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
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.
Gen AI Series - The AI agent redefining travel: Managing Director Mike Fridgen, Madrona Venture Labs
New episode location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CO5SOfXRduE&list=PLqH2XogpwLRmYvCCxOj-W-eOAlCrhrk7i&index=22 Learn about the founding of Otto from Mike Fridgen, the Managing Director of Madrona Venture Labs where this concept was incubated. Otto is your personal AI travel agent that seeks to be as valuable and insightful as a dedicated personal assistant. Otto offers enterprise-grade travel booking and servicing capabilities through an easy-to-use AI travel agent that autonomously plans, books, and manages your travel, even during your trip. As Managing Director of Madrona Venture Labs (MVL), Mike Fridgen leads the studio's mission to partner with founders from day one to create extraordinary companies. Mike co-founded multiple MVL…
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.
Insights from Uncommon Thinkers: How these innovators found novel approaches in their fields
This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we sit down with some of the Seattle region’s “Uncommon Thinkers” — inventors, scientists, technologists and entrepreneurs transforming industries and driving positive change in the world. We recorded the episode on location, backstage at the GeekWire Gala, where we recognized five Uncommon Thinkers through this annual awards program, presented in partnership with Greater Seattle Partners. Speaking on the episode are: Uri Shumlak, co-founder and chief scientist at Zap Energy, a physicist leading a team in pursuit of fusion energy, taking a different approach from others in the field. Read the profile. Ingrid Swanson Pultz…
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.
Seattle Natives Launch Flying Comet Games with Localized Wordle-Style Puzzle and Diverse Wordy-verse Categories
Seattle natives Calli Fuchigami and Eden Ghirmai co-founded Flying Comet Games, creating a Seattle-themed Wordle-style puzzle and other niche word games across various categories. Their startup focuses on unique custom word puzzles appealing to specific interests, avoiding direct use of the ‘Wordle’ trademark.
Former Amazon Care Leader Liz Tarullo Raises $3.5M to Launch Magnolia, Virtual Support Startup for Dementia Caregivers
Former Amazon Care leader Liz Tarullo co-founded Magnolia, a Seattle startup offering virtual support for caregivers of dementia and Alzheimer's patients, raising $3.5 million in seed funding led by Village Global. Magnolia aims to transform caregiving by providing guidance and support based on Tarullo's personal caregiving experience and the gaps she identified in existing healthcare services.
WTIA Marks 40 Years of Supporting Washington Tech Growth as CEO Michael Schutzler Retires
The Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) celebrated its 40th anniversary, marking its role in supporting Washington state's tech growth from the early days of Microsoft to today's tech giants. WTIA CEO Michael Schutzler is retiring after 11 years, with the association continuing to influence the state's tech-driven economy that now accounts for 21% of GDP and millions of jobs.
Three UW Foster School Students Awarded $15,000 Richard Tait Memorial Entrepreneurship Scholarship
Three University of Washington Foster School of Business students received the inaugural Richard Tait Memorial Entrepreneurship Scholarship, totaling $15,000, honoring the late Seattle entrepreneur Richard Tait. The recipients include one undergraduate and two graduate students pursuing ventures in areas such as climate change and leadership.
Plug and Play Launches Two Startup Accelerators in Seattle with UW, SNBL, and SBI Holdings Partnership
Silicon Valley-based Plug and Play is launching two new startup accelerator programs in the Seattle region, partnering with the University of Washington and Japanese firms SNBL and SBI Holdings, to support early-stage tech startups, especially in AI. The initiatives include physical spaces, investment funds, and community events to leverage Seattle's growing tech ecosystem.
Seattle Startup Levanta Raises $20M Series A to Connect Amazon Sellers with Influencers for Affiliate Marketing
Levanta, a Seattle startup founded in 2023 that connects Amazon sellers with social media creators for affiliate marketing, raised $20 million in a Series A round led by Volition Capital. The platform helps sellers create affiliate programs and manage commissions, serving brands like Dude Wipes and HexClad amid a growing influencer economy.
UW Professor Shyam Gollakota Wins $100K Infosys Prize for Engineering and Computer Science Research
University of Washington professor Shyam Gollakota won the $100,000 Infosys Prize in engineering and computer science for his work in wireless technology and AI-powered sound innovations. He plans to use the award to help commercialize his AI-driven sound bubble headphone prototype.
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
