San Diego Project Taps New England Fuel Cell Company to Generate Energy From Waste Methane Gas

A complicated financing deal led by New Energy Capital of Hanover, NH, has provided $23.5 million for a renewable energy project in San Diego that uses methane gas from a sewage treatment plant to generate electricity from advanced technology fuel cells. Construction is scheduled to begin next month on a “biogas” purification system developed by … Continue reading “San Diego Project Taps New England Fuel Cell Company to Generate Energy From Waste Methane Gas”

Anacor Pharma Prices IPO at $5 a Share, Down from $16 to $18 Forecast

There is still a bearish market for biotech IPOs, but Palo Alto, CA-based Anacor Pharmaceuticals is the latest company to show that it was willing to plow ahead and accept that sentiment. Anacor (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ANAC]]) said today it agreed to sell 12 million shares at $5 apiece, raising a total of $60 million through its … Continue reading “Anacor Pharma Prices IPO at $5 a Share, Down from $16 to $18 Forecast”

Join the Conversation with Michael Moritz Next Tuesday

I’m getting really excited (and a little nervous, to tell you the truth) about Xconomy’s first big event in San Francisco—my on-stage talk with Michael Moritz, the legendary venture capitalist who led Sequoia Capital’s investments in Google, Yahoo, Flextronics, PayPal, YouTube, Zappos, Kayak, Pure Digital, Green Dot, and many other high-profile technology companies. If you … Continue reading “Join the Conversation with Michael Moritz Next Tuesday”

Roche Ends Deal with Ligand

San Diego’s Ligand Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:LGNDD]]) said today that Roche has terminated their collaboration and licensing agreement to develop a treatment for hepatitis C, according to a regulatory filing. Ligand and the Swiss pharmaceutical giant signed the drug development deal two years ago, and Roche made a $6.5 million milestone payment to Roche in April.

BG Medicine Wins FDA OK, Primes Pump for Second Shot at IPO

BG Medicine, the Waltham, MA-based diagnostics company, said it has received FDA clearance for its lead product in development, a new test to measure the progress of patients with chronic heart failure. This is certainly the kind of news that can’t hurt for a company that’s trying to pull off an IPO, for the second … Continue reading “BG Medicine Wins FDA OK, Primes Pump for Second Shot at IPO”

Zogenix Goes Public, Amira Restructures, Apricus Gets Boost From FDA Agreement on Cancer Drug Trial, & More San Diego Life Sciences News

Most of the news from San Diego’s life sciences companies in the week before Thanksgiving was focused on funding deals. And you have our best wishes over the holiday. —After setting the price for its IPO between $12 and $14 a share earlier this month, San Diego specialty drug developer Zogenix (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ZGNX]]) priced its … Continue reading “Zogenix Goes Public, Amira Restructures, Apricus Gets Boost From FDA Agreement on Cancer Drug Trial, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”

As 3G Networks Buckle, Ruckus Wireless Sends Smart Wi-Fi to the Rescue

Wi-Fi: it’s the new utility, as crucial to many consumers and businesspeople as electricity and telephones. Wi-Fi chips are built into 800 million new laptops, mobile phones, tablet PCs, printers, video game controllers, and TV set-top boxes every year, and Wi-Fi networks blanket virtually every office, library, airport, hotel, café, and campus. If only Wi-Fi … Continue reading “As 3G Networks Buckle, Ruckus Wireless Sends Smart Wi-Fi to the Rescue”

Only a Few Tickets Left for Xconomy “Biotech’s Back in Seattle” Event on Nov. 29

Traveling around the country as Xconomy’s national life sciences editor, people sometimes give me funny looks when I say I’m from Seattle. Often, I hear something to the effect of, “Does Seattle even have a biotech industry?” Yes, it does. And even though most local politicians and media stopped talking about it a few years … Continue reading “Only a Few Tickets Left for Xconomy “Biotech’s Back in Seattle” Event on Nov. 29″

Dendreon Commercial Guy Leaves, Light Sciences CEO Exits, Amgen Wins FDA OK, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News

This was a short holiday week, and so we have an appropriately short biotech roundup. —Seattle-based Dendreon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DNDN]]) said last week that its top sales and marketing executive, Varun Nanda, left the company effectively immediately. Nanda was hired back in April to lead the market introduction of Dendreon’s first product, sipuleucel-T (Provenge), and stayed … Continue reading “Dendreon Commercial Guy Leaves, Light Sciences CEO Exits, Amgen Wins FDA OK, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News”

Q3 Venture Capital Terms: Like a Rolling Stone

For me, the latest venture financing report for the third quarter that ended September 30 brings to mind Bob Dylan’s revolutionary rock ballad, “Like a Rolling Stone.” There is not only a sense of shattered hubris throughout the industry (granted, in some places more than others); there are no clear trends in the analysis of … Continue reading “Q3 Venture Capital Terms: Like a Rolling Stone”

Genzyme Sheds Diagnostics Unit, Novell Acquired by Attachmate, Archemix Sells Hemophilia IP to Baxter, & More Boston-Area Deals News

Acquisition news was big this week for New England-area tech and life sciences companies, but we also saw a few startup financings. —Cambridge-based Genzyme (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GENZ]]) sold its diagnostics products unit to Japanese firm Sekisui Chemical for $265 million in cash. The deal comes as part of Genzyme’s plan to sell off three of its … Continue reading “Genzyme Sheds Diagnostics Unit, Novell Acquired by Attachmate, Archemix Sells Hemophilia IP to Baxter, & More Boston-Area Deals News”

Sparkbuy Receives $944,980 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9cbdd1f5-c26c-4226-9792-6bc607034781&Preview=1 Date 11/24/2010 Company Name Sparkbuy Mailing Address 6100 4th Ave. S. Seattle, WA 98108 Company Description The company is developing an as yet unspecified Internet service. Website http://www.sparkbuy.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $944,980 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. SEC regulatory filing. M&A Terms Venture … Continue reading “Sparkbuy Receives $944,980 New Funding Round”

AwarePoint Lands $3,268,167 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=541d6897-269e-4096-b78e-c3ca804a60cd&Preview=1 Date 11/24/2010 Company Name AwarePoint Mailing Address 225 Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Company Description In 2002, the founders of Awarepoint recognized that despite the tremendous potential of active RFID technologies to improve operational efficiency in medium and large businesses, there were no solutions on the market that offered good performance … Continue reading “AwarePoint Lands $3,268,167 New Financing Round”

BVI Networks Receives $2,999,950 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=490a5e1b-172f-454f-b0a1-5f0b5c61641c&Preview=1 Date 11/24/2010 Company Name BVI Networks Mailing Address 99 Almaden Boulevard San Jose, CA 95113 Company Description BVI Networks’ RetailNEXT Product Suite is a complete solution that enables retailers and manufacturers to use video, transaction data from business systems, and best in class video analytics algorithms to address some of their … Continue reading “BVI Networks Receives $2,999,950 New Funding Round”

Tasty Labs Obtains New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c57c512b-33f9-487a-8d42-c23f862ecbce&Preview=1 Date 11/24/2010 Company Name Tasty Labs Mailing Address Undisclosed Undisclosed, CA 94300 Company Description The company is developing as yet unspecified Internet software technologies. Website http://www.tastylabs.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount Undisclosed Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes The company will use the funds to develop a new social software service … Continue reading “Tasty Labs Obtains New Financing Round”

Socialwise Receives $3,400,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=27d78732-c81c-4943-811a-e70b578339b2&Preview=1 Date 11/24/2010 Company Name Socialwise Mailing Address 6440 Lusk Blvd. San Diego, CA 92121 Company Description We develop platforms that integrate into traditional eCommerce products and services. Our flagship product offering is an online payment solution for young people, BillMyParents. Website http://www.socialwise.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $3,400,000 Transaction Round … Continue reading “Socialwise Receives $3,400,000 New Funding Round”

Gather.com Secures $1,800,000 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8de3654f-dddd-44b9-a690-1a014bd1d7df&Preview=1 Date 11/24/2010 Company Name Gather.com Mailing Address 99 Summer Street 7th Floor Boston, MA 02110 Company Description Gather will make money by displaying advertising to people who use Gather’s services. It just seems fair that we share our advertising revenue with you based on the quality and popularity of the content … Continue reading “Gather.com Secures $1,800,000 New Financing Round”

Zogenix IPO, Deeply Discounted, Raises $56M

Shares of San Diego-based Zogenix (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ZGNX]]) slid to $3.98 a share in the first day of trading today, after the drug-and-device startup substantially revised the terms of its initial public offering, raising less than anticipated. The specialty pharmaceutical company, which launched its Sumavel DosePro, a needle-free injectable migraine treatment in January, raised a total … Continue reading “Zogenix IPO, Deeply Discounted, Raises $56M”

Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition

The Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition, with more than $1 million in cash for Michigan entrepreneurs, targets mid-to-late-stage business start-ups with potential to generate an immediate impact on Michigan’s economy, as well as student concepts with longer-term business viability. With more than $1 million in cash winnings, plus in-kind awards of services, staffing and software, organizers … Continue reading “Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition”

Access Scientific Raises Another $2M

San Diego’s Access Scientific, which raised more than $2.6 million five months ago, has raised an additional $2 million, according to a regulatory filing yesterday. The company has begun the launch of its first new product, the “PICC Wand,” an all-in-one device intended to simplify the process of deploying a peripherally inserted central catheter line, … Continue reading “Access Scientific Raises Another $2M”

Amira Cuts Half of Staff, Scientific Founders Exit as Company Seeks to Conserve Cash

San Diego-based Amira Pharmaceuticals has cut half of its workforce and its trio of scientific founders have left the company as it seeks to conserve cash over the next two years, Xconomy has learned. The company is shrinking down to 25 employees, and the cuts are being concentrated primarily in discovery research and administration, as … Continue reading “Amira Cuts Half of Staff, Scientific Founders Exit as Company Seeks to Conserve Cash”

Wozniak Sets Blogs Atwitter with Apple-Nuance Remark

[Updated, see below] Proving that he has the power to move markets with an odd aside, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak sparked rumors this week that Apple is buying Nuance Communications (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NUAN]]), the giant Burlington, MA-based maker of speech recognition software. The source of the speculation is a passing remark in a video interview about … Continue reading “Wozniak Sets Blogs Atwitter with Apple-Nuance Remark”

Foursquare Expands in SF

New York-based Foursquare, maker of mobile apps that enable location-based check-ins and merchant promotions, posted word in its blog yesterday that it’s about to hire a “full team of West Coast engineers,” who will work in a Mission office shared with mobile credit-card processing startup Square, the creation of Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey. The 35-employee startup’s … Continue reading “Foursquare Expands in SF”

Convergence Forum West: The Life Sciences Leaders Forum

During the second edition of this newly expanded one day program, an invitation-only group of entrepreneurs, executives and investors will be talking about innovation in diagnostics…opportunities in China…next-generation sequencing and computation technology…and the interface between drug and device makers and the consumer. Speakers include James Heywood, Co-Founder, PatientsLikeMe; John Mendlein PhD, Executive Chairman, Fate Therapeutics; … Continue reading “Convergence Forum West: The Life Sciences Leaders Forum”

Drupal Business Summit

From the event website: “The social business revolution is happening. In today’s increasingly interactive marketplace, Drupal enables companies to embrace communities and to harness the power of the social web to deliver real business value. At Acquia, we have seen some highly innovative, creative and business impactful implementations of Drupal that have enabled companies to … Continue reading “Drupal Business Summit”

We Got Sad Angels and Mad Angels, But Not So Many Glad Angels After Boston Angel Dinner

AngelGate East it isn’t. Everyone seems to agree on that. But that is where the unanimity stops, at least if you are following the debate playing out on venture capitalist Rob Go’s blog about a Boston area angel and seed-stage investor dinner last week. Go’s post—“Sad Observations From a Boston Angel Dinner“—drew the ire of … Continue reading “We Got Sad Angels and Mad Angels, But Not So Many Glad Angels After Boston Angel Dinner”

If the Venture Model is Broken, Who’s Funding All these Startups?

A Dealmaker Media Strategy Series event. From the event description: “Early stage investing is booming and we are finally seeing the kind of exits that show signs of a potential IPO market in our future. What is the new business of investing – startups are getting funded at rapid speeds, if venture is broken, who’s … Continue reading “If the Venture Model is Broken, Who’s Funding All these Startups?”

Medtronic Buys Ardian for $800M Upfront, Grabs Novel Treatment for High Blood Pressure

It didn’t take Ardian long to cash in once it showed the world what it really has come up with for the treatment of high blood pressure. Medical device giant Medtronic (NYSE: [[ticker:MDT]]) said it has agreed to pay $800 million upfront, plus commercial milestone payments through 2015, to acquire Mountain View, CA-based Ardian. Medtronic … Continue reading “Medtronic Buys Ardian for $800M Upfront, Grabs Novel Treatment for High Blood Pressure”

Omeros Adds Discovery Technology

Omeros (NASDAQ: [[ticker:OMER]]), the Seattle-based biotech company, said today it has completed its acquisition of drug discovery technology from Toronto-based Patobios. The assay technology from Patobios is supposed to help Omeros design new drugs against targets known as G-protein coupled receptors. The GPCR program is thought to be promising because many of the world’s top … Continue reading “Omeros Adds Discovery Technology”

Xconomy Adds Marginize Widget for Social Conversations; Check In for a Chance to Win a Free Event Ticket

There’s a new way to share and discuss your favorite Xconomy articles with your friends on a variety of social-media channels: Marginize. If you’re reading this article on the Xconomy website, you’ll see the new Marginize tab on the far right edge of your browser window. Click on this tab and the Marginize bar will … Continue reading “Xconomy Adds Marginize Widget for Social Conversations; Check In for a Chance to Win a Free Event Ticket”

Vertex Seeks FDA Green Light for Hepatitis C Drug; Chomps at the Bit For Fast Review

Vertex Pharmaceuticals has spent 15 years working to reinvent the way hepatitis C infection is treated, and now the fruits of that labor are in the hands of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Cambridge, MA-based Vertex (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VRTX]]), which has West Coast operations in San Diego, is announcing today that it has filed its … Continue reading “Vertex Seeks FDA Green Light for Hepatitis C Drug; Chomps at the Bit For Fast Review”

Why Travel Search Firm Kayak Wants to Go Public Now—Some More Analysis

Last week, the online travel world watched with considerable interest as Kayak, the Norwalk, CT-based travel “meta search” company, filed for a $50 million initial public offering. There has been a lot of debate about how much Kayak is actually trying to raise, how much the company is worth, and why it wants to go … Continue reading “Why Travel Search Firm Kayak Wants to Go Public Now—Some More Analysis”

Forward Into the Breach: Private Practice and Data Security

“The fantastic advances in the field of electronic communication constitute a greater danger to the privacy of the individual.” 1963 quote from Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren. I moderated a panel last week for Xconomy that was focused on consumer-oriented healthcare information technology. The panel included 2 hospital chief information officers (one current, one … Continue reading “Forward Into the Breach: Private Practice and Data Security”

CalIT2: 10th Anniversary Open House and Digital Showcase

The California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (CalIT2) will host its 10th anniversary Research Open House, and dozens of faculty, staff, and students will be giving TED-style talks in three locations. Visitors can tour the Nano3 cleanroom wing of Atkinson Hall, visit tech demonstrations in more than a dozen laboratories, research centers, and many … Continue reading “CalIT2: 10th Anniversary Open House and Digital Showcase”

Akrivis Sets Out to Improve Diagnostics and Therapies with Northeastern U. Tech

Cambridge, MA-based Akrivis Technologies is named after a Greek word that means precision and accuracy. It’s too early to say whether it can fulfill that promise, but if it does, it could provide highly sensitive diagnostics for serious health conditions, targeted drug delivery for cancer, and even a platform on which to integrate drugs and … Continue reading “Akrivis Sets Out to Improve Diagnostics and Therapies with Northeastern U. Tech”

SunBorne Energy Technologies Lands $3,112,154 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=eb675dd6-973d-4d88-9278-236377533e0c&Preview=1 Date 11/23/2010 Company Name SunBorne Energy Technologies Mailing Address 20 University Rd. Cambridge, MA 02138 Company Description The company is developing technology for generating electricity from the sun that is designed to be cheaper than great power. Website http://www.sunborneenergy.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $3,112,154 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes … Continue reading “SunBorne Energy Technologies Lands $3,112,154 New Funding Round”

Svpply Secures $500,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7dfe802b-1ff2-4e89-98d6-923e5a5715e5&Preview=1 Date 11/23/2010 Company Name Svpply Mailing Address 338R Grapevine Road Wenham, MA 01984 Company Description The company operates a social shopping service that helps users discover new products by tagging interesting products they see online. Website http://www.svpply.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $500,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes … Continue reading “Svpply Secures $500,000 New Funding”

Helix Therapeutics Garners $2,500,000 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=03bdb60d-be0d-48d9-bb51-d66b79982063&Preview=1 Date 11/23/2010 Company Name Helix Therapeutics Mailing Address 150 Munson Street 25 Science Park 2nd Floor New Haven, CT 06511 Company Description The company is developing DNA therapeutics that will cause a paradigm shift in the way that common genetic diseases are treated…by permanently curing them. Website http://www.helixtherapeutics.com Transaction Type Venture … Continue reading “Helix Therapeutics Garners $2,500,000 New Round”

AisleBuyer Lands $4,000,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=1c5e09f3-19c6-4a71-948f-e097eb3b03f9&Preview=1 Date 11/23/2010 Company Name AisleBuyer Mailing Address 332 Congress St., third floor Boston, MA 02210 Company Description Their platform, which includes a virtual shopping assistant, location aware digital circular, and patent-pending, mobile self-checkout system provides retailers with an end-to-end solution designed to increase sales, reduce costs, and offer unprecedented analytical insight … Continue reading “AisleBuyer Lands $4,000,000 New Funding Round”

DigitalSmiths Acquires Gotuit for Undisclosed Sum

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3f149270-5b39-4e0c-86a9-59bb307a2c46&Preview=1 Date 11/23/2010 Company Name Gotuit Mailing Address 400 TradeCenter Woburn, MA 01801 Company Description The company makes software for tagging online video content with metadata. Website http://www.gotuit.com Transaction Type M&A Transaction Amount Undisclosed Transaction Round Proceeds Purposes M&A Terms Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Scale Computing Garners $17,000,000 Series C Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2685f558-c426-49ad-bb8e-2643f91d781a&Preview=1 Date 11/23/2010 Company Name Scale Computing Mailing Address 5225 Exploration Drive Indianapolis, IN 46241 Company Description Scale Computing was founded to reduce storage costs, increase your control, and make managing storage much more convenient. We call it the Three Cs. Others call it the emergence of Third Generation storage. Our customers … Continue reading “Scale Computing Garners $17,000,000 Series C Round”

Badgeville Secures $2,500,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2a5379cb-e198-4f82-a6c8-07cd66497c17&Preview=1 Date 11/23/2010 Company Name Badgeville Mailing Address 1 N Wacker Dr. Palo Alto, CA 94301 Company Description Badgeville is a white label Social Rewards & Analytics Platform We make it easy to increase the loyalty and engagement of your web audience. Website http://www.badgeville.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $2,500,000 Transaction … Continue reading “Badgeville Secures $2,500,000 New Funding Round”

Broadcom Corporation Acquires Gigle Semiconductor for $75,000,000

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=23896846-5e2c-4393-9c8b-358672025cef&Preview=1 Date 11/23/2010 Company Name Gigle Semiconductor Mailing Address 255 Shoreline Drive Redwood City, CA 94065 Company Description Gigle is developing system-on-chip integrated circuits for multimedia home networking using any of the existing wires in the home – the power lines, coaxial cables or phone lines. Such networks will transform the way … Continue reading “Broadcom Corporation Acquires Gigle Semiconductor for $75,000,000”

Concentrix Corporation Acquires Encover for Undisclosed Sum

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8b9aae0a-05fe-40b7-8835-93aeb4540791&Preview=1 Date 11/23/2010 Company Name Encover Mailing Address 625 Market St. 15th floor San Francisco, CA 94105 Company Description Encover, Inc. is the leading provider of technology-enabled services for marketing, selling and managing service contracts. High technology manufacturers and their channel partners work with Encover’s service marketing and sales experts to transform … Continue reading “Concentrix Corporation Acquires Encover for Undisclosed Sum”