To be recognized as a technology pioneer by the World Economic Forum, it helps to have a few things already in one’s favor: First, it helps to be American. Over half of the 31 companies that won a Technology Pioneers 2011 award this week, meant to honor the world’s most innovative startups, were U.S.-based. Second, [...]

Certainly starting an Internet company is a lot cheaper than it used to be. And clearly entrepreneurs would prefer to hold on to as much equity as they can. But perhaps there are other drivers behind what might be called a recent mini-trend: Rather mature companies in a variety of sectors raising their first venture [...]

Atlassian, a Australia-based provider of software for streamlining product development, has raised $60 million from Accel Partners. The deal is in exchange for a minority stake, with Accel’s Rich Wong joining the Atlassian board of directors. Atlassian was founded in 2002, and this represents its first round of institutional funding.