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
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.
Prenuvo Opens $2,500 Full-Body MRI Clinic in Seattle to Detect 500+ Conditions
Prenuvo has opened its first Seattle clinic in University Village offering $2,500 full-body MRI scans that screen for over 500 conditions within about an hour. While these proactive health scans attract high-profile clients and provide detailed reports within 10-15 days, some medical experts express concerns about possible unnecessary costs and anxiety from extensive imaging.
Microsoft's Early Focus on Software and Key 1980 Investment Meeting Shaped Its Rise to Tech Giant
This article explores Microsoft's early history, focusing on how its choice to develop software rather than hardware led to its success, highlighting key moments like Bill Gates securing investment support from David Marquardt in 1980. It also commemorates Microsoft's upcoming 50th anniversary with a series reflecting on its past, present, and future.
Seattle’s Startup Haven Founded by Bob Crimmins in 2006 Expands with New HQ and $4.5M Early-Stage Startup Fund
Startup Haven, founded by Seattle entrepreneur Bob Crimmins in 2006 as a poker game gathering for founders and investors, has grown to over 2,500 members across 18 cities. Recently, it partnered with Seattle’s Columbia Tower Club and The Collective to open a physical headquarters offering events and co-working space, while Crimmins also launched a $4.5 million fund investing in early-stage startups globally.
Nipun Dureja Named CTO of iSpot; Expedia CFO Julie Whalen to Resign by February 2024
Nipun Dureja has been appointed CTO of iSpot, bringing extensive engineering leadership experience, while Expedia CFO Julie Whalen is resigning and will remain until her successor is named before February 17, 2024. Expedia has undergone notable executive changes this year, including CEO and CTO appointments.
Aquagga Names Former Intellectual Ventures Executive Dhileep Sivam as CEO to Commercialize PFAS Destruction Technology
Aquagga, a startup developing technology to destroy 99% of PFAS in contaminated water, has appointed Dhileep Sivam, a former Intellectual Ventures executive, as its new CEO to lead commercialization efforts. The company, founded in 2019, has received over $10 million from grants and customers and raised $1.1 million from investors.
UW Allen School's AI-Powered Remote Work Project Wins Madrona Prize at Annual Research Showcase
At the University of Washington's Paul G. Allen School annual Research Showcase, the Madrona Prize was awarded to a PhD-led team using AI to enhance remote work communication, including projects like Meeting Bridges. The event highlighted over 100 student projects and emphasized the intersection of research and commercial potential, with Madrona also recognizing two runner-up teams.
University of Washington Joins NSF-Funded $15M Northwest Innovation Hub Led by UC Berkeley for Technology Commercialization
The University of Washington has been selected as part of a new federally funded Northwest Region Hub by the National Science Foundation to support technology commercialization with up to $15 million distributed among eight universities over five years. UW’s CoMotion will administer funding and programming to enhance innovation training, mentorship, and customer discovery for entrepreneurs.
Archon Biosciences Raises $20M to Develop AI-Optimized Antibody Cages for Disease Treatment
Archon Biosciences has emerged from stealth with $20 million in seed funding led by Madrona Ventures to develop Antibody Cages, computationally designed protein structures optimized with AI for treating cancer and other diseases. The technology builds on protein design research linked to a recent Nobel Prize awarded to University of Washington biochemist David Baker.
GeekWire Podcast Discusses Uber's Possible Expedia Acquisition, Steve Ballmer Profile, and AI Future with Microsoft Research President
The GeekWire Podcast explores Uber's potential acquisition of Expedia, highlighting Dara Khosrowshahi's roles in both companies, features a '60 Minutes' profile of Steve Ballmer and Silicon Valley history, and discusses AI's future with Microsoft Research president Peter Lee.
Former Amazon Exec Dave Clark Launches $100M Startup Auger; UW’s David Baker Wins Nobel, Microsoft Rebrands 343 Industries to Halo Studios
The week of Oct. 6, 2024, featured top stories including former Amazon exec Dave Clark launching a $100M supply-chain startup Auger, AWS VP of AI Matt Wood departing after 15 years, and University of Washington’s David Baker winning a Nobel Prize for protein design. Microsoft also announced rebranding of 343 Industries to Halo Studios with a new direction for the Halo franchise.
Flexe Names Pirasenna Thiyagarajan CTO; Talus Bioscience Appoints Gaelle Mercenne Amid $11.2M Funding; Vouched Adds David McGrath as Sales VP
Flexe appointed Pirasenna Thiyagarajan as chief technology and product officer following CTO David Glick's departure. Talus Bioscience hired Gaelle Mercenne as head of biology after securing $11.2 million in funding, while Vouched named David McGrath as vice president of sales amid leadership changes.
Symbl Names Former GE Healthcare CTO Selvan Senthivel as CTO; Nautilus Biotechnology Hires Ken Suzuki as CMO
Symbl, a Seattle-based generative AI startup, appointed Selvan Senthivel, former GE HealthCare CTO, as its new CTO, while Nautilus Biotechnology named Ken Suzuki as its CMO. Additionally, William Canestaro stepped down from the Washington Research Foundation, and Milkana Brace joined the Technology Alliance board.
Nvidia Acquires Seattle AI Startup OctoAI for Over $250 Million, Ending Its Service Offering by October 31
Nvidia has acquired Seattle-based AI startup OctoAI, which helps run generative AI models efficiently, for a price potentially exceeding $250 million including retention incentives. OctoAI is winding down its services by October 31, marking Nvidia's continued expansion in AI amid rising regulatory scrutiny.
Seattle Startup Arzeda Raises $38M to Advance Protein Design for Industrial and Agricultural Applications
Seattle-based protein design startup Arzeda raised $38 million in its latest funding round, bringing total investments to $86 million to develop enzymes for industrial and agricultural uses. The company works with major partners like Unilever, BP, and Gore-Tex makers, and was the first spinout from the University of Washington's Institute for Protein Design.
Hopoo Games Founders Join Valve, Cease 'Snail' Project and Close Seattle Studio
Hopoo Games, creators of the Risk of Rain series, are shutting down their studio to join Valve Software full-time, halting their current project 'Snail.' The studio's founders and many team members will now work on Valve's internal game projects.
Pack Ventures Seeks $30M for Second Fund to Invest in University of Washington-Linked Startups
Pack Ventures, a venture capital fund focused on University of Washington-linked startups, raised $5 million for its first fund and is now aiming to raise $30 million for a second fund to expand its investments. The firm has established a preferred partnership with UW and co-invests with other Seattle VCs in companies across life sciences, software, and healthcare sectors.
Talus Bioscience Raises $11.2M to Develop Drugs Targeting Undruggable Gene-Regulating Proteins
Seattle biotech Talus Bioscience raised $11.2 million in venture capital to advance its drug discovery platform targeting undruggable gene-regulating proteins linked to diseases. Founded in 2020 by Alex Federation and Lindsay Pino, Talus uses its MARMOT platform and machine learning to study transcription factors within living cells.
Mars Society Advances Seattle Startup Incubator Targeting AI and Biotech to Develop Technologies for Mars Colonies
The Mars Society is advancing plans to launch a startup incubator in Seattle focused on AI and biotechnology to develop technologies for Mars settlements. The incubator, modeled after Y Combinator, aims to generate profits and licenses from innovations supporting a future Mars colony.
People
See all 28-
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
