Xconomy Innovators’ Lunch Is at Noon Today—Free Pizza at Our Cambridge Office for Those Who Brave the Cold

A quick reminder for all you startup entrepreneurs, tech & life sciences veterans, and Xconomy readers: If you aren’t hunkered down to avoid the cold, and you’re up for a free slice or two (or three as one reader warned us), come on over to our Cambridge HQ today at noon for an impromptu pizza … Continue reading “Xconomy Innovators’ Lunch Is at Noon Today—Free Pizza at Our Cambridge Office for Those Who Brave the Cold”

What’s So Magical About an Oversized iPhone? Plenty—And There’s More to Come

The Apple iPad is one of the most eagerly anticipated computing devices in history. With all the heat and hype that preceded Wednesday’s public debut of the device, it was inevitable that the backlash from skeptical bloggers and Twitterers would be equally ferocious. Still, even after you filter out all the bozos who keep repeating … Continue reading “What’s So Magical About an Oversized iPhone? Plenty—And There’s More to Come”

Biotech Bigwig, Steve Burrill, Brings National Profile to Local Conference

Steve Burrill, the San Francisco-based merchant banker with one of the best Rolodexes in the life sciences industry, is getting serious about Seattle. And his name and connections might be just the thing to help lift the Northwest’s annual biotech investing conference out of obscurity. Burrill & Co. made it official yesterday that it has … Continue reading “Biotech Bigwig, Steve Burrill, Brings National Profile to Local Conference”

Alnara Adds $35M, Harvest Power Teams Up with Waste Management, & More Boston-Area Deals News

We spent some time this week looking at the data on last year’s venture deals, big and small, while New England’s tech and life sciences companies announced some of the first deals of 2010. —All but one of the 10 biggest Boston-area private equity deals in 2009 were closed by life sciences firms, a survey … Continue reading “Alnara Adds $35M, Harvest Power Teams Up with Waste Management, & More Boston-Area Deals News”

Verari Founder Outlines Strategy After High-Speed Wipeout and Rebirth

The demise of San Diego’s Verari Systems and its resurrection as Verari Technologies happened so fast you might not have realized what happened unless you were paying close attention over the holidays. The longtime local company, which specializes in making high-performance servers, server racks, and energy-efficient data storage centers, laid off 223 employees and ceased … Continue reading “Verari Founder Outlines Strategy After High-Speed Wipeout and Rebirth”

UW Honors Medical Device Entrepreneur Joe Eichinger For 35 Years Of Service

About 40 prominent researchers, physicians, and businesspeople gathered at the University of Washington’s bioengineering department Wednesday night to honor Joe Eichinger for mentoring students and faculty about how to best apply their inventions in the business world for the past 35 years. Matt O’Donnell, the dean of the UW College of Engineering, and Paul Yager, … Continue reading “UW Honors Medical Device Entrepreneur Joe Eichinger For 35 Years Of Service”

Flexion Snags Pfizer Bucks, Three Pharma Deals, For New Drug Model

Flexion Therapeutics is a little company built on the idea it can steer through early clinical trials in a faster and cheaper way than a lumbering Big Pharma giant. Now the Woburn, MA-based startup, founded by a pair of Eli Lilly veterans, has secured backing from four major drugmakers to put the idea to the … Continue reading “Flexion Snags Pfizer Bucks, Three Pharma Deals, For New Drug Model”

Flexion Therapeutics Obtains $9,000,000 Series A Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=81af35f6-59bd-406b-81ed-ba19fb3fb096&Preview=1 Date 1/29/2010 Company Name Flexion Therapeutics Mailing Address 300 TradeCenter Woburn, MA 01801 Company Description Flexion Therapeutics advances drug candidates through clinical proof of concept and beyond, in partnership with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. By providing expertise and sharing risk, Flexion effectively expands the portfolios of its partners. Website http://www.flexiontherapeutics.com Transaction … Continue reading “Flexion Therapeutics Obtains $9,000,000 Series A Funding Round”

Allylix Garners $6,000,000 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=653da1fa-7e7d-4751-b387-563be621e4a1&Preview=1 Date 1/29/2010 Company Name Allylix Mailing Address 6020 Cornerstone Court San Diego, CA 92121 Company Description Allylix has developed proprietary technology that allows it to produce a group of natural products called terpenes at low cost. In nature, terpenes are produced by plants in minute quantities to serve a number of … Continue reading “Allylix Garners $6,000,000 New Financing Round”

Rapid Diagnostek Receives $4,000,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e10da980-86f1-41b8-b772-56d74c254f1b&Preview=1 Date 1/29/2010 Company Name Rapid Diagnostek Mailing Address 1301 Gateway Circle Hudson, WI 54016 Company Description Rapid Diagnostek is utilizing proprietary technology to develop a new generation of in vitro diagnostic tests through the use of our patented RFPS™ (radio frequency phase shift) detection technology and our disposable IntelliProbe Immunosensor™ (IPI™). … Continue reading “Rapid Diagnostek Receives $4,000,000 New Funding Round”

Inventables Receives $2,000,000 Series A Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=962ce92e-846f-45d9-b108-d744bf41cc07&Preview=1 Date 1/29/2010 Company Name Inventables Mailing Address 222 W. Ontario Chicago, IL 60654 Company Description To build a living showcase of what’s possible to deliver inspiration and innovation to the dreamers of the world. Website http://www.inventables.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $2,000,000 Transaction Round Series A Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes … Continue reading “Inventables Receives $2,000,000 Series A Round”

Apisphere Lands $4,600,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a2eb2499-783c-4a86-ba94-a10ff0234a11&Preview=1 Date 1/29/2010 Company Name Apisphere Mailing Address PO Box 1068 Berkeley, CA 94704-1005 Company Description Apisphere empowers mobile software applications with location-awareness. The Apisphere Geo-Enabled Mobility (GEM) platform delivers location-specific mobile content, including applications and messaging…via location-based triggers…across network boundaries…to virtually any mobile handset. Website http://www.apisphere.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction … Continue reading “Apisphere Lands $4,600,000 New Funding”

Fab.com Lands $625,000 Series A Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a38ae6a8-acc1-4e00-87c0-356df185b818&Preview=1 Date 1/29/2010 Company Name Fab.com Mailing Address Undisclosed New York, NY 10000 Company Description Fab.com is a social net and lifestyle site aimed at gay men. Website http://www.fab.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $625,000 Transaction Round Series A Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. M&A Terms Venture Investor Washington … Continue reading “Fab.com Lands $625,000 Series A Funding Round”

Tora Trading Services Garners $36,400,000 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3651a284-14ef-445f-bee2-8a19241def70&Preview=1 Date 1/29/2010 Company Name Tora Trading Services Mailing Address 110 Wall Street 7th Floor New York, NY 10005 Company Description Tora is the recognized leader in technology, trading and liquidity focused on Asia. Tora offers a unique portfolio of products that have been designed by buy-side traders for buy-side traders to … Continue reading “Tora Trading Services Garners $36,400,000 New Round”

Bill Gates Funds Geoengineering and Climate Projects, Steve Ballmer on China, and Other Microsoft-Related News

Lest Apple take all the headlines this week, a certain software powerhouse in Redmond, WA, is making waves in its own way. Analysts and stockholders are anxiously awaiting the results of Microsoft’s fourth-quarter earnings call today, with some predicting a boost in revenues thanks to Windows 7. But there are other things going on too. … Continue reading “Bill Gates Funds Geoengineering and Climate Projects, Steve Ballmer on China, and Other Microsoft-Related News”

Boston Startups Stake Out iPad Territory: Big Plans at Apperian, Jumptap, Skyhook

For Boston-area startups that have already spent years staking out their corners of the mobile marketplace, getting on board with the Apple iPad—and the new set of business opportunities it creates—is a no-brainer. At least two local companies have already announced they’re providing technologies or services targeted at the tablet-sized device, and the area’s application … Continue reading “Boston Startups Stake Out iPad Territory: Big Plans at Apperian, Jumptap, Skyhook”

Siemens Licenses Microsoft HealthVault

Microsoft reports today that the German conglomerate Siemens has licensed its HealthVault personal health technology platform. Siemens, through its IT services and solutions division, will be the exclusive provider of HealthVault in Germany. Germany will be the third country to adopt the technology, which enables people to store their personal health records in a secure … Continue reading “Siemens Licenses Microsoft HealthVault”

Positioning Business to Succeed in the Low Carbon Economy – A Climate Change Summit

The environment seems to be taking center stage in February’s events. This all-day climate change summit features a speaker from the EPA and policy makers from Massachusetts, dishing out perspectives on how businesses can position themselves to benefit from state and national energy and environmental initiatives. Check out the summit’s website for registration details and … Continue reading “Positioning Business to Succeed in the Low Carbon Economy – A Climate Change Summit”

It’s Snowing Today, So Let’s Have the Next Xconomy Innovators’ Lunch at Noon Tomorrow (Friday): the Pizza is on Us

The day before Thanksgiving, folks here hit on the idea of bringing those hard-working entrepreneurs who were still in town over to our new headquarters for an almost-spur-of-the-moment Innovators’ Lunch. We had so much fun—except when I spilled the Greek salad all over the carpet—that we decided on the spot to do it quasi regularly. … Continue reading “It’s Snowing Today, So Let’s Have the Next Xconomy Innovators’ Lunch at Noon Tomorrow (Friday): the Pizza is on Us”

Entrepreneurs’ Role in Healthcare IT: A Yale Entrepreneurial Society Networking and Panel Event

The Yale Entrepreneurial Society will gather for a panel and night of networking to explore what role entrepreneurs have to play in modernizing the healthcare system. Goodwin Procter will be hosting this event, which features speakers who have founded life sciences startups, as well as investors in the healthcare IT space. You can e-mail Goodwin … Continue reading “Entrepreneurs’ Role in Healthcare IT: A Yale Entrepreneurial Society Networking and Panel Event”

The Sustainability Revolution: What Does it Mean Today to Investors and Entrepreneurs and Everyone?

Learn how the buzz surrounding sustainability translates for investors, entrepreneurs, and policy makers, at this presentation that comes as part of the MIT Enterprise Forum of Cambridge’s series on innovation. Clean tech investor Ray Lane and a panel of climate change experts will discuss when and how clean energy will translate into big opportunities. Check … Continue reading “The Sustainability Revolution: What Does it Mean Today to Investors and Entrepreneurs and Everyone?”

MIT Energy Initiative: Road from Copenhagen

This event will feature a panel of MIT professors, in a town-hall meeting format, discussing the implications from December’s Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change, including U.S. energy policy initiatives and the role of international institutions in climate action. For more information, check out the MIT Energy Initiative’s website.

Carl Icahn Nominates Three More Candidates for Biogen Board Seats

The season of proxy battles at Biogen Idec (NASDAQ:[[ticker:BIIB]]) is upon us. Billionaire investor Carl Icahn and his affiliates have sent word to Cambridge, MA-based Biogen that they plan to nominate three additional people for election to the board of directors at the company’s annual meeting this year, Biogen says. Two of Icahn’s nominees are … Continue reading “Carl Icahn Nominates Three More Candidates for Biogen Board Seats”

A Contract Services Cluster Emerges, the Burnham Gets a Big Donation, Somaxon Resubmits Sleep Drug Application, & More San Diego Life Sciences News

San Diego’s life sciences sector had a busy week. Allow me to recap it for you. —Working with Assay Depot, a San Diego-based online marketplace for CRO services, Bruce found 144 companies in San Diego that provide contract services to life sciences companies, providing a glimpse of what appears to be a thriving new sector. … Continue reading “A Contract Services Cluster Emerges, the Burnham Gets a Big Donation, Somaxon Resubmits Sleep Drug Application, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”

BuddyTV Rising Fast, Looking for New Revenue Streams in a Changed Media Landscape

This Seattle-based website draws some 6 million visitors a month. It has been seeing annual traffic growth of about 300 percent, and was recently named the #2 fastest-growing website in the U.S., according to comScore. Yes, I’m talking about BuddyTV, the social site for television fans led by prominent entrepreneur and investor Andy Liu. Fans … Continue reading “BuddyTV Rising Fast, Looking for New Revenue Streams in a Changed Media Landscape”

Vertex CEO on Building a Blockbuster, Genzyme Investor on Fixing Up the Firm, Cubist CEO on Pipeline and Patent Challenges, & More Boston-Area Life Sciences News

If in-depth interviews with some of the heaviest hitters in the New England life sciences industry are your cup of tea, this was the week for you. —Ryan had a fascinating chat with Jorge Conde, co-founder and CEO of Cambridge, MA-based Knome, about how the startup is evolving in the rapidly evolving field of personal … Continue reading “Vertex CEO on Building a Blockbuster, Genzyme Investor on Fixing Up the Firm, Cubist CEO on Pipeline and Patent Challenges, & More Boston-Area Life Sciences News”

Announcing Boston Battle of the Tech Bands Door Prizes: Reasons (Other than Regional Pride) to Attend Xconomy’s Bicoastal Showdown

For the past two years, Xconomy has invited bands from Boston area companies to submit their music files to a select panel of judges to compete for the right to take the stage at our Battle of the Tech Bands, but this year we’ve added a twist. Rather than go through the selection process, we’ve … Continue reading “Announcing Boston Battle of the Tech Bands Door Prizes: Reasons (Other than Regional Pride) to Attend Xconomy’s Bicoastal Showdown”

Amira Mixes Small Biotech Irreverence, With Big Pharma Rigor, To Create New Lung Drugs

Amira Pharmaceuticals looks and feels like a typical small biotech company, with the sort of irreverent sense of humor that you don’t often find at a Big Pharma shop. While CEO Bob Baltera showed me around the Amira offices on my last visit to San Diego, he opened up a storage room where employees had … Continue reading “Amira Mixes Small Biotech Irreverence, With Big Pharma Rigor, To Create New Lung Drugs”

Accelerator Slowed Down, Inside the Latest Seattle Genetics Deal, Ekos Finds New Use, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News

Biotech companies took a vow of silence during this week of breathless national celebration over the latest creation from Apple. The sarcasm you detect is intended. A few other things happened this week. —The University of Washington has hired two heavy hitters from the world of high tech and biotech to help it get better … Continue reading “Accelerator Slowed Down, Inside the Latest Seattle Genetics Deal, Ekos Finds New Use, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News”

Alnara Bags $35M B Round, Plans to Seek FDA Approval for Cystic Fibrosis Drug

[Corrected 1/28/10, 3:15 pm. See below] Alnara Pharmaceuticals has received a big financial boost at a critical time. The Cambridge, MA-based biotech firm says it has nabbed $35 million in a Series B funding round as it puts the finishing touches on the paperwork it needs to complete before asking the FDA for permission to … Continue reading “Alnara Bags $35M B Round, Plans to Seek FDA Approval for Cystic Fibrosis Drug”

Alnara Pharmaceuticals Lands $35,000,000 Series B Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=dc9d54ff-2b17-49d3-a3f3-44fc8896236b&Preview=1 Date 1/28/2010 Company Name Alnara Pharmaceuticals Mailing Address 840 Memorial Drive Cambridge, MA 02139 Company Description Alnara Pharmaceuticals Inc is a pharmaceutical company developing innovative non-systemic protein therapeutics for the treatment of metabolic and inflammatory diseases. Website http://www.alnara.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $35,000,000 Transaction Round Series B Proceeds Purposes … Continue reading “Alnara Pharmaceuticals Lands $35,000,000 Series B Funding Round”

Polatis Obtains $1,200,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3c6f97d9-2356-44a4-961a-b850e462315b&Preview=1 Date 1/28/2010 Company Name Polatis Mailing Address One Tech Drive Andover, MA 01810 Company Description Polatis has set the benchmark in ultra-low loss optical switching. Its patented direct optical beam steering technology is powering the creation of highly reliable and compact photonic switching solutions. Website http://www.polatis.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction … Continue reading “Polatis Obtains $1,200,000 New Financing”

ThisNext Obtains $1,200,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2fd9a50f-d57c-40d5-a5a4-c36b9d6bb3c7&Preview=1 Date 1/28/2010 Company Name ThisNext Mailing Address 227 Broadway Santa Monica, CA 90401 Company Description The company is developing a social ecommerce company providing guided product discovery. Website http://www.thisnext.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,200,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. M&A Terms Venture Investor Undisclosed

Informatica Corporation Acquires Siperian for $130,000,000

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=adf17811-7ac2-46bb-adb1-1a449576bd82&Preview=1 Date 1/28/2010 Company Name Siperian Mailing Address 100 Foster City Blvd. 2nd Floor Foster City, CA 94404 Company Description Siperian Master Reference Manager (MRM) allows IT teams to consolidate, reconcile and access multiple data sources in multiple modes – batch, scheduled, or real-time. Website http://www.siperian.com Transaction Type M&A Transaction Amount $130,000,000 … Continue reading “Informatica Corporation Acquires Siperian for $130,000,000”

Martini Media Network Acquires Decision Maker Media for Undisclosed Sum

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=32c71372-ee36-429d-8221-1ab89114658f&Preview=1 Date 1/28/2010 Company Name Decision Maker Media Mailing Address 300 Montgomery St San Francisco, CA 94104 Company Description Decision Maker Media (DMM) is the leading vertical media platform connecting Fortune 1000 Advertisers with the largest targeted audience of business decision makers. DMM reaches top-level management, business owners and key business decision … Continue reading “Martini Media Network Acquires Decision Maker Media for Undisclosed Sum”

The Apple iPad’s Impact on Mobile, Gaming, and E-Books: Local Techies and Startups React

[Updated 1/28/10, see below] The wait is over, but the endless mulling of the details and implications is just beginning. As Apple unveiled its long-rumored tablet device, the iPad, at a press event today in San Francisco, mobile industry insiders in Seattle, Boston, and elsewhere were watching closely. Which is exactly what you would expect, … Continue reading “The Apple iPad’s Impact on Mobile, Gaming, and E-Books: Local Techies and Startups React”

Landslide Gets $8M and New CEO

Landslide Technologies, a customer relationship management software company with offices in Burlington, MA, and Pittsburgh, PA, announced today that it has raised $8 million in growth capital and hired a new president and CEO, Rick Faulk, the former CEO of web-based social media and training software company Mzinga. Faulk left Burlington-based Mzinga last March, just … Continue reading “Landslide Gets $8M and New CEO”

Intellectual Ventures Buys Avistar Patents

Bellevue, WA-based Intellectual Ventures has agreed to pay $11 million upfront to acquire the majority of the patent portfolio of San Mateo, CA-based Avistar, a video-conferencing technology firm. The deal calls for Avistar to receive a full grant back license that protects its products under these patents. Earlier this month, Intellectual Ventures, the invention firm … Continue reading “Intellectual Ventures Buys Avistar Patents”

Biogen Idec Advances First Regenerative MS Medicine into Human Study

One of the more intriguing experimental drugs for multiple sclerosis has just entered its first clinical trial. Cambridge, MA-based Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]) has now started what it believes to be the first-ever clinical trial of a drug with the potential to regenerate the fatty protective coating around nerves that gets damaged in people with … Continue reading “Biogen Idec Advances First Regenerative MS Medicine into Human Study”

Babson and Bain Capital Ventures Present: Launching a New Company and Getting Early Customer Validation

Learn how to gauge customer reception of your product before spending loads of time and money developing it, at this event sponsored by Babson College and Bain Capital Ventures. A panelist from Bain as well as speakers from a few local startups will share their insights on getting early customer feedback. You can RSVP at … Continue reading “Babson and Bain Capital Ventures Present: Launching a New Company and Getting Early Customer Validation”

DocuSign Gets New CEO, Chairman

Seattle-based DocuSign, a maker of software to automate electronic signatures, announced today it has appointed Steve King as new CEO and Keith Krach as chairman of the board. King, a veteran of Virtela, Zantaz, and E*Trade, succeeds Matthew Schiltz, who will now head up strategic business development for the company. Krach is the co-founder and … Continue reading “DocuSign Gets New CEO, Chairman”

Clarus Ventures Backs Neomend

Clarus Ventures, a Cambridge, MA-based venture fund, has invested $17 million in the surgical hydrogel developer Neomend, as part of the Irvine, CA-based company’s $30 million Series D funding round. Neomend, which develops its hydrogels to seal surgical wounds, also attracted investments in the round from Novo Ventures, Prospect Venture Partners, Sanderling Ventures, and Vivo … Continue reading “Clarus Ventures Backs Neomend”

Steve Singh, CEO of Concur, Joins Voyager Capital Advisory Board

[Corrected 1/27/10, 3:00 pm (see below).] Seattle-based venture firm Voyager Capital has added a heavy hitter from the local tech scene to its advisory board. He is Steve Singh, chairman and chief executive of Concur Technologies, the Redmond, WA-based software firm focused on corporate travel and expense management. It’s another step in Voyager’s recent efforts … Continue reading “Steve Singh, CEO of Concur, Joins Voyager Capital Advisory Board”

Boston Tech Scene Needs Fewer Doubles and Triples, More Home Runs

If the NSA monitored communications in Massachusetts, their analysts might raise an alert. With the baseball season over, there has been an anomalous amount of chatter using baseball terms as code for something. They would trace the threat to Bill Warner, Avid founder and long time innovation activist. Bill has recently published a manifesto on … Continue reading “Boston Tech Scene Needs Fewer Doubles and Triples, More Home Runs”

Under the Radar Deals: 11 Northwest Startup Financings from December Worth $1M or Less

As you may have noticed, we here at Xconomy look at startups’ financing as signs of what companies or industries are making a big impact on innovation in the region. Just last week we reported on the major equity investments in Northwest startups in December, tracked by our partner ChubbyBrain, a New York-based information services … Continue reading “Under the Radar Deals: 11 Northwest Startup Financings from December Worth $1M or Less”

San Diego’s Life Sciences CROs—The Map of Clinical Research Organizations

Economic downturns often light the fuse of revolutionary change. And one key change is becoming apparent now in San Diego’s life sciences community—which has been hammered by the 2008 capital markets collapse and plunge in VC funding. Unable to raise capital, many biotechs and medical instrument makers were forced over the past 16 months to … Continue reading “San Diego’s Life Sciences CROs—The Map of Clinical Research Organizations”