Netezza Sold to IBM for $1.7B, Will Help Big Blue Tackle Big Data

The hits keep coming for IBM in Massachusetts—and this one is a biggie. The company (NYSE: [[ticker:IBM]]) announced this morning it plans to acquire Marlborough, MA-based Netezza (NYSE: [[ticker:NZ]]), the business analytics and data warehousing firm, for about $1.7 billion in cash. It will be Big Blue’s 18th acquisition of a company based in the … Continue reading “Netezza Sold to IBM for $1.7B, Will Help Big Blue Tackle Big Data”

Four Big Cardiovascular Trends to Watch at this Week’s Medical Device Gathering—TCT 2010

Take a fast-food loving culture, mix in a sedentary lifestyle, and, not surprisingly, you get a lot of heart disease in the U.S. The trend doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon, as the Baby Boomers get older, and an estimated 18 million U.S. adults are living with some form of cardiovascular disease. So if … Continue reading “Four Big Cardiovascular Trends to Watch at this Week’s Medical Device Gathering—TCT 2010”

SG Biofuels Gets $9.4M to Develop Jatropha, Motorola Spinout Could Land in San Diego, Startup Grid2Home Emerges Here, & More San Diego BizTech News

If Motorola’s mobile devices spinout establishes its new headquarters in San Diego, as many as 200 new jobs would be created here. That would be good news, of course, for a county where the unemployment rate in August was just reported to be 10.6 percent. We have that and the rest of the BizTech news … Continue reading “SG Biofuels Gets $9.4M to Develop Jatropha, Motorola Spinout Could Land in San Diego, Startup Grid2Home Emerges Here, & More San Diego BizTech News”

The Future of Humankind Depends on Quality Science Education

Each decade produces new insights into science, especially life sciences, where we are learning more about ourselves. As our society becomes increasingly dependent on its scientific legacy, it becomes more and more important that each new generation understands the role of science in our lives. However, the accumulation of facts can be daunting to students … Continue reading “The Future of Humankind Depends on Quality Science Education”

Zalicus, Formerly the Bicoastal Biotech CombinatoRx, Seeks New Identity with Name Fit for a Warrior

Mark Corrigan, the chief executive of the biotech Zalicus (NASDAQ:[[ticker:ZLCS]]), has been shuttling back and fourth from Boston to New York this week as part of the Cambridge, MA-based firm’s effort to gain greater visibility on Wall Street. In fact, last Friday he was due to ring the closing bell at the NASDAQ stock market … Continue reading “Zalicus, Formerly the Bicoastal Biotech CombinatoRx, Seeks New Identity with Name Fit for a Warrior”

Kabongo Takes School-Based Learning Games to the Consumer, Focuses on Being Both Fun and Effective

Kids usually don’t do schoolwork at home purely for fun. But Terry Anderson, president and CEO of educational gaming company Kabongo, thinks that his company’s products could provide an exception to that rule. The startup—headquartered in Emeryville, CA, with research operations in Ann Arbor, MI—first marketed its learning-skills-building games directly to schools. But earlier this … Continue reading “Kabongo Takes School-Based Learning Games to the Consumer, Focuses on Being Both Fun and Effective”

IBM’s Software Acquisition Strategy in Massachusetts (Plus Tips on Getting Acquired) From VP Mike Loria

If you looked at a map of IBM’s local operations and software acquisitions—17 in Massachusetts since 2003, out of a total of 60 worldwide—you might think the company’s headquarters was in Massachusetts, not New York. Between its recently opened Mass Lab in Littleton and Westford, MA (the firm’s biggest software development lab in North America), … Continue reading “IBM’s Software Acquisition Strategy in Massachusetts (Plus Tips on Getting Acquired) From VP Mike Loria”

Cirtas Systems Garners $10,000,000 Series A Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=57818cd8-d4e3-4ba3-890c-f2af2983091e&Preview=1 Date 9/20/2010 Company Name Cirtas Systems Mailing Address 75 E. Santa Clara St. San Jose, CA 95113 Company Description Cirtas Bluejet is the world’s first cloud-enabled storage system. With Bluejet, data is seamlessly and transparently archived to the cloud, providing relief from relentless data growth and out of control storage costs. … Continue reading “Cirtas Systems Garners $10,000,000 Series A Financing”

Boston Scientific Corporation Acquires Asthmatx for $443,500,000

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b3953bff-f9ae-4a01-b2f4-7239c0c7d0a3&Preview=1 Date 9/20/2010 Company Name Asthmatx Mailing Address 888 Ross Drive Sunnyvale, CA 94089 Company Description Asthmatx, Inc. is focused on helping patients with asthma breathe easier. We are developing an interventional medical device, called the Alair System, for the bronchoscopic treatment of patients with moderate to severe asthma. Multiple clinical studies … Continue reading “Boston Scientific Corporation Acquires Asthmatx for $443,500,000”

Memoir Systems Garners $750,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=5a7740fc-0973-4431-913f-46180809b26f&Preview=1 Date 9/20/2010 Company Name Memoir Systems Mailing Address 440 North Wolfe Road Sunnyvale, CA 94085 Company Description Memoir Systems is enabling technology to help accelerate system memory performance. Memoir was founded by Sundar Iyer and Da Chuang in Mar 2009. Memoir’s founders have a background both in academia and Industry; and … Continue reading “Memoir Systems Garners $750,000 New Funding”

Aerovance Obtains $2,000,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3dbe631e-51eb-42eb-9c98-78517ad21f4d&Preview=1 Date 9/20/2010 Company Name Aerovance Mailing Address 2929 7th Street Berkeley, CA 94710 Company Description Aerovance is a privately held biopharmaceutical company exclusively focused on developing and commercializing biotherapeutics. Website http://www.aerovance.com/ Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount $2,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. SEC regulatory filing. M&A … Continue reading “Aerovance Obtains $2,000,000 New Funding Round”

BA-Insight Lands $6,000,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=256739e0-c268-4c76-a9a4-a64c5968e8df&Preview=1 Date 9/20/2010 Company Name BA-Insight Mailing Address 445 Hamilton Ave. White Plains, NY 10601 Company Description BA-Insight provides information access solutions that helps Fortune 1000 companies and government organizations improve operations by making better use of their data. Website http://www.ba-insight.net Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $6,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds … Continue reading “BA-Insight Lands $6,000,000 New Funding Round”

The 2nd Annual Maritime Business and Technology Summit

The Maritime Alliance has organized the 2nd annual Maritime Business and Technology Summit (known previously as The Maritime Collaboration Summit) to promote maritime technology and business opportunities in the global maritime technology industry. The conference and expo provides an opportunity for small to medium-sized companies to network with decision-makers representing academia, government, and the military … Continue reading “The 2nd Annual Maritime Business and Technology Summit”

Advanced Digital Media: Joe Media Redefines its Strategy

The San Diego MIT Enterprise Forum is sponsoring Joe Media CEO Christian Braemer in a case study of a company that provides location-based digital media networks. Joe Media has had to shift its focus from large franchise contracts to smaller clients in order to lay a foundation for survival. It is now positioned for a … Continue reading “Advanced Digital Media: Joe Media Redefines its Strategy”

GreenBytes Secures $3,499,998 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6507c514-9430-42d3-b13b-5c0f82789727&Preview=1 Date 9/19/2010 Company Name GreenBytes Mailing Address 15 Gray Lane Ashway, RI 02804 Company Description GreenBytes is the most efficient data storage system on the market today. An ultra high-efficiency NAS. Website http://www.green-bytes.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $3,499,998 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. SEC … Continue reading “GreenBytes Secures $3,499,998 New Round”

ActiFio Receives $15,999,998 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c8f0e801-2886-4b04-99bd-f3b851aebbae&Preview=1 Date 9/19/2010 Company Name ActiFio Mailing Address 19 Lanes End Weston, MA 02493 Company Description ActiFio is delivering a paradigm shift in the complexity and cost of IT storage ecosystem. Website http://actifio.appspot.com/ Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $15,999,998 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. SEC regulatory … Continue reading “ActiFio Receives $15,999,998 New Financing Round”

Moseo Receives $1,203,288 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f26f8055-364e-4f68-867c-0397de0b776c&Preview=1 Date 9/19/2010 Company Name Moseo Mailing Address 2722 Eastlake Ave E Seattle, WA 98102 Company Description SeniorHomes.com was created to be the starting point for your search and a valuable resource that you come back to. We have articles to help you learn more about the process of looking for Senior … Continue reading “Moseo Receives $1,203,288 New Financing Round”

BUUTEEQ Secures $1,178,304 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d814e7ba-e101-4483-8f9c-2603a607fdc8&Preview=1 Date 9/19/2010 Company Name BUUTEEQ Mailing Address 4412 – 2nd Avenue NE Seattle, WA 98105 Company Description BUUTEEQ offers a hosted digital marketing solution for small/medium size independently managed hotels. Website http://www.buuteeq.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,178,304 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. SEC regulatory … Continue reading “BUUTEEQ Secures $1,178,304 New Funding”

Connect with Connect and Near-Source Your Business

You’ve heard of outsourcing. What about nearsourcing? Connect has organized this year’s annual “Connect with Connect” networking event as a “nearsourcing marketplace” and an occasion for buyers and sellers of technology expertise to get connected. Thanks to a partnership with Connectory.com, a database of almost 5,000 local outsourcing companies, we can bring together the nearsourcing … Continue reading “Connect with Connect and Near-Source Your Business”

Funding Opportunities Through the National Cancer Institute SBIR Program

This program will present an overview of funding opportunities available through the National Cancer Institute’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. This presentation will cover how SBIR grants are awarded and other initiatives that the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has developed to help grantees. More information and online registration is available here.

CommNexus Industry Leader Series: Verizon Wireless West President Tami Erwin

Verizon Wireless has been testing 4G/Long Term Evolution wireless technology in Boston and Seattle since August, 2009. Successful data calls have involved streaming video, file uploads, and downloads, Web browsing, and calls using Voice over Internet Protocol. The company is preparing to launch commercial 4G service this year in some 30 markets serving 100 million … Continue reading “CommNexus Industry Leader Series: Verizon Wireless West President Tami Erwin”

San Diego Venture Group’s $20K PitchFest Dinner and Finalist Presentations

The San Diego Venture Group’s 11th Annual PitchFest provides an opportunity for early stage technology and life science companies to gain experience in refining their investor presentations and ultimately a chance at $20,000 in startup funding. The deadline for applications, which are free, are due Sept. 24. SDVG’s PitchFest selection committee, comprised of local business … Continue reading “San Diego Venture Group’s $20K PitchFest Dinner and Finalist Presentations”

CleanTech OC Conference and Expo

This is the first annual conference and expo promoting economic growth in Orange County’s cleantech industry. The conference will provide a forum for the exchange of ideas, information, and business opportunities among clean tech companies, government entities, and academia, including facilitating investment, joint business ventures, and other collaborations. More information is online here.

American Internet Services Free Technology Expo

AIS, AT&T, EvoNexus, and San Diego Business Journal are co-sponsoring this technology expo, which showcases technology and service providers, show booths, tours of San Diego’s largest data center, with iPhone and iPad giveaways. The Expo is intended to bring the local IT and business community together with the region’s top service and infrastructure providers for … Continue reading “American Internet Services Free Technology Expo”

San Diego Entrepreneurs Exchange: Roundtable on Intellectual Property and Licensing

The San Diego Entrepreneurs Exchange (SDEE) is presenting a panel discussion on how local entrepreneurs manage their intellectual property and licensing. The interactive session is intended to provide information on how to effectively manage and secure intellectual property. The evening will include a roundtable and discussion with Magda Marquet from Althea Technologies, William Comer from … Continue reading “San Diego Entrepreneurs Exchange: Roundtable on Intellectual Property and Licensing”

Motorola Mobility CEO Sanjay Jha Talks Cloud Computing Strategy—and Eyes Bringing Mobile Division to San Diego

Sanjay Jha was lured from Qualcomm (NASDAQ: [[ticker:QCOM]]) to serve as co-CEO of Schaumburg, IL-based Motorola (NYSE: [[ticker:MOT]]) and the CEO of the nearby Motorola Mobility division, which includes mobile handsets, wireless accessories, and home digital media devices. Now there’s a chance the wireless industry’s prodigious son might return to San Diego—and bring the headquarters … Continue reading “Motorola Mobility CEO Sanjay Jha Talks Cloud Computing Strategy—and Eyes Bringing Mobile Division to San Diego”

Buteeq Raises $1.1M

Seattle-based Buteeq, a stealthy developer of mobile phone applications, has raised $1.1 million in new equity financing, according to a report in TechFlash. Adam Brownstein, a veteran of Microsoft and Sony, heads up the company, according to TechFlash.

$6M for Branchout

In a September 15 regulatory filing, San Francisco-based Branchout says it has raised $6 million in new equity financing from undisclosed investors. The startup, mostly made up of former developers from Tickle (acquired by Monster.com in 2004 for $100 million), makes a Facebook app that helps users with professional networking and job-seeking by showing LinkedIn-like … Continue reading “$6M for Branchout”

Sezmi Opens $17.3M

Belmont, CA-based Sezmi, which last week introduced a $150 hybrid DVR and Internet video access device, has raised $17.32 million in a fourth round of equity-based financing, according to a September 16 regulatory filing. The company has previous raised about $76 million in venture financing from Morgenthaler Ventures, Index Group, Omni Capital Group, Advanced Equities … Continue reading “Sezmi Opens $17.3M”

Can #NewTwitter Swim Faster Than a Fail Whale?

The Coast Guard reported Thursday that a ship entering San Francisco Bay struck a 25-foot whale and dragged it all the way to Berth 57 at the Port of Oakland, where it was pronounced DOA. (I’m not joking.) If you worked at San Francisco-based Twitter and you were looking for bad omens, this might be … Continue reading “Can #NewTwitter Swim Faster Than a Fail Whale?”

Lycera CEO Resigns After Less Than One Year, Michigan Startup Plans to Keep Boston Presence

The CEO of Lycera, one of Michigan’s high-profile biotech startups, has left the company after less than a year on the job. CEO Bill Sibold, the former Biogen Idec executive who was hired to lead the Plymouth, MI-based startup in January, has resigned to pursue other interests, Xconomy has confirmed. Sibold’s corporate biography no longer … Continue reading “Lycera CEO Resigns After Less Than One Year, Michigan Startup Plans to Keep Boston Presence”

Nodality’s Personalized Medicine Recipe, Relypsa Pockets $70M, Big Oil Likes Seaweed Biofuel, & More Bay Area Life Sciences News

One of the best things about covering life sciences innovation is weeks like this when we get to write about topics as diverse as seaweed biofuel and personalized cancer treatment. Get caught up on the week’s biotech headlines here. —One fascinating new take on personalized cancer treatment is emerging in South San Francisco at Nodality, … Continue reading “Nodality’s Personalized Medicine Recipe, Relypsa Pockets $70M, Big Oil Likes Seaweed Biofuel, & More Bay Area Life Sciences News”

Intel and the Three Ds of the App Store Business

Where are app stores going next? For the past few years, the app store model has spread through the wireless ecosystem like wildfire. There have been a few big winners and lots of…well, losers is probably too strong, but let’s say there are a lot of app stores that have yet to reach critical mass. … Continue reading “Intel and the Three Ds of the App Store Business”

Smartsheet Raises $1.5M From Madrona, Riding Wave of Support from Google Apps Marketplace

Smartsheet, the Bellevue, WA-based collaborative project management software company, has raised $1.5 million more in a Series C round led by existing investor Madrona Venture Group. The company, founded in 2005 by local entrepreneur Brent Frei, develops business software that helps companies oversee online project management, manage team-based collaboration, file share, and track outsourced tasks. … Continue reading “Smartsheet Raises $1.5M From Madrona, Riding Wave of Support from Google Apps Marketplace”

Ironwood Drug Passes Clinical Test, Genzyme Cuts Jobs and Sheds Business Unit, Third Rock Closes $426M Fund, & More Boston-Area Life Sciences News

All eyes continued to be on Genzyme this week, but other New England life sciences companies had interesting developments to report as well. —Good Start Genetics, a three-year-old Boston startup built in part around technology from the Harvard lab of George Church, completed an $18 million Series A round of funding from OrbiMed Advisors, Safeguard … Continue reading “Ironwood Drug Passes Clinical Test, Genzyme Cuts Jobs and Sheds Business Unit, Third Rock Closes $426M Fund, & More Boston-Area Life Sciences News”

SmartSheet.com Receives $1,500,000 Series C Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=fc3b61fd-43a5-475c-b249-b0ea17734665&Preview=1 Date 9/17/2010 Company Name SmartSheet.com Mailing Address 325 118th Ave. SE Bellevue, WA 98005 Company Description Smartsheet.com is a privately-held Software as a Service (SaaS) provider based in Bellevue, Washington (USA). Incorporated in 2005, the company launched its Smartsheet.com service in August of 2006. Since that time, thousands of users throughout … Continue reading “SmartSheet.com Receives $1,500,000 Series C Round”

Astute Networks Receives New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=5a6a0614-4059-474e-895f-19446fc89e30&Preview=1 Date 9/17/2010 Company Name Astute Networks Mailing Address 16516 Via Esprillo San Diego, CA 92127 Company Description Astute Networks designs and markets intelligent silicon-based protocol acceleration technologies to OEM partners worldwide. Website http://www.astutenetworks.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount Undisclosed Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes The investment will enable Astute Networks … Continue reading “Astute Networks Receives New Financing Round”

Sezmi Lands $17,318,611 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=91dfc35d-e9d7-4bde-b59a-63623c26d684&Preview=1 Date 9/17/2010 Company Name Sezmi Mailing Address 1301 Shoreway Road Belmont, CA 94002 Company Description The evolution of digital media has introduced tremendous innovations in video entertainment that collectively represent the most significant disruption in the TV industry since the introduction of cable TV. Website http://www.sezmi.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction … Continue reading “Sezmi Lands $17,318,611 New Round”

Constellation Energy Group Acquires CPower for Undisclosed Sum

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ec3809a4-6189-4c48-87aa-d77fc4212a8e&Preview=1 Date 9/17/2010 Company Name CPower Mailing Address 17 State Street New York, NY 10004 Company Description CPower delivers targeted energy management services and solutions that enable companies to optimize their facilities and operations through strategic energy reduction initiatives, and earn market payments for those reductions. Website http://www.cpowered.com Transaction Type M&A Transaction … Continue reading “Constellation Energy Group Acquires CPower for Undisclosed Sum”

We Can Get There From Here: The Automotive X Prize Awards $10 Million to 3 Winners

A very light car powered by an internal combustion engine (and fueled by a standard gasoline-ethanol blend known as E85) won the $5 million purse today in the Progressive Automotive X Prize—proving you don’t need an electric vehicle to get over 100 mpg. The nonprofit X Prize Foundation and Progressive Insurance, which sponsored the automotive … Continue reading “We Can Get There From Here: The Automotive X Prize Awards $10 Million to 3 Winners”

Astute Gets Cash Infusion

San Diego-based Astute Networks, Inc., which provides blade storage systems optimized for demanding applications, says today it received a significant capital investment from Tallwood Venture Capital of Palo Alto, CA. The amount of Tallwood’s investment was not disclosed. Astute, which was founded in 2000, last raised about $3.6 million of a targeted $10 million round … Continue reading “Astute Gets Cash Infusion”

WTIA Cocktails & Contributions Holiday Networking Event

Dress to impress and join the WTIA community in celebrating the holiday season on The Royal Argosy Cruise Ship! Cocktails :: Have a drink on us and enjoy a full appetizer buffet of Argosy’s most delicious samplings and treats, while mixing and mingling with Seattle’s current and up-and-coming movers & shakers. Use your time to … Continue reading “WTIA Cocktails & Contributions Holiday Networking Event”

WTIA 13th annual Oktoberfest

On October 13th, 2010 join TechAmerica (formerly AeA) and the Washington Technology Industry Association for our 13th Annual Oktoberfest. Schmooze with Washington’s Technology Leaders while sampling delights and refreshing your palate with craft brews from Redhook Brewery. Use your time to make new connections, grow your existing business relationships, or just relax and have fun … Continue reading “WTIA 13th annual Oktoberfest”

Cell Therapeutics Finds Way to Survive, Persuading Investors to OK Sale of 400M Shares

[Updated: 6:20 pm Pacific] Cell Therapeutics isn’t ready to close its doors just yet, even after suffering what could have been a fatal setback this year. The Seattle-based biotech company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CTIC]]), which had a new drug application soundly rejected by the FDA in April, said today that shareholders have given it the green light … Continue reading “Cell Therapeutics Finds Way to Survive, Persuading Investors to OK Sale of 400M Shares”

Alkermes Wins FDA Panel Nod

Alkermes (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ALKS]]), the Waltham, MA-based biotech company, received some good news today from an FDA advisory panel. The FDA’s panel of psychiatric drug experts voted 12-1 to recommend that the FDA approve Alkermes’ long-lasting naltrexone (Vivitrol) as a treatment for opioid dependence. The FDA, which usually follows the recommendations of its advisory panels, has … Continue reading “Alkermes Wins FDA Panel Nod”

Arena Pharmaceuticals Obesity Drug Shot Down by FDA Panel

San Diego-based Arena Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ARNA]]) and its partner, Japan-based Eisai Pharmaceuticals, suffered a big-time setback today in their quest to bring a new obesity drug to the U.S. market. The FDA’s expert advisory panel on endocrinology and metabolic drugs said today in a 9-5 vote that lorcaserin (Lorqess) shouldn’t be approved for sale in … Continue reading “Arena Pharmaceuticals Obesity Drug Shot Down by FDA Panel”

What We Can Learn from the Flight of Microsoft Execs to Amazon, AOL, GM, Nokia, Yahoo…and Micro VC

Sometimes all you need to do is look at where former Microsoft executives are going, to piece together some interesting trends in the tech industry. In recent months, a number of high-profile leaders from very different divisions of the Redmond, WA-based software firm (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MSFT]]) have departed. This might be true in any given year … Continue reading “What We Can Learn from the Flight of Microsoft Execs to Amazon, AOL, GM, Nokia, Yahoo…and Micro VC”