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
A-Alpha Bio raises $20M Series A led by Madrona to expand Seattle lab and scale protein-discovery platform
University of Washington spinout A-Alpha Bio raised $20 million in Series A funding led by Madrona Venture Group to expand downtown Seattle lab space and grow its machine-learning team for its protein-discovery platform. The company combines computational tools and yeast-based experiments to generate large protein-interaction datasets used to predict therapeutic protein candidates for diseases including COVID-19.
Study Finds Seattle Startup Tasso’s Tasso‑SST Self‑Collection Device Matches Venous COVID‑19 Antibody Results
A study led by Seattle researchers found the Tasso-SST self-administered upper-arm blood collection device produced antibody results nearly identical to venous draws and worked for a high proportion of users, even after simulated 48-hour shipping. The device, made by Seattle startup Tasso, could replace some clinic blood draws for COVID-19 antibody testing.
Carbon Robotics raises $27M to scale AI laser weed-zapping robots as farmers report pesticide-free savings
Seattle startup Carbon Robotics raised $27 million to scale its AI-powered, laser-based autonomous weed-removal robots, which farmers say cut pesticide use, save time, and improve soil health while the company has sold out 2021–2022 models and reported over $20 million in bookings.
Mason founders Jim and Nancy Xiao swap CEO and President roles as startup, backed by $25M Series A, tops 50 employees; Microsoft CVP Gavriella Schuster departs to focus on DEI
Seattle IoT startup Mason is swapping CEO Jim Xiao and President Nancy Xiao, with Nancy becoming CEO after the company raised $25M in Series A and grew to 50+ employees; longtime Microsoft CVP Gavriella Schuster has left Microsoft to focus on DEI work.
Hillrom to complete $367M acquisition of Bardy Diagnostics after Delaware judge orders deal to proceed
Hillrom will proceed with its previously announced $367 million acquisition of Seattle startup Bardy Diagnostics after a Delaware judge ordered the deal to close following a dispute over sharp Medicare reimbursement cuts that briefly led Hillrom to try to withdraw.
Icosavax IPO: Seattle biotech raises $180M, stock jumps 200% on first trading day (ICVX)
Seattle biotech Icosavax surged more than 200% on its NASDAQ debut after raising over $180 million by pricing shares at $15; the company develops virus-like particle vaccines and recently began phase 1/2 trials for a COVID-19 vaccine supported by a $10 million Gates Foundation grant.
Simon Yu, ex-Bomba Fusion owner, leads crypto startup StormX and lands Portland Trail Blazers sponsorship
Seattle entrepreneur Simon Yu closed his Korean-Mexican food truck Bomba Fusion and pivoted to cofound StormX, a fast-growing crypto startup he launched in 2015; recently StormX secured a sponsorship deal with the Portland Trail Blazers as Yu reflects on his journey from financial hardship to startup success.
Modulus Therapeutics, spun out of the Allen Institute for AI, raises $3.5M to engineer enhanced NK cell therapies
Modulus Therapeutics, a Seattle cell-therapy startup spun out of the Allen Institute for AI, raised $3.5 million in seed funding to use lab research and machine learning to engineer enhanced natural killer (NK) cells for anti-tumor therapies. Founders Max Darnell and Bryce Daines aim to develop a discovery platform to generate NK cell product candidates for larger cellular therapy companies.
BECU and UWs CoMotion Admit Joola, PYT Funds, Bumper and Stack to Third Annual Year-Long Seattle Fintech Incubator
Four Seattle startups—Joola, PYT Funds, Bumper, and Stack—were selected for the third annual year-long fintech incubator run by BECU and the University of Washingtons CoMotion, receiving support, mentorship, training, and space. Each company offers a distinct fintech product: Joola (co-savings/rewards), PYT Funds (education financing matchmaking), Bumper (Gen Z investing app), and Stack (API for brands to connect with brokerages).
Truveta raises $95M from 17 partner systems, gains access to >15% of U.S. patient records across 40 states
Seattle health-data startup Truveta raised $95 million in Series A funding from its 17 partner healthcare systems and added three new partners, giving it access to records covering more than 15% of U.S. patient care across 40 states. CEO Terry Myerson says the pooled data and insurance claims will let researchers and life sciences companies link treatments to outcomes to improve patient care and safety research.
Viome Life Sciences splits into Viome Consumer Services and Viome Health Sciences to separate products from diagnostics and therapeutics
Viome, now Viome Life Sciences, has split into two divisions: Viome Consumer Services for individualized diet and supplement products, and Viome Health Sciences to develop diagnostics, predictive biomarkers and therapeutics for chronic disease and cancer. The Bellevue startup, led by CEO Naveen Jain and backed by investors including Marc Benioff, has over 200,000 customers and expects $100 million in revenue next year.
Icosavax files for IPO after raising $150M and advancing nanoparticle COVID-19 and RSV vaccines
Seattle-based Icosavax, a 2017 spinout from the University of Washington’s Institute for Protein Design, has filed for an IPO after raising over $150 million and advancing nanoparticle-based COVID-19 and RSV vaccine candidates into early clinical trials with support from a $10 million Gates Foundation grant.
StormX signs five-year, eight-figure jersey patch deal with Portland Trail Blazers starting 2021-22
Seattle crypto startup StormX signed a five-year, eight-figure jersey patch deal with the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers starting in the 2021-22 season, becoming the first cryptocurrency company to sponsor an NBA jersey. The agreement includes in-arena branding, exclusive blockchain partner rights, international marketing/distribution rights, and highlights StormX’s growth (3M+ app downloads, $209M token market value).
Umoja Biopharma raises $210M Series B to advance in‑vivo T‑cell immunotherapies after $53M Series A seven months earlier
Umoja Biopharma, a Seattle-based immunotherapy startup, raised $210 million in a Series B just seven months after a $53 million Series A to advance in‑vivo T‑cell cancer therapies and tumor‑tagging technology into clinical trials for solid and hematological tumors.
Recompose raises $15 million as human-composting startup expands after opening Kent, Wash. facility
Seattle-based Recompose, which converts human remains into soil through natural organic reduction, is raising $15 million as more U.S. states legalize its process and it expands beyond a smaller Kent, Wash., facility opened in December. Founded in 2017 by Katrina Spade, the company has processed over 50 bodies at the Greenhouse and plans future locations with in-person family attendance possible.
Lightspeed Microscopy raises $4M Series A from Dynamk Capital to commercialize 3D pathology imaging platform
Lightspeed Microscopy, a Seattle startup spun out of the University of Washington, raised $4 million in a Series A led by Dynamk Capital to commercialize an end-to-end 3D pathology microscopy platform that optically clears and rapidly scans intact samples, then uses cloud-based AI to produce 3D images for pharma and clinical use.
University of Washington-backed Seattle neighborhood delivery hub launches near Space Needle, testing electric-assist trikes and parcel lockers with Coaster Cycles, BrightDrop and AxleHire
Seattle launched its first neighborhood delivery hub near the Space Needle as a University of Washington Urban Freight Lab pilot to test last-mile logistics using electric-assist cargo trikes, parcel lockers and partnerships with companies like Coaster Cycles, BrightDrop and AxleHire. The hub aims to cut costs and emissions in the final leg of deliveries while serving as a community gathering spot.
MicrobiomX raises $1M pre-seed to commercialize stool collection, processing and capsule-encapsulation device
Seattle startup MicrobiomX raised $1 million in a pre-seed round to develop a device that collects, processes and extrudes stool into capsules for clinical fecal microbiota transplantation and offers microbiome analysis services. The company, launched in 2020 from UW and Seattle Children’s Hospital research after a $50,000 CoMotion grant, aims to simplify messy current stool-processing methods used for FMT and autologous FMT.
Madrona Venture Group’s Steve Singh Details Six Post-COVID Tech Trends and Reasons for Hope on GeekWire Podcast
Steve Singh, managing director of Madrona Venture Group and former CEO of Docker and Concur, joined GeekWire to discuss reasons for hope and six technology trends to watch as the Pacific Northwest emerges from the pandemic, in a special episode tied to the 2021 virtual GeekWire Awards.
GeekWire names winners at 2021 Awards; SeekOut wins Startup of the Year after $65M raise
The 2021 GeekWire Awards returned as a virtual event honoring over 60 finalists across 14 categories from the Pacific Northwest tech community, featuring celebrity cameos and performances. Winners included SeekOut as Startup of the Year, and among 16 winners eight were women and five were people of color and/or immigrant entrepreneurs.
Creative Destruction Lab to launch nine-month, equity-free Seattle accelerator with Microsoft and UW for 20–25 computational health startups this November
Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) is launching a Seattle hub this November at the University of Washington to run a nine-month, equity-free accelerator for 20–25 computational health startups in partnership with Microsoft and UW’s business, engineering, and computer science schools; UW students can shadow the program. The program is funded by founding members, enforces objective milestones with the possibility of booting nonperforming companies, and stems from UW’s Innovation Roundtable efforts led by Emer Dooley and others.
Zap Energy raises $27.5M Series B to develop magnet-free commercial fusion reactor
Seattle startup Zap Energy raised $27.5 million in a Series B to advance a magnet-free fusion reactor that stabilizes plasma with sheared flows, aiming to lower costs and speed deployment of low-carbon fusion. The company, founded in 2017 and rooted in University of Washington and Lawrence Livermore research, has now raised over $34 million total.
Melinda French Gates positions Pivotal Ventures to expand women- and family-focused VC and philanthropy after divorce
Melinda French Gates founded Pivotal Ventures in January 2015 as a vehicle to pursue initiatives outside the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and following her divorce from Bill Gates she is poised to expand Pivotal’s influence on empowering women and families. Observers say her resources and focus could shift venture capital dynamics for female founders and have “transformational potential.”
Sally Jewell named Edward V. Fritzky chair at UW Foster; Riveter CEO Amy Nelson relocates to Columbus; other exec moves
A roundup of leadership moves: former Interior Secretary Sally Jewell will be the Edward V. Fritzky endowed chair at UW Foster School for 2021–22; Riveter CEO Amy Nelson is relocating to Columbus but will remain with the company; and several other executives (including Jeff Blackburn, Randy Tinseth, and Vinayak Hegde) are taking new roles or joining boards.
UW spinout Jeeva unveils Parsair chip claiming 100× lower power than Bluetooth for decades‑long sensor streaming
Jeeva, a Seattle startup spun out of the University of Washington, introduced the Parsair chip, which it says is the world’s lowest-power wireless chip for streaming real-time sensor data and consumes 100× less power than typical Bluetooth. The chip reflects nearby radio signals to communicate—enabling decades-long battery life—and is being pilot-tested with undisclosed global brands for supply chain, asset tracking, and product monitoring use cases.
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
