Bellevue, WA-based Visible Technologies, a software startup that focuses on online brand reputation management and customer service, has raised $6 million in debt financing, according to a regulatory filing. Visible, which was founded in 2003, is backed by Bellevue-based Ignition Partners and New York-based WPP.
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.
Xconomy Battle of the Tech Bands Finds Judges Who Rock
With summer on its way in, we’re starting to gear up for Xconomy’s Battle of the Tech Bands, which is happening on July 30 at the WTIA Summer Celebration at the Pyramid Alehouse in Seattle. If you or someone you know plays in a band that has at least one member who hails from a … Continue reading “Xconomy Battle of the Tech Bands Finds Judges Who Rock”
Elemental Rolls Out Video Servers
Portland, OR-based Elemental Technologies, a video processing startup, announced today the beta release of its server product, which uses off-the-shelf graphics processing units and advanced software. Elemental Server is meant to help studios, online video platforms, and large Internet video publishers deliver huge volumes of video to consumers smoothly, efficiently, and cheaply. Beta customers include … Continue reading “Elemental Rolls Out Video Servers”
Modumetal, UW Get Grant from WTC
Seattle-based Modumetal, a nanomaterials startup, and the University of Washington have received a $5,000 grant from Washington Technology Center to develop an anti-corrosion polymer coating for sulfuric acid pipelines. Leslie Warren, project manager at Modumetal, and Rajendra Bordia, UW professor of materials science and engineering, are leading the effort. Modumetal was founded in 2006 and … Continue reading “Modumetal, UW Get Grant from WTC”
Alex Castro of Delve Networks on the Future of Internet Video
“There are a quarter of a billion websites on Planet Earth, and most of them will want video.” Now there‘s a market to put hair on your chest—the stat comes courtesy of Alex Castro, the chief executive of Seattle startup Delve Networks. I called up Castro last week, in part to ask him about his … Continue reading “Alex Castro of Delve Networks on the Future of Internet Video”
Ramgen Power Gets $20M, Best Buy Backs Dashwire, WildTangent Teams Up With Mochi, & More Seattle-Area Deals News
It was a relatively busy week in the Northwest, with lots of little deals in biotech, software, mobile, and gaming, and one big deal in cleantech. We’ll see if the pace quickens before the unofficial start of summer… —Luke reported that Redmond, WA-based CoAptus Medical, maker of a catheter device for sealing up heart defects, … Continue reading “Ramgen Power Gets $20M, Best Buy Backs Dashwire, WildTangent Teams Up With Mochi, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”
Glympse of a Stealthy Startup: Ex-Microsofties Roll Out Location-Based Mobile Service
Tired of hearing your airline seatmates blab on their cellphones just to tell people “I’m on the plane,” or “I’ve just landed”? Sick of texting “Where are you?” when you’re trying to meet up with friends, or when a family member is stuck in traffic? Then Bryan Trussel, an ex-Microsoft veteran turned entrepreneur, has a … Continue reading “Glympse of a Stealthy Startup: Ex-Microsofties Roll Out Location-Based Mobile Service”
CarDomain, Trumba Rise in Startup Rankings
Seattle 2.0’s latest startup website rankings show no changes in the top five companies (Zillow, Pet Holdings, iLike, Picnik, BuddyTV), but some strong gains were made by CarDomain (up to #6), Walk Score (#28), Trumba (#32), and Entertonement (#33). The rankings are based on traffic estimates on the websites of Seattle-area technology startups.
Werner Vogels of Amazon on the Future of the Cloud—Quick Hits from OVP Tech Summit
There was a lot of discussion about the top trends in energy, biotech, and computing at last week’s technology summit in Seattle hosted by OVP Venture Partners. The afternoon breakout session on information technology, attended by a few dozen IT leaders, focused on the theme of “big data.” This was all about the opportunities and … Continue reading “Werner Vogels of Amazon on the Future of the Cloud—Quick Hits from OVP Tech Summit”
With $4.25M Seed Fund, Alliance of Angels Looks to Take Northwest Investing to “New Level”
Seattle-based Alliance of Angels officially announced its new $4.25 million seed fund this week, which it will invest in early-stage companies alongside individual investors. The Alliance of Angels’ Marty Smith first revealed the fund at the Technology Alliance’s annual luncheon in Seattle on May 1. “AoA continues to actively invest in great local companies and … Continue reading “With $4.25M Seed Fund, Alliance of Angels Looks to Take Northwest Investing to “New Level””
Hydrovolts Wins $50K Zino Green Fund
The Zino Society announced yesterday it has awarded its $50,000 Zino Green Fund to Seattle-based Hydrovolts, the maker of a novel underwater turbine for producing electricity in canals and waterways. Hydrovolts is led by Burt Hamner, who pitched the company at last month’s Zino Society Green Investment Forum.
Northwest Layoff Update: Vidoop, TeachStreet, Pathway, Nokia, Microsoft Cut Staff
Times are still tough out there—and maybe getting tougher—despite faint rumblings of an economic recovery on the horizon. In the past two weeks, young startups and big public companies alike have shed workers in layoffs big and small. Here’s a quick recap of the bloodletting in the Northwest. —Vidoop, a Portland, OR-based maker of online … Continue reading “Northwest Layoff Update: Vidoop, TeachStreet, Pathway, Nokia, Microsoft Cut Staff”
SynapticMash Scores $1.25M
Seattle-based SynapticMash, an educational software and management company, has raised $1.25 million in new funding, according to a regulatory filing. The company, founded in 2007, is led by CEO Ramona Pierson and previously raised $3 million last June. Its board members include Debra Chrapaty, a Microsoft vice president of global foundation services, Bippy Siegel of … Continue reading “SynapticMash Scores $1.25M”
Bill Gates and Paul Allen To Enter Xconomy Battle of the Tech Bands (Sort Of)
Are you ready to rock? We’ve already received quite a few submissions from Seattle-area musicians in the tech and life sciences community who want to compete in the Xconomy Battle of the Tech Bands. The big competition is happening at the WTIA Summer Celebration at the Pyramid Ale House on July 30. (Event details and … Continue reading “Bill Gates and Paul Allen To Enter Xconomy Battle of the Tech Bands (Sort Of)”
Delve Raises $1.65M, Revenues Surge
Seattle-based Delve Networks, an online video publishing and management company, has raised $1.65 million in new funding. According to a regulatory filing, the total offering is $11.3 million, and the investors are Scott Lenet of DFJ Frontier and Mark Klebanoff of Seattle-based Daptiv. Delve, which was co-founded by CEO Alex Castro in 2006 (when it … Continue reading “Delve Raises $1.65M, Revenues Surge”
Cascadia Capital’s New Managing Director, Michael Orbach, on Trends to Watch in IT Deals
Veteran software entrepreneur and investment banker Michael Orbach is joining Seattle-based Cascadia Capital today. As a new managing director in the investment bank, Orbach will focus on mergers and acquisitions, as well as capital raises, in software and services—all in the mid-market range of $20 million to $500 million deals. The new hiring looks to … Continue reading “Cascadia Capital’s New Managing Director, Michael Orbach, on Trends to Watch in IT Deals”
DocuSign, Ontela Win Awards
Seattle startups DocuSign, a digital-signature software firm, and Ontela, which makes a mobile photo-sharing and uploading service, were among the companies named to the “Red Herring 100” last night in San Diego. The award signifies excellence in entrepreneurship and innovation in North American technology companies. The complete list of 200 finalists can be found here.
Dashwire Raises $1.6M from Geoff Entress, Best Buy, to Sync Your Cellphone with the Web
Seattle-based Dashwire, a mobile-Web software startup, has closed a $1.6 million round of financing (out of a $2.3 million offering), according to a regulatory filing. The round was led by Seattle-area investor Geoff Entress, who has previously backed the company and serves on its board, and Best Buy Capital, who has added Ying Zeng to … Continue reading “Dashwire Raises $1.6M from Geoff Entress, Best Buy, to Sync Your Cellphone with the Web”
Seattle Firms iLike, PopCap, Evri, and Zumobi Partner with Apple—an iPhone Update
It’s hard to keep up with the flood of new iPhone applications these days, but a few Seattle-based companies warrant a mention here for their recent news. Especially coming on the heels of the high-profile acquisitions of Seattle’s Urbanspoon (makers of the popular restaurant guide app) by IAC, and Lexcycle (makers of the e-book app … Continue reading “Seattle Firms iLike, PopCap, Evri, and Zumobi Partner with Apple—an iPhone Update”
Gerry Langeler of OVP on Digital Energy and the Cyclical Nature of Venture Capital
Maybe it’s not such a bad time to be an investor after all. OVP Venture Partners, based in Kirkland, WA, held its sixth annual Technology Summit today at the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Seattle, and the mood was decidedly upbeat. The crowd was a real who’s who of the technology and life sciences industries; … Continue reading “Gerry Langeler of OVP on Digital Energy and the Cyclical Nature of Venture Capital”
Nokia Closes Kirkland Office, Cuts Services
Finnish mobile giant Nokia (NYSE: [[ticker:NOK]]) said today it is halting investment in its first big Internet services effort, built around technology from the Seattle firm Twango, which it bought in 2007. As part of this strategic shift, Nokia is closing its office in Kirkland, WA, but says it is keeping the photo and video … Continue reading “Nokia Closes Kirkland Office, Cuts Services”
WildTangent, Mochi Form Ad Network
Redmond, WA-based WildTangent announced today it has formed a partnership with San Francisco-based Mochi Media to create the largest online game advertising network in the U.S. Financial terms were not disclosed, but the network will link advertisers with some 14,000 Flash games distributed across Internet portals and social networks, reaching some 30 million U.S. customers … Continue reading “WildTangent, Mochi Form Ad Network”
Dendreon and Cell Therapeutics Sell Stock, Microsoft Buys BigPark, Calistoga Raises $30M, & More Seattle-Area Deals News
The days have gotten longer, and deals are really flowing in the Northwest. In the past week, there has been quite a bit of activity across different sectors of biotech, energy, and software. —Luke reported that Seattle-based Cell Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CTIC]]) sold $20 million worth of common stock, and warrants to buy stock, to a … Continue reading “Dendreon and Cell Therapeutics Sell Stock, Microsoft Buys BigPark, Calistoga Raises $30M, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”
How Microsoft BizSpark Is Doing With Startups—And How It Can Do Better
Last November, Microsoft began an ambitious experiment. It would offer free software, development tools, and technical support to startup companies around the world, in exchange for getting its technology into the hands of young developers—and a small fee when startups exit the program. BizSpark, as the program is called (not to be confused with BigPark, … Continue reading “How Microsoft BizSpark Is Doing With Startups—And How It Can Do Better”
How Coaching T-Ball Is Like Running a Startup: Insights From Matt Hulett of Mpire
While the Mariners are still in contention for the American League West lead, I thought it might be useful to make some analogies between baseball teams and startup companies. This came out of a recent chat I had with Matt Hulett, the chief executive of Seattle-based Mpire, makers of the Widgetbucks ad network and AdXpose … Continue reading “How Coaching T-Ball Is Like Running a Startup: Insights From Matt Hulett of Mpire”
DocuSign Scores $5M More
Seattle-based DocuSign, a digital-signature software startup, has closed $5 million in Series D funding, led by existing investors Frazier Technology Ventures, Ignition Partners, Sigma Partners, and West River Capital. The news was reported by TechFlash and TechCrunch. DocuSign was founded in 2003 and has raised some $30 million in venture funding.
Seattle Tech Investment Trends and Themes, From Madrona’s Tom Alberg (Part 2)
In the past month, Luke and I had the opportunity to sit down with Tom Alberg, the co-founder and managing director of Seattle’s Madrona Venture Group, for a wide-ranging discussion. In earlier installments, we’ve reported on Alberg’s thoughts about the future of newspapers, as well as the rise of the high-tech innovation cluster in Seattle, … Continue reading “Seattle Tech Investment Trends and Themes, From Madrona’s Tom Alberg (Part 2)”
Seattle 2.0 Awards Are a Smash; Picnik Cleans Up
In 1939, it was “Gone with the Wind.” 2009’s Academy Awards darling was “Slumdog Millionaire.” And now the Seattle startup community has its own awards sweep: Picnik, the photo-editing software company founded by Mike Harrington and Darrin Massena and led by CEO Jonathan Sposato, took home all four prizes for which it was nominated at … Continue reading “Seattle 2.0 Awards Are a Smash; Picnik Cleans Up”
From MIT Blackjack Team to Amazon Acquisition: The Lexcycle Story
Neelan Choksi says he has an “addictive personality.” That might explain why he carefully orders an orange juice at the espresso bar, while I jack up my caffeine intake with another 12-ounce latte. We’re sitting at the Espresso Vivace in South Lake Union on a quintessentially rainy Seattle afternoon in early May. Choksi’s company, Lexcycle, … Continue reading “From MIT Blackjack Team to Amazon Acquisition: The Lexcycle Story”
Microsoft To Buy BigPark
Microsoft announced today it plans to acquire Vancouver, BC-based BigPark, an interactive online gaming company. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. BigPark will become part of Microsoft Game Studios. The company was co-founded by Hanno Lemke and Don Mattrick, senior vice president of Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment Business.
Amazon Invests in Foodista
Seattle-based Foodista, an online cooking encyclopedia and wiki, has raised Series A funding from Amazon and other angel investors. The news was reported by PE Hub and TechCrunch, which said the amount of funding was $550,000. Foodista was launched in December by Amazon veterans Barnaby Dorfman and Sheri Wetherell.
The Rise of Seattle’s High-Tech Cluster, As Told By Madrona’s Tom Alberg (Part 1)
One of the great pleasures of being a journalist is listening to influential leaders discuss where they come from and how it affects their strategy. Luke and I recently sat down with Tom Alberg, co-founder and managing director of Seattle-based Madrona Venture Group. In addition to sharing his thoughts on the future of newspapers and … Continue reading “The Rise of Seattle’s High-Tech Cluster, As Told By Madrona’s Tom Alberg (Part 1)”
AllSeniorHomes Launches Elder Care Site
Seattle-based AllSeniorHomes.com rolled out its beta site today, an online directory of elder housing communities in Washington and Oregon. The site helps match families with senior care providers and senior housing. The startup was founded by Jay Goldstein and Chris Rodde, formerly of All Star Directories.
HelpHive Rolls Out Home Services Site
Seattle-based HelpHive has launched today an online marketplace for home owners and home service providers. The beta version of the site includes some 6,500 listings in the Seattle-Tacoma area for services like home repair, home improvement, maintenance, and cleaning. HelpHive was founded by Real Networks veterans Dave Richards and Karim Meghji, and has been in … Continue reading “HelpHive Rolls Out Home Services Site”
How Foundry Group Got the Gist of T.A. McCann’s Startup: Anatomy of a Software Deal
Every deal has a back story you can learn from. In the case of Gist—the Seattle software startup that announced yesterday it raised $6.75 million in Series A funding from Foundry Group and Vulcan Capital—the key connection came about because of a timely combination of blogs and social networks. Which is fitting because Gist is … Continue reading “How Foundry Group Got the Gist of T.A. McCann’s Startup: Anatomy of a Software Deal”
Microsoft Makes Second Round of Cuts
Microsoft is implementing the rest of its plan to cut 5,000 positions, as originally announced in January. That’s according to numerous media reports and a Microsoft statement. The company hasn’t said how many jobs are being cut locally, but The Seattle Times reports 1,200 workers will be affected in Washington state. The news comes on … Continue reading “Microsoft Makes Second Round of Cuts”
Powerit Pulls in $6M to Solidify Position in Energy Efficiency and Management
Seattle-based Powerit Solutions, a maker of energy management and energy efficiency technology for commercial and industrial facilities, announced today it has raised $6 million in new funding. The round was led by new investors Siemens Venture Capital and ArcelorMittal’s Clean Technology Fund, and included existing investors @Ventures and Expansion Capital Partners. Powerit (pronounced “Power I.T.”) … Continue reading “Powerit Pulls in $6M to Solidify Position in Energy Efficiency and Management”
Urbanspoon Exits, Likewise Lands $10M, Zymo Licenses Drugs to Startup, & More Seattle-Area Deals News
It was a pretty busy week for deals in the Northwest, with activity in consumer Internet, security software, gaming, and biotech. —The most talked-about deal in the Seattle startup community was Urbanspoon’s acquisition by New York-based IAC (NASDAQ: [[ticker:IACI]]), which owns dozens of popular websites like Citysearch and Evite. Financial terms were not disclosed. Urbanspoon, … Continue reading “Urbanspoon Exits, Likewise Lands $10M, Zymo Licenses Drugs to Startup, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”
Huey Joins Alliance of Angels
Seattle-based Alliance of Angels, a not-for-profit angel investor group run by the Technology Alliance, announced its new program director will be Greg Huey. Previously, Huey oversaw strategy and corporate development for Hewlett-Packard in London, UK, and spent nearly six years with Frazier Technology Ventures in Seattle. Huey, who starts tomorrow, succeeds Rebecca Lovell, who left … Continue reading “Huey Joins Alliance of Angels”
MOD Opens Japan Subsidiary
Seattle-based MOD Systems, a maker of digital media delivery technologies for retailers, announced today it has opened a subsidiary in Tokyo. MOD Systems Japan will work with the company’s strategic investors, Toshiba and NCR, to drive business development in Japan. MOD raised $35 million from its investors in September, in a deal that has come … Continue reading “MOD Opens Japan Subsidiary”
WTIA Releases Fast Pitch Lineup
The Washington Technology Industry Association announced today its list of 24 local startups that will participate in its Fast Pitch Forum and Technology Showcase on May 27. The WTIA’s investment forum, which has changed its format this year, will include presentations from AdReady, blist, Bonanzle, BuddyTV, Daptiv, DataSphere Technologies, Gist, Konnects, Liquid Planner, Ontela, Pet … Continue reading “WTIA Releases Fast Pitch Lineup”
Microsoft’s Cloud Platform, Azure, Looks to Combine Best of Google, Amazon Web Services
The idea of computing “in the cloud” is certainly, well, in the air—to the point where I think people are starting to become allergic to it. It seems that “cloud computing” has become the new “nano.” Putting the term in front of whatever your business is doing doesn’t necessarily make it a good (or even … Continue reading “Microsoft’s Cloud Platform, Azure, Looks to Combine Best of Google, Amazon Web Services”
Talyst Founder Raises Venture Fund
Jim Torina, the co-founder and former CEO of Bellevue, WA-based Talyst, is raising a venture fund and launching a startup incubator called The University Funds, also in Bellevue. The news was first reported by PE Hub. The seed-stage fund is looking to work with Washington State University and other institutions to build companies around universities’ … Continue reading “Talyst Founder Raises Venture Fund”
Ray Ozzie on Cloud Strategy and Washington Vs. Massachusetts: Takeaways from Tech Alliance
In football, the expression is “three yards and a cloud of dust.” But at Microsoft, it’s apparently “three screens and a cloud.” That’s according to chief software architect Ray Ozzie, who took part in a keynote conversation with University of Washington computer scientist Ed Lazowska at today’s State of Technology Luncheon, hosted by the Technology … Continue reading “Ray Ozzie on Cloud Strategy and Washington Vs. Massachusetts: Takeaways from Tech Alliance”
Intelius Scoops Up Spock
Bellevue, WA-based Intelius, a company that provides background checks and identity theft protection, has acquired Redwood City, CA-based people search engine Spock, as reported by VentureBeat, TechCrunch, and others. Terms were not disclosed. Intelius was founded in 2003 and is led by CEO Naveen Jain, the founder of InfoSpace.
What the Urbanspoon Acquisition Means for Consumer Internet Startups
One of the year’s most talked-about deals so far was this week’s announcement that Seattle-based Urbanspoon, the online restaurant guide and iPhone application, has been bought by Internet giant IAC. Financial terms were not disclosed, but reactions I’ve heard from local entrepreneurs and investors have ranged anywhere from “this is great for Urbanspoon and the … Continue reading “What the Urbanspoon Acquisition Means for Consumer Internet Startups”
Cascadia Capital Internet Report Touts Future of Social Media, Mobile, and Online Marketing
Seattle-based investment bank Cascadia Capital released a comprehensive report today on the state of the Internet and new media market and its future prospects. The analysis points to social media and mobile applications as areas in which companies are most likely to make money in the next couple of years. It also fleshes out the … Continue reading “Cascadia Capital Internet Report Touts Future of Social Media, Mobile, and Online Marketing”
Wetpaint Teams Up With MSN
Seattle social-publishing startup Wetpaint announced it has formed a partnership with MSN Entertainment, a leading online network, to create more than two dozen fan sites that will start rolling out this quarter. Financial terms of the deal were not given. MSN Entertainment will use Wetpaint’s software to power social sites where fans can write content, … Continue reading “Wetpaint Teams Up With MSN”
Big Fish Gobbles Grubby Games
Seattle-based Big Fish Games has acquired Grubby Games, a studio based in Vancouver, BC, for an undisclosed price. The news was first reported by Gama Sutra. Grubby Games is the maker of titles like Incredibots, Professor Fizzwizzle, and My Tribe. Big Fish plans to release a new brand based on Grubby’s software next quarter.
Three Things Every Startup Should Do, As Inspired by UW Business Competition
I overheard some crucial advice for young startups while helping judge the UW Business Plan competition on Tuesday. As I worked the room, I compared notes on the various teams with some well-established entrepreneurs like Steve McCracken of CultureMob, Brent Lamphier of Athleon, Nathan Kaiser of nPost, and Marcelo Calbucci of Sampa and Seattle 2.0. … Continue reading “Three Things Every Startup Should Do, As Inspired by UW Business Competition”