Category: Seattle

The Missing Ingredient in Today’s Biotech: Guts

People in the biotech business (most, anyway) aren’t delusional. They know the odds are stacked against anybody who dares to develop a new drug. But even during the darkest days of recent economic history, December 2008, I heard a seasoned executive explain why the U.S. was, and would remain, the leading place in the world … Continue reading “The Missing Ingredient in Today’s Biotech: Guts”

Finsphere Adds $1.75M

Bellevue, WA-based Finsphere, which makes mobile software to help banks and other institutions fight financial fraud and identity theft, has added $1.75 million in financing from undisclosed investors. Paperwork filed with the SEC shows this latest round is in addition to a previous $1.75 million financing that Finsphere reported in March. Finsphere is led by … Continue reading “Finsphere Adds $1.75M”

Amazon and Pfizer Fuel Ever-Growing Frenzy in the Market for Pet Supplies

As much as I hate clichés, I can’t resist using them to describe what’s been going on lately in the pet-products business. So here goes: It’s raining cats and dogs online, as Amazon’s Quidsi launches Wag.com and PetFlow.com brings in a round of funding. The fur is flying on Wall Street with news that Pfizer … Continue reading “Amazon and Pfizer Fuel Ever-Growing Frenzy in the Market for Pet Supplies”

Finsphere Obtains $1,750,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9a81d417-8301-443c-8e80-9041b7169d22&Preview=1 Date 7/8/2011 Company Name Finsphere Mailing Address 505 106th Ave NE Bellevue, WA 98004 Company Description Finsphere is a well-funded, high tech, venture-backed start up founded in 2007 based in Bellevue, Washington and is currently operating in stealth mode. Its purpose is to solve a multi-billion dollar, global problem with an … Continue reading “Finsphere Obtains $1,750,000 New Funding Round”

Fate Therapeutics Trims Chemistry Staff, Bets on Biotech Drugs

Fate Therapeutics, the high-profile stem cell startup in San Diego, has made some limited job cuts in recent months and changed strategy to focus on biotech drugs—instead of conventional small molecules—to coax stem cells into becoming a useful therapies. The company, founded by leading scientists at Harvard University, Stanford University, and the University of Washington, … Continue reading “Fate Therapeutics Trims Chemistry Staff, Bets on Biotech Drugs”

Cleantech-less in Seattle

Every entrepreneur or executive would like to “do well by doing good.” That is the dream of being socially responsible and financially successful at the same time. After working in venture capital and selling Internet advertising for eight years, I decided to focus on cleantech for my next career adventure. Though I live in Seattle, … Continue reading “Cleantech-less in Seattle”

Microsoft Research New England Turns 3: Jennifer Chayes Reveals Its First Product-and Collaborations With Bing, Facebook, and Twitter

Whether you’re part of the Boston-Cambridge technology community, or just an interested observer, you’ve probably been to the Microsoft New England Research and Development Center (known affectionately as NERD) at least a few times in the past year. But do you know what Microsoft is actually working on there? I didn’t. Until last week, that … Continue reading “Microsoft Research New England Turns 3: Jennifer Chayes Reveals Its First Product-and Collaborations With Bing, Facebook, and Twitter”

SeaGen Preserves Science Culture, Dendreon Sways Medicare, NanoString’s Financing, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News

We Seattleites have to savor the incredible weather we’ve been having, so I’m keeping this week’s roundup short and sweet so as not to interfere with your outdoor time. —Seattle Genetics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SGEN]]) is one company that can’t really soak up too many rays right now, because it’s getting ready to transform from an R&D-only … Continue reading “SeaGen Preserves Science Culture, Dendreon Sways Medicare, NanoString’s Financing, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News”

Finsphere Lands $1,750,000 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b7b9b5a4-c0d6-40ea-807d-f1244b738fc5&Preview=1 Date 7/7/2011 Company Name Finsphere Mailing Address 505 106th Ave NE Bellevue, WA 98004 Company Description Finsphere is a well-funded, high tech, venture-backed start up founded in 2007 based in Bellevue, Washington and is currently operating in stealth mode. Its purpose is to solve a multi-billion dollar, global problem with an … Continue reading “Finsphere Lands $1,750,000 New Round”

Zillow Estimates $12-$14 Share Price

Online real-estate company Zillow has updated its SEC papers for a planned IPO, saying it expects shares to have an initial price of between $12 and $14. That could bring the company about $55.7 million and put its value close to $380 million, not including options for underwriters to cover over-allotments. The top end of the … Continue reading “Zillow Estimates $12-$14 Share Price”

Skype on Facebook, Live from Seattle: a Partial Answer to Google+ and a Big Debut for Emerald City Engineers

On his way to work today, Mark Zuckerberg says he ran into a neighbor who’d heard reports that Facebook was about to unveil a new video-calling feature. Get on that, he told the youthful billionaire, so I can chat with my grandkids. That’s now possible, with Facebook’s announcement that its 750 million users will be able … Continue reading “Skype on Facebook, Live from Seattle: a Partial Answer to Google+ and a Big Debut for Emerald City Engineers”

Zipline’s Moai Powering “Crimson,” the First Mobile Game Release through Bungie Aerospace

The gaming industry’s ears recently perked up with news that Bungie, the studio behind the hit Xbox franchise Halo, wanted to give mobile game developers more thrust behind their products with its new Bungie Aerospace platform. It turns out that one Seattle startup was a little more interested than most. Zipline Games, based in South … Continue reading “Zipline’s Moai Powering “Crimson,” the First Mobile Game Release through Bungie Aerospace”

Amazon Unit Quidsi Expands From Diapers and Soap to Dogs and Cats, With New Site Wag.Com

Today Jersey City, NJ-based e-commerce provider Quidsi—which was bought by Amazon in November for $500 million—is launching Wag.com, an online warehouse that will offer more than 10,000 products for dogs, cats, fish, birds, and just about every other critter that families welcome into their homes. The site will operate independently of Amazon, similar to Quidsi’s … Continue reading “Amazon Unit Quidsi Expands From Diapers and Soap to Dogs and Cats, With New Site Wag.Com”

Iota, led T-Mobile Vets, Seeks a Simpler Way to Navigate the ‘Internet of Things’

With big bets by the titans of technology and consumer finance, 2011 is becoming the year that American business got serious about jumpstarting the “Internet of things“—a broad web of digitally enhanced locations that consumers can navigate the same way they now use smartcards to pay their bus fare or open security doors at work. … Continue reading “Iota, led T-Mobile Vets, Seeks a Simpler Way to Navigate the ‘Internet of Things’”

I Love Entrepreneurs, But Not as My Science Teacher

“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.” It may be just a bumper sticker aphorism, but lately it’s got me thinking. Peter Thiel, early Facebook investor and Paypal cofounder, announced recently that he’s offering $100,000 to 24 young people to drop out of school and pursue an entrepreneurial idea in Silicon Valley. Thiel says … Continue reading “I Love Entrepreneurs, But Not as My Science Teacher”

Zuckerberg Promises “Something Awesome,” Likester Parses Facebook Data, RevenueLoan Recalibrates, & More in Seattle-Area Tech News

How does one of the world’s hottest web properties keep up with insane user growth, continue adding features, and still keep the whole thing held together? To hear the head honchos of Facebook tell it, the answer isn’t to just vacuum up all the engineers you can find. Instead, founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and … Continue reading “Zuckerberg Promises “Something Awesome,” Likester Parses Facebook Data, RevenueLoan Recalibrates, & More in Seattle-Area Tech News”

Entrepreneurial Walk of Fame Looking Real-September 16 Launch Targeted

It’s an idea people love the instant they hear it: movies stars have their Walk of Fame out in Hollywood, so entrepreneurs should have one, too—and what better place than right here in Kendall Square, the most fertile, concentrated ground for entrepreneurship in the world? Last August, Xconomy was first to report on the idea … Continue reading “Entrepreneurial Walk of Fame Looking Real-September 16 Launch Targeted”

Seattle Genetics, On the Verge of Going Commercial, Seeks to Keep Its Scientific Soul

Just glance at the name, Seattle Genetics, and you get the drift this is a science-based company. But Seattle Genetics is morphing into something bigger and more valuable, which creates a whole new challenge: How do you maintain an inspired scientific culture from the early days, while living up to the cold market reality to … Continue reading “Seattle Genetics, On the Verge of Going Commercial, Seeks to Keep Its Scientific Soul”

PayScale Garners $7,000,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a09a6001-1256-4d99-8022-999e34c3daa8&Preview=1 Date 7/5/2011 Company Name PayScale Mailing Address 315 5th Avenue South Seattle, WA 98104 Company Description PayScale is a market leader in online compensation and benefit information, providing access to accurate compensation data for both employees and employers. Website http://www.payscale.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $7,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds … Continue reading “PayScale Garners $7,000,000 New Funding”

TechFlash Ping Pong Tournament

The Seattle online tech news outlet’s third annual summer BBQ and ping-pong tournament includes guests from around the Seattle scene, including Akvelon CEO Sergei Dreizin, Whitepages sales VP John Ferraro and Silicon Valley Bank’s Minh Le. Prices vary, group discounts available. More details at the website.

Seattle Interactive Conference

A two-day event aimed at drawing hundreds of people from around the country to Seattle to talk aboiut technology, creativity, and emerging trends in one of the world’s most innovative cities. Anticipated speakers include Huffington Post chief technology officer Paul Berry and SEOmoz co-founder and CEO Rand Fishkin. More details at seattleinteractive.com.

Three E-Books That Are Making the iPad Sing, Just in Time for Summer Reading Season

Technology changes quickly, and sometimes, so does my own mind. In January, I wrote a dismissive column about two e-book titles tailored for the Apple iPad, Alice for the iPad and Why the Net Matters. My main beef was that the apps, which had been lauded by the New York Times as “superbooks,” contained more … Continue reading “Three E-Books That Are Making the iPad Sing, Just in Time for Summer Reading Season”

RevenueLoan is now Lighter Capital

RevenueLoan, an alternative financing service for entrepreneurs, is changing its name and broadening its focus. Founder and CEO Andy Sack writes about the name change and hints at the larger implications in this blog post, which says the Seattle-based startup’s team has “realized there’s a lot more opportunity to disrupt the small business growth capital … Continue reading “RevenueLoan is now Lighter Capital”

NanoString Adds $2.5M Financing

NanoString Technologies, the Seattle-based maker of genetic analysis instruments, has collected $2.5 million in new financing, according to a regulatory filing. NanoString’s financing, which could be worth as much as $14 million over time, comes in the form of debt that be converted later into equity holdings, as well as warrants to buy shares in … Continue reading “NanoString Adds $2.5M Financing”

Dendreon, After Yearlong Inquiry, Sways Medicare to Pay for $93,000 Prostate Cancer Drug

Dendreon is no stranger to controversy, but the story today is about minimizing the debate about when taxpayers ought to pay for its high-priced prostate cancer drug. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said today it has made a final decision to reimburse healthcare providers in the U.S. who prescribe sipuleucel-T (Provenge). The Medicare … Continue reading “Dendreon, After Yearlong Inquiry, Sways Medicare to Pay for $93,000 Prostate Cancer Drug”

BeyondTrust Buys Security Technology from Likewise Software

Carlsbad, CA-based BeyondTrust said today it has acquired software from Likewise Software of Bellevue, WA, that helps businesses bridge Linux, Unix, and Mac environments to Microsoft Active Directory. Financial terms of the deal for Likewise Open and Likewise Enterprise were not disclosed. Likewise, an open source company that provides a platform for identity, security, and … Continue reading “BeyondTrust Buys Security Technology from Likewise Software”

Casual Connect

Casual Connect, the big annual conference for the casual gaming industry, will be held this year in Seattle from July 19 through 21. Actor LeVar Burton will be one of the featured speakers. For more information, click here.

16th Annual WTIA Golf Open

This scramble golf tournament is a fun opportunity to make your way Around the World in 18 Holes while networking and promoting your business. The event is an exclusive tournament that brings together executives from Washington State’s leading technology and associate firms. Each sponsored hole features a unique country theme that always makes for an … Continue reading “16th Annual WTIA Golf Open”

Innovation Showcase Presented by Technology Alliance

The Innovation Showcase, a program of the Technology Alliance, helps bridge the gap between research and commercialization by highlighting the most promising discoveries and new technologies ready for commercialization in Washington, and promotes the networking and idea sharing that turn research into results. For more information on how to register, click here.

This Drug Didn’t Work for Me. May I Have My $88,000 Back, Please?

If you bought a new toaster, carried it home, plugged it in, and it didn’t work, what would you do? Suppose you purchased a pineapple at the grocery store, sliced it open, and found it was inedible. In both cases you’d seek the same remedy: you’d return the item and ask for your money back. … Continue reading “This Drug Didn’t Work for Me. May I Have My $88,000 Back, Please?”

Gates Bets on Computer Drug Discovery, Tachi Yamada Joins Frazier, Dendreon’s LA OK, & More in Seattle-Area Life Sciences News

This week we had some global health news, some politics, and some personnel moves to keep things humming here on the local biotech desk as head into summer. —Bill Gates is spending most of his fortune on tackling the health woes of the world’s poorest people, but every once in a while he invests in … Continue reading “Gates Bets on Computer Drug Discovery, Tachi Yamada Joins Frazier, Dendreon’s LA OK, & More in Seattle-Area Life Sciences News”

Zuckerberg, Schroepfer: Facebook’s Crazy Growth Means Balancing Small-Team Culture While Making Sure Things Don’t Fall Apart

As it marches toward 1 billion users, Facebook’s leaders are keenly focused on a defining tug-of-war: Making sure the company has enough hands working on critical projects without getting too big too fast and diluting the talent pool. That’s one of my key takeaways from tonight’s Seattle appearance by founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and … Continue reading “Zuckerberg, Schroepfer: Facebook’s Crazy Growth Means Balancing Small-Team Culture While Making Sure Things Don’t Fall Apart”

NanoString Technologies Lands $2,500,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3f155443-9a67-4b1a-9e5c-6ceec4fcfc07&Preview=1 Date 6/30/2011 Company Name NanoString Technologies Mailing Address 530 Fairview Ave N Seattle, WA 98109 Company Description NanoString Technologies is developing a patent pending platform for single molecule identification and digital quantification. The NanoString system uniquely barcodes individual target molecules, scans them, and delivers a literal inventory of target molecules in … Continue reading “NanoString Technologies Lands $2,500,000 New Financing”

Dendreon Gets FDA Nod for New LA Cancer Drug Factory

Seattle-based Dendreon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DNDN]]) said today that it has won clearance from the FDA to start manufacturing its immune-boosting drug for prostate cancer at a new factory in the Los Angeles area. The manufacturing plant OK, which was widely expected by analysts, means that Dendreon now has its first new location to produce its treatment … Continue reading “Dendreon Gets FDA Nod for New LA Cancer Drug Factory”

Likester Looks to Ride its “Popularity Engine” from Reality TV to Political Campaigns—Maybe Even the Next Big Thing in Online Shopping

Could a startup best known for predicting the winner of “American Idol” be poised to capitalize on the next wave of e-commerce? When you’re talking about the ever-expanding world of Facebook—and the mountains of data it churns out—that kind of evolution starts to sound a lot less crazy. At least, that’s the impression you might … Continue reading “Likester Looks to Ride its “Popularity Engine” from Reality TV to Political Campaigns—Maybe Even the Next Big Thing in Online Shopping”

The Clymb Obtains $2,000,000 Series A Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ff75aa32-9b01-486b-ad9b-a379f85d47a8&Preview=1 Date 6/29/2011 Company Name The Clymb Mailing Address 1104 NW 15th Avenue 4th Floor Portland, OR 97209 Company Description For those who find their passion in the outdoors, The Clymb inspires human-powered adventure by delivering member-exclusive 72-hour sales on premium brands and experiences, hand-picked by our team of fellow enthusiasts and … Continue reading “The Clymb Obtains $2,000,000 Series A Funding”

Mark Zuckerberg Heading North for Sold-Out Developer Q&A at Facebook Seattle Office

If this counts as a recruiting stunt, it’s the best one yet. Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg is heading north for a Wednesday visit to the social networking behemoth’s Seattle office, its first outside of California. Word comes from Seattle office lead Ari Steinberg, who says in an e-mail to Seattle-area techies that Zuckerberg … Continue reading “Mark Zuckerberg Heading North for Sold-Out Developer Q&A at Facebook Seattle Office”

Zapd Attracts $3.5M

Zapd, a service that lets you design a webpage from your smartphone, has attracted a nearly $3.5 million Series B round for parent company PressPlane. The investment was led by Seattle’s Madrona Venture Group and includes RealNetworks founder Rob Glaser, who is joining the company’s board. PressPlane previously rolled out Inkd, an online marketplace for graphic … Continue reading “Zapd Attracts $3.5M”

PopCap on the Block, Cloud Deals Aplenty, VC Anxiety, & More in the Seattle-Area Tech Roundup

PopCap Games is an undeniable Seattle success story. The company, started by three twenty-somethings in the aftermath of the dot-com bubble, has evolved from a freemium version of “Bejeweled” into an international, multi-platform publisher with $100 million in revenue and 400 employees. This year, with the casual games industry reaching mass-market investment potential, PopCap announced … Continue reading “PopCap on the Block, Cloud Deals Aplenty, VC Anxiety, & More in the Seattle-Area Tech Roundup”

Nimbus, Seeded by Bill Gates, Raises $24 Million For Computer-Aided Drug Discovery

Nimbus Discovery burst out of stealth mode in March with seed funding from none other than Microsoft chairman Bill Gates. Now Nimbus, a Cambridge, MA-based company that specializes in computer-aided drug discovery, is chalking up a second impressive milestone: It has raised a Series A funding round of $24 million, with money from Gates and … Continue reading “Nimbus, Seeded by Bill Gates, Raises $24 Million For Computer-Aided Drug Discovery”

Inkd Receives $3,500,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=5e33de3e-2042-4226-8374-793fdd266d2a&Preview=1 Date 6/28/2011 Company Name Inkd Mailing Address 911 Western Ave Seattle, WA 98104 Company Description We are an experienced team, working hard to create the world’s first online marketplace for cutting edge print designs. This marketplace is targeted at the business sector. We know we can’t do this without great designers, … Continue reading “Inkd Receives $3,500,000 New Funding Round”

Betting That Biotech Will Bring the FDA to Heel? Don’t Count On It

When Minnesota Democrat Al Franken and Massachusetts Republican Scott Brown line up on the same side of an issue, my first guess would usually be that it’s to vote on some meaningless resolution in favor of apple pie. Or, like now, it could be a sign that a controversial, potentially transformative piece of legislation is … Continue reading “Betting That Biotech Will Bring the FDA to Heel? Don’t Count On It”

Tachi Yamada, Former Gates Foundation Leader, Joins Frazier for New VC Gig

Tachi Yamada ran what you could call the world’s largest nonprofit venture fund for high-risk, high-reward global health ideas the past five years. Now he’s going to apply that same feel for risk and reward in the traditional venture capital business. Yamada, 66, the former president of global health at the Bill & Melinda Gates … Continue reading “Tachi Yamada, Former Gates Foundation Leader, Joins Frazier for New VC Gig”

Atossa Genetics Secures $6,600,000 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6a46139e-6737-4dbc-afe6-54a06598961e&Preview=1 Date 6/27/2011 Company Name Atossa Genetics Mailing Address 4105 E Madison St Seattle, WA 98112 Company Description We are a healthcare company focused on the development and marketing of novel cellular and molecular diagnostic risk assessment products for breast cancer. Website http://www.atossagenetics.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $6,600,000 Transaction Round … Continue reading “Atossa Genetics Secures $6,600,000 New Round”

PopCap’s Big Moment: Acquisition or IPO, with Pitfalls and Promise Either Way

Whether it forges ahead with previous hopes for an IPO, or jumps at an acquisition, it’s clear that Seattle-based PopCap Games is unlikely to leave 2011 without being transformed. The question is, which outcome is better for PopCap? Just a few days ago, the storyline seemed pretty clear. Profitable for years and with few investors … Continue reading “PopCap’s Big Moment: Acquisition or IPO, with Pitfalls and Promise Either Way”

Merck’s Julie Gerberding, Former CDC Director, on the Future of Vaccines

Not many pharmaceutical executives can say with a straight face that if they are successful, they will really help millions of people live significantly longer and healthier lives around the world. Julie Gerberding, the former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has been in one of those rare positions for about … Continue reading “Merck’s Julie Gerberding, Former CDC Director, on the Future of Vaccines”