What’s in a tech startup name? More specifically, is there a correlation between the type of name a company has and its success? That’s a question every startup founder and investor should be interested in. Because if there is a correlation, then using a name-based strategy for picking winners would be, well, about as good … Continue reading “How Not to Name a Startup: The Curse of the Camel Case”
Tag: ZipCar
This Week’s Xconomy Report on WGBH: Zuckerberg’s Change of Heart, IDing Adults Online, Vocal Cord Repair, and Verastem IPO
Xconomy and the folks at WGBH (Bob Seay, to be precise) are at it again: bringing you the latest and greatest in news from Boston’s innovation community. The Xconomy Report airs every Friday morning at 7:49am on 89.7 FM. To find out about the project that both The Who’s Roger Daltrey and actress Julie Andrews … Continue reading “This Week’s Xconomy Report on WGBH: Zuckerberg’s Change of Heart, IDing Adults Online, Vocal Cord Repair, and Verastem IPO”
Scaling Up Startups: Takeaways from Gemvara, Kayak, LogMeIn, Wayfair, and More at MassTLC UnConference
Get a bunch of prominent Boston-area founders and CEOs in a room together, and ask them provocative questions. It’s a tried and true recipe for a good discussion, and that’s exactly what we got at the end of the day on Friday at MassTLC’s 2011 unConference at Hynes Convention Center in Boston. The topic was … Continue reading “Scaling Up Startups: Takeaways from Gemvara, Kayak, LogMeIn, Wayfair, and More at MassTLC UnConference”
Xconomist of the Week: Reed Sturtevant of Lotus, Idealab, and Microsoft Fame Talks Tech Trends to Watch
You know the type. He’s at every tech startup event, every investor event, and every incubator and early-stage mentorship session (at least every good one). He’s talked to every entrepreneur in the area and has had a hand in the development of many of their companies. He has been a fixture of the local software … Continue reading “Xconomist of the Week: Reed Sturtevant of Lotus, Idealab, and Microsoft Fame Talks Tech Trends to Watch”
Finding Trends: Cleantech IPOs Skew Toward Biofuels, Materials, Energy Efficiency
Even before global markets reacted to the U.S. credit downgrade, IPOs for cleantech companies have been relatively few and far between. Still, the IPO data for the first half of 2011 reveals the kinds of alternative energy and green technology companies are going public—a good indication of which sectors are more likely to attract more … Continue reading “Finding Trends: Cleantech IPOs Skew Toward Biofuels, Materials, Energy Efficiency”
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”
Zipcar Cofounder Robin Chase Bids Adieu to U.S., Launches Car Sharing Startup in France
Oh là là. Pronouncing the European market far more primed for a transportation revolution than the U.S., Zipcar cofounder Robin Chase has quietly left GoLoco, her Cambridge, MA-based ride sharing company, to fend for itself and launched a car sharing startup in Paris. Called Buzzcar, the company began pilot testing in two French cities a … Continue reading “Zipcar Cofounder Robin Chase Bids Adieu to U.S., Launches Car Sharing Startup in France”
Semyon Dukach, the MIT Blackjack King, Takes SMTP Public in Latest Effort to Fight the Power
An intriguing Boston-area tech company is going public after more than 10 years—and it’s not too late to shake things up in its market. I’m not talking about Zipcar (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ZIP]]), which had its long-awaited IPO a couple weeks ago. I’m talking about SMTP, a pioneering e-mail software firm based in Cambridge, MA. Yes, the … Continue reading “Semyon Dukach, the MIT Blackjack King, Takes SMTP Public in Latest Effort to Fight the Power”
Zipcar Goes Public, PTC Buys MKS, Third Rock Leads $18.3M Series B for Taris, & More Boston-Area Deals News
This week we’ve seen a slew of startup financings and an IPO in the New England area. —Third Rock Ventures became an investor in Taris Biomedical, leading an $18.3 million Series B financing for the MIT spinout. The company will use the money to advance its drug-delivery device, for treating a variety of bladder ailments. … Continue reading “Zipcar Goes Public, PTC Buys MKS, Third Rock Leads $18.3M Series B for Taris, & More Boston-Area Deals News”
Zipcar’s $174M IPO and What It Means to the Boston Tech Scene: Some Reactions
Zipcar, the Cambridge, MA-based car-sharing company, has raised $174.3 million in an initial public offering. The company sold about 9.7 million shares at $18 per share—an increase over the 8.3 million shares it originally planned to offer at $14 to $16 apiece—according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The IPO was led by Goldman Sachs and … Continue reading “Zipcar’s $174M IPO and What It Means to the Boston Tech Scene: Some Reactions”
Zipcar Prices IPO Shares at $14-$16
Cambridge, MA-based Zipcar, the auto-sharing company, plans its initial public offering of 8.3 million shares to be priced at $14 to $16 per share, according to an amended filing with the SEC. The company expects net proceeds of $89.2 million, which it will use for repaying debt, expanding the business, and other purposes. Goldman Sachs … Continue reading “Zipcar Prices IPO Shares at $14-$16”
Three Kings: Bessemer, Greylock, Summit Raising Big New Funds
The big guys are getting bigger: Three prominent venture and private equity firms with Boston representation are in the news this week about raising big new funds. How does this affect startups and innovation? Probably not all that much, other than being part of the natural cycle of money flow. But it’s interesting, and possibly … Continue reading “Three Kings: Bessemer, Greylock, Summit Raising Big New Funds”
SCVNGR Scoops Up $15M for European Expansion and More Game Mechanics
Seth Priebatsch strikes again. The wunderkind CEO’s location-based gaming startup, SCVNGR, announced today it has raised $15 million in a new venture financing round led by London-based Balderton Capital. SCVNGR’s existing investors, Google Ventures and Highland Capital Partners, also participated in the round, which was raised at a valuation of just over $100 million, according … Continue reading “SCVNGR Scoops Up $15M for European Expansion and More Game Mechanics”
EveryScape and Bing Expand Partnership, Raytheon Acquires Applied Signal, Avila Inks Sanofi Deal, & More Boston-Area Deals News
A flurry of pre-holiday announcements of fundings, partnerships, and acquisitions from Boston-area tech and life sciences companies has kept us busy in the past week. —Cambridge, MA-based car-sharing service Zipcar added a $21 million Series G financing to its funding pot. The deal involved a $20 million investment from Meritech Capital Partners, and $1 million … Continue reading “EveryScape and Bing Expand Partnership, Raytheon Acquires Applied Signal, Avila Inks Sanofi Deal, & More Boston-Area Deals News”
Zipcar Pulls in $21M, Adds Case and Mahoney to Board
Zipcar has added big money and big-name board members to its fleet, according to two different company announcements today. The Cambridge, MA-based car-sharing service said it has raised a $21 million Series G financing, with Meritech Capital Partners leading with a $20 million investment and Pinnacle Ventures contributing $1 million. It also added a big corporate … Continue reading “Zipcar Pulls in $21M, Adds Case and Mahoney to Board”
Zipcar Receives $21,000,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e6b67f76-1913-42de-8437-c4db6d7f599b&Preview=1 Date 12/15/2010 Company Name Zipcar Mailing Address 25 First Street 4th Floor Cambridge, MA 02141 Company Description Zipcar, the Web-based car-sharing service, Zipcars are as ubiquitous as ATMs. Z2B (business) and personal drivers alike are loving the freedom and cost savings a Zipcar brings to their life – many have even … Continue reading “Zipcar Receives $21,000,000 New Funding Round”
RelayRides Hits The Ground In San Francisco, With Money From Google Ventures and August Capital
Roughly six months ago, a new alternative to car ownership came to the Cambridge area. RelayRides took the idea of car-sharing service Zipcar a bit further; rather than renting out cars from its own managed fleet, it set up a system for borrowing cars from individual car owners whose vehicles were dormant during the day. … Continue reading “RelayRides Hits The Ground In San Francisco, With Money From Google Ventures and August Capital”
Back from Labor Day: Three Posts You Should Read
Was there a summer slowdown this year in the tech-business world? I’m not so sure (and neither are some other observers). In any case, let’s get ready for the craziness that is fall news and events in our industries. Here are three blog posts from around the Web—and around the country—that you might have missed … Continue reading “Back from Labor Day: Three Posts You Should Read”
U.S. Innovation and Entrepreneurship Council Quietly Holds First Meeting in DC, Starting with Steve Case-Hosted Dinner
It’s a big day for U.S. innovation strategy. The National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship is holding its first official meeting at the Department of Commerce in Washington, DC, today—and Xconomy has some exclusive details. The council, made up of 26 national leaders in business, technology, and academia, is charged with helping the Obama … Continue reading “U.S. Innovation and Entrepreneurship Council Quietly Holds First Meeting in DC, Starting with Steve Case-Hosted Dinner”
SCVNGR Goes Live with Rewards for Boston Businesses, Eyes Potential Partners
I’m getting the sense that Seth Priebatsch could sell just about anything—and he will. His mobile gaming and rewards startup, Cambridge, MA-based SCVNGR, has been in PR overdrive for the past week, announcing everything from its integration with Facebook Places to new rewards partnerships with AT&T and Zipcar. Today, the company is showcasing a new … Continue reading “SCVNGR Goes Live with Rewards for Boston Businesses, Eyes Potential Partners”
Greylock’s Henry McCance on Why the Firm Moved Its HQ to Silicon Valley and How Boston Must Find Its Google
Greylock Partners is one of the world’s premier venture firms and a hallmark here in New England, so it was no small news in May 2009 when the storied firm announced it was moving its headquarters from the Boston area to Silicon Valley—giving New England yet another reason for Valley envy. I recently sat down … Continue reading “Greylock’s Henry McCance on Why the Firm Moved Its HQ to Silicon Valley and How Boston Must Find Its Google”
Alberg Joins Obama’s Council
Tom Alberg, managing director of the Seattle-based Madrona Venture Group, will be joining President Obama’s new National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which will help develop policies to foster entrepreneurship, create jobs, and drive economic growth. U.S. Commerce Secretary and former Washington governor Gary Locke announced the members of the 26-person council at a … Continue reading “Alberg Joins Obama’s Council”
RelayRides, Out to Be the Community-Powered Zipcar, Hits the Ground With Pilot Rental Program
In 2007 Shelby Clark’s car died just as he crossed into San Francisco, ready to start work with micro-lending nonprofit Kiva.org. He discovered ZipCar once he got to the Bay Area and a year later still hadn’t bought a car of his own. Fast-forward to November 2008. Clark had moved to Boston to attend Harvard … Continue reading “RelayRides, Out to Be the Community-Powered Zipcar, Hits the Ground With Pilot Rental Program”
Zebigo, Led by Boeing and Blue Origin Vet, Rolls Out Ride-Sharing Network in Seattle
Mark Russell spent 13 years commuting the 50-odd miles from Graham, WA, to Kirkland and back. Driving alone, he couldn’t use the carpool lane, so he spent countless hours sitting in traffic. Now he is channeling years of pent-up frustration to help solve the broader ride-sharing problem, using a confluence of social networks, mobile applications, … Continue reading “Zebigo, Led by Boeing and Blue Origin Vet, Rolls Out Ride-Sharing Network in Seattle”
Zipcar Files to Take $75M IPO Ride
Zipcar has set its sights on a new funding vehicle: An initial public offering. The Cambridge, MA-based car sharing service says it wants to raise $75 million in an IPO, according to an SEC filing. The company, founded in 2000, has changed the way many people think about renting cars. Its members can reserve cars … Continue reading “Zipcar Files to Take $75M IPO Ride”
Warner Bros. Acquires Turbine, Athenahealth Taps IBM, Alkermes Reveals Diabetes Drug Royalty, & More Boston-Area Deals News
News of financings, partnerships, royalties, and acquisitions among New England’s video game, transportation, biotech, and energy companies have kept us buzzing in the last week. —Westwood, MA-based online games maker Turbine was purchased by the Home Entertainment Group of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, a unit of Time Warner (NYSE: [[ticker:TWX]]). Turbine produces the massively multiplayer … Continue reading “Warner Bros. Acquires Turbine, Athenahealth Taps IBM, Alkermes Reveals Diabetes Drug Royalty, & More Boston-Area Deals News”
Zipcar Acquires UK’s Streetcar
Cambridge, MA-based car-sharing company Zipcar announced it has acquired Streetcar, a U.K.-based car club that operates under a similar model. Zipcar chairman and CEO Scott Griffith said in the company statement that “when considered along with our investment in the largest car sharing company in Spain in late 2009, this transaction gives us a very … Continue reading “Zipcar Acquires UK’s Streetcar”
Hubspot Leaving Kendall Square; Next Stop: Lechmere
HubSpot, a fast-growing marketing technology startup born at the Cambridge Innovation Center, will leave its space at One Broadway this summer for new offices at 25 First Street, about 10 city blocks north, Xconomy has learned. While the move will take the startup out of the center of Kendall Square, vice president of marketing Mike … Continue reading “Hubspot Leaving Kendall Square; Next Stop: Lechmere”
Greylock Adds Reid Hoffman as Partner
Greylock Partners, a Silicon Valley venture firm formerly based in the Boston area, announced today it has hired Reid Hoffman, the co-founder and executive chairman of LinkedIn, as a partner. Hoffman, who has also been an angel investor, will focus on early-stage consumer Internet and software investments, as well as advise entrepreneurs from Greylock’s portfolio … Continue reading “Greylock Adds Reid Hoffman as Partner”
Glympse and TravellingWave Step Out, Microsoft Does Voice Search, and More Mobile News
It’s been a very busy week for news in the mobile industry. First, Amazon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]) rolled out a one-click mobile payments service that promises to shake up the world of mobile-app developers and distributors. Then it seems like all hell broke loose, courtesy of the massive CTIA wireless expo going on in San Diego … Continue reading “Glympse and TravellingWave Step Out, Microsoft Does Voice Search, and More Mobile News”
MIT Sloan Prof, Richard Locke, Talks Sustainability at Amazon, Intel, Nike
One of MIT’s leading business professors, Richard Locke, came to Seattle yesterday to talk about the “S” word. Yes, we’ve been hearing a lot about sustainability lately, in the context of technology and business. Big companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Boeing are talking seriously about the issue. Smaller Seattle-area companies like Verdiem, Powerit Solutions, and … Continue reading “MIT Sloan Prof, Richard Locke, Talks Sustainability at Amazon, Intel, Nike”
Deals, Deals, and More Deals
Regular readers may have noticed that from time to time we like to give you a roundup of the last week’s worth of biz/tech news (and from time to time—like when we’re too busy with this week’s news—we skip it). This time a couple of things are different, though. First, I’m going to focus only … Continue reading “Deals, Deals, and More Deals”
Zipcar To Share Ride With Flexcar
Zipcar, the Cambridge-based car sharing service, announced today that it will merge with Flexcar, a Seattle firm whose main owner is Revolution, a Washington, DC, investment company founded by ex-AOL Time Warner Chairman Steve Case. Zipcar is the world’s largest car sharing provider, with 120,000 members in more than 35 cities, according to the company’s … Continue reading “Zipcar To Share Ride With Flexcar”
Alnylam and Merck Go Their Separate Ways, TransMedics Files to Go Public, ZipCar Reservation System Ready to Go Anywhere, and More
Another week, another giant inbox full of news. Here are the highlights. —Not long after closing one of New England’s 10 biggest second-quarter venture deals, Andover-based TransMedics filed for an IPO. The firm, which is developing a device for keeping donated organs for transplantation warm and functioning outside of the body, proposed a maximum price … Continue reading “Alnylam and Merck Go Their Separate Ways, TransMedics Files to Go Public, ZipCar Reservation System Ready to Go Anywhere, and More”
When It Comes to Women-Owned Startups, Jean Hammond Says Boston Investors Are Nervous Nellies
Here’s a theory: Businesses founded by women tend to produce consumer-oriented products. Here’s another one: Consumer-focused companies make Boston-area investors—both angels and venture capitalists—uncomfortable. Conclusion: If you’re a woman entrepreneur in Boston looking for funding, you might have a problem. The idea, courtesy of Jean Hammond, is a provocative one, to be sure. But Hammond … Continue reading “When It Comes to Women-Owned Startups, Jean Hammond Says Boston Investors Are Nervous Nellies”