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.

Captaris Acquired by Open Text for $131M—but How Good a Deal Is It?

Another big acquisition has come to town. Bellevue, WA-based software firm Captaris said today it is being acquired by Open Text, a business-software company based in Waterloo, Ontario. The deal is worth about $131 million, and is expected to close by the end of the year. The purchase, for $4.80 a share, represents a 31 … Continue reading “Captaris Acquired by Open Text for $131M—but How Good a Deal Is It?”

Calling Bay Area Investors: Seattle Entrepreneurs Want To See More of You, and Help Build Your Brand

Lately I’ve been hearing from the tech-startup community about the need to get venture capitalists from the San Francisco Bay Area to spend more time in Seattle—and with the companies they invest in here. The topic first came up during a coffee chat with Kevin Merritt, founder and CEO of the social-database site Blist. (Back … Continue reading “Calling Bay Area Investors: Seattle Entrepreneurs Want To See More of You, and Help Build Your Brand”

A Who’s Who of Geeking Out at Nathan Myhrvold’s Intellectual Ventures

When I visited Nathan Myhrvold last month at the Intellectual Ventures lab in Bellevue, WA, I didn’t get a chance to meet one of the lab’s most distinguished residents, science-fiction novelist Neal Stephenson. Myhrvold mentioned him during our meeting, but it was too early in the day to find him in the building. Stephenson, best … Continue reading “A Who’s Who of Geeking Out at Nathan Myhrvold’s Intellectual Ventures”

In Amazon’s Purchase of Shelfari, a Possible Front in the Battle with Borders—and a Triumph for Social Book Sites

Last week, we reported that Amazon is acquiring Seattle-based Shelfari, a literary social networking site. We also noted that Cambridge, MA-based LibraryThing (which Amazon also owns 40 percent of) had some harsh words for its West Coast rival. John Cook of the Seattle P-I provided some useful insights and comments here (e.g., the deal is … Continue reading “In Amazon’s Purchase of Shelfari, a Possible Front in the Battle with Borders—and a Triumph for Social Book Sites”

Gaming Away the Holiday Weekend at the Penny Arcade Expo (Part 2)

There’s nothing like three straight days of a massive video-game expo to get your mind off work. OK, I didn’t go to the whole thing, but I got a decent sample of the Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) at the convention center in downtown Seattle—North America’s biggest trade show for computer and video games and a … Continue reading “Gaming Away the Holiday Weekend at the Penny Arcade Expo (Part 2)”

Voxmobili Team Wins $100K Google Android Prize

A team from Paris, France-based Voxmobili, which has operations in Bellevue, WA, has won $100,000 in Google’s Android Developer Challenge. The Paris-based team developed PhoneBook 2.0, a mobile-software package that combines instant messaging, social networking (showing contacts and locations), and live streaming in a secure way.

Gaming Away the Holiday Weekend at the Penny Arcade Expo

Everyone knows the gaming industry is huge in Seattle. Well, this weekend it will get even huger. Today marks the start of the 5th annual Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center in downtown Seattle. Since 2007, when the E3 convention in Los Angeles was majorly downsized, PAX has become … Continue reading “Gaming Away the Holiday Weekend at the Penny Arcade Expo”

Ultrasound Stethoscopes, Stealthy Software, A New Enzyme Startup, and More from Alexandria Real Estate’s Summer Celebration

Yesterday afternoon, Luke and I jumped in the Zipcar and headed over to the Lakeside Event Center on the north side of Lake Union in Seattle. It was time for an end-of-summer party put on by Alexandria Real Estate Equities, and co-hosted by Xconomy. Over cocktails and appetizers of shrimp, beef, pastries, and roasted vegetables, … Continue reading “Ultrasound Stethoscopes, Stealthy Software, A New Enzyme Startup, and More from Alexandria Real Estate’s Summer Celebration”

RadioFrame Networks Nets $28M, Wants to Improve Cell Coverage in Your Home or Business

Wireless is soaring in the Seattle area. Last week it was software—SnapIn and Medio made some big deals. Today it’s hardware. Redmond, WA-based RadioFrame Networks has announced it has closed a $28 million round of Series F equity and debt financing. The round was led by Ericsson Venture, Ignition Partners, VantagePoint Venture Partners, and Plainfield … Continue reading “RadioFrame Networks Nets $28M, Wants to Improve Cell Coverage in Your Home or Business”

Amazon Acquires Shelfari; SnapIn Gets Snapped Up by Nuance; AltaRock Closes Funding Round with Vulcan, Google, and ATV; & More

In the last week, there have been some very interesting deals (and other news) in wireless, social networking, and cleantech. Perhaps it’s a sign of things to come after the holiday weekend, when we expect the deals to really pick up. —Amazon is acquiring Seattle-based Shelfari, a social-networking site for book lovers, for an undisclosed … Continue reading “Amazon Acquires Shelfari; SnapIn Gets Snapped Up by Nuance; AltaRock Closes Funding Round with Vulcan, Google, and ATV; & More”

Daptiv Raises $9M More

Seattle-based Daptiv (formerly eProject), a maker of collaborative business software, has raised an additional $9 million in Series B funding, according to PE Hub, which cites a regulatory filing, and VentureBeat. Last year, the company closed a $12 million round. Its investors include Bay Partners, Kennet Partners, King Street Partners, and Wolf Bay Holdings. Earlier … Continue reading “Daptiv Raises $9M More”

With Intellectual Ventures, Nathan Myhrvold Out to Create “Invention Capital” Industry—and Stop Hurricanes, Malaria, and Global Warming in the Process (Part 2)

Yesterday, we ran the first half of a sit-down interview with Nathan Myhrvold, cofounder and CEO of Intellectual Ventures, the Bellevue, WA-based invention laboratory and investment firm. Myhrvold, the former CTO of Microsoft (and an Xconomist), placed his current company’s goals in the context of venture capital and private equity, arguing that there is a … Continue reading “With Intellectual Ventures, Nathan Myhrvold Out to Create “Invention Capital” Industry—and Stop Hurricanes, Malaria, and Global Warming in the Process (Part 2)”

With Intellectual Ventures, Nathan Myhrvold Out to Create “Invention Capital” Industry—and Reinvent Invention in the Process (Part 1)

This time last week, Nathan Myhrvold was sitting down with Bill Gates. Gates had just returned from the Olympics, where he had watched some high-profile ping-pong matches—a very hot ticket in China. The two former Microsoft colleagues were catching up, and their discussion turned to racquet sports, and the various technical differences between them. “Bill … Continue reading “With Intellectual Ventures, Nathan Myhrvold Out to Create “Invention Capital” Industry—and Reinvent Invention in the Process (Part 1)”

Medio in Reported Deal with Google and Verizon, Putting Seattle on the Mobile-Search Map

And the wireless hits keep coming… Seattle mobile-search startup Medio Systems is moving towards a deal with Google and Verizon Communications to manage an all-in-one search service provided by the two giants, according to the Wall Street Journal. Medio already handles searches for limited types of mobile content for Verizon. Google would help Medio search … Continue reading “Medio in Reported Deal with Google and Verizon, Putting Seattle on the Mobile-Search Map”

In Nuance’s Snapping Up of SnapIn Software, Investors Get a Better Deal—Some Further Analysis

The big-time acquisition train keeps on rolling through town. The latest Seattle-area company to get bought for big bucks is SnapIn Software, based in Bellevue, WA, which announced earlier this week that it is closing a deal with Burlington, MA-based Nuance Communications worth an estimated $180 million in Nuance stock. On the surface, it’s not … Continue reading “In Nuance’s Snapping Up of SnapIn Software, Investors Get a Better Deal—Some Further Analysis”

Why Vulcan, Google, and ATV Are Backing AltaRock Energy, Betting on Next-Gen Geothermal

Geothermal is one of those energy sources that you know is there, but you don’t hear about much. Until it comes rushing to the surface, as it did with this week’s announcement that AltaRock Energy has closed a second round of financing worth $26.25 million, bringing the geothermal firm’s total venture funding to about $30 … Continue reading “Why Vulcan, Google, and ATV Are Backing AltaRock Energy, Betting on Next-Gen Geothermal”

Konnects Rolls Out New Business-Networking Site, Looks for Sweet Spot Between LinkedIn and Facebook

Every day it seems I learn of another fast-growing Web software startup in the Seattle area. Today, I discovered Tacoma, WA-based Konnects is launching a new user interface for its social-networking site. Konnects already has more than 350,000 users worldwide (most are in the U.S. and India), and it is carving out a niche in … Continue reading “Konnects Rolls Out New Business-Networking Site, Looks for Sweet Spot Between LinkedIn and Facebook”

Non-Competes Could Explain Rise and Fall of Boston’s Route 128 Vs. Silicon Valley, Study Says—But Not Everyone Buys the Lessons

When it comes to non-compete clauses in employment contracts, it seems timing is everything. In the early stages of a tech industry, keeping employees from jumping ship and working for competitors might actually drive growth. But once the industry has matured, the same non-competes can hamper growth by restricting labor mobility. This might help explain … Continue reading “Non-Competes Could Explain Rise and Fall of Boston’s Route 128 Vs. Silicon Valley, Study Says—But Not Everyone Buys the Lessons”

At One Million Wikis and Counting, Wetpaint Wants To Make Every Website Social

When I first arrived in Seattle a few months ago, I’d already heard a lot about Wetpaint. Called “stars in the consumer wiki space” and a “power to the people” company by Jude O’Reilley of online-health startup Trusera, I knew it was one of the Northwest’s top young tech companies. Founded in 2005, Wetpaint has … Continue reading “At One Million Wikis and Counting, Wetpaint Wants To Make Every Website Social”

Latest Imperium Woes Could Spell Trouble for the Biodiesel Market

It’s been a rough year for Imperium Renewables, the Seattle-based refiner of biodiesel fuel. Back in December, CEO Martin Tobias abruptly resigned and left the board, just weeks before the company announced it was canceling plans for a $345 million IPO and reducing its corporate work force. Then last month, Imperium went through another round … Continue reading “Latest Imperium Woes Could Spell Trouble for the Biodiesel Market”

Dendreon Proceeds With Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials, AXI Gets Oil from Algae, PATH Prepares to Launch “Ultra Rice,” & More Deals News

It may be the dog days of August—a sweltering, 90-degree weekend in the Northwest?— but there was still a trickle of action last week in biotech, biofuels, and software. We’ll see if the deals start to pick up this week, with the rain and cooler temperatures. —Accelerator, the Seattle-based biotech incubator, has formed a new … Continue reading “Dendreon Proceeds With Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials, AXI Gets Oil from Algae, PATH Prepares to Launch “Ultra Rice,” & More Deals News”

If Your Startup Isn’t Moving, It’s Probably Dying—and Other Insights from a McKinsey Director

Bob Felton has been there, done that. Growing up in a farm town in Eastern Washington, the son of a migrant construction worker, he was the first in his family to graduate from college—at Washington State, where he studied mechanical engineering. He started his career at General Electric, then got his M.B.A from Harvard Business … Continue reading “If Your Startup Isn’t Moving, It’s Probably Dying—and Other Insights from a McKinsey Director”

Voyager Capital, Maveron Expand South

Seattle-based venture firms Voyager Capital and Maveron have made some West Coast additions. Voyager announced it has opened an office in Portland, OR, staffed by new venture partner Diane Fraiman, formerly of Sanctum and Informix Software. Maveron has recruited Amy Errett, formerly of Olivia and Trinity Ventures, as a partner in its San Francisco office.

Backed by Washington Venture Firms, Connecticut’s InstallFree Could Help Remake the Fabric of Computing

Lately I’ve been hearing a lot about how software startups don’t need as much venture capital as they used to. But someone forgot to tell Stamford, CT-based InstallFree, which last week closed an $8.5 million financing round led by Ignition Partners and Trilogy Equity Partners, both of Bellevue, WA. It was a second-round deal to … Continue reading “Backed by Washington Venture Firms, Connecticut’s InstallFree Could Help Remake the Fabric of Computing”

Busting the “Idea Investor” Myth, and Other Tips for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

“Startups are desirable again,” says Tony Wright. That sums up the feeling I get whenever I meet with innovators and investors these days. We’re sitting at the Caffe Umbria in Pioneer Square, Seattle. I’m sipping the best latte I’ve had since Le Panier and Espresso Vivace got inconsistent last month. Wright’s drink of choice is … Continue reading “Busting the “Idea Investor” Myth, and Other Tips for Aspiring Entrepreneurs”

1Cast Raises Cash, Announces Beta

Kirkland, WA-based 1Cast, an online news and information delivery service, announced it has raised its first round of funding, which was led by Eagle River Holdings. 1Cast plans to launch a beta version of its online and mobile service later this year.

University of Washington, Allied Minds Team Up to Launch Biofuel Company, AXI

I first heard of a Seattle startup called Voltan Biofuel two months ago, when I talked to Jim Roberts, head of business development at UW Tech Transfer’s LaunchPad, a program to promote university spinoffs. Voltan was a LaunchPad company that won $5,000 for “best cleantech idea” in UW’s 2008 CIE Business Plan competition. Yesterday the … Continue reading “University of Washington, Allied Minds Team Up to Launch Biofuel Company, AXI”

Dendreon Gives Update on Clinical Trials of Prostate Cancer Drug

As Luke reported a couple weeks ago, Seattle-based Dendreon is in the midst of a crucial clinical trial of its cancer drug, Provenge, against prostate cancer. Interim results from 500 patients in the trial, called Impact, are expected in October. In a conference call this afternoon, Dendreon announced its second-quarter 2008 financial stats, as well … Continue reading “Dendreon Gives Update on Clinical Trials of Prostate Cancer Drug”

GalleryPlayer Down, But Is It Out?

Last spring, Wade wrote about Seattle-based GalleryPlayer’s software, which allows users to display high-resolution photos and artwork on HDTVs. Now GalleryPlayer has apparently “ceased operations” as of July 30, as reported by the Seattle P-I, citing a message on the company’s website. GalleryPlayer was founded in 2003 by former Amazon exec Scott Lipsky. But Lipsky’s … Continue reading “GalleryPlayer Down, But Is It Out?”

Healionics Gets Kudos in Congress, Contracts from Companies

When I stopped by Buddy Ratner’s office at the University of Washington yesterday, he looked like a proud papa. He had just gotten word that the National Science Foundation, in a report to Congress, is using one of his group’s companies, Healionics, as an example of a successful biomedical startup. Here at Xconomy, we’ve come … Continue reading “Healionics Gets Kudos in Congress, Contracts from Companies”

Gnomedex 8.0 Tech Conference

This summer, hundreds of the world’s leading bloggers, podcasters, and tech-savvy enthusiasts will once again descend upon the city of Seattle, Washington. The eighth Gnomedex conference is generating buzz in the blogosphere. Be at the crossroads between producers and observers, between users and developers. It will be a confluence of leading bloggers and new media, … Continue reading “Gnomedex 8.0 Tech Conference”

25 Years of BioInterface Science (25YBIS)

The University of Washington Engineered Biomaterials (UWEB) and the National ESCA and Surface Analysis Center for Biomedical Problems (NESAC/BIO) present an international symposium celebrating the 25th Anniversary of NESAC/BIO and the 12th UWEB Summer Symposium. Plenary lectures by Gabor Somorjai of UC Berkeley and George Whitesides of Harvard University. Supported by Asemblon, Kratos Analytical, Physical … Continue reading “25 Years of BioInterface Science (25YBIS)”

Microsoft Entertains Idea of Funding Startups, Probably Won’t Take the Plunge

Last week I highlighted Kevin Merritt’s original blogpost in which he proposed that Microsoft develop a Y Combinator-like program to fund early-stage startups. Merritt also posted a follow-up in which he clarified that he worked at Microsoft for a year, owns some stock but remains “neutral” to the company, and doesn’t use Microsoft technologies at … Continue reading “Microsoft Entertains Idea of Funding Startups, Probably Won’t Take the Plunge”

Tatango Cracks Top-100 Area Websites

Bellingham, WA-based Tatango, a mobile-applications startup focused on text-messaging to groups, rose 77 spots to #91 in this month’s edition of the Seattle Startup Index. Other big gains were made by Frugal Mechanic, an auto-parts shopping site, and Smart Desktop, an office-software maker, according to Marcelo Calbucci, who compiles the monthly list.

Software Startups No Longer Need As Much Venture Capital, Says Founder of RescueTime

Venture financing—who needs it? Not early-stage software and Web startups, if you ask Tony Wright. I sat down with the serial entrepreneur and founder of Seattle-based RescueTime yesterday, and he had some intriguing thoughts about recent trends in the innovation community. “The nature of VC is changing,” he said. “The notion of a ‘big launch’ … Continue reading “Software Startups No Longer Need As Much Venture Capital, Says Founder of RescueTime”

Verdiem Encourages the “Greening” of Personal Computers, Starting with Yours

I’ll admit it. The planet would be better off if you stopped reading this and shut down your computer. That’s because your desktop or laptop PC wastes roughly half the energy it consumes and puts out 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. Multiply that by something like a billion PCs worldwide, and you get … Continue reading “Verdiem Encourages the “Greening” of Personal Computers, Starting with Yours”

How To Save Microsoft, and Other Valuable Insights from Blist

OK, it’s taken me a few weeks, but I finally have a chance to highlight a couple of entries in a local blog I’ve been following. It’s from the guys at Blist, a Seattle startup that makes Web-based software that lets people manage large lists and databases as easily as a spreadsheet. That may not … Continue reading “How To Save Microsoft, and Other Valuable Insights from Blist”

Sierra Wireless Buys Junxion’s Assets

Vancouver, BC-based Sierra Wireless, a maker of modems and wireless software, announced today that it is purchasing the assets of Seattle-based Junxion. Financial terms were not disclosed. Junxion makes wireless-router products for corporate and government customers.

Investing in the New Electricity Economy—A Primer

There’s a revolution coming in electric power. Passive, one-way power distribution will become a marketplace with real-time transactions. Centralized will become networked. Demand will become supply. And large-scale energy storage will finally become a reality. So what does all this mean for companies and investors? That’s the topic of a 55-page white paper prepared by … Continue reading “Investing in the New Electricity Economy—A Primer”

Elastra Raises $12M from Amazon, Others

San Francisco-based Elastra, a cloud-computing software company, announced today that it has raised $12 million in Series B financing. Amazon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]) was a new investor, while the round was led by Bay Partners. Amazon Web Services has provided infrastructure support for companies to do cloud computing for more than two years.

Pangaea Ventures Closes $32M Fund

Vancouver, BC-based Pangaea Ventures, an investor in early-stage cleantech and advanced-materials companies, announced it has closed a second fund worth $32 million (U.S. dollars). The new investors in the fund are Asahi Glass, Umicore, and Bekaert. The Pangaea fund has made four investments to date, in Cyrium Technologies, Kovio, Switch Materials, and CNano Technology Limited.

Four Layoffs and a Funeral: Vivendi, Northstar, Imperium, and CarDomain Cut Staff, Dipiti Shuts Doors

Heading into the dog days of August, just a reminder that not all is happy in sunny Seattle. In the past week, we’ve seen four area tech companies confirm significant layoffs and one startup close its doors. The bad news is not limited to one or two tech sectors, either: it cuts across a wide … Continue reading “Four Layoffs and a Funeral: Vivendi, Northstar, Imperium, and CarDomain Cut Staff, Dipiti Shuts Doors”

TeachStreet Expands to Portland Metro Area, Looking to Double Its Traffic and Much More

When I first met Dave Schappell a few weeks ago, we talked mostly about entrepreneurship and his experience running his startup— TeachStreet, an online community site for connecting local teachers and students. Today TeachStreet has some big news: it has expanded to Portland, OR, in its first move outside of Seattle. The idea is, if … Continue reading “TeachStreet Expands to Portland Metro Area, Looking to Double Its Traffic and Much More”

Michael Butler of Cascadia Capital Looks for a Few Good Bankers, Sees Growth in New Media, Cleantech, and Healthcare

How do you run a national investment bank here in the Northwest, far away from the bustling financial centers of New York and San Francisco? I put the question to Michael Butler, chairman and CEO of Seattle-based Cascadia Capital, one of the area’s leaders in providing banking services in corporate finance and strategy. His answers … Continue reading “Michael Butler of Cascadia Capital Looks for a Few Good Bankers, Sees Growth in New Media, Cleantech, and Healthcare”

Amazon’s Mechanical Turk Opens Up to the Masses

Yesterday Amazon announced it has created a Web interface that makes its “Mechanical Turk” service easier for businesses to use. Until now, companies needed software coding expertise to set up and manage the service, whereby anonymous Web users can sign up to perform small tasks for small payments. In Boston, Wade recently wrote about one … Continue reading “Amazon’s Mechanical Turk Opens Up to the Masses”

Local Marketers Raises $4.1M, Gets New Leadership

Seattle-based Local Marketers, a three-year-old online marketing startup, announced it has raised $4.1 million in Series A2 funding from Madrona Venture Group. That brings its total to $5.1 million raised since 2006. Local Marketers also announced its new CEO, Walter Boos, a partnership with Google as a re-seller of Google AdWords, and an expansion into … Continue reading “Local Marketers Raises $4.1M, Gets New Leadership”

Modumetal Grows Nanotech Metals for Military, Aiming To Make Parts For Your Car

How would you like to grow your own bulletproof vest? If you’re interested, Christina Lomasney can hook you up. OK, the technology might be a bit pricey for civilian use, but talk to soldiers and military leaders and it’s a different story. Lomasney’s company, Seattle-based Modumetal, is developing a new kind of “nanotech metal” that’s … Continue reading “Modumetal Grows Nanotech Metals for Military, Aiming To Make Parts For Your Car”

Q Robotics Emerges from Stealth Mode, Tries To Go One Step Beyond Roomba

The future of robotics lies in… arranging potted plants? Surprising, but it just might be true. Tonight at the MIT Enterprise Forum of Cambridge, a small company called Q Robotics, based in Groton, MA, gave its first public presentation on the technology it has been developing for the past year and a half. Founded by … Continue reading “Q Robotics Emerges from Stealth Mode, Tries To Go One Step Beyond Roomba”

Microsoft’s Annual Cruise: Faculty Murmurs, Shooing Seagulls, and What Bill Gates Will Watch at the Olympics

On Monday evening, I had the pleasure of sailing the Seattle waterways with Microsoft and several hundred of its university-faculty friends. We were all aboard an Argosy cruise ship for a three-hour tour that took us from the city dock in Kirkland, WA, across Lake Washington; past the University of Washington; through the Ballard Locks; … Continue reading “Microsoft’s Annual Cruise: Faculty Murmurs, Shooing Seagulls, and What Bill Gates Will Watch at the Olympics”