WRAL Tech Wire

 NC Commerce privatization plan could mean more capital for startups

Capital is the oxygen business startups need for growth, and in North Carolina it remains in short supply. But help could be coming from an unexpected source: A reorganization plan that calls for the privatization of the North Carolina Department of Commerce. Gov. Pat McCrory is not ignoring the need for more money to drive new businesses.

Proposed Department of Commerce organizational chart

 Durham aims to create own South by Southwest with 'Paradoxos' event

The Bull City, along with help from other partners from across the Triangle, is looking to create a southeast version of SXSX, the music, film, tech and interactive festival that has become an incredibly popular event to showcase Austin, Texas. WRALTechWire Insiders can learn more about the upcoming "Paradoxos."

Will Paradoxos become the SXSW for the Triangle?

 Former prominent Red Hat execs are out at Massachusetts firm

Two senior executives who quit Red Hat to join a Massachusetts software firm are now looking for jobs again. WRALTechWire Insiders can get the latest scoop.

Alex Pinchev

 Billionaire founder's latest 'gift' to NC Research Campus could be inflection point

David Murdock, the founder of the N.C. Research Campus in Kannapolis, is announcing another donation today to what Oprah Winfrey has described as his "gift to humanity." Will the endowment he is making secure the NCRC's future as a true hub for health research?

David Murdock at a recent NCRC event.

 Score one for Sqord: Durham startup lands spot in Chicago Tech Stars

Convincing kids to live a more active lifestyle is not just a game at Durham startup Sqord. It means better lives. And the Durham startup's founders are banking their financial futures on their emerging business. The team has just landed more funding and a major boost for its hopes. WRALTechWire Insiders can learn the inside story about Sqord's march toward success.

Sqord wants to get kids excited about staying fit

 Cisco loses a top tech leader in emerging software defined networking

A high-profile startup backed by Intel, Goldman Sachs and several high-profile venture capitalists has scored a big victory in the hunt for talent to lead product development for software defined networking, or SDN. And Cisco is the big loser.

 Publisher: Triangle Tech Talk is 'pulling back' on news

Chris Heivly, the publisher of Triangle Tech Talk who helps run Triangle Startup Factory and is always looking for new projects, tells his readers that he is "cutting back" on the web news site.

Chris Heivly

 Charlotte's startup community is booming, survey finds

The Business Innovation & Growth Council's second survey of the entrepreneurial community in the Queen City uncovers more new and emerging ventures. Plus, companies are looking to hire hundreds this year. We've got the numbers.

Startups, not just a sculpture downtown, add glitz in Charlotte

 Is IBM-Lenovo deal really dead? Insiders say no

An IBM facility in Research Triangle Park that even Big Blue calls a "Superlab" remains at the center of reports about a possible sale of at least a portion of IBM's server business to Lenovo. What's a SuperLab? What do they do? What are employees there hearing?

IBM touts its "X" server lineup

 NC's broadband network about to receive another major boost

The North Carolina Research and Education Network, which is operated by MCNC, will soon be a deeper, more reliable network through a new contract being announced today. We've got the details.

MCNC'S new NCREN map

 E-commerce firm ChannelAdvisor's going public party may be in trouble

The Morrisville-based company makes several changes in its SEC filing that indicate a proposed offering of stock is not generating traction among investors, sources familiar with IPO filings tell WRALTechWire. What are the changes, and what could they mean?

 Greenpeace goofs on IBM, moves Big Blue up 'Cool IT' list

The folks at Greenpeace were a little red in the face - i.e. a bit embarrassed - Friday, issuing a correction about IBM and moving Big Blue up its annual "Cool IT Leaderboard." What happened?

 Why did Nortel fail? Veteran reporter gets the inside story

So why did Nortel go bankrupt, causing 8,000 job losses in RTP alone? James Bagnall, the associate business editor of The Ottawa Citizen who followed Nortel closely for years, explains how a "rush to judgment" in 2001 sealed the fate of the former telecom giant.

Going inside Nortel's failure

 Source: IBM-Lenovo server deal could be announced Friday

Neither company is talking, but no one should be surprised if Lenovo announces today that it is acquiring at least a portion of IBM's server businesses. A source close to the matter tells WRALTechWire that a deal is in the works, and tech publication CRN reports talks are "moving quickly."

Lenovo's website touts servers, services

 Panic at Big Blue? CEO reprimands workers, reassigns a top exec

By delivering what the Wall Street Journal describes as a "reprimand" to the entire company through an internal video and in reassigning top hardware executive Rod Adkins - who had been a contender for the CEO job - IBM CEO Ginny Rometty shows that Big Blue is in trouble. Can she right the ship?

Virginia Rometty

 Defeat of renewable energy subsidy bill shows 'green' power

The global fight over the wisdom of "green energy" may very well have hit a pivotal point right here in North Carolina. If a state under conservative Republican control can't repeal legislation that requires utilities to provide sustainable energy and also provides subsidies to the emerging industry then the march to a greener future is likely to continue.

Inside Google's big data center in Lenoir

 Google, Cisco share top spot in Greenpeace 'Cool IT Leaderboard'

The global environmental group gives high marks to Google and Cisco for their efforts to adopt sustainable energy. Greenpeace especially likes Google's deal with Duke Energy in providing power to its soon-to-be-expanded data center in Lenoir.

The "Cool IT Leaderboard" from Greenpeace

 Looking for a job? 87% of startups in survey say they are hiring

A new survey from Silicon Valley Bank finds that virtually all startups - especially in hardware, software and cleantech - are hiring. Most firms also say they are having trouble finding qualified workers. Note: STEM skills are often required.

Startups step up hiring

 GSK bypasses RTP, picks San Diego for $475M investments in drug startups

Imagine the incredible boost that $465 million in venture capital investment would do for Research Triangle Park's life science industry. Well, just imagine it because GlaxSmithKline, which operates its North American headquarters in RTP, is taking its investment deal to San Diego.

GSK's R&D facility in RTP

 IBM doesn't quite measure up to AT&T, Verizon in data hosting report

A review of managed hosting services by research firm Gartner gives "leader" status to AT&T, Verizon and two others. IBM comes in as a "visionary." Gartner also rates highly CenturyLink's service and Rackspace.