YouSendIt and MyFabrik add to file-sharing options
YouSendIt and MyFabrik are two of the many companies that let you easily share large files, such as videos or photos. They’ve raised venture capital recently, to help them survive the throng of competitors.
Have you ever had an outgoing or incoming email bounce because you were trying to send a giant attachment?
One trick is to use YouSendIt, a Mountain View start-up. You upload your large file to its site, type in an email address, and… Continue Reading
Attune Systems raises $14M for a network file virtualization product
Attune Systems, a Santa Clara start-up offering a way to manage network server files with virtualization technology, said it has received $14 million in a new venture funding round led by RWI Ventures.
The value of the company increased with the latest round, it said.
Also participating in the round were GF Private Equity Group as a new investor, and existing investors Alloy Ventures, QTV Capital, Rock Creek Capital and Shea Ventures.
Chip design co., Ciranova, raises $4M
Ciranova, a Santa Clara electronic design automation (EDA) start-up, has raised $4 million in a third round of financing.
Its technology uses open standards and focuses on analog and custom integrated circuit design.
Leading the round AsiaTech Management and that firm’s founder, Katherine Jen, will join Ciranova’s board of directors, the company said.
The company’s previous investors, Alloy Ventures and US Venture Partners, also participated in the round, which brings Ciranova’s total funding to $14.75 million since… Continue Reading
Amgen to buy inflammation drug co. Avidia for up to $380M
Biotech giant Amgen said it has agreed to buy Mountain View-based Avidia for up to $380 million.
Under the accord, expected to be completed this year, Amgen of Thousand Oaks will pay $290 million in cash and up to $90 million more if Avidia meets certain milestones developing its drugs.
Avidia has only 37 employees, and at $380M, that means each employee is responsible for more than $10M, if they do get the full price. The company… Continue Reading
Retrevo offers gadget search engine; raises less than $1M
There is a rolling thunder of new Silicon Valley Internet start-ups launching on funding of around $1 million or less.
The latest is Retrevo, a Sunnyvale search engine focused on research and other advice on consumer electronics. It has raised less than $1 million from Alloy Ventures.
You may try to call this a Web 2.0 bubble, but frankly, we don’t see any end to this. There is so much money around, these start-ups will keep… Continue Reading
Digg woes, Segway’s expansion, Second Life hacked, Chinese grass & more
(Update: Corrected name of company acquired by News Corp. It was Newroo)
Roundup of latest Silicon Valley action:
One of Digg’s top diggers, p9, has quit, and Netscape is grinning — When Kevin Rose, founder of the news-ranking site, Digg, said he wanted to make the voting process for stories more democratic, he apparently alienated some of the site’s top users. One top digger has left, and slammed the door loudly in protest. Here’s a good description of… Continue Reading