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
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.
Grin Lord - mpathic.ai - What Fuels You
Dr. Grin Lord is a clinical psychologist and AI empathy innovator. She is the founder/CEO of mpathic.ai - AI empathy at scale - and of Therapists in Tech, a collaborative of 3k+ digital mental health experts who are defining the digital mental health revolution together. Grin was previously the Chief Clinical Officer of Lyssn.io, a Clinical Product Psychologist at Youper.ai, and a Research Scientist at the University of Washington where she studied the key ingredients in conversation that make therapy effective and promote change. Her areas of expertise include conversational design, using machine learning to augment human connection, evidence-based therapy…
Grin Lord
Dr. Grin Lord is a clinical psychologist and AI empathy innovator. She is the founder/CEO of mpathic.ai - AI empathy at scale - and of Therapists in Tech, a collaborative of 3k+ digital mental health experts who are defining the digital mental health revolution together. Grin was previously the Chief Clinical Officer of Lyssn.io, a Clinical Product Psychologist at Youper.ai, and a Research Scientist at the University of Washington where she studied the key ingredients in conversation that make therapy effective and promote change. Her areas of expertise include conversational design, using machine learning to augment human connection, evidence-based therapy…
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.
Transparent Path Uses Intel IoT Sensors and AI to Predict Food Spoilage and Support Hunger Relief
Seattle-based Transparent Path uses Intel-powered IoT sensors and AI to monitor perishable food shipments, assigning freshness scores to prevent spoilage and support hunger relief efforts. The company charges a fee per shipment and has helped nonprofits provide over 100,000 meals by saving food at risk.
Group14 Technologies Raises $648M to Develop Silicon-Carbon Battery Anodes, Valued Over $3 Billion
Group14 Technologies, valued at over $3 billion, is developing next-generation silicon-carbon battery anodes in Woodinville, Washington, aiming to improve power and charging speeds for batteries. Backed by investors like Porsche and Microsoft, the startup has raised over $648 million and federal support exceeding $100 million.
Cardiac Dimensions Raises $35M to Advance Carillon System for Treating Mitral Valve Regurgitation
Cardiac Dimensions raised $35 million to support testing and marketing of its Carillon Mitral Contour System, a minimally invasive device for treating mitral valve regurgitation linked to heart failure. The funds will expand European sales and finance a U.S.-based clinical study involving major medical centers.
Seattle Startups Karat and Common Room Hire New Execs; Microsoft Veteran Peter Petesch Departs After 32 Years
Seattle startups Karat and Common Room have hired new executives, with Karat appointing Scott Bonneau as EVP of operations and product, and Amy Sennett as general counsel, while Common Room brought on Matt Duchesne as VP of sales. Additionally, longtime Microsoft engineering leader Peter Petesch departed after 32 years, and Seattle-based Skytap hired Rahul Tripathi as chief product and technology officer.
Seattle Startup Cajal Neuroscience Raises $96M to Develop New Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Treatments
Seattle-based startup Cajal Neuroscience, founded in 2020, has raised $96 million to develop treatments for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's by exploring diverse drug targets beyond amyloid-beta. The company aims to understand genetic variants' roles in disease mechanisms to identify key molecules involved in neurodegeneration.
UW Student Team Wins 2022 Madrona Prize for VOCAL Video Analysis Tech at Paul G. Allen School Showcase
A University of Washington student team won the 15th annual Madrona Prize for developing VOCAL, a video analytics system that extracts text-based data from unlabeled videos. The winning project, led by Ph.D. students Maureen Daum, Enhao Zhang, and Dong He, demonstrates strong research and commercial potential in video search technologies.
Seattle Startup Nvirovate Raises $850K to Commercialize Soy-Based Compostable Adhesives Cutting 70% Greenhouse Gases
Seattle startup Nvirovate is commercializing a soy-based, compostable adhesive to replace petroleum-based glues in shipping labels, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 70%. Founded in May 2021, Nvirovate recently secured $850,000 in angel investments to expand into the $80 billion global tape and label market.
Seattle Healthcare Analytics Startup Abett Raises $6.5M to Boost Employer Benefits Data Software
Seattle healthcare analytics startup Abett, founded by former Amazon employee Mike Hanlon, raised $6.5 million to enhance its software that helps large employers analyze spending on employee health benefits using legally accessible data.
Seattle Startup The Ebba Launches App to Support 8,000 Black-Owned Businesses with AR History Features
Seattle startup The Ebba, founded by Andrew McDonald, Giovanni Iriarte-Young, and Tema Woods, created an app to help users find and support Black-owned businesses across various categories. The app features 8,000 businesses, supports in-app purchases, and plans to integrate augmented reality to educate users on Black history.
University of Washington Ranked 24th Globally for VC-Backed Startup Founders in PitchBook's 2022 Report
The University of Washington ranks 24th globally for producing startup founders who secured venture capital, with 456 undergraduate founders raising $11.8 billion, according to PitchBook's 2022 data. Stanford topped the rankings, while regional universities like Washington State University and University of Oregon did not make the top 100.
Google Acquires Seattle Startup Sound Life Sciences, Developer of FDA-Cleared Sonar Breathing Monitoring App
Google has quietly acquired Seattle-based Sound Life Sciences, a University of Washington spinout that developed an FDA-cleared app to monitor breathing using sonar technology. The app targets easier diagnosis of sleep apnea and respiratory condition monitoring, with the startup ceasing public activity post-acquisition.
TwinStrand Biosciences CEO Jesse Salk Steps Down Amid Layoffs; Chad Brown Named Interim CEO
TwinStrand Biosciences co-founder Jesse Salk has stepped down as CEO but will remain chief scientific officer and board member, with Chad Brown named interim CEO amid reported layoffs cutting nearly 50% of the workforce at the Seattle-based gene sequencing startup. The company, founded seven years ago and backed by a $50 million Series B round in 2021, declined to comment on the layoffs.
GeekWire Summit 2022 to Feature Top Tech Leaders Including Magic Leap, Aurora, Microsoft, Amazon, and U.S. Senator Cantwell on October 6-7
The 11th annual GeekWire Summit takes place on October 6-7 in Seattle and online, featuring key technology and business leaders discussing innovations like augmented reality, autonomous vehicles, and robotics. Speakers include Magic Leap CTO Julie Larson-Green, Aurora CEO Chris Urmson, Microsoft EVP Charlie Bell, Amazon VP Ken Washington, and U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell.
RealPage Acquires Seattle Apartment Property Management Startup Knock Founded in 2014
RealPage, a real estate technology company backed by Thoma Bravo, is acquiring Seattle-based startup Knock, which provides software for apartment property managers. Knock, founded in 2014 and serving over two million units, will retain its brand post-acquisition, though financial terms were not disclosed.
Biogen and Eisai's Lecanemab Shows 27% Cognitive Decline Reduction in Major Alzheimer’s Trial, Boosting Seattle’s AltPep
Positive phase 3 trial data of Biogen and Eisai's Alzheimer’s drug lecanemab shows a 27% reduction in cognitive decline and renews hope in amyloid-beta targeting therapies. Seattle startup AltPep sees these results as supportive of its similar approach to detection and treatment.
Amazon Web Services Licenses Batfish Network Testing Tool from Seattle Startup Intentionet, Retaining Open Source Status
Amazon Web Services signed a licensing deal with Seattle startup Intentionet, creators of the Batfish open source network testing tool, which AWS will now manage. Intentionet’s enterprise product predicts network change impacts to prevent outages, and fewer than 12 employees will join Amazon without it being an acquisition.
Seattle Startup Cheq Raises $8M to Expand Stadium and Restaurant Mobile Ordering with Social Gifting Feature
Seattle-area startup Cheq raised $8 million to expand its mobile ordering and social gifting platform used in stadiums and restaurants, aiming to boost vendor sales and enhance customer experience. The platform supports vendors like the Miami Dolphins and University of Washington, with over 100,000 monthly users and an average 28% sales increase per order.
Seattle Startup DroneSeed Uses FAA-Approved Drones to Replant Thousands of Wildfire-Damaged Acres, Raises $36M in Funding
DroneSeed, a Seattle startup, uses FAA-approved heavy lift drones to replant forests over hundreds of acres damaged by wildfires in the U.S. Since 2019, it has reseeded thousands of acres and recently secured $36 million in venture capital to scale its efforts. Partnering with One Tree Planted, DroneSeed aims to support reforestation and benefit from growing carbon credit markets.
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
