As the darkest day of the year approaches—Winter Solstice is Dec. 21—we’re taking in some low-angle winter sun and catching up on a few news items from the past week. Check out new data on venture capital’s lack of diversity, a survey of diversity at Seattle startup companies, applied research funding for teams at Washington’s … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: Light Reading for the Darkest Day”
Author: Benjamin Romano
Benjamin is the former Editor of Xconomy Seattle. He has covered the intersections of business, technology and the environment in the Pacific Northwest and beyond for more than a decade. At The Seattle Times he was the lead beat reporter covering Microsoft during Bill Gates’ transition from business to philanthropy. He also covered Seattle venture capital and biotech. Most recently, Benjamin followed the technology, finance and policies driving renewable energy development in the Western US for Recharge, a global trade publication. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication.
Xconomy Intersect: The Photos
Xconomy’s wide-angle look at Northwest innovation last week brought attendees the latest in real-time machine transcription, analysis of the policy implications for innovation in a Trump administration, in-depth talks with top investors and entrepreneurs, and much more. The hearty folks who made it to 415 Westlake—located in the heart of South Lake Union, Seattle’s innovation … Continue reading “Xconomy Intersect: The Photos”
A Reading List to Get Ready for Xconomy Intersect
To help you get the most out of Xconomy Intersect on Thursday, we’ve put together a reading list of recent stories on the speakers and topics featured in our program. We invite everyone attending to think of questions you’d like to ask our great lineup of CEOs, technologists, entrepreneurs, and investors. These stories should help … Continue reading “A Reading List to Get Ready for Xconomy Intersect”
Retrace, a Xinova Spinout, Provides Data to Improve E-Waste Recycling
For all of its noble goals, the business of recycling old electronics and mobile phones is fraught with challenges and not very profitable. Retrace, a Seattle startup that spun out of Xinova earlier this fall, believes providing better data to recyclers and other players in the global market for used mobile phones will help. “It’s … Continue reading “Retrace, a Xinova Spinout, Provides Data to Improve E-Waste Recycling”
Here’s Why You Should Attend Xconomy Intersect on Thursday
Xconomy Intersect is just three days away and if you haven’t checked out the fantastic lineup of speakers gathering in South Lake Union Thursday, now’s the time. We’re going to cover a lot of ground in this concise, afternoon program in the heart of South Lake Union. We’ll begin with a dive in to the … Continue reading “Here’s Why You Should Attend Xconomy Intersect on Thursday”
Global Innovation Exchange Plans Menu of IP Options for Students
The Global Innovation Exchange, a joint effort of the University of Washington and China’s Tsinghua University, is establishing some new models for intellectual property as it begins training what backers hope will be a new generation of innovation leaders. Graduate students in the program who invent a technology or launch a startup company will have … Continue reading “Global Innovation Exchange Plans Menu of IP Options for Students”
Citing Quality Concerns, Glowforge Again Delays Laser Cutter Shipment
Earlier this week, my daughter, 4-and-a-half, looked up at the cardboard and tissue-paper butterfly we made from a kit some time ago and told me she wanted to do another one. I smiled. Christmas is coming, so I hinted to her—vaguely—about a cool new tool that would let us make all kinds of neat projects … Continue reading “Citing Quality Concerns, Glowforge Again Delays Laser Cutter Shipment”
A Strategy to Spin More Startups and Inventions Out of PNNL
Rosemarie Truman has a plan to help form more companies that could commercialize the promising inventions languishing inside of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The model she’s implementing in her role as the federal lab’s new director of innovation impact turns the typical business plan challenge on its head: Instead of startup teams pitching judges or … Continue reading “A Strategy to Spin More Startups and Inventions Out of PNNL”
Techstars Teams with Amazon for Alexa Startup Accelerator in Seattle
Alexa, what’s the epicenter of innovation in speech as the new user interface? A good case can be made for Seattle, following an announcement today from Techstars and Amazon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]). Techstars, a top-tier startup accelerator with locations around the world and a major presence in Seattle since 2010, will begin a second program here … Continue reading “Techstars Teams with Amazon for Alexa Startup Accelerator in Seattle”
Textio’s Data Sharing Points to Machine Learning Business Model
In the cutthroat game of recruiting, companies are constantly eyeing the competition. Textio, a Seattle startup using machine learning to help improve the performance and reduce the bias of job listings, is taking the lid off a massive data trove it has amassed over the last two years to help its customers see how they … Continue reading “Textio’s Data Sharing Points to Machine Learning Business Model”
The Journey to a Machine That Transcribes Speech as Well as Humans
As a student at the elite Tsinghua University in the early 1980s, Xuedong Huang confronted the same challenge as all other Chinese computer users. “In China, typing was fairly difficult with a Western keyboard,” says Huang, now a Microsoft (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MSFT]]) distinguished engineer and its chief speech scientist. To answer that challenge, he helped develop … Continue reading “The Journey to a Machine That Transcribes Speech as Well as Humans”
Seattle Week in Review: A Chill in the Air and a Flurry of Funding News
Winter is coming. Yes, I’m talking about the weather. Meanwhile, a flurry of tech news from the Seattle area emerged through the deafening cacophony of news and reaction to America’s new political reality. Read on for funding news from Tola Capital, Heptio, M87, Apptentive, Echo Health Ventures, and more. —Tola Capital, a Seattle-based venture fund, … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: A Chill in the Air and a Flurry of Funding News”
Check Out the Agenda for Xconomy Intersect in Seattle Dec. 8
We’re excited to hear from a great group of leading entrepreneurs, investors, and researchers at our next event in Seattle, Xconomy Intersect, coming up on Dec. 8. We’ve just released the agenda. Here are some highlights: The high-level idea behind this event is to look for the intersections—between industries, disciplines, and cultures—yielding impactful innovations now and … Continue reading “Check Out the Agenda for Xconomy Intersect in Seattle Dec. 8”
ACA or Not, Accolade Sees Growing Demand For Healthcare Innovation
As if innovating in healthcare wasn’t difficult enough, companies engaged in the endeavor now face an uncertain landscape as the incoming Trump Administration takes aim at the Affordable Care Act. Healthcare IT company Accolade, one of the bigger recent arrivals to Seattle’s healthcare innovation cluster, is watching closely. So far, CEO Rajeev Singh sees little … Continue reading “ACA or Not, Accolade Sees Growing Demand For Healthcare Innovation”
Washington Scientists Forge Ahead Amid Uncertainty
The world is turned on its head, but there are still salmon to monitor as they navigate dams, crops to improve before climate change sets in, and energy grids to protect from cyber attackers. On Thursday evening, as protestors marched through downtown and helicopters hovered in the sky, scientists from Washington’s premiere public research institutions … Continue reading “Washington Scientists Forge Ahead Amid Uncertainty”
Echodyne Demonstrates Detect and Avoid Radar on a Small Drone
Echodyne, the metamaterials startup company backed by the likes of Bill Gates and Paul Allen, announced a successful test of its detect-and-avoid radar system for small drones. Bellevue, WA-based Echodyne—one of the startups commercializing metamaterials technology from patent aggregator and invention company Intellectual Ventures—says a small drone outfitted with a lightweight radar system could track … Continue reading “Echodyne Demonstrates Detect and Avoid Radar on a Small Drone”
Seattle Week in Review: Bottom of the Ninth, World’s Climate at Stake
For a moment this week—or for several hours, depending on how much of it you took in—America was transfixed by something historic, suspenseful, and with no modern precedent. Game 7 of the World Series, which delivered the pinnacle of drama in the sports world, was a needed break from the election, and perhaps a chance … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: Bottom of the Ninth, World’s Climate at Stake”
Seattle Week in Review: Tech Money in Politics, Metamaterials & More
If there’s any doubt about the enduring impact that home-grown tech company billionaires can have on a region, refer back to this week. Bill Gates, Paul Allen, and Steve Ballmer made moves big and small to encourage and influence the course of affairs in the state. Read on for details on their latest philanthropic and … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: Tech Money in Politics, Metamaterials & More”
Seattle Startup Beta Hatch Wants Bugs to Be the Future of Farming
Like the Very Hungry Caterpillar, there’s more to the humble mealworm than meets the eye. It doesn’t become a beautiful butterfly, but it may contain part of the solution to one of the world’s biggest challenges: sustainably feeding the growing population. I contacted insect entrepreneur Virginia Emery last spring after hearing about the mealworms her … Continue reading “Seattle Startup Beta Hatch Wants Bugs to Be the Future of Farming”
Seattle Week in Review: Private Funding for Public Universities
The foremost universities of the Northwest, which provide much of the talent and technology on which the region’s innovation economy is built, are increasingly turning to private donations to advance their efforts in the sciences, engineering, and healthcare. It’s a good thing our region has a substantial number of people and corporations wealthy enough to … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: Private Funding for Public Universities”
Seattle Week in Review: Read It While You Still Can
A hard rain’s a gonna fall, and the wind begins to howl. Quick, before Typhoon Songda goes through bombogenesis and knocks out the power, catch up on this week’s leaf-clogged, overflowing storm drain of Seattle-area tech news: —PitchBook, the Seattle-based venture capital data provider, will become a unit of investment research firm Morningstar (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MORN]]) … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: Read It While You Still Can”
Announcing Xconomy Intersect: GGV, Accolade, OfferUp, Textio & More
The most interesting innovations are found where disciplines, industries, and cultures intersect—where intelligent machines edit human writers, drones plant trees, and cloud computing accelerates the transformation of healthcare, for example. Xconomy is excited to announce our upcoming Seattle event, an exploration of the crossroads from which the next world-changing ideas may emerge. Join us Thursday, … Continue reading “Announcing Xconomy Intersect: GGV, Accolade, OfferUp, Textio & More”
Seattle Week in Review: Amazon, AI, and Slipping Earth’s Gravity
Fall began in earnest this week, but the winds and rains that buffeted the Northwest are nothing compared to the fury of Hurricane Matthew. Time to hunker down for a review of the local tech news including: Amazon’s big contribution to UW, plans for a large Bellevue office, and partnership with KITT.AI; advances in the … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: Amazon, AI, and Slipping Earth’s Gravity”
Amazon Pledges $10M to Expand UW Computer Science Program
The University of Washington is $10 million closer to its goal of a significantly expanded computer science program thanks to a gift from Amazon announced Thursday. The Seattle-based tech giant’s commitment to the $110 million public-private fundraising campaign for a new computer science building is its largest local contribution yet. Amazon, despite thousands of local … Continue reading “Amazon Pledges $10M to Expand UW Computer Science Program”
Rover Raises $40M in Race to Control Dog Services Marketplace
We live in a Golden Age of pet ownership, and venture-backed dog-care marketplaces are raking in tens of millions of dollars a year by connecting dog owners with trustworthy people to walk and care for their furkids. The alpha dog appears to be Seattle-based Rover.com, which announced $40 million in new funding on Monday from prior investors Foundry … Continue reading “Rover Raises $40M in Race to Control Dog Services Marketplace”
Seattle Week in Review: AI, Remitly, Spaceflight, Sound as UI, More
The leaves soak up the early fall sun and we wrap up another busy news week. We’re reviewing big artificial intelligence announcements from Microsoft and its chief competitors; more funding for Remitly; a conversational competition from Amazon; a milestone launch for Spaceflight; and more. Details: —Big news from Microsoft, which is devoting a 5,000-person division … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: AI, Remitly, Spaceflight, Sound as UI, More”
Tech Giants’ Partnership To Explore Ethics, Societal Impacts of AI
With public interest in artificial intelligence technologies on the rise, five of the world’s largest corporations—vying against each other in so many spheres—are banding together to support research on the ethical and societal issues raised by machines with increasingly human-like capabilities. The Partnership on AI, formally unveiled Wednesday, includes Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook, IBM, Google and … Continue reading “Tech Giants’ Partnership To Explore Ethics, Societal Impacts of AI”
Investors Bid Up Apptio Shares in Market Debut
Apptio priced its shares at $16, raising $96 million in an initial public offering. The Bellevue, WA-based IT company’s shares, trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol APTI, were up about 42 percent in early afternoon trading Friday. The IPO price was above the $13 to $15 anticipated range the company disclosed last week. … Continue reading “Investors Bid Up Apptio Shares in Market Debut”
Marking 20 Years of STEM Education at TAF, and Planning for 20 More
Trish Millines Dziko is getting ready to celebrate. For 20 years, the Technology Access Foundation, which she co-founded with her spouse, Jill Hull Dziko, has helped thousands of Seattle-area kids of color gain skills and experiences to unlock careers in the booming industry that has come to define the regional economy, and nearly all aspects … Continue reading “Marking 20 Years of STEM Education at TAF, and Planning for 20 More”
Seattle Week in Review: Startup Diversity, Apptio, LumaTax, & More
It’s late into what has felt like a really long week. We’re catching up on a handful of news items from Seattle tech including: a new survey of startup founders on diversity; Apptio’s IPO pricing plans; LumaTax, a spinout from Pioneer Square Labs; 10 startups selected for Microsoft’s next startup accelerator; Chinese digital advertising company … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: Startup Diversity, Apptio, LumaTax, & More”
Survey: Tech Startup Leaders Want Diversity, Not Sure How to Reach It
Tech startup leaders “want to create an inclusive and diverse workforce, but many simply don’t know what to do to build inclusive teams.” That’s how Techstars co-founder and co-CEO David Cohen put it in a blog post earlier this week summarizing the results of a survey of 680 startup founders and top executives, mainly of … Continue reading “Survey: Tech Startup Leaders Want Diversity, Not Sure How to Reach It”
Recommended Read: Fishkin on What Went Wrong at Moz
When I profiled Moz and its co-founder Rand Fishkin a few years back, the story focused on the Seattle-based company’s “TAGFEE” culture—the first letter of which stands for “transparent.” Fishkin and his successor as CEO, Sarah Bird, have gone well beyond what most privately held tech companies do in that regard, regularly penning in-depth blog … Continue reading “Recommended Read: Fishkin on What Went Wrong at Moz”
Seattle Week in Review: A Unicorn Spotted in the Wild
Not that it matters, but we have the first privately held Seattle-area company in a long time to claim a valuation north of $1 billion. OfferUp is that rare, mythical beast, the unicorn. All without publicly disclosing a business model for its mobile marketplace connecting local buyers and sellers. Other Seattle tech news we’re reviewing … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: A Unicorn Spotted in the Wild”
OfferUp Raises $119M to Pursue Faster Growth in Local Marketplaces
Bellevue, WA-based OfferUp announced today a $119 million investment from Warburg Pincus, the private equity firm, with participation from new investors GGV Capital and Altimeter Capital. The company—which runs a mobile-first marketplace for local goods, in competition with Craigslist and neighborhood garage sales, among others—is growing fast and hoovering up cash. This latest investment, which … Continue reading “OfferUp Raises $119M to Pursue Faster Growth in Local Marketplaces”
Julep CEO Disputes Attorney General’s Account of Settlement
Julep Beauty settled a lawsuit brought by the Washington state attorney general stemming from its recurring monthly makeup subscriptions—which it enticed customers to sign up for with a free or discounted initial shipment, but which some customers had trouble cancelling. The settlement was announced by the attorney general’s office Tuesday. The attorney general’s complaint alleged … Continue reading “Julep CEO Disputes Attorney General’s Account of Settlement”
Seattle Week in Review: Early End of Summer Edition
Happy Labor Day Weekend. Friday morning’s drumming rain and Bumbershoot, the arts and music festival named for a portable rain shelter, herald the end of summer. OK, not quite yet. But soon. In this edition of Xconomy Seattle’s Week in Review, we’re talking migration. The Obama Administration wants to make it easier for entrepreneurs to … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: Early End of Summer Edition”
Still in the Red, Apptio Eyes $75M IPO for IT Management Business
Apptio, a top IPO prospect from the Seattle tech industry, is taking the plunge. The company filed paperwork late last week to raise up to $75 million. Apptio, co-founded in 2007 by CEO Sunny Gupta and CFO Kurt Shintaffer, makes cloud-based software, sold as a subscription, to help businesses understand and plan their IT spending. … Continue reading “Still in the Red, Apptio Eyes $75M IPO for IT Management Business”
Tableau Names AWS Exec Selipsky CEO; Chabot Remains Board Chair
Nearly 14 years since its founding, Tableau Software (NYSE: [[ticker:DATA]]) is going through a major leadership transition. Co-founder and CEO Christian Chabot is handing over the top job at the Seattle company to Adam Selipsky, an Amazon Web Services executive. Chabot, who co-founded and built the data visualization and analytics company with Stanford colleagues Chris … Continue reading “Tableau Names AWS Exec Selipsky CEO; Chabot Remains Board Chair”
Seattle Week in Review: Heat, Haiku, Hard Choices
It was hot last night in Seattle. History hot. Xconomy Seattle’s Week in Review starts with the weather and the changing climate, and a proposal from the Sightline Institute designed to shield low-income people from the economic impact of taxing carbon dioxide emissions. We also review news from Amazon’s $100 million Alexa Fund and an … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: Heat, Haiku, Hard Choices”
Seattle Week in Review: Healthcare IT, Machine Learning, and the 12s
Summer weather may finally come to Seattle in earnest this weekend. Before you head to the lake, check out Xconomy Seattle’s review of a couple of healthcare IT investments; Apple’s acquisition of Turi (nee GraphLab, then Dato) and the future of the iPhone; new funding for Zenoti and Kepler Communications; a new fund for Keiretsu … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: Healthcare IT, Machine Learning, and the 12s”
Accolade Raises $70M to Build Healthcare Concierge Technology
Accolade, the healthcare IT company that filled its C-suite with the executive team behind one of the Seattle area’s biggest startup success stories and established a new headquarters here earlier this year, has added $70 million in fresh capital to its coffers from Andreessen Horowitz and Madrona Venture Group, among others. The funding, part of … Continue reading “Accolade Raises $70M to Build Healthcare Concierge Technology”
Report: Seattle Machine Learning Star Turi Acquired by Apple
One of Seattle’s foremost machine learning startup companies, Turi—formerly known as GraphLab and then Dato—appears to have been acquired by Apple, according to press reports. GeekWire first reported the news, citing anonymous sources close to the deal. TechCrunch also reported the acquisition. Both quote an Apple statement indicating the tech giant has purchased the company. … Continue reading “Report: Seattle Machine Learning Star Turi Acquired by Apple”
Seattle Week in Review: Up in the Sky, It’s Prime Air and Blue Angels
The U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels—and Amazon Prime Air—are rumbling the (currently) blue Seattle skies and the Thunder Boats are ready to rip around Lake Washington. It’s Seafair Weekend, Seattle’s annual celebration of speed and noise. Meanwhile, in this edition of Xconomy Seattle’s Week in Review, we’re reading a new report on U.S. venture investing trends … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: Up in the Sky, It’s Prime Air and Blue Angels”
Trump’s Wall, Remittances, and Immigration in Washington
Donald Trump plans to finance construction of a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border by holding hostage money sent home by undocumented Mexican immigrants until their government agrees to pay for it. The Republican presidential nominee’s written plan would require money transfer companies—such as Seattle-based remittances startup Remitly—to verify the lawful residency of anyone seeking to … Continue reading “Trump’s Wall, Remittances, and Immigration in Washington”
Glowforge Raises $22M to Grow Laser Cutter Business
Glowforge, the Seattle company that raked in $27.9 million in pre-orders for its consumer-grade laser cutter and engraver, has raised $22 million in venture capital. The Series B investment, announced Monday, was led by Foundry Group and True Ventures, co-leaders of the company’s $9 million Series A funding round in May 2015. Glowforge is taking … Continue reading “Glowforge Raises $22M to Grow Laser Cutter Business”
Seattle Week in Review: Watching History at the DNC, and Dick’s Drive-In
It was an historic week, and, with the end of the two major parties’ conventions, perhaps time for a summer break from politics? (Not likely.) We’re reviewing a few tech-related highlights of Hillary Clinton’s acceptance speech, as well as local tech news from Washington State University, which is expanding computer science programs; a new role … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: Watching History at the DNC, and Dick’s Drive-In”
Seattle Week in Review: No Easy Answers in Summer of Turmoil
How many people 402 days ago expected to wake up to Donald J. Trump as the Republican nominee for president of the United States? Here we are. Rubbing my eyes, reaching for a second cup of coffee—maybe something stronger—and looking for ways to interpret the week’s events. One good one is a media startup based … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: No Easy Answers in Summer of Turmoil”
Impinj Breaks Seattle Tech IPO Drought, Raises $67.2M
Impinj raised $67.2 million in an initial public stock offering—the first for a Washington state technology company since 2014—and watched its shares surge upwards of 25 percent in Thursday morning trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. On Wednesday afternoon, Seattle-based Impinj (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PI]]) priced 4.8 million shares of its common stock at $14 each, … Continue reading “Impinj Breaks Seattle Tech IPO Drought, Raises $67.2M”
Algorithmia Lands In-Q-Tel Deal, Adds Deep Learning Capabilities
Algorithmia, which runs a public marketplace for algorithms, has just landed a deal to provide a private algorithm-sharing platform for the U.S. intelligence community. The deal with In-Q-Tel, which invests in and procures new technologies for intelligence agencies, comes on the heels of a significant upgrade in capabilities for Algorithmia’s primary business of brokering access … Continue reading “Algorithmia Lands In-Q-Tel Deal, Adds Deep Learning Capabilities”
Seattle Week in Review: A Century of Innovation on Lake Union
Reeling from yet another horrible attack in France, we undertake a review of this week’s tech news from Seattle and beyond. Start by reading Wade Roush’s essay on what we can and can’t expect from innovation and tech startups in this season of tumult, fear, and anxiety. Moving on to the happy glow of Boeing’s … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: A Century of Innovation on Lake Union”