Facts
- HQ
- Seattle
- Sectors
- Software Development
- Founded
- 2015
- Employees
- 33
Yesler raises $3.3M to scale Seattle B2B lumber marketplace, led by Tech Square Ventures
Seattle-based B2B lumber and building materials marketplace Yesler raised $3.3 million in a funding round led by Tech Square Ventures to scale marketing and engineering after spinning out of Pioneer Square Labs in 2019. The company, founded by CEO Matt Meyers, aims to digitize lumber purchasing and optimize end-to-end supply chains, and currently has 10 employees while competing with MaterialsXChange.
Madrona Venture Group Raises $345M for 8th Fund and $161M for 2nd Later-Stage Fund in Largest Ever $500M Capital Raise
Madrona Venture Group raised over $500 million for its largest fundraise ever, including $345 million for an eighth early-stage fund targeting 35-40 Pacific Northwest startups and $161 million for a second later-stage Acceleration Fund. The firm continues to focus on supporting the Pacific Northwest tech ecosystem while also backing later-stage companies across North America.
Bizible founder Aaron Bird raises $5.1M to launch Seattle B2B startup studio Pienza
Aaron Bird, founder of Bizible, launched Seattle startup studio Pienza and raised $5.1 million from MHS Capital, Version One Ventures, Vulcan Capital and angels to build a small portfolio of B2B software companies. Pienza will focus on fewer, highly concentrated bets, put most of the funding into portfolio companies, keep a lean internal team, and Bird will forgo a salary.
Recurrent raises $3.5M seed round led by Wireframe Ventures to scale battery data science for used EV reports
Recurrent, a Seattle startup that issues independent battery-condition reports for used electric vehicles, raised $3.5 million in a seed round led by Wireframe Ventures to expand the data science behind its reports. The company launched in September, has over 2,500 EV owners providing data and 10 dealer partners, and has collected more than 1 million data points to train its machine-learning models.
Secure, a Pioneer Square Labs spinout, launches employer software for emergency savings accounts, CEO Devin Miller says
Seattle startup Secure, spun out of Pioneer Square Labs and led by CEO Devin Miller, is launching software that lets employers offer employee emergency savings accounts (ESAs) via automatic post-tax payroll deferrals and employer matches. The product targets small businesses without 401(k)s and larger employers seeking additional savings benefits, positioning ESAs as a high-ROI, low-cost financial wellness benefit amid pandemic-driven financial strain.
Joon Care raises $3.5M to expand remote therapy for teens and young adults
Seattle startup Joon Care raised $3.5 million to expand its remote therapy service for teens and young adults, connecting clients with licensed youth-focused therapists through 16-week subscription plans. The year-old company, led by CEO Josh Herst and chief psychologist Amy Mezulis, launched from PSL’s studio and has expanded service to Washington, California, and Oregon.
Madrona leads $2.6M seed round for OthersideAI to build GPT-3–powered automated email composer
OthersideAI, founded months ago by Matt Shumer, Miles Feldstein and Jason Kuperberg, raised a $2.6M seed round led by Madrona to build a GPT-3–powered tool that automatically composes email drafts; the company is testing a Chrome extension with ~100 early users and a ~10,000-person waitlist.
2048 Ventures Hires Seattle Investor Minda Brusse to Lead Pre-Seed Sourcing in Seattle and Portland
NYC-based 2048 Ventures has hired Seattle investor Minda Brusse as a venture partner to source pre-seed investments in Seattle and Portland while she remains at First Row Partners; 2048 launched last year with a $27 million fund and has backed 29 companies.
PNW Startups Raised $1.1B in Q3 2020 Across 65 Deals as Investors Keep Funding Amid Pandemic
Pacific Northwest startups raised $1.1 billion across 65 deals in Q3 2020, with funding in July and August exceeding last year’s levels as investors continue backing tech despite the pandemic.
Lighter Capital appoints Melissa Widner as CEO after layoffs; firm has invested $200M+ using revenue-based financing
Seattle alternative VC firm Lighter Capital named Melissa Widner as CEO; she succeeds Thor Culverhouse and joins a company that has deployed $200M+ via revenue-based financing and recently cut staff from ~80 to 23 before rising to 25 employees. Widner, a Sydney-based board member and former NAB venture managing partner, plans remote hiring as the firm seeks global growth.
Seattle VC Flying Fish files to raise $75M 'Flying Fish Fund II' after $80M debut fund
Seattle venture capital firm Flying Fish, founded in 2018, is raising a second fund called Flying Fish Fund II with an SEC filing showing a $75 million offering; the firm previously raised an $80 million first fund and focuses on AI/ML startups in the Pacific Northwest.
Recurrent launches Seattle startup offering independent ML-based used EV battery reports to reduce buyer risk
Seattle startup Recurrent is launching a service that generates independent, machine-learning–based reports on used EV battery performance to help buyers assess battery health and reduce the risk of buying a vehicle with a failing battery.
Boundless raises $7.5M to acquire RapidVisa, adds 45 employees and expands online immigration services
Seattle-based Boundless raised $7.5 million to fund the acquisition of rival RapidVisa and expand its online immigration tools, nearly doubling its team by adding 45 RapidVisa employees. CEO Xiao Wang says the funding and deal will strengthen the company’s infrastructure and market position ahead of an economic recovery.
Panda AI, spun out of AI2, raises $3.3M with AI2 as first investor from its new pre-seed fund
Panda AI, a stealth startup spun out of the Allen Institute for AI (AI2), raised $3.3 million in a round led by PSL Ventures with participation from AI2 and others; it is the first company to receive funding from AI2’s new pre-seed fund.
Former Intellectual Ventures EVP Maurizio Vecchione named CEO of Washington Global Health Alliance; Shujinko hires three executives after $7.5M raise
Maurizio Vecchione, former Intellectual Ventures EVP, was named president and CEO of Seattle-based Washington Global Health Alliance and K.R. Prabha named board chair; Seattle startup Shujinko added three senior hires after a $7.5M raise; Oracle appointed Clay Magouyrk EVP for Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and UW named Dr. Ekin Yasin director of its Communication Leadership graduate program.
JetClosing raises $8.5M Series B led by T. Rowe Price amid pandemic-driven surge in digital home closings
Seattle-based JetClosing raised $8.5 million in a Series B led by funds advised by T. Rowe Price as demand for its digital title and escrow closing service surges during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company reported order activity up 124% from April to July, says digital notary adoption has accelerated, and total funding is now $35 million.
Ignition Partners investors spin out Fuse Venture Partners led by Kellan Carter, Cameron Borumand and Seahawks star Bobby Wagner
A group of investors from Seattle VC firm Ignition Partners, including managing partner John Connors, have launched a spinoff called Fuse Venture Partners led by general partners Kellan Carter and Cameron Borumand and featuring Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner as a venture partner. Ignite will sunset its brand while Fuse focuses on doubling down in Seattle and managing new investments, with Wagner committing to active involvement.
Pioneer Square Labs and Fortive launch TeamSense, a COVID-19 symptom‑tracking SaaS that reached paying customers in six weeks
Pioneer Square Labs and Fortive launched their first spinout, TeamSense, a SaaS platform that lets employers screen and communicate with hourly workers about COVID-19 symptoms via quick daily texts or emails. TeamSense moved from initial funding to paying customers in six weeks and provides dashboards, rosters, and 1-on-1 chat to support workplace health, planning and compliance.
Sentinel Healthcare’s Sentinel Monitor to test and monitor 1,300 residents and 900+ staff at Era Living retirement communities
Seattle startup Sentinel Healthcare expanded its Sentinel Monitor COVID-19 tracking app — already used by UT Health Austin to diagnose about 1,600 Texas cases and trigger contact tracing for 4,000 people — into local retirement communities to test and monitor over 900 staff and 1,300 residents. The company partnered with Era Living and Transpara Health to support regular testing, monitoring and outbreak prevention in long-term care facilities amid rising case counts.
Madrona Venture Labs spinout StrikeGraph launches to automate SOC 2 compliance, led by Justin Beals and Brian Bero
Madrona Venture Labs has launched StrikeGraph, a Seattle startup led by Justin Beals and Brian Bero that automates and simplifies the SOC 2 cybersecurity compliance process to reduce time and cost for companies seeking certification.
Pioneer Square Labs and Fortive launch joint innovation studio to build spinout companies, starting with a COVID-19 workplace-safety concept
Seattle startup studio Pioneer Square Labs (PSL) has partnered with publicly traded industrial company Fortive to form a joint innovation studio that will build and spin out new companies and products, starting with a confidential workplace-safety concept prompted by COVID-19. PSL will apply its in-house startup studio model to create standalone venture-backed businesses or concepts Fortive may acquire, while Fortive aims to accelerate innovation and cultural change.
Madrona Venture Labs launches Founders Unite to connect startup founders with veteran execs through AMAs during pandemic
Seattle-based Madrona Venture Labs launched Founders Unite, a community and AMA series connecting startup founders with veteran tech leaders for advice and peer support during the pandemic. MVL — which raised $11 million for its third fund last year and has launched around ten companies — organized the initiative after polling 100+ founders about what they value most.
Gemma Labs raises $3.5M to scale algorithm-driven custom shampoo business after topping $1M in annualized sales
Seattle startup Gemma Labs raised $3.5 million to grow its algorithm-driven direct-to-consumer custom shampoo and conditioner business, which surpassed $1 million in annualized sales and retails for $45 ($36 subscription).
NextStep raises $3.6M to scale mobile training and job-placement for displaced workers into healthcare roles
Seattle startup NextStep raised $3.6 million to expand its mobile training and job-placement platform that recruits and trains displaced, low-wage workers for in-demand healthcare roles like CNAs and home health aides.
Satya Nadella and Seattle Tech Leaders Join Sounders FC Ownership; Cray Gets $600M DOE Supercomputer Contract Ahead of $1.3B HPE Acquisition
Seattle tech leaders, including Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, have joined a revamped Sounders FC ownership group. Cray is developing a $600 million exascale supercomputer for the U.S. Department of Energy and is being acquired by HPE for $1.3 billion.
People
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Ben Gilbert Founder, Co-founder and Managing Director, Venture Partner
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Geoff Entress Founder, Co-founder and Venture Partner
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Greg Gottesman Founder, Managing Director, Co-Founder
