Mark Boslet
If you thought interest in cleantech was waning, you were wrong. Fundraising activity appears to be on an upswing in the alternative energy business, with 603 venture and private equity firms worldwide prepared to invest. At least 83 industry-focused funds are out now seeking $23.5 billion in new capital, according to a study released this week […]
BrightSource Energy, the developer of large thermal solar plants in the Southwest, raised another $122.5 million as speculation of a 2011 IPO increases. The company is among the current crop of cleantech startups likely to make the biggest splash with an initial public offering. Its technology harnesses the heat of the sun’s rays to boil […]
Ever wonder why cleantech has been slow to take off? Ok, sure. The technology is still immature. Solar cell efficiencies are relatively low and the smart grid is, well, hardly a grid. What’s more, until now, energy has been relatively inexpensive. But there is another big reason, in fact the big elephant in the room: […]
So where is the best place to start an Internet or digital media company? Is it Silicon Valley? Or is New York the new epicenter of the digital revolution? You probably have your own opinion. Here is the one from Dave Broadwin, a partner at the Boston law firm of Foley Hoag. Foley Hoag’s quarterly […]
Senators John Kerry’s (D-Mass) and Richard Lugar’s (R-Ind) decision Monday to update the Startup Visa Act of 2011 appears to be receiving good reviews from the venture community. The goal of the act is to make it easier for qualified foreign entrepreneurs to start businesses in the United States. When it was unveiled last month, […]
The Plug and Play Tech Center is expanding its overseas reach. Next up: building stronger ties with some of America’s top universities. Saeed Amidi, chief executive of the Silicon Valley incubator, said that last year, 60 companies from Europe, Asia and other parts of the world spent three months at Plug and Play’s facilities, as […]
Last month, Kirshenbaum Bond Senecal & Partners decided to think outside of the box. It started K.B.S.&P. Ventures to invest in early- and mid-stage companies working on new advertising and mobile technologies and design. This week, Rockfish Interactive followed suit. The Rogers, Arkansas, company launched Rockfish Brand Ventures to support early-stage startups working on consumer […]
Former venture capitalist turned politician Gina Raimondo was found to have taken “appropriate and sufficient steps” this week to avoid a conflict of interest as Rhode Island’s general treasurer. Raimondo won the office in November after capturing 62% of the vote as a first-time Democratic candidate. She had asked the Rhode Island Ethics Commission to […]
ICAP, the U.K.-based money broker, said Wednesday it has launched a seed fund and accelerator program for startups developing specialized financial technology, such as post trade risk management systems. The new fund, Euclid Opportunities, will seek to support and commercialize promising under-funded technologies, the firm said. It did not say how large a seed fund Euclid would […]
Sequoia Capital, Google Ventures and Salesforce.com joined a $32 million Series D round for HubSpot, the companies said Tuesday. The funding was the first time the three firms have invested together in a startup. The round brings to $65 million the capital HubSpot, a maker of online marketing and Web analysts software, has raised since […]