Vulcan Capital
Nautilus Biotechnology to go public via Arya Sciences Acquisition Corp III SPAC, raising $350M at $900M valuation
Nautilus Biotechnology, a Seattle proteomics startup led by Sujal Patel and Parag Mallick, will go public via a SPAC merger with Arya Sciences Acquisition Corp III, raising about $350 million and valuing the company at $900 million. The deal includes a $150 million SPAC component and a $200 million PIPE, expects to close in Q2, and the combined company will trade on Nasdaq as NAUT.
Rad Power Bikes raises $150M minority investment to scale global e-bike business
Rad Power Bikes raised a $150 million minority investment to expand globally after pandemic-driven demand, planning to double its 325-person workforce and grow its showrooms and service stations. The profitable Seattle-based company — claiming 200,000 riders in 30+ countries and roughly $100M revenue in 2019 — will use the funds to scale operations and international footprint.
Kevala raises $4M led by Vulcan Capital to help long-term care facilities fill nursing shifts with staffing and compliance software
Seattle startup Kevala raised $4 million led by Vulcan Capital to provide staffing, compliance and workforce-management software for long-term care facilities, helping them fill nursing shifts via a curated on-call pool and earning revenue from software sales and a cut of supplemental staff wages.
Nautilus Biotechnology hires ex-Smartsheet, Isilon and GenapSys leaders as it scales proteome platform after $76M Series B
Nautilus Biotechnology, a stealthy startup co-founded by Sujal Patel and Parag Mallick, has hired three senior executives — Chris Blessington, Anna Mowry, and Subra Sankar — to expand its team and accelerate development of a platform to quantify the human proteome after a $76 million Series B.
Voodle raises $6M from Madrona and Vulcan to sell TikTok-style workplace video for remote teams
Seattle startup Voodle raised $6 million in a round led by Madrona Venture Group and Vulcan Capital to offer a TikTok-like, bite-sized video communication app for workplaces aimed at reducing Zoom fatigue and Slack overload. The app — launched earlier in 2020 by former Pixvana execs and available on iOS, Android and web — includes searchable clips with transcriptions and integrations with workplace tools.
Bizible founder Aaron Bird raises $5.1M to launch Seattle B2B startup studio Pienza
Aaron Bird, founder of Bizible, launched Seattle startup studio Pienza and raised $5.1 million from MHS Capital, Version One Ventures, Vulcan Capital and angels to build a small portfolio of B2B software companies. Pienza will focus on fewer, highly concentrated bets, put most of the funding into portfolio companies, keep a lean internal team, and Bird will forgo a salary.
Recurrent raises $3.5M seed round led by Wireframe Ventures to scale battery data science for used EV reports
Recurrent, a Seattle startup that issues independent battery-condition reports for used electric vehicles, raised $3.5 million in a seed round led by Wireframe Ventures to expand the data science behind its reports. The company launched in September, has over 2,500 EV owners providing data and 10 dealer partners, and has collected more than 1 million data points to train its machine-learning models.
Joon Care raises $3.5M to expand remote therapy for teens and young adults
Seattle startup Joon Care raised $3.5 million to expand its remote therapy service for teens and young adults, connecting clients with licensed youth-focused therapists through 16-week subscription plans. The year-old company, led by CEO Josh Herst and chief psychologist Amy Mezulis, launched from PSL’s studio and has expanded service to Washington, California, and Oregon.
Igneous lays off staff amid ‘difficult economic environment’; CEO role held by Dean Darwin
Seattle-based unstructured data management startup Igneous has conducted a reduction in force amid a difficult economic environment; the company declined to disclose the number of layoffs and lists 69 employees on LinkedIn. Founded in 2013, Igneous raised $25 million in a 2019 Series C (bringing total funding to $70M) and recently replaced co-founder Kiran Bhageshpur with Dean Darwin as CEO.
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.
Picnic raises $3M from existing investors to commercialize pizza-making robot producing 300 12-inch pizzas/hour
Seattle startup Picnic raised $3 million from existing investors to accelerate commercial rollout of its pizza-making robot capable of producing up to 300 12-inch customized pizzas per hour, citing increased pandemic-driven demand and plans to use funds for development, hires, and marketing.
Intelage raises $3.5M led by Blumberg Capital to grow commodity-trading software platform
Seattle-area startup Intelage raised $3.5 million to expand its commodity-trading software that automates risk control, documentation, logistics, inventory and communication for suppliers, buyers and partners. The 10-person company, founded in 2017 by John Han, says demand has grown during the pandemic for tools enabling remote work and collaboration.
Remitly raises $85M, reaches $1.5B valuation as digital remittance demand spikes during COVID-19
Remitly, a Seattle-based digital remittance platform, raised $85 million in new funding, valuing the company at $1.5 billion as customer growth surged amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Polyarc, founded by ex-Bungie vets, raises $9M Series B led by Hiro Capital to expand VR studio into AR
Seattle VR studio Polyarc, founded by ex-Bungie developers, raised $9 million in a Series B led by Hiro Capital to expand from VR (creator of Moss) into augmented reality development, citing advances in untethered hardware and a focus on physical interaction and emotional immersion.
Ignition Partners investors spin out Fuse Venture Partners led by Kellan Carter, Cameron Borumand and Seahawks star Bobby Wagner
A group of investors from Seattle VC firm Ignition Partners, including managing partner John Connors, have launched a spinoff called Fuse Venture Partners led by general partners Kellan Carter and Cameron Borumand and featuring Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner as a venture partner. Ignite will sunset its brand while Fuse focuses on doubling down in Seattle and managing new investments, with Wagner committing to active involvement.
Voodle launches short-form workplace video app after Pixvana shutdown; Pixvana had raised $20M
Seattle startup Voodle launched a short-form, selfie-style workplace video app—spun out of Pixvana after that company closed—to replace lengthy calls and text updates with searchable, transcribed clips that integrate with apps like Salesforce and HubSpot. Pixvana had raised $20 million before shuttering in late 2019 when CEO Forest Key concluded AR/VR wasn’t yet ready for mainstream business scale.
Nomad Go launches HealthySpaces to monitor occupancy, mask use and distancing; raised $2.7M
Seattle startup Nomad Go launched HealthySpaces, a computer-vision product that provides real-time occupancy, density counts, and mask and social-distancing compliance for retailers, running models locally to preserve privacy. The four-year-old company has deployments in over 100 locations and raised $2.7 million in September from Flying Fish Partners, Fitz Gate Ventures and Vulcan Capital.
MDMetrix raises $1.1M from Vulcan Capital and Seattle investors to scale COVID-19 Mission Control
Seattle startup MDMetrix raised $1.1 million from Vulcan Capital and other local investors to expand use of its COVID-19 Mission Control software, which analyzes hospital operational data to improve capacity and patient treatment.
Nautilus Biotechnology raises $76M Series B led by Vulcan Capital; Bezos Expeditions among investors, total funding tops $100M
Nautilus Biotechnology, co-founded by Stanford scientist Parag Mallick and Isilon co-founder Sujal Patel, revealed a platform to study the human proteome and announced a $76 million Series B led by Vulcan Capital with participation from Bezos Expeditions, Perceptive Advisors and others. The round brings total funding above $100 million for the 50-person startup as it exits stealth to accelerate proteomics-driven therapeutics development.
Magic Leap to Close Seattle Office, Laying Off 39 Workers Starting June 21
Magic Leap has closed its Seattle satellite office and will lay off 39 workers beginning June 21, according to a Washington state WARN notice; the AR startup previously cut about half its workforce amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Seattle outpost, led by chief futurist Neal Stephenson and co-founder Brian Schowengerdt, housed R&D and developer-relations teams.
BlackSky’s Spectra platform uses satellite imagery and AI to track activity and flag early signs of COVID-19 economic recovery
BlackSky's Spectra platform combines satellite imagery, AI image recognition, and multiple data streams to monitor activity—such as counting cars in parking lots—to identify early signs of economic recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rebellyous Foods raises $6 million to scale plant-based chicken-style nuggets, CEO Christie Lagally signals strategic pivot during pandemic
Seattle startup Rebellyous Foods raised $6 million to scale production of plant-based chicken-style nuggets made from wheat, soy and other plant ingredients. CEO Christie Lagally says the funding will help make plant-based meat affordable and expand sales to food-service customers, though the pandemic has prompted a rethink of near-term strategy as cafeteria demand lags.
Seattle Startup Picnic Raises $5M Seed Funding for Pizza-Making Robot Assembling 300 Pizzas Per Hour
Seattle startup Picnic raised $5 million in a seed round to advance their pizza-making robot, which can assemble 300 pizzas per hour and has attracted global interest. The funding will help develop the next version and expand pilot programs, addressing labor shortages in the food industry.
Remitly Expands to Massachusetts, Offering Nationwide Digital Remittance Services Transferring $1.5 Billion Annually
Remitly, the largest independent digital remittance company in the U.S., now serves all 50 states after gaining approval to operate in Massachusetts, transferring over $1.5 billion annually via a user-friendly mobile app with low fees. This expansion enables residents, including many foreign-born individuals in Massachusetts, to send money abroad more easily and transparently.
