Outside of official circles in Redmond, WA, the term “Microsoft innovation” is often thought of as an oxymoron, sort of like “Army intelligence.” People have been actively debating the issue of whether and how Microsoft can truly innovate in the tech world for at least the past decade. Enter Dick Brass (great name), who was … Continue reading “Sack Ballmer? Break Up the Company? How Microsoft Could Innovate”
Category: National
Yes We Have a Winner from Last Night’s Battle, and No, It’s Not What You Would Expect
We know, we’ve been holding out on you. But don’t worry, we do plan to reveal the winners of last night’s Battle of the Tech Bands 3, for those of you who couldn’t make it. The evening saw a great turnout of people representing all facets of the tech, life sciences, and venture communities here … Continue reading “Yes We Have a Winner from Last Night’s Battle, and No, It’s Not What You Would Expect”
The Outlook for Solar: Q&A With Borrego Solar CEO Mike Hall
While venture investments in cleantech startups declined last year, technology advances in renewable energy remain a hot area of interest for both cleantech innovators and investors. In an effort to gain a better understanding of the solar energy market, especially in the photovoltaic segment of the industry, I sought insights from Mike Hall, the CEO … Continue reading “The Outlook for Solar: Q&A With Borrego Solar CEO Mike Hall”
It’s Official: Ontela Bought Photobucket from News Corp.
Back in December, we reported that Seattle mobile imaging startup Ontela merged with Photobucket, the Denver-based photo sharing site previously owned by News Corporation. Financial terms of the deal weren’t released, but News Corp. ceded some control of Photobucket to Ontela’s investors while retaining an equity stake in the merged company, which retains the Photobucket … Continue reading “It’s Official: Ontela Bought Photobucket from News Corp.”
eClinicalWorks Tops $100M Sales as Doctors Move from Paper to Pixel Records
Most health records in the U.S. today are still gathering dust, tucked away in filing cabinets, existing only on paper. Even though the idea of electronic medical records is still a relatively new concept at most hospitals and clinics, the EMR software industry has its share of dinosaurs living alongside the newer species. At eClinicalWorks, … Continue reading “eClinicalWorks Tops $100M Sales as Doctors Move from Paper to Pixel Records”
Kindle Conniptions: How I Published My First E-Book
This is the 80th edition of World Wide Wade since this weekly column on technology trends began in April 2008. Since we have so much material piling up in the archive, we at Xconomy decided to do something a bit different: We’re collecting all of the columns in the form of an e-book. It’s called … Continue reading “Kindle Conniptions: How I Published My First E-Book”
Ironwood Goes Public, Glasshouse and BG Medicine Aim to Do the Same, Vivox Collects $6.8M, & More Boston-Area Deals News
For the first time in as long as I can remember, IPOs dominated the New England tech and life sciences deals news this week. —Glasshouse Technologies, an IT consulting firm in Framingham, MA, indicated in an SEC filing that it’s planning an initial public offering worth as much as $75 million. Glasshouse, which is aiming … Continue reading “Ironwood Goes Public, Glasshouse and BG Medicine Aim to Do the Same, Vivox Collects $6.8M, & More Boston-Area Deals News”
Datacastle, with Aussie Connections, Moves Into Corporate Data Management
Managing data on desktop and laptop computers is a perennial problem for businesses. That’s because IT managers and administrators don’t have control over individual machines the way they do the servers inside their own data center. So dealing with issues around each laptop’s security, privacy, and data backup and recovery tends to be costly and … Continue reading “Datacastle, with Aussie Connections, Moves Into Corporate Data Management”
Optimer Passes Second Big Trial of Drug for Deadly Bacteria
San Diego-based Optimer Pharmaceuticals has nailed the second big trial designed to prove it has a new antibiotic for a deadly infection people can get in hospitals. Optimer (NASDAQ: [[ticker:OPTR]]) said today that it reached its main goal of showing its experimental antibiotic, fidaxomicin, was roughly equivalent to the gold standard vancomycin drug when attempting … Continue reading “Optimer Passes Second Big Trial of Drug for Deadly Bacteria”
Isilon Posts First Profit, Gives Props to Its People and Partners
Ding, ding. What’s that sound? It’s Isilon Systems ringing the NASDAQ market closing bell at 4 pm ET this afternoon. The Seattle data storage company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ISLN]]) is celebrating its first quarterly profit in its nine-year history. I caught up with CEO and founder Sujal Patel by phone from New York this morning after the … Continue reading “Isilon Posts First Profit, Gives Props to Its People and Partners”
See You Tonight at Battle of the Tech Bands: Come for Boston!
It’s been a busy week covering venture deals, IPOs, and all the iPad fallout fit to print, so we’re ready to release by defending our East Coast honor tonight at the Battle of the Tech Bands. This will be the third year we’ve hosted the showdown between bands from area tech companies, but will be … Continue reading “See You Tonight at Battle of the Tech Bands: Come for Boston!”
Allegro Diagnostics Planning Large Lung Cancer Diagnosis Trial for 2010
Allegro Diagnostics is on track to launch a major clinical trial of its lung cancer test this year after a long process, completed in October, of designing the goals of the study and submitting paperwork on it to the FDA, CEO Dan Rippy says. The FDA has granted the Boston-based startup conditional approval to conduct … Continue reading “Allegro Diagnostics Planning Large Lung Cancer Diagnosis Trial for 2010”
Alkermes Unveils Cheaper, Easier Technique for Making Drugs Last Longer in Blood
Alkermes is known for making drugs stable and long-lasting in the bloodstream. Today, the Waltham, MA-based company is announcing it has invented a new way to do the same thing, but at lower cost and with fewer manufacturing hassles. There’s also the potential that the new technique could be used on more drugs, and lead … Continue reading “Alkermes Unveils Cheaper, Easier Technique for Making Drugs Last Longer in Blood”
Carl Icahn Nominates Scripps Researcher to Biogen Idec Board, BrainCells Pursues New Drug Combo for Depression, Illumina Adds to Oxford Nanopore Investment, & More San Diego Life Sciences News
San Diego-based aFraxis is working to advance a possible drug treatment for Fragile X syndrome identified by MIT’s Susumu Tonegawa. Meanwhile Waltham, MA-based Syndax Pharmaceuticals is developing an anti-cancer drug that came out of Ron Evans’s lab at San Diego’s Salk Institute. That’s life sciences, and this is Xconomy: —San Diego-based aFraxis CEO Jay Lichter … Continue reading “Carl Icahn Nominates Scripps Researcher to Biogen Idec Board, BrainCells Pursues New Drug Combo for Depression, Illumina Adds to Oxford Nanopore Investment, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”
Cell Therapeutics Nears Judgment Day, AVI Biopharma Awaits Results, HemaQuest Gets $6M & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News
The Seattle biotech beat is about to get a dose of drama over the next week, as one of the oldest companies in town prepares for a make-or-break moment in suburban Washington, D.C. —Seattle-based Cell Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CTIC]]]) is getting ready for a critical decision next Wednesday, when a panel of cancer drug experts will … Continue reading “Cell Therapeutics Nears Judgment Day, AVI Biopharma Awaits Results, HemaQuest Gets $6M & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News”
Seattle Needs an “Incubator” Culture
If Seattle is to occupy a future place of dominance in the biotech world, it must foster more of an “incubator” culture. There is a “valley of death” between the well-funded labs of academia and private venture funding that is difficult to cross. The National Institutes of Health funds non-profit institutions like universities for fundamental … Continue reading “Seattle Needs an “Incubator” Culture”
Amazon Said to Buy Touchscreen Startup: Implications for the Kindle and E Ink Display
Seattle-based Amazon has acquired Touchco, a touchscreen technology company based in New York, according to a report in the New York Times, which cites an anonymous source with knowledge of the deal. The acquisition raises some interesting questions about the future of the Kindle device, Amazon’s competition with Apple, and the role of technology firm … Continue reading “Amazon Said to Buy Touchscreen Startup: Implications for the Kindle and E Ink Display”
BlueKai Brings In Big Money, Siemens Licenses HealthVault, Intellectual Ventures Buys Avistar Patents, & More Seattle-Area Deals News
Deal activity picked up a bit in the Northwest this week. But most of the action was in two or three big deals in the software and Internet sectors, with a smattering of deals in biotech and clean IT. —Portland, OR-based Coaxis raised $10 million in growth capital from Updata Partners, based in Virginia and … Continue reading “BlueKai Brings In Big Money, Siemens Licenses HealthVault, Intellectual Ventures Buys Avistar Patents, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”
All-Star Lineup of Guest Judges Set For Thursday Night’s Battle of the Tech Bands Seattle vs. Boston Smackdown
We are barely 24 hours away from the biggest, most definitive East Coast vs. West Coast smackdown since Facebook got away: the Battle of the Tech Bands 3, which will take place Thursday night at the Middle East Nightclub in the heart of Central Square here in Cambridge, MA. We have five great bands—three winners … Continue reading “All-Star Lineup of Guest Judges Set For Thursday Night’s Battle of the Tech Bands Seattle vs. Boston Smackdown”
Ironwood Climbs 3.6 Percent on IPO Debut Day, Shows Investor Interest—Albeit Tepid—in Biotech
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals showed today that an IPO market does exist for a serious biotech company without a moneymaking product on the market, but that investors’ appetite for the speculative business of drug development is modest. The Cambridge, MA-based biotech company set its initial public offering price at $11.25—a far cry from its forecasted price range … Continue reading “Ironwood Climbs 3.6 Percent on IPO Debut Day, Shows Investor Interest—Albeit Tepid—in Biotech”
ViaSat on New Trajectory Following Deal to Create Satellite-Based High-Speed Internet
It was a big deal in October when ViaSat (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VSAT]]), the Carlsbad, CA-based specialist in satellite-based communications technologies, announced it was acquiring WildBlue Communications, a suburban Denver, CO-based internet service provider. The acquisition, once revealed, made a lot of sense. As a satellite-based provider of high-speed Internet service in mostly rural communities, WildBlue made … Continue reading “ViaSat on New Trajectory Following Deal to Create Satellite-Based High-Speed Internet”
Picnik Vs. Flickr: A Growth Comparison
Just a quick observation here. Seattle-based Picnik, the popular photo-editing startup, said yesterday it has reached the “1 billion photos edited” mark. Is this a big deal? Well, if you compare the growth of Picnik to that of arguably the world’s top social storage site for photos, Flickr, it could be a very revealing milestone. … Continue reading “Picnik Vs. Flickr: A Growth Comparison”
Ironwood Pharma IPO Price Cut Could Be Only Half the Story
This may not be the bellwether for the IPO market that people were hoping for in the life sciences industry. Cambridge, MA-based Ironwood Pharmaceuticals priced its initial public offering of at least 16.67 million shares last night at $11.25 per share, far below the $14 to $16 range that the firm proposed last month. Smart … Continue reading “Ironwood Pharma IPO Price Cut Could Be Only Half the Story”
Google Pours “Incredible” Computing Power into Antibody Drug Discovery With Adimab
Google is the undisputed king of Internet search and advertising, but its second act as a company might be to invent a new computer model for efficiently discovering targeted antibody drugs. “Google is committing incredible resources to it. Incredible resources,” says Tillman Gerngross, the founder and CEO of Lebanon, NH-based Adimab. “The infrastructure alone is … Continue reading “Google Pours “Incredible” Computing Power into Antibody Drug Discovery With Adimab”
San Diego’s aFraxis Studies Drug Candidates to Treat Fragile X Syndrome
Fragile X syndrome is the second leading cause of mental retardation, after Down syndrome. Caused by a defect on the X chromosome, the syndrome affects boys more frequently and severely than girls; one-third of men with Fragile X are autistic and have trouble with communication and social interaction. There is no cure or specific medical … Continue reading “San Diego’s aFraxis Studies Drug Candidates to Treat Fragile X Syndrome”
Informal Incubators: Startup Workspaces Sprouting Up in Unlikely Places (Including an Expelled MIT Frat House)
When Mahmoud Arram looked around last spring to move his web startup Sponty from his apartment to a real, live office space (to better accommodate the interns he needed to hire), he sought three things: a door that closed, lots of whiteboard space, and “access to really smart people.” “It’s good to be able to … Continue reading “Informal Incubators: Startup Workspaces Sprouting Up in Unlikely Places (Including an Expelled MIT Frat House)”
Cell Therapeutics FDA Panel Primer: What You Need to Know to Be Ready Next Week
Seattle-based Cell Therapeutics will find out in seven days whether it has a legitimate shot at getting a new cancer drug on the U.S. market. This company has a long and controversial history, and it is guaranteed to generate noise over the next week from stock market bulls and bears. So I figured it might … Continue reading “Cell Therapeutics FDA Panel Primer: What You Need to Know to Be Ready Next Week”
Mpire Drops Widgetbucks, Switches Strategy to Be All About Optimizing and Verifying Online Ads
It has certainly been a busy week in the online advertising sector. On Monday, Bellevue, WA-based BlueKai announced it had raised $21 million in Series C funding in its effort to help transform how companies use customer data to design ad campaigns. And Seattle-based ad technology startup AdReady has formed a partnership with Internet radio … Continue reading “Mpire Drops Widgetbucks, Switches Strategy to Be All About Optimizing and Verifying Online Ads”
All Eyes On Ironwood IPO, Icahn Seeks Biogen Board Seats, Boston Scientific Settles with J&J, & More Boston-Area Life Sciences News
So there was good news and bad news for the New England life sciences community in the past week, but industry watchers this week are all waiting to see how the Ironwood IPO story plays out. —Billionaire investor Carl Icahn and his associates notified Cambridge, MA-based Biogen Idec (NASDAQ:[[ticker:BIIB]]) of their plans to nominate three … Continue reading “All Eyes On Ironwood IPO, Icahn Seeks Biogen Board Seats, Boston Scientific Settles with J&J, & More Boston-Area Life Sciences News”
Google Funds Research on Mobile Sensing at UW, Energy Efficiency at UC San Diego
With all the froth around big tech company earnings, device announcements, and mobile app stores, it’s refreshing to see some long-term research in computing being funded. Google announced today it has awarded $1.35 million ($900,000 up front) to the University of Washington for work on mobile data collection for public health and environmental monitoring, and … Continue reading “Google Funds Research on Mobile Sensing at UW, Energy Efficiency at UC San Diego”
Frank Quattrone, Star Banker of Technology Ventures, Talks Wistfully of the Good Old Days—Before Netscape’s IPO
[Editor’s note 2/3/10, 3:15 pm: Robert Kibble, who conducted the chat with Frank Quattrone at this event, took issue with aspects of this story. See comments below.] At a time when the IPO market appears to be loosening a bit, controversial former investment banker Frank Quattrone appeared before a regular meeting of the San Diego … Continue reading “Frank Quattrone, Star Banker of Technology Ventures, Talks Wistfully of the Good Old Days—Before Netscape’s IPO”
Z2Live CEO David Bluhm on Game Community’s “Overwhelming Disappointment” in Apple iPad
The honeymoon is over for Apple. Although it has been quite fashionable to bash the iPad tablet device announced last week, it did seem like a promising platform for gaming and other entertainment apps—at least to an outside observer. Now the truth comes out. Last week, the local gaming and iPhone app developer community gathered … Continue reading “Z2Live CEO David Bluhm on Game Community’s “Overwhelming Disappointment” in Apple iPad”
Economics Bloggers See Innovation, Immigration as Paths to Recovery
Despite official data showing that the U.S. economy is out of recession, leading economics bloggers remain cautious about the nation’s economic prospects, with almost half saying that conditions are worse than the official numbers indicate. But government policies boosting entrepreneurship and allowing more high-skilled immigrants into the country could bolster recovery, bloggers say. That’s all … Continue reading “Economics Bloggers See Innovation, Immigration as Paths to Recovery”
Previewing Xconomy’s Battle of the Tech Bands (Seattle Vs. Boston) with Dave Dederer from Melodeo and The Presidents of the USA
OK, I need to weigh in on this whole Battle of the Tech Bands thing. In case you didn’t know, it’s this Thursday night at the Middle East in Cambridge, MA. It has a major new twist this year: Seattle versus Boston. The battle is on. And I’m torn. I’m from Boston, after all, but … Continue reading “Previewing Xconomy’s Battle of the Tech Bands (Seattle Vs. Boston) with Dave Dederer from Melodeo and The Presidents of the USA”
NxStage Medical Rebounds on Wall Street, Looks to Grow Home Dialysis Biz
For a while last year, it looked like investors had lost faith in NxStage Medical. But the Lawrence, MA-based company (NASDAQ:[[ticker:NXTM]]), which makes portable dialysis machines for kidney failure patients, found its stride last May when it struck a financing and partnership deal with Japanese medical supplies firm Asahi Kasei Kuraray Medical. The Asahi deal … Continue reading “NxStage Medical Rebounds on Wall Street, Looks to Grow Home Dialysis Biz”
From Social Media to the 3-D Internet: Companies Need to Change Up, Says Former RealNetworks Exec Kelly Jo MacArthur
Every once in a while, I sit down with a businessperson who brings a unique perspective to a huge global trend—and helps me see things in a profound new light. In this case, that person is Kelly Jo MacArthur, and the global trend is the explosion of social media and its broader impact on corporations. … Continue reading “From Social Media to the 3-D Internet: Companies Need to Change Up, Says Former RealNetworks Exec Kelly Jo MacArthur”
BrainCells Inc. Maps Out Next Steps for Novel Depression Drug
San Diego-based BrainCells Inc. surprised the field of psychiatry last August, when a clinical trial showed that it could relieve symptoms of depression with an odd combination of an anxiety drug and a common dietary supplement. Six months later, the company is in the thick of plotting the next steps to turn this into a … Continue reading “BrainCells Inc. Maps Out Next Steps for Novel Depression Drug”
Online Voice Provider Vivox Raises Another $6.8 Million to Support “Explosive Growth”
Vivox, the Natick, MA, startup best known for voice software that allows inhabitants of virtual worlds such as Second Life, EVE Online, and EverQuest to talk with each other over the Internet, has completed a third round of venture funding totaling $6.8 million. New investor IDG Ventures SF of San Francisco led the round, with … Continue reading “Online Voice Provider Vivox Raises Another $6.8 Million to Support “Explosive Growth””
BlueKai Pulls in $21M Series C Round to Enable Targeted Web Ads
BlueKai, a Bellevue, WA-based Internet data exchange company that connects companies with information on the behavior of their customers, has wrapped up a $21 million Series C funding round, the company announced today. New investor GGV Capital (formerly Granite Global Ventures) led the round, which also included previous BlueKai investors Battery Ventures and Redpoint Ventures. … Continue reading “BlueKai Pulls in $21M Series C Round to Enable Targeted Web Ads”
What Lies Ahead for San Diego Life Sciences
We’re at the end of one of the most challenging years in recent memory for life sciences companies. However, a broad transformation is under way in the industry, and profitable new opportunities are on the near-term horizon. From my perspective, there are three major trends worth considering and focusing on as the new year unfolds. … Continue reading “What Lies Ahead for San Diego Life Sciences”
Hemaquest Snaps Up $6M To Treat Sickle Cell, Other Blood Disorders
Hemaquest Pharmaceuticals, the Seattle-based company developing a new treatment for sickle cell anemia, has pocketed a $6 million equity financing, according to a regulatory filing. The financing could eventually total as much as $12.7 million. The filing doesn’t say who participated in the deal, but it lists some familiar biotech names as members of the … Continue reading “Hemaquest Snaps Up $6M To Treat Sickle Cell, Other Blood Disorders”
In-Person Insights on Virtual Biotechs at Xconomy Dinner
Don’t underestimate those brainy types riveted to their laptops at coffee shops in Harvard Square, because they could be managing the development of a potential breakthrough drug. That’s what I was thinking last week during a dinner hosted by Xconomy at a Harvard Square venue, where we discussed the virtues and limitations of virtual business … Continue reading “In-Person Insights on Virtual Biotechs at Xconomy Dinner”
Boston Scientific to Pay Johnson & Johnson $1.7 Billion in Stent Settlements
Pushing to get past a raft of pending patent infringement lawsuits, Boston Scientific (NYSE: [[ticker:BSX]]) said today that it will pay Johnson & Johnson $1.725 billion to settle three suits related to cardiac stent technology. The Natick, MA-based medical devices giant said it will pay Johnson & Johnson $1 billion today, and the remaining $725 … Continue reading “Boston Scientific to Pay Johnson & Johnson $1.7 Billion in Stent Settlements”
Prism’s Will Kohler to Join Summerhill Venture Partners, Doubling Firm’s Boston Headcount
Prism VentureWorks principal Will Kohler will join Summerhill Venture Partners as a general partner later this month, doubling the Toronto-headquartered firm’s Boston-area headcount as part of an effort to expand its investments in the Northeast, according to Summerhill managing partner Gary Rubinoff. “We’re doing a lot of deals in the Northeast it makes sense to … Continue reading “Prism’s Will Kohler to Join Summerhill Venture Partners, Doubling Firm’s Boston Headcount”
SEOmoz Hands Off Consulting Biz to U.K. Firm, Doubles Down on Software and Tools
Don’t think of Seattle-based SEOmoz as a consulting firm. It’s all about software and tools now—and pretty much has been for a couple of years. That’s the message from founder and CEO Rand Fishkin, who spoke with me last week about the search engine optimization company’s strategy. SEOmoz announced today it is officially handing over … Continue reading “SEOmoz Hands Off Consulting Biz to U.K. Firm, Doubles Down on Software and Tools”
Verari Founder Tells Death and Life Story, IPO Activity Increasing, Aptera Looks to Sell Through Best Buy Stores, & More San Diego BizTech News
Was there any BizTech news besides Apple iPad news last week? The answer is yes, but not a lot. We’ve got it here, plus a little speculation about San Diego’s iPad connection. —Diego-based V-Vehicle raised $62.3 million in venture capital in 2009, enough for the stealthy startup automaker to rank No. 2 in Southern California … Continue reading “Verari Founder Tells Death and Life Story, IPO Activity Increasing, Aptera Looks to Sell Through Best Buy Stores, & More San Diego BizTech News”
AVI Biopharma Eagerly Awaits Data on Muscular Dystrophy Drug
AVI Biopharma doled out an interesting little morsel of news on its muscular dystrophy drug right before Christmas that showed encouraging results in three boys. This year, the Bothell, WA-based biotech company is eagerly awaiting more meaningful follow-up data that could show it is on track with what could be the first treatment to fix … Continue reading “AVI Biopharma Eagerly Awaits Data on Muscular Dystrophy Drug”
Ironwood Gears Up for Biotech’s Biggest IPO in Years, Sending Ripple Effect Through Industry
Everybody with a financial stake in biotechnology will be watching Ironwood Pharmaceuticals this week, as it attempts to pull off the biggest initial public offering the industry has seen in years. The Cambridge, MA-based company, which filed its original IPO prospectus on Nov. 20, is now primed to go ahead and start selling its first … Continue reading “Ironwood Gears Up for Biotech’s Biggest IPO in Years, Sending Ripple Effect Through Industry”
Illumina Bets Again on Oxford Nanopore, Joins $28M Investment in Cheaper Gene Sequencing
San Diego-based Illumina has made its second big bet in the past two years on U.K.-based Oxford Nanopore Technologies. The investment is another show of confidence in a startup that boldly promises to sequence entire human genomes far faster and cheaper than anything on the market today, possibly for as little as $1,000 per genome. … Continue reading “Illumina Bets Again on Oxford Nanopore, Joins $28M Investment in Cheaper Gene Sequencing”
Synchronicity is Not Just an Album by The Police. Nor is Serendipity Just a John Cusack movie.
The most incredible things happen when scientists with a common interest have an opportunity to simply talk with one another. On a bone-chilling December night, 50 Seattle researchers from more than 10 different institutions with dramatically different backgrounds gathered to share drinks and conversation about their work. They discovered surprising connections, initiated new collaborations and … Continue reading “Synchronicity is Not Just an Album by The Police. Nor is Serendipity Just a John Cusack movie.”