About 15 Seattle Seahawks players met with a similar number of startup and tech company CEOs Wednesday night at Madrona Venture Group’s offices. Madrona managing director Matt McIlwain describes it as an “informal gathering” of NFL pros and CEOs from the firm’s portfolio companies. There are “many great entrepreneurial thinkers and doers on the Seahawks … Continue reading “Seahawks Players, Tech CEOs Trade Ideas at Madrona Gathering”
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.
Slideshow: Seattle Biotech Seizes the Momentum
Seattle biotech leaders gathered at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center on Wednesday received a generally sunny view of the industry in the region, despite the ongoing laments about our lack of a true anchor tenant and lackluster state-level support. The crowd erupted in cheers when Adaptive Biotechnologies CEO Chad Robins announced a $195 million … Continue reading “Slideshow: Seattle Biotech Seizes the Momentum”
New Investment Fund Forming in Seattle to Back Cleantech Innovation
A new cleantech-focused investment fund is forming in Seattle. The Element 8 Fund is emerging from the Element 8 angel investing group (formerly the Northwest Energy Angels) as a way to give individual accredited investors a chance to broaden their portfolios in the sector. The Element 8 Fund will be a separate legal entity from … Continue reading “New Investment Fund Forming in Seattle to Back Cleantech Innovation”
Seattle Roundup: Icertis, Blue Origin, UW President Search, & More
This week, we’re following funding news for a Bellevue, WA-based cloud contract management company, Icertis; Blue Origin’s successful test flight of its New Shepard space vehicle; the search for a new University of Washington president; a new class of students at the Ada Developers Academy; Smartsheet’s integration with Microsoft Outlook; and university business plan competitions. … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: Icertis, Blue Origin, UW President Search, & More”
Do “Living Buildings” Make Economic Sense for Commercial Developers?
The Bullitt Center earlier this month lived up to its billing as the world’s greenest commercial office building. It earned certification through the Living Building Challenge after a year of operations in which the six-story, timber-framed edifice—and its tenants—consumed less energy than was generated by its rooftop solar array, drew no water from the municipal … Continue reading “Do “Living Buildings” Make Economic Sense for Commercial Developers?”
Seattle Roundup: MediaPro, LiveStories, Porch.com, SpaceView
As we noted earlier this week, it’s seemed a little quiet on the venture capital deals front so far this year. Washington saw the lowest number of VC deals in the first quarter since 1996, though many of those companies that did get funding collected bigger rounds. The picture didn’t change much this week. Here … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: MediaPro, LiveStories, Porch.com, SpaceView”
Washington Companies Score Fewer But Larger Venture Rounds in Q1
If it seemed a little quiet in venture capital investing around here so far this year, that’s because Washington state saw the fewest deals during the first quarter since 1996. But investors bet more money on the 19 companies that did close funding rounds during the first three months of 2015. Venture capitalists put just … Continue reading “Washington Companies Score Fewer But Larger Venture Rounds in Q1”
Impinj Sells 10 Billion Chips, Unlocking Internet of Everyday Things
The real promise of the Internet of Things is connecting not just powered electronic devices, but the countless other everyday items that until recently have remained stubbornly isolated in the physical world. Impinj, a 15-year-old Seattle company, is doing just that with its radio frequency identification (RFID) technology—long in development and now finally achieving large-scale … Continue reading “Impinj Sells 10 Billion Chips, Unlocking Internet of Everyday Things”
Seattle Roundup: Cyber Liability, Gravity Payments, Poachable, Angels
Catch up on the latest offering from the Washington Technology Industry Association, a bold move made by Gravity Payments, funding for Poachable, and companies tapped for Northwest angel investment competition finals: —The Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) is offering smaller companies an insurance policy to protect against damage resulting breaches of customer information. The Cyber … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: Cyber Liability, Gravity Payments, Poachable, Angels”
UW Updating IP Policies to Fit ’21st Century Research University’
The University of Washington is undertaking a wholesale review of its intellectual property (IP) policies, as part of a broader, ongoing reinvention of how the institution teaches, practices, and disseminates innovation in every discipline. Former UW President Michael Young had directed the Intellectual Property Management Advisory Committee to examine the university’s intellectual property policies. Now … Continue reading “UW Updating IP Policies to Fit ’21st Century Research University’”
Cray Supercomputers Power Weather Forecasts Globally, and Now in the U.S.
Seattle supercomputer maker Cray, a quiet stalwart of the region’s technology industry, has been on a growth spurt lately, thanks in part to a spate of sales to government weather forecasting centers. Cray has long provided machines—made in Chippewa Falls, WI—that help scientists model the climate and predict storms. Recent deals with forecasters in the … Continue reading “Cray Supercomputers Power Weather Forecasts Globally, and Now in the U.S.”
Seattle Roundup: Founders’ Co-op New Fund and Real Estate Moves
The big Seattle tech news this week was in real estate, as growing tech companies large and small continue the scramble for space. The early-stage startups will at least have another source of capital, thanks to a new fund raised by Founders’ Co-op. Read on for details of Expedia’s relocation, Porch’s new digs, Alibaba rumors, … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: Founders’ Co-op New Fund and Real Estate Moves”
Seattle’s Iconic Helix Biotech Campus to Be Expedia’s New Home
Expedia is moving its headquarters from Bellevue, WA, to the Amgen Helix campus in Seattle, a premier collection of biotech labs and office buildings along Elliott Bay that biotech industry backers had hoped would find a second life hosting another biotech company. Expedia, the online travel giant and one of Bellevue’s largest tech companies, is … Continue reading “Seattle’s Iconic Helix Biotech Campus to Be Expedia’s New Home”
Northwest Smart Grid Demo Shows Promise, Need for Better Data
The largest smart grid demonstration project in the U.S., covering about a dozen utilities in five Northwest states, has shown how adding more information at all levels of the electricity system can improve efficiency and potentially lower costs. But the project, which wrapped up data collection last summer and is now sharing results, also highlighted … Continue reading “Northwest Smart Grid Demo Shows Promise, Need for Better Data”
Product Development Tools Maker Jama Software Raises $20M
Jama Software, the Portland, OR, company that makes a toolset for developing technology products including software, has raised $20 million in fresh funding from new investor Updata Partners and prior backers including Trinity Ventures and Madrona Venture Group. The company says it will use the funding to expand usage of its software beyond its customers’ … Continue reading “Product Development Tools Maker Jama Software Raises $20M”
Seattle Roundup: Ignition Fund, Lighter Capital, WISErg, HBO, and More
The big news this week is that Ignition Partners, an active investor in business-focused startups, is gearing up for another venture fund that could come in at $200 million. We’re also tracking a new investment in Lighter Capital, WISErg’s Series B, HBO’s Seattle expansion, and a healthcare IT partnership for Caradigm. Earlier in the week … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: Ignition Fund, Lighter Capital, WISErg, HBO, and More”
Donuts Builds Domain-Name Business Amid New Land Grab on the Web
In late February, a Google subsidiary won control of the top-level domain name .app with a $25 million bid, the highest price paid so far in an online land rush for new words or phrases that appear to the right of the last dot in a Web address. Amazon subsidiaries scooped up .buy and .spot … Continue reading “Donuts Builds Domain-Name Business Amid New Land Grab on the Web”
UW Moves Toward ‘Innovation Transfer’—Not Just Tech Transfer
From a maker space to novel, streamlined intellectual property licensing terms to a forthcoming Web app for connecting students with mentors in the innovation community, several new initiatives are making good on plans to broaden the scope of University of Washington’s erstwhile technology commercialization arm. These efforts, in various stages of development, reflect a mission … Continue reading “UW Moves Toward ‘Innovation Transfer’—Not Just Tech Transfer”
Seattle Roundup: Remitly, Healthentic, Microsoft Accelerator Startups
In addition to the major funding rounds announced this week by FiftyThree ($30 million) and Rover ($25 million), smaller deals went down at Remitly and Healthentic. Meanwhile, Pro.com joined an accelerator program and Microsoft named 14 companies to its next startup accelerator in Seattle. Read on for details: —Remitly, a Seattle startup taking a modern, … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: Remitly, Healthentic, Microsoft Accelerator Startups”
Echodyne Targets Drones, Self-Driving Cars with Metamaterials Radar
Echodyne, a secretive Seattle-area startup company backed by investors including Bill Gates and Paul Allen, is developing a novel, high-performance radar suitable for drones, robots, and self-driving cars. The technology could potentially allow such vehicles to operate independently in a range of conditions. The company, housed in a drab, unmarked building just off State Route 520 in Bellevue, … Continue reading “Echodyne Targets Drones, Self-Driving Cars with Metamaterials Radar”
Qumulo Promises Insights into Data with New Software-Based Storage
Qumulo, the Seattle data storage startup that has raised $67 million, says it has about 15 customers so far for the high-capacity system it’s bringing to the market today. For the last three years, the company founded by early employees of Seattle’s last major data storage success, Isilon, has been quietly at work on Qumulo Core—a … Continue reading “Qumulo Promises Insights into Data with New Software-Based Storage”
Seattle Roundup: Spaceflight Industries, Expedia, Magicflix, & More
This week, Spaceflight Industries collected a major funding round, strengthening another player in the state’s commercial space industry. Meanwhile, startups Magicflix and PatrolTag raised smaller sums; Expedia continued its spending spree; Avalara picked up assets from a Brazilian tax company; Cambia Grove opened its doors; ChickTech is opening a Seattle chapter; EnergySavvy is collaborating with … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: Spaceflight Industries, Expedia, Magicflix, & More”
There’s an Algorithm for That: Algorithmia Helps You Find It
These days, you don’t have to be an expert in natural-language processing or computer vision to make an app that can automatically summarize text or recognize faces. You just have to find the right algorithm. Seattle startup Algorithmia is making both finding and using algorithms easier with a marketplace that unites algorithm creators and the … Continue reading “There’s an Algorithm for That: Algorithmia Helps You Find It”
OceanGate Unveils Cyclops Sub to Help Businesses, Researchers Go Deep
Small, manned submersibles are typically seen attached to mega-yachts, or in the headlines making extreme dives to the deepest spots in the oceans. Now a Seattle company is building a new generation of underwater vehicles to charter to a range of commercial, industrial, and government customers in the new ocean economy. OceanGate is unveiling Cyclops … Continue reading “OceanGate Unveils Cyclops Sub to Help Businesses, Researchers Go Deep”
Seattle Roundup: Avalara, Alternative Capital, Car2Go, & More
Two companies providing financing alternatives to technology companies made news this week. Lighter Capital did a deal with Portland, OR-based Building Energy, and SaaS Capital raised a new fund and grew its presence in Seattle. Also, Avalara bought a company making tax software for vacation rentals; Car2Go and Uber announced Seattle expansions; Airbiquity landed a … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: Avalara, Alternative Capital, Car2Go, & More”
Haiku Deck Taps Artificial Intelligence for Automatic Presentations
Haiku Deck is building a tool to automatically create slide presentations using artificial intelligence informed by choices the Seattle company’s users have made in designing millions of slides over the past two and a half years. Co-founder and CEO Adam Tratt says the company’s mission has been to make presentation authoring dramatically easier, while also … Continue reading “Haiku Deck Taps Artificial Intelligence for Automatic Presentations”
Tempered Networks Raises $15M For Industrial Network Security
Tempered Networks, which aims to improve network security at manufacturing and industrial facilities, said it raised $15 million from Ignition Partners and IDG Ventures. The Seattle company’s Series A funding round, led by Ignition, builds on what it described as a $5 million bridge funding round in December, and $2 million in seed funding raised … Continue reading “Tempered Networks Raises $15M For Industrial Network Security”
Seattle Roundup: Live Long and Prosper Edition
Our hearts are heavy today with news of the death of Leonard Nimoy at age 83, who was Star Trek’s Mr. Spock and so much more. He exemplified his most famous character’s most famous line: Live long and prosper. On to this week’s Seattle tech news. There was new funding announced this week for Unify … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: Live Long and Prosper Edition”
UW Medicine Taps Telemedicine Provider Carena for New Virtual Clinic
In a bid to provide quick, convenient access to care for common, easy-to-diagnose ailments, UW Medicine—the University of Washington’s healthcare organization—began an online virtual clinic in January using telemedicine services from Seattle-based Carena. People in Washington can schedule a face-to-face visit with a doctor or nurse anytime of the day or night for help with … Continue reading “UW Medicine Taps Telemedicine Provider Carena for New Virtual Clinic”
Angel Groups Seek to Assure Entrepreneurs They Are Accredited
The angel investing horror story goes something like this: An entrepreneur publicly solicits seed capital under new securities laws, but accidentally accepts investment from an unaccredited investor. When this violation of JOBS Act rules is discovered, the entire investment round must be rolled back and the money—if there’s any left—returned. It’s the ultimate lose-lose situation. “Everything … Continue reading “Angel Groups Seek to Assure Entrepreneurs They Are Accredited”
Seattle Roundup: CoCo, Glencoe, StratoScientific, APImetrics, & More
In addition to the $100 million-plus private equity funding for software company K2 and confirmation of Facebook’s plans to grow to 2,000 employees in Seattle, we’re tracking a passel of smaller funding and partnership deals this week, including new investments for CoCo Communications, Glencoe Software, StratoScientific, APImetrics, and Stasys Medical. Also, Zillow closed its acquisition … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: CoCo, Glencoe, StratoScientific, APImetrics, & More”
Facebook Leasing Space for 2,000 Employees in Seattle
It won’t be the Guggenheim, but Facebook’s new Seattle offices will have room for up to 2,000 employees, working on virtually everything the social networking company does. And the interior spaces will be designed by Frank Gehry. Facebook confirmed reports by Bloomberg and others over the weekend that it is leasing 274,000 square feet of … Continue reading “Facebook Leasing Space for 2,000 Employees in Seattle”
Business Software Provider K2 Raising $100M+ From Francisco
K2, a 15-year-old business software company formed in South Africa and based in the Seattle area since 2004, said it is raising more than $100 million from private equity investor Francisco Partners. The company, a Microsoft partner that provides software and services to help businesses build and run a range of custom applications, will invest the capital “across … Continue reading “Business Software Provider K2 Raising $100M+ From Francisco”
What Should Be on the Next UW President’s Commercialization Agenda?
The University of Washington hired Michael Young as president nearly four years ago in large part because of his reputation as a leader in university commercialization and innovation—and these issues gained unprecedented visibility during his tenure. With Young’s abrupt departure to lead Texas A&M University, the UW now faces the challenge of maintaining the momentum … Continue reading “What Should Be on the Next UW President’s Commercialization Agenda?”
Seattle Roundup: Z2Live, Lighthouse, Element 8, Ada, Placed, ecoATM
This week, we’re catching up on a big acquisition in mobile games, as King Digital, the Candy Crush maker, is buying Z2Live and establishing its first U.S. studio in Seattle. Meanwhile, Lighthouse eDiscovery took on a new investor; Element 8 set a record for cleantech investments last year; Ada Developers Academy is going out on … Continue reading “Seattle Roundup: Z2Live, Lighthouse, Element 8, Ada, Placed, ecoATM”
Healthentic: Take Your Meds or Face Increased Hospitalization, Costs
It’s well-known that people who don’t take their prescribed medications face increased health risks. A new analysis of nearly 100,000 people by Seattle-based Healthentic found that slacking on prescriptions carries a heavy financial burden, too. The company, which helps employers evaluate the health needs and costs of their workers, plumbed its database to determine prescription … Continue reading “Healthentic: Take Your Meds or Face Increased Hospitalization, Costs”
Kickstarter Tech Projects in Washington: Top 5 in 2014
Space telescopes, high-tech decanters, smartphone photography equipment, augmented-reality glasses, high-visibility bike lights, and games of all kinds. These were some of the top-drawing Kickstarter projects in Washington state over the last three years, and they tell a concise story about what excites the imaginations of the innovators who call this place home. Xconomy is looking … Continue reading “Kickstarter Tech Projects in Washington: Top 5 in 2014”
Seattle-based Qumulo Raises $40M for Modern Data Storage
It’s about the water, not the bucket. The money, not the safe. And for Qumulo, a Seattle startup that’s just raised $40 million, it’s the data, not the storage. Qumulo—founded in 2012 by early employees of enterprise storage provider Isilon Systems, which was acquired just over four years ago by EMC for $2.5 billion—is part … Continue reading “Seattle-based Qumulo Raises $40M for Modern Data Storage”
Did the Super Bowl Flu Strike Your Office?
Look around. A few of your colleagues missing today? Maybe yesterday’s game was just too much for them? Seattle-based healthcare IT startup Healthentic says it’s not your imagination. The company tracks health insurance usage and other data for companies to help them find ways to save money and improve benefits for their employees. It looked … Continue reading “Did the Super Bowl Flu Strike Your Office?”
Boston Beats Seattle in Venture Capital Bowl With Biotechs as MVPs
It’s Super Bowl Friday—Super Blue Friday, here in Seattle, where the sun shines in January. Time for a good old fashioned venture capital showdown between Seattle and New England. It’s not much of a contest, unfortunately. Venture investors did 390 deals in the greater Boston area last year, compared to 173 in Seattle, according to … Continue reading “Boston Beats Seattle in Venture Capital Bowl With Biotechs as MVPs”
Koru Raises $8M to Connect Tech Employers, Recent Grads
Seattle startup Koru has raised $8 million to continue growing its business at the intersection of recruiting for high-growth technology companies and training for recent college graduates. The Series A funding round was led by Seattle-based Maveron, with new investors City Light Capital and Trilogy Equity Partners and previous backers Battery Ventures and First Round … Continue reading “Koru Raises $8M to Connect Tech Employers, Recent Grads”
DFJ Grows Seattle Footprint With New Entrepreneur in Residence
Venture capital giant Draper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ) has stationed its first entrepreneur in residence in Seattle. Seattle native Bryan Hale, 32, will work with Seattle-based partner Bill Bryant, advising the firm’s portfolio companies, evaluating new investments, and, most importantly, looking for a startup of his own. Hale spent the last five and a half years … Continue reading “DFJ Grows Seattle Footprint With New Entrepreneur in Residence”
Online Travel Consolidation: Expedia Buys Travelocity for $280M
Bellevue, WA-based Expedia (NASDAQ: [[ticker:EXPE]]) has purchased Travelocity as consolidation continues in the online travel industry. Expedia paid Sabre Corporation (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SABR]]) $280 million for Travelocity, formed in 1996. In 2013, Expedia competitor Priceline.com (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PCLN]]) acquired Kayak (NASDAQ: [[ticker:KYAK]]) for $522.4 million in cash and 1.5 million shares of stock. Since 2013, Expedia technology has underpinned … Continue reading “Online Travel Consolidation: Expedia Buys Travelocity for $280M”
UW Rebrands Commercialization Office CoMotion, Sets Broader Mission
Add a new name to the list of major changes at the University of Washington’s technology transfer office over the last year. The new moniker, CoMotion, is meant to signal a broader mission for what was formerly called the Center for Commercialization. “We’re expanding beyond [intellectual property] and startups and licensing to include supporting the … Continue reading “UW Rebrands Commercialization Office CoMotion, Sets Broader Mission”
Seattle Funding Roundup: Porch, Avalara, Alliance of Angels, & More
There is magic in the air after this past weekend’s NFC Championship game, in which the Seahawks took us from the lowest lows to the highest highs in the course of about five minutes of game time. Meanwhile, some significant funding deals went down. Porch continued on its fundraising tear. Avalara brought in late-stage investor … Continue reading “Seattle Funding Roundup: Porch, Avalara, Alliance of Angels, & More”
The Lion’s Den Entertains, But Will It Engage New Investors?
I laughed. I cried. I sat on the edge of my seat as two investors with divergent views of capitalism battled for the favor of an aspiring entrepreneur with a great idea. There was popcorn. The initial running of Tom Douglas’ The Lion’s Den, an effort to broaden the pool of wealthy Seattleites investing in … Continue reading “The Lion’s Den Entertains, But Will It Engage New Investors?”
Dan Shapiro Needs Help Building a Replicator at Seattle Startup Glowforge
Dan Shapiro and his team of serial entrepreneurs are making something to help other people make things. It might be a Star Trek-like replicator—or at least a very early prototype of one. They have a milling machine as big as an elephant in their facility in Seattle’s SoDo neighborhood, more than $1 million in angel … Continue reading “Dan Shapiro Needs Help Building a Replicator at Seattle Startup Glowforge”
Tom Douglas Serving Local, Sustainable Startups to Would-be Investors
Tom Douglas, builder of food empires, is putting his imprimatur on a new Seattle startup event meant to bring together wealthy, connected professionals and entrepreneurs in what organizers bill as “Shark Tank with a soul.” Some 300 people—mainly accredited investors—are expected to fill Douglas’ Palace Ballroom on Thursday night, paying $15 a pop to hear … Continue reading “Tom Douglas Serving Local, Sustainable Startups to Would-be Investors”
Musk Wants More Seattleites to Build Satellites for SpaceX
[Updated, 1/13/15 at 11:38 am. See below.] Elon Musk, CEO of Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), says the company’s Seattle office could eventually employ “several hundred people, maybe a thousand people,” in what would be a major boost to Washington state’s commercial space industry. Musk made the comments in an interview with Bloomberg News posted … Continue reading “Musk Wants More Seattleites to Build Satellites for SpaceX”
Plan for New $100M UW Computer Science Building Gains Steam
Plans for a new University of Washington computer science building gained momentum in recent weeks with a $40 million line-item in the governor’s proposed capital budget, a major private gift, and, Thursday, approval by UW regents of an architectural firm for pre-design work. The UW Board of Regents authorized negotiation of a contract with LMN … Continue reading “Plan for New $100M UW Computer Science Building Gains Steam”