OK, so this isn’t technically a Seattle story. But how can we resist a bizarre new flying machine being built by Boeing to travel to the farthest reaches of the Earth? This week, Boeing announced it is teaming up with Calgary, Alberta-based SkyHook to develop a “heavy-lift rotorcraft” that can carry a 40-ton load up … Continue reading “Boeing and SkyHook’s Zeppelin-Copter Faces Safety Challenges”
Category: Seattle
Keep Your Employees Happy (and Your Company Small) and All Goodness Will Flow, Says Founder of Jackson Fish Market
I had a good chat on Monday with Hillel Cooperman, founder of Jackson Fish Market, a Seattle-based startup that builds interesting websites. I had come across Cooperman’s blog last week in which he argued in favor of “bottoms up” management as opposed to the traditional top-down approach in companies. Given Cooperman’s experience—which includes almost 10 … Continue reading “Keep Your Employees Happy (and Your Company Small) and All Goodness Will Flow, Says Founder of Jackson Fish Market”
Calistoga Starts First Clinical Trial of Cancer Drug
Calistoga Pharmaceuticals, a Seattle biotech startup backed by Frazier Healthcare Ventures, said today it has started its first test in humans of its lead drug candidate for patients with blood cancers. The treatment, a small-molecule compound called CAL-101, is designed to block the PI3 kinase, which controls cell growth and survival signals. The trial will … Continue reading “Calistoga Starts First Clinical Trial of Cancer Drug”
Impinj Acquires Intel’s RFID Business, Strengthens Hold on Tracking Technologies (Especially Chips)
Last month we reported that Seattle-based Impinj, a prominent maker of radio-frequency identification (RFID) technologies, had sold off its memory business to focus on its core RFID products. Now the company has announced that it is acquiring Intel’s RFID business, which specializes in making chips for smaller-size applications like handheld readers. It’s a “huge step … Continue reading “Impinj Acquires Intel’s RFID Business, Strengthens Hold on Tracking Technologies (Especially Chips)”
Apple Launches iPhone App Store Ahead of Schedule; Boston and Seattle Startups Featured
Apple had promised to unveil the new App Store section of iTunes—where, for the first time, iPhone and iPod Touch owners will be able to get third-party applications for their devices—on July 11, the same day that the new iPhone 3G goes on sale. But in a typical bit of Apple surprise marketing, the App … Continue reading “Apple Launches iPhone App Store Ahead of Schedule; Boston and Seattle Startups Featured”
Targeted Genetics Gets Recommended for up to $2.4 Million Government Grant
Targeted Genetics, the Seattle-based biotech company, said today it has been recommended for a grant worth as much as $2.4 million from the U.S. Department of Defense to develop a treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Targeted Genetics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:TGEN]]) plans to develop a conventional small-molecule drug for animal tests against the … Continue reading “Targeted Genetics Gets Recommended for up to $2.4 Million Government Grant”
Alerts.com Raises $1.2M
Bellevue, WA-based Alerts.com has raised $1.2 million in financing, led by Monster Venture Partners, also in Bellevue. Alerts.com is a service for receiving and managing reminders, news, stock quotes, and other online information. Its public beta version launched last month.
Top-Ranked Web Startups Don’t Get the Most Funding, Says Founder of Sampa
Earlier this week I saw Marcelo Calbucci’s monthly “Seattle Startup Index” on his blog, Seattle 2.0, and I was a bit puzzled. There are 299 local websites on his list, ranked using Alexa and Compete—services that estimate Web traffic numbers by extrapolating from the browsing behavior of users of Alexa and Compete’s toolbars. The top … Continue reading “Top-Ranked Web Startups Don’t Get the Most Funding, Says Founder of Sampa”
Spiration, Uptake Medical Vying to Develop Better Emphysema Treatment
Not many innovations have come along lately for patients with emphysema, a deadly lung disease. There are inhalers, supplemental oxygen, and, if you’re in really bad shape, a risky surgery to cut out damaged lung tissue. Now two competing Seattle-area medical device companies are in the hunt to change the standard of care, with less … Continue reading “Spiration, Uptake Medical Vying to Develop Better Emphysema Treatment”
Alerts.com Garners $1,200,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=00712b4b-3412-4d7d-8352-25cd3c2db690&Preview=1 Date 7/10/2008 Company Name Alerts.com Mailing Address 155 108th Avenue NE Bellevue, WA 98033 Company Description Alerts.com is your personal information management destination where you are in control of the information you need. With Alerts.com you get updated news, the latest results of your favorite team or player, birthday or party … Continue reading “Alerts.com Garners $1,200,000 New Financing”
NexPlanar Corporation Secures $14,500,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=fd63c741-5b9d-4764-b3d2-e0dce96989e8&Preview=1 Date 7/10/2008 Company Name NexPlanar Corporation Mailing Address 7425 NW Evergreen Parkway Hillsboro, OR 97124 Company Description NexPlanar builds the next generation of chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) pads for the semiconductor device industry. Our propriety nano-domain technology coupled with patented molded grooves and the unique ability to tune the pads results … Continue reading “NexPlanar Corporation Secures $14,500,000 New Funding Round”
Cell Therapeutics Gets a Win on Capitol Hill, Zevalin Reimbursement To Remain Same
Cell Therapeutics got its way in Washington DC today. The Senate voted 69-30 in favor of a Medicare bill that includes a provision extending the current reimbursement rate for doctors who prescribe Zevalin, a drug for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which happens to be the Seattle biotech company’s sole marketed product. Medicare had proposed a new reimbursement … Continue reading “Cell Therapeutics Gets a Win on Capitol Hill, Zevalin Reimbursement To Remain Same”
nPost Networking Event for Tech Startups
Come on down to the Columbia City Theater for an evening of mingling with tech entrepreneurs, VCs, and angel investors. It’s hosted by Nathan Kaiser and nPost, and the first 100 attendees get free beer tickets. Catch company demos from Catch the Best, Pelago, TimeLope, HomeSavvi, ClayValet, and others. Sponsors include Sun Microsystems, Silicon Valley … Continue reading “nPost Networking Event for Tech Startups”
Xeround Rounds Up $16M in Series B Round
Venture financing deals have been slow going into the dog days of summer. But today Xeround, a software startup based in Bellevue, WA, announced it has closed a Series B funding round worth $16 million. Ignition Partners and Trilogy Partnership, both also in Bellevue, led the round and were joined by previous investors Benchmark Capital … Continue reading “Xeround Rounds Up $16M in Series B Round”
Genocea Teams With Nonprofit PATH on Vaccine for Children in Developing World
Genocea Biosciences is aiming to upstage the best-selling vaccine ever. The Cambridge, MA-based biotech startup, through funding from Seattle-based PATH, a nonprofit that supports global health technologies, has started pursuing a next-generation pneumococcus vaccine that may offer broader protection to infants in the developing world than Prevnar, a vaccine made by drug giant Wyeth, and … Continue reading “Genocea Teams With Nonprofit PATH on Vaccine for Children in Developing World”
Xeround Systems Receives $16,000,000 Series B Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6b7c5f5f-e244-430c-a6f6-1ddf69c6fdbf&Preview=1 Date 7/9/2008 Company Name Xeround Systems Mailing Address 15375 SE 30th Place Bellevue, WA 98007 Company Description Next-generation network services are a dramatic evolution in the carrier market. Over the next five years, Next Generation Networks (NGN) based on IP Multimedia Subsystems (IMS) reference architecture, will have almost entirely displaced all … Continue reading “Xeround Systems Receives $16,000,000 Series B Funding”
Imagekind Acquired by CafePress
Imagekind, a Seattle-based online marketplace for user-generated art, announced that it has agreed to be acquired by CafePress, best known for its customized T-shirts. The deal is worth $15-20 million, according to VentureBeat, the Seattle P-I, and others.
Icahn and Ballmer Strengthen Case for a Microsoft Takeover of Yahoo, but Lose Some Respect
It reminds me of a playground tug-of-war between little kids. Only there’s $40 billion-plus at stake. In any case, the Microsoft-Yahoo battle is heating up again, and this time things could really get nasty. As you might have noticed, there has been a huge flurry of activity and coverage over the past day or so, … Continue reading “Icahn and Ballmer Strengthen Case for a Microsoft Takeover of Yahoo, but Lose Some Respect”
EMC Cloud Chief Takes CEO Reins at VMware; Investors Spooked
In a surprise announcement this morning, Palo Alto, CA-based virtualization software maker VMware (NYSE: [[ticker:VMW]]) said that president and CEO Diane Greene has stepped down, and that Paul Maritz, formerly the director of the nascent cloud computing division at VMware’s parent company, Hopkinton, MA-based EMC (NYSE: [[ticker:EMC]]), has been appointed to replace her. The company … Continue reading “EMC Cloud Chief Takes CEO Reins at VMware; Investors Spooked”
Northstar Neuroscience Rejects Tang Capital’s Unsolicited Takeover Bid
Northstar Neuroscience has rejected an unsolicited takeover bid from Tang Capital Partners. The Seattle-based company, developer of an electrical stimulation treatment for stroke patients, said today it wouldn’t accept Tang’s bid of $2.25 a share, because it “is not in the best interest of all shareholders.” Northstar (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NSTR]]) rose 2 cents to $1.86 at … Continue reading “Northstar Neuroscience Rejects Tang Capital’s Unsolicited Takeover Bid”
Private Equity Fundraising Dipped in Year’s First Half, But Still Strong: Venture and Mezzanine Segments Rise
Despite a near complete shutdown of the IPO market, U.S. private equity fundraising remained reasonably strong throughout the first half of this year—185 funds brought in $133 billion, coming in just under last year’s record pace, according to a new report from Dow Jones Private Equity Analyst. The venture capital segment performed particularly well, with … Continue reading “Private Equity Fundraising Dipped in Year’s First Half, But Still Strong: Venture and Mezzanine Segments Rise”
Seattle Genetics Licenses Antibody-Drug Linking Technology to Daiichi Sankyo
Seattle Genetics, the developer of targeted antibody drugs for cancer, said today it has licensed its technology for linking antibodies to potent cell-killing agents to Daiichi Sankyo. The Tokyo-based drugmaker will get exclusive rights to develop antibody-drug combination treatments against a single target found on multiple types of tumors. Seattle Genetics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SGEN]]) will receive … Continue reading “Seattle Genetics Licenses Antibody-Drug Linking Technology to Daiichi Sankyo”
Summer in Seattle: Cardiologists Gather in Town to Learn State-of-the-Art Treatment
The world’s leading pharmaceutical and medical device companies are going to be in town this week for a meeting known as Summer in Seattle, and they’re not just here to catch some scenery and sun. The eighth annual conference, running Thursday through Sunday, is drawing 350 cardiologists, heart surgeons, radiologists, neurologists, and industry representatives from … Continue reading “Summer in Seattle: Cardiologists Gather in Town to Learn State-of-the-Art Treatment”
CafePress.com, Inc. Acquires Imagekind, Inc. for Undisclosed Sum
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c14b8a45-c20e-49b8-90b4-dcd3e721ba2f&Preview=1 Date 7/8/2008 Company Name Imagekind, Inc. Mailing Address 3134 Elliott Ave Seattle, WA 98121 Company Description Imagekind started off as the first of several incubation projects of two long time friends based in Seattle, Washington, Kelly Smith and Adrian Hanauer. Together, they launched Curious Office in January 2006 with a goal … Continue reading “CafePress.com, Inc. Acquires Imagekind, Inc. for Undisclosed Sum”
Washington Technology Center Awards $512,000 in Research Grants
The Washington Technology Center, a state-supported economic development organization, said today it has awarded $512,000 to seven projects between university researchers and companies. The grant winners include Ekos, a Bothell, WA-based medical device company working with University of Washington engineers to improve a catheter-based drug-delivery system, and Healionics, a biomaterials startup in Redmond, WA, working … Continue reading “Washington Technology Center Awards $512,000 in Research Grants”
DepotPoint Digs Up $7M, Goes After Foreclosure Market
In tough economic times, some see hardship while others see opportunity. Speaking of which—want a good deal on a house? Bellevue, WA-based DepotPoint, a real-estate technology company specializing in the foreclosure market, announced today that it has closed a $7 million round of Series C funding. OVP Venture Partners led the round, and Trident Capital … Continue reading “DepotPoint Digs Up $7M, Goes After Foreclosure Market”
Immune Design Aiming To Make Vaccines That Work Better in a Single Shot
Steve Reed sums up his goal for Immune Design, his new vaccine company, in a few bullet points: Better protection, fewer doses, less raw material. The Seattle-based company got started last month with $18 million in first-round financing from The Column Group, Alta Partners, and Versant Ventures. The idea is to make vaccines loaded with … Continue reading “Immune Design Aiming To Make Vaccines That Work Better in a Single Shot”
Ignition’s John Zagula Offers Three Tips For Making a Winning Pitch to a VC
One out of 100: that’s roughly how many business plans are considered promising enough to generate a meeting with a venture capitalist, according to John Zagula, a partner at Bellevue, WA-based Ignition Partners. The firm invests in software and services for large businesses, as well as consumer tech and communications. The competition for a VC’s … Continue reading “Ignition’s John Zagula Offers Three Tips For Making a Winning Pitch to a VC”
The Collaboration Paradox: Why So Many Leaders Sabotage Their Own Collaborations—and Some Tactics for Getting Things Right
In high-tech fields such as nanotechnology and “smart” devices, breakthroughs increasingly demand the integration of multiple technical fields. Knowing how to achieve real collaboration will make the difference between success and failure. But many people are very skeptical when asked to join collaborations, because the majority of these end up being dominated by the same … Continue reading “The Collaboration Paradox: Why So Many Leaders Sabotage Their Own Collaborations—and Some Tactics for Getting Things Right”
Sonics Leave “High-Tech Shining City of the Future;” How Will Innovation Fare?
It is a gloomy day in Seattle. First real rain in weeks, eerie echoes of thunder in the air—the city is in mourning. Yesterday, the Seattle Supersonics’ deal went down, with the NBA team set to leave town for Oklahoma next season. I had thought when I moved here that I’d get to enjoy at … Continue reading “Sonics Leave “High-Tech Shining City of the Future;” How Will Innovation Fare?”
Halosource, Maker of Low-Cost Water Purifying Technology, Cracking Consumer Market In India
A million people in India are getting clean, cheap drinking water every day because of technology from a little company in Bothell, WA, that few people in the Northwest have ever heard of. The company, Halosource, has started getting traction in the Indian market this year with its technology that makes water safe to drink. … Continue reading “Halosource, Maker of Low-Cost Water Purifying Technology, Cracking Consumer Market In India”
Northstar Neuroscience Huddles to Consider Unsolicited Takeover Bid
Northstar Neuroscience is in one tight spot. The Seattle-based medical device company’s lead product candidate for stroke patients failed in clinical trials on Jan. 22, and 83 percent of its stock value (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NSTR]]) evaporated in a heartbeat. Then yesterday, San Diego-based Tang Capital Partners, its largest shareholder, made an unsolicited bid to buy the … Continue reading “Northstar Neuroscience Huddles to Consider Unsolicited Takeover Bid”
Northstar Neuroscience Shares Climb on Tang Capital Bid
Northstar Neuroscience shares shot up 21 percent today after Tang Capital Partners announced it has offered $2.25 a share in cash to purchase the Seattle-based medical device company. Northstar’s stock collapsed on Jan. 22, falling 83 percent to $1.36 a share, after it said its lead product candidate failed to restore arm movement for stroke … Continue reading “Northstar Neuroscience Shares Climb on Tang Capital Bid”
VLST Hires Paul Carter, Antibody Drug Expert, as New Chief Scientist
VLST has landed a big scientific fish. The Seattle biotech startup has hired Paul Carter, a top scientist at Bothell, WA-based Seattle Genetics, as its new chief scientific officer. Carter, 47, has a reputation as a leader in the world of antibody drugs, which zero in on specific targets on cells. In a 14-year run … Continue reading “VLST Hires Paul Carter, Antibody Drug Expert, as New Chief Scientist”
In Smart Energy, Seattle Isn’t as Smart as It Thinks, Says Energy X Prize Guru
Within five minutes of sitting down to lunch, Jesse Berst has burst my bubble. “I’m not sanguine about Seattle as a big leader in the area,” he says. “I don’t know if we’ll have a cluster here.” He’s talking about smart energy and cleantech, and he knows a thing or two about the space. As … Continue reading “In Smart Energy, Seattle Isn’t as Smart as It Thinks, Says Energy X Prize Guru”
Buzzwire Adds 22 New Mobile Content Channels
Buzzwire, the Bedford, MA, startup that revealed just a couple of weeks ago that it had reached a deal with AT&T to make its streaming media service available to AT&T cellular subscribers, announced today that it has added 22 new content partners to that service. The new Internet audio and video providers whose content will … Continue reading “Buzzwire Adds 22 New Mobile Content Channels”
The Future of Online Video Ads, from Microsoft’s adCenter Labs
I had an interesting chat yesterday with Ying Shan, an applied researcher at Microsoft’s adCenter Labs in Redmond. Formed in 2006, the 120-strong lab is dedicated to researching and incubating new digital advertising technologies—primarily to compete with Google’s AdSense in the realm of online contextual ads. Shan, an expert in computer vision and machine learning, … Continue reading “The Future of Online Video Ads, from Microsoft’s adCenter Labs”
Progress Acquires Mindreef
Bedford, MA-based Progress Software, which makes software that allows companies to tie legacy business applications together into so-called service oriented architectures (SOA), said yesterday that it has acquired smaller competitor Mindreef. The Hollis, NH-based company, which makes software for building, testing, and maintaining SOA systems, had raised $4 million in a 2003 venture funding round … Continue reading “Progress Acquires Mindreef”
Technology Alliance Tallies Up Economic Impact of Washington’s Tech Industry
We’re Number Four. That is, in terms of concentration of technology-based employment and R&D activity in the state, Washington ranks fourth in the nation (after Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Virginia), largely on the strength of its aerospace and software publishing industries. The concentration is defined as the number of jobs in a given sector relative … Continue reading “Technology Alliance Tallies Up Economic Impact of Washington’s Tech Industry”
ZymoGenetics Takes on First Debt. Deerfield Bets Recothrom Will Pay Dividends
ZymoGenetics is growing up. For the first time, the Seattle-based biotech company has raised capital by borrowing it, instead of following the usual industry playbook—getting it by selling more equity shares to investors. The latter technique, which creates more supply of available shares and therefore dilutes the value of existing ones, would certainly have raised … Continue reading “ZymoGenetics Takes on First Debt. Deerfield Bets Recothrom Will Pay Dividends”
Who’s Afraid of an IPO? Everybody, At the Moment
There are two main doors that a venture-backed company can go through to provide a payday for its early investors: go public, or get acquired. And for the time being, the first door has slammed shut. In the second quarter of 2008, which ended yesterday, there were no initial public offerings by venture-backed companies in … Continue reading “Who’s Afraid of an IPO? Everybody, At the Moment”
The Washington Tech Industry’s Summer Celebration
Blue Skies. Warm Weather. Cold Beer. The Washington Technology Industry Association is planning its annual summer celebration on July 17th at the Pyramid Brewery Beer Garden in Seattle. Come take a swing at Pyramid’s seasonal beers and great chow – all in a casual, networking setting. There will also be a raffle to benefit Mariners … Continue reading “The Washington Tech Industry’s Summer Celebration”
WBBA Summer Social
The WBBA’s Summer Social is better known as the “bioscience bash of the year.” This year’s opportunity to meet and chat with fellow WBBA members will be at the Naval Reserve Center at South Lake Union Park on July 17 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. “Sail Into Summer” will feature live music, appetizers, beverages and a number … Continue reading “WBBA Summer Social”
Summer in Seattle
Summer in Seattle (SIS) focuses on the most pertinent and controversial issues in the field of cardiology, vascular, and neurovascular therapeutics. Utilizing small group formats to maximize interaction between faculty and attendees, SIS 2008 will feature concurrent four-hour educational sessions. These sessions will include didactic lectures, hands-on Cadaveric training and live case presentations transmitted simultaneously … Continue reading “Summer in Seattle”
Impinj Sells Memory Business to Virage Logic for $5.2M
Seattle-based Impinj, a maker of radio-frequency identification systems, has announced that it has sold its nonvolatile-memory intellectual property business to California-based Virage Logic for $5.2 million. Impinj will focus on its core business, which is developing RFID tags, readers, software, and antennas, while Virage Logic has hired the 30-odd Impinj employees who work on nonvolatile … Continue reading “Impinj Sells Memory Business to Virage Logic for $5.2M”
Neopad Tech Raises $14 Million
Neopad Technologies, a nanotech company based in Hillsboro, OR, has raised some $14 million in Series C funding, according to Private Equity Hub, which cites a regulatory filing. Investors included InterWest Partners, BlueRun Ventures, Intel Capital, and SmartForest Ventures. Neopad develops polishing pads for semiconductor wafers.
ZymoGenetics Receives $100 Million Commitment From Deerfield
ZymoGenetics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ZGEN]]) said today it has received a $100 million funding commitment from Deerfield Management, a biotech hedge fund. The Seattle-based company can draw the money in $25 million increments anytime over the next 18 months, and plans to use it to build its business with Recothrom, a drug for surgical bleeding. Deerfield will … Continue reading “ZymoGenetics Receives $100 Million Commitment From Deerfield”
What is Reed Sturtevant Up to in Microsoft’s Cambridge Development Lab?
Back in September, we talked to former Eons chief technology officer Reed Sturtevant just before his first day on the job as the head of a special Microsoft advanced development lab opening in Kendall Square, right next to MIT and a stone’s throw from Google’s own lab. An update late last year brought the news … Continue reading “What is Reed Sturtevant Up to in Microsoft’s Cambridge Development Lab?”
SpreadingScience, Web 2.0 Startup for Biologists, Aims To Get Drugmakers Talking
Richard Gayle is one of those rare individuals who can really carry a conversation with a molecular biologist and a software developer. He’s a Caltech-trained biochemist, with 16 years of experience at Seattle-based Immunex. While doing his wet-lab experiments, he built that company’s first Intranet in the early 1990s. Why? To make it easier for … Continue reading “SpreadingScience, Web 2.0 Startup for Biologists, Aims To Get Drugmakers Talking”
Emerging Healthcare Delivery Paradigm for the 21st Century
The current U.S. healthcare system faces serious challenges on multiple fronts. Although the United States is considered the best place for patients to obtain accurate diagnoses and high-quality treatment, nearly 45 million Americans do not have health insurance. Healthcare expenditure in the U.S. has more than doubled from $966 billion in 1994 to $2.2 trillion … Continue reading “Emerging Healthcare Delivery Paradigm for the 21st Century”