Category: Seattle

How Not to Name a Startup: The Curse of the Camel Case

What’s in a tech startup name? More specifically, is there a correlation between the type of name a company has and its success? That’s a question every startup founder and investor should be interested in. Because if there is a correlation, then using a name-based strategy for picking winners would be, well, about as good … Continue reading “How Not to Name a Startup: The Curse of the Camel Case”

The Year in Seattle Biotech: Lots of Acquisitions, Few New Startups

This was a great year for Seattle biotech if you measure success through sheer number of acquisitions. But if you prefer to measure the health of an innovation community by the number of exciting new startups it hatches, then this was most certainly a down year. That’s the mixed bag of returns that I saw … Continue reading “The Year in Seattle Biotech: Lots of Acquisitions, Few New Startups”

GoChime Obtains $630,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6a53652b-e7c3-4a0b-8fec-da215de8c256&Preview=1 Date 12/22/2011 Company Name GoChime Mailing Address Undisclosed Seattle, WA 98104 Company Description GoChime is THE platform through which brands & their fans reach out to help. People get access to deals and solutions when they need them most. Website http://www.gochime.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $630,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed … Continue reading “GoChime Obtains $630,000 New Funding Round”

Seattle Angel Conference: A New Idea for Drafting New Investors

It’s one of the most nagging questions for Seattle-area technology entrepreneurs: How do you get more of the region’s tech wealth invested in local startups? Business veteran John Sechrest sees a possible answer in Oregon, where investors have created a series of events that help get newbie angels into the game. He’s hoping to replicate that … Continue reading “Seattle Angel Conference: A New Idea for Drafting New Investors”

Immigrants Fill Top Ranks of Venture-Backed Tech Startups

Immigrant entrepreneurs are playing important roles at U.S. technology startups, with immigrants serving in key management and product development positions at 37 of the top 50 venture-backed companies—or roughly three out of every four of the startups—according to a study released yesterday. “It’s clear that America gains a great deal when we’re open to talent, … Continue reading “Immigrants Fill Top Ranks of Venture-Backed Tech Startups”

The Move to Value-Based Pricing for Prescription Drugs

The standard marketing value equation taught in business school states value equals utility or benefits less costs. Because the relationship between the price of medicines and the value they deliver isn’t always clear, there are those who would argue that the established marketing value equation has not been universally applied by the pharmaceutical industry. The … Continue reading “The Move to Value-Based Pricing for Prescription Drugs”

Digital Lifeboat: Data Backup without the Data Centers

When the veteran entrepreneurs behind Digital Lifeboat settled on a location for their fledgling company, they weren’t concerned with landing one of the hot tech-startup addresses in South Lake Union or Pioneer Square. “Our offices are between the cemetery and the trailer park in Redmond,” co-founder and CEO Steve Teglovic says with a laugh. “That’s … Continue reading “Digital Lifeboat: Data Backup without the Data Centers”

Voyager Capital Aims for $125M in New Fund

Seattle-based venture firm Voyager Capital is raising a new fund pegged at up to $125 million, according to a new filing with federal regulators. The VC firm, which also has offices in Portland and Silicon Valley, finished raising its last fund in 2007 at $107 million. Notable investments from that fund included Ontela, which acquired … Continue reading “Voyager Capital Aims for $125M in New Fund”

T-Mobile to Grow with AT&T Assets, But Who’s the Next Suitor?

Now back on its own, T-Mobile stands to grow its coverage area with some assets from the breakup penalty that AT&T will pay for its failed buyout attempt. But most of the consolation prize will stay with T-Mobile’s German parent company, which has been looking for a way to exit the U.S. market, rather than … Continue reading “T-Mobile to Grow with AT&T Assets, But Who’s the Next Suitor?”

TripAdvisor Going Public and Independent; Boston Tech Scene Yawns

It’s probably the quietest Boston-area public offering of the year. But why? Maybe because it’s a spinoff from an already public company, and the deal was announced back in April. Or maybe because New England doesn’t go wild for its consumer-focused tech companies the way some other regions do. Or maybe everyone is just sick … Continue reading “TripAdvisor Going Public and Independent; Boston Tech Scene Yawns”

Bruce Montgomery’s New Startup, Cardeas Pharma, Raises $5M

Bruce Montgomery, the prominent Seattle biotech entrepreneur, has raised $5 million for his latest startup, Xconomy has learned. Cardeas Pharma has pulled in $5 million in equity financing, in the first of two planned closings, Montgomery said in an e-mail. The syndicate is being led by Novo Ventures, and includes San Diego-based Avalon Ventures, Seattle-based … Continue reading “Bruce Montgomery’s New Startup, Cardeas Pharma, Raises $5M”

Cardeas Pharma Obtains $5,000,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8e14fea4-bd41-4899-be4c-786be0d56406&Preview=1 Date 12/20/2011 Company Name Cardeas Pharma Mailing Address 2518 Eastlake Ave. E. Seattle, WA 98102 Company Description The company is a stealth mode pharmaceutical developer. Website Undisclosed Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $5,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes The company plans to use the money to run both preclinical experiments … Continue reading “Cardeas Pharma Obtains $5,000,000 New Funding Round”

What Now? Reactions, Questions After the AT&T-Mo Failure

There’s got to be plenty of mixed feelings for all those magenta-clad T-Mobile folks in Bellevue right now. News that AT&T is abandoning its mega-merger attempt to acquire the fourth-place U.S. wireless carrier raises a ton of questions about T-Mobile’s future—none of them particularly reassuring. Now that AT&T is on the hook for a $4 … Continue reading “What Now? Reactions, Questions After the AT&T-Mo Failure”

AT&T Drops T-Mobile Bid, Will Pay $4B Breakup Fee

After a brutal few months battling Obama administration officials on two fronts, AT&T has given up its blockbuster $39 billion bid to acquire Bellevue, WA-based T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom. The end of an outright merger was clearly telegraphed a week ago, when the two companies and the Justice Department postponed a federal antitrust lawsuit. … Continue reading “AT&T Drops T-Mobile Bid, Will Pay $4B Breakup Fee”

Amgen, Watson Strike $400M Deal for Biosimilar Cancer Drugs

Amgen has spent years defending itself from enemies in the generic drug business, but now the world’s largest biotech company has found a way to join forces with a major maker of copycat pharmaceuticals. Thousand Oaks, CA-based Amgen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMGN]]), which has R&D operations in Seattle, San Francisco, and Boston, said today it has agreed to … Continue reading “Amgen, Watson Strike $400M Deal for Biosimilar Cancer Drugs”

Health Care Reform Is Coming To Town

Last year about this time of year I wrote a parody of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas about the coming of healthcare IT and meaningful use. I decided to make these holiday parody songs an annual event. I figure I have years of material, as there are so many ways of ruining an otherwise joyous … Continue reading “Health Care Reform Is Coming To Town”

Amgen CEO Kevin Sharer’s Report Card: C

Kevin Sharer will not go down in history as one of biotech’s most successful, or beloved, CEOs. But how well did Sharer really perform during his decade running the industry’s biggest company? For those who missed it, Thousand Oaks, CA-based Amgen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMGN]]) said last week that Sharer, 63, will be retiring as CEO in … Continue reading “Amgen CEO Kevin Sharer’s Report Card: C”

What Can Attending a Football Game Teach Technology Companies?

Let me state this right off the top: I’m a huge New England Patriots fan. Even though I’m now based on the West Coast, I make it a point to watch every Patriots game and I attend several games each season, making the cross-country trek to cheer on my team. It was on one of … Continue reading “What Can Attending a Football Game Teach Technology Companies?”

Agilyx Obtains $25,000,000, Series C Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e1f2339b-33ca-4fe2-82b7-3a51008999af&Preview=1 Date 12/19/2011 Company Name Agilyx Mailing Address 9600 SW Nimbus Ave Beaverton, OR 97008 Company Description Agilyx is the first in the world to economically convert difficult-to-recycle waste plastics into crude oil through a patented system that is scalable, versatile, and environmentally beneficial. Website http://www.Agilyx.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount … Continue reading “Agilyx Obtains $25,000,000, Series C Financing Round”

Novel Secures $1,607,282 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f5b3a289-0503-4777-b906-be44da503300&Preview=1 Date 12/19/2011 Company Name Novel Mailing Address 8383 158th Ave NE Redmond, WA 98052 Company Description Novel Games Limited is a Hong Kong based company. Our main focus is the production of Flash games. Website http://www.novelgames.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,607,282 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were … Continue reading “Novel Secures $1,607,282 New Funding Round”

Paul Allen, AT&T-Mo, Clearwire: Seattle’s Weekly Rewind

Billionaires in space! This week started out with a big announcement from Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who is bankrolling a new company that aims to make private spaceflight more routine by launching rockets from the belly of an airplane—the biggest one ever built. Allen said it’ll probably cost him 10 times the nearly $30 million … Continue reading “Paul Allen, AT&T-Mo, Clearwire: Seattle’s Weekly Rewind”

How To Build a “Lifestyle Business” with 30M Visitors Per Month

In Silicon Valley, there is no more pejorative term than “lifestyle business.” It’s usually applied to companies that do well enough to earn their founders and employees a living—sometimes a very good living—but that will never make anyone mega-rich. Venture capital partners, who have to weed out all but the fastest-growing companies if they’re to … Continue reading “How To Build a “Lifestyle Business” with 30M Visitors Per Month”

Pirq Secures $1,950,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=5a483770-ca5b-4965-8eb0-d15c4aa4a98d&Preview=1 Date 12/16/2011 Company Name Pirq Mailing Address 811 Kirkland Ave Kirkland, WA 98033 Company Description Pirq is a dynamic new company, with a proven, sustainable business model, created to solve the problems, for both businesses and consumers, brought on by the “one-time daily deal” maze and craze. Website http://www.pirq.com Transaction Type … Continue reading “Pirq Secures $1,950,000 New Funding Round”

Pirq Adds $1.9M from Rally Capital

Kirkland, WA-based digital discounts startup Pirq has raised $1.95 million from Rally Capital, the venture firm headed by former Nextel CEO Dennis Weibling. Pirq is led by CEO James Sun, an entrepreneur best known for appearing on the NBC program “The Apprentice” with Donald Trump. Sun says the money will be used to expand Pirq’s … Continue reading “Pirq Adds $1.9M from Rally Capital”

Livemocha Loves AWS in Brazil: Speeds Go from 1999 to 2011

One Seattle-area company is more than a little happy about Amazon Web Services opening a new South American computing region: Livemocha, an online language-learning service that counts about a quarter of its more than 11 million members in Brazil alone. Livemocha runs its Web-based software on AWS, but previously, the closest region for South American … Continue reading “Livemocha Loves AWS in Brazil: Speeds Go from 1999 to 2011”

SonoSite Sold to FujiFilm for Nearly $1B

Portable ultrasound maker SonoSite is being acquired by Japan’s Fujifilm for just under $1 billion. SonoSite will remain based in Bothell, WA, under its current leadership team, the companies said in a joint announcement. The $995 million price represents a cash offer to purchase all SonoSite (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SONO]]) shares for $54 each, a 50 percent … Continue reading “SonoSite Sold to FujiFilm for Nearly $1B”

Xconomist of the Week: Stefan Savage on Computer Security

The evolution of computer security is not merely some dark mirror, passively reflecting advances in technology. While technology provides new opportunities for threats, these become true dangers only when there is a motivation to exploit them and a means to do so. Stefan Savage, writing in The New York Times, Dec. 5, 2011. By his … Continue reading “Xconomist of the Week: Stefan Savage on Computer Security”

Hutch Spinoff Presage Biosciences Shuffles Management

Seattle-based Presage Biosciences, a spinoff from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, is making some leadership changes. CEO Caitlin Cameron has resigned, and is being replaced on an interim basis by Jim Towne, an investor in the company who was briefly president of Microsoft in its early days. Nathan Caffo, Presage’s vice president of business … Continue reading “Hutch Spinoff Presage Biosciences Shuffles Management”

Amazon Web Services Opens New Region in Brazil

Amazon Web Services has opened an eighth global center to serve cloud-computing customers, expanding to South America for the first time with a new computing region in Brazil. The company says the new region, known as Sao Paulo, will improve speeds for end users in South America. On his blog, Amazon CTO Werner Vogels says … Continue reading “Amazon Web Services Opens New Region in Brazil”

Xeround Gets $9M for New Cloud Mission, at New HQ

Cloud-computing startup Xeround, which previously focused on helping telecom companies manage big databases, has raised a $9 million Series C round from its existing investors to bankroll an entirely new mission: database services on public cloud platforms, such as Amazon Web Services or Rackspace. Xeround also has a new headquarters, in Mountain View, CA. The … Continue reading “Xeround Gets $9M for New Cloud Mission, at New HQ”

Fate Therapeutics Names Biotech Vet Bill Rastetter as Chairman, Interim CEO

Fate Therapeutics has been quiet during a down time for the stem cell business, but now it’s making news by luring a big name into its inner management circle. Bill Rastetter, the CEO of Idec Pharmaceuticals during its long journey to develop the blockbuster lymphoma drug rituximab (Rituxan), has agreed to become the chairman and … Continue reading “Fate Therapeutics Names Biotech Vet Bill Rastetter as Chairman, Interim CEO”

Zillow Shows Why Microsoft Might Love the Kindle Fire: No Google Maps

From its very early days, one of the core appeals of online real-estate marketplace Zillow has been looking up your house (or your neighbor’s, or anyone else’s) on a digital map to see how much it might be worth. “For us, really more than any other app in the category, we start with a map. … Continue reading “Zillow Shows Why Microsoft Might Love the Kindle Fire: No Google Maps”

Trupanion Obtains $9,000,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d6ddb8f0-3345-4d3a-9091-0b74edb79e25&Preview=1 Date 12/14/2011 Company Name Trupanion Mailing Address P.O. Box 3306 Lynnwood, WA 98043 Company Description With eight successful years of providing pet insurance in Canada as Vetinsurance, the Trupanion team is now offering the same great service and care to pet parents in United States. Website http://www.trupanionpetinsurance.com Transaction Type Venture Equity … Continue reading “Trupanion Obtains $9,000,000 New Funding Round”

Visible Technologies Lands $1,504,976 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8d13a070-d908-447d-83db-ab562d776365&Preview=1 Date 12/14/2011 Company Name Visible Technologies Mailing Address 3535 Factoria Blvd SE Bellevue, WA 98006 Company Description Visible Technologies empowers companies to track, analyze and participate in consumer-generated media to drive their business forward. Their innovative TruCast platform is the industry’s first complete solution for social media analysis and participation. Visible … Continue reading “Visible Technologies Lands $1,504,976 New Financing Round”

RescueTime Obtains $250,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f5bc4406-73cc-4a59-a9e4-d95a70b8a41c&Preview=1 Date 12/14/2011 Company Name RescueTime Mailing Address Undisclosed Seattle, WA 98104 Company Description RescueTime is a web-based time-management tool that allows you to easily understand how you spend your time online. Website http://www.rescuetime.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $250,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes The company will use the funding … Continue reading “RescueTime Obtains $250,000 New Funding Round”

Carwoo Secures $6,000,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2809bb6c-584d-41dd-8ab6-24d0abbc5f99&Preview=1 Date 12/14/2011 Company Name Carwoo Mailing Address 3005 NE 66th Avenue Portland, OR 97213 Company Description The company has created an online car buying service. Website http://www.carwoo.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $6,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. M&A Terms Venture Investor InterWest Partners Venture … Continue reading “Carwoo Secures $6,000,000 New Funding”

Sold! Clearwire Raises $715M from Stock Sale to Bankroll New Network

Struggling wireless provider Clearwire (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CLWR]]) has raised cash to beef up its network with new, faster technology. Bellevue, WA-based Clearwire says it netted $715.5 million in stock sales Tuesday—$384.1 million in public share sales and another $331.4 million in a separate, private transaction with Sprint, its majority shareholder and customer. It’s another big step … Continue reading “Sold! Clearwire Raises $715M from Stock Sale to Bankroll New Network”

Charles Simonyi on Paul Allen’s Spaceship: I’ll Go, if the Price is Right

When Paul Allen and company discussed their vision for a new kind of private space launch on Tuesday, they made a few nods to an audience member who knows something about the subject: Former Microsoft chief software architect Charles Simonyi, the only private citizen to fly in space twice. While Allen said that he’s planning … Continue reading “Charles Simonyi on Paul Allen’s Spaceship: I’ll Go, if the Price is Right”

Paul Allen Heads Back to Space with Stratolaunch

Noted billionaire space-geek Paul Allen is pushing for the stars again. Allen, the Microsoft co-founder, announced Tuesday that he’s teaming up with aerospace guru Burt Rutan and PayPal co-founder Elon Musk to develop a new private space flight venture called Stratolaunch Systems, which plans to send private crafts into space by launching them from the … Continue reading “Paul Allen Heads Back to Space with Stratolaunch”

Cloud-Device Startup Nebula Takes Aim at Seattle Engineers

It’s not just the Silicon Valley giants of technology who are moving into the Seattle area to raid technical talent from Microsoft, Amazon, and others. These days, you’re just as likely to see some well-financed startups wooing the big-company guys with promises of changing the world. A prime example is Nebula, a cloud computing startup … Continue reading “Cloud-Device Startup Nebula Takes Aim at Seattle Engineers”

Cerevast Therapeutics Garners $6,564,658 Series C Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=dd01217d-1404-4cdd-95f3-10c25ed238c9&Preview=1 Date 12/13/2011 Company Name Cerevast Therapeutics Mailing Address 12277 134th Court NE Redmond, WA 98052 Company Description Cerevast Therapeutics, Inc. is a medical technology company with primary emphasis in the field of SonoLysis for the treatment acute ischemic stroke and other vascular disorders. Website http://www.cerevast.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount … Continue reading “Cerevast Therapeutics Garners $6,564,658 Series C Financing”

Cerevast Therapeutics Nails Down $6.6M for Ultrasound Stroke Device

[Update: 4:15 pm] Redmond, WA-based Cerevast Therapeutics has raised $6.6 million in venture capital to develop a new ultrasound technology to treat stroke patients. The company, led by Icos veteran Bradford Zakes, said today that that it raised the money from seven investors in a Series C preferred stock offering. The round could be worth … Continue reading “Cerevast Therapeutics Nails Down $6.6M for Ultrasound Stroke Device”

AT&T, T-Mobile Postpone Lawsuit to Rework Deal

AT&T’s $39 billion takeover of T-Mobile is on hold in the federal courts as the parties look for a new way to structure a deal that could get approval from regulators. The merger is currently tied to a federal antitrust lawsuit, which was postponed today. AT&T and Deutsche Telekom, the parent company of Bellevue, WA-based T-Mobile … Continue reading “AT&T, T-Mobile Postpone Lawsuit to Rework Deal”

AVI Biopharma Axes 28% of Workforce, After Missing Out on Flu Contract

AVI Biopharma has made some significant job cuts in Washington and Oregon after missing out on a potentially huge federal contract to make an RNA-based treatment against pandemic flu. The Bothell, WA-based company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AVII]]) is cutting the jobs of about 35 of its 125 employees—28 percent of the workforce—according to CEO Chris Garabedian. The … Continue reading “AVI Biopharma Axes 28% of Workforce, After Missing Out on Flu Contract”

KinectStars: Why Microsoft Drafted TechStars to Target Startups

The offices have been laid out. The applications are flowing in. And come next spring, 10 proto-companies will meet in Seattle for a three-month bootcamp focused on new uses for the Kinect, Microsoft’s breakthrough motion- and sound-sensing system. For Redmond-watchers, that may not seem like such a big deal. Microsoft already cultivates startups through its … Continue reading “KinectStars: Why Microsoft Drafted TechStars to Target Startups”

The Hepatitis C Market: Biotech’s Version of the Daytona 500

Biotech rivalries are sometimes a bit like boxing matches, where you have two lone fighters vying for the prize. But the hepatitis C market is turning into a battle royal that’s more wide open and unpredictable, with all the competitive maneuvering, surprise crashes, and comebacks you might expect from the Daytona 500. The medical advances … Continue reading “The Hepatitis C Market: Biotech’s Version of the Daytona 500”

Groove Biopharma Snags $6M to Push the Frontiers With MicroRNA Drugs

Seattle-based Groove Biopharma has nailed down another $6 million in venture capital to continue its quest to create a class of drugs that work unlike anything else on the market today. Groove, the microRNA drug developer founded at the Seattle-based Accelerator in 2008, has secured its Series B financing from the same investors who put … Continue reading “Groove Biopharma Snags $6M to Push the Frontiers With MicroRNA Drugs”

Groove Biopharma Receives $8,000,000 Series B Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2f58b2c1-ec86-4ba7-bcd8-1a4a7a0b03ab&Preview=1 Date 12/12/2011 Company Name Groove Biopharma Mailing Address 161 Eastlake Avenue E. Seattle, WA 98102 Company Description Groove Biopharma focuses on the generation of novel microRNA (miRNA) therapeutics with improved properties, including higher potency and enhanced pharmacodynamic activity. Endogenous microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in extensive regulatory networks for many target genes … Continue reading “Groove Biopharma Receives $8,000,000 Series B Financing”