Tag: ZipCar

New Zagster CEO on Bike, Scooter Fleets: Don’t Rock the Boat

For transportation veteran Dan Grossman, the “move fast and break things” startup ethos has never really translated to the micro-mobility world of app-enabled motorized scooters and bike sharing. Grossman last week took the helm of Zagster, a startup that sets up and runs micro-mobility programs for towns, cities, colleges, and businesses. The company launches programs … Continue reading “New Zagster CEO on Bike, Scooter Fleets: Don’t Rock the Boat”

Michigan Mobility Institute Aims to Expand AV Talent, Ecosystem

A new tech education effort is forming in Detroit—created by Fontinalis Partners co-founder Chris Thomas—that focuses on teaching adult students the skills they need to compete for the increasingly large number of open jobs in the mobility industry. Called the Detroit Mobility Lab, it has two goals: to build the mobility talent infrastructure necessary to … Continue reading “Michigan Mobility Institute Aims to Expand AV Talent, Ecosystem”

Boston Tech Watch: Acquia, ShoeBuy, Lola, MassChallenge & More

We’ve got lots of Boston-area tech news to catch up on this week. Here are some of the latest developments: New funds —Scansorial has raised $2.2 million from investors, according to an SEC filing. The Lexington, MA-based company makes Root, a robot intended to help teach software coding in an interactive way. The startup’s technology … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: Acquia, ShoeBuy, Lola, MassChallenge & More”

Boston Tech Watch: Uber, Zipcar, MassChallenge, Adelphic, Lola & More

Here are some of the latest headlines in the Boston tech scene: Pink slips —We start this week’s roundup with some bad news: layoffs. Bedford, MA-based Progress Software (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PRGS]]) recently announced it would let 450 employees go, which is more than 20 percent of the company’s workforce. The move is part of a restructuring … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: Uber, Zipcar, MassChallenge, Adelphic, Lola & More”

Boston Tech Watch: IBM, Adelphic, Mylestoned, Everbridge & More

[Updated 1/26/17, 2:42 pm. See below.] This week in Boston tech, we’re tracking a string of acquisitions, funding rounds, and more. The moves include an acquisition by IBM Security, more funding for a telecom technology company that has raised $200 million-plus from investors, more money for “deathtech” startup Mylestoned, and the reaction of a local … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: IBM, Adelphic, Mylestoned, Everbridge & More”

Bike-Sharing Firm Zagster Zooms Ahead With $10M Led by Edison

Bicycle-sharing startup Zagster has the wind at its back, thanks to a $10 million investment announced Thursday. Edison Partners led the Series B round of funding for Cambridge, MA-based Zagster. The company has now raised about $20 million total to date from investors, according to a spokesman. Zagster’s other backers include LaunchCapital, Fontinalis Partners, Clean … Continue reading “Bike-Sharing Firm Zagster Zooms Ahead With $10M Led by Edison”

ParqEx Raises $1.2M to Connect Private Parking Owners, Seekers

[Updated 1/4/17, 10:42 am. See below.] ParqEx, a Chicago-based company with several Wisconsin ties whose technology allows users to find or rent out private parking spots, has raised $1.2 million from investors, according to multiple media reports. Two Madison, WI-based venture capital groups, Venture Management and Wisconsin Investment Partners, were among the participants in the seed financing … Continue reading “ParqEx Raises $1.2M to Connect Private Parking Owners, Seekers”

Optimus Ride, Fueled by $5.25M, Advances Self-Driving Vehicle Tech

Optimus Ride has received a $5.25 million injection of cash to goose its development of autonomous electric-vehicle technology. The funding round was led by NextView Ventures and FirstMark Capital. The news was reported by TechCrunch and confirmed by NextView in a blog post. The race to deliver reliable self-driving cars is heating up, and the Boston … Continue reading “Optimus Ride, Fueled by $5.25M, Advances Self-Driving Vehicle Tech”

Cheers, Groans, & Tunes: Boston Tech’s Week of Mixed Emotions

This week in Boston tech, we saw investors back software plays in eSports, real estate, and furniture for urban millennials; layoffs at a “sharing economy” pioneer; the return of a startup accelerator; and a first look at elegant connected speakers from serial entrepreneur Tom DeVesto’s new company. Read on for details. —Buildium said it received … Continue reading “Cheers, Groans, & Tunes: Boston Tech’s Week of Mixed Emotions”

GM Bets Big Bucks on Cruise Automation and a Driverless Future

According to reports in Fortune and other media outlets, GM has forked over more than $1 billion in cash and stock to acquire Bay Area startup Cruise Automation, a producer of “after-market” kits that can turn existing cars into autonomous vehicles. If the figure is correct, that makes company co-founder Kyle Vogt a “two-time unicorn … Continue reading “GM Bets Big Bucks on Cruise Automation and a Driverless Future”

The Hottest Trend at This Year’s Detroit Auto Show? Not Cars

There is never an official theme at the annual North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), held last week in Detroit, but one usually emerges as automakers showcase their latest innovations, hoping to one-up each other while garnering consumer and media interest. One year it was electrification; another year, it was infotainment. This year, the buzzword … Continue reading “The Hottest Trend at This Year’s Detroit Auto Show? Not Cars”

Zipcar and LogMeIn Veterans Out to Reshape Car Insurance With Censio

Remember when drivers talking on cell phones were annoying? OK, they still are—but at least that usually means they aren’t looking down at their screen as they plow into a bike, pedestrian, or your car. Distracted drivers are the worst. Now they’re the target of a Boston startup that’s using—guess what—smartphones and apps to monitor … Continue reading “Zipcar and LogMeIn Veterans Out to Reshape Car Insurance With Censio”

Censio, Led by Ex-Zipcar CEO, Brings Mobile Tech to Car Insurance

In the business of connected cars, at least one clear market has emerged: insurance. Today a Boston startup is taking a big step in that market. Censio, which has been growing quietly next to the Harvard Innovation Lab, said Wednesday it has formed a partnership with Progressive Insurance to develop a mobile app to monitor … Continue reading “Censio, Led by Ex-Zipcar CEO, Brings Mobile Tech to Car Insurance”

MCity and the Race to Get Connected Cars on the Road

The University of Michigan unveiled MCity this week to a throng of international media and local dignitaries on hand to check out the $6.5 million, 32-acre controlled environment specifically designed to test the potential of connected and automated vehicle technologies. The replica city—complete with movable building facades; roundabouts and traffic signals; bike lanes and a … Continue reading “MCity and the Race to Get Connected Cars on the Road”

Zagster Adds $3.5M to Expand Targeted Bike-Sharing Programs

Bikes are hot. The sharing economy is hot. So Zagster is hot. The Cambridge, MA-based bicycle-sharing company said today it has raised $3.5 million in new venture funding. The money comes from previous investors LaunchCapital, Fontinalis Partners, Clean Energy Venture Group, LaunchPad Venture Group, and Boston-area angel investors, as well as new investor Otter Consulting. … Continue reading “Zagster Adds $3.5M to Expand Targeted Bike-Sharing Programs”

Boston’s Innovation Future Hinges on People, Startups, Relationships

From time to time, we need to step back and think about the future. What will New England’s business and innovation community look like in 10 or 20 years? Where will it fit into the national and global picture? We can start by talking about the strengths of the region. Biotech, pharma, and healthcare have … Continue reading “Boston’s Innovation Future Hinges on People, Startups, Relationships”

Ford, Magna, Verizon Help Launch Techstars Program in Detroit

If you’re looking for further validation that Detroit’s tech ecosystem is gaining respect in the eyes of the world, here it is: Ford, in partnership with global auto supplier Magna International and Verizon Telematics, will announce today that it is helping to bring the esteemed Techstars startup accelerator to the Motor City. Techstars Mobility will … Continue reading “Ford, Magna, Verizon Help Launch Techstars Program in Detroit”

Who Knew? Fun Facts About Boston Innovators—the Slide Show

They fly. They sing. They build. They race. They played professional basketball, were nationally ranked fencers and rock climbers. They perform on stage with Yo-Yo Ma, and collect America’s Cup yachts. It’s no surprise that the entrepreneurs, CEOs, angels, VCs, inventors, and other members of the Boston innovation community Xconomy covers every day are pretty … Continue reading “Who Knew? Fun Facts About Boston Innovators—the Slide Show”

Boston Vs. San Francisco: Two Cultures of Innovation

Let’s say you’re an ambitious, creative professional or entrepreneur working in the United States. You’re interested in technology, you have the luxury of mobility, and you want to be close to the center of things. Which city should you choose as your home? If you’re attracted to a specific sub-field, the answer may be obvious. … Continue reading “Boston Vs. San Francisco: Two Cultures of Innovation”

Former Zipcar CEO Griffith Joins General Catalyst

When Scott Griffith took over as CEO of Zipcar, the car-rental startup was considered more of a political movement than a company. Griffith’s job was to make it a grown-up business.  Over the next decade, he would pilot Zipcar through market expansions, competitor acquisitions, an IPO, a rocky stock-market ride, and a buyout from one … Continue reading “Former Zipcar CEO Griffith Joins General Catalyst”

Could Future Car2go Trips Take You to Bellevue in a Black Mercedes?

After a successful first year of service in Seattle, car2go—the pay-as-you-go, free-floating car rental service from German automaker Daimler AG—is researching the potential for expansion to the Eastside and a new business model that would appear to put it more directly in competition with the likes of Zipcar. The company, which rents the diminutive blue … Continue reading “Could Future Car2go Trips Take You to Bellevue in a Black Mercedes?”

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?”

Gotham Gal & Eric Hippeau Talk Good Money, Bad Money at Springboard

Springboard Enterprises let the media have a closer look last week at what its accelerator for women-led companies has been up to. The annual forum, held in New York, gave 10 startups in digital media and technology the chance to demo their ideas. A pair of high-profile players from the New York investing scene also … Continue reading “Gotham Gal & Eric Hippeau Talk Good Money, Bad Money at Springboard”

Buzzcar’s Robin Chase Drops by Springboard’s Opening Night in New York

When Robin Chase comes to town, expect lessons in influence and driving change in executive leadership. Chase—the co-founder of Zipcar and founder of Buzzcar—spoke last night at a reception in New York ahead of Wednesday’s Springboard Annual Forum. Addressing the women-led media and tech startups that graduated from the Springboard Enterprises accelerator, Chase offered a … Continue reading “Buzzcar’s Robin Chase Drops by Springboard’s Opening Night in New York”

Postmates Sets Up Shop in New York—Right in Seamless’s Backyard

Today Postmates revealed it has expanded its app-driven, shopping and delivery service to New York with a team operating in the Flatiron neighborhood. This puts the San Francisco startup in three cities, including Seattle, and on New York-based Seamless’s home turf. Postmates lets consumers order prepared food, groceries, and even office supplies that will be … Continue reading “Postmates Sets Up Shop in New York—Right in Seamless’s Backyard”

Boston Roundup: Zipcar, HubSpot, Hack/Reduce, QPID, Billaway

People getting new jobs leads this roundup of news bits from around the Boston-area innovation sector, with a few small fundraising deals thrown in for good measure: —Scott Griffith quit as CEO of Zipcar, coinciding with Avis Budget Group formally completing its acquisition of the rent-by-the-hour car company headquartered in Cambridge. There wasn’t any mention … Continue reading “Boston Roundup: Zipcar, HubSpot, Hack/Reduce, QPID, Billaway”

New Accelerator LearnLaunchX Looks to Make Boston Ed-Tech Capital of the World

There’s a new startup accelerator in town. OK, there are a few—but this one specializes in technology and innovation in the field of education. LearnLaunchX, led by angel investor Jean Hammond and her team, is gearing up for its first group of startups this summer. Hammond spoke with me in conjunction with her nonprofit LearnLaunch’s … Continue reading “New Accelerator LearnLaunchX Looks to Make Boston Ed-Tech Capital of the World”

7 Reasons to Hate the Zipcar-Avis Deal

Some people make New Year’s resolutions. I make a list of reasons to hate the biggest Boston-area tech deal of the new year. I am a grump. Yes, Zipcar (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ZIP]]), the soon-to-be-Boston-based car-rental company, is being acquired by Avis Budget Group for about half a billion dollars. Yes, the venture capitalists who held onto … Continue reading “7 Reasons to Hate the Zipcar-Avis Deal”

Zipcar Snatched Up by Avis After Poor Stock Performance

Zipcar’s modern take on rental cars always seemed like it could give the established industry some headaches. Now, the Cambridge, MA-based company will have to tackle that mission from within the establishment. The Avis Budget group announced today that it’s buying Zipcar (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ZIP]]) for around $500 million. That works out to $12.25 per share, a … Continue reading “Zipcar Snatched Up by Avis After Poor Stock Performance”

The 5 Myths of Big Data Analytics

Everyone wants a glimpse into the future; the insights and information found there would be inherently lucrative for the individual (or business) that possessed them. And, while soothsayers haven’t yet proven themselves to be a reliable business asset, today’s predictive analytics software has. “Predictive analytics,” in whole, is data analysis that provides enterprises with predictions … Continue reading “The 5 Myths of Big Data Analytics”

Zagster CEO Tim Ericson on Tapping Into the Sharing Economy

If you want to be the “Zipcar for bikes,” Boston is not a bad place to be—and Zagster isn’t a bad name. I first saw Zagster co-founder and CEO Tim Ericson speak at a TechStars Boston demo day in May. The Cambridge, MA-based bicycle-sharing startup has been around since late 2007 (fka CityRyde, based in … Continue reading “Zagster CEO Tim Ericson on Tapping Into the Sharing Economy”

Bye Bye, Bootstrap: Dyn Digs Up $38M from North Bridge

If you’re bootstrapped and growing fast, there’s only so long you can fend off VCs with a stick. Dyn, the Web infrastructure company in Manchester, NH, said today it has raised a $38 million first round of venture financing from North Bridge Venture Partners. Ric Fulop and Russ Pyle from North Bridge are joining Dyn’s … Continue reading “Bye Bye, Bootstrap: Dyn Digs Up $38M from North Bridge”

8 Things We Learned This Summer About the Boston Tech Scene

Before you head out for the long holiday weekend—well, some of you—I wanted to remind you of one thing. Boston innovation scene, I am watching you. I am watching you because you are changing before my eyes. Some of it is surprising, some of it isn’t. Some of it is of local interest, but most … Continue reading “8 Things We Learned This Summer About the Boston Tech Scene”

The Top 5 Risks Confronting Startups

You might have a great idea for a startup. You may be passionate, driven, and ready to go. But how ready are you to manage your risks? Many startups fail because of ineffective risk management. So how do you avoid a similar fate? It all depends on how well you understand and manage your risks. … Continue reading “The Top 5 Risks Confronting Startups”

Solutions, Not Ideas, Are Everything

As a lawyer who specializes in emerging companies and a member of the Boston Harbor Angels, I hear 10-20 pitches a month by entrepreneurs seeking angel funding. There are several factors that account for success or failure in a new company’s ability to attract funding. However, one common theme always rings true: all successful businesses … Continue reading “Solutions, Not Ideas, Are Everything”

Basho, aPriori, Savitz VC Fund, & More Boston Deals News

Acquisitions, investments, new VC funds, and strategic partnerships have made up the New England deals news in the last week. —Shareaholic, a Cambridge, MA-based maker of software for sharing and discovering Web content, closed a $3 million round of funding led by Kepha Partners, and joined by returning angel investors, General Catalyst Partners, NextView Ventures, and 500 … Continue reading “Basho, aPriori, Savitz VC Fund, & More Boston Deals News”

EMC Execs, iRobot Upgrades, and Zipcar & Denzel: Some Tech Tidbits

A few Boston-area public tech companies we’re keeping an eye on this week… —Some rumors coming out of Hopkinton, MA-based EMC (NYSE: [[ticker:EMC]]) and Palo Alto, CA-based VMware (NYSE: [[ticker:VMW]]). EMC president and chief operating officer Pat Gelsinger is replacing Paul Maritz as VMware CEO, according to a report in CRN. And the companies are … Continue reading “EMC Execs, iRobot Upgrades, and Zipcar & Denzel: Some Tech Tidbits”

Trendspotting with Ford: How the Auto Industry Prepares for the Future

Sheryl Connelly, whose title at Ford is “Global Trends and Futuring Expert,” doesn’t spend much time thinking about cars. Her mind is on big-picture global trends: what’s going on socially, technologically, economically, environmentally, and politically. “My approach is, what are the things we have no control over?” Connelly says when reached by phone. “What is … Continue reading “Trendspotting with Ford: How the Auto Industry Prepares for the Future”

Explore the Online-to-Offline Economy with Eventbrite on August 7

In its infancy, toddlerhood, and adolescence, the Web was pretty much stuck in its own little world. Most Web content and service providers were keen to keep people online for as long as possible (think Farmville). But as the Web matures, it’s going through an interesting transformation. It’s turning outward and taking a more practical, … Continue reading “Explore the Online-to-Offline Economy with Eventbrite on August 7”

Demandware and the Future of Retail: A Post-IPO Snapshot

In the world of e-commerce, Amazon is going one way, and everyone else is going the other. Amazon has cornered the market on commodities and price-driven shopping, it seems, but what’s still up for grabs is the luxury market. One of the more interesting tech companies in that sector is Demandware (NYSE: [[ticker:DWRE]]), the Burlington, … Continue reading “Demandware and the Future of Retail: A Post-IPO Snapshot”

Coaching Program Springboard Hits Boston With Life Sciences Entrepreneurs

Startup accelerators like Y Combinator and TechStars are known for producing the latest and greatest in Web startups. But there’s a set of established and accomplished companies—like ZipCar (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ZIP]]), Xenogen, and Constant Contact (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CTCT]])—that also received startup coaching, mentoring, and connections to investors back in their day. They went through a different program, … Continue reading “Coaching Program Springboard Hits Boston With Life Sciences Entrepreneurs”

Charles River, FirstFuel, Quiet Logistics, & More Boston Deal News

[Updated 2/29/12 at 10:45 am. See below] Life sciences, cleantech, mobile, and IT companies all had their fair share of deals announcements this week. —Zipcar (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ZIP]]), the Cambridge, MA-based car-sharing pioneer, led a $13.7 million investment round in Palo Alto, CA-based Wheelz, another startup in the space that’s targeting college students. —Cambridge-based Satori Pharmaceuticals … Continue reading “Charles River, FirstFuel, Quiet Logistics, & More Boston Deal News”

Wheelz Secures $13,700,000 Series A Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9f23b652-b805-4f27-b210-376df4f629ae&Preview=1 Date 2/23/2012 Company Name Wheelz Mailing Address PO Box 1588 Palo Alto, CA 94302 Company Description Wheelz is the first car sharing platform designed specifically to meet the needs of campus communities – connecting students with cars to students who need them. Offering instant sign up, easy set up for car … Continue reading “Wheelz Secures $13,700,000 Series A Round”

Zipcar and Fontinalis Bet $13.7M on Car-Sharing Startup Wheelz

The world of car-sharing just got more interesting. Zipcar (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ZIP]]), the Cambridge, MA-based pioneer in the sector, said today it has led a $13.7 million Series A investment in Wheelz, a Palo Alto, CA-based car-sharing startup that targets college students. Detroit-based Fontinalis Partners, a transportation tech investment firm, also participated in the round. As … Continue reading “Zipcar and Fontinalis Bet $13.7M on Car-Sharing Startup Wheelz”

Akamai to Zipcar: A Snapshot of 10 Public Tech Companies in Boston

As we wind down the first month of 2012, I thought I’d take the pulse of some of the bigger technology companies around town. In addition to tracking startups and entrepreneurship, this is an important measure of the health and well-being of the Boston tech community. So here’s a list of 10 well-known public companies, … Continue reading “Akamai to Zipcar: A Snapshot of 10 Public Tech Companies in Boston”

The Boston Tech Year in Review: Endeca, RSA, and More

A lot has happened in the technology world in the past year. So let’s take a minute to reflect on the defining moments of 2011 and where we stand now, as a local tech community with increasingly global impact. This is by no means comprehensive, or even a summary of the most important stories of … Continue reading “The Boston Tech Year in Review: Endeca, RSA, and More”

TripAdvisor Post-IPO: Five Things We Learned From CEO Stephen Kaufer

Merry Christmas, Boston. You asked for it, and you got it. A big, publicly traded consumer tech company to put us on the map alongside the Silicon Valley bad boys and uppity New Yorkers. I present to you: TripAdvisor (NASDAQ: [[ticker:TRIP]]). Sure, we already have Zipcar (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ZIP]]), Carbonite (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CARB]]), iRobot (NASDAQ: [[ticker:IRBT]]), and … Continue reading “TripAdvisor Post-IPO: Five Things We Learned From CEO Stephen Kaufer”