Versus Technology Doesn’t Need to Develop RFID in Northern Michigan, But Wouldn’t Dream of Doing it Anywhere Else

Versus Technology is located at the base of the pinky on Michigan’s mitten, where Lake Michigan laps its tongue into the shining waters of the Grand Traverse Bay. Versus develops products that track patients, staff, and equipment for hospitals across the country, so it does not really need to be at this inconveniently located corner … Continue reading “Versus Technology Doesn’t Need to Develop RFID in Northern Michigan, But Wouldn’t Dream of Doing it Anywhere Else”

A Natural History of the Scentsa: Fragrances Publisher Gets Huntington Capital Financing to Expand Technology Platform

Just as Greg was reporting the $5 million in financing that San Diego’s Huntington Capital arranged for custom publisher RPI in Tukwila, WA, the firm was providing similar financing for Crescent House Publishing of Carlsbad, CA. Both deals came out of Huntington Capital Fund II, the $78 million fund the boutique lender and private equity … Continue reading “A Natural History of the Scentsa: Fragrances Publisher Gets Huntington Capital Financing to Expand Technology Platform”

Solazyme, Founded on ‘Delusional’ Idea of Algae Biofuel, Stakes Claim as Industry’s First Mover

Two teenagers arrived at Emory University in Atlanta as freshmen in 1989, and within days, they hit upon a “delusional” idea: starting a biotech company. Two decades later, it’s become a lot less delusional, as Jonathan Wolfson and Harrison Dillon have built South San Francisco-based Solazyme into one of the nation’s leading contenders in the … Continue reading “Solazyme, Founded on ‘Delusional’ Idea of Algae Biofuel, Stakes Claim as Industry’s First Mover”

Elemental Talks About Its $7.5M Series B, and Cashing In on the New Economics of Online Video

The online video market just got a little hotter. Last month, my colleague Luke broke the news that Elemental Technologies, a parallel-processing video software startup in Portland, OR, had raised a new financing round. Today the company is talking for the first time about the deal and where it stands in an increasingly competitive—and lucrative—market. … Continue reading “Elemental Talks About Its $7.5M Series B, and Cashing In on the New Economics of Online Video”

Immune Design Follows Corixa Playbook, Sees Data, Deals on the Horizon in Year Three

Steve Reed is following a tried-and-true road map for building a biotech company. First year, build the team. Second year, gather some data to support the founding idea. Third year, prove it in clinical trials. Then start coaxing Big Pharma to open up its checkbook and do deals. “This is when it gets exciting,” Reed … Continue reading “Immune Design Follows Corixa Playbook, Sees Data, Deals on the Horizon in Year Three”

Practically Green, Led by Former Globe Exec, Uses Social Media and Game Mechanics to Spread Green Living

Everyone has their own green environmental “a-ha” moment. Maybe it’s seeing birds drowning in oil, or paying $4 a gallon for gas, or reading about the plastic trash heap the size of Texas swirling around in the Pacific Ocean. For Susan Hunt Stevens, it was discovering her young son had serious food and environmental allergies, … Continue reading “Practically Green, Led by Former Globe Exec, Uses Social Media and Game Mechanics to Spread Green Living”

Daptiv Acquired By Parallax Capital Partners

Seattle-based project management software developer Daptiv is confirming today it has been acquired by software and technical acquisition firm Parallax Capital Partners, out of Laguna Hills, CA. The official announcement came this morning, after a report about the deal leaked late last week. Daptiv, founded in 1997, develops on-demand collaborative business and project and portfolio … Continue reading “Daptiv Acquired By Parallax Capital Partners”

RainDance Technologies, Delving Deep into DNA, Gets Wall Street Connections with Latest CEO

Roopom Banerjee, the chief executive of genomic research tool maker RainDance Technologies, is aware of the criticisms facing genomics. “There’s been a lot of talk recently about how productive has the Human Genome Project really been in terms of delivering on the promise of personalized medicine,” he says. RainDance is helping scientists conquer part of … Continue reading “RainDance Technologies, Delving Deep into DNA, Gets Wall Street Connections with Latest CEO”

Triangulate Raises $750K for “Data-Driven Dating” on Facebook

If you’re at least a casual Internet user, there’s already lots of information about you laying around in semi-public databases. Twitter knows what types of people you follow. Netflix knows what movies and TV shows you like. Foursquare knows where you check in. Pandora knows what kinds of music you like. Facebook knows who your … Continue reading “Triangulate Raises $750K for “Data-Driven Dating” on Facebook”

Jive Software Nabs $30M, SynapticMash Acquired by Promethean World, Intellectual Ventures Sells Patents, & More Seattle-Area Deals News

Once again it has been a pretty slow week for Seattle-area technology companies in terms of deals—word must have gotten out that the weather is nice and warm here in the Pacific Northwest! Nevertheless, of the few deals that have gone on this last week, a few were pretty substantial. A number of startups both … Continue reading “Jive Software Nabs $30M, SynapticMash Acquired by Promethean World, Intellectual Ventures Sells Patents, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”

Greylock’s Henry McCance Part 2: Four Things Great VCs Do and Four Ideas to Guide Them

Every venture capital firm and every venture capitalist touts itself/herself/himself as adding value to the entrepreneur’s quest to build great companies. But when it comes to backing up that talk with action, few venture capitalists have the track record of Henry McCance, now chairman emeritus of Greylock Partners. I recently visited McCance in the firm’s … Continue reading “Greylock’s Henry McCance Part 2: Four Things Great VCs Do and Four Ideas to Guide Them”

Elemental Technologies Garners $7,500,000 Series B Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9a55e112-e046-475f-8dbb-a501f0c39ca5&Preview=1 Date 7/27/2010 Company Name Elemental Technologies Mailing Address 620 SW Fifth Ave. Portland, OR 97204 Company Description Elemental Technologies, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, is the leading provider of massively parallel processing (MPP) solutions, initially targeting video applications. Utilizing general purpose, programmable “off the shelf” graphics processing units (GPUs), the RapiHD™ Video … Continue reading “Elemental Technologies Garners $7,500,000 Series B Financing”

Great Lakes Pharmaceuticals Garners $3,100,000 Series B Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d3372f25-f88e-440b-9135-ef1d3beb7a83&Preview=1 Date 7/27/2010 Company Name Great Lakes Pharmaceuticals Mailing Address 2000 Auburn Dr. Beachwood, OH 44122 Company Description Great Lakes is a clinical-stage company focused on eliminating microbial infections associated with biofilm formation. Website http://www.glpharma.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $3,100,000 Transaction Round Series B Proceeds Purposes The Company intends to … Continue reading “Great Lakes Pharmaceuticals Garners $3,100,000 Series B Financing”

Triangulate Garners $750,000 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=09450b7b-1273-4a53-9bba-6478ef41c358&Preview=1 Date 7/27/2010 Company Name Triangulate Mailing Address 230 S. California Ave. Palo Alto, CA 94306 Company Description We empower people to use their own data to make the world better. Our first product, Wings (www.facebook.com/wings), is dedicated to discovering who people are, what aspects of their personality are especially notable, and … Continue reading “Triangulate Garners $750,000 New Financing Round”

EPAC Technologies Obtains $6,000,000 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=07ae5682-3ccb-4fb3-8460-adb6046b5755&Preview=1 Date 7/27/2010 Company Name EPAC Technologies Mailing Address 2561 Grant Ave. San Leandro, CA 94579 Company Description EPAC develops automation technology for digital printing. EPAC operates on a service model, focusing on the elimination of waste in its customer book and collateral supply chain. This runs from the management of content … Continue reading “EPAC Technologies Obtains $6,000,000 New Financing Round”

BuzzLogic Secures $8,800,000 Series B Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=25293c4e-4221-45f8-a143-ea03e4a8477e&Preview=1 Date 7/27/2010 Company Name BuzzLogic Mailing Address 425 Brannan Street 2nd Floor San Francisco, CA 94107 Company Description BuzzLogic is a San Francisco-based on-demand software company that enables marketers to identify who is influential within specific conversations taking place in social media, and to use this information to better manage their … Continue reading “BuzzLogic Secures $8,800,000 Series B Round”

GameStop Acquires Kongregate for Undisclosed Sum

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=49648741-b1ff-4208-af14-3e1568913273&Preview=1 Date 7/27/2010 Company Name Kongregate Mailing Address 660 Mission St San Francisco, CA 94105 Company Description Founded in 2006 and currently in a state of heavy development, Kongregate seeks to create the leading online hub for players and game developers to meet up, play games, and operate together as a community. … Continue reading “GameStop Acquires Kongregate for Undisclosed Sum”

Walt Disney Co. Acquires Playdom for $763,200,000

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=661fb329-ce1e-4a0d-b998-989cbf773496&Preview=1 Date 7/27/2010 Company Name Playdom Mailing Address 100 West Evelyn Avenue Mountain View, CA 94041 Company Description We boast the #1 game on MySpace—Mobsters—and three of the top four applications. But it doesn’t stop there. Fueled by explosive growth on Facebook and an expanding pipeline of new games and features, we … Continue reading “Walt Disney Co. Acquires Playdom for $763,200,000”

Workstreamer Garners $3,500,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a383ed2f-56cd-4a6d-809b-9311f388f4cd&Preview=1 Date 7/27/2010 Company Name Workstreamer Mailing Address 10 Pierrepont Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 Company Description Workstreamer is pioneering the concepts of workstreams and workstreaming. We are building socially-driven collaboration software aimed at helping ambitious individuals and businesses unlock the hidden value in their transactions and interactions. To this end, a “workstream” … Continue reading “Workstreamer Garners $3,500,000 New Financing”

Xtreme Power Solutions Secures $29,500,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7e8105e4-6b62-4b39-a652-bc1851b621f6&Preview=1 Date 7/27/2010 Company Name Xtreme Power Solutions Mailing Address 1120 Goforth Road Kyle, TX 78640 Company Description Xtreme Power is a Power Systems company with sophisticated technology to deliver efficient solutions. Xtreme Power Solutions is a manufacturer of power systems from the small sized, (2kW) generator replacement, through large scale Megawatt … Continue reading “Xtreme Power Solutions Secures $29,500,000 New Financing”

Terrafugia Shows Off New Design for Flying Car

A future replete with flying cars inched a bit closer today. At the AirVenture air show in Oshkosh, WI, aerospace startup Terrafugia of Woburn, MA, took the wraps off the latest prototype for its Transition “roadable aircraft,” which has folding wings that make the vehicle compact enough to drive right off the tarmac and onto … Continue reading “Terrafugia Shows Off New Design for Flying Car”

Sapphire Energy Moving Fast on Genetically Engineered Algae

After reading Andy Pollack’s reportage on biotechnology for years in the New York Times, I finally got a chance to meet him a couple of weeks ago in San Diego, at a briefing to update reporters and VIPs on the $300-million partnership that Synthetic Genomics and ExxonMobil formed to develop algae biofuels. Today Pollack published … Continue reading “Sapphire Energy Moving Fast on Genetically Engineered Algae”

Gist Raises $4M More from Vulcan and Foundry Group

Seattle-based software startup Gist has raised an additional $4 million in equity financing, according to VentureDeal. Gist vice president of marketing Robert Pease confirmed the deal, adding that the latest round came from existing investors, Paul Allen’s Vulcan Capital and Boulder, Co-based firm Foundry Group. Gist develops online software that helps business people keep track … Continue reading “Gist Raises $4M More from Vulcan and Foundry Group”

$975K Boost for LearnBoost

San Francisco-based LearnBoost, which makes gradebook and lesson-plan software for teachers, said today on its blog that it has raised $975,000 in financing from Bessemer Venture Partners, Charles River Ventures, RRE Ventures, and Atlas Venture. The startup says it aims to take business away from established teacher software providers like Blackboard and Pearson with a … Continue reading “$975K Boost for LearnBoost”

Washington to Washington: A Shared Vision for Global Health

Top state, federal, and global health officials are gathering at PATH’s new Seattle headquarters on July 29th for a public conversation in the midst of budget debates about global health and foreign aid priorities. Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire is one of the confirmed speakers, along with Tachi Yamada, the president of global health at the … Continue reading “Washington to Washington: A Shared Vision for Global Health”

How Much Would You Pay for Genzyme?

Speculation has erupted over the potential outcome of reported M&A talks between the Cambridge, MA-based biotech powerhouse Genzyme (NASDAQ:[[ticker:GENZ]]) and the French drug giant Sanofi-Aventis (NYSE:[[ticker:SNY]]). While biotech watchers salivate over the potential sale of Genzyme, we thought it would be interesting to hear from you about what you think the company is worth. Frenzied … Continue reading “How Much Would You Pay for Genzyme?”

Xconomy Syndicates Local Technology, Biotech News to The Bay Citizen

I’m extremely pleased to report that selected articles from Xconomy San Francisco are now appearing at The Bay Citizen, San Francisco’s nonprofit online news source. Under a partnership agreement worked out this month, The Bay Citizen will republish several Xconomy stories every week, bringing additional technology and business perspectives to to the startup publication’s already … Continue reading “Xconomy Syndicates Local Technology, Biotech News to The Bay Citizen”

Toy, Game & Technology Summit

Engage Digital Media presents a conference on toys and games in the digital age. From the event site: “As innovation accelerates it is imperative that toy companies, youth entertainment companies and youth brands learn how to integrate digital technologies into their product lines. Conversely, Silicon Valley and the digital video game industry need to better … Continue reading “Toy, Game & Technology Summit”

Location Business Summit USA

UK-based TheWhereBusiness sponsors a two-day conference on location-based services. (The conference was formerly known as MetaPlaces.) From the event website: “The Location Business Summit USA brings together key companies from across the ecosystem, with over 30 top speakers, 200 hundred plus attendees and a highly focused agenda which gets to the core of local search, … Continue reading “Location Business Summit USA”

Immune Design Nabs $32M for Targeted Vaccines

Seattle-based Immune Design has raised $32 million to develop a new generation of vaccines. It’s the second big round for the company, founded in 2008 with an $18 million investment. The latest financing was led by ProQuest Investments, and included Immune Design’s previous investors—The Column Group, Versant Ventures, and Alta Partners. The new investment is … Continue reading “Immune Design Nabs $32M for Targeted Vaccines”

Life Magnetics Attracts Investment

Arboretum Ventures, an Ann Arbor, MI, VC firm that invests in early-stage companies, today announced (PDF) completion of Series A preferred stock financing with Life Magnetics, a University of Michigan spinout developing a desktop in vitro diagnostic device and disposable cartridge assay for rapidly testing bacterial infections. The investment amount was not announced. The device … Continue reading “Life Magnetics Attracts Investment”

Vlingo Buys Patents from Bellevue-based Intellectual Ventures As Defense In Nuance Lawsuit—Hopes for “Horse Trade”

Vlingo, a Cambridge, MA-based provider of voice-to-text software, has taken a defensive move to help protect it against a lawsuit filed by speech software giant Nuance Communications, announcing a deal today with Intellectual Ventures that adds a slew of intellectual property to its arsenal. Vlingo has purchased several patents from Bellevue, WA-based Intellectual Ventures that … Continue reading “Vlingo Buys Patents from Bellevue-based Intellectual Ventures As Defense In Nuance Lawsuit—Hopes for “Horse Trade””

Flipping Out over Flipboard, Going Geo-Loco, Grilling Silicon Valley’s MacGyver, & More Bay Area Biztech News

Last week’s business and technology news ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous—sometimes both in one story (Flipboard’s new iPad app is pretty amazing, even if it didn’t work for half of the people who downloaded it). —After visiting Palo Alto, CA-based Nanosys, I wrote a feature explaining how the nine-year-old nanotech firm is finally … Continue reading “Flipping Out over Flipboard, Going Geo-Loco, Grilling Silicon Valley’s MacGyver, & More Bay Area Biztech News”

Ann Arbor’s Cerenis Therapeutics Gets $51.7M to Develop Drug for Cardiovascular Disease

Cerenis Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company based in Ann Arbor, MI, and Toulouse, France, has just received $51.7 million to continue stalking a killer. The criminal in question is atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and it’s the number-one cause of death in the developed world. Cerenis’ promising new weapon in the fight is a drug called CER-001, which … Continue reading “Ann Arbor’s Cerenis Therapeutics Gets $51.7M to Develop Drug for Cardiovascular Disease”

Memjet To Unveil Innovative Printing Technology, Energy Innovations Moves into Poway, Skinit Gets $60M, & More San Diego BizTech News

So many innovations, so little time. It’s a good thing you don’t have to choose between Memjet’s superfast printing technology and Energy Innovations’ supercool concentrating photovoltaic solar modules. You can have it all, and you can get it now. —Memjet, the San Diego-based startup with new inkjet printing technologies, is getting ready to step on … Continue reading “Memjet To Unveil Innovative Printing Technology, Energy Innovations Moves into Poway, Skinit Gets $60M, & More San Diego BizTech News”

Onyx Preps for Dash to FDA, After Myeloma Drug Helps Sickest of the Sick

Tony Coles has been pushing for two years to re-fashion Onyx Pharmaceuticals into more than a one-drug company, and now he might have the data to make that happen. The Emeryville, CA-based biotech company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ONXX]]) is announcing today that its drug candidate for multiple myeloma was able to at least partially shrink tumors for … Continue reading “Onyx Preps for Dash to FDA, After Myeloma Drug Helps Sickest of the Sick”

SonoSite’s New Push: Ultrasound for an Up-Close Look at Heart Attack Risk

Now I say this for sure, I’m not going to drop dead from a heart attack anytime soon. Sure, I’ve seen the doctor before and had all the usual heart disease tests done—cholesterol counts, measurements of fat in the blood (triglycerides), blood pressure, the old-fashioned family history. But now I got some unequivocal signs on … Continue reading “SonoSite’s New Push: Ultrasound for an Up-Close Look at Heart Attack Risk”

Double-Take’s $242M Sale Brings Windows Data Protection to IBM-Focused Firm, Vision Solutions

Here’s an interesting snapshot of a Boston-area public tech company getting bought by a West Coast firm. In May, we reported that Southborough, MA-based Double-Take Software was being acquired by Vision Solutions, based in Irvine, CA, in a deal worth $242 million. Today, Vision is announcing that the acquisition has officially closed. Double-Take (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DBTK]]) … Continue reading “Double-Take’s $242M Sale Brings Windows Data Protection to IBM-Focused Firm, Vision Solutions”

Biotech on a Shoestring? There’s a Better Way

A recent Xconomy article “Biotech on a Shoestring” reflects an industry landscape change where, “the era of free-spending is supposedly out, and austerity is the watchword.” An emphasis on a heightened form of frugality can certainly save dollars but can also create uncertainty and anxiety amongst the rank and file. The inevitable next question arises … Continue reading “Biotech on a Shoestring? There’s a Better Way”

Greylock’s Henry McCance on Why the Firm Moved Its HQ to Silicon Valley and How Boston Must Find Its Google

Greylock Partners is one of the world’s premier venture firms and a hallmark here in New England, so it was no small news in May 2009 when the storied firm announced it was moving its headquarters from the Boston area to Silicon Valley—giving New England yet another reason for Valley envy. I recently sat down … Continue reading “Greylock’s Henry McCance on Why the Firm Moved Its HQ to Silicon Valley and How Boston Must Find Its Google”

Immune Design Obtains $32,000,000 Series B Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7d19e4b4-e9e2-4896-ba98-75974fc03e04&Preview=1 Date 7/26/2010 Company Name Immune Design Mailing Address 1124 Columbia Street Seattle, WA 98104 Company Description One of the greatest impacts on human health can be achieved by regulating the activity of the immune system. Recent advances in the field of molecular immunology have created new ways to treat infectious disease, … Continue reading “Immune Design Obtains $32,000,000 Series B Funding Round”

Convoke Systems Garners $5,500,000 Series B Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=1f0b5601-4300-4fe0-92a3-33aa3727e0f3&Preview=1 Date 7/26/2010 Company Name Convoke Systems Mailing Address 275 Battery St. San Francisco, CA 94111 Company Description Convoke Systems is dedicated to bridging the information flow issues plaguing original credit issuers and the accounts receivable management industry. The Company’s management team is comprised of experienced business, sales, software development, marketing, collection … Continue reading “Convoke Systems Garners $5,500,000 Series B Round”

Nexant Obtains $32,500,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=76bdf237-95a6-4d09-a7cb-50887b8d10c8&Preview=1 Date 7/26/2010 Company Name Nexant Mailing Address 101 2nd St. San Francisco, CA 94105 Company Description Nexant is a provider of intelligent grid software and clean energy solutions—pioneering, developing, and advancing electric power grid and alternative energy technologies and services. Website http://www.Nexant.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $32,500,000 Transaction Round … Continue reading “Nexant Obtains $32,500,000 New Funding”

Sailthru Lands $1,000,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8c669ee9-f447-46ff-8037-22519232e8e3&Preview=1 Date 7/26/2010 Company Name Sailthru Mailing Address 100 Jane St. New York, NY 10014 Company Description Triggermail Our flagship service monitors delivery of transactional email into the user Inbox. If it gets sent we’ll tell you when it was delivered and what happened when it was opened. Website http://www.sailthru.com Transaction Type … Continue reading “Sailthru Lands $1,000,000 New Funding Round”

Caringo Obtains $5,000,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7ffbe7af-c94c-4457-ba38-799db536fb12&Preview=1 Date 7/26/2010 Company Name Caringo Mailing Address 6801 North Capital of Texas Highway Bldg 2 Austin, TX 78731 Company Description Caringo Inc. is a leading provider of content storage software and has re-imagined content addressed storage from the ground up with its flagship CAStor product. CAStor is third-generation technology that leverages … Continue reading “Caringo Obtains $5,000,000 New Funding”