EmSense, the company that reads your brain’s reactions to ads, gets boost
EmSense — the San Francisco company that has created a device to read your mind to assess how you react to TV commercials and other media — has raised $9 million more in a third round of funding.
The company says it is trying to improve… Continue Reading
Deeya closes $30M for long-term electrical storage
Deeya Energy, provider of a unique battery for long-term electrical storage, has raised $30 million in a third round of funding to offer renewable and more efficient energy options. Based in Fremont, Calif., the company says it is poised to take advantage of a $46… Continue Reading
Tesla forecasts 2009 profit, despite recent hard knocks
Electric vehicle maker Tesla Motors announced it will hit profitability by the second half of 2009. The statement was made in a recent company newsletter. Boosted by the $40 million in capital it raised from existing investors in December, the San Carlos, Calif.-based company said… Continue Reading
PowerGenix gets $30M for electric scooter batteries
Alt-chemistry battery maker PowerGenix has significantly upped its funding with a $30 million fourth round. The company plans to make batteries for electric vehicles, power tools, electronics and other applications.
One of PowerGenix’s most ambitious plans is to crack into the market for electric scooters, which… Continue Reading
Another massive funding for thin film solar, with $104M to AVA Solar, a challenger to First Solar
It may not be as much as the colossal $300 million financing that Nanosolar finally disclosed yesterday — the biggest ever for a solar company — but another thin-film manufacturer, AVA Solar, has broken into the nine-figure funding range today, with a challenge to industry… Continue Reading
Tria Beauty raises $30M to remove your excess back hair
Tria Beauty (formerly known as SpectraGenics), the Pleasanton, Calif. maker of a device that uses lasers for hair removal, has raised $30 million in its fifth round of financing.
Unlike similar devices, Tria’s hair removal system has been cleared for home use. While it has been… Continue Reading
PowerGenix hopes to overtake NiMH dominance with alt-chemistry rechargeable batteries
With the market for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) finally starting to heat up in earnest, several companies are making big bets on advanced rechargeable battery technologies. One of these is PowerGenix, a San Diego, Calif.-based startup that makes nickel-zinc (NiZn) batteries.
Another is ZPower, a startup… Continue Reading
Life-science briefing: Monday, March 10, 2008
TODAY’S HEADLINES:
BrainCells raises $30M for neuroregeneration drugs (release)
EKR Therapeutics takes in $50M plus $95M in debt for pain, heart drugs (release)
Wright Medical acquires Berkeley’s Inbone Tech for $24M (release)
Argolyn Bioscience names Nixon Ellis as CEO (release)
BrainCells raises $30M for neuroregeneration drugs – San Diego’s BrainCells, a… Continue Reading
Will carbon-trading happen? Goldman hopes so, backs APX
APX, a Silicon Valley company that certifies carbon and emissions offset certificates, and which is well-placed to support carbon-trading markets when they emerge, has gotten backing from Goldman Sachs in a $14 million investment, VentureBeat has learned.
Carbon trading is a growing business that could someday… Continue Reading
The future of solar is nanotech: Nanogram, Sunflake and other upcoming technologies
With a fresh $32 million funding going to nanotechnoloy firm NanoGram, mainly for development of next-generation solar cells, it’s a good time to point out some up-and-coming technologies that work on very small scales to make photovoltaic cells more efficient.
NanoGram has already had several commercial… Continue Reading
Life sciences briefing: Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2007
TODAY’S HEADLINES:
Topical Botox maker Revance gets $43M, option to be acquired by Medicis (release)
Reva Medical draws $42M for resorbable stents (release)
AccentCare raises $8M for senior home-care services (VentureWire, sub req’d)
Light Dimensions aims for $6M for light-based skin treatment (VW)
Carigent pulls in $2M for nanoparticle drugs… Continue Reading
Life sciences briefing: Thursday, Aug. 16, 2007
Featured companies: Reliant Technologies, Leptos Biomedical, Calidora Skin Clinic
Reliant Tech seeks $95M IPO for dermatology lasers — Mountain View, Calif.-based Reliant Technologies, a developer of medical lasers for “skin rejuvenation” treatment, filed to raise as much as $95 million in an initial offering. The company currently… Continue Reading
ITM Software raises $4M more for CIO-focused management software
ITM Software, a Santa Clara, Calif. provider of IT business management software designed for chief information officers, said it has raised $4 million in a fourth round of funding.
The financing round was led by Red Rock Ventures and InnoCal Venture Capital, and also included… Continue Reading
Technology Partners raises $300M clean-tech and life-science fund
Technology Partners, a Palo Alto, California-based venture capital firm investing focusing on life sciences and clean technology, said it has raised a fund totaling $300 million.
This is the firm’s eighth fund, and it will be equally split between clean technology and life sciences. The… Continue Reading
Biodiesel maker, Imperium Renewables, files for IPO amid growing losses
Imperium Renewables, a biodiesel maker in Seattle, Wa, filed for an initial public offering to raise up to $345 million, the latest sign of heat in the green technology industry.
This was expected. See the filing here.
Note that the company had an operating loss of… Continue Reading
SpectraGenics draws at least $20M for laser hair removal
SpectraGenics, a Pleasanton, Calif., developer of laser hair-removal devices for home use, raised at least $20 million in a fourth round of funding, VentureWire reports (subscription required). The round was led by De Novo Ventures and Technology Partners; other investors included Aphelion Capital, Incubic Venture… Continue Reading
Coaltek, a “clean-coal” company, raises $33.4M more
Coaltek, a Tucker, Ga., company that tries to lower the greenhouse gas emissions created by the burning of coal, has raised $33.4 million in a third round of financing, according to VentureWire (sub required).
Lightspeed Venture Partners led the round, and was joined by existing investors… Continue Reading
Whopping $113M round for biodiesel company, Imperium
Biodiesel company Imperium Renewables, of Seattle, said it has raised $113 million in equity financing and is wrapping up a $101 million line of credit, continuing the massive injection of capital into the alternative fuel sector.
The financing of Imperium, run by former Microsoft executive and… Continue Reading
Accelergy, advanced catalytic materials co., raises undisclosed round
Accelergy Corporation, a Palo Alto company which says it offers “high throughput solutions for accelerated discovery, development and commercialization of advanced catalytic materials,” has said it raised a second round of financing from Goldman Sachs (which led the round), Sequoia Capital China and Lux Capital…. Continue Reading
Thermage, the anti-wrinkle company, suffers IPO bumbs — prices below forecast
Thermage, the Hayward maker of devices to treat wrinkles, priced six million common shares in its IPO at $7 per share, to raise $42 million.
It had originally wanted to raise $86 million, but lowered its pricing plans, first to between $11 and $13, but later… Continue Reading