Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c288ee1c-765c-48b1-9337-c7d03f1dd8c6&Preview=1 Date 11/17/2008 Company Name ISE Corporation Mailing Address 12302 Kerran Street Poway, CA 92064-6884 Company Description ISE is a supplier of electric and hybrid-electric drive systems to major bus and truck manufacturers. ISE is also a motor vehicle manufacturer registered with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and possesses vehicle manufacturer … Continue reading “ISE Corporation Garners $17,500,000 Series D Funding”
Eureka Therapeutics Secures $6,000,000 Series B Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b7512fbd-a3c1-4048-ab00-eddb8590ba6a&Preview=1 Date 11/17/2008 Company Name Eureka Therapeutics Mailing Address 5858 Horton Street Emeryville, CA 94608 Company Description Eureka Therapeutics, Inc. is a privately-owned, venture capital-funded biotechnology company headquartered in Emeryville, California. Eureka provides a range of services and products to partner companies pursuing therapeutic antibody treatments for disease. Our primary technology involves … Continue reading “Eureka Therapeutics Secures $6,000,000 Series B Financing”
San Diego Venture Group’s Annual PitchFest and VC Auction
Hear three finalists in SDVG’s annual business plan competition and cast your ballot during the dinner and evening activities. The SDVG will present the winner with a $20,000 check. After dinner, bid on the opportunity to spend several hours with one of the venture capitalists who’s donated their time. Open to SDVG members and non-members. … Continue reading “San Diego Venture Group’s Annual PitchFest and VC Auction”
A Practical Guide to Doing a Startup Right
An evening forum for entrepreneurs focused on issues they invariably must confront in starting their own company. Topics include deciding whether to form an LLC, “C” Corp or “S” Corp., how much stock to set aside for employees consultants board members and others, and developing the right funding strategy.
Qualcomm Townhall Meeting on 3G Technologies
Qualcomm CEO Paul Jacobs, COO Len Lauer and EVP Steve Mollenkopf discuss their vision of the wireless market in the next five years in panel discussion. CommNexus San Diego is charging $45 to pre-register, $50 at the door. Register here.
Azuro Receives $14,000,000 Series B Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=bad3abf9-c48e-4f84-8326-8597ee3b625a&Preview=1 Date 11/15/2008 Company Name Azuro Mailing Address 5201 Great America Parkway Santa Clara, CA 95054 Company Description Azuro is provider of electronic design automation (EDA) software for digital semiconductor chip design. Azuro’s unique technology enables electronics companies around the world to implement digital clock networks with significantly less manual effort and … Continue reading “Azuro Receives $14,000,000 Series B Funding”
ZipZapPlay Receives $1,100,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=de8401f1-01c3-4fb6-bbd8-e36b585dd648&Preview=1 Date 11/15/2008 Company Name ZipZapPlay Mailing Address 712 Bayswater Ave Burlingame, CA 94010 Company Description ZipZapPlay Inc is a provider of an online platform for developing Flash games. Website http://www.zipzapplay.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,100,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. M&A Terms Venture Investor … Continue reading “ZipZapPlay Receives $1,100,000 New Financing Round”
The Mechanical Zoo Receives $2,000,000 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=bf45bef3-1a53-44c0-bd9c-ec96b0f1fcbe&Preview=1 Date 11/15/2008 Company Name The Mechanical Zoo Mailing Address 138 10th Street San Francisco, CA 94103 Company Description The Mechanical Zoo was founded in late 2007 by Max Ventilla, Damon Horowitz, Nathan Stoll, and Rob Spiro. We currently have an early version of our first product running with a limited number … Continue reading “The Mechanical Zoo Receives $2,000,000 New Round”
San Diego’s Moores Gives $2.1 Million to Scripps Research Institute
Software tycoon and San Diego Padres owner John Moores has contributed $2.1 million to kick off a $50 million fund-raising initiative for The Scripps Research Institute. The San Diego facility says the campaign is intended to expand current research programs and recruit elite scientists to the institute’s laboratories in San Diego and Jupiter, FL. Moores, who co-founded … Continue reading “San Diego’s Moores Gives $2.1 Million to Scripps Research Institute”
Global Entrepreneurship Week at MIT
Next week is Global Entrepreneurship Week at MIT. A presentation about “Smart Start-Ups” caught our eye—Sherwin Greenblatt, Director of the MIT Venture Mentoring Service, who started as Bose’s only employee and eventually became Bose’s President, will describe how Bose planned and executed its commercial strategy and remained privately held by bootstrapping its growth, and how … Continue reading “Global Entrepreneurship Week at MIT”
Early Stage Mobile Companies
“Please turn off your pagers and mobile devices during the presentation.” That seems only fair, as 10 early stage mobile companies demonstrate their new mobile products. Each new company will provide a rapid-fire 5 minute presentation, followed by a social cocktail hour with product demonstrations. Presented by Mobile Monday, Boston Chapter.
Clean Energy Connections Conference and Opportunity Fair
You’ll need energy to take in all that’s on tap at this UMass Amherst event—networking, technology, policy, careers, green jobs, funding strategies—it’s all there. The Keynote Speaker is Bracken Hendricks, Senior Fellow with the Center for American Progress, co-author of Apollo’s Fire: Igniting America’s Clean Energy Economy (Island Press, 2007), and co-founder of the Apollo … Continue reading “Clean Energy Connections Conference and Opportunity Fair”
Biofuels as an Alternative to Fossil Fuel
Presented by Mintz Levin. Featured speaker Shimon Gepstein, Faculty of Biology and Head of the Technion’s William and Cynthia Marcus Family/New England Region Center for Pre-University Education, will talk about new developments in the production of biofuels as an alternative to fossil fuel, and their industrial and business applications. Register at Mintz Levin.
The War for Water
This forum is bound to make a splash, so dive in. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.) In fact, it’s billed as addressing an “important next wave in energy and climate change.” This evening forum — a joint production of the MIT Enterprise Forum of Cambridge & the MIT Energy Club — is about the opportunities and challenges … Continue reading “The War for Water”
10th Annual Massachusetts Biotechnology Investors Forum
For the first time, New England’s largest biotechnology investor forum has invited disease foundations and government grant programs to connect with the event’s traditional audiences — venture capitalists and other investment professionals, and local public and private companies. The MassBIO Investors Forum will feature a full day of programs, including expert panel discussions, individual company … Continue reading “10th Annual Massachusetts Biotechnology Investors Forum”
Web Innovators Group 20
Xconomist James Geshwiler is featured in an interactive dialog session entitled “Raising Angel Financing 101” at the December meeting of the Web Innovators Group. The program’s regular format includes self-/angel-funded startups demo’ing to the crowd in Main Dish and Side Dish showcases, and selection of an “Audience Choice” winner. The “main dish” companies presenting include: … Continue reading “Web Innovators Group 20”
Finding Financing in Cash-Strapped Times: WTIA Urban Leadership Series
The economic outlook is uncertain. A recession is ominous. Is it possible to obtain funding during these tentative financial times? On November 18, come hear what local angel investing firms and their angels have to say at the Washington Technology Industry Association’s Urban Leadership Series. This panel discussion will include Todd Dean, NW Chapter President … Continue reading “Finding Financing in Cash-Strapped Times: WTIA Urban Leadership Series”
Tuning In to the Digital Music Business: NWEN December Venture Breakfast
Get a glimpse inside the music business with Dave Dederer, founding member of Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum Seattle band The Presidents of the United States of America. Dave has served as the band’s “entrepreneur in residence” since inception and will share with us where the bodies are buried in the music business-who makes what and how they … Continue reading “Tuning In to the Digital Music Business: NWEN December Venture Breakfast”
Hutch Holiday Gala
The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is holding its annual holiday gala at 5 pm on December 6 at the Seattle Sheraton. The black-tie event features live and silent auctions, as well as dinner and dancing with more than 850 business and community leaders. To register, click here.
Science & Technology Discovery Series: UW’s Nate Mantua on Climate Change
Nate Mantua, a professor at the University of Washington, will be the featured speaker on December 12 at the Technology Alliance’s Science and Technology Discovery Series breakfast program. Mantua, an associate director of the UW Climate Impacts Group, will discuss research projections on global climate change and its impact in the Pacific Northwest. To register, … Continue reading “Science & Technology Discovery Series: UW’s Nate Mantua on Climate Change”
Supercomputing Along the Columbia River: PNNL’s Chinook Operators Crunching Digits on How to be More Green
The most powerful computer in Washington state goes by the name of Chinook, and stands along the banks of the Columbia River. It is being used for thorny computing tasks like modeling ways to more efficiently store hydrogen for fuel cells, and how to safely sequester carbon dioxide residue underground. This morning, I heard an … Continue reading “Supercomputing Along the Columbia River: PNNL’s Chinook Operators Crunching Digits on How to be More Green”
Layoffs at Mascoma, Javelin
Another day, another bundle of layoffs. Boston-based biofuels startup Mascoma is laying off between five and 10 employees, according to a report today in the Boston Globe. That’s about 10 percent of the company’s staff, which numbers around 100.* Mascoma, which is building demonstration fermentation plants to convert sugars from high-cellulose material such as wood … Continue reading “Layoffs at Mascoma, Javelin”
Where Innovators Meet Up: The Greater Seattle Coffee Cluster
Map and list updated Dec. 19: Want to know where your favorite VC gets his or her morning latte? How about where tech and life sciences entrepreneurs gather to network and discuss ideas? If you’re looking to rub shoulders with the technological elite—or if you’re just looking for a quiet cafe to have a meeting … Continue reading “Where Innovators Meet Up: The Greater Seattle Coffee Cluster”
Pfizer Starts Stem Cell R&D Unit
Drug giant Pfizer (NYSE:[[ticker:PFE]]) has announced the launch of Pfizer Regenerative Medicine, an independent research unit focused on discovering stem cell treatments for multiple diseases. New York-based Pfizer says the research unit will be co-located in Cambridge, U.K., and at its existing R&D operation— Research Technology Centre—in Cambridge, MA.
Kraft Group Plans Biotech Park
According to a report yesterday in the Sun Chronicle, a newspaper serving the Attleboro and Foxborough areas southwest of Boston, the Kraft Group is seeking tenants for a planned 1.6-million-square-foot biotech office park to be located on land near Foxborough’s Gillette Stadium. The Kraft Group owns the New England Patriots football team. It recently shut … Continue reading “Kraft Group Plans Biotech Park”
New England Biotech Group Kicks Off
The nascent New England Biotech Association, an umbrella group comprised of trade associations from all six New England states, held its first board meeting yesterday, the Boston Globe reports. The group is chaired by Paula Newton, President of the New Hampshire Bio/Medical Council. According to its website, “NEBA is committed to ensuring the region remains … Continue reading “New England Biotech Group Kicks Off”
Oil Wildcatter Comes Clean on Green Technology Investments
Jay Potter has been in the financial services business for more than 20 years, mostly as the president and principal of Nexcore Capital, a San Diego securities dealer and investment banking firm. For much of that time, though, Potter was a wildcatter. He’d raise capital from investors on behalf of companies like Sterling Energy Resources … Continue reading “Oil Wildcatter Comes Clean on Green Technology Investments”
Know What Your Tech and Life Sciences Executive Peers Are Paid? Compensation Study Tells All—Plus New Insights on Clean-Tech CEO Pay
It’s too early to know the full impact of the economic meltdown on executive compensation at private technology and life sciences companies. Alas, 2008—or at least the first three fiscal quarters of it—could be viewed next year as the end of the good old days of executive compensation. Still, for those of you who want … Continue reading “Know What Your Tech and Life Sciences Executive Peers Are Paid? Compensation Study Tells All—Plus New Insights on Clean-Tech CEO Pay”
Last Call on Registration and First Call on Presentations for Xconomy Forum on Energy Innovation
With the Xconomy Forum on Energy Innovation fast approaching (the event will be held on December 2 at the British Consulate in Cambridge), I want to give a quick update on what’s shaping up to be an exciting—and sold out (see below)—evening. I also want to put out the call to anyone who might want … Continue reading “Last Call on Registration and First Call on Presentations for Xconomy Forum on Energy Innovation”
Comfortably Un-Numb: Novalar Pitches Drug To Reverse Dental Anesthesia
Getting a shot of anesthesia at the dentist’s office is not most people’s idea of fun. Once that’s over, the cavity gets filled, or gums get power-cleaned, then patients usually have the dubious pleasure of waiting five or six hours with a numb mouth that’s not much good for talking or drinking. If you aren’t … Continue reading “Comfortably Un-Numb: Novalar Pitches Drug To Reverse Dental Anesthesia”
Accelerator Scores New Investment From PPD, Adds Clinical Trial Expertise
Accelerator has lured another high-profile investor into the fold. The Seattle-based biotech startup incubator has collected about $4.5 million from PPD, the global contract research organization that runs clinical trials and animal tests for pharmaceutical companies. PPD’s founder and CEO, Fred Eshelman, will join the Accelerator board of directors as part of the deal. The … Continue reading “Accelerator Scores New Investment From PPD, Adds Clinical Trial Expertise”
Stewart Parker Leaves Targeted, Biotech Cash Gets Tight, Dendreon Thinks Beyond Provenge & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News
It was one of those cold, rainy November weeks in Seattle, and the headlines were pretty grim in local biotech. —Targeted Genetics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:TGEN]]) will never be the same. That was the big news this week, when H. Stewart Parker, the founder, CEO, and ballast during some very rocky years, resigned from the ailing Seattle … Continue reading “Stewart Parker Leaves Targeted, Biotech Cash Gets Tight, Dendreon Thinks Beyond Provenge & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News”
Attention, Startups: Move to New England. Your Gay Employees Will Thank You.
If you’re trying to decide where to build your new tech startup, California obviously has a lot of attractions. You’ll be close to the heart of the venture capital community. Non-compete agreements, which are said to slow innovation in states like Massachusetts, are illegal in the Golden State. The weather is beautiful year-round. And let’s … Continue reading “Attention, Startups: Move to New England. Your Gay Employees Will Thank You.”
Flipswap Secures New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=effe2c6d-b6d4-4f8c-b3ec-70962ba753ff&Preview=1 Date 11/14/2008 Company Name Flipswap Mailing Address 2771 Plaza Del Amo Torrance, CA 90503 Company Description Flipswap makes it easy to give mobile phones a second shot at life by offering fast, free and eco-friendly ways to trade them in. The average American buys a new cell phone every 12 months, … Continue reading “Flipswap Secures New Round”
Danotek Motion Technologies Lands $13,200,000 Series B Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b0cf267d-dfc9-4e0a-9db9-5b2e019e43b4&Preview=1 Date 11/14/2008 Company Name Danotek Motion Technologies Mailing Address 8680 N. Haggerty Road Canton, MI 48187 Company Description Welcome to Danotek Motion Technologies, LLC—an industry leading engineering and manufacturing company that specializes in advanced electro-mechanical drives, motors, and digital sensor/sensorless control systems. At Danotek, we are committed to developing fully optimized … Continue reading “Danotek Motion Technologies Lands $13,200,000 Series B Funding Round”
cFares Garners $3,100,000 Series A Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6cabfa9d-791d-4b8c-a44f-cc139748223c&Preview=1 Date 11/14/2008 Company Name cFares Mailing Address 3000 Bridge Parkway Redwood City, CA 94065 Company Description cFares is a membership-based Internet travel site. Website http://www.cfares.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $3,100,000 Transaction Round Series A Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. M&A Terms Venture Investor Claremont Creek Ventures Venture … Continue reading “cFares Garners $3,100,000 Series A Financing”
Connect Most Innovative Products Awards Luncheon
Connect hosts its 21st annual Most Innovative Product Awards luncheon and exhibit, San Diego’s Oscars for local technology innovation. Awards will be issued in eight categories. Register for the event here.
Metabasis Closes Satellite Office in Michigan and Lays Off 35 People
In a move to preserve cash and reduce expenses, San Diego’s Metabasis (NASDAQ: MBRX) announced plans to close its facility in Ann Arbor, MI, and eliminate about 35 jobs there, almost a third of the company’s staff. After the cutbacks, the company will have about 90 employees. The biotech, which is developing novel small molecule drugs … Continue reading “Metabasis Closes Satellite Office in Michigan and Lays Off 35 People”
Ontela Goes Live on Verizon
Seattle-based Ontela announced today that it has partnered with Denver, CO-based Photobucket to provide automatic photo uploading to the Web on Verizon Wireless phones. Verizon is the largest wireless carrier to adopt Ontela’s technology so far. The service, which costs $2.99 a month, sends users’ pictures from their phone to their Photobucket account.
Ardea Biosciences Secures Venture Loan
Ardea Biosciences (Nasdaq:RDEA) says it has entered into an $8 million growth capital loan agreement with Oxford Finance Corp. and Silicon Valley Bank. Ardea President and CEO Barry Quart says the loan, which includes warrants entitling the lenders to buy 56,000 shares to 2015, provides greater flexibility in “ongoing partnering discussions” and allows the drug development company to fund operations into … Continue reading “Ardea Biosciences Secures Venture Loan”
Cardium Completes Debt Financing Transaction
Cardium Therapeutics (Amex: CXM) says it raised $6 million in debt financing that includes warrants to purchase shares of its common stock. Cardium says the Barone Group acted as lead investor in the deal, which replaces a prior debt financing that was paid off in the previous quarter. Empire Asset Management acted as financial advisor … Continue reading “Cardium Completes Debt Financing Transaction”
Microsoft Spins Out Sabi
Microsoft announced today that it has helped launch an educational gaming startup called Sabi, which is based in Kirkland, WA. Sabi’s technology has its origins in Microsoft Research and was licensed through Microsoft’s IP Ventures program. The startup, led by Margaret Johnson, has launched its first interactive drawing and reading game, called ItzaBitza.
.406 Ventures Leads $12M Digitalsmiths Funding
Video analytics and search startup Digitalsmiths has raised $12 million in a Series B round led by Boston’s .406 Ventures, the Research Triangle Park, NC-based company announced today. Previous investors The Aurora Funds and Chrysalis Ventures also joined the round.
Microsoft’s Life Sciences Game Plan: Use IT to Usher in the World of Predictive, Personalized Medicine
Nobody ever accused Bruce Montgomery of being a mealy-mouthed, politically-correct businessman. On Microsoft’s own turf, he offered some free advice last night about what to do with an extremely messed-up healthcare IT industry. “If Microsoft really wants to own the world, create a standardized electronic medical records system and give it away for free the … Continue reading “Microsoft’s Life Sciences Game Plan: Use IT to Usher in the World of Predictive, Personalized Medicine”
The Xconomy Layoff Litany
It’s a reality of life in the risky high-tech world: even in good times, many startups go extinct. But when the economic environment turns harsh, as it certainly has this autumn, natural selection starts to speed up—with smaller, less established ventures as the first casualties. Even the companies fit enough to survive tough times find … Continue reading “The Xconomy Layoff Litany”
Tracking San Diego Tech Layoffs
Cash is king. It’s an old adage. But in good times, people seem to take it as meaning that spending cash is king. In hard times like the present, it’s all about conservation of cash. And as the economic woes from Wall Street spill out into the tech sector, companies are announcing widespread layoffs as … Continue reading “Tracking San Diego Tech Layoffs”
Tallying Seattle’s Tech & Life Sciences Layoffs
The economics headlines can sound awfully abstract, until people start losing their jobs. We’re seeing a lot more talented tech and biotech workers heading to the unemployment lines, and frankly, with the dwindling cash reserves at many companies, we expect to see more to come. Rather than talk about the latest half-percentage point increase in … Continue reading “Tallying Seattle’s Tech & Life Sciences Layoffs”
The Boston Tech Layoff Tracker
For the longest time, it seemed that New England was showing some measure of immunity to the economic stagnation settling over the rest of the country. Last December we wrote about a staffing crunch so severe that the region’s tech companies were having to invent creative ways to recruit employees away from one another, and … Continue reading “The Boston Tech Layoff Tracker”
Flybridge Leads $8.25M Transpera Financing
Boston venture firm Flybridge Capital Partners has led an $8.25 million Series B round of financing in Transpera, a Santa Monica, CA-based provider of software to deliver Web video and advertising to mobile phones, according to a company statement. The firm’s second round of funding included investments from new backer Labrador Ventures and repeat investors … Continue reading “Flybridge Leads $8.25M Transpera Financing”
Sapphire Energy, Backed by Bill Gates, Tries to Tone Down the Hype as it Makes Gasoline From Algae
Sapphire Energy has not provided many details about its technology since CEO Jason Pyle stepped into the limelight six months ago to announce the San Diego startup has developed a revolutionary process for turning pond scum into high-octane gasoline. “I have no intention of being secretive,” Pyle told me at the inaugural networking meeting of … Continue reading “Sapphire Energy, Backed by Bill Gates, Tries to Tone Down the Hype as it Makes Gasoline From Algae”