BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - November 8, 2010) - Polaris Venture Partners today announced that Bob Metcalfe, a General Partner finishing his 10th year with the firm, will in January join the faculty of the University of Texas at Austin as Professor of Innovation and Murchison Fellow of Free Enterprise. Concurrently, Professor Metcalfe will be returning to the role of Venture Partner at Polaris, which he held for his first three years in the partnership.
"After 10 great years, we're excited for Bob as he begins a new chapter in his illustrious career at the University of Texas where he can share his vision for innovation on a new platform," said Jon Flint, co-founder and General Partner of Polaris Venture Partners. "We're also especially happy that Bob will continue to play a significant role with Polaris, helping to guide key portfolio companies and identify more investment opportunities. With the success of Dogpatch Labs in Cambridge, Mass., New York and San Francisco, we're working with more and more entrepreneurs earlier in the development process. Bob's presence in Austin offers yet another powerful connection point to reach the next generation of innovators."
Since joining Polaris in 2001, Metcalfe has helped launch successful companies including Ember, 1366 Technologies, Infinite Power Solutions, SiOnyx, and Sun Catalytix.
"The opportunity to teach, research and practice innovation at the University of Texas starts my fifth career in innovation," said Bob Metcalfe. "It is exciting to join UT and move to Austin, but you can bet I'll keep close ties with Boston, not only through Polaris but also the many relationships my wife and I have established over the years."
Metcalfe will continue as a Life Trustee at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, his alma mater. He also will continue to serve on the boards of his current Polaris portfolio companies: 1366 Technologies, Ember, Infinite Power Solutions, SiOnyx, and Sun Catalytix.
About Polaris Venture Partners
Polaris Venture Partners is a partnership of experienced investors, operating executives and entrepreneurs. The firm's mission is to identify, invest in and partner with seed, early stage, and middle-market businesses with exceptional promise and help them grow into market-leading companies. Polaris invests in businesses across a number of markets including technology, digital media, consumer, enertech and life sciences. Polaris-backed successes in life sciences include: Adimab, Adnexus (sold to Bristol-Myers Squibb), Advanced Inhalation Research (sold to Alkermes), Alimera (ALIM), Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), Asthmatx (sold to Boston Scientific) Glycofi (sold to Merck), Momenta Pharmaceuticals (MNTA) and Ironwood (IRWD). Polaris-backed successes in technology and consumer include: Akamai Technologies (AKAM), Allaire, Art.com, Athlete's Performance, Automattic (WordPress), e-Rewards, LogMeIn (LOGM), LegalZoom, LivingProof, MarkMonitor, Powersoft, Solidworks, TechTarget (TTGT) and Quantcast. For more on the firm, its mission and its portfolio companies: http://polarisventures.com.
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