Category: Seattle

Founder Institute, Early-Stage Startup Program, Comes to Seattle Thanks to a Gaming Connection

There’s a new tech startup incubator in town. The Founder Institute is accepting applications for its four-month training program, which begins in Seattle on December 7. The program is designed to mentor very early-stage entrepreneurs, with the goal of creating new companies across a wide variety of tech sectors including software, social media, consumer electronics, … Continue reading “Founder Institute, Early-Stage Startup Program, Comes to Seattle Thanks to a Gaming Connection”

Zymo Gets $70M for Starting Trial

Seattle-based ZymoGenetics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ZGEN]]) will receive a $70 million milestone payment from its partner, Bristol-Myers Squibb, for starting a mid-stage clinical trial of pegylated interferon lambda for hepatitis C, according to a statement. The trial, called Emerge, will initially enroll 50 patients on a variety of doses, then expand to 500 patients who are randomly … Continue reading “Zymo Gets $70M for Starting Trial”

Amazon Teams Up With Microsoft for E-Books, Bing Goes Real-Time, Revolution Computing Reels In $9M, & More Seattle-Area Deals News

It was a big week for big companies. Amazon’s stock soared, and the e-commerce giant made a deal with Microsoft that should make Kindle e-books even more popular. There was also interesting deals news from Bing and a few Northwest venture firms and startups. —Kennewick, WA-based Infinia has raised $3.25 million in debt and options … Continue reading “Amazon Teams Up With Microsoft for E-Books, Bing Goes Real-Time, Revolution Computing Reels In $9M, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”

Your 2 cents for Life Science Innovation Northwest 2010

[Editor’s note: This editorial was co-authored by Neile Grayson, who, along with Valerie, is a co-chair of the program committee for Life Sciences Innovation Northwest 2010.] On March 16-17, 2010, the Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association (WBBA) will present Life Science Innovation Northwest 2010 (formerly “Invest Northwest”). This tenth annual conference has a new name, … Continue reading “Your 2 cents for Life Science Innovation Northwest 2010”

Omeros, Worst Performing IPO of 2009, Casts Shadow Over Other Aspiring Biotechs

Seattle-based Omeros is the worst performing initial public offering so far in 2009, and its 36 percent decline in the first two weeks as a public company has cast a shadow over other life sciences companies that may be itching to take the leap. Omeros (NASDAQ: [[ticker:OMER]]) closed at $6.45 a share yesterday, a steep … Continue reading “Omeros, Worst Performing IPO of 2009, Casts Shadow Over Other Aspiring Biotechs”

Varicent Software Receives $35,000,000 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=5af58eff-4535-4698-97dd-fb21c4d9e71f&Preview=1 Date 10/27/2009 Company Name Varicent Software Mailing Address 4900 SW Griffith Drive Beaverton, OR 97005 Company Description Varicent Software Incorporated delivers the only complete sales performance management (SPM) solution addressing the needs of the entire corporation. Sales performance management, a subset of corporate performance management (CPM) – or business performance management … Continue reading “Varicent Software Receives $35,000,000 New Round”

Infinia, Backed by Paul Allen and Vinod Khosla, Raises $3M For Engines of the Sun

Infinia, the Kennewick, WA-based company developing solar-powered engines that generate electricity, has raised $3.25 million in new debt financing as it pushes through the final year before it starts selling its product on the market. The company raised $3.25 million in debt and options out of a total financing round worth as much as $10.5 … Continue reading “Infinia, Backed by Paul Allen and Vinod Khosla, Raises $3M For Engines of the Sun”

Five Things Nathan Myhrvold Taught Us About Cooking

He is one of those people who defies description in a few pages, let alone paragraphs. Sure, Nathan Myhrvold is the founder of Microsoft Research and CEO of the Bellevue, WA-based “invention firm” Intellectual Ventures. But besides information technology and business innovation, he’s a renowned expert in such ridiculously diverse fields as astrophysics, mathematics, paleontology, … Continue reading “Five Things Nathan Myhrvold Taught Us About Cooking”

Bezos, Spark Invest $7M in Aviary

Boston-based Spark Capital has led a $7 million Series B investment in Aviary, a creative design software startup based in Long Island, NY. Bezos Expeditions, the Seattle-based investment firm of Jeff Bezos from Amazon, participated in the round as an existing investor. Aviary makes cloud-based software for graphic design, audio editing, and other digital creation … Continue reading “Bezos, Spark Invest $7M in Aviary”

ZymoGenetics’ Former Medical Boss Leads Rival Startup, ProFibrix, With Drug For Bleeding

One of the key people who transformed ZymoGenetics from a basic research institute into a more balanced biotech company with both R and D, has set up shop in a rival startup just a few blocks away on Seattle’s Eastlake Avenue. If he plays his cards right, this little company will surpass his former employer, … Continue reading “ZymoGenetics’ Former Medical Boss Leads Rival Startup, ProFibrix, With Drug For Bleeding”

Microsoft and Its Competitors Still In Search of Mainstream User Base for Personal Health Records

Microsoft hasn’t yet attracted the millions of patients it would like to its personal health data service, HealthVault, says Peter Neupert, corporate vice president of the company’s Health Solutions Group. Though HealthVault and other products like Google Health that enable patients to store their health information online are free and available to anyone with Internet … Continue reading “Microsoft and Its Competitors Still In Search of Mainstream User Base for Personal Health Records”

McKinstry to Build Cleantech Incubator

Seattle-based McKinstry, the construction, consulting, and energy firm, announced today it is developing an innovation center for new and emerging cleantech and green energy startups. The 24,000-square-foot incubator will be housed at McKinstry headquarters in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood, and is slated to be finished in the spring of 2010.

Three Recently Acquired Seattle Startups, and How Their Founders Are Faring

Working for the man. It’s what most entrepreneurs want to avoid at all costs. But if their startup gets bought by a big company, that’s often just what happens—at least for a while. Although the acquisitions market for tech startups has been relatively soft during the recession, there have been a few recent local examples … Continue reading “Three Recently Acquired Seattle Startups, and How Their Founders Are Faring”

TechStars Event in Seattle to Draw Top VCs and Angel Investors

TechStars, the startup incubation and seed investment fund based in Boulder, CO, and Boston (as of this year), is holding its annual reunion event in Seattle on November 4. (See a couple of local VC blogs here and here.) As part of the event, a number of TechStars companies that are raising money will make … Continue reading “TechStars Event in Seattle to Draw Top VCs and Angel Investors”

Google, Bing, VCs, and Startups on One Stage: Xconomy Forum to Tackle the Future of Search

Search is hot again. Just when you thought Google had it all figured out, the Internet landscape has changed. Microsoft’s Bing has debuted to a generally positive reception, and signaled that the search war is far from over. The rise of Twitter and social media has spawned intense competition in the emerging field of “real-time … Continue reading “Google, Bing, VCs, and Startups on One Stage: Xconomy Forum to Tackle the Future of Search”

Xconomy Forum: The Future of Search and Information Discovery **SOLD OUT**

Search is hot again. Just when you thought Google had it all figured out, the landscape has changed. Microsoft’s search engine, Bing, has debuted to a generally positive reception, and signaled that the game is far from over. The rise of Twitter and social media has spawned intense competition in the new field of “real-time … Continue reading “Xconomy Forum: The Future of Search and Information Discovery **SOLD OUT**”

Influenza: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow? Global Health 101

The Seattle Biomedical Research Institute is planning to host an event titled “Influenza: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow?” as part of its Global Health 101 series of events. The event will be moderated by SBRI board chair Todd Patrick, and will feature some of the region’s top infectious disease researchers, including Alan Aderem of the Institute … Continue reading “Influenza: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow? Global Health 101”

Delve Wins Keiretsu Angel Capital Prize

Seattle-based Delve Networks won the “best presenting company” award from the attendees of the first annual Angel Capital Expo, hosted by Keiretsu Forum Northwest on Tuesday. More than a dozen companies across different fields presented to investors, including Humanity Interactive, Iverson Genetic Diagnostics, and Exro Technologies. Delve Networks started in 2006 (formerly called Pluggd) and … Continue reading “Delve Wins Keiretsu Angel Capital Prize”

Isilon, Forged in Fire of Last Recession, Looks to Expand Its Data Storage Business in This One

Some tech companies seem to be at their best when things are at their worst. Those are the ones you really need to keep an eye on, especially in a recession. Isilon Systems is one of those companies. The Seattle-based data storage firm (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ISLN]]) is announcing its third-quarter earnings this afternoon, and it will … Continue reading “Isilon, Forged in Fire of Last Recession, Looks to Expand Its Data Storage Business in This One”

Five Red Flags of a Biotech, Pathway Medical Learns Lessons, Amgen Faces FDA Delay, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News

This week we were jamming on our big event on the 20-year outlook for Seattle’s life sciences hub, but we still found a way to squeeze in a lot of news and features. —Biotech pioneer Chris Henney offered an insightful and entertaining talk about how to invest in biotech at a recent speech before the … Continue reading “Five Red Flags of a Biotech, Pathway Medical Learns Lessons, Amgen Faces FDA Delay, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News”

Bing Partners with Twitter, Facebook to Bring Real-Time Updates to Search Capabilities

Microsoft announced the integration of real-time status updates from Twitter and Facebook into its Bing search engine this morning at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco. Senior vice president Yusuf Mehdi and Online Services Group president Qi Lu confirmed the company’s non-exclusive partnerships with the two social media networks on stage, followed by a … Continue reading “Bing Partners with Twitter, Facebook to Bring Real-Time Updates to Search Capabilities”

Enroute, MicroGreen Win Zino Prizes

Seattle-based Zino Society has announced the winners of its 2009 Zino Zillionaire Investment Funds. Bellevue, WA-based Enroute Systems, a maker of analytics and transportation management software for parcel-shipping businesses, received $60,000. Arlington, WA-based MicroGreen Polymers, a company focused on making plastic products more environmentally sustainable, also took home $60,000. The companies presented to investors back … Continue reading “Enroute, MicroGreen Win Zino Prizes”

OVP Leads $12M Investment in RedSeal

Kirkland, WA-based OVP Venture Partners has led a $12 million investment in San Mateo, CA-based RedSeal Systems, a security software firm. OVP managing director Mark Ashida has joined the company’s board. Existing investors Venrock, Jafco Ventures, Sutter Hill Ventures, and Leapfrog Ventures also participated in the deal, which brings RedSeal’s total funding to more than … Continue reading “OVP Leads $12M Investment in RedSeal”

Seattle Biotech Needs More Bars, Less University Red Tape, and the Same Daring Attitude, & Other Highlights from Seattle Life Sciences 2029

Seattle has more than its share of brilliant biologists for a medium-sized American city. But if people and ideas are going to properly mix to create a thriving local biotech industry over the next two decades, we could use a few more common places with intellectual sparks—like bars. At least according to one of the … Continue reading “Seattle Biotech Needs More Bars, Less University Red Tape, and the Same Daring Attitude, & Other Highlights from Seattle Life Sciences 2029”

HelpHive Tests “Pay Per Job” Model, Connects Home-Service Businesses with Consumers

Doing some home remodeling? Need someone to clean that pesky gutter? Karim Meghji has an offer for you. Meghji and Dave Richards, both veterans of Seattle-based RealNetworks (NASDAQ: [[ticker:RNWK]]), have been busy working on their home-services networking site, HelpHive, since it was first publicly introduced in May. The community site helps people find reputable businesses … Continue reading “HelpHive Tests “Pay Per Job” Model, Connects Home-Service Businesses with Consumers”

AudienceScience Raises $20M, Sequoia Re-ups with Jive Software, Visible Gets Spooky, & More Seattle-Area Deals News

It was a light week for deals in the Northwest, but there were still some big investments in online advertising and social business software. (Not to mention we’re all trying to confirm the rumors of an Ontela acquisition of Photobucket.) —Venture capital stats for the quarter ending Sept. 30 were released from multiple sources in … Continue reading “AudienceScience Raises $20M, Sequoia Re-ups with Jive Software, Visible Gets Spooky, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”

AudienceScience Confirms $20M Funding

Bellevue, WA-based AudienceScience (formerly Revenue Science) has confirmed it has raised $20 million from Silicon Valley investors Mohr Davidow Ventures, Mayfield Fund, Meritech Capital Partners, and Integral Capital Partners. The online advertising firm says it will use the money to hire new staff, do R&D for products in targeted advertising, and expand internationally. Last week, … Continue reading “AudienceScience Confirms $20M Funding”

Seattle Life Sciences 2029 Photo Gallery

Thanks to everyone who made last night’s Xconomy event on Seattle’s 20-year outlook for life sciences such a big success. The house was packed at Seattle Biomedical Research Institute; we had a highly interactive conversation between the audience and a distinguished panel, and brief introductions to some of the most exciting life sciences startups in … Continue reading “Seattle Life Sciences 2029 Photo Gallery”

Top 10 Northwest Venture Deals of the Third Quarter—and VC Color Commentary

Woe is me, said the VC. With the exit markets all but closed, fundraising in a logjam, and portfolio companies struggling to stay afloat, it is a tough time to be a venture capitalist. Yet the good ones will survive, and thrive. As will the companies they are building. That’s the message I got from … Continue reading “Top 10 Northwest Venture Deals of the Third Quarter—and VC Color Commentary”

Jive Rakes In $12M from Sequoia Capital to Improve Social Business Software

Social media monitoring and business networking software just got a little hotter. Jive Software, the Portland, OR-based maker of social business software, announced last night it has raised a $12 million Series B round from Sequoia Capital. Sequoia previously invested $15 million in Jive in 2007. Jive says the money will be used to expand … Continue reading “Jive Rakes In $12M from Sequoia Capital to Improve Social Business Software”

WA Tech Industry Exported $3.5B in 2008

Tech manufacturing exports from Washington state grew for the sixth straight year in 2008, up to $3.5 billion (15th out of 50 states), according to a TechAmerica Foundation report highlighted today by the Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA). Washington ranked fifth nationwide in consumer electronics exports, which totaled $320 million. The top three tech export … Continue reading “WA Tech Industry Exported $3.5B in 2008”

Azaleos, Working with Microsoft, Moves Into Unified Communications for Business

[Updated 12:25pm, 10/20/09. See correction below] Seattle-based Azaleos is announcing today it is releasing new software and services to help companies manage Microsoft Office Communications Server, which is a software platform for instant messaging, Internet telephony, and video conferencing over the Web. It’s a strong move for Azaleos that expands its product line beyond management … Continue reading “Azaleos, Working with Microsoft, Moves Into Unified Communications for Business”

Pathway Medical Learns Lessons During Tougher Than Expected First Year on Market

Kirkland, WA-based Pathway Medical Technologies has to be considered one of the bright spots in the recent history of Seattle life sciences. The medical device maker won FDA approval for its first product about 15 months ago, raised $42 million in venture capital, and recruited a CEO with loads of experience in commercializing medical devices. … Continue reading “Pathway Medical Learns Lessons During Tougher Than Expected First Year on Market”

MoneyTree Survey of VC Activity Sees Pace of Investments Strengthening

Let optimism reign. A third survey of recent VC activity shows that venture investments increased 17 percent during the third quarter, compared with the previous quarter. While the actual numbers vary, the findings of the MoneyTree Report from PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association, based on data from Thomson Reuters, reinforces the more optimistic … Continue reading “MoneyTree Survey of VC Activity Sees Pace of Investments Strengthening”

Jive Software Garners $12,000,000 Series B Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=844d3ce8-ea7d-4829-9658-15963ab3fbf3&Preview=1 Date 10/20/2009 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 $12,000,000 Transaction Round Series B Proceeds Purposes Jive … Continue reading “Jive Software Garners $12,000,000 Series B Round”

Visible Technologies Inks In-Q-Tel Deal

Bellevue, WA-based Visible Technologies has formed a strategic partnership with In-Q-Tel, the investment firm run by the CIA. The deal includes a technology development agreement, but financial terms were not given. Visible makes software that helps companies and organizations monitor the social media landscape (and Web sentiment towards specific topics and brands), as well as … Continue reading “Visible Technologies Inks In-Q-Tel Deal”

See You Tonight at Seattle Life Sciences 2029

I still have one more feature story I hope to bang out this afternoon, but the Xconomy team will soon be heading over to Seattle Biomedical Research Institute tonight for our big event on the 20-year outlook for the Northwest’s life sciences cluster. This sold-out event will bring together some of the world’s leading life … Continue reading “See You Tonight at Seattle Life Sciences 2029”

Microsoft Forecast Is Called “Partly Cloudy” on Eve of Windows 7 Release

In case you missed it yesterday, the New York Times ran a sweeping review of Microsoft’s position in the tech world on the eve of its Windows 7 rollout this week. That’s the latest version of Microsoft’s iconic operating system for personal computers. But the article smartly goes beyond the company’s strategy for PCs, and … Continue reading “Microsoft Forecast Is Called “Partly Cloudy” on Eve of Windows 7 Release”

Amgen’s Dmab Faces FDA Delay

Amgen, the world’s largest biotech company, said today that the FDA has delayed its application to market denosumab (Prolia) for treatment of osteoporosis. The FDA requested that Amgen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMGN]]) include a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy, and more information on the company’s safety surveillance plan for when the drug is on the market. The … Continue reading “Amgen’s Dmab Faces FDA Delay”

Calistoga Cancer Drug Shows “Encouraging” Preliminary Results in Small Study

Seattle-based Calistoga Pharmaceuticals has taken another peek at preliminary results from an ongoing clinical trial of its drug that’s made to block one of the hottest targets in cancer biology, and it continues to like what it’s seeing. Researchers saw that five of 17 evaluable patients (29 percent) with chronic lymphocytic leukemia had at least … Continue reading “Calistoga Cancer Drug Shows “Encouraging” Preliminary Results in Small Study”

Predictions for 2010 (WTIA Technology In Focus Series)

Info and registration here. John Cook, Co-Founder and Executive Director of TechFlash returns as moderator of the Predictions panel. Come and join this panel of futurists as they will attempt to predict what technology innovations are expected in 2010 and beyond…John will also pull out last year’s predictions and we’ll find out who was correct … Continue reading “Predictions for 2010 (WTIA Technology In Focus Series)”

CIO Forum from WTIA

Info and registration here. Designed as a highly-interactive meeting, this year’s Forum will feature two speakers and a panel discussion, with ample time for networking, audience discussion and Q&A. Attendance for the event is limited to CIO’s, CTO’s and Senior IT practitioners. Advanced approval is required prior to registration. The New CIO Reality – Leadership … Continue reading “CIO Forum from WTIA”

Faster, Cheaper Stem Cells: Fate Therapeutics Co-Founder, With Scripps Team, Finds Key

One of the scientific co-founders of San Diego-based Fate Therapeutics, along with his team at The Scripps Research Institute, is reporting a major advance that will make it faster, cheaper, and potentially practical on an industrial scale to turn adult cells into stem cells that can morph into any type of cell in the human … Continue reading “Faster, Cheaper Stem Cells: Fate Therapeutics Co-Founder, With Scripps Team, Finds Key”

Is Venture Up or Down? Dow Jones Survey Shows Retreat in Q3 VC Activity, Flatly Contradicting Rival Report

After reporting earlier this week that third-quarter venture capital investments were up 14 percent nationwide over the second quarter—based on data from New York-based ChubbyBrain—we now have data from Dow Jones VentureSource for the same period that shows almost the opposite: a 5.5 percent decline in venture capital deployed during the quarter. Instead of the … Continue reading “Is Venture Up or Down? Dow Jones Survey Shows Retreat in Q3 VC Activity, Flatly Contradicting Rival Report”

Findood Wins Top Prize in NWEN Forum

Seattle-area startup Findood, an online marketplace for specialty foods, took first prize at the Northwest Entrepreneur Network’s First Look Forum on Wednesday. The other four finalists were Dibspace, DigitalScirocco, Geedra, and HeatFlow Technologies. Also presenting to investors were Aurumis, CoCollage, Glue, Greenbridge International, PodCurry, Re:Source Fitness, and Serra Media. Findood won a package from Swift … Continue reading “Findood Wins Top Prize in NWEN Forum”