Portland, OR-based RF Arrays, a wireless communications technology firm, has raised $6.5 million in equity, options, warrants, and/or other rights to acquire securities, according to a regulatory filing. The investors were not disclosed, but New York-based New Science Ventures has previously backed RF Arrays. The SEC form lists as directors Chandra Deshpandey, the company’s CEO; … Continue reading “RF Arrays Raises $6.5M”
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.
Founder Institute, Early-Stage Startup Program, Comes to Seattle Thanks to a Gaming Connection
There’s a new tech startup incubator in town. The Founder Institute is accepting applications for its four-month training program, which begins in Seattle on December 7. The program is designed to mentor very early-stage entrepreneurs, with the goal of creating new companies across a wide variety of tech sectors including software, social media, consumer electronics, … Continue reading “Founder Institute, Early-Stage Startup Program, Comes to Seattle Thanks to a Gaming Connection”
Amazon Teams Up With Microsoft for E-Books, Bing Goes Real-Time, Revolution Computing Reels In $9M, & More Seattle-Area Deals News
It was a big week for big companies. Amazon’s stock soared, and the e-commerce giant made a deal with Microsoft that should make Kindle e-books even more popular. There was also interesting deals news from Bing and a few Northwest venture firms and startups. —Kennewick, WA-based Infinia has raised $3.25 million in debt and options … Continue reading “Amazon Teams Up With Microsoft for E-Books, Bing Goes Real-Time, Revolution Computing Reels In $9M, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”
Five Things Nathan Myhrvold Taught Us About Cooking
He is one of those people who defies description in a few pages, let alone paragraphs. Sure, Nathan Myhrvold is the founder of Microsoft Research and CEO of the Bellevue, WA-based “invention firm” Intellectual Ventures. But besides information technology and business innovation, he’s a renowned expert in such ridiculously diverse fields as astrophysics, mathematics, paleontology, … Continue reading “Five Things Nathan Myhrvold Taught Us About Cooking”
Bezos, Spark Invest $7M in Aviary
Boston-based Spark Capital has led a $7 million Series B investment in Aviary, a creative design software startup based in Long Island, NY. Bezos Expeditions, the Seattle-based investment firm of Jeff Bezos from Amazon, participated in the round as an existing investor. Aviary makes cloud-based software for graphic design, audio editing, and other digital creation … Continue reading “Bezos, Spark Invest $7M in Aviary”
McKinstry to Build Cleantech Incubator
Seattle-based McKinstry, the construction, consulting, and energy firm, announced today it is developing an innovation center for new and emerging cleantech and green energy startups. The 24,000-square-foot incubator will be housed at McKinstry headquarters in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood, and is slated to be finished in the spring of 2010.
Three Recently Acquired Seattle Startups, and How Their Founders Are Faring
Working for the man. It’s what most entrepreneurs want to avoid at all costs. But if their startup gets bought by a big company, that’s often just what happens—at least for a while. Although the acquisitions market for tech startups has been relatively soft during the recession, there have been a few recent local examples … Continue reading “Three Recently Acquired Seattle Startups, and How Their Founders Are Faring”
TechStars Event in Seattle to Draw Top VCs and Angel Investors
TechStars, the startup incubation and seed investment fund based in Boulder, CO, and Boston (as of this year), is holding its annual reunion event in Seattle on November 4. (See a couple of local VC blogs here and here.) As part of the event, a number of TechStars companies that are raising money will make … Continue reading “TechStars Event in Seattle to Draw Top VCs and Angel Investors”
Google, Bing, VCs, and Startups on One Stage: Xconomy Forum to Tackle the Future of Search
Search is hot again. Just when you thought Google had it all figured out, the Internet landscape has changed. Microsoft’s Bing has debuted to a generally positive reception, and signaled that the search war is far from over. The rise of Twitter and social media has spawned intense competition in the emerging field of “real-time … Continue reading “Google, Bing, VCs, and Startups on One Stage: Xconomy Forum to Tackle the Future of Search”
Amazon, Microsoft Team Up for Kindle on PC
Seattle-based Amazon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]) announced today a new “Kindle for PC” application that will let people read Kindle electronic books on Windows personal computers. Microsoft (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MSFT]]) demoed the free app at its Windows 7 release event in New York. It will be available worldwide next month.
Delve Wins Keiretsu Angel Capital Prize
Seattle-based Delve Networks won the “best presenting company” award from the attendees of the first annual Angel Capital Expo, hosted by Keiretsu Forum Northwest on Tuesday. More than a dozen companies across different fields presented to investors, including Humanity Interactive, Iverson Genetic Diagnostics, and Exro Technologies. Delve Networks started in 2006 (formerly called Pluggd) and … Continue reading “Delve Wins Keiretsu Angel Capital Prize”
Isilon, Forged in Fire of Last Recession, Looks to Expand Its Data Storage Business in This One
Some tech companies seem to be at their best when things are at their worst. Those are the ones you really need to keep an eye on, especially in a recession. Isilon Systems is one of those companies. The Seattle-based data storage firm (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ISLN]]) is announcing its third-quarter earnings this afternoon, and it will … Continue reading “Isilon, Forged in Fire of Last Recession, Looks to Expand Its Data Storage Business in This One”
Enroute, MicroGreen Win Zino Prizes
Seattle-based Zino Society has announced the winners of its 2009 Zino Zillionaire Investment Funds. Bellevue, WA-based Enroute Systems, a maker of analytics and transportation management software for parcel-shipping businesses, received $60,000. Arlington, WA-based MicroGreen Polymers, a company focused on making plastic products more environmentally sustainable, also took home $60,000. The companies presented to investors back … Continue reading “Enroute, MicroGreen Win Zino Prizes”
OVP Leads $12M Investment in RedSeal
Kirkland, WA-based OVP Venture Partners has led a $12 million investment in San Mateo, CA-based RedSeal Systems, a security software firm. OVP managing director Mark Ashida has joined the company’s board. Existing investors Venrock, Jafco Ventures, Sutter Hill Ventures, and Leapfrog Ventures also participated in the deal, which brings RedSeal’s total funding to more than … Continue reading “OVP Leads $12M Investment in RedSeal”
HelpHive Tests “Pay Per Job” Model, Connects Home-Service Businesses with Consumers
Doing some home remodeling? Need someone to clean that pesky gutter? Karim Meghji has an offer for you. Meghji and Dave Richards, both veterans of Seattle-based RealNetworks (NASDAQ: [[ticker:RNWK]]), have been busy working on their home-services networking site, HelpHive, since it was first publicly introduced in May. The community site helps people find reputable businesses … Continue reading “HelpHive Tests “Pay Per Job” Model, Connects Home-Service Businesses with Consumers”
AudienceScience Raises $20M, Sequoia Re-ups with Jive Software, Visible Gets Spooky, & More Seattle-Area Deals News
It was a light week for deals in the Northwest, but there were still some big investments in online advertising and social business software. (Not to mention we’re all trying to confirm the rumors of an Ontela acquisition of Photobucket.) —Venture capital stats for the quarter ending Sept. 30 were released from multiple sources in … Continue reading “AudienceScience Raises $20M, Sequoia Re-ups with Jive Software, Visible Gets Spooky, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”
AudienceScience Confirms $20M Funding
Bellevue, WA-based AudienceScience (formerly Revenue Science) has confirmed it has raised $20 million from Silicon Valley investors Mohr Davidow Ventures, Mayfield Fund, Meritech Capital Partners, and Integral Capital Partners. The online advertising firm says it will use the money to hire new staff, do R&D for products in targeted advertising, and expand internationally. Last week, … Continue reading “AudienceScience Confirms $20M Funding”
Top 10 Northwest Venture Deals of the Third Quarter—and VC Color Commentary
Woe is me, said the VC. With the exit markets all but closed, fundraising in a logjam, and portfolio companies struggling to stay afloat, it is a tough time to be a venture capitalist. Yet the good ones will survive, and thrive. As will the companies they are building. That’s the message I got from … Continue reading “Top 10 Northwest Venture Deals of the Third Quarter—and VC Color Commentary”
Jive Rakes In $12M from Sequoia Capital to Improve Social Business Software
Social media monitoring and business networking software just got a little hotter. Jive Software, the Portland, OR-based maker of social business software, announced last night it has raised a $12 million Series B round from Sequoia Capital. Sequoia previously invested $15 million in Jive in 2007. Jive says the money will be used to expand … Continue reading “Jive Rakes In $12M from Sequoia Capital to Improve Social Business Software”
WA Tech Industry Exported $3.5B in 2008
Tech manufacturing exports from Washington state grew for the sixth straight year in 2008, up to $3.5 billion (15th out of 50 states), according to a TechAmerica Foundation report highlighted today by the Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA). Washington ranked fifth nationwide in consumer electronics exports, which totaled $320 million. The top three tech export … Continue reading “WA Tech Industry Exported $3.5B in 2008”
Azaleos, Working with Microsoft, Moves Into Unified Communications for Business
[Updated 12:25pm, 10/20/09. See correction below] Seattle-based Azaleos is announcing today it is releasing new software and services to help companies manage Microsoft Office Communications Server, which is a software platform for instant messaging, Internet telephony, and video conferencing over the Web. It’s a strong move for Azaleos that expands its product line beyond management … Continue reading “Azaleos, Working with Microsoft, Moves Into Unified Communications for Business”
Visible Technologies Inks In-Q-Tel Deal
Bellevue, WA-based Visible Technologies has formed a strategic partnership with In-Q-Tel, the investment firm run by the CIA. The deal includes a technology development agreement, but financial terms were not given. Visible makes software that helps companies and organizations monitor the social media landscape (and Web sentiment towards specific topics and brands), as well as … Continue reading “Visible Technologies Inks In-Q-Tel Deal”
Microsoft Forecast Is Called “Partly Cloudy” on Eve of Windows 7 Release
In case you missed it yesterday, the New York Times ran a sweeping review of Microsoft’s position in the tech world on the eve of its Windows 7 rollout this week. That’s the latest version of Microsoft’s iconic operating system for personal computers. But the article smartly goes beyond the company’s strategy for PCs, and … Continue reading “Microsoft Forecast Is Called “Partly Cloudy” on Eve of Windows 7 Release”
Findood Wins Top Prize in NWEN Forum
Seattle-area startup Findood, an online marketplace for specialty foods, took first prize at the Northwest Entrepreneur Network’s First Look Forum on Wednesday. The other four finalists were Dibspace, DigitalScirocco, Geedra, and HeatFlow Technologies. Also presenting to investors were Aurumis, CoCollage, Glue, Greenbridge International, PodCurry, Re:Source Fitness, and Serra Media. Findood won a package from Swift … Continue reading “Findood Wins Top Prize in NWEN Forum”
Top 10 Highlights from FiReGlobal: Michael Dell, Lee Hartwell, Irwin Jacobs, and More
I can’t do justice to a comprehensive review of yesterday’s FiReGlobal (West Coast) conference at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seattle. Instead, I’ll just give a few of my key takeaways. The all-day event, organized by Strategic News Service, focused on how to solve some of the most pressing problems in technology, business, and society—in … Continue reading “Top 10 Highlights from FiReGlobal: Michael Dell, Lee Hartwell, Irwin Jacobs, and More”
Cheezburger Network’s Ben Huh on Startup Strategy, Expansion, and Making It Big
It took about a year and a half before I could even begin to understand the I Can Has Cheezburger (or “LOLcats”) phenomenon online. The mundane yet bizarre cat pictures. The misspelled captions. The curious Internet-slang grammar. They were kind of funny, but mostly they were weird—and, at times, even a little annoying. Yet millions … Continue reading “Cheezburger Network’s Ben Huh on Startup Strategy, Expansion, and Making It Big”
Clean Edge, PayScale Survey Jobs in Cleantech
Portland, OR-based research and publishing firm Clean Edge released a report today on job trends in the cleantech and energy industry. The highlights include a survey of salaries across a range of cleantech positions worldwide, performed in partnership with Seattle-based PayScale, the salary comparison firm. For example, the survey tracked median salaries for solar energy … Continue reading “Clean Edge, PayScale Survey Jobs in Cleantech”
Amazon Invests in Engine Yard, PopCap Raises $22.5M, Omeros Goes Public, & More Seattle-Area Deals News
The deals rained down on the Northwest this past week. We saw some strong activity in biotech, gaming, and software. —Integrated Diagnostics, the new biotech company founded by Lee Hood, has secured $30 million in venture funding from Menlo Park, CA-based InterWest Partners, the U.K.-based Wellcome Trust, and Germany-based dievini Hopp Biotech holding, as Luke … Continue reading “Amazon Invests in Engine Yard, PopCap Raises $22.5M, Omeros Goes Public, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”
Former Zango Execs Unveil BigDoor Media to Help Web Publishers Make More Money
It’s one of the great mysteries of the modern Internet. How can Web publishers make more money from their content? For everything from blogs and journalism to games and entertainment, publishers and software companies alike have been trying to solve this problem for many years. Now BigDoor Media, a six-person startup in Bellevue, WA, thinks … Continue reading “Former Zango Execs Unveil BigDoor Media to Help Web Publishers Make More Money”
Gist and Glympse Release iPhone Apps, Look to Capture More of the Mobile Market
Call it the iPhone “2G.” Two Seattle-area startups that start with the letter “G” are rolling out new iPhone apps today. OK, this would not normally make significant news for us, because new apps appear on a daily basis, but each of these cases provides an interesting update to the company’s mobile strategy, so here … Continue reading “Gist and Glympse Release iPhone Apps, Look to Capture More of the Mobile Market”
Decho Teams Up with Vodafone
Seattle-based Decho announced today it has formed a strategic partnership with Vodafone, a British mobile network operator, to develop cloud-based data backup services for personal computers. Financial terms of the deal were not released. The new products for European markets will be built using Mozy, the online backup service operated by Decho, which is a … Continue reading “Decho Teams Up with Vodafone”
Cheezburger Still Tops Startup Index
Cheezburger Network (formerly Pet Holdings) retained its No. 1 position in Seattle 2.0’s monthly rankings of local startups’ Web traffic. The rest of the top five were Zillow, Picnik, BuddyTV, and Wetpaint. Survey Analytics made a strong jump to No. 6. Other strong gains were made by Smith & Tinker, Gist, GlobalScholar, and Seattle 2.0 … Continue reading “Cheezburger Still Tops Startup Index”
Marchex Rolls Out Reputation Management Software for Small Businesses
Online reputation management is hot these days. Today, Seattle-based Marchex, the online advertising and search company, is announcing a new thrust in its strategy for connecting local consumers with restaurants, florists, and other businesses. The firm is releasing software that helps small, local businesses monitor and understand what people are saying about them and their … Continue reading “Marchex Rolls Out Reputation Management Software for Small Businesses”
Principle Power Combines Waves, Wind
Seattle-based Principle Power, a company focused on offshore wind energy, announced today it has received a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop water power technologies. Principle Power is working with the National Renewable Energy Lab and Marine Innovation and Technology on the project, which seeks to incorporate wave energy generation into … Continue reading “Principle Power Combines Waves, Wind”
Evri Drives New Hearst Website, Wants to Make News Aggregators Smarter
The next step in the future of journalism could be led by a Seattle startup. Today, media giant Hearst announced it has started a new website called LMK (Let Me Know), a news aggregator that pulls in Web feeds from sources like the Associated Press and Getty Images, and automatically creates topic pages for individual … Continue reading “Evri Drives New Hearst Website, Wants to Make News Aggregators Smarter”
Marketfish Puts Out New Platform
Seattle-based Marketfish has launched a new version of its list marketing software platform. The platform, called Great White, lets marketers rent third party opt-in lists using a Web interface similar to Google AdWords. The latest version lets customers complete live transactions and includes new features like expanded payment options and more transparency on prices. Marketfish … Continue reading “Marketfish Puts Out New Platform”
Amazon Re-ups with Engine Yard
Seattle-based Amazon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]) has participated in a $19 million Series C financing for Engine Yard, a cloud computing and software automation company in San Francisco. Amazon was a previous investor, along with Benchmark Capital and New Enterprise Associates, both of whom participated in the latest round, which also included new investors DAG Ventures, Bay … Continue reading “Amazon Re-ups with Engine Yard”
Microsoft’s New Head of FUSE Labs, Lili Cheng, on Strategy, Social Computing, and Bicoastal Life
Microsoft’s latest reorganization, which involves labs in both the Seattle and Boston areas, has a new face. It’s Lili Cheng, a 14-year Microsoftie with experience in both research (social computing) and products (Windows Vista user experience). Cheng now officially leads three separate groups that are being rolled into one: her Creative Systems Group within Microsoft … Continue reading “Microsoft’s New Head of FUSE Labs, Lili Cheng, on Strategy, Social Computing, and Bicoastal Life”
Memo from Ray Ozzie: New Lab Will Use Social Computing to Strengthen Microsoft Products
Ray Ozzie, Microsoft’s chief software architect, announced today the company is forming a new laboratory called Future Social Experience Labs, or FUSE Labs, which will focus on aspects of “social computing” beyond just communication and collaboration. The move is part of a wider restructuring of Microsoft’s labs: FUSE Labs is a merger between the Creative … Continue reading “Memo from Ray Ozzie: New Lab Will Use Social Computing to Strengthen Microsoft Products”
Washington Companies Raised $84.9M in September—But Mostly in One Deal
Venture financing perked up last month, at least for a handful of Seattle-area startups and young companies. VCs and corporate investors poured $76.9 million into five Washington-based companies in September, according to data provided to Xconomy by ChubbyBrain, a New York-based information services company that develops tools for investors, startups, and entrepreneurs. There were also … Continue reading “Washington Companies Raised $84.9M in September—But Mostly in One Deal”
Glympse and TravellingWave Step Out, Microsoft Does Voice Search, and More Mobile News
It’s been a very busy week for news in the mobile industry. First, Amazon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]) rolled out a one-click mobile payments service that promises to shake up the world of mobile-app developers and distributors. Then it seems like all hell broke loose, courtesy of the massive CTIA wireless expo going on in San Diego … Continue reading “Glympse and TravellingWave Step Out, Microsoft Does Voice Search, and More Mobile News”
OEN Names 12 Companies for Forum
The Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN) has announced its lineup of 12 presenting companies for the Venture Northwest 2009 investment forum, to be held on Oct. 29 at The Nine’s Hotel in Portland, OR. The Seattle-area companies are Calidora Skin Systems, Doxo, Lucid Commerce, and MicroGreen Polymers, while the Portland-area companies are Advanced Inquiry Systems, Cularis, … Continue reading “OEN Names 12 Companies for Forum”
Daptiv Adds $2M From Management
Seattle-based Daptiv, a maker of online project management software, has received $2 million in new funding, according to a regulatory filing. The cash comes primarily from the company’s management, including new CEO Chase Franklin, chairman Kevin Hickey, and chief operating officer Mark Klebanoff, as TechFlash reports. Daptiv was founded in 1997 (as eProject), and has … Continue reading “Daptiv Adds $2M From Management”
Royalty-Based Venture Financing, Born in Boston, Could Shake Up VCs and Startups from New England to the Northwest
Every once in a while, an investment model comes along that turns the innovation community on its head. The venture capital industry, still less than 50 years old, is one example. Now an emerging paradigm called royalty-based financing, applied to early-stage startups, may be another. The approach has its roots in the Boston area, and … Continue reading “Royalty-Based Venture Financing, Born in Boston, Could Shake Up VCs and Startups from New England to the Northwest”
PopCap Games Raises $22.5M in First Outside Funding Round
Seattle-based PopCap Games dropped a bit of a bombshell this morning. The casual games developer and publisher announced it has secured $22.5 million—the first outside funding in its nearly 10-year history—led by Meritech Capital Partners, a late-stage investment firm based in Palo Alto, CA. Also participating in the round are Larry Bowman, a PopCap board … Continue reading “PopCap Games Raises $22.5M in First Outside Funding Round”
As Mobile Phones Overtake Cameras, Consumers Still Struggle to Use Them, Says Ontela Survey at CTIA
An interesting tidbit from the mobile industry: Film cameras are going out of style, while camera phones have become ubiquitous. But even as the popularity of things like mobile data plans and text messaging continues to grow in the U.S., people still have problems doing simple things with photos on their phones. That’s according to … Continue reading “As Mobile Phones Overtake Cameras, Consumers Still Struggle to Use Them, Says Ontela Survey at CTIA”
Amazon Goes Mobile, Theraclone Inks $18M Deal, Spiration Pulls In $7M, & More Seattle-Area Deals News
In the past week, the Northwest has seen its share of debt financings in medical devices and bio-IT, small funding deals and partnerships in Internet software, and mounting interest in an impending IPO. —Amazon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]) rolled out a new mobile payments service that lets applications developers and distributors tap into the e-commerce giant’s one-click … Continue reading “Amazon Goes Mobile, Theraclone Inks $18M Deal, Spiration Pulls In $7M, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”
Cheezburger Network Hits 1B Views, Hires Exec
Seattle-based Cheezburger Network (formerly called Pet Holdings) announced today it has served 1 billion page views, or 10 billion images, since its first user-generated humor site, I Can Has Cheezburger, was launched in January 2007. The company also said it has hired Todd Sawicki as chief revenue officer. Sawicki is a senior sales and marketing … Continue reading “Cheezburger Network Hits 1B Views, Hires Exec”
Amazon Dives Into Mobile, Bringing Its Online Checkout to Wider World of App Distributors
Seattle-based Amazon has started a mobile payments service that allows consumers to make purchases from their mobile devices using their Amazon accounts, according to a statement released today. More significantly, the service also gives developers, retailers, and distributors of mobile applications a way to process mobile payments from customers using Amazon’s online checkout system—without having … Continue reading “Amazon Dives Into Mobile, Bringing Its Online Checkout to Wider World of App Distributors”
Cray, Isilon, Marchex Weigh In With Their Company Cultures Boiled Down to One Word
How do you go about summarizing a company’s culture in one word? I haven’t a clue, but whenever I ask CEOs, they always come up with something interesting—and often surprising. In the past couple of months, I’ve been asking top executives at Northwest tech startups to talk about their company culture and why it’s unique. … Continue reading “Cray, Isilon, Marchex Weigh In With Their Company Cultures Boiled Down to One Word”