Now I say this for sure, I’m not going to drop dead from a heart attack anytime soon. Sure, I’ve seen the doctor before and had all the usual heart disease tests done—cholesterol counts, measurements of fat in the blood (triglycerides), blood pressure, the old-fashioned family history. But now I got some unequivocal signs on … Continue reading “SonoSite’s New Push: Ultrasound for an Up-Close Look at Heart Attack Risk”
Category: Seattle
Biotech on a Shoestring? There’s a Better Way
A recent Xconomy article “Biotech on a Shoestring” reflects an industry landscape change where, “the era of free-spending is supposedly out, and austerity is the watchword.” An emphasis on a heightened form of frugality can certainly save dollars but can also create uncertainty and anxiety amongst the rank and file. The inevitable next question arises … Continue reading “Biotech on a Shoestring? There’s a Better Way”
Immune Design Obtains $32,000,000 Series B Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7d19e4b4-e9e2-4896-ba98-75974fc03e04&Preview=1 Date 7/26/2010 Company Name Immune Design Mailing Address 1124 Columbia Street Seattle, WA 98104 Company Description One of the greatest impacts on human health can be achieved by regulating the activity of the immune system. Recent advances in the field of molecular immunology have created new ways to treat infectious disease, … Continue reading “Immune Design Obtains $32,000,000 Series B Funding Round”
Report: Daptiv, Maker of Project Management Software, Sold to Private Equity Firm
[Updated and corrected: 12:53 pm Pacific] Seattle-based Daptiv has struck a deal to sell its assets to a private equity firm, according to a report this morning in TechFlash. The sale to Laguna Hills, CA-based Parallax Capital Partners is worth $12.6 million, for a company that raised $30 million in venture capital in its 13-year … Continue reading “Report: Daptiv, Maker of Project Management Software, Sold to Private Equity Firm”
Casual Connect’s Main Theme in 2010: The Intersection of Casual and Social Gaming is a Game Changer
Two years ago our very own tech editor, Greg Huang, found himself questioning what exactly “casual” gaming was. That was before he attended his first Casual Connect, a three-day conference that draws over 3,000 casual gaming professionals to Seattle very year. Back then the big news was casual gaming’s breakout from “core” gaming, the bigger … Continue reading “Casual Connect’s Main Theme in 2010: The Intersection of Casual and Social Gaming is a Game Changer”
Flipboard, Off to a Shaky Start, Could Still Grow Into One of Tablet Computing’s Killer Apps
[Updated, see page 2] Say a reviewer goes to a performance of the latest Broadway extravaganza, and the elaborate stage machinery breaks down before the show even starts, forcing everyone to go home. This actually happened to me once, at a showing of Sunset Boulevard in New York. It probably wouldn’t be fair for the … Continue reading “Flipboard, Off to a Shaky Start, Could Still Grow Into One of Tablet Computing’s Killer Apps”
Smart Spending on Energy Efficiency is the Key to Creating Construction Jobs
As Congress weighs legislation to address persistent concerns about high unemployment, the construction sector in particular demands urgent attention. With investment in new homes and commercial buildings stalled at historically low levels, the unemployment rate for skilled construction workers is now more than twice the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 1.9 … Continue reading “Smart Spending on Energy Efficiency is the Key to Creating Construction Jobs”
RPI Raises $5M from Huntington Capital, Carves Out Photo Printing Niche in Digital Age
Here’s a company that you might not think would make the pages of Xconomy. But it’s made it, baby. RPI, based in Tukwila, WA, south of Seattle, prints photo books and other custom-designed products like greeting cards, invitations, calendars, notebooks, and posters. That’s right, it actually produces physical stuff for customers. And today, RPI announced … Continue reading “RPI Raises $5M from Huntington Capital, Carves Out Photo Printing Niche in Digital Age”
Northwest Energy Angels Summer Showcase Draws 11 Startups Determined to Make a Greener World
Last week the Northwest Energy Angels—a group of over 45 private investors who have banded together to invest exclusively in cleantech and energy companies located here in the Pacific Northwest—held its annual Summer Showcase at Tesla Motors’ South Lake Union showroom. Founded by Seattle entrepreneur Martin Tobias and state lawmaker Jeff Morris in 2006, the … Continue reading “Northwest Energy Angels Summer Showcase Draws 11 Startups Determined to Make a Greener World”
Integrated Diagnostics, Leroy Hood’s Latest Startup, Pockets $10M After Hitting Early Goals
Integrated Diagnostics has done what it told its investors it would do, at least in its early days. The Seattle-based developer of predictive diagnostic tests has secured a $10 million financing, which represents the second installment of a three-part, $30 million Series A venture deal announced last October. As part of the deal, a newly … Continue reading “Integrated Diagnostics, Leroy Hood’s Latest Startup, Pockets $10M After Hitting Early Goals”
Tekmira and AVI Win Ebola Deals, Mirador’s Idea to Prevent Hospital Errors, Tom Ranken’s New Mission, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News
The Ebola virus made a big appearance on the Northwest biotech scene this week, but it wasn’t nearly as ominous as that sounds. —Tekmira Pharmaceuticals, the Vancouver, BC-based developer of drugs that silence specific stretches of RNA, said it has nailed down a U.S. defense contract that could be worth as much as $140 million over … Continue reading “Tekmira and AVI Win Ebola Deals, Mirador’s Idea to Prevent Hospital Errors, Tom Ranken’s New Mission, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News”
MDRNA Does Reverse Stock Split
MDRNA (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MRNA]]), the Bothell, WA-based developer of RNA interference drugs, said today in a regulatory filing that it has executed a reverse stock split, in which existing shareholders will trade in four shares and get one back in return. The company’s board authorized the move at the 2009 annual meeting, saying it should be … Continue reading “MDRNA Does Reverse Stock Split”
SynapticMash Acquired by Promethean World
Seattle-based educational software and management company SynapticMash is being acquired by UK-based Promethean World Plc for $10 million cash. The cloud-based formative education assessment software company, founded in 2007, enables educators to evaluate student performance throughout the learning process, rather than by formal examinations at the end of a term, and helps teachers modify lesson … Continue reading “SynapticMash Acquired by Promethean World”
Solexant to Build Solar Facility in Oregon
San Jose, CA-based ultrathin-film PV developer Solexant said Tuesday that it has chosen to build its first commercial-scale nanocrystal manufacturing facility in Gresham, OR. The 100MW 100,000 to 150,000-square-foot plant will be the largest nanotechnology manufacturing facility in the world and the state’s first thin film solar manufacturing space. Solexant said it plans to receive … Continue reading “Solexant to Build Solar Facility in Oregon”
Biotech on a Shoestring: How Companies Are Pinching Pennies in the “New Reality”
Just in case startups thought they were insulated from the Wall Street implosion of September 2008, Sequoia Capital let there be no doubt that the ripple effect was being felt. Sequoia famously held an emergency meeting with its portfolio companies in October 2008, complete with a mock tombstone with the message “RIP: Good Times.” The … Continue reading “Biotech on a Shoestring: How Companies Are Pinching Pennies in the “New Reality””
Jive Software Nabs $30M in Round From Kleiner Perkins, Sequoia Capital
Jive Software, the Palo Alto, CA-based software company started in Portland, OR, has received $30 million in Series C financing led by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. This latest shot of cash, part of which comes from Sequoia Capital, means the company has raised more than $57 million in the last three years. Sequoia had … Continue reading “Jive Software Nabs $30M in Round From Kleiner Perkins, Sequoia Capital”
Help Increase Transparency in Private Company Executive Compensation
A decade ago, investors and chief executive officers were largely flying blind when it came to compensation in early-stage, privately held companies. They had little more than anecdotal information and their gut to judge how much it would take to land a new head of sales or whether it was worthwhile to retain a chief … Continue reading “Help Increase Transparency in Private Company Executive Compensation”
Gist Garners $4,000,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ad95dbdb-ec7f-45ad-b141-45503ad3a7ca&Preview=1 Date 7/21/2010 Company Name Gist Mailing Address 419 Occidental Ave South Seattle, WA 98104 Company Description We are focused on delivering real user value and rapidly iterating based on customer input. If you are interested in the team, please visit our jobs page to see what we are looking for. Website … Continue reading “Gist Garners $4,000,000 New Funding”
Jive Software Obtains $30,000,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=51e46b7d-14de-4d7f-9477-df12e2edbffe&Preview=1 Date 7/21/2010 Company Name Jive Software Mailing Address 915 SW Stark St. Portland, OR 97205 Company Description We develop award-winning collaboration software that improves a company’s productivity through open collaboration among employees, partners and customers. Website http://www.jivesoftware.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $30,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes The capital … Continue reading “Jive Software Obtains $30,000,000 New Funding Round”
Secrets of NIH Small Business Grant Applications: WBBA Event
Gregory Milman, Ph.D., Director of the Office for Innovation and Special Programs in the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, will lead an event on Aug. 3 in Seattle, offering advice on pursuing NIH grants for small businesses. This event is being organized by the Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association. For more information on … Continue reading “Secrets of NIH Small Business Grant Applications: WBBA Event”
Mirador Biomedical Seeks to Prevent Hospital Errors with Simple Digital Sensor
Justin Hulvershorn learned in medical school about one of the everyday procedures done in hospitals, when a patient has a catheter inserted into a central vein to deliver fluids or drugs. In one memorable moment from about 10 years ago, the medical professional missed the vein and hit one of the biggest arteries that carries … Continue reading “Mirador Biomedical Seeks to Prevent Hospital Errors with Simple Digital Sensor”
Paul Allen Vows to Donate Majority of Estate, Tom Alberg Heads to D.C., Seattle Startup Sectors Grow, and Other Seattle-Area News
After last week’s resurgence of activity surrounding Seattle-area technology companies, I have to say I’m somewhat surprised by how few deals were made this past week. But just because there weren’t very many straight deals over the last few days, doesn’t mean there weren’t any big news stories—or big dollars—being tossed around the local tech … Continue reading “Paul Allen Vows to Donate Majority of Estate, Tom Alberg Heads to D.C., Seattle Startup Sectors Grow, and Other Seattle-Area News”
“I Got a Guy”
A friend of mine likes to make fun of me because I often say: “I got a guy.” You want to find the healthcare plan to fit your needs? I got a guy. Need your apartment cleaned? I got a guy. Need a social media maven with a joint drama and business degree from Yale? … Continue reading ““I Got a Guy””
Infoflows Wins $20M in Corbis Case
[Updated: 1:07 pm] Sammamish, WA-based tech startup Infoflows has been awarded over $20 million in damages in an intellectual property dispute with Seattle-based photo library and licensing company Corbis Corporation. Infoflows, started by a group of Microsoft employees in 2004, develops software to track digital content online. The company entered into a multimillion-dollar development agreement … Continue reading “Infoflows Wins $20M in Corbis Case”
Serious Gaming: Looking Ahead to Casual Connect
As a newly recruited tech writer here at Xconomy Seattle, I feel I have to be straight with you and reveal a potentially career-threatening secret: I have never been to a gaming conference, “casual,” “core,” or otherwise. Now I know what you’re thinking—how could that be? Well, I’ll tell you, I’m not quite sure. I’ve … Continue reading “Serious Gaming: Looking Ahead to Casual Connect”
Tom Ranken’s Mission: Knit Together Northwest’s First Real Cleantech Trade Association
Tom Ranken has been feeling a bit of déjà vu lately. The feeling has washed over Ranken in the past month, since he was hired to be the first full-time CEO of the Washington Clean Technology Alliance. His job is essentially to turn a fledgling, hyped-up, loosely-defined industry into a more clearly defined, potent force … Continue reading “Tom Ranken’s Mission: Knit Together Northwest’s First Real Cleantech Trade Association”
Puppet Labs Nabs $5M Round Led By Kleiner Perkins, Upgrades Software Product
Portland, OR-based data center automation software developer Puppet Labs, formerly known as Reductive Labs, has raised $5 million in Series B venture financing led by Menlo Park, CA-based firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. The open-source startup, founded in 2003, helps companies automate the configuration and management of computers and servers through their flagship product—and … Continue reading “Puppet Labs Nabs $5M Round Led By Kleiner Perkins, Upgrades Software Product”
Venture Surveys Show Nationwide Increase, More or Less, in Second-Quarter Investments
How would you prefer your venture capital survey data this morning? Depending on the source, we can serve it up lukewarm, hot, or scalding. All three measures show that venture funding rose during the second quarter; it’s just a matter of degree: —CB Insights, a startup financial services firm based in New York, reports that … Continue reading “Venture Surveys Show Nationwide Increase, More or Less, in Second-Quarter Investments”
Puppet Labs Receives $5,000,000 Series B Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4556fde8-b0d9-4e5a-811c-490d68dfeb68&Preview=1 Date 7/19/2010 Company Name Puppet Labs Mailing Address 222 NW. Davis St. Portland, OR 97209 Company Description Puppet Labs is the provider of Puppet, an open source platform that automates configuration management and provisioning. Website http://www.puppetlabs.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $5,000,000 Transaction Round Series B Proceeds Purposes Puppet Labs … Continue reading “Puppet Labs Receives $5,000,000 Series B Funding”
Lessons Learned About the Outlook for New Obesity Drug Approval
Yesterday’s FDA advisory committee meeting on Vivus’ weight loss pill proved to us, once again, how incredibly difficult it is to successfully develop and register new drugs for obesity. Mountain View, CA-based Vivus had a solid program supporting their drug—demonstrating that their combination product of phentermine and topirimate (Qnexa) is very effective and has a … Continue reading “Lessons Learned About the Outlook for New Obesity Drug Approval”
TechStars Set to Open in Seattle: A Photo Tour of the New Space (and Bar)
It’s a shame I’m moving away from this neighborhood. South Lake Union in Seattle, I mean. Because just three blocks away from my soon-to-be-former apartment, the next big startup experiment is about to begin. TechStars, the seed-stage investment fund and mentorship program started in Boulder, CO, and now in Boston, is about to open in … Continue reading “TechStars Set to Open in Seattle: A Photo Tour of the New Space (and Bar)”
AVI Biopharma Wins Big Ebola Contract Worth up to $291M
The Northwest might just be an emerging cluster for Ebola. Research, anyway. Bothell, WA-based AVI Biopharma (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AVII]]) said today it has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Department of Defense to develop treatments for the deadly Ebola and Marburg viruses, in case they were ever used as bioterrorism agents. AVI stands to receive … Continue reading “AVI Biopharma Wins Big Ebola Contract Worth up to $291M”
Seattle’s Deal-A-Day Sites, DealPop and Tippr, Challenge Groupon and LivingSocial
There is no arguing that the Internet has made the world smaller. Because of the Internet we can now share information instantly—and virally—from Seattle to Cairo to Bangladesh. One somewhat counterintuitive byproduct of this global information age, at least for me, is the increasing number of hyperlocal services popping up as a result. Internet culture … Continue reading “Seattle’s Deal-A-Day Sites, DealPop and Tippr, Challenge Groupon and LivingSocial”
Evernote Opens a Trunk of Goodies for Online-Notes Fans
If I only had a second brain—one that could hold my Web clips, store my business cards, transcribe my voice memos, keep my to-do lists, preserve my receipts and recipes and passwords, and archive items from my Twitter, Facebook, and RSS feeds, just to list a few of the myriad types of information I attempt … Continue reading “Evernote Opens a Trunk of Goodies for Online-Notes Fans”
Peter Lee to Head MSR Redmond
Microsoft Research announced today that Peter Lee has been named the managing director of Microsoft Research Redmond, effective this fall. Lee was previously director of the Transformational Convergence Technology Office at the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Before that, he was head of Carnegie Mellon University’s computer science department and had served as … Continue reading “Peter Lee to Head MSR Redmond”
EVO Media’s Geoff Nuval Talks About the New DevHub, Adding Fun to Business, and the Future of Gamification
With all the talk about “gamification” of the Web—adding video game mechanics to websites to boost customer engagement, loyalty, and spending—it’s time we spoke in depth with a Seattle company that really has taken the trend to heart. EVO Media Group, the maker of the DevHub website-building software platform, has been around since late 2007. … Continue reading “EVO Media’s Geoff Nuval Talks About the New DevHub, Adding Fun to Business, and the Future of Gamification”
Tekmira Nails $140M Defense Contract to Make RNAi Drug for Ebola
Score one huge U.S. defense contract for the Canadians. Vancouver, BC-based Tekmira Pharmaceuticals (TSX: [[ticker:TKM]]), a leading developer of technology for RNA interference drugs, said today it has secured a contract from the U.S. military worth as much as $140 million to make a drug that can effectively combat the deadly Ebola virus. This is … Continue reading “Tekmira Nails $140M Defense Contract to Make RNAi Drug for Ebola”
Paul Allen To Donate Most of Fortune
Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen said today that he intends to donate the majority of his estimated $13.5 billion fortune to philanthropy. In a statement commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, Allen said he had long planned this move, which will ensure that his “philanthropic efforts will continue after my lifetime.” … Continue reading “Paul Allen To Donate Most of Fortune”
Technology Alliance Showcases Four New Companies in Biotech and Cleantech, and Revisits One Past Presenter
The Technology Alliance put on its fifth “Innovation Showcase” at the Rainier Square Conference Center earlier this week in Seattle, where a handful of up and coming local technology and life sciences companies presented their projects to a select group of entrepreneurs, businesspeople, academics, and potential investors. This is only the second time the press … Continue reading “Technology Alliance Showcases Four New Companies in Biotech and Cleantech, and Revisits One Past Presenter”
In Facebook Experiment, Microsoft Works to Deliver Shared Documents and Connect with Consumers Online
Quick, what’s the world’s most popular photo-sharing application? It’s not Photobucket or Flickr or Picasa. It’s Facebook, where users share billions of new photos every month. “The Facebook Photos application may or may not be the best, but it is the most popular, by an absurd factor,” notes Pat Kinsel. “More photos are uploaded to … Continue reading “In Facebook Experiment, Microsoft Works to Deliver Shared Documents and Connect with Consumers Online”
Allozyne Breaks Silence, Accelerator’s Mini-Golf Hijinks, Maveron’s Vision for Primary Care, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News
One of the more interesting biotech startups in town re-emerged after more than a year of progress in stealth mode. —Allozyne CEO Meenu Chhabra gave her first in-depth interview in more than a year, and had a lot to say about her company’s progress in this Xconomy exclusive. Seattle-based Allozyne, a graduate of the Accelerator, … Continue reading “Allozyne Breaks Silence, Accelerator’s Mini-Golf Hijinks, Maveron’s Vision for Primary Care, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News”
Allozyne Licenses Scripps Chemistry
Allozyne, the Seattle-based developer of modified protein drugs, said today it has obtained a license to “click chemistry” technology from the lab of Nobel Laureate K. Barry Sharpless at The Scripps Research Institute in San Diego. Allozyne’s lead drug candidate uses the chemical binding technique to attach a polymer to a genetically engineered protein for … Continue reading “Allozyne Licenses Scripps Chemistry”
PhotoRocket Names Gary Roshak as CEO
Seattle-based PhotoRocket, which has been maintaining its stealthy startup exterior for months, has hired on interim president Gary Roshak as the company’s first CEO effective immediately, founder and chairman Scott Lipsky told Xconomy today in an e-mail. The 11-person company has raised over $1.1 million in financing to date, and is considering extending its current … Continue reading “PhotoRocket Names Gary Roshak as CEO”
Gamify This: Seattle Web Experts Give Pointers on Using Game Mechanics for Good and Evil
They are the holy triumvirate of the “gamification” movement here in Seattle. OK, I just made that up. But if you want to learn how to use video-game mechanics to enhance your business’s website, drive traffic and customers, and maybe boost your revenues, you could do worse than to talk to Scott Dodson, Neil Patel, … Continue reading “Gamify This: Seattle Web Experts Give Pointers on Using Game Mechanics for Good and Evil”
Alberg Joins Obama’s Council
Tom Alberg, managing director of the Seattle-based Madrona Venture Group, will be joining President Obama’s new National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which will help develop policies to foster entrepreneurship, create jobs, and drive economic growth. U.S. Commerce Secretary and former Washington governor Gary Locke announced the members of the 26-person council at a … Continue reading “Alberg Joins Obama’s Council”
Allozyne, After a Stealthy Year on a Slim Budget, Re-Emerges with MS Drug and Fat Pipeline
Seattle-based Allozyne has been operating in stealth mode for more than a year, prompting some biotechies to wonder if it had quietly run out of cash and closed its doors. Far from it. Allozyne, one of the startups that graduated from the Accelerator biotech startup incubator, has been making huge strides behind the scenes, based … Continue reading “Allozyne, After a Stealthy Year on a Slim Budget, Re-Emerges with MS Drug and Fat Pipeline”
EcoFab, Making Homes More Energy Efficient, Finds Its Place In McKinstry Cleantech Incubator
McKinstry, the Seattle-based construction, consulting, and energy-efficiency firm, has added a third company to its $5 million McKinstry Innovation Center, which opened at the company’s Georgetown headquarters back in May. The center, which many in the Seattle alternative energy scene hope will become a vibrant cleantech incubator in the Pacific Northwest, plans to serve as … Continue reading “EcoFab, Making Homes More Energy Efficient, Finds Its Place In McKinstry Cleantech Incubator”
Microsoft Partners Up in Cloud-Computing Platform, Cobalt Gets Bought for $400M, Lockerz Reels in VC Funding, and Other Seattle-Area Deals News
There have been quite a few exciting deals for Seattle-area technology companies lately (maybe a sign that everybody in town is back from their summer vacations?). In the past week we’ve seen a digital marketing company for the auto industry get snatched up in a $400 million acquisition, several local startups bring in new funding, … Continue reading “Microsoft Partners Up in Cloud-Computing Platform, Cobalt Gets Bought for $400M, Lockerz Reels in VC Funding, and Other Seattle-Area Deals News”
A Newly Candid FDA on the Future Of Medical Device Regulation
We all know the Food and Drug Administration is one of the most important entities for those who develop drugs and medical devices, but for the public, and even many of the people in industry, it remains a notoriously mysterious organization. So I was very excited about the opportunity to have an in-depth phone conversation … Continue reading “A Newly Candid FDA on the Future Of Medical Device Regulation”
Gates, Khosla Invest $23M in Detroit’s EcoMotors to Develop Efficient Engine
Bill Gates is betting $23 million that the internal combustion engine still has a few good years left in it. The Microsoft chairman, along with Menlo Park, CA-based Khosla Ventures, has invested in Troy, MI-based EcoMotors International. What they’re betting on is EcoMotors’ opposed-piston, opposed-cylinder (OPOC) technology for gas and diesel engines. EcoMotors says its … Continue reading “Gates, Khosla Invest $23M in Detroit’s EcoMotors to Develop Efficient Engine”