Earlier this week, we heard that two of Seattle’s most promising Internet startups have teamed up to deliver sophisticated photo editing services to a growing pool of social-network users. Picnik, which makes Web-based tools for creating collages and cool photo effects, is now available (with just a click) to users of Wetpaint, a “social publishing” … Continue reading “A Tale of Two Startups: Picnik and Wetpaint, Like Peanut Butter and Chocolate”
Clarus Backs Michigan Biotech
Clarus Ventures, a Cambridge, MA-based venture firm, has co-led a $10 million closing of Series A round of financing for biotech startup Lycera, of Ann Arbor, MI, according to the company. Lycera—which is developing chemical drugs for autoimmune diseases based on discoveries at the University of Michigan and New York University School of Medicine—says that … Continue reading “Clarus Backs Michigan Biotech”
Using Non-Compete Laws to Spur Economic Development in Massachusetts
The Rappaport Institute at the Kennedy School of Government hosts a discussion around House Bill 1794, which would outlaw non-compete clauses in employment agreements in Massachusetts. From the event description: “Massachusetts, like many states, allows firms in knowledge-intensive fields to limit their employees’ ability to take jobs with other firms. These ‘non-compete’ restrictions help firms … Continue reading “Using Non-Compete Laws to Spur Economic Development in Massachusetts”
Using Zigbee Mesh Networks, Awarepoint Ready to Catch Wave of Healthcare Innovation
Stephen Tomlin has a succinct way of explaining the significance of the technology that San Diego-based Awarepoint has developed over the past five years. Hospitals are just always looking for their stuff, says Tomlin, who is a managing member of San Diego’s Avalon Ventures and a member of Awarepoint’s board of directors. Sometimes medical equipment … Continue reading “Using Zigbee Mesh Networks, Awarepoint Ready to Catch Wave of Healthcare Innovation”
Boston’s @biz Twitter Fit
I’ve been watching the Twitter dialog between @hybernaut (aka Brian Del Vecchio, founding member of the Beta House collaborative in Cambridge) and a slew of Twitter users from Hubspot about a “Tweetup” being held today in honor of Biz Stone. More widely known by his Twitter username, @biz, Stone is Twitter’s co-founder and creative director, … Continue reading “Boston’s @biz Twitter Fit”
RunKeeper’s Mad Dash to the Marathon Finish: Of Foot Injuries, Viral Video, and Dressing Up as an iPhone
If you’re out watching the Boston Marathon on Monday and you see a giant iPhone limp past, chances are it’s Jason Jacobs inside. Jacobs is the hyperkinetic founder and CEO of Boston-based FitnessKeeper, which makes a highly popular run-tracking application for the Apple iPhone 3G called RunKeeper. (He was also a panelist at Xconomy’s recent … Continue reading “RunKeeper’s Mad Dash to the Marathon Finish: Of Foot Injuries, Viral Video, and Dressing Up as an iPhone”
A123Systems Counts to $69M, Sun Catalytix Out to Grow Seed From Polaris, Synageva Gets $30M, & More Boston-Area Deals News
Many different corners of New England’s innovation empire were heard from this week. —Return investors put $20 million in Branford, CT-based Marinus Pharmaceuticals, which plans to used the money to further development of ganaxolone, its drug for seizures and other disorders. Participants in the deal included Canaan Partners, Domain Associates, Foundation Medical Partners, and Sofinnova … Continue reading “A123Systems Counts to $69M, Sun Catalytix Out to Grow Seed From Polaris, Synageva Gets $30M, & More Boston-Area Deals News”
Gregoire’s Innovation Man, Rogers Weed, Gets Marching Orders for New State Strategy
Gov. Chris Gregoire wants to light a spark for innovation in Washington state so much that not only did she hire a Microsoft executive to run a key state agency, she’s supporting legislation to make him craft a new strategy for stimulating the technology and life sciences industries in the state. Rogers Weed, who discussed … Continue reading “Gregoire’s Innovation Man, Rogers Weed, Gets Marching Orders for New State Strategy”
Naverus Receives $4,000,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b8ffa0fd-a5a4-465c-b626-2243f097ad04&Preview=1 Date 4/17/2009 Company Name Naverus Mailing Address 20415 72nd Ave S Kent, WA 98032 Company Description Our mission is to harness emerging navigation technologies to make air transportation operations around the world run better by making them more efficient and predictable, giving them better access to more airports through higher capacity … Continue reading “Naverus Receives $4,000,000 New Funding Round”
Luxim Corporation Receives $12,000,000 Series E Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b9b48948-c2c7-43e2-9e71-bc5998794589&Preview=1 Date 4/17/2009 Company Name Luxim Corporation Mailing Address 1171 Borregas Avenue Sunnyvale, CA 94089 Company Description A manufacturing company based in the heart of California’s Silicon Valley, LUXIM brings a new range of products for high intensity lighting. With unprecedented levels of stable light power, long life, quality color spectrum and … Continue reading “Luxim Corporation Receives $12,000,000 Series E Financing”
MixerCast Garners $4,100,000 Series C Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e288210b-1433-445f-b8be-fd271c3c1e33&Preview=1 Date 4/17/2009 Company Name MixerCast Mailing Address 1825 South Grant Street San Mateo, CA 94402 Company Description MixerCast is developing a service that allows the creation, publication and distribution of all types of rich-media expression and enables users to easily create mixed-media objects – video, audio, image and text. Website http://www.mixercast.com … Continue reading “MixerCast Garners $4,100,000 Series C Financing”
Sapphire Energy Hikes Green Crude Production Estimates
[Update: This report was updated at 6:10 PT with a statement from Sapphire Energy president C.J. Warner] Citing a breakthrough, San Diego’s Sapphire Energy, a startup developing algae-to-fuel technology, today doubled its estimated production for 2011, saying that by then the company will be capable of producing 1 million gallons of diesel and jet fuel … Continue reading “Sapphire Energy Hikes Green Crude Production Estimates”
Biogen Idec Tysabri Sales Fall Shy of Street Expectations
Biogen Idec’s fortunes rise and fall on largely on the performance of sales of natalizumab (Tysabri), and the latest Tysabri sales trends are disappointing investors. Biogen, which has headquarters in Cambridge, MA, and significant operations in San Diego, said today that the multiple sclerosis drug generated $227 million in worldwide sales during the first quarter. … Continue reading “Biogen Idec Tysabri Sales Fall Shy of Street Expectations”
Amgen Shows Off Cancer Drug Pipeline Before Scientific Meeting
Amgen became the world’s biggest biotech company because of its ability to treat the side effects of cancer chemotherapy. But Amgen’s dream over the past decade has been to get into the game of targeted cancer drugs that actually kill tumors, and over the next few years it will find out if it will be … Continue reading “Amgen Shows Off Cancer Drug Pipeline Before Scientific Meeting”
SignaCert Closes $8.8M Series B
Portland, OR-based SignaCert, a maker of IT security and management software, announced it has raised $8.8 million in Series B funding. The round was led by existing investors including DCM, Intel Capital, and SmartForest Ventures, with new participation from In-Q-Tel and other strategic investors. SignaCert was founded in 2004, and has customers in financial services, … Continue reading “SignaCert Closes $8.8M Series B”
Sempra Expanding Solar Plant
San Diego’s Sempra Energy, (NYSE: [[ticker:SRE]]) says its Sempra Generation subsidiary is expanding its 10-megawatt solar power-generation facility near Boulder City, NV, by adding a 48-megawatt photovoltaic system. Sempra hired First Solar (NASDAQ: [[ticker:FSLR]]) of Tempe, AZ, to engineer, procure, and install nearly 830,000 thin-film solar panels at the site, which is about 40 miles … Continue reading “Sempra Expanding Solar Plant”
Founder of EasyTaxFix Finds Online Property Tax Service Less Appealing, More Complicated, Than Expected
The day after April 15 may not be a time when many folks want to think about taxes, but what if the subject is reducing your taxes? EasyTaxFix launched its online business last September in a bid to help homeowners throughout San Diego County lower their property taxes. The concept was simple enough. Home prices … Continue reading “Founder of EasyTaxFix Finds Online Property Tax Service Less Appealing, More Complicated, Than Expected”
DataXu Raises $6M for Web Ad Targeting
According to a regulatory filing cited today by PE Hub, Cambridge, MA-based startup DataXu (pronounced DataZoo) has raised $6 million in Series A funding to commercialize a new Web ad targeting technology. The investors include Atlas Venture and Flybridge Capital Partners. At one time DataXu was headed by former MIT Technology Review publisher Bruce Journey, … Continue reading “DataXu Raises $6M for Web Ad Targeting”
FDA Allows High-Yield Tysabri Production
Cambridge, MA-based biotech firm Biogen Idec (NASDAQ:[[ticker:BIIB]]) says that the FDA has approved a high-yield process for making multiple sclerosis drug natalizumab (Tysabri). This process for making natalizumab, an antibody drug that Biogen co-markets with Irish drug company Elan, was also approved by the European Medicines Agency in December 2008. Biogen plans to use the … Continue reading “FDA Allows High-Yield Tysabri Production”
UW’s Connie Bourassa-Shaw on the Genetics of Entrepreneurs, and Why Seattle Is Startup Mecca
Connie Bourassa-Shaw has been the director of the University of Washington’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) in the Foster School of Business for just three years. But her ties to the UW go back to 1987, when she was a writer for the UW economic and business magazine, Pacific Northwest Executive. She has played … Continue reading “UW’s Connie Bourassa-Shaw on the Genetics of Entrepreneurs, and Why Seattle Is Startup Mecca”
YouRenew Hopes Message of Green Simplicity Will Help It Outrun Gazelle in Gadget-Recycling Market
The Web has drastically lowered the barriers to starting a business. But that benefit has a flip side: established Web businesses are more vulnerable to competitors who can suddenly come up from behind. That’s the story that may play out this year in the electronics recycling market. Last year we ran a couple of stories … Continue reading “YouRenew Hopes Message of Green Simplicity Will Help It Outrun Gazelle in Gadget-Recycling Market”
Q&A With Gary West: Using Wireless Technology to Transform Healthcare
Less than three weeks ago, the Gary and Mary West foundation helped establish San Diego’s new West Wireless Health Institute, one of the first medical research organizations devoted to the development of new wireless healthcare technologies. As a result, in the not-too-distant-future, you could get a warning on your cell phone before you suffer a … Continue reading “Q&A With Gary West: Using Wireless Technology to Transform Healthcare”
Dendreon’s “Clear Hit” on Provenge, Oncothyreon Rides Coattails, Cell Therapeutics Nabs $15M, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News
The Xconomy biotech desk felt more like “Dendreon News Central” this week. The Seattle biotech company captured headlines around the world when its immune-stimulating treatment for prostate cancer showed it could help men live longer with prostate cancer with minimal side effects. We had several angles on this story, but there was actually plenty of … Continue reading “Dendreon’s “Clear Hit” on Provenge, Oncothyreon Rides Coattails, Cell Therapeutics Nabs $15M, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News”
Polaris Venture Partners Backing MIT Chemist’s “Solar Fuel” Startup
(Update: this story was updated at 10:15 a.m. today with additional financial information on Sun Catalytix.) Yes, that’s solar fuel. MIT chemistry professor Daniel Nocera has been widely lauded for developing a breakthrough technology that could harness the energy of the sun to provide a clean source of fuel. Xconomy has now learned that Polaris … Continue reading “Polaris Venture Partners Backing MIT Chemist’s “Solar Fuel” Startup”
TrustE Acquires Haute Secure Inc for Undisclosed Sum
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e28a2171-1eec-4fdd-88e4-ddfdb255c2df&Preview=1 Date 4/16/2009 Company Name Haute Secure Inc Mailing Address 2212 Queen Anne Ave Seattle, WA 98109 Company Description HauteSecure was founded in 2006 by a team of security, internet and web experts with a near-obsessive desire to make the web safer for everybody. After watching helplessly as several of our friends … Continue reading “TrustE Acquires Haute Secure Inc for Undisclosed Sum”
Max-Viz Inc. Garners $3,000,000 Series A Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=440edaa4-0fd4-4b1d-a2f4-051e62f26608&Preview=1 Date 4/16/2009 Company Name Max-Viz Inc. Mailing Address 16165 S.W. 72nd Avenue Portland, OR 97224 Company Description Max-Viz is the only aerospace company in the world dedicated solely to the design, development and manufacture of Enhanced Vision Systems for the aviation industry. Website http://www.Max-Viz.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $3,000,000 … Continue reading “Max-Viz Inc. Garners $3,000,000 Series A Funding Round”
SignaCert Garners $8,800,000 Series B Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3b741207-54dc-4317-b222-97fb036d56fe&Preview=1 Date 4/16/2009 Company Name SignaCert Mailing Address 707 SW Washington Street, 7th Floor Portland, OR 97205 Company Description SignaCert is a Delaware C-Corporation doing business in Portland, Oregon. The company focus is the development and delivery of software and services to provide enhanced trust management and enforcement of Information Technology (IT) … Continue reading “SignaCert Garners $8,800,000 Series B Funding Round”
Hutch Cuts 83 Jobs To Cope with Drop in Philanthropy
[[Updated, 11:55 am Pacific April 16, with corrected employee and budget figures]] The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has joined the list of organizations announcing layoffs, by eliminating 83 jobs, or about 3 percent of its workforce. The Seattle-based nonprofit research institute said in a statement that it made the budget cuts to offset the … Continue reading “Hutch Cuts 83 Jobs To Cope with Drop in Philanthropy”
Icahn Denounces Amylin’s Chairman
Billionaire investor Carl Icahn turned up the heat today in his proxy fight with San Diego-based Amylin Pharmaceuticals by calling for the resignation of chairman Joseph Cook. In a letter to Amylin that was filed with the SEC, Icahn criticized Cook for destroying shareholder value. He says the company, under Cook’s stewardship, has made many … Continue reading “Icahn Denounces Amylin’s Chairman”
How Seattle VCs Are Adapting to the UW TechTransfer Revolution
[This is Part 1 of a two-part series on how the process of identifying venture-backed startup opportunities at the University of Washington is evolving—Eds.] Back in February, we reported on the “VC revolution” happening on the campus of the University of Washington. Six months into her tenure as vice provost of UW TechTransfer, Linden Rhoads … Continue reading “How Seattle VCs Are Adapting to the UW TechTransfer Revolution”
Vulcan-backed BiPar Sold to Sanofi
BiPar Sciences, a Brisbane, CA-based developer of cancer drugs, said today it agreed to be acquired by Paris-based Sanofi-Aventis in a deal that could be worth as much as $500 million if the company’s lead drug candidate reaches certain milestones in development. Paul Allen’s Vulcan Capital led a $13 million Series A round in BiPar … Continue reading “Vulcan-backed BiPar Sold to Sanofi”
Taking (Photo) Stock: BrightQube Seeking Venture Funding to Enlarge Burgeoning Web Picture Business
Lee Corkran has spent most of his life working in photography, graphic design, and online media. He’s participated in changes that have transformed his industry as he moved from jobs at the former Sigma photo agency, a news photo provider, to Kodak, Yahoo, and Hewlett-Packard’s San Diego-based Imaging and Printing Group. Based on the insights … Continue reading “Taking (Photo) Stock: BrightQube Seeking Venture Funding to Enlarge Burgeoning Web Picture Business”
Infinity Pharma Lead Cancer Drug Trial Halted, Ends in Failure
Infinity Pharmaceuticals’ (NASDAQ:[[ticker:INFI]]) lead cancer drug has crashed and burned in a late-stage clinical trial for treating relapsed forms of malignant stomach tumors, after interim results showed that more patients were dying when taking the drug than those who weren’t on the drug, the company reports. The decision to halt the Phase III “RING” trial … Continue reading “Infinity Pharma Lead Cancer Drug Trial Halted, Ends in Failure”
Mascoma to Cut Staff, Leave Boston
Boston-based Mascoma, a startup developing techniques for making ethanol from high-cellulose feedstock such as wood chips, said yesterday it will consolidate its operations in a new office building and R&D facility in Lebanon, NH, near the Dartmouth College location where the company was founded, and where the majority of its workers are already employed. The … Continue reading “Mascoma to Cut Staff, Leave Boston”
Synageva BioPharma Nabs $30M
Synageva BioPharma, a Waltham, MA-based biotech firm with research and manufacturing operations in Athens, GA, says that it has closed a $30 million private equity financing and expects to raise more money in the weeks ahead. Baker Brothers Investments, a heathcare investment firm, led the financing, which included contributions from investment funds Tullis Dickerson and … Continue reading “Synageva BioPharma Nabs $30M”
From Ultracapacitors to Soybeans to Sludge: University Teams Pitch Local VCs
Three local venture firms put on what amounted to a university startup fair at the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square yesterday. I went hoping for a peek at a few of the companies that could be pulling down Series A rounds a year or two from now. Now in its second year, the invitation-only University … Continue reading “From Ultracapacitors to Soybeans to Sludge: University Teams Pitch Local VCs”
Biogen and Icahn Duel Again, Marinus Gets $20M, Vigilance Urged on Patent Reform, & More Boston-Area Life Sciences News
It was a relatively quiet week for New England’s life sciences firms, but with earnings reports from several key players due at the end of this week I’m guessing the next roundup will be a doozy. —Cambridge, MA-based Cerulean Pharma named Oliver Fetzer, a former executive at Lexington, MA-based Cubist Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:CBST), as its new … Continue reading “Biogen and Icahn Duel Again, Marinus Gets $20M, Vigilance Urged on Patent Reform, & More Boston-Area Life Sciences News”
Tapioca Gets the Message—and the Video—to Mobile Phone Masses
Tapioca Mobile wants to see your cellular phone play more videos, and the San Diego-based wireless media company has the know-how to do it—no matter what phone you use. Tapioca has created a unique video-transcoding process and has, according to co-founder and CTO Chas Wurster, “the largest footprint of addressable video mobile devices in the … Continue reading “Tapioca Gets the Message—and the Video—to Mobile Phone Masses”
From Microsoft to Olympia: Q&A With Rogers Weed, New Washington Commerce Chief
Olympia, in the view of many entrepreneurs I’ve talked to over the years, is practically a code word in this state for “bureaucrats out of touch with what it takes to run a business.” So when I heard Gov. Chris Gregoire turned to Rogers Weed, a former Microsoft vice president, to be in her cabinet … Continue reading “From Microsoft to Olympia: Q&A With Rogers Weed, New Washington Commerce Chief”
Ensemble Nails Deal with Bristol-Myers Squibb to Discover New Drugs
Ensemble Discovery has secured an important partnership with Bristol-Myers Squibb to keep its engine of new drugs humming along in a downturn. The Cambridge, MA-based company will get a $5 million upfront payment, $7.5 million to pay part of its research expenses over the next two years, and may get milestone payments worth $29.5 million … Continue reading “Ensemble Nails Deal with Bristol-Myers Squibb to Discover New Drugs”
Big Stage Entertainment, Inc Receives $10,600,000 Series B Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9648e7ce-931d-454c-afc3-90a1d79ebbb0&Preview=1 Date 4/15/2009 Company Name Big Stage Entertainment, Inc Mailing Address 1010 Sycamore Ave South Pasadena, CA 91030 Company Description Big Stage Entertainment, Inc. is a media technology company that enables the projection of self into digital life. With Big Stage Entertainment products and services, consumers can create a photorealistic, 3-D, animated … Continue reading “Big Stage Entertainment, Inc Receives $10,600,000 Series B Financing”
Dataxu Receives $6,000,000 Series A Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3677d3b1-dc47-489f-b798-4cb45ecf2a61&Preview=1 Date 4/15/2009 Company Name Dataxu Mailing Address 222 3rd Street Cambridge, MA 02142 Company Description DataXu is a cutting-edge Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company formed by MIT alums and professionals. Our product will cause the next revolution in Internet advertising by disrupting how advertising is bought and sold on the Internet. Our proprietary … Continue reading “Dataxu Receives $6,000,000 Series A Financing”
Synageva BioPharma Corp Garners $30,000,000 Series F Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=095d8b2c-b123-4f1f-80f2-b5236e50f898&Preview=1 Date 4/15/2009 Company Name Synageva BioPharma Corp Mailing Address 60 Hickory Drive Waltham, MA 02451 Company Description Synageva BioPharma’s ultimate goal is to improve patient lives by providing access to breakthrough novel, next generation (i.e. significantly improved), and certain follow on protein therapeutics. Synageva’s proprietary platform technologies, including SEPTM, provide a … Continue reading “Synageva BioPharma Corp Garners $30,000,000 Series F Financing Round”
Bridgepoint IPO Nets $142M
San Diego-based Bridgepoint Education has raised $142 million in its initial public offering, according to Bloomberg. The IPO was only the second this year by a U.S. company. Bridgepoint is a secondary education provider that offers nearly all of its classes online. Earlier this month, the company disclosed plans to raise between $190 million and … Continue reading “Bridgepoint IPO Nets $142M”
A123Systems Gets $100M in Tax Breaks to Expand in Michigan
“Go Michigan!” We didn’t hear them say it, but the team at A123Systems has likely become big fans of the state of Michigan. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation has granted the Watertown, MA-based developer of advanced battery systems $100 million in tax credits to support its plans to open an R&D center and manufacturing plants … Continue reading “A123Systems Gets $100M in Tax Breaks to Expand in Michigan”
Microsoft Sells Franchise for $20M, Cell Therapeutics Collects $15M, Adapx Raises $9M, & More Seattle-Area Deals News
Maybe everyone has finally done their taxes, so they can announce their funding deals. For whatever reason, it was a busy week for deals in the Northwest, with quite a bit of financing activity in software, biotech, and devices. —Seattle-based ExtraHop Networks announced it raised a $5.1 million Series A round led by Madrona Venture … Continue reading “Microsoft Sells Franchise for $20M, Cell Therapeutics Collects $15M, Adapx Raises $9M, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”
Mass Innovation Nights
From organizer Bobbie Carlton: “Mass Innovation Nights are a series of events designed to harness the power of social media to showcase Massachusetts-based innovation. Every month we throw a live launch party (registration starts at 6:00 pm and the new products are on display 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm) at the Charles River Museum of … Continue reading “Mass Innovation Nights”
Media in Transition: Stone and Papyrus, Storage and Transmission
A conference at MIT focusing on the challenges of preserving words and images in cyberspace. From the conference organizers: “In just a few years, we will be able to transmit the entire printed contents of the Library of Congress in five seconds. The implications of this are profound, and will be the subject of the … Continue reading “Media in Transition: Stone and Papyrus, Storage and Transmission”
American Well Brings Service to MN
American Well, a Boston-based provider of a network that enables patients to meet with doctors over a multimedia Web interface, says that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota has signed on to offer American Well’s services to the health plan’s employees and their family members. This is American Well’s first customer in the continental … Continue reading “American Well Brings Service to MN”
Riding Dendreon’s Coattails, Antigenics and Oncothyreon Shares Soar
Who will be the next Dendreon? That’s the question investors are asking today, as Dendreon’s good news from this morning is sending a ripple effect through shares of other companies that aspire to develop treatments that stimulate the immune system to fight cancer. Lexington, MA-based Antigenics saw its shares rocket 63 percent in mid-day trading, … Continue reading “Riding Dendreon’s Coattails, Antigenics and Oncothyreon Shares Soar”