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.

Seattle’s Outreach Joins Unicorn Ranks With $114M Funding Round

Another tech “unicorn”—privately controlled startups valued at $1 billion or more—has been minted following sales software company Outreach’s latest venture funding round, a $114 million deal. Seattle-based Outreach develops customer relationship management tools designed to improve communication between salespeople and their prospective clients. Launched in 2013, the startup says its most recent round of financing … Continue reading “Seattle’s Outreach Joins Unicorn Ranks With $114M Funding Round”

Founders’ Co-op Raises $25M to Back More Pacific Northwest Startups

Founders’ Co-op, a Seattle-based venture capital firm that has backed nearly 100 startups since its launch 11 years ago, has raised a new, $25 million fund to continue making investments. According to a document filed with federal securities regulators, it’s the fourth fund Founders’ Co-op has raised, and the money came from 99 investors. In … Continue reading “Founders’ Co-op Raises $25M to Back More Pacific Northwest Startups”

Show Me The Money: Seattle’s Showdigs Gets $3M for Real Estate Tools

Showdigs, a Seattle-based startup developing software to help prospective leasers schedule tours of apartments property managers have for rent, says it has raised $3 million in new funding to support its continued growth. A local investor, Bellevue, WA-based Trilogy Equity Partners, led the seed funding round, Showdigs says in a news release. Showdigs’ location-based tools … Continue reading “Show Me The Money: Seattle’s Showdigs Gets $3M for Real Estate Tools”

Apana Gulps Down $11M to Help Costco, Other Clients Track Water Use

Apana, which develops systems of sensor-equipped devices and complementary software to help facilities monitor their water use, announced Tuesday it has raised $11 million to fuel its continued growth. Grocery stores, hotels, and restaurants are among those who use Apana’s products and services, which the Bellingham, WA-based company says can help these organizations save money … Continue reading “Apana Gulps Down $11M to Help Costco, Other Clients Track Water Use”

RiskLens Raises $20M for Software That Quantifies Cyber Risk

RiskLens, a developer of software for assessing, communicating, and managing cyber risk, announced Monday it has raised more than $20 million from investors. Spokane, WA-based RiskLens says it plans to use some of the proceeds from the Series B funding round to expand its sales, marketing, engineering, and professional services teams. They’ll work to try … Continue reading “RiskLens Raises $20M for Software That Quantifies Cyber Risk”

Skills, Pills, & Hospital Bills: Amazon Debuts Alexa Health Features

Owners of Amazon’s voice-controlled, Internet-connected speakers can now use the gadgets to manage more aspects of their healthcare, following the company’s announcement Thursday that its Alexa devices can interface with software applications that process protected health information. As part of the announcement, Amazon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]) unveiled six “Alexa healthcare skills,” which allow patients to book … Continue reading “Skills, Pills, & Hospital Bills: Amazon Debuts Alexa Health Features”

UW Prof, Entrepreneur Shwetak Patel Awarded ACM Prize in Computing

The Association for Computing Machinery on Wednesday said it has awarded Shwetak Patel, a computer science and electrical engineering professor at the University of Washington, the 2018 ACM Prize in Computing. Patel, who is also a successful serial entrepreneur, will receive a cash prize of $250,000 as part of the award, ACM said. The award … Continue reading “UW Prof, Entrepreneur Shwetak Patel Awarded ACM Prize in Computing”

Lear to Acquire Seattle Connected Vehicle Tech Firm Xevo For $320M

Lear Corp., a Southfield, MI-based manufacturer of car seats, automotive electrical systems, and other products, announced Tuesday it has agreed to acquire Xevo, a Seattle-based developer of connected vehicle software, for $320 million. Lear (NYSE: [[ticker:LEA]]) has been in business for over a century, and says its products are used by nearly every major automaker. … Continue reading “Lear to Acquire Seattle Connected Vehicle Tech Firm Xevo For $320M”

Seattle Venture Capital Watch: Crelate, Cyemptive, Blue Canoe & More

Businesses developing software to assist recruiters, corporate IT departments, and people learning to speak English are among the Seattle-area companies that have in recent weeks raised new funding from investors. Let’s catch up on some of the Emerald City Deals action. —Crelate Talent, which is developing recruiting software used by staffing agencies, executive search firms, … Continue reading “Seattle Venture Capital Watch: Crelate, Cyemptive, Blue Canoe & More”

Impinj Unveils New Circuits Aimed at Expanding Firm’s IoT Platform

Even if you’ve never heard of Impinj, it’s likely you’ve come across examples of the Seattle-based company’s bread and butter—radio frequency identification technology—in real life. Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are used, for example, by department stores to track inventory; by transportation agencies to power automated tolling systems; by mountain resorts to scan skiers’ lift … Continue reading “Impinj Unveils New Circuits Aimed at Expanding Firm’s IoT Platform”

Xealth Gets $11M, Aims to Be Surescripts of Digital Health Services

Doctors prescribe all sorts of things for their patients, like drugs, medical procedures, and changes to diet and exercise regimen. Prescribing a software application—one that helps a patient manage diabetes, for example—may sound futuristic to some people. But to Mike McSherry, CEO of Xealth, a Seattle-based startup that announced $11 million in new funding Wednesday to … Continue reading “Xealth Gets $11M, Aims to Be Surescripts of Digital Health Services”

MagniX & Harbour Air Want to Convert Seaplanes Into “ePlanes”

MagniX, a startup developing electric propulsion systems for small planes, has announced a partnership with a British Columbia airline to convert some of the seaplanes it operates into “ePlanes.” MagniX’s partnership with Richmond, BC-based Harbour Air is the first the propulsion technology startup has announced publicly, says CEO Roei Ganzarski. The deal’s financial terms were … Continue reading “MagniX & Harbour Air Want to Convert Seaplanes Into “ePlanes””

Q&A: Brains Behind Vicis’s Youth Helmet Talks Ratings, Safety & More

Football leagues at every level, from those made up of youth teams to the U.S.’s hugely popular National Football League, are taking steps aimed at making the sport safer for players. These efforts include rule changes outlawing certain types of contact, such as dangerous hits, and programs that instruct players and coaches on proper tackling … Continue reading “Q&A: Brains Behind Vicis’s Youth Helmet Talks Ratings, Safety & More”

U.S. Energy Dept. Awards $500M Supercomputer Contract to Intel, Cray

Computer chipmaker Intel and its subcontractor, Seattle-based Cray, say they expect a supercomputer they plan to eventually deliver will be a flop—an exaflop, that is. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory has hired Intel (NASDAQ: [[ticker:INTC]]) and Cray (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CRAY]]) to build what the companies said Monday would be the first exascale supercomputer … Continue reading “U.S. Energy Dept. Awards $500M Supercomputer Contract to Intel, Cray”

Igneous Raises $25M to Support On-Premise Approach to Data Storage

Igneous, a Seattle-based data-storage startup that manages servers and other on-premise computing equipment for its customers, announced on Friday $25 million in new financing. WestRiver Group, an investment firm collaborative based in Kirkland, WA, led the Series C funding round, Igneous said. Other participants included return backers Madrona Venture Group, New Enterprise Associates, Redpoint Ventures, … Continue reading “Igneous Raises $25M to Support On-Premise Approach to Data Storage”

Vikram Jandhyala, Champion of Innovation at UW and Beyond, Dies at 47

[Updated 3/15/19 11:05 a.m. See below.] Vikram Jandhyala, who built bridges between academia and industry across the globe and at the University of Washington, where he taught and worked, has died, the school said Wednesday. He was 47. In a statement on UW’s website, President Ana Mari Cauce said Jandhyala’s death was a suicide. He is … Continue reading “Vikram Jandhyala, Champion of Innovation at UW and Beyond, Dies at 47”

F5’s $670M Deal for Nginx Expands Firms’ Control of Web Servers, Apps

Internet users are celebrating the World Wide Web’s 30th birthday this week by reminiscing about early Web technologies like America Online and dial-up modems. But users’ Web experiences—from the 1990s to today’s mobile and social media-dotted digital landscape—are only possible with behind-the-scenes Internet infrastructure in place. The value of that infrastructure was highlighted in F5 … Continue reading “F5’s $670M Deal for Nginx Expands Firms’ Control of Web Servers, Apps”

Toyota Among Investors Backing Airbiquity With $15M for Vehicle Tech

Airbiquity, a Seattle-based developer of connected vehicle systems powering navigation, entertainment, and other software in cars, has raised $15 million in new financing from three Japanese automotive corporations, the company announced Monday. The investors that participated in the equity funding round are Denso Corp., Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: [[ticker:TM]]), and Toyota Tsusho Corp, which supports … Continue reading “Toyota Among Investors Backing Airbiquity With $15M for Vehicle Tech”

Karat’s Interviewers, Software Help Tech Firms Assess Engineers

When it comes to interviewing candidates for software engineering positions at big technology companies, “takes one to know one” tends to be an appropriate axiom, says Mohit Bhende. He’s one of the co-founders of Karat, a Seattle-based startup that uses proprietary software and its own stable of freelance interviewers to help some of the marquee … Continue reading “Karat’s Interviewers, Software Help Tech Firms Assess Engineers”

Vtrus Gets $2.9M For Drones That Inspect Indoor Industrial Equipment

Vtrus, a Seattle-based startup developing drones designed to autonomously inspect equipment in factories and other indoor settings, has raised more than $2.9 million to support its commercialization efforts, according to a regulatory filing. Nine investors participated in the equity funding round, the filing shows. Reached by phone on Thursday, a spokesperson for Vtrus declined to … Continue reading “Vtrus Gets $2.9M For Drones That Inspect Indoor Industrial Equipment”

Knock Nabs $10M in Bid to Become the OpenTable of Apartment Leasing

People in the market to rent an apartment have plenty of options for contacting property managers, from phone calls to e-mail messages and live chats hosted on their websites. A Seattle-based startup, Knock, says it can help managers track the range of these communications with prospective tenants by storing them on a single digital platform. … Continue reading “Knock Nabs $10M in Bid to Become the OpenTable of Apartment Leasing”

Tasso Gets $6M For Device That Lets Users Self-Collect Blood Samples

Tasso, a Seattle-based startup that is developing an at-home blood sample collection device, announced Tuesday it has raised $6.1 million from investors. The new money will support its effort to launch sales of the device, Tasso OnDemand, in the coming months, and to add staff, Tasso says. Vertical Venture Partners, a Silicon Valley-based investment fund, … Continue reading “Tasso Gets $6M For Device That Lets Users Self-Collect Blood Samples”

With New Cash, iUNU to Help More Greenhouses Monitor, Manage Plants

People in the Pacific Northwest who grow plants in greenhouses and nurseries face good odds of turning a profit on their 2019 harvests, according to Spokane, WA-based Northwest Farm Credit Services, which supports farmers, ranchers, and other agribusiness in the region. This positive outlook comes thanks to steady demand for crops, a strong U.S. economy, … Continue reading “With New Cash, iUNU to Help More Greenhouses Monitor, Manage Plants”

Seattle Venture Capital Watch: Modumetal, Illumagear, HaptX & More

February may be the shortest month of the year, but the past four weeks have seen many investments raised by technology businesses based in the Seattle area. Here are some notable deals from the past month: —Modumetal, a Seattle-based company that develops nanolaminated materials for use in armor, vehicles, building exteriors, and other products, raised … Continue reading “Seattle Venture Capital Watch: Modumetal, Illumagear, HaptX & More”

Blaze Bio Raises $5M to Help Surgeons See Tumors From Healthy Tissue

Blaze Bioscience, a Seattle-based biotech developing “tumor paint” that could help surgeons tell the difference between normal and cancerous tissue, has raised $5 million in new equity funding to help advance its lead product candidate through clinical trials. Heather Franklin, Blaze’s founder and CEO, says its latest funding round is still open, and could climb … Continue reading “Blaze Bio Raises $5M to Help Surgeons See Tumors From Healthy Tissue”

Amazon Leads Rivian’s $700M Round, Hinting at Possible Auto Ambitions

Rivian, a Plymouth, MI-based company getting set to launch sales of its brawny, high-end electric vehicles, will be able to give those efforts a boost after raising $700 million in new funding. Amazon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMZN]]) led the investment in Rivian, the latest signal the retailing and technology giant could be poised to make waves in … Continue reading “Amazon Leads Rivian’s $700M Round, Hinting at Possible Auto Ambitions”

Polly Want a Slack Plugin? Seattle Enterprise IT Startup Raises $7M

Some people relish the opportunity to give feedback to individuals and organizations that have served them—think Yelp and Google users who rate every restaurant where they’ve eaten. Others may be less eager to evaluate a recent Uber trip, for example, but must do so before they can request their next ride. In today’s data-driven world, … Continue reading “Polly Want a Slack Plugin? Seattle Enterprise IT Startup Raises $7M”

Xnor.ai Makes Solar-Powered Computer Chip to Crunch, Learn from Data

By now, many consumers know that uploading a photo, video, or other file to “the cloud” on a service like Google or Facebook often means storing it in a data center. But the computer servers inside data centers don’t just store information—they are constantly processing complex algorithms and using energy to glean new insights for … Continue reading “Xnor.ai Makes Solar-Powered Computer Chip to Crunch, Learn from Data”

Why Did Amazon Buy Eero? Wi-Fi Users Covet Simplicity, Security

Being able to call on Alexa, the voice of Amazon’s Echo virtual assistants, to play a song or read a weather forecast requires a working Internet connection, of course. Amazon has now opened new avenues to put its own stamp on Wi-Fi routers and other home networking equipment, following the company’s purchase of San Francisco-based … Continue reading “Why Did Amazon Buy Eero? Wi-Fi Users Covet Simplicity, Security”

Providence St. Joseph Acquires Seattle Blockchain Startup Lumedic

Providence St. Joseph Health said Monday it has acquired Lumedic, a startup developing blockchain-based software aimed at improving how healthcare providers bill for care and manage reimbursements from insurers. The deal, which Providence did not disclose the terms of, marks a rapid path from launch to exit for Seattle-based Lumedic. Michael Nash, the company’s founder … Continue reading “Providence St. Joseph Acquires Seattle Blockchain Startup Lumedic”

Stably Tacks on $1.2M to Reduce Volatility in Digital Currencies

Stably, a Seattle-based startup developing a service it claims can reduce investors’ exposure to volatility in Bitcoin and other digital currencies’ values, on Thursday announced it has raised $1.2 million in new funding to support Stably’s growth. Digital currencies, or cryptocurrencies, have attracted significant investor attention and news coverage in recent years. One reason is … Continue reading “Stably Tacks on $1.2M to Reduce Volatility in Digital Currencies”

Boeing Is Aerion’s Latest Partner in Supersonic Passenger Jet Effort

Seattle may no longer be home to the NBA’s Supersonics, but one of the city’s anchor businesses, Boeing, announced this week it expects to play a key role in a company developing a jet for business travelers designed to fly at the speed of sound. Boeing (NYSE: [[ticker:BA]]) is the latest big-name partner that Aerion, … Continue reading “Boeing Is Aerion’s Latest Partner in Supersonic Passenger Jet Effort”

KenSci Gets $22M for Tools to Help Hospitals Flag High-Risk Patients

Transitioning an elderly patient to palliative care can be a difficult decision for caregivers, but it’s one that families and clinicians across the globe make every day. Seattle-based KenSci contends that technology can help all parties make better, more informed choices. The startup’s software has gained traction in hospitals, where KenSci says crunching patient mortality … Continue reading “KenSci Gets $22M for Tools to Help Hospitals Flag High-Risk Patients”

Helmet Maker Vicis Courts NFL QBs to Invest in Latest Funding Round

Aaron Rodgers has taken some trips to the Pacific Northwest he’d probably rather forget. Rodgers, who since 2008 has been the starting quarterback of the National Football League’s Green Bay Packers, has a career 1-4 record in regular season and playoff road games against the Seattle Seahawks, including an overtime loss in 2015 that sent the Seahawks … Continue reading “Helmet Maker Vicis Courts NFL QBs to Invest in Latest Funding Round”

Microsoft Buys Cloud Service DataSense to Expand Education Suite

BrightBytes, a San Francisco-based education technology company, announced Monday it has sold a data-management platform used by school districts and software businesses to Microsoft. Financial terms weren’t disclosed. Microsoft (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MSFT]]) will work to make the platform, DataSense, part of the Seattle-area company’s Microsoft Education product suite, Steve Liffick, general manager of education strategy and … Continue reading “Microsoft Buys Cloud Service DataSense to Expand Education Suite”

Seattle Venture Capital Watch: Alpine Immune, Wyze, Aduro, Gaia & More

Welcome to February! Whether your weekend plans involve watching the Super Bowl, tracking this year’s prediction by famed groundhog Punxsutawney Phil, or other activities, take a few minutes to catch up on some of the notable funding rounds raised by Seattle-area tech and life sciences companies in January. —Alpine Immune Sciences (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ALPN]]), a Seattle-based … Continue reading “Seattle Venture Capital Watch: Alpine Immune, Wyze, Aduro, Gaia & More”

Magnolia Medical Captures $20M to Reduce Blood Culture Contamination

Magnolia Medical Technologies, a Seattle-based manufacturer of devices for collecting blood and bodily fluids, announced this week it has raised $20 million in equity funding to ramp up sales of its flagship product. The funding comes as Magnolia and San Diego-based competitor Kurin battle each other in court. RTW Investments, a New York-based firm that … Continue reading “Magnolia Medical Captures $20M to Reduce Blood Culture Contamination”

Sentinel Healthcare Raises $2M For Hypertension-Monitoring Software

A Seattle-based startup, Sentinel Healthcare, is developing a platform combining software and wearable medical devices that it believes can help healthcare providers monitor patients who have high blood pressure—and perhaps one day predict their risk of heart attack or stroke. In the United States, about 75 million people, or one in three adults, have hypertension, … Continue reading “Sentinel Healthcare Raises $2M For Hypertension-Monitoring Software”

With Insurers Signaling Interest, Can Blockchain Disrupt Healthtech?

Late last week, IBM and several other large companies that serve the healthcare industry announced a collaboration aimed at determining whether, and how, blockchain technology could be used to improve patient care and lower costs for industry stakeholders. The announcement came about nine months after a separate conglomerate of healthcare businesses, including insurer and health … Continue reading “With Insurers Signaling Interest, Can Blockchain Disrupt Healthtech?”

Air Taxis Are on the Horizon with Boeing’s Test of Autonomous Plane

Many aviators use autopilot to control the trajectory of aircraft between takeoff and landing, but Boeing is among those in the industry seeking to advance autonomous flying technology even further. Boeing (NYSE: [[ticker:BA]]), which is headquartered in Chicago but has roots and extensive operations in the Seattle area, announced this week it conducted a successful … Continue reading “Air Taxis Are on the Horizon with Boeing’s Test of Autonomous Plane”

Amazon Deploys Autonomous Delivery Vehicles on WA County’s Sidewalks

Amazon may still have a long way to go before realizing its vision of a network of package-carrying drones, which it discussed five years ago on an episode of “60 Minutes.” But the online retailing and technology giant says it’s begun testing a similar—if a bit less futuristic—concept involving unmanned delivery vehicles rolling around a … Continue reading “Amazon Deploys Autonomous Delivery Vehicles on WA County’s Sidewalks”

Access HealthNet Snags $1M to Help Lower Employers’ Healthcare Costs

Access HealthNet, a startup developing software designed to help employers save money on their workers’ healthcare, has raised $1 million in debt funding from a dozen investors, according to a securities filing. Wauwatosa, WI-based Access HealthNet works with its business clients to help them find the lowest prices for common medical procedures. Specifically, the digital … Continue reading “Access HealthNet Snags $1M to Help Lower Employers’ Healthcare Costs”

Zipwhip Gets $51.5M for Software That Lets Businesses Text Customers

Texting has grown well beyond person-to-person communications. To remind customers about upcoming appointments or notify diners their restaurant tables are ready, for example, text messages have in many businesses replaced phone calls and light-up buzzer systems. But text-based communications between businesses and their customers are becoming more of a two-way dialogue, with organizations increasingly allowing … Continue reading “Zipwhip Gets $51.5M for Software That Lets Businesses Text Customers”

Microsoft Pledges $500M for Housing in Growth-Strained Seattle

Microsoft announced a new, $500 million initiative late Wednesday that’s aimed at making housing more affordable and available to low- and middle-income residents of the Seattle area. The Redmond, WA-based software giant pointed to data indicating that in this decade, population increases in the metropolitan area that Microsoft (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MSFT]]) calls home have outpaced growth … Continue reading “Microsoft Pledges $500M for Housing in Growth-Strained Seattle”

With New Cash and Facilities, Phoenix Transitions Out Of Startup Mode

It’s often not obvious precisely when an early-stage business reaches the point where it outgrows the “startup” label. Case in point: Madison, WI-based Phoenix, which sells neutron generators and provides image-reading services to organizations in industries ranging from healthcare to renewable energy to aerospace and defense. “From a cultural standpoint, everybody’s starting to feel the … Continue reading “With New Cash and Facilities, Phoenix Transitions Out Of Startup Mode”

Walgreens Prepares for High-Tech Future with Microsoft Partnership

Microsoft is making a “wal-to-wal” bet that retailers can harness the Seattle-area tech giant’s products and services to upgrade the brick-and-mortar experience for consumers and patients. About six months after it struck a partnership with Walmart (NYSE: [[ticker:WMT]]), Microsoft on Tuesday announced a seven-year agreement with Walgreens (NASDAQ: [[ticker:WBA]]), the specific financial terms of which … Continue reading “Walgreens Prepares for High-Tech Future with Microsoft Partnership”

Smartsheet Buys TernPro, Seattle Developer of Collaboration Tools

Smartsheet, a Bellevue, WA-based company that develops collaborative software allowing users to track projects and manage company processes, announced Tuesday it has acquired Seattle-based TernPro, whose flagship product Slope lets customers mark up documents, images, videos, and other media before releasing them to a wider audience. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Smartsheet’s … Continue reading “Smartsheet Buys TernPro, Seattle Developer of Collaboration Tools”

Goods Unite Us Raises $500K to Track Corporate Political Leanings

Goods Unite Us, a Madison, WI-based startup seeking to inform shoppers about the political leanings of corporations they purchase products and services from, says it closed a $500,000 seed funding round last week. MaSa Partners, Humble Rogue Ventures, and Mark Bakken, a Madison-based entrepreneur and investor, co-led the round, Goods Unite Us says. Launched in … Continue reading “Goods Unite Us Raises $500K to Track Corporate Political Leanings”

Report: After a Boffo 2018, VC Deals in Digital Health May Flatten

Investments in digital health startups totaled $8.1 billion in 2018, a record year that marked a 42 percent increase over 2017’s total, according to a report released this week by Rock Health. But the report’s authors say it’s unlikely that venture capital investments in digital health, an area that encompasses the use of software and … Continue reading “Report: After a Boffo 2018, VC Deals in Digital Health May Flatten”