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
University of Washington Launches Vilya with $50 Million to Develop Membrane-Permeable Peptide Drugs
University of Washington researchers developed custom peptides that penetrate cell membranes, enabling a new class of drugs with combined benefits of small molecules and protein therapeutics. They founded Vilya, backed by $50 million from Arch Venture Partners, to commercialize this drug platform described in Cell.
Seattle VC Firm Fuse, Led by Three Under-40 Partners, Raised $170M and Seeks $250M for Second Fund
Seattle venture capital firm Fuse, led by three general partners all aged 35 or younger, raised $170 million for its first fund and is currently raising $250 million for its second. The firm focuses on early-stage Pacific Northwest software startups and is notable for both its youthful leadership and sizable funds.
UW spinout AltPep raises $44.4M as its Alzheimer’s blood test earns FDA breakthrough designation
University of Washington spinout AltPep raised $44.4 million and is developing experimental blood tests to detect Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases early, plus treatments; its Alzheimer’s test received FDA breakthrough device designation. The three-year-old Seattle startup has 25 employees, raised $23.1M in a 2021 Series A, is hiring, and is pursuing partnerships and clinical-ready development.
Seattle Startup Pattern Computer Develops Rapid COVID-19 Test Using Light Patterns from Saliva with Proprietary AI System
Seattle startup Pattern Computer is developing a rapid COVID-19 test using light pattern analysis from saliva with a proprietary computer system, attracting top biotech and tech experts. The company, founded by notable figures including CEO Mark Anderson, has kept details secret but has garnered significant industry interest.
Washington State Tech Leaders Optimistic as $52 Billion Semiconductor Funding Arrives Through CHIPS and Science Act
Washington state tech leaders, including Lewis Johnson of NLM Photonics, are optimistic about the CHIPS and Science Act, which provides $52 billion for semiconductor companies and institutions. The act is expected to ease funding challenges and reduce investment risks in the costly, long-term development of semiconductor technology.
Seattle Startup HDT Bio Secures $1.8M U.S. Army Grant to Develop Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Nasal Spray by 2025
Seattle startup HDT Bio received a nearly $1.8 million U.S. Army grant to develop a nasal spray using proprietary RNA technology that targets a broad range of respiratory viruses, with clinical trials expected to begin in 2025. The spray aims to prevent virus replication and transmission and could be used by both military personnel and civilians.
Seattle’s Arrived Homes Raises $50M for Fractional Property Investment Amid Housing Affordability Debate
Real estate tech startups like Seattle-based Arrived Homes are enabling fractional ownership of properties, funding about $50 million in assets across 20 U.S. cities, but critics argue these platforms reduce scarce housing inventory and drive up prices. Experts suggest the root issue is limited housing supply rather than the rise of investing platforms.
University of Washington Spinout Aquagga Develops Technology to Destroy PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' with No Toxic Byproducts
Aquagga, a Seattle-based cleantech startup founded by University of Washington and Alaska researchers, develops a high-temperature, high-pressure system to completely destroy PFAS 'forever chemicals' in water and soil with no toxic byproducts. The company aims to address EPA concerns about PFAS contamination by providing scalable destruction technology for environmental remediation.
Seattle's Zap Energy Raises $160M Led by Bill Gates and Creates Plasma in Fusion Prototype
Seattle startup Zap Energy announced a breakthrough in fusion power by creating plasma in its latest prototype and raising $160 million in funding led by Bill Gates' Breakthrough Energy Ventures. The company aims to achieve fusion breakeven by increasing current in its innovative Z-pinch device.
Techstars CEO Maelle Gavet Highlights Economic Downturn Challenges and Startup Support Role Amid $2.5B Raised by Accelerated Firms
Maelle Gavet, CEO of Techstars, warns of a significant market reset in the tech industry due to an economic downturn but highlights Techstars’ role in helping startups build resilient businesses and secure funding. Since launching in 2006, Techstars has accelerated nearly 3,000 startups, with its Seattle program producing over 130 companies that have raised $2.5 billion collectively.
Snorkel CEO Alex Ratner on data-centric AI, programmatic labeling and $135M raised to scale Snorkel Flow
Snorkel AI CEO Alex Ratner discusses data-centric AI, programmatic data labeling, and Snorkel's Snorkel Flow platform, which aims to speed up and automate data labeling for enterprise ML. The company spun out in 2019 and has raised $135 million to expand its data-centric programmatic workflow and tackle barriers to AI adoption caused by manual labeling.
Seattle Rises to No. 9 Globally in Startup Genome Rankings with $8.5B VC Investment in 2021
Seattle ranked ninth globally and second in North America in Startup Genome's 2021 global startup ecosystem rankings, highlighted for strengths in AI, big data, and life sciences. The region saw $8.5 billion invested in 549 venture capital deals in 2021, with an estimated ecosystem value of approximately $109 billion.
Pacific Northwest Life Sciences Update: Talus Bioscience Raises $9.75M, Kineta Merges with Yumanity, UW’s David Baker Launches Charm Therapeutics
Recent Pacific Northwest life sciences news includes Talus Bioscience raising $9.75 million, Kineta going public via merger with Yumanity, and UW's David Baker launching Charm Therapeutics. Key partnerships involve TwinStrand and Singular Genomics developing rare gene variant tests, and Umoja Biopharma partnering with TreeFrog Therapeutics for stem cell therapies.
David Baker Launches London Biotech Charm Therapeutics with $50M Series A to Advance Deep Learning Drug Discovery
David Baker, leader of the University of Washington Institute for Protein Design, co-founded London-based Charm Therapeutics, which uses deep learning to discover new small molecule therapeutics, and recently secured $50 million in Series A funding. The company's DragonFold platform predicts protein-small molecule interactions to aid drug discovery in cancer and other diseases.
Tacoma Venture Fund, led by Dennis Joyce, is investing a $12.3M first fund to back nearly 20 early-stage startups in Tacoma area
Tacoma Venture Fund, founded two years ago, is investing a $12.3 million first fund to back nearly 20 early-stage startups—with a focus on the Tacoma, Washington area south of Seattle—to address a capital shortage in the local startup ecosystem.
Robotics Expert Sidd Srinivasa on Trends and What's Ripe for Innovation
In this episode of Founded and Funded Madrona Investors Aseem Datar and Sabrina Wu sit down with robotics expert and University of Washington Professor Sidd Srinivasa to talk about the technology and sociological trends that are leading to innovation in the robotics space, where Sidd sees opportunities for founders, and why now it is a time to pay attention to what's happening in the space. Sidd also shares why he is what he calls an "accidental roboticist" and some of the hard-learned lessons from throughout his extensive career.
#20 Mike Fridgen: Seattle based Startup Incubator Madrona Venture Labs
In this Episode of Startup Project, Nataraj talked to Mike Fridgen, Managing Director at Madrona Venture Labs a Seattle based tech startup incubator. Some of the companies incubated include Style Genome (Acq by Wayfair), Chatitive (Acq by MailChimp), Message Yes (Acq by Nordstrom) & more. Before joining Madrona Venture Labs Mike was part of founding teams at Farecast (Acq by Microsoft) & Decide (Acq by Ebay) where he led product and growth strategies. Full Conversation includes: Farecast.com (Predicting prices) - Acquired by Microsoft Decide.com (next gen consumer reports) - Acquired by Ebay Through line across being part of multiple acquisitions…
Asha AI Launches Voice-Enabled Elder Care Management App, Showcased at Life Science Innovation Northwest 2022
Asha AI, a Redmond-based startup founded by Rashmi Joshi, has launched an iOS app to help elderly users manage healthcare tasks through a voice-enabled interface. The app was showcased at the Life Science Innovation Northwest 2022 event and aims to support independence and caregiver communication.
Group14 Technologies Secures $400M Series C Led by Porsche to Scale Advanced Silicon-Carbon Battery Anode
Group14 Technologies raised $400 million in Series C funding led by Porsche AG to commercialize its silicon-carbon composite battery anode technology, which improves lithium-ion battery performance by 50%. The company plans to quickly scale production to meet demand from automotive, aviation, and consumer electronics sectors.
University of Washington’s Team Melodic Advances to Microsoft Imagine Cup Finals with $100K Prize in May Competition
University of Washington's Team Melodic advanced to the finals of Microsoft’s 2022 Imagine Cup, competing for a $100,000 grand prize with technology aiding prelingual deaf children’s speech therapy. The team leverages Azure cloud technology for real-time analysis and customized therapy solutions.
Erin Quick
Erin Quick is the Co-founder and CEO of PairTree. With more than 20 years of global brand marketing experience, and more importantly, as a two-time adoptive mother, Erin is a leader in the movement to modernize adoption in the U.S. Previously, Erin co-founded Stoke Strategy, a Seattle-based brand strategy firm, which she led for 12 years. She began her marketing career at Addison in San Francisco and New York, where she worked on global branding for Domino’s Pizza, Merrill Lynch and The Make-a-Wish Foundation. Erin is a recipient of Puget Sound Business Journal’s 40-Under-40 award and most recently, PairTree, under…
Five Finalists for 2022 GeekWire Health Innovation of the Year Include A-Alpha Bio and UW Institute for Protein Design
The 2022 GeekWire Health Innovation of the Year finalists include A-Alpha Bio, Parse Biosciences, Tasso, Truveta, and the University of Washington’s Institute for Protein Design, highlighting advances in computational health approaches. Winners will be announced on May 12 at the GeekWire Awards, with community voting open until April 22.
Icosavax COVID-19 Vaccine Trial Shows Weaker Immune Response Than Expected, Stocks Fall Over 60%
Icosavax reported interim phase 1/2 trial results for its COVID-19 vaccine showing immune responses below expectations, causing its stock to drop over 60%. The company plans to investigate causes for the underwhelming data while remaining committed to its VLP vaccine platform.
Discovery Health Grew from 8 to 300 Employees Under CEO Ann Jarris by Leading COVID-19 Testing and Vaccinations in Pacific Northwest Maritime Industry
Discovery Health, led by CEO Ann Jarris, experienced significant growth during the COVID-19 pandemic by overseeing testing and vaccinations for maritime, agriculture, and airport workers in the Pacific Northwest. Starting with just eight employees and limited resources, the Seattle-based health startup expanded to a team of nearly 300, becoming a key partner in pandemic response efforts.
DoD awards $1.1M to Seattle’s A-Alpha Bio to hunt antibodies for COVID-19 variants with LLNL collaboration
Seattle biotech A-Alpha Bio received a $1.1 million DoD sub-contract to collaborate with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, using its AlphaSeq platform and machine learning to identify high-affinity antibodies against current and future COVID-19 variants.
People
See all 28-
Oren Etzioni Executive, Former CEO, Founder and Emeritus Professor, Former Professor, Former Leader of TrueMedia
-
Avi Geiger Lecturer, Affiliate Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
-
Babak Parviz Professor