[Update 7:10 am 1/5/11] Cancer patients share their personal ups and downs all the time on Facebook and who knows how many Internet message boards. Now if one Silicon Valley entrepreneur gets his way, scientists and physicians will start sharing their experiences in treating cancer in ways that might actually help them come up with … Continue reading “Internet Commerce Pioneer Seeks to Crack Secretive Culture With Cancer Commons”
Category: National
CQuotient, With $3M from Bain, Looks to Help Retailers Adjust to Customers’ Buying Behavior
There’s certainly no shortage of intriguing new tech startups around town. One stealthy company that has come to light in the past week is CQuotient, a Belmont, MA-based developer of analytics software for retailers. The startup confirmed it recently raised $3 million in Series A financing from Bain Capital Ventures. Founder and CEO Rama Ramakrishnan … Continue reading “CQuotient, With $3M from Bain, Looks to Help Retailers Adjust to Customers’ Buying Behavior”
Zferral Wants to Help Businesses Turn Their Customers Into Marketers
“We think that your existing customers are your best advocates,” says Detroit area native and entrepreneur Jeffrey Epstein. His startup, Zferral, is looking to make it easy for a small- to medium-sized business to enable consumers to better spread the good word about its brand—and to reward them for bringing in business. The Web-based Zferral … Continue reading “Zferral Wants to Help Businesses Turn Their Customers Into Marketers”
Relay: An App for Finding the Next Top Scientists and Discoveries
[Clarification. 11:07 AM Eastern time. 01/04/11. See editor’s note.] For every superstar scientist like MIT professor Bob Langer or his colleague and Nobel laureate Phillip Sharp, there are many lab researchers who are seeking their first big commercial success with their work. Three former Tufts University researchers have created a search and analytics engine that … Continue reading “Relay: An App for Finding the Next Top Scientists and Discoveries”
StartupDigest Hits Detroit To Generate Buzz on Area Entrepreneur Events
StartupDigest, a San Francisco-based publisher of online newsletters covering startup communities, has just added the Detroit Metro area to the network of more than 50 areas it tracks worldwide. The publication emails more than 100,000 subscribers across its network each Monday with events and reading lists surrounding the startup and innovation communities in their areas. … Continue reading “StartupDigest Hits Detroit To Generate Buzz on Area Entrepreneur Events”
Venture-Backed Buyouts at Record Volume as Increasing Pace of Exits Mark Possible Recovery
Initial public offerings and acquisitions surged for venture-backed companies during the fourth quarter of 2010. The results suggest a recovery in the overall pace of “liquidity events” since the capital crisis of 2008, which triggered a painful economic recession throughout the U.S. and elsewhere. Most of the IPO activity was driven by Chinese companies going … Continue reading “Venture-Backed Buyouts at Record Volume as Increasing Pace of Exits Mark Possible Recovery”
How 2011 Will Unfold in Healthcare
It’s the beginning of the year—an opportune time to forecast how 2011 will unfold in healthcare. We are likely to see some surprises, such as the sharply rising importance of primary care physicians. Here are some predictions about the new year: • More consolidation is on its way in healthcare under Obamacare, which heightens the … Continue reading “How 2011 Will Unfold in Healthcare”
Skytap Scores $10M More, Led by Boston Investor OpenView
Cloud-computing startups are getting older and wiser. Seattle-based Skytap announced today it has raised $10 million in Series C financing led by new investor OpenView Venture Partners, based in Boston. Skytap’s existing investors Madrona Venture Group, Ignition Partners, and Washington Research Foundation also participated in the round. OpenView senior managing director Scott Maxwell is joining … Continue reading “Skytap Scores $10M More, Led by Boston Investor OpenView”
Genocea Biosciences Raises $35M from J&J and Others for Vaccines Business
[Updated. 5:15 Eastern time, 01/03/11. See editor’s note.] Genocea Biosciences has found some new investors as well as new executives. The Cambridge, MA-based vaccine discovery and development firm has raised $35 million in a Series B funding round, according to a press release. And the company has recently seen some changes in its top executive … Continue reading “Genocea Biosciences Raises $35M from J&J and Others for Vaccines Business”
Hygieia Progressing with Software and Device to Guide Insulin Dosages for Diabetics
Diabetics can often beat back the effects of their disease through their own actions such as diet and exercise. But when it comes to adjusting their insulin dosages to better control their blood-sugar levels, they typically need to consult a doctor or clinician. Ann Arbor, MI-based Hygieia is developing technology to put changing insulin dosages … Continue reading “Hygieia Progressing with Software and Device to Guide Insulin Dosages for Diabetics”
GSN Digital Sees Booming Business in Putting Traditional Game Show Games On Facebook
You might not think of avid Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune viewers as the most technologically savvy population, but that’s not stopping GSN Digital from taking its classic products to Facebook. “People say traditional brands don’t work on Facebook; we never believed that,” says GSN Digital executive vice president Peter Blacklow. “We always believed that … Continue reading “GSN Digital Sees Booming Business in Putting Traditional Game Show Games On Facebook”
John Mendlein, Biotech Exec With Surfer Look, Follows Winding Path as “Parallel Entrepreneur”
When John Mendlein walks down the street, most people think one thing: surfer dude. But for those who know better in the biotech industry, Mendlein represents a lot more than a laid-back stereotype. The tall guy with long blond hair is an intense driving force behind one of the big success stories of the past … Continue reading “John Mendlein, Biotech Exec With Surfer Look, Follows Winding Path as “Parallel Entrepreneur””
Qualcomm Sells Some Wireless Spectrum, Report Predicts Cleantech Job Growth in San Diego, JMI’s Paul Barber Talks About Investment Strategy, & More San Diego BizTech News
The holidays have ended, and we have some catching up to do. Get ready for 2011 with our wrap-up of San Diego’s recent tech news. —Qualcomm said it was coming: The San Diego wireless giant agreed to sell the wireless spectrum that runs its Flo TV mobile television service to AT&T for more than $1.9 … Continue reading “Qualcomm Sells Some Wireless Spectrum, Report Predicts Cleantech Job Growth in San Diego, JMI’s Paul Barber Talks About Investment Strategy, & More San Diego BizTech News”
The Immunex Alumni: Where Are They Now?
[Update: 10:30 am, 12/30/11] Immunex was the company that made Seattle believe it could become a world-class cluster for the biotech industry. The company was born during the industry’s founding wave in the early 1980s. Young genetic engineering hotshots from around the world gravitated to its culture of freewheeling scientific inquiry, can-do entrepreneurship, and irreverence. … Continue reading “The Immunex Alumni: Where Are They Now?”
Inside Google’s Age of Augmented Humanity: Part 1
Editor’s Note: This is Part 1 of a three-part story that we originally published on January 3, 5, and 6, 2011. We’re highlighting it today because the series was just named by Longform.org as one of its top technology stories of 2011. Already, it’s hard for anyone with a computer to get through a day … Continue reading “Inside Google’s Age of Augmented Humanity: Part 1”
Five Popular Predictions for 2011 That Are Wrong
1. Prediction in Vogue: 2011 will be the year of the “Super Angel” Reality: Given all the angel investment activity, and the fact that it has never been easier to start a new company (low cost of computer power, plenty of talented people, plenty of real estate, etc), too many “me too” companies will be … Continue reading “Five Popular Predictions for 2011 That Are Wrong”
The Top 10 Ways 2010 Changed Mobile Apps
This month, IDC analysts released a forecast report showing that mobile apps will support more of our everyday interactions, with downloads projected to increase to nearly 76.9 billion in 2014. However, while future predictions are great to consider, it’s always valuable to take a look back at what actually happened over the past year. Undoubtedly … Continue reading “The Top 10 Ways 2010 Changed Mobile Apps”
Half and Half: My Take on 2010 and 2011
My top 3 innovations of advertising and media technology in 2010: —Tablet devices. I’m not singling out just the Apple iPad, but also the Samsung Galaxy and Blackberry Playbook. —Facebook targeting tools. The “business side” of Facebook became much more robust this year for advertisers. —Social buying and dealmaking: Groupon, LocalTwist, Swoop, etc. My Top … Continue reading “Half and Half: My Take on 2010 and 2011”
Top Five Biotech Surprises & Innovations of 2010, and Five Trends to Watch for in 2011
1. FDA’s decision to remove the breast cancer indication from the label of bevacizumab (Avastin). 2. Approval of Dendreon’s sipuleucel-T (Provenge), representing a new class of drug. 3. Sanofi-Aventis’ pursuit of Genzyme. It illustrates an industry move towards adding orphan and rare therapeutic areas to pharma portfolios. Another example of the trend came when Pfizer … Continue reading “Top Five Biotech Surprises & Innovations of 2010, and Five Trends to Watch for in 2011”
Xconomy Man of Year for 2010—Plus a Gigantic Energy Prediction for 2011
My Xconomy “Man of the Year” for 2010 would not be Mark Zuckerberg (that should have been a year or two ago if you are on the leading edge like Xconomy), but rather Andrew Mason, founder of Groupon. The speed and magnitude that this business innovation achieved through this company was stunning and still boggles … Continue reading “Xconomy Man of Year for 2010—Plus a Gigantic Energy Prediction for 2011”
The Top 3 Technology Surprises of 2010, and Six Predictions for 2011
Top Surprises of 2010: · Magnitude of iPad success · Isilon’s acquisition by EMC as well as the resurgence of the storage sector overall · Rapid growth of Android smart phones 2011 Predictions: · Continued growth of web services and people will stop referring to things as “private”, “public” and “hybrid” cloud and focus more … Continue reading “The Top 3 Technology Surprises of 2010, and Six Predictions for 2011”
Northern California’s Top 5 Biotech Innovation News Stories
The year that was 2010 was another year on the rollercoaster. We had our ups and our downs. But throughout, we continued to be at the forefront of innovation. From mature companies to emerging technologies, 2010 was an exciting year. Here are BayBio’s top five stories for 2010. 1. Amgen secures approval for two new … Continue reading “Northern California’s Top 5 Biotech Innovation News Stories”
One Surprise in the Auto Industry in 2010—With More on the Road Ahead
We saw much of what has happened coming. I am surprised at how quickly the domestic auto industry has become profitable at still a depression level of sales. Looking ahead I think we will be surprised at the rate of cost reduction of batteries and electric and plug-in hybrid technology. [Editor’s Note: This is part … Continue reading “One Surprise in the Auto Industry in 2010—With More on the Road Ahead”
How Can San Diego Win the Fight Against Diabesity? Xconomy to Dig Deep on Jan. 27
One of San Diego’s strengths as a biotech hub is its expertise fighting two of the biggest epidemics of the 21st century—obesity and diabetes. Yet the FDA has taken a tough stance, demanding more and more evidence, before it will allow new drugs for these conditions on the U.S. market. It’s been a rough year … Continue reading “How Can San Diego Win the Fight Against Diabesity? Xconomy to Dig Deep on Jan. 27”
**SOLD OUT**Xconomy Xchange: HHS CTO Todd Park and Friends on the Future of Health IT
What is the future of health information technology—and how can the federal government spur entrepreneurship and innovation in this vital sector? Many experts say Uncle Sam can help ensure healthcare goes digital by staying out of the way. But what if the government could find a new way to do business itself, plant the right … Continue reading “**SOLD OUT**Xconomy Xchange: HHS CTO Todd Park and Friends on the Future of Health IT”
Computing in the Age of the $1,000 Genome: Speakers from Isilon, Arch Join Stellar Lineup
The quest to sequence entire human genomes for $1,000 or less is one of the stories that many predict will change healthcare in the 21st century. It’s an enormously complex puzzle that requires some of the brightest minds in both IT and life sciences to put their heads together. And quite a few of them … Continue reading “Computing in the Age of the $1,000 Genome: Speakers from Isilon, Arch Join Stellar Lineup”
Vaccines Top the List of 2010 Innovations
For us it would be in the area of vaccines first. The approval of the first cancer therapeutic vaccine from Dendreon in prostate cancer establishes the concept that immunotherapy is a conceptually achievable and clinically useful approach for treating cancer. This allows us and others to develop novel concepts of immunotherapy for cancer. On another … Continue reading “Vaccines Top the List of 2010 Innovations”
Editor’s Picks: Xconomy Boston’s Top 20 Stories of 2010
With 2010 almost in the books—and a lot of people grounded by the Northeast blizzard—it seems like a good time to take a break and look back at some of Xconomy Boston’s top stories of the year. These are not necessarily the ones that generated the most traffic (although in some cases they did). Instead, … Continue reading “Editor’s Picks: Xconomy Boston’s Top 20 Stories of 2010”
Thanks for the Big Welcome, Bay Area—and See You Next Year
Like many news operations, Xconomy is going into hibernation for a well-deserved week off, starting December 24. We’ll fire up WordPress, Tweetdeck, and all of our other tools again on Monday, January 3 (which happens to be my birthday). The only exception: a series of guests posts that we’ll be publishing in our Xconomist Forum … Continue reading “Thanks for the Big Welcome, Bay Area—and See You Next Year”
Harmonix Sold to Private Equity Firm Columbus Nova, Goes Independent Again
Cambridge, MA-based Harmonix, the music-gaming company behind Rock Band and Dance Central, said today it has been sold by Viacom (NYSE: [[ticker:VIA]]) to Columbus Nova, a private equity firm based in New York. Financial terms were not disclosed in the press release, and Harmonix was not immediately available for comment. “We’re excited to be returning … Continue reading “Harmonix Sold to Private Equity Firm Columbus Nova, Goes Independent Again”
New Startup Vedanta Harnesses Microbial Activities to Boost Healthy Immune Function
Scientists are finding new and amazing evidence that networks of bugs, bacteria, and other microbes in our bodies might help us maintain healthy immune functions—and the absence of them could make us sick. Vedanta Biosciences, a newly formed startup in Boston, is emerging from top-secret status to reveal its goal of developing treatments based on … Continue reading “New Startup Vedanta Harnesses Microbial Activities to Boost Healthy Immune Function”
How VCs Use Advice from Experts
In recent years, doctors, scientists, and experts who consult with pharmaceutical companies and hedge funds have come under increasing scrutiny from the media and their fellow professionals. The truth is, it’s a case of caveat emptor—both for the experts and for the organizations hiring them. Biotech or medical device companies that are trying to promote … Continue reading “How VCs Use Advice from Experts”
Marvell CEO Says ARM Chips are “Here to Stay,” With or Without Microsoft Windows
The CEO of Santa Clara, CA-based semiconductor maker Marvell, Sehat Sutardja, has downplayed the significance of rumors circulating this week that Microsoft plans to unveil a version of Windows that runs on low-power ARM chips like those made by Marvell, Qualcomm, Samsung, and many other companies. Observers are saying that such a move would be … Continue reading “Marvell CEO Says ARM Chips are “Here to Stay,” With or Without Microsoft Windows”
With New $875M Fund, JMI Equity Maintains Focused Strategy on Software Deals
“We don’t spend a lot of time on our story,” JMI Equity’s Paul Barber told me last week in the investment firm’s La Jolla office. It’s another way of saying the firm maintains a low profile, and during my 20 years in San Diego, I can’t remember JMI ever stepping voluntarily into the media spotlight. … Continue reading “With New $875M Fund, JMI Equity Maintains Focused Strategy on Software Deals”
The Story of Detroit Added Some Significant Chapters in 2010; Here Are 10 of Them
When Xconomy Detroit launched in April 2010, I wrote that this city is a verb, in a constant state of action, of “becoming,” of striving for something greater. Having lived in Michigan for much of my life, I can say that this was true even in good times, and certainly even more so in bad. … Continue reading “The Story of Detroit Added Some Significant Chapters in 2010; Here Are 10 of Them”
Navy’s Goal Could Improve Economics of Biofuel Development, Arena Plans More Studies of Weight-Loss Drug, Lpath Signs Deal With Pfizer for Eye Drug, & More San Diego Life Sciences News
San Diego’s life sciences news began to slow down over the past week, but there was still plenty of items to round up. Happy holidays from Xconomy. —San Diego’s emerging algal biofuels industry got encouragement from the U.S. Navy, which said it will need 336 million gallons of advanced biofuels a year, beginning in 2020, … Continue reading “Navy’s Goal Could Improve Economics of Biofuel Development, Arena Plans More Studies of Weight-Loss Drug, Lpath Signs Deal With Pfizer for Eye Drug, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”
Editor’s Picks: The Best of 2010 From Xconomy Seattle
This is the time of year for counting blessings, so I have to say we consider ourselves fortunate as journalists to have what is sometimes called the front row seat to history. That’s how I feel when I look back at the year’s mix of features, breaking news stories, scoops, and up-close profiles. We feel … Continue reading “Editor’s Picks: The Best of 2010 From Xconomy Seattle”
Boston’s Mini Food Cluster: Area Startups Using Tech to Help Users Cook, Eat, Order, and Diet Better
Everyone eats more around the holidays, and we at Xconomy are no exception (thanks to the cookies, brownies, and sinful gooey butter cake we’ve had shipped to us). All this chomping got us thinking about the dribs and drabs we’ve heard about area startup companies that are applying innovative technology to the food space on … Continue reading “Boston’s Mini Food Cluster: Area Startups Using Tech to Help Users Cook, Eat, Order, and Diet Better”
Testing Experimental Drugs in Combination – A New Trend
Sanofi-Aventis and Merck KGaA announced recently they are teaming up to test new cancer drugs in combination, joining a growing trend among drug makers to combine different cancer therapies in early-stage clinical studies. Combinations of different drugs are used frequently in the treatment of cancer, but such regimens are normally developed only after medicines reach … Continue reading “Testing Experimental Drugs in Combination – A New Trend”
Streetline Unveils iPhone Parking App, Seeks to Take Guesswork out of Finding a Spot
It’s a universal urban experience: You’re zigzagging around the crowded city streets in your car, looking for an empty parking spot. The person in the passenger seat tells you to go right. You think you’ll have better luck if you go left. An argument ensues—as pointless as it is bitter, since neither of you has … Continue reading “Streetline Unveils iPhone Parking App, Seeks to Take Guesswork out of Finding a Spot”
Where Wins Patent for Geofencing: Location-Based Companies, Take Notice
This is pretty big news for a local mobile startup. Boston-based Where, a mobile applications and advertising firm, announced today it has been granted a patent covering a wide swath of location-based services—in particular those related to delivering certain kinds of advertising, alerts, and coupons to mobile devices. Where now has strong intellectual property protection … Continue reading “Where Wins Patent for Geofencing: Location-Based Companies, Take Notice”
Exits for Two More Y Combinator Startups, Movity and Etacts
It’s been a busy month for young startups backed by the Mountain View, CA-based venture incubator Y Combinator. Salesforce.com revealed a couple of weeks ago that it had acquired Heroku, which runs a hosting platform for Ruby on Rails websites, for an eye-popping $212 million. Then Rackspace bought Cloudkick, a San Francisco cloud management startup … Continue reading “Exits for Two More Y Combinator Startups, Movity and Etacts”
Come Shoot the Breeze, Have a Cup of Tea, With Me and Thong Le of WRF Capital
The news is starting to wind down as we head into the holiday season, so that can only mean one thing—it’s time to shoot the breeze at a special holiday edition of “Xconomy Meetup.” Here’s the idea. In between our fancy-pants productions where we sell tickets, like “Biotech’s Back in Seattle” and “Computing in the … Continue reading “Come Shoot the Breeze, Have a Cup of Tea, With Me and Thong Le of WRF Capital”
Startup Lessons from Pixability, FashionPlaytes, and More: Check Out 5×5 Videos from Turnstone
As we come down the home stretch of 2010, I wanted to take another look back at our most recent Boston event—“5×5: Five Cities, Five Big Tech Ideas.” Not at the program or the public discussion, which I already summarized briefly here, but at some of the side discussions that were caught on camera. One … Continue reading “Startup Lessons from Pixability, FashionPlaytes, and More: Check Out 5×5 Videos from Turnstone”
At a Private Xconomy Dinner, Luminaries Debate the Future of Innovation in San Diego
The importance of diversifying the local economy became obvious in San Diego during the 1980s, as the ebb in defense spending exposed the area’s collective dependence on Atlas rockets and cruise missiles, along with the payroll for the Navy’s Pacific Fleet. But the path forward also was obvious—especially after Ely Lilly acquired San Diego’s Hybritech … Continue reading “At a Private Xconomy Dinner, Luminaries Debate the Future of Innovation in San Diego”
Area Entrepreneurs Launch Detroit Venture Partners To Turn Motown Into A Tech and Innovation Hub
We’ve written about a number of investors and nonprofits looking to attract and keep companies in Michigan as a way to help the state’s economy kick back into gear. But Detroit Venture Partners is looking to go a bit further. The brand new venture firm wants its portfolio companies to move their operations right into … Continue reading “Area Entrepreneurs Launch Detroit Venture Partners To Turn Motown Into A Tech and Innovation Hub”
EveryScape and Bing Expand Partnership, Raytheon Acquires Applied Signal, Avila Inks Sanofi Deal, & More Boston-Area Deals News
A flurry of pre-holiday announcements of fundings, partnerships, and acquisitions from Boston-area tech and life sciences companies has kept us busy in the past week. —Cambridge, MA-based car-sharing service Zipcar added a $21 million Series G financing to its funding pot. The deal involved a $20 million investment from Meritech Capital Partners, and $1 million … Continue reading “EveryScape and Bing Expand Partnership, Raytheon Acquires Applied Signal, Avila Inks Sanofi Deal, & More Boston-Area Deals News”
Progress Software CEO Richard Reidy Talks “Major Transition” and “Whole New Strategy”
Who’s the $500 million tech company that nobody has heard of? That would be Bedford, MA-based Progress Software, one of the largest software makers in the state. Progress (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PRGS]]) has been on quite a run lately, with its stock rising steadily since September—from a low of $26.71 on Aug. 31 to around $41 for … Continue reading “Progress Software CEO Richard Reidy Talks “Major Transition” and “Whole New Strategy””
Krush Lands $2M Series A, Looks to Make Splash in 2011
It was no secret that stealthy Web startup Krush had raised some money—but now we know how much. The Cambridge, MA-based company, led by co-founder and CEO Gina Ashe, has closed $2 million in Series A equity financing, according to a regulatory filing. News of Krush’s financing round (but not the amount) was first reported … Continue reading “Krush Lands $2M Series A, Looks to Make Splash in 2011”
Get Your Expenses in Now! Concur Declares Today the Biggest Moment for Expense Filing
We all know about Black Friday, and Cyber Monday and the implications they have for business worldwide. But apparently now we have File-Your-Gosh-Darn-Expenses-Already Tuesday. That’s what we learned today from Redmond, WA-based Concur Technologies (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CNQR]]). The company, which makes software that helps companies manage business expenses, said December 21 is the busiest day of … Continue reading “Get Your Expenses in Now! Concur Declares Today the Biggest Moment for Expense Filing”