UW CoMotion Labs
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- University innovation, Startup incubation, Entrepreneurship support
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Home for Startups, Entrepreneurs & Innovators
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Workspaces
- Startup Hall, 1100 NE Campus Pkwy, Seattle, WA 98105
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.
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.
Pack Ventures partners with University of Washington, raises $30M fund to back UW founders
Pack Ventures, an independent VC fund, has formalized a partnership with the University of Washington and CoMotion to support UW-affiliated startups, launch its second fund, and is raising $30 million with over 50 investors so far. Founder Ken Horenstein says the fund will lower investment barriers for alumni, attract faculty and students, boost philanthropy, and he has pledged up to 2% of his personal proceeds to the UW.
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.
Seattle Startup Autev Develops Autonomous Robots for Mobile Fast-Charging of Electric Vehicles
Autev, a Seattle-based startup co-founded by Syd Manna and Osama AlSalloum, is developing autonomous robots equipped with robotic arms to fast-charge electric vehicles by navigating to parked cars and plugging in without human assistance. This mobile, battery-powered system offers a plug-and-play alternative to costly EV infrastructure upgrades, targeting workplaces, apartments, and condos.
Seattle Startup Sanctum Develops Private Pods for Solo Travelers to Work or Rest, Targeting Airports and 2026 FIFA World Cup
Seattle startup Sanctum is creating private, enclosed pods designed for solo travelers to work or rest in airports, with plans to expand to gyms, co-working spaces, and major events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The pods offer amenities like ventilation and charging ports and are intended to be rented by the minute.
CoMotion Endorses AUTM COVID-19 Licensing Guidelines to Facilitate Access to University Innovations
CoMotion supports rapid access to university COVID-19 innovations by endorsing AUTM's humanitarian licensing guidelines and provides ongoing resources like webinars and podcasts for startups navigating the pandemic.
University of Washington’s David Baker Credits Open-Code Rosetta Commons for Protein Design Startup Success
David Baker, director of the University of Washington’s Institute for Protein Design (IPD), emphasizes open code sharing as key to the institute’s success in creating protein design startups. The IPD’s collaborative Rosetta Commons consortium has enabled widespread development of protein design tools, fostering innovation and spinouts in biotech.
University of Washington’s CoMotion Innovation Arm Moving to Condon Hall Near Startup Hall in 2023
The University of Washington's innovation arm, CoMotion, will relocate from the Blume building to Condon Hall near Startup Hall later this year, expanding its space and event capabilities. Startup Hall is part of the Portage Bay Crossing neighborhood, which aims to foster research, education, and entrepreneurship.
NLM Photonics Secures $1M from Tokyo Ohka Kogyo and Hamamatsu to Boost Hybrid Electro-Optic Technology Commercialization
Seattle-based NLM Photonics raised $1 million in funding led by Japanese companies Tokyo Ohka Kogyo and Hamamatsu Photonics to advance commercialization of its hybrid electro-optic modulation technology. The investment aims to accelerate development of semiconductors that handle more data with less power and includes collaboration on shelf-stable inks using NLM’s proprietary materials.
T-Mobile equips University of Washington’s CoMotion Labs with 5G; becomes Pacific Northwest’s first 5G hardware incubator
T-Mobile installed a 5G network at the University of Washington’s CoMotion Labs, making it the Pacific Northwest’s first 5G-equipped hardware incubator and adding the 5G Open Innovation Lab as a member to give its startups campus access.
UW Spinout Somalytics Launches Carbon-Nanotube Paper Sensors to Detect Eye, Hand and Body Movement
Somalytics, a University of Washington spinout, launched with ultrathin flexible sensors made from carbon nanotubes embedded in specialized paper that detect human gestures, eye movement and body signals from up to 20 cm away. Co-founded by UW researchers Jae-Hyun Chung, graduate students Zhongie Qian and Viggy Sak, and led by CEO Barbara Barclay, the company received undisclosed seed funding from IP Group and support from UW’s CoMotion.
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).
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.
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.
AltPep, UW spinout led by Valerie Daggett, raises $23.1M Series A to develop early-detection and therapeutics for Alzheimer’s
Seattle biotech AltPep, spun out of the University of Washington in 2019 and led by founder/CEO Valerie Daggett, raised $23.1 million in a Series A to develop detection tools and preclinical therapies for Alzheimer’s and other amyloid protein diseases. The company’s technology, based on UW-licensed research into alpha-sheet protein structures, will support early detection efforts and expansion into a new 7,500 sq ft Seattle lab.
University of Washington launches Husky FAST Start to standardize licensing for spinouts after 35-startup pilot
The University of Washington launched Husky FAST Start, a standardized licensing process with template term sheets and agreements to speed and cut costs for startup license negotiations, after piloting it with 35 startups. The move, timed with the Bayh-Dole Act’s 40th anniversary, aims to help UW founders commercialize innovations from a university that has spun out 73 startups in five years and signed over 5,000 commercial licenses.
University of Washington taps Justin Dunnicliff as NSIN university program director; Meredith Han named VP of Product at FlyHomes
The University of Washington partnered with the Department of Defense’s National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) and named UW alumnus Justin Dunnicliff as university program director to run NSIN programs at UW, connecting students to DoD-related research and employment opportunities. The article also notes Meredith Han, an early Amazon employee and angel investor, has become VP of product at FlyHomes.
University of Washington-Patented Electrostatic Foam Filter Halves Energy Use, Agentis Air to Commercialize Device
The University of Washington received a U.S. patent for an electrostatic air filtration technology that uses disposable foam cartridges to capture airborne pollutants, including viruses, while halving energy use and lowering maintenance. Agentis Air, a UW spinoff in Columbia, Md., is commercializing the system for homes and businesses and is working with testing labs to quantify pathogen removal.
A-Alpha Bio wins $620,472 NSF Phase II SBIR to develop molecular-glue discovery system
Seattle startup A-Alpha Bio received a $620,472 NSF Phase II SBIR grant to develop a system that identifies molecular glues which tag disease-causing proteins for cellular degradation, aiming to target previously 'undruggable' proteins for diseases like Alzheimer’s, cancer and autoimmune disorders.
Lyssn launches AI-powered telehealth platform to transcribe and assess therapy sessions amid COVID-19 demand
Seattle startup Lyssn launched a telehealth platform that uses AI to transcribe and analyze therapist-patient conversations to evaluate use of evidence-based practices, aiming to meet rising mental health demand amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Boundless CEO Xiao Wang and Angel investor Dan Rosen urge startups to shift to 'wartime' survival, extend runway to 18 months
Startup leaders must shift from rapid-growth mindsets to survival strategies amid the COVID-19 shock, learning from past downturns and peers. Leaders like Dan Rosen and Xiao Wang recommend extending cash runway, cutting and renegotiating expenses, and using government programs to preserve teams and prepare for recovery.
Leading a startup through the crisis
For startup leaders accustomed to building their businesses in boom times, the economic impact from the COVID-19 pandemic goes beyond mere setback, into the realm of complete shock. But even in these unprecedented times, there are lessons to be learned from past downturns, and from the steps other startups are taking to navigate the current crisis. "We have a whole generation of people who never went through anything that looked like a dislocation or a downturn," says Dan Rosen, chair of the Alliance of Angels, an investor, biophysicist and veteran tech executive who has been through multiple economic cycles. "This…
The Global Innovation Exchange
Two years ago, the University of Washington and China's premier tech school, Tsinghua University, announced a first-of-its kind project: The Global Innovation Exchange. It's an innovative new approach to teaching entrepreneurship and it's approaching its official launch. On this episode of the GeekWire podcast, we speak with GIX Co-Director and UW's VP of innovation strategy Vikram Jandhyala about the new project and how it's setting out to disrupt the innovation economy. Follow all our coverage and learn more about GIX at GeekWire.com Thank you to this week's sponsors: The University of Washington Human Centered Design and Engineering department. Learn more…
