Hiring at local startups ain’t like it used to be. In recent years, young tech companies would tout their ability to hire “rock star” developers and “chief ninjas.” But they’re coming around to a more competitive talent market where collaboration and real-world problem solving are more important than cranking out code. New England companies such as Swipely are teaming up with non-traditional educators like Startup Institute and Intelligent.ly to develop the best talent coming out of local schools. It’s hard to say, though, whether this will make startups more successful in the end or just less annoying.
In other innovation news…
-There’s a new crowdfunding site in town, from Dragon Innovation. The hardware consulting firm is trying to support the maker movement through projects such as connected sensors and a wearable baby monitor.
-Our deal of the week is Beverly-based Enzymatics buying Colorado’s ArcherDx for about $50 million. Enzymatics was founded in 2006 and has grown to 100 people as it’s starting to move from DNA sequencing tools into diagnostics.
-And lastly, what’s EMC doing to stay on top of its field? The Hopkinton-based data storage giant has a new mid-range product out, and senior vice president Eric Herzog says the key for the company is to keep its competitive fire in its belly. And one more thing: “ Only the paranoid survive.”
