Seattle-based MOD Systems, which makes technology to deliver movie and music files through self-service kiosks, has cut 35 percent of its workforce, according to a blog post from CEO Anthony Bay that was cited by TechFlash. Bay didn’t say how many employees remain. “While these are incredibly difficult decisions, they are the right ones for … Continue reading “MOD Systems Cuts 35% of Staff”
Category: Seattle
Xenon Arc Nabs $6.9M
Xenon Arc, a Redmond, WA-based company in stealth mode, has raised $6.9 million in equity financing out of a deal that could be worth as much as $15.5 million, according to a regulatory filing. The founding team includes Chad Steigers, Chris Jardine, Edward Lux, and Adeline Honnas, who previously worked together at Bellevue, WA-based ChemPoint, … Continue reading “Xenon Arc Nabs $6.9M”
Life Sciences Discovery Fund Debunks Perceptions with Omeros Deal, Shows State Can Bankroll Companies
Railroad barons from the 19th century ruined it for Washington State, the common business perception goes, by snookering states into coughing up egregious corporate welfare. It led to a popular uprising and a subsequent state Constitution that forever prohibited direct aid to corporations. That, politicians often say, is the reason the state can’t invest in … Continue reading “Life Sciences Discovery Fund Debunks Perceptions with Omeros Deal, Shows State Can Bankroll Companies”
Xenon Arc Obtains $6,949,998 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4f76c8bb-adca-4580-b776-ec500ce0cc72&Preview=1 Date 12/14/2010 Company Name Xenon Arc Mailing Address 23515 N. E. Novelty Hill Rd. Redmond, WA 98053 Company Description The company is developing online software technologies. Website Undisclosed Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $6,949,998 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. SEC regulatory filing. M&A Terms Venture … Continue reading “Xenon Arc Obtains $6,949,998 New Funding”
Judge Dismisses Paul Allen Suit
A United States District Court judge for the Western District of Washington has dismissed a broad patent infringement lawsuit filed in August by Paul Allen’s Interval Licensing against AOL, Apple, eBay, Facebook, Google, Netflix, Office Depot, OfficeMax, Staples, Yahoo, and YouTube. The website Groklaw first reported the development on December 10 and published a copy … Continue reading “Judge Dismisses Paul Allen Suit”
Microsoft Opposes Google-ITA Deal
FairSearch.org, the coalition of companies claiming that Google’s proposed acquisition of Cambridge, MA-based ITA Software would give Google an unfair advantage in the travel search arena, announced today (PDF) that it has gained several new members, including Microsoft. The Redmond, WA, giant’s Bing search engine uses ITA’s QPX flight search tool to power some of … Continue reading “Microsoft Opposes Google-ITA Deal”
NW Energy Angels Winter Showcase Highlights 7 Up-and-Coming Local Cleantech Companies
Twice a year the Northwest Energy Angels put on a showcase where the organization’s investors can talk shop, and local cleantech companies have the opportunity to update the group of angels—many of whom have backed them in the past—on their recent accomplishments. It’s a chance for the growing organization to benchmark its success in facilitating … Continue reading “NW Energy Angels Winter Showcase Highlights 7 Up-and-Coming Local Cleantech Companies”
Xconomy Forum: Computing in the Age of the $1,000 Genome
An incredible innovation story has been unfolding in genetic sequencing, which is giving rise to one of today’s grand challenges of computing. New DNA sequencing tools in development are said to have enough horsepower to decipher the complete 3-billion-letter signature of an individual’s DNA for under $1,000, and possibly with as little as 15 minutes … Continue reading “Xconomy Forum: Computing in the Age of the $1,000 Genome”
AVI Names New CEO
AVI Biopharma, the Bothell, WA-based developer of RNA-based therapies, said today it has hired Chris Garabedian as its new president and CEO. Garabedian, 44, previously was a vice president of corporate development with Summit, NJ-based Celgene (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CELG]]). AVI has had an opening for a permanent CEO since April, when Les Hudson was ousted in … Continue reading “AVI Names New CEO”
Adaptive TCR Seeks to Dominate New Industry in Profiling The Immune System
Seattle is known for spawning companies that grow up to define entirely new industries like Amazon, Starbucks, and Costco. One startup with similar aspirations for a new niche of the biotech world, Seattle-based Adaptive TCR, is making huge strides in an industry that didn’t exist a couple years ago, and would have been unfathomable then. … Continue reading “Adaptive TCR Seeks to Dominate New Industry in Profiling The Immune System”
Cutting Through the Hype, Searching for Cleantech’s Trillion-Dollar Potential
If we look at the history of any emerging industry, such as the Internet or biotech, it’s plain to see that there is always as much hype as promise. What we’re all calling “clean tech” is no different. But the promise of clean tech is compelling. We have viable energy production through solar, wind and … Continue reading “Cutting Through the Hype, Searching for Cleantech’s Trillion-Dollar Potential”
Ultrasound on an iPhone, Wireless Power Beaming, Making Hybrids Sound Like Mustangs: Highlights from the MIT Enterprise Forum
Writing about business at the microscopic level of genes and cells means that I rarely get to see compelling A/V shows of products in action. So last night was a rare treat to get an up-close look at a half dozen fun and interesting startups in Seattle, from a variety of industries, who were asked … Continue reading “Ultrasound on an iPhone, Wireless Power Beaming, Making Hybrids Sound Like Mustangs: Highlights from the MIT Enterprise Forum”
At a Confab in Phoenix, Lamenting (and Inventing) the Future of News
What do we mean by “the news”? As recently as 20 years ago, the answer was pretty clear—it was whatever the media establishment was telling us. There were well-worn models for packaging news (in printed newspapers or half-hour broadcasts) and paying for it (through advertising and, to a lesser extent, subscriptions). There were sharply defined … Continue reading “At a Confab in Phoenix, Lamenting (and Inventing) the Future of News”
JanRain Receives $1,003,793 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ee4a77e1-ad44-4328-a6f5-ec3b6f927813&Preview=1 Date 12/10/2010 Company Name JanRain Mailing Address 519 SW 3rd Ave Portland, OR 97204 Company Description JanRain has been a recognized leader and catalyst driving the OpenID market forward since 2005. While providing OpenID solutions for both consumers and businesses, our company has helped create the OpenID Foundation and the majority … Continue reading “JanRain Receives $1,003,793 New Round”
Computing in the Age of the $1,000 Genome: Xconomy to Convene Leaders of New Era in Personalized Medicine
An incredible innovation story has been unfolding the past few years in DNA sequencing, giving rise to one of today’s grand challenges of computing. New DNA sequencing tools in development are said to have enough horsepower to decipher the complete 3-billion-letter signature of an individual’s DNA for under $1,000, and possibly with as little as … Continue reading “Computing in the Age of the $1,000 Genome: Xconomy to Convene Leaders of New Era in Personalized Medicine”
High-Tech Jobs Evaporate By the Thousands in Detroit and San Francisco Bay Area; Boston, San Diego, Seattle Hold Their Own
In 2009, employment at high-tech companies either declined or stayed essentially flat in all of the cities Xconomy calls home, according to a study of the nation’s top 60 “cybercities” released this week by TechAmerica, a Washington, D.C.-based trade association for the information technology industry. Though the underwhelming job data certainly accords with most people’s … Continue reading “High-Tech Jobs Evaporate By the Thousands in Detroit and San Francisco Bay Area; Boston, San Diego, Seattle Hold Their Own”
Seattle Genetics’ Home Run, NanoString’s Diagnostics Foray, PATH’s 50-Cent Vaccine, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News
Seattle biotech was popping up on this site all over the weekend—when we don’t usually publish—so here’s the place to catch up on some significant news you may have missed. —Seattle Genetics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SGEN]]) was one of the belles of the ball at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting in Orlando, FL over the … Continue reading “Seattle Genetics’ Home Run, NanoString’s Diagnostics Foray, PATH’s 50-Cent Vaccine, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News”
Complete Genomics Zeroes in on Tricks of Cancer Genome With Sequencing Service
Cancer cells pull many dirty tricks to resist therapy and stump researchers. One is a madcap reshuffling of the 3 billion letters of DNA that make up the genome found in healthy human cells. But now that genome sequencing has become so cheap and fast, Mountain View, CA-based Complete Genomics is trying to enter a … Continue reading “Complete Genomics Zeroes in on Tricks of Cancer Genome With Sequencing Service”
Hutch Snaps Up $5.6M at Holiday Gala
The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center said it raised $5.6 million for its research, including its immunotherapy programs, at its annual Hutch Holiday Gala held Saturday night in Seattle. The fundraising tally is important because it means the center has now pulled in a total of more than $10 million in community donations at the … Continue reading “Hutch Snaps Up $5.6M at Holiday Gala”
Intellectual Ventures Files First Patent Lawsuits Against Nine Firms Including McAfee, Symantec
Bellevue, WA-based Intellectual Ventures said today it has filed three patent infringement lawsuits against a total of nine companies in three different technology sectors—software security, memory, and integrated circuits. The suits were filed in federal court in Delaware, where Intellectual Ventures is a registered entity. The amount of monetary damages the company is seeking was … Continue reading “Intellectual Ventures Files First Patent Lawsuits Against Nine Firms Including McAfee, Symantec”
DocuSign Raises $27M, Hires New Execs To Ramp Up E-Signature Business
Scribbling your John Hancock on a piece of paper is so 20th century, now that companies are coming along like Seattle-based DocuSign. DocuSign is making a significant strategic move ahead in the electronic signature business. The company said today it has raised $27 million in a Series C venture round led by Scale Venture Partners … Continue reading “DocuSign Raises $27M, Hires New Execs To Ramp Up E-Signature Business”
Watch Out Big Pharma: PATH, WHO Show that Nonprofits Can Develop New Meningitis Vaccine
Only a few giant corporations on the planet—companies like Merck, GlaxoSmithKline, and Sanofi-Aventis—are thought to have the money, the know-how, and the infrastructure to develop new vaccines that can make a really big impact on public health. So when a little nonprofit from Seattle called PATH is able to band together with some officials at … Continue reading “Watch Out Big Pharma: PATH, WHO Show that Nonprofits Can Develop New Meningitis Vaccine”
DocuSign Garners $27,000,000 Series C Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=90a88dbc-c678-4a73-b5c7-85d09eab42c7&Preview=1 Date 12/8/2010 Company Name DocuSign Mailing Address 701 Fifth Avenue Seattle, WA 98104 Company Description DocuSign was founded in 2003 with one goal: to make electronic signatures as ubiquitous and simple as email. DocuSign delivers the final step in the online customer relationship—the ability to complete a legally binding agreement over … Continue reading “DocuSign Garners $27,000,000 Series C Financing”
Seattle Genetics, Millennium’s Encore: Souped-Up Antibody Looks Better in 2nd Trial
Seattle Genetics generated buzz at a medical meeting over the weekend with its new souped-up antibody drug for Hodgkin’s disease, and today it is coming out with an encore that tops the original performance. The biotech company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SGEN]]) and its partner, Cambridge, MA-based Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company, are presenting results today from a … Continue reading “Seattle Genetics, Millennium’s Encore: Souped-Up Antibody Looks Better in 2nd Trial”
NanoString Scoops Up Breast Cancer Technology, Pushes Ahead in Diagnostics
NanoString Technologies has been talking for months about diving into the molecular diagnostic business. Now it is going full-steam ahead with a plan to use its genetic analysis instrument to help physicians better understand the severity of certain kinds of breast cancer. The Seattle-based company is announcing today that it has obtained an exclusive worldwide … Continue reading “NanoString Scoops Up Breast Cancer Technology, Pushes Ahead in Diagnostics”
Google, Amazon Play Catch-Up in Group Buying: Analysis and Reactions from BuyWithMe, Tippr
In the Wild West of group-buying and daily-deals sites, there’s about to be a major showdown. Investors have been talking about consolidation in this sector for a while now—and it looks like that’s where things are headed. But not without a few curveballs first. Last week, Google (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GOOG]]) was widely reported to be pursuing … Continue reading “Google, Amazon Play Catch-Up in Group Buying: Analysis and Reactions from BuyWithMe, Tippr”
Seattle’s HemaQuest Sets New Headquarters in San Diego
After hiring former Favrille CEO John Longenecker a few weeks ago, HemaQuest Pharmaceuticals said Friday it is relocating its headquarters to San Diego. The three-year-old startup, which is developing drugs to treat hemoglobin-associated diseases, plans to maintain an office in Seattle, but the center of gravity is now here. In its statement, HemaQuest also says … Continue reading “Seattle’s HemaQuest Sets New Headquarters in San Diego”
How to Raise Money for an Honest-to-God Innovative Biotech Startup: Highlights from Convergence
[Update: 1:15 pm Eastern] Lots of people in biotech think they are doing innovative things, even when they are really doing something pretty conservative, like testing a proven drug for some new use, or crafting some new way to deliver a therapy with more efficiency or convenience. But how, especially in today’s sluggish economy, do … Continue reading “How to Raise Money for an Honest-to-God Innovative Biotech Startup: Highlights from Convergence”
Calistoga Rolls Out More Evidence For Blood Cancer Drug, Sizes Up Pivotal Trial
Calistoga Pharmaceuticals has been stirring up buzz at medical meetings for more than a year about how its experimental treatment is shrinking tumors for patients with certain blood cancers that resist other therapies. And today the Seattle-based company is showing still more evidence that strengthens the medical case for its drug, as the tumor shrinkage … Continue reading “Calistoga Rolls Out More Evidence For Blood Cancer Drug, Sizes Up Pivotal Trial”
Seattle Genetics, Millennium Report Groundbreaking Results With Drug for Hodgkin’s
Seattle Genetics is reporting today on a batch of clinical trial results that represent a watershed moment for the company, its technology for creating “empowered antibodies” against cancer, and which could provide a new source of hope for patients with Hodgkin’s disease. The company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SGEN]]) and its partner, Cambridge, MA-based Millennium: The Takeda Oncology … Continue reading “Seattle Genetics, Millennium Report Groundbreaking Results With Drug for Hodgkin’s”
Dendreon’s Dave Urdal on Truly Novel Cancer Drugs: Science & Technology Discovery Series
Dave Urdal, the chief scientific officer of Seattle-based Dendreon, is the featured speaker at the Technology Alliance’s Science & Technology Discovery Series breakfast meeting on December 10. The Technology Alliance asks attendees to please RSVP by Noon on Monday, Dec. 6. For more information about how to register, click here.
Widevine Bought by Google as Streaming Video Heats Up
You heard it here first—the rumor, I mean. Now it’s confirmed. Seattle-based Widevine Technologies is being acquired by Google in a deal of undisclosed size. The Mountain View, CA-based search giant (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GOOG]]) said today in a blog post that “Widevine has made on demand services more efficient and secure for media companies, and ultimately … Continue reading “Widevine Bought by Google as Streaming Video Heats Up”
AppStoreHQ Appoints Blanksteen CEO
Seattle-based AppStoreHQ, a mobile software startup, said today it has named Scott Blanksteen the company’s new CEO. Blanksteen, a wireless tech executive who was previously with IceBreaker (and is a member of the Qpass mafia), succeeds co-founder Chris DeVore from Founder’s Co-op in the chief executive role. AppStoreHQ helps consumers discover mobile apps for the … Continue reading “AppStoreHQ Appoints Blanksteen CEO”
The Xconomy 2010 Gadget Gift Guide
If the people on your holiday gift lists have asked for clothes, sports equipment, beauty products, or fancy food, I can’t help you. But I do know electronics, and this week I want to point you toward a few of the products that I think are among the most enticing on the market this year. … Continue reading “The Xconomy 2010 Gadget Gift Guide”
Protect Patent Settlements for Washington’s Biotech Future
In America’s health care system, patients benefit from the balance between availability of innovative, life-saving medicines and access to lower-cost generic medicines; in fact, generic medicines account for 74 percent of prescriptions written in the U.S. This balance is based on a variety of factors. Unfortunately, one of those factors is currently under attack in … Continue reading “Protect Patent Settlements for Washington’s Biotech Future”
Google Acquires Widevine Technologies for Undisclosed Sum
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=1a20a0c8-9327-40a8-9385-26f5041dba1a&Preview=1 Date 12/3/2010 Company Name Widevine Technologies Mailing Address 901 5th Avenue Seattle, WA 98164 Company Description Widevine is the most widely deployed provider of content security solutions for IP video operators worldwide. Widevine enables telco, cable, fiber, satellite, internet and wireless service operators to generate new revenue opportunities through the secure … Continue reading “Google Acquires Widevine Technologies for Undisclosed Sum”
Washington Technology Industry Association: Industry Achievement Awards – Gaining Momentum
Come see which companies, individuals, and students the WTIA honors as the top achievers in the state’s tech space. Registration and event information is online here.
Washington Technology Industry Association: Kickoff Event 2011
This low-key evening meet-up is out to connect those in the area tech community for the new year. Event details and registration are here.
Accelerator’s East Coast Foray, Gates Foundation Bets on RSV Vaccine, UW Sues GE, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News
Two of the key players in Seattle life sciences formed interesting new connections to the Eastern time zone this week. —Accelerator, the venture-backed biotech startup nurturer in Seattle, made its first new investment in a company with East Coast roots. The company, Acylin Therapeutics, is built on the vision of a Boston biotech entrepreneur, and … Continue reading “Accelerator’s East Coast Foray, Gates Foundation Bets on RSV Vaccine, UW Sues GE, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News”
UW Sues GE, Accusing Industrial Giant of Infringing Patent on Ultrasound Technology
[Updated: 4:05 pm] The University of Washington has filed a federal lawsuit against General Electric, in which the university is accusing the industrial giant of infringing on patented technology that is helping GE make major strides in the market for next-generation diagnostic ultrasound machines. UW filed its complaint against GE (NYSE: [[ticker:GE]]) earlier this week … Continue reading “UW Sues GE, Accusing Industrial Giant of Infringing Patent on Ultrasound Technology”
BioPartnering North America: Vancouver BC
BioPartnering North America, the big annual gathering for biotech dealmakers in Vancouver, BC, is being held this year Feb. 27 to March 1. For more information on how to register, click here.
Life Science Innovation Northwest 2011: Featuring Jim Greenwood, Steve Burrill
Life Science Innovation Northwest, one of the biggest events of the year for the Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association, is being held on March 2-3 at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle. This year’s event will feature keynote presentations from Jim Greenwood, the president of the Biotechnology Industry Organization, and Steve Burrill, the biotech … Continue reading “Life Science Innovation Northwest 2011: Featuring Jim Greenwood, Steve Burrill”
P4 Medicine: Why Seattle is Leading the Charge
The Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association is organizing an event on Jan. 19 titled “P4 Medicine: Why Seattle is Leading the Charge.” The program will focus on how cancer is the best example to date of personalized/genomic medicine. As part of this global topic, the program will illustrate how application of personalized medicine influences the … Continue reading “P4 Medicine: Why Seattle is Leading the Charge”
Energy Grants go to San Diego’s On-Ramp Wireless, “Smart Grid” Companies in Washington and New England
San Diego’s On-Ramp Wireless says it is among five companies to get more than $19 million in federal grants to develop innovations that are expected to make the nation’s power grid cleaner and more efficient, reliable, resilient, and responsive. On-Ramp Wireless, which is among the companies presenting at Xconomy’s 5×5 event in Boston next Wednesday, … Continue reading “Energy Grants go to San Diego’s On-Ramp Wireless, “Smart Grid” Companies in Washington and New England”
Accelerator Reaches Out to East Coast to Find Latest Startup, Acylin Therapeutics
Accelerator, Seattle’s best known hotspot for hatching biotech startups, has found its latest idea for a new company on the East Coast. Most of Accelerator’s investments of the past have come from its West Coast network, but the youngest pup in the litter at the Seattle-based startup machine, Acylin Therapeutics, is based on the vision … Continue reading “Accelerator Reaches Out to East Coast to Find Latest Startup, Acylin Therapeutics”
Cozi Inks Deals with AOL, Intel, to Reach More Families Trying to Manage Chaos of Daily Life
Big partnerships are often a key to success for startups. Especially one that plays in a crowded consumer tech sector like Cozi, which makes software for helping busy families manage their daily schedules, chores, and activities. The Seattle-based company is announcing some new deals today, ones that could have a substantial impact on its business. … Continue reading “Cozi Inks Deals with AOL, Intel, to Reach More Families Trying to Manage Chaos of Daily Life”
MicroGreen Snags $2.7M
MicroGreen Polymers, the Arlington, WA-based developer of technology to recycle plastics into cheaper, environmentally friendly coffee cups among other things, has raised another $2.7 million out of a deal that could be worth as much as $3.75 million, according to a new filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. This materials science company, which spun … Continue reading “MicroGreen Snags $2.7M”
Biotech’s Back in Seattle: Photo Gallery
Thanks to everyone who helped make “Biotech’s Back in Seattle,” the latest production of Xconomy Seattle, such a smash hit. We sold out this puppy, packing the house at PATH last night with more than 200 people for an evening of insightful conversation and lively networking. The featured speakers were a couple of Seattle’s top … Continue reading “Biotech’s Back in Seattle: Photo Gallery”
How To Keep Academic/Big Pharma Alliances from Going off the Rails
The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston made headlines earlier this month after siding with Novartis in a brewing legal battle with a Dana-Farber spinout, Gatekeeper Pharmaceuticals. The disagreement stems from both companies claiming they are the rightful licensees of certain intellectual property (IP) created by Dana-Farber researchers. The IP, originally committed to Gatekeeper via an … Continue reading “How To Keep Academic/Big Pharma Alliances from Going off the Rails”
NanoBio Nabs $6M from Gates Foundation for Nasal Spray Vaccine
NanoBio, the Ann Arbor, MI-based developer of new vaccine formulations made to be more potent and easy to deliver, has snapped up a $6 million grant from the Seattle-based Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The money will help fund development of the first nasal spray vaccine against one of the most common bugs that causes … Continue reading “NanoBio Nabs $6M from Gates Foundation for Nasal Spray Vaccine”