Bellevue, WA-based DepotPoint, a provider of a Web-based tracking platform for the real-estate foreclosure market, has raised $2 million in equity out of a $4.5 million offering, according to a regulatory filing. In 2008 the company raised $7 million in a Series C round led by OVP Venture Partners and Trident Capital. In the same … Continue reading “DepotPoint Raises $2M More”
Author: Thea Chard
Before joining Xconomy, Thea spent a year working as the editor of another startup, the hyperlocal Seattle neighborhood news site QueenAnneView.com. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California, where she double-majored in print journalism and creative writing. While in college, Thea spent a semester studying in London and writing for the London bureau of the Los Angeles Times. Indulging in her passion for feature writing, she has covered a variety of topics ranging from the arts, to media, clean technology and breaking news. Before moving back to Seattle, Thea worked in new media development on two business radio shows, "Marketplace" and "Marketplace Money" by American Public Media. Her clips have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the Santa Monica Daily Press, Seattle magazine and her college paper, the Daily Trojan. Thea is a native Seattleite who grew up in Magnolia, and now lives in Queen Anne.
McKinstry Innovation Center Cozies into Position as Cleantech ‘Accelerator’, Director Elsa Croonquist On What’s Next
Perched atop two floors of parking on the McKinstry campus, the Seattle-based consulting, construction, and energy firm has built the first real space of its kind dedicated entirely to fostering the local cleantech industry. The McKinstry Innovation Center is fast becoming a 24,000-square-foot oasis for up-and-coming clean energy startups. Everything about this place, from the … Continue reading “McKinstry Innovation Center Cozies into Position as Cleantech ‘Accelerator’, Director Elsa Croonquist On What’s Next”
Intelius to pay $1.3M settlement
Bellevue, WA-based online background check and information commerce company Intelius, agreed today to pay $1.3 million in a legal settlement, according to a report by TechFlash. The Washington State Attorney General’s Office handled the dispute, which was part of an ongoing effort to prevent “post-transaction marketing” tactics that unknowingly rope consumers into adding and paying … Continue reading “Intelius to pay $1.3M settlement”
G5 Nabs $15M from Volition Capital
Bend, OR-based G5, a search engine marketing company for mid-size companies, said today it has closed $15 million in first round financing led by Boston-based Volition Capital. As part of the deal Volition managing partner Roger Hurwitz, and principal Sean Cantwell, will join the G5 board of directors. The funding will be used for the … Continue reading “G5 Nabs $15M from Volition Capital”
Telekenex Raises $5.5M
Seattle-based IP service provider Telekenex has raised $5.5 million in debt financing from Canadian specialty firm Wellington Financial. In a statement released Monday, Wellington said the funding will provide Telekenex with the capital necessary to “continue its growth and penetration of the managed voice and data service market.” Telekenex is backed by a number of … Continue reading “Telekenex Raises $5.5M”
Cray, Nvidia Team Up on $25M Defense Grant to Develop Graphics-Based Supercomputers
Seattle-based supercomputing company Cray (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CRAY]]) is part of a team that has been awarded a $25 million U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) grant for the further development of supercomputer technology. The team, led by graphics processing unit (GPU) developer Nvidia (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NVDA]]), also includes Oak Ridge National Laboratory and six U.S. universities. … Continue reading “Cray, Nvidia Team Up on $25M Defense Grant to Develop Graphics-Based Supercomputers”
Zulily Raises $6M More, Korrio Nabs $3.3M for Youth Sports Automation, & More Seattle Area Deals News
Although it’s been another slow week for Seattle-area technology deals, there have been a few notable financings and one pretty sizable acquisition. Of the three deals this week, two fell into the online space, while the third was in the security and software sector. Take a look at this week’s highlights: —Seattle-based private-sales website Zulily … Continue reading “Zulily Raises $6M More, Korrio Nabs $3.3M for Youth Sports Automation, & More Seattle Area Deals News”
Teachers Explore How to Integrate Computer Science into K-12 Curriculum at UW Conference
Although computer science may be one of the most applicable academic tracks to pursue today, teachers are having a hard time convincing students—and administrators—that the subject is worthy of a place in K-12 curriculum. Figuring out how to entice student, parents, and school districts to embrace and support computer science curricula in public education was … Continue reading “Teachers Explore How to Integrate Computer Science into K-12 Curriculum at UW Conference”
CEO Eric Meier Out at Calypso Medical; Layoffs Reported
At least three people were laid off from Seattle-based Calypso Medical Technologies on Wednesday, and former CEO Eric Meier has left the firm, according to a source close to the company. Director of marketing David Gusdorf declined to comment on the layoffs. A request for comment from Eric Meier was not immediately answered. Vice president … Continue reading “CEO Eric Meier Out at Calypso Medical; Layoffs Reported”
Korrio Raises $3.3M, Enters Youth Sports Automation Sector
Mercer Island, WA-based Korrio (formerly known as iPlaySportz) has raised $3.3 million in equity, according to a regulatory filing. The company is run by Steve Goldman, formerly the CEO of Isilon Systems and a senior executive at F5 Networks, and Brad Hefta-Gaub, of Sweat365.com, Revenue Science, and Real Networks, according to a preliminary version of … Continue reading “Korrio Raises $3.3M, Enters Youth Sports Automation Sector”
EnergySavvy Carves Out Cleantech Space, Focuses on Making Energy Retrofitting Easy
[Updated: 4:40pm Pacific] It’s somewhat surprising to me how long the cleantech industry—no matter how innovative—has been somewhat eclipsed by other up-and-coming tech sectors. In the ’90s the tech industry was dominated by the software and dotcom bubble. In the 2000s, the rising stars were wireless and mobile. Today, it’s cloud computing and social media. … Continue reading “EnergySavvy Carves Out Cleantech Space, Focuses on Making Energy Retrofitting Easy”
Zulily, Off to Fast Start in Private Sale E-Commerce, Raises $6M More from August Capital, Maveron
Seattle-based private-sales company Zulily is announcing today it has closed $6 million in Series B financing led by August Capital, along with existing investor Seattle-based Maveron. The website, which went live on January 27, rolled out of stealth back in December with the support of an initial $4.6 million round. Six short months later, co-founder … Continue reading “Zulily, Off to Fast Start in Private Sale E-Commerce, Raises $6M More from August Capital, Maveron”
Daptiv Acquired, DocuSign Inks Partnership, Healthcare and Energy Companies Bring in the Most Dough, & More Seattle-Area Deals News
It’s been a relatively slow week for Seattle-area technology deals (sunny weather strikes again!). Only one local tech startup reported financing over this last week, while, much like the week before, two others were acquired, this time both by big companies down south.. Take a look at this week’s highlights: —Seattle-based project management software developer … Continue reading “Daptiv Acquired, DocuSign Inks Partnership, Healthcare and Energy Companies Bring in the Most Dough, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”
Delve Networks Acquired By Limelight
Delve Networks, the Seattle-based online video hosting and “search inside” video technology startup, said today it has been acquired by Tempe, AZ-based Limelight Networks (NASDAQ: [[ticker:LLNW]]). Though financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, blogger Dan Rayburn, at Businessofvideo.com, reported the deal valued Delve at about $10 million. Delve, founded in 2006 (then known … Continue reading “Delve Networks Acquired By Limelight”
iTunes Meets Facebook & Epicurious: Kitchen Monki Brings A Number of Big Internet Ideas To the World of Food
There’s no denying Seattle is a tech savvy town. And when it comes to food, I think it’s safe to say we’re climbing up in the ranks. We’re the most caffeinated city in the country, according to The Daily Beast (no surprise there), and when it comes to the intersection of food and tech, we … Continue reading “iTunes Meets Facebook & Epicurious: Kitchen Monki Brings A Number of Big Internet Ideas To the World of Food”
Total Living Choices Nabs $2.2M
Seattle-based online senior care information and referral service Total Living Choices (also known as TwilightLiving) has raised $2.2 million in equity out of a $3.5 million offering, according to a regulatory filing. The company, founded in 1999, maintains a database of over 68,000 nursing homes, assisted living facilities, home care, hospice, medical equipment, and long-term … Continue reading “Total Living Choices Nabs $2.2M”
Fierce Competition at the TechFlash Summer BBQ & Ping-Pong Tournament
There was some serious action going on last night at TechFlash’s second annual Summer BBQ and Ping-Pong Tournament. With over 400 in attendance, techies from far and wide traded in their smartphones for paddles, and battled it out for the championship.
For the less athletically inclined, there was also the first ever foosball competition, and an award for the team with the most spirit (i.e. the zaniest costumes…I mean uniforms), which went to social media agency Banyan Branch, whose mascot could only be described as ‘shaggy.’ (See pictures here).
The Northwest Tech Scene, Public Policy, and Collaboration: WTIA CEO Susan Sigl on Her First 100 Days & What’s In Store
Three months have flown by since Susan Sigl succeeded Ken Myer as the CEO of the Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA). The 26-year-old organization is the largest statewide association of tech companies and executives in the world, representing some 1,100 members and 125,000 tech employees across Washington, with a staff of just 11. That’s quite … Continue reading “The Northwest Tech Scene, Public Policy, and Collaboration: WTIA CEO Susan Sigl on Her First 100 Days & What’s In Store”
DocuSign Partners with MeridianLink
Seattle-based electronic signature automation software developer DocuSign said today it has joined in a partnership with web-based financial software company MeridianLink, out of Costa Mesa, CA. Through the deal MeridianLink, which offers online loan origination and account opening applications for consumers, will integrate DocuSign electronic signature capabilities into its existing system. DocuSign said the partnership … Continue reading “DocuSign Partners with MeridianLink”
Washington Startups Pull In $104.3M in June; Healthcare and Energy/Utilities Sectors Top the List
Compared to the handful of “under the radar” deals we had to report on in our May roundup, the month of June was buzzing with deals, both small and large, for Seattle-area tech and biotech companies. Normally we publish our “under the radar” roundup for regional deals worth less than $1 million in a monthly … Continue reading “Washington Startups Pull In $104.3M in June; Healthcare and Energy/Utilities Sectors Top the List”
Tableau Doubles Revenue by Making Data More Visual, More Fun
Tableau Software has made it clear over the past year that it is one of the rising stars of the local software community. Spun out from Stanford University in 2003, the company has spent the last seven years carving out a global market of businesspeople and consumers itching for a new product to help them … Continue reading “Tableau Doubles Revenue by Making Data More Visual, More Fun”
Daptiv Acquired By Parallax Capital Partners
Seattle-based project management software developer Daptiv is confirming today it has been acquired by software and technical acquisition firm Parallax Capital Partners, out of Laguna Hills, CA. The official announcement came this morning, after a report about the deal leaked late last week. Daptiv, founded in 1997, develops on-demand collaborative business and project and portfolio … Continue reading “Daptiv Acquired By Parallax Capital Partners”
Jive Software Nabs $30M, SynapticMash Acquired by Promethean World, Intellectual Ventures Sells Patents, & More Seattle-Area Deals News
Once again it has been a pretty slow week for Seattle-area technology companies in terms of deals—word must have gotten out that the weather is nice and warm here in the Pacific Northwest! Nevertheless, of the few deals that have gone on this last week, a few were pretty substantial. A number of startups both … Continue reading “Jive Software Nabs $30M, SynapticMash Acquired by Promethean World, Intellectual Ventures Sells Patents, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”
Gist Raises $4M More from Vulcan and Foundry Group
Seattle-based software startup Gist has raised an additional $4 million in equity financing, according to VentureDeal. Gist vice president of marketing Robert Pease confirmed the deal, adding that the latest round came from existing investors, Paul Allen’s Vulcan Capital and Boulder, Co-based firm Foundry Group. Gist develops online software that helps business people keep track … Continue reading “Gist Raises $4M More from Vulcan and Foundry Group”
Casual Connect’s Main Theme in 2010: The Intersection of Casual and Social Gaming is a Game Changer
Two years ago our very own tech editor, Greg Huang, found himself questioning what exactly “casual” gaming was. That was before he attended his first Casual Connect, a three-day conference that draws over 3,000 casual gaming professionals to Seattle very year. Back then the big news was casual gaming’s breakout from “core” gaming, the bigger … Continue reading “Casual Connect’s Main Theme in 2010: The Intersection of Casual and Social Gaming is a Game Changer”
Northwest Energy Angels Summer Showcase Draws 11 Startups Determined to Make a Greener World
Last week the Northwest Energy Angels—a group of over 45 private investors who have banded together to invest exclusively in cleantech and energy companies located here in the Pacific Northwest—held its annual Summer Showcase at Tesla Motors’ South Lake Union showroom. Founded by Seattle entrepreneur Martin Tobias and state lawmaker Jeff Morris in 2006, the … Continue reading “Northwest Energy Angels Summer Showcase Draws 11 Startups Determined to Make a Greener World”
SynapticMash Acquired by Promethean World
Seattle-based educational software and management company SynapticMash is being acquired by UK-based Promethean World Plc for $10 million cash. The cloud-based formative education assessment software company, founded in 2007, enables educators to evaluate student performance throughout the learning process, rather than by formal examinations at the end of a term, and helps teachers modify lesson … Continue reading “SynapticMash Acquired by Promethean World”
Solexant to Build Solar Facility in Oregon
San Jose, CA-based ultrathin-film PV developer Solexant said Tuesday that it has chosen to build its first commercial-scale nanocrystal manufacturing facility in Gresham, OR. The 100MW 100,000 to 150,000-square-foot plant will be the largest nanotechnology manufacturing facility in the world and the state’s first thin film solar manufacturing space. Solexant said it plans to receive … Continue reading “Solexant to Build Solar Facility in Oregon”
Jive Software Nabs $30M in Round From Kleiner Perkins, Sequoia Capital
Jive Software, the Palo Alto, CA-based software company started in Portland, OR, has received $30 million in Series C financing led by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. This latest shot of cash, part of which comes from Sequoia Capital, means the company has raised more than $57 million in the last three years. Sequoia had … Continue reading “Jive Software Nabs $30M in Round From Kleiner Perkins, Sequoia Capital”
Paul Allen Vows to Donate Majority of Estate, Tom Alberg Heads to D.C., Seattle Startup Sectors Grow, and Other Seattle-Area News
After last week’s resurgence of activity surrounding Seattle-area technology companies, I have to say I’m somewhat surprised by how few deals were made this past week. But just because there weren’t very many straight deals over the last few days, doesn’t mean there weren’t any big news stories—or big dollars—being tossed around the local tech … Continue reading “Paul Allen Vows to Donate Majority of Estate, Tom Alberg Heads to D.C., Seattle Startup Sectors Grow, and Other Seattle-Area News”
Infoflows Wins $20M in Corbis Case
[Updated: 1:07 pm] Sammamish, WA-based tech startup Infoflows has been awarded over $20 million in damages in an intellectual property dispute with Seattle-based photo library and licensing company Corbis Corporation. Infoflows, started by a group of Microsoft employees in 2004, develops software to track digital content online. The company entered into a multimillion-dollar development agreement … Continue reading “Infoflows Wins $20M in Corbis Case”
Serious Gaming: Looking Ahead to Casual Connect
As a newly recruited tech writer here at Xconomy Seattle, I feel I have to be straight with you and reveal a potentially career-threatening secret: I have never been to a gaming conference, “casual,” “core,” or otherwise. Now I know what you’re thinking—how could that be? Well, I’ll tell you, I’m not quite sure. I’ve … Continue reading “Serious Gaming: Looking Ahead to Casual Connect”
Puppet Labs Nabs $5M Round Led By Kleiner Perkins, Upgrades Software Product
Portland, OR-based data center automation software developer Puppet Labs, formerly known as Reductive Labs, has raised $5 million in Series B venture financing led by Menlo Park, CA-based firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. The open-source startup, founded in 2003, helps companies automate the configuration and management of computers and servers through their flagship product—and … Continue reading “Puppet Labs Nabs $5M Round Led By Kleiner Perkins, Upgrades Software Product”
Seattle’s Deal-A-Day Sites, DealPop and Tippr, Challenge Groupon and LivingSocial
There is no arguing that the Internet has made the world smaller. Because of the Internet we can now share information instantly—and virally—from Seattle to Cairo to Bangladesh. One somewhat counterintuitive byproduct of this global information age, at least for me, is the increasing number of hyperlocal services popping up as a result. Internet culture … Continue reading “Seattle’s Deal-A-Day Sites, DealPop and Tippr, Challenge Groupon and LivingSocial”
Paul Allen To Donate Most of Fortune
Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen said today that he intends to donate the majority of his estimated $13.5 billion fortune to philanthropy. In a statement commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, Allen said he had long planned this move, which will ensure that his “philanthropic efforts will continue after my lifetime.” … Continue reading “Paul Allen To Donate Most of Fortune”
Technology Alliance Showcases Four New Companies in Biotech and Cleantech, and Revisits One Past Presenter
The Technology Alliance put on its fifth “Innovation Showcase” at the Rainier Square Conference Center earlier this week in Seattle, where a handful of up and coming local technology and life sciences companies presented their projects to a select group of entrepreneurs, businesspeople, academics, and potential investors. This is only the second time the press … Continue reading “Technology Alliance Showcases Four New Companies in Biotech and Cleantech, and Revisits One Past Presenter”
PhotoRocket Names Gary Roshak as CEO
Seattle-based PhotoRocket, which has been maintaining its stealthy startup exterior for months, has hired on interim president Gary Roshak as the company’s first CEO effective immediately, founder and chairman Scott Lipsky told Xconomy today in an e-mail. The 11-person company has raised over $1.1 million in financing to date, and is considering extending its current … Continue reading “PhotoRocket Names Gary Roshak as CEO”
Alberg Joins Obama’s Council
Tom Alberg, managing director of the Seattle-based Madrona Venture Group, will be joining President Obama’s new National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which will help develop policies to foster entrepreneurship, create jobs, and drive economic growth. U.S. Commerce Secretary and former Washington governor Gary Locke announced the members of the 26-person council at a … Continue reading “Alberg Joins Obama’s Council”
EcoFab, Making Homes More Energy Efficient, Finds Its Place In McKinstry Cleantech Incubator
McKinstry, the Seattle-based construction, consulting, and energy-efficiency firm, has added a third company to its $5 million McKinstry Innovation Center, which opened at the company’s Georgetown headquarters back in May. The center, which many in the Seattle alternative energy scene hope will become a vibrant cleantech incubator in the Pacific Northwest, plans to serve as … Continue reading “EcoFab, Making Homes More Energy Efficient, Finds Its Place In McKinstry Cleantech Incubator”
Microsoft Partners Up in Cloud-Computing Platform, Cobalt Gets Bought for $400M, Lockerz Reels in VC Funding, and Other Seattle-Area Deals News
There have been quite a few exciting deals for Seattle-area technology companies lately (maybe a sign that everybody in town is back from their summer vacations?). In the past week we’ve seen a digital marketing company for the auto industry get snatched up in a $400 million acquisition, several local startups bring in new funding, … Continue reading “Microsoft Partners Up in Cloud-Computing Platform, Cobalt Gets Bought for $400M, Lockerz Reels in VC Funding, and Other Seattle-Area Deals News”
Where Do You Check In? The Northwest’s Location-Based Search and Social Networking Mini Cluster
The rising popularity of New York, NY-based Foursquare, which launched in March of 2009 and has quickly become the most popular location-based social networking mobile application in the world, has caused an explosion of development on geolocation applications worldwide. Some of the most well known here in the states include Gowalla, BrightKite, Loopt and Seattle-based … Continue reading “Where Do You Check In? The Northwest’s Location-Based Search and Social Networking Mini Cluster”
DocuSign Brings In $2M
Seattle-based electronic signature automation software developer DocuSign has raised $2 million in debt financing, according to a regulatory filing. The company, founded in 2003, previously had raised more than $30 million in venture funding, including $5 million in Series D financing in May 2009. In 2009 DocuSign was one of a hundred companies to be … Continue reading “DocuSign Brings In $2M”
Impinj Raises $5.8M
Seattle-based Impinj, a radio-frequency identification (RFID) systems developer, has raised $5.8 million in debt and options financing, according to a regulatory filing. The company, founded in May of 2000, received $14 million in venture funding in 2008, and later that year sold off its nonvolatile-memory intellectual property business for $5.2 million and acquired Intel’s RFID … Continue reading “Impinj Raises $5.8M”
ADP to Acquire The Cobalt Group for $400M
The Cobalt Group, a Seattle-based automotive digital marketing company, said today it has agreed to be acquired by Automatic Data Processing (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ADP]]) for approximately $400 million in cash. The deal is subject to regulatory review and is expected to close in the next four to six weeks, according to ADP. Roseland, NJ-based ADP said … Continue reading “ADP to Acquire The Cobalt Group for $400M”
Concur’s Raj Singh on the Emerging Mobile Scene and Where He Sees the Company Going in the Next Five Years (Part 2)
For Raj Singh, the co-founder, president, and chief operating officer of Redmond, WA-based Concur, a travel and expense reporting software developer, the recipe for success has involved jumping on trends as they are in the making. In 2002 and 2003, this meant getting on board the software-as-a-service-industry. Today it means staying relevant by embracing another … Continue reading “Concur’s Raj Singh on the Emerging Mobile Scene and Where He Sees the Company Going in the Next Five Years (Part 2)”
A Place for Mom Sells Majority Stake to Warburg Pincus
Seattle-based online elder care referral service, A Place for Mom, has sold a majority ownership stake to international private equity firm Warburg Pincus, according to a company asset track record kept by investment banking advisory firm GCA Savvian. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. A spokesperson for A Place for Mom didn’t immediately … Continue reading “A Place for Mom Sells Majority Stake to Warburg Pincus”
Big Fish, Z2Live Add Voice Chat to Games
Seattle-based Big Fish Games, a leading casual game developer and distributor, has teamed up with Z2Live to add new voice chat and multiplayer capabilities to Big Fish’s iPhone and iPad “Big City Adventure: San Francisco” applications. Z2Live, a social mobile gaming startup, first unveiled its multiplayer voice chat feature, which will allow players to talk … Continue reading “Big Fish, Z2Live Add Voice Chat to Games”
Concur Co-founder Raj Singh on How Surviving the Dotcom Bust Shaped the Company Culture and How Mobile Has Changed its Course (Part 1)
Seattle was one of the hardest hit regions during the dotcom boom and subsequent crash of the early 2000s. The companies that were able to survive the fall, however, were grandfathered into a strong regional, and once again booming, technology industry. One of these survivors—now a veteran on the local tech scene—is Redmond, WA-based Concur … Continue reading “Concur Co-founder Raj Singh on How Surviving the Dotcom Bust Shaped the Company Culture and How Mobile Has Changed its Course (Part 1)”
Earth Class Mail CEO Sarah Carr on the Revamped Business Model and What Had to Change in Her First 10 Months
[Corrected: 1:15 pm, see below] Earth Class Mail was built on the notion that businesses which receive a lot of important documents through old fashioned snail mail may benefit from the services it has to offer. The Seattle-based company, founded in 2004 by former head and board chairman, Ron Wiener, develops software that digitizes incoming … Continue reading “Earth Class Mail CEO Sarah Carr on the Revamped Business Model and What Had to Change in Her First 10 Months”
UC4 Hires Jason Liu as CEO
Global automation software developer UC4, which has its U.S. headquarters in Bellevue, WA, said today it has appointed Jason Liu as its new chief executive officer. Liu has a background in software, mobile and cloud systems management, and has served as CEO to several companies, including Callisto Software, Intrinsic Technologies and most recently, Univa UD. … Continue reading “UC4 Hires Jason Liu as CEO”