One of the venerable names of the Seattle life sciences cluster, Physio-Control, is going to stand on its own two legs once again with the help of some old friends from Bain Capital. Minneapolis-based Medtronic (NYSE: [[ticker:MDT]]) is announcing today an agreement to sell 100 percent of its ownership in Redmond, WA-based Physio-Control, the maker … Continue reading “Physio-Control Breaks Away From Medtronic, Via $487M Acquisition by Bain Capital”
A Shortcut in Engine Design: Specialized Software Models Soot Formation
In Fairbanks, AK (where I spent a year after I graduated from college), winter temperatures can plunge to minus 40 degrees (F) for weeks at a time, creating ideal conditions for a local phenomenon called “ice fog.” When temperatures get that cold, the air can’t hold much water vapor. Automotive engine exhaust is mostly water … Continue reading “A Shortcut in Engine Design: Specialized Software Models Soot Formation”
Rapid7 Roars Ahead with $50M for Security Software Expansion
If you’re a cyber security company, get your funding while it’s hot. On the same day security software firm CounterTack (fka NeuralIQ) said it is moving from DC to the Boston area and taking a venture round, Boston-based Rapid7, a security assessment software company, says it has raised a $50 million Series C round from … Continue reading “Rapid7 Roars Ahead with $50M for Security Software Expansion”
Aileron CEO Hails Expanded Roche Deal as a Validation of Stapled-Peptide Drug Technology
Yesterday, Cambridge, MA-based Aileron Therapeutics announced that a collaboration it had formed with European drug giant Roche in 2010 has been expanded. The companies, which have been working together on two programs focused on turning Aileron’s “stapled peptide” technology into cancer treatments, have now added a third program focused on inflammatory diseases. The financial details … Continue reading “Aileron CEO Hails Expanded Roche Deal as a Validation of Stapled-Peptide Drug Technology”
Agios Nabs $78M From Partner Celgene, Existing VCs, and Public Funds
Cambridge, MA-based Agios said today it has secured $78 million in an oversubscribed Series C financing. Included in this round are Agios’s drug-development partner Celgene (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CELG]]), along with existing investors Arch Venture Partners, Flagship Ventures, and Third Rock Ventures. The company also attracted several new investors that it did not name, except to say … Continue reading “Agios Nabs $78M From Partner Celgene, Existing VCs, and Public Funds”
CounterTack Collects $9.5M for Cyber Security, Opens Boston-Area Headquarters
For every tech company that leaves Boston, it seems, another one moves in. In this case, the local security software cluster just got stronger—and a new approach to combating cyber attacks has arrived. CounterTack, a security company formerly known as NeuralIQ, has rebranded itself and moved its headquarters from Alexandria, VA, to Waltham, MA. The … Continue reading “CounterTack Collects $9.5M for Cyber Security, Opens Boston-Area Headquarters”
BillGuard, Backed by Khosla Ventures, Wants to Stop Sneaky Credit Card Charges
Yaron Samid, CEO and co-founder of BillGuard in New York, likens his company to Robin Hood and his merry band on a mission to return pilfered money to the masses. With $10 million raised in October in a Series B funding round led by Khosla Ventures, BillGuard has set out to further develop its technology, … Continue reading “BillGuard, Backed by Khosla Ventures, Wants to Stop Sneaky Credit Card Charges”
Affymax Gears Up for its Make-or-Break Moment, As Anemia Drug Faces FDA Scrutiny
Take one look at Affymax’s stock chart and you’d never guess the most important day in its history, a classic make-or-break moment, is coming up Dec. 7. It looks like nobody is giving the company a snowball’s chance in you-know-where to succeed. The big event coming up for Palo Alto, CA-based Affymax (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AFFY]]) will … Continue reading “Affymax Gears Up for its Make-or-Break Moment, As Anemia Drug Faces FDA Scrutiny”
Biopharmaceuticals: Nothing Compares to You
Are biotech and pharma companies doing well, or falling apart at the seams? People will have differences of opinion on this, but one thing is clear: it’s all relative. At a speech to a trade group in Philadelphia last month, James Greenwood, president of the biotechnology trade group BIO, asked the government to stop picking … Continue reading “Biopharmaceuticals: Nothing Compares to You”
Decide Debuts Price-Predicting iPhone App for Holiday Gadget Shoppers
You’ve really got to feel for people working in the retail trenches this time of year. Not only are they getting ready to deal with a blitz of savings-crazed shoppers, they now have to contend with smarty-pants consumers who can aim their smartphone at any piece of merchandise to see if that holiday deal really … Continue reading “Decide Debuts Price-Predicting iPhone App for Holiday Gadget Shoppers”
Viewfinity Garners $1,262,600 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9e6fb9c8-cd23-421b-9014-7335b528af0c&Preview=1 Date 11/17/2011 Company Name Viewfinity Mailing Address 1050 Winter Street Waltham, MA 02451 Company Description Viewfinity offers uncomplicated systems management solutions to manage, support and control desktops, laptops and Windows servers, regardless of worker location, via SaaS-enabled software. In four easy steps, and in less than 10 minutes, IT departments can … Continue reading “Viewfinity Garners $1,262,600 New Funding”
Rapid7 Receives $50,000,000 Series C Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=022ba6d6-553b-4e03-9a58-bda90fa884fe&Preview=1 Date 11/17/2011 Company Name Rapid7 Mailing Address 545 Boylston Street Boston, MA 02116 Company Description Rapid7 is the leading provider of NeXpose Unified Vulnerability Management (UVM) Solutions. Website http://www.rapid7.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $50,000,000 Transaction Round Series C Proceeds Purposes The new funding will support Rapid7’s growth strategy in … Continue reading “Rapid7 Receives $50,000,000 Series C Financing”
Allena Pharmaceuticals Receives $15,000,000 Series A Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3613c363-bf7a-4dac-9cca-d6e1829f7a4e&Preview=1 Date 11/17/2011 Company Name Allena Pharmaceuticals Mailing Address One Newton Executive Park Newton, MA 02462 Company Description Allena Pharmaceuticals is developing and commercializing non-systemic protein therapeutics to treat metabolic and orphan diseases, with a particular focus on nephrologic and urologic conditions. Website http://www.allenapharma.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $15,000,000 Transaction … Continue reading “Allena Pharmaceuticals Receives $15,000,000 Series A Round”
Agios Pharmaceuticals Obtains $78,000,000 Series C Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f877cbf2-5e0b-42ec-9a73-e2410af734d1&Preview=1 Date 11/17/2011 Company Name Agios Pharmaceuticals Mailing Address 38 Sidney Street 2nd Floor Cambridge, MA 02139-4169 Company Description Agios is a biopharmaceutical company at the forefront of one of the most exciting new areas of cancer research: cancer metabolism. Cancer metabolism represents a breakthrough understanding of how cancer cells become addicted … Continue reading “Agios Pharmaceuticals Obtains $78,000,000 Series C Round”
Celladon Receives $780,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=163c8af6-239a-4dfc-b4da-0a7d777fd264&Preview=1 Date 11/17/2011 Company Name Celladon Mailing Address 2223 Avenida de la Playa La Jolla, CA 92037 Company Description Celladon Corporation is an exciting new biotechnology company focused on developing treatments for cardiovascular diseases through the application of scientific discoveries in molecular cardiology. Website http://www.celladon.net Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount $780,000 Transaction … Continue reading “Celladon Receives $780,000 New Funding”
Allylix Garners $1,000,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8837ccf6-cb61-4fce-8d8f-1a98e6586f80&Preview=1 Date 11/17/2011 Company Name Allylix Mailing Address 6020 Cornerstone Court San Diego, CA 92121 Company Description Allylix has developed proprietary technology that allows it to produce a group of natural products called terpenes at low cost. In nature, terpenes are produced by plants in minute quantities to serve a number of … Continue reading “Allylix Garners $1,000,000 New Funding Round”
YCharts Garners $3,250,000 Series B Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e2bce0c7-9005-46bc-96c5-b9bae12df3e5&Preview=1 Date 11/17/2011 Company Name YCharts Mailing Address 333 W. Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 Company Description YCharts was founded in Chicago in 2008 by executives with experience at top companies including Google, The Wall Street Journal and Bear Stearns. YCharts’ powerful company and market research tool combines advanced data analysis, proprietary … Continue reading “YCharts Garners $3,250,000 Series B Round”
Impermium Lands $8,000,000 Series A Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ec55280e-d0a7-4186-8155-4d0fbad0f935&Preview=1 Date 11/17/2011 Company Name Impermium Mailing Address 395 Page Mill Road Third Floor Palo Alto, CA 94306 Company Description Impermium provides a subscription-based service that protects against these attacks, allowing social application developers to remain focused on their core business. Website http://www.impermium.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $8,000,000 Transaction Round … Continue reading “Impermium Lands $8,000,000 Series A Round”
HotelTonight Receives $8,654,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9ab2f792-3e3f-4f05-9e35-da5d792d32a2&Preview=1 Date 11/17/2011 Company Name HotelTonight Mailing Address 144 2nd Ave. Third Floor San Francisco, CA 94105 Company Description HotelTonight is the only hotel booking application that is made for mobile from the ground up. Available for free in the App Store for those with Apple iOS devices – the iPhone, iPod … Continue reading “HotelTonight Receives $8,654,000 New Funding Round”
Seniorlink Lands $5,000,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9139295a-f736-450e-a3a1-bd49f9273f61&Preview=1 Date 11/17/2011 Company Name Seniorlink Mailing Address 500 Boylston Street Boston, MA 02116 Company Description Seniorlink is dedicated to helping frail seniors and people with disabilities live with dignity and independence. Website http://www.seniorlink.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $5,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes The new funding would be used … Continue reading “Seniorlink Lands $5,000,000 New Funding”
CounterTack Receives $9,500,000 Series A Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=17a552d3-a55d-4630-9e1b-c91ae4858585&Preview=1 Date 11/17/2011 Company Name CounterTack Mailing Address 303 Wyman Street Waltham, MA 02451 Company Description CounterTack, the industry’s first and only in-progress attack intelligence and response solution was born out of the critical need for enterprise and government organizations to approach security in a completely different way – combating advanced persistent … Continue reading “CounterTack Receives $9,500,000 Series A Financing”
CatalogSpree Garners $6,100,000 Series A Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=5e8bbea6-4cd2-4c6c-90b3-04e5e39c4a19&Preview=1 Date 11/17/2011 Company Name CatalogSpree Mailing Address 650 Mission St. Third Floor San Francisco, CA 94105 Company Description It’s your mobile catalog shopping app – browse, shop, subscribe and share all your favorite brands… and discover new ones right on your iPad. Track your favorite items. Share with your friends on … Continue reading “CatalogSpree Garners $6,100,000 Series A Funding”
Spotzot Lands $2,200,000 Series A Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=378340cb-6dae-4583-bd0c-9f3ca8b3630f&Preview=1 Date 11/17/2011 Company Name Spotzot Mailing Address 2903 Bunker Hill Lane Santa Clara, CA 95054 Company Description Spotzot’s deal search and targeting platform provides a single channel for brands and merchants to reach millions of new and loyal consumers by location and intent and creates a powerful resource for measuring and … Continue reading “Spotzot Lands $2,200,000 Series A Financing”
Medivo Obtains $7,000,000 Series A Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2fb3fa2f-51c5-4425-98e4-e13da5fb18c7&Preview=1 Date 11/17/2011 Company Name Medivo Mailing Address 55 Broad Street 16th Floor New York, NY 10004 Company Description Medivo is dedicated to improving medical treatment through faster, easier access to testing services and actionable information. Website http://www.medivo.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $7,000,000 Transaction Round Series A Proceeds Purposes The … Continue reading “Medivo Obtains $7,000,000 Series A Funding Round”
Cocktails and Contributions: WTIA Event
The Washington Technology Industry Association will be holding its holiday party Nov. 30 aboard The Royal Argosy Cruise Ship. For more information, click here.
Predictions 2012
Which company will be next year’s big acquisition? Will the IPO market pick up? Find out the answers to these questions and more at the Washington Technology Industry Association’s annual predictions event. Frank Artale of Ignition Partners, Bruce Chizen of Voyager Capital, RealNetworks founder Rob Glaser, and Dan Rosen of the Alliance of Angels will … Continue reading “Predictions 2012”
GeekWire Gala: The Year in Geek
Geekwire is hosting its gala event “The Year in Geek,” on Dec. 8 to honor technology newsmakers in the Northwest. For more information on how to register, click here.
Working With the U.S. Military: Washington Clean Tech Alliance Event
The Washington Clean Technology Alliance is organizing an event on working with the U.S. military on Dec. 7. Sean Murphy of the Pacific Northwest Defense Coalition, John Plaza of Imperium Renewables, and Tim Vinopal of Boeing are among the featured speakers. For more information on how to register, click here.
StartupBus: Accelerate
This six-hour intensive workshop is designed for entrepreneurs at all levels. Among the topics discussed will be crafting a pitch, finding investors, revenue generation, “Demo Driven Development,” and marketing. Facilitators include Igor Lebovic, head of About.com’s CalorieCount team, marketing and digital consultant Brian Fountain, and Subjot founder Chris Carella. Register here.
How to Get Your First Million Users
General Assembly presents an evening with Michael Geer, founder of Badoo, who will share key lessons learned from idea-stage through its current status as a booming network with 100 million users and $100 million in revenue. Topics will include successful product design, viral marketing, and achieving rapid global growth. Register here.
NYEBN Startup Pitch Series
New York Entrepreneurs Business Network hosts this evening of pitches and judging, plus pizza and drinks. The panel of judges includes Geoff Schneider, managing partner at Cava Capital; Kirill Sheynkman, managing director at RTP Ventures; Maneesh Sagar, managing partner at Visium; and Sachin Jade, managing partner at Klifer Capital. Register here.
Riverside Chats Speaker Series: Technology Transfer
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center’s Office of Technology Development hosts this panel discussion on how to work with your technology transfer office. Speakers include Kathleen Denis, associate v.p. at the Rockefeller University Office of Technology Transfer; Andrew Maslow, director of the Office of Technology Development at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; and Brian Kelly, director of technology … Continue reading “Riverside Chats Speaker Series: Technology Transfer”
TEDx Columbia Engineering
Columbia University’s independently organized TED event will be a day filled with presentations on innovation in areas ranging from organic chemistry to economics, and from engineering to entertainment. The three sessions—health, sustainability, and technology information–will allow attendees to learn about the latest ideas in these field as well as how to convert their inventions into … Continue reading “TEDx Columbia Engineering”
Founding a Life Sciences Company
Learn the legal and accounting aspects of starting up a life sciences company at this lunchtime seminar sponsored by Columbia Technology Ventures. The event will cover such topics as choice of entity, allocating the rights of equity owners, accounting issues and projections, and negotiations between owners and investors on valuation. Speakers include Stephen M. Goodman, … Continue reading “Founding a Life Sciences Company”
Diary of a Leader: An Evening with Abbie Celniker
Eleven Biotherapeutics CEO Abbie Celniker will share insights on her career path at this evening event put on by the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association Boston chapter. Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions. Sign up here.
Mobile Madness, Windows Phone, Clarisonic: Wrapping up Seattle Tech Headlines
This week’s wrapup of Xconomy Seattle tech headlines features two great entrepreneur/investors who will be featured at Mobile Madness Northwest, our action-packed half-day forum Dec. 6 at F5 Networks. We’re pairing up two people whose experiences span big-company products and proto-company startups: Wesley Chan of Google Ventures, and Charlie Kindel, formerly with Windows Phone (and a … Continue reading “Mobile Madness, Windows Phone, Clarisonic: Wrapping up Seattle Tech Headlines”
Why Do People Answer Questions on Q&A Sites? Ask.com Users Speak Up
Today’s main infotech feature on Xconomy San Francisco is about Ask.com, the Oakland, CA-based search company that has been busy transforming itself into a question-and-answer service powered by an army of community members. If you can’t find an instant answer through Ask.com’s Web search tool, you can easily pose it to other Ask.com users. Depending … Continue reading “Why Do People Answer Questions on Q&A Sites? Ask.com Users Speak Up”
2011 MIT Energy Finance Forum
Venture capitalist Ray Rothrock will kick off the MIT Energy Finance Forum. The rest of the day includes panels on energy topics such as nuclear, oil and gas, renewables, energy efficiency, and technology commercialization. Register here.
Hot Wiring Entrepreneurship: An Experiment in Detroit
It’s an exciting time to be an entrepreneur. There are no shortage of problems to solve, ever-lowering barriers to entry, and near-ubiquitous access to low/no-cost technologies, which makes damn near anything possible. I adore working side-by-side with those who also see the world as an experience in which to participate rather than just consume. I … Continue reading “Hot Wiring Entrepreneurship: An Experiment in Detroit”
Ask.com Rediscovers Its Roots as a Question & Answer Site-Powered by People This Time
What’s the best way to tell my mother-in-law that we’re not going to visit her at Thanksgiving? My college friend has taken over my friendship with another guy, and now both are ignoring me. Should I ask them why? What do you do if the girl you asked to marry you says no? [Questions posed … Continue reading “Ask.com Rediscovers Its Roots as a Question & Answer Site-Powered by People This Time”
FirstFuel’s Analytics Software Looks to Help Utilities Better Spend the Billions Allocated for Energy Efficiency
“Utilities have a big problem,” says Swapnil Shah, CEO and co-founder of Waltham, MA-based FirstFuel Software. “They have a big pile of money they have to spend to achieve certain goals,” he continues. “If they don’t achieve it, they get penalized by the state.” The goal is to increase home and commercial energy efficiency so … Continue reading “FirstFuel’s Analytics Software Looks to Help Utilities Better Spend the Billions Allocated for Energy Efficiency”
Join Us for a Live “Tweetchat” on the Biotech VC Crisis with Daphne Zohar of PureTech Ventures
The biotech VC world is in crisis. Just in the space of a few weeks, some venerable names have made some disturbing news. Prospect Venture Partners said it was unable to raise a new fund, Morgenthaler Ventures and Advanced Technology Ventures said they are splitting off their life sciences teams to raise a new merged … Continue reading “Join Us for a Live “Tweetchat” on the Biotech VC Crisis with Daphne Zohar of PureTech Ventures”
FDA Clears Portable Insulin Pump from San Diego’s Tandem Diabetes
The FDA has cleared the first commercial product from San Diego’s Tandem Diabetes Care, a wearable insulin pump, according to a statement today from the medical device startup. Tandem Diabetes says its “t:slim” insulin pump represents an advance in terms of practicality and ease of use for managing type 1 diabetes—particularly for people who manage their … Continue reading “FDA Clears Portable Insulin Pump from San Diego’s Tandem Diabetes”
Allena Pharma Launches With $15M From Third Rock and Other Top-Tier VCs
Allena Pharmaceuticals, based in Newton, MA, is announcing today that it has started up and raised $15 million in a Series A financing round, led by Third Rock Ventures, Frazier Healthcare, and Bessemer Venture Partners. The new company is pursuing protein therapeutics and is especially focused on kidney and urologic diseases. Its management team is … Continue reading “Allena Pharma Launches With $15M From Third Rock and Other Top-Tier VCs”
NYC BigApps Hackathon Gives Young Whizzes a Jumpstart at Entrepreneurship
Eric Rafaloff, creator of the Can I Park Here app, may have been destined to join New York’s startup community. After he got his first computer when he was eight years old, he wanted to learn how software worked at deeper levels. Now a young man of 19, Rafaloff took first place at last weekend’s … Continue reading “NYC BigApps Hackathon Gives Young Whizzes a Jumpstart at Entrepreneurship”
A Look Ahead for Washington State’s Life Sciences Cluster
This Friday the Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association (WBBA) will release findings from its 2010 Economic Impact Report at their Governor’s Life Sciences Summit and WBBA Annual Meeting. With the sometimes volatile ups and downs of our industry, these findings have the potential to propel WBBA forward in both current and new initiatives and strategies … Continue reading “A Look Ahead for Washington State’s Life Sciences Cluster”
Shareholic Snaps Up Seed Money, Avaxia Inks $2.2M, RapidBuyr Buys BizDeals, & More Boston-Area Deals News
It’s been a quieter deals news week around New England, but Web software and drug developers have been reporting new financings and acquisitions. —Collabor, a Maynard, MA-based maker of collaboration software for businesses, is working on raising its first outside funding round from a group of area angel investors, according to CEO and founder Sandeep … Continue reading “Shareholic Snaps Up Seed Money, Avaxia Inks $2.2M, RapidBuyr Buys BizDeals, & More Boston-Area Deals News”
Marketo Receives $50,000,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=1f205b52-5ffb-4c3c-8c83-52f3f6b5ef2d&Preview=1 Date 11/16/2011 Company Name Marketo Mailing Address 901 Mariners Island Blvd. San Mateo, CA 94404 Company Description Marketo provides affordable, easy-to-use marketing automation software that helps B2B marketing professionals drive more revenue and improve marketing accountability. Our solutions automate lead generation and lead nurturing processes over multiple channels, beginning with pay-per-click … Continue reading “Marketo Receives $50,000,000 New Funding Round”
Ginzametrics Garners $1,300,000 Seed Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6d452bb3-6fc7-43f2-8335-719b450e2596&Preview=1 Date 11/16/2011 Company Name Ginzametrics Mailing Address 444 Castro Street 12th Floor Mountain View, CA 94041 Company Description Ginzametrics is a product of Ginzamarkets, Inc. We were funded by Y Combinator as part of the Summer 2010 program. Website http://www.ginzametrics.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,300,000 Transaction Round Seed Proceeds … Continue reading “Ginzametrics Garners $1,300,000 Seed Financing Round”
Zuora Garners $36,000,000 Series D Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9a5b91ee-82e9-4708-8fb2-ca6779b220f9&Preview=1 Date 11/16/2011 Company Name Zuora Mailing Address 1400 Bridge Pkwy Redwood City, CA 94065 Company Description Zuora has created an on demand platform designed to simplify the way online subscription services are purchased, billed, and provisioned. Website http://www.zuora.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $36,000,000 Transaction Round Series D Proceeds Purposes … Continue reading “Zuora Garners $36,000,000 Series D Funding Round”