Founders' Co-op

Taylor Soper / GeekWire Jun 17, 2020

Outreach co-founders Wes Hather and Gordon Hempton leave to found stealth remote-work startup after Outreach raises $50M

Outreach co-founders Wes Hather and Gordon Hempton have left the Seattle sales-software unicorn and are collaborating on a stealthy remote-work startup; Hempton departed in October and Hather left earlier this year while Manny Medina remains CEO. Both founders are prototyping the new product and proving product-market fit, and Outreach recently raised $50 million.

Taylor Soper / GeekWire May 25, 2020

MDMetrix raises $1.1M from Vulcan Capital and Seattle investors to scale COVID-19 Mission Control

Seattle startup MDMetrix raised $1.1 million from Vulcan Capital and other local investors to expand use of its COVID-19 Mission Control software, which analyzes hospital operational data to improve capacity and patient treatment.

Taylor Soper / GeekWire May 22, 2020

Microsoft’s M12 Leads $700,000 Round for Venture Out, Seattle 12-Week Program Helping Corporate Tech Workers Launch Startups

Venture Out is a Seattle-based 12-week program that helps corporate tech workers launch startups by providing mentorship, requiring 10–20 hours/week commitment, and taking 4% equity. The organization raised $700,000 in a round led by Microsoft’s M12 and is accepting applications for a second cohort starting July 13.

Chris DeVore / founderscoop.com May 18, 2020

Founders’ Co-op publishes customer experience promise to founders outlining five commitments after 200+ early-stage investments

Founders’ Co-op outlines a written customer experience promise to founders, committing to five principles—Tell the Truth, Be Fast, Give First, It’s Your Company, Be Human—based on the partners’ founder-to-VC experience and more than 200 early-stage investments.

Taylor Soper / GeekWire Apr 20, 2020

Bateau raises $1.5M pre-seed led by Founder’s Co-op to scale safety and compliance software

Seattle startup Bateau raised $1.5 million in a pre-seed round led by Founder’s Co-op to sell safety and compliance software for multi-location businesses, with initial focus shifting to senior living during the COVID-19 pandemic. Co-founders Paul Jarvis (ex-Palantir) and Henry Hutcheson (ex-FullStory/Amperity) launched the year-old company in June and currently have one additional employee.

Taylor Soper / GeekWire Apr 14, 2020

Remitly reports 100% customer growth and 40% transaction-volume increase from Feb–Mar as COVID-19 drives digital remittances

Seattle remittance startup Remitly experienced rapid growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, with customer numbers up 100% and transaction volume up 40% from February to March, as users shifted to digital transfers while physical providers closed. CEO Matt Oppenheimer said the crisis accelerated the company’s mission to provide safe, mobile cross-border payments for immigrants supporting families abroad.

Chris DeVore / founderscoop.com Apr 15, 2019

Founders’ Co-op marks 10 years after launching in 2008 with $2.7M, raised $7.7M fund and brought Techstars to Seattle

Founders’ Co-op reflects on its first decade after launching in early 2008 with a $2.7M seed fund, helping regional startups through investments and by bringing Techstars to Seattle in 2010 while raising a second $7.7M fund.

Monica Nickelsburg / GeekWire Nov 21, 2018

Ganaz Raises $2.1M Led by Founder’s Co-op to Expand Farm-Worker Communication Platform

Ganaz, a platform connecting farmers with seasonal workers using native language translation, raised $2.1 million led by Founder’s Co-op to expand its team and grow its business. The startup aims to build trust between farmers and workers by enhancing direct communication and cultural understanding.

Taylor Soper / GeekWire Jun 11, 2018

Seattle's Portal VR Founder Compares Current VR/AR Hype to 1990s Internet Video Struggles

Virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) technology is currently experiencing hype similar to the early days of internet video, with startups and companies investing heavily despite limited consumer adoption. Industry insiders, like Tim Harader who runs Portal VR in Seattle, see parallels but remain uncertain if VR/AR will eventually achieve mass market penetration akin to digital video.

Taylor Soper / GeekWire Jun 28, 2017

TalentWorks raises $2.4M from Lowercase, Founder’s Co-op and Felicis to guarantee job interviews for $10/week

TalentWorks, co-founded by Kushal Chakrabarti and Ajit Banerjee, emerged from stealth with $2.4M from investors including Lowercase Capital, Founder’s Co-op and Felicis to offer a $10/week AI-driven job-interview matching service that guarantees interviews or refunds fees after 60 days.

Roger Aitken / Forbes Jan 14, 2017

Remitly Expands to Massachusetts, Offering Nationwide Digital Remittance Services Transferring $1.5 Billion Annually

Remitly, the largest independent digital remittance company in the U.S., now serves all 50 states after gaining approval to operate in Massachusetts, transferring over $1.5 billion annually via a user-friendly mobile app with low fees. This expansion enables residents, including many foreign-born individuals in Massachusetts, to send money abroad more easily and transparently.

Vicki M. Young / WWD Sep 20, 2016

TrueFacet Secures $6M Series A Funding Led by Maveron LLC for Pre-Owned Luxury Marketplace

TrueFacet, a marketplace for buying and selling pre-owned luxury items, raised $6 million in a Series A funding round led by Maveron LLC with participation from several other venture firms.