Xconomy Needs An Entrepreneur-Tennis Player to Take on the VCs

With the second annual VC vs. Entrepreneur Davis Cup 2008 Challenge just around the corner—set for the afternoon of September 16 on the grass at Longwood—Xconomy is looking for one more entrepreneur to round out its doubles team. This is a golden opportunity to serve up your message to top VCs (pun intended). More importantly—really, … Continue reading “Xconomy Needs An Entrepreneur-Tennis Player to Take on the VCs”

The Answer, My Friend, Is Certainly Not Blowing in the Wind—or the Corn

This is the last of my articles taking cleantech investing to task sector by sector (keep the hate mail coming, hippies!). The next few will focus on some areas I really like, including storage, solar thermal, water, and others. But first, a bit more constructive bludgeoning. This is a bit of a “two for one … Continue reading “The Answer, My Friend, Is Certainly Not Blowing in the Wind—or the Corn”

Pharmas Flock to Sermo, Biogen Idec Takes Another Tack with MS, $400M More for the Broad Institute, & More Life Sciences News

This week’s Boston-area life sciences news has a little bit of everything—venture deals, new drugs, lawsuits, and a big-time donation. And for the entrepreneurs among you looking for an alternative to the typical venture capital firm, check out Ryan’s directory of corporate VC operations. —The ranks of New England life sciences companies with their own … Continue reading “Pharmas Flock to Sermo, Biogen Idec Takes Another Tack with MS, $400M More for the Broad Institute, & More Life Sciences News”

The “Augmenix” Question: Can Amar Sawhney Do It Again with Latest Hydrogel Startup?

Amar Sawhney has turned a number of products based on his hydrogel inventions into FDA-approved products and rich paydays for his investors. With several successful hydrogel ventures already under his belt, Sawhney is at it again with Augmenix, a Waltham, MA, medical-devices startup developing the versatile materials for an unproven use: To prevent radiation damage … Continue reading “The “Augmenix” Question: Can Amar Sawhney Do It Again with Latest Hydrogel Startup?”

Calling Bay Area Investors: Seattle Entrepreneurs Want To See More of You, and Help Build Your Brand

Lately I’ve been hearing from the tech-startup community about the need to get venture capitalists from the San Francisco Bay Area to spend more time in Seattle—and with the companies they invest in here. The topic first came up during a coffee chat with Kevin Merritt, founder and CEO of the social-database site Blist. (Back … Continue reading “Calling Bay Area Investors: Seattle Entrepreneurs Want To See More of You, and Help Build Your Brand”

Virtual Computer Exits Stealth Mode—Sort Of

A Westford, MA, startup called Virtual Computer threw off its contentless stealth name on Tuesday (it had been called “Old Road Computing Corporation,” which wasn’t even an allusion to its address, on LAN Drive) and revealed that it’s working on virtualization technology for corporate PCs. But that’s about as far as the company went. For … Continue reading “Virtual Computer Exits Stealth Mode—Sort Of”

Acucela Strikes Deal With Otsuka Pharmaceutical to Develop Drug for Eye Disease

Acucela has struck another big deal with its Japanese connections. The Bothell, WA-based biotech company said today it has agreed to form a partnership with Tokyo-based Otsuka Pharmaceutical to develop its lead drug candidate for the top cause of blindness among the elderly—the “dry” form of macular degeneration. The deal has sweet terms for Acucela. … Continue reading “Acucela Strikes Deal With Otsuka Pharmaceutical to Develop Drug for Eye Disease”

Vanu, Inc. Lands $32,000,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a770aa75-fc0e-4f8b-9bd1-10d5a40a0131&Preview=1 Date 9/4/2008 Company Name Vanu, Inc. Mailing Address One Cambridge Center Cambridge, MA 02142 Company Description Vanu® software radio is the first wireless infrastructure solution that enables individual base stations to simultaneously operate GSM, CDMA, iDEN and beyond. With wireless standards developed entirely in software instead of specialized, single-purpose hardware, the … Continue reading “Vanu, Inc. Lands $32,000,000 New Funding”

Histogenics Corporation Garners $9,000,000 Series B Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=5547a2a4-7653-4555-a866-d7e9087f0773&Preview=1 Date 9/4/2008 Company Name Histogenics Corporation Mailing Address 830 Winter Street, 3rd Floor Waltham, MA 02451 Company Description Histogenics Corporation’s approach to cartilage regeneration is to use a technology platform that employs advances in cell biology, tissue culture, engineering, and materials science to affect tissue repair. Website http://www.histogenics.com Transaction Type Venture … Continue reading “Histogenics Corporation Garners $9,000,000 Series B Funding Round”

Microfabrica, Inc. Lands $22,500,000 Series B Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=74a597d8-eb9e-45fa-9661-472f08cbe411&Preview=1 Date 9/4/2008 Company Name Microfabrica, Inc. Mailing Address 7911 Haskell Ave Van Nuys, CA 91406 Company Description Microfabrica is an Application-Specific Microdevice (ASMD”) supplier building custom components to specific customer requirements. Website http://www.microfabrica.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $22,500,000 Transaction Round Series B Proceeds Purposes The Series B investment will … Continue reading “Microfabrica, Inc. Lands $22,500,000 Series B Round”

Fonality Garners $12,000,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ef95ba91-8ed0-47b6-9374-4f94c9744ba1&Preview=1 Date 9/4/2008 Company Name Fonality Mailing Address 200 Corporate Pointe Los Angeles, CA 90230 Company Description Fonality believes that a sea change is upon us in these transitory telecom waters. As customers migrate toward IP Telephony, the business phone system is becoming another extension of the business computer system. This process … Continue reading “Fonality Garners $12,000,000 New Financing”

Zimbio Receives $6,800,000 Series A Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7ef6d0a8-6054-46aa-a084-7df8177107af&Preview=1 Date 9/4/2008 Company Name Zimbio Mailing Address 990 Industrial Road Redwood City, CA 94070 Company Description We enable our contributors to build wikizines – interactive magazines that anyone can create or edit – with coverage of current events, cultural reference points, and niche areas of interest. We make it simple for … Continue reading “Zimbio Receives $6,800,000 Series A Funding”

Raptr Lands $12,000,000 Series A Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c37c35ac-09e8-42df-b75a-ce20f2711fef&Preview=1 Date 9/4/2008 Company Name Raptr Mailing Address 717 N Shoreline Blvd Mountain View, CA 94043 Company Description Raptr is building a new way for people to play and discover games. Our goal is to make playing games more fun and social. Website http://www.raptr.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $12,000,000 Transaction … Continue reading “Raptr Lands $12,000,000 Series A Financing”

Broad Institute Gets $400M Endowment From Namesakes

Updated Sept. 4 (see below): The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, which is focused on genomic research, is planning to announce Thursday morning its receipt of a $400 million endowment from its founding benefactors Eli and Edythe Broad, according to well-placed sources. The $400 million is expected to enhance the resources that investigators at … Continue reading “Broad Institute Gets $400M Endowment From Namesakes”

A Who’s Who of Geeking Out at Nathan Myhrvold’s Intellectual Ventures

When I visited Nathan Myhrvold last month at the Intellectual Ventures lab in Bellevue, WA, I didn’t get a chance to meet one of the lab’s most distinguished residents, science-fiction novelist Neal Stephenson. Myhrvold mentioned him during our meeting, but it was too early in the day to find him in the building. Stephenson, best … Continue reading “A Who’s Who of Geeking Out at Nathan Myhrvold’s Intellectual Ventures”

Massachusetts Housing and Economic Development Department Opening Beijing Office

The Massachusetts Department of Housing and Economic Development is opening a new office in Beijing, the agency said today in a statement. The office, led by Daniel Ding, will maintain a satellite contact office in Shanghai that previously had been shared with four other states. Ding will concentrate on helping Massachusetts companies take advantage of … Continue reading “Massachusetts Housing and Economic Development Department Opening Beijing Office”

Daily TIPs: Bandwidth Limits, Lights Out Boston, Where are the Sunspots, & More

Conventions Draw Citizen Journalists It’s not just the presidential candidates who are taking advantage of new technologies in this year’s campaign. As CNET News tells us, citizen journalists are recording and broadcasting events in unprecedented numbers and formats. While some upload raw footage of protests and arrests to websites, others are using a cell phone … Continue reading “Daily TIPs: Bandwidth Limits, Lights Out Boston, Where are the Sunspots, & More”

New Roomba Vacuums Tackle Pet-Hair Woes

Sadly, my old Roomba Red robot vacuum cleaner is now collecting dust—and not in the way it’s supposed to. Its rechargeable battery no longer recharges, and iRobot charges $70 for a replacement. I figure that’s money I might as well put toward a newer model. And now I’m sorely tempted: today Bedford, MA-based iRobot launched … Continue reading “New Roomba Vacuums Tackle Pet-Hair Woes”

Take You Out to the Ball Game? Sox Will Tie the Sellout Record Today—and We Have Two Tickets for Xconomy Fans

UPDATE: TICKETS GONE! THANKS FOR THE RESPONSE! The Sox are driving for the playoffs, and today they will notch the 455th consecutive Fenway Park sellout to tie the major league record set by the Cleveland Indians in a stretch that ran from 1995-2001. To celebrate, we are giving away two bleacher seats to the historic … Continue reading “Take You Out to the Ball Game? Sox Will Tie the Sellout Record Today—and We Have Two Tickets for Xconomy Fans”

ZymoGenetics Hands Over Atacicept Rights to Partner, Merck KGaA

ZymoGenetics is making a sacrifice to conserve cash. The Seattle biotech company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ZGEN]]) said today it has agreed to hand over atacicept—its leading drug candidate for autoimmune diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis—to its partner, Darmstadt, Germany-based Merck KGaA. The move means that the German partner will now have to pay for … Continue reading “ZymoGenetics Hands Over Atacicept Rights to Partner, Merck KGaA”

Corporate Life Sciences VCs on the Rise in New England—the List

Some of the most exclusive clubs in the Boston area aren’t actually clubs at all, they are venture capital firms, where partners hold the power to turn ideas into companies—and make themselves a lot of money in the process. So perhaps it’s not surprising that some big companies would want to get in on the … Continue reading “Corporate Life Sciences VCs on the Rise in New England—the List”

In Amazon’s Purchase of Shelfari, a Possible Front in the Battle with Borders—and a Triumph for Social Book Sites

Last week, we reported that Amazon is acquiring Seattle-based Shelfari, a literary social networking site. We also noted that Cambridge, MA-based LibraryThing (which Amazon also owns 40 percent of) had some harsh words for its West Coast rival. John Cook of the Seattle P-I provided some useful insights and comments here (e.g., the deal is … Continue reading “In Amazon’s Purchase of Shelfari, a Possible Front in the Battle with Borders—and a Triumph for Social Book Sites”

Old Road Computing Secures $6,000,000 Series A Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d0746881-f4eb-4ed2-a177-3006db55bd89&Preview=1 Date 9/3/2008 Company Name Old Road Computing Mailing Address 3 Lan Drive Westford, ME 01886 Company Description Old Road Computing (stealth name) is an exciting new start-up in Westford, MA which will solve the growing problem of managing mobile devices on enterprise networks. Using technology only recently available on these platforms … Continue reading “Old Road Computing Secures $6,000,000 Series A Financing”

Interlace Medical Inc. Garners $7,000,000 Series B Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=917681f6-2058-42de-8e9b-7c95a15065c7&Preview=1 Date 9/3/2008 Company Name Interlace Medical Inc. Mailing Address Undisclosed Newton, MA 02462 Company Description The company is developing medical devices for the in-office polypectomy and myomectomy market. Website Undisclosed Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $7,000,000 Transaction Round Series B Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. M&A Terms Venture … Continue reading “Interlace Medical Inc. Garners $7,000,000 Series B Funding Round”

ReputationDefender Garners $2,600,000 Series A Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=37164c17-2b16-45d9-b20e-1a3491729bcd&Preview=1 Date 9/3/2008 Company Name ReputationDefender Mailing Address 2688 Middlefield Road Building C Redwood City, CA 94063 Company Description ReputationDefender was created in 2006 to defend your good name on the Internet. Today, ReputationDefender has grown to be the world’s first comprehensive online reputation management and privacy company. We’re the most experienced … Continue reading “ReputationDefender Garners $2,600,000 Series A Financing”

Osprey Pharmaceuticals Lands $11,000,000 Series A Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e5000d0f-9ee6-4678-a853-8767e8005cba&Preview=1 Date 9/3/2008 Company Name Osprey Pharmaceuticals Mailing Address 425 California Street San Francisco, CA 94104 Company Description Osprey Pharmaceuticals USA, together with its Montreal, Canada partner, Osprey Pharmaceuticals, Ltd., is developing a series of novel fusion protein therapeutics which selectively target and neutralize activated leukocytes that are implicated in a variety … Continue reading “Osprey Pharmaceuticals Lands $11,000,000 Series A Round”

Aicent Lands New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c8380ee2-56ef-42aa-821c-aae5bc8cf5b4&Preview=1 Date 9/3/2008 Company Name Aicent Mailing Address 2540 North First Street 2nd Floor San Jose, CA 95131 Company Description Leveraging our strong expertise in IP technologies, GSM/CDMA data and Internet network management, wireless data solutions, and telecommunications services, Aicent is playing a critical role in the convergence of the Internet and … Continue reading “Aicent Lands New Financing Round”

WTIA’s Technology In Focus Series: Cashing in on Web Services

While display advertising has been the preferred revenue engine for web services, even destinations with millions of users like MySpace and Facebook have had difficulty achieving profitability with this approach. At the same time, advertising is not always welcomed by users of business-related applications. What are the emerging, successful revenue models that eschew display ads? … Continue reading “WTIA’s Technology In Focus Series: Cashing in on Web Services”

WTIA’s Sunset Over Summer Networking Event

The Washington Technology Industry Association will host its “Sunset Over Summer” networking event on Wednesday, Sept. 10th. It will be at the Terrace Garden (Red Lion Hotel) located in the heart of downtown Seattle. This outdoor patio oasis offers a haven to enjoy drinks and appetizers while watching a golden hue fall over Elliot Bay. … Continue reading “WTIA’s Sunset Over Summer Networking Event”

WTIA’s State-of-the-State on Venture Capital in Washington

Want an inside look at the state of the local VC market? What’s hot? What’s not? Interested in hearing what VC’s look for as they evaluate companies to invest in? Want to pick the brain of some local Venture Capitalists? Then join your peers for breakfast on September 9th as the WTIA introduces its Urban … Continue reading “WTIA’s State-of-the-State on Venture Capital in Washington”

Science & Technology Discovery Series, Hosted by the Technology Alliance

Moe Khaleel from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will discuss computing for accelerating the energy technology development cycle. Presentations are held monthly, September through May, Friday mornings from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. at the Rainier Club in downtown Seattle. The intimate setting, with approximately 70 attendees per breakfast, includes a breakfast buffet, time for networking with … Continue reading “Science & Technology Discovery Series, Hosted by the Technology Alliance”

Science & Technology Discovery Series, Hosted by the Technology Alliance

Dr. Colleen Delaney from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center will discuss using umbilical cord blood to save lives. Discovery Series presentations are held monthly, September through May, Friday mornings from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. at the Rainier Club in downtown Seattle. The intimate setting, with approximately 70 attendees per breakfast, includes a breakfast buffet, … Continue reading “Science & Technology Discovery Series, Hosted by the Technology Alliance”

IRobot Co-Founder Brooks Leaves to Launch New Robotics Firm Aiming to Revitalize U.S. Workforce

MIT roboticist Rod Brooks, one of three co-founders of iRobot and mentor to the other two (chairman Helen Greiner and CEO Colin Angle), is stepping down from his role as the company’s CTO in order to launch his own robotics firm, iRobot announced today. Brooks’ startup, called Heartland Robotics, will focus on industrial and workplace … Continue reading “IRobot Co-Founder Brooks Leaves to Launch New Robotics Firm Aiming to Revitalize U.S. Workforce”

GT Solar Wins $173M Contract with Korean Chemical Firm

In a call with journalists after the release of his company’s first-ever quarterly earnings report last Tuesday, Tom Zarella, CEO of GT Solar (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SOLR]]), the Merrimack, NH-based maker of equipment for manufacturing solar photovoltaic cells, said the company had just won a $177 million contract to supply 48 polysilicon reactors to DC Chemical of … Continue reading “GT Solar Wins $173M Contract with Korean Chemical Firm”

Cyberposium 14 — Emerging and Converging

Cyberposium 14? What sounds like a new addition on the periodic table is actually a conference organized by current MBA students at the Harvard Business School to facilitate “an interactive network of current and future business leaders to engage in a provocative dialog about technology and its impact on business and society.” More information on … Continue reading “Cyberposium 14 — Emerging and Converging”

Daily TIPs: Science Answers, Face Transplants, Nasty Nitrogen, & More

Obama Answers Science Quiz Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has responded to 14 questions about science and technology policy, posed by a group that had been calling on candidates to debate science issues. Wired summarizes his answers, which include a promise to increase funding for basic research and to lift the Bush administration’s restrictions on … Continue reading “Daily TIPs: Science Answers, Face Transplants, Nasty Nitrogen, & More”

IRobot Wins Open-Ended, $200M Army Contract: Could Extend Beyond Packbot

Bedford, MA-based iRobot (NASDAQ: [[ticker:IRBT]]) said today that the U.S. Army has awarded it a contract for military robots, spare parts, training, and repair services that could bring the company up to $200 million over the next 5 years and give the Army more flexibility to order robots for new missions. The Army uses iRobot’s … Continue reading “IRobot Wins Open-Ended, $200M Army Contract: Could Extend Beyond Packbot”

Oncothyreon To Sell Stock, Bet Resources on Developing Two Cancer Drugs

Oncothyreon, a Seattle biotech company developing drugs against cancer, said today it is planning to sell 5.1 million more shares of stock in the second week of September to raise cash for its treatments in development. The company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ONTY]]) also said it plans to concentrate its resources on developing two cancer drugs, and on … Continue reading “Oncothyreon To Sell Stock, Bet Resources on Developing Two Cancer Drugs”

Gaming Away the Holiday Weekend at the Penny Arcade Expo (Part 2)

There’s nothing like three straight days of a massive video-game expo to get your mind off work. OK, I didn’t go to the whole thing, but I got a decent sample of the Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) at the convention center in downtown Seattle—North America’s biggest trade show for computer and video games and a … Continue reading “Gaming Away the Holiday Weekend at the Penny Arcade Expo (Part 2)”

Targanta Antibiotic Shown Effective in Less-Frequent Dose

Targanta Therapeutics, the Cambridge,MA-based developer of potent hospital-based antibiotics, is on the rise today. The company’s oritavancin treatment, in a single dose or an infrequent dose, showed comparable safety and effectiveness to a three-to-seven day course of therapy tested in previous trials against complicated skin infections. The new results came from a mid-stage clinical trial … Continue reading “Targanta Antibiotic Shown Effective in Less-Frequent Dose”

Hepregen Raises $3 Million To Screen Drugs for Liver Damage

Hepregen, an MIT spinoff company developing a way to screen drugs in development for liver toxicity, has raised $3 million out of a $5 million first round of venture capital, according to a regulatory filing cited by Private Equity Hub. The backers of the company include Battelle Ventures and Innovation Valley Partners. Sangeeta Bhatia and … Continue reading “Hepregen Raises $3 Million To Screen Drugs for Liver Damage”

ZymoGenetics, Bayer Drug Vying for European Regulatory Approval

ZymoGenetics is going to try to crack the European pharmaceutical market. The Seattle biotech company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ZGEN]]) said today that its partner, Bayer, has filed an application with the European Union to market Recothrom, a drug for excess surgical bleeding. The filing means ZymoGenetics will collect a $5 million milestone payment from Bayer (NYSE: [[ticker:BAY]]). … Continue reading “ZymoGenetics, Bayer Drug Vying for European Regulatory Approval”

Teradyne to Pay $250M for Eagle Test Systems

Teradyne (NYSE: [[ticker:TER]]) has agreed to pay approximately $250 million ($15.65 a share) to acquire Eagle Test Systems (NASDAQ: [[ticker:EGLT]]) of Illinois, the North Reading, MA-based maker of electronics testing equipment announced today. Teradyne said it had secured bridge financing—the amount was not disclosed—to help complete the deal. Eagle makes analog, mixed-signal and radio frequency … Continue reading “Teradyne to Pay $250M for Eagle Test Systems”

Investors Radio in $32M for Vanu, JumpTap’s Bank Balance Hops up by $26M, Quanterix Pinpoints $15M, & More Deals News

While many of us were cutting out early for the holiday weekend, and to enjoy the last week of summer, New England tech and life sciences firms were cutting a surprising number of deals. —Tufts spinoff Quanterix closed the second half of a $15 million financing round from Arch Venture Partners, Bain Capital Ventures, and … Continue reading “Investors Radio in $32M for Vanu, JumpTap’s Bank Balance Hops up by $26M, Quanterix Pinpoints $15M, & More Deals News”

Ikaria Developing Drug For “Hibernation-on-Demand,” Could Pull Off Biggest Biotech IPO Ever, VC Says

Hibernation-on-demand is one of those enduring concepts of science fiction. If you can slow down breathing, heartbeat, and other metabolic functions without going too far and suffocating people, you could possibly send them on long voyages into space. Here on Earth, it might buy time for a surgeon trying to save someone before he or … Continue reading “Ikaria Developing Drug For “Hibernation-on-Demand,” Could Pull Off Biggest Biotech IPO Ever, VC Says”