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
ATmosphere Conference Spotlights AT Protocol Enabling Decentralized Social Web with Bluesky and Obama Joins
The ATmosphere Conference in Seattle highlighted the emerging Authenticated Transfer (AT) Protocol, a decentralized social web system enabling users to own their identity and data, exemplified by the Bluesky social network. This protocol aims to disrupt current social apps by allowing interoperable, user-controlled data across multiple apps, with notable figures like Barack Obama joining Bluesky recently.
Sironix Renewables Raises $3.5M to Scale Manufacturing of Plant-Based Cleaning Ingredients
Sironix Renewables, a Seattle startup that converts coconuts and soybeans into eco-friendly cleaning ingredients, raised $3.5 million from investors and $400,000 in grants to scale manufacturing. Their plant-derived surfactant offers safer, high-performance alternatives to petroleum-based chemicals in personal care products.
UW’s CoMotion Relaunches Fintech Incubator with Curinos Partnership to Support 3-4 Startups Annually
The University of Washington's CoMotion has relaunched its fintech incubator in partnership with data intelligence company Curinos, aiming to support 3-4 startups annually with access to Curinos' AI-powered financial data and network. The incubator continues CoMotion's legacy of fostering fintech innovation on the UW campus.
Homeostasis raises $1.2M after $600K Pre-Seed plus Washington Department of Commerce match to fund reactor development
Homeostasis, an advanced materials startup in Tacoma, WA, raised $600,000 in Pre-Seed funding plus matching funds from the Washington Department of Commerce, bringing total reported funding to $1.2M; investors include the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Kayak Ventures and angel investors to support reactor development.
Seattle Startup Homeostasis Raises $1.3M to Convert Atmospheric CO₂ into Graphite for Industrial Use
Seattle-area startup Homeostasis raised $600,000 in pre-seed funding and $700,000 from Washington's Climate Commitment Act to develop technology that captures atmospheric CO₂ and converts it into graphite, a critical mineral used in batteries and defense. The company plans pilot deployments by 2026, aiming to provide carbon removal systems to industrial customers and eventually operate its own carbon-removal production facilities.
Ascend founding partner Kirby Winfield says Seattle is the U.S. ’s No.2 AI hub as startups, talent and investors converge
Seattle has quietly become a major AI hub—home to numerous startups, deep talent pools, cloud providers, and research centers—driving investor interest and practical applications across sectors while facing questions about sustainability and competition.
University of Washington Students Pitch AI and Tech Startups After 10-Week Entrepreneurship Course Led by Greg Gottesman
The University of Washington offers a popular 10-week entrepreneurship class led by venture capitalist Greg Gottesman, culminating in student pitches of tech startups at Pioneer Square Labs. The course attracted strong demand, featured high-profile guest speakers like Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, and highlighted trends such as AI and computer vision.
UW Students' Jaundice Detection Tool Wins $17,500 at 2024 Hollomon Health Innovation Challenge
A University of Washington student team named Luminovah won the grand prize and another award at the UW Hollomon Health Innovation Challenge for developing a non-invasive jaundice detection tool effective across all skin tones. The team is partnering with Seattle Children’s for human trials aiming for FDA approval and plans to offer rental devices to parents of affected newborns.
Seattle Hub for Synthetic Biology Secures $10M Grant to Advance DNA Recording Technology for Disease Research
The Seattle Hub for Synthetic Biology received a $10 million grant from the Washington Research Foundation to support training scientists and launching biotech startups developing DNA recording technology for studying diseases. This initiative, launched in January 2024, is a collaboration between the Allen Institute, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and the University of Washington.
SpecterOps Raises $75M Series B Led by Insight Partners to Fight Identity-Based Cyber Threats
SpecterOps, a cybersecurity startup based in Alexandria, Va. with a Seattle office, raised $75 million in a Series B funding round led by Insight Partners and including Microsoft’s M12. Founded in 2016 by CEO David McGuire, the company specializes in defending against identity-based cyber threats and has about 200 employees.
Ex-Marine Emery Wager Leverages Afghanistan Combat Leadership in Pacific Northwest Tech Startup
Emery Wager, a former U.S. Marine and Stanford graduate, transitioned from a career in engineering to military service, inspired by the unique leadership and ambassador role in Afghanistan. His military experience now shapes his leadership style in the Pacific Northwest tech industry.
Seattle Startup Overland AI Opens 22,000 Sq Ft Factory to Manufacture Autonomous Military Ground Vehicles, Employing 20 by Year-End
Seattle startup Overland AI opened a 22,000 sq ft factory to manufacture autonomous off-road ground vehicles, aiming to boost production and employ 20 people by year-end. The company, founded in 2022 and backed by $32 million in funding, develops technology for the U.S. military and works closely with the University of Washington and the Department of Defense.
Dopl Technologies Raises $1.5M to Expand Telerobotic Ultrasound in Underserved Communities
Seattle startup Dopl Technologies raised $1.5 million in a pre-seed round to expand its telerobotic ultrasound services, enabling remote diagnostics for underserved rural patients. The company uses robotic arms controlled remotely by sonographers with advanced haptics and AI to improve diagnostic access and sonographer experience.
Seattle’s Madrona Venture Firm Absorbs Madrona Venture Labs After 10 Years, Following $770M Fundraise
Seattle’s Madrona venture firm has absorbed its startup studio Madrona Venture Labs after over 10 years of independent operation and 30 incubated startups. This restructuring aligns with Madrona’s recent $770 million fundraise to consolidate efforts under one organization amid Seattle’s growing startup ecosystem.
Former Microsoft engineers Koukoumidis and Elachqar launch Bellevue AI lab Oumi with $10M seed round
Bellevue-based AI lab Oumi, founded by former Microsoft engineers Manos Koukoumidis and Oussama Elachqar, launched with $10 million in seed funding to build a collaboration platform for AI researchers and developers and has partnered with academics from Caltech, MIT, UW and Stanford. The startup has 10 employees, one research fellow, dozens of founding scholars, and space in UW's Global Innovation Exchange in Bellevue.
Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket Achieves First Orbital Launch Amid Schedule Hiccups; Microsoft Creates New AI Division Led by Ex-Facebook Chief; Truveta Raises $320M for Genome Initiative
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin faced multiple scheduling changes before successfully launching its heavy-lift New Glenn rocket to orbit for the first time. Additionally, Microsoft established a new AI division led by a former Facebook engineering chief, and Seattle's Truveta secured $320 million to start a large genome project.
Seattle, UW, 9Zero, and VertueLab Launch Climate Innovation Hub to Boost Clean Energy Startups and Downtown Recovery
Seattle, alongside the University of Washington, 9Zero, and VertueLab, has launched the Seattle Climate Innovation Hub to support climate tech entrepreneurs and revitalize the downtown area post-pandemic. The hub includes a climate tech incubator program starting in spring, aiming to foster clean energy sector growth in the Pacific Northwest.
Seattle Immunotherapy Startup Umoja Biopharma Raises $100M Series C to Advance In Vivo CAR T-Cell Cancer Therapies
Seattle-based Umoja Biopharma raised $100 million in a Series C funding round to advance its CAR T-cell immunotherapy treatments, including an in vivo cell-generating technology for cancer. The company, founded in 2019 and led by CEO Andy Scharenberg, has programs in preclinical and Phase 1 stages and previously raised $263 million.
Seattle Startup Overland AI Raises $32M Series A to Develop Off-Road Autonomous Tech for U.S. Military
Seattle startup Overland AI raised $32 million in a Series A funding round led by 8VC to advance its off-road autonomous driving technology for the U.S. military. The company, founded in 2022, has contracts with the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, and DARPA to develop systems enabling robotic vehicles to operate in complex terrain without GPS or human drivers.
Seattle Startups Aeone, JustCoach, Lifecrafting, and Summed AI Launch Innovative Solutions for Creators and Athletes
Four Seattle-area startups—Aeone, JustCoach, Lifecrafting, and Summed AI—are developing innovative products to support content creators, youth athletes, and community experiences, led by founders with strong industry backgrounds. These early-stage companies are addressing markets such as influencer media tools, personalized sports coaching, and organized play activities.
Seattle Startup Singletto Gains FDA Approval for Virus-Killing Oxafence Surgical Masks
Seattle startup Singletto received FDA approval for its Oxafence technology, a methylene blue-treated surgical mask that kills 99.9% of certain viruses within five minutes. The masks are already in use in New Zealand and represent a significant advancement over traditional masks by actively inactivating pathogens.
Seattle Startup Tribute Shuts Down After Eight Years Despite Enterprise Interest and Funding Challenges
Seattle startup Tribute, founded by Sarah Haggard, is shutting down after eight years despite having enterprise interest and existing customers, due to unmaterialized deals and funding challenges. The platform evolved from a mentor-matching app to a workplace knowledge tool but ultimately could not sustain financially.
Expedia Appoints Scott Schenkel as CFO Amid C-Suite Changes; Ex-Microsoft AI VP Luis Vargas Launches AI Startup
Expedia Group appointed Scott Schenkel as its new CFO, succeeding Julie Whalen, amid broader executive changes including CEO Ariane Gorin's leadership. Meanwhile, former Microsoft AI VP Luis Vargas left to start a new AI startup as chief technologist.
Nobel Laureate David Baker Drives Protein Design Innovation and Startup Growth at University of Washington
David Baker, Nobel Prize winner and head of the Institute for Protein Design at the University of Washington, is focused on advancing protein design research and entrepreneurship, having helped spawn over 20 startups in Seattle's biotech hub. He plans to continue accelerating scientific innovation in the field, which develops new proteins for therapeutics, vaccines, and materials.
TerraPower Isotopes’ Chris Dunckley Leads Team Extracting Ultra-Rare Actinium-225 from Cold War Waste for Cancer Therapy
Chris Dunckley, director of chemistry and engineering at TerraPower Isotopes, leads a multidisciplinary team extracting the ultra-rare radioisotope actinium-225 from Cold War nuclear waste to develop promising cancer therapies. His leadership and scientific expertise help transform radioactive weapons waste into potentially life-saving medical treatments.
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
