Boston Tech Watch: Startup Deals, Robots, & Patent Lawsuits
This week in Boston, we’re tracking new funds for software companies, the latest happenings in the local robotics sector, and an update in an Akamai patent lawsuit. Read on for details.
—PatientPing said it raised $ 9.6 million in a round led by Google Ventures and Fidelity affiliate F-Prime Capital, with participation by First Round Capital and SV Angel. The Boston-based healthcare software company aims to connect healthcare providers through better information sharing and real-time notifications when patients receive care.
—Boston marketing software startup Mavrck said it raised $ 5 million from Kepha Partners and GrandBanks Capital. To date, investors have pumped $ 8.3 million into Mavrck.
—Boston social robotics company Jibo has scooped up Brighton, MA, animation studio CloudKid in an “acqui-hire” deal that will result in most CloudKid employees joining Jibo, BetaBoston reported. CloudKid’s clients included Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, and PBS.
—Speaking of robots, Quiet Logistics has developed a robot to assist warehouse workers. The Devens, MA-based company will sell the devices through an affiliated business called Locus Robotics, according to BetaBoston. Locus will no doubt aim for the kind of success achieved by a similar Massachusetts company, Kiva Systems, which was acquired by Amazon in 2012 for $ 775 million.
—A roller coaster patent lawsuit continued to go Akamai’s way. A federal appeals court reaffirmed a summer decision that will award $ 45 million to Akamai in a lawsuit it brought against Tempe, AZ-based Limelight Networks, BetaBoston reported. Akamai sued Limelight in 2006 for infringing on a patent it had exclusively licensed from MIT.
Akamai originally won the case, Limelight prevailed on appeal, and then the original verdict was reinstated, according to BetaBoston.
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