A123Systems is ready for its close up — preps for tomorrow’s IPO

A123Systems is ready for its close up — preps for tomorrow’s IPO

A123Systems is the name on everyone’s lips today as the most gabbed-about IPO of the week — maybe even of the last few months — preps to go live on the Nasdaq tomorrow morning as AONE. The Watertown, Mass., company made news yesterday, hiking its… Continue Reading

1366 Technologies launches solar cell with record efficiencies

1366 Technologies launches solar cell with record efficiencies

1366 Technologies, maker of silicon-based photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight into electricity, says its new product, called the Self-Aligned Cell (SAC), has achieved disruptive rates of efficiency. The company says the cell will make using solar systems more affordable — and even cost competitive with… Continue Reading

Xsigo raises funds for wireless data centers

Xsigo, maker of a device that virtualizes network connections in data centers, has raised an undisclosed amount of funding from North Bridge Venture Partners, Greylock Partners, Khosla Ventures and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, among others. The San Jose, Calif. company says its technology can… Continue Reading

Fring raises third round for cheap mobile phone calls

Fring raises third round for cheap mobile phone calls

Fring, the maker of a free mobile application for activities like instant messaging and voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) phone calls, has raised a third round of funding.

The most compelling part of the London startup’s offering is its VoIP support. Basically, it means you can… Continue Reading

Car battery maker A123 scores $15M more from GE

Car battery maker A123 scores $15M more from GE

A123 Systems, maker of lithium-ion batteries — primarily for hybrid and electric cars — has nabbed another $15 million in funding from General Electric, marking the seventh time the conglomerate has invested in the capital-rich startup. This brings the total of A123’s recent round of… Continue Reading

Active Network acquires online campsite booker ReserveAmerica

Active Network acquires online campsite booker ReserveAmerica

The Active Network, a network of sites targeting athletic and active-lifestyle users, announced today that it’s buying ReserveAmerica, an online service for booking campground space across the U.S., for an undisclosed amount.

It was formerly a subsidiary of IAC, a conglomerate of interactive web-based businesses (including… Continue Reading

Mavenir lands $17.5 million for mobile convergence

Mavenir lands $17.5 million for mobile convergence

Mavenir Systems, a company that helps telecom companies evolve their networks to handle new calling options (like VoIP) and rich-media messaging, has closed a $17.5 million third round of funding. It plans to use the round to grow its market presence and continue developing its… Continue Reading

SnapMyLife captures $5M for mobile photo sharing

SnapMyLife captures $5M for mobile photo sharing

SnapMyLife, a web site for sharing photos over cellular phones worldwide, reeled in $5 million in financing to roll out new product features and stretch its global reach. Owned by mobile content distributor Mobicious, the Needham, Mass. company hopes to capitalize on the popularity of… Continue Reading

Xtalic raises $10M for nanocoatings

Xtalic is a Marlborough, Mass. company that makes nano-scale material coatings based off the work of an MIT professor. The company has raised $10 million in a second round of venture funding.

Despite their high-tech origins, Xtalic’s coatings can be applied by customers through a simple… Continue Reading

Virtual goods company Viximo offers online communities an alternative to advertising

Virtual goods company Viximo offers online communities an alternative to advertising

With a recession looming, many online entertainment sites who currently depend on ad revenue are exploring a new source of revenue: Virtual goods.

Boston-based Viximo wants to make it as easy for publishers to earn money from selling virtual goods as it is to run ads… Continue Reading

Sports site The Active Network raises $80 million, for more acquisitions

Sports site The Active Network raises $80 million, for more acquisitions

The Active Network, a company that offers sports community sites like Active.com, has raised an $80 million fifth round of funding, led by existing investor and strategic partner ESPN, with additional funding from venture firms.

The San Diego-based company offers a range of events, marketing and… Continue Reading

Can you build a company around text messaging? Mozes says yes, with a big funding

Can you build a company around text messaging? Mozes says yes, with a big funding

Twitter isn’t the only company trying to build a big business off short messages. For text messages, or SMS, delivered via mobile phone, there’s Mozes, which says it’s ready to take the leading position in a growing marketing and communication business, and now has an… Continue Reading

Document management company SpringCM raises $10M

DocExchange, a document management startup that does business under the name SpringCM, has raised $10 million in a second round of funding. It’s also opened a $4 million credit facility with Comerica Bank.

North Bridge Venture Partners led the round, and previous investor Foundation Capital also… Continue Reading

MIT spin-out aims to make silicon-based solar competitive with coal by 2012

MIT spin-out aims to make silicon-based solar competitive with coal by 2012

A series of manufacturing process improvements could make the cost of electricity from silicon-based solar cells comparable to today’s prices for coal generation within about four years, according to a company emerging out of stealth today.

The new startup, called 1366 Technologies, was founded by professor… Continue Reading

Bungee Labs raises $8M for app development platform

Bungee Labs is a web-based development platform that allows developers to more easily build and release web applications. It entered into beta last May and is now fully open to the public.

The platform centers around Bungee Connect, in which applications are put together and tested…. Continue Reading

Acquia raises $7M for Drupal platform

Founded only a few months ago, Acquia is a North Andover, Mass. startup that capitalizes on a content management system written by its co-founder in 2001.

The Drupal platform is an open-source product that can be used to create blogs, content portals, wikis and other Web… Continue Reading

Battery company, A123 Systems, loaded with cash

Battery company, A123 Systems, loaded with cash

Battery maker A123 Systems has secured its place as the most heavily funded battery startup, adding $30 million in its fifth round of funding.

Early this year, A123 broke $100 million. The Watertown, Mass. company, which is developing new lithium ion technology, already has some products… Continue Reading

Life sciences briefing: Monday, Oct. 1, 2007

Life sciences briefing: Monday, Oct. 1, 2007

Featured companies: Abiant, CellXplore, Diffusion Pharmaceuticals, WMR Biomedical, Zosano Pharmaceuticals

Diffusion Pharma raises $4.5M for vascular-disease and brain-cancer drug — Charlottesville, Va.-based Diffusion Pharmaceuticals, a biotech focused on drugs that enhance oxygen diffusion, raised $4.5 million in a private placement. Angel investors provided the funding, which brings… Continue Reading

Active Network raises $65M for sports community site

The Active Network, a San Diego, Calif.  sports community site, has raised $65 million in a fifth round of financing, according to PE Hub.

Canaan Partners led the deal, and was joined by fellow return backers like ESPN, ABS Ventures, North Bridge Venture Partners, Comdisco and… Continue Reading

Life sciences briefing: Thursday, Sept. 6, 2007

Life sciences briefing: Thursday, Sept. 6, 2007

Featured companies: Cyntellect, Lectus Therapeutics, NeoMatrix, Nexstim, Pearl Therapeutics, Proteon Therapeutics, SupplyScape

(UPDATED at 10am PT: See below.)

Airway-disease specialist Pearl Therapeutics raises $15.5M — Redwood City, Calif.-based Pearl Therapeutics, a drug-formulation company focused on respiratory disease, raised $15.5 million in a first funding round. Investors included New Leaf… Continue Reading