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Inflection.io Acquires Keyplay, Reuniting Seattle Entrepreneurs Aaron Bird and Adam Schoenfeld
Inflection.io, led by CEO Aaron Bird, acquired Keyplay, reuniting longtime Seattle entrepreneurs with 15 years of collaboration history. Keyplay CEO Adam Schoenfeld joins Inflection as CMO, while the combined company now operates with 47 employees and an expanded global presence.
Seattle Startup Arrived Proposes Fan-Based Private Equity Stake in $8 Billion Seattle Seahawks
Seattle startup Arrived is proposing a fan-based private equity model allowing everyday investors to collectively buy a minority stake in the Seattle Seahawks, leveraging NFL rules permitting private equity stakes. The initiative targets gathering 100,000+ fans to invest small amounts, aiming for a 3%-10% ownership share amid potentially an $8 billion team valuation.
Bezos-Backed Arrived Raises $27M to Expand Fractional Real Estate Investment Platform and Launch Secondary Market
Arrived, a Seattle-based startup backed by Bezos Expeditions, raised $27 million to expand its platform that allows investors to buy fractional shares of rental properties starting at $100. The company also launched a peer-to-peer Secondary Market enabling investors to trade shares directly, aiming to make real estate investing as accessible and liquid as the stock market.
Seattle Startup Arrived Homes Buys Stranger Things Byers House for $400K, Launches $350-$700 Airbnb with Set-Accurate Interiors
Seattle startup Arrived Homes bought the famous Stranger Things Byers house near Atlanta for $400,000 and spent $500,000 renovating it to match the show's interior, now offering it as an immersive Airbnb experience. Fans can also invest in the property with shares starting at $100 through Arrived's crowdfunding platform.
Aviel Ginzburg Launches Seattle Foundations to Support Tech Startups with Non-Equity Accelerator in Capitol Hill
Aviel Ginzburg and a team of entrepreneurs are launching Seattle Foundations, a new invite-only entrepreneurial community and shared workspace in Seattle, aiming to support tech founders with mentorship and resources without taking equity. The initiative, set to open later this year in Capitol Hill, will offer co-working space, events, and six-month memberships focused on startup acceleration.
Seattle Startup Keyplay Raises $3M Led by MHS Capital to Launch Sales Lead Aggregation Platform
Seattle startup Keyplay, co-founded by Adam Schoenfeld, raised $3 million led by MHS Capital to launch a subscription platform that aggregates and scores sales leads. The platform integrates multiple data sources to help sales teams identify potential accounts and currently serves eight customers with plans to expand offerings by mid-2023.
Founders Co-op General Partner Aviel Ginzburg Discusses NFTs, Web3, Metaverse and Startup Investing on GeekWire Podcast
GeekWire Podcast interviews Aviel Ginzburg, general partner at Seattle seed fund Founders Co-op, about pandemic-era networking, NFTs, crypto, Web3, the Metaverse, and how his firm differentiates in a crowded funding market.
NFTs, Metaverse, Web3, and new realities of startup investing, with Founders Co-op’s Aviel Ginzburg
So much of what happens in the startup world comes from serendipitous moments, random interactions that lead to fresh insights and new collaborations. And so much of that has traditionally happened at events, meetups, coffee meetings, and other in-person gatherings. Two years into the pandemic and remote work, what are the implications? That's our first topic on this episode of the GeekWire Podcast, with entrepreneur, software engineer and investor Aviel Ginzburg, general partner at Seattle-based seed-stage venture fund Founders Co-op. The former Techstars Managing Director for Amazon's Alexa Accelerator, Ginzburg was co-founder of social analytics platform Simply Measured, acquired by…
Arrived Homes secures $100M credit line with Certain Lending to expand U.S. single-family rental purchases
Arrived Homes, a Seattle startup that lets people buy shares of single-family rental properties starting at $100, has secured $100 million in credit financing to expand U.S. home purchases and meet strong demand. The company partnered with fintech Certain Lending and previously raised $10 million equity and $27 million debt in June.
Rad Power Bikes co-founder Ty Collins steps down to advisory role; WRF CEO Ron Howell to retire end of April
Rad Power Bikes co-founder and former CMO Ty Collins has stepped down and moved into an advisory role while remaining involved; the company is profitable and raised $150 million earlier this year. Washington Research Foundation CEO Ron Howell will retire at the end of April after 29 years, with CFO Jeff Eby serving as acting CEO.
Founders’ Co-op’s Chris DeVore skips Auth0 seed due to competing investment, joins 2015 Series A and profits from Okta’s $6.5B acquisition
Seattle VC Chris DeVore of Founders’ Co-op missed Auth0’s 2014 seed because the firm already backed competitor Meldium, which was acquired in 2014 for $15 million; after that exit he joined Auth0’s $6.9M Series A in 2015 and saw the company acquired by Okta for $6.5B. DeVore says avoiding portfolio overlap is key and expresses gratitude to Auth0’s founders for allowing Founders’ Co-op to participate.
Founders’ Co-op raises $50M fifth fund to back 20–25 Pacific Northwest early-stage startups
Seattle venture firm Founders’ Co-op raised a $50 million fifth fund, its largest to date, to invest in 20–25 early-stage startups across the Pacific Northwest. The larger fund reflects growing deal sizes and outside LP interest as the region sees record startup funding and more unicorns.
Shuffl founders Matthew Lee and Chris Watts launch Slack and Teams app to match coworkers; ~1,000 teams installed
Shuffl is a startup launched in 2019 by CEO Matthew Lee and CTO Chris Watts that creates randomized or intentional introductions for coworkers through Slack and Microsoft Teams to encourage workplace connection. The app automatically creates channels, schedules one-on-one or group meetups, provides video links and icebreakers, and has been installed by about 1,000 teams.
Arrived Homes launches $100-share crowdfunding platform for rental-property investing, founded by ex-Simply Measured and Sprout Social executives
Arrived Homes, a Seattle startup founded by tech veterans Ryan Frazier, Kenny Cason and Alejandro Chouza with CFO Joel Mezistrano, launched a crowdfunding platform that lets people buy $100 shares in rental properties and earn passive income while the company handles acquisition, renovation and management. The team uses tech and big data to select properties and has posted its first homes for investment after over a year of development and regulatory work.
Adam Schoenfeld’s Seattle Startup Hiring Tracker: 67% of 348 Seattle tech firms have openings, 2,620 roles; 42% grew headcount
A new Seattle Startup Hiring Tracker from entrepreneur Adam Schoenfeld shows 67% of 348 tracked Seattle tech companies have open roles (2,620 total), with 42% growing headcount month-over-month, 35% stable and 23% shrinking despite the pandemic.
Aviel Ginzburg on navigating early stage companies during the COVID-19 pandemic
Aviel talks about his transition from founder to investor, navigating early stage companies during a pandemic, and how innovators like Mystery have been able to pivot toward new opportunities.
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.
