Google to Michigan: Help Wanted

Google’s hiring binge is coming to Michigan. The Internet search giant recently said it will add over 6,000 employees to its global workforce, which includes its offices in Ann Arbor, MI and Birmingham, MI, according to the Detroit News. A quick search of local job openings includes positions for advertising sales, operations, and account management. … Continue reading “Google to Michigan: Help Wanted”

From the Caves of Michigan’s Sleeping Bears Comes Kalamazoo’s Aursos, and a Possible New Drug for Osteoporosis

Deep in the wild, frozen woodlands of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, it seems that even the scientists are a different, heartier breed of human. A few years ago, Seth Donahue, an associate professor in biomedical engineering at Michigan Technological University in Houghton, MI, decided to gather a few of his bravest grad students and sneak into … Continue reading “From the Caves of Michigan’s Sleeping Bears Comes Kalamazoo’s Aursos, and a Possible New Drug for Osteoporosis”

See You Tonight at “San Diego’s Fight Against Diabesity”

If two-thirds of all Americans are too heavy, and millions more continue to get diabetes, how will we pay the trillions in medical bills over the next decade? Who will find ways to solve this public health problem, and build real businesses on prevention and treatment? How are some of San Diego’s biotech leaders adapting … Continue reading “See You Tonight at “San Diego’s Fight Against Diabesity””

PhysioSonics, a UW Ultrasound Spinoff, Raises Cash from Medtronic, Kirby Cramer

PhysioSonics, a University of Washington spinoff developing ultrasound imaging technology to monitor blood flow in the brain, has raised its second round of equity financing. The deal was led by medical device giant Medtronic (NYSE: [[ticker:MDT]]) and the prominent local investor Kirby Cramer, Xconomy has learned. Brad Harlow, the CEO of Bellevue, WA-based PhysioSonics, says … Continue reading “PhysioSonics, a UW Ultrasound Spinoff, Raises Cash from Medtronic, Kirby Cramer”

Okta: Helping Companies Maintain Visibility Despite Cloud Cover

If you’re an active Internet user, you probably have enough trouble keeping track of the usernames and passwords you use for a couple dozen Web-based services: Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Amazon, iTunes, Flickr, and the like. Now imagine that you’re an IT administrator at a big company with hundreds or thousands of employees, each of … Continue reading “Okta: Helping Companies Maintain Visibility Despite Cloud Cover”

Philanthropist John Flatley Starts Venture Group to Back New Cystic Fibrosis Treatments

John Flatley, a real estate developer and philanthropist, has founded an investment group called Flatley Venture Capital to back life sciences startups with potential treatments for the genetic disease cystic fibrosis. Flatley, who has a close family member with the disease, told me he launched the venture group within the last few months. Flatley Venture … Continue reading “Philanthropist John Flatley Starts Venture Group to Back New Cystic Fibrosis Treatments”

Seattle Genetics Manager Accused of Insider Trading, Bristol Stays in Seattle, Amgen Buys BioVex, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News

We had news galore this week on the Seattle biotech beat, with a mondo acquisition, an accusation of insider trading, and a prominent report pronouncing the U.S. medical device industry in a state of decline. Take a gander at the flurry of headlines here. —Amgen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMGN]]), which has significant immunology R&D operations in Seattle, … Continue reading “Seattle Genetics Manager Accused of Insider Trading, Bristol Stays in Seattle, Amgen Buys BioVex, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News”

Skyhook Motion For Preliminary Injunction Shot Down in Lawsuit Against Google; CEO Still Hopeful in Case

Boston-based mobile software maker Skyhook Wireless hasn’t been able to prevent Google from setting rules that Skyhook says shut its location-finding technology out of phones running the Android platform—not yet, anyway. Last September, the startup filed a lawsuit in Massachusetts’ Suffolk County Superior Court against Mountain View, CA-based Google, claiming that the company had interfered … Continue reading “Skyhook Motion For Preliminary Injunction Shot Down in Lawsuit Against Google; CEO Still Hopeful in Case”

Flex Biomedical Receives $866,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2800ac26-b90e-4cf6-b1aa-cea88431cbfe&Preview=1 Date 1/27/2011 Company Name Flex Biomedical Mailing Address 505 S. Rosa Road Madison, WI 53719 Company Description Flex Biomedical’s lead product is a synthetic polymer, the Flex Polymer, designed to treat osteoarthritis, an incurable joint disease that affects millions around the world. Website http://www.flexbio.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $866,000 … Continue reading “Flex Biomedical Receives $866,000 New Funding Round”

Cohuman Garners $600,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8a72838f-331a-4785-8930-6089f3c40fcf&Preview=1 Date 1/27/2011 Company Name Cohuman Mailing Address 632 Commercial St., Third Floor San Francisco, CA 94111 Company Description The company provides a cloud-based task management service. Website http://www.cohuman.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $600,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. M&A Terms Venture Investor Undisclosed

Plum District Garners $8,500,000 Series A Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b3c58ef2-bcf9-49a9-ac77-b183b6d7202c&Preview=1 Date 1/27/2011 Company Name Plum District Mailing Address 609 Mission St. San Francisco, CA 94105 Company Description The site differentiates itself by catering its local deals–including day camps, groceries and spa treatments–to busy mothers. Website http://www.PlumDistrict.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $8,500,000 Transaction Round Series A Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes … Continue reading “Plum District Garners $8,500,000 Series A Funding”

Venture Capital Unplugged: Enrique Godreau, Greg Gottesman, Bill Bryant

The MIT Enterprise Forum of the Northwest is organizing an event on February 3 called “Venture Capital Unplugged.” Enrique Godreau III of Voyager Capital, Greg Gottesman of Madrona Venture Group, and Bill Bryant of Draper Fisher Jurvetson will be on hand to answer questions at an open-mic session. For more information how to register, click … Continue reading “Venture Capital Unplugged: Enrique Godreau, Greg Gottesman, Bill Bryant”

Fabless Chip Designer Sheds Stealth Cloak, Changes Name to Enerv

Pervasive was keeping a low profile last year, when I reported the fabless semiconductor design startup had raised $6 million in a round led by two Bay Area venture firms, New Enterprise Associates and Walden International. But that’s not true any more. Reza Mirkhani, the company’s San Diego-based founder and CEO, tells me the company … Continue reading “Fabless Chip Designer Sheds Stealth Cloak, Changes Name to Enerv”

Beyond the Big Three: A Tough Love Search for Detroit’s Future

“Many people watching tonight can probably remember a time when finding a good job meant showing up at a nearby factory or a business downtown,” President Obama said during his State of the Union address last night. “You didn’t always need a degree, and your competition was pretty much limited to your neighbors.” “If you … Continue reading “Beyond the Big Three: A Tough Love Search for Detroit’s Future”

CRV, Spark Invest in Sensr.net

Sensr.net, a video surveillance startup based in Incline Village, NV, said today that it has obtained $1.5 million in new financing. The round was led by Boston-based Spark Capital and the Menlo Park, CA, office of Waltham, MA-based Charles River Ventures. Sensr.net has built software that allows consumers to remotely monitor webcams for unusual activity; … Continue reading “CRV, Spark Invest in Sensr.net”

Pfēnex Awarded $3.1M for Malaria Work

San Diego-based Pfēnex, a 2009 spinout from Dow Chemical, got a $3.1 million subcontract from SAIC, the Virginia-based government contractor, to help develop a scalable production process for a key Malaria antigen. Pfēnex has developed a technology platform that uses fluorescing bacteria to produce a variety of specialized protein-based products. In a statement today, the … Continue reading “Pfēnex Awarded $3.1M for Malaria Work”

Stealthy Elcelyx Therapeutics, Focused on Diabetes, Raises $6M

Elcelyx Therapeutics, a stealthy biotech developing new therapeutics for treating diabetes and other metabolic diseases, is emerging in San Diego, adding its name to the deep roster of local companies with expertise in fighting these related threats to public health. Elcelyx has raised just over $6 million from investors in what appears to be the … Continue reading “Stealthy Elcelyx Therapeutics, Focused on Diabetes, Raises $6M”

GPX Software Nets $250k

GPX Software has raised $250,000 from the sale of equity, according to documents recently filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Overall, the company, based in Ann Arbor, MI, is seeking $500,000, the documents say. Incorporated in 2009, the startup is developing Internet-based software that can help help users create accurate financial reports such as cash … Continue reading “GPX Software Nets $250k”

EnerNOC Buys M2M for Its Wireless Tech and Utility Contracts in California, Midwest

[Updated 3:30 pm with financial terms. See below] EnerNOC, the Boston-based energy management firm (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ENOC]]), continues to look west for its acquisitions. The company announced today it has bought M2M Communications, a Boise, ID-based wireless technology company that has key contracts with energy utilities in California and the Midwest. Financial terms of the deal … Continue reading “EnerNOC Buys M2M for Its Wireless Tech and Utility Contracts in California, Midwest”

$75M for Fulcrum BioEnergy

Pleasanton, CA-based Fulcrum BioEnergy, a developer of technology for converting municipal solid waste into ethanol, said yesterday (PDF) that it has collected $75 million in Series C financing. The company declined to name the investors in the round, though it told Dow Jones VentureWire that existing shareholders Rustic Canyon Partners and U.S. Renewables Group participated. … Continue reading “$75M for Fulcrum BioEnergy”

Facebook Buys Rel8tion

Rel8tion, a stealth-mode Seattle startup building a location-based mobile advertising system, has been acquired by Facebook, which is flush with cash from its recent $1.5 billion fundraising spree. The purchase was reported yesterday by AllThingsD and confirmed by Facebook. Rel8tion co-founder Peter Wilson, a Microsoft veteran who previously helped to set up Google’s Kirkland, WA, … Continue reading “Facebook Buys Rel8tion”

Liquid Robotics Soaks Up $18M

Liquid Robotics, headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA, has collected $18 million in equity-based financing in a round that could reach as high as $23.2 million, according to a regulatory filing. The four-year-old startup makes an “autonomous marine vehicle” called the Wave Glider that carries sensor payloads and moves by converting wave motion into thrust. The device … Continue reading “Liquid Robotics Soaks Up $18M”

InLab Ventures, Based in San Diego and Orange County, Pursues Alternative VC Path

Some folks have been saying for at least a couple of years that the venture capital business model is broken. But is the venture capital industry really ready for a different business model? Orange County investor and entrepreneur Chip F. Parker founded InLab Ventures two years ago as an early stage venture firm with a … Continue reading “InLab Ventures, Based in San Diego and Orange County, Pursues Alternative VC Path”

Report: Layoffs Hit Elan

Elan, the Dublin, Ireland-based drugmaker that co-manufactures Biogen Idec’s (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]) multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri and has a major R&D operation in South San Francisco, is cutting staff, according to a late-Tuesday report from Reuters. The news organization said Elan is laying off approximately 130 people, or 10 percent of its total workforce, with most of … Continue reading “Report: Layoffs Hit Elan”

Hipmunk Takes Off With $4.7M

San Francisco startup Hipmunk, a Y Combinator-backed company developing a new airfare search interface (as we explained in this August profile), has raised $4.7 million in new equity-based financing, in a round that could eventually reach $5.9 million, according to a regulatory filing. The company has said nothing so far about who’s investing or how … Continue reading “Hipmunk Takes Off With $4.7M”

Computing in the Age of the $1,000 Genome, Coming February 7

If scientists will soon be decoding entire human genomes in an afternoon, for $1,000 or less, how will that change the way we think about health and wellness? What are the business opportunities for companies that figure this out early? How will tech companies handle the gargantuan IT challenges of separating signal from the noise … Continue reading “Computing in the Age of the $1,000 Genome, Coming February 7”

IWalk Before You Run: MIT Prosthetics Startup Ramps Up Operations With New VC Money

If you’re lucky, you probably only worry about your feet when something goes wrong—if you break a toe or sprain your ankle, say. In daily life, most people don’t marvel at the natural machinery that lets them navigate icy sidewalks, step over obstacles, or go up and down stairs with nary a second thought. (I’ll … Continue reading “IWalk Before You Run: MIT Prosthetics Startup Ramps Up Operations With New VC Money”

Amgen’s R&D Chief, Roger Perlmutter, on Why BioVex’s Cancer-Fighting Virus Is Worth $1B

Roger Perlmutter, the guy who runs R&D at the largest biotech company in the world, is an immunologist by training. So it shouldn’t be any surprise that he’s fascinated by recent advances in which scientists have shown they can harness the immune system to fight tumors. Now he’s acting on that emerging knowledge of cancer … Continue reading “Amgen’s R&D Chief, Roger Perlmutter, on Why BioVex’s Cancer-Fighting Virus Is Worth $1B”

The New Normal for Biotech Startups

The structural changes roiling the pharmaceutical sector are driving innovation of biotech business models. With shrinking operating margins, patent expirations, a paucity of new product launches, significant reimbursement pressure, and an unpredictable regulatory environment—Big Pharma’s high risk bets on early stage biotechs of the past decade look cavalier through the lens of the current market … Continue reading “The New Normal for Biotech Startups”

Myriant Gets $60M, BioVex Bought By Amgen, Raindance Wraps Up $37.5M, & More Boston-Area Deals News

The past week has been all about reflecting on venture data from Q4 2010, but we also spotted some new financings, partnership deals, and acquisitions for New England’s tech and life sciences firms. —Well, we did write about the top 10 venture deals in the Boston area from last quarter, based on data the MoneyTree … Continue reading “Myriant Gets $60M, BioVex Bought By Amgen, Raindance Wraps Up $37.5M, & More Boston-Area Deals News”

LiquidPiston Obtains $5,000,000 Series B Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6a8ac719-99bb-4010-a57f-57a51809425e&Preview=1 Date 1/26/2011 Company Name LiquidPiston Mailing Address 21C Old Windsor Road Bloomfield, CT 06002 Company Description LiquidPiston, Inc. has conceptualized a new patent pending internal combustion engine architecture, which promises to drastically improve fuel efficiency and power density compared to existing engines. Our engine may run as efficient as fuel cells … Continue reading “LiquidPiston Obtains $5,000,000 Series B Financing Round”

Cartera Commerce Garners $16,370,663 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b8508a32-e484-4b8e-8f99-5f5f50ad6cb6&Preview=1 Date 1/26/2011 Company Name Cartera Commerce Mailing Address One Cranberry Hill Lexington, MA 02421 Company Description Cartera Commerce uses the power of affiliate networks to build shopping portals tailor-made for affinity organizations such as school districts, non-profits, sports teams, and consumer associations. With more than 350 of the most trusted online … Continue reading “Cartera Commerce Garners $16,370,663 New Funding”

Decide.com Garners $2,500,000 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6b2f9898-360a-4e1e-bd42-74872004e309&Preview=1 Date 1/26/2011 Company Name Decide.com Mailing Address Undisclosed Seattle, WA 98104 Company Description The company is developing a new online shopping service. Website http://www.decide.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $2,500,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes The $2.5 million round also will be used to launch the initial version of the … Continue reading “Decide.com Garners $2,500,000 New Financing Round”

Crowd Factory Receives $6,500,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9f07aa71-d58c-4e9c-8621-86689e0c1614&Preview=1 Date 1/26/2011 Company Name Crowd Factory Mailing Address 333 S. W. 5th Ave Portland, OR 97204 Company Description Traditional media are losing their reach. The emerging social media – online identity, communication, consumer-generated content, and traditional media combine to create compelling experiences for consumers. Social media have surpassed simple trend into … Continue reading “Crowd Factory Receives $6,500,000 New Financing”

Korrio Garners $3,300,000 Series A Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=aa773083-8cad-464c-bdf4-fc6deab5378d&Preview=1 Date 1/26/2011 Company Name Korrio Mailing Address 7818 78th Ave. SE Mercer Island, WA 98040 Company Description The company is using web technology to organize and automate youth sports information and registration. Website http://www.korrio.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $3,300,000 Transaction Round Series A Proceeds Purposes The financing will help … Continue reading “Korrio Garners $3,300,000 Series A Financing Round”

CampusExplorer Garners Series C Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3ada1026-8a5d-4422-8e51-379a14f68461&Preview=1 Date 1/26/2011 Company Name CampusExplorer Mailing Address 2850 Ocean Park Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405 Company Description CampusExplorer.com is dedicated to helping students, parents and counselors find the information and support needed while researching and applying to post secondary schools. Choosing the right school is an important life decision and CampusExplorer.com … Continue reading “CampusExplorer Garners Series C Funding”

Elcelyx Therapeutics Receives $6,050,001 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=de6bbaf5-fa80-44fb-be0c-b0443d184f4d&Preview=1 Date 1/26/2011 Company Name Elcelyx Therapeutics Mailing Address 12730 High Bluff Dr San Diego, CA 92130 Company Description Elcelyx Therapeutics of San Diego is a stealth mode diabetes related biotechnology company. Website Undisclosed Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $6,050,001 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. A … Continue reading “Elcelyx Therapeutics Receives $6,050,001 New Financing”

Univa Lands $7,000,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4faeee55-cd8c-467a-8a18-4f3e6beac65b&Preview=1 Date 1/26/2011 Company Name Univa Mailing Address 1001 Warrenville Road Lisle, IL 60532 Company Description Univa is the leading provider of commercial software, technical support, and professional services for Grid infrastructure based on open source Globus software. Website http://www.univaud.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $7,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes … Continue reading “Univa Lands $7,000,000 New Funding”

Smaato Secures $7,000,000 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=cd760e02-5a0e-4be3-9fef-3b8cb73b3efc&Preview=1 Date 1/26/2011 Company Name Smaato Mailing Address 3 Lagoon Drive Redwood Shores, CA 94065 Company Description Smaato Inc. is an ad-enabler for mobile phones, pioneering with its mobile advertising platform SOMA (Smaato Open Mobile Advertising) for the delivery of targeted mobile advertising. Smaato is partnering with international brands, advertising agencies, media … Continue reading “Smaato Secures $7,000,000 New Round”

Silicon Laboratories Acquires SpectraLinear for $40,000,000

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3724d3de-61aa-4a23-82db-1aea048177cf&Preview=1 Date 1/26/2011 Company Name SpectraLinear Mailing Address 2200 Laurelwood Road Santa Clara, CA 95054 Company Description SpectraLinear is a pure play integrated timing solutions company that focuses on consumer, computer, and communication markets using innovative, high performance fast time-to-market silicon platforms. Website http://www.spectra-ic.com Transaction Type M&A Transaction Amount $40,000,000 Transaction Round … Continue reading “Silicon Laboratories Acquires SpectraLinear for $40,000,000”

BlueKai Acquires TrackSimple for Undisclosed Sum

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=44b22c8d-8d5b-458a-8f85-2006d91ab808&Preview=1 Date 1/26/2011 Company Name TrackSimple Mailing Address 558 1st Avenue S Seattle, WA 98104 Company Description Tracksimple Inc. is a developer of a platform that captures customer events. Its technology works from a clients’ perspective, server perspective or both via cookies and/or javascripts tags, aggregating data in near real-time. Website http://www.tracksimple.com … Continue reading “BlueKai Acquires TrackSimple for Undisclosed Sum”

Envia Systems Receives $17,000,000 Series C Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ac41ab3c-7773-4135-8bfd-71ce9f1c1a80&Preview=1 Date 1/26/2011 Company Name Envia Systems Mailing Address 26138 Research Road Hayward, CA 94545 Company Description Envia Systems is a technology leader in high performance, low cost energy storage solutions using lithium ion batteries. Our disruptive products will enable widespread adoption of clean energy applications such as electric vehicles, hybrid electric … Continue reading “Envia Systems Receives $17,000,000 Series C Round”