Latest News November 27, 2009

Sensata Technologies tackles a $500M IPO plan

Sensor and controls maker Sensata Technologies Inc. of Attleboro has filed for an initial public offering with hopes to raise $500 million in the public markets, according to federal documents.

NStar, Premium Power win smart-grid DOE grants

NStar and Premium Power Corp. were two Massachusetts companies named recipients of U.S. Department of Energy grants to deploy smart-grid technologies.

Yale: hunger hormone protects against Parkinson’s

Ghrelin, a hormone produced in the stomach that stimulates hunger, may be used to boost resistance to, or slow the development of, Parkinson’s disease, Yale School of Medicine researchers are reporting.

Stemgent issues notes to raise $2.7M

Stem cell research and technology firm Stemgent Inc. has raised $2.7 million of a planned $3 million debt financing through the placement of notes with investors, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Highland Capital a bit wary of biotechs

With a $400 million fund closed this month, Lexington-based Highland Capital Partners is betting that fewer companies will launch in the coming three years, and fewer billion-dollar companies will be founded.

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The PITCH

Squeelr

Headquarters: Cambridge
Employees: 1
Founded: 2009

The Pitch: Matt Mankins is launching an iPhone app for anonymous microblogging. Squeelr has a business model in place to charge 99 cents for the app and an additional 99 cents for five posts and $5 for 20 posts.

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2009 Tech Citizenship honoree: Tech Networks of Boston

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From the November 20, 2009 Print Edition

Tech Networks of Boston has launched the Hutan Project, a new program designed to increase philanthropic impact of the operational expenditures of its clients.

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From the Print Edition

Signature Programs

Women to Watch 2009

Mass High Tech’s Women to Watch program honors 10 New England-based women each year who are leading the way in entrepreneurship, technological innovation and lifelong learning.

Nominate a woman to watch »

Read the profiles of 2009 and past winners »

Celebrate the Mass High Tech All Stars

Each year, Mass High Tech honors the New England tech industry’s pioneers and leaders from such sectors as: Advanced Energy, Biotech, Electronics, Hardware, Internet, Medical Devices, Software and Telecommunications. We also recognize those in support services who make it possible for entrepreneurship to thrive in the region, including lawyers, financiers, educators, public policy makers and association representatives.

Almost 400 members of the innovation community gathered at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel to honor the 2009 MHT All-Stars. You can read the profiles of the 15 honorees and past recipients, and learn more about the awards reception.

Now it’s time to look ahead to 2010, and the 15th Annual MHT All-Stars program. Nominations are now open, and we encourage you to submit the names of the people that you view as the leaders of your industry sector. Who provides ideas, innovation and vision? Which executives have changed the way people do business in your industry? Who are the thought leaders in your market? Who are the trailblazers for new technologies, the market makers for New England? Help us identify these leading players by nominating them now.

Tech Forums

Mass High Tech hosts four tech-focused forums throughout the year that include panel discussions on issues of concern for the bio, cleantech, emerging tech and finance industries.

Watch here for information on upcoming forums and highlights from recent forum events:

Finance Forum
BIO Forum
CleanTech Forum
Emerging Technologies Forum

Tech Citizenship: How is your company giving back to the community?

Mass High Tech annually honors New England technology companies that use their innovation to improve their communities as part of our Tech Citizenship Awards program. Now is the time to detail how your organization has helped charities and other non-profits through financial contributions, staff time, technology or other forms of assistance. The 24 outstanding tech citizens were honored at a breakfast event at the Seaport Hotel. Read about their charitable efforts and learn how they met the criteria to be named a Tech Citizen. Their stories offer ideas from which we can all learn.

Know a generous company? Nominations are open for the 2010 Tech Citizenship Awards.

Wired-In

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Video

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New England Tech Stock Index

The New England Technology Stock Index (NETSI) provides a snapshot view of the performance of the region’s publicly traded companies. View the index »

Mass High Tech’s 2009 Technology How-To Guide covers the issues concerning high tech business and how to tackle them — issues ranging from overseas expansion and venture capital funding to choosing an MBA program and cutting your company’s energy bill.

On the MHT blog now

UMass Lowell-designed robot hand opens doors for disabled

Former UMass Lowell researcher Erin Rapacki has developed a robotic hand to help people in wheelchairs open doors. Rapacki designed the hand with an eye toward simplicity -- it cost less $2,000 to make -- but it can open 14 different types of doors. Rapacki presented the project, which she worked on while at UMass, at the IEEE Robotics Conference in Woburn last week. In July, Rapacki left U...

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Startup Watch

Five You Should Follow

KangoGift Inc.

Founded in 2008, OnState provides device-independent, cloud-based call center and PBX software. The company is based in Burlington.

Other startups featured in our weekly Startup Report and listed in our online directory:

Want to be considered for the Startup Watch? Contact the Startup Watch editor.

Business Calendar

Upcoming Events:

Dec. 1st

Metrics in Motion: Best Practices in Linking Strategic Planning and Business Intelligence to Improve Performance

The Association for Strategic Planning's Boston Chapter is pleased to announce our December breakfast seminar featuring Pat Salem, VP Planning & Business Intelligence, and Brian Jordan, CEO of BITadvisors Inc.

Dec. 1st

IEEE meeting: Acquiring Customers

Looking for investors takes a lot of time and energy, hiring the right people to fill in the empty spots in your process does too, and now sales and marketing will be a priority ongoing and forever.

Dec. 2nd

Sandler Executive Sales Boot Camp Ultra is Free!

This two hour training program has participants discover a selling system that puts them in control, helps them to close faster and more often!

Dec. 2nd

NS Chamber presents the 91st Annual Dinner Meeting

Keynote speaker Lt. Governor Tim Murray.

Dec. 2nd

New Economy Sales and Marketing Boot Camp

The New Economy Sales & Marketing Boot Camp gives you actionable advice you can implement immediately to: increase your visibility and awareness in the market, generate leads, establish your company as a leader and grow your business.

Dec. 2nd

iRobot Engineering Job Fair

We have multiple exciting opportunities available in both our Home Robots and Government/Industrial Divisions! If you are an experienced Mid to Senior level Mechanical, Electrical, or Software Engineer, and are searching for the next challenge in your career, we want to meet you!

Dec. 2nd

Aneesh Chopra, Chief Technology Officer of United States to speak on "Innovation for America"

TiE-Boston will host Aneesh Paul Chopra, the first federal Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of the United States for a dinner event under their Legends & Leaders Series.

Dec. 3rd

The Business Development Group Meeting

Come as our guest to network and discuss "biz-dev" issues. Then, as we approach the holiday season, we'll see how contemporary spiritual leaders, present great ideas that easily transfer into enlightened business concepts.

Dec. 3rd

Cambridge Chamber of Commerce Holiday BAHsh

The Board of Directors and staff of the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce invite Cambridge-area professionals to welcome the holiday season at the CCC’s always-popular Holiday BAHsh. Join us for an evening of networking, frivolity, fantastic food & cocktails.