NWEN Breakfast Buzz: Social Media for Startups

Information and registration here. Whether your world is brick-and-mortar or all Web 2.0 all the time, we’re all swimming in a sea of social media. Foursquare, Twitter, Facebook, blogs—transparency is king, and the lines between personal and professional have become fainter and fuzzier. How can you meaningfully engage in any or all of these channels? … Continue reading “NWEN Breakfast Buzz: Social Media for Startups”

TechFlash Live: Bootstrapping vs. Venture Capital

Information and registration here. Join the entire technology community for TechFlash Live on June 15, an evening event that will bring top executives from throughout the region to network and develop business together. Whether you’re a CEO, entrepreneur, developer, marketing guru or connected to the tech industry in some other way, you’ll make valuable connections … Continue reading “TechFlash Live: Bootstrapping vs. Venture Capital”

Arena Adds $35M From Deerfield

Arena Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ARNA]]), the San Diego-based developer of an experimental obesity drug, said today it has raised $35.5 million through an equity financing from Deerfield Management. Arena agreed to sell 11 million shares to Deerfield at $3.23 apiece, the equivalent of yesterday’s closing stock price. Arena is getting ready for an important meeting of … Continue reading “Arena Adds $35M From Deerfield”

Twitter Is Killing the Blogosphere, and More Insights from Internet Marketing Whiz Neil Patel

Neil Patel claims he doesn’t know much about the world. “There’s only one thing I’m good at,” he says, “and that is getting traffic from Yahoo and Google.” It’s a peculiar skill, but it has definitely paid off. Patel taught himself the art of search engine optimization about nine years ago, after he had started … Continue reading “Twitter Is Killing the Blogosphere, and More Insights from Internet Marketing Whiz Neil Patel”

What’s Next in New England? Just Take a Look at the MITX Technology Award Winners

Yesterday evening, it was time again for the MITX Technology Awards. This was the seventh time the yearly awards were handed out by the Massachusetts Innovation and Technology Exchange, an organization of 7,500 New England professionals in the Internet business and marketing field. Winners were announced in eleven categories, in addition to several “Best of” … Continue reading “What’s Next in New England? Just Take a Look at the MITX Technology Award Winners”

MoMelan, New Rox Anderson Startup, Gets Funds for Device Aimed at Skin Disorders

Skin disorders attack one of the most visible signs of our health. Take vitiligo, which causes skin to lose its color and form irregular white spots all over the body. MoMelan Technologies, a secretive startup in Cambridge, MA, is fighting back against such conditions with a device that could literally expand the impact of skin … Continue reading “MoMelan, New Rox Anderson Startup, Gets Funds for Device Aimed at Skin Disorders”

All-Michigan VC Team Helps Bring State-Grown Medical Imaging Technology to Market

There are three reasons Michigan can feel good about a recent $8 million venture capital investment in Detroit-based medical imaging company Delphinus Medical Technologies. It is an investment in a Michigan company; The investment comes from an all-Michigan VC team; It is an investment in Michigan-grown technology developed in one of the state’s premier research … Continue reading “All-Michigan VC Team Helps Bring State-Grown Medical Imaging Technology to Market”

Feds’ Sequenom Probe Breaks Into the Open, Life Technologies Moves Into Synthetic Biology, DexCom Agrees to Re-Label Its Medical Devices, & More San Diego Life Sciences News

The big news came with a guilty plea by Sequenom’s former R&D chief, but it’s just the beginning. In pleading guilty, Elizabeth Dragon agreed to cooperate with a continuing criminal investigation of wrongdoing in the company’s development of a prenatal diagnostic test for Down syndrome. Our weekly wrap-up begins here. —The former chief of research … Continue reading “Feds’ Sequenom Probe Breaks Into the Open, Life Technologies Moves Into Synthetic Biology, DexCom Agrees to Re-Label Its Medical Devices, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”

Ten Startups Share Their Wares at TechStars Demo Night

You can’t throw darts at a calendar this month without hitting at least a couple of technology events in Boston. Tuesday night it was Angel Boot Camp, and last night it was the MITX Technology Awards and the TechStars Demo Night. Maybe that’s why they’re calling June Innovation Month in New England. There was definitely … Continue reading “Ten Startups Share Their Wares at TechStars Demo Night”

Amgen Gets FDA Approval, SonoSite’s New Frontier, Craig Venter’s Enabler, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News

Quite a few Seattle biotechies are quietly gearing up for the always-important American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting from June 4 to 8 in Chicago. Combine that with a holiday weekend, and the local life sciences news was a little light for Xconomy Seattle. —One of the big national headlines this week came when Amgen … Continue reading “Amgen Gets FDA Approval, SonoSite’s New Frontier, Craig Venter’s Enabler, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News”

BookRenter.com Receives $10,000,000 Series B Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c2fb53b6-d132-47d9-8c11-5abbfa2ca4fe&Preview=1 Date 6/3/2010 Company Name BookRenter.com Mailing Address 1190 S Bascom Ave San Jose, CA 95128 Company Description Founded in 2006, BookRenter.com is the first online book rental service. BookRenter replaces traditional bookstore sales with online book rentals for students at schools throughout the nation. Flexible rental periods and a hassle free … Continue reading “BookRenter.com Receives $10,000,000 Series B Funding Round”

Marin Software Secures $11,200,000 Series D Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2234565c-5517-4df9-8265-79dcc8847bdc&Preview=1 Date 6/3/2010 Company Name Marin Software Mailing Address 123 Mission Street 25th Floor San Francisco, CA 94105 Company Description Marin Software was founded in April 2006 by experienced search marketers and enterprise software experts. Marin Search Marketer addresses the workflow, analysis and optimization needs of professional search marketers, saving time and … Continue reading “Marin Software Secures $11,200,000 Series D Financing Round”

Sequenom’s Former R&D Chief Pleads Guilty to Securities Fraud Charge

A former senior vice president for research and development at Sequenom (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SQNM]]) admitted today that she knew “blinded” studies the company was conducting of a genetic test for Down syndrome were falsified. Elizabeth A. Dragon, a former Sequenom senior vice president for research and development, admitted in an appearance before a federal judge this … Continue reading “Sequenom’s Former R&D Chief Pleads Guilty to Securities Fraud Charge”

Washington State Biomedical Device Summit

The third annual Washington State Biomedical Device Summit will once again bring together over 200 executives, entrepreneurs, researchers, government officials, thought leaders and stakeholders from the medical device community to review the current landscape and discuss strategies for navigating the new healthcare economy. This year’s event, on June 17, will include speakers from Micronics; Pathway … Continue reading “Washington State Biomedical Device Summit”

Life Tech Bets $10M on Synthetic Genomics

[Updated: 12:15 pm, 6/3/10] Life Technologies (NASDAQ: [[ticker:LIFE]]), the Carlsbad, CA-based maker of lab supplies and instruments, has invested $10 million out of an equity financing that could be worth as much as $50 million for San Diego-based Synthetic Genomics, the startup co-founded by genomics pioneer J. Craig Venter, according to a regulatory filing. Synthetic … Continue reading “Life Tech Bets $10M on Synthetic Genomics”

Founders Seeking Buyers for SDNN, Local Online News Startup

The San Diego News Network, or SDNN, which launched a regional news website in March 2009, boasted of rapid expansion plans, and which reportedly raised close to $3.2 million, is searching for a buyer. SDNN is continuing to publish San Diego news on its website with a reduced staff, according to SDNN President (and former … Continue reading “Founders Seeking Buyers for SDNN, Local Online News Startup”

Zebigo, Led by Boeing and Blue Origin Vet, Rolls Out Ride-Sharing Network in Seattle

Mark Russell spent 13 years commuting the 50-odd miles from Graham, WA, to Kirkland and back. Driving alone, he couldn’t use the carpool lane, so he spent countless hours sitting in traffic. Now he is channeling years of pent-up frustration to help solve the broader ride-sharing problem, using a confluence of social networks, mobile applications, … Continue reading “Zebigo, Led by Boeing and Blue Origin Vet, Rolls Out Ride-Sharing Network in Seattle”

Tippr Buys Chitown Deals

Seattle-based group buying site Tippr.com announced today it has acquired Chitown Deals, based in Chicago, for an undisclosed amount. Tippr, which focuses on consumers’ collective buying (and discount vouchers) from small businesses, is currently operating in 10 U.S. cities and looking to expand. The site is led by entrepreneur and investor Martin Tobias. Its parent … Continue reading “Tippr Buys Chitown Deals”

Sonic Solutions to Merge With DivX as Battle Looms for Internet TV Dominance

Media technology company Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ:[[ticker:SNIC]]) of Novato, CA, is acquiring DivX (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DIVX]]), the San Diego digital media and video codec developer, in a deal valued at roughly $323 million. The buyout, which was announced by both companies today, will help Sonic accelerate its development of Web-based infrastructure for streaming online video movies and … Continue reading “Sonic Solutions to Merge With DivX as Battle Looms for Internet TV Dominance”

Arena FDA Panel Set for Sept. 16

Arena Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ARNA]]), the San Diego-based developer of a new obesity drug, said today that the FDA has notified the company of tentative plans for an advisory committee meeting to discuss its treatment on September 16. Arena first sought clearance from the FDA to start selling lorcaserin in the U.S. in December, and the … Continue reading “Arena FDA Panel Set for Sept. 16”

Looking for an Exit: Startup Founders, Investors, and Bankers Offer Some IPO Guidance

There have been 108 IPO filings nationwide so far this year, which is more than seven times the paltry 15 filings that were made by this time last year, according to IPO data from Renaissance Capital. The big local story so far has been Carlsbad, CA-based MaxLinear (NYSE: [[ticker:MSL]]), a wireless chip design company founded … Continue reading “Looking for an Exit: Startup Founders, Investors, and Bankers Offer Some IPO Guidance”

Flagship Targets $300M New Fund

Cambridge, MA-based Flagship Ventures plans to raise $300 million for its next fund, VentureWire reported today. The Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment Management Board, a previous supporter of Flagship’s venture funds, has committed $20 million toward the new batch of capital the firm hopes to raise, a pension official told VentureWire. Flagship, which focuses on investments … Continue reading “Flagship Targets $300M New Fund”

DexCom Pledges to Cooperate With FDA on Improved Warning Labels for Devices

San Diego’s DexCom (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DXCM]]) says it intends to cooperate with changes sought by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the way it labels certain biomedical devices for monitoring blood sugar levels. In a statement yesterday, DexCom says it received an FDA warning letter alleging that the company had failed to adequately disclose that … Continue reading “DexCom Pledges to Cooperate With FDA on Improved Warning Labels for Devices”

Glaxo’s SR One Injects Pharma Bucks into $22M Round for Constellation Pharma

Scientists have been buzzing for years now about new drugs that can turn DNA on or off in ways that affect many diseases. Now more big pharmaceutical dollars are flowing to support this idea at a Cambridge, MA-based biotech that specializes in making drugs based this field of genetics research. SR One, the venture capital … Continue reading “Glaxo’s SR One Injects Pharma Bucks into $22M Round for Constellation Pharma”

Aastrom Biosciences Seeks to Catch Cell Therapy Wave, Ride Dendreon’s Coattails

Dendreon blazed a new trail in late April when it won FDA approval of a treatment to actively stimulate a patient’s own immune cells to fight prostate cancer. Now lots of companies are casting themselves as the next Dendreon, with gee-whiz biotechnology on the verge of a breakout. One of them is Ann Arbor, MI-based … Continue reading “Aastrom Biosciences Seeks to Catch Cell Therapy Wave, Ride Dendreon’s Coattails”

Calling All Angels: Experienced, Aspiring Angel Investors Confer in Cambridge

If you Google “Angel Boot Camp,” the first seven results refer to a Victoria’s Secret competition to find the next “runway angel.” Well, there were no models or runways yesterday at the Microsoft NERD Center in Cambridge for Angel Boot Camp (the eighth result on Google)—but there were plenty of entrepreneurs vying for the attention … Continue reading “Calling All Angels: Experienced, Aspiring Angel Investors Confer in Cambridge”

Seattle Sensor Systems, Reborn in Twist of Fate, Spots Food Pathogens with a Little Box

Sometimes a startup is born when a couple of old friends bump into each other after years of going their separate ways. That’s what happened in February for Seattle Sensor Systems, when Carole Spangler e-mailed University of Washington genomics researcher Clem Furlong to ask him a scientific question and to catch up personally. He wrote … Continue reading “Seattle Sensor Systems, Reborn in Twist of Fate, Spots Food Pathogens with a Little Box”

Zipcar Files for $75M IPO, Tetraphase Gets $45M, Covidien Acquires ev3 for $2.6B, & More Boston-Area Deals News

Monday may have been a holiday, but New England’s tech and life sciences companies haven’t slowed down their deal making. We’ve had plenty of headlines of acquisitions, an IPO, and venture funding rounds for companies we’ve covered before and other not-so-familiar names. —Expressor Software, a Burlington, MA-based integration software provider, raised $4.5 million in expansion … Continue reading “Zipcar Files for $75M IPO, Tetraphase Gets $45M, Covidien Acquires ev3 for $2.6B, & More Boston-Area Deals News”

Constellation Pharmaceuticals Lands $22,000,000 Series B Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f00f10e9-b226-4d8e-9dc2-aa36a26b3b3f&Preview=1 Date 6/2/2010 Company Name Constellation Pharmaceuticals Mailing Address 148 Sidney Street Cambridge, MA 02139 Company Description Constellation Pharmaceuticals is the first biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of novel therapeutics in the emerging field of Epigenetics, a new field of science which is focused on selective regulators of epigenetic function, which … Continue reading “Constellation Pharmaceuticals Lands $22,000,000 Series B Funding Round”

Altura Medical Obtains $20,000,000 Series A Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4f6ecdb7-fdf7-47ee-86ff-788549b2f54d&Preview=1 Date 6/2/2010 Company Name Altura Medical Mailing Address 1120 Calle Cordillera San Clemente, CA 92673 Company Description The company is developing medical devices and methods for treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Website Undisclosed Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $20,000,000 Transaction Round Series A Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not … Continue reading “Altura Medical Obtains $20,000,000 Series A Round”

Pandora Receives Series E Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=24b0569b-2bd0-4785-ba9b-079529bac06b&Preview=1 Date 6/2/2010 Company Name Pandora Mailing Address 360 22nd Street Oakland, CA 94612 Company Description With Pandora you can explore this vast trove of music to your heart’s content. Just drop the name of one of your favorite songs or artists into Pandora and let the Genome Project go. Website http://www.pandora.com … Continue reading “Pandora Receives Series E Funding Round”

Transpera Secures $9,000,000 Series C Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=be4fb5f1-be30-46d1-a3d8-0c11c2f91e9c&Preview=1 Date 6/2/2010 Company Name Transpera Mailing Address 785 Market St. San Francisco, CA 94103 Company Description Truly personal mobile video is now a reality. With Transpera’s Bridge System, users program their own channels, enjoy deep integration with their favorite online video sites and share those experiences with friends and family. Website … Continue reading “Transpera Secures $9,000,000 Series C Funding”

Zeltiq Aesthetics Obtains $25,000,000 Series D Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7a88b5fe-71e9-49c5-b657-81bf71314a58&Preview=1 Date 6/2/2010 Company Name Zeltiq Aesthetics Mailing Address 4698 Willow Road Pleasanton, CA 94588 Company Description Zeltiq Aesthetics (pronounced “zel-teek”) is an early stage medical device company developing and testing new technologies for fat layer reduction that promise little or no recovery time. Website http://www.zeltiq.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount … Continue reading “Zeltiq Aesthetics Obtains $25,000,000 Series D Financing Round”

Ablexis Garners $12,000,000 Series A Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d51c857a-eb88-410b-9554-9f64f18886b5&Preview=1 Date 6/2/2010 Company Name Ablexis Mailing Address Undisclosed San Francisco, CA 94105 Company Description Ablexis, LLC, a biotechnology company dedicated to developing an innovative, next-generation platform for antibody drug discovery, was founded in December 2009, based on technology principles established by its subsidiary, Aliva Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. Website http://www.ablexis.com Transaction Type Venture … Continue reading “Ablexis Garners $12,000,000 Series A Financing”

Librato Secures $2,800,000 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ca0657c8-9950-4a71-a375-c54ac5b3dadd&Preview=1 Date 6/2/2010 Company Name Librato Mailing Address 2900 Lakeside Dr. Santa Clara, CA 95054 Company Description Librato is a leader in data center resource management software that enables companies to reduce operating and capital expenses by dramatically increasing utilization rates. The company’s core technology delivers fine-grained monitoring and control of resource … Continue reading “Librato Secures $2,800,000 New Financing Round”

DeviceVM Obtains $10,000,000 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=5feb0f1b-1bd6-4bfa-9e23-cd03cdd7afa7&Preview=1 Date 6/2/2010 Company Name DeviceVM Mailing Address 1054 South De Anza Boulevard San Jose, CA 95129 Company Description DeviceVM, Inc. is a privately-held software company that develops rapid-start computing technologies to enable faster and more efficient computing. The Company partners with PC OEMs and consumer electronics companies to integrate its core … Continue reading “DeviceVM Obtains $10,000,000 New Financing Round”

YongoPal, UW Business Plan Winner, Looks to Cash In on Video Language Lessons—and Some Lessons of Its Own

With the end of May comes another brood of promising young companies born of the University of Washington’s business plan competition. After many months of hard work, coaching, and pitching, they’re ready to strike out on their own. This year’s group of semi-finalist companies was particularly diverse, representing the fields of consumer Internet, materials, energy, … Continue reading “YongoPal, UW Business Plan Winner, Looks to Cash In on Video Language Lessons—and Some Lessons of Its Own”

Follica, the Biotech With Potential Drug Against Baldness, Nabs $7.5M Venture Financing

(Updated—6:15 pm ET, 6/01/10) Follica has raised more money for its quest against hair follicle disorders like male pattern baldness. The biotech startup, which is developing drugs that could spur the formation of new hair follicles, has raised $7.5 million in equity financing, according to an SEC filing. Daphne Zohar, a Follica co-founder and managing … Continue reading “Follica, the Biotech With Potential Drug Against Baldness, Nabs $7.5M Venture Financing”

Survey Says: Resources for Startups Are Hiding in Plain Sight

“I would love to start a company, but I can’t get financing, find affordable office space, or recruit capable talent.” If you are an entrepreneur, or someone with close ties to the entrepreneurial community, this statement may sound familiar. But it turns out that there are plenty of resources available, some of which are hiding … Continue reading “Survey Says: Resources for Startups Are Hiding in Plain Sight”

Mad Catz Buys Tritton

San Diego-based Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. (AMEX: [[ticker:MCZ]]), which makes GameShark videogame enhancements and a host of other interactive accessories, says today it has acquired privately held Tritton Technologies, an audio headset maker based in Vista, CA. Mad Catz agreed to pay $1 million in cash at closing, and as much as $9 million over … Continue reading “Mad Catz Buys Tritton”

XSITE-ment Mounting—Agenda Posted for Xconomy Summit; Still Looking for a Few Great Startups

Just two weeks and two days to go until XSITE 2010—the Xconomy Summit on Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship. The second annual iteration of one of New England’s biggest celebrations of entrepreneurship—with the theme “Building the Next Economy”—goes down on June 17 at Babson College in Wellesley, MA. We’ve got more than 40 speakers lined up … Continue reading “XSITE-ment Mounting—Agenda Posted for Xconomy Summit; Still Looking for a Few Great Startups”

Zipcar Files to Take $75M IPO Ride

Zipcar has set its sights on a new funding vehicle: An initial public offering. The Cambridge, MA-based car sharing service says it wants to raise $75 million in an IPO, according to an SEC filing. The company, founded in 2000, has changed the way many people think about renting cars. Its members can reserve cars … Continue reading “Zipcar Files to Take $75M IPO Ride”

$9M for SynapDx

Waltham, MA-based SynapDx,a developer of diagnostic technology for the early detection of autism, announced it has completed a $9 million Series A financing, with backing from Bain Capital, General Catalyst Partners, and North Bridge Venture Partners. The startup was founded by Stanley Lapidus, an entrepreneur known for starting life sciences companies such as Helicos BioSciences … Continue reading “$9M for SynapDx”

Three Dealmakers Make Moves, MicroGreen Gets Moolah, SonoSite Buys Visualsonics, & More Seattle-Area Deals News

The past couple of weeks have been slow-going for company financings and acquisitions in the Northwest. We’ve seen some high-profile personnel moves at Microsoft, as well as at Accel Partners and Founder’s Co-op (see below), but little in the way of money changing hands. Nevertheless, there was some action in the worlds of software, advanced … Continue reading “Three Dealmakers Make Moves, MicroGreen Gets Moolah, SonoSite Buys Visualsonics, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”