Healthcare IT provides the umbrella framework for the comprehensive management of health information and its secure exchange between consumers, providers, government and quality entities, and insurers. Where is this technology going and how is it being used in our region? The Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association is bringing together leaders from Microsoft, hospitals, and life … Continue reading “Healthcare IT: WBBA Event”
Category: Seattle
TechFlash Live: Summer BBQ & Ping Pong Tournament
TechFlash is organizing its second annual summer barbecue and ping pong tournament on July 28 at the Showbox Sodo. For more information on how to register, click here.
Memorial Service for Theraclone CEO Dave Fanning Set for Tuesday
Here’s a quick update to the obituary about Theraclone Sciences CEO David Fanning. A memorial service has been scheduled for 1:30 pm on Tuesday, June 22, at Grace Episcopal Church on Bainbridge Island, 8595 NE Day Road. Directions can be found on the church website. Steve Gillis, the managing director of Arch Venture Partners and … Continue reading “Memorial Service for Theraclone CEO Dave Fanning Set for Tuesday”
Goodbye, Boston
Who was it who wrote, “If Silicon Valley didn’t exist, Boston would have to invent it in order to have someplace to feel inferior to”? Oh wait, that was me. It was a snarky thing to say—but it was back in February 2009, and I was feeling piqued at the time about calls for a … Continue reading “Goodbye, Boston”
Motricity Completes IPO, Settles For $50M
Motricity found a limited appetite from Wall Street for its IPO, but it decided to seal the deal anyway. The Bellevue, WA-based maker of wireless technologies completed its IPO, by selling 5 million shares at $10 apiece. That offering is a long shot from what Motricity (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MOTR]]) originally hoped it would fetch when it … Continue reading “Motricity Completes IPO, Settles For $50M”
How Seattle Startups Could Lead the World: Five Technology Themes to Watch
As I reflect on my time in the Northwest, I find myself gravitating toward the bigger picture: which areas of technology and business innovation is this region poised to really own over the next few years? After giving us the likes of Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing, McCaw Cellular, and Starbucks, surely Seattle is ready for an … Continue reading “How Seattle Startups Could Lead the World: Five Technology Themes to Watch”
OnRequest Images Garners $2,000,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=bf5d8850-9368-4f62-b42f-b287a2b298d2&Preview=1 Date 6/18/2010 Company Name OnRequest Images Mailing Address 1415 Western Avenue Seattle, WA 98101 Company Description OnRequest Images, the world’s leading provider of OnBrand custom imagery, works closely with top corporations to build stronger brands with original, brand-centric photography. OnRequest Images’ technology-driven services have enabled Fortune 1,000 companies to increase brand … Continue reading “OnRequest Images Garners $2,000,000 New Funding”
Carena Obtains $1,339,450 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=668d50cf-3556-454b-95a1-d25720270a4e&Preview=1 Date 6/18/2010 Company Name Carena Mailing Address 1601 5th Avenue Seattle, WA 98101 Company Description Carena provides a new model of health care delivery for innovative, self-insured companies of all sizes. Through our care programs, our physicians provide in-person medical care and education 24 hours a day, seven days a week, … Continue reading “Carena Obtains $1,339,450 New Funding”
Motricity Lowers IPO Price Range to $10 to $11
Motricity’s IPO isn’t attracting the kind of interest the company had hoped for. The Bellevue, WA-based maker of wireless technology has cut its forecasted IPO price range. Motricity (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MOTR]]) now hopes to price its initial shares at $10 to $11 each, down from an earlier goal of $14 to $16, according to Renaissance Capital. … Continue reading “Motricity Lowers IPO Price Range to $10 to $11”
Aquinox Pharma Nabs $25M
Aquinox Pharmaceuticals, a Vancouver, BC-based developer of small molecule drugs for cancer and inflammatory diseases, said today it has secured a $25 million second round of venture financing. The deal was led by Ventures West, and included Pfizer Venture Investments, Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation, Baker Brothers Investments and BC Advantage Funds. The money will … Continue reading “Aquinox Pharma Nabs $25M”
Oncothyreon’s Cancer Vaccine Back in the Saddle, as Merck KGaA Re-Starts Clinical Trials
Oncothyreon can breathe a sigh of relief. The Seattle-based developer of cancer treatments (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ONTY]]) said today its partner, Germany-based Merck KGaA, has been cleared to re-start clinical trials of an immune-boosting therapy after trials were halted earlier this year when a patient developed an unexpected inflammation of the brain. The German-based Merck got clearance … Continue reading “Oncothyreon’s Cancer Vaccine Back in the Saddle, as Merck KGaA Re-Starts Clinical Trials”
Dave Fanning Dies Suddenly, Pfizer Scraps Trubion Drug, MediQuest Tees Up Next Trial, & More Seattle-Area Biotech News
This was a sad week in Seattle biotech, as the region lost one of its prominent startup CEOs and all-around good guys. —David Fanning, the president and CEO of Seattle-based Theraclone Sciences, died suddenly on Monday morning. When I have more information on memorial services, I will update this story. —Pfizer, the world’s largest drugmaker, … Continue reading “Dave Fanning Dies Suddenly, Pfizer Scraps Trubion Drug, MediQuest Tees Up Next Trial, & More Seattle-Area Biotech News”
Daktari Diagnostics, Backed by Gates Foundation, Raises Funds for HIV Test Study
Daktari Diagnostics is finding more support from both nonprofit and for-profit investors to make monitoring the health of HIV patients easy and cheap. The Cambridge, MA-based startup has added $820,000 to its Series A round this month as it prepares to begin its first clinical trials this summer with its inexpensive technology for measuring an … Continue reading “Daktari Diagnostics, Backed by Gates Foundation, Raises Funds for HIV Test Study”
Home Dialysis Plus Secures $50,000,000 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=852b39c2-06a0-4bc8-9712-ac5a96868beb&Preview=1 Date 6/17/2010 Company Name Home Dialysis Plus Mailing Address 2828 SW. Corbett Ave. Portland, OR 97201 Company Description HD+ has an in-depth understanding of today’s dialysis treatment needs. Working closely with patients, care providers and technical experts around the globe, our team is striving to meet those needs via innovation, strong … Continue reading “Home Dialysis Plus Secures $50,000,000 New Round”
Motricity Secures $50,000,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=96a6e958-0084-49cd-b94b-c06824faf5a3&Preview=1 Date 6/17/2010 Company Name Motricity Mailing Address 601 108th Ave. NE Bellevue, WA 98004 Company Description Motricity (MOTR.O) is the first in a new class of content and media providers for handheld devices. A leader in mobile content distribution solutions, the company is one of the largest providers of mobile content … Continue reading “Motricity Secures $50,000,000 New Financing Round”
Cleantech Open Names Semifinalists
The Cleantech Open, a national business plan competition for energy and clean technology startups, announced yesterday its 16 semifinalists for the Pacific Northwest region (as well as teams from other parts of the country). The Northwest companies are Aquapulser, Arcimoto, Clarian Power, Columbia Power Technologies, CyVolt Energy Systems, EnVitrum, Greenstone International, Hydrovolts, Innovatus Energy, LaserMotive, … Continue reading “Cleantech Open Names Semifinalists”
Washington Companies Raised $36M in May, as Startups and VCs Adjust to Economic Climate
Things might be starting to turn around in the Seattle-area economy, but that doesn’t mean startups are raking in the dough. It’s becoming clear that, with the exception of maybe one or two big deals a month, venture funding for young companies in the Northwest has stabilized to a much lower level than we were … Continue reading “Washington Companies Raised $36M in May, as Startups and VCs Adjust to Economic Climate”
MediQuest, Crawling Out of the Bunker, Eagerly Awaits Results From Pivotal Raynaud’s Study
MediQuest Pharmaceuticals has barely made a peep since the FDA declined to approve its drug for Raynaud’s disease back in October 2008. But now the Bothell, WA-based company is starting to poke its head up again as it takes another shot at getting its first drug cleared for sale in the U.S. This week, MediQuest … Continue reading “MediQuest, Crawling Out of the Bunker, Eagerly Awaits Results From Pivotal Raynaud’s Study”
How I Caught the Global Health Bug: An Evening with Ray Suarez
What are the most pressing and underreported global health issues of our time? What global health successes are transforming the way people live today? As we look forward, what are the emerging global health threats? What are the prospects for vaccines for today’s most deadly diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis? And, why does … Continue reading “How I Caught the Global Health Bug: An Evening with Ray Suarez”
Elemental Adds $7M Equity
Elemental Technologies, the Portland, OR-based video processing startup, has raised $7.1 million in equity financing out of a round that could be worth $9 million over time, according to a regulatory filing. Greg profiled the company back in April, when it unveiled a real-time video encoding system to enable broadcasters, media companies, and cable networks … Continue reading “Elemental Adds $7M Equity”
Modumetal Closes Series B, TerraPower Pulls In $35M, Vertafore Bought for $1.4B, & More Seattle-Area Deals News
Just because I’m not going to be Seattle editor anymore doesn’t mean I won’t miss these roundups. In the past week, we’ve seen some very interesting deals news from Northwest companies in the fields of energy, materials, and software. Here were a few of the top highlights. —Nuclear-power startup TerraPower, based in Bellevue, WA, raised … Continue reading “Modumetal Closes Series B, TerraPower Pulls In $35M, Vertafore Bought for $1.4B, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”
Invest in Biotech, Or Watch the U.S. Health Innovation Edge Slip Away
Not everyone understands the way that new medical treatments, diagnostics, medicines, therapies and the like are created. It’s a long, expensive process, mostly the realm of scientists and engineers. But anyone who’s ever been concerned about a sick family member, or a loved one succumbing to disease, can appreciate what these scientists and their discoveries … Continue reading “Invest in Biotech, Or Watch the U.S. Health Innovation Edge Slip Away”
Theraclone Sciences CEO David Fanning Dies Suddenly
Xconomy has some tragic news to report. David Fanning, the president and CEO of one of Seattle’s more promising biotech startups, Theraclone Sciences, died suddenly this morning, according to an e-mailed statement from its board of directors. The cause of death wasn’t immediately known. “We are heartbroken by this sudden, tragic loss, and our thoughts … Continue reading “Theraclone Sciences CEO David Fanning Dies Suddenly”
TerraPower, Gates and Myhrvold’s Nuclear Play, Nabs $35M from Charles River, Khosla Ventures
What were we just saying about cross-pollinating ideas between Seattle, Boston, and San Francisco? As if to hammer home the point, Bellevue, WA-based nuclear reactor startup TerraPower announced today it has raised $35 million in Series B funding led by Charles River Ventures, based in Waltham, MA. Silicon Valley-based Khosla Ventures also participated in the … Continue reading “TerraPower, Gates and Myhrvold’s Nuclear Play, Nabs $35M from Charles River, Khosla Ventures”
Pfizer Dumps Trubion’s Lead Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug, Keeps Next-Gen Product Alive
Bad news is out this afternoon from Trubion Pharmaceuticals. The Seattle-based biotech company said today New York-based Pfizer, has decided to quit investing in Trubion’s lead drug candidate for rheumatoid arthritis, in favor of a next-generation treatment further behind in clinical trials. Pfizer (NYSE: [[ticker:PFE]]), which inherited its collaboration with Trubion last year through a … Continue reading “Pfizer Dumps Trubion’s Lead Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug, Keeps Next-Gen Product Alive”
Polaris Venture Partners Captures $233M of $400M Fund
Polaris Venture Partners, a $3 billion-plus venture firm, has found more capital to back technology and life sciences firms. The Waltham, MA-based venture firm has closed on $233.8 million of a planned $400 million for its Polaris Venture Partners VI LP fund, according to an SEC filing. When people talk about the leading venture funds, … Continue reading “Polaris Venture Partners Captures $233M of $400M Fund”
Calistoga Shows Cancer Drug Mechanism
Calistoga Pharmaceuticals, the Seattle-based developer of drugs for cancer and inflammatory diseases, said today its lead candidate for blood cancers appears to be working against tumors by disrupting chemokine signals and the tumor microenvironment. The findings were presented today at the European Hematology Association meeting in Barcelona. We reported last week on how the Calistoga … Continue reading “Calistoga Shows Cancer Drug Mechanism”
Farewell, Seattle: A Changing of the Xconomy Guard, and a New Beginning
For my last official post as Editor of Xconomy Seattle, let me tell you a quick story. It was a warm, cloudy day in June 2008. Two guys walked into an old office on First Hill, but only one guy walked out. That was me. I took the stairs. The other guy was the Qwest … Continue reading “Farewell, Seattle: A Changing of the Xconomy Guard, and a New Beginning”
Xconomy Arrives in San Francisco Bay Area, Telling Stories of Innovation in the Global Capital of Technology and Entrepreneurship
MIT’s Robert Solow won the 1987 Nobel Prize in economics for showing that long-term growth in advanced economies like the United States is not driven so much by capital investment, the pillar of classic economics, as by technological progress. Nearly three years ago, on June 27, 2007, Xconomy began publishing online from Kendall Square, Cambridge, … Continue reading “Xconomy Arrives in San Francisco Bay Area, Telling Stories of Innovation in the Global Capital of Technology and Entrepreneurship”
Motricity, Riding the Mobile Software Wave, Primed for $85M IPO This Week
Motricity, the Bellevue, WA-based mobile software company, is getting ready to pull the trigger on an initial public offering this week that could net more than $85 million, according to Renaissance Capital. The company is planning to offer 6.75 million new shares at a range of $14 to $16 apiece, according to its most recent … Continue reading “Motricity, Riding the Mobile Software Wave, Primed for $85M IPO This Week”
From the Lab to Leadership: Summer 2010
The Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association, along with the Leadership Edge, are offering a course to help scientists make the transition into management, called “From the Laboratory to Leadership.” More than 3,000 scientists from 300 life sciences have participated in the program since inception. Session dates are June 23, June 30, July 14 and July … Continue reading “From the Lab to Leadership: Summer 2010”
Mindbloom, With New Social Game, Finds Niche in Health, Wellness, and “Gamification” of the Web
What sits at the intersection of health and wellness websites, virtual currencies, and “gamification” of the Web? Right now, a Seattle startup called Mindbloom. This is an outfit founded in 2008 by Chris Hewett and Brent Poole. Their mission is to help consumers lead more healthy, balanced and meaningful lives—and do it through a new … Continue reading “Mindbloom, With New Social Game, Finds Niche in Health, Wellness, and “Gamification” of the Web”
Innovation Showcase, Presented by the 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. Showcases feature presentations by 3-6 innovators hand-selected by the Technology Alliance program … Continue reading “Innovation Showcase, Presented by the Technology Alliance”
SonoSite Plans $50M Stock Buyback
SonoSite (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SONO]]), the Bothell, WA-based developer of portable ultrasound machines, said today it may spend as much as $50 million to buy back shares of its stock. The company may make purchases in private structured deals, or on the open market, at prices it said it considers appropriate. Earlier this year, SonoSite had another … Continue reading “SonoSite Plans $50M Stock Buyback”
Tech Tidbits: Bing Gets More Social, Facebook Signs Seattle Lease, Chinese Incubator Calls
It has been a busy week for little bits of technology news, amidst some more prominent deals. Here are three items in particular that caught my eye. The common theme among them, I would say, is the importance of relationship building in business. —Microsoft’s Bing search engine, one year old this month, has been in … Continue reading “Tech Tidbits: Bing Gets More Social, Facebook Signs Seattle Lease, Chinese Incubator Calls”
Biotech Drug Discovery in Seattle: A Look Back
The drug discovery and development process is a difficult one that takes considerable expertise in both the research and business realms. Seattle currently has approximately 103 biotechnology companies, 21 of which are publicly traded. The area also has a number of non-profit research organizations that participate in a variety of efforts to find new medicines. … Continue reading “Biotech Drug Discovery in Seattle: A Look Back”
ZymoGenetics Gets Upstaged, Calistoga Cancer Drug Matures, Cramer Replaces Kraemer, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News
This was a big biotech news week with the annual extravaganza for cancer drug developers, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Nobody from Seattle stood out on the world stage this year, although we heard about some people laying important groundwork for future ASCOs. —ZymoGenetics, the granddaddy of Seattle biotech, has had some bad … Continue reading “ZymoGenetics Gets Upstaged, Calistoga Cancer Drug Matures, Cramer Replaces Kraemer, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News”
Vertafore Bought for $1.4B
Bothell, WA-based Vertafore, a provider of software and services to the insurance industry, said today it is being acquired by TPG Capital for $1.4 billion. Vertafore was previously owned by private equity firms Hellman & Friedman, based in San Francisco, and JMI Equity, which is based in Baltimore and San Diego. JMI managing general partner … Continue reading “Vertafore Bought for $1.4B”
Xconomy Welcomes Susan Hunt Stevens to Our Board
A lot of great things have been happening here at Xconomy lately. We have done syndication deals with the Boston Globe and Motley Fool, launched our new Health IT channel, and expanded to Detroit—with another geographic expansion coming up very soon (stay tuned). Today, though, I am extremely pleased to announce that we have expanded … Continue reading “Xconomy Welcomes Susan Hunt Stevens to Our Board”
Your Company Culture Is a Meaningless Platitude
In this envelope, I have your Company Culture. “We work hard, but value work/life balance. We’re a team culture and we believe in individual empowerment. We give back to the community, and have strong ethics. We hire only the best people, support diversity, and promote growth and leadership in our employee ranks. And more than … Continue reading “Your Company Culture Is a Meaningless Platitude”
Modumetal Closes Funding Led by Catamount
Seattle-based Modumetal, an advanced materials and nanotech startup, said today it has closed a second round of venture funding, led by new investor Catamount Ventures, based in San Francisco. The exact amount was undisclosed, but is “several million” dollars, according to Modumetal CEO and co-founder Christina Lomasney. As part of the deal, Mark Silverman of … Continue reading “Modumetal Closes Funding Led by Catamount”
Novel, Backed by Vancouver VCs, Uses Gaming Tech to Make Business Simulations for Companies
What would “The Matrix” look like for businesses? Imagine a virtual-reality system that a company could jack its employees into in order to train them, evaluate their decision-making skills, or test out different management strategies. The technology might not be as far off as you think, thanks to a Seattle-area startup. This is the story … Continue reading “Novel, Backed by Vancouver VCs, Uses Gaming Tech to Make Business Simulations for Companies”
Wings Replaces Kraemer With Cramer, Adding Elder Statesman of Northwest Life Sciences
Kirby Cramer probably has the most diversified track record of success in life sciences entrepreneurship of anybody in the Northwest. Now he’s putting some of his time and money into strengthening Wings, the budding angel investing network for medical device startups. “We are blessed in the Northwest to have hundreds of medical device entrepreneurs,” Cramer … Continue reading “Wings Replaces Kraemer With Cramer, Adding Elder Statesman of Northwest Life Sciences”
The Genomics Comeback
One of the things that fascinates me most about the slow-paced business of biotech is how utterly mismatched it is against the demands of Wall Street. Asking for quarterly earnings reports from companies that are in the red, and likely to remain so for years, while they test drug candidates in early-stage clinical trials (which … Continue reading “The Genomics Comeback”
Modumetal Lands Series B Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=5e189744-4cf5-48da-ba2b-e2f0f987a486&Preview=1 Date 6/10/2010 Company Name Modumetal Mailing Address 1443 N. Northlake Way Seattle, WA 98103 Company Description The mission of Modumetal is to revolutionize the design and manufacture of automobiles, aircraft, armor and building materials in a way that has never before been realized since the deployment of mass production concepts. Website … Continue reading “Modumetal Lands Series B Round”
“Arms Dealer” Martin Tobias Talks Tippr Strategy Vs. Groupon
Where the heck did all these group-buying websites come from? With the rise of Groupon, LivingSocial, BuyWithMe, and dozens of other smaller daily-deal sites, suddenly it seems like every Web entrepreneur and his brother are out to make a quick buck. So maybe the better question is, where is this all going? Tippr.com is the … Continue reading ““Arms Dealer” Martin Tobias Talks Tippr Strategy Vs. Groupon”
$10M to Tigo Energy from OVP, Others
Tigo Energy, a Los Gatos, CA-based solar power technology company, said today it has raised $10 million in new funding led by Inventec Appliances and Clal Energy. Existing investors Matrix Partners, OVP, and ICV also participated in the round. The cleantech firm says it will use the money to expand its manufacturing, international sales, and … Continue reading “$10M to Tigo Energy from OVP, Others”
Tippr Acquires Austin-Based FanForce
Seattle-based Tippr.com, the group-buying site led by entrepreneur and investor Martin Tobias, said today it has acquired Austin, TX-based deals site FanForce for an undisclosed amount. As part of the deal, the founders of FanForce—Samy Aboel-Nil, Dane Knecht, and John Whitmarsh—are joining Tippr’s management team. The move gives Tippr the ability to help Web publishers … Continue reading “Tippr Acquires Austin-Based FanForce”
Livemocha’s New CEO, Michael Schutzler, on Company Challenges, Culture, and the Evolution of Social Networks
Michael Schutzler knows a few things about building online communities and profitable companies. The new CEO of Livemocha, the Bellevue, WA-based language-learning startup and online community, is perhaps best known for leading Classmates.com through its post-bubble growth phase to become a nationally recognized social-network brand, before its sale to United Online for $150 million in … Continue reading “Livemocha’s New CEO, Michael Schutzler, on Company Challenges, Culture, and the Evolution of Social Networks”
RevenueLoan Pushes New Funding Model, Tippr Expands in Group Buying, Microsoft and Google Lure Startups, & More Seattle-Area Deals News
OK, things have started to pick up in terms of deals news around the Northwest. This week was headlined by the activities of a trio of well-known characters in the Seattle tech scene. —Xconomy had an exclusive in-depth interview with entrepreneur Andy Sack about his new company, RevenueLoan, which has raised $6 million from Voyager … Continue reading “RevenueLoan Pushes New Funding Model, Tippr Expands in Group Buying, Microsoft and Google Lure Startups, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”