USA

NASA selected 16 small business projects to address important research and technology needs. The awards are part of 2 NASA’s initiatives: – the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program – the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program. Under the SBIR program, NASA selected 12 small high technology firms in 9 states for negotiation of phase […]

Private EquityUSA

Calix, the largest communications equipment supplier focused solely on access solutions for broadband service delivery, raised $100m in financing.  This financing consists of $50m in equity raised from existing Calix investors and $50m in debt financing established with Silicon Valley Bank.  Petaluma, CA.-based Calix will use the proceeds to continue its growth and expansion as […]

CanadaUSAventure capital

WoodPellets.com, the independent distributor and direct-to-consumer retailer of wood pellet heating fuels, completed an $11m financing led by Cambridge-based investment firm Monitor Clipper Partners. 406 Ventures, the lead investor in the company’s previous financing, also participated in the funding. WoodPellets.com provides retail delivery throughout the East Coast and in selected areas of the Midwest and […]

Canada

Nexterra Systems Corp, a Vancouver-based supplier of advanced biomass gasification systems received $7.7m in funding from the BC Bioenergy Network (BCBN), Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), the National Research Council Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP), and Ethanol BC. Proceeds will be used to support Nexterra’s program to commercialize a new high efficiency biomass power […]

FrancePrivate Equity

AXA Private Equity, a private equity house with $26bn of assets under management and international reach across Europe, North America and Asia, is acquiring an equity interest in Aviccia, a french company specialised in solar energy. Champagne, Troyes-based Aviccia (formerly Avenir Soleil), which was founded in March 2008, designs and installs turn-key solar panels on […]

India

The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) is launching new industrial projects totaling US $9m to benefit industry in India. A US $5.9m cluster development programme for India will focus on technology, management, skill development, and the environment. It will be implemented by 2014 at sites in Pithampura, Chennai, Pune, Ankhleswar, Kanpur, and New Delhi, […]

UK

One Central Park (OCP) has a new tenant in its North East Manchester facility. PremierEnvoy Ltd, a software provider offering management solutions for payroll, expenses and human capital management, has taken 1,520 sq ft of office space, which will house the company’s Head Office. According to Andrew Jones, Head of Sales and Marketing at PremierEnvoy, […]

UK

The Carbon Trust will launch a new programme – The Big Business Refit – in order to help thousands of small and medium sized businesses drive down their energy costs, a statement reveals. The Big Business Refit will offer SMEs expert advice and financial support to cut energy costs by scrapping old inefficient equipment and […]

USA

Grants from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) were delivered to create additional jobs and private investment in two regions of the USA. U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke announced a $2m grant to the cities of Centralia and Wamac, Ill., to make roadway updates to improve access to Centralia Industrial Park #1 and a $700,000 grant […]

USAventure capital

Cambridge, Mass.-based company iWalk received $20m of a $21m Series B round funding to develop a self-contained robotic prosthetic ankle. According to official sources, the funding comes from Cambridge, Mass.-based General Catalyst Partners and New York-based WFD Ventures LLC. This round adds to a $3.7m Series A financing, bringing the company’s total funding over $23.7m. […]

Italyventure capital

The Milan Chamber of Commerce Innovation Agency, Innovhub,  is organising a Space Venture Training Contest, an initiative having the target to identify, select and prepare 12 of the most promising startups (or potential ventures) connected to the space and aerospace sector. During the Contest, in cooperation with the Italian Council for social sciences (CSS) and […]

Start UpUSA

A free event about startups will take place on October 24th at the Wheeler Auditorium, UC Berkeley. The event, which is sponsored by Berkeley CSUA, St@b, BASES and Y Combinator, is aimed at people who are thinking about starting up a business or businessmen who already started it. During the day, experts such as Facebook’s […]

USA

American Express, in partnership with NBC Universal, has launched Shine a Light, a contest to recognize inspiring small businesses throughout the country. The contest gives everybody the chance to submit a story about a business adopting an innovative approach to survive in tough times, having a customer-first mentality and giving back to the community, even […]