Seattle social-gaming startup Giant Thinkwell, which just unveiled its first official celebrity endorsed game with Seattle hip-hop legend Sir Mix-A-Lot, is also announcing that it’s landed a $600,000 seed investment round. The investment was led by Madrona Venture Group, with Founder’s Co-op and unnamed angels also participating. Giant Thinkwell, part of the first Seattle TechStars class, … Continue reading “Giant Thinkwell Gets $600K Seed”
Tag: TechStars
Sir Mix-A-Lot, Giant Thinkwell to Posse Up
Seattle social-game startup Giant Thinkwell, a TechStars company hatched at a Startup Weekend last year, is getting ready to roll out its first official celebrity-branded game, featuring Seattle hip-hop legend Sir Mix-A-Lot. Word comes via Twitter, where folks are passing around an invite by Giant Thinkwell to help build social-media buzz for the game, called … Continue reading “Sir Mix-A-Lot, Giant Thinkwell to Posse Up”
Just Write Checks, Be Humble but Unstoppable, and Boston VCs Are Dinosaurs: 10 Highlights from Angel Bootcamp
The pace of tech startup events is a little out of control this week. You can thank (or curse) David Beisel, Jon Pierce, Coolio, TechStars, DartBoston, Xconomy, and many others for that. With some more time and distance, though, we might all look back at this week as a flashpoint in history when the tech … Continue reading “Just Write Checks, Be Humble but Unstoppable, and Boston VCs Are Dinosaurs: 10 Highlights from Angel Bootcamp”
ConsumerBell Aims to Make Product Recalls Less Painful for Manufacturers and Consumers
After Ellie Chachette’s father was infected with HIV from a product that he was taking in the 1980s to treat his hemophilia, he joined a class-action lawsuit that took 10 years for his lawyers to fight. They ultimately won, but “the lawyers got most of the money,” Cachette recalls. “That always bothered me.” So in May … Continue reading “ConsumerBell Aims to Make Product Recalls Less Painful for Manufacturers and Consumers”
Hero’s Journey: A Look Inside This Year’s Class of TechStars Boston Startups
Incubator, schmincubator. The innovation community has had its fill of incubators and accelerators, hasn’t it? Well, this one is a little different. As echoes of Commencement speeches die down around town, it’s fitting that the 12-week startup bootcamp known as TechStars Boston is graduating its newest class of companies tomorrow. What’s interesting about this group—compared … Continue reading “Hero’s Journey: A Look Inside This Year’s Class of TechStars Boston Startups”
GrabCAD Grabs Cash
Estonia- and Cambridge, MA-based startup GrabCAD announced today via TechCrunch that it has raised $1.1 million in seed funding from Boston-area investors Matrix Partners, Atlas Venture, NextView Ventures, and angel investors. GrabCAD, a member of the current class of TechStars Boston startups, has developed an online marketplace for connecting mechanical design engineers with manufacturing and … Continue reading “GrabCAD Grabs Cash”
The Final Xpo Startup for XSITE on June 16… and What Might Have Been
What do recycling and a rectal exam have in common? Well, people tend to put off both things as long as they can. And, OK, they’re both a little more difficult (and one is a lot more uncomfortable) than you’d like them to be. I can even speak with, shall we say, recent authority on … Continue reading “The Final Xpo Startup for XSITE on June 16… and What Might Have Been”
Facebook vs. Google, Polaris Skips Town, HackStars’ Unlikely Origin, & More in the Seattle-Area Tech Roundup
As the Web becomes more social, will search start to whither as a primary means for consumers to access the Internet? That’s been suggested by some folks in the tech world, as the rise of Facebook begins to create a dynamic layer on top of the “regular” Web that isn’t fully reachable by Google’s crawlers. … Continue reading “Facebook vs. Google, Polaris Skips Town, HackStars’ Unlikely Origin, & More in the Seattle-Area Tech Roundup”
TechStars Seattle, on the Prowl for Talented Coders, Adopts HackStars Program
Last year, the organizers of TechStars in Boulder, CO, decided to try a little experiment. Already stocked with 10 teams of entrepreneurs working on their proto-companies, the startup boot-camp saw a niche for extra hands to help knock out some of the startups’ technical projects. So David Cohen, TechStars’ founder and CEO, brought in a … Continue reading “TechStars Seattle, on the Prowl for Talented Coders, Adopts HackStars Program”
The Next Boston-Area IPO, New Incubators, Unsung Heroes, and the Lost (& Found) Generation: 10 Tech Tidbits
As we enter the summer months, I wanted to give readers a quick look into my reporter’s notebook. I have been shifting into high gear with events and other things, but once the storm passes I’ll be writing more again. Meanwhile, I’m hearing tons of interesting stuff from the local startup and innovation community, some … Continue reading “The Next Boston-Area IPO, New Incubators, Unsung Heroes, and the Lost (& Found) Generation: 10 Tech Tidbits”
Fourth Annual Internet Week a Panoply of Learning, Networking, and Celebrating for NYC’s Web Entrepreneurs
Internet Week New York kicks off June 6 with a menu of 200 events that chairman David-Michel Davies promises will be “incredibly diverse and all curated by the Internet community in NYC.” Internet Week was founded in 2008 as a public/private partnership by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences and the City of … Continue reading “Fourth Annual Internet Week a Panoply of Learning, Networking, and Celebrating for NYC’s Web Entrepreneurs”
Silicon Chef: A Half-Baked Guide to Food Startups
[Updated 12/06/12 with additional listings] When the ex-CEO of Pure Digital, maker of the famous Flip pocket camcorder, wins funding from Sequoia Capital to open a chain of grilled cheese sandwich shops, it may be time to abandon your own enterprise-cloud-marketing-analytics-automation venture or your social-mobile-deals-gamification startup and think about getting into the food business. I was … Continue reading “Silicon Chef: A Half-Baked Guide to Food Startups”
Calling All Startups: We Want You to Speak at XSITE on June 16 (If You Are The One)
OK, let’s cut to the chase here. We’re looking for The One. One more cool, young startup that could change the world. We’ve got 11 confirmed. We want an even dozen. Do you have what it takes? The setting: It’s our third annual flagship conference, XSITE, at Babson College on June 16, and the startup … Continue reading “Calling All Startups: We Want You to Speak at XSITE on June 16 (If You Are The One)”
Seattle Goes Hollywood: Four Startups Aiming to Help Studios, Celebs Embrace the Digital Age
When Dave Long first started pitching movie studios on a new way to market their old titles, he encountered a fair bit of skepticism. After all, what could a boardgame entrepreneur from soggy Seattle possibly teach Hollywood about selling its own stars? Nearly 10 years later, the “Scene It?” brand—which builds trivia games around movie … Continue reading “Seattle Goes Hollywood: Four Startups Aiming to Help Studios, Celebs Embrace the Digital Age”
Boston Venture Firms on the Move: A Roundup of Who’s Heading West (to CA), and Who’s Heading East (to Cambridge)
Updated, see below—The January 2009 announcement by Y Combinator that it was leaving the Boston area and moving full-time to Silicon Valley gave a real jolt to the local innovation community. Then, only a few months later, Greylock Partners dropped a similar bombshell. The storied venture firm, arguably in the elite of the elite alongside … Continue reading “Boston Venture Firms on the Move: A Roundup of Who’s Heading West (to CA), and Who’s Heading East (to Cambridge)”
Wherefore Art Thou Angels? Boston Startup Scene Gears Up for Angel Bootcamp on June 14 (and Wants a Little More Froth)
Yes, I’m well aware that “wherefore” means “for what reason.” In this case, the reasons for being an active angel investor in Boston have to do with being part of a bigger and collaborative ecosystem, giving back to the startup community, and helping create the future of technology. It’s exciting stuff—especially in this day and … Continue reading “Wherefore Art Thou Angels? Boston Startup Scene Gears Up for Angel Bootcamp on June 14 (and Wants a Little More Froth)”
Founder Labs Brings Its Silicon Valley Flair for Fostering Startups to Manhattan
Picking the right team can make all the difference when launching a new venture. Starting on May 21, a group of some 16 designers, engineers, and marketing professionals will gather to form teams aimed at creating startups. Founder Labs, a five week “pre-incubator” program targeting concepts for the mobile sector, is ready for its Manhattan … Continue reading “Founder Labs Brings Its Silicon Valley Flair for Fostering Startups to Manhattan”
Do You Really Need an Incubator? Join the Debate at XSITE on June 16
Although nobody seems to like the term “incubator”—mostly because of failures from the dot-com era—it’s clear that mentorship and accelerator programs like Y Combinator, TechStars, and MassChallenge have taken off in the mainstream consciousness of innovation. They provide lots of coaching, financial support, office space, and connections to investors and other startups. Yet in most … Continue reading “Do You Really Need an Incubator? Join the Debate at XSITE on June 16”
Churnless Consults Big Corporations and Incubates Startups Focused on Helping Consumers Change Behavior
Mix one part consultancy with another part incubator and then toss that with an entrepreneur’s passion project. Sprinkle on some academia, too. And there you have New York-based Churnless. The firm’s founders, Matt Wallaert and Avi Karnani, come from Thrive, a company focused helping consumers make better financial decisions. They sold it to Lendingtree.com in … Continue reading “Churnless Consults Big Corporations and Incubates Startups Focused on Helping Consumers Change Behavior”
A Rundown of Can’t-Miss Boston-Area Innovation Events: MIT Sloan CIO, MassTLC, Angel Bootcamp, XSITE, and More
[Updated 5/8/11. See below] It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of events, it was the age of allergies, it was the epoch of objectivity, it was the epoch of PR and self-promotion, it was the season of writing stories, it was the season of prescription … Continue reading “A Rundown of Can’t-Miss Boston-Area Innovation Events: MIT Sloan CIO, MassTLC, Angel Bootcamp, XSITE, and More”
Sensobi Acquired by GroupMe for Group Texting
Cambridge, MA-based Sensobi, a startup that makes an address book for the BlackBerry, has been acquired by New York-based GroupMe. Financial terms of the deal weren’t given. Sensobi started in 2009 and was a member of the inaugural class of TechStars Boston. Its co-founders, Ajay Kulkarni and Andy Cheung, have joined GroupMe, itself a mobile-messaging … Continue reading “Sensobi Acquired by GroupMe for Group Texting”
OnSwipe’s Platform for Beautifying iPad Web Pages Attracts Investors
On April 14, OnSwipe co-founder Jason Baptiste marched onto the stage at TechStars’ first New York Demo Day and told the audience of venture capitalists, “We’re not raising a Series A, we’re raising a Series Awesome.” In fact, his company was on the verge of locking up a funding round—one he felt so secure about … Continue reading “OnSwipe’s Platform for Beautifying iPad Web Pages Attracts Investors”
David Cancel, Stephen Kaufer, Katie Rae, and Others Join XSITE Program on June 16
As we hurtle towards XSITE 2011, our full-day conference on June 16 at Babson College, a few thoughts come to mind. The theme this year is “the entrepreneurship era”—the idea that there is increased attention to startups and company-building as a key to revitalizing the U.S. economy. But now that entrepreneurship is at the top … Continue reading “David Cancel, Stephen Kaufer, Katie Rae, and Others Join XSITE Program on June 16”
Could a Game Be the Answer to Your E-mail Woes?
E-mail is the great savior and scourge of our time. We couldn’t get much done without it. Yet as regular readers know, I have an ongoing feud with my inbox. I’ve declared e-mail bankruptcy (twice), I’ve adopted tools like Taskforce that help turn e-mails into to-do list items, and I’ve tried filtering options like Gmail’s … Continue reading “Could a Game Be the Answer to Your E-mail Woes?”
TechStars Inaugural New York Demo Day Spotlights NYC Web Startups Focused on Fashion, Real Estate, Classifieds, Education, & More
There was a long line outside of historic Webster Hall nightclub in New York this morning, where the marquis—quite appropriately—read “Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained.” A mix of more than 700 startup investors, journalists, and other interested parties showed up to check out TechStars’ first New York Demo Day. TechStars is a mentorship program for startups … Continue reading “TechStars Inaugural New York Demo Day Spotlights NYC Web Startups Focused on Fashion, Real Estate, Classifieds, Education, & More”
Founder Collective, Seed-Stage Fund, Betting on Surging NYC Tech Startup Scene
New York is famous in the business world for its large companies in a variety of industries. For the partners at the seed-stage venture fund Founder Collective, however, the focus is on the small tech startups in the city and beyond that have the potential to rapidly grow in value. In fact, managing partners David … Continue reading “Founder Collective, Seed-Stage Fund, Betting on Surging NYC Tech Startup Scene”
New York City and Boston: The Entrepreneurial Dream Team
Far too much has been written about Boston versus New York City. Sports rivalries and cultural differences have a way of coloring our world view to include startup companies and venture capital. However, the past few years tell about a much closer relationship. The real story is Boston and New York City, particularly versus Silicon … Continue reading “New York City and Boston: The Entrepreneurial Dream Team”
Snapshot of a Rising Young Star(Street): Startup Lessons from Jeremy Levine
Entrepreneurs get younger every day. Jeremy Levine was born one month after the ball rolled through Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner’s legs on that fateful night in Shea Stadium, 1986. Levine probably doesn’t remember the painful 1-15 Patriots of 1990 either. He says his first sports memory was watching the great Larry Bird with … Continue reading “Snapshot of a Rising Young Star(Street): Startup Lessons from Jeremy Levine”
TechStars Takes In $8M for Startup Programs
TechStars, the seed-stage investment fund and startup boot camp, said today it has raised $8 million for its mentorship programs in Boston, Boulder, New York, and Seattle. The latest round, from a number of venture funds and angel investors, brings Boulder, CO-based TechStars’ funding to nearly $11.5 million to date, and should enable the program … Continue reading “TechStars Takes In $8M for Startup Programs”
TechStars Takes Off, Jumptap Touts Patents and Partnerships, & Other Tech Tidbits Around Town
There were a number of tech developments this week that I didn’t get a chance to digest yet. That’s in part because I couldn’t eat solid food for, like, two days. Let’s just move on. —As one incubator class (Y Combinator) wrapped up its session on the West Coast, another one got started here on … Continue reading “TechStars Takes Off, Jumptap Touts Patents and Partnerships, & Other Tech Tidbits Around Town”
13 Tips for Getting Help for Your Startup
It takes a village to raise a startup. TechStars, and other mentor-driven accelerators, understand this. Experienced entrepreneurs understand this. Investors understand this. New entrepreneurs often do not understand this; and those new entrepreneurs that do understand it often don’t know who they need in their village or how to work with them once they figure … Continue reading “13 Tips for Getting Help for Your Startup”
Dealometry, a Men’s Daily Bargain Site with TechStars Roots, Unveils its First Deal
TechStars mentor Bob Crimmins is rolling out a new startup with heavy accelerator roots: Dealometry, a daily-deals site for men. Dealometry’s technology comes from Deal Co-op, a TechStars Seattle grad that says its main motivation in relocating from Birmingham, AL to Seattle was the mentoring opportunity. Dealometry’s first offer is a discount at ManPacks, an … Continue reading “Dealometry, a Men’s Daily Bargain Site with TechStars Roots, Unveils its First Deal”
The Changing Face of Boston VC: A Chat With NextView Ventures’ David Beisel
I have glimpsed the future of Boston venture capital—one possible future, anyway—and it looks a bit like David Beisel. He’s kind of an unassuming guy, but those are the ones you have to watch because they can make big things happen. Traditional VCs might scoff at the notion that so-called micro-VCs or “super angels”—earlier-stage, smaller … Continue reading “The Changing Face of Boston VC: A Chat With NextView Ventures’ David Beisel”
Kauffman Labs Inaugural Incubator Program Brings In Education-Focused Entrepreneurs from Massachusetts, Michigan, and Bay Area
Surprise: we’re writing about an incubator. (OK, it might not come as a surprise. There’s been no shortage of news surrounding programs designed to create and accelerate tech startups across the nation, as my colleague Greg recently noted.) The Education Ventures Program, which will kick off later this month, is a bit different, though. It’s … Continue reading “Kauffman Labs Inaugural Incubator Program Brings In Education-Focused Entrepreneurs from Massachusetts, Michigan, and Bay Area”
Astia: Knocking Down the Hurdles for Women-Led Startups
Quick: Name the Bay Area startup accelerator where 60 percent of the companies go on to get acquired or win funding within 12 months of graduating, and where the 220 companies that have participated since 2003 have raised, in total, nearly a billion dollars in venture funding. If you answered Y Combinator, you’re wrong. In … Continue reading “Astia: Knocking Down the Hurdles for Women-Led Startups”
Cymer Sees Growth in Chip-Making, Northrop Grumman Combat Drone Takes First Flight, TurboTax Launches Mobile Tax-Filing App, & More San Diego BizTech News
The innovation economy took center stage last week in San Diego, where new innovations were announced in mobile apps, unmanned aircraft, and new technology platforms developed for smart grid operating systems. We’ve got it wrapped for you here. —Diego-based Cymer (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CYMI]]), which is considered a bellwether for the semiconductor industry, said during a fourth-quarter … Continue reading “Cymer Sees Growth in Chip-Making, Northrop Grumman Combat Drone Takes First Flight, TurboTax Launches Mobile Tax-Filing App, & More San Diego BizTech News”
Incubators ‘R’ Us: Kauffman Labs, Highland Capital, Betaspring, & Other Startup Accelerators Round Out Busy Week
I don’t know about you, but I’m incubatored out. With all the news and PR this week about Startup America, MassChallenge, TechStars Network, Y Combinator, and other programs across the nation, startup incubators/accelerators have suddenly gone mainstream. Which, just like when alternative rock became mainstream in the early ‘90s (always a key analogy), makes me … Continue reading “Incubators ‘R’ Us: Kauffman Labs, Highland Capital, Betaspring, & Other Startup Accelerators Round Out Busy Week”
White House Startup Investment Coincides with Sweeping Changes for TechStars, Y Combinator, Other Incubators: A Road to Recovery, or Another Bubble?
It’s been an unforgettable seven days for tech entrepreneurs—as if somebody poured startup juice into the nation’s water supply. First President Obama dedicates a good chunk of his State of the Union address to the virtues of high-tech innovation and entrepreneurship. Then Russian investor Yuri Milner and Silicon Valley super-angel Ron Conway pair up to … Continue reading “White House Startup Investment Coincides with Sweeping Changes for TechStars, Y Combinator, Other Incubators: A Road to Recovery, or Another Bubble?”
MassChallenge, With Lessons Learned, Gears Up for 2011 Startup Competition: A Definitive Debrief
It’s billed as the world’s largest startup competition and accelerator program, and it takes place right here in Boston. MassChallenge, coming off a successful first run in 2010, is gearing up to do it again this year—but not without some important changes and improvements to its structure. Last year, the Boston-area nonprofit organized a $1 … Continue reading “MassChallenge, With Lessons Learned, Gears Up for 2011 Startup Competition: A Definitive Debrief”
Are Startup-Hungry MIT MBAs Sleepless in Seattle?
One of the most important decisions anyone makes is deciding where to live. Lucky for me, that decision has already been made. Since I’ll be graduating soon with an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management, I thought it would be great to head out West to where the software revolution began: the emerald … Continue reading “Are Startup-Hungry MIT MBAs Sleepless in Seattle?”
Boston Vs. New York: Tech Startups and Investors Add New Spice to Classic Rivalry
I’ll come right out and say it: I hate New York. OK, maybe it’s worse during football and baseball season. Maybe it’s especially bad this week as the J-E-T-S and their loudmouth coach (see right) are talking trash about the Pats. Maybe I just need an excuse to wind people up. But tech investors love … Continue reading “Boston Vs. New York: Tech Startups and Investors Add New Spice to Classic Rivalry”
Krush Founder Gina Ashe, Survivor of Horrific Car Crash, Has New Lease on Startup Life
As an entrepreneur, sometimes it doesn’t matter how much money you raised, from whom, or even what your company is building. Sometimes it just matters that you’re alive. Meet Gina Ashe, the co-founder and CEO of stealthy Internet startup Krush, based in Cambridge, MA. She isn’t talking much about her new business yet, but a … Continue reading “Krush Founder Gina Ashe, Survivor of Horrific Car Crash, Has New Lease on Startup Life”
Inside Project 11 Ventures: A Chat with Katie Rae and Reed Sturtevant
Does the world really need another seed-stage technology investment fund? Maybe not—but Boston entrepreneurs can use all the expertise they can get. That’s where Project 11 Ventures comes into play. In the increasingly crowded field of early-stage tech investing, Project 11, which is co-led by Reed Sturtevant and Katie Rae, is taking a very hands-on … Continue reading “Inside Project 11 Ventures: A Chat with Katie Rae and Reed Sturtevant”
Launchpad Venture Group and Race Point Merge to Form New Angel Investor Group
There’s a new organization of angel investors in town. Well, sort of. The new entity is being announced today as the merger of two existing Boston-area angel groups—Launchpad Venture Group and Race Point Capital Group, which are headed up by tech investors Hambleton Lord and Christopher Mirabile, respectively. Lord and Mirabile will co-lead the combined … Continue reading “Launchpad Venture Group and Race Point Merge to Form New Angel Investor Group”
Punchbowl Throws a Punch, Checking In Is Out, TechStars Boston Changes Guard—Some Tech Tidbits
Another busy week in Boston-area tech news. Here are a few items I didn’t have a chance to properly digest yet: —Startup wars: Punchbowl founder and CEO Matt Douglas stirred the pot a little with a blog post calling out SCVNGR founder Seth Priebatsch for what Douglas considers his self-promotional bravado and unhealthy work-life balance, … Continue reading “Punchbowl Throws a Punch, Checking In Is Out, TechStars Boston Changes Guard—Some Tech Tidbits”
Project 11’s Katie Rae Named Director of TechStars Boston
TechStars, the seed-stage investment fund and startup mentoring program, announced today it has selected tech executive and startup personality Katie Rae as the new managing director for its Boston installment. She’ll take over for former managing director Shawn Broderick, who announced earlier this month that he would be leaving his role to focus more closely … Continue reading “Project 11’s Katie Rae Named Director of TechStars Boston”
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”
Shawn Broderick Departing TechStars Boston for Social Games Startup
[Updated, see below] Shawn Broderick, managing director of the TechStars Boston startup incubator program since it came to the Hub in early 2009, is stepping down. Broderick announced the move publicly in a blog post Friday evening. The news comes in the middle of the TechStars Annual Summit in New York—where founders of 50 of … Continue reading “Shawn Broderick Departing TechStars Boston for Social Games Startup”
TechStars Demo Day Yields 10 New Seattle Startups—and a Lot of Work Ahead
It’s pretty impressive what a few startup teams can accomplish in 90 days with a lot of hard work, mentorship, and late-night Maker’s Mark bourbon-fueled sessions. But their real journey is just beginning—and it will be a long one. That’s my main takeaway from TechStars Seattle’s first “demo day” on Thursday. The seed-stage mentorship program—which … Continue reading “TechStars Demo Day Yields 10 New Seattle Startups—and a Lot of Work Ahead”
Stealth Startups and Acquisition Rumors: Some Tidbits from King of the Web, Sparkbuy, PhotoRocket, Isilon, Widevine, and TechStars
Let’s get caught up on some Seattle tech gossip, shall we? It’s on my mind as I come back to town for the second time in as many weeks. Man, I miss this place and all its back-channel intrigue… —Nick Hanauer of Second Avenue Partners told me a little more about the new social gaming … Continue reading “Stealth Startups and Acquisition Rumors: Some Tidbits from King of the Web, Sparkbuy, PhotoRocket, Isilon, Widevine, and TechStars”