Lisa Stiffler
Lisa Stiffler is a journalist who covers nonprofits, companies, and researchers applying technology to environmental, energy, health, transit, education and other societal challenges; she has worked at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, freelanced for The Seattle Times, and written for outlets including Seattle's Child, Sightline Institute, NPR, MSNBC, Smithsonian Magazine, GeekWire and CoMotion News.
CODA Farm Technologies raises $2.2M seed led by Lowercarbon to commercialize IoT traveling-sprinkler controllers
CODA Farm Technologies, founded by brothers from Wallace Farms, raised $2.2 million in seed funding led by Lowercarbon Capital to commercialize an IoT irrigation control platform for traveling sprinklers. The startup has sold 120 devices to 20 farms across eight U.S. states and Canadian provinces despite supply-chain challenges that forced hardware redesigns.
ZeroAvia opens R&D center at Everett’s Paine Field; $5.5M refit and $350K Washington grant support hydrogen-electric powertrain work
ZeroAvia is opening an R&D center at Everett’s Paine Field near Seattle to develop hydrogen-electric aircraft powertrains, with plans to begin customer rollouts in 2024 and potentially build a North American manufacturing hub there. The Paine Field site converts warehouse space into offices and labs, received a $350,000 Washington grant, and will employ 20–30 people initially while ZeroAvia pursues larger-scale manufacturing and powertrains for bigger aircraft.
Modern Electron files for $30M raise to scale heat-to-electricity converters, led by CEO Tony Pan and CTO Max Mankin
Modern Electron, an Intellectual Ventures spinoff, is raising $30 million per an SEC filing to commercialize its heat-to-electricity converters that capture wasted heat from furnaces, hot water tanks and industrial sources. The Bothell, Washington startup previously raised about $40 million including backing tied to Bill Gates, and is led by co-founders CEO Tony Pan and CTO Max Mankin.
Amazon’s $2B Climate Pledge Fund Invests in Hippo Harvest and Amogy to Cut Grocery and Shipping Emissions
Amazon’s $2 billion Climate Pledge Fund has invested in two climate tech startups — Hippo Harvest, which develops closed-loop greenhouse systems using robotics and ML to cut water use and emissions, and Amogy, which converts ammonia into power for heavy transport — part of Amazon’s push to reach net zero by 2040. The moves aim to reduce emissions across Amazon’s grocery stores and shipping operations amid rising company emissions.
StormSensor raises $10M to expand sensors and software for stormwater management amid record rains
Seattle-based StormSensor raised $10 million in new funding (about $16 million total) to scale its sensors and software that monitor stormwater systems as heavier rains cause severe flooding worldwide. CEO Erin Rothman founded the company in 2016 after discovering many municipalities lacked real-time data on stormwater performance.
BattGenie selected for Shell GameChanger Accelerator Powered by NREL, awarded $250,000 non-dilutive funding
BattGenie, a University of Washington spinoff, won $250,000 in non-dilutive funding and access to R&D resources after being selected for the Shell GameChanger Accelerator Powered by NREL; the company develops software to improve fast charging and extend life of lithium batteries for EVs, consumer electronics and battery manufacturers.
General Fusion raises $130M with Bezos Expeditions participation, total funding reaches ~$300M as firm readies UK fusion demonstration plant
General Fusion raised $130 million, bringing its total funding to about $300 million, with participation from Jeff Bezos’s Bezos Expeditions; the company will use the funds to advance its fusion technology, build a Fusion Demonstration Plant near London, and expand research facilities in Vancouver and Tennessee.
Headset raises $8.6M — $3M VC led by Althea plus $5.6M bridge-note conversions — to expand cannabis analytics
Seattle-based cannabis analytics firm Headset raised $8.6 million, including $3 million from a VC round led by Althea and conversion of $5.6 million in bridge notes, to expand into new legal markets and add services.
Helion Raises $500M — Potential $1.7B More — to Build Polaris Fusion Generator, Aiming for 2024 Demonstration in Everett, Wash.
Helion Energy raised $500 million (with up to $1.7 billion more contingent on milestones) to build its Polaris fusion generator and finish a demonstration facility in Everett, Wash., aiming to operate in 2024 and move toward commercializing fusion power.
NODE and Green Canopy merge to form Green Canopy NODE, raise $10M; Bec Chapin and Aaron Fairchild named co-CEOs
Seattle-based NODE and Green Canopy have merged to form Green Canopy NODE, a modular, energy-efficient construction and eco-focused real estate venture that has raised $10 million and employs 31 people with plans to double staffing in a year. Bec Chapin and Aaron Fairchild will serve as co-CEOs, split between Seattle and Portland offices, with Don Bunnell moving to the board.
Amazon’s $2B Climate Pledge Fund backs 11 climate tech firms as company works to cut emissions by 2040
Amazon launched a $2 billion Climate Pledge Fund in June 2020 and has invested hundreds of millions in 11 climate tech companies to accelerate technologies that help it and other corporations reach carbon neutrality by 2040; the fund pairs capital with Amazon's operational support to scale solutions. Matt Peterson, director of the fund, says Amazon leverages its footprint and internal adoption (e.g., Rivian vehicles) to help portfolio companies cross the "valley of death" as the company confronts rising emissions.
FruitScout raises $4M to commercialize AI smartphone app for crop-yield optimization; Bowery Capital, TFX back expansion
Yakima startup FruitScout raised $4 million to build an AI-powered app that uses smartphone images to measure tree trunk size, analyze buds/fruit, and predict optimal crop yields and pruning needs; investors include Bowery Capital and TFX Capital. FruitScout began focused on Washington apple growers and is expanding to agave in Mexico after earlier raising a $350,000 angel round.
Oscilla Power and C-Power Begin First Commercial-Scale Wave Energy Tests in Hawaii as DOE Pours $27M into PacWave South
Two Pacific Northwest companies, Oscilla Power (Seattle) and C-Power (Oregon State University spinout), are beginning commercial-scale tests of wave-energy systems this fall at the U.S. Navy Wave Energy Test Site in Hawaii, while the U.S. Department of Energy awarded $27 million for wave energy R&D at PacWave South off Newport, Oregon. Researchers say wave power has been challenging but may be reaching a proving stage after years of lagging behind solar and land-based wind.
Former Kymeta CEO Nathan Kundtz raises $6M seed for Rendered.ai to build customizable synthetic datasets for AI
Nathan Kundtz, former Kymeta CEO, launched Seattle-area startup Rendered.ai to produce customizable synthetic datasets and infrastructure for training AI on visual and sensor data, and the company raised $6 million in a seed round. Rendered.ai focuses on treating dataset generation as an engineering platform to improve AI training efficiency and reduce bias and data-collection costs.
Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi, Shaun White and Shawn Mendes join $2M Shelf Engine round to back food-waste startup
Shelf Engine raised $2 million from celebrities including Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi, Shaun White and Shawn Mendes as part of a financing round to promote its tech platform that helps grocers reduce food waste and increase profits.
City Pods founder Keenan O’Leary pivots startup to build PVC-panel indoor mini-homes for Seattle’s homeless
City Pods, founded by Keenan O'Leary, pivoted from building low-cost hostel pods for travelers to designing durable, low-cost indoor mini-homes to help shelter people experiencing homelessness in unused buildings during the COVID-19 crisis. The redesigned units use PVC panels for durability and can be installed inside underutilized spaces like warehouses, aiming to provide private, hygienic alternatives to tents and crowded shelters.
Investors Pour Billions into Climate Tech as E8 Expands and Sector Raises $14.2B by Midyear
A wide range of investors — from tech employees to former VCs and concerned parents — are increasingly funding climate-tech startups, driving a sharp rise in capital flows after years of stagnation. By midyear, climate tech companies raised $14.2 billion globally, supported by growing networks like Seattle’s E8 and large climate-focused funds from private equity and venture firms.
LevelTen Energy raises $35M Series C led by NGP Energy Capital with Google participating, total funding $62.3M
Seattle-based LevelTen Energy raised $35 million in a Series C led by NGP Energy Capital with participation from Google, bringing total funding to $62.3 million as demand for renewable power and related marketplaces grows. The company operates marketplaces for power purchase agreements, physical project transactions, and tracking renewable energy agreements, and says it has facilitated over $5 billion in transactions.
Seattle Fintech CEO Nate Derby Leverages StartOut, WTIA, and New AWS Partnership to Grow Stakana Analytics
Seattle fintech entrepreneur Nate Derby built support networks across multiple organizations, including StartOut and WTIA, to overcome limited local resources. He is now seeking further assistance through a new AWS-StartOut partnership offering mentorship and $1 million in credits.
Tred, led by CEO Grant Feek, raises $3M to scale digital 'nobody-leaves-the-office' car marketplace
Seattle-based online car marketplace Tred, founded by CEO Grant Feek in 2012, shifted from concierge-style services to a fully digital buying-and-selling platform and raised $3 million last month as it expands into multiple states. The company now has 25 employees, has raised $12 million total including prior notes, and plans to cover up to 45% of the U.S. market after adding three more states.
Umoja Biopharma raises $210M Series B to advance in‑vivo T‑cell immunotherapies after $53M Series A seven months earlier
Umoja Biopharma, a Seattle-based immunotherapy startup, raised $210 million in a Series B just seven months after a $53 million Series A to advance in‑vivo T‑cell cancer therapies and tumor‑tagging technology into clinical trials for solid and hematological tumors.
Sustainable Living Innovations breaks ground on 303 Battery, a 15-story, 112-unit net-zero energy high-rise in Seattle
Seattle-based Sustainable Living Innovations broke ground on 303 Battery, a 15-story, 112-unit high-rise in Belltown they call the world’s first net zero energy apartment building, slated for move-in next summer. The modular project uses 900 premanufactured panels with integrated wiring, plumbing and systems, runs on solar and batteries, includes 27 affordable units, and incorporates water recycling and mold-resistant materials.
MetaVC Partners raises debut fund to back metamaterials startups with investments from Bill Gates and Nathan Myhrvold
MetaVC Partners, a San Francisco venture fund founded by physicists Chris Alliegro and Conrad Burke, is raising its first fund to back early-stage metamaterials startups, with investors including Bill Gates and Intellectual Ventures founder Nathan Myhrvold.
Electric Era, founded by ex‑SpaceX engineers, raises $3M seed from REMUS Capital to build battery systems for fast EV chargers
Seattle startup Electric Era, founded by former SpaceX engineers, raised a $3 million seed round led by REMUS Capital to build lithium battery storage systems that buffer grid demand at fast EV charging stations; the company expects initial customer deployments in coming months and can manufacture 40 units per week.
Melinda French Gates positions Pivotal Ventures to expand women- and family-focused VC and philanthropy after divorce
Melinda French Gates founded Pivotal Ventures in January 2015 as a vehicle to pursue initiatives outside the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and following her divorce from Bill Gates she is poised to expand Pivotal’s influence on empowering women and families. Observers say her resources and focus could shift venture capital dynamics for female founders and have “transformational potential.”
Organizations
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CoMotion News Reporter · current
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GeekWire Reporter · current
