Mobile Monday Boston

Mobile in Boston

$74 Million in Mass. Mobile Investment in 6 Weeks

The last six weeks have been super active for investments in mobile and wireless companies in Massachusetts. Check out our roundup of the last 6 weeks below. There are two large deals here with $28 million raised by Lilliputian Systems and a $22 million acquisition.  But, there’s also an interesting segment (trend, perhaps?) of 4 smaller VC investments between $5 and $8 million. 

Investment / Acquisition Roundup: 

Ember, based in Boston, raised $8 million for Zigbee, their wireless mesh-networking chipsets. 

Chelmsford-based Reva Systems raised $5 million for RFID infrastructure development. 

Azuki Systems received $6 million to power rich media content on mobile devices. 

Cambridge-based Virtual goods provider Viximo raised $5 million. 

Acme Packet (from Burlington) has acquired Convergence (from Maynard) for $22.8 million.

Lilliputian Systems raised $28 million.

Azuki Systems receives funding

Despite the nationwide slowdown, venture funding in the Boston mobile industry continues to flow. This week, Azuki Systems announced $6 million in funding:

Azuki Systems, Inc., an innovator powering a new generation of mobile media, today announced that it has secured $6 million in additional equity financing. Original investors Sigma Partners and Kepha Partners, along with company executives, are participating in this round of funding.

Boston Mobile News: Week of 4/20/09

“If there were any doubt that Greater Boston is holding its own as an international hub for the mobile industry, you only need to look at the growth of the local chapter of Mobile Monday…” MassHighTech covers Mobile Monday Boston.

We’ve released Q1 Boston mobile investment numbers. $215 million in Q1 – the biggest quarter in the last 5. Check out our charts and Globe coverage.

New Atlantic Ventures raised a new fund for investment in high growth areas like mobile.

Cambridge-based E Ink, the providers of high resolution displays to Amazon’s Kindle 2 and Sony eReader, got a nice profile in the Globe this week. Read that with this kick ass article about eBooks in the WSJ.

And there’s some wacky business going on today thru 5/10 at the Boston Cyber Arts Festival.

PS: Ben Affleck.

PPS: Register for our event next monday – Boston Mobile Company Demos

Boston Mobile News: Week of 4/13/09

Jason Jacobs of RunKeeper will run the Boston Marathon with a busted foot dressed as an iPhone. Via Xconomy.

PhoneValley (the mobile ad arm of Publicis – they have an office in Boston) is running the mobile site for the Puma Ocean Racing Team, which is sailing into Boston as part of the Volvo Ocean Race on April 27. All kinds of crazy events around the Boston Puma City, check it out.

Hockey metaphors have hit the ice as Quattro Wireless has fallen on the NHL’s mobile puck (I try). Quattro is adding new features to the NHL’s mobile site that promise to “personalize [your] playoff hockey experience.” Oh btw, the next Bruins playoff game v. the Montreal is Saturday at 8pm.

Locals Flybridge Capital Partners and Atlas Venture have invested $6m in Series A in Mike Baker’s (former CEO if Enpocket) DataXu, as Xconomy reports.

Out of Cambridge, JumpTap has launched tapMatch, a mobile ad targeting engine that can match ads with chosen devices / operators. Via MocoNews.

Skyhook Wireless has added the Wi-Fi Positioning System into Flickr and the Android app PinPoint Location.

Acton-based Azuki Systems and SF-based Ad Infuse have integrated their platforms. Publishers can use Azuki to design sassy mobile “web portals,” and now can monetize with Ad Infuse ads. (I think).

In sorta mobile news: Boston is a Social Media Hub, according to Mashable.

Join us on Monday, April 27, 2009, for a special Mobile Monday Boston event with featured speaker Governor Deval Patrick. This event is generously sponsored by Wilmer Hale and Apperian.

A diverse set of mobile companies will deliver rapid-fire, 5 minute presentations on their business models, apps, and products.

Please note that registration will start at 5:30, and the event will start at 6:15pm – earlier than usual.

Demos Provided by:

Apperian

eInk

Geocade

Locale

Mobile Ed

Olin College

TripChill

Viximo

Valtus Mobile Technologies

Date: Monday, April 27th, 2009. Doors open at 5:30pm. Event starts at 6:15pm.

Cost: Free – but registration via Eventbrite is required to attend.
Cocktails: Provided

Location: Fairmont Copley Plaza

MBTA: Green Line – Copley, Orange Line / Commuter Rail – Back Bay
Parking: Just $9 around the corner at 100 Clarendon

We are grateful for the support of our sponsors, Wilmer Hale and Apperian.

Over 400 attendees at Mobile Monday with MoMIT

Thanks to everyone who came through the pouring rain last night to join us for Mobile Monday. Over 400 people attended.

We are very grateful to the MIT Mobile Club for all their work putting on this event, and of course our moderator and panelists for putting on a great session.

And a big thanks to our sponsor Microsoft Research!

Mobile Monday and MIT Mobile Club

Mobile Monday at MIT

Join us for a special joint event between Mobile Monday Boston and MIT Mobile Club (MoMIT), “Opportunities in Mobile Applications” on Monday, April 6th, at the MIT Morss Hall in Cambridge. Doors open at 6.30pm. Register Now.

Speakers from Boston area mobile companies will discuss the future of mobile applications: How to develop profitable mobile applications? What mobile applications are we still missing? Will there be a killer app?

Following this panel, we will hold a special student showcase, where students from MIT and other universities will present their mobile applications to the general public.

Moderator:

Mike Baker – CEO DataXu, formerly VP Nokia Interactive (CEO Enpocket)

Panel:

Rich Miner – Partner, Google Ventures

Chuck Goldman – CEO Apperian

Walt Doyle – CEO uLocate

Ted Morgan – CEO Skyhook Wireless

Jeremy Wright – Global Director of Brand Solutions, Nokia

Date: Monday, April 6th, 2009. Doors open at 6.30 pm. Panel starts at 7.30 pm.

Cost: Free – but registration is required to attend. Register Now.
Location: Morss Hall, Walker Memorial, 142 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA  (map)
MBTA: Red Line – Kendall/MIT stop
Parking: Recommended parking at MIT

We are grateful for the support of our sponsor Microsoft Research.

Xconomy Forum Boston

Xconomy wants the Mobile Monday community to know about their upcoming mobile event in Boston. There’s a discount for MoMo members!

Xconomy Forum: The Future of Mobile Innovation in New England
April 7, 1:30 pm-5:00 pm (networking reception to follow event)
Microsoft New England R&D Center, One Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA

With the economy in the tank and customers demanding real value, which mobile companies and innovations will deliver what it takes to persevere and thrive? What applications and services will really improve business productivity? On the consumer side, how can wireless truly make people’s lives better, safer, more convenient, and more fun? Xconomy’s afternoon discussion and networking event will feature panel discussions with local mobile CEOs and CTOs, a fireside chat with luminaries from Google and MIT, and demos of the latest mobile apps from local firms.

Full agenda: http://www.xconomy.com/boston/mobile-forum-agenda/

Register (with MoMo discount):
http://xconomyforum9.eventbrite.com/?discount=momo

Boston Mobile Camp 2

Boston Mobile Camp

Boston Mobile Camp

Boston Mobile Barcamp is coming.  Join us on March 21st for Boston’s annual event for mobile developers and enthusiasts.

When
Saturday, March 21, 2009
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
(Registration starts at 8:30 AM)

Where
MIT
Building E51 (Tang Center)
70 Memorial Drive
Cambridge, MA 02139-4307

Cost
Free

Sign up here.

Have a mobile startup idea? Head to Boston

GPS Obsessed had such a great headline we had to steal it.

Read and hear coverage of our research into the massive growth of Boston’s mobile and wireless industry in 2008: on WBZ, the Boston Globe, and MSN Money, and Xconomy.


Upcoming Events

Mobile Camp - Saturday, April 3rd  
Sign Up Now

New England BlackBerry Developer’s Group - March 16th
More info

We hold events every 1 to 2 months. We often announce events just a few weeks in advance, you can sign up here to get notified.

MoMo Boston Group

Mobile Monday Boston