The technology industry’s diversity deficit is no secret, and with the issue out in the open, attention is turning toward potential solutions. To that end, the Washington Technology Industry Association produced a comprehensive listing of 55 programs in the state already working to help women, under-represented minorities, and veterans into the tech industry at every … Continue reading “55 Washington Programs Helping Improve Diversity in Tech”
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.
Korean Giant Doosan Acquires Storage Software Maker 1Energy Systems
1Energy Systems, a Seattle company making software to integrate batteries and other distributed energy technologies with the electricity grid, has been acquired by Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction (DHIC), a 120-year-old Korean conglomerate with a major power generation business. 1Energy, founded in 2011, never took outside investment. Its principals, including founder and CEO David Kaplan, … Continue reading “Korean Giant Doosan Acquires Storage Software Maker 1Energy Systems”
Seattle Week in Review: A Tragic Summer, Hoping “This Too Shall Pass”
Another week of tragedy. How to process the local tech “news,” which can seem trivial in light of the spasms of violence, angst, and upheaval tearing at our country? I honestly don’t know. Here’s what we were following, until the events of the last 48 hours overshadowed all else: —Xconomy’s Texas editor is delving into … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: A Tragic Summer, Hoping “This Too Shall Pass””
With CoMotion Labs, UW Casts Wider Net For Innovation and Startups
The University of Washington is expanding its portfolio of startup incubation spaces and inviting in companies even if they don’t yet have an explicit connection to the university. The new strategy is part of a broader rethinking of how the UW, consistently ranked in the upper echelons of research universities around the world, attempts to … Continue reading “With CoMotion Labs, UW Casts Wider Net For Innovation and Startups”
Seattle Week in Review: Happy Independence Day Edition
Happy Independence Day Weekend. (And Happy Canada Day to our neighbors to the north.) Xconomy Seattle is planning to harvest some Dungeness crab from Puget Sound, eat fresh berries in patriotic colors, and contemplate freedom in the midst of the craziest political season of our lives. But first, here’s a recap of some technology news—University … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: Happy Independence Day Edition”
Resin Raises $9M to Build Tools for IoT Software Updates
Resin.io, a startup with headquarters in Seattle and employees scattered across the globe, has raised a $9 million funding round to further its work on tools for software development and deployment for connected devices. The company’s prior backer, DFJ, invested in the round, along with GE Ventures, Ericsson, and Aspect Ventures. Resin, founded in 2013, previously … Continue reading “Resin Raises $9M to Build Tools for IoT Software Updates”
Seattle Week in Review: Amazon Building Boom
Can we go back to Sunday and just watch Game 7 of the NBA Finals over and over again? This was a long, news-filled week capped by Britain’s vote to exit the E.U., which changes everything—right? We’ll be thinking about what it means for Seattle tech in the days and weeks ahead. Meanwhile, Seattle booms. … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: Amazon Building Boom”
Spaceflight Industries Raises $18M, Acquires OpenWhere
To tap into the multi-billion dollar market for Earth observation, companies are deploying new satellites with modern sensors and communication equipment. But innovation is needed back on the ground, too, in the technology to process and analyze high-resolution images of Earth for customers. With that in mind, Seattle-based Spaceflight Industries is acquiring a company called … Continue reading “Spaceflight Industries Raises $18M, Acquires OpenWhere”
BASF Acquiring Seattle Energy Storage Materials Maker EnerG2
[Updated 6/21/16, 10:15 a.m. See below.] EnerG2, which spun out of the University of Washington in 2003 to commercialize novel carbon materials for use in energy storage, is being acquired by an arm of German materials giant BASF. EnerG2 has had a strategic partnership with BASF since 2014. The terms of the acquisition, announced Monday, … Continue reading “BASF Acquiring Seattle Energy Storage Materials Maker EnerG2”
Seattle Space Sector Ready for Its Close-up
The Seattle area’s commercial space businesses will showcase themselves and the region to the broader industry as the NewSpace conference kicks off here for the first time Tuesday. More than 500 people are expected for the three-day event, put on by the Space Frontier Foundation, which will also be highlighting its new initiatives meant to … Continue reading “Seattle Space Sector Ready for Its Close-up”
Seattle Week in Review: Mourning Orlando, While the News Goes On
This is a difficult, tragic week to review, one we will not soon forget. The flow of horrible words and images pouring relentlessly through our screens makes it hard to see the good in the world. I’m going to spend the weekend holding close to family and friends, being grateful for them. Technology and innovation … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: Mourning Orlando, While the News Goes On”
Neighborly Data: Dato to Integrate Machine Learning Services with Tableau
Dato, a Seattle machine learning startup, will put its services in front of a large audience of potential customers through an integration with the next product release from its neighbor, Tableau Software. Tableau (NYSE: [[ticker:DATA]]), the data visualization and analytics company headquartered in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood, is currently beta-testing Tableau 10, which is due out … Continue reading “Neighborly Data: Dato to Integrate Machine Learning Services with Tableau”
Seattle Week in Review: AI Chickens of Silicon Valley
It was an historic week as Hillary Clinton secured enough delegates to be the first woman to become the presumptive nominee of a major political party for the highest office of the most powerful country on Earth. Meanwhile, we’re reviewing another debate about where Seattle’s startup ecosystem ranks nationally; new data on urban startup clusters; … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: AI Chickens of Silicon Valley”
The Xconversation: Software CEO Meets University Innovation Leader, Part II
Startups, technology giants, and mainstream companies of all shapes and sizes are clamoring for software expertise, but top-tier computer science programs are struggling to expand capacity to meet that demand. Barry Crist, CEO of Seattle software company Chef, wants to see a dramatic increase in the number of well-trained programmers coming from places like the … Continue reading “The Xconversation: Software CEO Meets University Innovation Leader, Part II”
The Xconversation: Software CEO Meets University Innovation Leader, Part I
Innovation is perhaps the most over-used and abused buzzword of our modern moment. But that doesn’t mean we should shy away from it. To the contrary. Vikram Jandhyala, who has innovation in his job title as a vice provost at the University of Washington, and Barry Crist, CEO of Chef, maker of tools and practices … Continue reading “The Xconversation: Software CEO Meets University Innovation Leader, Part I”
Seattle Week in Review: Give Me the Blue Pill
Last night, Twitter was exploding with the violence outside of a Donald Trump rally in San Jose, CA, at the same time as the Mariners staged an historic comeback win—14 runs across two innings—to defeat the San Diego Padres. Guess which one I turned off. It’s been that kind of week. Thankfully, the news from Seattle’s … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: Give Me the Blue Pill”
Impinj to Test IPO Waters Again, Seeking to Raise Up to $60M
Impinj, a long-tenured Seattle tech company making radio frequency identification (RFID) chips, readers, and software, aims to raise up to $60 million in an initial public stock offering. If the 16-year-old company goes forward with plans disclosed this week, it would be the first Seattle-area tech IPO since 2014, when pet insurance provider Trupanion went … Continue reading “Impinj to Test IPO Waters Again, Seeking to Raise Up to $60M”
Qumulo Raises $32.5M More in Bid to Storm Data Storage Market
With a new $32.5 million funding round, Qumulo has now raised $100 million in four years to tackle the enterprise data storage market. The Seattle company on Friday released details of the Series C investment, disclosed in an SEC filing Wednesday. New investors Allen & Company, Top Tier Capital Partners, and Tyche Partners join prior Qumulo … Continue reading “Qumulo Raises $32.5M More in Bid to Storm Data Storage Market”
Microsoft Venture Fund Aims to Harness Early Stage Innovation
Microsoft plans to invest more in early stage startup companies through a new corporate venture fund, headed by former Qualcomm executives. The name of the fund—which will back startups focused on cloud computing, machine learning, and security, with an emphasis on technology that complements Microsoft’s own products and services—is Microsoft Ventures. If that sounds familiar, … Continue reading “Microsoft Venture Fund Aims to Harness Early Stage Innovation”
Seattle Week in Review: Asteroids, Clouds, Secrets, Donuts
Xconomy Seattle did its civic duty, showing up for jury duty at Seattle Municipal Court this week (the picture above is the view from the rooftop terrace of the courthouse). I was dismissed just in time for the big power outage that struck downtown Seattle on Wednesday. We’re reviewing funding for Planetary Resources, IT layoffs … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: Asteroids, Clouds, Secrets, Donuts”
Planetary Resources Raises $21M for Near-Term Market: Earth Observation
The same satellite-based sensors Planetary Resources is developing to prospect for asteroids in deep space can be pointed back at Earth to help global agribusinesses and commodities traders monitor crops, and enable oil and gas drillers to find new targets. The Bellevue, WA-based space company announced a $21.1 million funding round to support work toward … Continue reading “Planetary Resources Raises $21M for Near-Term Market: Earth Observation”
Strategies to Attract More Women and Minorities to Startup Accelerators
Startup incubators and accelerators represent an important avenue of advancement in the tech industry for women and underrepresented minorities. And while several high-profile accelerators are taking specific steps to recruit companies led by diverse founders, progress is slow in coming. That was evident on the stage at the end of Techstars Seattle’s latest Demo Day … Continue reading “Strategies to Attract More Women and Minorities to Startup Accelerators”
Seattle Week in Review: Don’t Sleep on These Techstars
This week, we’re reviewing the latest batch of startups to emerge from Techstars Seattle; an ambitious renewable energy commitment from Microsoft; an artificial intelligence-powered legal research assistant; top stories from around Xconomy’s network on mobility, enterprise search, and entrepreneurship education at MIT; and a dire warning about earthquake safety for those living and working in … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: Don’t Sleep on These Techstars”
Make Exits, Not Unicorns: Voyager Charts the Early Stage VC Course
Elemental Technologies and Blue Box Group were acquired by Amazon and IBM, respectively, in two of the Northwest’s most prominent technology deals of 2015. Both received initial venture capital investments from Voyager Capital. With these successful exits behind them and the firm’s 20-year anniversary ahead next year, Voyager partners Bill McAleer and Erik Benson sat … Continue reading “Make Exits, Not Unicorns: Voyager Charts the Early Stage VC Course”
Seattle Week in Review: Failure is Likely, But Not Guaranteed
Entrepreneurs know it, the angel investors and venture capitalists who back them know it: Building a business from scratch is difficult, and the odds of it becoming a runaway success are long. Xconomy Seattle’s Week in Review looks at new research on angel investing outcomes and the winner of the latest Seattle Angel Conference, the … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: Failure is Likely, But Not Guaranteed”
Is Your Machine Learning Algorithm Smarter Than a Dog?
Do we need an Asimov’s Law for chatbots? And how do they compare with a talking parrot? What can dairy farmers learn from outfitting cows with pedometers? How can algorithms better explain to humans not just what they’re predicting, but why? Some of the biggest names from the Seattle area’s growing machine learning and artificial … Continue reading “Is Your Machine Learning Algorithm Smarter Than a Dog?”
Investigation Finds Recyclers Ship E-Waste Overseas
Despite assurances otherwise, electronic waste dropped at collection sites around the U.S. is winding up in junkyards in Hong Kong, and elsewhere in Asia, where handling practices are imperiling workers and the surrounding environment, according to an investigation by the Seattle-based Basel Action Network. Recyclers tied to overseas shipments of e-waste include Total Reclaim, the largest e-waste handler serving the Pacific … Continue reading “Investigation Finds Recyclers Ship E-Waste Overseas”
Seattle Week in Review: Facing Displacement from AI
When will the technology arrive that makes you obsolete in your current job? [Checks watch.] It’s no idle question, and one that none other than Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella took up this week in remarks to hundreds of Seattle technology and business leaders. We’ll explore his comments, a new offering from Textio, the media’s failures … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: Facing Displacement from AI”
Textio’s Learning Machine Offers Opportunities to Improve HR Writing
Remember the English composition teacher who could always find a gentle way to improve that middling passage in your writing? The editor who elevated the lightning bug to lightning? That’s a computer now, sitting with you and offering suggestions as you type. Textio, a Seattle machine learning and natural language processing startup focused on improving … Continue reading “Textio’s Learning Machine Offers Opportunities to Improve HR Writing”
Echodyne Readies Lightweight Radar for Small Drones, Other Uses
As aviation regulators and the drone industry work out rules for the quadcopters and other small unmanned aircraft systems that may someday deliver packages—among scores of other commercial missions—one thing is clear: For the drones to reach the potential their backers envision, they will need to fly beyond the pilot’s line of sight. Radar is … Continue reading “Echodyne Readies Lightweight Radar for Small Drones, Other Uses”
Seattle Week in Review: Mariners Win World Series (of New Ownership)
Another accomplished technology leader will control a Seattle sports franchise, but don’t try taking the Alaskan Way Viaduct to see John Stanton in the Mariners owners’ box at Safeco Field over the next two weeks. This week, we’re reviewing a big funding round for Remitly, a spinout company from Whitepages, a minimum-wage pledge from Vacasa, … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: Mariners Win World Series (of New Ownership)”
Money Transfer Service Remitly Raises $38.5M to Expand to New Markets
Already serving three of the largest destination countries for money sent home by foreign workers in the U.S., Seattle-based Remitly has raised $38.5 million from investors to expand further and claim a greater share of the estimated $601 billion in annual global remittances. Remitly says it is helping immigrant workers living in the U.S. send … Continue reading “Money Transfer Service Remitly Raises $38.5M to Expand to New Markets”
Seattle Week in Review: Snow in April Edition
“And all good things, they say, never last / “Springtime was always my favorite time of year” – Prince Sometimes it’s sunny in April. Seattle had three days in a row of record hot temperatures. Then Prince, undisputed innovator, dies. Sometimes It Snows in April. Other good things that may not last: billion-dollar valuations of … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: Snow in April Edition”
Laser-Cutter Maker Glowforge Delays Pre-Order Shipments 6 Months
[Updated 4/19/16 8:32 p.m. See below.] The power supply for the forthcoming Glowforge laser cutter and engraver has to cycle on and off hundreds of times a second. The bespoke component is not available at RadioShack. As a result of delays in procuring a power supply that meets its standards, Glowforge is delaying shipment of the devices … Continue reading “Laser-Cutter Maker Glowforge Delays Pre-Order Shipments 6 Months”
Seattle Week in Review: Tax Day Edition
We’ll pay what we owe Uncle Sam and hold our noses at the breadth and depth of tax evasion efforts by corporations and the super-rich revealed in the Panama Papers. This week, we’re reviewing first-quarter venture investments and filings indicating that Maveron is raising a new venture fund; several new funding rounds, including a big … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: Tax Day Edition”
Seattle Startup Group14 Technologies Targets Big Boost in Batteries
A new Seattle materials company is developing a technology that could boost lithium ion battery energy density by up to 30 percent, it claims, while also reducing costs. Group14 Technologies is a new spin-out from EnerG2, the 13-year-old Seattle materials company that has a growing business providing engineered carbon materials for other energy storage technologies, … Continue reading “Seattle Startup Group14 Technologies Targets Big Boost in Batteries”
After a Year on the Market, Qumulo Counts 50+ Customers, 40 Petabytes
In the year since it began selling its enterprise data storage software, Seattle-based Qumulo has amassed more than 50 customers storing upwards of 40 petabytes of data in aggregate. Qumulo distinguishes itself in a crowded field in several ways, but one is its emphasis on continuous delivery of software updates, rolling out new features and … Continue reading “After a Year on the Market, Qumulo Counts 50+ Customers, 40 Petabytes”
Vacasa Raises $35M to Expand in Fragmented Vacation Rentals Market
[Updated, 4/12/16, 10:21 a.m. See below.] If you’ve had the good fortune to rent a vacation home recently, you know there’s room for improvement in the process. Portland, OR, company Vacasa announced a $35 million funding round to expand its new approach to a large sector that’s still up for grabs. Level Equity led the … Continue reading “Vacasa Raises $35M to Expand in Fragmented Vacation Rentals Market”
Watching a Race Through the Alaskan Wilderness in Real Time
As afternoon slowly slipped into night, Kyle Amstadter pedaled and pushed his fat-tire bike across the vast, frozen expanse of Norton Bay, on Alaska’s Seward Peninsula. He was making about 3.5 miles an hour against a stiff headwind. From Seattle, I watched his progress, unfolding in real time as a trail of blue squares appearing … Continue reading “Watching a Race Through the Alaskan Wilderness in Real Time”
Seattle Week in Review: Good Day Sunshine Edition
You should really be outside, enjoying a beautiful spring (summer?) Friday, so we’ll keep this edition of Xconomy Seattle’s Week in Review brief. We’re running through news of a flexible electronics alliance the University of Washington has joined; Tesla’s staggering Model 3 pre-orders; Jeff Bezos’s outlook on failure; a new unmanned submarine hunter the Navy … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: Good Day Sunshine Edition”
The Xconversation: Vaccine Developer Meets Energy Innovator, Part II
There’s no such thing as failure, as long as you view it in the proper light. That’s the philosophy of scientist-entrepreneurs Darrick Carter, vice president of adjuvant technology at Seattle-based IDRI (Infectious Disease Research Institute) and biotech company founder, and Aaron Feaver, co-founder and chief technology officer of energy-storage materials company EnerG2, who shared their … Continue reading “The Xconversation: Vaccine Developer Meets Energy Innovator, Part II”
The Xconversation: Vaccine Developer Meets Energy Innovator, Part I
What do vaccines have to do with batteries? Let your mind’s eye travel to the cellular membrane, where a ligand is enveloped by a receptor, spurring a subtle change in the cell. (Bear with me.) In some respects, it’s similar to what’s happening inside a battery when electrolytes interact with engineered materials to cause a … Continue reading “The Xconversation: Vaccine Developer Meets Energy Innovator, Part I”
Seattle Week in Review: The March Madness of an Impressionable Teen AI
Where to begin with this week? Funny-not-funny #ManInTree, funding news from Convoy and a new AI startup, DimensionalMechanics, and the teen chatbot from Microsoft corrupted by the Internet over the course of a day? At least we’ve got hoops (and long odds). Here now, Xconomy Seattle’s Week in Review: —Microsoft has received more attention in … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: The March Madness of an Impressionable Teen AI”
Google Grows, Will Join Amazon in Seattle’s South Lake Union
Google plans to move and expand its Seattle offices from the Fremont neighborhood to South Lake Union, best known today for Amazon’s ever-growing corporate headquarters. Vulcan, the business empire of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and developer of most of the South Lake Union neighborhood over the last decade, is planning four buildings with some 607,000 … Continue reading “Google Grows, Will Join Amazon in Seattle’s South Lake Union”
Seattle Week in Review: Young, Rich, and Stuck in Traffic Edition
Raise a glass of bubbly, rent a boat, get out there and enjoy spring, especially if you’re young, rich, and tech-fabulous! In this edition of Xconomy Seattle’s Week in Review, we’ll grip the wheel for 66 wasted hours stuck in traffic; gauge optimism of a sample of local companies, as expressed by hiring plan for … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: Young, Rich, and Stuck in Traffic Edition”
Usermind Raises $14.5M to Push “BizOps” Vision for Sales, Marketing
The Northwest is already home to some of the top technology providers in the DevOps movement. Now comes Seattle-based Usermind, which just raised $14.5 million to advance its vision of “BizOps”—a tighter integration of front-office functions such as marketing, sales, and customer support. Menlo Ventures led the Series B funding round. Other participants included Andreessen … Continue reading “Usermind Raises $14.5M to Push “BizOps” Vision for Sales, Marketing”
Institute for Systems Biology, Providence Team Up for Preventive Care
The principles and practices of scientific wellness and personalized medicine developed over the last 15 years at genomics pioneer Leroy Hood’s Institute for Systems Biology will get what Hood says is a first application in a large patient population, through an affiliation with Providence Health & Services. The 3.3 million Providence patients—in Alaska, California, Montana, … Continue reading “Institute for Systems Biology, Providence Team Up for Preventive Care”
Seattle Week in Review: To Asia via Puyallup, Space via Kent
We’ve reached the end of a very long week. Let’s review. There was wind, rain, power outages, and an earthshaking natural gas explosion (we felt it) that leveled three buildings but mercifully caused only minor injuries to responding firefighters. There were tours of a new international crossroads of information, the Transpacific Hub, and the formerly secretive … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: To Asia via Puyallup, Space via Kent”
Accelerator 9Mile Labs Evolves Model for Investing in Startups
[Updated 3/10/16 2:12 pm. See below.] In the three years since it opened, Seattle business-to-business accelerator 9Mile Labs has tweaked just about every aspect of its model for mentoring, supporting, and funding companies. Co-founder Sanjay Puri and his partners are seeking the right formula amid a boom in the business of gooming startups for fast growth … Continue reading “Accelerator 9Mile Labs Evolves Model for Investing in Startups”
INRIX Buys OpenCar in Seattle Auto Tech Tie-up
INRIX, the Kirkland, WA-based company providing traffic data and other services for connected cars, acquired OpenCar, a Seattle startup making a platform to unite app developers and car manufacturers. The deal combines two significant players in the Seattle area’s cluster of automotive IT and telematics companies. INRIX plans to maintain, and possibly expand, OpenCar’s Seattle … Continue reading “INRIX Buys OpenCar in Seattle Auto Tech Tie-up”