It was a fairly quiet week for deals in the Northwest, with some activity in biotech, software, materials, and devices.
—Seattle-based Arzeda, a developer of artificial enzymes, formed a partnership with DuPont to create new crop seeds that incorporate Arzeda’s technology, which should increase the productivity of the plants for food, as Eric reported. Financial terms were not released.
—Arlington, WA-based MicroGreen Polymers raised $1.6 million from WRF Capital and angel investors including Northwest Energy Angels, Alliance of Angels, and Atlas Accelerator, as Luke reported in an exclusive. The company has developed technology to recycle plastics into cheaper and more environmentally friendly coffee cups, food packaging, and other items. The money is part of an ongoing round that MicroGreen expects will net $3 million to $4 million this month.
—In another Xconomy exclusive, we talked with the founder of Santa Clara, CA-based Data Domain (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DDUP]]), Kai Li, a Princeton University computer science professor who has been visiting the University of Washington for about a year. Data Domain just got bought by Hopkinton, MA-based EMC (NYSE: [[ticker:EMC]]) for $2.1 billion in cash. Li spoke in depth about the ideas behind Data Domain, its growth and acquisition, and the future of data storage.
—Luke reported that Seattle-based Kineta, a biotech firm with an unusual business model, acquired the licenses to an array of compounds from Redwood City, CA-based Airmid with the goal of reaching clinical trials for drugs to tamp down autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Kineta is looking to run promising drug candidates through early-stage clinical trials and then form partnerships with bigger drugmakers to run bigger trials, collecting upfront payments, milestones, and royalties on any product sales.
—EndoGastric Solutions, a medical device company based in Redmond, WA, and Redwood City, CA, raised $7.5 million from undisclosed investors. The firm, which was originally incubated in Kirkland, WA, at Scout Medical Technologies, makes devices that treat heartburn and obesity. It previously raised $79 million in venture capital from MPM Capital, Advanced Technology Ventures, and other investors.
—Seattle-based Cozi, a startup that makes family organizing and activity planning software, formed a partnership with Nestle to launch its service on the food company’s website, as Eric reported. Cozi’s software will be rebranded on the site with both companies’ names. Financial terms of the deal were not announced.
—Earth Class Mail, a Seattle company that delivers physical mail to businesses digitally, is providing key technology for Kansas City, MO-based Perfect Output’s document management service, as Eric reported. Financial details of the partnership were not given.
