WRAL Tech Wire

Tomorrow's energy innovations emerging today in Research Triangle Region

Cleantech refers to products, services and processes that use renewable materials and energy sources, reduce the use of natural resources, and cut or eliminate emissions and waste. Business opportunity exists for companies who work in each of those areas, as well as where they intersect. And the Triangle is home to many of these firms turning cleantech ideas into business.

Who will lead in cleantech?

Immigration debate: What you, US Senate need to know about Canada

Analysis: While U.S. leaders debate the merits of immigration reform, other countries are eagerly taking advantage of our dysfunction. The Canadian government even purchased a large billboard on Route 101--the main thoroughfare between San Francisco and Silicon Valley, which says "H-1B problems? Pivot to Canada."

 'Creativity Vitality Index' shows New Bull City's muscle

As WRALTechWire continues its multi-part series about "The New Bull City," today's report focuses on the culture of creativity at the heart of a rebirth dating back two decades. A "Creative Vitality Index" documents Durham's growth beyond tech and medicine.

Creative Jobs power in Durham

 Go West, startups? The perennial question for Durham, Triangle entrepreneurs

New Bull City: In the latest installment of WRALTechWire's series about the rebirth of Durham, startup columnist Joe Procopio talks about a big temptation entrepreneurs face: Moving to Silicon Valley. "Time to get over it," he says.

Silicon Valley in image from Google Maps

 Revitalization turns Downtown Durham into vibrant urban center

New Bull City: The historic, diverse, well-educated, fun, entrepreneurial urban Durham is springing to life in a big way, writes commercial real estate executive Marcus Jackson of Colliers International in this latest part of WRALTechWire's in-depth series about reborn Durham.

The DPAC - a symbol of Durham's rebirth

 Inside Lenovo's earnings: No. 2 PC maker finding ways to combat industry woes

Analysis: Lenovo's focus in PCs going forward will be to drive further margin gains without sacrificing its market position as it fuels growth in other product categories, such as smartphones, tablets and server products. TBR believes that by shifting PCs into the protect status of Lenovo's corporate protect and attack growth strategy, the company is well positioned to achieve margin gains in PCs as it allocates resources to new growth opportunities.

Lenovo's growing product mix

 Making a 'public pitch' and cashing in: Mystery Brewing's TV drama

I can see the merits of a public pitch, as long as its understood that there's a fat line between the pitch you make for investment and the pitch you make for publicity. One has a lot more meaning, the other gets tweeted a lot if you blow it. Durham's Erik Myers was a smash hit despite being "terrified."

Tapping another keg for Mystery Brewing

 Inside NetApp's earnings: Restructuring work force a move to ensure long-term success

Analysis: Technology Business Research believes NetApp's decision to eliminate approximately 7 percent of its employee base, or 900 employees, indicates that the company is working with great urgency to correct its slipping operating margin.

 Cheers! Durham's Mystery Brewing wins $50,000 in CNBC's Crowd Rules

Erik Myers built Mystery like a tech startup, raising $50,000 on Kickstarter and another $250,000 in private seed money. He blogs, he markets well, and he's everywhere - and in that, Mystery Brewing and companies like it deserve to be in the same sentence as Triangle Startup Factory graduates, NC IDEA winners, and, you know, all those other startups from Durham that landed on a CNBC reality show. WRALTechWire Insiders get the full story.

Brew this! Erik Myers goes for $50,000 on CNBC

Industry competitors collaborate to grow Triangle cleantech cluster

In the marketplace, they compete fiercely for market share and profits. In the Research Triangle Region of North Carolina, they collaborate with equal ferocity to create the smart, clean technologies of the future. And they're paying $75,000 each for the privilege. They are the founding members of the Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster.

Who will lead in cleantech?

 NC Biotech Center braces for worst as Senate slashes budget, too

A Senate budget calls for a 50 percent cut in funding for the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. While not as bad as Gov. Pat McCrory's 60 percent slash, the Senate's total would mean big reductions for the Center. It's also a nasty indicator that major cuts are coming with two of the three budget players supporting a substantial reduction. Can the House save the day?

N.C. Biotech Center

 ArchiveSocial, a new Durham success story, brings home international award

Bringing order to the chaos of social media record keeping is the goal of Durham-born and based startup ArchiveSocial. An example of the New Bull City's emerging reputation as a home for successful tech startups, the company came home a winner in the "Top 50" competition put on by TiE organization. And its CEO is thankful for the support his firm has received from others across its home town.

Anil Chawla with ArchiveSocial's award

 Raleigh-based PRA International eyes public offering

Another life science services firm in the Triangle, PRA International, may follow in the footsteps of a bigger rival - Quintiles - by offering stock in order to raise capital. Just two years ago, PRA was at the center of takeover rumors in the range of $1 billion.

PRA's corporate timeline

 Will lightning strike again for veteran entrepreneur Brian Handly at StepLeader?

As the Raleigh-based apps developer raises its first venture funding, its CEO Brian Handly talks about what's coming next at StepLeader. He has big, big plans. Handly also discusses the state of fundraising, which can be quite difficult these days.

 Raleigh app developer StepLeader lands $4.4M in first fund raiser

The Raleigh-based startup, which is a spinout from Capitol Broadcasting's New Media Group, raises its first round of venture funding with two local firms participating. Its CEO invests as well. And the company has big growth plans. WRALTechWire Insiders can get the full story.

StepLeader's weather app

 IBM opens Linux center in China, says it will work with Red Hat

Big Blue is further expanding an already large presence in China with a new Linux-focused center in Beijing. And it says the world's top Linux developer, Red Hat, will be involved as well as Red Hat rival SUSE.

IBM's research center in China

 New Triangle venture capital firm slowly emerging from shadows

The two co-founders of the Triangle's newest venture capital firm won't talk - yet - about what they are doing. But we have some salient details about who they are, their focus, and what this means for the capital-starved southeast.

 Titans of tech seek to excite UNC, Duke grads about a future beyond themselves

In graduation speeches at Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill respectively, Melinda Gates and Steve Case point to technology as a tool to build a better world. Will the graduates listen?

Time's cover

 Triangle politician tries to accelerate crowdfunding; bill passes first hurdle

Rep. Tom Murry, a businessman and Republican from Morrisville, along with three others, is pushing legislation to help entrepreneurs raise money while the SEC wrestles with implementation of the JOBS Act that was passed last year. Read about the bill, who backs it - and which Republican is a powerful opponent.

 Billionaire Murdock on nutrition research: 'Let's make some major discoveries'

Scientific research has revealed many things but science is still keeping some secrets from David Murdock. The billionaire businessman founded and funded the David H. Murdock Research Institute to search for answers. And now he's putting up $50 million more in his continuing quest.