The B word (billion) cropped up in not one but two deals in this week’s New England tech and life sciences news. —Cambridge, MA-based E Ink agreed to be acquired for $215 million by Taiwan-based display manufacturer Prime View International. The Taiwanese firm was already a partner of E Ink’s on the manufacture of its … Continue reading “E Ink Scooped up by Taiwanese Display Maker, EMC Battles NetApp For Data Domain, Polatis Picks Up $8M, & More Boston-Area Deals News”
Optimer Rides Investment See-Saw With Promising Drug for “C.diff” Infections
Biotech investing can sometimes be a downright confusing game, even for people who are supposed to know what they are talking about. Ask the folks at San Diego-based Optimer Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:OPTR]]). Optimer has been one of a few bright spots in biotech over the past year. Back in November, its lead drug candidate, an … Continue reading “Optimer Rides Investment See-Saw With Promising Drug for “C.diff” Infections”
Are You a Victim of On Demand Disorder?
If this column has a repeating theme, it’s the amazing new capabilities we’re all gaining as a result of the digital media explosion. Yet like all revolutions, this one is destroying old values, attitudes, and behaviors even as it creates new ones. I would never trade the Web, mobile computing, and the instant access to … Continue reading “Are You a Victim of On Demand Disorder?”
Transcend Medical Garners $35,000,000 Series B Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2578fbc2-62e3-43a9-a0c8-4287d5d75e87&Preview=1 Date 6/5/2009 Company Name Transcend Medical Mailing Address 191 Jefferson Drive Menlo Park, CA 94025 Company Description Transcend Medical, Inc.™ is focused on the research and development of novel devices for the treatment of glaucoma, the leading cause of adult irreversible blindness. Over two million people in the U.S. alone are … Continue reading “Transcend Medical Garners $35,000,000 Series B Round”
E&Y Names Local Entrepreneurs of the Year
Ernst & Young has named Quake Global CEO Polina Braunstein as its San Diego regional High Technology Entrepreneur of the year. Quake Global makes palm-sized satellite transponders for tracking purposes. Ernst &Young issued awards to San Diego entrepreneurs in seven other categories for 2009: Master Entrepreneur, CEO Les Cross of DJO Inc.; Emerging Entrepreneur, CEO … Continue reading “E&Y Names Local Entrepreneurs of the Year”
Eric Rosenfeld of Capybara Ventures on the Portland Technology and Innovation Scene
Any venture firm named after a rodent, especially the world’s biggest rodent (100 pounds), is OK in my book. But I did have to ask co-founder Eric Rosenfeld where the name Capybara Ventures comes from. Rosenfeld explained that the capybara is a “majestic, noble, inspiring rodent.” It’s also a “category leader,” he added, and “spends … Continue reading “Eric Rosenfeld of Capybara Ventures on the Portland Technology and Innovation Scene”
Three Local Biotechs Raising Cash
Three San Diego-based biopharmaceutical startups have been raising capital, according to recent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). —Valor Medical, which was founded in 2007, has raised $3.1 million of an $8 million offering, according to a recent SEC filing. CEO H. Clark Adams says this is a partial close of a Series … Continue reading “Three Local Biotechs Raising Cash”
Noble Environmental Power Pulls IPO
Noble Environmental Power, an Essex, CT-based wind energy company, has withdrawn its planned for an IPO. The offering, initially filed in May 2008, was to include some 23.4 million shares worth up to $375 million. In its filing today, Noble said withdrawing the offering “is consistent with the public interest and protection of investors.” The … Continue reading “Noble Environmental Power Pulls IPO”
Exclusive: Icahn’s Picks For Biogen Idec Board on Why They Think They Won 2 Seats, Who’s Likely Out, and Plans for the Future
(Updated with Biogen Idec announcement of preliminary results, 3:18 pm, June 4—see below) When last we left the cliffhanger that was yesterday’s Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]) annual meeting: the forces of billionaire investor Carl Icahn claimed they had won two of four director seats up for election. The New York Times was reporting Icahn had … Continue reading “Exclusive: Icahn’s Picks For Biogen Idec Board on Why They Think They Won 2 Seats, Who’s Likely Out, and Plans for the Future”
Anadys Pharma Cuts 40% of Workforce and Raises $17.5M to Stay Afloat
[[Correction appended]] San Diego-based Anadys Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:[[ticker:ANDS]]) is revealing moves this morning to improve its balance sheet. The firm will reduce its workforce by 40 percent and suspend development of its second drug candidate for cancer and hepatitis C, to instead focus its remaining resources on advancing its lead drug candidate for hepatitis C virus. … Continue reading “Anadys Pharma Cuts 40% of Workforce and Raises $17.5M to Stay Afloat”
Hangout Adds $4M to Series A Round
Boston-based Hangout Industries, which runs the teen social virtual world Hangout.net, has extended its Series A financing round by $4 million, CEO Pano Anthos confirmed today after documents on the financing surfaced online yesterday. Highland Capital Partners and Polaris Venture Partners put up the funds, which bring the company’s total financing to $10 million, including … Continue reading “Hangout Adds $4M to Series A Round”
Green Innovation for Business Unconference
The Environmental Defense Fund and Ashoka sponsor an “unconference” for professionals who want to help their companies adopt environmentally sustainable practices. From the event registration site: “Are you driving environmental innovation within your company? * Do you have ideas for operating more efficiently? * Are you exploring “greener” products or services? * Are you looking … Continue reading “Green Innovation for Business Unconference”
AVI Gets $3M For Muscular Dystrophy
AVI Biopharma (NASDAQ:[[ticker:AVII]]), the Portland, OR-based developer of RNA-based therapies, said today it will receive another $3 million from Charley’s Fund to further develop an experimental drug for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. AVI’s contract with the foundation is now worth a total of $5 million to develop AVI-5038, with a goal of taking the drug into … Continue reading “AVI Gets $3M For Muscular Dystrophy”
Craig Venter Has Algae Biofuel in Synthetic Genomics’ Pipeline
When renowned genome scientist J. Craig Venter spoke at San Diego’s Connect’s Innovation Summit two months ago, he focused mostly on creating genetically engineered microbes that consume coal to produce natural gas. But a review of Venter’s recent presentations and other information suggests that Synthetic Genomics, the San Diego startup he co-founded, also has a major biofuels initiative underway, … Continue reading “Craig Venter Has Algae Biofuel in Synthetic Genomics’ Pipeline”
Amylin Dissidents Win Board Seats, Targeted Genetics’ Troubles Raise Gene Therapy Concerns, Celladon Eyes Partnership, & More San Diego Life Sciences News
The big news in the San Diego biotech community this week came from the boardroom instead of the laboratory. Dissident shareholder factions elected representatives to the boards of both San Diego-based Amylin Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMLN]])and Biogen Idec, the Cambridge, MA, biotech that has a significant local presence. —Amylin’s founding CEO Howard “Ted” Greene, who also is … Continue reading “Amylin Dissidents Win Board Seats, Targeted Genetics’ Troubles Raise Gene Therapy Concerns, Celladon Eyes Partnership, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”
No Cash or Credit? Try Dibits, an Alternative Currency
There’s a place on the Internet where you can arrange for an hour-long massage, a ride to the airport, and a tour of the haunted parts of Seattle, all without spending a dollar. Dibspace, a relatively new Seattle startup, makes this possible by creating its own currency, the “dibit,” by which people can barter goods … Continue reading “No Cash or Credit? Try Dibits, an Alternative Currency”
Life Image Captures $2.5M Series A, Working with EMC for Digital Medical Image Service
Life Image was launched in January 2008 with core software developed at Boston’s Massachusetts General Hospital. Now the Newton, MA-based startup is charging ahead with cash from a $2.5 million Series A round of equity financing closed quietly in April, aiming to close gaps in the way digital medical images are shared and stored, company … Continue reading “Life Image Captures $2.5M Series A, Working with EMC for Digital Medical Image Service”
Cell Therapeutics Shares Boom, Vulcan’s Breast Cancer Bombshell, Microsoft Buys Rosetta Assets, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News
Most of Seattle’s biotech news this week came out of Orlando, FL, where local companies vied for the attention of 30,000 cancer specialists at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting. The best clinical trial data I saw didn’t actually come from a Seattle-based company—but it had a strong local tie to Paul Allen’s … Continue reading “Cell Therapeutics Shares Boom, Vulcan’s Breast Cancer Bombshell, Microsoft Buys Rosetta Assets, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News”
American Well’s UnitedHealth Coup: Perspective from CEO Roy Schoenberg
Boston-based American Well, in a one-two punch of advances announced this week, has added substance to its dream of giving consumers with health problems a way to consult with doctors over the Web and avoid more costly office visits. On Tuesday, the company said it was upgrading its Web-based “Online Care” platform to provide doctors … Continue reading “American Well’s UnitedHealth Coup: Perspective from CEO Roy Schoenberg”
XCast Labs, Inc Obtains $2,700,000 Series A Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=228eb82b-39b1-45b0-b191-0869e722e6b4&Preview=1 Date 6/4/2009 Company Name XCast Labs, Inc Mailing Address 1999 Avenue of the Stars Los Angeles, CA 90067 Company Description XCast Labs is an advanced SaaS (Software as a Service) provider that has developed a comprehensive suite of software and hardware solutions that enable Cable MSOs / PCOs, CLECs, RLECs, ISPs, … Continue reading “XCast Labs, Inc Obtains $2,700,000 Series A Funding Round”
Hangout Industries Receives $4,000,000 Series A Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c6f5e48c-cae8-4ba2-80c6-6473b0547bba&Preview=1 Date 6/4/2009 Company Name Hangout Industries Mailing Address 110 Chauncy Street Boston, MA 02111 Company Description Get A Room Now you can customize your own room, fully interact with friends and your favorite brands, and share media experiences in an immersive 3D environment. Hangout helps My Space become My Place and … Continue reading “Hangout Industries Receives $4,000,000 Series A Round”
Life Image, Inc Secures $2,500,000 Series A Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7102ce42-93ad-42e4-b174-da4bb3cfc683&Preview=1 Date 6/4/2009 Company Name Life Image, Inc Mailing Address One Gateway Center Newton, MA 02458 Company Description Life Image, Inc. is a venture-backed startup company developing Web-based applications and services that help eliminate the problems associated with lack of access to patients’ medical-imaging history.The founders of the company are veterans of … Continue reading “Life Image, Inc Secures $2,500,000 Series A Financing Round”
Mimosa Systems Obtains $3,000,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b65080e7-4afd-406a-82e7-76f051739488&Preview=1 Date 6/4/2009 Company Name Mimosa Systems Mailing Address 3200 Coronado Drive Santa Clara, CA 95054 Company Description Mimosa Systems provides information immediacy, discovery and continuity for the new generation of critical enterprise information. Website http://www.mimosasystems.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $3,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not … Continue reading “Mimosa Systems Obtains $3,000,000 New Funding Round”
Skyhook Evangelist Joins Twitter
Ryan Sarver, the former director of consumer products and company evangelist at Boston’s Skyhook Wireless, has been hired by San Francisco-based Twitter, according to a piece yesterday in Silicon Alley Insider. Skyhook sells a software and database system that allows Wi-Fi and hybrid Wi-Fi/GPS devices to determine their locations; Sarver’s move is seen as a … Continue reading “Skyhook Evangelist Joins Twitter”
Prepared Response Prepared to Grow With Latest $6.3M Financing
Prepared Response, a Seattle-based crisis management and emergency preparedness company, has raised $6.3 million out of an $8.7 million equity offering, according to a regulatory filing today. Most of the money came from angel investors with the rest by Benaroya Capital. The money will be used to develop the company’s software products, as well as … Continue reading “Prepared Response Prepared to Grow With Latest $6.3M Financing”
Founder Collective Raises $30M
[[Updated: See editor’s note below.]] Founder Collective, a new seed-stage venture fund in Somerville, MA, has received total investments and commitments of $30 million from limited partner investors, Eric Paley, a general partner of the firm, told Xconomy in an e-mail. Yesterday the firm filed papers with the SEC that show that it has raised … Continue reading “Founder Collective Raises $30M”
Terrafugia Completes First Stage of Flight Testing, Releases New “Flying Car” Footage
Terrafugia, the Woburn, MA, startup whose project to commercialize a “roadable aircraft” has attracted a worldwide following, said today that it’s completed flight testing of its initial proof-of-concept vehicle and is ready to build a second, “beta” aircraft. The company also released extensive new video footage from test flights of the proof-of-concept plane by its … Continue reading “Terrafugia Completes First Stage of Flight Testing, Releases New “Flying Car” Footage”
Future of Cloud Computing: Data Centers, Outsourcing, and the Power of Cultures
Over the last couple of years, we have been witnessing a resurgence of the “Internet as the new computing platform” idea. I say resurgence because that was the premise of the late 90’s “Internet Bubble.” Given that history, it would be a mistake to use the same term, of course. Instead, we’ve coined a new … Continue reading “Future of Cloud Computing: Data Centers, Outsourcing, and the Power of Cultures”
Icahn Nominees Claim Victory on Two of Four Open Seats to Biogen Idec Board, Vote Still Not Official
[Update, 3:05 pm Eastern] Billionaire investor Carl Icahn’s representatives say they have pulled out a victory in their proxy contest with Biogen Idec, winning two of the four seats that were up for grabs in a shareholder election. The official results weren’t yet announced, as the company adjourned the annual shareholder meeting without declaring who … Continue reading “Icahn Nominees Claim Victory on Two of Four Open Seats to Biogen Idec Board, Vote Still Not Official”
NetApp Outbids EMC for DDUP
Data Domain (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DDUP]]) shareholders must be flying high this week. Today Sunnyvale, CA-based storage company NetApp (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NTAP]]) announced that it has increased its bid for Santa Clara, CA-based deduplication software provider Data Domain to some $1.9 billion in an effort to fend off EMC’s (NYSE: [[ticker:EMC]]) $1.8 billion offer, tendered Monday night. NetApp … Continue reading “NetApp Outbids EMC for DDUP”
Inside the Biogen Idec Shareholder Meeting, Tensions Flare as Icahn Accuses Company of “Hijacking” Vote
[Updated with Bloomberg comment at 12:55 pm Eastern] Tensions at the Biogen Idec annual shareholders meeting are palpable. Representatives from billionaire investor Carl Icahn have twice called for the polls to be closed—once before CEO James Mullen gave a speech, and a second time before an unscheduled recess was called at approximately 11 am. The … Continue reading “Inside the Biogen Idec Shareholder Meeting, Tensions Flare as Icahn Accuses Company of “Hijacking” Vote”
Seattle Passes Boston in High-Tech Center Ranking; San Diego at #7
Seattle, the Washington D.C. area, and Orange County have moved up in Milken Institute’s ranking of top high-tech center areas in North America. From 2003 to 2007, Seattle passed Boston and became America’s second-ranking high-tech metro area. San Diego is at seventh place. (These are Xconomy’s network cities.) The number one spot belongs to Silicon … Continue reading “Seattle Passes Boston in High-Tech Center Ranking; San Diego at #7”
Dry Storage Savings Detailed
San Diego’s Biomatrica, which has developed a dehydrating technique for storing biological samples at room temperature, released some cold, hard facts today about laboratory energy costs. Biomatrica says a major U.S. research university could cut its electricity usage by 40 million kilowatt-hours, reduce its carbon footprint by an estimated 18,000 metric tons, and save $16 million … Continue reading “Dry Storage Savings Detailed”
Contentious Biogen Idec Meeting Delayed; Icahn Nominee Objects, Saying “This is Not North Korea”
Shareholders of Cambridge, MA-based Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]) will have to wait a while to hear the outcome of the hotly contested board election. The company’s board called a recess during the annual meeting before results were announced on whether billionaire investor Carl Icahn was able to gain any seats on the company’s 13-member board. … Continue reading “Contentious Biogen Idec Meeting Delayed; Icahn Nominee Objects, Saying “This is Not North Korea””
Gates, Allen Gear Up for Xconomy Battle of the Tech Bands
Here at Xconomy, preparations are in full swing for our Battle of the Tech Bands, which is happening at the WTIA Summer Celebration on Thursday, July 30, at the Pyramid Alehouse in Seattle. If you or anyone you know plays in a band with at least one member from a Northwest tech, life sciences, or … Continue reading “Gates, Allen Gear Up for Xconomy Battle of the Tech Bands”
American Well Teams with Minnesota Firm to Offer Online Medical Consultations Directly to Consumers
It’s been almost a year since Boston-based American Well unveiled its online healthcare marketplace, a system designed to allow health plan members to connect with doctors or other medical providers live over the Web without having to visit an office or clinic. It’s an idea that could simplify healthcare access and reduce costs for both … Continue reading “American Well Teams with Minnesota Firm to Offer Online Medical Consultations Directly to Consumers”
Now, a Mac Version of Zinc Video Browser from ZeeVee
Boxee, the popular Internet video browser program for Macintosh computers, has some new competition. Today Littleton, MA-based ZeeVee is releasing the Mac version of its Zinc video browser, which gives owners of desktop or laptop computers an easy-to-use interface for locating and watching TV programming on the Internet. The free software, downloadable at www.zeevee.com/zinc, is … Continue reading “Now, a Mac Version of Zinc Video Browser from ZeeVee”
Experimental Gene Therapy for Blindness Will Proceed Even if Targeted Genetics Goes Dark
[Editors note: corrects times in previous version for third patient through maze ] Among the more impressive presentations at the annual meeting of the American Society for Gene Therapy in San Diego last week was this video provided by researchers at University College London. It shows a man with a form of hereditary blindness navigating a maze before and … Continue reading “Experimental Gene Therapy for Blindness Will Proceed Even if Targeted Genetics Goes Dark”
A Salute to Henry Jenkins: The End of an Era at MIT
The MIT Enterprise Forum of Cambridge hosts an salute to renowned MIT professor and media studies expert Henry Jenkins, who is leaving MIT this summer for a position at the University of Southern California. From the event description: “For more than 16 years, Henry Jenkins has graced the halls of MIT and shaped the New … Continue reading “A Salute to Henry Jenkins: The End of an Era at MIT”
GSK Cuts Deal with Concert to the Tune of a Potential $1B, Celldex Inks $94.5M CuraGen Acquisition, Aveo Touts Kidney Cancer Drug Data, & More Boston-Area Life Sciences News
Many of New England’s drug developers were down in Florida this week for the big annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Here’s what they had to report, as well as the news from the firms that didn’t make the trek south. —Ryan profiled the efforts of Alnara Pharmaceuticals to develop an enzyme-replacement … Continue reading “GSK Cuts Deal with Concert to the Tune of a Potential $1B, Celldex Inks $94.5M CuraGen Acquisition, Aveo Touts Kidney Cancer Drug Data, & More Boston-Area Life Sciences News”
Novocell Snaps Up Second Stem Cell Patent, New CEO Pursues “Next Big Field” of Biotech
San Diego-based Novocell has nailed down a second important patent on a valuable type of cell derived from human embryonic stem cells, which could end up forcing a lot of researchers to license technology from the company on Torrey Pines Mesa. The company is announcing today it has secured a U.S. patent that protects its … Continue reading “Novocell Snaps Up Second Stem Cell Patent, New CEO Pursues “Next Big Field” of Biotech”
Future of Xbox Looks Social and Spirited
Video game aficionados are notoriously hard to impress, but in its official press conference Monday at the E3 conference, Microsoft revealed two new developments that cracked the shell of some of even the most cynical gamers. —Xbox Live already allows users to play games with each other around the world, but soon they will be … Continue reading “Future of Xbox Looks Social and Spirited”
Biogen Idec Showdown with Carl Icahn Culminates in Shareholder Vote Today
Shareholders of Cambridge, MA-based Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]) will have their say today on whether or not they want billionaire investor Carl Icahn’s nominees to shake things up in the boardroom. The votes will be tallied at the company’s annual meeting being held at 9 am Eastern time today at the American Academy of Arts … Continue reading “Biogen Idec Showdown with Carl Icahn Culminates in Shareholder Vote Today”
Turning the iPhone Into a Universal Remote, ThinkFlood Shows Off New Gadget
The great thing about the Apple iPhone is that it’s a powerful miniature computer, with a screen that can be retasked to look like almost anything and do almost any job—it can switch in a moment from being a scientific calculator to simulating an airplane cockpit ti acting like the slide of a trombone. One … Continue reading “Turning the iPhone Into a Universal Remote, ThinkFlood Shows Off New Gadget”
Ring Revenue, Inc Garners $3,500,000 Series A Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=03082561-dd03-48bf-963c-9d61fb7eba68&Preview=1 Date 6/3/2009 Company Name Ring Revenue, Inc Mailing Address 125 E. De La Guerra St Santa Barbara, CA 93130 Company Description The Company was founded by proven marketing and technology leaders who share a passion for developing customer-driven solutions that result in a high volume of daily use. Website http://www.ringrevenue.com Transaction … Continue reading “Ring Revenue, Inc Garners $3,500,000 Series A Funding Round”
Xsigo Systems Obtains New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=03b6c910-b191-435b-bb38-16349eddbf17&Preview=1 Date 6/3/2009 Company Name Xsigo Systems Mailing Address 70 West Plumeria Drive San Jose, CA 95134 Company Description Xsigo Systems has developed a revolutionary new approach to server I/O: the Xsigo I/O Director. This hardware and software solution is optimized from the ground up to dramatically accelerate and simplify routine data … Continue reading “Xsigo Systems Obtains New Funding Round”
CTI Looks to Erase $119M Debt
Cell Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CTIC]]), the Seattle-based developer of cancer drugs, said today it is modifying an auction process in hopes to eliminate all of its $118.9 million in debt. The company announced plans to unload $89.2 million in debt last month through an auction process. But evidently, it hopes to capitalize on rising demand for … Continue reading “CTI Looks to Erase $119M Debt”
EnerG2 Snaps Up $2.5M
EnerG2, a Seattle-based company developing ultracapacitors to make it more efficient to store energy, has secured an additional $2.5 million in equity and options, according to a regulatory filing. The company raised an initial $8.5 million in October from Kirkland, WA-based OVP Venture Partners, and Palo Alto, CA-based Firelake Capital Management, a scoop first reported … Continue reading “EnerG2 Snaps Up $2.5M”
Amylin Founder Ted Greene, In Exclusive Interview, Upbeat About Outcome of Proxy Battle
San Diego-based Amylin Pharmaceuticals has witnessed an extraordinary struggle for control of its board of directors in which a key turning point came when founding CEO Howard “Ted” Greene publicly switched sides and urged shareholders to vote for the dissidents’ nominees. So what does Greene have to say about the results of the shareholder vote … Continue reading “Amylin Founder Ted Greene, In Exclusive Interview, Upbeat About Outcome of Proxy Battle”
Windows 7 to Debut October 22
Microsoft confirmed today that the next version of its operating system, Windows 7, will launch October 22. Rumors swirling since April hinted at an October release date, as opposed to the original release plan of January 2010, but nothing had been confirmed by the Redmond, WA, company until today. The last version of Windows, Vista, … Continue reading “Windows 7 to Debut October 22”