Category: National

Allied Minds: Boston Firm Details First Two Startups in Federal Deal

Boston investment firm Allied Minds made headlines recently for a new licensing agreement with the Defense Department—one that Allied Minds says is the first of its kind, allowing for far-reaching privatization of technology developed by the government. It’s hard to argue with the idea of trying to build more businesses on top of the many … Continue reading “Allied Minds: Boston Firm Details First Two Startups in Federal Deal”

Hepatitis C Treatments from Gilead, Abbott Wow Liver Meeting

This weekend demonstrated what a difference a year makes for Cambridge, MA-based Vertex  (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VRTX]]). At the annual meeting of the American Associaton for the Study of Liver Diseases in Boston Nov 9-13, Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:[[ticker:ABT]]) and Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GILD]]), along with a few other companies, presented promising data on new paradigms for the treatment … Continue reading “Hepatitis C Treatments from Gilead, Abbott Wow Liver Meeting”

How 3Tier Wind Forecasts Enable the Northwest Smart Grid

The Northwest is undertaking a grand project that could unlock a future of efficient energy use and smooth integration of renewables—two necessary pieces of a solution to the immense challenge of climate change. The beating heart of the Pacific Northwest Smart Grid Demonstration Project, one of the largest in the world, is an incentive signal … Continue reading “How 3Tier Wind Forecasts Enable the Northwest Smart Grid”

Alnylam to Pay Tekmira $65M to Settle RNAi Delivery Dispute

[Updated: 11:27 pm ET] Cambridge, MA-based Alnylam Pharmaceuticals has agreed to pay Vancouver, BC-based Tekmira Pharmaceuticals $65 million upfront, and potentially another $10 million next year, to settle a legal dispute over technology that enables Alnylam’s RNA interference drugs to be delivered where they are supposed to go inside cells. Alnylam (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ALNY]]) and Tekmira … Continue reading “Alnylam to Pay Tekmira $65M to Settle RNAi Delivery Dispute”

Who Are Biotech’s New Go-To Investment Bankers?

[Updated: 2:40 pm PT] Not that long ago, biotech executives weren’t sure who to call on Wall Street, or whether anyone would answer the phone. In late 2008 and early 2009, nobody could say for sure who would still be around in a couple years to supply capital to aspiring drugmakers. Partly inspired by all … Continue reading “Who Are Biotech’s New Go-To Investment Bankers?”

San Diego Life Sciences Roundup: Deals at MEI Pharma, Auspex, Ambit

It was a good week for raising capital in San Diego’s life sciences community. We have a rundown of the big deals and other news, too. —San Diego’s MEI Pharma (Nasdaq: [[ticker:MEIP]]), a cancer drug developer headed by former Favrille founder Dan Gold, arranged a private financing with Vivo Ventures and New Leaf Venture Partners, … Continue reading “San Diego Life Sciences Roundup: Deals at MEI Pharma, Auspex, Ambit”

Detroit Nation Connects Ex-Pats, Entrepreneurs In Need of Mentorship

Detroit Nation, a new organization of Motor City ex-pats who want to help with the city’s revitalization from afar, will kick off its Drive program next week with events in Ann Arbor, MI, and Chicago. The purpose of Detroit Nation, says program manager Meg Pouncy, is to connect national mentors from all walks of life … Continue reading “Detroit Nation Connects Ex-Pats, Entrepreneurs In Need of Mentorship”

Mark Cuban, Others Talk Future of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, & Google

Closing out the two-day ad:tech NY digital marketing conference yesterday, Dallas Mavericks owner and technology investor Mark Cuban offered some strong opinions on basically everything. Cuban participated in a panel—moderated by CNET.com executive editor Molly Wood—that examined what technology power players Google, Apple, Facebook, and Amazon do right as well as possible trouble each company … Continue reading “Mark Cuban, Others Talk Future of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, & Google”

Xconomy’s Post-Election Innovation Priority Poll—The Results

Mr. President, the country’s innovation leaders have spoken. Yesterday, just to keep the election fun going, we asked our readers—entrepreneurs, investors, technologists, executives, or just anyone interested in the business of technology—to weigh in on the things they thought were most important for you and the new Congress to focus on when it comes to … Continue reading “Xconomy’s Post-Election Innovation Priority Poll—The Results”

Gates Foundation Invests in Flu Drug Developer Visterra

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation continues its strategy of financial support for biotech startups with an investment in Visterra, a four-year-old Cambridge, MA, company developing an antidote to pandemic flu. Visterra says today that the Gates Foundation is one of the investors in an additional $13 million raised to complete a $26 million Series A … Continue reading “Gates Foundation Invests in Flu Drug Developer Visterra”

10 Kickstarter Projects Every Geek Should Support

[Updated 6/5/2014] We’re living in a golden age for creators and entrepreneurs. If you don’t believe me, just look back about a decade and try to remember how hard it was to publish a book, make a movie, record an album, raise a seed round for your startup, get your software onto a mobile phone, … Continue reading “10 Kickstarter Projects Every Geek Should Support”

East Coast Life Sciences Roundup: EpiCept, Boston Scientific, & More

It was a big week for mergers and clinical trial advances for life sciences companies on the East Coast, with one company buying, another merging into an Israeli firm, and two others advancing against cardiovascular disease and obesity. —On Thursday EpiCept  (NASDAQ: [[ticker:EPCT]]), based in Tarrytown, NY, announced that it will merge with Immune Pharmaceuticals, a … Continue reading “East Coast Life Sciences Roundup: EpiCept, Boston Scientific, & More”

Auspex Raises $25M for Longer-Lasting, Deuterium-Based Drugs

At San Diego’s Auspex Pharmaceuticals, CEO Larry Fritz is overseeing a drug development program based on a fairly simple premise: If an FDA-approved small molecule drug is susceptible to metabolic enzymes in the body that break down its hydrogen bonds, wouldn’t substituting some deuterium atoms make those bonds stronger and longer-lasting? Deuterium is a stable … Continue reading “Auspex Raises $25M for Longer-Lasting, Deuterium-Based Drugs”

Priceline Buys Kayak, Consolidating Online Travel Brands

A big deal today in online travel, with competitive implications for companies from coast to coast: Priceline.com, a stalwart of the industry, is buying up newer competitor Kayak in a cash-and-stock deal worth about $1.8 billion. It’s a pretty quick sale for Kayak, which just made its public-market debut this summer. Both Priceline (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PCLN]]) … Continue reading “Priceline Buys Kayak, Consolidating Online Travel Brands”

Big-Data Startup Hadapt Backed by $6.75M from Atlas

If you know Hadapt, Chris Lynch, and the world of big-data analytics, this is not a big surprise. Cambridge, MA-based Hadapt confirmed today that it has raised $6.75 million in additional funding from Atlas Venture. The deal was led by Lynch, a partner with Atlas who has been Hadapt’s chairman for six months or so. … Continue reading “Big-Data Startup Hadapt Backed by $6.75M from Atlas”

Tech Tidbits: Hadapt, Betaspring, Emo Labs, Shareaholic, Yottaa, & More

Here are a few items of note in the New England tech community, as we lament the start of winter weather: —Have you voted yet? I’m talking about Xconomy’s post-election innovation priorities poll (for President Obama and U.S. Congress). Make your voice heard as to whether our nation’s leaders should focus first on tax policy, … Continue reading “Tech Tidbits: Hadapt, Betaspring, Emo Labs, Shareaholic, Yottaa, & More”

Fred Wilson Discusses Ads, Mobile, and Crowdfunding at Ad:Tech NY

No one has discovered a magic formula for the best way to leverage digital advertising. However, it never hurts to take a bit of advice from venture capitalist Fred Wilson, managing partner of Union Square Ventures in New York. He spoke Wednesday afternoon at the ad:tech New York digital marketing conference, discussing “Tomorrow’s Digital Landscape” … Continue reading “Fred Wilson Discusses Ads, Mobile, and Crowdfunding at Ad:Tech NY”

Boston Scientific to Buy Vessix for Hypertension Technology

Boston Scientific  (NYSE: [[ticker:BSX]]) is continuing its acquisition binge with the announcement this morning that it has agreed to buy Vessix Vascular, a privately held company in Laguna Hills, CA, for as much as $425 million. Vessix makes a device that uses radio frequencies to treat drug-resistant hypertension, a method called renal denervation. The agreement … Continue reading “Boston Scientific to Buy Vessix for Hypertension Technology”

Xconomist of the Week: Lisa Suennen on Healthcare Reform Post-Election

It’s been a stress-inducing year for innovators in the healthcare arena. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which calls for the creation of state exchanges to extend health insurance to millions of people who currently lack coverage, passed Congress by a slim margin in 2010 and has been under assault by Republicans ever since. … Continue reading “Xconomist of the Week: Lisa Suennen on Healthcare Reform Post-Election”

Deals Roundup: Limeade’s $5M, Blue Box’s $3.5M, Zillow’s Acquisitions

As investors showered attention on the latest crop of Seattle TechStars companies last week, other more established Seattle-area tech companies were landing capital from far and near. Meanwhile, Zillow (NASDAQ: [[ticker:Z]]) bought a pair of companies–its fourth and fifth acquisitions in the last two years—to enhance its offerings for real estate and mortgage pros. —Bellevue-based … Continue reading “Deals Roundup: Limeade’s $5M, Blue Box’s $3.5M, Zillow’s Acquisitions”

GNS to Use Big Data to Fight Multiple Myeloma

Big data is transforming all kinds of endeavors, as technology leaders highlighted at Xconomy’s packed event in Boston last month, “The Future of Big Data.” Now, thanks to advances in deciphering genomics, big data is also being enlisted in the war on cancer. Today, GNS Healthcare of Cambridge, MA, announced that it is collaborating with Dana-Farber … Continue reading “GNS to Use Big Data to Fight Multiple Myeloma”

Xconomy’s Post-Election Innovation Priority Poll

[Updated, Nov. 9—The polls are closed. But you can see the results here–Eds] The election is over. But as we all know, the really hard part—finding ways for our newly elected and reelected leaders to work together to move the country forward—still remains. There is work to be done on a multitude of fronts, of … Continue reading “Xconomy’s Post-Election Innovation Priority Poll”

With $2.3M in New Funding, Bump Network Steers to Business

[Clarified 11/8/12, 9:30 am. See below.] Web entrepreneur Mitch Thrower is bumping up the funding at San Diego’s Bump.com, the online social network for people with cars. Bump.com’s parent company, the Bump Network, says it has closed on $2.3 million in a second Series B round of financing. Investors include TomorrowVentures, the investment vehicle for … Continue reading “With $2.3M in New Funding, Bump Network Steers to Business”

Startup Veterans to Share Battle Scars at “The Power of the Pivot”

When you’re old and gray, leaning back in your rocker watching the sun go down, and you think back on your days as a startup founder, which moment will you remember most clearly? Chances are it won’t be the day you signed the incorporation papers, or the day you got your first seed investment, or … Continue reading “Startup Veterans to Share Battle Scars at “The Power of the Pivot””

Echo360 Acquires Ann Arbor’s Lecture Tools

Virginia-based education tech company Echo360 announced today that it has acquired Ann Arbor, MI-based startup Lecture Tools, which makes a digital student-engagement platform. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Perry Samson, the University of Michigan professor who developed Lecture Tools, will remain in his position as U-M’s Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Atmospheric, … Continue reading “Echo360 Acquires Ann Arbor’s Lecture Tools”

RunKeeper’s Marathon Plan for Startup Success: “We’re Not in a Rush”

You’d expect the founder of a successful fitness-tracking startup to be a pretty healthy guy. So when RunKeeper boss Jason Jacobs reports that he rode his bike to work despite the first few days of wintry Boston temperatures creeping in, it’s not a big surprise. But it wasn’t always a foregone conclusion that Jacobs would … Continue reading “RunKeeper’s Marathon Plan for Startup Success: “We’re Not in a Rush””

Conductor Helps Companies Compete for Prime Spots in Web Searches

Every company wants to be first, especially when it comes to marketing on the Web. Getting brand names and links at the top of search results may attract more customers, but figuring out how to grab and hold onto such prime spots can be confusing. That’s where Conductor, a New York-based search engine optimization technology … Continue reading “Conductor Helps Companies Compete for Prime Spots in Web Searches”

The Icos Impact: A Few Photos From Memory Lane

Dig around in the old files from Icos, and a few things jump out. There were a lot of smart people who worked hard, and clearly enjoyed working together. A lot of sweat equity went into turning it from an R&D shop into a “fully integrated” company with a product to sell. Much of this … Continue reading “The Icos Impact: A Few Photos From Memory Lane”

Hack/Reduce to Open Thursday as Lynch Fires Back at Big Data “Knuckleheads”

If anyone likes a good fight, it’s Chris Lynch. The former CEO of Vertica Systems (now part of Hewlett-Packard) and current partner with Atlas Venture wears his emotions on his sleeve. And when it comes to big data, he’s dead serious. “I think this can be transformational for our community,” he says. “But we have … Continue reading “Hack/Reduce to Open Thursday as Lynch Fires Back at Big Data “Knuckleheads””

San Diego’s 3D Robotics Raises $5M as Wired Editor Resigns to Be CEO

Chris Anderson, who resigned a few days ago as the editor in chief of Wired magazine to become the full-time CEO of 3D Robotics, says today the San Diego-based superstore for amateur UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) has raised $5 million in venture funding. In an announcement posted on the 3D Robotics website and at DIY … Continue reading “San Diego’s 3D Robotics Raises $5M as Wired Editor Resigns to Be CEO”

Alike Decodes the DNA of Places: Hear More at Mobile Madness Dec. 12

I haven’t been there in far too long, but I know all the details of my favorite Seattle coffee shop: The low light and loud music, the quirks of the baristas, which snacks are worth buying, and the best tables for silently banging out some writing work. I’d love to find more places just like … Continue reading “Alike Decodes the DNA of Places: Hear More at Mobile Madness Dec. 12”

Michigan Venture Fellows Program Makes Inaugural Placements

The Michigan Venture Capital Association has placed four fellows from the inaugural class of its Michigan Venture Fellows Program. Sam Hogg has joined the Kalamazoo office of Open Prairie Ventures; Jared Stasik has joined Detroit Venture Partners; William Blake has joined Farmington Hills-based Beringea; and Linda Chamberlain has joined the Grand Rapids-based Michigan Accelerator Fund. Funded last November … Continue reading “Michigan Venture Fellows Program Makes Inaugural Placements”

Intuit Goes All Out to Solve the Innovator’s Dilemma. Is It Working?

Technology writers gravitate to early-stage startups for roughly the same reason that Willie Sutton robbed banks: because that’s where the money is. Or at least, where it could be if the founders get everything right. We love the brash, young CEOs who are out to disrupt entire industries—in no small part because they’re usually happy … Continue reading “Intuit Goes All Out to Solve the Innovator’s Dilemma. Is It Working?”

Shareaholic Report: StumbleUpon Still Sliding, Pinterest No. 4

Ah, the fickle world of Web traffic. While the big guys like Facebook and Google stay atop the list of important sources for publishers, there’s always a good knife fight going on down on the lower rungs. Today we’ve got a fresh look at the state of play from Shareaholic, the Cambridge, MA, startup that … Continue reading “Shareaholic Report: StumbleUpon Still Sliding, Pinterest No. 4”

San Diego’s Ambit Biosciences Raises $25M to Advance Leukemia Drug

Ambit Biosciences has gone through several course changes in the 12 years since it was founded. But Ambit CEO Michael Martino says the San Diego company would not be announcing $25 million raised from existing investors today unless Ambit was making significant progress on its current trajectory. “What the financing represents is a huge vote … Continue reading “San Diego’s Ambit Biosciences Raises $25M to Advance Leukemia Drug”

Mobile Madness NY Dec. 4 Preview: 3 Core Ideas From Roger Ehrenberg

What’s true about our mobile future—and what is overblown or missing the point? Amidst lots of predictions, gazillions of apps, and a fair bit of hype, sorting this out is key for thousands of startups, investors, and consumers. And we at Xconomy hope to unearth some real insights into this question at our Mobile Madness … Continue reading “Mobile Madness NY Dec. 4 Preview: 3 Core Ideas From Roger Ehrenberg”

Mobile Commons Helps NY, NJ Voters Get to Polls

As if New York and New Jersey residents didn’t have enough logistical nightmares to deal with in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, they also have to figure out where they can vote. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced on Sunday that at least 59 polling places throughout the city cannot open because of storm damage … Continue reading “Mobile Commons Helps NY, NJ Voters Get to Polls”

Rescuing Patent-Less Proteins from the Drug Development Dustbin

“Observe due measure, for right timing is in all things the most important factor.” The Greek poet Hesiod wasn’t referring to the drug development process when he wrote these words, but they certainly apply to that setting. Back in the early days of the biotechnology industry, a number of newly identified proteins were considered for … Continue reading “Rescuing Patent-Less Proteins from the Drug Development Dustbin”

Message Blocks: Event Planning in the Digital Age

Len Gauger, founder of the Ann Arbor-based startup Message Blocks, is pumped; his event-planning software company is off to a good start, he says. Cheerful and friendly by nature, he could be the poster boy for the kind of young entrepreneur that state government officials dream of when they preach about the need for talent … Continue reading “Message Blocks: Event Planning in the Digital Age”

Omeros Passes 2nd Trial for Eye Drug, Preps for FDA Push

Seattle-based Omeros (NASDAQ: [[ticker:OMER]]) has spent 18 years as an R&D company, and now it can say that some of that biomedical research and development is being translated into what looks like a marketable product. The company said today it passed the second of two pivotal clinical trials with its experimental drug for use in … Continue reading “Omeros Passes 2nd Trial for Eye Drug, Preps for FDA Push”

NYC Techies Volunteer to Get Businesses Back Up Post-Sandy

Thousands of New York City residents are volunteering to help the victims of last week’s Hurricane Sandy by digging out debris from flooded homes, providing hot meals, and donating supplies. But there is also a very specialized volunteer effort, engineered by the city’s huge tech community—they are volunteering their skills to help small businesses, non-profits, … Continue reading “NYC Techies Volunteer to Get Businesses Back Up Post-Sandy”

Your Car: The Future of Connected Health?

The car is entering an innovation renaissance. While Tesla Motors—the electric car company led by PayPal founder Elon Musk—has become the emblem of auto innovation, other manufacturers are following suit. For example, Ford recently launched their AppLink API in 1 million vehicles, allowing drivers to seamlessly integrate and navigate their mobile apps for things such … Continue reading “Your Car: The Future of Connected Health?”

LinkedIn: The Quiet Force Transforming Biotech & Pharma

Mark Levin’s business is biotechnology, so it’s no surprise he knew zilch about a tech company called LinkedIn as recently as two years ago. But these days Levin sounds like he can barely do his job without it. “I’m not the most social media savvy person. I haven’t used a lot of these tools at … Continue reading “LinkedIn: The Quiet Force Transforming Biotech & Pharma”

HubSpot Hits $100M Raised, Moves Closer to IPO (or Acquisition)

A well-known Boston tech startup has just joined the $100 million club. In total venture funding, that is. HubSpot, the Cambridge, MA-based Web marketing firm, has closed a $35 million growth round, with participation from new investors including Altimeter Capital, Cross Creek Capital, and a large undisclosed institutional investor, along with previous venture investors. HubSpot’s … Continue reading “HubSpot Hits $100M Raised, Moves Closer to IPO (or Acquisition)”

No Ha Muerto: Rinearson’s Intersect Nearing Launch of New Service

Not exactly new, but still an appropriately macabre afternoon distraction on Dia de los Muertos, Dead.AtYourAge.com — built “a couple of years ago as a lark” by Peter Rinearson’s Seattle startup Intersect PTP — takes your birth date and tells you who you’ve outlived. After a friend pointed me toward it today, I got to … Continue reading “No Ha Muerto: Rinearson’s Intersect Nearing Launch of New Service”

U-M Student Accelerator TechArb Churns Out Success Stories

The University of Michigan’s entrepreneurship efforts have been steadily gaining attention and acclaim—U-M’s graduate program in entrepreneurship was recently named the second in the nation by the Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine—and its student startup accelerator, TechArb, is no exception. Since its inception in 2009, TechArb has produced a host of successful companies, including Mobiata, which … Continue reading “U-M Student Accelerator TechArb Churns Out Success Stories”

Allen Institute Moving to South Lake Union as Growth Continues

The Allen Institute for Brain Science is in the midst of an audacious $300 million expansion, as it plans to grow to 350 employees, and recruit neuroscientists from around the world to tackle some of the toughest questions in biology. Those people need someplace to work together, and no surprise, that place is going to … Continue reading “Allen Institute Moving to South Lake Union as Growth Continues”