MobileCamp Boston

An “un-conference” organized by the people at BarCamp, MobileCamp Boston will be a day of attendee-driven discussions between developers, companies, marketers, and pundits on all things mobile, including interfaces, location-based services, mobile Web design, and integrating SMS into Web applications. Information here; registration here. Attendance is limited to 100 (and it’s looking like there are … Continue reading “MobileCamp Boston”

Web Innovators Group 17

Per the usual format—pre-funded startups will demonstrate their products and services in several “main dish” and “side dish” presentations. Always a fruitful and fun evening, organized by Venrock’s David Beisel. Free; RSVP here.

T2 Biosystems: Can a Who’s Who of Local Biotech Change the Way Disease is Diagnosed?

For a journalist I’m pretty bad with names, but I had no problem recognizing the ones on T2 Biosystems’ roster. The founders of the Cambridge, MA-based medical diagnostics startup, which sprung from research at MIT and Mass General Hospital, are pretty much local legends. Take Tyler Jacks, the director of MIT’s Center for Cancer Research … Continue reading “T2 Biosystems: Can a Who’s Who of Local Biotech Change the Way Disease is Diagnosed?”

How To Get Paid for Turning Off the Lights: The Full Interview with EnerNOC’s David Brewster

On Wednesday we published a profile of EnerNOC (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ENOC]]), the Boston-based company whose rip-roaring 2007 IPO got investors excited about the idea of using new Internet-based control capabilities to reduce electricity consumption at key commercial and industrial sites during times of peak demand. (In effect, companies that join EnerNOC’s “demand reduction” pool get paid … Continue reading “How To Get Paid for Turning Off the Lights: The Full Interview with EnerNOC’s David Brewster”

Archemix Pulls IPO

There goes another one: Cambridge, MA’s Archemix has withdrawn its planned IPO, citing unfavorable market conditions. The deal was to have been worth up to $63 million. VentureBeat Life Sciences has a good look at the quickly worsening environment for biotech offerings, in case you’re not bummed out enough already.

Biogen Idec: Earnings Up, Gauntlet Down, Headhunters All Around?

We at Xconomy are anxiously waiting to see what activist investor Carl Icahn has to say about the B word (Biogen Idec) when he puts bits to screen on his newly announced blog. But in the meantime, yesterday’s quarterly earnings call gave us a little taste of what Biogen CEO Jim Mullen has to say … Continue reading “Biogen Idec: Earnings Up, Gauntlet Down, Headhunters All Around?”

Boston.TV Chronicles Battle of the Tech Bands

We always knew we had it in us to look glamorous on TV. We just needed some hotshot video producers and editors to bring out our inner Ryan Seacrests. Mark Woit, son of Xconomy’s publisher Steve Woit, shot some great video at our big Battle of the Tech Bands event at the Middle East on … Continue reading “Boston.TV Chronicles Battle of the Tech Bands”

No More Lost Tools: Ford and ThingMagic Team Up on RFID Tracking System for Truck Beds

Carpenters, contractors, plumbers, and construction foremen are usually as tough as the pickups they drive to work. Until they leave one of their tools behind at home or at a job site. Then they cry like babies. Just kidding. But lost or forgotten tools are a serious nuisance for these workers. Ford knows, because it … Continue reading “No More Lost Tools: Ford and ThingMagic Team Up on RFID Tracking System for Truck Beds”

IBM Counters Suggestion in Economic Report That It’s Sending Massachusetts Jobs Offshore

We got an interesting e-mail on Tuesday from the global communications staff at IBM. The company was concerned about the message some readers might be taking away from an economic report published last Friday, the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s 2007 Index of the Massachusetts Innovation Economy. That report’s executive summary emphasized the growing challenges for Massachusetts … Continue reading “IBM Counters Suggestion in Economic Report That It’s Sending Massachusetts Jobs Offshore”

Cequent Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Garners $4,500,000 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e661692a-8cc9-4a3a-bf21-11f3794d2dda&Preview=1 Date 2/7/2008 Company Name Cequent Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Mailing Address One Kendall Square, Building 700, First Floor Cambridge, MA 02139 Company Description Cequent Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an early-stage biopharmaceutical company developing new clinically compatible therapies based on RNA interference (RNAi). Cequent is focusing its efforts on the pre-clinical development of products to … Continue reading “Cequent Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Garners $4,500,000 New Financing Round”

OraMetrix Receives $20,000,000 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8edb45b1-a905-4505-959e-c04e4c350a1b&Preview=1 Date 2/7/2008 Company Name OraMetrix Mailing Address 2350 Campbell Creek Blvd. Richardson, TX 75082 Company Description Our proprietary technology system, the SureSmile system, represents a significant leap forward in orthodontics because it allows the use of precision digital tools throughout all phases of the orthodontic treatment process – diagnosis, treatment planning … Continue reading “OraMetrix Receives $20,000,000 New Financing Round”

Dynogen Goes Public Via Reverse Merger

Waltham, MA-based Dynogen announced today that it will go public in a reverse merger with a subsidiary of California’s Apex Bioventures. The subsidiary, Apex Bioventures Acquisition (AMEX: [[ticker:PEX]]) was set up for the purpose of acquiring a private firm. The Boston Business Journal has a nice run-down of the details of the somewhat unusual deal, … Continue reading “Dynogen Goes Public Via Reverse Merger”

State Awards Program Aims to Hasten Technologies’ Journey From Lab to Market

Ten researchers at seven Massachusetts universities and research institutions—working in such areas as biotechnology, medicine, nanotech, and clean energy—are the latest beneficiaries of a state-funded program to prod new technologies along the path to commercialization. These recipients of the Fall 2007 Technology Investigation Awards from the Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center, announced yesterday, will receive $40,000 … Continue reading “State Awards Program Aims to Hasten Technologies’ Journey From Lab to Market”

ATV’s New $300 Million Fund to Expand Firm’s Reach to Green Building Materials and More

Advanced Technology Ventures slipped one by us. Over the holidays the Waltham, MA-based venture firm closed its eighth fund, at $303 million, and didn’t put out a notice. VentureBeat broke the news in a small item two days ago, and ATV confirmed it—and gave me a bit more detail about the fund’s investment targets and … Continue reading “ATV’s New $300 Million Fund to Expand Firm’s Reach to Green Building Materials and More”

Barbs of Wisdom: Carl Icahn to Start Blogging

Carl Icahn is already turning up the heat fast enough around here. The “activist” investor announced last week that he will put forth a slate of director nominees at the next Biogen Idec annual meeting—as a first step to possibly trying to take control of the board next year—and let’s not forget he also has … Continue reading “Barbs of Wisdom: Carl Icahn to Start Blogging”

Girding the Grid: How EnerNOC Sold Utilities and Big Electricity Users on Demand Reduction

Apparently, our economy is still so wedded to fossil fuels—and we are so firmly on a path toward turning the atmosphere into an oven—that even a small drop in the price of oil is enough to dampen investors’ enthusiasm about green technology. That’s one of the trends that seems to be hammering share prices lately … Continue reading “Girding the Grid: How EnerNOC Sold Utilities and Big Electricity Users on Demand Reduction”

Workday, Inc. Acquires Cape Clear Software for Undisclosed Sum

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b388d4d1-211b-4bd6-8529-578f60b58bb2&Preview=1 Date 2/6/2008 Company Name Cape Clear Software Mailing Address 880 Winter Street Waltham, MA 02451 Company Description Cape Clear offers the world’s only true Enterprise Service Bus (ESB), based completely on Web Services and open standards, and designed to leverage existing IT systems. Website http://www.capeclear.com/ Transaction Type M&A Transaction Amount Undisclosed … Continue reading “Workday, Inc. Acquires Cape Clear Software for Undisclosed Sum”

FlowPlay Secures $3,700,000 Series A Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=715633d5-cbbe-40ca-ac0e-b86b733e7d18&Preview=1 Date 2/6/2008 Company Name FlowPlay Mailing Address 114 Alaskan Way South Seattle, WA 98104 Company Description Our mission is to bring a bold new vision to casual gaming by creating community platforms where people of all ages can play games together. Website http://www.flowplay.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $3,700,000 Transaction … Continue reading “FlowPlay Secures $3,700,000 Series A Financing”

A Trio of Transitions: Altus, Kronos, and Terra-Gen Power Announce Management Changes

Change is in the air today, and I’m not just talking about the primary. (But hey, don’t forget to vote!) Three local firms are announcing shifts in top-level personnel. Cambridge, MA-based Altus Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ALTU]]) revealed that president, CEO, and board member Sheldon Berkle has resigned all three roles as of yesterday. The chair of … Continue reading “A Trio of Transitions: Altus, Kronos, and Terra-Gen Power Announce Management Changes”

$4.6 Million Nugget for Portsmouth’s VKernel

VKernel makes virtual appliances that manage virtual servers running virtual operating systems. But today the Portsmouth, NH, company announced that it’s raised some decidedly non-virtual cash—$4.6 million of it, to be exact, in a venture funding round co-led by Waltham’s Polaris Venture Partners and San Francisco’s Hummer Winblad Venture Partners. The company’s “appliances” are actually … Continue reading “$4.6 Million Nugget for Portsmouth’s VKernel”

Innovation and Homeland Security Playing Well Together? DHS Under Secretary Jay Cohen May Convince You It’s Possible

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security isn’t exactly known for innovation—and, in the past, that has held true even for its Science & Technology Directorate, the research and development arm of DHS that’s meant to serve as its innovation engine. But The Honorable Jay Cohen, Under Secretary of Science and Technology for DHS, has made … Continue reading “Innovation and Homeland Security Playing Well Together? DHS Under Secretary Jay Cohen May Convince You It’s Possible”

Liquid Machines Closes $10 Million Financing

Liquid Machines of Waltham, MA, a provider of enterprise rights management solutions focused on protecting intellectual property and other sensitive information, closed a $10 million Series D funding round, the company has announced. The financing was led by RRE Ventures. Return backers included Goldman, Sachs & Co., Atlas Venture, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, and Masthead Ventures. … Continue reading “Liquid Machines Closes $10 Million Financing”

GTC Biotherapeutics Drug Passes Clinical Milestone, Helping Blaze the Trail for U.S. “Pharming”

GTC Biotherapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GTCB]]), which bioengineers goats to secrete drugs in their milk, announced late yesterday that its groundbreaking medicine for a rare blood-clotting disorder cleared the main hurdle in a pivotal U.S. trial. The advance paves the way for the Framingham, MA-based company to seek FDA approval for the drug around mid-year, potentially making … Continue reading “GTC Biotherapeutics Drug Passes Clinical Milestone, Helping Blaze the Trail for U.S. “Pharming””

Cleaning Up In Cleantech

The Yale Entrepreneurial Society—YES—is hosting this event to zero in on zero emissions and other aspects of alternative energy. The focus is on entrepreneurial opportunities in alternative energy and other cleantech technologies in New England. Speakers include Jay Fiske , partner with the Massachusetts Green Energy Fund; Dan Pullman, principal with McNamee Lawrence & Co.; … Continue reading “Cleaning Up In Cleantech”

SOURCE Boston: Computer Security

New England and the East Coast are home to some of the world’s leading computer security professionals. They and others from around the world—from industry and academe—will be gathering in Cambridge for SOURCE Boston, a new educational security conference. Former senior White House Advisor Richard Clarke, internationally recognized expert on security, will be one of … Continue reading “SOURCE Boston: Computer Security”

“An Incredible Intellectual Environment”—Research VP Rick Rashid on Microsoft’s New Cambridge Lab

Microsoft announced yesterday that by July Cambridge, MA, will be home to the fifth R&D outpost outside the company’s Redmond, WA, headquarters, joining existing Microsoft Research facilities in Silicon Valley, Beijing, China, Cambridge, England, and Bangalore, India. The new lab, to be located at One Memorial Drive adjacent to the MIT campus and led by … Continue reading ““An Incredible Intellectual Environment”—Research VP Rick Rashid on Microsoft’s New Cambridge Lab”

VKernel Garners $4,600,000 Series A Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ed33257d-6871-4795-b6dc-8b271c919a85&Preview=1 Date 2/5/2008 Company Name VKernel Mailing Address 222 International Drive Portsmouth, NH 03801 Company Description VKernel is dedicated to developing best-of-breed virtual appliances that enhance performance, lower costs, and simplify management of virtual environments of all sizes. As a certified VMware partner, VKernel offers the industry’s only VMware certified virtual appliances … Continue reading “VKernel Garners $4,600,000 Series A Financing Round”

ImmunoGen Scores $1.5M From Biogen Idec

Cambridge, MA-based ImmunoGen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:IMGN]]) has snagged a $1.5 million milestone payment from Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]), the latest in a string of positive signs for a company that has struggled for decades, as David described last week. The payment was triggered by Biogen filing for FDA permission to being clinical trials of an anti-tumor … Continue reading “ImmunoGen Scores $1.5M From Biogen Idec”

New Microsoft Lab in Cambridge to Combine Math and Social Science; Already Besieged By Potential Research Collaborators

There isn’t any shortage around here of potential collaborators and job seekers eager to work with Jennifer Tour Chayes, managing director of Microsoft’s newest research outpost, Microsoft Research New England. Chayes tells Xconomy that by 11:00 am Eastern time today, less than five hours after news of the lab’s creation hit the New York Times … Continue reading “New Microsoft Lab in Cambridge to Combine Math and Social Science; Already Besieged By Potential Research Collaborators”

Evergreen Solar Plans $230M Secondary Offering

Marlboro, MA’s Evergreen Solar (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ESLR]]) has registered for an underwritten public offering of up to 20 million shares of its common stock. The maker of solar-power products, a greentech success story that went public in 2000, expects to net $231.9 million in the deal, and up to $266.8 million if underwriters exercise a 3-million … Continue reading “Evergreen Solar Plans $230M Secondary Offering”

Lovin’ Life on Both Sides of 50? Eons Removes Age Limit in Bid to Spur Social Networking; More Big Changes Coming

Eons, the web portal for aging Baby Boomers with the famous slogan “Lovin’ Life on the Flip Side of 50,” removed its age limits last week as part of a bid to remake itself—and revitalize the business—by becoming a more general social networking site. It was a dramatic and controversial action for the company “as … Continue reading “Lovin’ Life on Both Sides of 50? Eons Removes Age Limit in Bid to Spur Social Networking; More Big Changes Coming”

Lifting Enterprise Computing Into the Cloud

Time was, if you ran a medium-to-large-sized company and had software that processed lots of data—any kind of data, whether it be payroll or a product catalog for your Web storefront—you needed expensive, proprietary database software like Oracle’s to manage the data and expensive, finicky, power-hungry servers from IBM or Hewlett-Packard to run that software. … Continue reading “Lifting Enterprise Computing Into the Cloud”

Xconomy Forum: Homeland Security and the Innovation Community **REGISTRATION CLOSED: SOLD OUT**

Can the U.S. Department of Homeland Security innovate in science and technology—and, if so, what does it mean for local businesses and entrepreneurs? Join Xconomy founder and editor in chief Robert Buderi for an up-close-and-personal conversation with The Honorable Jay Cohen Under Secretary of Science and Technology for DHS. The Under Secretary will speak about … Continue reading “Xconomy Forum: Homeland Security and the Innovation Community **REGISTRATION CLOSED: SOLD OUT**”

Inverness and Athenahealth Face Market Woes, Virtualization Startups Woo Investors, GreatPoint Energy Cuts a Deal for Coal, & More

I’m too bummed about the Super Bowl to come up with a snappy lede for today’s roundup. Here are last week’s deals: —Coal gasification firm GreatPoint Energy of Cambridge, MA, forged a long-term agreement with St. Louis-based Peabody Energy (NYSE: [[ticker:BTU]]) to build plants close to the company’s mines in Montana and Wyoming. —Visible Measures … Continue reading “Inverness and Athenahealth Face Market Woes, Virtualization Startups Woo Investors, GreatPoint Energy Cuts a Deal for Coal, & More”

Top 10 Mistakes By Entrepreneurs

What are the top 10 mistakes made by entrepreneurs in starting and growing companies? On January 24, I had the pleasure of serving on a panel organized by the Brown Forum for Enterprise that took on that tantalizing topic. The eight-person panel, held at Johnson and Wales University’s Culinary Museum in Providence, included three serial … Continue reading “Top 10 Mistakes By Entrepreneurs”

Liquid Machines Inc. Secures $10,000,000 Series D Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=fd76e514-448f-49dc-b148-dd34e518c4e2&Preview=1 Date 2/4/2008 Company Name Liquid Machines Inc. Mailing Address 486 Totten Pond Rd. Waltham, MA 02451 Company Description Liquid Machines is the leading provider of Enterprise Rights Management (ERM) solutions that persistently protect critical business content and audit usage while enabling collaboration. Website http://www.liquidmachines.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $10,000,000 … Continue reading “Liquid Machines Inc. Secures $10,000,000 Series D Funding”

Archus Orthopedics Inc. Secures $10,000,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4760e634-30e6-48f7-85da-afafac3cdc13&Preview=1 Date 2/4/2008 Company Name Archus Orthopedics Inc. Mailing Address 8624 154th Avenue NE Redmond, WA 98052 Company Description Archus Orthopedics is a privately held company developing a family of reconstructive implants to treat a variety of spine disorders resulting from degenerative changes in the facet joints. Website http://www.archususa.com Transaction Type Debt … Continue reading “Archus Orthopedics Inc. Secures $10,000,000 New Financing”

EntreTech Forum: Spinning the Semantic Web

It wasn’t so long ago the World Wide Web was some arcane phrase a dude hanging out in Switzerland thought up. But now the same dude—Tim Berners-Lee—and some others, like Ken Baclawski of Northeastern University, are well along on pushing the next phase of the revolution: the Semantic Web. It’s deep stuff, but the basic … Continue reading “EntreTech Forum: Spinning the Semantic Web”

Athenahealth Pulls Secondary Public Offering; No Jets for the Weary?

Talk about timing. On the very day we post the IPO advice of Athenahealth CEO Jonathan Bush, Jr.—in an article that happens to mention the current tough economic climate for IPOs—Athenahealth (NASDAQ:ATHN) announces it is shelving its plans for a secondary public offering. And, you guessed it, the company is citing the current tough economic … Continue reading “Athenahealth Pulls Secondary Public Offering; No Jets for the Weary?”

IPO Advice from the President’s Cousin—Strike That—IPO Advice From a CEO to Whom the President is Related

It’s shaping up to be a bleak year for IPOs. Last Thursday, BG Medicine pulled its initial public offering, citing market conditions. The week before that, Elixir Pharmaceuticals also put its IPO plans on ice. But the idea of IPOs was alive and well last Thursday night, when I had the pleasure of moderating a … Continue reading “IPO Advice from the President’s Cousin—Strike That—IPO Advice From a CEO to Whom the President is Related”

Stocking Mock Frocks, Clocks, and Crockpots with RockBlocks

I’m glad I’m not a product marketer for Johnson & Johnson, because every time I walked into a Walgreens or a CVS or a Stop & Shop, I’d see the store-branded acetominophen on the shelf right next to the Tylenol, in a nearly identical box, for half the price, and I’d get a big Excedrin … Continue reading “Stocking Mock Frocks, Clocks, and Crockpots with RockBlocks”

The XO Laptop: It’s the Software, Stupid

On YouTube, there is an 11-minute video of the veterinarian-assisted birth of a calf on a farm in Villa Cardal, Uruguay, a small town in a dairy-rich region four hours north of the capital, Montevideo. It’s an amazing thing to watch—at least, to a city slicker like me who doesn’t get to witness the miracle … Continue reading “The XO Laptop: It’s the Software, Stupid”

GlobalScholar Receives $27,000,000 Series B Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e31b4b6c-5833-4a01-a99e-7f1ca28f3b48&Preview=1 Date 2/1/2008 Company Name GlobalScholar Mailing Address 10900 NE 4th Street Bellevue, WA 98004 Company Description GlobalScholar.com offers a unique online tutoring platform, where parents and students can safely connect with trusted educators who provide one-on-one tutoring, homework help or self-paced learning. The GlobalScholar platform also can be used by schools … Continue reading “GlobalScholar Receives $27,000,000 Series B Financing Round”

An Analysis of Icahn’s Biogen Idec Strategy: Why Three Board Seats When Four Will Be Open?

Carl Icahn is making no bones about it—he is not happy with the way Biogen Idec handled its efforts to seek a buyer for the company, and so now he’s moving to take matters more into his own hands. That was the point behind Icahn’s announcement Monday that he plans to advance a slate of … Continue reading “An Analysis of Icahn’s Biogen Idec Strategy: Why Three Board Seats When Four Will Be Open?”

Power, Drugs, Money, and the Future of New England Innovation—the Journalists’ View

Xconomy is all about hyper-local coverage of the local innovation community—and bringing idea and people together across disciplines and other boundaries. But as journalists, we’re typically out there listening to what others have to say, bringing it to light, challenging it, analyzing it, and sharing it with our readers. We don’t usually pontificate or speechify, … Continue reading “Power, Drugs, Money, and the Future of New England Innovation—the Journalists’ View”

$4M for Nashua Virtualization Startup

AutoVirt, a Nashua, NH company working on software for file virtualization and data migration in Windows environments, came just far enough out of stealth mode today to announce that it’s closed a $4 million Series A funding round, with participation by Waltham, MA-based Kepha Partners and Boston-based Sigma Partners. AutoVirt’s CTO and founder is Klavs … Continue reading “$4M for Nashua Virtualization Startup”

Bootstrap Your Own Social Network with KickApps

What Web publisher wouldn’t want to see his stream of visitors coalesce into a real community—people who enjoy coming back to the site again and again, not just to consume the site’s content but to leave comments, interact with one another, and perhaps even contribute their own creations? Unfortunately, the Field of Dreams scenario—if you … Continue reading “Bootstrap Your Own Social Network with KickApps”

Mocospace Garners $4,000,000 Series B Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=be9acd10-a790-4546-bdab-031fd5aff884&Preview=1 Date 1/31/2008 Company Name Mocospace Mailing Address 186 South St Boston, MA 02111 Company Description JNJ Mobile develops and publishes innovative mobile entertainment applications, including the premier mobile social networking service under the MocoSpace™ brand. Website http://www.jnjmobile.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $4,000,000 Transaction Round Series B Proceeds Purposes Proceeds … Continue reading “Mocospace Garners $4,000,000 Series B Round”

BioTrove Inc. Garners $23,000,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e7030485-06f5-4c38-ab66-2ec096817002&Preview=1 Date 1/31/2008 Company Name BioTrove Inc. Mailing Address 12 Gill Street Woburn, MA 01801 Company Description BioTrove, Inc. is a privately held biotechnology company focused on leveraging revolutionary micro- and nano-scale engineering solutions to overcome current bottlenecks in pharmaceutical drug discovery and biotechnology. Website http://www.biotrove.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount $23,000,000 … Continue reading “BioTrove Inc. Garners $23,000,000 New Financing”