One of the hardest things to figure out when you hang around Microsoft Research demos is how or when any of this amazing stuff will ever see the light of day. Hell, even Microsoft Research director Rick Rashid thinks the department’s real value is in being a stockpile of ideas, and not so much a … Continue reading “Microsoft’s ChronoZoom: One Web Page, 13.7 Billion Years of History”
Category: Seattle
Technology Alliance Annual Luncheon, Featuring F5 CEO John McAdam
The Technology Alliance is holding its annual “State of Technology Luncheon” on May 22, with F5 CEO John McAdam as the featured speaker. For more information on how to register, click here.
Seattle Children’s Sets Up Rare Biobank to Study Premature Birth
Money may be the key fuel that drives biomedical research, but even if you’ve got money, it’s hard to get very far without good tissue samples. Now a group at Seattle Children’s Hospital aims to tackle that problem by setting up an unusual biobank of specimens, open to scientists all over the world, which could … Continue reading “Seattle Children’s Sets Up Rare Biobank to Study Premature Birth”
Bellevue Eyes IT Degree, Appature Hires CFO, DataSphere Raises Cash
A few tidbits of Seattle-area tech industry news to get you warmed up on this snowy, miserable day: —Bellevue College is researching a possible four-year degree in information technology, and is looking for help from employers with an online survey about their needs in IT education and training. It’s a very early effort, but there … Continue reading “Bellevue Eyes IT Degree, Appature Hires CFO, DataSphere Raises Cash”
Omeros Bounces Back With Drug For Eye Surgeries; Shares Climb
Omeros was battered a year ago when its lead drug candidate failed in the final stage of clinical trials, but today it is bouncing back as its second product in line passed a key test. The Seattle-based biotech company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:OMER]]) said today that its experimental drug for use in eye surgeries met its goals … Continue reading “Omeros Bounces Back With Drug For Eye Surgeries; Shares Climb”
A Seussian Guide to BioPharma
Years ago, pharma’s rep was grand, Selling drugs throughout the land. Many different problems mended, Diseases treated, lives extended. Sulfa drugs, antibiotics, Pain-relieving strong narcotics. A high point before the age of genes, Were Salk and Sabin’s new vaccines. Profit margins super high, Income more than “getting by”. As a group, they were admired, Nowadays, … Continue reading “A Seussian Guide to BioPharma”
Seattle Genetics Digs Deeper Into the Proverbial Haystack
Everyone who has tried to discover new drugs has heard the one about looking for the proverbial needle in the haystack. At Seattle Genetics, they’ve already found one of the needles they’ve been looking for, and it raises a fascinating new set of questions. How many more needles are in the haystack? How can you … Continue reading “Seattle Genetics Digs Deeper Into the Proverbial Haystack”
HemaQuest Gets $13M Transfusion in Extension of Series B Financing
San Diego-based HemaQuest Pharmaceuticals, a biotech developing small molecule drugs for treating sickle cell disease and other blood disorders, has gotten another capital transfusion after once again extending its Series B financing. In a statement today, HemaQuest says it has raised an additional $13 million to support a mid-stage trial of the company’s lead drug … Continue reading “HemaQuest Gets $13M Transfusion in Extension of Series B Financing”
Korrio, Led by Former Isilon CEO, Seeks Fortune in Youth Sports
Are you sick of platforms yet? I know I am. But I’m not sick of sports. Hence, let’s talk about Korrio, a sports-automation software company that has an interesting bicoastal story. Korrio is based in Seattle, but one of its biggest markets is Massachusetts. Specifically, Massachusetts youth soccer clubs. The Bay State is “sports crazy,” … Continue reading “Korrio, Led by Former Isilon CEO, Seeks Fortune in Youth Sports”
AIDS Drugs Were the Start. Let’s See More FDA Accelerated Approvals
There’s been a lot of talk in biotech lately about the need for reforms at the FDA, to make it run faster and more predictably. One idea is taking shape in a bill starting to move through Congress. And at least at first glance, it looks like it’s based on good common sense. The idea … Continue reading “AIDS Drugs Were the Start. Let’s See More FDA Accelerated Approvals”
Crowdfunding: The Train to the Future Is Leaving—Get on Board
It has been a whirlwind last few days in the crowd-funding world. For those of you who have not yet tuned in to this, there is legislation afoot, backed by the President and (so far) the House, that would enable, in effect, mini- IPOs as a way to fund startups. Forget everything you know about … Continue reading “Crowdfunding: The Train to the Future Is Leaving—Get on Board”
The Lytro Camera Is Revolutionary, But It’s No iPhone
The inventors and investors behind the Lytro, the hot new “light field” camera that creates refocusable digital photos, are trying to have it both ways. They’re arguing that their new camera, which sells for $399-$499, will revolutionize consumer photography in the near term by freeing people from shutter delays and the need to focus their … Continue reading “The Lytro Camera Is Revolutionary, But It’s No iPhone”
The Web Never Forgets. Should It?
By now most people are aware that Google changed its privacy policy. You’ve read articles on all sides of the spectrum: some say this is the worst thing ever; others claim it just doesn’t matter. And there’ll be even more since the EU has declared this new policy “illegal.” This new policy matters quite a … Continue reading “The Web Never Forgets. Should It?”
Drawn to Scale Garners $925,000 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f614c8cb-2039-4046-b352-5c5dd5fd12b7&Preview=1 Date 3/9/2012 Company Name Drawn to Scale Mailing Address 318 1st Ave S Seattle, WA 98104 Company Description Spire is a database for real-time Big Data. Revolutionary and bold, Spire empowers developers with massive scalability, real-time queries, SQL and simplified management. Website http://www.drawntoscale.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $925,000 Transaction … Continue reading “Drawn to Scale Garners $925,000 New Round”
Microsoft’s Mayhem: Remote Controls for Everything (Eventually)
Even the biggest gadget freaks out there—you know, the guy with three phones, two tablets, multiple game consoles, TVs galore—faces a pretty pedestrian-seeming problem. Despite all of the mind-boggling things our hardware and software can accomplish these days, these devices still don’t play very well together. A new Microsoft project called Mayhem, quietly available for … Continue reading “Microsoft’s Mayhem: Remote Controls for Everything (Eventually)”
OncoGenex Doubles Down on Prostate Cancer, As Competition Heats Up
There’s some aggressive jockeying going on in the prostate cancer market, and today Vancouver, BC and Bothell, WA-based OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals made some moves that it hopes will keep its lead horse in the race. OncoGenex (NASDAQ: [[ticker:OGXI]]) and its partner Teva Pharmaceutical said today they are expanding one pivotal-stage clinical trial for men with prostate … Continue reading “OncoGenex Doubles Down on Prostate Cancer, As Competition Heats Up”
Angels Favored Healthcare & Internet, With Bigger Rounds in 2011
Each time new private investing data comes out, it seems like it’s another chance for California to show its dominance. That’s the case with the Halo Report, but this particular report also reveals some interesting trends in angel investing. Put together by the Angel Resource Institute, Silicon Valley Bank, and the data services firm CB Insights, … Continue reading “Angels Favored Healthcare & Internet, With Bigger Rounds in 2011”
J&J Prostate Cancer Drug Hits Goal; Hurts Dendreon, Helps Medivation
[Updated: 11:20 am PT] Johnson & Johnson just delivered some encouraging news for prostate cancer patients that could end up being a boon for one of its competitors (San Francisco-based Medivation), and a drag for another (Seattle-based Dendreon). J&J, the New Brunswick, NJ-based healthcare giant (NYSE: [[ticker:JNJ]]), said today that it stopped a clinical trial of … Continue reading “J&J Prostate Cancer Drug Hits Goal; Hurts Dendreon, Helps Medivation”
An Opportunity for Congress to Vote for Job Creation
Congressional leaders of both parties have a short-term opportunity to come together in rare bipartisan fashion and get on the right side of American economic growth and job creation. With the House expected to pass a bill this week that would temporarily ease regulatory requirements related to young, high growth companies filing for an initial … Continue reading “An Opportunity for Congress to Vote for Job Creation”
Sramana Mitra Combats Infant Entrepreneur Mortality
Investor Stewart Alsop has called San Francisco Xconomist Sramana Mitra “a symbol of everything that is great about America: a geek, an entrepreneur, an immigrant, a leader.” He could have added “prolific writer”: Mitra is the author of a blog and five books, as well as three years’ worth of Forbes columns. Throughout these writings, … Continue reading “Sramana Mitra Combats Infant Entrepreneur Mortality”
Reinventing Biotech on April 3: Here’s the Agenda
We’re a little more than three weeks away from one of the biggest Seattle life sciences events of the year. Folks have been asking me about it lately, so I figure it’s time to unveil the program for “Reinventing Biotech’s Business Model” here in Seattle on April 3. This half-day conference is attracting top-notch speakers … Continue reading “Reinventing Biotech on April 3: Here’s the Agenda”
Microsoft’s Future Factory Shows Off its Latest Ideas
In Rick Rashid’s eyes, the biggest reason to have a huge corporate research division isn’t to feed a conveyer belt with fancy new products. Instead, the head of Microsoft Research says, basic research serves as more of an insurance policy, something to keep a company alive in a constantly evolving industry. “We’re really here to … Continue reading “Microsoft’s Future Factory Shows Off its Latest Ideas”
Oncothyreon Shares Tumble on Lung Cancer Study Speculation
Seattle-based Oncothyreon saw its shares plummet today amid speculation among investors that its experimental lung cancer vaccine isn’t going to work. Oncothyreon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ONTY]]) shares fell 3.14 a share, or 37 percent, to $5.27 at 11 am Eastern today. The sell-off was triggered by news that Oncothyreon’s partner, Germany-based Merck KGaA, said an independent monitoring … Continue reading “Oncothyreon Shares Tumble on Lung Cancer Study Speculation”
Five Reasons Illumina Should Fight Roche’s Insulting Low-Ball Bid
Illumina is like the Apple of the genomics business. Tools made by the San Diego company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ILMN]]) are revered by genomics researchers around the world just like millions of consumers love their iPhones and iPads. And Illumina holds its dominant position at an enviable moment in history, as we’re heading into a scientific golden … Continue reading “Five Reasons Illumina Should Fight Roche’s Insulting Low-Ball Bid”
How Zite’s News App Altered the Zeitgeist in Personalized Publishing
It’s just past noon on March 30, 2011. The entire executive team from Zite is at the Sharon Heights Starbucks in Menlo Park—the usual hangout for entrepreneurs making the venture circuit. They’re killing time between VC meetings on Sand Hill Road, and they’re a little nervous. But it’s not because of the meetings, or the … Continue reading “How Zite’s News App Altered the Zeitgeist in Personalized Publishing”
The Canary Mask: From Side Project to Orders in a Weekend
About a week ago, Jerome Healy’s idea for creating cheap, durable, reusable filter masks for developing countries was pretty much just that—an idea. He’d developed some prototypes of the masks for an industrial design project while at the University of Washington, and even took a few variations over to India to research whether people would … Continue reading “The Canary Mask: From Side Project to Orders in a Weekend”
Xconomist of the Week: Roger Perlmutter’s Parting Thoughts on Amgen
[Updated: 1:50 pm PT] Roger Perlmutter had a long run by biotech standards, a full 11 years, to put his stamp on R&D at Amgen. Some of the work he oversaw was unequivocally good (denosumab for osteoporosis and cancer), some bad (the EPO debacle), and some of the record is still a work in progress (44 … Continue reading “Xconomist of the Week: Roger Perlmutter’s Parting Thoughts on Amgen”
Seattle Times Rolling Out New Paid Mobile Apps, Hints at Paywall
The Seattle Times plans to offer premium paid Web apps for tablets and smartphones in late April, part of an emerging digital strategy that also has the family-owned newspaper hinting at a possible paywall for traditional website access. In a press release, the newspaper said the upcoming “tablet and smartphone editions” were built in the … Continue reading “Seattle Times Rolling Out New Paid Mobile Apps, Hints at Paywall”
Dendreon Adds ImClone Vets to New Management Team
[Updated: 1:40 pm 3/1] Seattle-based biotech company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DNDN]]). Johnson, who took over as Dendreon’s CEO on February 1, today installed a trio of new executives. Two of the three are new hires who previously worked with Johnson at New York-based ImClone Systems before that company was acquired for $6.5 billion by Eli Lilly (NYSE: … Continue reading “Dendreon Adds ImClone Vets to New Management Team”
New CEO Takes Flux Drive’s Magnetic Energy-Saver Out For a Spin
It’s easy to forget that Washington’s economy, for all of its prowess in software, is driven mostly by manufacturing—namely Boeing, still easily the state’s largest private employer. But there’s plenty of opportunity in things a little less grand than, say, a jetliner. Consider Flux Drive, an angel-funded company based in Sumner, WA. Founded by mechanical … Continue reading “New CEO Takes Flux Drive’s Magnetic Energy-Saver Out For a Spin”
How Big Data Is Changing Everything
There’s a radical transformation happening in information technology today, one that promises to be every bit as significant—and every bit as disruptive to existing business models—as were Web applications in the 1990s and virtualization in the first decade of the 21st century. It’s a foundational change in the way enterprises, their employees, and their customers … Continue reading “How Big Data Is Changing Everything”
SURF Incubator Open House
The new SURF Incubator, set to open this spring, offers an evening open house to tour its 15,000-square-foot incubator space, mingle, and hear about the inaugural class of startups that will be moving into the office.
Renewable Energy Policy Breakfast
The Washington Clean Technology Alliance and The Climate Trust convene a breakfast panel to discuss the financing and policy issues for renewable projects in Washington, particularly renewables like biogas that can generate carbon financing.
Washington Clean Technology Alliance Annual Meeting: Meet UW and WSU Presidents
Michael Young, the president of the University of Washington, and Elson Floyd, the president of Washington State University, will be the featured speakers at the Washington Clean Technology Association’s annual meeting on June 14th in Seattle. For more information on how to register for the event, click here.
WTIA Industry Achievement Awards
It’s one of the biggest events of the year for the Puget Sound-area technology community—the Washington Technology Industry Association‘s Industry Achievement Awards. This year’s bash, once again at the Showbox Sodo, features awards in six categories. The WTIA says this year’s awards—the 17th annual edition of the event—generated the largest number of award applications ever. On … Continue reading “WTIA Industry Achievement Awards”
Dendreon Stock Tumbles As Company Projects ‘Moderate’ Sales Growth
Dendreon is finding out just how much investors love the precision of hard facts, and how irritated they can get with the squishiness of communicating in adjectives. The Seattle-based biotech company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DNDN]]) saw its stock plummet about 21 percent today after saying in its quarterly financial update that it expects only “moderate” sales growth … Continue reading “Dendreon Stock Tumbles As Company Projects ‘Moderate’ Sales Growth”
Killing Your Startup By Listening to Customers
The art of entrepreneurship and the science of Customer Development is not just getting out of the building and listening to prospective customers. It’s understanding who to listen to and why. Five Cups of Coffee I got a call from Satish, one of my ex-students, last week. He got my attention when he said, “Following … Continue reading “Killing Your Startup By Listening to Customers”
Bruce Booth, a LifeSciVC Shining Some Much-Needed Light on Biotech
Techies who want to learn about high-tech venture capital learn quickly they must read blogs by guys like Fred Wilson and Brad Feld. They are insiders who speak with clear, consistent, and insightful voices about an otherwise opaque little corner of the investing world. Nobody has ever performed this kind of service for biotech venture … Continue reading “Bruce Booth, a LifeSciVC Shining Some Much-Needed Light on Biotech”
CrowdControl Lands $2,000,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ae92bd5b-88a0-48fe-acca-298bdde4eca6&Preview=1 Date 2/25/2012 Company Name CrowdControl Mailing Address 216 First Avenue South Seattle, WA 98104 Company Description With CrowdControl “big data” is in for a “big change”. No one can help customers work with big data/leverage big data/get the most ROI out of big data like we can – and this has … Continue reading “CrowdControl Lands $2,000,000 New Funding”
What If Your Next TV Is a Tablet?
It is a dark time for the TV rebellion. Although legions of cord-cutters have abandoned their cable subscriptions, Hollywood troops have driven the early TV-technology startups from their hidden Silicon Valley bases and pursued them across the Internet. Evading the dreaded cable and satellite companies, a group of freedom fighters led by Boxee, Netflix, and … Continue reading “What If Your Next TV Is a Tablet?”
SocEnt Weekend: Business Ideas That Can Make a Difference
When they set out to start a business, plenty of entrepreneurs hope to change some slice of the world by solving a problem, making their customers happy, and giving people jobs along the way. And that’s plenty of work on its own. But some companies, says longtime mobile entrepreneur Michael “Luni” Libes, see business as … Continue reading “SocEnt Weekend: Business Ideas That Can Make a Difference”
Z2Live Acquires Big Sandwich, Sees More Console Guys Going Mobile
If you wanted to illustrate the massive changes rippling through the video-game industry, you couldn’t do much better than Z2Live‘s acquisition of Vancouver, BC-based Big Sandwich Games. As a standalone studio, Big Sandwich was mostly focused on games for the traditional at-home consoles like the PlayStation or Xbox. In that side of the business, a … Continue reading “Z2Live Acquires Big Sandwich, Sees More Console Guys Going Mobile”
Xconomist of the Week: Rich Sheridan and the Business Value of Joy
[Corrected 2/24/12, 10:00 am. See below.] The first thing you notice upon walking into Menlo Innovations, a small open-plan office in Ann Arbor, MI, is how hard everyone is working. There is a hive-like focus and intensity, so much so that the 40-member staff seems oblivious to the presence of a stranger with a notebook and … Continue reading “Xconomist of the Week: Rich Sheridan and the Business Value of Joy”
Glympse Keeps it Simple, Racks up 2.5M Users
When building a technology product, a lot of people fall into the trap of larding it up with a boatload of features. Former Microsofties Bryan Trussel and Steve Miller, who co-founded the location-sharing app Glympse, know that impulse well. When they built their first prototype, they filled it with little tricks and widgets. It could … Continue reading “Glympse Keeps it Simple, Racks up 2.5M Users”
Seattle Genetics Gets New Commercial Boss for Early Days of Adcetris
[Update: 2/24/12, 11 am PT] Seattle Genetics is getting a new leader for the commercial side of its business, about six months after its first cancer drug hit the U.S. market. The Bothell, WA-based cancer drugmaker (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SGEN]]) said today that Chris Boerner, the former vice president of marketing, has been promoted to senior vice … Continue reading “Seattle Genetics Gets New Commercial Boss for Early Days of Adcetris”
Reinventing Biotech: Meet Corey Goodman, Kevin Starr & More April 3
When people think of innovation in biotech, it’s usually about the whiz-bang science behind new drugs. But after years of sticking to a pretty standard playbook, we’re now starting to see more creative thinking in the business models needed to attract investors who keep the industry afloat. This is one of the big questions of … Continue reading “Reinventing Biotech: Meet Corey Goodman, Kevin Starr & More April 3”
Tableau Taking More Steps Toward Possible IPO
Updated 12pm Pacific 2/23 Tableau Software is taking more steps toward a possible initial public offering of its stock, a move the data visualization company has publicly entertained for some time. The nearly 10-year-old company doesn’t seem to be in a rush, however, with its venture capital backer saying next year is the timeframe being … Continue reading “Tableau Taking More Steps Toward Possible IPO”
InDi, Lee Hood’s Vision for Spotting Cancer in Blood, Snags $10M
Biotech pioneer Leroy Hood has spent years outlining a vision of finding networks of proteins in the blood that can offer an early warning sign of cancer on the move. Now the startup that Hood and Caltech’s Jim Heath founded to pursue that idea, Seattle-based Integrated Diagnostics, has raised another $10 million to turn it … Continue reading “InDi, Lee Hood’s Vision for Spotting Cancer in Blood, Snags $10M”
UW’s Matsuoka Stays at Nest, Brain Research Center Gets New Director
Multi-talented scientist Yoky Matsuoka is making it official: She won’t return to the University of Washington, choosing instead to focus on her new job as vice president of technology for Silicon Valley “smart thermostat” startup Nest. It’s a loss for the UW computer science and engineering department, but not a huge surprise. Matsuoka—a past winner … Continue reading “UW’s Matsuoka Stays at Nest, Brain Research Center Gets New Director”
Lucky Sort Lands $500,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6b6b2871-97db-44ab-b5b8-42c2444377be&Preview=1 Date 2/22/2012 Company Name Lucky Sort Mailing Address Undisclosed Portland, OR 97201 Company Description Lucky Sort is building a Big Data visualization and navigation engine called TopicWatch for exploring emergent patterns in live text streams. TopicWatch equips analysts to explore and dissect the Big Picture by visualizing news, comments, and social … Continue reading “Lucky Sort Lands $500,000 New Funding”