Inside the Microsoft-Yahoo Deal, and the Future of the Search Competition with Google

Microsoft and Yahoo officially announced this morning that they had reached a search engine and advertising agreement. Amid intense speculation, and after more than a year of disagreements over minor and not-so-minor details, the two companies have signed a ten-year agreement that puts Redmond, WA-based Microsoft (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MSFT]]) in control of both companies’ search engine … Continue reading “Inside the Microsoft-Yahoo Deal, and the Future of the Search Competition with Google”

Joule Debuts Biofuel Technology, Genzyme Cleans House, Avila Banks $30M, & More Boston-Area Life Sciences News

New England’s life sciences companies gave us a number of cool new technologies and interesting deals to talk about this week. —Cambridge, MA-based Genzyme (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GENZ]]) finished cleaning up its Allston, MA-based plant after a viral contamination which caused 6-to-8 week supply shortages of two of its best-selling drugs. —–Archemix, also of Cambridge, forged an … Continue reading “Joule Debuts Biofuel Technology, Genzyme Cleans House, Avila Banks $30M, & More Boston-Area Life Sciences News”

Forma and Novartis Form Cancer Drug Collaboration

Forma Therapeutics, a Cambridge, MA-based biotech firm, said this morning that it has landed a drug-discovery collaboration with Swiss drug giant Novartis. Novartis, which has previously invested in Forma through its Novartis Option Fund, is tapping the biotech startup to apply its cell-based screening platform to discover inhibitor treatments that target protein-to-protein interactions in cancer. … Continue reading “Forma and Novartis Form Cancer Drug Collaboration”

Patrick Administration Questions the Case for Changing Noncompetes; Community Reacts

[Updated with extensive comments—see pages 2 and 3] In a message posted yesterday on his “Mass Innovation” blog, Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Gregory Bialecki says the case for outlawing noncompete clauses in employment contracts in the state is not yet “sufficiently proven” for Governor Deval Patrick’s administration to throw its weight behind … Continue reading “Patrick Administration Questions the Case for Changing Noncompetes; Community Reacts”

Mathcad Inventor Reveals New Startup’s True Ambition—Numbers That Mean More and Don’t Make Mistakes

Engineering may be a numbers-driven profession, but it’s the context surrounding the numbers that makes all the difference. NASA learned that the hard way in September 1999. Engineers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory programmed thrusters on the Mars Climate Orbiter, which was designed to take up a permanent orbit around the Red Planet, to expect … Continue reading “Mathcad Inventor Reveals New Startup’s True Ambition—Numbers That Mean More and Don’t Make Mistakes”

The Untold Story of SAIC, Network Solutions, and the Rise of the Web—Part 1

Even when the Internet boom was happening—even during the incandescent gold rush years of the late 1990s—Network Solutions was not exactly a household corporate name. Not compared to the first wave of companies like America Online or Netscape Communications, whose Aug. 9, 1995, IPO seems to be the demarcation line between everything that existed before … Continue reading “The Untold Story of SAIC, Network Solutions, and the Rise of the Web—Part 1”

Clarus Leans on Customer Reviews at the Broad Institute to Bet on NanoString

[Corrected July 29, 10 a.m. See below.] Warren Buffett says he became one of the world’s most successful investors partly because he only invests in businesses he understands. But where do you find investors if your niche is in something called direct multiplexed measurement of gene expression? Last month, Seattle-based NanoString Technologies, the developer of … Continue reading “Clarus Leans on Customer Reviews at the Broad Institute to Bet on NanoString”

San Diego’s Cytori Gains Cash; Loses a Patent

Cytori Therapeutics, (NASDAQ:[[ticker:CYTX]]) a San Diego company developing therapies from fat, is bulking up its cash position. Since March, the regenerative medicine has company raised more than $15 million through private equity sales. The latest deal—inked with Seaside 88 of Florida in June—gives Cytori an infusion of many thousands of dollars every two weeks for … Continue reading “San Diego’s Cytori Gains Cash; Loses a Patent”

Reports: Microsoft and Yahoo Close Search and Advertising Deal, Will Announce Today

It might all turn out to be anticlimactic. After a tumultuous year of on-again, off-again talks to strike an Internet search and advertising deal, Microsoft (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MSFT]]) and Yahoo (NASDAQ: [[ticker:YHOO]]) are about to tie the knot, according to several media outlets. The Wall Street Journal‘s All Things Digital blog, citing multiple sources close to … Continue reading “Reports: Microsoft and Yahoo Close Search and Advertising Deal, Will Announce Today”

Grid Net Lands Series C Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=70b2b97b-105d-440b-9ed9-6147f9be2bd7&Preview=1 Date 7/29/2009 Company Name Grid Net Mailing Address 340 Brannan St San Francisco, CA 94107 Company Description The company develops advanced policy-based networking software for the utility industry. Website http://www.grid-net.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount Undisclosed Transaction Round Series C Proceeds Purposes It will further accelerate the commercial launch of … Continue reading “Grid Net Lands Series C Round”

Powervation Obtains $10,000,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=5459ad6c-0ea0-4a1c-9e89-6fde3d082edc&Preview=1 Date 7/29/2009 Company Name Powervation Mailing Address 495 N Whisman Rd Mountain View, CA 94043 Company Description Powervation provides a new class of Auto-control™ digital power IC solutions that optimize power-supply performance and efficiencies for manufacturers of electronic systems used in Computing, NetComms, storage and other applications. In a simple yet … Continue reading “Powervation Obtains $10,000,000 New Funding Round”

Santur Corporation Secures $13,000,000 Series E Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7b7db6eb-f68c-4f2c-87a8-c02ab5c6b88e&Preview=1 Date 7/29/2009 Company Name Santur Corporation Mailing Address 40931 Encyclopedia Circle Fremont, CA 94538 Company Description Santur’s mission is to enable next generation optical networks by providing innovative, reliable and affordable optical components. Website http://www.santurcorp.com/ Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $13,000,000 Transaction Round Series E Proceeds Purposes Santur will focus … Continue reading “Santur Corporation Secures $13,000,000 Series E Financing Round”

Vela Systems Completes $10.5M Funding

Burlington, MA-based Vela Systems, which develops software for construction firms, has completed a $10.5 million equity funding, according to an amended SEC filing made today. The investors were not disclosed. In July 2007, Vela raised $6 million, which is included in the $10.5 million total. The company provides software to allow construction companies to access, … Continue reading “Vela Systems Completes $10.5M Funding”

Qualcomm and Verizon Wireless Form Joint Venture

Verizon Wireless and chipmaker Qualcomm announced today that they are teaming up to offer machine-to-machine (M2M) wireless services to companies in industries ranging from healthcare to utilities to manufacturing. Their still-unnamed joint venture is designed to encourage corporations to use Verizon’s cellular network for more than phone services. For example, a utility could monitor and … Continue reading “Qualcomm and Verizon Wireless Form Joint Venture”

aTyr Pharma Raises $12 Million in Venture Funding

aTyr Pharma, a San Diego-based developer of protein drugs, said today it has raised $12 million in additional venture capital to develop treatments for autoimmune diseases, metabolic disorders, and blood conditions. The company raised the cash from Alta Partners, Cardinal Partners, and Polaris Venture Partners. It’s the second big round of financing for aTyr, which … Continue reading “aTyr Pharma Raises $12 Million in Venture Funding”

IBM Snaps Up Security Software Firm Ounce Labs

IBM announced today that it has acquired Waltham, MA-based security and compliance software firm Ounce Labs for an undisclosed amount. The move could help Big Blue meet its clients’ growing need to reduce the costs and risks associated with increasingly complex security and business regulations and policies. Corporations constantly struggle with security and compliance issues, … Continue reading “IBM Snaps Up Security Software Firm Ounce Labs”

Extreme Reach Gets More Funding

Extreme Reach, a Needham, MA-based video advertising management startup, announced today it has received new money from three venture firms to expand upon its current operations. Village Ventures, Greycroft Partners, and Long River Ventures are funding the latest round of expansion for Extreme Reach, which says it already has more than 8,000 customers since launching … Continue reading “Extreme Reach Gets More Funding”

Massachusetts Has “One Foot in the 21st Century, One Foot in the 18th,” Says Attorney General Coakley

In an informal discussion with technology leaders from industry and academia this morning at Microsoft’s New England Research and Development Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley and staff members from her office covered a range of issues affecting technology businesses and consumers, from cybercrime to the need to overhaul the state’s laws regarding … Continue reading “Massachusetts Has “One Foot in the 21st Century, One Foot in the 18th,” Says Attorney General Coakley”

New Biotech in Town: Relocated Helicon Therapeutics Raises $50 Million

Helicon Therapeutics, a San Diego biotech developing drugs to enhance memory, has raised $50 million from undisclosed investors, according to a recent filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Although the filing was dated June 24, it was not among the second quarter venture capital fundings in the recent MoneyTree Report, according to Emily … Continue reading “New Biotech in Town: Relocated Helicon Therapeutics Raises $50 Million”

Amazon Buys Zappos, General Fusion and Finsphere Get $9M Each, Big Fish Partners with People.com, & More Seattle-Area Deals News

From Amazon to Zappos, it was an exciting week for deals in the Northwest. A lot of the news was dominated by Amazon’s biggest acquisition to date ($920 million), but there was plenty of other action in energy, biotech, software, and gaming. —Xconomy broke the news that General Fusion, a Burnaby, BC-based clean energy company, … Continue reading “Amazon Buys Zappos, General Fusion and Finsphere Get $9M Each, Big Fish Partners with People.com, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”

AVI Gets Duchenne Funding

AVI Biopharma, the Portland, OR-based developer of RNA-based therapies, said today it has secured $1.2 million in funding over the next year from Action Duchenne, a U.K.-based charity that supports research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The agreement has an option to be extended for additional years, AVI said. The company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AVII]]) is developing a … Continue reading “AVI Gets Duchenne Funding”

Ariad Shares Boom as Cancer Drug Shows Promise

Ariad Pharmaceuticals, the Cambridge, MA-based developer of cancer drugs, said today that its lead experimental drug is likely to succeed in an ongoing mid-stage trial of the drug as a treatment for breast cancer. Shares of Ariad (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ARIA]]) shot up 29 percent, to $3.15 after the news crossed the wire. The Ariad drug, ridaforolimus, … Continue reading “Ariad Shares Boom as Cancer Drug Shows Promise”

FRX Polymers Raises $6M

FRX Polymers, the Chelmsford, MA-based maker of environmentally-friendly flame-resistant plastics, said it has raised $6 million to help commercialize its products. The investors are Israel Cleantech Ventures, and Capricorn Venture Partners. FRX said it has 20 established partnerships with some of the world’s largest plastic makers.

Cerulean Pharma Grabs $10M for Nanoparticle Drugs

[Correction: July 29, 7:15 pm] Cerulean Pharma, the Cambridge, MA-based developer of nanoparticle drugs, said today it has raised $10 million in a Series B round of venture capital. The company raised the money from its existing crew of investors: Polaris Venture Partners, Venrock Associates, Lux Capital, and Bessemer Venture Partners. Part of the cash … Continue reading “Cerulean Pharma Grabs $10M for Nanoparticle Drugs”

Technologies for the Blind and Deaf Could Have Much Broader Impact, Says UW’s Richard Ladner

Think about the technological tools you use most often. For many of us, cell phones and computers rank high up on that list. But these devices are designed with the hearing and sighted in mind, and are constantly evolving, so there are numerous hurdles to clear to make a phone or a computer usable to … Continue reading “Technologies for the Blind and Deaf Could Have Much Broader Impact, Says UW’s Richard Ladner”

Dendreon May Not Survive Its Success: Q&A with Founder Chris Henney, Part 2

Yesterday, we brought Xconomy readers the first installment of a conversation with Christopher Henney, the co-founder of Seattle’s three most successful biotech companies of the past 30 years—Immunex, Icos, and Dendreon. The first two companies ended up getting acquired—Immunex for $10 billion in 2002, and Icos for $2.3 billion in 2007. Now that Dendreon has … Continue reading “Dendreon May Not Survive Its Success: Q&A with Founder Chris Henney, Part 2”

Alnylam and Isis’ Offspring, Regulus, Keeps Pushing on Biology’s ‘Bleeding Edge’

Regulus Therapeutics, its CEO admits, is a child of privilege. It was born two years ago with a silver spoon in its mouth—some hot intellectual property to make drugs based on emerging knowledge about microRNA biological networks. It has a couple of parents with wealth and pedigree: Cambridge, MA-based Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ALNY]]), and Carlsbad, … Continue reading “Alnylam and Isis’ Offspring, Regulus, Keeps Pushing on Biology’s ‘Bleeding Edge’”

Cerulean Pharmaceuticals Obtains $10,000,000 Series B Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e90f06a6-12b7-4a0e-941a-265d903b6295&Preview=1 Date 7/28/2009 Company Name Cerulean Pharmaceuticals Mailing Address 161 First Street Cambridge, MA 02142 Company Description Within the field of nanopharmaceuticals, Cerulean Pharma is uniquely focused on a next-generation approach we call Nanobiology. Cerulean’s nanobiology-based drug development is based on a deep understanding of the complex biological microenvironment of human disease … Continue reading “Cerulean Pharmaceuticals Obtains $10,000,000 Series B Funding”

AVI BioPharma Obtains $1,200,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8bd67fca-189e-4470-9d17-2602ee6ae3ad&Preview=1 Date 7/28/2009 Company Name AVI BioPharma Mailing Address One SW Columbia Portland, OR 97258 Company Description AVI BioPharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVII) is a biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutic products principally based on third generation NeuGene® antisense technology. Our principle products in development target life-threatening diseases, including cardiovascular and infectious diseases. Website http://www.avibio.com … Continue reading “AVI BioPharma Obtains $1,200,000 New Funding Round”

aTyr Pharma Receives $12,000,000 Series C Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ffac8cf3-4397-4dfb-97a6-17b3828c68be&Preview=1 Date 7/28/2009 Company Name aTyr Pharma Mailing Address 3565 General Atomics Court San Diego, CA 92121 Company Description The company is a biopharmaceutical company developing a novel class of naturally occurring protein biologics for human therapeutics. Website http://www.atyrpharma.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $12,000,000 Transaction Round Series C Proceeds Purposes … Continue reading “aTyr Pharma Receives $12,000,000 Series C Funding”

Extreme Reach Secures New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4ee5a145-425b-465c-b01a-faf419b2bbe2&Preview=1 Date 7/28/2009 Company Name Extreme Reach Mailing Address 75 2nd Avenue Needham, MA 02494 Company Description Our video advertising technology platform enables advertisers and agencies to manage, execute and track video campaigns across all video mediums (broadcast, cable, online publishing, mobile, VOD). Unlike other platforms, Extreme Reach provides a single-source solution … Continue reading “Extreme Reach Secures New Round”

IBM Acquires Ounce Labs for Undisclosed Sum

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2808a303-b3a7-493e-a92f-918b996c013a&Preview=1 Date 7/28/2009 Company Name Ounce Labs Mailing Address 100 Fifth Avenue Waltham, MA 02451 Company Description Ounce Labs delivers actionable metrics to help organizations understand and manage the vulnerabilities in their critical applications. Customers use this information to assess risk and prioritize security investments, to comply with regulatory demands, and to … Continue reading “IBM Acquires Ounce Labs for Undisclosed Sum”

BookFresh Secures $500,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3e8d24de-059c-43dd-bcfe-1615b3f71487&Preview=1 Date 7/28/2009 Company Name BookFresh Mailing Address 217 South B Street San Mateo, CA 94401 Company Description BookFresh is the leading online appointment and appointments-as-leads provider for small businesses. BookFresh offers solutions directly to service professionals and service brands, as well as APIs, enterprise services and reseller solutions to online publishers … Continue reading “BookFresh Secures $500,000 New Funding Round”

Astoria Software Secures New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=be5a727f-d2b6-4449-a4d5-cffd4aaf5357&Preview=1 Date 7/28/2009 Company Name Astoria Software Mailing Address 300 Broadway Street San Francisco, CA 94133 Company Description Astoria Software is the established developer of software for structured document management in the enterprise. Its package software applications automate and manage the authoring, review, assembly and publishing processes of structured content. Natively architected … Continue reading “Astoria Software Secures New Financing”

SunRun Lands $18,000,000 Series B Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=02a51bb4-97b9-4366-99b7-faa4330564e9&Preview=1 Date 7/28/2009 Company Name SunRun Mailing Address 717 Market Street San Francisco, CA 94103 Company Description SunRun is the nation’s first residential solar electricity provider. Pioneering “solar as a service,” SunRun offers the only low-cost, zero-hassle way for homeowners to go solar and is also the only company that lets homeowners … Continue reading “SunRun Lands $18,000,000 Series B Financing Round”

RXI Licenses RNAi Delivery Mode

RXi Pharmaceuticals, the Worcester, MA-based developer of RNA interference drugs, said today it has obtained an exclusive worldwide license to RNAi delivery technologies from Advirna. The technology is supposed to make it easier to deliver RNAi without liposomes, nanoparticles, or other methods that add complexity, RXi said (NASDAQ: [[ticker:RXII]]). Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.

Gearing Up for Battle of the Tech Bands: Beer, Prizes, and One More Cartoon

After a scorching week of 90-degree temperatures, what could be better than kicking back with a nice cold one, catching up with friends and colleagues—and seeing five of Seattle’s top rock bands with tech affiliations duke it out for prizes and the adulation of the crowd? It’s all happening this Thursday evening at Xconomy’s Battle … Continue reading “Gearing Up for Battle of the Tech Bands: Beer, Prizes, and One More Cartoon”

Microsoft Opens App Store for Developers

Microsoft (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MSFT]]) announced today it has opened its Windows Mobile marketplace for developer submissions from 29 countries. The Redmond, WA, firm is also running a “race to market challenge” in which mobile app developers will receive prizes for categories like most free downloads, most valuable app, and most useful app. The contest will officially … Continue reading “Microsoft Opens App Store for Developers”

Phase Forward Acquires Maaguzi

Phase Forward (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PFWD]]), the Waltham, MA-based maker of software used by pharmaceutical companies to manage data collection and analysis during clinical trials, said today that it has acquired Indianapolis, IN-based Maaguzi for $11 million in cash. Maaguzi operates a Web-based service used to collect data reported directly by patients. Phase Forward also reported today … Continue reading “Phase Forward Acquires Maaguzi”

Histogen Reports Hair-Raising Study Results

San Diego’s Histogen announced final results from a clinical trial of its baldness treatment over the weekend. Nearly 85 percent of 24 men with male pattern baldness had more hair at the end of three months, and experienced an increase in hair thickness and density, according to a press release. Results came after a single … Continue reading “Histogen Reports Hair-Raising Study Results”

Targeted Growth Boosts Algae Yield

Targeted Growth, the Seattle-based developer of renewable fuels and high-yield agricultural products, said today that its scientists have found a way to boost the amount of lipid content by 400 percent in cyanobacteria, which it says could increase the oil yield from algae enough to make it competitive on price with conventional petroleum. The company … Continue reading “Targeted Growth Boosts Algae Yield”

Amazon.com Owns Just About Everything Now

“Earth’s biggest bookstore,” boasted Amazon.com in the early days after its 1995 launch. Nearly 15 years later, Amazon seems more like Earth’s biggest store, period. Music and movies, videogames, clothing, toys, furniture, even food, it’s all just a few clicks away. And with last week’s acquisiton of online retailer Zappos.com (originally estimated at $850 million, … Continue reading “Amazon.com Owns Just About Everything Now”

Seattle Layoff Update: Targeted Genetics, Wetpaint, Google, and Others Cut Staff

Don’t let this summer heat wave fool you. It’s still bitterly cold in job land. Despite Wade’s optimistic report this morning on local companies with open positions, a lot of Seattle-area tech and life sciences firms are still heading in the opposite direction. In the past month, we’ve seen layoffs, big and small, across the … Continue reading “Seattle Layoff Update: Targeted Genetics, Wetpaint, Google, and Others Cut Staff”

BrainCells Depression Drug Reaches Goal

BrainCells Inc., the San Diego-based developer of treatments for neurological disorders, said today that its experimental drug for depression showed promising results in a clinical trial of 142 patients. The company’s drug, BCI-952, a combination of low-dose buspirone and melatonin, is designed to work differently than other depression drugs, by stimulating growth of new brain … Continue reading “BrainCells Depression Drug Reaches Goal”

Rayspan Raises $12.5 Million from Sequoia, Khosla Ventures

San Diego-based Rayspan said today that it has collected $12.5 million in Series B funding to finance its work on advanced materials that could be used to make smaller, more sensitive, and more versatile antennas for mobile devices. Existing investor Sequoia Capital of Menlo Park, CA, provided part of the money, with the rest coming … Continue reading “Rayspan Raises $12.5 Million from Sequoia, Khosla Ventures”

Avila Therapeutics Gets $30M to Push Ahead With Covalent Drugs

Avila Therapeutics, the Waltham, MA-based developer of drugs that create stronger bonds with protein targets on cells, said today it has raised $30 million in a Series B round of venture capital to drive its treatments into human clinical trials. The Novartis Option Fund, a new investor, led the financing, and was followed by Avila’s … Continue reading “Avila Therapeutics Gets $30M to Push Ahead With Covalent Drugs”

Silverlink Makes A Science of Healthcare Communication

When Merck recalled its arthritis drug Vioxx on September 30, 2004, Connecticut-based online pharmacy FamilyMeds wasted no time notifying customers. Within three hours after the recall was announced, an automated telephone system began calling Vioxx users to inform them about the change. But there was a twist—to comply with the federal healthcare privacy law known … Continue reading “Silverlink Makes A Science of Healthcare Communication”

Beck’s CEO Looks to SAIC’s Buyout, San Diego’s Venture Funding Improves, Korean Watchdog Slaps Qualcomm With $208M Fine, & And More San Diego BizTech News

Venture capital investments are viewed as one indicator of economic health, and a couple of reports last week suggest that San Diego’s VC actvity is recuperating—or at least stabilizing. Catch up on that and other developments in local biztech news below.  (Meanwhile, we’re keeping the lights on at Xconomy San Diego, but I’m going to recharge … Continue reading “Beck’s CEO Looks to SAIC’s Buyout, San Diego’s Venture Funding Improves, Korean Watchdog Slaps Qualcomm With $208M Fine, & And More San Diego BizTech News”