FreeWheel Obtains $12,000,000 Series C Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9b733d00-6f40-4d9d-be5a-142a233aacec&Preview=1 Date 4/30/2009 Company Name FreeWheel Mailing Address 20 E. Third Avenue San Mateo, CA 94401 Company Description FreeWheel is FreeWheel because of this incredible team we have assembled. Our team knows more about how ad management systems generate revenue than anyone.We’re on a mission to make online video advertising generate money … Continue reading “FreeWheel Obtains $12,000,000 Series C Financing Round”

IMshopping Secures $4,700,000 Series A Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=dc7e69d8-18e5-467a-9b08-36355bad31b7&Preview=1 Date 4/30/2009 Company Name IMshopping Mailing Address 4699 Old Ironsides Drive Santa Clara, CA 95054 Company Description Welcome to IMshopping – the first human-assisted shopping site! Our service is the digital equivalent of talking to a knowledgeable salesperson at a store. Our goal is to answer the one question: Which product … Continue reading “IMshopping Secures $4,700,000 Series A Funding”

Gen-Probe Amends Deal to Get Promising Test for Prostate Cancer

Resolving a long-standing dispute, San Diego’s Gen-Probe (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GPRO]]) agreed to invest $5 million in its Canadian partner and to begin clinical trials of its prostate cancer test later this year. The deal gives Gen-Probe a 10 percent stake in Toronto-based DiagnoCure and revises the timeline for developing the test, which had become a sticking … Continue reading “Gen-Probe Amends Deal to Get Promising Test for Prostate Cancer”

Sequenom Discloses Test Data Mishandled; Shares Plunge

Sequenom’s shares plunged nearly 70 percent in after-hours trading today after the San Diego biotech said it was postponing its launch of a Down syndrome test due to “mishandling” of R&D test data. The price of Sequenom (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SQNM]]) shares fell from $14.91 at the close to $4.69 at 7:36 p.m. ET. Sequenom had planned … Continue reading “Sequenom Discloses Test Data Mishandled; Shares Plunge”

ZymoGenetics Cuts One-Third of Workforce To Hold Onto Cash

ZymoGenetics, the largest independent biotech company in Washington, said today it is cutting one-third of its workforce to conserve cash. The Seattle biotech company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ZGEN]]) said today it is eliminating 161 jobs, or 32 percent, of its staff, which will leave it with about 350 employees. The company said it is cutting costs broadly … Continue reading “ZymoGenetics Cuts One-Third of Workforce To Hold Onto Cash”

Massachusetts’ $1B Life Sciences Plan Pumps $3.4M in Loans into Startups

At a time when early-stage investment dollars are hard to come by, the state of Massachusetts is giving several startups their first taste of the commonwealth’s plan to invest $1 billion in the life sciences industry over a 10-year period. The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, the agency in charge of implementing the $1 billion plan, … Continue reading “Massachusetts’ $1B Life Sciences Plan Pumps $3.4M in Loans into Startups”

Ebola Fighter AVI Biopharma Gears Up for Biodefense Contracts

AVI Biopharma has got Ebola virus on its mind. This horrifying bug from central Africa would only have to infect a few people in the U.S. to cause a real bioterror scare, because it’s so deadly and there’s no cure. The federal government would like to get an effective treatment stockpiled just in case a … Continue reading “Ebola Fighter AVI Biopharma Gears Up for Biodefense Contracts”

Annual VC Meeting Comes to Boston, Early Talk Centers on How to End the IPO Drought

Initial public offering activity among venture-backed companies has fallen off a cliff. That’s a top problem facing the venture capital industry right now, and, as can be imagined, the hot topic of discussion in the early hours today at the National Venture Capital Association’s (NVCA) Annual Meeting in Boston. The mood here at the Westin … Continue reading “Annual VC Meeting Comes to Boston, Early Talk Centers on How to End the IPO Drought”

UW Biz Contest Yields 16 Finalists

Yesterday’s judging round yielded 16 finalists in the UW Business Plan Competition, organized by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The advancing teams, who will compete for prizes on May 21, are: 3 Phase Energy Systems, AuraViz, Big Canvas, Ecowell, Energizing Solutions, Green Windows, HydroSense, MicroDose, Myyeyou, Nanocel, Nanofacture, Nova Theranostics, Olive Only, Shockmetrics, Sisalwood, … Continue reading “UW Biz Contest Yields 16 Finalists”

Urbanspoon Bought by IAC, Will Remain Independent Brand

It’s an acquisition that is truly surprising to no one, but now it’s official: Seattle-based Urbanspoon, the online restaurant guide, has been bought by New York-based IAC (NASDAQ GS: [[ticker:IACI]]) for an undisclosed amount. Urbanspoon will stay an independent brand based in Seattle, and will report to Jay Herratti, who heads up some of IAC’s … Continue reading “Urbanspoon Bought by IAC, Will Remain Independent Brand”

Clean Harbors Buys Eveready for $387M

In a major acquisition that expands its reach across North America, Norwell, MA-based waste management company Clean Harbors (NYSE: [[ticker:CLH]]) said today that it has agreed to acquire Edmonton, Alberta-based Eveready Inc. The Canadian firm provides maintenance, lodging, and exploration services to a range of companies in the oil and gas, chemicals, paper, manufacturing, and … Continue reading “Clean Harbors Buys Eveready for $387M”

$5M for Active Endpoints

Active Endpoints, a Waltham, MA, company that helps enterprises and developers automate business processes, announced today that it has added $5 million to its Series B financing round. Waltham’s North Bridge Venture Partners was the main investor.

340 Lose Jobs at Sony Electronics

Sony Electronics, which has been reorganizing its San Diego operations, disclosed that 340 employees are losing their jobs through a combination of early retirement and layoffs. Because more workers took early retirement than the Japanese company had expected, Sony executives told the San Diego Union-Tribune the company could have as many as 100 job openings at … Continue reading “340 Lose Jobs at Sony Electronics”

Great (Algae) Expectations, and San Diego’s Plans for Creating a Big Green Cluster

Expectations were high at UC San Diego yesterday as the city’s academic, business, and political leaders gathered to announce the formation of SD-CAB, the San Diego Center for Algae Biotechnology. Steve Kay, UCSD’s dean of biological sciences and SD-CAB’s founding director, told the audience the single point of the center was to position San Diego … Continue reading “Great (Algae) Expectations, and San Diego’s Plans for Creating a Big Green Cluster”

Isis, Alnylam to Collaborate on Single-Stranded RNA Drugs; Deal Could Add Up to $31 Million to Isis’ Coffers

Biotech stalwarts in two of Xconomy’s home regions, Isis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ISIS]]) of Carlsbad, CA, and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ALNY]]) of Cambridge, MA, said today that they’ve agreed to share techniques devised by Isis for using single-stranded RNA interference (ssRNAi) to silence genes in the body that cause disease. Under the agreement, Alnylam will owe … Continue reading “Isis, Alnylam to Collaborate on Single-Stranded RNA Drugs; Deal Could Add Up to $31 Million to Isis’ Coffers”

Sverica Raises $265M for PE Fund

Boston- and San Francisco-based Sverica International, a private equity fund that invests in service-oriented businesses and light manufacturing companies, said today it surpassed its $250 million target for its third fund, closing the fund at $265 million last November. The company said its current areas of investment interest include wind energy, enterprise software, and healthcare … Continue reading “Sverica Raises $265M for PE Fund”

Seattle Innovators, It’s Time to Rock: WTIA and Xconomy Team Up for Battle of the Tech Bands

The Seattle music scene is one of those cliches that people around the country always ask me about, along with the coffee and the weather. But I don’t mind, not one bit. From Jimi Hendrix to Nirvana and Pearl Jam, from the Presidents of the USA to Death Cab for Cutie and Fleet Foxes, the … Continue reading “Seattle Innovators, It’s Time to Rock: WTIA and Xconomy Team Up for Battle of the Tech Bands”

Stylefeeder’s Execs on How to Do A Lot with A Little—Part 2

Yesterday we published Part 1 of our interview with Philip Jacob, founder of Cambridge, MA-based StyleFeeder, and Shergul Arshad, the startup’s vice president of business development. The two men talked about the remarkable growth of the personalized shopping site, which has taken in $3.5 million in venture capital since 2007 and is already profitable. In … Continue reading “Stylefeeder’s Execs on How to Do A Lot with A Little—Part 2”

WTIA Summer Celebration Featuring the Xconomy Battle of the Tech Bands

Backstage Access to the Hottest Bands in the Technology Industry! Xconomy and the Washington Technology Industry Association are teaming up to put on a tech networking event that really rocks—Seattle’s first-ever Xconomy Battle of the Tech Bands, at WTIA’s Annual Summer Celebration. Musicians from the Seattle area’s most innovative companies will play their geeky hearts … Continue reading “WTIA Summer Celebration Featuring the Xconomy Battle of the Tech Bands”

GI Dynamics Adds Device to Gut Liner to Increase Weight Loss

GI Dynamics made a lot of noise late last year about the ability of its gut-lining device to help patients struggling with weight problems and Type 2 diabetes to drop pounds while reducing their blood sugar. The device, called the EndoBarrier, is a 2-foot-long flexible sleeve that is placed in the small intestine. Recently the … Continue reading “GI Dynamics Adds Device to Gut Liner to Increase Weight Loss”

Active Endpoints, Inc. Garners $5,000,000 Series B Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=238b67ac-23f4-4b23-b350-746dfa0c8ba5&Preview=1 Date 4/29/2009 Company Name Active Endpoints, Inc. Mailing Address 230 2nd Avenue, 2nd Floor Waltham, MA 02451 Company Description Active Endpoints is the leading developer of Visual Orchestration Systems. VOS empowers line of business project teams to create applications using services and industry standards, making their businesses more agile and effective. … Continue reading “Active Endpoints, Inc. Garners $5,000,000 Series B Financing Round”

Eucalyptus Systems Inc Obtains $5,500,000 Series A Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f6d38c09-4a95-40ba-bd7b-1b38554df02b&Preview=1 Date 4/29/2009 Company Name Eucalyptus Systems Inc Mailing Address 130 Castilian Drive Goleta, CA 93117 Company Description We started Eucalyptus as a research project in the Computer Science Department at the University of California, Santa Barbara. In the Fall of 2007, Rich Wolski (whose research group eventually designed and built Eucalyptus) … Continue reading “Eucalyptus Systems Inc Obtains $5,500,000 Series A Financing Round”

Workday Lands $75,000,000 Series E Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6acde4b1-f509-4d08-bfbe-137afe1c4be7&Preview=1 Date 4/29/2009 Company Name Workday Mailing Address 6230 Stoneridge Mall Road Pleasanton, CA 94588 Company Description Workday provides Enterprise Business Services, our enterprise business solutions for Human Capital Management, Revenue Management, Resource Management and Financial Management as an on-demand 24×7 service. Customers will pay as they go – making infrastructure and … Continue reading “Workday Lands $75,000,000 Series E Round”

Quantenna Communications Lands $13,850,000 Series C Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=614d9280-9174-4568-b461-4f98679cc00f&Preview=1 Date 4/29/2009 Company Name Quantenna Communications Mailing Address 3450 W Warren Ave Fremont, CA 94538 Company Description Quantenna Communications Inc., is a fabless semiconductor company creating disruptive next generation MIMO based wireless chips with game-changing size, power, and performance characteristics. Website http://www.quantenna.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $13,850,000 Transaction Round … Continue reading “Quantenna Communications Lands $13,850,000 Series C Financing Round”

Prize Capital Moves Closer to Creating $10 Million Algae Fuel Prize

Fourteen years after Peter Diamandis proposed the idea of creating the X Prize to spur development of low-cost spaceflight, San Diego-based Prize Capital said today it has entered the final phase of creating a $10 million prize to encourage advances in algae biofuels technologies. As part of the final planning process, Prize Capital founder and … Continue reading “Prize Capital Moves Closer to Creating $10 Million Algae Fuel Prize”

No Devil in Details: Dendreon Data Stands Up to Scrutiny from Doctors, Investors

Suspense has been building for two weeks about just how good Dendreon’s big clinical trial results were going to be, and when the results finally came out today, fans of the company had nothing to be disappointed about. Earlier in the day, we reported what readers needed to remember about the context of this trial, … Continue reading “No Devil in Details: Dendreon Data Stands Up to Scrutiny from Doctors, Investors”

Tysabri May Promote Healing Around Nerves, Study Says

Cambridge, MA-based Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]) and its partner, Elan, catch a lot of heat because their fastest-growing drug for multiple sclerosis is associated with a rare, potentially fatal brain infection called PML. But today they are pushing back a bit with a study that suggests the drug may provide an important benefit to balance … Continue reading “Tysabri May Promote Healing Around Nerves, Study Says”

Carlsbad Device Helped Detect Swine Flu

Health officials say it’s crucial to uncover a flu outbreak early, and stories on Science magazine’s ScienceInsider blog and in the San Diego Union-Tribune reveal how technology developed in the San Diego area helped local officials do just that during the current swine flu outbreak. The Ibis T5000 biosensor system, which allows rapid identification and … Continue reading “Carlsbad Device Helped Detect Swine Flu”

Life Technologies, Geospiza Form Cloud Computing Deal for Scientists to Dig Into Genome

Genome sequencing instruments have gotten so much faster and cheaper over the years that they have created a new problem for scientists—digging through mountains of data on DNA, and maintaining these stores of data. So today, Carlsbad, CA-based Life Technologies and its Applied Biosystems division have formed a partnership with Seattle-based Geospiza to help researchers … Continue reading “Life Technologies, Geospiza Form Cloud Computing Deal for Scientists to Dig Into Genome”

Lilly CEO Has No Plans to Buy Amylin

Eli Lilly’s CEO told reporters in Los Angeles the Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical giant has no plans to acquire San Diego’s Amylin Pharmaceuticals—a sentiment that seems contrary to what dissident shareholders want. Billionaire investor Carl Icahn and Eastbourne Capital Management, which together hold more than 20 percent of Amylin shares, have been waging a proxy battle to … Continue reading “Lilly CEO Has No Plans to Buy Amylin”

Dendreon Immune-Booster for Prostate Cancer Extends Survival 4.1 Months

[[Updated with analyst comment 2:25 pm Eastern]] Dendreon’s immune-stimulating therapy for prostate cancer, called Provenge, was able to improve median survival time by 4.1 months, and lowered the risk of death by 22.5 percent, according to long-awaited clinical trial results presented today. Side effects were consistent with previous trials, involving fever and chills that lasted … Continue reading “Dendreon Immune-Booster for Prostate Cancer Extends Survival 4.1 Months”

Kiva’s Robots Serve Smaller Companies at Andover’s Quiet Logistics

Visiting a warehouse equipped with Kiva Systems‘ robotic fulfillment technology is a spooky experience: the little orange robots scoot about in busy silence, toting shelves full of products to human pickers who move the right products into boxes for shipping. There are no grinding, beeping forklifts, and not even much conversation, since there are so … Continue reading “Kiva’s Robots Serve Smaller Companies at Andover’s Quiet Logistics”

Vigilos Raises $1.4M from NWVA

Seattle-based Vigilos, a security software firm, announced today it has closed $1.4 million in equity capital, led by Northwest Venture Associates, and is in the process of raising an additional $300,000. Vigilos makes software that helps organizations like the FBI, U.S. Navy, and Washington State Department of Transportation remotely monitor sites. The technology is also … Continue reading “Vigilos Raises $1.4M from NWVA”

NewPath Picks Up $30M, Asemblon Raises $2.9M, Amazon Buys Lexcycle, & More Seattle-Area Deals News

It was another busy week for deals in the Northwest, with lots of action in cloud computing software, mobile, and healthcare. Xconomy even got into the act, inking a partnership with The Seattle Times (see below). —Amazon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]) acquired Lexcycle, an e-book startup based in Portland, OR, and Austin, TX. No financial terms were … Continue reading “NewPath Picks Up $30M, Asemblon Raises $2.9M, Amazon Buys Lexcycle, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”

Ardea Forms Partnership With Bayer to Develop Cancer Inhibitors

San Diego-based Ardea Biosciences (Nasdaq: [[ticker:RDEA]]) says it has reached a licensing and drug development agreement with German drug giant Bayer HealthCare for a class of small molecule cancer drugs known as MEK (mitogen-activated ERK kinase) inhibitors.  Aredea says its lead MEK inhibitor, RDEA119, is believed to play an important role in cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis … Continue reading “Ardea Forms Partnership With Bayer to Develop Cancer Inhibitors”

RI Entrepreneurship Center Launched

The Rhode Island Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which stakeholders have billed as a “community center for entrepreneurs,” was launched today in Providence to help entrepreneurs in the state find the resources they need to start new companies in the technology, life sciences, design, and other segments of the so-called knowledge economy, according to a … Continue reading “RI Entrepreneurship Center Launched”

SnapMyLife Joins Blackberry App World

Needham, MA-based SnapMyLife, which runs a photo-sharing community for mobile phone users, said today that it has released two new applications for RIM Blackberry smartphones. The apps, available from the Blackberry App World (launched by RIM this month), include a straightforward camera app that lets users take photos and upload them to SnapMyLife’s mobile site, … Continue reading “SnapMyLife Joins Blackberry App World”

A Good Day for Pond Scum: San Diego’s Emerging Algae-Based Industries Set Heavy Schedule

Efforts to build a new technology cluster of algae-based industries in the region—and to make San Diego a center of excellence in algal biotechnology—are coming together in an unusual series of events today. “I’m calling it algae day in San Diego,” says Rick Halperin, project manager for the regional algae initiative, a virtual organization formed … Continue reading “A Good Day for Pond Scum: San Diego’s Emerging Algae-Based Industries Set Heavy Schedule”

Thermo to Buy Biolab for $120M

Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE:[[ticker:TMO]]), a Waltham, MA-based provider of scientific research products and services, says that it has struck a deal to buy Biolab, of Auckland, New Zealand, for about $120 million. The acquisition of Biolab—a supplier of analytical instruments, lab equipment, and research materials—expands Thermo’s market presence in New Zealand, Australia, and the South … Continue reading “Thermo to Buy Biolab for $120M”

StyleFeeder’s Execs on How to Do A Lot With A Little

StyleFeeder is that rarest of animals: a profitable Web 2.0 company, and on the East Coast to boot. It may also have one of the largest ratios of users to employees of any Web business: more than a million registered members, served by a grand total of only six full-time employees. I met all six … Continue reading “StyleFeeder’s Execs on How to Do A Lot With A Little”

Dendreon Clinical Trial Primer: What You Need to Know About Today’s Provenge Data

Dendreon said it made history a couple weeks ago, when its drug for stimulating the immune system to fight cancer cells was found to be the first of its kind to help men with prostate cancer live longer. Today, we’ll find out just how strong the medical evidence is to support that claim. The Seattle … Continue reading “Dendreon Clinical Trial Primer: What You Need to Know About Today’s Provenge Data”

Measuring Success in the Biotech World

What defines success in biotechnology? I’ve noticed that many companies are described as being successful, but there’s no widely agreed upon definition for success within the industry. Lack of agreement on a definition of biotechnology success can serve as a source of friction within a company’s senior management group—some of whom may be trained in … Continue reading “Measuring Success in the Biotech World”

Microsoft Aims to Help Scientists Move Past Excel, Make Sense of Gene Data Overload

Biologists are living in an era of information overload, and Microsoft says it’s making an effort to help them cut through the noise. The Redmond, WA-based software firm is introducing a new program today called Amalga Life Sciences, designed to help lab scientists make sense of the vast reams of genomic data piling up from … Continue reading “Microsoft Aims to Help Scientists Move Past Excel, Make Sense of Gene Data Overload”

Good Data Corporation Receives $2,500,000 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f06c3635-8913-4796-b025-2ae11db90c69&Preview=1 Date 4/28/2009 Company Name Good Data Corporation Mailing Address One Broadway, 14th Floor Cambridge, MA 02142 Company Description Good Data Corporation was founded with the mission to provide a platform for collaborative analytics. We believe that sharing and teamwork allows our users to move past isolated reports and arrive at the … Continue reading “Good Data Corporation Receives $2,500,000 New Financing Round”

Vigilos Corporation Obtains $1,400,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=94b2e130-595a-4b25-8e32-05ec863d7172&Preview=1 Date 4/28/2009 Company Name Vigilos Corporation Mailing Address 2030 First Avenue Seattle, WA 98121 Company Description The Vigilos Brightsite Service, based on Vigilos Enterprise Security Management (ESM) software designed for large enterprises, is a turnkey hosted solution that offers improved security, higher guard performance, reduced false alarms and comprehensive metrics. Website … Continue reading “Vigilos Corporation Obtains $1,400,000 New Financing”

Marin Software Receives $13,000,000 Series C Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2c87e131-ca76-4f44-9c18-22c8168e0d76&Preview=1 Date 4/28/2009 Company Name Marin Software Mailing Address 123 Mission Street 25th Floor San Francisco, CA 94105 Company Description Marin Software was founded in April 2006 by experienced search marketers and enterprise software experts. Marin Search Marketer addresses the workflow, analysis and optimization needs of professional search marketers, saving time and … Continue reading “Marin Software Receives $13,000,000 Series C Financing Round”

Good Data Secures $2,500,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f06c3635-8913-4796-b025-2ae11db90c69&Preview=1 Date 4/28/2009 Company Name Good Data Mailing Address 989 Market Street San Francisco, CA 94103 Company Description Good Data Corporation was founded with the mission to provide a platform for collaborative analytics. We believe that sharing and teamwork allows our users to move past isolated reports and arrive at the true … Continue reading “Good Data Secures $2,500,000 New Funding Round”

Satoris Obtains $1,100,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=46cafe73-ecab-4918-bf20-d6256925707e&Preview=1 Date 4/28/2009 Company Name Satoris Mailing Address 2686 Middlefield Road Redwood City, CA 94063 Company Description At Satoris, our commitment goes beyond merely developing tests for neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis, and Diabetic Neuropathy. We’re committed to developing and commercializing neurodiagnostic tests that yield the earliest, most accurate, … Continue reading “Satoris Obtains $1,100,000 New Funding Round”