GoSpotCheck co-founders Matt Talbot and Samantha Holloway hoped good things would come out of their trip to California for Google’s first demo day. And they did—in the form of a $100,000 check from former AOL chairman and CEO Steve Case. GoSpotCheck, which is based in Denver, was one of ten startups invited to Google’s Mountain … Continue reading “GoSpotCheck Returns From Google’s Inaugural Demo Day With $100K”
Tag: TechStars
Dairyland Innovation: Xconomy Wisconsin’s Top Stories Since December Launch
It’s hard to believe, but it’s been just over three months since Xconomy launched in Wisconsin. Although it still doesn’t quite feel like spring in the Midwest, in the spirit of the (technically) new season, I thought it would be a good time to take a look back at the important stories Xconomy Wisconsin has … Continue reading “Dairyland Innovation: Xconomy Wisconsin’s Top Stories Since December Launch”
Wisconsin Startups Join War of Apartment-Hunting Websites
When CoStar Group acquired Apartments.com for $585 million in early March, it was quite the endorsement for the 17-year-old website. But the company hardly has the field to itself. In addition to the listings on venerable Craigslist, a dizzying array of apartment-hunting websites already exists, from HotPads and StreetEasy (both acquired by Zillow, for $16 … Continue reading “Wisconsin Startups Join War of Apartment-Hunting Websites”
San Antonio’s Geekdom Fund Aims to “Pre-Seed” Tech Entrepreneurs
Austin gets a lot of the startup spotlight in these parts, especially as the spring brings in the hordes of South By Southwest. But about an hour south, in San Antonio, boosters are working more quietly on a number of programs to kick-start entrepreneurship in South Texas. Among those efforts is Geekdom, an Alamo City-based … Continue reading “San Antonio’s Geekdom Fund Aims to “Pre-Seed” Tech Entrepreneurs”
Semyon Dukach Goes From VC Outsider to Techstars Boston Head
It’s a time of transition for Techstars Boston—and the local startup ecosystem. The Boston branch of the seed-stage fund and accelerator program is getting a new managing director. He is Semyon Dukach: a fast-rising angel investor, the former CEO and current chairman of e-mail marketing firm SMTP (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SMTP]]), and a former leader of the … Continue reading “Semyon Dukach Goes From VC Outsider to Techstars Boston Head”
Roundup: Tableau, Alibaba, Techstars Seattle, Startup Initiative
Spring is upon Seattle, and, in addition to cherry blossoms, the air must smell like money to some folks out there. This week, Simply Measured hauled in a $20 million round of new financing. Alder BioPharmaceuticals is planning a $115 million IPO. Mindbloom, maker of mobile healthcare apps, was bought by Denver-based Welltok for an … Continue reading “Roundup: Tableau, Alibaba, Techstars Seattle, Startup Initiative”
First Class of Connected Devices Debuts from R/GA Accelerator
Lock a few startups in a room with some hardware for 90 days and they might come out with something big. That was the hope with the inaugural class of the R/GA Connected Devices Accelerator, which held a demo day on Tuesday in New York. The accelerator, formed as a partnership between digital marketing agency … Continue reading “First Class of Connected Devices Debuts from R/GA Accelerator”
In Like a Lion: Techstars Alum DigitalOcean Leads March in NY Funding
March is not even half over and more than $64 million in new funding has been announced for startups in New York. DigitalOcean, a cloud-hosting startup and Techstars alum, said last Thursday it raised $37.2 million in a Series A round led by Andreessen Horowitz, with IA Ventures and CrunchFund also participating. Though the startup … Continue reading “In Like a Lion: Techstars Alum DigitalOcean Leads March in NY Funding”
Techstars Grad GoSpotCheck Wins Contest to Attend Google’s Demo Day
GoSpotCheck, a Denver-based software startup, is headed to California for the inaugural Google Demo Day. The company was selected by a panel of local judges to participate in the event, scheduled for April 2 at Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, CA. The news was announced Tuesday on the Google for Entrepreneurs Google+ page. GoSpotCheck is … Continue reading “Techstars Grad GoSpotCheck Wins Contest to Attend Google’s Demo Day”
100health Aims to Incubate Health IT Startups, Put Madison on Map
The ambitious talk of turning Madison, WI, into the nation’s premier hub for healthcare and healthtech startups has grown louder in recent weeks. Now add 100health to the conversation. The new company, housed in downtown Madison co-working space 100state, is part think tank and part startup incubator. 100health will work with healthcare providers, insurers, and … Continue reading “100health Aims to Incubate Health IT Startups, Put Madison on Map”
Jason Mendelson Returns to Detroit to Talk Startup Ecosystems
When Jason Mendelson delivered the keynote speech at the Michigan Growth Capital Symposium two years ago, he made it clear he was feeling bullish about Detroit’s future prospects. Mendelson is a metro Detroit native and a University of Michigan alum who went on to co-found the Foundry Group, a highly successful venture fund based in … Continue reading “Jason Mendelson Returns to Detroit to Talk Startup Ecosystems”
PillPack Starts Offering Online, Personalized Prescription Service
TJ Parker grew up in a pharmacy family. And when running a drug store is the family business, your first jobs include delivering medications to people’s homes—the kind of up-close view of the American healthcare system that many people never get. That’s where Parker first got familiar with the elaborate routines that some people have … Continue reading “PillPack Starts Offering Online, Personalized Prescription Service”
Will the Next Great Boston Tech Company Please Stand Up?
Here we are in early 2014, and it feels like a zeitgeist-y moment for the Boston tech scene. So I wanted to weigh in and connect a few dots around town—and get people thinking. Last Friday, Care.com became the first local tech company—a consumer-facing Web firm at that—to IPO since 2012. While nine Boston-area life … Continue reading “Will the Next Great Boston Tech Company Please Stand Up?”
Techstars Chicago’s Troy Henikoff Intrigued by Wisconsin Startups
Wisconsin has proven a fertile recruiting area for Techstars programs nationwide, but so far no Badger State startups have gotten into the nearest Techstars startup accelerator in Chicago. Troy Henikoff wants to change that. Henikoff, the managing director of Techstars Chicago, plans to visit Milwaukee next month to meet with area startups and recruit candidates … Continue reading “Techstars Chicago’s Troy Henikoff Intrigued by Wisconsin Startups”
Murfie Shows Promise as an Online CD Market—With Some Catches
Back in the old days, when music was imprisoned on CDs, you might be able to pick up a few extra bucks by hauling your discs to the local music store and trying to sell back the albums that you didn’t listen to anymore. It was kind of like a low-stakes pawn shop: they didn’t … Continue reading “Murfie Shows Promise as an Online CD Market—With Some Catches”
Sports Apps, ‘Telemedicine’ for Business Among DreamIt Startups
DreamIt Ventures kicks off its second Austin program today with a slate of nine startups—some coming to the Texas capital from as far as Bangalore and Sweden. The international entrepreneurs will join their stateside peers for a 12-week accelerator program that includes a dedicated mentor matched to each startup’s niche. The DreamIt program invests $25,000 … Continue reading “Sports Apps, ‘Telemedicine’ for Business Among DreamIt Startups”
SnowShoe Makes Impression with High-Tech Software, Low-Tech Stamp
So how does SnowShoe, a four-person tech startup originally from Madison, WI, and now split between that city and San Francisco, plan to make it big? With a little plastic widget that’s about 2 inches long, 1 inch wide, less than an inch thick, and can be made by a 3-D printer for less than … Continue reading “SnowShoe Makes Impression with High-Tech Software, Low-Tech Stamp”
SnowShoe Tries to Succeed With One Foot in Madison, Other in SF
To stay in the nurturing environment of the place where you were raised, or to strike out into the unknown to find your fortune? It’s a quandary even for startups—especially when they become the local favorites and standard bearers. An example is SnowShoe, a startup from Madison, WI. The four-person tech firm was born in … Continue reading “SnowShoe Tries to Succeed With One Foot in Madison, Other in SF”
Cohen Likely to Keep Aim on “Angel-Scale” Deals with new $150M Fund
The evolution of Techstars CEO David Cohen from an entrepreneur “vaguely dissatisfied with the way angel investing worked” to a full-fledged venture capitalist has taken another major step forward with his fresh efforts to raise a $150 million investment fund. While Cohen is best known as the head of the Techstars startup accelerator, which has … Continue reading “Cohen Likely to Keep Aim on “Angel-Scale” Deals with new $150M Fund”
Techstars CEO David Cohen to Raise $150M Fund
Techstars co-founder and CEO David Cohen has begun the process of raising a $150 million fund, according to an SEC filing made earlier today. While Cohen is best known as the head of Boulder, CO-based Techstars, he’s also an active investor who has made a few hundred “angel-scale” investments in startups across the country. Many … Continue reading “Techstars CEO David Cohen to Raise $150M Fund”
Roundup: DreamBox, Resolution Tube, & Qazzow Funded; U District Startups
‘Twas the week before Christmas and Seattle-area entrepreneurs filled their stockings with venture capital. Another local ed-tech company, DreamBox Learning, pulled down a significant early-stage funding round. Two companies taking different approaches to customer service in very different industries—Resolution Tube and Qazzow—each landed venture funding. And the U District got some more attention as a … Continue reading “Roundup: DreamBox, Resolution Tube, & Qazzow Funded; U District Startups”
Techstars’ David Cohen Talks Fintech, Managing Directors, and Growth
If you want to know why the Techstars accelerator is partnering with Barclays, a U.K. bank, on a new London-based startup accelerator, take a look in your pocket. No, not at your cash or wallet. Look at your iPhone or Android. Smartphones have replaced watches, cameras, planners, notebooks, landline telephones, some categories of computers—and, in … Continue reading “Techstars’ David Cohen Talks Fintech, Managing Directors, and Growth”
Mandy Ginsberg Teaches Tutor.com Lessons in Connecting with Consumers
It keeps getting easier to find help with schoolwork—some good, some less so—thanks to technology, and Mandy Ginsberg thinks tutoring is on the cusp of a transformation. Her bullishness is to be expected; she’s CEO of New York-based Tutor.com, after all. The company, owned by IAC, lets students connect with tutors in `round-the-clock online sessions. … Continue reading “Mandy Ginsberg Teaches Tutor.com Lessons in Connecting with Consumers”
Startups in First Class of R/GA Connected Devices Accelerator Named
Things just got real for a new accelerator in New York. Ten startups were announced today, all working on ideas for networked electronics, for the inaugural R/GA Connected Device Accelerator class. The plan is to build companies to be part of the “Internet of Things” movement, which is all about technology that ties physical products … Continue reading “Startups in First Class of R/GA Connected Devices Accelerator Named”
Roundup: Founder’s Co-op, Wire, Inside Social, Indow Windows, & More
Tired of turkey? Have some Thanksgiving leftovers from Seattle tech: Rudy Gadre is joining Founder’s Co-op as a partner; 2013 Techstars companies Wire and Inside Social got investors’ attention; Indow Windows also raised new capital; Point Inside launched an interesting new mobile app for Lowe’s; and Ed Lazowska argues for the value of computer science … Continue reading “Roundup: Founder’s Co-op, Wire, Inside Social, Indow Windows, & More”
Techstars’ Elihuu Makes Move to Oakland, Lands $30K from CU Students
Colorado has been good to Elihuu, the Techstars Boulder 2013 graduate that wants to play matchmaker between a new generation of designers and manufacturers. But now the startup is moving to Oakland, CA, to capitalize on the Bay Area’s larger manufacturing industry. Before Elihuu left, though, it got one last parting gift in the form … Continue reading “Techstars’ Elihuu Makes Move to Oakland, Lands $30K from CU Students”
Investors Consider Smart Hub Maker Revolv a Smart Bet, Invest $4M
Fresh off the launch of its smart device hub earlier this month, Revolv announced today it has closed a $4 million Series A round. Revolv is developing a hub that will control smart devices like locks, lights, or thermostats made by different manufacturers, including Sonos, Phillips, Belkin, and Yale. Users can control the devices using … Continue reading “Investors Consider Smart Hub Maker Revolv a Smart Bet, Invest $4M”
The Future of Data and Devices: The Photos
D2 is in the books. Our “Future of Data and Devices” tech conference on Thursday delivered on its promise to stir up discussion of where big data, the cloud, and connected devices are converging—and how entrepreneurs and innovators can stay ahead of the curve. What did we learn? Here are four of my broad takeaways: … Continue reading “The Future of Data and Devices: The Photos”
Roundup: News from Everpath, Haiku Deck, Planetary Resources & More
No IPOs or blockbuster funding rounds so far this week, but check out some interesting tidbits from Techstars grads Everpath and Haiku Deck; Planetary Resources; Portland-based startup Househappy; and more. —Everpath, a 2013 Techstars Seattle company making an online education platform, raised $950,000 from angel investors in Seattle and the Bay Area. The startup is … Continue reading “Roundup: News from Everpath, Haiku Deck, Planetary Resources & More”
Boston Roundup: CoachUp, Clypd, Terrafugia, Nuance
Some startup funding news—including an unusual crowdfunding candidate—and a bit of Wall Street intrigue for a local tech giant in this week’s quick checkup on news from around the region: —CoachUp, a Boston-based startup that connects people with private sports trainers, says it has raised an additional $6.7 million in Series A investment. The round … Continue reading “Boston Roundup: CoachUp, Clypd, Terrafugia, Nuance”
After Starting Over from Scratch, Reece Pacheco Launches New Shelby.tv
Reece Pacheco finally took the lid off the new version of his video discovery platform. Back in 2012, New York’s Shelby.tv snuffed its old incarnation and then began to rebuild the technology. Now, with brand new code and a new direction, CEO and co-founder Pacheco will see if he’s got the right recipe. So what … Continue reading “After Starting Over from Scratch, Reece Pacheco Launches New Shelby.tv”
Austin’s MapMyFitness Charts Digital Fitness Course to $150M Exit
2007 wasn’t that long ago, but at that time when Robin Thurston and Kevin Callahan founded what was then called MapMyRun, using digital devices to enhance one’s fitness routine was still largely the domain of ultra-athletes. Smartphones were new and everyday use of GPS was uncommon. Six years later, the rechristened MapMyFitness has gone from … Continue reading “Austin’s MapMyFitness Charts Digital Fitness Course to $150M Exit”
Ovuline Takes Geeky Approach to Pregnancy Tracking with Ovia App
For a lot of people who get pregnant, the freak-out-and-gather-information phase still looks a lot like it did decades ago: stockpiling thousands of pages of advice books, and trying to burn through them all without gagging on all the conflicting pointers. It’s not a terribly efficient way to gather information. But anyone who’s tried to … Continue reading “Ovuline Takes Geeky Approach to Pregnancy Tracking with Ovia App”
Revolv Flips Switch on its Smart Hub to Unite Home Automation Devices
There are a lot of companies that say they can make your home electronics and appliances smarter. Sonos, Phillips, Belkin, Honeywell, Trane, Kwikset, Yale, and of course Nest all sell products that automate stereos, lights, thermostats, and locks. The list of manufactures and products is sure to grow. But who’s building the device that makes … Continue reading “Revolv Flips Switch on its Smart Hub to Unite Home Automation Devices”
Agenda Live for D2: The Future of Data and Devices, Nov. 21 Forum
Wolfram, Pentland, Chang, Hirschtick, Lynch, Rae. Big Data, Connected Devices, the Cloud, Security, Analytics. They are all part of a fantastic lineup of people and topics on tap for D2: The Future of Data and Devices, Xconomy’s half-day forum that will take place in downtown Boston on the afternoon of November 21. And now the … Continue reading “Agenda Live for D2: The Future of Data and Devices, Nov. 21 Forum”
Accelerator 9Mile Labs Raises Fund to Back Next Class at $35k Each
9Mile Labs, the Seattle-area business-to-business startup accelerator, has raised a $900,000 fund from local angel investors to back companies in its upcoming second class and pay for professional resources in areas such as design, marketing and finance. The nine companies chosen for 9Mile’s second cohort, which begins January 15, will each receive a $35,000 investment … Continue reading “Accelerator 9Mile Labs Raises Fund to Back Next Class at $35k Each”
Stephen Wolfram to Speak @ D2: Future of Data and Devices on Nov. 21
An amazing lineup just got even more amazing. Stephen Wolfram has been added to the marquee speaker list for D2: The Future of Data and Devices, Xconomy’s half-day forum set for the afternoon of November 21. Tickets have been going fast, but you definitely can still register here. The Saver rate ends on Thursday, so … Continue reading “Stephen Wolfram to Speak @ D2: Future of Data and Devices on Nov. 21″
Tandem Applies Muscle to Mobile (Alternative Accelerators, Part 1)
“College” used to mean something pretty clear: a residential experience where you paid a certain amount for tuition, room, and board and, after about four years, you got a bachelor’s degree. These days, of course, there are just as many two-year community colleges as four-year institutions; you don’t have to live on campus; there are … Continue reading “Tandem Applies Muscle to Mobile (Alternative Accelerators, Part 1)”
In New Regulatory World, Techstars Seattle is Cautious on Demo Day
Like other startup accelerators, Techstars Seattle is treading carefully around new SEC regulations on general solicitation with its 2013 Demo Day. Managing director Andy Sack notes that he usually implores the audience “to get your checkbooks out” at this annual culmination of the top-tier, three-month “entrepreneurship boot camp.” “Due to some recent regulatory changes, if … Continue reading “In New Regulatory World, Techstars Seattle is Cautious on Demo Day”
Marginized No More: Nextly Wants to Be Your Guide to Web Content
After a proverbial pivot, Ziad Sultan is back on the trail, looking to harness the social Web to help people browse information more efficiently. The founder of Cambridge, MA-based Marginize has morphed his company into a new entity. It’s called Nextly, and it has raised $1.5 million from Sultan’s previous investors (on top of about … Continue reading “Marginized No More: Nextly Wants to Be Your Guide to Web Content”
New D2 Speakers: Sandy Pentland, Wayne Chang, Katie Rae on Nov. 21
November 21 is shaping up to be special. We are convening top experts from Boston and beyond for a half-day technology conference called “D2: The Future of Data and Devices.” It’s all happening at the Fidelity Center for Applied Technology in Boston, near South Station. Tickets have been going fast, but you can still register … Continue reading “New D2 Speakers: Sandy Pentland, Wayne Chang, Katie Rae on Nov. 21″
Mile High Roundup: Local Tech Companies Raise Cash, Expand Overseas
Welcome to the Mile High Roundup, a look at some of the interesting things that have happened over the past two weeks in the tech scene in Boulder, Denver, and around Colorado. In this edition, a Denver healthcare IT company raises $4.3 million, a whole bunch of companies from Boulder head overseas, and the state … Continue reading “Mile High Roundup: Local Tech Companies Raise Cash, Expand Overseas”
Foundry Group to Invest $2.5M in AngelList Startups, Seeks Partners
While many investors and entrepreneurs debate the effects of crowdfunding and general solicitation for startups, the Foundry Group is taking action. Today, the Boulder-based venture firm announced plans to invest $2.5 million over the next 15 months in companies raising money on AngelList, the top website for young companies seeking early investment. The project is … Continue reading “Foundry Group to Invest $2.5M in AngelList Startups, Seeks Partners”
Techstars Teams Up With Sprint to Launch Mobile Health Accelerator
Techstars has named its next major corporate partners, the next market it is working with startups to conquer, and the next location for a “powered by Techstars” accelerator. Techstars is getting into mobile health, announcing today it is co-creating the Sprint Accelerator in Kansas City, MO, with the wireless company. The program is looking for … Continue reading “Techstars Teams Up With Sprint to Launch Mobile Health Accelerator”
9Mile Labs: First Demo Day and Research on Accelerator Effectiveness
9Mile Labs, the new Seattle area startup accelerator for business-to-business companies, delivered nine new companies to potential investors Tuesday. Begun earlier this year on the premise that the high rejection rates of other startup accelerators such as Techstars indicated a need for more accelerators, 9Mile Labs set out “to build a world-class entrepreneurial community in … Continue reading “9Mile Labs: First Demo Day and Research on Accelerator Effectiveness”
Roundup: Raikes Leaving Gates Foundation; Front Desk, Versium Funding
Somewhere between the news of Steve Ballmer’s planned retirement from Microsoft and its blockbuster acquisition of Nokia’s mobile devices business, Seattle tech news took a very brief summer vacation. Did you notice? Now it’s back to school, back to work. In recent days, we’ve tracked financing news for area startups including Front Desk and Versium … Continue reading “Roundup: Raikes Leaving Gates Foundation; Front Desk, Versium Funding”
A Startup’s Years-Old Gift Finally Pays Off for Colorado Nonprofits
The Entrepreneurs Foundation of Colorado has sold its shares in Automattic and used $24,000 from the sale for grants to two Boulder nonprofits, the foundation announced Monday. The money comes from equity the foundation, known as EFCO, originally held in IntenseDebate, which developed software for online commenting systems. The company was founded in 2006, and … Continue reading “A Startup’s Years-Old Gift Finally Pays Off for Colorado Nonprofits”
Mile High Roundup: Techstars Grads Stay Busy, Rally Reports Results
Welcome to the Mile High Roundup, a look at some of the interesting things that have happened over the past two weeks in the tech scene in Boulder, Denver, and around Colorado. In this edition, Techstars stays busy after its demo day, three Techstars grads close rounds (and one gets a new CEO), and Rally … Continue reading “Mile High Roundup: Techstars Grads Stay Busy, Rally Reports Results”
Boston Roundup: Acquia, 908 Devices, StarStreet
We’ve got one company shopping itself for a stock sale, and two more who have raised new money in this end-of-summer collection of innovation headlines: —Acquia, a website services firm, has hired a new chief financial officer as it prepares for a possible IPO: Dennis Morgan, formerly of Salesforce.com acquisition Buddy Media. The Burlington, MA-based … Continue reading “Boston Roundup: Acquia, 908 Devices, StarStreet”
Roundup: Funding for Gratafy; Inside Social; Sinofsky to a16z; UW Prof. on MIT TR35
[Updated 7:55 p.m.] The summer doldrums are upon us—so much so that the Nasdaq stock exchange flat-lined for a few hours today. (Because of an as-yet unexplained technical glitch.) In addition to news this week of a significant funding round for Portland’s Jama Software and the bad news at Big Fish Games, there are a … Continue reading “Roundup: Funding for Gratafy; Inside Social; Sinofsky to a16z; UW Prof. on MIT TR35”