The Seattle-based Washington Research Foundation supports groundbreaking technology in the life sciences, information technology and physical sciences fields. By advancing brilliant research and early-stage entrepreneurs, we help to grow Washington's technology economy. WRF Capital is the seed fund branch of the Washington Research Foundation. Our mission is to help local companies and institutions manage intellectual property and business. We are one of the leading venture capitalists in the Northwest, and our financial returns are invested back into research and initiatives that support new company spinouts. We help to create a vibrant research and enterprise community.
Pacific Northwest Research Institute is a research institute for genetics and bioinformatics research.
Monod Bio
Seed Round in 2022
Monod Bio is a life sciences company based in Seattle, Washington, focused on developing innovative biosensors for detecting proteins, toxins, antibodies, and other analytes. Founded in 2021, the company has created a biosensor platform that integrates binding, transduction, and amplification processes in a single step, allowing for the rapid and sensitive detection of a diverse array of target molecules. By leveraging recent advancements in computational protein engineering, Monod Bio has designed highly modular bio-sensing nanoswitches that facilitate cost-effective analytical assays. This technology aims to enhance the capabilities of the healthcare industry in biotechnology and medicine.
SEngine Precision Medicine
Series A in 2022
SEngine Precision Medicine, Inc. is a Seattle-based company that specializes in personalized cancer treatments through innovative technology. Founded in 2015, the company utilizes a proprietary search engine that combines functional genomics with robotic testing of cancer drugs on live patient organoids. This approach allows for the simultaneous testing of over 200 drugs against a patient’s unique tumor organoid, providing insights into the most effective and least toxic treatment options that traditional DNA sequencing may not reveal. By leveraging anonymized test results, SEngine not only empowers patients and oncologists with tailored treatment options but also aids in the development of new cancer-fighting drugs, positioning itself as a leader in the next generation of oncology diagnostics.
Cyrus Biotechnology
Series B in 2021
Cyrus Biotechnology, Inc. specializes in developing software tools for protein structure prediction and design, aiming to enhance research in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. The company's flagship product, Rosetta, allows for the design of biologically active proteins that can address critical health issues, such as brain cancer treatment and gluten breakdown in Celiac Disease patients. Additionally, Cyrus Bench offers an enterprise version of the Rosetta toolkit, equipped with a variety of bio-molecular computation tools. The company also provides Cyrus CryoEM services, which include advanced structure refinement and model building. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Cyrus Biotechnology serves a diverse clientele, including pharmaceutical companies, venture-backed startups, and mid-sized biotech firms focused on therapeutic discovery and industrial biotechnology innovation.
AdaptX
Venture Round in 2020
AdaptX is a healthcare data analytics and AI company that specializes in enhancing clinical and workflow outcomes for hospitals and surgery centers. Founded in Seattle in 2016 as a spin-off from Seattle Children's Hospital, AdaptX provides a platform that enables medical leaders and clinicians to access and analyze clinical data effectively. The platform integrates algorithms with existing electronic data systems, allowing healthcare providers to monitor performance, compare treatment approaches, and define patient cohorts. Through automated analytics, AdaptX helps healthcare service providers improve the quality and safety of care while also reducing costs.
A-Alpha Bio
Seed Round in 2019
A-Alpha Bio, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Seattle, Washington, established in 2017. The company specializes in synthetic biology, offering a platform known as AlphaSeq, which assists pharmaceutical companies in the development of drugs that interact with multiple targets. A-Alpha Bio provides cell-based tools for high-throughput and quantitative measurements of protein interactions, facilitating target discovery, library screening, and preclinical drug characterization. Its proprietary technology enables the mapping of protein-protein interactions at a large scale, allowing for the identification and quantification of interactions among thousands of protein pairs simultaneously. By delivering detailed maps of these interactions, A-Alpha Bio helps researchers identify potential drug targets and understand disease mechanisms, thereby streamlining the therapeutic discovery process and improving the efficiency of drug development. The company comprises a team of experts in synthetic biology, structural biology, and next-generation sequencing, focused on overcoming challenges in the drug development pipeline.
AdaptX
Venture Round in 2019
AdaptX is a healthcare data analytics and AI company that specializes in enhancing clinical and workflow outcomes for hospitals and surgery centers. Founded in Seattle in 2016 as a spin-off from Seattle Children's Hospital, AdaptX provides a platform that enables medical leaders and clinicians to access and analyze clinical data effectively. The platform integrates algorithms with existing electronic data systems, allowing healthcare providers to monitor performance, compare treatment approaches, and define patient cohorts. Through automated analytics, AdaptX helps healthcare service providers improve the quality and safety of care while also reducing costs.
Phase Genomics
Seed Round in 2017
Phase Genomics, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Seattle, Washington, founded in 2015. The company specializes in developing innovative technology for genome assembly and metagenome deconvolution, focusing on its ProxiMeta Hi-C platform. This platform empowers researchers in various fields, including agriculture, human health, and industrial biology, by enabling the cultivation-independent assembly of bacterial genomes. By exploiting the structure of DNA, Phase Genomics aims to provide scientists with the most complete and accurate genomes and metagenomes possible, facilitating transformative discoveries and advancements in their respective areas of study.
Phytelligence
Series B in 2017
Phytelligence is a product-focused technology company that develops and provides smart plants and solutions to growers, nurseries, and horticultural experts. It provides custom genetic analysis services that assess the similarity or dissimilarity of closely related samples. The company provides plants free of diseases, viruses, and pests. Its portfolio includes the Geneva series, Gisela series, and Krymsk series of rootstocks. Phytelligence was founded in 2012 by Amit Dhingra, and it is based in Pullman, Washington.
Arzeda
Series A in 2017
Arzeda Corporation is a synthetic biology company based in Seattle, Washington, that specializes in the development and manufacture of proteins and enzymes for various applications, including pharmaceuticals, polymers, and industrial chemicals. Founded in 2008, Arzeda utilizes advanced technology that combines physics-based protein design with artificial intelligence algorithms to create and validate new designer proteins and enzymes. The company aims to provide innovative solutions that offer competitive performance, cost efficiency, and sustainability, addressing the needs of clients in diverse industries.
HyperSciences
Seed Round in 2017
HyperSciences, Inc. develops advanced drilling solutions for various applications, including energy, tunneling, transportation, and aerospace. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Spokane, Washington, with an additional office in Austin, Texas, the company offers innovative technologies such as HyperDrill, which enhances the rate of penetration in oil, gas, and geothermal drilling by up to ten times compared to conventional methods. HyperSciences also provides a geothermal solution that utilizes HyperDrill to access deep geothermal energy deposits and the HyperBreaker, a rock-breaking solution designed for construction, mining, and tunneling. By employing low-cost chemical energy to propel projectiles to hypersonic speeds, the company's technology enables faster and deeper penetration into hard rock, effectively addressing challenges in drilling and tunneling operations.
Nexgenia
Venture Round in 2016
Nexgenia develops and manufactures proprietary stimuli-responsive polymers and polymer-containing magnetic nanoparticles. These polymers change state from soluble single macromolecules to large insoluble aggregates in response to very modest changes (like temperature, pH, and salt) in their environment. When these polymers are attached to other chemicals/biologicals, they confer the same environmentally-responsive characteristics. Thus the resulting combinations can be small when it is advantageous to be small and large when that facilitates separation and analysis. This property enables the development of faster, more complete molecular/cellular separations and faster, more sensitive immunoassays. Nexgenia was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.
AnswerDash
Seed Round in 2015
AnswerDash, Inc. is a Seattle-based company that offers a cloud-based Q&A platform designed to provide contextual answers to customers on websites, web applications, and mobile experiences. Founded in 2012 and originally known as Qazzow, Inc., the company allows businesses to integrate self-service features that enable customers to obtain answers through a point-and-click interface, facilitating easy access to information without cluttering web pages. By predicting user questions based on the content of the page, AnswerDash helps reduce support costs and enhances customer engagement. The platform can also integrate with live chat services to offer personalized assistance. As of June 2020, AnswerDash operates as a subsidiary of CloudEngage, Inc.
CSATS
Series A in 2015
C-SATS provides a personalized surgical skills assessment platform using a unique combination of data analytics, artificial intelligence. It specializes in the fields of robotic surgery, surgical skills, surgical insights, laparoscopic surgery, and minimally invasive surgery. The company was founded in 2014 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington.
Faraday Pharmaceuticals
Series A in 2014
Faraday Pharmaceuticals is an early-stage therapeutics company focused on developing novel therapies to treat ischemia-reperfusion injury. It has in-licensed proprietary liquid formulations of reduced nonmetal gaseous elements developed in the lab of Dr. Mark Roth at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. The company was founded in 2014 and is located in Seattle, Washington.
FlexMinder
Series A in 2014
FlexMinder, Inc. is a Seattle-based company that develops enterprise software solutions aimed at private health exchanges, health carriers, and third-party administrators (TPAs). Founded in 2011, FlexMinder focuses on automating the healthcare reimbursement process, enhancing the management of medical spending for flexible spending accounts. The company aggregates healthcare information from various sources to streamline claims submission, significantly reducing manual processing time and costs for TPAs. By providing online tools for managing the reimbursement process, FlexMinder aims to improve the user experience for consumers utilizing their flexible spending arrangements. In 2013, the company secured $1.4 million in Series AA financing to support its growth initiatives and was selected for the TechStars incubator program. As of January 2017, FlexMinder operates as a subsidiary of Jelleyvision Lab Inc.
Skytap
Series C in 2014
Skytap, Inc. specializes in providing cloud-based development and testing environments aimed at migrating and modernizing enterprise applications globally. The company's primary offering, Skytap Cloud, allows for self-service access to production-like environments, facilitating more frequent code testing for development and testing teams. Skytap’s platform supports organizations in transitioning to modern software delivery methods by enabling the rapid migration of traditional workloads to the cloud and fostering the adoption of agile and DevOps practices. This approach helps businesses enhance their application development efficiency and integrate new cloud architectures. Additionally, Skytap provides a range of services including cloud migration, application modernization, training, and strategic consulting. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Skytap also maintains locations in Toronto, Canada, and London, United Kingdom.
AnswerDash
Series A in 2013
AnswerDash, Inc. is a Seattle-based company that offers a cloud-based Q&A platform designed to provide contextual answers to customers on websites, web applications, and mobile experiences. Founded in 2012 and originally known as Qazzow, Inc., the company allows businesses to integrate self-service features that enable customers to obtain answers through a point-and-click interface, facilitating easy access to information without cluttering web pages. By predicting user questions based on the content of the page, AnswerDash helps reduce support costs and enhances customer engagement. The platform can also integrate with live chat services to offer personalized assistance. As of June 2020, AnswerDash operates as a subsidiary of CloudEngage, Inc.
FlexMinder
Series A in 2013
FlexMinder, Inc. is a Seattle-based company that develops enterprise software solutions aimed at private health exchanges, health carriers, and third-party administrators (TPAs). Founded in 2011, FlexMinder focuses on automating the healthcare reimbursement process, enhancing the management of medical spending for flexible spending accounts. The company aggregates healthcare information from various sources to streamline claims submission, significantly reducing manual processing time and costs for TPAs. By providing online tools for managing the reimbursement process, FlexMinder aims to improve the user experience for consumers utilizing their flexible spending arrangements. In 2013, the company secured $1.4 million in Series AA financing to support its growth initiatives and was selected for the TechStars incubator program. As of January 2017, FlexMinder operates as a subsidiary of Jelleyvision Lab Inc.
Resolve Therapeutics
Series B in 2012
Resolve Therapeutics, LLC is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Seattle, Washington, focused on developing innovative therapies for autoimmune diseases, particularly systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjögren's syndrome. Established in 2010, the company is advancing its lead biologic compounds, including RSLV-132, a mono-specific nuclease Fc-fusion protein designed to target and eliminate immune complexes, thereby reducing kidney damage and interferon activation. Additionally, Resolve Therapeutics is progressing RSLV-133, a bi-specific Fc-nuclease fusion protein that integrates dual nuclease activities into a single therapeutic molecule. The company's research is rooted in significant discoveries made by Dr. Keith Elkon and Dr. Jeff Ledbetter at the University of Washington School of Medicine, with a commitment to enhancing the quality of life for patients affected by these challenging conditions.
Alder Biopharmaceuticals
Series D in 2012
Alder BioPharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing therapeutic antibodies to improve treatment for migraine patients in the United States, Australia, and Ireland. The company's lead candidate, eptinezumab, is a monoclonal antibody targeting calcitonin gene-related peptide, currently in late-stage clinical development for migraine prevention. Alder is also developing ALD1910, a preclinical monoclonal antibody aimed at inhibiting pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide-38 for similar purposes, and Clazakizumab, which targets the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 and has completed two Phase 2b trials. In addition to its product development efforts, Alder engages in strategic collaborations, notably with CSL Limited for advancing clazakizumab as a treatment for solid organ transplant rejection. Incorporated in 2002 and headquartered in Bothell, Washington, Alder operates primarily in the United States, where it generates most of its revenue.
Oncofactor
Series A in 2011
Oncofactor is a Seattle, Washington-based developer of cancer therapeutics that disrupt signaling pathways between tumors and the immune system.
Skytap
Series B in 2009
Skytap, Inc. specializes in providing cloud-based development and testing environments aimed at migrating and modernizing enterprise applications globally. The company's primary offering, Skytap Cloud, allows for self-service access to production-like environments, facilitating more frequent code testing for development and testing teams. Skytap’s platform supports organizations in transitioning to modern software delivery methods by enabling the rapid migration of traditional workloads to the cloud and fostering the adoption of agile and DevOps practices. This approach helps businesses enhance their application development efficiency and integrate new cloud architectures. Additionally, Skytap provides a range of services including cloud migration, application modernization, training, and strategic consulting. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Skytap also maintains locations in Toronto, Canada, and London, United Kingdom.
Arzeda
Seed Round in 2009
Arzeda Corporation is a synthetic biology company based in Seattle, Washington, that specializes in the development and manufacture of proteins and enzymes for various applications, including pharmaceuticals, polymers, and industrial chemicals. Founded in 2008, Arzeda utilizes advanced technology that combines physics-based protein design with artificial intelligence algorithms to create and validate new designer proteins and enzymes. The company aims to provide innovative solutions that offer competitive performance, cost efficiency, and sustainability, addressing the needs of clients in diverse industries.
Accelerator Corp.
Series C in 2007
Accelerator Corporation is a venture capital firm specializing in incubation, early stage, emerging growth and start-up investments. It does not participate in further rounds of financing. The firm prefers to invest in biotechnology companies. It seeks to invest up to $2 million in a company. The firm typically holds its investments for a period of 12 months to 24 months. Accelerator Corporation was founded in 2003 and is based in Seattle, Washington. Accelerator Corporation, founded in 2003, is a vehicle for disciplined and efficient investment in and management of emerging biotechnology opportunities. Located in Seattle, Washington, the company identifies, evaluates, finances, and manages ground breaking emerging life sciences opportunities. The company has established and built a largely proprietary array of sources of deal flow, as well as a key set of resources to bring to bear in the development of the best opportunities emerging from those sources. These key resources, provided by Accelerator and its Affiliates – Amgen Ventures, ARCH Venture Partners, OVP Venture Partners, WRF Capital, Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., and the Institute for Systems Biology – include committed investment capital, state-of-the-art facilities, world-class scientific and technical expertise and support, and experienced start-up management. This panel of Accelerator participants will discuss the success of their business model and provide practical expertise for the next generation of biotech incubators. In the past five years, nine companies have been invested in through Accelerator. Three have emerged and raised follow on financings of more than $114 million. Four remain under management at Accelerator, having raised between them $11.3 million in initial Accelerator-based investments. In all, Accelerator companies have raised in excess of $143.5 million in initial and follow-on financings. Accelerator investors have committed an additional $22.5 million to enable Accelerator to continue to identify, capitalize, and develop the next-generation of exciting emerging biotechnologies. Accelerator Corporation relies upon a unique set of sources to fill a world-class pipeline of deal flow and has established and utilized a now proven array of resources to identify, evaluate, capitalize and manage emerging biotechnology companies. Accelerator provides this unprecedented collection of resources via a partnership between top-tiered investors, dedicated management, and a world-class research institute. These groups have come together because they recognize the potential of biotechnology both as an investment opportunity and as a critical component of the rapidly evolving future of medicine and healthcare. Moreover, these individuals and organizations have extensive experience in the difficult, complex and costly process of transforming an exciting laboratory discovery into a commercial product. By providing their expertise with companies in the Accelerator portfolio, these industry leaders provide critical knowledge and resources that can help to streamline the development and accelerate the commercialization of novel technologies. Accelerator, through the global activities of its affiliates, has access to exciting new technologies and commercial opportunities developed at leading research institutions, universities and biotechnology companies around the world. This enables Accelerator to select only the most compelling investments from a deep pool of promising opportunities.
Skytap
Series A in 2007
Skytap, Inc. specializes in providing cloud-based development and testing environments aimed at migrating and modernizing enterprise applications globally. The company's primary offering, Skytap Cloud, allows for self-service access to production-like environments, facilitating more frequent code testing for development and testing teams. Skytap’s platform supports organizations in transitioning to modern software delivery methods by enabling the rapid migration of traditional workloads to the cloud and fostering the adoption of agile and DevOps practices. This approach helps businesses enhance their application development efficiency and integrate new cloud architectures. Additionally, Skytap provides a range of services including cloud migration, application modernization, training, and strategic consulting. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Skytap also maintains locations in Toronto, Canada, and London, United Kingdom.
HaloSource
Venture Round in 2007
HaloSource, Inc. innovates and integrates technologies to deliver clean drinking water solutions to partners with trusted brands around the world. The Company works with scientists and industry experts across the globe in search of new ways to improve drinking water quality and has been awarded more than 30 patents for its ground-breaking chemistries, which provide safe drinking water for more than 10 million consumers globally. The Company's class-leading HaloPure? Drinking Water technology has the highest global certifications, including registration with the US EPA. With the addition of our lead removal media to the product line, the Company's product offerings will continue to broaden to address more issues in more market segments around the world. With technologies that earn the highest regulatory certifications, a stable of strong strategic relationships and a pipeline of new products and performance, the Company expects to be well positioned to capitalise on the opportunities available to it in the residential water treatment market. The Company is headquartered in Seattle, WA, USA which is also its main country of operation. The Company's activities and assets are more fully described on its website at www.halosource.com. The Company is seeking to re-domicile from Washington State to the BVI.
Omeros
Series E in 2007
Omeros Corporation is a Seattle-based biopharmaceutical company that focuses on discovering, developing, and commercializing small-molecule and protein therapeutics for a range of indications, including inflammation, complement-mediated diseases, and central nervous system disorders. The company is known for its commercial product, OMIDRIA, which is used during cataract surgery in the United States. Omeros has several clinical programs, with its lead candidate, Narsoplimab, in Phase III trials for conditions such as thrombotic microangiopathy and immunoglobulin A nephropathy, as well as Phase II trials for lupus nephritis. Other clinical programs include OMS405 for opioid and nicotine addiction and OMS527 for addiction and compulsive disorders. The company also has a robust pipeline of preclinical programs targeting various disorders, including MASP-3 for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria and a GPCR platform aimed at treating a broad range of diseases. Omeros was incorporated in 1994 and remains dedicated to addressing significant unmet medical needs.
Alder Biopharmaceuticals
Series B in 2006
Alder BioPharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing therapeutic antibodies to improve treatment for migraine patients in the United States, Australia, and Ireland. The company's lead candidate, eptinezumab, is a monoclonal antibody targeting calcitonin gene-related peptide, currently in late-stage clinical development for migraine prevention. Alder is also developing ALD1910, a preclinical monoclonal antibody aimed at inhibiting pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide-38 for similar purposes, and Clazakizumab, which targets the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 and has completed two Phase 2b trials. In addition to its product development efforts, Alder engages in strategic collaborations, notably with CSL Limited for advancing clazakizumab as a treatment for solid organ transplant rejection. Incorporated in 2002 and headquartered in Bothell, Washington, Alder operates primarily in the United States, where it generates most of its revenue.
Alder Biopharmaceuticals
Series A in 2005
Alder BioPharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing therapeutic antibodies to improve treatment for migraine patients in the United States, Australia, and Ireland. The company's lead candidate, eptinezumab, is a monoclonal antibody targeting calcitonin gene-related peptide, currently in late-stage clinical development for migraine prevention. Alder is also developing ALD1910, a preclinical monoclonal antibody aimed at inhibiting pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide-38 for similar purposes, and Clazakizumab, which targets the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 and has completed two Phase 2b trials. In addition to its product development efforts, Alder engages in strategic collaborations, notably with CSL Limited for advancing clazakizumab as a treatment for solid organ transplant rejection. Incorporated in 2002 and headquartered in Bothell, Washington, Alder operates primarily in the United States, where it generates most of its revenue.
Vanson HaloSource
Series B in 2005
In the spring of 2002, Vanson, Inc. and HaloSource Corp. merged to form Vanson HaloSource, Inc. in order to expand opportunities for product commercialization by capitalizing on manufacturing facilities, distribution channels and intellectual property. Vanson’s cGMP certified manufacturing facility, located in Western Washington accommodates the production of most of Vanson HaloSource's products. The management team and a talented pool of chemists, biochemists and microbiologists are working together to create and expand the Company’s broad spectrum of applications. Today the Company holds dozens of patents and patents pending on a broad range of products that are distributed to the pool and spa, wastewater treatment, and biomedical industries. The Company has a substantial pipeline of proprietary new products in research and development, and a growing number of strategic alliances with prestigious companies to manufacture and market value-added chitin/chitosan-based and antimicrobial products.
Spot something off? Help us improve by flagging any incorrect or outdated information. Just email us at support@teaserclub.com. Your feedback is most welcome.