It seems you can’t walk a block in SoMa these days without passing the door of a new venture incubator. The latest addition to the startup-school scene is AngelPad, which announced its existence in August and has already graduated its first class of founders. Eight AngelPad companies pitched their audacious ideas to a standing-room-only crowd … Continue reading “At AngelPad Demo Night, Ex-Googlers Share Plans to Overhaul the Web”
Tag: TechStars
How the VC and Angel Investing Landscape is Being Transformed: Highlights from VC Crossfire
[Correction: 7:40 am 11/1/10] Last night was the big night—we gathered some of the biggest names in Northwest financing for Xconomy’s “VC Crossfire” event, at Amazon’s new headquarters in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood. The panelists consisted of some of the region’s top financiers and technology entrepreneurs—including Bob Nelsen of Arch Venture Partners; Tom Alberg … Continue reading “How the VC and Angel Investing Landscape is Being Transformed: Highlights from VC Crossfire”
CommonAngels, Moving Into Smaller Seed-Stage Deals, Looks to Drive East Coast “Super Angel” Agenda—Some Reactions
Anyone can say they want to be “Boston’s super angels.” But Chris Sheehan and James Geshwiler are trying to back that up with some action. The managing directors of Lexington, MA-based CommonAngels announced last week they are adding a key new component to their firm’s financing strategy: the ability to invest in a greater number … Continue reading “CommonAngels, Moving Into Smaller Seed-Stage Deals, Looks to Drive East Coast “Super Angel” Agenda—Some Reactions”
Andy Sack, the Jack of All Startup Trades, Joins VC Crossfire Panel Oct. 28
There might not be anyone else in Seattle pursuing more tech startup ideas, through more different financial avenues, than Andy Sack. He’s one of the key players at three organizations that seek to invest and help foster more high-impact tech companies in Seattle—Founder’s Co-op, TechStars, and RevenueLoan. And now he’s agreed to share his latest … Continue reading “Andy Sack, the Jack of All Startup Trades, Joins VC Crossfire Panel Oct. 28”
Twitter Plea Helps Baydin Get Seed Money from Angel Investor Dave McClure; Startup Moving to the Valley Next Month
So an entrepreneur helps out a prominent angel investor when the latter needs a ride, and gets a seed investment as a result. It sounds like something you might see in a movie. But it’s a reality for Baydin, an e-mail technology startup out of Boston (but soon to be based in the San Francisco … Continue reading “Twitter Plea Helps Baydin Get Seed Money from Angel Investor Dave McClure; Startup Moving to the Valley Next Month”
10 Takeaways from MassTLC’s UnConference
Overwhelming. Inspiring. Thought-provoking. These are all words that apply to the spectacle that was yesterday’s Mass Technology Leadership Council’s Innovation 2010 “unConference,” held at the World Trade Center Boston and organized by entrepreneur and investor Bill Warner, Matrix Partners’ Antonio Rodriguez, and MassTLC’s Tom Hopcroft. And one more word, ridiculous—that’s what it feels like to … Continue reading “10 Takeaways from MassTLC’s UnConference”
Bonanzle Changes Name to Bonanza, Verizon Wireless Partners with Ground Truth and Urban Airship, Brammo Nabs $12.5 M, and More Seattle-Area Deals News
Though there were only a handful of actual financing deals and partnerships for Northwest companies over the last week, the technology sector definitely made some strides toward laying the groundwork for future investment. Take a look at the highlights: —Seattle-based online marketplace for rare and out of the ordinary items, Bonanzle, changed its name to … Continue reading “Bonanzle Changes Name to Bonanza, Verizon Wireless Partners with Ground Truth and Urban Airship, Brammo Nabs $12.5 M, and More Seattle-Area Deals News”
Play140 Looks Into the Future of Social Gaming, Sees the Past (Text-Based Games)
The grand ballroom of the Royal Sonesta hotel in Cambridge, MA, was jam-packed last night and had a collective energy that I haven’t felt in a long time. Hundreds of people were on hand for the Web Innovators Group meeting, organized by venture capitalist David Beisel (formerly of Venrock, now with NextView Ventures). I had … Continue reading “Play140 Looks Into the Future of Social Gaming, Sees the Past (Text-Based Games)”
TechStars Expands to NYC
TechStars, the seed-stage investment and mentoring program for technology startups, said today it is opening a new session in New York City, starting in January 2011. Applications from entrepreneurs are due by November 21, 2010. TechStars was founded in 2006 in Boulder, CO, and has since expanded to Boston and Seattle. New York will be … Continue reading “TechStars Expands to NYC”
IBM Buys Unica, A123 Spinout Raises $10M, Zynga Acquires Conduit, & More Boston-Area Deals News
Acquisition news from big IT, Web, and biotech names, plus funding announcements for newer tech and life sciences companies, kept us buzzing with deals news in New England this week. —Watertown, MA-based Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, a startup developing gene-silencing drugs, raised $25 million in Series B funding. New investor Domain Associates led the round, which also … Continue reading “IBM Buys Unica, A123 Spinout Raises $10M, Zynga Acquires Conduit, & More Boston-Area Deals News”
Marginize, a TechStars Firm, Raises $650K to Show What People Are Saying About Websites
Score one for the social Web. Cambridge, MA-based Marginize, an Internet startup led by entrepreneur Ziad Sultan, has closed its first round of venture funding, worth $650,000, to pursue a rather intriguing idea. The company wants to create a parallel, “augmented” version of the Web that lets you see what everyone is saying about any … Continue reading “Marginize, a TechStars Firm, Raises $650K to Show What People Are Saying About Websites”
Paul Allen Vows to Donate Majority of Estate, Tom Alberg Heads to D.C., Seattle Startup Sectors Grow, and Other Seattle-Area News
After last week’s resurgence of activity surrounding Seattle-area technology companies, I have to say I’m somewhat surprised by how few deals were made this past week. But just because there weren’t very many straight deals over the last few days, doesn’t mean there weren’t any big news stories—or big dollars—being tossed around the local tech … Continue reading “Paul Allen Vows to Donate Majority of Estate, Tom Alberg Heads to D.C., Seattle Startup Sectors Grow, and Other Seattle-Area News”
TechStars Set to Open in Seattle: A Photo Tour of the New Space (and Bar)
It’s a shame I’m moving away from this neighborhood. South Lake Union in Seattle, I mean. Because just three blocks away from my soon-to-be-former apartment, the next big startup experiment is about to begin. TechStars, the seed-stage investment fund and mentorship program started in Boulder, CO, and now in Boston, is about to open in … Continue reading “TechStars Set to Open in Seattle: A Photo Tour of the New Space (and Bar)”
Should It Be Called “Startbucks?”
Today Starbucks begins providing free Internet in their stores. To me, this means that Howard Schultz has just provided 11,000 free offices for startups. To an entrepreneur, having tables, chairs, free Internet, and access to food and coffee is a golden opportunity. To a professional who provides support services to startups (e.g. marketing, design, business … Continue reading “Should It Be Called “Startbucks?””
10 Stories from Xconomy Seattle’s Early Days (With Some Added Perspective)
There has been plenty of tech-business news in the past week to put Seattle on the national radar. But it takes years to understand the innovation community here; I’ve only scratched the surface so far. So, in honor of my colleague Thea’s first week on the job, I thought it would be useful to look … Continue reading “10 Stories from Xconomy Seattle’s Early Days (With Some Added Perspective)”
Startup School, Round Two: The 2010 Xconomy Guide to Venture Incubators
A common trait among entrepreneurs is their distaste for working alone. Fortunately, there are programs across the country that aim to surround startups with entrepreneur comrades, seasoned execs, and investors, to provide both community and guidance. We rounded up these programs last year in the inaugural Xconomy Guide to Venture Incubators, and are back again … Continue reading “Startup School, Round Two: The 2010 Xconomy Guide to Venture Incubators”
Greenhorn Connect, Growing Fast, Looks to Continue “Snowball Effect” of Young Tech Entrepreneurs
If you’re a young entrepreneur in the Boston area, you need to know about Greenhorn Connect. It’s a fast-growing resource site that, as its name suggests, connects entrepreneurs, college students, and recent grads with startup jobs, events, guides, and other activities. Greenhorn just launched a new job board last week that aims to help young … Continue reading “Greenhorn Connect, Growing Fast, Looks to Continue “Snowball Effect” of Young Tech Entrepreneurs”
You Can Go Home Again: Five Themes to Watch in the Boston Innovation Scene
Sometimes you have to leave a place in order to really appreciate it. That’s not the case for me and Boston. I’ve always loved this area—but coming home after a two-year stint away makes for a nice opportunity to put my appreciation down in words. So, as the incoming Editor of Xconomy Boston, I hope … Continue reading “You Can Go Home Again: Five Themes to Watch in the Boston Innovation Scene”
Metcalfe Says Gore Is Back for Another Bubble, Fitton Likens Raising Angel Funding to Dating, Xconomy CEO Sings New England’s Praises (Literally), and More XSITE 2010 Highlights
Thanks to everyone who made it out to Babson College for the 2010 Xconomy Summit on Innovation, Technology, & Entrepreneurship! We had a great crowd, representing all slices of the innovation community here in New England. And we heard some new, off-the-cuff perspectives from some familiar faces, as well as talks from emerging companies and … Continue reading “Metcalfe Says Gore Is Back for Another Bubble, Fitton Likens Raising Angel Funding to Dating, Xconomy CEO Sings New England’s Praises (Literally), and More XSITE 2010 Highlights”
Goodbye, Boston
Who was it who wrote, “If Silicon Valley didn’t exist, Boston would have to invent it in order to have someplace to feel inferior to”? Oh wait, that was me. It was a snarky thing to say—but it was back in February 2009, and I was feeling piqued at the time about calls for a … Continue reading “Goodbye, Boston”
How Seattle Startups Could Lead the World: Five Technology Themes to Watch
As I reflect on my time in the Northwest, I find myself gravitating toward the bigger picture: which areas of technology and business innovation is this region poised to really own over the next few years? After giving us the likes of Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing, McCaw Cellular, and Starbucks, surely Seattle is ready for an … Continue reading “How Seattle Startups Could Lead the World: Five Technology Themes to Watch”
Magoosh, Test Prep Startup From Berkeley, Wins Inaugural North Bridge Seed Competition
Berkeley, CA-based Magoosh, a developer of low-cost online multimedia materials for the lucrative test preparation industry, is one of two startups to snag the top prize in North Bridge Venture Partners‘ first seed capital competition. Both Magoosh and Pittstown, NJ-based Profitably, a business intelligence software startup focused on small businesses, will receive $50,000 in seed … Continue reading “Magoosh, Test Prep Startup From Berkeley, Wins Inaugural North Bridge Seed Competition”
Farewell, Seattle: A Changing of the Xconomy Guard, and a New Beginning
For my last official post as Editor of Xconomy Seattle, let me tell you a quick story. It was a warm, cloudy day in June 2008. Two guys walked into an old office on First Hill, but only one guy walked out. That was me. I took the stairs. The other guy was the Qwest … Continue reading “Farewell, Seattle: A Changing of the Xconomy Guard, and a New Beginning”
Of Boston’s Angel Tsunami and the Future of Venture—XSITE Dives Deep and Gets Personal
Boston’s ongoing flurry of angel investor activity and programs for seed-stage startups arguably started in January 2009, when that paragon of seed-stage incubators, Y Combinator, announced it was pulling out of town for good and ending its Cambridge, MA-based summer program. As I noted last fall, the void left by Y Combo seemed to attract … Continue reading “Of Boston’s Angel Tsunami and the Future of Venture—XSITE Dives Deep and Gets Personal”
Flagship Plans $300M New Fund, Boston TechStars Pitch to Area Investors, AutoVirt Raises $1.5M, & More Boston-Area Deals News
We’ve been lighter on news of New England financings in the last week, but we saw some headlines from investing firms and startup mentoring programs, alongside a few smaller deals for software and life sciences companies. —GlaxoSmithKline’s venture arm SR One led a $22 million Series B funding round for Cambridge, MA-based Constellation Pharmaceuticals, a … Continue reading “Flagship Plans $300M New Fund, Boston TechStars Pitch to Area Investors, AutoVirt Raises $1.5M, & More Boston-Area Deals News”
Revolutionary Angels Closes Down, Shelves Business-Plan Contest
Revolutionary Angels, a Cambridge, MA company that planned to give away as much as $300,000 in a private business plan competition, has mothballed its contest after failing to attract enough participants to pay for the prizes. The contest, which was presented as a financing alternative for startups traditionally excluded from the venture and angel investing … Continue reading “Revolutionary Angels Closes Down, Shelves Business-Plan Contest”
Andy Sack, Flush With $6M, Builds Revenue Based Financing Company That Could Disrupt Venture Capital, Startup Ecosystem
Andy Sack has been working behind the scenes for more than a year. Yes, we know he’s been busy bringing the first session of TechStars, the startup bootcamp, to Seattle this fall. He’s also been co-leading Founder’s Co-op, the seed-stage investment fund, for the past couple of years. But just when you think the Seattle … Continue reading “Andy Sack, Flush With $6M, Builds Revenue Based Financing Company That Could Disrupt Venture Capital, Startup Ecosystem”
Counterfeit Medicine Fighter Sproxil Declared Winner at IBM SmartCamp Event Spotlighting Technology that Improves the Physical World
IBM predicts the next big set of opportunities in technology will be in the “intersection of the physical and digital world,” says Deborah Magid, a director in the company’s Venture Capital Group. “It used to be where IT was never a part of our lives,” she said at an event Thursday celebrating the use of … Continue reading “Counterfeit Medicine Fighter Sproxil Declared Winner at IBM SmartCamp Event Spotlighting Technology that Improves the Physical World”
Ten Startups Share Their Wares at TechStars Demo Night
You can’t throw darts at a calendar this month without hitting at least a couple of technology events in Boston. Tuesday night it was Angel Boot Camp, and last night it was the MITX Technology Awards and the TechStars Demo Night. Maybe that’s why they’re calling June Innovation Month in New England. There was definitely … Continue reading “Ten Startups Share Their Wares at TechStars Demo Night”
Calling All Angels: Experienced, Aspiring Angel Investors Confer in Cambridge
If you Google “Angel Boot Camp,” the first seven results refer to a Victoria’s Secret competition to find the next “runway angel.” Well, there were no models or runways yesterday at the Microsoft NERD Center in Cambridge for Angel Boot Camp (the eighth result on Google)—but there were plenty of entrepreneurs vying for the attention … Continue reading “Calling All Angels: Experienced, Aspiring Angel Investors Confer in Cambridge”
Venture Mechanics, Led by Ron Wiener, Opens “Berkubator” for Tech Startups, Introduces Three New Companies
Looking to start a technology company in this era of small teams, lean cost structures, and fast times to market? You might want to check out Venture Mechanics in Seattle. It’s basically an outfit of four experienced startup executives who are trying to reinvent the process of launching tech companies. They held an open-house launch … Continue reading “Venture Mechanics, Led by Ron Wiener, Opens “Berkubator” for Tech Startups, Introduces Three New Companies”
Localytics Raises $700K
Cambridge, MA-based Localytics, whose software helps mobile software developers track usage of their iPhone, iPad, Android, and BlackBerry apps, has raised $700,000 in a first round of funding, according to a company announcement. Launchpad Ventures and New York Angels led the round. Localytics participated in the 2009 version of the TechStars Boston startup incubator program … Continue reading “Localytics Raises $700K”
Five Things Entrepreneurs and Innovators Can Do To Invigorate Michigan’s Economy
1. Focus on areas of competitive advantage such as Michigan’s global leadership in the automotive industry where innovation in transportation, energy, software and materials can take advantage of existing technologies, market know-how, industry talent and potential investment synergies. 2. Establish a local venture and/or angel fund community in Michigan to scout the local deal flow … Continue reading “Five Things Entrepreneurs and Innovators Can Do To Invigorate Michigan’s Economy”
Born in Silicon Valley, Founder Institute Expands to Boston
Attention first-time CEOs: the Founder Institute has found its way to Boston. The training and mentorship program for entrepreneurs, initially launched last year in Silicon Valley, is recruiting startup entrepreneurs for its first Boston session starting June 30, according to the program’s website. The four-month program aims to give beginner tech CEOs what they need … Continue reading “Born in Silicon Valley, Founder Institute Expands to Boston”
Washington Companies Raised $21M in March, Down from $53M in Previous Month
This is not good. Less than a month after proclaiming that venture funding may have stabilized at a lower but more sustainable level, I have to report that funding for Washington-based companies in March plunged to $21.3 million in just three deals. That’s significantly down from $53.5 million in 10 deals in February, and $57 … Continue reading “Washington Companies Raised $21M in March, Down from $53M in Previous Month”
Jobster Gets New Owner, MDRNA Merges with Cequent and Teams Up with Pfizer, & More Seattle-Area Deals News
Today has been a most interesting day in the Seattle tech and media community. There was some prominent TV and radio coverage of TechStars (see Andy Sack and Andy Liu interviewed on KING 5 here), the North American Eagle “jet car” (interview with team leader Ed Shadle on KUOW, following Thea’s story here), and the … Continue reading “Jobster Gets New Owner, MDRNA Merges with Cequent and Teams Up with Pfizer, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”
Sack, Entress, Liu, Patel, and Other Angel Investors Lure Twiistup to Seattle
Tired of Seattle-area tech startup events? Well, get ready for a whole new one. It’s coming April 26, and it has been a closely guarded secret until now. The event is called Twiistup, and it was started in Los Angeles by AOL executive Mike Macadaan in 2007. Think of it as a tech conference with … Continue reading “Sack, Entress, Liu, Patel, and Other Angel Investors Lure Twiistup to Seattle”
The Boston Angel Market
[Editor’s Note: Chris Sheehan is a managing director of CommonAngels, which is an investor in Xconomy. This post also appears on Sheehan’s blog.] I was recently asked by a couple of early stage entrepreneurs to talk about angel investing in Boston. The angel market around town has always been fairly active and cuts across many … Continue reading “The Boston Angel Market”
TechStars Seattle Seeks Applicants
TechStars, the mentoring program and seed-stage investment fund for technology startups, is now taking applications for its new Seattle program. The application form is here, and the deadline is June 1; finalists will be notified on June 16, and the Seattle program will go from August 16 to November 12, 2010. TechStars Seattle executive director … Continue reading “TechStars Seattle Seeks Applicants”
13 Teams, 100 People, 54 Hours: Lessons from Startup Weekend in Seattle
“Exhaustingly awesome.” “The talent in that room is pretty inspiring.” “54 hours…from idea to products I’d pay money for in just 54 hours. Wow.” Those are just a couple comments I gleaned from some of the attendees and guests at the demos held at the Startup Weekend demo finale. I’d second each of these thoughts—you … Continue reading “13 Teams, 100 People, 54 Hours: Lessons from Startup Weekend in Seattle”
Maine Startup mCaddie Raises Angel Funds for Golf App
Quick: Name a consumer passion that generates twice as much revenue as Hollywood movies; in which virtually all of the participants, by definition, have disposable income and an ambition to improve their performance; and which counts among its devotees millions of business executives who carry around gadgets like smartphones. If you named golf, you were … Continue reading “Maine Startup mCaddie Raises Angel Funds for Golf App”
Who Should You Start a Company With? As Seattle Evolves, FounderDating Has an Answer
Bill Gates and Paul Allen. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Larry Page and Sergey Brin. Before they were the co-founders of billion-dollar technology companies—Microsoft, Apple, Google—they were friends, classmates, lab mates. But most people aren’t lucky enough to meet their ideal co-founder before it’s time to start a company. Is there a more systematic way … Continue reading “Who Should You Start a Company With? As Seattle Evolves, FounderDating Has an Answer”
What Entrepreneurs Need Most in 2010—and Which Seattle Startups Are Hiring
January for startup companies is a little like spring training for baseball teams. Everyone is 0-0, they have the whole year in front of them, and anything is possible. With that in mind, I recently checked in with Rebecca Lovell, the executive director (and commissioner?) of the Northwest Entrepreneur Network, to hear her thoughts on … Continue reading “What Entrepreneurs Need Most in 2010—and Which Seattle Startups Are Hiring”
Oneforty Opens Twitter App Store for Business, Details Funding from Boston, Seattle, and Bay Area Investors
Starting today, developers of Twitter applications who list their apps at oneforty, the burgeoning Twitter app directory based in Boston’s Brighton neighborhood, can also sell their apps directly to oneforty visitors. That makes oneforty into the first true Twitter app store—a development that could help stimulate the growth of a substantial marketplace for applications related … Continue reading “Oneforty Opens Twitter App Store for Business, Details Funding from Boston, Seattle, and Bay Area Investors”
Editor’s Picks: The Best of 2009 From Xconomy Seattle
Every day in 2009, I got out of bed and thought about how to create excellent, original stories for Xconomy Seattle. So did my brother-in-arms, editor Greg Huang. We want Xconomy to be a source of original, in-depth, engaging content for you. We are always looking to dig up things about the local tech, biotech, … Continue reading “Editor’s Picks: The Best of 2009 From Xconomy Seattle”
Zulily Gets Funded, Ontela Merges with Photobucket, OncoGenex Secures $60M from Teva, & More Seattle-Area Deals News
It was another pretty busy week for deals in the Northwest, as everyone scrambled to beat the holiday rush. Lots of action in biotech, Internet, and mobile. —Seattle-based ZymoGenetics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ZGEN]]) is getting back the full rights to its drug for surgical bleeding in the U.S. and every other country except Canada, under a restructured … Continue reading “Zulily Gets Funded, Ontela Merges with Photobucket, OncoGenex Secures $60M from Teva, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”
TechStars in Seattle Will Be “Centralizing Force” for Entrepreneurs and Startups, Investors Say
Not to hype this too much, but TechStars coming to town could be the rallying point for a new generation of high-tech entrepreneurship in Seattle—the likes of which we haven’t seen before. At least, that’s the word from two of the main investors responsible for bringing the tech startup program here. (By now, most of … Continue reading “TechStars in Seattle Will Be “Centralizing Force” for Entrepreneurs and Startups, Investors Say”
TechStars Expansion to Seattle Fueled by Boston Success, Says Brad Feld
Yesterday’s official announcement that TechStars, the startup boot camp and seed-stage investment fund, is coming to Seattle next fall has a lot of us here buzzing with anticipation. Founded in Boulder, CO, in 2007, the program invites about 10 small tech startups for three months of training and mentorship, and awards $6,000 per founder in … Continue reading “TechStars Expansion to Seattle Fueled by Boston Success, Says Brad Feld”
TechStars, the Startup Boot Camp, Coming to Seattle Next Fall, Led by Andy Sack
Yes, it’s another big rumor confirmed today… TechStars, the two-year-old seed-stage investment fund and boot camp for tech startups, announced it is expanding to Seattle in the fall of 2010. Seattle entrepreneur and investor Andy Sack will lead the local effort as executive director. Sack has previously served as a mentor in Boston and in … Continue reading “TechStars, the Startup Boot Camp, Coming to Seattle Next Fall, Led by Andy Sack”
Revolutionary Angels Defends Business Plan Competition Amidst Widespread Criticism
A post last week on the New York Times’ “You’re the Boss” small business blog examined the phenomenon of business plan competitions with high entry fees, with the focus largely on Revolutionary Angels, a Cambridge, MA-based competition we profiled in early October. The post questioned whether the $4,995 entry fee that Revolutionary Angels charges companies … Continue reading “Revolutionary Angels Defends Business Plan Competition Amidst Widespread Criticism”