Author: Curt Woodward

Curt covered technology and innovation in the Boston area for Xconomy. He previously worked in Xconomy’s Seattle bureau and continued some coverage of Seattle-area tech companies, including Amazon and Microsoft. Curt joined Xconomy in February 2011 after nearly nine years with The Associated Press, the world's largest news organization. He worked in three states and covered a wide variety of beats for the AP, including business, law, politics, government, and general mayhem. A native Washingtonian, Curt earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA. As a past president of the state's Capitol Correspondents Association, he led efforts to expand statehouse press credentialing to online news outlets for the first time.

Decide Opens Shopping Site

Decide.com, a gadget-shopping site co-founded by University of Washington professor Oren Etzioni, is opening its doors to the public. Decide’s consumer pitch is taking the regret out of buying expensive electronics by trying to predict whether new models are coming out, or if prices might change in the near future—it’s no coincidence that Etzioni was … Continue reading “Decide Opens Shopping Site”

Sir Mix-A-Lot, Giant Thinkwell to Posse Up

Seattle social-game startup Giant Thinkwell, a TechStars company hatched at a Startup Weekend last year, is getting ready to roll out its first official celebrity-branded game, featuring Seattle hip-hop legend Sir Mix-A-Lot. Word comes via Twitter, where folks are passing around an invite by Giant Thinkwell to help build social-media buzz for the game, called … Continue reading “Sir Mix-A-Lot, Giant Thinkwell to Posse Up”

Kinect Hacks Finally Legitimate – Is Skype Next? Microsoft Releases Developer Kit for Motion- and Sound-Sensing Controller

[Updated 2:10 pm with more details throughout] It’s not just for bootleggers anymore. Today, Microsoft (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MSFT]]) is making good on its promises to officially open up the Xbox 360’s Kinect motion sensor, offering a software development kit download for non-commercial uses. That means it’s aimed at “enthusiasts and academics,” some of whom the company … Continue reading “Kinect Hacks Finally Legitimate – Is Skype Next? Microsoft Releases Developer Kit for Motion- and Sound-Sensing Controller”

Nuance’s Seattle Office: The ‘Other Guys’ from Tegic and Their Fellow Startup Vets Build A Mobile Innovation Hub

Brad Bargen knows a thing or two about being acquired—he’s actually been through it five times, dating back to General Motors’ 1985 deal for Hughes Aircraft. In the latest phase of his career, Bargen is a leader in Nuance Communications’ mobile R&D hub in Seattle, one of the nation’s most longstanding and vibrant innovation centers … Continue reading “Nuance’s Seattle Office: The ‘Other Guys’ from Tegic and Their Fellow Startup Vets Build A Mobile Innovation Hub”

Startup Weekend, Looking to Strengthen Communities for Entrepreneurs, Builds New Startup Foundation in Seven Cities

Startup Weekend, the create-a-company cram session that has spread worldwide in just a few years, is branching out in a big way. The Seattle-based nonprofit tells Xconomy it is creating a sister organization called the Startup Foundation, aimed at establishing a permanent hub for local entrepreneurial communities around the globe. The new project has backing … Continue reading “Startup Weekend, Looking to Strengthen Communities for Entrepreneurs, Builds New Startup Foundation in Seven Cities”

Amazon’s Expanding Cloud, Concur’s Acquisition, Biofuel Exploration, & More in the Seattle-Area Tech Roundup

Back in 2000, Amazon.com (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]) was a roughly was a $2.7 billion company that packed a pretty hefty load of data to process its online retail empire. Today, one of Amazon’s newer businesses, Amazon Web Services, adds enough computing capacity to bring a turn-of-the-century Amazon online every single day. That was one of the … Continue reading “Amazon’s Expanding Cloud, Concur’s Acquisition, Biofuel Exploration, & More in the Seattle-Area Tech Roundup”

Adding a Circa-2000 Amazon.com Every Day, Data Centers With No Air Conditioning, & More from Amazon Web Services’ James Hamilton

James Hamilton is obsessed with efficiency. As vice president and distinguished engineer for Amazon Web Services, Hamilton is at the forefront of the Seattle company’s massive cloud computing effort, from software and switches to air conditioning and building design. Kind of fitting for a veteran of Microsoft and IBM who also used to fix high-end … Continue reading “Adding a Circa-2000 Amazon.com Every Day, Data Centers With No Air Conditioning, & More from Amazon Web Services’ James Hamilton”

Stratos Genomics Raises $2.1M

Seattle-based Stratos Genomics, developer of low-cost gene sequencing technology, says it has added $2.1 million in financing from existing investors, tied to last year’s $4 million Series A round. In a press release, CEO Allan Stephan said shareholders “don’t want our validation pace interrupted by external fundraising activities.” Stratos Genomics was founded in 2007 as a spinoff … Continue reading “Stratos Genomics Raises $2.1M”

Computer Science Tuition Could Rise Faster than Other Degrees Under New WA Rules

With a hot market for their skills and employers who offer top-notch salaries and benefits, should computer science students pay more for their bachelor’s degree than theater or history majors? In Washington state, the answer could soon be yes. Historically, undergraduates in this state have paid flat tuition rates based on the number of credits … Continue reading “Computer Science Tuition Could Rise Faster than Other Degrees Under New WA Rules”

Concur Expands in Europe with GlobalExpense Acquisition, Latest in Series of Pickups and Partnerships

Online business expense-management company Concur has been on a dealmaking tear this year, and isn’t slowing down just yet. Today, the Redmond, WA-based company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CNQR]]) announced it would purchase London’s GlobalExpense for about $19.7 million. Performance incentives could add another $3.3 million to the price. From Concur’s description, GlobalExpense sounds like a pretty similar … Continue reading “Concur Expands in Europe with GlobalExpense Acquisition, Latest in Series of Pickups and Partnerships”

Facebook vs. Google, Polaris Skips Town, HackStars’ Unlikely Origin, & More in the Seattle-Area Tech Roundup

As the Web becomes more social, will search start to whither as a primary means for consumers to access the Internet? That’s been suggested by some folks in the tech world, as the rise of Facebook begins to create a dynamic layer on top of the “regular” Web that isn’t fully reachable by Google’s crawlers. … Continue reading “Facebook vs. Google, Polaris Skips Town, HackStars’ Unlikely Origin, & More in the Seattle-Area Tech Roundup”

TechStars Seattle, on the Prowl for Talented Coders, Adopts HackStars Program

Last year, the organizers of TechStars in Boulder, CO, decided to try a little experiment. Already stocked with 10 teams of entrepreneurs working on their proto-companies, the startup boot-camp saw a niche for extra hands to help knock out some of the startups’ technical projects. So David Cohen, TechStars’ founder and CEO, brought in a … Continue reading “TechStars Seattle, on the Prowl for Talented Coders, Adopts HackStars Program”

Facebook, Google & Beyond: Rand Fishkin of SEOmoz & Ben Elowitz of Wetpaint Debate the Future of Information and Relationships

Among the “Gang of Four” tech giants that Google Chairman Eric Schmidt says are driving consumer technology innovation, two iconic companies—Google and Facebook—are battling for an important title: Who will dominate the means of accessing, sorting, and connecting to the Internet’s flood of information. With Facebook on the rise, and Google’s self-professed stumbles in seizing … Continue reading “Facebook, Google & Beyond: Rand Fishkin of SEOmoz & Ben Elowitz of Wetpaint Debate the Future of Information and Relationships”

ValueAppeal Adds $1.6M

Seattle-based ValueAppeal, an online service that helps homeowners challenge their property tax bills, has added $1.6 million in financing. The startup had raised two rounds totaling about $1.5 million last year, mostly from angel investors. ValueAppeal says the new money is mostly from existing investors, but they weren’t named. Founder and CEO Charlie Walsh says the fresh … Continue reading “ValueAppeal Adds $1.6M”

Tippr Grabs Sales & Tech Talent in DealPop Acquisition, Continuing Daily Deals Dogfight for Third Place

[Updated at 11:40 am with Groupon/Expedia news] When was the last time a contest for third place was so action-packed? Riding the skyrocketing valuations of online coupon dealers Groupon and Living Social, startups like Seattle’s Tippr and New York-based BuyWithMe have been engaging in some hand-to-hand combat for growth. Today, Tippr makes another move with … Continue reading “Tippr Grabs Sales & Tech Talent in DealPop Acquisition, Continuing Daily Deals Dogfight for Third Place”

Trinity Leads $10M Investment in Act-On Software, Helping Oregon-Based Digital Marketing Company Fuel International Growth

[Updated 4:45 pm to correct headline, copy reflecting Trinity as lead investor. Previous information provided by company spokesperson was incorrect.] Well, that was quick. Act-On Software, a Beaverton, OR-based online marketing company, has raised a $10 million financing round led by Trinity Ventures at what founder and CEO Raghu Raghavan calls “a substantial step up in … Continue reading “Trinity Leads $10M Investment in Act-On Software, Helping Oregon-Based Digital Marketing Company Fuel International Growth”

Micron, IV Strike Deal

Intellectual Ventures, the Bellevue, WA-based patent firm started by former Microsoft CTO Nathan Myhrvold, is announcing a new two-way intellectual property deal with Boise, ID-based semiconductor maker Micron Technology (NASDAQ:[[ticker:MU]]). Like many licensing deals we see from Intellectual Ventures, this one gives Micron access to IV’s portfolio of “more than 30,000” patents. The second element … Continue reading “Micron, IV Strike Deal”

Hollywood Lights, Rock Gods, Cleantech Gurus, & More in the Seattle-Area Tech Roundup

With an established moviemaking hub so close in Vancouver, B.C., Seattle is probably never going to be ground zero for a lot of Hollywood productions. But this area’s entrepreneurs, with rich DNA in digital media, gaming, and e-commerce, could certainly make some waves by helping the entertainment industry navigate the digital era. In this piece, … Continue reading “Hollywood Lights, Rock Gods, Cleantech Gurus, & More in the Seattle-Area Tech Roundup”

Madrona, Trilogy Lead $1.2M Investment in Mobilisafe, Targeting Business IT Security Amid a Flood of Personal Gadgets

Aside from the occasional panic over distracted driving or general griping about bad manners, the rapid improvement in personal mobile computing over the past decade is usually portrayed as a happy occurrence. But the phenomenon is also creating a range of headaches for business IT people, who could rightfully see an arsenal of vulnerabilities in … Continue reading “Madrona, Trilogy Lead $1.2M Investment in Mobilisafe, Targeting Business IT Security Amid a Flood of Personal Gadgets”

Report: Polaris Closes Seattle Office

A report by VentureWire this afternoon (although oddly post-dated to May 31) says Waltham, MA-based Polaris Venture Partners has closed its Seattle office. I’ve reached out to Polaris officials for comment but haven’t heard back as of this posting. According to Polaris’ website, the Seattle office was home base for co-founder and venture partner Steve … Continue reading “Report: Polaris Closes Seattle Office”

UW Business Plan Competition Winners: Clean Water, Better Food, & Next-Gen Medical Scans

[Updated at 12:30 to correct grand prize amount] After nearly two months of development, pitching, advice, and several rounds of judging, the 2011 University of Washington Business Plan Competition is a wrap. The annual event drew 104 teams this year, which the UW’s Foster Business School says is a record. Last night, winners were named … Continue reading “UW Business Plan Competition Winners: Clean Water, Better Food, & Next-Gen Medical Scans”

Google’s Purchase of Sparkbuy: Sounds Like it’s More Than Just a Talent Acquisition

So, maybe Google’s purchase of startup electronics shopping site Sparkbuy wasn’t just a talent acquisition? That’s the word from Scott Silver, director of Google’s Kirkland, WA office, in a follow-up interview with The Seattle Times’ Brier Dudley. Dudley also reports that Google is eyeing the cluster of retail talent in the Seattle area, which has … Continue reading “Google’s Purchase of Sparkbuy: Sounds Like it’s More Than Just a Talent Acquisition”

New Crop of Pivotal Leaders

Votes are in for the second class of Pivotal Leaders—the peer-selected group of cleantech business leaders in the Pacific Northwest, created by Portland, OR-based venture firm Pivotal Investments. This year’s honors were whittled from a field of more than 700 nominations for leaders from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and British Columbia. One interesting thing about the … Continue reading “New Crop of Pivotal Leaders”

Seattle Goes Hollywood: Four Startups Aiming to Help Studios, Celebs Embrace the Digital Age

When Dave Long first started pitching movie studios on a new way to market their old titles, he encountered a fair bit of skepticism. After all, what could a boardgame entrepreneur from soggy Seattle possibly teach Hollywood about selling its own stars? Nearly 10 years later, the “Scene It?” brand—which builds trivia games around movie … Continue reading “Seattle Goes Hollywood: Four Startups Aiming to Help Studios, Celebs Embrace the Digital Age”

Microsoft Takes on Everybody, Google Buys Sparkbuy, More Fuel for the Talent Wars, & More in the Seattle-Area Tech Roundup

After maturing into a steady software company with a mammoth organizational chart, Microsoft is the source of plenty of eye-rolling in the world of tech upstarts—hometown fans included. But every so often, you see a glimpse of what the Redmond, WA-based tech titan could do if its energy was directed just right. We’ve certainly seen … Continue reading “Microsoft Takes on Everybody, Google Buys Sparkbuy, More Fuel for the Talent Wars, & More in the Seattle-Area Tech Roundup”

Tech Talent Shortage, One of this Year’s Major Storylines, Illustrated in National Study by Job-Search Site Dice

If you want another bit of evidence that the technology job market is really competitive, job-search site Dice is out with a new study that ranks states according to their estimated shortage of new tech workers. Xconomy locations, which align with the top innovation clusters nationally, are well represented atop the list for having the … Continue reading “Tech Talent Shortage, One of this Year’s Major Storylines, Illustrated in National Study by Job-Search Site Dice”

Google Buys Sparkbuy, Less Than Two Months After Seattle Startup’s Product Launch

Sparkbuy, a consumer electronics shopping site based in Seattle, has been purchased by Google (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GOOG]]), the startup announced today on its website. The company, which has been around for less than a year, had raised about $1 million, led by Benaroya Ventures and angel investor Geoff Entress. Terms of the acquisition weren’t disclosed, but … Continue reading “Google Buys Sparkbuy, Less Than Two Months After Seattle Startup’s Product Launch”

iTegris Raises $4.6M

iTegris, a stealth-mode Bellevue, WA-area startup headed by former Ignition Partners entrepreneur-in-residence Kurt Kolb, has raised about $4.6 million in equity financing according to a new SEC filing. iTegris’ web page is the standard placeholder, but the metadata search description says the company’s “focus in on helping companies to effectively manage their software and IP … Continue reading “iTegris Raises $4.6M”

Kobo Seattle Expanding

Kobo, the Canadian company that makes an e-reader for Borders, plans to expand its presence in Seattle, according to this interview with The Seattle Times’ Brier Dudley. Kobo, which is out with a new touchscreen version of its e-reader today, previously hired Amazon.com alum Todd Humphrey as its business development director. Now, Dudley reports that Kobo … Continue reading “Kobo Seattle Expanding”

Separating Hype from Reality in Alternative Fuels: the Photo Gallery

Even though the sun was finally out in Seattle, dozens of folks from the worlds of cleantech, life sciences and high tech got together to share thoughts and network at Xconomy’s latest event, “Separating Hype from Reality in Alternative Fuels.” Our panelists and presenters dove into the past and future of biofuels, the need for … Continue reading “Separating Hype from Reality in Alternative Fuels: the Photo Gallery”

Electric Cars Won’t Take Over, Biofuels 3.0 Must Fix the Bugs, & Microorganisms as Problem-Solvers: Big Ideas from Cleantech Leaders

We had a great time at our latest Xconomy Seattle event, “Separating Hype from Reality in Alternative Fuels,” held last night at the new Institute for Systems Biology headquarters in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood. The presenters sketched some meaty ideas about the drive to develop oil alternatives, challenged a bit of conventional thinking, and … Continue reading “Electric Cars Won’t Take Over, Biofuels 3.0 Must Fix the Bugs, & Microorganisms as Problem-Solvers: Big Ideas from Cleantech Leaders”

Adapx, a Digital-Pen Company With Serious Military Chops, Adds $5M to Modernize Note-Taking

Seattle-based Adapx, which aims to speed up workflows by making it easier to mark up digital documents, has raised a new financing round of $5 million and says it has grown to about 800 customers. Adapx (pronounced “adapts”) said the money would be used to expand its Capturx software line for mainstream business uses and … Continue reading “Adapx, a Digital-Pen Company With Serious Military Chops, Adds $5M to Modernize Note-Taking”

Zaarly Starts Making Deals

After several weeks of hype-building, name-your-price crowd-commerce startup Zaarly began publicly operating today. The company came together when co-founders Bo Fishback, Eric Koester and Ian Hunter won a Startup Weekend competition in Los Angeles. Here’s how it works: A consumer posts an offer to Zaarly, either through its website or a mobile app, naming a … Continue reading “Zaarly Starts Making Deals”

Take That, Gmail: San Francisco Goes With Microsoft For Cloud-Based Email Upgrade

Microsoft has scored a bit of a coup in rival Google’s backyard: The Redmond, WA-based software giant has landed a contract to provide cloud-based email for San Francisco’s city and county government, winning out against options from Google (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GOOG]]) and Lotus. San Francisco will pay Microsoft (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MSFT]]) about $1.2 million per year for … Continue reading “Take That, Gmail: San Francisco Goes With Microsoft For Cloud-Based Email Upgrade”

Clearwire Hands Network Management to Sprint Partner Ericsson, Continuing Rapid Makeover

Wireless network provider Clearwire (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CLWR]]) continues taking significant steps to remake itself. Today, the Kirkland, WA-based company announced it is handing over day-to-day management of its fourth-generation (4G) network to Ericsson (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ERIC]]). The move means that about 700 Clearwire employees will work for Ericsson, “in locations around the United States before mid-year 2011,” … Continue reading “Clearwire Hands Network Management to Sprint Partner Ericsson, Continuing Rapid Makeover”

Microsoft Gobbles Skype, Gamification’s Present and Future, Bill Gates on Clean Energy, & More in the Seattle-Area Tech Roundup

Microsoft’s blockbuster $8.5 billion deal to acquire Skype dominated headlines far beyond the Puget Sound region last week, raising all kinds of interesting implications for mobile computing, business communications, video games, and more. Many commenters were walloped by the sheer scope of Microsoft (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MSFT]]) products that Skype could be plugged into, but in our … Continue reading “Microsoft Gobbles Skype, Gamification’s Present and Future, Bill Gates on Clean Energy, & More in the Seattle-Area Tech Roundup”

Report: Marketfish Adds $4.5M

Marketfish, a Seattle startup that provides email marketing services for businesses, has raised another $4.5 million in venture capital from Javelin Ventures and Rustic Canyon, according to GeekWire. Marketfish’s product gives marketing clients the ability to dial up specific criteria for the people on its email blasts—targeting by profession, size of family, income, and location, … Continue reading “Report: Marketfish Adds $4.5M”

Billing Revolution Raises $6.6M

Seattle-based e-commerce startup Billing Revolution has raised $6.6 million in a Series B financing round led by DCM and SK Telecom Ventures, according to multiple reports (TechCrunch appears to have published it first). The company makes software that allows mobile application developers to incorporate credit-card sales. Unlike other mobile-payment startups, such as Square, Billing Revolution’s … Continue reading “Billing Revolution Raises $6.6M”

Amazon, PopCap Strike Deal

Up-and-coming Seattle casual game company PopCap Games is partnering with one of the city’s tech titans, Amazon.com, to sell its first games for Google’s Android smartphone platform. The deal, announced today, gives Amazon’s Appstore for Android first crack at selling the games Chuzzle and Plants vs. Zombies, for two weeks each. Amazon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]) has … Continue reading “Amazon, PopCap Strike Deal”

Lockerz’s Latest $30M Haul Easily Tops April’s List of Washington State Equity Deals

Let’s count the juicy consumer-Internet trends piled up in Seattle startup Lockerz: Social networking, photo sharing, gamification, deals, and original content. That’s a mouthful, and investors apparently like what they see—Lockerz’s $30 million venture round is by far the biggest equity deal in Washington state for the month of April, according to data compiled by … Continue reading “Lockerz’s Latest $30M Haul Easily Tops April’s List of Washington State Equity Deals”

Gamification, Barely a Year Old, Could Implode & Take a New Industry Down With It—Thoughts From Bobber Interactive’s Scott Dodson

These are dizzying days for the business of games. It was almost exactly a year ago that we first wrote about the idea of applying video game features, like rewards and leaderboards, to websites and other connected services. Known as “gamification,” this new niche business aims to increase the amount of time people spend with … Continue reading “Gamification, Barely a Year Old, Could Implode & Take a New Industry Down With It—Thoughts From Bobber Interactive’s Scott Dodson”

3Tier, Tracking the World’s Hotspots for Alternative Energy, Names New CEO

Seattle-based 3Tier Group, which has developed a map of the world’s best places for wind and solar power, has named Craig Husa as its new chief executive. Founder Kenneth Westrick, who previously served as CEO, remains with the company as chairman. The company announced in December that Westrick was moving away from day-to-day duties. Husa … Continue reading “3Tier, Tracking the World’s Hotspots for Alternative Energy, Names New CEO”

Microsoft & Skype, in $8.5B Merger, Could Have Tons of Applications, but Mobile and Kinect are Ones to Watch

With its $8.5 billion acquisition of Skype this morning, Microsoft (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MSFT]]) appears to be embracing one of the classic digs at Redmond: It’s grown too big to truly innovate. According to the companies’ announcement, Luxembourg-based Skype, which has offices and investors in Silicon Valley, will be its own division within the Redmond, WA, software … Continue reading “Microsoft & Skype, in $8.5B Merger, Could Have Tons of Applications, but Mobile and Kinect are Ones to Watch”

BigDoor Media Adds Power-Hitter Client: Seattle Startup Brings Gamification to Major League Baseball’s Website

The trend of gamification—adding virtual rewards and other game mechanics to all kinds of customer relationships—is barely a year old. But Seattle startup BigDoor Media is showing that the developing field could have some big potential: Today, the company is announcing that its technology is being integrated with MLB.com, the website for Major League Baseball. … Continue reading “BigDoor Media Adds Power-Hitter Client: Seattle Startup Brings Gamification to Major League Baseball’s Website”

Aneesh Chopra on Innovation, Pinpoint Pickup Takes on Uber, Charles River Embraces IP, & More in the Seattle-Area Tech Roundup

A chat with the nation’s first chief technology officer was one of the highlights of the past week in tech news. Aneesh Chopra, President Barack Obama’s CTO, is in town this week for a panel discussion at the Technology Alliance’s State of Technology luncheon. He had lunch with local corporate execs yesterday, and we published … Continue reading “Aneesh Chopra on Innovation, Pinpoint Pickup Takes on Uber, Charles River Embraces IP, & More in the Seattle-Area Tech Roundup”

Aneesh Chopra, Obama’s Chief Techie, on Building a Startup-Friendly Region and Why Now is the Best Time to be an Innovator in America

As chief technology officer for the Obama administration, Aneesh Chopra has been heavily involved in efforts to expand access to huge amounts of government data, and encourage techies and entrepreneurs to help solve public policy problems using that data. Xconomy’s Wade Roush talked with Chopra last year, producing this in-depth Q&A that included discussions about … Continue reading “Aneesh Chopra, Obama’s Chief Techie, on Building a Startup-Friendly Region and Why Now is the Best Time to be an Innovator in America”