Madrona, Amazon Bet $4.4M on Animoto, a Startup With Roots at Bellevue High School

Seattle-based Madrona Venture Group has led a $4.4 million funding round for Animoto, a Web software startup based in New York that lets people automatically create professional-quality videos and slideshows from photos and music. Other investors in the round include Seattle-based Amazon, Palo Alto, CA-based SoftTech VC (run by Jeff Clavier), and Bruce Livingstone, the … Continue reading “Madrona, Amazon Bet $4.4M on Animoto, a Startup With Roots at Bellevue High School”

Norwich Ventures Sticking to Early-Stage Medical Device Deals Amid Late-Stage Trend

On the landscape of medical devices investing, much of the venture capital herd is running for later-stage deals nowadays. Norwich Ventures, on the other hand, is holding tight to its strategy of investing in early-stage medical device companies and preferably creating startups from scratch. In fact, there are several other uncommon traits of the Waltham, … Continue reading “Norwich Ventures Sticking to Early-Stage Medical Device Deals Amid Late-Stage Trend”

5to1 Receives $4,500,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e0699050-cbe9-4373-b0fd-073b8353176e&Preview=1 Date 6/18/2009 Company Name 5to1 Mailing Address Undisclosed Seattle, WA 98100 Company Description Stealthy 5to1 may be involved in online advertising. Website Undisclosed Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $4,500,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. M&A Terms Venture Investor TechFlash

InSync Software Secures $4,700,000 Series B Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=55dd878e-812f-4b38-9a5c-8e9ef5fd5d0f&Preview=1 Date 6/18/2009 Company Name InSync Software Mailing Address 224 Airport Parkway San Jose, CA 95110 Company Description InSync Software is pioneering a new class of Sense and Respond applications at the edge of the enterprise that leverage the internet, RFID, and sensor based technology to enable the transparent supply chain. Website … Continue reading “InSync Software Secures $4,700,000 Series B Funding Round”

Bing Raises Microsoft Search Profile

Bing, Microsoft’s new search engine, is raising the position of the Redmond, WA-based company in the search engine market, according to a study released today by comScore, an Internet research firm based in Reston, VA, with an office in Seattle. The study showed that “daily searcher penetration” rose 0.9 percent this past week to 16.7 … Continue reading “Bing Raises Microsoft Search Profile”

XSITE Agenda Complete: Speakers and Organizations Come From All Corners of The New England Innovation Ecosystem

We are incredibly excited about XSITE 2009—The Xconomy Summit on Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship happening next Wednesday at Boston University—and we are especially pumped today because we have just filled the last open speaker slot for the event. The more than 50 organizations participating in the event, listed below in alphabetical order, come from all … Continue reading “XSITE Agenda Complete: Speakers and Organizations Come From All Corners of The New England Innovation Ecosystem”

Seattle Lunch 2.0

Seattle Lunch 2.0 is having their second anniversary lunch at Office Nomads.  According to the website: “Continuing the two year long Seattle Lunch 2.0 conversation, we are going to have a less technical topic with the same great entrepreneurs, developers, and tech community. Given we are hosting at a co-working space, we are going to … Continue reading “Seattle Lunch 2.0”

Optimum Energy Raises $4.5M, Eyes Expansion in Cleantech-IT for Commercial Buildings

Seattle cleantech company Optimum Energy has secured a commitment of up to $4.5 million in new equity funding, led by Columbia Pacific Advisors. The company has previously raised capital from private groups, and said it does not anticipate future funding rounds. Optimum Energy’s technology is being used by more than 50 large customers, including the … Continue reading “Optimum Energy Raises $4.5M, Eyes Expansion in Cleantech-IT for Commercial Buildings”

Amazon’s A9 Buys SnapTell

Amazon.com has purchased SnapTell, a mobile image matching startup, according to a release by SnapTell yesterday evening.  Amazon bought the company through its Palo Alto, CA-based subsidiary A9 for an undisclosed price.  A9, created by Amazon in 2003, runs advertisements on Amazon as well as providing a search engine and developing technology like OpenSearch.  SnapTell, … Continue reading “Amazon’s A9 Buys SnapTell”

Arena Lines Up $100 Million in Final Push for Obesity Drug

After reporting comprehensive findings from its major study of obesity drug lorcaserin 11 days ago, San Diego’s Arena Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ARNA]]) said today it has arranged $100 million in debt financing with Deerfield Management, a significant shareholder. That should provide the means for Arena to take the drug through the FDA drug review process. In … Continue reading “Arena Lines Up $100 Million in Final Push for Obesity Drug”

Sanofi-Aventis Donates 100 Million Flu Vaccine Doses to WHO at Seattle Summit

Sanofi-Aventis, the Paris-based drugmaker that produces 40 percent of the world’s flu vaccines, is announcing today that it will donate 100 million doses of flu vaccine to the World Health Organization to help poor countries deal with the swine flu pandemic. The announcement is being made this morning in Seattle at the Pacific Health Summit, … Continue reading “Sanofi-Aventis Donates 100 Million Flu Vaccine Doses to WHO at Seattle Summit”

EnerNOC Gains EQuilibrium

Boston-based EnerNOC (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ENOC]]), which manages demand-response programs to moderate electrical demand for large utilities, said today that it has acquired privately held energy management software company eQuilibrium Solutions. The Boston firm’s software helps businesses monitor and minimize their carbon footprints, and will be incorporated into EnerNOC’s PowerTrak software platform, helping clients meeting existing and … Continue reading “EnerNOC Gains EQuilibrium”

Inside a Life Sciences Industry Confab: Notes from Convergence

It didn’t bother me that my attendee badge was missing from the registration booth when I arrived at Convergence: The Life Sciences Leaders Forum in Newport, RI, last week. I suspect it was stolen by the same conference gremlins who bilked my badge at the NVCA annual meeting this spring, the 2007 BIO meeting in … Continue reading “Inside a Life Sciences Industry Confab: Notes from Convergence”

Lpath, a Developer of Lipid-Targeting Drugs, Nears a Fork in the Road

Is San Diego’s Lpath (OTC: [[ticker:LPTN]]) on the right path? The answer will emerge over the next several weeks as the biotechnology company wraps up a key clinical test of its experimental cancer drug. A successful outcome will position the cash-starved company to receive $39 million from development partner Merck Serono of Switzerland, enabling Lpath … Continue reading “Lpath, a Developer of Lipid-Targeting Drugs, Nears a Fork in the Road”

Johnson & Johnson, TB Alliance Form Partnership to Push New TB Drug Through Clinic

Johnson & Johnson, the diversified healthcare giant, is forming a partnership with the nonprofit TB Alliance to share expertise and resources needed to finish clinical trials aimed at developing the first new drug for tuberculosis in more than 40 years. The announcement from J&J (NYSE : [[ticker:JNJ]]) is being made this morning in Seattle at … Continue reading “Johnson & Johnson, TB Alliance Form Partnership to Push New TB Drug Through Clinic”

Dollars Not the Only Way to do Business, Especially in a Recession

In 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt outlawed the hoarding of gold, ending its use as the basis of U.S. currency. Since then, the American (and the rest of the world) economy has relied on paper currency based on trust in a particular government and a currency’s value relative to other monetary systems around the world. Sometimes … Continue reading “Dollars Not the Only Way to do Business, Especially in a Recession”

Merck and Roche Back Adimab, Viral Contamination Closes Genzyme Plant, Interlace Ties on $20.5M, & More Boston-Area Life Sciences News

Three big pharmaceutical firms partnered with two New England life sciences companies this past week, and one ended a partnership. —Ryan learned that some 60 of the 240 people who were employed by Lexington, MA-based Indevus Pharmaceuticals when it was acquired for $370 million by Endo Pharmaceuticals in March will be laid off. Chadds Ford, … Continue reading “Merck and Roche Back Adimab, Viral Contamination Closes Genzyme Plant, Interlace Ties on $20.5M, & More Boston-Area Life Sciences News”

San Diego’s Wireless Industry Establishes Startup Incubator

At a time when communications startups are about as rare in San Diego as a newborn Panda at the zoo, the local wireless industry is delivering a nursery. CommNexus, the San Diego communications industry group, and San Diego-based Leap Wireless (NASDAQ: [[ticker:LEAP]]) are establishing a non-profit business incubator here to nurture startups developing communications technologies. CommNexus … Continue reading “San Diego’s Wireless Industry Establishes Startup Incubator”

CombiMatrix Reinvents Itself From Lab Toolmaker to Cancer Diagnostics Player

CombiMatrix tried for years to sell sophisticated genetic analysis instruments to laboratories, and essentially got overrun by big competitors like Santa Clara, CA-based Affymetrix and San Diego-based Illumina. But the little Mukilteo, WA-based company is still around, and hoping to flank the big boys in an emerging market that could be more lucrative—diagnostics for earlier … Continue reading “CombiMatrix Reinvents Itself From Lab Toolmaker to Cancer Diagnostics Player”

Zino Marketplace: Consumer Products & Services

The Zino Society, a Seattle-based angel investment network, is hosting the inaugural Zino Marketplace: Consumer Products and Services Investment Forum on June 24. This event will bring together thought leaders, angel investors, VCs and entrepreneurs who are committed to innovation and the advancement of consumer products and services. Zino Marketplace will feature 12 entrepreneurial companies … Continue reading “Zino Marketplace: Consumer Products & Services”

And the Winner Is…New England Innovation, at the MITX Technology Awards

The Massachusetts Innovation and Technology Exchange, an organization of 7,500 New England professionals in the Internet and digital marketing and advertising fields, handed out its yearly Technology Awards for the sixth time last night. Meant to celebrate the local companies who are bringing the most innovative technologies to bear on real business problems, the awards … Continue reading “And the Winner Is…New England Innovation, at the MITX Technology Awards”

Optimum Energy LLC Obtains $4,500,000 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c49babed-59f7-43d5-91b7-9ba0d6d1249a&Preview=1 Date 6/17/2009 Company Name Optimum Energy LLC Mailing Address 5900 4th Avenue South Seattle, WA 98108 Company Description Optimum Energy develops networked building control applications and products to reduce energy consumption in commercial buildings. Our groundbreaking integrated solutions reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gases while increasing operating efficiencies in HVAC plants … Continue reading “Optimum Energy LLC Obtains $4,500,000 New Financing Round”

Doyenz Raises $1.5M in Cash

[Updated June 17th with more details about financing] Doyenz, a Bellevue, WA-based company whose cloud-based software allows IT consultants to set up and manage virtual IT infrastructures for their small-to-medium-sized business clients, has raised $1.5 million in new cash, according to a regulatory filing today. In connection with the financing, $2.8 million worth of debt … Continue reading “Doyenz Raises $1.5M in Cash”

Beaumaris Networks Raises $5.3M

According to regulatory documents filed today, Waltham, MA-based Charles River Ventures has handed over $5.3 million out of a planned $6.8 million Series A venture round for Beaumaris Networks. The documents, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, list the Waltham-based stealth-mode startup as a telecommunications company. The company’s president and CEO, Conrad Clemson, is … Continue reading “Beaumaris Networks Raises $5.3M”

Zoodango Relaunches as GeoPage

Seattle-based Zoodango, a social site that combines map-based navigation and ratings of local businesses, relaunched nationwide today as GeoPage, according to a company announcement. The retooled site features new data on businesses around the U.S., resulting from a partnership with Citysearch. GeoPage uses an algorithm based on Citysearch and Yelp reviews, Zagat ratings, user reviews, … Continue reading “Zoodango Relaunches as GeoPage”

Microsoft Accuses Firm of Ad Scam

Microsoft said yesterday in a press release it has filed a civil complaint against three Vancouver, B.C. residents, alleging that they had manipulated the company’s pay-per-click advertising system.  According to the complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle, Eric Lam, Gordon Lam and Melanie Suen arranged for automatic repeated clicking on Internet ads for … Continue reading “Microsoft Accuses Firm of Ad Scam”

Understanding D&O Insurance and Indemnification Agreements

The Capital Network hosts a lunch talk led by New England insurance group Mason and Mason, aimed at officers and directors of companies. TCN COO Michelle Hipwood writes: “It is critical that company officers and directors pay close attention to what D&O insurance and indemnification agreements are in place for their protection. At this session, … Continue reading “Understanding D&O Insurance and Indemnification Agreements”

Understanding the Dilution Impact of Early Stage Investment

The Capital Network is sponsoring this lunch talk, which COO Michelle Hipwood writes will “help you build your own capitalization table in a simple but powerful spreadsheet format and will then explain, in detail, how to use this tool to understand the dilutive impact of stock options, restricted stock, early stage angel or venture capital … Continue reading “Understanding the Dilution Impact of Early Stage Investment”

Specialized Capabilities Put San Diego on the Geospatial Map

Yash Talreja says most people don’t know that cell phones were around for 30 years before they became affordable, useful, and prevalent devices for ordinary consumers. Now he says the same thing is happening with geographic information systems, or GIS. “For 30 years, it was a very specialized area,” Talreja says. “It was used by … Continue reading “Specialized Capabilities Put San Diego on the Geospatial Map”

DDUP Rejects EMC, Suit Filed

The board of directors at Santa Clara, CA-based Data Domain (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DDUP]]) yesterday recommended that shareholders reject a $1.8 billion, $30-per-share cash tender offer from Hopkinton, MA-based EMC (NYSE: [[ticker:EMC]]). The board of the data deduplication software company stuck to its earlier decision to pursue a merger with Sunnyvale, CA-based NetApp (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NTAP]]), which is … Continue reading “DDUP Rejects EMC, Suit Filed”

E Ink Investors May Try to Block Sale to Taiwanese Firm, Keep Company Independent

A group of E Ink investors with concerns about Prime View International’s move earlier this month to purchase the Cambridge, MA-based e-paper display company will likely try to prevent the sale when it comes up for a shareholder vote, according to a source familiar with the company. E Ink has roughly 100 separate shareholders; it’s … Continue reading “E Ink Investors May Try to Block Sale to Taiwanese Firm, Keep Company Independent”

Mass High Tech Goes Biweekly

New England technology and business newspaper Mass High Tech is moving from a weekly to a biweekly print publishing schedule effective in September, publisher Michael Olivieri said yesterday. The Boston Globe reported that MHT laid off four employees in the restructuring, which will see the paper shift from 24 pages a week to 32 pages … Continue reading “Mass High Tech Goes Biweekly”

Genzyme Halts Production at Allston Drug Plant After Virus Appears

[Updated: 12:45 pm Eastern] Bad news out of Genzyme this morning. The Cambridge, MA-based biotech company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GENZ]]), the world’s largest maker of treatments for rare genetic diseases, said today it is shutting down production at one of its major drug manufacturing plants in Allston, MA after it found a virus that impairs cell growth. … Continue reading “Genzyme Halts Production at Allston Drug Plant After Virus Appears”

LogMeIn Hopes to Raise Up to $80 Million in IPO

LogMeIn, the Woburn, MA-based startup that makes software for controlling PCs and other devices remotely, today filed updated registration documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission revealing how much stock it hopes to sell in its planned initial public offering, and at what price. The company plans to offer 5 million shares of common stock … Continue reading “LogMeIn Hopes to Raise Up to $80 Million in IPO”

The DivX Story: From Downloading ‘The Matrix’ to Watching it on All Three Screens

DivX is a codec that packs large video files into a smaller size. It’s also the San Diego company that has commercialized the technology. CEO Kevin Hell talks of DivX moving towards “any online content on any device” as the next step in the evolution of consumer media, and “video freedom”, which means you will … Continue reading “The DivX Story: From Downloading ‘The Matrix’ to Watching it on All Three Screens”

Adimab Strikes Antibody-Discovery Deals with Merck and Roche

Tillman Gerngross is wont to say that the antibody-drug discovery technology his biotech startup, Adimab, is developing is a game-changer. Now it looks like two of the largest drug companies in the world might agree—Lebanon, NH-based Adimab plans to announce today that Merck & Co. and Roche have signed on as its first research collaborators. … Continue reading “Adimab Strikes Antibody-Discovery Deals with Merck and Roche”

Seattle’s Pacific Health Summit, the “Davos” of Global Health, Zeroes in on Tuberculosis

Movers and shakers in global health—including a lot of people not named Bill & Melinda—will be buzzing around the Seattle waterfront this week for what some people like to call the “Davos” of global health. Like the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland—another picturesque setting with mountains and water nearby—the Pacific Health Summit is an … Continue reading “Seattle’s Pacific Health Summit, the “Davos” of Global Health, Zeroes in on Tuberculosis”

WiTricity Charges Up For Electric Vehicle Market

Imagine that after a long day on the road, you drive your new electric car into your garage, the battery almost drained. But you don’t worry about running a cord to the charging station and plugging into your vehicle—the garage takes care of recharging for you, without you doing a thing. When you leave for … Continue reading “WiTricity Charges Up For Electric Vehicle Market”

Xconomy Seattle Celebrates First Anniversary Digging up News on Innovation in the Northwest

We move fast around here at Xconomy Seattle, so there isn’t much time to look back or celebrate. Today we’re making an exception. It’s been exactly one year since we took a deep breath, pushed the button, and published the first edition of Xconomy Seattle. There’s truly never been a dull moment since we fired … Continue reading “Xconomy Seattle Celebrates First Anniversary Digging up News on Innovation in the Northwest”

Talyst Raises $8M, MDRNA Sells Stock for $10.5M, Sonosite Buys CardioDynamics & More Seattle-Area Deals News

Deals this week involved companies working in everything from pharmaceuticals and cleantech, to search engines and mobile software.  Most of these deals were small, even those made by bigger companies. —Bellevue, Wa-based Talyst clinched $8 million in funding from investors last month, but the details were only revealed last week.  Talyst, which develops medication management … Continue reading “Talyst Raises $8M, MDRNA Sells Stock for $10.5M, Sonosite Buys CardioDynamics & More Seattle-Area Deals News”

Boston Venture Firms Dominate New Mentoring Program for New York Startups

If you want to build a program to nurture early-stage startups in New York City through regular meetings with investors, legal and financial advisors, and experienced CEOs, where do you turn for mentors and sponsors? To Boston, naturally. Of the 11 founding members of the new First Growth Venture Network, five—Battery Ventures, Charles River Ventures, … Continue reading “Boston Venture Firms Dominate New Mentoring Program for New York Startups”

Beaumaris Networks Inc Obtains $5,300,000 Series A Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=20213550-9afd-4253-acb7-b21f9145b9da&Preview=1 Date 6/16/2009 Company Name Beaumaris Networks Inc Mailing Address 1000 Winter Street Waltham, MA 02451 Company Description Beaumaris Networks Inc is a Waltham MA as a telecommunications company. Website http://www.bninet.tv Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $5,300,000 Transaction Round Series A Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. M&A Terms Venture … Continue reading “Beaumaris Networks Inc Obtains $5,300,000 Series A Funding”

Doyenz Lands $1,500,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=fcc45a57-95af-48d0-8aae-6df26d9716ca&Preview=1 Date 6/16/2009 Company Name Doyenz Mailing Address 15395 SE 30th Place Bellevue, WA 98007 Company Description Doyenz is the first to deliver Automated Virtual IT Out-of-the-box, a ground-breaking end-to-end virtual appliance lifecycle management solution, for the SMB market. Automated Virtual IT empowers VARs and IT consultants to deliver high quality and … Continue reading “Doyenz Lands $1,500,000 New Financing”

BOKU Receives $13,000,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d392b567-a548-4d0c-8543-099eb59a50b9&Preview=1 Date 6/16/2009 Company Name BOKU Mailing Address P O Box 190725 San Francisco, CA 94119 Company Description BOKU is creating the standard for online payments using your mobile phone, making it easy to pay for digital goods and social experiences across the web. With a strong focus on reliability and security, … Continue reading “BOKU Receives $13,000,000 New Funding”

Armorize Technologies Garners Series B Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=00d526a0-6334-4dd8-b8ab-5d03b7537758&Preview=1 Date 6/16/2009 Company Name Armorize Technologies Mailing Address 5201 Great America Parkway Santa Clara, CA 95054 Company Description Armorize Technologies delivers end-to-end security solutions safeguarding enterprises from hackers seeking to exploit vulnerable Web applications. The Armorize Appsec Suite builds on the WAVES and WebSSARI projects which garnered best paper nominations at … Continue reading “Armorize Technologies Garners Series B Financing Round”