Wakonda Technologies, a Woburn, MA-based startup developing highly efficient solar photovoltaic products, says that Peter Borden has joined the firm as executive chairman. Borden was previously an executive at Applied Materials (NASDAQ:[[ticker:AMAT]]), a Santa Clara, CA-based provider of products and services for advanced materials manufacturing. Wakonda relocated from upstate New York to Massachusetts after closing … Continue reading “Wakonda Taps Borden for Exec Chairman Role”
Dendreon Starts Trial of Cancer Pill
Dendreon, the Seattle company developing an immune-stimulating therapy for prostate cancer, said today it has started a clinical trial of a cancer drug made in a more conventional pill form. The company will examine safety of D3263 at a variety of doses in patients with solid tumors. Dendreon has been advancing this program toward clinical … Continue reading “Dendreon Starts Trial of Cancer Pill”
Bent Named CEO of GMZ Energy
GMZ Energy, a Waltham, MA-based startup developing energy-efficient, nanotechnology materials based on discoveries at MIT and Boston College, has named Aaron Bent to be its new CEO, according to the firm. Bent, whose most recent prior job was general manager of the photonics unit at Andover, MA-based optical switch maker Polatis, takes over the chief … Continue reading “Bent Named CEO of GMZ Energy”
Are You Who You Say You Are? Prove It
Think about a database of 360 billion human identity attributes—names, addresses, dates of birth, credit behavior. That is what San Diego-based ID Analytics‘ has created with its enormous new ID Network. It’s a sophisticated computer technology built to analyze payments and applications for loans, cell phones, and credit cards; it looks for fabricated names and … Continue reading “Are You Who You Say You Are? Prove It”
UMass Lab in $60M Merck Deal
The Massachusetts Biologic Laboratories, a Boston lab that is part of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, will share an upfront fee of $60 million with Princeton, NJ-based biotech firm Medarex (NASDAQ:[[ticker:MEDX]]) that U.S. drug giant Merck (NYSE:[[ticker:MRK]]) is paying for an exclusive worldwide license to two monoclonal antibodies that the UMass lab and Medarex … Continue reading “UMass Lab in $60M Merck Deal”
Two Internet Entrepreneurs and Their Yet-to-be-Named Online Resale Marketplace
The best description of the San Diego Web-based business that Jan Anton and Brendan Boyd have developed may be a symbolic cloud that includes the corporate logos for eBay, Amazon, Craigslist, and other online markets. For the time being, that image also happens to be the current logo for their startup, which was known until … Continue reading “Two Internet Entrepreneurs and Their Yet-to-be-Named Online Resale Marketplace”
Redstart Systems’ Voice Command Software Replaces the Keyboard and Mouse—and Not Just for Dictation
If you want to dictate notes into your computer without typing, speech recognition software like Dragon Naturally Speaking, from Burlington, MA-based Nuance Communications (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NUAN]]), works surprisingly well these days. Even without training, dictation software can hit accuracy rates of 99 percent; once it learns your personal speech patterns, it’s nearly flawless. But using speech … Continue reading “Redstart Systems’ Voice Command Software Replaces the Keyboard and Mouse—and Not Just for Dictation”
SignaCert Scores $8.8M, Naverus Nets $4M, Top 5 Q1 Venture Deals in Washington, & More Seattle-Area Deals News
After a flurry of Northwest deals the previous week, the past seven days have been fairly quiet, with some activity in security software, aviation, and biotech. —Kent, WA-based Naverus, a company that makes advanced navigation systems for airlines and air traffic managers, raised $4 million from existing investors Foundation Capital and East Peak Partners. I … Continue reading “SignaCert Scores $8.8M, Naverus Nets $4M, Top 5 Q1 Venture Deals in Washington, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”
Myomo Running Lean After Slow Initial Sales of Robotic Elbow Brace
Boston-based medtech startup Myomo has cut its staff by 66 percent and adopted a more virtual business model over the past year, due to slower-than-expected initial sales of its highly acclaimed robotic elbow brace for stroke victims, company co-founder and interim CEO Steve Kelly tells Xconomy. Kelly says that the angel-funded startup “hit a wall” … Continue reading “Myomo Running Lean After Slow Initial Sales of Robotic Elbow Brace”
HighRoads Inc. Garners $3,000,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=78be467f-4d28-4033-899b-83230e64a3c2&Preview=1 Date 4/21/2009 Company Name HighRoads Inc. Mailing Address 150 Presidential Way Woburn, MA 01801 Company Description IE-Engine Inc. is the leading developer of Human Resource Cost Management (HRCM) software. The Company’s Web-based applications enable HR decision makers at Global 1000 organizations to make better strategic decisions, reduce costs and increase the … Continue reading “HighRoads Inc. Garners $3,000,000 New Funding Round”
Demandware Inc. Garners $15,000,000 Series D Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=862c12ff-c077-4a3a-8e3e-dffaf770a857&Preview=1 Date 4/21/2009 Company Name Demandware Inc. Mailing Address 10 Presidential Way Woburn, MA 01801 Company Description Demandware provides an enterprise-class ecommerce platform, delivered as a service, which offers online retailers the merchandising control, flexibility, functionality and interoperability of a full ecommerce application suite with a usage-based pricing model. Website http://www.demandware.com Transaction … Continue reading “Demandware Inc. Garners $15,000,000 Series D Funding”
Kazeon Systems Secures $10,000,000 Series F Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=5d9e2bd4-8529-48aa-bdb2-66590bb6cf81&Preview=1 Date 4/21/2009 Company Name Kazeon Systems Mailing Address 1161 San Antonio Road Mountain View, CA 94043 Company Description Kazeon simplifies the management of unstructured information stored across enterprise networks. Website http://www.kazeon.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $10,000,000 Transaction Round Series F Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. M&A Terms … Continue reading “Kazeon Systems Secures $10,000,000 Series F Financing Round”
Stoke Garners $15,000,000 Series D Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d60ca258-067c-46b2-bad0-77603c680025&Preview=1 Date 4/21/2009 Company Name Stoke Mailing Address 5403 Betsy Ross Dr. Santa Clara, CA 95054 Company Description The Stoke Session Exchange (SSX) is the industry’s first multi-access convergence gateway designed since inception for stateful management of tens of thousands of secure, reliable, high-quality subscriber sessions over multiple network access types including … Continue reading “Stoke Garners $15,000,000 Series D Round”
Sonoma Orthopedic Products Secures $12,000,000 Series C Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a54f8aa5-1f42-434f-aaa0-97d7d99eb143&Preview=1 Date 4/21/2009 Company Name Sonoma Orthopedic Products Mailing Address 3589 Westwind Boulevard Santa Rosa, CA 95403 Company Description The company develops orthopedic medical devices and products. Website http://www.sonomaorthopedics.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $12,000,000 Transaction Round Series C Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. M&A Terms Venture Investor Split … Continue reading “Sonoma Orthopedic Products Secures $12,000,000 Series C Financing”
iScience Interventional Corp Obtains $2,000,000 Series F Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=cd14e7de-098a-4bcb-bd79-e1806975a8ce&Preview=1 Date 4/21/2009 Company Name iScience Interventional Corp Mailing Address 4055 Campbell Avenue Menlo Park, CA 94025 Company Description iScience Interventional™ discovers and develops microcatheter and imaging technologies that enable ophthalmologists to deliver site-specific ocular therapies. This new category of therapy is called Interventional Ophthalmology. It encompasses microcatheter-based therapies designed to access … Continue reading “iScience Interventional Corp Obtains $2,000,000 Series F Financing Round”
Ardea Biosciences Finds Early Results of Drug Candidate Equivalent to Existing Gout Treatment
San Diego’s Ardea Biosciences (NASDAQ: [[ticker:RDEA]]) said today its experimental gout drug performed no better than existing drugs in an early stage study, but CEO Barry Quart nevertheless said he’s happy with the result. “This is the first stage of drug development and we have not yet optimized the dose,” Quart said. “We have demonstrated … Continue reading “Ardea Biosciences Finds Early Results of Drug Candidate Equivalent to Existing Gout Treatment”
Microsoft’s World View of Cloud Computing
The WTIA is pleased to bring to the Puget Sound a comprehensive look at Cloud Computing. Through this multi-part series, attendees will learn both fundamental and advanced concepts of cloud computing as seen through the eyes of industry leaders. Cloud computing is the buzz of the industry. Whether as a way to lower computing costs, … Continue reading “Microsoft’s World View of Cloud Computing”
Toward a more human experience: The next generation of user-computer interfaces
Drag a finger across the screen to turn the page. Turn your phone on its side for a new perspective. Put your whole body into a living room tennis match. The examples of User Interfaces above are all things you can relate to and have probably experienced with devices such as the Amazon Kindle, iPhone … Continue reading “Toward a more human experience: The next generation of user-computer interfaces”
The Dismal Science and San Diego’s 4th Annual Regional Economic Outlook
Economists from the UCLA Anderson Forecast present their interpretation of national, state, and regional economic trends. Presentations will touch on the recession, how deep and how long, the federal economic recovery stimulus plan, and when financial markets will return to normal. Qualcomm executive vice president Margaret “Peggy” Johnson also will provide a perspective on San … Continue reading “The Dismal Science and San Diego’s 4th Annual Regional Economic Outlook”
Naverus, Extra $4M in Tow, Looks to Redesign Flight Paths, Saving Time, Fuel, and Emissions
There’s a saying in sports that if you don’t notice the referees, they’re doing a great job. The same goes for offensive linemen in football, tech support in big companies…and Kent, WA-based Naverus when you’re flying in an airplane. Sure, we in the media notice companies like Naverus when they raise $4 million in venture … Continue reading “Naverus, Extra $4M in Tow, Looks to Redesign Flight Paths, Saving Time, Fuel, and Emissions”
Athena Seminar on Leading High Performance Teams
Athena, San Diego’s networking group for professional women, has organized a panel discussion on creating a positive team dynamic , best practices in fostering team performance, and recognizing the circumstances that might lead to failure. The invited panelists are Molly Cartmill, Sempra Energy director of local government relations; Kristie Burns, ResMed senior director of market … Continue reading “Athena Seminar on Leading High Performance Teams”
Generating Strategic Options in the Valley of Death
Silicon Valley Bank Chairman Alex W. “Pete” Hart, who has spent 40 years in banking and the financial services industry, discusses raising capital, debt financing, and other strategic options in this session for C-level executives. Networking and registration for this roundtable discussion and luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m., or you can register online here.
Advice on Angel Financing and Venture Capital
McDermott Will & Emery law partner Peter Townshend and Finistere Ventures partner Kenneth Selzer provide an overview of the venture funding process, including the best approach in dealing with investors, how the VC process works, and other information. Registration begins at 8 a.m., or you can register online here.
What You Need to Know to Protect Your Intellectual Property
An overview intended to help entrepreneurs, inventors, and others identify intellectual property and determine how to best protect it, using patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets. The program also focuses on the patent process, and includes strategies for protecting your IP on a budget. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., or you can register online here.
Using Facebook to Build Online Marketing Campaigns
The San Diego Software Industry Council has organized this presentation by Johnny Chan from eBoost Consulting to help members and non-members understand how to structure successful marketing campaigns on Facebook. Networking and registration begins at 7:30 a.m., or you can register online here.
H2O Audio Gets More Steelpoint VC Funding
San Diego-based H2O Audio has raised more than $1.7 million in venture funding. Among other things, the startup plans to use the capital to roll out a new product line of its waterproof housings and headsets for the Apple iPod and MP3 players. H2O Audio CEO Kristian Rauhala told me today that $1 million of … Continue reading “H2O Audio Gets More Steelpoint VC Funding”
DOE Award for QD Vision
Watertown, MA-based QD Vision, which makes solid-state lighting devices based on nanotech “quantum dot” technology, said today it has been awarded $700,000 from the U.S. Department of Energy for a joint R&D project with MIT electrical engineering professor Marc Baldo. The project’s goal is to make organic light emitting diodes more power-efficient and pleasing in … Continue reading “DOE Award for QD Vision”
RunKeeper Crosses Marathon Finish Line
[Update, April 21, 2009: The third RunKeeper video has now been posted.] Maybe Jason Jacobs’ foot injury wasn’t quite as bad as he was suggesting last week. Just minutes ago the CEO of Boston-based FitnessKeeper, which makes a popular iPhone run-tracking application called RunKeeper, crossed the finish line of the Boston Marathon with a very … Continue reading “RunKeeper Crosses Marathon Finish Line”
Jet-Powered Predator UAV Unveiled by GA-Aeronautical Systems
San Diego’s General Atomics Aeronautical Systems said it has begun flight testing a jet-powered version of its Predator unmanned aircraft system (UAS) with a stealthier design and with the ability to operate aboard Navy aircraft carriers. Dubbed the “Avenger,” the jet-powered version of the armed surveillance aircraft can fly as high as 60,000 feet and … Continue reading “Jet-Powered Predator UAV Unveiled by GA-Aeronautical Systems”
Dendreon Reports More Positive Data
Seattle-based biotech firm Dendreon (NASDAQ:[[ticker:DNDN]]) yesterday reported data from an ongoing Phase III clinical trial of its drug sipuleucel-T (Provenge), saying that the drug caused long-term immune responses in patients with recurrent prostate cancer and whose prostates have been surgically removed. The data follows Dendreon’s whirlwind last week when shares of the company’s stock soared … Continue reading “Dendreon Reports More Positive Data”
Seattle Software Update: AdReady, Azaleos, and Evri Roll Out New Releases
All around town, spring is in the air—and so is new software from some prominent local tech startups. In case you missed them while trying to make it through tax week, here are the most interesting software releases we learned about in the past seven days. —Seattle-based AdReady announced a new suite of services to … Continue reading “Seattle Software Update: AdReady, Azaleos, and Evri Roll Out New Releases”
Icahn Aiming for Amylin Sale to Eli Lilly
Billionaire investor Carl Icahn wants San Diego’s Amylin Pharmaceuticals to sell itself to Eli Lilly, its diabetes drug marketing partner. Icahn’s intentions were revealed today in a letter that Amylin director James Wilson wrote to Icahn as the two sides exchange salvos in a power struggle to control Amylin. In his letter to Icahn, which … Continue reading “Icahn Aiming for Amylin Sale to Eli Lilly”
Hubspot, Hybernaut Bury the Twitter Hatchet, For Now
All’s well that ends well. For a while, it looked like the argument last week between Cambridge’s Hubspot and Beta House co-founder Brian Del Vecchio over how startups should use Twitter—a debate carried out on Twitter itself, of course—was going to get ugly. Del Vecchio, known on Twitter as @Hybernaut, was bothered by the way … Continue reading “Hubspot, Hybernaut Bury the Twitter Hatchet, For Now”
Looking For Signs of Life in San Diego’s VC Deals
The evaporation of venture deals involving San Diego’s software, wireless, and related IT startups was probably the most surprising revelation that jumped out of the regional first-quarter venture data released Friday. The survey by Dow Jones VentureSource reported that 15 startups in the San Diego region got a total of $194.6 million during the first three … Continue reading “Looking For Signs of Life in San Diego’s VC Deals”
U.S. Venture Funding Plummets (Yada Yada), But New England Less So—Region’s Top 10 Deals of Q1
The silver lining in the big black rain clouds that were this weekend’s first quarter venture capital investment reports was that New England actually did better than just about anywhere else. As Bruce reported on Saturday, the nation’s venture outlays in Q1 tanked more than 50 percent, to their lowest levels in more than a … Continue reading “U.S. Venture Funding Plummets (Yada Yada), But New England Less So—Region’s Top 10 Deals of Q1”
Alnylam to Receive European Patent
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:[[ticker:ALNY]]), a Cambridge, MA-based developer of RNA-interference (RNAi) drugs, says that the European Patent Office will grant the firm a patent related to its “Tuschi I” patent series covering the use of double-stranded RNA molecules for RNA-interference. The patent, which the company expects to be issued in four months, covers claims such as … Continue reading “Alnylam to Receive European Patent”
San Diego’s First IPO of 2009, New Institute Plans to Transform Healthcare, Making Waves at Water Parks, & More San Diego Biz/Tech News
We saw several San Diego innovators making waves last week. Bridgepoint Education defied the recession by going public, Sapphire Energy upped its production estimates due to a technological breakthrough, and a wave war erupted among San Diego’s wave makers. So this is how things looked during the week: —San Diego’s Bridgepoint Education (NYSE: [[ticker:BPI]]) priced … Continue reading “San Diego’s First IPO of 2009, New Institute Plans to Transform Healthcare, Making Waves at Water Parks, & More San Diego Biz/Tech News”
Epizyme Unveils Technology, Targeting Cancer with Epigenetic Drugs
Despite being forthcoming about its big-name venture backers—MPM Capital and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers—Cambridge, MA-based Epizyme has been one of several biotech startups in the Boston that are being demure about the details of their technology. So I was intrigued when the company contacted me recently to let me know that it was lifting … Continue reading “Epizyme Unveils Technology, Targeting Cancer with Epigenetic Drugs”
Seattle and the Developing World: Bill Gates, UW Profs Speak at Global Tech Conference in Qatar
Seattle has become a major global health hub over the last decade, thanks in no small part to having the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the world leaders in funding for global health research, in our own backyard. Now, an emerging and related discipline is also finding an increasing number of connections here—global … Continue reading “Seattle and the Developing World: Bill Gates, UW Profs Speak at Global Tech Conference in Qatar”
Brightcove Basks In Light of Adobe’s New Strobe
Cambridge, MA-based video hosting provider Brightcove has long had all of its eggs in Adobe Systems’ basket: the company’s entire platform is built around Adobe’s Flash streaming media format. But now the two companies’ relationship is growing even closer. At the National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas today, Brightcove and San Jose, CA-based … Continue reading “Brightcove Basks In Light of Adobe’s New Strobe”
H2O Audio Secures $1,700,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3b52344e-44ec-4daa-8632-f84a8ead3668&Preview=1 Date 4/20/2009 Company Name H2O Audio Mailing Address 11010 Roselle St. San Diego, CA 92121 Company Description We listen to our music just because we are passionate about our water, snow and sand sports. Why should the runners and cyclists get to keep their tunes on while they play, but our … Continue reading “H2O Audio Secures $1,700,000 New Funding Round”
Meru Networks Secures $30,000,000 Series E Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3db20bc4-72b2-4a39-8719-8c030ca4703e&Preview=1 Date 4/20/2009 Company Name Meru Networks Mailing Address 894 Ross Drive Sunnyvale, CA 94089 Company Description Meru Networks (NASDAQ: MERU) is the global leader in wireless infrastructure solutions that enable the All-Wireless Enterprise. Website http://www.merunetworks.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $30,000,000 Transaction Round Series E Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were … Continue reading “Meru Networks Secures $30,000,000 Series E Funding Round”
Lavante Secures $5,000,000 Series B Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=335d506b-10cb-4206-8dd7-cf1ecb4a96a5&Preview=1 Date 4/20/2009 Company Name Lavante Mailing Address 3150 Almaden Expressway San Jose, CA 95118 Company Description Lavante provides a complete suite of recovery audits, and offers services that are more dynamic and flexible than the typical products provided by other firms. Motivated by an industry that has seen its chief products … Continue reading “Lavante Secures $5,000,000 Series B Financing”
Top 5 First-Quarter Venture Deals in Washington State; Local VCs Weigh In on Downturn
[Updated April 18 with correction to Madrona Venture Group’s new investment in Q1—Yieldex, not PetraVM (which was Q4)] OK, the venture capital stats are in for the first three months of 2009, and surprise—they’re not very pretty. In fact, venture capitalists and all of us who follow their activities should probably just retire now while … Continue reading “Top 5 First-Quarter Venture Deals in Washington State; Local VCs Weigh In on Downturn”
First Quarter Venture Investments Plunge 50 Percent Nationwide
There was a time when venture capital partners used to tell me that venture investing is unaffected by the overall economy, because it takes five to 10 years to realize returns in startup investments. In January 2008, Deepak Kamra of Menlo Park, CA-based Canaan Partners said, “Most venture-backed companies don’t have a lot of debt, so they’re not … Continue reading “First Quarter Venture Investments Plunge 50 Percent Nationwide”
Haute Secure Bought by TRUSTe
Seattle startup Haute Secure, a maker of anti-malware security software, has been acquired by San Francisco-based TRUSTe, an online privacy firm. No terms were disclosed. Haute Secure was backed by Baseline Ventures and Sherpalo Ventures.
GridNetworks Merges with GMS
Global Media Services, based in New York City, has announced it is merging with Seattle-based GridNetworks, an online video startup. Financial terms were not disclosed. The combined company will provide streaming and media services for personal computers, mobile devices, and TV. GridNetworks, founded in 2005, was backed by Comcast, Cisco, and Panorama Capital. News of … Continue reading “GridNetworks Merges with GMS”
Naverus Nets $4M for Navigation Software
Kent, WA-based Naverus, a maker of novel navigation software for airlines, announced today it has raised $4 million in funding led by Foundation Capital and East Peak Partners. Naverus has developed a performance-based navigation system, which provides precise flight paths that are faster and more fuel-efficient and reduce carbon emissions. The company has airline customers … Continue reading “Naverus Nets $4M for Navigation Software”
How Seattle VCs Are Adapting to the UW TechTransfer Revolution (Part 2)
[This is the second part of a series on how the process of identifying venture-backed startups and commercialization opportunities at the University of Washington is evolving—Eds.] How does the University of Washington Tech Transfer office view its ongoing relationship with venture capitalists? On Wednesday, we reported on how venture firms around town are going about … Continue reading “How Seattle VCs Are Adapting to the UW TechTransfer Revolution (Part 2)”
NAV Closes $115M Third Fund
New Atlantic Ventures, a venture firm with offices in Reston, VA, and Cambridge, MA, says it has closed its third fund, NAV III LP, at $115 million, according to a press release published on news website PE Hub. The firm says that it invests in high-growth technology sectors such as wireless, new media, and online … Continue reading “NAV Closes $115M Third Fund”