Boston-based mobile publisher Go2Media has sold its local advertising assets to Calgary-based local search firm Poynt for $450,000, according to a press release today. The assets include all source code, related documentation, and all transferable publisher and advertiser agreements related to location-based ads. Go2Media most recently raised $3 million in venture capital led by General … Continue reading “Poynt Picks Up Go2Media’s Local Ad Assets”
ElliptiGO Sets the Pace for a New Global Industry
The San Diego MIT Enterprise Forum and San Diego Sports Innovators are hosting a case study on EllipitGO and the challenges of managing rapid expansion. ElliptiGO has developed a fitness device that provides a low-impact training experience outdoors. For ElliptiGO, the challenges include transitioning from primarily selling online to primarily selling through retailers. The question … Continue reading “ElliptiGO Sets the Pace for a New Global Industry”
EveryTrail Thumbs A Ride From TripAdvisor, As Internet Travel Business Consolidates
Newton, MA-based TripAdvisor, the travel review site owned by Bellevue, WA-based Expedia (Nasdaq: [[ticker:EXPE]]), said today that it’s buying EveryTrail, a Palo Alto, CA, startup that helps users create multimedia travel tours using their GPS smartphones. The terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, so it’s hard to say whether the acquisition represents a sizable return … Continue reading “EveryTrail Thumbs A Ride From TripAdvisor, As Internet Travel Business Consolidates”
Boston-Power Hires New CEO; Founder Lampe-Onnerud Says She’s Excited By Move
Boston-Power, a Westborough, MA-based advanced lithium-ion battery developer, announced it has brought on Keith Schmid as its new chief executive. He replaces CEO and founder Christina Lampe-Onnerud, who will move to the position of executive chairman. Schmid comes most recently from Power Distribution, a Virginia-based provider of electrical power distribution equipment and services that saw … Continue reading “Boston-Power Hires New CEO; Founder Lampe-Onnerud Says She’s Excited By Move”
CareFusion Sells Unit for $130M
CareFusion (NYSE: [[ticker:CFN]]), the San Diego medical equipment manufacturer, says it has agreed to sell its International Surgical Products distribution business, which is based in Rolle, Switzerland, to privately held Medline Industries for $130 million. The business sells consumable medical products, such as drapes and gowns, examination gloves, and custom procedure trays, with sales of … Continue reading “CareFusion Sells Unit for $130M”
Dendreon Adds Another $80M
Seattle-based Dendreon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DNDN]]) said today that its underwriters have exercised their options to buy more convertible debt securities, which has generated an additional $80 million for the company. This is the second part of a financing Dendreon first announced last month, which it said brought in about $540 million. The decision by the underwriters … Continue reading “Dendreon Adds Another $80M”
SeaGen Tacks on $23M
Seattle Genetics said today that its underwriters have exercised their options to purchase another 1.5 million shares at $15.50 apiece, which they were entitled to as part of a financing announced yesterday. The underwriter purchases mean the company has raised another $23 million, bringing the total of the new financing to $178 million. Seattle Genetics … Continue reading “SeaGen Tacks on $23M”
NanoString, Snapping Up Genomic Health Veteran, Seeks to Prove Economic Value of Cancer Diagnostic
There aren’t a lot of success stories out there in molecular diagnostics, but Redwood City, CA-based Genomic Health (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GHDX]]) is one. So if you’re the CEO of a small private company like Seattle-based NanoString Technologies, and you’re trying to find a way to turn an innovative scientific instrument into a bigger moneymaking diagnostic tool, … Continue reading “NanoString, Snapping Up Genomic Health Veteran, Seeks to Prove Economic Value of Cancer Diagnostic”
Ocular Therapeutix Grabs $14M in New Round for Eye Therapies
Ocular Therapeutix has found a new investor and a fresh round of capital to advance its hydrogel-based treatments for the eye, CEO Amar Sawhney told me yesterday. The Bedford, MA-based startup is raising $14 million in a Series D round of venture capital. Ascension Health Ventures, the investment unit of the largest Catholic hospital chain … Continue reading “Ocular Therapeutix Grabs $14M in New Round for Eye Therapies”
FDA Rejects Orexigen’s Weight-Loss Drug, Arena Lays Off 66, ResMed CEO Jumps to CareFusion, & More San Diego Life Sciences News
A series of private announcements and public policy changes in recent days put a spotlight on entrepreneurs nationwide. As Wade wrote in a thoughtful analysis, we seem to have placed a much bigger bet as a nation on early stage startups—and the life sciences news out of San Diego this past week seemed to reflect … Continue reading “FDA Rejects Orexigen’s Weight-Loss Drug, Arena Lays Off 66, ResMed CEO Jumps to CareFusion, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”
ISB Partners With P&G
The Institute for Systems Biology, a Seattle-based research center, is announcing today that it has formed a new three-year research collaboration with consumer products giant Procter & Gamble (NYSE: [[ticker:PG]]). Terms of the partnership aren’t being disclosed, but the research will focus on how biological systems function in various skin conditions, including skin aging.
Hearsay Helps Corporate America Get Local, and Get Smarter About Facebook and Twitter
If you’re an ambitious store manager at Starbucks, an agent for State Farm Insurance, or even a paper salesman for a branch of Dunder Mifflin, then of course you’re setting up your own local accounts on Facebook and LinkedIn and Twitter. You are certainly reaching out to customer with updates and special offers. It would … Continue reading “Hearsay Helps Corporate America Get Local, and Get Smarter About Facebook and Twitter”
IBM Venture Exec from Silicon Valley: Boston Startups Very Active in Mobile, Cloud Computing, Healthcare
Deborah Magid isn’t a VC, but she works in a venture group. Her responsibilities are global, but I’m asking her to think locally. She works for a tech giant, but I’m quizzing her on small startups. Confused yet? Magid isn’t. She’s the director of software strategy in IBM’s Venture Capital Group, which started in 2000. … Continue reading “IBM Venture Exec from Silicon Valley: Boston Startups Very Active in Mobile, Cloud Computing, Healthcare”
Seattle Genetics Reloads, Uptake Ups and Leaves, PhysioSonics Raises Cash, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News
One of Seattle’s biotech stalwarts raised a lot of money this week that it will use to hire people for its inaugural commercialization drive. —Seattle Genetics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SGEN]]) pulled in $155 million this week through an underwritten stock offering of 10 million new shares. The company is preparing to seek FDA approval for its first … Continue reading “Seattle Genetics Reloads, Uptake Ups and Leaves, PhysioSonics Raises Cash, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News”
How to Hire an Entrepreneur
As Erin Kutz wrote about a few weeks ago, my fellow ATG co-founder Jeet Singh and I have recently launched Redstar, a “company that builds other companies.” Unlike most incubators and angel funds, which invest in companies that are already formed or at least well along in the process, Redstar’s goal is to create a … Continue reading “How to Hire an Entrepreneur”
Pacira Raises $42M in IPO
Pacira Pharmaceuticals, which is based in Parsippany, NJ, and San Diego, lowered its expected IPO price to $7 a share, according to a regulatory filing yesterday. Pacira is awaiting FDA approvaly for its injectable, extended-release analgesic drug, which was originally developed by San Diego-based DepoTech. The company raised a total of $42 million in its … Continue reading “Pacira Raises $42M in IPO”
Boston Scientific Wants to be a Rock Star. But First, It Needs Some Stars.
Boston Scientific (NYSE:[[ticker:BSX]]) has been talking the talk of late. But its walk the past few years can be best described as a limp. There’s no mistaking the company’s new-found bravado as CEO Ray Elliott, who succeeded Jim Tobin in 2009, attempts to infuse the company with some of the energy that made his previous … Continue reading “Boston Scientific Wants to be a Rock Star. But First, It Needs Some Stars.”
Spine Wave Receives $17,500,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7a37082c-258a-4fe2-b63d-8e685e216341&Preview=1 Date 2/3/2011 Company Name Spine Wave Mailing Address Three Enterprise Drive Shelton, CT 06484 Company Description Spine Wave is a medical device company focused on the development and marketing of clinical solutions for three of the largest and fastest growing spinal market segments: nuclear replacement and augmentation, vertebral compression fracture repair … Continue reading “Spine Wave Receives $17,500,000 New Funding Round”
Glaukos Lands $29,500,003 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e8157cf9-aa37-44e7-9e1f-798af8e02b20&Preview=1 Date 2/3/2011 Company Name Glaukos Mailing Address 26051 Merit Circle Laguna Hills, CA 92653 Company Description Glaukos is creating a new class of micro-bypass therapies to achieve sustainable, target intraocular pressures through the restoration of physiologic outflow, reduce the challenges and risks of glaucoma management associated with traditional therapies, and aid … Continue reading “Glaukos Lands $29,500,003 New Funding Round”
Hearsay Lands $3,000,000 Series A Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=61ee2a3b-bd42-4e17-841d-034d0a830ac3&Preview=1 Date 2/3/2011 Company Name Hearsay Mailing Address Undisclosed Undisclosed, CA 94025 Company Description The company provides an online service that allows businesses to track social media for their local branches. Website http://www.Hearsaylabs.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $3,000,000 Transaction Round Series A Proceeds Purposes The company will use the funding … Continue reading “Hearsay Lands $3,000,000 Series A Financing”
Rdio Secures $17,500,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=80736f83-27c1-4ea0-9539-08d3cb32e6c7&Preview=1 Date 2/3/2011 Company Name Rdio Mailing Address P.O. Box 438 San Francisco, CA 94104 Company Description The company operates an online music service. Website http://www.Rdio.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $17,500,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Rdio will use this infusion of funds to aggressively expand its footprint to new … Continue reading “Rdio Secures $17,500,000 New Funding”
Storify Garners $2,000,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=0ee91aad-0a83-4b67-b014-9ae624a6424b&Preview=1 Date 2/3/2011 Company Name Storify Mailing Address 795 Folsom St. First Floor San Francisco, CA 94103 Company Description Turn what people post on social media into compelling stories. Collect the best photos, video, tweets and more to publish them as simple, beautiful stories that can be embedded anywhere. Website http://www.storify.com Transaction … Continue reading “Storify Garners $2,000,000 New Financing”
ReVance Therapeutics Obtains $5,000,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=0586ad90-8d0d-443a-bb84-bd366a69dc4d&Preview=1 Date 2/3/2011 Company Name ReVance Therapeutics Mailing Address 7555 Gateway Boulevard Newark, CA 94560 Company Description Revance is developing its lead compound, a topical botulinum toxin based on its cutting-edge drug delivery platforms and low molecular weight botulinum toxin. This product leverages Revance’s platform technologies to enhance patient tolerability of botulinum … Continue reading “ReVance Therapeutics Obtains $5,000,000 New Financing Round”
Cavium Networks Acquires Wavesat for $10,000,000
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d0332fcb-0003-4231-9571-0fba0acb5fa7&Preview=1 Date 2/3/2011 Company Name Wavesat Mailing Address 1710 South Amphlett Blvd San Mateo, CA 94402 Company Description Wavesat is a global leader in mobile broadband, providing advanced semiconductor solutions to the world’s leading carrier and mobile device manufacturers to deploy future-proof broadband services and products. With award winning technology and the … Continue reading “Cavium Networks Acquires Wavesat for $10,000,000”
Live Gamer Secures $5,014,422 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=670fa6f7-4ac4-4a37-9937-0473226ff335&Preview=1 Date 2/3/2011 Company Name Live Gamer Mailing Address 678 Broadway 5TH Floor New York, NY 10012 Company Description Live Gamer enables a complete marketplace solution for the player-to-player trading of virtual items. Through our partnerships with leading publishers and developers worldwide, players now have a convenient, secure, and reliable outlet to … Continue reading “Live Gamer Secures $5,014,422 New Funding Round”
Vulcan’s Kiha Software Cuts Staff
Seattle-based Kiha Software, a company backed with $20 million from Paul Allen’s Vulcan Capital, has laid off an undisclosed number of employees, and ended a public beta test of software for organizing contacts on mobile devices, according to a report by Brier Dudley of The Seattle Times. Vulcan spokesman David Postman told the Times that … Continue reading “Vulcan’s Kiha Software Cuts Staff”
What’s Brewing at Massive Health? A Chat with Newly Funded Co-Founders Sutha Kamal and Aza Raskin
Forget stealth mode—these days the coolest pre-launch Silicon Valley companies are in ninja mode. That’s how Sutha Kamal, the CEO of San Francisco-based Massive Health, describes his situation in a blog post today announcing the company’s $2.25 million seed funding round. Luckily, I got Kamal and co-founder Aza Raskin to come far enough out of … Continue reading “What’s Brewing at Massive Health? A Chat with Newly Funded Co-Founders Sutha Kamal and Aza Raskin”
Business Breakfast: Entering the Mobile Market: The Value, Costs and Risks
This morning event, sponsored by the North Shore Technology Council, aims to slice and dice the mobile technology field, focusing on the risks, costs, and values of getting involved. Execs from mobile technology companies and investors will weigh in on this panel. Register here.
MSU Spinoff Wants to Zap Battlefield Explosives with Smart Lasers
Improvised explosive devices (IED) have been the scourge of the U.S. military in war zones like Iraq and Afghanistan. The Pentagon has spent billions of dollars on high tech tools in order to defeat such frustratingly low tech weapons. East Lansing, MI-based BioPhotonic Solutions wants to add one more tool to the kit. The startup’s … Continue reading “MSU Spinoff Wants to Zap Battlefield Explosives with Smart Lasers”
Vitality Acquired By Healthcare Investor Soon-Shiong, Looks to Expand Wireless Products for Improving Healthy Behaviors
Cambridge, MA-based health IT firm Vitality announced today that it has been snapped up by a healthcare industry veteran and angel investor, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong. The acquisition, whose dollar value was not made public, will help Vitality expand its product line of wireless devices focused on encouraging healthy behavior, and better target insurance companies and … Continue reading “Vitality Acquired By Healthcare Investor Soon-Shiong, Looks to Expand Wireless Products for Improving Healthy Behaviors”
Bluefin Labs, $6M in Hand, Looks to Help TV and Ad Execs Cash In on Social Media Analysis
An intriguing MIT startup has emerged from pseudo-stealth mode today with a splash of PR. Bluefin Labs, based in Cambridge, MA, spoke with TechCrunch about its strategy for applying text and language analytics to TV advertising and content. Bluefin Labs (not to be confused with Bluefin Robotics, another MIT spinout) is the brainchild of CEO … Continue reading “Bluefin Labs, $6M in Hand, Looks to Help TV and Ad Execs Cash In on Social Media Analysis”
Seesmic Shakes Loose $4M
Seesmic, the San Francisco-based maker of desktop and mobile software that helps users publish and browse social media updates on Twitter and other services, has raised $4 milion in new financing, according to an announcement Tuesday. The company said the funds came from new investors Salesforce.com and Softbank Group as well as existing investors Atomico, … Continue reading “Seesmic Shakes Loose $4M”
Instagram Snaps Up $7M
Just hours after rival Path announced its own $8.65 million funding round, San Francisco-based mobile photo sharing startup Instagram announced on its blog that it has raised $7 million in new venture financing. Benchmark Capital led the round, with individual investors Jack Dorsey (of Square and Twitter fame), Adam D’Angelo (Facebook and Quora), and Chris … Continue reading “Instagram Snaps Up $7M”
Fluorotronics Sees a Spike in Business Opportunities for Use of Carbon-Fluorine Bond
Olga Sharts has worked as a Russian-English translator, but the Russian immigrant who came to San Diego in the 1990s can be difficult to understand when she’s excited. And when I met with her, she was very, very excited. Sharts is the founding CEO of Fluorotronics, an 11-year-old startup based in Vista, CA, launched to … Continue reading “Fluorotronics Sees a Spike in Business Opportunities for Use of Carbon-Fluorine Bond”
What Will the Bay Area Biotech Hub Look Like in 20 Years? Xconomy Event To Take the Long View on March 16
Quarterly earnings season is going full throttle, which means short-term thinking is top of mind in the markets. But in biotech, where innovations often take two decades to go from idea to the marketplace, it’s legit to ask now where things are really going in 20 years. So that’s the theme we’re tackling at the … Continue reading “What Will the Bay Area Biotech Hub Look Like in 20 Years? Xconomy Event To Take the Long View on March 16”
ReadyForZero’s Free Service Eases Credit Card Troubles
Y Combinator founder Paul Graham likes to advise entrepreneurs taking part in his startup incubator program to focus on “hair-on-fire” problems—areas where new ideas can take hold faster because people are in urgent need of a solution. In the consumer market, there couldn’t be a much bigger hair-on-fire problem than credit card debt. Households with … Continue reading “ReadyForZero’s Free Service Eases Credit Card Troubles”
RentJuice Collects $6.2M
San Francisco-based RentJuice, whose website helps landlords and real estate brokers manage apartment listings, said today that it has closed a $6.2 million round of financing. Highland Capital Partners in Lexington, MA, led the round, with seed investor Tim Draper also participating. Founded in 2009, the site serves landlords and brokers in Boston, Chicago, Miami, … Continue reading “RentJuice Collects $6.2M”
Seattle Genetics Reloads Cash Reserves With $155M, On Cusp of Selling First Drug
Seattle Genetics has raised a new load of cash to brace itself for a big year ahead, as it prepares to hire a lot of people and introduce its first drug on the U.S. market. The Bothell, WA-based company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SGEN]]) said today it has raised another $155 million through a stock sale. The company … Continue reading “Seattle Genetics Reloads Cash Reserves With $155M, On Cusp of Selling First Drug”
Pfizer Adding 350 Jobs in MA, Globe Reports
Massachusetts is expected to gain 350 jobs from Pfizer (NYSE:[[ticker:PFE]]) as the world’s largest drugmaker restructures its global research and development activities to cut $1.5 billion in spending, the Boston Globe reports. New York-based Pfizer—which employs 2,300 workers at two research hubs in Cambridge and a facility in Andover it acquired through its 2009 buyout … Continue reading “Pfizer Adding 350 Jobs in MA, Globe Reports”
NaviSite Bought by Time Warner for $230M
Andover, MA-based NaviSite (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NAVI]]) , an provider of IT services such as data hosting and managing for large organizations, will be acquired by Time Warner Cable for $5.50 per share in cash, for a total equity value of $230 million, the companies announced last night. Time Warner (NYSE: [[ticker:TWC]]) said that NaviSite’s cloud platform … Continue reading “NaviSite Bought by Time Warner for $230M”
The World’s Most Innovative City
Most readers will be aware that Vertex announced it is moving from 900,000 square feet of laboratories and offices in Cambridge to over a million square feet in Boston. Some are asking if this spells serious trouble in Cambridge. This question surprises me. Cambridge is one of the world’s most important sources of next-generation technology … Continue reading “The World’s Most Innovative City”
AisleBuyer, Locately, Clearwire Join Xconomy’s Mobile Madness 2011 Lineup on March 9
I just got a new BlackBerry smartphone last weekend, which makes me a mobile expert—for circa 2005-2006 maybe. Luckily for you (and me), there’s a big event coming up called Mobile Madness, which will tell you all you need to know about the industry in 2011 and beyond. Xconomy’s third annual mobile conference, Mobile Madness … Continue reading “AisleBuyer, Locately, Clearwire Join Xconomy’s Mobile Madness 2011 Lineup on March 9”
Verve Buys Deconstruct Media
Verve Wireless, which is based in Encinitas, CA, and Bethesda, MD, says it has acquired Deconstruct Media, a Washington D.C. mobile advertising technology company founded by a team of former Advertising.com product and engineering executives. No financial terms were disclosed. Deconstruct’s self-service advertising system will be integrated into Verve’s ad manager platform. Deconstruct’s three employees … Continue reading “Verve Buys Deconstruct Media”
Vertex Urges CDC to Recommend Hep C Screening, To Nudge “Second Tsunami” of Patients
If Vertex Pharmaceuticals gets its way in talks with U.S. public health officials, most people over 50 could soon get blood tests to screen for hepatitis C infections at the doctor’s office. If the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) agrees this is a good idea, it could prompt another 1 million patients … Continue reading “Vertex Urges CDC to Recommend Hep C Screening, To Nudge “Second Tsunami” of Patients”
Qualcomm Partner Launches Smart Grid Technology
A Jackson, MS, technology company is today launching a wireless communications platform for utility smart grids, giving San Diego’s Qualcomm a fresh opportunity to develop a vast new market for its Brew MP mobile operating system. As I reported last June, mobile applications developers have preferred other types of mobile operating systems (including Android, iPhone, … Continue reading “Qualcomm Partner Launches Smart Grid Technology”
What To Do With The Mother Lode of Genomic Data? Find Out at ‘Computing In the Age of the $1,000 Genome’ on Monday Feb 7
We all have 3 billion chemical units of DNA in each of our cells, and scientists say they will soon be able to unravel our unique genome sequences for $1,000 or less. Since genes get dialed up or down at different points in life, when we are healthy or diseased, scientists want to sequence our … Continue reading “What To Do With The Mother Lode of Genomic Data? Find Out at ‘Computing In the Age of the $1,000 Genome’ on Monday Feb 7”
Path Pockets $8.65M
Path, the San Francisco-based startup offering an iPhone app that allows users to share photos and videos with small groups of friends, announced in a blog post Tuesday that it has collected $8.65 million in new venture funding, on top of approximately $2.5 million already raised. Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Index Ventures led … Continue reading “Path Pockets $8.65M”
The Facebook of Food? Foodily Makes Meal Planning Social
Eating is usually a social experience. But choosing what to eat—that’s the more solitary pursuit. In most families, the meal planning, not to mention the shopping and the cooking, falls to one person, usually a busy mom who’s toiling alone until the food is on the table. There’s a startup in San Mateo, CA, that … Continue reading “The Facebook of Food? Foodily Makes Meal Planning Social”
EnerNOC Acquires M2M, H3 Launches With Eisai Funding, Genzyme Talks With Sanofi Advance, & More Boston-Area Deals News
Deals news this week spanned the cleantech, IT, and life sciences fields, and involved startup financing, acquisitions, and new company launches. —Boston-based energy management firm EnerNOC (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ENOC]]) announced it had bought M2M Communications, a Boise, ID-based wireless technology company that works with energy utilities in the Midwest and California. EnerNOC said it paid $30 million … Continue reading “EnerNOC Acquires M2M, H3 Launches With Eisai Funding, Genzyme Talks With Sanofi Advance, & More Boston-Area Deals News”
Vertiflex Lands $14,000,000 Series D Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3a47a981-071d-4925-ade4-4ea0940b96ad&Preview=1 Date 2/2/2011 Company Name Vertiflex Mailing Address 1351 Calle Avanzado San Clemente, CA 92673 Company Description Founded in Carlsbad, California in 2005, VertiFlex is dedicated to the creation, development and marketing of stabilization and motion preserving solutions for disorders of the spine. Website http://www.vertiflexspine.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $14,000,000 … Continue reading “Vertiflex Lands $14,000,000 Series D Financing Round”