Category: Startups

Techstars Seattle Demo Day: Check out our top 3 pitches from the startup accelerator

by Taylor Soper on April 19, 2018April 19, 2018 at 5:32 pmComment

Nine years, 139 startups, $700 million raised. Techstars Seattle has become a mainstay of the local tech ecosystem for nearly a decade, helping groom early-stage entrepreneurs as they sharpen their… Read More

GeekWire Awards 2018: Make your pick for Startup of the Year

by Taylor Soper on April 19, 2018April 20, 2018 at 9:27 amComment

If you needed another reminder of Seattle’s robust startup scene, take a look at the finalists for this year’s Startup of the Year category at the GeekWire Awards. Over the… Read More

After 10 years, RealSelf raises $40M to ‘hit the gas’ and take cosmetic treatment review platform global

by Taylor Soper on April 19, 2018April 19, 2018 at 10:17 am1 Comment

RealSelf has raised its first substantial round of outside capital to bring the cosmetic treatment review hub to users around the globe. The Seattle-based company today announced a $40 million round… Read More

Video

TLDR: Amazon and Best Buy are BFFs, T-Mobile’s military hiring push, ‘Walk it out’ with Rover

by Starla Sampaco on April 18, 2018April 18, 2018 at 4:23 pmComment

[Editor’s Note: TLDR is GeekWire’s daily news rundown, hosted by Starla Sampaco. Watch today’s update above, subscribe to GeekWire on YouTube for every episode, check back weekday afternoons for more, and sign up… Read More

Startup Spotlight: LaunchBoard analyzes customer conversations to learn what they want

by Lisa Stiffler on April 18, 2018April 19, 2018 at 9:38 am 2 Comments

Brothers Joshua and Caleb Del Begio want to help businesses keep their customers happy, and believe the information is out there to do it. In 2016 they started LaunchBoard, a Vancouver,… Read More

Video

Polyverse raises more cash for Linux cybersecurity product that can prevent zero-day attacks

by Taylor Soper on April 18, 2018April 18, 2018 at 1:09 pmComment

Polyverse has raised more funding to fuel growth of its Linux cybersecurity technology. The Seattle-area startup just reeled in another $2 million from existing investors like SpringRock Ventures, bringing total funding… Read More

High-tech light therapy kiosk aims to combat Vitamin D deficiency, launches with clinical trials

by Clare McGrane on April 18, 2018April 19, 2018 at 10:02 amComment

Vitamin D deficiency is one of most common health problems in the United States. Studies have found that as many as three-fourths of teens and adults in the U.S. may… Read More

Bill Gates, Airbus and SoftBank invest in satellite video startup that wants to help us ‘see and understand the Earth live and unfiltered’

by Alan Boyle on April 18, 2018April 19, 2018 at 10:26 amComment

The latest spinout from Intellectual Ventures, EarthNow, says it’s coming out of stealth mode with backing from Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and other high-profile investors. Bellevue, Wash.-based EarthNow aims to… Read More

Startup studio Pioneer Square Labs raises $80M fund, aims to ‘flip VC model on its head’ in Seattle

by Taylor Soper on April 17, 2018April 17, 2018 at 10:47 am 15 Comments

Seattle startup studio Pioneer Square Labs is launching a new $80 million venture fund, expanding beyond its original company-building model and promising a new infusion of capital into the region’s… Read More

Startup Spotlight: Halo Automotive CEO turns near miss with disaster into dream for connected cars

by Lisa Stiffler on April 16, 2018April 16, 2018 at 4:52 pmComment

Tyler Phillipi credits a near miss with disaster for inspiring Halo Automotive, a Portland-based startup that helps dealerships maintain relationships with their customers. In 2007, Phillipi was driving his pickup… Read More

GeekWire Awards 2018: CEO of the Year candidates lead their companies to big growth

by Taylor Soper on April 16, 2018April 17, 2018 at 7:13 amComment

They run companies across various industries, from AI training to text analysis to wireless networks. But all five of our GeekWire Awards candidates for CEO of the Year share a similar… Read More

Kineta signs multi-million dollar collaboration with Genentech to develop non-opioid pain medication

by Clare McGrane on April 16, 2018April 13, 2018 at 4:19 pmComment

As the U.S. opioid epidemic rages on, the need for effective alternative pain medications is only becoming more acute. Seattle-based biotechnology company Kineta has been working on a non-opioid pain… Read More

Video

TLDR: Trump’s war on Amazon continues, Seattle’s restaurant robot, AI-powered horse monitoring, Seattle’s restaurant robot

by Starla Sampaco on April 13, 2018April 13, 2018 at 5:07 pmComment

[Editor’s Note: TLDR is GeekWire’s daily news rundown, hosted by Starla Sampaco. Watch today’s update above, subscribe to GeekWire on YouTube for every episode, check back weekday afternoons for more, and sign up… Read More

Startup Spotlight: WeSolv connects Fortune 500 companies with a network of MBA students

by Taylor Soper on April 13, 2018April 13, 2018 at 2:45 pmComment

WeSolv is putting a new spin on today’s recruiting market, bringing together MBA students — and potential future employees — with Fortune 500 companies that need help solving real world… Read More

Video

TLDR: Uber CEO still believes in self-driving cars, ESPN’s new streaming service, RED iPhones

by Starla Sampaco on April 12, 2018April 12, 2018 at 8:32 pmComment

[Editor’s Note: TLDR is GeekWire’s daily news rundown, hosted by Starla Sampaco. Watch today’s update above, subscribe to GeekWire on YouTube for every episode, check back weekday afternoons for more, and sign up… Read More

Working Geek: iDatalabs CEO Lokesh Dave says startup life actually supports a work-family balance

by Lisa Stiffler on April 12, 2018April 5, 2018 at 4:32 pm 2 Comments

Since college, Lokesh Dave had an itch to start his own tech company. But a Microsoft internship led to a software engineering job, and that cozy bubble proved tough to… Read More

Video

AI-powered horse monitoring: Magic AI raises $1.2M to expand equine technology

by Taylor Soper on April 12, 2018April 12, 2018 at 10:47 am1 Comment

Horse monitoring might not be the first application of computer vision-based machine learning that comes to mind. But investors like what they see with Magic AI. The Seattle startup has… Read More

Startup Spotlight: Spocket helps small online retailers with on-demand inventory sourcing

by Taylor Soper on April 11, 2018April 12, 2018 at 2:54 pmComment

When Saba Mohebpour created an online store to sell smartphone accessories, he became frustrated with the time and effort it took to maintain proper inventory and negotiate discounts with suppliers. That’s why… Read More

Fintech vet raises $2.5M for startup that gives you stock in a company for buying its products

by Taylor Soper on April 10, 2018April 10, 2018 at 7:05 am1 Comment

Bumped wants kill two birds with one stone, helping companies build 1-to-1 relationships with customers while giving people an easier way to own shares of said companies. The Portland startup… Read More

Venture-backed U.S. companies raise $28B in Q1, highest amount since 2006

by Taylor Soper on April 9, 2018April 10, 2018 at 9:55 amComment

The U.S. venture capital industry is on pace for a record-breaking year. The latest PitchBook-NVCA Venture Monitor report shows $28.2 billion flowing into 1,683 U.S. venture-backed companies during Q1 of… Read More

Video

TLDR: Congress releases Zuckerberg’s testimony, 👂ear-cleaning headphones, 🚀Elon Musk shows off SpaceX tool

by Starla Sampaco on April 9, 2018April 9, 2018 at 4:21 pmComment

[Editor’s Note: TLDR is GeekWire’s daily news rundown, hosted by Starla Sampaco. Watch today’s update above, subscribe to GeekWire on YouTube for every episode, check back weekday afternoons for more, and sign up… Read More

‘Depressing and inspiring’: Study finds 5% of Washington tech companies founded by women

by Taylor Soper on April 9, 2018April 10, 2018 at 10:23 am 2 Comments

New research from the Washington Technology Industry Association shows how wide the gender gap is among the state’s startup founders. WTIA collected data on 400 active tech companies in Washington… Read More

Ear-cleaning headphones maker SafKan Health raises $1M to launch in U.S. hospitals

by Clare McGrane on April 9, 2018April 9, 2018 at 10:03 amComment

Say so-long to Q-tips and those huge, awkward water syringes. If Seattle startup SafKan Health gets its way, antiquated ear cleaning devices will be a thing of the past. The… Read More

Pixvana creates in-house virtual reality production studio WunderVu

by Taylor Soper on April 9, 2018April 9, 2018 at 10:15 amComment

Pixvana has created its own in-house virtual reality production studio. The Seattle startup today announced WunderVu, a new independent consultancy for clients needing help with virtual and augmented reality storytelling projects.… Read More

Podcast

GeekWire Podcast: ‘Parallel reality’ displays show different content to multiple people, simultaneously

by Todd Bishop on April 7, 2018April 7, 2018 at 4:27 pmComment

After a decade-and-a-half covering the technology industry, it takes a lot to impress me, but the demo I saw with my colleagues recently at a startup called Misapplied Sciences still has… Read More

Juno’s $9B deal helps venture capitalist Bob Nelsen land on Midas List; Seattle investors don’t make cut

by Taylor Soper on April 6, 2018April 6, 2018 at 8:20 pmComment

Forbes released its annual Midas List this week and Seattle-area investors are certainly lacking again. The list, which ranks the top 100 venture capitalists from around the world, features Neil… Read More

SCI Solutions acquires DatStat to bolster digital engagement for healthcare patients

by Taylor Soper on April 5, 2018April 5, 2018 at 1:53 pmComment

Two Seattle-based healthcare companies are teaming up to help improve the way patients use digital tools to engage with care providers. SCI Solutions, a 19-year-old healthcare IT provider, has acquired… Read More

Johnson & Johnson acquires C-SATS, a University of Washington spinout that grades surgeons

by Taylor Soper on April 5, 2018April 10, 2018 at 2:15 pm1 Comment

Johnson & Johnson today announced the acquisition of C-SATS, a Seattle startup that uses technology to facilitate performance reviews for surgeons. Founded in 2014 and spun out of the University… Read More

Suplari raises $10.3M, reveals AI platform that identifies cost savings in procurement process

by Taylor Soper on April 5, 2018April 7, 2018 at 12:26 pmComment

Suplari is applying artificial intelligence technology to the software procurement process as a way to help companies save money and reduce risk. The Seattle startup today announced a $10.3 million… Read More

Video

TLDR: Parallel reality display tech, drone-delivered medical supplies, WA governor defends Amazon

by Starla Sampaco on April 4, 2018April 4, 2018 at 4:28 pmComment

[Editor’s Note: TLDR is GeekWire’s daily news rundown, hosted by Starla Sampaco. Watch today’s update above, subscribe to GeekWire on YouTube for every episode, check back weekday afternoons for more, and sign up… Read More

Startups

Techstars Seattle Demo Day: Check out our top 3 pitches from the startup accelerator

GeekWire Awards 2018: Make your pick for Startup of the Year

After 10 years, RealSelf raises $40M to ‘hit the gas’ and take cosmetic treatment review platform global

TLDR: Amazon and Best Buy are BFFs, T-Mobile’s military hiring push, ‘Walk it out’ with Rover

Startup Spotlight: LaunchBoard analyzes customer conversations to learn what they want

Polyverse raises more cash for Linux cybersecurity product that can prevent zero-day attacks

High-tech light therapy kiosk aims to combat Vitamin D deficiency, launches with clinical trials

Bill Gates, Airbus and SoftBank invest in satellite video startup that wants to help us ‘see and understand the Earth live and unfiltered’

Startup studio Pioneer Square Labs raises $80M fund, aims to ‘flip VC model on its head’ in Seattle

Startup Spotlight: Halo Automotive CEO turns near miss with disaster into dream for connected cars

GeekWire Awards 2018: CEO of the Year candidates lead their companies to big growth

Kineta signs multi-million dollar collaboration with Genentech to develop non-opioid pain medication

TLDR: Trump’s war on Amazon continues, Seattle’s restaurant robot, AI-powered horse monitoring, Seattle’s restaurant robot

Startup Spotlight: WeSolv connects Fortune 500 companies with a network of MBA students

TLDR: Uber CEO still believes in self-driving cars, ESPN’s new streaming service, RED iPhones

Working Geek: iDatalabs CEO Lokesh Dave says startup life actually supports a work-family balance

AI-powered horse monitoring: Magic AI raises $1.2M to expand equine technology

Startup Spotlight: Spocket helps small online retailers with on-demand inventory sourcing

Fintech vet raises $2.5M for startup that gives you stock in a company for buying its products

Venture-backed U.S. companies raise $28B in Q1, highest amount since 2006

TLDR: Congress releases Zuckerberg’s testimony, 👂ear-cleaning headphones, 🚀Elon Musk shows off SpaceX tool

‘Depressing and inspiring’: Study finds 5% of Washington tech companies founded by women

Ear-cleaning headphones maker SafKan Health raises $1M to launch in U.S. hospitals

Pixvana creates in-house virtual reality production studio WunderVu

GeekWire Podcast: ‘Parallel reality’ displays show different content to multiple people, simultaneously

Juno’s $9B deal helps venture capitalist Bob Nelsen land on Midas List; Seattle investors don’t make cut

SCI Solutions acquires DatStat to bolster digital engagement for healthcare patients

Johnson & Johnson acquires C-SATS, a University of Washington spinout that grades surgeons

Suplari raises $10.3M, reveals AI platform that identifies cost savings in procurement process

TLDR: Parallel reality display tech, drone-delivered medical supplies, WA governor defends Amazon

TeamsCode Development Challenge

Fundamentals for Startup Fridays on “Startup Mindset”

IoT Hackathon @ T-Mobile