When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for bloggers to temporarily dissolve the bonds which have connected them with their readers, and to assume among the powers of the earth the long weekend to which the laws of nature entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they … Continue reading “Happy Fireworks Day; See You Next Week”
Google Voice Opening, Slowly
Google Voice, a phone line unification and voice mail transcription service created by Grand Central and being revamped by Google, is gradually being opened up to people on its extensive waiting list, according to Twitter posts this week from the Google Voice team. “Still sending invites, many more today, but the list is long. Thx … Continue reading “Google Voice Opening, Slowly”
Intellikine, Chasing Hot Cancer Drug Target, Raises Big Venture Round
La Jolla, CA-based Intellikine, a company developing drugs against one of the hottest targets in cancer biology, has nailed down $16 million in venture capital out of a round that could be worth as much as $38.5 million, according to a regulatory filing. Intellikine got the capital infusion from its founding crew of investors—Sofinnova Ventures, … Continue reading “Intellikine, Chasing Hot Cancer Drug Target, Raises Big Venture Round”
Stealthy Ground Truth Gets $2.6M
Seattle-based Ground Truth, a stealthy startup led by Sterling Wilson and Michael Libes, has raised $2.6 million in equity funding, according to a regulatory filing. The company’s directors include Seattle venture capitalists Tom Huseby and Erik Benson, and Beau Laskey of Burbank, CA-based Steamboat Ventures.
Ballard, IdaTech Sell 310 Hydrogen Generators
Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BLDP]]) and its partner, Bend, OR-based IdaTech announced today that they can now confirm the sale of 310 hydrogen fueled generators to a wireless infrastructure company in India. Ballard, based in Burnaby, BC, manufactures the FCgen-1300 fuel cell, which will be incorporated into IdaTech’s ElectraGen generators which provide backup power for … Continue reading “Ballard, IdaTech Sell 310 Hydrogen Generators”
Bakersfield Firm Re-Energizing San Diego’s Pyron Solar
Bakersfield businessman Stan Ellis, whose Ellis Energy Investments recently acquired Pyron Solar, says he’s keeping Pyron’s headquarters in San Diego but he plans to outsource much of the manufacturing. Ellis, who announced the acquisition of Pyron’s assets and intellectual property Tuesday, declined to disclose Pyron’s purchase price in a telephone interview yesterday. But he says … Continue reading “Bakersfield Firm Re-Energizing San Diego’s Pyron Solar”
The Eight (Seven…Six?) Information Devices I Can’t Live Without
If you read Xconomy, chances are that digital information is a big part of your day. You spend quite a bit of time absorbing, manipulating, and repackaging it. So here are a few questions for you: How many different devices do you use to channel all those bits? Is the number going up, or down? … Continue reading “The Eight (Seven…Six?) Information Devices I Can’t Live Without”
Sequenom Discloses SEC Probe, How Evoke Pharma Got its Drug, Illumina Sales Fall Short, & More San Diego Life Sciences News
We had a mixed bag of bad and good news from the San Diego life sciences industry this week heading into the holiday weekend. —At least 11 shareholder lawsuits have been filed against San Diego’s Sequenom (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SQNM]]) since the medical diagnostics company disclosed on April 29 that four employees were suspended for “mishandling” research … Continue reading “Sequenom Discloses SEC Probe, How Evoke Pharma Got its Drug, Illumina Sales Fall Short, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”
Stem Cell Entrepreneur Quinn Dies, Dendreon Tames Shorts, PhysioSonics Monitors Brain Blood, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News
News flow in Seattle life sciences slowed down heading into the holiday weekend, so I rolled out a couple biotech and medical device features I’ve been meaning to clear off my to-do list for a while. —Dendreon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DNDN]]) raised $221 million last month to expand its manufacturing and marketing efforts for its prostate cancer … Continue reading “Stem Cell Entrepreneur Quinn Dies, Dendreon Tames Shorts, PhysioSonics Monitors Brain Blood, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News”
Who’s Playing at the Battle of the Tech Bands? Stay Tuned…
We are in the final stages of selecting the five finalist bands who will perform on July 30 at the Xconomy Battle of the Tech Bands, to be featured at the Washington Technology Industry Association’s Summer Celebration at the Pyramid Alehouse across from Safeco Field in Seattle. We will announce the finalists very soon, but … Continue reading “Who’s Playing at the Battle of the Tech Bands? Stay Tuned…”
How IT Entrepreneurs Can Profit from Healthcare Reform and Other Tips from Boston’s Health 2.0 Insiders
The healthcare industry is facing a shakeup in the way it uses information technology, and this is creating all sorts of opportunities for entrepreneurs in New England. This was the take-home message from some of the top minds in the Health 2.0 field, who we gathered together last week for a jam-packed panel discussion at … Continue reading “How IT Entrepreneurs Can Profit from Healthcare Reform and Other Tips from Boston’s Health 2.0 Insiders”
Ground Truth, Inc Lands $2,600,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=517fb6e4-3fe4-4147-910f-29bdcfdb97c9&Preview=1 Date 7/2/2009 Company Name Ground Truth, Inc Mailing Address 719 Second Ave Seattle, WA 98104 Company Description Ground Truth is based in Seattle. Ground truth is a term used in cartography, meteorology, analysis of aerial photographs, satellite imagery and a range of other remote geographical areas. Website Undisclosed Transaction Type Venture … Continue reading “Ground Truth, Inc Lands $2,600,000 New Financing Round”
Bling Nation Ltd Garners $8,000,000 Series A Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=334504a4-5b15-4fb2-abd9-c78f3fe680e6&Preview=1 Date 7/2/2009 Company Name Bling Nation Ltd Mailing Address 364 University Ave Palo Alto, CA 94301 Company Description Bling Nation® offers a payment service, designed specifically for local and community financial institutions, that facilitates fast, efficient and secure payment transactions. Using the Bling Nation service, local financial institutions can strengthen and … Continue reading “Bling Nation Ltd Garners $8,000,000 Series A Financing Round”
SpineGuard Garners $4,000,000 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4f4ccf8f-5cc8-49cf-9911-ddb4758fb23f&Preview=1 Date 7/2/2009 Company Name SpineGuard Mailing Address 301 Howard Street San Francisco, CA 94105 Company Description The founders established SpineGuard on the premise that the patented PediGuard® technology platform deserves the full focus of the Team to make the most of its clinical, technological and market potential. Close to 1 million … Continue reading “SpineGuard Garners $4,000,000 New Round”
Future of Fuels Science Café
Science on Tap is hosting a discussion on the future of fuels along with the Pacific Science Center and KCTS public television. The event site says: “Josh Haney a Biochemist for Seattle based General Biodiesel will introduce us to the Future of Fuels. Join us as we discuss some of the alternative methods for biodiesel, … Continue reading “Future of Fuels Science Café”
WTC Awards $375K to UW, WSU
Five researchers from the University of Washington and Washington State University, Vancouver, working together with Washington companies, received a total of $376,454 in state funding through Washington Technology Center, according to an announcement today. The university researchers are working with property data solutions company Data Data in Vancouver; biomaterials firm Healionics in Redmond; pressure instrumentation … Continue reading “WTC Awards $375K to UW, WSU”
Prometheus Energy, Maker of Liquid Natural Gas from Waste, Raises $10M from Shell Oil
Redmond, WA-based Prometheus Energy has closed a $10 million financing from Netherlands-based Kenda Capital, which manages the Shell Technology Ventures Fund that’s part of the Dutch oil giant. A second tranche of financing, worth an additional $10 million, will be part of the deal if Prometheus meets certain milestones. Chief executive Kirt Montague co-founded Prometheus … Continue reading “Prometheus Energy, Maker of Liquid Natural Gas from Waste, Raises $10M from Shell Oil”
Illumina Sales Miss Expectations
San Diego-based Illumina, the maker of genetic analysis tools for biologists, said today that its second-quarter sales fell short of the company’s forecast. Illumina (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ILMN]]), in a preliminary, unaudited financial review, said it expects to report $161 million in second quarter sales—less than the $168 to $173 million it expected. It blamed the shortfall … Continue reading “Illumina Sales Miss Expectations”
Virginia BizPlan Wins $250K Prize
A University of Virginia team developing miniature power plants that convert rice husks into electricity for use in rural villages throughout India won $250,000 in seed capital for winning a global business plan competition. Husk Power Systems of Charlottesville, Va., was named as the winner today by the sponsors, the Menlo Park, CA, venture capital firm … Continue reading “Virginia BizPlan Wins $250K Prize”
Cleantech Venture Funding Brightens for All But Solar
The clouds may be parting for cleantech startups. Venture capital funding for renewable energy and cleantech startups (which plunged from last October through March) rebounded in the second quarter—but the $1.2 billion invested in 67 countries is still down 44 percent from the same quarter in 2008. Cleantech venture investments were strongest in transportation—specifically, vehicles … Continue reading “Cleantech Venture Funding Brightens for All But Solar”
Webinar: What Might Health IT and Communications Look Like By 2020?
Join Frank Moss, Director of the Media Lab at MIT, and a panel of experts for a webinar discussing the future of IT and communications in the health sector. Register here. The webinar is free.
Investors Lift LogMeIn Stock
Maybe somebody at LogMeIn (NASDAQ: [[ticker:LOGM]]) has a remote control for the NASDAQ exchange? Shares of the Woburn, MA-based remote access software company are flying high today, selling for more than 25 percent above the $16 per share price set last night for the company’s initial public offering. As of 1:25 p.m. ET, shares were … Continue reading “Investors Lift LogMeIn Stock”
ActiFio Raises $4 Million for Storage
ActiFio, a stealth-mode startup based in Weston, MA, has collected $4 million of a planned $8 million equity financing round, according to regulatory documents published online today. The documents do not reveal the identities of the investors, but James Goldstein of North Bridge Venture Partners is named as a board member. Led by storage industry … Continue reading “ActiFio Raises $4 Million for Storage”
Biogen Gets Int’l Rights to Acorda’s MS Drug
Cambridge, MA drug giant Biogen Idec (NASDAQ:[[ticker:BIIB]]) and Hawthorne, NY-based Acorda Therapeutics (NASDAQ:[[ticker:ACOR]]) announced today that Biogen Idec has acquired the rights to develop and commercialize Acorda’s multiple sclerosis drug, Fampridine-SR, in markets outside the U.S. Acorda will receive an upfront payment of $110 million and additional payments of up to $400 million, and retains … Continue reading “Biogen Gets Int’l Rights to Acorda’s MS Drug”
SEC Opens Probe of Sequenom Research
San Diego’s Sequenom, which postponed release of its prenatal test for Down syndrome, disclosed in a filing that the Securities and Exchange Commision has initated an investigation into the company’s mishandling of data supporting the genetic test. The company says it received written notification of the probe from the SEC on June 29. The value … Continue reading “SEC Opens Probe of Sequenom Research”
CombinatoRx to Combine with Neuromed, CEO Borisy Steps Down
[Updated: 5 pm EST] Big news this morning from CombinatoRx, the developer of treatments based on combinations of known drugs. The Cambridge, MA-based firm (NASDAQ:[[ticker:CRXX]]) has agreed to a merger with a privately held biotech firm called Neuromed Pharmaceuticals to beef up its product pipeline and grow its cash surplus enough to operate into 2012, … Continue reading “CombinatoRx to Combine with Neuromed, CEO Borisy Steps Down”
CloudCamp Boston
It might not have swimming lessons or horseback riding, but CloudCamp could still be the hot event of the summer. From the organizers: “CloudCamp is an unconference where early adopters of Cloud Computing technologies exchange ideas. With the rapid change occurring in the industry, we need a place we can meet to share our experiences, … Continue reading “CloudCamp Boston”
Amira Pharmaceuticals’ Experimental Lung Disease Drug May Have Legs
The story around Amira Pharmaceuticals’ experimental drug AP2966 is beginning to get interesting. Yesterday the San Diego-based respiratory drug company said its experimental drug reduced lung scarring in mice, offering promise that the oral medication might one day be approved to treat pulmonary fibrosis. But it turns out there may be a lot more to this … Continue reading “Amira Pharmaceuticals’ Experimental Lung Disease Drug May Have Legs”
Emo Labs, Making Sound Leap Off the TV Screen, Woos Asian Electronics Makers
Thanks to ongoing advances in liquid crystal display and plasma screen technology, flat-panel TVs keep getting flatter. Sharp’s new 46-inch Aquos X model is only 1.35 inches deep—thinner than three iPhones stacked together. But while all this thinness may be sexy, it comes at the cost of decent sound: the less room a conventional loudspeaker … Continue reading “Emo Labs, Making Sound Leap Off the TV Screen, Woos Asian Electronics Makers”
Appature Labs Experiments with Twitter Search Engine, Chatterfly
Even with only 180 characters per post, it can be hard to find what you are looking for on Twitter. Sorting through the stream of tweets from the people you follow, let alone the entire Twitter network, can be daunting. Seattle-based healthcare marketing firm Appature recognized this fact, and so early last month released the … Continue reading “Appature Labs Experiments with Twitter Search Engine, Chatterfly”
New England Firms Poised for Biogeneric Future, Tobin Bids Boston Scientific Adieu, Biogen Idec Reports Tenth PML Case, & More Boston-Area Life Sciences News
Ryan and Luke did a couple of great in-depth stories this week—on the burgeoning business of biogenerics and on a young company out to take on the big boys of cancer with a new mouse model for the disease. —Ryan took a look at the Boston-area biotech companies that are poised to become key players … Continue reading “New England Firms Poised for Biogeneric Future, Tobin Bids Boston Scientific Adieu, Biogen Idec Reports Tenth PML Case, & More Boston-Area Life Sciences News”
In Drought-Ending IPO, LogMeIn Logs $107 Million
In the year’s first initial public offering by a venture-backed company from New England, Woburn, MA-based remote access software maker LogMeIn has raised $80 million, according to a report late Tuesday night in the Wall Street Journal. Through lead underwriters Barclays and JP Morgan Chase, the company sold 5 million shares at $16 per share—the … Continue reading “In Drought-Ending IPO, LogMeIn Logs $107 Million”
‘Rev’ing’ it up with Facebook
After a national competition, RunMyErrand was one of 25 companies invited to be part of Facebook’s fbFund Rev 2009 incubator program this summer in Palo Alto, CA. The program will last 10 weeks, and RunMyErrand team members from the engineering and business realm will be participating. We arrived into SFO late the night of Tuesday, … Continue reading “‘Rev’ing’ it up with Facebook”
iSend LLC Obtains $2,000,000 Series A Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f1022e7a-107c-4bc4-809b-5b557a0dbeb9&Preview=1 Date 7/1/2009 Company Name iSend LLC Mailing Address 680 Main St Watertown, CT 06795 Company Description A privately held company, iSend was founded by Steven LaBella and is located in Watertown, CT. iSend is a leading provider of international electronic payments from the United States to Mexico, Central and South America, … Continue reading “iSend LLC Obtains $2,000,000 Series A Financing Round”
ActiFio, Inc Lands $4,000,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c9d916e2-33a5-4d0f-b3df-5c51336c415e&Preview=1 Date 7/1/2009 Company Name ActiFio, Inc Mailing Address 19 Lanes End Weston, MA 02493 Company Description ActiFio is delivering a paradigm shift in the complexity and cost of IT storage ecosystem. Website http://actifio.appspot.com/ Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $4,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. M&A … Continue reading “ActiFio, Inc Lands $4,000,000 New Financing”
PhysioSonics, Inc Receives $2,000,000 Series A Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a4f4845e-71f4-4926-b667-0d0570f27278&Preview=1 Date 7/1/2009 Company Name PhysioSonics, Inc Mailing Address Undisclosed Undisclosed, WA 98100 Company Description PhysioSonics, formerly known as Allez PhysiOnix, is a privately held company, founded in 2000 with technology developed at the University of Washington. The company has developed and patented a number of new technologies including an ultrasound-based technology … Continue reading “PhysioSonics, Inc Receives $2,000,000 Series A Round”
SPG Holdings LLC Secures $13,000,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7735b575-c163-47bf-a95c-3443b96cde32&Preview=1 Date 7/1/2009 Company Name SPG Holdings LLC Mailing Address 863 E Francisco Blvd San Rafael, CA 94901 Company Description SPG Holdings, LLC is comprised of SPG Solar, Inc., and Thompson Technologies Industries, Inc. SPG Solar, Inc. is a proven leader in the financing, design and installation of photovoltaic power systems. With … Continue reading “SPG Holdings LLC Secures $13,000,000 New Financing”
MojoPages Raises $5M
San Diego-based MojoPages, an online business directory that includes consumer reviews, said today it has raised $5 million in a Series A round of venture funding led by Austin Ventures, the venture fund based in Austin, TX. Founded in 2007, MojoPages says it plans to use the funds to expand its private-labeled local search solution … Continue reading “MojoPages Raises $5M”
Pyron Solar Acquired
Ellis Energy Investments of Bakersfield, CA, says it has acquired the assets of San Diego-based Pyron Solar, a venture-backed company developing high-energy concentrating photovoltaic cells for utility scale solar projects. Ellis did not disclose financial terms. Pyron was founded in 2004 by Johannes “John” and Inge Laing, who spent 20 years developing the technology. Pyron … Continue reading “Pyron Solar Acquired”
Microsoft to Sell Razorfish, Report Says
The Financial Times reported that Microsoft [[NASDAQ: [[ticker:MSFT]]) is selling off Razorfish, its online advertising subsidiary based in Seattle, which it acquired as part of its purchase of aQuantive in 2007. The report says Morgan Stanley has been appointed to find a buyer, and that French marketing firm Publicis is a possible bidder. Razorfish went … Continue reading “Microsoft to Sell Razorfish, Report Says”
Amag Pharmaceuticals Wins FDA Approval to Sell Iron Deficiency Drug
Amag Pharmaceuticals, the Lexington, MA-based developer of a drug for iron deficiency, said today it has received clearance from the FDA to start selling the drug on the U.S. market. The intravenous drug, feromoxytol, will be marketed under the brand name Feraheme for adult patients with iron deficiency anemia with chronic kidney disease. The company … Continue reading “Amag Pharmaceuticals Wins FDA Approval to Sell Iron Deficiency Drug”
Amira Pharmaceuticals Can Breathe Easier After Mouse Study
The people at San Diego’s Amira Pharmaceuticals are certainly breathing easier today. The respiratory drug development company is reporting that an experimental drug for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis reduced lung scarring in mice, bringing Amira closer to its goal of beginning human tests of the oral medication during the first half of next year. In results presented this … Continue reading “Amira Pharmaceuticals Can Breathe Easier After Mouse Study”
Stephen Quinn, Biotech and Medical Device Entrepreneur, Dies Suddenly at 46
Xconomy is sad to report that Stephen Quinn, an emerging biotech and medical device entrepreneur in the Northwest, died suddenly at his home in Redmond, WA, on Sunday. He was 46. The cause of death is unknown. Paramedics found Quinn at home on Sunday afternoon with no pulse, and rushed him to Overlake Hospital Medical … Continue reading “Stephen Quinn, Biotech and Medical Device Entrepreneur, Dies Suddenly at 46”
Vical on Fast Pace With Animal Tests of Prototype Swine Flu Vaccine
An experimental swine flu vaccine from San Diego’s Vical (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VICL]]) produced “robust immune responses” in animal tests, the company reports. Vical says it can proceed to large-scale manufacturing and human tests if it receives funding. Getting regulatory approval of the prototype vaccine is another matter. Nevertheless, the company’s shares surged 50 cents, or more … Continue reading “Vical on Fast Pace With Animal Tests of Prototype Swine Flu Vaccine”
TechFlash LIVE Summer BBQ & Ping-Pong Tournament
TechFlash will be hosting a barbeque and Ping-Pong tournament as their big summer event. According to the event website: “This is our big bash of the summer, and we’ll be rolling in some beer, soft drinks and sweet and spicy barbeque for the occasion. So even if ping-pong ain’t your thing, it’s a great chance … Continue reading “TechFlash LIVE Summer BBQ & Ping-Pong Tournament”
The Naked Truth 2009
The Naked Truth 2009: Show Me the Money brings together different entrepreneurs to discuss making money with online services. “Redfin, Madrona, Fenwick & Square 1 Bank have put together a panel of entrepreneurs from Seattle’s funnest online consumer sites — Picnik, Animoto, Urbanspoon — to talk about how to make different revenue models work. Michael … Continue reading “The Naked Truth 2009”
Dell Taps Skyhook for Location-Enabled Netbooks
Dell (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DELL]]) announced today that starting next week, customers will be able to order versions of its Mini 10 netbook computer equipped with GPS hardware as well as hybrid GPS and Wi-Fi-based location-finding software from Boston’s Skyhook Wireless. It’s the first time Round Rock, TX-based Dell has licensed Skyhook’s software for its products, and … Continue reading “Dell Taps Skyhook for Location-Enabled Netbooks”
The Current Digital Market and the Outlook for What’s Next
The Massachusetts Innovation and Technology Exchange hosts this panel, titled: “The Current Digital Market and the Outlook for What’s Next: What You Need to Know and Why Now is the Key Time to Act.” MITX writes: “The Internet business and marketing industry will contribute $28B to New England’s gross domestic product this year, a 20% … Continue reading “The Current Digital Market and the Outlook for What’s Next”
Is It All Fun & Games? Online Gaming as a Branding and Engagement Tool
“What does it take to have a successful online game? Can you make money with interactive games? How do you brand the game appropriately?” Answers to these questions and more at the Massachusetts Innovation and Technology Exchange’s latest Digital Strategy event: “Is it All Fun & Games?: Online Gaming as a Branding and Engagement Tool.” … Continue reading “Is It All Fun & Games? Online Gaming as a Branding and Engagement Tool”
The Convergence of Video and TV
Hulu, YouTube, and Vimeo, oh my! How can we find our way in this digital maze? This MITX event on “The Convergence of Video and TV: Digital Marketing & the New Video Ecosystem” will discuss how to “plan for, design, and navigate the potential pitfalls of human choice but still take advantage of the new … Continue reading “The Convergence of Video and TV”