Camille Ricketts
Camille came to VentureBeat from Google, where she worked on its traditional platforms team, particularly in TV. Before that, she was a reporter for the Wall Street Journal in New York and London.
Recent Posts
Tweba turns Twitter into a social marketplace
With so many startups capitalizing on the Twitter platform these days, it’s not surprising some are crossing into the domain of established sites. One prime example is young marketplace company Tweba (formerly Tweebay), which aims to bring the power of Craigslist and eBay to the… Continue Reading
Roundup: Wheego to launch EV, Twitter battles porn, and more
Here’s the latest action:
Here Wheego! — Electric vehicle startup Wheego announced it will launch its two-seat, low-speed car on August 1 in hopes that its release will help raise an additional round of capital. The car is called the Whip, and its development has… Continue Reading
Future car: A magnet-powered hamster wheel?
Magnets very rarely come up in serious renewable energy discussions. But why? It doesn’t get more zero-emission than that! At least that’s the thought behind car designer Harsha Vardhan’s new Transporter TW: an electric vehicle propelled by magnetic fields.
The single-passenger car is technically electric… Continue Reading
DOE taps DuPont for $9M solar research project
Science-oriented conglomerate DuPont has landed a $9 million partnership with the Department of Energy to conduct research into consumer-facing solar goods and components. The focus of the three-year program will be to market a protective film for plastic and glass thin-film photovoltaics, the company says…. Continue Reading
German utility Yello Strom steals the smart grid spotlight — at least for today
The net is abuzz today with talk of Yello Strom, the German utility that reportedly takes smart grid technology and web integration to the max with its new Sparzahler meter — rivaling U.S. utilities that are just beginning to adopt green initiatives. But, on closer… Continue Reading
Gilt Groupe gets $40M to make luxury online retail even glitzier
Gilt Groupe, the online luxury-fashion retailer that sends its members sale and clearance information on expensive items, has taken in $40 million in capital from General Atlantic and Matrix Partners, reports The Business Insider. The New York company has been valued at $400 million and… Continue Reading
Exit market warms with five IPOs in Q2
With five venture-backed public offerings, the second quarter was a significant improvement over the first quarter’s zero IPOs. In fact, this is the best the market has performed since the first quarter of 2008. That said, the number still comes in well under historical norms,… Continue Reading
Cleantech bounces back in Q2 with $1.2B
The big story a couple of months ago was that cleantech investing had fallen off a cliff in the first quarter — signaling what many feared would be a prolonged negative trend in the sector. But it looks like things have started to turn around,… Continue Reading
California gets green light for strict greenhouse gas requirements
The White House today approved California’s move to institute tough greenhouse gas emissions regulations for automakers well ahead of similar federal legislation. The waiver, officially granted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is said to be a first major step for the country to follow… Continue Reading
Spain’s Fotowatio plans $500M solar foothold in the U.S.
Fotowatio, one of Spain’s largest solar developers is soon to be one of the United States’ as well. Its American subsidiary, Renewable Ventures, is close to closing a new fund to back solar projects to the tune of $100 million this year alone. In the… Continue Reading
ParAccel brings in $22M for analytical databases
ParAccel, maker of database technology that allows users to see broader patterns in massive data sets, has raised $22 million in a third round of funding from Menlo Ventures, Bay Partners, Mohr Davidow Ventures, Tao Venture Partners and Walden International. The money will be used… Continue Reading
First manned solar plane unveiled in Switzerland
The first aircraft designed to run exclusively on solar power was introduced near Zurich, Switzerland after spending six years in stealthy development. Record-setting hot air ballooner Bertrand Piccard plans to take the plane, dubbed the Solar Impulse, on several test flights by the end of… Continue Reading
Virsto packs away $7M for virtual storage space
Virsto Software, creator of virtual storage space, has brought in $7 million in a first round of funding, giving makers of server virtualization equipment a boost, reports VentureWire. Based in Mountain View, Calif., the company says its products are capable of managing any storage issues… Continue Reading
Nokeena takes $6.5M to speed up online video
Nokeena Networks, developer of a supposedly faster, higher-quality online video platform, has raised $6.5 million in a second round of funding led by Mayfield Fund, reports VentureWire. Based in Emeryville, Calif., the company says it plans to reduce the cost of the technology needed to… Continue Reading
Signet Solar applies for federal funds to fuel thin-film strategy
Signet Solar, a Menlo Park, Calif.-based maker of thin-film solar panels, has applied for federal loan guarantees in addition to capital-raising efforts to aggressively expand its operations in the United States in the next three years.
The company’s plan is to install four production lines… Continue Reading
Ozmo takes $750K for personal Wi-Fi networks
Ozmo Devices, maker of software that generates “personal area” Wi-Fi networks around individual computers, has brought in $750,000 in debt, right and securities, reports VentureWire. In the past, the Palo Alto, Calif., company has been backed by Granite Ventures, Intel Capital and Tallwood Venture Capital… Continue Reading
High Gear Media drives $5.5M for automotive portal
High Gear Media, creator of an online portal to information on cars and the automotive industry, has raised $5.5 million in equity from undisclosed sources. In the past, the Palo Alto, Calif., startup raised a round of venture capital from Accel Partners and Greylock Partners…. Continue Reading
Cyan Optics sees $8.8M for optical communications systems
Cyan Optics, developer of optical packet communication systems, brought in $8.8 million of an anticipated $12 million in preferred stock, warrants and underlying shares. The Petaluma, Calif., company has previously been backed by Azure Capital Partners, Norwest Venture Partners and Telecommunications Development Fund.
Spiracur takes $20.3M for effective wound healing
Spiracur, developer of a device used to heal small wounds effectively, has brought in $20.3 million in a second round of funding from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, New Leaf Venture Partners and De Novo Ventures, reports VentureWire. Not much is known about the Redwood… Continue Reading
Posterous gobbles up fellow Y Combinator alum Slinkset
Posterous, the blogging service that lets you submit entries via email or text message, has acquired Slinkset, a platform for enabling users to vote web content and comments up or down — like on popular social news like Reddit. The deal is interesting because both… Continue Reading