Leostream Finds $2M

Leostream, a Waltham, MA-based provider of application-management software for virtual desktop infrastructures, has raised $2 million in an equity financing, according to an SEC filing. VentureWire reports that Meakem-Becker Venture Capital, of Sedwickley, PA, provided Leostream with the $2 million capital infusion, which the company hopes will be enough to support its operations until it … Continue reading “Leostream Finds $2M”

Nexx Systems Gets Next $4M

Nexx Systems, a Billerica, MA-based maker of equipment used in the metallization and packaging of silicon wafers used in both electronics and photovoltaic applications, has raised $4 million in a sale of convertible preferred stock, according to a November 13 regulatory filing. The funds for the eight-year-old firm came from existing investors Enterprise Partners Venture … Continue reading “Nexx Systems Gets Next $4M”

Sun Catalytix Gets $1M More from Polaris, Exclusive License to Solar Fuel Tech from MIT

Polaris Venture Partners has pumped an additional $1 million in seed capital into Cambridge, MA-based solar fuel startup Sun Catalytix, bringing its total investment in the MIT spinout to $3 million, Polaris general partner and company director Bob Metcalfe tells Xconomy. The startup, which we first covered in April, has also gained an exclusive license … Continue reading “Sun Catalytix Gets $1M More from Polaris, Exclusive License to Solar Fuel Tech from MIT”

So Much For Gardening: Bruce Carter Joins Vaccine Startup Immune Design To Raise Cash

One of Seattle’s leading life sciences entrepreneurs, Bruce Carter, is back in the saddle. Carter has agreed to take an active management role as executive chairman of Seattle-based Immune Design, a year after he announced he was retiring as CEO of ZymoGenetics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ZGEN]]). Carter has agreed to work about three days a week at … Continue reading “So Much For Gardening: Bruce Carter Joins Vaccine Startup Immune Design To Raise Cash”

Bezos Family Pledges $10M to the “Hutch” for Next-Generation Cancer Therapies

The parents of Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos have pledged a $10 million donation to the Seattle-based Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center with an eye toward creating new therapies that trigger the immune system to seek out and kill cancer cells like a virus. The offering from Jackie and Mike Bezos, one of the … Continue reading “Bezos Family Pledges $10M to the “Hutch” for Next-Generation Cancer Therapies”

Bio Architecture Lab, Maker of Seaweed Biofuel, Snags $8M Venture Round, DuPont Deal

[Updated and corrected: 11:04 am Pacific, 11/23/09] Seattle-based Bio Architecture Lab, the company using the emerging science of synthetic biology to make alternative fuels, has raised $8 million in its initial venture financing and secured a research collaboration with chemical giant DuPont to make biofuels from ocean seaweed. [Correction: An earlier version said Energy Capital … Continue reading “Bio Architecture Lab, Maker of Seaweed Biofuel, Snags $8M Venture Round, DuPont Deal”

Receptos, Led By Biogen Idec Vets and Scripps Stars, Snags $25M For Drug Discovery Engine

Receptos, a San Diego-based biotech startup formed by a number of Biogen Idec veterans, has nailed down $25 million in venture capital to develop a vivid new way to look at certain protein structures on cells that it hopes will ultimately take a lot of the guesswork out of drug discovery. The cash infusion is … Continue reading “Receptos, Led By Biogen Idec Vets and Scripps Stars, Snags $25M For Drug Discovery Engine”

Report from the Russian (Entrepreneurial) Front

November 20, 2009, Moscow, Russia—I write this from the Moscow airport on my way home to Massachusetts after teaming with MIT colleagues Howard Anderson and Peter Kurzina to teach a week-long boot camp on entrepreneurship for the first class of MBAs at the new Skolkovo Business School. Skolkovo* is a private business school strongly supported … Continue reading “Report from the Russian (Entrepreneurial) Front”

Under the Radar Deals: 10 (+1) New England October Financings You Never Heard About

The big picture is great. But at Xconomy, we also like the smaller details, which often fill in or round out the big picture—and make everything more clear. So it is when it comes to company financing rounds. We always bring you stories about the main venture deals in the region and a list of … Continue reading “Under the Radar Deals: 10 (+1) New England October Financings You Never Heard About”

Leostream Corp. Obtains $2,000,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=48d94b10-24c8-48ab-8999-1c397a33ed75&Preview=1 Date 11/23/2009 Company Name Leostream Corp. Mailing Address 411 Waverley Oaks Road Waltham, MA 02452 Company Description The Leostream Connection Broker dynamically assigns users to Terminal Services or Hosted Desktops – running on virtual or physical machines (including Blades). Website http://www.leostream.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $2,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed … Continue reading “Leostream Corp. Obtains $2,000,000 New Financing”

Sun Catalytix Garners $1,000,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e6426eb5-65cb-449f-b5fa-317f6f8e0b82&Preview=1 Date 11/23/2009 Company Name Sun Catalytix Mailing Address 200 Technology Square Cambridge, MA 02139 Company Description Located in Cambridge, MA, Sun Catalytix is an early-stage renewable energy startup founded on groundbreaking science from the research lab of Professor Daniel Nocera at MIT. With Nature as our inspiration, we seek to combine … Continue reading “Sun Catalytix Garners $1,000,000 New Financing”

Roam Data Secures $6,500,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a9cd204f-8198-4b37-8412-91f5525d340e&Preview=1 Date 11/23/2009 Company Name Roam Data Mailing Address 280 Summer Street Boston, MA 02210 Company Description Despite huge advances in device and network capabilities, only a tiny fraction of mobile merchants and direct sellers have access to payments and other commerce capabilities via their own mobile phones. Direct Selling organizations and … Continue reading “Roam Data Secures $6,500,000 New Funding”

NEXX Systems Obtains $4,000,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=66e4e0b9-9bbe-41e9-abda-9cfd1d1e764f&Preview=1 Date 11/23/2009 Company Name NEXX Systems Mailing Address 900 Middlesex Turnpike Bldg. 6 Billerica, MA 01821 Company Description NEXX Systems was founded in August 2001 through the acquisition from MKS Instruments of the ASTeX systems group. The sale comprised the purchase of the Nimbus product line of sputter deposition systems and … Continue reading “NEXX Systems Obtains $4,000,000 New Financing”

Root Wireless Garners $3,250,000 Series B Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e65439e4-893b-4806-9e01-aac60bf475a6&Preview=1 Date 11/23/2009 Company Name Root Wireless Mailing Address 11000 NE 33rd Place Bellevue, WA 98004 Company Description Root Wireless provides a full spectrum of Root Coverage™ solutions for the wireless ecosystem to give customers the power to choose. No matter if, you are a publisher that needs industry-changing content, or a … Continue reading “Root Wireless Garners $3,250,000 Series B Funding Round”

Fallbrook Technologies Obtains $4,000,000 Series B Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a2cbf765-187e-4f58-a15c-5421f319a3ee&Preview=1 Date 11/23/2009 Company Name Fallbrook Technologies Mailing Address 9444 Waples St San Diego, CA 92121 Company Description Fallbrook Technologies Inc. (Fallbrook) is a research and development company manufacturing advanced transmission systems. Fallbrook’s core technology is its traction-based, NuVinci® transmission – a continuously variable planetary (CVP) drive ideally suited for applications in … Continue reading “Fallbrook Technologies Obtains $4,000,000 Series B Funding”

Receptos Pharmaceuticals Obtains $25,000,000 Series A Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=1464bc48-44b0-4a6e-b835-c69c4d997437&Preview=1 Date 11/23/2009 Company Name Receptos Pharmaceuticals Mailing Address 10835 Road to the Cure San Diego, CA 92121 Company Description Receptos is developing the next generation in GPCR drug discovery. Website http://www.receptos.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $25,000,000 Transaction Round Series A Proceeds Purposes The Series A capital will support the … Continue reading “Receptos Pharmaceuticals Obtains $25,000,000 Series A Financing”

NICE Systems Ltd. Acquires Orsus for $22,000,000

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c61b6b2b-db18-4629-8f27-014fb0aa8a20&Preview=1 Date 11/23/2009 Company Name Orsus Mailing Address 15615 Alton Parkway Irvine, CA 92618 Company Description Orsus is focusing on the development of an innovative system that provides a comprehensive solution in the area of situation and response management for command and control centers, particularly organizations in which field security is critical … Continue reading “NICE Systems Ltd. Acquires Orsus for $22,000,000”

Plato’s Forms Garners $545,000 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f38260a7-17b3-4516-8541-368c2ef3b862&Preview=1 Date 11/23/2009 Company Name Plato’s Forms Mailing Address Undisclosed San Francisco, CA 94131 Company Description Plato’s Forms is a professional messaging platform focused on solving the problem of rapid proliferation of misinformation in online media. Website http://platosforms.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $545,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes … Continue reading “Plato’s Forms Garners $545,000 New Round”

ReaMetrix Lands $2,100,000 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=36a5fc72-1f5b-433a-92ca-36d080753421&Preview=1 Date 11/23/2009 Company Name ReaMetrix Mailing Address 1585 Industrial Road Unit 16 San Carlos, CA 94070 Company Description ReaMetrix, Inc. provides the customer with unparalleled efficiency in product delivery, assay development and contract research. Website http://www.reametrix.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $2,100,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were … Continue reading “ReaMetrix Lands $2,100,000 New Round”

Siri Garners $15,500,000 Series B Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a7308fed-6fe2-41b5-b030-b3538d133e3f&Preview=1 Date 11/23/2009 Company Name Siri Mailing Address 1 Almaden Boulevard San Jose, CA 95113 Company Description Siri’s initial technology along with IP was provided by SRI International. The later led $200 million CALO (Cognitive Agent that Learns and Organizes) artificial intelligence project which was funded by DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects … Continue reading “Siri Garners $15,500,000 Series B Financing Round”

SupportSpace Receives $9,000,000 Series B Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9577fbab-dc2a-47dd-874c-bbf434b28601&Preview=1 Date 11/23/2009 Company Name SupportSpace Mailing Address 400 Oyster Point South San Francisco, CA 94080 Company Description Founded in 2005, SupportSpace marks the advent of a new era in tech support with a unique service platform designed to address the problems associated with the rapid adoption of new technologies to the … Continue reading “SupportSpace Receives $9,000,000 Series B Funding Round”

Google Acquires Teracent for Undisclosed Sum

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4d57f221-2a85-41f2-b086-72a90bb930c5&Preview=1 Date 11/23/2009 Company Name Teracent Mailing Address 400 S. El Camino Real San Mateo, CA 94402 Company Description Teracent’s Intelligent Display Advertising™ creates display ads entirely customized to the specific consumer and site – a proposition for marketers that was, until now, cost and time prohibitive. By deploying an unlimited number … Continue reading “Google Acquires Teracent for Undisclosed Sum”

West 2010 and Smart Power: Does the Quadrennial Defense Review Get It Right?

Co-sponsored by AFCEA (Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association) International and the U.S. Naval Institute, West 2010 is the largest event on the West Coast for communications, electronics, intelligence, information systems, imaging, military weapon systems, aviation, shipbuilding, and more. This event is a showcase for technology innovation and emerging opportunities in defense systems, strategies, and … Continue reading “West 2010 and Smart Power: Does the Quadrennial Defense Review Get It Right?”

Ironwood Files to Go Public, Seeks to Raise as Much as $172.5M

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals is gearing up for the possibility of an IPO. The Cambridge, MA-based developer of a new treatment for bowel disorders like for irritable bowel syndrome and chronic constipation said it may raise as much as $172.5 million from investors through the deal, according to a prospectus filed late today. The proposed offering would … Continue reading “Ironwood Files to Go Public, Seeks to Raise as Much as $172.5M”

Blue Marble Snags $2M State Grant

Seattle-based Blue Marble Energy, the developer of renewable energy and specialty chemicals from biomass, said it has received a $2 million state grant through a partnership with the Odessa Public Development Authority. The company plans to use the grant, from the Washington Community Economic Revitalization Board, to build a refinery in Lincoln County that will … Continue reading “Blue Marble Snags $2M State Grant”

Google Demos Chrome OS, Microsoft Links Into LinkedIn, Amazon Ramps Up for Holidays, & More Big Company News

It’s been a busy week around here for the big tech companies. At Xconomy, we don’t usually report on things like product releases from Microsoft or sales figures from Amazon—our main focus is on new ideas, models, and companies—but readers need to understand where the big players are heading so they can see the gaps … Continue reading “Google Demos Chrome OS, Microsoft Links Into LinkedIn, Amazon Ramps Up for Holidays, & More Big Company News”

Day Software, Web 2.0 Content Management Specialist, Moving U.S. Headquarters to Boston

Wails of lamentation spread across the local tech community every time an entity like Zendesk or Greylock or Y Combinator departs Boston for parts west. But today we have a different tale to report. Day Software (SIX: [[ticker:DAYN]]) a Zurich, Switzerland-based content management software specialist that builds interactive websites for Fortune-1000 giants like Adobe and … Continue reading “Day Software, Web 2.0 Content Management Specialist, Moving U.S. Headquarters to Boston”

Growing Green: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Cleantech Innovation in San Diego

[Editors note: Architect Robert Noble wrote this article with Glenn Croston] The San Diego area is the home of numerous cleantech businesses that are developing innovative green cars (Aptera, V-Vehicle Co.), developing alternative fuels (GreenHouse International, Synthetic Genomics Inc., Sapphire Energy), finding alternatives to petrochemicals (Genomatica, Verdezyne), and providing renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions … Continue reading “Growing Green: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Cleantech Innovation in San Diego”

Biogen Idec Accused Again of Excessive CEO Pay, Lousy Performance, By Big Shareholder

[Update: 1:55 pm Eastern, 11/20/09] After a bitter standoff earlier this year with billionaire investor Carl Icahn over alleged mismanagement, Cambridge, MA-based Biogen Idec now faces another sharp attack from a major shareholder. New York-based HealthCor Management, a hedge fund that invests in health and biotech companies, said today in a regulatory filing that Biogen … Continue reading “Biogen Idec Accused Again of Excessive CEO Pay, Lousy Performance, By Big Shareholder”

Mind, Body, & Cash: Lighter Living Raises $3M

Pilates is famous for shaping up peoples’ buttocks, tummies, and thighs. But what can the popularity of this fitness phenomenon and the market for health products do for investment portfolios? Cambridge, MA-based Lighter Living, which operates a health and fitness website that features Pilates expert and company founder Marjolein Brugman, has raised $3 million in … Continue reading “Mind, Body, & Cash: Lighter Living Raises $3M”

SS&C Buys TheNextRound

TheNextRound, a Framingham, MA-based startup that makes software for private equity and alternative investors, has been acquired by Windsor, CT-based SS&C Technologies for an undisclosed amount, according to an SS&C announcement today. SS&C makes financial management software for insurance companies, hedge funds, banks and credit unions, real estate companies, and other institutions.

$31.3M for Cambridgesoft

Cambridge, MA-based Cambridgesoft, which makes software for life sciences companies, disclosed in regulatory documents filed November 17 that it has raised $31.3 million in new equity-based financing. Cambridgesoft first announced the funding round (though not the amount) in a November 16 release that named new investor Health Evolution Partners and existing investor Goldman Sachs as … Continue reading “$31.3M for Cambridgesoft”

Dendreon FDA Deadline Set For May 1

Seattle-based Dendreon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DNDN]]), the developer of what it hopes will be the first FDA-approved treatment to actively stimulate the immune system against cancer, said today the U.S. regulatory agency has received its amended application and set a deadline of May 1, 2010 to complete its review. The company is seeking clearance to start selling … Continue reading “Dendreon FDA Deadline Set For May 1”

Brown, IBM Switch On Supercomputer

A new IBM supercomputer opened at Brown University’s Center for Computation and Visualization in Providence, RI, today is 50 times faster than Brown’s next best machine and is the most powerful computer in Rhode Island, according to an announcement from IBM (NYSE: [[ticker:IBM]]). Researchers at Brown and other institutions intend to use the 1,440-processor machine … Continue reading “Brown, IBM Switch On Supercomputer”

After Re-Engineering Itself, Verdezyne Sets Course to Develop Biofuels and “Green” Industrial Chemicals

After Carlsbad, CA-based Verdezyne disclosed last month that it plans to raise more than $15 million in venture funding, I arranged to sit down with Damien Perriman, the company’s vice president of business development. As it turns out, the startup that was founded in 2005 as CODA Genomics has essentially re-engineered itself over the past … Continue reading “After Re-Engineering Itself, Verdezyne Sets Course to Develop Biofuels and “Green” Industrial Chemicals”

Metcalfe Reflects on $2.7B 3Com Buyout, MyPunchbowl Parent Adds New Punch, $30M More for Fate Therapeutics, & More Boston Deals News

Dealmakers appear to be getting their business done before the week of Thanksgiving—because we’ve seen a decent stream of deal closings involving Boston-area life sciences and tech companies over the past week or so. —Framingham, MA-based Punchbowl Software, which operates the party planning website MyPunchbowl.com, said it acquired technology assets of a group vacation website … Continue reading “Metcalfe Reflects on $2.7B 3Com Buyout, MyPunchbowl Parent Adds New Punch, $30M More for Fate Therapeutics, & More Boston Deals News”

Under the Radar Deals: 12 Northwest Financings You Haven’t Heard About

We hope to make this a regular feature in our Xconomy cities. It’s a look at small financings of private companies in tech, life sciences, and cleantech. These are deals in the roughly $100,000 to $1 million range, and they’re increasingly where the action is for local entrepreneurs, yet they’re often harder to track than … Continue reading “Under the Radar Deals: 12 Northwest Financings You Haven’t Heard About”

Mobile Breakfast Series

Topic: The Impact and Evolution of Mobile Broadband Info and registration here. Mobile Breakfast Series is a quarterly event that brings together thought leaders and visionaries from the global mobile industry to interact and share ideas, insights, and best practices with the pacific northwest entrepreneurs, enthusiasts, and others who are passionate about mobile. The event … Continue reading “Mobile Breakfast Series”

Using Google’s Building Maker to Change the Face of Boston

When I was in fifth grade, I wanted to be an architect. (I also wanted to be a geneticist, a meteorologist, and an astronaut. I guess I wound up doing the next best thing to all of those sci/tech careers—writing about them.) I loved my junior builder kit, a collection of little plastic columns and … Continue reading “Using Google’s Building Maker to Change the Face of Boston”

Omeros Banks on First FDA Filing Next Year, Plans to “Unlock” Inaccessible Drug Targets

Seattle-based Omeros expects to apply for FDA clearance to start selling its first product by the second half of next year, and it also hoping to strike at least one partnership over the next couple of years with a bigger drugmaker, CEO Greg Demopulos said today in his first quarterly update running a public company. … Continue reading “Omeros Banks on First FDA Filing Next Year, Plans to “Unlock” Inaccessible Drug Targets”

17 New Web Startups Around Town

At least 17 Seattle-area startups rolled out new websites last month, according to the latest edition of Seattle 2.0’s startup index. The index now lists 373 companies, which are ranked on the basis of Web traffic estimates. The top 10 sites didn’t change much from previous months. The startups that are new to the list … Continue reading “17 New Web Startups Around Town”

ImmunoGen Nabs $1M From Amgen

Waltham, MA-based ImmunoGen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:IMGN]]) said today that Amgen has purchased a second license to develop a treatment that uses ImmunoGen’s technology for linking targeted antibodies to cell-killing agents that make them more potent. ImmunoGen will get $1 million upfront and could receive $34 million worth of milestone payments over time if Amgen is successful … Continue reading “ImmunoGen Nabs $1M From Amgen”

Cozi Teams Up with MWV

Seattle-based Cozi announced today it has formed a strategic partnership with MeadWestvaco (NYSE: [[ticker:MWV]]), a Sidney, NY-based maker of school and office supplies and planning tools. Financial terms of the deal weren’t announced, but the partnership will give MWV consumers access to Cozi’s Web-based software for helping families manage their busy schedules. The tools include … Continue reading “Cozi Teams Up with MWV”

Microsoft Will Buy Twitter, Adobe to Buy Picnik, and Other Bold Predictions for 2010

It wasn’t so much the predictions as the discussion that was most interesting at last night’s annual predictions dinner, organized by the Washington Technology Industry Association. Will Twitter be acquired in 2010, and why? Who will have the dominant cloud computing platform in the next couple of years? What kind of startup are you looking … Continue reading “Microsoft Will Buy Twitter, Adobe to Buy Picnik, and Other Bold Predictions for 2010”

$5.3M for Corindus

Natick, MA-based Corindus has corralled $5.3 million of a proposed $10 million round of equity financing, according to an SEC filing. The firm is developing a robotic system that helps surgeons control the position of guidewires in veins in procedures to implant vascular stents, according to the firm’s LinkedIn profile. A call to company CEO … Continue reading “$5.3M for Corindus”

Futuristic Carmaker Aptera Disputes Internal Rift, Acknowledges Cutbacks

Aptera, the sleek carmaker backed by Google and Idealabs, didn’t respond to my inquiry earlier this week about reports of an internal split in which founders Steve Fambro and Chris Anthony had left the company. But in an online report published today by The San Diego Union-Tribune, Aptera officials rejected accounts that Fambro and Anthony … Continue reading “Futuristic Carmaker Aptera Disputes Internal Rift, Acknowledges Cutbacks”

Getting Started—Resources at the UW

Connie Bourassa-Shaw of the University of Washington’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Jim Roberts of UW TechTransfer will speak on December 7 as part a seminar series on creating startups. The series, geared toward UW faculty, graduate students and post-docs, will focus on resources at the UW for getting companies started. For more information, … Continue reading “Getting Started—Resources at the UW”