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
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.
Pioneer Square Labs
This week our partners chat with Greg Gottesman, Managing Director & Co-Founder at Pioneer Square Labs, a startup studio and venture capital fund based in Seattle, WA.
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.
TwinStrand Biosciences, led by Jesse Salk, raises $50M Series B from Section 32 to scale ultra-accurate gene-sequencing
TwinStrand Biosciences, co-founded and led by Jesse Salk, raised $50 million in a Series B led by Section 32 to expand its high-accuracy gene-sequencing technology for detecting rare mutations with applications in cancer detection, therapy monitoring, and safety testing.
Former Rover CTO Scott Porad named Dolly’s first CTO as Dolly plans headcount, sales expansion; Regi Vengalil to become Metromile CFO in May
Scott Porad, former Rover CTO, has joined Seattle peer-to-peer moving app Dolly as its first chief technology officer as the startup plans to double headcount and sales; Regi Vengalil will leave Egencia in May to become CFO of Metromile, a pay-per-mile insurer.
GeekWire opens voting for 2021 Startup CEO of the Year with five finalists including OctoML, Syndio and WhyLabs
GeekWire is running community voting for its 13th annual GeekWire Awards, featuring five finalists for Startup CEO of the Year: Luis Ceze (OctoML), Maria Colacurcio (Syndio), Mike McSherry (Xealth), Ray Meiring (Qorus Software) and Alessya Visnjic (WhyLabs); voting closes April 30 and winners are announced May 20 at a virtual event.
GeekWire opens community voting for UX Design of the Year finalists — Boundless, Joon, Qumulo Core, Tagboard Producer, Voodle — voting closes April 30
GeekWire’s UX Design of the Year recognizes startups for meaningful, usable product experiences; five finalists — Boundless, Joon, Qumulo Core, Tagboard Producer, and Voodle — are open for community voting through April 30 with winners announced May 20 at the virtual GeekWire Awards.
GeekWire Names Five Finalists for 2021 Innovation of the Year; Winners Announced May 20
GeekWire named five finalists for its 2021 Innovation of the Year award, highlighting Seattle-area breakthroughs from battery materials and vaccine tech to clean-energy purchasing, insect-tracking devices, and cloud-management tools. Community voting runs through April 30 and winners will be announced May 20 at the virtual GeekWire Awards presented by Wave Business.
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.
Icosavax, UW IPD Spinout, Raises $100M Series B to Advance Computer-Designed Virus‑Like Particle Vaccines
Seattle biotech Icosavax, a University of Washington Institute for Protein Design spinout, raised $100 million in a Series B to develop computer-designed, virus-like particle vaccines including programs for COVID-19, RSV, and hMPV. The company, backed by investors led by RA Capital and supported by a $10 million Gates Foundation grant, has 17 employees and cites strong preclinical immune responses.
DOE’s Solar Energy Technologies Office launches $3M American-Made Perovskite Startup Prize with $700K cash for winners
The U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Energy Technologies Office launched the American-Made Challenges: Perovskite Startup Prize, a two-stage $3 million competition to help move perovskite solar cell research into U.S. companies with cash awards and technical vouchers, announced March 25, 2021. Advancing teams receive $200,000; the Liftoff winners receive $500,000 plus $100,000 in technical support, and applicants had to form for-profit U.S. companies incorporated on or after October 16, 2020.
Curi Bio raises $6M Series A led by Dynamk Capital to advance human stem cell drug-discovery platforms
Seattle stem-cell startup Curi Bio raised $6 million in a Series A led by Dynamk Capital to advance its human stem cell platforms for drug discovery, bringing total funding to $16.8 million.
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
