How many people 402 days ago expected to wake up to Donald J. Trump as the Republican nominee for president of the United States? Here we are. Rubbing my eyes, reaching for a second cup of coffee—maybe something stronger—and looking for ways to interpret the week’s events. One good one is a media startup based … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: No Easy Answers in Summer of Turmoil”
Category: Seattle
The Real Cracks in the Foundation of Ransomware
The rise of ransomware has been striking over the past two years, rapidly dominating headlines with its frequency, its wide range of victims, and its profitability. So when news hit that two of the largest and most notorious delivery systems for ransomware — the Necurs botnet and the Angler exploit kit — had gone dark, … Continue reading “The Real Cracks in the Foundation of Ransomware”
Biotech Roundup: Scangos’s Exit, Zafgen’s Shakeup, Jounce, Relypsa & More
The top news in biotech this week centers around one big job opening: the head seat at Biogen, now that George Scangos has announced plans to leave the company. Who takes the gig, and the strategic direction he or she chooses for Biogen will have implications not just for the company and its employees, but … Continue reading “Biotech Roundup: Scangos’s Exit, Zafgen’s Shakeup, Jounce, Relypsa & More”
Impinj Breaks Seattle Tech IPO Drought, Raises $67.2M
Impinj raised $67.2 million in an initial public stock offering—the first for a Washington state technology company since 2014—and watched its shares surge upwards of 25 percent in Thursday morning trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. On Wednesday afternoon, Seattle-based Impinj (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PI]]) priced 4.8 million shares of its common stock at $14 each, … Continue reading “Impinj Breaks Seattle Tech IPO Drought, Raises $67.2M”
Flexe Lands $14,250,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d6668bdf-3bc3-4c31-a6bb-00f34ab1325d Date 7/21/2016 Company Name Flexe Mailing Address 401 2nd Avenue South Seattle, WA 98104 USA Company Description The FLEXE warehousing marketplace helps enterprises scale their logistics capabilities, reducing supply chain complexity, fulfillment time and costs. Website http://www.flexe.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $14,250,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Former aQuantive … Continue reading “Flexe Lands $14,250,000 New Funding Round”
Impinj Garners $67,200,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6157c481-e0d7-4999-9d25-9c047721a535 Date 7/21/2016 Company Name Impinj Mailing Address 700 North 34th Street Seattle, WA 98103 USA Company Description Impinj (NASDAQ: PI) is a leader in RAIN RFID technology & item intelligence solutions for retail, healthcare, electronics, manufacturing and supply chain applications. Website http://www.impinj.com Transaction Type IPO Transaction Amount $67,200,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed … Continue reading “Impinj Garners $67,200,000 New Funding Round”
Expedia Acquires Trover for Undisclosed Sum
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c5a57456-fffd-44c4-aa99-6023fb4fa567 Date 7/21/2016 Company Name Trover Mailing Address 307 3rd Ave. S Seattle, WA 98104 USA Company Description Trover is a little team of 6 impassioned people that not only love travel, but also believe in the power of human connection. Our big dreams are grounded with the realistic understanding that no … Continue reading “Expedia Acquires Trover for Undisclosed Sum”
Is the Future of Cybersecurity in M&A?
Last month Symantec announced its plans to buy Blue Coat for $4.7 billion. Has the consolidation—and creation of this enterprise security giant—put immense pressure on other industry players? In an ideal world, and from the perspective of a venture investor, this would absolutely be the case. In 2015, Cybersecurity startups saw 332 funding deals with … Continue reading “Is the Future of Cybersecurity in M&A?”
Joylux Obtains $2,000,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7541a7ad-8728-4339-8b3a-2c1a535698c6 Date 7/19/2016 Company Name Joylux Mailing Address 1126 34th Ave. Seattle, WA 98122 USA Company Description Joylux is an innovative consumer health and wellness company creating transformational LED-focused products that bring joy to the lives of our customers. Website http://www.joyluxinc.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $2,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds … Continue reading “Joylux Obtains $2,000,000 New Funding”
The Pan-Cancer Screen: Still Early for Prime Time
Imagine you could go to your doctor once a year for a blood test that would detect nearly every common type of cancer at an early stage. If you had a positive result, some further testing could pinpoint the cancer so you could have it treated before it spread. I would be ecstatic to have … Continue reading “The Pan-Cancer Screen: Still Early for Prime Time”
Algorithmia Lands In-Q-Tel Deal, Adds Deep Learning Capabilities
Algorithmia, which runs a public marketplace for algorithms, has just landed a deal to provide a private algorithm-sharing platform for the U.S. intelligence community. The deal with In-Q-Tel, which invests in and procures new technologies for intelligence agencies, comes on the heels of a significant upgrade in capabilities for Algorithmia’s primary business of brokering access … Continue reading “Algorithmia Lands In-Q-Tel Deal, Adds Deep Learning Capabilities”
Unify Square Secures $3,871,792 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=632a8b03-06d1-43af-b90c-956e7b26309f Date 7/18/2016 Company Name Unify Square Mailing Address 411 108th Avenue NE Bellevue, WA 98004 USA Company Description Unified Communications (UC) has the potential to transform your business by increasing productivity and agility, reducing costs, and enabling richer, more meaningful connections with internal and external stakeholders. But with any transformation comes … Continue reading “Unify Square Secures $3,871,792 New Funding”
Seattle Week in Review: A Century of Innovation on Lake Union
Reeling from yet another horrible attack in France, we undertake a review of this week’s tech news from Seattle and beyond. Start by reading Wade Roush’s essay on what we can and can’t expect from innovation and tech startups in this season of tumult, fear, and anxiety. Moving on to the happy glow of Boeing’s … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: A Century of Innovation on Lake Union”
Biotech Roundup: Hellos, Goodbyes, “Cures” Delays And Trial News
The week started on a reflective note. Our San Diego editor Bruce Bigelow penned a personal goodbye to entrepreneur Larry Bock, who died last week of pancreatic cancer at the age of 56. And then the news flowed, from a fast reprieve for Juno Therapeutics to no mercy for Elizabeth Holmes. There were other goodbyes: … Continue reading “Biotech Roundup: Hellos, Goodbyes, “Cures” Delays And Trial News”
‘Megadeals’ Dominate Q2 as VCs Invest $15.3B, and Top 10 Deals
Showing little concern for stock-market volatility or worries over the Brexit, venture capital firms pumped $15.3 billion into 961 deals across the United States during the three months that ended June 30, according to the MoneyTree Report on venture capital activity. It was the 10th consecutive quarter that venture firms put at least $10 billion … Continue reading “‘Megadeals’ Dominate Q2 as VCs Invest $15.3B, and Top 10 Deals”
Amplero Obtains $8,000,000 Series A Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=aeb57085-d1a7-4ab5-996a-fb7739e08ae1 Date 7/15/2016 Company Name Amplero Mailing Address 705 5th Avenue South Seattle, WA 98104 USA Company Description At Amplero, we believe that every B2C company, across every industry has a fundamental choice to make…a choice that is a matter of life or death for their company. It is a simple choice, … Continue reading “Amplero Obtains $8,000,000 Series A Funding Round”
Why Entrepreneurs Should Care About Inequality and Divisiveness
The horrific news of recent weeks has amplified America’s long-simmering tensions and many divisions, and cast a new and disturbing light on the nature of social and economic inequality in this economy. The shootings that targeted police officers at a peaceful protest in Dallas, which followed the officer-involved shooting deaths of Philando Castile near Minneapolis … Continue reading “Why Entrepreneurs Should Care About Inequality and Divisiveness”
How Cyber Visibility Protects Against the Abnormal & the Immoral
Another day, another breach. For many Bostonians, the “privacy incident” recently disclosed by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)—which reportedly involved the personal information of 4,300 dental patients stored by a software vendor—hit close to home in many ways, as most of us have at one time or another been to MGH for ourselves or a loved … Continue reading “How Cyber Visibility Protects Against the Abnormal & the Immoral”
Can Innovation Save Us?
During a summer that’s been marred by political upheaval and horrific violence inside and outside the U.S., it’s natural for startup entrepreneurs and others immersed in the technology world—including us journalists—to wonder about the role of innovation in solving social problems. In the wake of the murder of five police officers in Dallas, which followed … Continue reading “Can Innovation Save Us?”
Magnolia Medical Technologies Secures $13,800,000 Series B Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=04e12861-10a5-43bb-b207-4eea954a1a6a Date 7/13/2016 Company Name Magnolia Medical Technologies Mailing Address 2001 Sixth Avenue Seattle, WA 98121 USA Company Description Magnolia Medical Technologies has recently introduced the Initial Specimen Diversion Device (ISDD), a patented, Class I device registered and listed with FDA that is indicated to reduce the frequency of blood culture contamination. … Continue reading “Magnolia Medical Technologies Secures $13,800,000 Series B Funding”
FDA Lets Juno Jump Back Into T-Cell Trial, Minus One Chemo Drug
The FDA has allowed Juno Therapeutics to resume a high profile clinical trial of a cutting-edge cancer therapy less than a week after the trial was halted, Juno (NASDAQ: [[ticker:JUNO]]) announced this afternoon. The news has bumped its share price 25 percent in after-hours trading Tuesday. The Seattle biotech firm revealed last week the recent … Continue reading “FDA Lets Juno Jump Back Into T-Cell Trial, Minus One Chemo Drug”
55 Washington Programs Helping Improve Diversity in Tech
The technology industry’s diversity deficit is no secret, and with the issue out in the open, attention is turning toward potential solutions. To that end, the Washington Technology Industry Association produced a comprehensive listing of 55 programs in the state already working to help women, under-represented minorities, and veterans into the tech industry at every … Continue reading “55 Washington Programs Helping Improve Diversity in Tech”
From Drones to Sharing Economy, Don’t Disrupt the Disruptors
Napa Valley met the Silicon Valley at the recent Xconomy Retreat on Technology, Jobs, and Growth (aka the Napa Summit). Experts in cutting-edge technology huddled with business leaders and investors in the California wine country to explore what’s on, and just over, the technological horizon. Over the course of the two-day event, drones and the … Continue reading “From Drones to Sharing Economy, Don’t Disrupt the Disruptors”
Korean Giant Doosan Acquires Storage Software Maker 1Energy Systems
1Energy Systems, a Seattle company making software to integrate batteries and other distributed energy technologies with the electricity grid, has been acquired by Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction (DHIC), a 120-year-old Korean conglomerate with a major power generation business. 1Energy, founded in 2011, never took outside investment. Its principals, including founder and CEO David Kaplan, … Continue reading “Korean Giant Doosan Acquires Storage Software Maker 1Energy Systems”
The Gap Has Two Sides
About two years ago, I was asked to join a Babson College panel discussing the gender gap in venture capital. At the center of the conversation would be the results from the Diana Project, a research study that examined our industry and the stark lack of representation of women investors and funded entrepreneurs. I accepted … Continue reading “The Gap Has Two Sides”
Seattle Week in Review: A Tragic Summer, Hoping “This Too Shall Pass”
Another week of tragedy. How to process the local tech “news,” which can seem trivial in light of the spasms of violence, angst, and upheaval tearing at our country? I honestly don’t know. Here’s what we were following, until the events of the last 48 hours overshadowed all else: —Xconomy’s Texas editor is delving into … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: A Tragic Summer, Hoping “This Too Shall Pass””
Biotech Roundup: Fighting Addiction, Obama Precision, Juno Deaths & More
This week started with celebrations of America’s birthday, and it has been dominated—biotech-wise—by America’s government. The Obama administration continued its high-profile involvement in the life sciences by updating its Precision Medicine Initiative, easing limits on doctors who want to fight opioid addiction, and stopping a clinical trial in one of the hottest biomedical fields, cancer … Continue reading “Biotech Roundup: Fighting Addiction, Obama Precision, Juno Deaths & More”
Admiral Secures $2,500,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8d5e09c1-263d-4638-8e88-fc4d7a825be7 Date 7/8/2016 Company Name Admiral Mailing Address Undisclosed Gainesville, FL 98033 USA Company Description The power of the internet to inform, entertain and liberate mankind is at a crossroads. The future of ad-supported content is in peril, and with it, free access for citizens to critical news, education, discourse and resources … Continue reading “Admiral Secures $2,500,000 New Funding”
After Three Deaths, FDA Halts Juno’s Leading CAR-T Trial
The FDA has halted a clinical trial of a closely-watched cell-based cancer immunotherapy from Seattle’s Juno Therapeutics after two patients died last week during the trial. Those deaths followed a death in May, Juno officials said today. Juno says all three patients died of cerebral edema, or swelling in the brain, and it thinks it … Continue reading “After Three Deaths, FDA Halts Juno’s Leading CAR-T Trial”
Recruitment Goal In Obama Precision Med Study: 1M in 3 or 4 Years
The Obama administration’s push to sign up one million Americans for a long-term health study will start in New York, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Tucson, AZ, top health officials said today. National Institutes of Health director Francis Collins (pictured) and FDA commissioner Rob Califf spoke on a call this afternoon to update the Precision Medicine Initiative, … Continue reading “Recruitment Goal In Obama Precision Med Study: 1M in 3 or 4 Years”
With CoMotion Labs, UW Casts Wider Net For Innovation and Startups
The University of Washington is expanding its portfolio of startup incubation spaces and inviting in companies even if they don’t yet have an explicit connection to the university. The new strategy is part of a broader rethinking of how the UW, consistently ranked in the upper echelons of research universities around the world, attempts to … Continue reading “With CoMotion Labs, UW Casts Wider Net For Innovation and Startups”
3 Things You (Probably) Don’t Know about Indiana Innovation
People who live outside of Indiana probably know a few things about it: The Indianapolis 500, a.k.a. “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” is run every Memorial Day weekend; Indiana limestone was used to build the Empire State Building, the National Cathedral, and the Pentagon; and Indiana sugar cream pie is the best dessert ever. But … Continue reading “3 Things You (Probably) Don’t Know about Indiana Innovation”
Seattle Week in Review: Happy Independence Day Edition
Happy Independence Day Weekend. (And Happy Canada Day to our neighbors to the north.) Xconomy Seattle is planning to harvest some Dungeness crab from Puget Sound, eat fresh berries in patriotic colors, and contemplate freedom in the midst of the craziest political season of our lives. But first, here’s a recap of some technology news—University … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: Happy Independence Day Edition”
Xconomy’s Top Innovation Stories of the Half Year
Here we are at the midpoint of 2016 already. Time to look back on the past six months—and some of the top stories of the year so far. The following represent a cross-section of what Xconomy offers on a daily basis: in-depth reporting from the front lines of technology and business innovation; coverage from 11 … Continue reading “Xconomy’s Top Innovation Stories of the Half Year”
Milestones of Innovation 12: Overflight Of Russia’s Ultimate Weapons
Sixty years ago, on the Fourth of July, 1956, the American President gained a capacity that has never been lost: clear pictures from above of Russia’s thermonuclear weapons delivery system. Because the images ended up shrinking the world’s appetite for tools of ultimate destruction, it is hard to think of a more significant innovation. The … Continue reading “Milestones of Innovation 12: Overflight Of Russia’s Ultimate Weapons”
Biotech Roundup: Moonshots, Pink Slips, Gilead, Brexit & More
The word of the week was “moonshot,” as U.S. Vice President Joe Biden’s cancer initiative convened a summit in Washington, DC. At the gathering, Biden took verbal shots at scofflaw cancer researchers and at drug prices, while the FDA said it would take a shot at restructuring the way it evaluates oncology products. Gilead Sciences … Continue reading “Biotech Roundup: Moonshots, Pink Slips, Gilead, Brexit & More”
Why Finance Should Take a Page Out of the Credit Card Industry’s Book
U.S. federal and financial regulators recently advised banks nationwide to assess the strength of their safeguards against cyber fraud. The warning comes after a string of cyber heists and attempted heists against banks around the world, including the $81 million theft from the Bangladesh central bank. These crimes have opened the financial industry’s eyes to … Continue reading “Why Finance Should Take a Page Out of the Credit Card Industry’s Book”
Riding Moonshot, FDA Will Revamp Its Cancer Practice. To What End?
As part of a national cancer “moonshot” initiative led by Vice President Joe Biden, the FDA said Wednesday it would retool the way it evaluates cancer treatments and tests. But to what end? The goals of the FDA’s new Oncology Center of Excellence remain vague, as does its structure. In a speech Wednesday morning at … Continue reading “Riding Moonshot, FDA Will Revamp Its Cancer Practice. To What End?”
No Stairway (Infringement) and the Importance of Shared Design Tools in Innovation
Led Zeppelin just won a major copyright case defending against infringement claims from the estate of Randy California—songwriter for the band Spirit. At first listen, the opening guitar part of Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven does sound a lot like California’s guitar part in the middle of Taurus. But as I explain in a longer blog … Continue reading “No Stairway (Infringement) and the Importance of Shared Design Tools in Innovation”
With $18M, Reflexion Health Expands Physical Therapy Technology
Reflexion Health, a San Diego startup founded in 2012 at the nonprofit West Health Institute, is moving to commercialize Vera, its physical rehabilitation system based on Microsoft Kinect’s motion tracking technology. After recently raising $18 million in Series B funding, the healthtech company also plans to add new products as it expands nationally among U.S. … Continue reading “With $18M, Reflexion Health Expands Physical Therapy Technology”
Startup M&A: Why a Letter of Intent Deserves Your Full Attention
You might know it as a letter of intent or a term sheet. Maybe you’ve heard it referred to as an MOU, or memorandum of understanding. Whatever you call it, this document of about five pages is a summary of the terms of a deal the parties hope to close down the line. If buyers … Continue reading “Startup M&A: Why a Letter of Intent Deserves Your Full Attention”
Brightwork Garners $50,000 Seed Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2e50034d-c2af-4595-a502-a9c37c612209 Date 6/28/2016 Company Name Brightwork Mailing Address 1430 SE Water Ave. Portland, OR 97214 USA Company Description APIs are still a bit of a leap of faith. Developers have no idea how well an API will work until they actually deploy it as part of their applications. And when they want … Continue reading “Brightwork Garners $50,000 Seed Funding”
Resin Raises $9M to Build Tools for IoT Software Updates
Resin.io, a startup with headquarters in Seattle and employees scattered across the globe, has raised a $9 million funding round to further its work on tools for software development and deployment for connected devices. The company’s prior backer, DFJ, invested in the round, along with GE Ventures, Ericsson, and Aspect Ventures. Resin, founded in 2013, previously … Continue reading “Resin Raises $9M to Build Tools for IoT Software Updates”
Brexit and the Impact in the London Startup Industry
Editor’s note: Xconomy invited Marcelo Calbucci, a Seattle serial entrepreneur and startup stalwart who just announced plans to move with his family to London, to reflect on the Brexit vote. No, the skies are not falling. The U.K. vote to exit the European Union has passed, and there is an enormous amount of uncertainty right … Continue reading “Brexit and the Impact in the London Startup Industry”
Resin.io Secures $9,000,000 Series B Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9ac687dc-9837-43f0-99f0-edf5163835d4 Date 6/27/2016 Company Name Resin.io Mailing Address 1517 12th Avenue Seattle, WA 98122 USA Company Description Smart locks, home hubs, or local gateways for swarms of sensors, are all becoming Linux devices. Having end-users return devices for update or visiting their homes is a non-starter. As such, the power to seamlessly … Continue reading “Resin.io Secures $9,000,000 Series B Round”
Seattle Week in Review: Amazon Building Boom
Can we go back to Sunday and just watch Game 7 of the NBA Finals over and over again? This was a long, news-filled week capped by Britain’s vote to exit the E.U., which changes everything—right? We’ll be thinking about what it means for Seattle tech in the days and weeks ahead. Meanwhile, Seattle booms. … Continue reading “Seattle Week in Review: Amazon Building Boom”
Biotech Roundup: CRISPR’s 1st Trial, IPO Insiders, Zika & More
It’s a week for the history books. The United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union last night, triggering worldwide financial fears and, perhaps, a breakup of the U.K. itself. Closer to home, Cleveland (pictured) celebrated LeBron James & the Cavaliers’ historic comeback that brought the city its first sports title in over 50 years. … Continue reading “Biotech Roundup: CRISPR’s 1st Trial, IPO Insiders, Zika & More”
OneEnergy Renewables Lands $489,266 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2ba8d7e3-6482-48c9-8152-18913046425d Date 6/24/2016 Company Name OneEnergy Renewables Mailing Address 2003 Western Avenue Seattle, WA 98121 USA Company Description OneEnergy Renewables specializes in the development of middle-market solar PV projects that deliver long-term energy cost savings and budget stability to our utility, corporate and institutional partners. Website http://www.oneenergyrenewables.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount … Continue reading “OneEnergy Renewables Lands $489,266 New Round”
Marina Biotech Garners $300,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=04a01819-5519-4105-9272-68c83d2b938f Date 6/24/2016 Company Name Marina Biotech Mailing Address 3830 Monte Villa Parkway Bothell, WA 98021 USA Company Description Marina Biotech (NASDAQ: MRNA), is a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of therapeutic products based on RNA interference (RNAi). Website http://www.marinabio.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $300,000 Transaction Round … Continue reading “Marina Biotech Garners $300,000 New Funding”
Pharma, Data Veteran Stephen Friend Bites At Apple’s Health Offer
Consumer tech giant Apple, which has spent considerable effort positioning its products as health and fitness helpers, has just hired someone who knows Big Pharma and Big Data. Stephen Friend, a veteran of drug R&D and, more recently, a nonprofit effort to foster more collaborative biomedical research and more data sharing, is joining Apple (NYSE: … Continue reading “Pharma, Data Veteran Stephen Friend Bites At Apple’s Health Offer”