It’s been a busy week around here for the big tech companies. At Xconomy, we don’t usually report on things like product releases from Microsoft or sales figures from Amazon—our main focus is on new ideas, models, and companies—but readers need to understand where the big players are heading so they can see the gaps … Continue reading “Google Demos Chrome OS, Microsoft Links Into LinkedIn, Amazon Ramps Up for Holidays, & More Big Company News”
Author: Gregory T. Huang
Greg is a veteran journalist who has covered a wide range of science, technology, and business. As former editor in chief, he overaw daily news, features, and events across Xconomy's national network. Before joining Xconomy, he was a features editor at New Scientist magazine, where he edited and wrote articles on physics, technology, and neuroscience. Previously he was senior writer at Technology Review, where he reported on emerging technologies, R&D, and advances in computing, robotics, and applied physics. His writing has also appeared in Wired, Nature, and The Atlantic Monthly’s website. He was named a New York Times professional fellow in 2003.
Greg is the co-author of Guanxi (Simon & Schuster, 2006), about Microsoft in China and the global competition for talent and technology. Before becoming a journalist, he did research at MIT’s Artificial Intelligence Lab. He has published 20 papers in scientific journals and conferences and spoken on innovation at Adobe, Amazon, eBay, Google, HP, Microsoft, Yahoo, and other organizations. He has a Master’s and Ph.D. in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT, and a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Under the Radar Deals: 12 Northwest Financings You Haven’t Heard About
We hope to make this a regular feature in our Xconomy cities. It’s a look at small financings of private companies in tech, life sciences, and cleantech. These are deals in the roughly $100,000 to $1 million range, and they’re increasingly where the action is for local entrepreneurs, yet they’re often harder to track than … Continue reading “Under the Radar Deals: 12 Northwest Financings You Haven’t Heard About”
17 New Web Startups Around Town
At least 17 Seattle-area startups rolled out new websites last month, according to the latest edition of Seattle 2.0’s startup index. The index now lists 373 companies, which are ranked on the basis of Web traffic estimates. The top 10 sites didn’t change much from previous months. The startups that are new to the list … Continue reading “17 New Web Startups Around Town”
Cozi Teams Up with MWV
Seattle-based Cozi announced today it has formed a strategic partnership with MeadWestvaco (NYSE: [[ticker:MWV]]), a Sidney, NY-based maker of school and office supplies and planning tools. Financial terms of the deal weren’t announced, but the partnership will give MWV consumers access to Cozi’s Web-based software for helping families manage their busy schedules. The tools include … Continue reading “Cozi Teams Up with MWV”
Microsoft Will Buy Twitter, Adobe to Buy Picnik, and Other Bold Predictions for 2010
It wasn’t so much the predictions as the discussion that was most interesting at last night’s annual predictions dinner, organized by the Washington Technology Industry Association. Will Twitter be acquired in 2010, and why? Who will have the dominant cloud computing platform in the next couple of years? What kind of startup are you looking … Continue reading “Microsoft Will Buy Twitter, Adobe to Buy Picnik, and Other Bold Predictions for 2010”
Dan Levitan on Maveron’s Bay Area Expansion, Its Latest Stealth Startup, and His First Starbucks
Seattle-based venture capital firm Maveron has been in the news a lot this month. There have been reports about its latest stealth startup, which is a new type of e-commerce play. Another report from VentureWire said Maveron will be selling its shares in Motley Fool—a deal that will generate cash for Maveron, which led a … Continue reading “Dan Levitan on Maveron’s Bay Area Expansion, Its Latest Stealth Startup, and His First Starbucks”
Sony Ericsson Closing Bellevue Office
Sony Ericsson, the London-based mobile handset maker, is shutting its Seattle-area office, as first reported by Engadget and Triangle Business Journal. Sony Ericsson is cutting about 2,000 out of 9,900 jobs globally, including closing offices in Research Triangle Park, San Diego, Miami, Kista, Sweden, and Chennai, India. The moves are part of a company-wide restructuring … Continue reading “Sony Ericsson Closing Bellevue Office”
RealSelf, Backed by Second Avenue and Rich Barton, Blazes Trail with Cosmetic Review Site
Who says consumer websites are dead? Maybe you don’t need the ridiculous traffic of, say, Seattle-based Cheezburger Network (LOLcats) to survive on advertising revenues. Maybe user-generated content around a targeted niche, especially where there are purchasing decisions being made, can work well after all. That’s the sense I got after talking with Tom Seery, the … Continue reading “RealSelf, Backed by Second Avenue and Rich Barton, Blazes Trail with Cosmetic Review Site”
Voyager Re-ups with Placecast
Seattle-based Voyager Capital has participated in a $5 million investment in 1020, the San Francisco developer of Placecast, a location-based advertising and marketing platform, according to a report in TechCrunch. Quatrex Capital and Onset Ventures also participated in the Series B funding, which will be used to accelerate Placecast’s technology development. Placecast’s algorithms combine data … Continue reading “Voyager Re-ups with Placecast”
Why Mobile Doesn’t Go Viral, As Told By Ontela’s Dan Shapiro
Google, Yahoo, Facebook, MySpace. Those companies’ products spread over the Internet like a virus. But why hasn’t there been a runaway hit like those in the mobile software world? Why does it take so much longer to build value, and a strong customer base, in mobile companies than in certain Internet startups? Dan Shapiro had … Continue reading “Why Mobile Doesn’t Go Viral, As Told By Ontela’s Dan Shapiro”
Top Three Takeaways from Mobile Northwest’s Investor Panel
I sat in on a good venture capital panel yesterday at Mobile Northwest 2009 in Seattle. No huge arguments or chair throwing to speak of (we’ll see what we can stir up at the next few Xconomy Forums). But some solid and useful observations from Geoff Entress of Voyager Capital, and also a prominent Seattle-based … Continue reading “Top Three Takeaways from Mobile Northwest’s Investor Panel”
Bing Partners with Wolfram Alpha, OVP Leads $30M Fate Deal, Redfin Rakes In $10M, & More Seattle-Area Deals News
Just when I thought venture deals, especially for software and tech companies, had headed south for the winter (or longer), the Northwest erupted with a slew of financings in the past week. —But first, some serious biotech. Kirkland, WA-based OVP Venture Partners led a $30 million Series B round for Fate Therapeutics, a San Diego-based … Continue reading “Bing Partners with Wolfram Alpha, OVP Leads $30M Fate Deal, Redfin Rakes In $10M, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”
DocuSign Scores Second Century Investment
Seattle-based DocuSign announced today it has received a strategic investment from Second Century Ventures, the VC fund of the National Association of Realtors. The amount was undisclosed, but the cash will be used to speed up and extend DocuSign’s efforts with residential and commercial real estate customers. DocuSign was founded in 2003 and makes software … Continue reading “DocuSign Scores Second Century Investment”
What Wireless Carriers Want from Startups, and Other Insights from VC Tom Huseby at Mobile Northwest
Tom Huseby says he’s finally able to go home and not worry about seeing his family’s savings stuffed under his mattress. “The panic is over,” he says. “All of a sudden, things are getting a lot better. It doesn’t feel much better now, but it is.” Huseby, a noted Seattle-based venture capitalist with SeaPoint Ventures, … Continue reading “What Wireless Carriers Want from Startups, and Other Insights from VC Tom Huseby at Mobile Northwest”
Avnera Raises $8M Equity Round to Advance Wireless Audio Chip Technology
A consumer tech company has scored one of the bigger equity financing rounds in the Portland area this fall. Beaverton, OR-based Avnera, a fabless semiconductor company that makes chips for wireless audio applications, has raised about $8 million in equity financing out of a total offering of $10 million, according to a regulatory filing with … Continue reading “Avnera Raises $8M Equity Round to Advance Wireless Audio Chip Technology”
Seattle’s Bill McCoy, E-Books and Digital Distribution Expert, Leaving Adobe
We’ve all been wondering how the Adobe layoffs, reported earlier this week, may affect the Seattle area—especially given the slew of other recent cutbacks in the local tech industry. Adobe (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ADBE]]), which is headquartered in San Jose, CA, has a strong presence in Seattle. As of recently, it employed some 500 people, focused on … Continue reading “Seattle’s Bill McCoy, E-Books and Digital Distribution Expert, Leaving Adobe”
Enroute Closes Series A, Looks for More as It Expands and Aims for Profitability
Early-stage tech financings are still chugging along, it seems. On the heels of yesterday’s news of a $5.25 million financing of Seattle stealth startup Doxo, I checked in with Keith McCall of Bellevue, WA-based Enroute Systems, a maker of parcel-shipping management software, to hear the latest on his company’s recent financing. McCall, the company’s founder … Continue reading “Enroute Closes Series A, Looks for More as It Expands and Aims for Profitability”
Doxo Digs Up $5.25M
Seattle-based Doxo, a stealthy tech startup, has raised $5.25 million in equity financing, according to a regulatory filing. The funding was reported by Northwest Innovation and TechFlash. The investors were not disclosed, but David Feinleib of Silicon Valley-based Mohr Davidow Ventures is listed on the SEC form as a director. Doxo was started by members … Continue reading “Doxo Digs Up $5.25M”
Redfin Raises $10M More to Improve Customer Service, Expand, and Invest in R&D
Well, this does nothing to change the downward trend of early-stage software financings, but it’s good news nonetheless. Seattle-based Redfin, the online real estate broker and information discovery service, has announced a $10 million Series D funding, led by new investor Greylock Partners, the Silicon Valley venture firm formerly based in the Boston area. Existing … Continue reading “Redfin Raises $10M More to Improve Customer Service, Expand, and Invest in R&D”
Bing Partners with Wolfram Alpha
The teams behind Microsoft’s Bing and Wolfram Alpha announced today they have teamed up to enhance Bing’s search results across topics like nutrition, health, and advanced mathematics. Financial terms weren’t given, but the partnership gives Bing users access to Wolfram Alpha’s advanced algorithms and curated data. The move fits with Bing’s goal of helping people … Continue reading “Bing Partners with Wolfram Alpha”
Future of Search Event Nov. 30 to Draw Top Startups, VCs, and Execs to UW
Online search and information discovery are being transformed before our eyes. It’s no longer just Google, or Google and Bing, or even Google, Bing, and Twitter—there are big problems in technology and business to solve across all areas of social media search, real-time news and information, mobile search, user interfaces, search marketing, vertical search (travel, … Continue reading “Future of Search Event Nov. 30 to Draw Top Startups, VCs, and Execs to UW”
Clearwire Closes $1.5B, Alder Scores $1B Partnership, Software Financings Are Down, & More Seattle-Area Deals News
Healthcare deals are going one way, tech deals another. That’s my read from the past week in the Northwest, where we’ve seen some of the biggest biotech deals around, even as a prominent Seattle tech venture firm (and software financings in general) head south. —Bothell, WA-based Alder Biopharmaceuticals scored one of the biggest biotech partnerships … Continue reading “Clearwire Closes $1.5B, Alder Scores $1B Partnership, Software Financings Are Down, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”
BigDoor Opens Virtual Currency Site
Bellevue, WA-based BigDoor Media, a developer of software that helps social entertainment sites make money, has rolled out a not-for-profit community website called VirtualCurrencyExperts.com. It is meant to be a resource for online publishers to learn about how to use virtual currencies and goods. The site, along with its first discussion point—a top 10 list … Continue reading “BigDoor Opens Virtual Currency Site”
Where Are the Software Deals? WA Firms Raised $70M in October, Mostly in Healthcare, Gaming
Early-stage software and IT deals are a scarce breed these days. That’s my initial take from looking at the October funding numbers for Washington state, courtesy of ChubbyBrain, a New York-based information services company that makes tools for investors, startups, and entrepreneurs. According to ChubbyBrain’s stats, Washington tech, life sciences, and cleantech companies raised a … Continue reading “Where Are the Software Deals? WA Firms Raised $70M in October, Mostly in Healthcare, Gaming”
Clearwire to Get $1.5B More, Report Says
Kirkland, WA-based Clearwire (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CLWR]]) is about to receive an investment of at least $1.5 billion led by Sprint Nextel, according to the Wall Street Journal. Sprint will invest $1 billion, and its partners, including Comcast, Intel, Time Warner Cable, and Bright House Networks, will chip in an additional $500 million, for continuing support of … Continue reading “Clearwire to Get $1.5B More, Report Says”
Startup Failure: Seattle’s Stigma, Boston’s Chip on Its Shoulder, and Silicon Valley’s Badge of Honor
“People say if you fail in Seattle, you’re screwed,” said Marcelo Calbucci. “If you fail in the Bay Area, you just have a badge of honor.” We were at the TechStars reunion event in Seattle last week, listening to early-stage investors Brad Feld, Andy Sack, Steve Hall, Greg Gottesman, Shawn Broderick, and Chris Sheehan speak … Continue reading “Startup Failure: Seattle’s Stigma, Boston’s Chip on Its Shoulder, and Silicon Valley’s Badge of Honor”
LaserMotive Wins $900K NASA Prize
Kent, WA-based LaserMotive has won $900,000 in a NASA competition to build a small prototype device that one day could help lead to a commercial “space elevator,” a cable that could transport cargo to and from outer space. The news was reported by the New York Times and other outlets. LaserMotive, a laser power-beaming company, … Continue reading “LaserMotive Wins $900K NASA Prize”
Porn Always Wins, Bacon Salt Expands, and Other Thoughts from Entrepreneur University
I’m not going to do justice to this event. Let’s just get that out there right now. There were some great speakers and panels at yesterday’s Entrepreneur University in Bellevue, WA, organized by the Northwest Entrepreneur Network. But this isn’t about them. This is about the crowd-pleasers that brought an otherwise productive day to a … Continue reading “Porn Always Wins, Bacon Salt Expands, and Other Thoughts from Entrepreneur University”
Elias Zerhouni Talks Public Health Challenges, Culture Wars at WBBA Annual Meeting
Just came back from the Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association’s annual meeting in downtown Seattle, where 500-plus biotechies and distinguished guests (including more than a few local politicians) gathered for a quiche-and-berries breakfast and some keen networking. The keynote speaker was Elias Zerhouni, the former director of the National Institutes of Health and now a … Continue reading “Elias Zerhouni Talks Public Health Challenges, Culture Wars at WBBA Annual Meeting”
A Tale of Three Cities: How Boston, Boulder, and Seattle Measure Up as Tech Innovation Hubs
I was chatting with a couple of local investors at the TechStars (seed fund and mentorship program) event in Seattle on Wednesday. They thought the VC panel discussion of the startup climate and culture in different cities around the country was boring. If you’re an entrepreneur or investor, they said, that’s just where you are, … Continue reading “A Tale of Three Cities: How Boston, Boulder, and Seattle Measure Up as Tech Innovation Hubs”
Evri, SEOmoz, Topsy, and Sage to Present at “Future of Search” Forum
Want to know what the real opportunities are for startup companies and investors in the field of Web search and information discovery? Or what happens when you put Google and Bing in the same room? You’ve come to the right place. We’re putting the finishing touches on the program for our next Xconomy Forum, on … Continue reading “Evri, SEOmoz, Topsy, and Sage to Present at “Future of Search” Forum”
Report: RealNetworks Lays Off 70
Seattle-based RealNetworks is cutting 4 percent of its worldwide staff today, about 70 out of 1,700 jobs, according to All Things Digital. The report cites the economic downturn and cost-cutting as reasons for the move. Last week, RealNetworks (NASDAQ: [[ticker:RNWK]]) reported a small profit for the third quarter, the company’s first profitable quarter since the … Continue reading “Report: RealNetworks Lays Off 70”
VC Len Jordan Joins Madrona, Says Frazier Technology Ventures Won’t Raise Another Fund
Len Jordan, a general partner at Seattle-based Frazier Technology Ventures, will be joining Madrona Venture Group, also based in Seattle, as of January 1, 2010. Jordan will start at Madrona as a venture partner, the firm announced today, and will identify and lead new investments across technology areas like software, mobile, and Internet, as well … Continue reading “VC Len Jordan Joins Madrona, Says Frazier Technology Ventures Won’t Raise Another Fund”
Kashless Expands, Enters Marketing Phase as It Rewards Consumers for Recycling Products
I caught up yesterday with noted entrepreneur and investor Martin Tobias, after his latest startup, Seattle-based Kashless, announced a partnership with RecycleBank to reward people for recycling items at Kashless.org. The basic idea is a rewards program—redeemable for merchandise at hundreds of retailers—for people who give away things like old clothes, food, bikes, electronics, or … Continue reading “Kashless Expands, Enters Marketing Phase as It Rewards Consumers for Recycling Products”
Movaya Bought by Digby
Seattle-based Movaya Wireless, a mobile software startup, has been acquired by Digby, a mobile commerce firm based in Austin, TX. Financial terms were not announced. Movaya was founded in 2006 by Phil Yerkes and Stanley Wang, and recently has been focused on making digital goods storefront applications for the iPhone, Android, and other mobile Web … Continue reading “Movaya Bought by Digby”
Microsoft Lays Off 800 More; Washington and Massachusetts Affected
Microsoft has confirmed it is cutting 800 positions across the company today, in its third round of layoffs this year. About a quarter of the jobs are in the Seattle area, and an unspecified number of employees in Massachusetts are impacted, among other regions. It is not yet clear which product groups and divisions will … Continue reading “Microsoft Lays Off 800 More; Washington and Massachusetts Affected”
Microsoft’s Craig Mundie on Future Interfaces, Computer Science Education, and Life After Bill G
Craig Mundie is a geek, and I mean that in the best possible way. Microsoft’s chief research and strategy officer, the 17-year veteran of Redmond, WA, still talks like an engineer, throwing out terms like “heterogeneous machine architectures,” “GUIs” (graphical user interfaces), and “clouds and clients” like there’s no tomorrow. It’s kind of refreshing, given … Continue reading “Microsoft’s Craig Mundie on Future Interfaces, Computer Science Education, and Life After Bill G”
Calypso Teams Up with Siemens
Seattle-based Calypso Medical Technologies announced today it has signed a strategic development agreement with Siemens Healthcare to jointly develop products for radiation therapy of pancreas and lung cancer, as well as prostate cancer. Financial details weren’t given. Calypso makes tracking technologies that help deliver pinpoint radiation to tumors. The company raised $50 million in September, … Continue reading “Calypso Teams Up with Siemens”
Amazon Closes Zappos Deal, RF Arrays Raises Cash, 16 Under the Radar Financings, & More Seattle-Area Deals News
It was a quiet week for deals in the Northwest, but we dug up some important ones in business software, wireless, and biotech. —Seattle-based Amazon’s (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]) acquisition of Zappos, the online apparel and shoe seller based in Las Vegas, has closed. The deal, first announced back in July, is valued at $1.2 billion in … Continue reading “Amazon Closes Zappos Deal, RF Arrays Raises Cash, 16 Under the Radar Financings, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”
$1.2B Amazon-Zappos Deal Closes
Seattle-based Amazon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]) said today its acquisition of online apparel and shoe seller Zappos, based in Las Vegas, has closed. The Zappos management team will remain intact, the company said. In a blog post, Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh said his board of directors has been “switched out,” and that the deal, worth about 10 … Continue reading “$1.2B Amazon-Zappos Deal Closes”
Tasktop Finds Path to Profits, Via a More Efficient Interface Inspired by Brain Science
For Mik Kersten, it all started when he saw Maria Klawe speak at the University of British Columbia. It was the mid-1990s, and Klawe, a distinguished mathematician and computer scientist—now the president of Harvey Mudd College and recently appointed to Microsoft’s board of directors—was giving a lecture to students and faculty. “She talked about her … Continue reading “Tasktop Finds Path to Profits, Via a More Efficient Interface Inspired by Brain Science”
Greylock Adds Reid Hoffman as Partner
Greylock Partners, a Silicon Valley venture firm formerly based in the Boston area, announced today it has hired Reid Hoffman, the co-founder and executive chairman of LinkedIn, as a partner. Hoffman, who has also been an angel investor, will focus on early-stage consumer Internet and software investments, as well as advise entrepreneurs from Greylock’s portfolio … Continue reading “Greylock Adds Reid Hoffman as Partner”
Who’s Up, Who’s Down in Tech Company Earnings Land
Well, we can’t all be Amazon. While the Seattle-based e-commerce giant (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]) raked in a $199 million profit for the third quarter of 2009—a 68 percent increase in net income over the same period last year—Microsoft (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MSFT]]) posted an 18 percent decline in its profits (still $3.57 billion, better than analysts expected). But … Continue reading “Who’s Up, Who’s Down in Tech Company Earnings Land”
Onehub Raises $1.3M Series A
Bellevue, WA-based Onehub announced it has raised $1.3 million in Series A financing from Bellevue-based Ignition Partners and angel investors. Onehub makes cloud-based software for collaboration and file-sharing, and was founded in 2007. Back in April, we reported that Onehub had raised $600,000 from undisclosed investors, and in September we mentioned the company was part … Continue reading “Onehub Raises $1.3M Series A”
Prolifiq Wins at OEN Venture Northwest
Beaverton, OR-based Prolifiq was named winner of the day at the annual Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN) Venture Northwest investor forum in Portland, OR, today. Eleven companies, including three from the Seattle area, presented to an audience of investors and entrepreneurs. Prolifiq makes mobile marketing software that helps companies distribute sales materials to customers in the … Continue reading “Prolifiq Wins at OEN Venture Northwest”
Top Tech Events of the Fall—an Xconomy Guide
My head is exploding trying to keep up with all the tech-business events going on around Seattle these days. Here’s a quick guide to the most prominent ones on my brain, in the hopes of saving you some stress (and keeping you up to date): —Last night’s “Women in Tech” event from TechFlash was a … Continue reading “Top Tech Events of the Fall—an Xconomy Guide”
Energy Experts React to Forthcoming Cleantech Incubator from McKinstry
The smell of startup incubators is in the air. Adeo Ressi from TheFunded recently announced that his Founder Institute training program for entrepreneurs is coming to Seattle this winter. And next week, TechStars, the seed-stage investment fund with operations in Boulder, CO, and Boston, is holding its annual reunion event in Seattle amid increasing buzz … Continue reading “Energy Experts React to Forthcoming Cleantech Incubator from McKinstry”
Big Fish Hires Senior Execs
Seattle-based Big Fish Games announced today it has hired Michael Vernon as chief financial officer and Ian Hurlock-Jones as chief technology officer. Vernon is a veteran of Seattle-area firms aQuantive and Zumobi, while Hurlock-Jones comes from Fox Interactive Media and Buy.com. Big Fish, a leading developer and distributor of casual games, announced it was opening … Continue reading “Big Fish Hires Senior Execs”
Google Kirkland Is Hiring, and Other Highlights from the Company’s Northwest Birthplace
This morning I checked my e-mail, powered by Google, and then used Google Maps to find my way to the Google Kirkland open house. It reminded me a little bit of the scene in “Being John Malkovich” when Malkovich, the actor, finds a portal into his own brain and sees that everyone looks like him … Continue reading “Google Kirkland Is Hiring, and Other Highlights from the Company’s Northwest Birthplace”
Under the Radar Deals: 16 Northwest Financings You Haven’t Heard About
They are the deals that slip through the cracks unnoticed. They are worth less than $1 million, but at least $100,000. Though small in size, these investments need to be included along with the bigger deals that get more press, if you want a more complete picture of the funding landscape in the innovation community. … Continue reading “Under the Radar Deals: 16 Northwest Financings You Haven’t Heard About”