Seattle-based Jobster’s co-founder and former CEO, Jason Goldberg, has sold his new startup, Socialmedian, to Hamburg, Germany-based Xing for about $7.5 million. Socialmedian is a New York-based news-filtering service that works well with social sites like Xing, which is focused on professional networking. Goldberg, who left Jobster a year ago, will be moving to Germany … Continue reading “Ex-Jobster’s Firm Sold for $7.5M”
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.
Where Food Meets Tech: iPhone Apps, Bacon Salt, The Coffee Nazi, and Other Tasty Seattle Connections
In a great food town like Seattle, it’s no surprise there are so many food-related startups. But lately we’ve been hearing even more about tech companies and food than expected—big successes, wacky products, major projects—so we figured it was time to round up (and update) our recent coverage of said companies. Plus, what better time … Continue reading “Where Food Meets Tech: iPhone Apps, Bacon Salt, The Coffee Nazi, and Other Tasty Seattle Connections”
Top Web Apps for the Real World: Seattle and Boston Startups Make 2008 List
Seattle and Boston, two of Xconomy’s network cities, have something extra to be proud of today—at least when it comes to Internet startups. Each city contributed two companies to a popular list of the year’s best Web applications for improving customers’ real lives. That’s according to the tech-news blog ReadWriteWeb, which has published its list … Continue reading “Top Web Apps for the Real World: Seattle and Boston Startups Make 2008 List”
Kashless Is Hiring, Expanding, and Pioneering “Recommerce,” Says Founder Martin Tobias
This morning, I had a good chat with Seattle entrepreneur and investor Martin Tobias, in advance of tomorrow’s holiday open house at his new startup, Kashless. Known to get around on his Segway, Tobias said he trudged down the hill on foot today to his new office, which is in Lower Queen Anne. All of … Continue reading “Kashless Is Hiring, Expanding, and Pioneering “Recommerce,” Says Founder Martin Tobias”
Ex-Entellium Execs Plead Guilty to Fraud
Seattle-based Entellium’s former CFO, Parrish Jones, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud in U.S. District Court today, as reported by the Seattle Times and TechFlash. Jones faces 33 to 41 months in prison for his alleged role in falsifying company revenues. Last week, Entellium’s former CEO Paul Johnston also pled guilty to fraud, … Continue reading “Ex-Entellium Execs Plead Guilty to Fraud”
Vampires, Smartphones, and Social Activism: Which Websites Were Hot in 2008
It’s not just Facebook, MySpace, and Wikipedia anymore. A large number of social websites and wikis have become major players on the Web. Today’s launch of the Seattle-based cooking site Foodista.com is the latest example. But the top social sites of the year were dedicated to TV shows, social activism, gaming, smartphones, and education—in that … Continue reading “Vampires, Smartphones, and Social Activism: Which Websites Were Hot in 2008”
Foodista Unveils Social Cooking Site
Seattle-based Foodista has opened up a cooking website that everyone can edit, wiki-style. Billed as an online cooking encyclopedia, the site includes information on food, recipes, techniques, and tools, and allows users to share their knowledge by posting comments, editing content, and uploading photos. The site is run by former Amazon veterans Barnaby Dorfman and … Continue reading “Foodista Unveils Social Cooking Site”
Seattle-Area Wireless Companies (and Others) Look to Innovate, Expand in China
A couple of news tidbits involving China in the past week have made me look more closely at what local startups and companies are doing to expand there. On Thursday, Seattle-based Airbiquity, a wireless communications firm focused on the auto industry, announced it has entered the Chinese market, branding itself locally as Ai Bi Ke … Continue reading “Seattle-Area Wireless Companies (and Others) Look to Innovate, Expand in China”
PressOK, Movaya Team Up for Mobile Games
Seattle-based Movaya and PressOK Entertainment announced today they are joining forces to develop mobile games. Financial terms and impact of the deal were not disclosed. PressOK was formed by the merger of mobile-gaming companies Reaxion and Mobliss in September. Reaxion’s development teams are in Russia and Belarus, while Movaya’s team is in China.
$2.6M Helps Healionics Heal, Uptake Takes In $3M, BlueKai Gets $10.5M Boost, & More Seattle-Area Deals News
Maybe it’s because everyone is trying to get their deals announced before the holidays, but it was a busy week in the Northwest, with plenty of activity in mobile software, online media, and medical devices. —Bellevue, WA-based BlueKai, an Internet marketing firm, raised $10.5 million in Series B funding, led by Waltham, MA-based Battery Ventures. … Continue reading “$2.6M Helps Healionics Heal, Uptake Takes In $3M, BlueKai Gets $10.5M Boost, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”
BlueKai Makes Splash with $10.5M Round, Wants Advertisers to Understand Consumer Intentions
BlueKai, an online-marketing startup in Bellevue, WA, has nailed down one of the bigger tech venture deals of the past few months. The company is announcing today it has closed a $10.5 million Series B investment led by Battery Ventures, based in Waltham, MA, and Menlo Park, CA. The round also includes returning investor Redpoint … Continue reading “BlueKai Makes Splash with $10.5M Round, Wants Advertisers to Understand Consumer Intentions”
InFocus Cuts 30 Percent of Staff
Wilsonville, OR-based InFocus (NASDAQ: [[ticker:INFS]]), a maker of digital projectors, announced today it is reducing its global workforce by 30 percent, as part of a company restructuring that will span all of 2009. The staff cuts will be effective next month. InFocus president and CEO Bob O’Malley cited the economic downturn and reduced demand for … Continue reading “InFocus Cuts 30 Percent of Staff”
Zumobi, REI Do Ski Reports
Seattle-based Zumobi and Recreational Equipment, Inc. have teamed up to release the REI Snow Report, a free software application for the iPhone, Blackberry, and Windows Mobile devices that lets consumers get information about ski-resort conditions. Zumobi, a mobile software startup, was founded in 2006 and is backed by Oak Investment Partners and Hunt Ventures.
Got $10M? Seattle Chapter of Tiger 21 May Be For You (Part 2)
On Friday, we reported that Tiger 21, a New York-based network and support group for the very wealthy, is setting up a Seattle chapter, headed by the local entrepreneur and investor Andy Sack. (Tiger 21 had planned to announce the news today, but another media outlet jumped the gun on Friday.) The point of Tiger … Continue reading “Got $10M? Seattle Chapter of Tiger 21 May Be For You (Part 2)”
Yapta Raises $2.7M, Looks for More
Seattle-based Yapta, an online travel service that tracks airfares for consumers, has raised $2.7 million in funding from undisclosed investors, according to a company spokesman. The funding round is still open, so that figure could change in the next month. Yapta launched in May 2007 and is backed by First Round Capital, Voyager Capital, Swiftsure … Continue reading “Yapta Raises $2.7M, Looks for More”
Got $10M? Seattle Chapter of Tiger 21 May Be For You (Part 1)
Think the super-rich don’t have problems? Try fending off friends and relatives who always want to borrow money, or raising spoiled brats who don’t take responsibility for their actions. Not to mention the more obvious financial questions of how to manage such hefty portfolios—especially in economic times like these. (Granted, some of this might be … Continue reading “Got $10M? Seattle Chapter of Tiger 21 May Be For You (Part 1)”
Melodeo Teams with Salvation Army on iPhone
Seattle-based Melodeo, a digital-music startup, is powering the Salvation Army’s holiday music iPhone application, which was announced yesterday. The software, available from the iPhone Application Store for $2.99, streams a selection of holiday tunes to your phone, with unlimited listening. Proceeds will benefit the Salvation Army charity.
Microvision Lands $750K Eyewear Contract
Redmond, WA-based Microvision, a mobile imaging and display company, announced it has been awarded a $750,000 contract to begin developing a high-definition, see-through eyewear display. The name of the customer was not disclosed. The wearable display is designed to be full-color and transparent to the surroundings.
How To Invent: Tips from Patrick Ennis of Intellectual Ventures (Part 2)
Yesterday, I gave a few highlights from a lunchtime discussion with Intellectual Ventures’ global head of technology, Patrick Ennis. The Bellevue, WA-based firm, founded by Nathan Myhrvold and Edward Jung, is sometimes called an “invention company.” It has gotten a lot of attention—and stirred controversy—for buying up large numbers of technology patents worldwide. So I … Continue reading “How To Invent: Tips from Patrick Ennis of Intellectual Ventures (Part 2)”
How To Invent: Tips on Global Technology from Patrick Ennis of Intellectual Ventures (Part 1)
Why can’t big companies invent? How should inventors handle their intellectual property? And what are countries around the world doing on these fronts? I recently stopped by Intellectual Ventures in Bellevue, WA, to get the scoop from Patrick Ennis, IV’s global head of technology. Ennis was a venture capitalist with Arch Venture Partners in Seattle … Continue reading “How To Invent: Tips on Global Technology from Patrick Ennis of Intellectual Ventures (Part 1)”
SplashCast Puts TV on MySpace, Facebook
Portland, OR-based SplashCast, an online content-syndication startup, announced it has teamed up with video service Hulu to distribute TV shows and other content on Facebook and MySpace. SplashCast’s “social TV player” software will syndicate new episodes from Hulu directly to viewers’ social-network pages. Twenty shows are currently available, and the company says “dozens more” will … Continue reading “SplashCast Puts TV on MySpace, Facebook”
Seattle-Area Social Networking Sites Roll Out Plans to Drum Up New Business
Two of the area’s more interesting social-networking startups are announcing new product offerings today. Each has been quietly building its business this year without a lot of fanfare. One plays in the professional networking arena, while the other focuses on families and friends. Both need to drum up new users in a tough economic climate. … Continue reading “Seattle-Area Social Networking Sites Roll Out Plans to Drum Up New Business”
Zillow Still Tops Seattle Startup Rankings
Seattle 2.0’s monthly rankings of local tech-startup websites is out for November. Based on traffic estimates compiled by Marcelo Calbucci, Zillow remained #1, though its lead over Pet Holdings (#2) is nominal. Picnik, BigOven, and WidgetBucks continued to climb upward within the top 10, and Athleon, Visible.net, CultureMob, GoGoMo, and Jackson Fish Market also made … Continue reading “Zillow Still Tops Seattle Startup Rankings”
Ontier Lands Investment, Board Members
Portland, OR-based Ontier, a stealthy software startup, announced it has landed new board members and investors Les Fahey, of Fahey Ventures, and Paul Gulick, co-founder of InFocus. The amount of investment was not disclosed. Ontier was founded in early 2008 and is developing software for business communication that tries to fill the gap between e-mail … Continue reading “Ontier Lands Investment, Board Members”
Microsoft’s BizSpark Program, In First 30 Days, Reaches Thousands of Startups, Developers
It’s been a whirlwind month for Cliff Reeves. The Microsoft general manager just got back from Eastern Europe and China, where he was promoting the debut of BizSpark, Microsoft’s new outreach program for startups. The program offers free software, development tools, and technical support to early-stage startups worldwide, with the goal of helping local software … Continue reading “Microsoft’s BizSpark Program, In First 30 Days, Reaches Thousands of Startups, Developers”
Microsoft and EMC Get Secure, PATH Puts $3M Into Bird Flu, Amazon Closes Book on Abe, & More Seattle-Area Deals News
It was a very slow week for deals in the Northwest, with layoffs and other bad news dominating the headlines. But there were still a few deals in biotech, software, and e-commerce. —The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle raised more than $2.2 million in donations for its research programs at its annual holiday … Continue reading “Microsoft and EMC Get Secure, PATH Puts $3M Into Bird Flu, Amazon Closes Book on Abe, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”
ExtraHop Jumps Out of Stealth
Seattle-based ExtraHop Networks announced it has released its software product to help companies manage their network operations and applications support. The startup says its software helps info-tech organizations monitor their software applications environments by examining tens of thousands of network transactions at any given time. ExtraHop was founded in early 2007 by veterans of Seattle’s … Continue reading “ExtraHop Jumps Out of Stealth”
RealNetworks Goes Mobile, Releases Games for iPhone
Seattle-based RealNetworks is introducing games for the iPhone and other mobile devices, according to a report in VentureBeat today. Six games are coming out on the iPhone this quarter, including Tiki Towers, a survival-adventure game released last week on some mobile phones. It will be out on the iPhone and iPod Touch on December 15, … Continue reading “RealNetworks Goes Mobile, Releases Games for iPhone”
Big Fish Swims Against Current, Looks To Make New Hires—and Not Only for Games
“We’re not just a gaming company,” says Glenn Walcott. The chief financial officer of Seattle-based Big Fish Games is telling me about his company’s focus on new hires, and this comes as a bit of surprise. People tend to think of Big Fish as a game producer, but Walcott stresses that most of its engineers … Continue reading “Big Fish Swims Against Current, Looks To Make New Hires—and Not Only for Games”
Microsoft Hires Head of Online Services from Yahoo
Redmond, WA-based Microsoft (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MSFT]]) announced it has appointed Qi Lu as president of its online services group, which encompasses all of the company’s online search, advertising, information, and communications services. Lu was most recently Yahoo’s executive vice president of engineering for search and advertising technology. Before spending 10 years at Yahoo (NASDAQ: [[ticker:YHOO]]), Lu, … Continue reading “Microsoft Hires Head of Online Services from Yahoo”
Layoff Update: Intrinsyc, Iterasi, Marchex, Razorfish, RealNetworks, and Targeted Genetics Cut Staff
It’s a different kind of Black Friday. Heading into a cold winter recession, we’ve seen six Northwest companies deliver bad news in the form of layoffs this week. Of course, staff cuts can be strategic in times like these, but they’re never a good thing for employees. The one we haven’t seen reported elsewhere is … Continue reading “Layoff Update: Intrinsyc, Iterasi, Marchex, Razorfish, RealNetworks, and Targeted Genetics Cut Staff”
RealNetworks Lays Off 130, 39 in Seattle
Seattle-based RealNetworks has confirmed it is cutting 130 jobs, or 7.5 percent of its worldwide staff. The digital-media company says 39 of the positions are in Seattle. The layoffs will be effective at the end of the year. Displaced workers will receive cash severance packages and six months of healthcare coverage.
Public Data Goes on Amazon’s Cloud
Seattle-based Amazon Web Services announced today it is providing free access to centralized data sets in the Internet cloud. The Amazon subsidiary will host large data sets from genomics, bioinformatics, economics, U.S. Census information, and other areas, which researchers and developers can access from the Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud software platform. The effort is intended … Continue reading “Public Data Goes on Amazon’s Cloud”
Urbanspoon Unveils Restaurant Sites in All U.S. Cities; Co-Founder Ethan Lowry Talks Strategy
I didn’t think it was possible for a popular website like Urbanspoon to fly below the radar. But it has—at least for the past week. The two-year old Seattle startup, which provides local restaurant reviews and has more than a million users of its iPhone application every month, quietly unveiled new sites in every city … Continue reading “Urbanspoon Unveils Restaurant Sites in All U.S. Cities; Co-Founder Ethan Lowry Talks Strategy”
Verdiem’s New CEO, Jeremy Jaech, Sees Big Opportunity in IT Energy Savings
Updated Dec. 3 with comments from Ed Lazowska (see below): Seattle-based Verdiem, a cleantech-meets-computing firm, announced its new chief executive today. He is Jeremy Jaech, the co-founder of software powerhouses Aldus and Visio, a University of Washington alum, and a certified tech-entrepreneur giant of the Northwest. I’ve had my eye on Verdiem as an interesting … Continue reading “Verdiem’s New CEO, Jeremy Jaech, Sees Big Opportunity in IT Energy Savings”
Amazon Unveils iPhone Photo App
Seattle-based Amazon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]) today announced a new application for Apple’s iPhone and iPod touch. The most interesting feature lets you take a picture of a product, which Amazon then tries to match with similar products available for purchase online. The broader application lets users browse for products from Amazon and other retailers like Target … Continue reading “Amazon Unveils iPhone Photo App”
How To Spot a Breakthrough: Tips from Early Amazon Investor Nick Hanauer
Last night, I attended an inspiring talk by Nick Hanauer of Seattle-based Second Avenue Partners. The venue was Seattle University, and the topic was “breakthrough thinking and ideas”—what they are, how to find them, and which companies have developed (and will develop) them. The event was organized by the Northwest Entrepreneur Network. Hanauer knows a … Continue reading “How To Spot a Breakthrough: Tips from Early Amazon Investor Nick Hanauer”
Entellium Files for Bankruptcy
Seattle-based Entellium said it has filed for bankruptcy protection today, as it prepares to sell off its assets. In October, the software company’s top two executives, Paul Johnston and Parrish Jones, resigned and were charged with fraud. The filing says Entellium has $37.7 million in assets and $12.7 million in liabilities. Its creditors are listed … Continue reading “Entellium Files for Bankruptcy”
Amazon Completes AbeBooks Acquisition
Seattle-based Amazon announced it has completed its acquisition of Victoria, BC-based AbeBooks, an online marketplace for used, rare, and out-of-print books. The deal was originally announced on August 1. With the purchase, Amazon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]) also owns 40 percent of LibraryThing, a literary social site based in Cambridge, MA, which competes with Seattle-based Shelfari, another … Continue reading “Amazon Completes AbeBooks Acquisition”
Creator of Seattle 2.0, Marcelo Calbucci, Looks to Build the Ultimate Resource Site for Startups
Are you a new tech entrepreneur in the Seattle area? Or interested in the workings of startups from a Northwest perspective? If so, you should check out Marcelo Calbucci’s “ultimate guide,” which he posted on his Seattle 2.0 blog yesterday. In it, he discusses the practicalities of starting a business, like office space, legal issues, … Continue reading “Creator of Seattle 2.0, Marcelo Calbucci, Looks to Build the Ultimate Resource Site for Startups”
Clearwire Closes WiMax Merger, Entellium Goes on Sale, Microsoft May Yet Buy Yahoo Search, & More Seattle-Area Deals News
Despite the Thanksgiving holiday, it was a fairly busy week for deals in the Northwest. Some big companies reared their heads (or at least were reported to) in software, wireless, and biotech, and other deals are in the works, so stay tuned. —The Times of London reported that Microsoft (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MSFT]]) is looking to acquire … Continue reading “Clearwire Closes WiMax Merger, Entellium Goes on Sale, Microsoft May Yet Buy Yahoo Search, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”
Who Needs VCs? Seattle Entrepreneurs Say Bootstrapping Is the Way To Go (Part 2)
What are the arguments for and against bootstrapping a tech startup? When should a company raise venture funding? And what have Seattle entrepreneurs experienced in taking various different paths? I interviewed three prominent local entrepreneurs in the past week to get their thoughts. Yesterday, in Part 1 of this story, I gave some context and … Continue reading “Who Needs VCs? Seattle Entrepreneurs Say Bootstrapping Is the Way To Go (Part 2)”
Entellium, Intuit in Reported Deal
Intuit, a financial software firm based in Mountain View, CA, has made an offer to buy the assets of Seattle startup Entellium, according to TechFlash. The report cites an interview with Entellium spokesperson Diane Carlini, as well as an anonymous source who puts the purchase price at about $8 million. Entellium, which was backed by … Continue reading “Entellium, Intuit in Reported Deal”
Disputed Report Says Microsoft To Acquire Yahoo’s Search Business—Any Truth To It?
Yes, they’re at it again. Or are they? For those who didn’t spend their holiday weekend following the latest twists in the Microsoft-Yahoo acquisition soap opera, let’s get you up to speed on whether there’s any substance to the latest reports. On Saturday, the UK-based Times Online (aka The Times of London) reported that Microsoft … Continue reading “Disputed Report Says Microsoft To Acquire Yahoo’s Search Business—Any Truth To It?”
DotNetNuke Nets Series A
Seattle-based DotNetNuke, an open-source Web applications company, announced it has raised a Series A financing round from Silicon Valley venture firms August Capital and Sierra Ventures. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. DotNetNuke provides a software framework for creating and managing interactive Web and intranet sites using Microsoft’s technology platform.
Who Needs VCs? Seattle Entrepreneurs Say Bootstrapping Is the Way To Go (Part 1)
Should young tech companies seek venture capital, or try to bootstrap their way to profitability? It’s a hot topic these days, especially with the economy and funding climate the way they are. I’ve been asking experienced entrepreneurs around town for their opinions on bootstrapping versus venture capital and angel investment, after I read a recent … Continue reading “Who Needs VCs? Seattle Entrepreneurs Say Bootstrapping Is the Way To Go (Part 1)”
Cell Therapeutics, Spectrum Form Joint Venture
Seattle-based Cell Therapeutics announced it has teamed up with Spectrum Pharmaceuticals of Irvine, CA, to create a 50-50 joint venture, RIT Oncology, to commercialize and develop the cancer drug Zevalin. The drug for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which Xconomy has written about extensively, will be marketed in the U.S.
Big Fish Releases Biggest, Most Ambitious Game
Seattle-based Big Fish Games announced it has released Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst. It’s the fifth game in the hidden-object adventure series, which is one of the biggest in the casual game industry. The latest title is the largest and most ambitious project to come out of Big Fish’s studios, and CEO Jeremy Lewis … Continue reading “Big Fish Releases Biggest, Most Ambitious Game”
Cozi Surpasses 1 Million Members, Looks to Replace Pen and Paper for Managing Family Life
Want to simplify your holiday shopping lists this year? What about keeping track of who’s picking up the kids from the airport, or who’s going to watch the bird in the oven while you entertain guests? A Seattle startup appears to be gaining traction in helping people manage these kinds of tasks. Cozi, a software … Continue reading “Cozi Surpasses 1 Million Members, Looks to Replace Pen and Paper for Managing Family Life”
Twitter Acquires Portland-based Values of N, Gets New Talent
Values of n, a collaborative-software startup in Portland, OR, has been acquired by San Francisco-based Twitter for an undisclosed amount. The startup’s existing products will be shut down on December 8, but “the technology behind the scenes will live on and potentially re-emerge as part of Twitter’s systems, services, user experience, or open source libraries,” … Continue reading “Twitter Acquires Portland-based Values of N, Gets New Talent”