Category: Seattle

Dendreon Seeks OK to Grow NJ Factory

Dendreon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DNDN]]), the Seattle-based maker of an immune-boosting therapy for prostate cancer, said today it has applied for FDA approval to essentially quadruple the capacity of its New Jersey factory. The company has FDA approval currently to make sipuleucel-T (Provenge) at 12 workstations, and the new filing is to seek permission to do the … Continue reading “Dendreon Seeks OK to Grow NJ Factory”

Complete Genomics Gets Ho-Hum Reception, Cuts IPO Price More than 30%, to $9

Complete Genomics has an audacious goal to make DNA sequencing super-fast and super-cheap, but this bold vision hasn’t ginned up the enthusiasm on Wall Street that the company was hoping for. The Mountain View, CA-based company said in a regulatory filing on Monday that it was planning to sell 6 million shares in its initial … Continue reading “Complete Genomics Gets Ho-Hum Reception, Cuts IPO Price More than 30%, to $9”

Ikaria IPO Finds So-So Demand, Company Slashes Proposed Offering 38 Percent

One of the hotly anticipated life science IPOs of the fall is getting a tepid reception during a rough week in the stock market. Ikaria, the Clinton, NJ-based biotech company with futuristic “hibernation-on-demand” technology from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, has scaled back its IPO plans this week, according to a filing today with … Continue reading “Ikaria IPO Finds So-So Demand, Company Slashes Proposed Offering 38 Percent”

Resolve Therapeutics, UW Spinoff With an Eye on Lupus, Crafts Recession-Era Business Plan

The economists all say that the recession is over, but you’d hardly know from the creative contortions entrepreneurs must perform to start a biotech company in 2010. The latest sign of the times comes from Resolve Therapeutics, an interesting new startup in Seattle. Resolve is the latest spinoff from the University of Washington, where it … Continue reading “Resolve Therapeutics, UW Spinoff With an Eye on Lupus, Crafts Recession-Era Business Plan”

PhotoRocket Lands $1,348,917 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b7e6a469-850a-45d3-9a35-3d54721edfc9&Preview=1 Date 11/10/2010 Company Name PhotoRocket Mailing Address 83 S. King St. Seattle, WA 98104 Company Description At PhotoRocket we believe that something as simple as saving a few steps will dramatically change how much and how often we all share photos. Website http://www.photorocket.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,348,917 Transaction … Continue reading “PhotoRocket Lands $1,348,917 New Funding”

Big Data, Big Problems

In the global marketplace, businesses and employees are creating and consuming more information than ever before. Gartner predicts that enterprise data in all forms will grow 650 percent over the next five years, while IDC claims the entire world’s data doubles every 18 months. According to “The Business Impact of Big Data,” a new global … Continue reading “Big Data, Big Problems”

Who Will Keep the Flame Alive for Seattle Biotech? Hear From the Players Nov. 29

Seattle’s life sciences industry has been on life support for a few years, but now, for the first time in a long time, biotech has started to show some legit signs of rebirth. Will the Northwest seize this moment, and become a stronger and more vibrant place for companies that dare to develop new drugs, … Continue reading “Who Will Keep the Flame Alive for Seattle Biotech? Hear From the Players Nov. 29”

Q&A With Doug Williams: Reflecting on ZymoGenetics, Looking Ahead at Seattle Biotech

Yesterday, we broke the news here at Xconomy that ZymoGenetics CEO Doug Williams has left the company now that it has been taken over by Bristol-Myers Squibb. He is now officially scoping out his next gig. This is news, because he’s one of the few people that national life sciences VCs would back in a … Continue reading “Q&A With Doug Williams: Reflecting on ZymoGenetics, Looking Ahead at Seattle Biotech”

Big Fish Help Out the Smaller Fish in the Life Sciences Pond

In spite of the abundance of PhDs, MDs, JDs, and MBAs in biotech and pharma, we all know that on-the-job learning is really how this industry is built. Nobody goes to university to learn how to be a great CEO or manager, and there aren’t any courses in grad school where budding researchers can learn … Continue reading “Big Fish Help Out the Smaller Fish in the Life Sciences Pond”

How the Smart Grid Opportunity Looks a Lot Like the Internet Once Did

The smart grid is a new technology arena that will change how Americans think about electricity. Entrepreneurs jumping into this sector give many reasons — to save the planet, save lives, or save the economy — but what attracts us most is the opportunity to leverage what we learned from the Internet revolution, to make … Continue reading “How the Smart Grid Opportunity Looks a Lot Like the Internet Once Did”

EMC’s Acquisition Strategy: New Insights from Data Domain (and Rumored Isilon Deal)

EMC, the data storage giant, has lots of irons in the fire when it comes to innovation. The Hopkinton, MA-based firm (NYSE: [[ticker:EMC]]) pursues an interesting mix of acquisitions and “organic” in-house research and development. A few weeks ago, I spoke with EMC’s chief technology officer, Jeff Nick, about the company’s broader innovation strategy—which can … Continue reading “EMC’s Acquisition Strategy: New Insights from Data Domain (and Rumored Isilon Deal)”

OncoGenex Hires Burris

Bothell, WA-based OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:OGXI]])  said today it has hired Michelle Burris as its executive vice president of operations and chief financial officer. Burris most recently served as senior vice president and chief operating officer at Seattle-based Trubion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:TRBN]]) until it was acquired by Emergent BioSolutions. Burris, a veteran chief financial officer … Continue reading “OncoGenex Hires Burris”

ZymoGenetics CEO Doug Williams Exits the Stage, Mulls Next Free Agent Move

Doug Williams, one of the few nationally prominent biotechnology executives in Seattle, has officially left his job as ZymoGenetics CEO now that the company’s $885 million takeover by Bristol-Myers Squibb has been completed, Xconomy has learned. Both Williams and former ZymoGenetics president Stephen Zaruby have left the company after it was acquired last month by … Continue reading “ZymoGenetics CEO Doug Williams Exits the Stage, Mulls Next Free Agent Move”

A New Playbook for Green Advertising

What does it mean for a product to be environmentally friendly? How about sustainable? Or even biodegradable? These words may appeal to a rapidly growing body of environmentally conscious customers, not to mention the major corporations and startups who appeal to them by touting their own “greenness”—but unless they convey a clear meaning and can … Continue reading “A New Playbook for Green Advertising”

Cap-and-Trade May Be Wounded, But The Low Carbon Economy is Still Healthy

Some 61 percent of California voters this week showed they still believe in the economic promise of clean energy. Californians rejected Proposition 23 that would have rolled back policies to limit greenhouse gas emissions and develop clean energy. Their vote of confidence reminds us that even though comprehensive federal climate legislation may be off the … Continue reading “Cap-and-Trade May Be Wounded, But The Low Carbon Economy is Still Healthy”

Super Angels Not So Super? Angel Investing Deals Up, But Dollars Down for 2010

For all the fuss about “super angels” and “angels are the new VCs,” a report out this week from the University of New Hampshire says angel investors are putting less money into companies overall, especially at the seed and startup stages, compared with previous years. Of course, there are many factors at play here. The … Continue reading “Super Angels Not So Super? Angel Investing Deals Up, But Dollars Down for 2010”

Steve Davis, the Techie Turned Global Healthie, Gets Dose of Reality at Close Range in India

Nobody can accuse Steve Davis of being a dilettante on global health. He’s best known for his strategic business thinking as the former CEO of Corbis, the digital image heavyweight, but even during his high-pressure 80-hour weeks, he spent time digging into global health issues on the nonprofit boards of Seattle-based PATH, and the Fred … Continue reading “Steve Davis, the Techie Turned Global Healthie, Gets Dose of Reality at Close Range in India”

Clearwire Cuts 15% of Staff

Clearwire (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CLWR]]), the Kirkland, WA-based provider of wireless Internet service, said today in its quarterly earnings report that it is cutting 15 percent of its workforce, and making a “substantial reduction” in its use of contract workers, as part of a restructuring plan. The company didn’t say how many people are actually losing their … Continue reading “Clearwire Cuts 15% of Staff”

Optimum Energy Names New CEO

Optimum Energy, the Seattle-based developer of energy efficiency technology, said today that Matthew Frey has been hired as its new president and CEO. Frey was previously president and chief operating officer of World Wide Packets. He replaces Optimum founder Nathan Rothman, who continues as chairman of the board.

Dendreon’s Plan to Meet Demand, Arch Banks on Ikaria IPO, RF Surgical Leaves No Sponge Behind, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News

There was that minor election thing this week, but the biotech community didn’t have the good sense to stand down and let the politicians hog all the spotlight. Get caught up on your headlines here. —Dendreon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DNDN]]) reported its third quarter financial results, and since this is just the second quarter of operations since … Continue reading “Dendreon’s Plan to Meet Demand, Arch Banks on Ikaria IPO, RF Surgical Leaves No Sponge Behind, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News”

Dendreon, Hemmed in By Tight Supply, Sees $350M to $400M in 2011 Sales Plan

Dendreon can’t reap the full potential of its pioneering treatment for prostate cancer until it gets more manufacturing capacity built up, but it’s making enough progress to project how this supply-constraint story will play out over the coming year. The Seattle-based biotech company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DNDN]]) said today that it generated $20.2 million in the most … Continue reading “Dendreon, Hemmed in By Tight Supply, Sees $350M to $400M in 2011 Sales Plan”

Motricity Breaks Profitability Barrier, Strikes New Mobile Deal With Indonesia’s Fastest-Growing Carrier

Bellevue, WA-based mobile Internet service provider Motricity (Nasdaq: [[ticker:MOTR]]), passed the profitability mark yesterday, when it posted its 2010 third quarter financial results. The company, which struggled through a disappointingly low $50 million IPO in June, is reporting its first ever positive net income, in the amount of $3.3 million for the three-month period that … Continue reading “Motricity Breaks Profitability Barrier, Strikes New Mobile Deal With Indonesia’s Fastest-Growing Carrier”

No Surgical Sponge Left Behind: RF Surgical Seeks to Lead Market for High-Tech Gauze

The lowly surgical sponge is one of the basic commodities all hospital operating rooms need, and which most just buy in bulk from the cheapest suppliers they can find. But to RF Surgical Systems, a Bellevue, WA-based company with an engineering center in San Diego, there’s a lot more going on in surgical sponges. The … Continue reading “No Surgical Sponge Left Behind: RF Surgical Seeks to Lead Market for High-Tech Gauze”

The Winners of the IRS Biotech Grant Program Are…

[Updated: 11:30 am, 11/4/10] The biotech industry was a key beneficiary last spring of the new health care law. $1 billion worth of Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project Credits were dangled in front of the small to mid sized biotechs that met the designated criteria. The Treasury Department and IRS were put in charge of this … Continue reading “The Winners of the IRS Biotech Grant Program Are…”

Why Rich Levandov Invested Early in Zynga, and Why It Took Off—Lessons Every Entrepreneur Should Consider

On the last day of September, San Diego-based Avalon Ventures announced a closing of $161 million for its new fund—Avalon IX—on its way toward an upper target of $200 million. Avalon is an 18-year-old firm—storied in San Diego but not fantastically well known nationally—still led by founder Kevin Kinsella. Avalon made its name in biotech. … Continue reading “Why Rich Levandov Invested Early in Zynga, and Why It Took Off—Lessons Every Entrepreneur Should Consider”

Urban Airship Nabs $5.4M from Foundry Group, Moving Full Throttle in Mobile Software Space

Anyone who says software startups don’t bring in big investment dollars anymore, clearly hasn’t been paying attention to Urban Airship. Beyond being one of a new and interesting class of startups that are part software, part mobile, the Portland, OR-based company is bringing in some major financing, including its $5.4 million Series B round led … Continue reading “Urban Airship Nabs $5.4M from Foundry Group, Moving Full Throttle in Mobile Software Space”

Dendreon’s Provenge Launch Story Enters Second Chapter, With Today’s Earnings Call

Dendreon, the Seattle-based cancer drug developer that people either love or love to hate, is going to provide a lot more grist for debate later today. The company is preparing to release its third quarter financial report today at the close of markets, and will host a webcast conference call at 4:30 pm Eastern/1:30 pm … Continue reading “Dendreon’s Provenge Launch Story Enters Second Chapter, With Today’s Earnings Call”

Urban Airship Obtains $5,400,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b6007d1a-9cf7-4bc8-83d9-b6244bcfc1a0&Preview=1 Date 11/3/2010 Company Name Urban Airship Mailing Address 1227 NW Davis St Portland, OR 97209 Company Description Urban Airship provides an easy, affordable way to deliver real-time push notifications and in-app purchase content for mobile developers. Website http://www.urbanairship.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $5,400,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Urban … Continue reading “Urban Airship Obtains $5,400,000 New Funding Round”

Why Do Biotechs Love the IRS Today? Washington Companies Just Got $34M in Grants

Biotechies around the country are feeling a lot of love toward the Internal Revenue Service today. And the impact is being felt in Washington state’s biotech cluster, as 83 local biotech companies were awarded grants worth a combined $34 million, in one of the little-known postscripts to the new healthcare reform law that was enacted … Continue reading “Why Do Biotechs Love the IRS Today? Washington Companies Just Got $34M in Grants”

Arch, Hutch Stand to Gain From “Hibernation on Demand” Through Ikaria IPO

It’s keep-your-fingers-crossed time for the people at Arch Venture Partners and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. Both organizations have millions of dollars at stake in the upcoming initial public offering of Ikaria. Ikaria, a Clinton, NJ-based company developing futuristic “hibernation-on-demand” technology with roots at the Hutch, is hoping to cash in on … Continue reading “Arch, Hutch Stand to Gain From “Hibernation on Demand” Through Ikaria IPO”

The Future of Aging in Place: WSU Innovators Series

Maureen Schmitter-Edgecombe, a professor of psychology at Washington State University, will be the featured speaker on December 8 at the The Innovators series of events organized by WSU. Schmitter-Edgecombe’s talk will focus on how to help people with age-related and other cognitive impairments to live longer and healthier lives at home. For more information on … Continue reading “The Future of Aging in Place: WSU Innovators Series”

Hutch Holiday Gala

The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center is holding its annual Hutch Holiday Gala fundraising event on December 4 at the Sheraton Seattle. This year’s celebrity emcee is actor Kevin Nealon. For more information on how to register, click here.

Montgomery Joins Alder Board

Alder Biopharmaceuticals, the Bothell, WA-based developer of antibody drugs, said today it has added veteran drug developer Bruce Montgomery to its board of directors. Montgomery, 57, most recently served as senior vice president of respiratory drugs at Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GILD]]) in Seattle. Montgomery stepped down from Gilead in August to look for new opportunities, … Continue reading “Montgomery Joins Alder Board”

Avvo Adds Doctor Ratings

Avvo, the Seattle-based company that runs an online ratings service that profiles lawyers, said today it is expanding to provide online ratings of physicians. Avvo says its service will offer consumers detailed information on a doctor’s “background, experience, and disciplinary record.” The company says it has compiled profiles on 800,000 physicians around the country. Avvo … Continue reading “Avvo Adds Doctor Ratings”

Cell Therapeutics Seeks EU Approval

Cell Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CTIC]]), the Seattle-based developer of cancer drugs, said today it has filed an application for approval to start selling a new lymphoma drug in the European Union. The company is asking the European Medicines Agency to allow sales of pixantrone (Pixuvri) to adult patients with relapsed forms of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The company’s … Continue reading “Cell Therapeutics Seeks EU Approval”

Defeat 1098 For All of Washington

[Editor’s Note: This editorial was co-authored with Patrick Ennis] In the 1990 budget compromise, Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell of Maine, pushed a 10 percent luxury tax through Congress, including that for yachts that cost more than $100,000. Enough Democrats and Republicans agreed that the Robin Hood tax, as it was called, would protect jobs … Continue reading “Defeat 1098 For All of Washington”

Wealthy Will Laugh All the Way to the Bank If I-1098 Tax Measure Fails, Says Investor and Activist Nick Hanauer

By his own estimate, Nick Hanauer makes 500 times as much money as me. So why is he angry? Easy. Because it’s looking like Initiative 1098, Washington state’s proposed income tax on people making more than $200,000 a year ($400,000 for couples), probably won’t pass at the polls tomorrow. Hanauer and Bill Gates, Sr. are … Continue reading “Wealthy Will Laugh All the Way to the Bank If I-1098 Tax Measure Fails, Says Investor and Activist Nick Hanauer”

Khosla, Gates Are Betting On EcoMotors’ Engine Technology to Transform Autos Into Cleaner, Cheaper, and More Powerful Machines

Don Runkle has a bit of news for everyone. It’s engines, not batteries, that will make automobiles cleaner and more efficient. “We unabashedly say that we have the best solution,” says Runkle, the CEO of Allen Park, MI-based engine developer EcoMotors International. The startup, which brought in $23 million in Series B financing this summer … Continue reading “Khosla, Gates Are Betting On EcoMotors’ Engine Technology to Transform Autos Into Cleaner, Cheaper, and More Powerful Machines”

How I’ve Discovered Twitter Can Be a Resource, Not a Waste of Time

“If you’re so busy, why do you spend so much time on Twitter?” So asks a member of my household who shall go unnamed here. Well, here’s why. Twitter has become my primary source for news, my point of contact with the important people in my life, and my connection to a rich and growing … Continue reading “How I’ve Discovered Twitter Can Be a Resource, Not a Waste of Time”

How the VC and Angel Investing Landscape is Being Transformed: Highlights from VC Crossfire

[Correction: 7:40 am 11/1/10] Last night was the big night—we gathered some of the biggest names in Northwest financing for Xconomy’s “VC Crossfire” event, at Amazon’s new headquarters in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood. The panelists consisted of some of the region’s top financiers and technology entrepreneurs—including Bob Nelsen of Arch Venture Partners; Tom Alberg … Continue reading “How the VC and Angel Investing Landscape is Being Transformed: Highlights from VC Crossfire”

A Silicon Valley Prescription for Boston and Other Startup Hubs: Throw More Parties

A few friends have asked me how my life has changed since I moved from Boston to San Francisco to open Xconomy’s Bay Area bureau. Do you want to know the real answer? I drink more. A lot more. In the Silicon Valley technology startup world that I cover, there’s at least one cocktail party, … Continue reading “A Silicon Valley Prescription for Boston and Other Startup Hubs: Throw More Parties”

Extreme Science: Research innovations to address national security needs

From innovations in military armor to the ambition of clean energy through fusion, shock-wave physics research is at the core of many scientific advances vital to our nation’s security. Yogendra Gupta and his colleagues in the Institute for Shock Physics at WSU are at the forefront of this research, compressing materials to extreme pressures in … Continue reading “Extreme Science: Research innovations to address national security needs”

Future Energy Conference

The Future Energy Conference offers a forum to connect those developing strategies for energy security and economic development with the businesses making it happen. Event details and registration information here.

Zino Society—Red Hot Cool Yule

Held at the stunning Ferrari and Maserati showroom in Seattle, this year’s ZINO Society’s Red Hot, Cool Yule holiday party cannot be missed. Put on a little red and race over to this fast and festive fête. Event details and registration information here.

Zino Marketplace

ZINO Marketplace: Consumer Products and Services Investment Forum will bring together thought leaders, angel investors, VCs and entrepreneurs who are committed to innovation and the advancement of consumer products and services. Hear the founders of successful global companies grown right here in Washington. ZINO Marketplace will showcase 12-18 entrepreneurial companies who are seed, early stage, … Continue reading “Zino Marketplace”

UW Building $20M Fund to Back University Startups, Following the “Utah Model”

The University of Washington is in the final stages of putting together a $20 million investment fund, backed by wealthy individuals and foundations, that will rely heavily on business students to spin more startups out of university labs, Xconomy has learned. The new source of capital, called the Husky Bridge Investment Fund, has received commitments … Continue reading “UW Building $20M Fund to Back University Startups, Following the “Utah Model””