Amazon has created a new service where its employees can get treatment and advice for non-emergency health issues, according to a website the tech giant recently brought online. Amazon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]) says the program, Amazon Care, combines telemedicine services, in-person visits with licensed clinicians, and prescription medication delivery. Amazon Care is currently “being piloted for … Continue reading “Amazon Launches Virtual Clinic to Help Its Employees Get Healthcare”
Author: Jeff Buchanan
Jeff formerly led Xconomy’s Seattle coverage since. Before that, he spent three years as editor of Xconomy Wisconsin, primarily covering software and biotech companies based in the Badger State. A graduate of Vanderbilt, he worked in health IT prior to being bit by the journalism bug.
FDA Decision Expands Market for Exact Sciences’ Cologuard Test
Exact Sciences has taken another step toward ramping up sales of its flagship product, a non-invasive, stool-based screening test for colorectal cancer. The FDA has approved the test, Cologuard, for eligible, average-risk patients ages 45 and older, which expands the market that Madison, WI-based Exact can address with its product. The Monday decision by the … Continue reading “FDA Decision Expands Market for Exact Sciences’ Cologuard Test”
Amazon Sets Electric Vehicle, Carbon Footprint Goals Amid Criticism
Amazon unveiled a new series of ambitious, long-term sustainability goals on Thursday that would continue the company’s efforts to make its operations more environmentally friendly. Under what Amazon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]) has dubbed “The Climate Pledge,” the tech giant said it has ordered 100,000 electric delivery vehicles from Rivian, a Michigan startup Amazon has backed previously. … Continue reading “Amazon Sets Electric Vehicle, Carbon Footprint Goals Amid Criticism”
WI Watchlist: MSI Data, Cellular Dynamics, WARF, Redox, & More
It’s time to catch up on recent news in Wisconsin’s innovation community. Read on for details. —MSI Data, a Milwaukee-based business that develops software for organizations in the equipment distribution and service contractor industries, said it received an investment from Luminate Capital Partners, a San Francisco-based private equity firm. The amount was not disclosed. Launched … Continue reading “WI Watchlist: MSI Data, Cellular Dynamics, WARF, Redox, & More”
Gilliland to Step Down as Head of Fred Hutch in 2020
Gary Gilliland, who has led Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center as president and director for the past four-plus years, plans to step down in 2020, the nonprofit organization announced Tuesday. He joined the research center, which is often abbreviated as Fred Hutch, in 2015. Under his leadership, the organization has increased its endowment and … Continue reading “Gilliland to Step Down as Head of Fred Hutch in 2020”
HMS’s $36M Deal to Buy VitreosHealth Combines Complementary Firms
One Texas-based healthcare software business has acquired another in an all-cash deal worth $36.5 million, the companies announced late Monday. Irving, TX-based HMS Holdings (NASDAQ: [[ticker:HMSY]]) acquired VitreosHealth, which is located in neighboring Plano, TX. Both cities are suburbs of Dallas. The companies worked together previously, and analysts that track the digital health sector said … Continue reading “HMS’s $36M Deal to Buy VitreosHealth Combines Complementary Firms”
As More Grocers Embrace Tech, Swiftly Snags $15M to Launch in Seattle
[Updated 9/12/19 1:10 p.m. See below.] Swiftly, a Seattle-based startup developing software to provide discounts and rewards for buying goods at grocery stores, exited stealth mode this week with an announcement it has raised more than $15 million in outside investment. The company, which has been keeping many details about its business under wraps, launched in … Continue reading “As More Grocers Embrace Tech, Swiftly Snags $15M to Launch in Seattle”
Amazon, With More WA Workers than Microsoft, Eyes Adding 10K More
Jeff Bezos and company are looking for a few good men and women—well, perhaps more than a few, especially in and around Amazon’s home turf. Buoyed by years of staggering growth but also facing a tight labor market, Amazon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]) will work to fill 30,000 jobs across the US by 2020, the tech giant … Continue reading “Amazon, With More WA Workers than Microsoft, Eyes Adding 10K More”
Home Buying Tech Startup Savvy Lane Lands $2M for West Coast Growth
Savvy Lane, a startup developing technology and services to help lower the cost of buying or selling a home, announced Friday it has raised $2 million in outside investment to support its growth. Seattle-based Savvy Lane did not identify the investor that provided the funding, saying only that it came from “a notable public company … Continue reading “Home Buying Tech Startup Savvy Lane Lands $2M for West Coast Growth”
SF’s Ginger Raises $35M in Burgeoning Digital Therapeutics Market
Ginger, a San Francisco-based digital health startup developing software to help patients manage mental and behavioral health conditions, announced Wednesday it has raised $35 million from investors to offer its service to more people who experience stress, depression, and other conditions. People can use Ginger’s mobile app to participate in virtual therapy sessions with behavioral … Continue reading “SF’s Ginger Raises $35M in Burgeoning Digital Therapeutics Market”
As Clean Power Buying Surges, LevelTen Helps Firms Track Energy Data
LevelTen Energy, a Seattle-based startup that helps corporations make renewable energy purchases, on Wednesday released new performance monitoring software it says allows users to better track energy usage, market data, and other key metrics. Launched in 2016, LevelTen seeks to give more businesses access to the power purchase agreements that large corporations and other energy … Continue reading “As Clean Power Buying Surges, LevelTen Helps Firms Track Energy Data “
Ring Confirms Report, Says It Works With More Than 400 Police Agencies
Ring, the Amazon-owned maker of camera-equipped doorbells that let users monitor activity around their homes, has confirmed exactly how extensive its video-sharing deal is with law enforcement agencies around the US. Ring has partnered with 405 US police forces to allow officers to request footage recorded by local residents’ devices, Ring CEO Jamie Siminoff wrote … Continue reading “Ring Confirms Report, Says It Works With More Than 400 Police Agencies”
Seattle Startup Funding Tidbits: Blokable, Zenoti, PTO Exchange
Keep up with venture capital funding activity in the Seattle area with recent news from three local startups. The companies—Blokable, Zenoti Software, and PTO Exchange—are developing software and other tech-enabled products for three very different industries: housing, spas, and finance. Read on for details. —Blokable, a Seattle-based startup that designs and manufactures modular housing components … Continue reading “Seattle Startup Funding Tidbits: Blokable, Zenoti, PTO Exchange”
Why Amazon’s Ascent Spells Bad News for Mall Food Courts
The increasing popularity of Amazon’s annual Prime Day, Cyber Monday, and other online shopping-themed occasions is one of many indicators more Americans are relying on mobile devices and computers, not malls, to shop. It’s no secret the so-called “Amazon effect,” a shift in retail buying patterns toward online shopping and away from brick-and-mortar locations, has … Continue reading “Why Amazon’s Ascent Spells Bad News for Mall Food Courts”
Enterprise Software Startup Ally Nabs $8M to Support Global Growth
Ally, a startup developing software to help businesses chart strategies and track progress toward meeting goals, announced Monday it has raised $8 million from investors to support the Bellevue, WA-based company’s growth. Palo Alto, CA-based Accel led the Series A round, Ally says. Other participating investors included two Seattle-based venture capital firms, Founders’ Co-op and … Continue reading “Enterprise Software Startup Ally Nabs $8M to Support Global Growth”
After Drought, Digital Health’s Summer of IPOs Brings Validation
After a nearly three-year period in which not a single digital health company held an initial public stock offering, the dry spell has ended. In recent weeks, four healthcare software and technology businesses—Change Healthcare, Health Catalyst, Livongo Health, and Phreesia—held IPOs. Taken as a whole, these public market debuts were mostly successful, and could persuade … Continue reading “After Drought, Digital Health’s Summer of IPOs Brings Validation”
Mason Raises $25M to Help Software Firms Deploy, Manage Applications
Amazon Web Services and other businesses that charge customers to host their software applications have become a popular option for tech startups. Part of the reason for the popularity of using AWS and other cloud computing services is because it allows employees at early-stage businesses to focus on their products and customers, rather than server … Continue reading “Mason Raises $25M to Help Software Firms Deploy, Manage Applications”
Glow Snags $2.3M to Help Podcasters Connect to Listeners, Make Money
Amira Valliani decided to launch a podcast-focused startup after listening to a podcast that is, fittingly enough, named StartUp. Valliani is the co-founder and CEO of Glow.fm, an early-stage company based in Seattle that recently raised $2.3 million in seed funding to continue building its service for supporting podcasters. Glow’s story traces back to 2015, … Continue reading “Glow Snags $2.3M to Help Podcasters Connect to Listeners, Make Money”
Seattle Startup Remarkably Gets $4.1M to Market Real Estate Software
Remarkably, a Seattle-based startup that provides users with real estate marketing software and analytics services, announced Tuesday it has raised $4.1 million in seed funding. The company markets its software products to developers, owners, and managers of residential buildings with multiple apartments or condominiums, which are sometimes called “multi-family” dwellings. Remarkably’s digital tools are designed … Continue reading “Seattle Startup Remarkably Gets $4.1M to Market Real Estate Software”
Livongo Upsizes IPO to $355M in Bid to Become Netflix of Health
Livongo Health, a digital health company developing devices and software to help patients manage treatment for diabetes and other chronic conditions, said it expects to net $355.2 million in an initial public offering. Mountain View, CA-based Livongo late Wednesday priced its offering of approximately 12.7 million shares of its common stock at $28 per share. … Continue reading “Livongo Upsizes IPO to $355M in Bid to Become Netflix of Health”
Microsoft’s $1B For OpenAI Aimed at Improving Azure Cloud Platform
Microsoft announced Monday it will invest $1 billion in OpenAI, a young venture that aims to democratize the benefits of artificial intelligence and software-driven automation. The Redmond, WA-based tech giant says it will work with OpenAI in coming years to enhance Microsoft’s existing cloud computing and AI platform, Azure. San Francisco-based OpenAI says it plans … Continue reading “Microsoft’s $1B For OpenAI Aimed at Improving Azure Cloud Platform”
Amperity Raises $50M for Marketing Software Used by Consumer Brands
Amperity, a Seattle-based startup developing software to help consumer-facing brands collect and manage customer data, announced Monday it has raised $50 million in new financing to add more clients in industries on which it hasn’t previously concentrated. New York-based Tiger Global Management led the Series C funding round. Other participating investors included Goldman Sachs, Madera … Continue reading “Amperity Raises $50M for Marketing Software Used by Consumer Brands”
Money Transfer Services Remitly Bags $135M in New Equity Funding
As larger sums of cash are remitted from first-world countries to the developing world, upstart money transfer services are competing with established businesses for a piece of the growing pie. One of the newer entrants to the international money transfer market, Seattle-based Remitly, announced this week it has raised $135 million in new equity funding. … Continue reading “Money Transfer Services Remitly Bags $135M in New Equity Funding”
Microsoft, Providence Tie-up Focuses on Cloud Tech in Healthcare
Microsoft, long known for its Windows operating system and prowess in the world of enterprise software, is among the computing and software giants companies making inroads in the healthcare industry. One of Microsoft’s (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MSFT]]) latest efforts to innovate at the intersection of technology and healthcare is a partnership with Providence St. Joseph Health aimed at developing … Continue reading “Microsoft, Providence Tie-up Focuses on Cloud Tech in Healthcare”
Q&A: Providence Exec on Bluetree Acquisition, Trends in Health Tech
Providence St. Joseph Health, a Renton, WA-based organization that operates 51 hospitals and 829 clinics across five US states, announced its latest strategic, IT-focused acquisition last week. The company Providence has agreed to purchase—financial terms aren’t being disclosed—is Bluetree Network, a Madison, WI-based consultancy that works with healthcare providers to install and optimize electronic health … Continue reading “Q&A: Providence Exec on Bluetree Acquisition, Trends in Health Tech”
IPO to Watch: Digital Health Developer Livongo Plans to Go Public
Digital health businesses haven’t had trouble raising venture capital funds from investors—2018 was a record year with $8.1 billion in funding—but few of them have made the move to hold initial public offerings. Livongo Health, a digital health company developing devices and software to help patients manage chronic conditions, believes it is ready, announcing Friday … Continue reading “IPO to Watch: Digital Health Developer Livongo Plans to Go Public”
Providence St. Joseph to Buy Wisconsin Health IT Consultant Bluetree
Providence St. Joseph Health, a large network of hospitals and clinics headquartered in Renton, WA, said Thursday it plans to acquire Bluetree Network, a consultancy that specializes in projects involving electronic health records software. Providence did not say how much it will pay to acquire Madison, WI-based Bluetree in a news release announcing the deal, … Continue reading “Providence St. Joseph to Buy Wisconsin Health IT Consultant Bluetree”
Airbus Bets Microsoft Mixed Reality Will Boost Aircraft Production
Airbus, one of the world’s largest aircraft manufacturers, announced Monday it plans to ramp up production in coming decades with help from hologram-based virtual reality technology developed by Microsoft. Netherlands-based Airbus says it will equip some of its aircraft and equipment designers with HoloLens technology developed by Redmond, WA-based Microsoft (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MSFT]]). The HoloLens system … Continue reading “Airbus Bets Microsoft Mixed Reality Will Boost Aircraft Production”
Salesforce to Boost Analytics Suite With $15.7B Deal to Buy Tableau
[Updated 6/11/19 10:36 a.m. See below.] Salesforce is joining forces with Tableau Software, announcing Monday it plans to acquire Seattle-based Tableau in an all-stock deal valued at $15.7 billion. The transaction would combine one of the world’s largest and best known sales-focused software vendors, San Francisco-based Salesforce, with one of the leading vendors of data visualization … Continue reading “Salesforce to Boost Analytics Suite With $15.7B Deal to Buy Tableau”
Highspot Snags $60M to Help Sales Professionals Refine Their Pitches
Highspot, a startup developing collaborative software for sales and marketing teams at large companies, announced Tuesday it has raised $60 million from investors. San Francisco-based Iconiq Capital led the Series D funding round, and was joined by new investor Sapphire Ventures, Highspot says. Other participants included return backers Madrona Venture Group, OpenView, Shasta Ventures, and … Continue reading “Highspot Snags $60M to Help Sales Professionals Refine Their Pitches”
LevelTen Energy Raises $20.5M to Facilitate Clean Power Purchases
LevelTen Energy, a startup that helps corporations make renewable energy purchases, has raised $20.5 million from investors. The Seattle-based company says it plans to use some of the new money to fund product development, make new hires, and expand into Europe. Prelude Ventures, a cleantech-focused venture firm based in San Francisco, led the Series B … Continue reading “LevelTen Energy Raises $20.5M to Facilitate Clean Power Purchases”
Seattle VC Watch: EndoGastric, Dolly, MDmetrix, SeekOut & More
Let’s catch up on some of the notable funding rounds raised by Seattle-area tech and life sciences companies in May: —EndoGastric Solutions, a Redmond-based business developing minimally invasive medical devices, said it raised $14.5 million from investors. EndoGastric’s devices treat gastroesophegeal reflux disease, which can cause chronic heartburn and injury to the esophageal lining. The … Continue reading “Seattle VC Watch: EndoGastric, Dolly, MDmetrix, SeekOut & More”
OpenSesame Gets $28M as Job Training Software Market Stays Active
OpenSesame, a company developing workforce education and training software, announced Wednesday it has raised about $28 million from investors. Portland OR-based OpenSesame says in a news release that it plans to use some of the proceeds from the Series C round to offer more courses and fund sales and marketing of its products. FTV Capital, … Continue reading “OpenSesame Gets $28M as Job Training Software Market Stays Active”
Auth0 Gets “Unicorn” Status as It Raises $103M for Security Tools
Auth0, a Bellevue, WA-based developer of user identification and login tools for software makers and large businesses, announced Monday it has raised $103 million in new financing. Under the terms of the deal, investors valued Auth0 at more than $1 billion, putting it among the ranks of tech startup “unicorns.” Sapphire Ventures, based in Silicon … Continue reading “Auth0 Gets “Unicorn” Status as It Raises $103M for Security Tools”
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Buying Supercomputer Pioneer Cray for $1.3B
Hewlett-Packard Enterprise will pay $1.3 billion to acquire Cray, a Seattle business that develops software used in supercomputers and other high-powered machines. High-performance computing technologies, such as those developed by Cray, are seen as central to sorting through “the explosion of data” resulting from innovations in areas like artificial intelligence and data analytics, HPE says. … Continue reading “Hewlett Packard Enterprise Buying Supercomputer Pioneer Cray for $1.3B”
Apptio Continues Acquisition Spree With Deal to Buy Cloudability
Apptio, a Bellevue, WA-based company that helps corporate technology leaders manage their IT spending, announced Thursday it has agreed to acquire Cloudability, a Portland, OR-based developer of software for tracking cloud-computing expenditures. Apptio’s news release announcing the deal did not disclose any of its financial terms. The deal, which comes on the heels of other … Continue reading “Apptio Continues Acquisition Spree With Deal to Buy Cloudability”
Karat Gets $28M for Software, Team That Assess Job-Seeking Engineers
Karat, a Seattle-based startup that uses a combination of software and a stable of freelance interviewers to help tech companies assess job applicants, announced Wednesday it has raised $28 million in new funding. Tiger Global Management led the Series B funding round, Karat says. Other participating investors included return backers Norwest Venture Partners and 8VC. … Continue reading “Karat Gets $28M for Software, Team That Assess Job-Seeking Engineers”
Seattle’s TransformativeMed Carves Out Niche in Medical Specialties
An estimated 99 percent of US hospitals now track patients’ health information using computerized records systems, many of which were installed to replaced paper medical charts. As a result, startups are rushing in to capitalize on the recent health-records digitization wave. Some of them, like Seattle-based TransformativeMed, are making the case that their add-on software … Continue reading “Seattle’s TransformativeMed Carves Out Niche in Medical Specialties”
Flexe Gets $43M to Expand On-demand Warehousing and Fulfillment Tools
Flexe, a Seattle-based company that provides on-demand warehousing and fulfillment services, announced Tuesday it has raised $43 million in new funding. Flexe says it plans to use some of the proceeds from the Series B round for product development, and to more that double its current headcount. San Francisco-based Activate Capital and New York-based Tiger Global … Continue reading “Flexe Gets $43M to Expand On-demand Warehousing and Fulfillment Tools”
TerraClear Seeks to Join Agtech Market with Rock Picker for Tractors
Brent Frei, a serial entrepreneur who has helped launch and lead several successful early-stage businesses in the Seattle-area, is getting back to his roots as part of his latest startup, TerraClear. That has meant a return to Frei’s hometown, Grangeville, ID, where TerraClear recently opened a facility it plans to use for product testing. The … Continue reading “TerraClear Seeks to Join Agtech Market with Rock Picker for Tractors”
Smartsheet Makes Another Software Acquisition With Deal for 10,000ft
Smartsheet, a company that sells collaborative project-tracking software for business users, announced Thursday it has acquired 10,000ft, a startup developing digital tools organizations use to organize their schedules and track the time they spend on work projects. Both firms are based in the Seattle area. Smartsheet (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SMAR]]) did not disclose financial terms of the … Continue reading “Smartsheet Makes Another Software Acquisition With Deal for 10,000ft”
Madrona to Invest Beyond Pacific Northwest With New $100M Fund
The biggest backer of technology startups in the Pacific Northwest, Madrona Venture Group, announced a new, $100 million fund Wednesday. The Seattle-based investment firm says it intends to make investments out of its Acceleration Fund in companies outside of the geographic footprint of its current portfolio, and will target companies that are more mature than … Continue reading “Madrona to Invest Beyond Pacific Northwest With New $100M Fund”
Washington VC Watch: Pattern Computer, Chatbox, Joylux & More
Catch up on funding news from April involving technology companies based in Washington state: —Pattern Computer, a Redmond-based startup developing pattern discovery software, raised nearly $2.7 million, according to a regulatory filing. The company says its software has potential applications in fields such as oncology and precision medicine, and last month announced a collaboration with … Continue reading “Washington VC Watch: Pattern Computer, Chatbox, Joylux & More”
AppSheet Raises $15M To Help People Who Aren’t Pro Coders Build Apps
Many of today and tomorrow’s high-paying jobs require a command of computing concepts and programming languages, but learning such skills from the ground up can be a time-intensive and expensive endeavor. While there’s high demand in the job market for people with these technical skills, some companies, such as Seattle-based AppSheet, are offering services designed … Continue reading “AppSheet Raises $15M To Help People Who Aren’t Pro Coders Build Apps”
Francisco Partners Buys Stake in PayScale, Exiting Warburg Pincus
PayScale, a Seattle-based compensation data company, announced Thursday it is selling a majority stake in the business to private equity fund Francisco Partners for an undisclosed amount of funding. The deal terms value PayScale at $325 million, the company says. People use PayScale to get an idea of how much particular professions and employers pay. … Continue reading “Francisco Partners Buys Stake in PayScale, Exiting Warburg Pincus”
Gates Foundation-Xinova Tie-Up Aimed at Using Data to Fight Malaria
A pair of Seattle-based organizations want to harness big data to help combat a big global health problem: malaria. Xinova, which operates a global innovation network to help people turn ideas into real-world products and services, said Thursday it’s seeking proposals for improved management of data on medications and supplies used to prevent and treat … Continue reading “Gates Foundation-Xinova Tie-Up Aimed at Using Data to Fight Malaria”
CI Security Raises $9.6M to Help Customers Manage Cyber Threats
CI Security, a startup that provides its customers with cybersecurity software and expertise in detecting and responding to digital intrusions and threats, announced Monday it has raised $9.6 million in new funding. Seattle-based CI Security, which was previously known as Critical Informatics, says it plans to use some of the new cash to continue developing … Continue reading “CI Security Raises $9.6M to Help Customers Manage Cyber Threats”
MagniX, Eviation Partner to Develop Electric Plane For Short Flights
MagniX and Eviation Aircraft, two businesses working to get the nascent electric airplane industry off the ground, announced a partnership Monday under which Eviation will outfit one of the planes it’s developing with an electric propulsion system made by MagniX. The partnership, which was fittingly unveiled on Earth Day, could ultimately lead to some passengers … Continue reading “MagniX, Eviation Partner to Develop Electric Plane For Short Flights”
TerraClear Raises $4.7M for Machine Designed to Pick Rocks from Soil
TerraClear, a Bellevue, WA-based startup launched two years ago with the vision of using software and high-tech machinery to automatically remove rocks from soil farmers plan to grow crops in, has raised nearly $4.7 million to support commercialization efforts, according to a regulatory filing. Three investors participated in the equity funding round, the filing shows. … Continue reading “TerraClear Raises $4.7M for Machine Designed to Pick Rocks from Soil”
Bardy Diagnostics to Ramp Up Cardiac Monitor Sales With $35M Raise
Bardy Diagnostics, a Seattle-based business developing a cardiac monitor and arrhythmia detection device, announced this week it has raised $35.5 million from investors to hire additional salespeople and fund continued product development. Bardy’s flagship device is an hourglass-shaped patch that Bardy says is designed to be placed on the center of the patient’s chest, over … Continue reading “Bardy Diagnostics to Ramp Up Cardiac Monitor Sales With $35M Raise”