I haven’t told my daughters yet that we’re getting this new tool that has captured my imagination and will soon help them make their own toys—and who knows what else. But I just ordered a Glowforge laser cutter and engraver from the eponymous Seattle startup, and I have to say, I’m pretty excited. Disclosures: Even … Continue reading “Here’s What Convinced Me to Order a $2,000 Glowforge Laser Cutter”
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.
Seattle 2035: Innovators Kelman, Etzioni, Hood, & More Tackle Big Questions
What’s your vision for Seattle 20 years from now? What will it take to continue the region’s tradition of innovation, and to develop and tap everyone’s talent? What are the big technology changes and investment opportunities? How do we remake Seattle as not just a smart city, but one that’s wise and resilient? These are … Continue reading “Seattle 2035: Innovators Kelman, Etzioni, Hood, & More Tackle Big Questions”
5 Keys to Keeping UW Among the World’s Most Innovative Universities
The University of Washington is the most innovative public university in the world, according to a ranking from Reuters that came out this week—and rightly added some swagger to the step of leaders on Montlake. As with all such lists, however, the Reuters Top 100 World’s Most Innovative Universities ranking is backward-looking, based on a … Continue reading “5 Keys to Keeping UW Among the World’s Most Innovative Universities”
Seattle Roundup: More M&A from DocuSign, Inrix, Microsoft, Wave
The acquisitions by local tech companies continued this week. DocuSign grabbed a division of OpenTrust, Microsoft bought Adallom, Wave Broadband snapped up Layer42, and Inrix acquired ParkMe. Meanwhile, Chef pulled down a big funding round and the Washington Technology Industry Association launched a software developer apprenticeship. Read on for details: —Kirkland, WA-based INRIX has acquired … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: More M&A from DocuSign, Inrix, Microsoft, Wave”
Washington Tech Industry Plans Software Apprenticeship Program
Washington state’s tech industry is undertaking another novel effort to grow its local talent pipeline with an apprenticeship program for would-be software developers. The Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) says a $3.5 million federal grant will help it create what it calls a first-of-its-kind registered apprenticeship program that aims to train 600 people over the … Continue reading “Washington Tech Industry Plans Software Apprenticeship Program”
Chef Orders Up $40M Series E for DevOps Automation Software
As software eats the world, every company must become a software company. You’ve heard that before. But it’s easier said than done. Seattle-based Chef, the IT automation software maker that has just raised a $40 million Series E financing, is growing in large part because of its ability to help companies—including traditional large enterprises—transform themselves … Continue reading “Chef Orders Up $40M Series E for DevOps Automation Software”
Seattle Roundup: End of Summer M&A Flurry
Northwest tech deal-makers were busy this week, announcing several significant mergers and acquisitions before the unofficial end of summer. Amazon Web Services is buying Portland, OR-based Elemental Technologies. Microsoft is scooping up people analytics company VoloMetrix. And Zillow is spinning off Market Leader at a significant discount. Read on for more details: —Elemental Technologies’ pending … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: End of Summer M&A Flurry”
AWS Buys Video Software Maker Elemental Technologies for Reported $500M
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is bolstering its already substantial cloud-based video offerings with the acquisition of Portland, OR-based Elemental Technologies. Elemental makes software to enable multi-screen delivery of video content over the Internet—things like video encoding, decoding, and transcoding. It has been working with Amazon subsidiary AWS for four years to serve shared customers in … Continue reading “AWS Buys Video Software Maker Elemental Technologies for Reported $500M”
Microsoft, Ballmers Enable More STEM Students, But Shortages Remain
Aspiring computer scientists, engineers, and health care professionals of modest means in Washington state have a better shot at a college education thanks to $21 million donated to a state scholarship fund by Microsoft and its former CEO, Steve Ballmer, matched dollar-for-dollar by the state. But even as a computer science education—a sure path to … Continue reading “Microsoft, Ballmers Enable More STEM Students, But Shortages Remain”
AREA360 Lands $3.5M to Bring Location-Based Apps to Museums, Airports
A Seattle company, by way of New Zealand, has raised $3.5 million to advance technology that helps managers of places like the Smithsonian museum and Sea-Tac Airport create location-based content and services for visitors. Madrona Venture Group is leading the Series A round for AREA360, whose product, STQRY, is designed for large, high-traffic locales that … Continue reading “AREA360 Lands $3.5M to Bring Location-Based Apps to Museums, Airports”
Modumetal Raises Cash to Make Durable Parts for Oil and Gas Sector
Modumetal, the Seattle company making corrosion-resistant metal alloys and coatings with applications in industries including oil and gas, has received $33.5 million in new capital from investors including Chevron Technology Ventures, BP Ventures, and ConocoPhillips. The funding, described as an expansion round in a news release Tuesday and detailed in an SEC filing, was led … Continue reading “Modumetal Raises Cash to Make Durable Parts for Oil and Gas Sector”
Spare5 Raises $10M to Gather More Human Insights for the Internet
Seattle startup Spare5 is pairing human and machine intelligence to give businesses insight into things like what photo will best sell a vacation rental property. The company’s model for tapping people’s spare brain power to complete valuable micro-tasks is finding a host of uses among data-driven commerce and content companies. Founded less than a year … Continue reading “Spare5 Raises $10M to Gather More Human Insights for the Internet”
Budding UW Data Scientists Use Their Powers for Social Good
Earn a degree in the field of data science these days and your ticket is punched: Google, Amazon, Facebook, leading-edge academic research, a well-funded startup—they’re all clamoring for people proficient in the tools and techniques needed to sift through today’s endless streams of digital data in search of something valuable. Social service organizations and local … Continue reading “Budding UW Data Scientists Use Their Powers for Social Good”
Seattle Roundup: Kymeta, Tableau, Avalara, Syntonic, Cleantech
[Corrected, 8/21/15, 1:53 p.m. See below.] The week began with an acquisition deal for Zulily, the flash sale retailer for moms. Zulily rode the IPO roller coaster and ended up selling to QVC for $2.4 billion in cash and stock. Also, food tech startup Peach raised $8 million to expand to Boston and Washington, D.C. … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: Kymeta, Tableau, Avalara, Syntonic, Cleantech”
Seattle Roundup: Spoken Communications, Unify Square, & More
Investors backed Seattle-area companies making software as a service for contact centers and Microsoft online communications technologies. Two local efforts to prevent sports head injuries gained funding. And Spaceflight Networks inked another partnership. Read on for details. —Spoken Communications, which makes cloud based software to help companies run contact centers, has raised $28.8 million in … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: Spoken Communications, Unify Square, & More”
Seattle 2035: AI, Space, Wellness, and the City of the Future
It’s no secret: Seattle—capital of cloud computing, e-commerce epicenter, Jet City, tech metropolis—is booming. But what comes next? How do we maintain and expand this region’s role on the global innovation stage through the next economic cycle and the decades to come? You can find out at Xconomy’s Seattle 2035 conference, part of our national … Continue reading “Seattle 2035: AI, Space, Wellness, and the City of the Future”
Life Sciences Fund Recast to Support Commercialization Ecosystem
With the $2 million it has remaining, Washington state’s Life Sciences Discovery Fund (LSDF) is planning grants to support organizations that help entrepreneurs bring ideas and innovations to market. Earlier this summer, the state Legislature defunded the LSDF, which had helped support early stage life sciences research and commercialization efforts for the last decade. After … Continue reading “Life Sciences Fund Recast to Support Commercialization Ecosystem”
Avvo Raises $71.5M from TCV, Others for Growing Legal Marketplace
Seattle-based Avvo, which helps people find and review lawyers, has raised $71.5 million from Technology Crossover Ventures, with participation from Vulcan and prior backer Coatue Management. The new capital will be spent on hiring, marketing, and product development, the company says in a news release. Earlier this month, the company announced plans to consolidate its … Continue reading “Avvo Raises $71.5M from TCV, Others for Growing Legal Marketplace”
Seattle Roundup: Acquisitions by Zillow, TUNE, Remitly, & More
We’re catching up this week on a spate of recent acquisitions, rumors of an IPO for Apptio, momentum for the Seattle commercial space cluster, funding for a carbon fiber recycling facility, and a new partner for Cambia Grove. The details: —Zillow, the Seattle online real estate giant, continues its acquisitive ways, snapping up DotLoop, which … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: Acquisitions by Zillow, TUNE, Remitly, & More”
Boeing Company, Family Pledge $30M for Museum of Flight Education
The Boeing Company and its founding family have pledged $30 million to turn the 50-year-old Museum of Flight into a STEM-education powerhouse, with an explicit focus on women and minorities, who are underrepresented in technology fields. The donations—$15 million each from the aerospace giant itself and June Boeing, widow of William E. Boeing Jr., who died … Continue reading “Boeing Company, Family Pledge $30M for Museum of Flight Education”
Invest NW Would Help Rich Families Make Local Impact Investments
The Pacific Northwest innovation economy is in the midst of a substantial capital refresh cycle, with four locally based venture funds filling their coffers with upwards of $700 million through the first half of the year. And there’s potential for more to come, from family foundations, a source that until now has been largely untapped. … Continue reading “Invest NW Would Help Rich Families Make Local Impact Investments”
Seattle Roundup: Auto IT, Real Estate, Space, Smart Grids, & More
Catching up on a few items from last week, we’re following a major investment for truck-tracking technology maker Zonar Systems, local VC fundraising, a big real estate deal for Tableau Software, and an innovative new skyscraper proposed downtown. Also, partnerships for Spaceflight Networks; Pacific Northwest Smart Grid Demonstration project results; a new way for small … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: Auto IT, Real Estate, Space, Smart Grids, & More”
Tola Ventures Raising $225M Fund for Enterprise Tech Investments
Investors in Seattle and beyond continue to be bullish on a renaissance in business computing, raising funds to back enterprise software companies, as national fundraising for venture firms hits pre-recession levels. Late last week, we reported on Ignition Venture Partners’ new “annex” fund, which could top out at $60 million (only $16.8 million raised so … Continue reading “Tola Ventures Raising $225M Fund for Enterprise Tech Investments”
Ignition Partners Raising “Annex” Fund to Reinvest in “Top Prospects”
Ignition Venture Partners is raising a so-called annex fund to double-down on investments made from its fourth fund, which already has some gems in it. The firm, which earlier this year raised a $200 million sixth fund, has so far raised $16.8 million of a potential $60 million for Ignition Venture Partners IV Annex Fund, … Continue reading “Ignition Partners Raising “Annex” Fund to Reinvest in “Top Prospects””
Seattle Roundup: State Budget, Unikrn, Skykick, & Korner
Heading into Independence Day weekend, Washington state still has a functioning government. The budget deal reached this week had implications for life sciences, the tech industry—including a tax increase specifically targeting Microsoft—cleantech, education, and much more. There were also a spate of smaller funding deals for Korner, Unikrn (not yet valued at “tres commas,” as … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: State Budget, Unikrn, Skykick, & Korner”
Dispatch from the Deep: Diving in a Developmental Submersible
ABOARD CYCLOPS 1, ELLIOTT BAY—I catch a last, harbor seal’s glimpse of the Seattle Aquarium and downtown skyline beyond through the dome-shaped hatch of the submersible. The pilot turns on the life support systems and opens a valve. Air releases from the ballast tank with a gasp. “OK, everybody, we’re going to go under,” says … Continue reading “Dispatch from the Deep: Diving in a Developmental Submersible”
WA Life Sciences Industry Faces Future of Diminished State Support
[Updated 7/1/15 4:58 pm with comments from Gov. Inslee. See below.] There was no last-minute veto by Gov. Jay Inslee this time, and so Washington state’s 10-year-old program to support early stage life sciences research and commercialization is coming to an end. The defunding of the Life Sciences Discovery Fund (LSDF) combined with the failure to … Continue reading “WA Life Sciences Industry Faces Future of Diminished State Support”
WA Tech Group Happy to Trade R&D Incentive for Education, for Now
Despite failing to renew high-technology tax incentives for research and development, the $38.2 billion two-year budget passed by Washington lawmakers this week represents “an amazing compromise,” according to the head of the state’s tech trade group. “A lot of the things that need to be done are being addressed,” says Michael Schutzler, CEO of the … Continue reading “WA Tech Group Happy to Trade R&D Incentive for Education, for Now”
Washington Budget Would End Life Sciences Discovery Fund
Washington lawmakers have put the Life Sciences Discovery Fund on life support and unless Gov. Jay Inslee saves it again with his veto pen Tuesday afternoon, the plug will be pulled. An 11th-hour operating budget passed by the state Legislature overnight delivers a significant blow to the state’s life sciences industry, particularly at the very … Continue reading “Washington Budget Would End Life Sciences Discovery Fund”
Seattle Roundup: Indix, Auth0, Appuri, UW Health Innovation, & More
It’s a momentous day in U.S. history, and a beautiful start to a hot, prideful weekend in Seattle. It’s already been a hot week in terms of startup funding and innovation news. Read on for details on new funding for Indix, Auth0, and Appuri; the acquisition of Radiant Vision Systems; a new Health Innovation Challenge … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: Indix, Auth0, Appuri, UW Health Innovation, & More”
Putting Waste to Profitable Use: Carbon Fiber and Food Scraps
More than two dozen Washington companies and organizations presented solutions to save water, energy, and wasted material during the CleanTech Showcase, presented by the CleanTech Alliance on Monday. Two that caught my eye are focused on putting waste material to beneficial use, and doing so locally. The Composite Recycling Technology Center in Port Angeles is … Continue reading “Putting Waste to Profitable Use: Carbon Fiber and Food Scraps”
Seattle Roundup: M&A Swarm, Element 8, STEM Diversity, & More
When the history of Seattle’s 21st century innovation economy is written (by a machine, of course), June 18, 2015, might mark the beginning of an important new chapter about the Global Innovation Exchange. In other news, there were acquisition announcements in bunches, headlined by Techstars’ pickup of UP Global; a new satellite company unveiled; more … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: M&A Swarm, Element 8, STEM Diversity, & More”
Seattle Startup Tests Ways to Attract Under-Represented Applicants
If actions speak louder than words, Seattle startup Glowforge is becoming a leading voice on the tech industry’s diversity problem—and potential ways to address it. The company, which is building a consumer-grade laser cutter, announced this week a $5,000 bounty “for referrals that lead to us hiring under-represented minorities.” It also published the terms of … Continue reading “Seattle Startup Tests Ways to Attract Under-Represented Applicants”
Tsinghua, UW, Microsoft Partner for Global Innovation Exchange
Seattle is getting a major new asset in the form of the Global Innovation Exchange, a partnership between University of Washington and Tsinghua University, one of China’s top research institutions, backed by $40 million from Microsoft. The GIX looks like a modern, graduate-level university with deep ties to industry and a focus on real-world problems … Continue reading “Tsinghua, UW, Microsoft Partner for Global Innovation Exchange”
Techstars Acquires Nonprofit UP Global, As Startup Industry Matures
Techstars, one of the nation’s foremost startup accelerator programs, has acquired the nonprofit entrepreneurship education outfit UP Global in a bid to cover the full spectrum “from idea to IPO.” The Seattle-based nonprofit may be best known as the umbrella group overseeing Startup Weekend events, 54-hour sprints held in cities around the world in which … Continue reading “Techstars Acquires Nonprofit UP Global, As Startup Industry Matures”
BlackSky Global Aims to Blanket the Globe with Small Imaging Satellites
BlackSky Global, a new offshoot of Seattle-based Spaceflight Industries, aims to launch a constellation of imaging satellites that would provide one-meter resolution pictures of almost any place of the earth, delivered on-demand to customers hours after they place an order. Chief technology officer Peter Wegner, who previously led the Defense Department’s Operationally Responsive Space Office, … Continue reading “BlackSky Global Aims to Blanket the Globe with Small Imaging Satellites”
Seattle Roundup: Modumetal, Envelop VR, Oculus VR, Socrata
Modumetal had little to say about its big funding round, revealed in SEC filings earlier this week. Meanwhile, the Seattle-area’s virtual reality industry gained momentum with funding for Envelop VR and a large, new office space for Oculus VR. Details on these stories, as well as a new “utility” product from government data platform Socrata, … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: Modumetal, Envelop VR, Oculus VR, Socrata”
Microsoft Pledges $10M for New UW Computer Science Building
The University of Washington’s plans for a new computer science building to accommodate surging interest from students—and the tech company employers who would hire them—is getting a $10 million boost from Microsoft. The Redmond, WA, company synonymous with the state’s tech industry pledged the cash to kick off a private fundraising campaign whose target would … Continue reading “Microsoft Pledges $10M for New UW Computer Science Building”
From Africa to Seattle, Building Businesses to Solve Big Problems
Listening to a Zambian entrepreneur pitch his goat meat business in the middle of a first-world technology hub, I glimpsed the degree to which entrepreneurship and capitalism have been called upon to address the problems of the world’s poor. Seattle-based Fledge, billed as a “conscious company” accelerator providing investment and Techstars-like mentorship and coaching to startups … Continue reading “From Africa to Seattle, Building Businesses to Solve Big Problems”
Seattle Roundup: Carena Funding, Avalara Acquisition, Alaska Biofuel
So far this year, three venture capital firms based in the Seattle area that invest heavily in Northwest startup companies have raised $520 million in new funding. Madrona Venture Group, with its $300 million sixth fund announced Thursday, is the biggest among them. Here are a few other stories we’re following this week: —Private cloud services … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: Carena Funding, Avalara Acquisition, Alaska Biofuel”
Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Washington by the Numbers
Whatever your view of Washington’s relative strengths and weaknesses as a place for innovation and entrepreneurship, there’s a new report out to help underpin your argument with data. Washington came in at a surprisingly low 38th in the Kauffman Foundation’s 2015 index of startup activity nationally, released Thursday. That’s down from 32nd last year. The … Continue reading “Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Washington by the Numbers”
Madrona Raises $300M Sixth Fund to Back More Northwest Startups
The biggest backer of Pacific Northwest technology startup companies, Madrona Venture Group, has raised a $300 million sixth fund, which it plans to invest in about 30 local startups during the next three to four years. Madrona follows Ignition Partners and Founders’ Co-op in announcing fresh investment funds in the last two months, giving local … Continue reading “Madrona Raises $300M Sixth Fund to Back More Northwest Startups”
Blue Box to Big Blue: IBM Acquires Seattle Private Cloud Provider
Seattle-based private cloud provider Blue Box has been scooped up by IBM, as the tech giant looks to bolster its OpenStack-based cloud computing offerings. Blue Box, founded in 2003 by Jesse Proudman, has 65 employees in Seattle. A representative for IBM says the company plans to integrate Blue Box’s employees into its business, and they … Continue reading “Blue Box to Big Blue: IBM Acquires Seattle Private Cloud Provider”
Fate of Life Sciences Fund Again in Limbo as Legislature Dithers
Washington state’s main public funding source for applied research and commercialization of new medical treatments could shut down in five weeks, with existing grants rescinded. Or it could see its funding maintained, be in charge of a new state cancer program, and begin advising Washington marijuana regulators on licensing research into that substance. Such is … Continue reading “Fate of Life Sciences Fund Again in Limbo as Legislature Dithers”
Seattle Roundup: Seattle Angel Conference, UW Business Plans, & More
In addition to significant fundraising news from iSpot.tv, Glowforge, and Ignition Partners, we’re tracking the winners of the University of Washington’s business plan competition, Seattle Angel Conference, and more. First, here’s a recap of Xconomy Seattle stories this week, followed by a few other notable developments: —Peach expanded to San Diego. We looked at how … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: Seattle Angel Conference, UW Business Plans, & More”
Ignition Partners Plans to Stay the Course with $200M Sixth Fund
The headline on venture capital firm Ignition Partners‘ pitch deck to investors in its new $200 million fund was “No Change.” Ignition, based in based in Bellevue, WA, and Palo Alto, CA, has good reason to stay the course. In announcing Ignition Venture Partners VI, the firm touted 25 significant exits in the last three years, … Continue reading “Ignition Partners Plans to Stay the Course with $200M Sixth Fund”
UW Recognized for Promoting Women in Computer Science
The University of Washington’s computer science program granted 30 percent of its undergraduate degrees last year to women, a mark that earned it recognition from the National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT). The UW received the grand prize in the first NCWIT Extension Services Transformation Awards, “based on the significant gains they have made … Continue reading “UW Recognized for Promoting Women in Computer Science”
Glowforge Gets $9M From Foundry, MakerBot Vets for Consumer Laser Cutter
If there’s one Seattle-area startup making something I really want, Glowforge is it. The company just raised $9 million from Foundry Group, True Ventures, and leaders of 3D-printing company MakerBot to build a consumer-grade “3D laser printer”—more commonly known as a laser cutter and engraver. Co-founder and CEO Dan Shapiro said Glowforge aims to have … Continue reading “Glowforge Gets $9M From Foundry, MakerBot Vets for Consumer Laser Cutter”
iSpot.tv Lands $22M to Measure TV Ads and Their Online Impact
Many modern advertising campaigns still start with a prime time TV commercial, but any Mad Man worth his salt follows that up with social and digital media strategies, measuring everything along the way. Except the kind of detailed, real-time analytics advertisers expect online are still tough to come by for TV spots. That’s where iSpot.tv comes … Continue reading “iSpot.tv Lands $22M to Measure TV Ads and Their Online Impact”
9Mile Labs Startups Tackle Out-Dated Business Processes
If there was a common theme among several of the nine business-to-business companies finishing Seattle startup accelerator 9Mile Labs this week, it was modernization. From booking a campground to verifying employees’ credentials to managing suppliers, these startups aim to take cumbersome or out-dated business processes in a range of industries and give them a technology … Continue reading “9Mile Labs Startups Tackle Out-Dated Business Processes”