Category: Seattle

Remitly Obtains $5,500,000 Series A Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b9af70e7-0660-4eeb-be3b-b3a311849175 Date 1/6/2014 Company Name Remitly Mailing Address 1725 Westlake Ave. N Seattle, WA 98109 Company Description Remitly has changed the way to send money. We understand the pain of sending money abroad. We make things easier and faster, and work smarter so you can send more and pay less. Website http://www.remitly.com … Continue reading “Remitly Obtains $5,500,000 Series A Funding”

Roundup: Maveron Fundraising; Vidible & Doxo Funded; NWEN’s Future?

We know the holidays are over because Starbucks has switched its cups back to white. 2013 closed with word of a new fund for Maveron, funding for video marketplace Vidible and paperless billing provider Doxo. As 2014 revs up, we’re watching for the next iteration of the Northwest Entrepreneur Network. Read on for details of … Continue reading “Roundup: Maveron Fundraising; Vidible & Doxo Funded; NWEN’s Future?”

Startups Poised to Make Their Mark Alongside the Big Guys at CES

Much of the technology world will descend this weekend on Las Vegas, bound for the annual spectacle of new gadgets known as the International CES. As soon as the Northeast digs its way out of the snow, I will be on my way for hands-on coverage of this carnival of consumer devices. Big companies such … Continue reading “Startups Poised to Make Their Mark Alongside the Big Guys at CES”

Scientific Reproducibility: Raising the Standards for Biomedicine

The vast majority of findings published in high-profile biomedical research publications can’t be reproduced by independent laboratories. Multiple groups have come to this same shocking conclusion in recent years, and it has deservedly generated considerable attention. It matters because the ability to reproduce a result is fundamental to establishing the legitimacy of a new research … Continue reading “Scientific Reproducibility: Raising the Standards for Biomedicine”

The Future of Education: 10 Trends To Watch

It is that time of the year when we tend to pause, reflect, and look forward. What have we achieved in the year just passed? What are the highlights of culture, business, technology, and trends that we have observed around us? For me, the most exciting and positive movement at present is in the domain … Continue reading “The Future of Education: 10 Trends To Watch”

New Online Services Put You Back in Command of Your 401(k)

If you’re still in search of a New Year’s resolution, here’s one you’re free to borrow from me: Become a more active and self-reliant manager of your retirement investment accounts, using some of the affordable new tools available online. This week I’ve been exploring two of the leading services, Jemstep and Personal Capital. After just … Continue reading “New Online Services Put You Back in Command of Your 401(k)”

Actively Learn Receives $685,190 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ab703bbd-cd68-4ab9-9421-6d8d36955b20 Date 1/3/2014 Company Name Actively Learn Mailing Address 220 S Second Ave Seattle, WA 98174 Company Description Actively Learn is really simple. In a few minutes, you can set up a Common Core-aligned assignment for your students. Website http://www.activelylearn.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $685,190 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes … Continue reading “Actively Learn Receives $685,190 New Round”

Motorola Solutions Acquires Twisted Pair Solutions for Undisclosed Sum

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7e312f86-30fa-4bc3-8bb0-f3dbf99e5cb6 Date 1/3/2014 Company Name Twisted Pair Solutions Mailing Address 3131 Elliott Avenue Seattle, WA 98121 Company Description Twisted Pair Solutions, Inc. designs and builds enterprise software solutions that power interoperable group communications. Our WAVETM software technology enables and manages real-time, secure, group communications over the IP network, linking in people and … Continue reading “Motorola Solutions Acquires Twisted Pair Solutions for Undisclosed Sum”

Washington Clean Technology Alliance: 2014 Crystal Ball Breakfast

Clean tech prognosticators will forecast 2014 trends in energy, state politics, and the broader economy over breakfast on Wednesday, Jan. 8. Scheduled speakers include David Beck and Krish Sankar of Merrill Lynch; Richard Locke of the Washington State Department of Commerce; Todd Myers of the Washington Policy Center; and consultants Brad Boswell and Chris Ajemian. … Continue reading “Washington Clean Technology Alliance: 2014 Crystal Ball Breakfast”

220 & Change Open House

Impact Hub Seattle, Bainbridge Graduate Institute, and Social Venture Partners host an open house for their expanded Pioneer Square space, now known as 220 & Change. Highlights include noshes from local bars and restaurants, and a short program at 7 p.m. Find more information here, and register here.

Here’s What Mobile Industry Insiders See Ahead for 2014

By now, you should know the truly big stories in the mobile sector: Samsung’s rise to challenge Apple, Microsoft finally acquiring Nokia, Google leaping into wearables, more moves toward carrier consolidation. But if you want to get a jump start on some of the biggest trends shaping up in the mobile industry, you could do … Continue reading “Here’s What Mobile Industry Insiders See Ahead for 2014”

Tech Bubble Leaks Air, Healthcare Bests Biotech, & More for 2014

The coming year will see some good news and some bad news in tech. Here are five predictions. • IPOs: This past year witnessed an extraordinary resurgence in IPO activity for venture-backed companies. It felt much like 1999 right before the crest of the wave. With modest growth, unsustainably high valuation multiples, little excess left for … Continue reading “Tech Bubble Leaks Air, Healthcare Bests Biotech, & More for 2014”

The Year in Innovation: Xconomy’s Top 13 Stories of 2013

If you only have time to read a few of our articles from the past year, these are the ones. These are editor’s picks (mine). They are not based on Web traffic, but rather on a subjective weighting of their impact, significance, and representation of our mission and geographies. Xconomy is now in 9 regions … Continue reading “The Year in Innovation: Xconomy’s Top 13 Stories of 2013”

Remembering James L. Vincent, Longtime Biogen Leader

Are they making innovators quite like James L. Vincent any more? This question, spurred by Vincent’s death on Dec. 5, has more edge these days as we worry how Americans are going to keep inventing, making, and selling new things to earn a good living in a sharply competitive world. More bluntly, do the innovators … Continue reading “Remembering James L. Vincent, Longtime Biogen Leader”

Help Wanted: Houston vs. Austin and the Search for the Best IT Talent

Last May, we announced that we were moving Datafiniti to Austin. A big reason for our move was the lack of a suitable talent pool from which to hire. There was a lot of skepticism—perhaps surprisingly so—around our reasoning. At the time, we provided what I thought was a healthy dose of data to back … Continue reading “Help Wanted: Houston vs. Austin and the Search for the Best IT Talent”

MobileRQ Receives $251,282 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ab8fc975-f475-4e0c-bf74-0c1d149cef35 Date 12/31/2013 Company Name MobileRQ Mailing Address 308 NW 11th Avenue Portland, OR 97209 Company Description MobileRQ helps travel suppliers and other travel ecosystem players fully leverage their digital strategies. By combining the vast data sources from third parties and suppliers’ own data sources we help suppliers and their partners get … Continue reading “MobileRQ Receives $251,282 New Funding”

Why Angels Should Keep Their Distance from Crowdfunding in 2014

There’s certainly been a lot of uncertainty in the angel and venture capital arenas over the past decade, and understandably so. Add to that, the lure of crowdfunding—a nearly $3 billion business in 2012—and it’s led some angel groups to consider if there is a role for individual investors in crowdfunding their deals. My advice … Continue reading “Why Angels Should Keep Their Distance from Crowdfunding in 2014”

Why Business and Personal Email Are Not the Same

We all carry certain expectations about email from our private lives into a corporate setting. Some of those expectations are met, but in other ways business email is very different from consumer email. These differences can be confusing at best and, at worst, lead to major problems for organizations. The Inside and the Outside To … Continue reading “Why Business and Personal Email Are Not the Same”

Good, Business, and Good Business

Here in the 20-teens, the roles of for-profit businesses, non-profit organizations, government, NGO’s, foundations, investors and philanthropists are beginning to blur together. We are quickly finding ourselves in a world where it is not only possible to do good while doing business, but expected. This is quite a change from the “Friedman Doctrine” that claimed … Continue reading “Good, Business, and Good Business”

X2 Biosystems Receives $5,000,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b5d111f4-54ba-4b1b-8817-06d3d53cdaf1 Date 12/27/2013 Company Name X2 Biosystems Mailing Address 1927 Post Alley Seattle, WA 98101 Company Description The X2 system notifies athletic trainers, coaches, and team physicians in real time about impacts to players heads, and provides a suite of tools supporting athlete assessment in bench vs. play decisions, recovery and safe … Continue reading “X2 Biosystems Receives $5,000,000 New Financing”

Where Electronic Devices Go to Die, and Be Reborn

Millions of people are today enjoying new electronic devices, becoming familiar with a tablet, phone, PC, or television that was waiting under the tree. But just as this year’s bounty displaces a generation of older devices, so too will these new toys eventually be made to seem obsolete. They will reside in a box in … Continue reading “Where Electronic Devices Go to Die, and Be Reborn”

4 Tech Trends That Will Impact Risk and Compliance Efforts in 2014

Once business organizations reach a certain size, their leaders have to start thinking systematically about how to structure reporting relationships to ensure vital information reaches the top; how to identify and account for the internal and external risks that could hobble the company; and how to ensure the organization is complying with a skein of … Continue reading “4 Tech Trends That Will Impact Risk and Compliance Efforts in 2014”

My Top Picks in Bio-Venture Innovations, and Predictions for 2014

I am a biotech VC, but not a techie. So I don’t follow stem cells, gene therapy, and other similar “blockbuster” technologies in the life sciences. Rather than looking at all the gosh-and-golly stuff going into the biotech pipeline, I wait to see what is coming out of the other end. So far, very little … Continue reading “My Top Picks in Bio-Venture Innovations, and Predictions for 2014”

We Ask the Xconomists: Some Quick Predictions for the New Year

As 2013 drew to a close, we asked some of our Xconomists to ponder innovation, past and future, and to give us their predictions for the breakout innovations they expect to see in their respective fields. Here’s what they had to say: Texas Xconomist Blair Garrou, managing director at Mercury Fund in Houston: I’m excited … Continue reading “We Ask the Xconomists: Some Quick Predictions for the New Year”

Doxo Garners $3,500,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=bb03e01b-5175-4182-b2aa-3b48bfdcd3fe Date 12/26/2013 Company Name Doxo Mailing Address 568 First Ave South Seattle, WA 98104 Company Description doxo is pioneering the way for people and providers to connect and go paperfree, breaking customer adoption barriers and saving businesses millions of dollars in printing, paper, and postage costs. Website http://www.doxo.com Transaction Type Venture … Continue reading “Doxo Garners $3,500,000 New Financing”

Observations From Korea’s Creative Economy 2013 Conference

Innovation is one of those goals that transcends borders. Spurring technology innovation, and through it the creation of new industries that accelerate job growth, is always high on the agenda of any advanced economy. But what if you had to change the culture of an entire nation at the same time? That’s a major part … Continue reading “Observations From Korea’s Creative Economy 2013 Conference”

A Need to Know: Adding DNA and Geomedicine Data to Patient Records

It takes a lot of patience to be a patient. There are about 1.2 billion physician office visits annually in the United States, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. The center, which has collected data on this subject for decades, also reports that patients wait an average of just “north” of 11 minutes … Continue reading “A Need to Know: Adding DNA and Geomedicine Data to Patient Records”

Diverse Software Developer Talent—A Gift That Keeps on Giving

Here’s a fresh take on the spirit of giving: Ten Washington technology companies have agreed to “pay it forward” by supporting Seattle’s first not-for-profit coding academy focused on preparing women who show technical aptitude, but have little or no technical experience, to become software developers. During the Technology Alliance’s early days in the mid-1990s, Washington … Continue reading “Diverse Software Developer Talent—A Gift That Keeps on Giving”

10 Tips for Maximizing the JP Morgan Healthcare Experience

San Francisco, we’re coming. Of course, you are ready for the biotech onslaught. The cab drivers, hotel people, cops, security dudes, restaurant and bar staff—you all know the drill come January. So what about all the healthcare industry capitalists? Are you ready to make the most of this week when all the decision makers and … Continue reading “10 Tips for Maximizing the JP Morgan Healthcare Experience”

Vidible Lands $3,350,673 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=07e8e7c0-696d-4e36-8f66-a4c593bd6979 Date 12/23/2013 Company Name Vidible Mailing Address 13122 NE 20th St. Bellevue, WA 98005 Company Description The first video content exchange for syndication that matches content sellers with content buyers in a programatic, streamlined Saas based platform. Vidible delivers the professional quality video content to the right context or audience at … Continue reading “Vidible Lands $3,350,673 New Financing”

News, Social Networking Meet in Prismatic’s “Interest Network”

Over the last 20 years, three new technologies have come together to reshape the way information enters our lives. First, of course, there was the Web, starting around 1993. Then came social networking, starting around 2003. And finally—hugely amplifying the effects of the first two—came broadband-capable smartphones and tablets, starting in 2007. Any one of … Continue reading “News, Social Networking Meet in Prismatic’s “Interest Network””

LikeBright Lands $250,000 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2bb5af62-f153-40cb-9d73-0a33c295eceb Date 12/20/2013 Company Name LikeBright Mailing Address 511 Boren Avenue North Seattle, WA 98109 Company Description Dating can be tough. But we at LikeBright believe you’re closer to finding love than you think. In fact, we bet your match is someone cool your friends already know. And better yet, someone they … Continue reading “LikeBright Lands $250,000 New Round”

IDRI CEO Stewart Parker Steps Down, Erik Iverson Steps Up

Seattle-based IDRI just reflected a bit as it celebrated its 20th anniversary, and now it is getting a new business leader to take it ahead. The nonprofit global health research center said today that CEO H. Stewart Parker is stepping down from that full-time day-to-day leadership role on Jan. 1 to become a senior advisor. … Continue reading “IDRI CEO Stewart Parker Steps Down, Erik Iverson Steps Up”

Roundup: DreamBox, Resolution Tube, & Qazzow Funded; U District Startups

‘Twas the week before Christmas and Seattle-area entrepreneurs filled their stockings with venture capital. Another local ed-tech company, DreamBox Learning, pulled down a significant early-stage funding round. Two companies taking different approaches to customer service in very different industries—Resolution Tube and Qazzow—each landed venture funding. And the U District got some more attention as a … Continue reading “Roundup: DreamBox, Resolution Tube, & Qazzow Funded; U District Startups”

Cyanogen Obtains $22,000,000 Series B Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=5ee2cc42-70cc-446d-a7b9-829ce7e73d0f Date 12/19/2013 Company Name Cyanogen Mailing Address 542 1st Ave S Seattle, WA 98104 Company Description CyanogenMod (pronounced sigh-AN-oh-jen-mod), is a customized, aftermarket firmware distribution for several Android devices. Based on the Android Open Source Project, CyanogenMod is designed to increase performance and reliability over Android-based ROMs released by vendors and … Continue reading “Cyanogen Obtains $22,000,000 Series B Round”

Seattle Startup Koru Takes On Tech Training, Hiring for Recent Grads

Think of Koru, a Seattle startup bridging the worlds of education and high-tech recruitment, as akin to a study-abroad program paired with a high-powered internship for recent graduates looking to burst into tech, but facing a dismal employment picture. The company landed a $4.35 million investment, which we reported in October when it was going … Continue reading “Seattle Startup Koru Takes On Tech Training, Hiring for Recent Grads”

Energy Angels Provide Key Support for Cleantech Innovation in NW and Beyond

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee heaped praise on Seattle energy storage materials maker EnerG2 as he celebrated the University of Washington’s Clean Energy Institute last week. As we’ve reported, the company is a fine example of innovation from a university lab translating to a cleantech job creator. It’s a model Inslee, university leaders, and area investors … Continue reading “Energy Angels Provide Key Support for Cleantech Innovation in NW and Beyond”

Vaisala Acquires 3Tier for $14,700,000

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e391c96e-3da9-439e-9e99-01f0233895ff Date 12/18/2013 Company Name 3Tier Mailing Address 2001 Sixth Avenue Seattle, WA 98121 Company Description 3TIER is an energy efficiency company: we provide the core data and knowledge for clients to make the best decisions regarding their investment in a renewable energy generation technology. 3TIER is unique in that we cover … Continue reading “Vaisala Acquires 3Tier for $14,700,000”

Acucela Seeks $125M IPO in Japan to Develop Eye Drugs

[Updated: 7:40 am PT 12/18/13] Seattle-based Acucela is looking to raise as much as $125 million in an initial public offering to support its development of treatments against eye diseases. Acucela today filed its IPO prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission, outlining plans to go public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. It’s a logical … Continue reading “Acucela Seeks $125M IPO in Japan to Develop Eye Drugs”

Seattle Renewable Energy Forecaster 3TIER Acquired by Vaisala for $14.7M

[Updated throughout 12/17/13, 1:19 p.m.] 3TIER, the Seattle-based provider of weather forecasting and other information to the renewable energy industry, has been acquired by Vaisala, a Finnish measurement company, in a deal worth about $14.7 million. “3TIER will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Vaisala, so you will still interact with 3TIER as you … Continue reading “Seattle Renewable Energy Forecaster 3TIER Acquired by Vaisala for $14.7M”

Gates Foundation Gets UCSF Chief Desmond-Hellmann as New CEO

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation just got a physician, big university administrator, and one of the world’s most respected drug developers rolled into one as its new CEO. Susan Desmond-Hellmann, the chancellor of UC San Francisco since 2009 and the former president of product development at Genentech, has been hired as the new CEO … Continue reading “Gates Foundation Gets UCSF Chief Desmond-Hellmann as New CEO”

Betting on the Recurring Revenue Market

Big companies are betting big on recurring revenue—that is, pricing plans designed to guarantee continuing income, as opposed to one-time payments. They believe that if they play their hands correctly, this strategy will deliver profitability and growth. We’ve been watching the red-hot recurring revenue market closely, and in recent months, we’ve seen one established company … Continue reading “Betting on the Recurring Revenue Market”

For CytRx’s Insiders, What a Difference a Day Makes

CytRx (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CYTR]]) investors had a lot to be happy about last week.  The good times came on Wednesday, Dec. 11, after the small cap biotech announced encouraging summary results from a mid-stage clinical trial of its doxorubicin conjugate, aldoxorubicin, in patients getting their initial treatment for soft tissue sarcoma.  This announcement sent Los Angeles-based … Continue reading “For CytRx’s Insiders, What a Difference a Day Makes”

Kymeta Sees ‘Clear Path’ Ahead After Successful Antenna Demonstration

Kymeta, the spinout from Intellectual Ventures making thin, light-weight satellite antennae with engineered metamaterials, has completed a key demonstration, taking it one big step closer to commercialization in 2015. A prototype antenna in Vancouver, B.C., established a two-way Internet connection with a Ka-band satellite, the company says. It was able to stream video and carry … Continue reading “Kymeta Sees ‘Clear Path’ Ahead After Successful Antenna Demonstration”

DreamBox Learning Obtains $14,500,000 Series A Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e4cf44e9-7da3-4ba8-9852-94508ba6d9c0 Date 12/17/2013 Company Name DreamBox Learning Mailing Address 3305 108th Ave NE 2nd Floor Bellevue, WA 98004 Company Description DreamBox Learning’s team brings an unprecedented combination of experiences. We’re entrepreneurs, educators, creative designers, and technologists. Website http://www.dreambox.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $14,500,000 Transaction Round Series A Proceeds Purposes The … Continue reading “DreamBox Learning Obtains $14,500,000 Series A Funding”

Qazzow Obtains $2,400,000 Series A Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=bff1314a-d310-40fc-a7e7-951d3b910026 Date 12/17/2013 Company Name Qazzow Mailing Address Undisclosed Seattle, WA 98101 Company Description That research revealed that people are regularly confused online, and when they are, they prefer to simply select items they have questions about, rather than describing their problems in text (as required by email, live chat, forums, or … Continue reading “Qazzow Obtains $2,400,000 Series A Financing”

Wetpaint Acquired by Viggle for $30M, a Loss for Investors

Wetpaint, a digital publisher that focused on churning out entertainment and celebrity news distributed over social media, has been acquired by “second screen” TV app maker Viggle for $30 million in cash and stock. The deal will be a disappointment for Wetpaint’s investors, who poured about $40 million into the company—venture firms DAG Ventures, Accel Partners, … Continue reading “Wetpaint Acquired by Viggle for $30M, a Loss for Investors”