If solar panels are ever going to generate electricity for the mass market of U.S. consumers, they will need to be embedded in a place that captures serious rays, like the roof of the average American home. Lots of scientists are trying to make solar panels thinner, lighter, flexible, and more efficient, so they can … Continue reading “Vitex, Pacific Northwest National Lab Create Impervious ‘Sandwich Bag’ To Take Solar Power Mainstream”
Category: Seattle
NewPath Networks Garners $10,000,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=1ff87cdb-28f8-401a-b43a-ff7fd8268c1c&Preview=1 Date 8/17/2009 Company Name NewPath Networks Mailing Address 768 Garfield Street Seattle, WA 98109 Company Description NewPath Networks is a wireless infrastructure company that designs, develops and operates fiber-fed wireless carrier networks to improve signal strength and network capacity. NewPath increases existing carrier footprints by adding network coverage in hard-to-reach areas … Continue reading “NewPath Networks Garners $10,000,000 New Funding Round”
Verizon Tests 4G Network in Seattle, Boston
Verizon Wireless announced today it has successfully tested its fourth-generation wireless network in Boston and Seattle, by making “data calls” involving streaming video, Web browsing, and file uploads and downloads from mobile devices. Verizon’s technology, called Long Term Evolution, is supposed to be much faster than existing 3G wireless networks, and competes with Clearwire’s WiMax … Continue reading “Verizon Tests 4G Network in Seattle, Boston”
CombiMatrix Looks to Hire Banker
CombiMatrix, the Mukilteo, WA-based maker of genetic analysis tools, said this week it intends to hire an investment bank to evaluate options to “unlock shareholder value,” which might mean selling the company, parts of the company, or a finding partnership, according to a statement. CombiMatrix (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CBMX]]) considers it a good time to evaluate those … Continue reading “CombiMatrix Looks to Hire Banker”
Fluke to Acquire AirMagnet
Everett, WA-based Fluke Networks, a network service provider company, announced today in a press release that it will acquire Sunnyvale, CA-based AirMagnet a wireless LAN service provicer. Fluke provides for the installation, certification, testing, monitoring and analysis of networks including fiberoptic and wireless. According to the release, adding AirMagnet’s technology will improve the services provided … Continue reading “Fluke to Acquire AirMagnet”
Ramen or Roast Beef? Jeff Schrock and Geoff Nuval on DevHub’s Rise to Profitability
Investor Jeff Schrock calls Seattle-based EVO Media a “ramen profitable” startup. Co-founder and CEO Geoff Nuval calls it “roast beef sandwich” profitable. Two guys, two spellings of the same first name, two different food analogies. But the message is clear: these guys are hungry. Call it what you want, EVO Media is turning a profit … Continue reading “Ramen or Roast Beef? Jeff Schrock and Geoff Nuval on DevHub’s Rise to Profitability”
Startups Give E-mail a Big Boost on the iPhone with ReMail and GPush
As a device for managing your e-mail, the Apple iPhone isn’t bad, but it does have a few quirks and limitations. This week, I want to write about two brand-new applications that work around those failings, making the iPhone into a far more powerful tool for staying connected. The first app grabbed my attention because … Continue reading “Startups Give E-mail a Big Boost on the iPhone with ReMail and GPush”
Targeted Growth Tinkers with Genes to See If Algae Can Fulfill Biofuel Potential
[[Correction 10:40 am Pacific: Targeted Growth’s camelina program currently uses traditional breeding, not genetic engineering techniques like those for its algae biofuel program.]] Targeted Growth‘s business depends today in large part on its ability to breed new camelina seeds as a source for biofuel. But the Seattle-based biotech/cleantech company also has its eyes on a … Continue reading “Targeted Growth Tinkers with Genes to See If Algae Can Fulfill Biofuel Potential”
Hard Work is Essential for Startups. But How Much is Too Much? (Part 2)
Yesterday, I talked a little about balancing short and long-term effort at a startup. Today, I want to discuss “cranking,” which I’ll define as a short-run effort to achieve an extremely important short-term goal. How hard can people possibly crank? For a sufficiently motivating goal, people can work well in excess of 70 hours per … Continue reading “Hard Work is Essential for Startups. But How Much is Too Much? (Part 2)”
Seattle Genetics Gets $136M Total
Seattle Genetics, the Bothell, WA-based developer of antibody drugs for cancer, said today that underwriters of its stock offering have exercised their options to buy more shares, which makes the deal worth a total of $136 million. JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs led the offering, which also included Needham & Co., Oppenheimer & Co., RBC … Continue reading “Seattle Genetics Gets $136M Total”
Former aQuantive CEO Brian McAndrews Joins Madrona Venture Group, Brings Ad Expertise
Brian McAndrews, the former CEO of digital marketing technology firm aQuantive (formerly Avenue A), is joining the world of venture capital with Seattle-based Madrona Venture Group. Madrona is announcing today that McAndrews has joined the firm as a managing director. McAndrews was chief executive of aQuantive for eight years, and he oversaw the company through … Continue reading “Former aQuantive CEO Brian McAndrews Joins Madrona Venture Group, Brings Ad Expertise”
Report: Z2Live Raises $3M from Madrona
Seattle-based Z2Live, a mobile social gaming startup, has raised $3 million in new funding from Madrona Venture Group, also based in Seattle, according to TechCrunch. Z2Live has developed a free, multiplayer platform for social and casual games on the iPhone and iPod Touch. The company was founded by David Bluhm and Damon Danieli, and previously … Continue reading “Report: Z2Live Raises $3M from Madrona”
Seattle Genetics Recruits at Warp Speed, Amgen Passes Cancer Test, Stephen Friend’s Adventure & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News
Quite a few publicly traded biotechs released quarterly financial statements this week, but we arranged some fascinating conversations with entrepreneurs and researchers to offset the necessary number-crunching. —Seattle Genetics is having a breakout year, and one sure sign is that it has enrolled cancer patients in a clinical trial much faster than the industry norm. … Continue reading “Seattle Genetics Recruits at Warp Speed, Amgen Passes Cancer Test, Stephen Friend’s Adventure & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News”
Hard Work Is Essential for Startups. But How Much is Too Much? (Part 1)
Xconomy has seen a vigorous discussion of work/life balance in Seattle. Is Seattle slack compared to the San Francisco Bay Area? If so, does the difference matter? Janis Machala of UW TechTransfer brought up this point during a recent panel discussion, and it has stirred debate. I personally don’t think work/life balance is the most … Continue reading “Hard Work Is Essential for Startups. But How Much is Too Much? (Part 1)”
Alnylam, Tekmira and New Northwest Firm, AlCana, Push Boundaries of RNAi Delivery
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals is looking to the frontiers of science for ideas on how to best deliver RNA interference drugs throughout the body, and the Cambridge, MA-based company sounds most jazzed about what it sees emerging from laboratories in Vancouver, BC. Back in May, I wrote about how Alnylam—one of the richest companies in biotech—was leaning … Continue reading “Alnylam, Tekmira and New Northwest Firm, AlCana, Push Boundaries of RNAi Delivery”
Z2Live Lands $3,000,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3f0046d9-a044-4243-bbbd-5c0afbddbad2&Preview=1 Date 8/13/2009 Company Name Z2Live Mailing Address 1000 Second Avenue Seattle, WA 98104 Company Description Z2Live was formed to leverage the new capabilities of mobile devices, the seamless flow between mobile and Web communities and the advent of consumer-focused marketplaces. The company was founded in 2009 by Damon Danieli, a 14-year … Continue reading “Z2Live Lands $3,000,000 New Funding”
Oncothyreon Ends June with $22.7M
Oncothyreon, the Seattle-based developer of cancer drugs, said today in its quarterly financial report that it had $22.7 million in cash and investments at the end of June, about $3.5 million more than it had at the beginning of the year. Earlier this month, it raised an additional $14 million through a stock offering—which is … Continue reading “Oncothyreon Ends June with $22.7M”
12 Tech Firms in WA Make Inc. 500
Inc. magazine has released its annual list of the top 500 fastest growing private companies in the U.S. A dozen Washington state consulting or technology-related companies made the list, with the highest-ranked firm, Kirkland-based Revel Consulting, at number 34. The others are: Xtreme Consulting Group, Clarisonic, Sirsai, C&I Engineering, Remote Medical International, Visible Technologies, Audigy … Continue reading “12 Tech Firms in WA Make Inc. 500”
Targeted ‘Must Raise’ Cash
Targeted Genetics, the Seattle-based developer of gene therapies, said today in its quarterly financial report that it “must raise additional capital” to remain in business beyond this month. The company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:TGEN]]) had $2.5 million in cash and investments left at the end of June. The company is considering selling assets, product collaborations, or stock … Continue reading “Targeted ‘Must Raise’ Cash”
Northwest Entepeneur Network House Party
The Northwest Entepeneur Network is hosting a house party to celebrate the opening of their new headquarters in Seattle. According to the event website, “Enjoy a casual tour of our loft space in the SKB Architects offices, and take a stroll down memory lane with some vintage NWEN schwag. Swap stories and sip beverages with … Continue reading “Northwest Entepeneur Network House Party”
WTIA QA Sig
The Washington Technology and Industry Association is hosting it’s monthly QA Sig with the theme: “What would MacGyver do.” According to the event website, “Test automation is currently in a rut and needs some of that outside-the-box thinking. When most testers think about automation, they think of regression scenarios and capture/replay tools. However, regression testing … Continue reading “WTIA QA Sig”
Razorfish Deal Could Be Great for Microsoft, Says Online Strategy Expert Warren Gouk
One of the biggest tech deals of the year came over this past weekend—the $530 million acquisition of Seattle-based Razorfish by French marketing firm Publicis Groupe. Most people I’ve talked to seem to think the deal makes good sense for all parties. (Razorfish became an online advertising subsidiary of Microsoft in 2007 when Microsoft bought … Continue reading “Razorfish Deal Could Be Great for Microsoft, Says Online Strategy Expert Warren Gouk”
Microsoft, Nokia Announce Alliance on Smartphones
In a press conference in New York this morning, Microsoft Business Division president Stephen Elop and Nokia’s executive vice president for devices Kai Öistämö announced that Redmond, WA-based Microsoft and Finland-based Nokia have formed an alliance that will create adaptations of Microsoft programs for Nokia’s smartphones. Microsoft and Nokia will begin immediate development of Microsoft … Continue reading “Microsoft, Nokia Announce Alliance on Smartphones”
MIT Sloan Prof, Richard Locke, Talks Sustainability at Amazon, Intel, Nike
One of MIT’s leading business professors, Richard Locke, came to Seattle yesterday to talk about the “S” word. Yes, we’ve been hearing a lot about sustainability lately, in the context of technology and business. Big companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Boeing are talking seriously about the issue. Smaller Seattle-area companies like Verdiem, Powerit Solutions, and … Continue reading “MIT Sloan Prof, Richard Locke, Talks Sustainability at Amazon, Intel, Nike”
Seattle Genetics, Bucking the Trend, Recruits Hodgkin’s Patients at Warp Speed
Drug companies usually have a hard time recruiting cancer patients in clinical trials, and some dirty little financial reasons for it were exposed last week in The New York Times. Another little secret is that biotech companies often overpromise, and under deliver, when they tell investors they will hit their clinical trial deadlines. That makes … Continue reading “Seattle Genetics, Bucking the Trend, Recruits Hodgkin’s Patients at Warp Speed”
JanRain Receives $3,000,000 Series A Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=682e43dc-1be9-4c4c-87b8-78f2b617b4cf&Preview=1 Date 8/12/2009 Company Name JanRain Mailing Address 5331 SW Macadam Ave Portland, OR 97239 Company Description JanRain has been a recognized leader and catalyst driving the OpenID market forward since 2005. While providing OpenID solutions for both consumers and businesses, our company has helped create the OpenID Foundation and the majority … Continue reading “JanRain Receives $3,000,000 Series A Round”
Innovators Network: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
The Innovators Network, a group geared toward donors to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center under age 45, is holding an event with three top scientists to discuss their work on campus. The event, INsight 2009, will feature Corey Casper on making the link between infections and cancer; Colleen Delaney on using umbilical cord blood … Continue reading “Innovators Network: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center”
Seattle Genetics Raising $118M
Seattle Genetics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SGEN]]) announced today that it will be selling 11 million shares of common stock in an underwritten public offering for $10.75 a share. This is expected to raise about $118.2 million for the Bothell, WA-based developer of antibody cancer drugs. The offering is expected to close by Monday. Seattle Genetics’ stock price … Continue reading “Seattle Genetics Raising $118M”
VirtenSys Raises $16M
Manchester, UK-based VirtenSys, which opened up U.S. headquarters in Beaverton, OR, in January, announced in a press release today that it has raised $16 million in a Series C funding round. Investors in the round included Scottish Equity Partners, Celtic House Venture Partners, and Gimv. Virtensys develops virtualization technology for servers in data centers. The … Continue reading “VirtenSys Raises $16M”
Razorfish Chief Strategy Officer Says Publicis Deal Will Expand Firm’s Global Reach
Yesterday was a busy day for Razorfish chief strategy officer Jeff Lanctot. With the official announcement that French advertising firm Publicis will acquire Microsoft-owned Razorfish, Lanctot had quite a lot on his plate. Despite his having to fly out from Seattle to another office, I managed to get a few answers from him about the … Continue reading “Razorfish Chief Strategy Officer Says Publicis Deal Will Expand Firm’s Global Reach”
Dendreon Ends June with $287M Cash
Dendreon, the Seattle developer of immune-boosting therapies for cancer, said today in its second-quarter financial report that it had $287 million in cash and investments at the end of June. The company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DNDN]]) had total operating expenses in the second quarter of $20.9 million, as it continues to prepare its application to seek FDA … Continue reading “Dendreon Ends June with $287M Cash”
Microsoft Sells Razorfish, EnerG2 Scores Stimulus Funds, Tekmira Teams Up with Alnylam, & More Seattle-Area Deals News
The big news of the week was Microsoft’s sale of Razorfish to Publicis (see directly below), but there were a few other important deals in software, biotech, and energy. —Microsoft’s online advertising subsidiary, Seattle-based Razorfish, was bought by French marketing firm Publicis for approximately $530 million, as Bob reported. The payment is expected to include … Continue reading “Microsoft Sells Razorfish, EnerG2 Scores Stimulus Funds, Tekmira Teams Up with Alnylam, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”
Energy Secretary Steven Chu: Hire Brash Young Turks to Create the New Bell Labs
Steven Chu was once a young turk scientist in the late 1970s at Bell Labs, the hothouse that gave the world the transistor, satellites, and all sorts of other high tech inventions. Now that he’s the U.S. Secretary of Energy, overseeing 30,000 government scientists and engineers around the country, Chu is drawing on his own … Continue reading “Energy Secretary Steven Chu: Hire Brash Young Turks to Create the New Bell Labs”
VirtenSys Obtains $16,000,000 Series C Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a06cf5c7-d80b-4ddc-b186-0cae9a7cff8f&Preview=1 Date 8/11/2009 Company Name VirtenSys Mailing Address 14908 NW Greenbrier Parkway Beaverton, OR 97006 Company Description VirtenSys was founded in December of 2005 and has developed industry-leading and patented I/O virtualization technologies for servers and storage platforms. VirtenSys solutions revolutionize how I/O infrastructure is deployed and used in data centers and … Continue reading “VirtenSys Obtains $16,000,000 Series C Financing Round”
Dendreon Will Build Manufacturing Plant in Georgia
Dendreon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DNDN]]), the Seattle-based developer of an immune-boosting drug for prostate cancer, announced today that it has leased property in Atlanta to build a second manufacturing plant for the drug. Rumors about the deal surfaced last month, but Dendreon would not comment before the official announcement. The factory will actually be built in Union … Continue reading “Dendreon Will Build Manufacturing Plant in Georgia”
AVI Ends June With $20M Cash
AVI Biopharma, the Bothell, WA-based developer of RNA-based therapies, said today in its quarterly financial report that it had $20.2 million in cash and investments at the end of June. The company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AVII]]) expects to spend $10 to $12 million on operations this year, and said it anticipates it will receive more funding this … Continue reading “AVI Ends June With $20M Cash”
Seattle Genetics Snags Milestone
Seattle Genetics, the Bothell, WA-based developer of antibody drugs for cancer, said today it has earned an undisclosed milestone payment from MedImmune, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AstraZeneca. Seattle Genetics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SGEN]]) is due to receive the payment because MedImmune started a clinical trial with a drug that uses Seattle Genetics’ proprietary technology for making antibody … Continue reading “Seattle Genetics Snags Milestone”
Unmanned Vehicle Makers from Boston, Seattle, and San Diego (Xconomy’s Cities) Showcase Advances at DC Confab
The world’s largest collection of unmanned aircraft and other robotic systems is coming in for a landing this week in Washington, D.C., at a four-day conference that’s sponsored by AUVSI, the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International. Today’s the big day for video capture, with live demonstrations of UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) and UGVs (Unmanned … Continue reading “Unmanned Vehicle Makers from Boston, Seattle, and San Diego (Xconomy’s Cities) Showcase Advances at DC Confab”
Green Car Company Rides Wave of Plug-in Hybrids, Battery Technologies
A lot of people modify their cars, but the alterations to the hybrid Toyota Prius I was test-driving last week were more than just a fancy paint job or cool rims. In addition to the standard regenerative braking battery, I was packing an A123 Systems Hymotion L5 lithium ion battery that charged by plugging into … Continue reading “Green Car Company Rides Wave of Plug-in Hybrids, Battery Technologies”
Universal Healthcare Can Save Money, But Innovation Is Key: My Experiences in Japan and the U.S.
I was born and grew up in Japan and have first-hand experience as both a doctor and a patient in my native country—a nation that offers universal health care coverage to its citizens. I have also been a patient, an academic researcher and a biotech entrepreneur here in the United States, my home for the … Continue reading “Universal Healthcare Can Save Money, But Innovation Is Key: My Experiences in Japan and the U.S.”
Amgen’s Personalized Strategy for Cancer Pays Off in Big Colon Cancer Trial
Quite a few scientists at Amgen could breathe sighs of relief over the weekend—that years of their work didn’t go down the drain. The world’s biggest biotech company, which has scientific operations in Seattle and Cambridge, MA, scored a victory in its quest to make cancer drugs tailored to specific genetic subgroups, when the idea … Continue reading “Amgen’s Personalized Strategy for Cancer Pays Off in Big Colon Cancer Trial”
Microsoft Sells Razorfish to Publicis for $530M
Microsoft’s online advertising agency Razorfish has been sold to French advertising company Publicis Groupe for approximately $530 million, the French concern announced today, confirming last week’s reports that it was bidding on Razorfish. The sale had been reported before the confirmation by the Wall Street Journal and PaidContent, and perhaps by others. Publicis said in … Continue reading “Microsoft Sells Razorfish to Publicis for $530M”
Merge Acquires Confirma for $22M
Bellevue, WA-based medical imaging detection software company Confirma will be acquired by Milwaukee, WI-based health IT provider Merge Healthcare for approximately $22 million, according to a press release sent out today. The acquisition will allow Merge to incorporate Confirma’s technology into its IT offerings to doctors. Confirma’s main product, CADstream, is used for prostate and … Continue reading “Merge Acquires Confirma for $22M”
Cray, InfoSpace Exceed Analyst Expectations, and Other Second-Quarter Earnings Highlights
In the past week, companies have been releasing their financial results for the second quarter. There’s a mix of good and bad news from Seattle’s public tech companies weathering the economic storm, with surprisingly positive news from some quarters. —Bellevue, WA-based metasearch developer InfoSpace announced its revenue was $43.8 million for the quarter, up 14 … Continue reading “Cray, InfoSpace Exceed Analyst Expectations, and Other Second-Quarter Earnings Highlights”
The Shoeshine Oracles: Tech-Business Lessons from the Street
If you really want to keep your finger on the pulse of the Seattle business scene, go get your shoes shined. That’s the advice Todd Dean gave me recently. Dean is president of Keiretsu Forum Seattle/Northwest, the local chapter of the world’s largest angel investor community. He took me to see a couple of the … Continue reading “The Shoeshine Oracles: Tech-Business Lessons from the Street”
Target Leaves Amazon
Target, the Minneapolis, MN-based chain retail store announced today in a press release that it plans to build its own online store platform, ending its deal with Seattle-based Amazon.com, which has managed Target’s online sales since 2001. The current contract between the two companies extends until 2011. Target will launch its proprietary management system in … Continue reading “Target Leaves Amazon”
Vertex Drug Could Be “Man on the Moon” for Cystic Fibrosis Therapy, Says Researcher Bonnie Ramsey
Bonnie Ramsey remembers the dark days of treatment for cystic fibrosis. About 30 years ago, when she devoted her career to the research and treatment of this genetic lung disease, children who were diagnosed had a life expectancy of about 17 years. The outlook is much brighter for patients now, as quality of life has … Continue reading “Vertex Drug Could Be “Man on the Moon” for Cystic Fibrosis Therapy, Says Researcher Bonnie Ramsey”
Merge Technologies Incorporated Acquires Confirma for $22,000,000
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=0fe2cee2-45be-42cb-ae52-d1e0fc3a3d37&Preview=1 Date 8/7/2009 Company Name Confirma Mailing Address 11040 Main Street Bellevue, WA 98004 Company Description Confirma delivers products and services that improve confidence in MRI and help practices meet the growing demand for MRI studies. CADstream® is the standard in CAD for MRI, automating the analysis and interventional guidance of MRI … Continue reading “Merge Technologies Incorporated Acquires Confirma for $22,000,000”
Startup Day 2009
Seattle 2.0 is hosting Startup Day 2009, a conference for technologists who are thinking about founding a startup but have yet to do so. For more information about the event and to register, visit the event website.
Microsoft Researchers Present Next-Gen Graphics and Software Tools at SIGGRAPH
If you want to glimpse the future of gaming and entertainment software, check out the presentations at the world’s largest and most prestigious graphics conference. This week, at the annual SIGGRAPH meeting (in New Orleans this year), researchers from Microsoft and elsewhere are presenting cutting-edge techniques in computer animation, image and video processing, interactive interfaces, … Continue reading “Microsoft Researchers Present Next-Gen Graphics and Software Tools at SIGGRAPH”