Bizo, targeted B2B marketing network, bags $6M
Bizo, a startup that claims to be the first targeted B2B marketing network, brought in $6 million in venture capital, according to a filing with the SEC. Based in San Francisco, the company is backed by Bessemer Venture Partners, Flagship Ventures and Venrock.
Mimosa takes $4M for archiving email, files
Mimosa Systems, maker of software that archives email and other data, has raised $4 million of a $5.5 million round of debt, rights and securities, according to a filing with the SEC. Based in Santa Clara, Calif., the company is backed by August Capital, Clearstone Venture Partners, Dot Edu Ventures, Focus Ventures, Jafco Ventures and Mayfield Fund. The company last raised money in June, bringing in $3 million in debt financing.
Aravo raises $19M for supplier info tracking
Aravo Solutions, provider of software that helps companies manage their supply chains and corporate risk and responsibility, has raised $19 million of a targeted $22.1 million fourth round of preferred stock, according to a filing with the SEC. Based in San Francisco, the company is backed by Big Sky Partners and individual investors Tony Mayer and Stephen Friedman. It raised $7 million last December.
Clean energy initiatives get $63M from DOE with wind in the lead
Before the U.S. Department of Energy announced its $620 million in grants for Smart Grid demonstration projects today, it rolled out $63 million for clean energy innovations, with $45 million in stimulus money going exclusively toward the development of new wind turbine designs.
The government has unofficially anointed wind as the most promising of the renewable energy sources — over solar, geothermal, even biomass. Earlier this year, it doled out more than $1 billion in financing… Continue Reading
Smart Grid handouts keep rolling: DOE earmarks $620M for demo projects
Less than a month after it handed out $3.4 billion in stimulus grants to utilities working toward a cleaner, more efficient electrical grid, the U.S. Department of Energy says it is doling out another $620 million to projects working on demonstration-scale Smart Grid technologies. Today, it named 32 recipients working on every aspect of the grid, including smart meters, transmission equipment, storage devices and energy monitoring systems.
The idea is to support demonstration projects that have… Continue Reading
Telegent files for IPO as public market thaws even more
Chip design firm Telegent has filed for a $250 million public offering, capping off an exciting few days of IPO action. Last week, network security provider Fortinet sold 12.5 million shares of common stock for $12.50, raising just over $156.2 million. And web marketer QuinStreet filed for its own $250 million IPO.
Based in Sunnyvale, Calif., Telegent provides designs for semiconductors that allow people to watch live television broadcasts on their computers and phones. It sells… Continue Reading
ReaMetrix raises $2.1M to develop cell lines
ReaMetrix, a company that prepares cell lines that express certain proteins over others, has brought in $2.1 million in venture capital, according to a filing with the SEC. Based in San Carlos, Calif., it is backed by Baring Private Equity Asia, Sequoia Capital India and Mobius Venture Capital.
Headmix raises $540K for workflow, hiring, training services
Headmix, provider of the WorkSimple software system that helps companies onboard employees and give them tools to collaborate once they’re there, has raised $540,000 of an anticipated $660,000 round of equity, according to a filing with the SEC. Based in San Francisco, Headmix is backed by Baseline Ventures and Camp Ventures.
Calibra takes $1.4M to for insulin delivery devices
Calibra Medical, a biotech company with an insulin delivery device used to ease diabetes management, has brought in $1.4 million in convertible promissory notes and warrants, according to a filing with the SEC. Based in Redwood City, Calif., the company is backed by Canaan Partners, Intersouth Partners, Skyline Ventures, Frazier Healthcare Ventures, and Three Arch Partners. It last raised funds in August 2008 amounting to $35 million.
Roundup: Microsoft and News Corp. plot Google’s demise, Taptu and Google Maps Navigation hop on Android, and more
Here’s the latest action:
Amazon Web Services now calculates your app costs — To give users a better idea of how their applications will work and how much they will cost to run on Amazon Web Services, the company has just released a redesign of its AWS Simple Monthly Calculator. This tool allows users to select their regions and services in order to generate a customized quote.
Google Maps Navigation comes to Android — Owners of phones running Android… Continue Reading
Solar costs set to plummet 50% by year’s end
The cost of solar equipment has been falling over the past several months, but now it looks like cost of solar-generated electricity will drop about 50 percent from where it was at the end of 2008, according to a new report from research firm New Energy Finance.
The firm’s prediction is based on two observations: First, that prices for solar modules, panels and components have been getting lower and lower; and second, that as the economy… Continue Reading
IPO talk revs up for Tesla Motors
Rumors are swirling today that Tesla Motors is seriously considering an initial public offering sometime soon. The talk has been tracked to two anonymous sources, who say the six-year-old company could cash in big on the battery-powered car trend before electric and hybrid models from companies like General Motors, Mitsubishi and Nissan make it to market.
Tesla has officially denied the prediction, calling the IPO chatter “rumor and speculation.” That said, going public in 2010 would… Continue Reading
Google gobbles display ad startup Teracent
Google is growing its display advertising business today with the acquisition of Teracent, a startup that provides companies with tools for customizing display ads like web banners and interactive modules. Still making most of its revenue from text ads listed next to search results, the tech giant sees display as the next biggest area of opportunity.
Right now, Google is actually coming in second to Yahoo in display advertising — having only launched its strategy in… Continue Reading
GreenBeat: Big thank you and media roundup
Thanks to everyone who made it out to GreenBeat 2009 yesterday and Wednesday!
We were thrilled with the turnout, and couldn’t be more grateful for all the support we received from attendees, speakers, sponsors and the press. It’s clear that the Smart Grid has gained the momentum it needs for serious work to be done, and we are excited to play a big role in this conversation going forward.
With Al Gore, and several of the biggest… Continue Reading
GreenBeat: Live-blogging Nobel Prize winner Al Gore
Straight from VentureBeat’s GreenBeat 2009 event, we bring you former vice president and Nobel Prize winner Al Gore. I’ll be live-blogging this session — so it won’t be perfect or word-for-word, but it will be fast! We’ll pull out the gems as soon as we can.
Laura Ipsen, Cisco Systems’ smart grid guru is introducing Al Gore right now, highlighting his many achievements and awards. He’s been a mentor for Cisco in linking climate change to… Continue Reading
GreenBeat: Cisco has a blank check for Smart Grid, but what will it do with it?
Cisco Systems put no limit on its budget for Smart Grid development, the company’s grid guru Laura Ipsen told the audience at GreenBeat 2009 — albeit quoting her boss John Chambers.
The question now is what Cisco (a GreenBeat 2009 sponsor) will use that money for — currently, it looks like the company is racing to get in on every nook and cranny of the Smart Grid business, from hardware to IP networks to cybersecurity measures…. Continue Reading
GreenBeat: Khosla warns against Smart Grid hype, pushes storage
“I’m not skeptical that the Smart Grid should exist,” famed Silicon Valley investor Vinod Khosla said, kicking off his conversation with VentureBeat editor Matt Marshall at VentureBeat’s GreenBeat 09 event today. “I wouldn’t be here if I was.” Khosla has been unofficially dubbed a Smart Grid skeptic because his venture firm, Khosla Ventures, has yet to make a significant investment in the space. He says he has been avidly scouting for a Smart Grid startup… Continue Reading
GreenBeat: Locust, CPower tie for grand prize in Innovation Competition
The winners of the inaugural GreenBeat Innovation Competition — a survey of the most promising technologies and companies working toward a cleaner, more efficient grid — were just announced following four-minute presentations from the top eleven finalists (”eleven is the new ten”). Locust Storage, while launched its innovative storage system today, and demand response provider CPower declared victory, winning a slot at the DEMO Spring conference in 2010.
The winner were selected by a panel of… Continue Reading
GreenBeat: Utilities eye their own ‘iTunes App Stores’ for Smart Grid apps
“Every utility will have its own version of the iTunes App Store,” said Austin Energy, CIO of Austin Energy, during this morning’s utility panel at GreenBeat 2009 in San Mateo, Calif. — essentially, every major utility, in order to be at the cutting edge of the Smart Grid, will need to have a full portfolio of applications that can help their customers trim their energy use and their monthly bills. This has become vitally important,… Continue Reading
GreenBeat: Brace yourselves, electricity prices will rise over next 10-30 years, Duke CEO Jim Rogers says
“In the last 50 years, electricity prices have been flat — in the next 10 to 30, the price of electricity is going to rise,” said Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers in conversation with Matter Network’s John Gartner at GreenBeat 2009 this evening. “This is going to lead to a lot of frustration from consumers and political reactions,” he continues. The key, he says, is how utilities, their customers and governments respond to this increase.
Duke,… Continue Reading