biotech IPO market, and the willingness of insiders to make sure these deals succeed. Spero, of Cambridge, MA, raised $77 million late Wednesday … Continue reading “Spero, Allena Nab $152M As Bio IPOs, With Insider Help, Continue Roll”
Few Opioid Alternatives In Sight as Crisis Gains Political Attention
As opioid-related deaths skyrocket across the U.S., momentum to combat the epidemic has been mounting in Washington. But the crisis has also highlighted a glaring problem that no amount of politics or policymaking will solve soon: The lack of non-addictive pain medicines. “What is disappointing over the last half-century is that we haven’t really created … Continue reading “Few Opioid Alternatives In Sight as Crisis Gains Political Attention”
ASH Sneak Peeks: Novartis, Juno Update CAR-T Lymphoma Competition
[Corrected, 11/1/17, 5:20 p.m. ET. See below.] The annual American Society of Hematology meeting is next month. But previews of the big data presentations are out today, yielding more insight into what promises to be the first major competition in CAR-T cell therapy: Treatments for people with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) who have run out of … Continue reading “ASH Sneak Peeks: Novartis, Juno Update CAR-T Lymphoma Competition”
As Facebook Fights Fake News, LeCun Sees Bigger Role for A.I.
As top lawyers from Facebook, Google, and Twitter testify on Capitol Hill this week about Russians using their platforms to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, it’s becoming clearer that the fight against the spread of fake news won’t be won by humans alone. That’s according to Yann LeCun, a machine learning expert and … Continue reading “As Facebook Fights Fake News, LeCun Sees Bigger Role for A.I.”
Pulmatrix Names James Roach Chief Medical Officer
James Roach has been appointed chief medical officer of Lexington, MA-based Pulmatrix (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PULM]]). Roach joins Pulmatrix from Southborough, MA-based Veristat, where he was chief medical officer. Pulmatrix develops inhaled drugs for serious lung diseases. Roach will start his new role on Nov. 3.
Techstars Sustainability Adds to Growth of Sponsored Accelerators
After Techstars opened its first program in Boulder, CO, in 2007, the startup accelerator program expanded into three cities over the next four years. But then the real growth started happening. In 2011, Techstars began launching accelerators that focused on startups innovating in a specific sector in partnership with big companies. It partnered with Nike … Continue reading “Techstars Sustainability Adds to Growth of Sponsored Accelerators”
Markforged Turns Profit, Grabs $30M From Siemens, Microsoft, Porsche
Now that the hype over 3D printing has died down, some of the industry’s surviving startups have figured out how to build healthy businesses. Four-year-old Markforged says it’s one of them. The Watertown, MA-based company—known for 3D printers that produce plastic parts strengthened by carbon fiber and other materials—says its revenues have increased significantly this … Continue reading “Markforged Turns Profit, Grabs $30M From Siemens, Microsoft, Porsche”
Sanofi Pulls Back from Voyager Gene Therapy Pact in Parkinson’s
A key study for Voyager Therapeutics and its experimental gene therapy for Parkinson’s disease will have to move ahead without help from pharmaceutical giant Sanofi, which has walked away from the deal. Global rights to Parkinson’s treatment VY-AADC01 are now squarely in the hands of Cambridge, MA-based Voyager (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VYGR]]). Two years ago, the company … Continue reading “Sanofi Pulls Back from Voyager Gene Therapy Pact in Parkinson’s”
Recorded Future Nabs $25M to Advance Cyber Threat Intelligence
Boston-area cybersecurity firm Recorded Future said Tuesday it has raised $25 million in Series E venture financing. The round was led by Insight Venture Partners, a new investor. The new money brings Recorded Future’s total venture haul to about $55 million, by my count. The Somerville, MA-based company’s previous investors include Google Ventures (GV), In-Q-Tel, … Continue reading “Recorded Future Nabs $25M to Advance Cyber Threat Intelligence”
New Survey Highlights “Lethargic Pace” of Healthcare Gender Equity
To close the healthcare and life sciences gender gap, there have been programs to move women into the boardroom. People are building mentoring networks. And there have been public pledges to do better. But women in the industry aren’t optimistic about big changes coming soon, according to a new report and survey from digital healthcare … Continue reading “New Survey Highlights “Lethargic Pace” of Healthcare Gender Equity”
Boston Tech Watch: Datto, Ultimaker, Brand Networks, Imprivata & More
[Corrected 11/8/17, 2:11 pm. See below.] This week in Boston tech, we’re tracking the latest private equity investments in tech startups; venture capital deals in cybersecurity, healthcare IT, and advanced materials production; and a pair of executive hires. Read on for details. —Datto, a Norwalk, CT-based provider of data protection and networking products, signed an … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: Datto, Ultimaker, Brand Networks, Imprivata & More”
As Russians Hacked U.S. Election, Did Big Tech Firms Break Any Laws?
News is constantly streaming out these days about the role of Facebook, Twitter, and Google in the 2016 presidential election; most disturbing to the public is the apparent use of social media, search, and video channels by Russian operatives seeking to influence U.S. voters. Critical lawmakers have blasted the big tech companies for failing to … Continue reading “As Russians Hacked U.S. Election, Did Big Tech Firms Break Any Laws?”