University of Washington
Facts
- HQ
- University of Washington
- Sectors
- Higher Education, Research, Healthcare, Arts
- Founded
- 1861
- Registered name
- University of Washington Seattle business license
- Stage
- Public
Seattle Biotech Startup A-Alpha Bio Raises $22.4M to Advance AI Platform for Protein Interaction Analysis
Seattle biotech startup A-Alpha Bio raised $22.4 million to advance its AI-driven platform that measures protein interactions, partnering with major drug companies like Bristol Myers Squibb and Gilead Sciences to accelerate therapeutic development. Its platform combines computational tools and yeast experiments to analyze nearly 500 million protein-protein interaction measurements for drug discovery.
Seattle Startup CHEQ Revives Bite of Seattle Food Festival July 21-23 with Mobile Ordering Technology After 3-Year Hiatus
The Bite of Seattle food festival returns July 21-23 after a 3-year hiatus, now owned by Seattle startup CHEQ, which integrates mobile ordering to enhance event efficiency. The festival features over 100 food vendors, 50 musical acts including Sir Mix-a-Lot, and expects around 500,000 attendees.
Seattle Fintech Startup Jirav Raises $20M Series B to Expand Financial Analytics Platform
Jirav, a Seattle-based fintech startup providing financial planning and analytics platforms for small and medium-sized businesses, raised $20 million in a Series B round. The company has grown to over 4,000 customers and has partnerships with CPA.com, with total funding reaching $33 million since its 2015 founding.
Wavely Diagnostics Raises $1.35M to Launch Smartphone App Detecting Ear Infections via Acoustic Signals in 2023
Wavely Diagnostics, a University of Washington spinout, raised $1.35 million to develop a smartphone app that detects ear infections using acoustic signals. The app aims to enable virtual pediatric care by connecting users with physicians and is slated for public release later this year.
SpecterOps Raises $8.25M More, Extending Series A to $33.25M to Expand Attack Path Management Platform
Seattle cybersecurity startup SpecterOps raised an additional $8.25 million, extending its Series A funding round to $33.25 million to expand adoption of its BloodHound Enterprise attack path management platform. The extension was led by Ballistic Ventures, bringing Mandiant CEO Kevin Mandia to the board.
Seattle Startups My Financial Therapist and Stakana Win BECU and CoMotion Fintech Incubator Competition
The BECU Fintech Incubator named three winners in its fifth annual competition, including two Seattle-based startups: My Financial Therapist and Stakana. These companies will receive a one-year membership to CoMotion’s Labs incubator, alongside access to training, events, and BECU’s network.
NLM Photonics Secures $1M from Tokyo Ohka Kogyo and Hamamatsu to Boost Hybrid Electro-Optic Technology Commercialization
Seattle-based NLM Photonics raised $1 million in funding led by Japanese companies Tokyo Ohka Kogyo and Hamamatsu Photonics to advance commercialization of its hybrid electro-optic modulation technology. The investment aims to accelerate development of semiconductors that handle more data with less power and includes collaboration on shelf-stable inks using NLM’s proprietary materials.
Seattle Venture Firm Essence VC Raises $27M to Fund Early-Stage Tech Infrastructure Startups
Seattle-based venture capital firm Essence VC, led by managing partner Timothy Chen, has raised $27 million for its third fund to invest in early-stage startups focused on software development tools, data infrastructure, and AI. The firm targets pre-product startups and has made seven investments since December, including in Jasper AI and MotherDuck.
AltPep Raises $52.9M to Advance Early Detection and Treatments for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases
AltPep, a University of Washington spinout developing tests and treatments for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, raised $52.9 million in Series B funding to advance clinical trials and regulatory approval for its early detection blood test. The company targets toxic oligomers linked to Alzheimer’s and a related protein in Parkinson’s, aiming to enable early screening and preventive treatment.
Former Spaceflight CEO Curt Blake Joins Wilson Sonsini to Lead NewSpace Industry Group
Curt Blake, former CEO of Spaceflight Inc., has joined Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati as senior of counsel to support the firm's new NewSpace industry group focused on emerging space ventures. Blake brings 12 years of leadership in satellite rideshare logistics and a background in legal and executive roles at tech companies.
Zap Energy Secures $5M DOE Grant for Fusion Power Development with FuZE-Q Device Targeting 2030 Grid Integration
Zap Energy received a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to support its development of fusion power using its fourth-generation Z-pinch device, FuZE-Q, aiming for commercial fusion energy by 2030. Despite challenges, the DOE funding serves as a significant national-level endorsement of Zap's work toward achieving fusion breakeven.
GeekWire Week in Review (May 14, 2023): Top stories include ex-CFO indicted over $35M crypto transfer, Bezos’ $500M yacht, and Amazon legal/personnel news
GeekWire's Week in Review for May 14, 2023 lists the site's most-read stories, including a Seattle startup ex-CFO indicted over an alleged $35M crypto transfer, Jeff Bezos' $500M yacht, and Amazon-related legal and personnel news.
Hootsuite Names Jessica Hartigan CRO and Ellen Terchila CCO; EMOTIV, Institute for Protein Design, Appen, and Outreach Announce Executive Hires
Hootsuite appointed Jessica Hartigan as Chief Revenue Officer and Ellen Terchila as Chief Customer Officer, while other tech companies also announced key executive hires including Gary Flake at EMOTIV and Lynda Stuart at the Institute for Protein Design.
Genemod Raises $4.5M to Expand Life Sciences Data Collaboration Platform with Clients Like AstraZeneca and Merck
Seattle startup Genemod raised $4.5 million to expand its cloud-based collaboration platform for life sciences data management, aiming to improve research reproducibility. Key clients include AstraZeneca and Merck, with total funding reaching $6.2 million to date.
Avalanche Energy Raises $40M Series A Led by Lowercarbon Capital and Hits 200 kV Fusion Milestone with Device Marty
Avalanche Energy, a Seattle-based micro-fusion startup, secured $40 million in a Series A funding round led by Lowercarbon Capital and announced a technology milestone operating its fusion device Marty at 200 kV. The company aims to develop small-scale fusion power with the potential for unlimited clean energy and plans to reach 300 kV within the next year.
GeekWire Awards Launch Sustainable Innovation Category Featuring Five Pacific Northwest Finalists, Winners Announced May 18
GeekWire Awards introduced a new Sustainable Innovation of the Year category highlighting five Pacific Northwest companies developing technologies to protect the planet, with winners announced on May 18. Public voting is open until May 1 for finalists including Eviation, Membrion, Pure Watercraft, Recompose, and Zap Energy.
Seattle Cybersecurity Startup SpecterOps Raises $25M Series A to Expand Attack Path Management Platform
Seattle-based cybersecurity startup SpecterOps raised $25 million in Series A funding led by Decibel to expand its BloodHound Enterprise attack path management platform used by clients such as Capital Group and the University of Texas at Austin. Founded in 2016 and led by CEO David McGuire, the company targets enterprise cloud platforms to analyze cyberattack routes in Microsoft's Active Directory and Azure.
CTFusion Shuts Down After Failing to Raise Venture Capital; Co-Founders Join Rival Zap Energy
CTFusion, a University of Washington spinoff fusion startup, ceased operations after failing to secure venture capital despite $20 million in government grants. Three of its four co-founders have joined rival company Zap Energy, as the Pacific Northwest remains a key region for fusion energy development.
Recompose Launches $5M Crowdfunding Campaign on Wefunder for Human Compositing Expansion
Seattle-based human composting startup Recompose launched a $5 million crowdfunding campaign on Wefunder open to unaccredited investors, aiming to grow its innovative funeral services. Founded by CEO Katrina Spade in 2017, Recompose has raised $27 million to date, operates facilities in Washington, and offers a sustainable alternative to burial and cremation.
Neoleukin Therapeutics Cuts 70% of Workforce, CEO Jonathan Drachman to Step Down Amid Strategic Review
Neoleukin Therapeutics is cutting about 70% of its workforce and exploring strategic alternatives including sale or merger, with CEO Jonathan Drachman stepping down. The company’s stock rose by over 30% following the announcement.
UW Professor Byron Boots Launches Overland AI to Develop Off-Road Autonomous Vehicles for Complex Terrain
University of Washington professor Byron Boots leads Overland AI, a Seattle startup developing off-road autonomous vehicle technology to improve safety and address labor shortages in challenging terrains. The company, co-founded by UW RACER team members and registered in January 2023, has raised undisclosed funding and maintains close ties to DARPA's RACER program.
University of Washington Students' Endozene Wins $15,000 for Endometriosis Menstrual Blood Test at 8th UW Hollomon Health Innovation Challenge
University of Washington students' startup Endozene won the top prize and $15,000 at the 8th annual UW Hollomon Health Innovation Challenge for developing a menstrual blood test to detect endometriosis using a lateral flow assay. Other winning teams included Amor, creating an artificial liver support device, and OneCourt.
Armoire Hires Ex-Microsoft CTO Laura Butler; Chewy Acquires Petabyte for $43.4M, Elevates Founder Michael Hyman to VP
Clothing rental startup Armoire appointed former Microsoft technical fellow Laura Butler as CTO, while pet e-commerce company Chewy promoted Michael Hyman to VP following its $43.4 million acquisition of his veterinary startup Petabyte.
Abacus Bioscience Raises $4.4M for Novel Cancer Vaccine Technology Led by Ex-Seagen Executives
Abacus Bioscience, a University of Washington spinout led by former Seattle Genetics veterans, raised $4.4 million to develop a novel cancer vaccine approach targeting tumor antigens to stimulate a strong immune response. Despite historical skepticism about cancer vaccines, Abacus aims to advance a new technology that activates immune cells via antibody fragments linked to tumor antigens.
Microsoft Veteran Kevin Wang Launches Mentors in Tech Program Supporting Community College Students in Tech Careers
Kevin Wang, a Microsoft veteran, founded Mentors in Tech (MinT) to support community college students pursuing tech careers by connecting them with mentors and internships. The program has engaged nearly 500 students nationally, aiming to address workforce diversity and skill shortages by helping overlooked, underserved students gain entry into the tech industry.
People
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Oren Etzioni Executive, Former CEO, Founder and Emeritus Professor, Former Professor, Former Leader of TrueMedia
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Avi Geiger Lecturer, Affiliate Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
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Babak Parviz Professor
