After just a couple of weeks, Ryan Morel was hooked on Bumper Stars, a free game on Facebook. He and his co-workers were but a few of the tens of thousands of people playing the game, a mixture of ping-pong, pool, and shufflepuck, every month. Morel only wished someone would make a mobile version of … Continue reading “PressOK, Born in a Mobile Merger, Focuses on Smartphone Games”
Category: Seattle
OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals Lands $9,500,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ed5fe3e3-b4dc-4288-8316-fbe23941db26&Preview=1 Date 7/20/2009 Company Name OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals Mailing Address 1522 217th Place SE Bothell, WA 98021 Company Description OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company committed to the development and commercialization of new cancer therapies that address unmet needs in the treatment of cancer. We have a deep oncology pipeline, with each product … Continue reading “OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals Lands $9,500,000 New Funding”
Dendreon May Open Atlanta Plant
Dendreon, the Seattle-based cancer drug developer, may open a new manufacturing plant in Georgia, according to a report in the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Dendreon’s product, a new drug to treat prostate cancer, is being reviewed for approval by the FDA. Xconomy has written about Dendreon’s limited manufacturing before. The possible plant could cost $80 million … Continue reading “Dendreon May Open Atlanta Plant”
Former Googler Launches Sharein, a Social Tool for Twitter, Facebook, and E-mail
Colin Wong called me from Malaysia last night. His startup, Bellevue, WA-based Sharein (formerly ZoeCity), has rolled out an interesting new product and website today—a bookmark tool for sharing links with friends, family, and customers to Twitter, Facebook, and e-mail, all from your Web browser. It’s not earth-shattering technology, but it’s part of a new … Continue reading “Former Googler Launches Sharein, a Social Tool for Twitter, Facebook, and E-mail”
WTIA Healthcare/IT Panel
The Washington Technology Industry Association is hosting an event for people to listen to a panel of experts discuss health care and IT in the region and what they future may hold. According to the event’s website: “Hear from our panel of experts who are at the cutting edge of this transition and get their … Continue reading “WTIA Healthcare/IT Panel”
The End of Sampa
Redmond, WA-based Sampa, a startup that helps people build family websites, announced it is shutting down on August 17, 2009. Sampa founder and former Microsoftie Marcelo Calbucci, who also leads the Seattle 2.0 startup site, says that the company ran out of money and its business models didn’t work out. Calbucci also has an extensive … Continue reading “The End of Sampa”
Microsoft and Yahoo Finally Making a Deal?
Microsoft and Yahoo, after complicated negotiations and a few false starts, may be very close to announcing a deal wherein Redmond, WA-based Microsoft will take over the search advertising business run by Sunnyvale, CA-based Yahoo. The latest news, from a report on All Things Digital (and many other subsequent articles), indicates a formal announcement could … Continue reading “Microsoft and Yahoo Finally Making a Deal?”
Art Isn’t Free: The Tragedy of the Wikimedia Commons
I came across a nice Isaac Asimov quote this week: “No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be.” The copyright dispute that went public this week between the UK’s National Portrait Gallery and the Wikimedia Commons is … Continue reading “Art Isn’t Free: The Tragedy of the Wikimedia Commons”
Previewing Xconomy’s Battle of the Tech Bands
With just under two weeks to go until Seattle’s first-ever Battle of the Tech Bands, I thought I’d give you a quick preview of the event. It’s all taking place on July 30 at the WTIA Summer Celebration, at the Pyramid Alehouse (registration and ticket info here). The music will start at 6pm, and we’ll … Continue reading “Previewing Xconomy’s Battle of the Tech Bands”
Mpire CEO Matt Hulett to Step Down, Become Executive Chairman—and Join RealGames
Matt Hulett, the chief executive of Seattle-based Mpire, is stepping down as of August 14 to become executive chairman of the firm. Mpire runs the popular online advertising network Widgetbucks, and in April the firm rolled out an ad-optimizing service called AdXpose. The company is actively recruiting for a new CEO with expertise in advertising … Continue reading “Mpire CEO Matt Hulett to Step Down, Become Executive Chairman—and Join RealGames”
AboutUs Adds $1.2M from Voyager, Others
Portland, OR-based AboutUs, an Internet startup focused on information discovery and sharing, has closed $1.2 million in financing, according to an SEC filing. CEO Ray King confirmed the funding, saying it rounds out the company’s Series A. Back in January, AboutUs announced a $2.5 million commitment from Seattle-based Voyager Capital. The latest tranche closing includes … Continue reading “AboutUs Adds $1.2M from Voyager, Others”
Blue Marble Closes Series A Funding
Blue Marble Energy announced today that it had reached its Series A financing goal. The Seattle-based company is developing ways of turning organic material like algae and human waste into useful chemicals and renewable fuel. Financial details of the funding were not disclosed, but in April Blue Marble reported in an SEC filing that it … Continue reading “Blue Marble Closes Series A Funding”
More Than a Cherry on Top—Microsoft Search Honcho Harry Shum on Why Bing is Different from Other MS Products
A wise man once told me, “Engineers don’t lie.” So when I wanted to find out the real story behind Bing, Microsoft’s new search engine, I went to Harry Shum. Shum is Microsoft’s vice president of search product development. He runs the engineering team responsible for Bing, among other duties. He was formerly the managing … Continue reading “More Than a Cherry on Top—Microsoft Search Honcho Harry Shum on Why Bing is Different from Other MS Products”
Bio Architecture Lab Raises Cash, OVP Invests in Limerick, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News
Raising money and making deals were the trends of our life sciences stories this past week. And sometimes more than just business executives benefit. —Greg reported that University of Washington spinoff company Bio Architecture Labs raised $3.4 million in equity funding this week. The company, which works to create synthetic biofuels and renewable chemicals, apparently … Continue reading “Bio Architecture Lab Raises Cash, OVP Invests in Limerick, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News”
RealGames Gets New Distributor
RealGames, a developer of downloadable games and a division of Seattle-based RealNetworks, has made a deal with social entertainment website hi5, according to a press release. San Francisco-based hi5 now has a downloadable games section on its website that will feature 1,500 games from RealNetworks. Some of the games will have free trials, while others range … Continue reading “RealGames Gets New Distributor”
Bio Architecture Lab, a UW Spinout, Raises $3.4M for Renewable Chemicals and Biofuels
Seattle-based Bio Architecture Lab, a stealthy spinout from the University of Washington, has raised $3.4 million in equity funding out of a $6 million offering, according to a regulatory filing. Michael Borrus of Menlo Park, CA-based X/Seed Capital is listed on the form as a director, which suggests that X/Seed participated in the funding round. … Continue reading “Bio Architecture Lab, a UW Spinout, Raises $3.4M for Renewable Chemicals and Biofuels”
Early View of Second Quarter Shows VC Investing Activity at $5.3B, Up 61 Percent
We got an early peek at second-quarter VC investing today from ChubbyBrain, a New York-based information service (and new Xconomy partner) that uses a “structured wiki” to collect data on startups, and monitors venture capital investments nationwide. ChubbyBrain says venture activity bounced back, with more than $5.3 billion invested during the three months that ended in … Continue reading “Early View of Second Quarter Shows VC Investing Activity at $5.3B, Up 61 Percent”
Location-Aware Apps On The Rise, But Many Are Cookie-Cutter ‘Bulk Apps,’ Report Finds
Not surprisingly, given the rush among handset makers and software developers to cash in on the mobile-software explosion, there’s a been a big uptick in the availability of mobile apps that make use of location information, according to a report published today by Boston’s Skyhook Wireless. That’s true not just for the Apple iPhone, but … Continue reading “Location-Aware Apps On The Rise, But Many Are Cookie-Cutter ‘Bulk Apps,’ Report Finds”
OVP Leads $15M Series C Round for Limerick BioPharma
Kirkland, WA-based OVP Venture Partners has led a new $15 million investment round in Limerick Biopharma, a drug development company based in South San Francisco. Existing investors Arch Venture Partners, Sevin Rosen Funds, and Altitude Funds also participated in the Series C round. Limerick is a new portfolio company for OVP, and OVP managing director … Continue reading “OVP Leads $15M Series C Round for Limerick BioPharma”
Blackbox Republic, Led by Ex-Jive Exec, Gets Seed Funding for Sex-Positive Social Network
First of all, Blackbox Republic is not a hook-up site. Let’s just get that out of the way. It’s also not a porn site, sex site, or dating site. It’s a niche social network, looking to fill the void between Facebook, Match.com, and Amazon, and it’s starting out by targeting members of an emerging community … Continue reading “Blackbox Republic, Led by Ex-Jive Exec, Gets Seed Funding for Sex-Positive Social Network”
Bio Architecture Lab Secures $3,400,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9c10e9a6-28b6-4ac6-a84d-3ba4ceed92f2&Preview=1 Date 7/15/2009 Company Name Bio Architecture Lab Mailing Address 454 North 34th Street Seattle, WA 98103 Company Description The company develops clean technology products. Website http://www.ba-lab.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $3,400,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. M&A Terms Venture Investor X/Seed Capital Venture Investor … Continue reading “Bio Architecture Lab Secures $3,400,000 New Financing”
Zillow Still Tops Startup Website List
The monthly startup index created by Seattle 2.0 went up today with the highest number of new startups, 23, since March. Zillow and Pet Holdings maintain their traffic lead from last month, and Seattle 2.0 is now on the list for the first time. Moving up the list is Survey Analytics, breaking the top ten … Continue reading “Zillow Still Tops Startup Website List”
WhitePages Gets $2.5M Overhaul
Seattle-based WhitePages, the Web and mobile online directory, announced today it has redesigned its website for $2.5 million. The site is meant to help customers across the U.S. connect with each other by phone, text, e-mail, or snail mail. It includes new privacy controls and a user interface intended to improve services for customers and … Continue reading “WhitePages Gets $2.5M Overhaul”
Nuance Acquires Jott
Nuance Communications (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NUAN]]), the Burlington, MA-based voice technology juggernaut that has already absorbed most of its East Coast competitors, reached west today, announcing that it has acquired Seattle-based Jott. Jott, founded in 2006 by ex-Microsoft employees, started out as a free voice-to-text service that allowed users to record messages via telephone that were then … Continue reading “Nuance Acquires Jott”
Data Domain Founder Talks EMC Deal, Arzeda Teams Up With Dupont, EndoGastric Takes In $7.5M, & More Seattle-Area Deals News
It was a fairly quiet week for deals in the Northwest, with some activity in biotech, software, materials, and devices. —Seattle-based Arzeda, a developer of artificial enzymes, formed a partnership with DuPont to create new crop seeds that incorporate Arzeda’s technology, which should increase the productivity of the plants for food, as Eric reported. Financial … Continue reading “Data Domain Founder Talks EMC Deal, Arzeda Teams Up With Dupont, EndoGastric Takes In $7.5M, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”
Clean Water, Little Fuss: PATH and Cascade Designs Bring Purifiers to Africa
Taking a sip from a kitchen faucet rarely causes someone’s heart to pound or adrenaline to flow, but for millions around the world, drinking the local water is just another version of Russian roulette. With every mouthful of water, people in developing countries imbibe bacteria and viruses that can and often do cause lethal diseases, … Continue reading “Clean Water, Little Fuss: PATH and Cascade Designs Bring Purifiers to Africa”
Nuance Communications Acquires Jott for Undisclosed Sum
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ab2ff247-2644-4dcb-84d6-7e2fb2590cf3&Preview=1 Date 7/14/2009 Company Name Jott Mailing Address 300 East Pike Street Seattle, WA 98122 Company Description The company has developed technology that converts voice into text for delivery via email. Website http://www.jott.com Transaction Type M&A Transaction Amount Undisclosed Transaction Round Proceeds Purposes M&A Terms Financial terms of the transaction were not … Continue reading “Nuance Communications Acquires Jott for Undisclosed Sum”
Craig Mundie of Microsoft on the Future of Software: Digital Assistants, Natural User Interfaces, and Room Computing
When you’ve been at Microsoft for 17 years, you’ve seen a few things. This morning, Craig Mundie, Microsoft’s chief research and strategy officer, shared some of his hard-earned wisdom in a keynote talk at company headquarters in Redmond, WA—helping to kick off Microsoft Research’s 10th annual faculty summit. Mundie outlined his broad thoughts on the … Continue reading “Craig Mundie of Microsoft on the Future of Software: Digital Assistants, Natural User Interfaces, and Room Computing”
Arzeda Teaming with DuPont
Arzeda, an artificial enzyme developer based in Seattle announced today that it is working with Des Moines, IA-based DuPont to create new crop seeds incorporating Arzeda’s enzymes. The enzymes will ideally increase the productivity of the plants, providing more food from fewer resources. The agreement gives DuPont, through its subsidiary Pioneer Hi-Bred, exclusive rights to … Continue reading “Arzeda Teaming with DuPont”
NASA to Use Kryptiq Software
Kryptiq, a Portland, OR-based developer of healthcare software announced today that NASA’s space medicine division will begin using Kryptiq’s Connect IQ software for sharing health data. Financial details of the deal were not revealed. NASA will use Connect IQ to share health information with its patients, colleagues and partners, including other government space organizations like … Continue reading “NASA to Use Kryptiq Software”
Microsoft Rolls Out Tools to Help Scientists (and Eventually Companies) Manage Data Deluge
From the seas to the stars, Microsoft Research is trying to increase its impact. The Redmond, WA-based computer science research organization is releasing new software tools aimed at helping scientists manage and visualize huge amounts of information, and make discoveries in fields as diverse as astronomy and oceanography. The announcement of the free tools, called … Continue reading “Microsoft Rolls Out Tools to Help Scientists (and Eventually Companies) Manage Data Deluge”
Zuma Links with Facebook
PopCap Games today announced the launch of a new, social media aspect to its popular action/puzzle game Zuma. Zuma Web Connect allows users to not only play the game but to compare scores with friends on Facebook. Seattle-based Popcap has just finished a six-month trial of a similar program for Bejeweled, their most popular game. … Continue reading “Zuma Links with Facebook”
TeachStreet Launches Payment System
Seattle-based TeachStreet, an Internet startup that connects students and teachers in seven metro areas around the U.S., announced last night it has rolled out a new payment system powered by PayPal. Teachers get paid by their students, and TeachStreet collects a percentage of the enrollment fee, and a registration fee for new students. The startup … Continue reading “TeachStreet Launches Payment System”
VC Fundraising Engine Stalled, Q2 Venture Fund Closings Hit 13-year Low
Could it be the nadir of this recession for the venture capital industry? U.S. venture firms closed the fewest number of funds since the mid-1990s in the second quarter of 2009, according to a study released today. The 63.1-percent decline in quarterly VC fundraising indicated in the study is further evidence that the venture industry … Continue reading “VC Fundraising Engine Stalled, Q2 Venture Fund Closings Hit 13-year Low”
Off the Beaten Trail, WBBA Corrals Investors to Sniff Around Seattle Biotech
Venture capitalists from high-profile shops like SR One, the venture arm of drug giant GlaxoSmithKline, aren’t known for scouting companies in the Pacific Northwest. If the Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association gets its way, a few more of those well-connected firms will start looking, and then maybe investing, in Northwest startups. SR One recently sent … Continue reading “Off the Beaten Trail, WBBA Corrals Investors to Sniff Around Seattle Biotech”
Thoughts on the Naked Truth, from Picnik’s Jonathan Sposato
Yes, I’m taking the day off and letting other people (the actual participants) tell you what they took away from the inspiring tech events in Seattle last night. I asked panelist Jonathan Sposato, the CEO of Seattle-based Picnik, for his thoughts on the Naked Truth spectacle at Olympic Sculpture Park, which was organized by Glenn … Continue reading “Thoughts on the Naked Truth, from Picnik’s Jonathan Sposato”
A Yotta Insights on Making Money in Mobile, from Dan Shapiro of Ontela
While a lot of people were out enjoying the sunset and discussion at Seattle’s Olympic Sculpture Park last night—see TechFlash and TechCrunch for a nice recap of the Naked Truth startup gathering (and thanks to Seattle 2.0 TV for broadcasting it)—there was another compelling event happening on the Eastside. This one, hosted in Bellevue by … Continue reading “A Yotta Insights on Making Money in Mobile, from Dan Shapiro of Ontela”
Personal Podcasting with AudioBoo, UK’s “Twitter for Voice”
The human voice is making a comeback. For a while, it looked like e-mail, instant messaging, blogs, RSS, and all of the Internet’s other texty goodness might permanently eclipse the old-fashioned phone call and other voice-driven forms of communication. Even the spread of cell phones hasn’t halted the tide of text—more than a third of … Continue reading “Personal Podcasting with AudioBoo, UK’s “Twitter for Voice””
How Healthcare Legislation Can Ensure Patient Safety and Spur Innovation
Next week, the U.S. Senate is expected to take up debate on health care reform. Regardless of what happens in Washington DC, the impact will be felt on virtually every business and individual in Washington State. Without question, a simple solution to our health care crisis is elusive, and in the coming days and weeks … Continue reading “How Healthcare Legislation Can Ensure Patient Safety and Spur Innovation”
Delve Dives into Do-it-Yourself Online Video Management
Every new technology brings new options and opportunities for people to learn, explore, and of course, sell to each other. Internet video has proven no exception. Companies today can whip up professional ads, demos, and explanatory videos and expose them to the whole world for just a few hundred dollars, compared to the thousands and … Continue reading “Delve Dives into Do-it-Yourself Online Video Management”
Seattle Lunch 2.0 @ Curious Office and H-Farm Ventures
Register here. Curious Office and H-Farm Ventures will discuss international options. From taking international investments to taking your product abroad, there are intricacies in the details that startups need to consider. Curious Office and H-Farm have been there and done that and lived to tell about it. If you are considering taking an angel or … Continue reading “Seattle Lunch 2.0 @ Curious Office and H-Farm Ventures”
Amazon Launches Cellphone Site
Seattle-based Internet retailer Amazon today announced the launch of a new website focused on selling mobile phones and phone plans. AmazonWireless is limited to AT&T and Verizon plans but will expand as beta testing goes on. Currently, over 120 types of phone are available for sale. The main purpose of the site, according to the announcement, is … Continue reading “Amazon Launches Cellphone Site”
Evri Gets New CEO, Will Hunsinger
Seattle-based Evri, an Internet startup backed by Paul Allen’s Vulcan Capital, announced a new chief executive today, Will Hunsinger, the former CEO of San Francisco-based Adeze and entrepreneur-in-residence at Seattle venture firm Maveron. Hunsinger succeeds Neil Roseman, who is leaving Evri to become an entrepreneur-in-residence at Vulcan Capital. Evri focuses on information discovery and browsing, … Continue reading “Evri Gets New CEO, Will Hunsinger”
Data Domain Founder, Kai Li, on EMC Acquisition and the Future of Data Storage
Now I know why venture capitalists walk the halls at the University of Washington—you never know who you might run into. My timing was impeccable yesterday as I sat down with Kai Li, the co-founder and chief scientist of Data Domain (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DDUP]]), the Santa Clara, CA-based data storage company that just got bought by … Continue reading “Data Domain Founder, Kai Li, on EMC Acquisition and the Future of Data Storage”
MicroGreen Polymers Grabs $1.6M to Put Green Plastics Into Your Morning Coffee Cup
Xconomy has learned that MicroGreen Polymers, an Arlington, WA-based developer of technology to recycle plastics into cheaper, environmentally friendly coffee cups among other things, has raised $1.6 million for expansion from WRF Capital and local angel investors (Northwest Energy Angels, Alliance of Angels, and Atlas Accelerator), out of an ongoing round the company expects will … Continue reading “MicroGreen Polymers Grabs $1.6M to Put Green Plastics Into Your Morning Coffee Cup”
Targeted Genetics Dumps Lease, Amgen’s Dmab Works in Cancer Trial, Theraclone Nabs Cash, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News
Seattle biotech is quieting down these days, so it’s a good time for your local life sciences correspondent to step away on vacation. See you back here on July 20. —EndoGastric Solutions, the medical device firm based in Redmond, WA, and Redwood City, CA, raised $7.5 million from investors. The company makes devices to combat … Continue reading “Targeted Genetics Dumps Lease, Amgen’s Dmab Works in Cancer Trial, Theraclone Nabs Cash, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News”
MicroGreen Polymers, Inc. Obtains $1,600,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9aa6bba6-a05a-43e0-8dd9-813178339a85&Preview=1 Date 7/9/2009 Company Name MicroGreen Polymers, Inc. Mailing Address 19421 59th Avenue NE Arlington, WA 98223 Company Description MicroGREEN Polymers is on a mission to give the plastics industry and the world environmentally sound plastics technologies with substantial economic advantages. MicroGREEN Polymers Inc. was incorporated September 11, 2002, in Washington State … Continue reading “MicroGreen Polymers, Inc. Obtains $1,600,000 New Funding Round”
Venture Capital Fundraising Down by 63 Percent So Far This Year
In news that’s not exactly unexpected, a mid-year survey shows that fundraising among U.S. venture capital firms is near low ebb, with the total raised so far at the lowest point since 2003, when 34 VC funds raised $2.2 billion in the first half of the year. The survey released today by Dow Jones Private … Continue reading “Venture Capital Fundraising Down by 63 Percent So Far This Year”
Amazon Lowers Kindle 2 Price to $299
Amazon’s e-book reader, the Kindle, dropped $60 in price today from $359 to $299, only five months after the February debut of the second generation reader. The price change comes as something of a surprise, after repeated statements from Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to the effect that the company could not sell the Kindle for … Continue reading “Amazon Lowers Kindle 2 Price to $299”
EndoGastric Gets $7.5M
Medical device firm EndoGastric Solutions, based in Redmond, WA, and Redwood City, CA, has raised $7.5 million in funding, according to a regulatory filing. The company makes devices to combat heartburn and obesity, and previously raised $79 million in venture funding from the likes of MPM Capital, Advanced Technology Ventures, and DeNovo Ventures. EndoGastric was … Continue reading “EndoGastric Gets $7.5M”