Spring 2008
Alliance of Angels Reaches New Heights with 2007 Investment Activity
As the Alliance of Angels kicks off its 10th anniversary year, it already has reason to celebrate. Last year, members invested $3.9 million in a record-high 44 early stage companies in innovative, high-growth sectors.
Companies secured an additional $3.3 million from other sources facilitated by AoA, bringing the program’s total impact on early stage investment last year to $7.2 million.
Fifteen of the 44 companies that secured investment in 2007 did so after presenting to the AoA membership for the first time, representing just below 9% of the 174 companies interviewed, coached and screened through the program during the year. Eight companies that had previously presented at an AoA luncheon secured new investment after returning to deliver a progress update.
Another 21 companies received follow-on financing without presenting to the full membership in 2007. These were companies that had pitched to and received funding from AoA members in previous years.
“The strength of our follow-on financing demonstrates that AoA members are excellent investors and help guide their companies toward successful outcomes,” observed chair Dan Rosen. “It’s also an excellent indicator that AoA’s screening process works and is selecting winning companies from the start. This is positive news for both the AoA investors and the entrepreneurial community.”
High tech accounted for 87% of investments made by AoA members last year, up from 75% in 2006. Web and software companies captured the greatest number of deals, accounting for 26% and 20% of the total, respectively. The balance of high tech investment was spread among a variety of sectors, including biotechnology, diagnostics, electronics, materials science, nanotechnology, photonics and mobile technology companies. The remaining 13% of deals were in high-growth companies in the consumer products and retail sectors.
AoA deal activity has increased significantly over the past three years. This period accounts for more than half of all investments made in the program’s history. AoA members have directly invested a total of $35.4 million over the past 10 years. When indirect funding is added, the total amount of early stage capital facilitated by the program since it began in 1998 exceeds $70 million.
“AoA has gathered tremendous momentum over the past several years,” Rosen said, “and I can’t think of a better way to begin celebrating the 10th anniversary of our first investment than to set a new record for the number of companies funded through our program.”
Learn more about Alliance of Angels.
Information, Imagination & Ingenuity: The Technology Alliance’s 2008 State of Technology Luncheon, Featuring Internet Pioneer Vint Cerf
- Friday, May 9, 2008
- The Westin Seattle
- Networking and registration: 11:00 am
- Doors open: 11:30 am
- Luncheon program: 11:45 am – 1:30 pm
It was 38 years before radio reached 50 million users. Television took 13. The Internet? Four.
How will the rapidly changing online landscape continue to reshape the way we do business, connect with customers, and relate to family, friends, even total strangers halfway around the globe?
Vint Cerf, vice president and chief Internet evangelist at Google, is working on the answers. He will share his insights during a keynote conversation with Ed Lazowska, the Bill & Melinda Gates Chair in Computer Science and Engineering at University of Washington – just one of the highlights of this year’s State of Technology Luncheon, the premier event for Washington’s technology community.
The Innovative Region: Benchmarking Goes Global in New Collaboration
The Technology Alliance has partnered with the Puget Sound Regional Council and Trade Development Alliance of Seattle to launch the International Regions Benchmarking Consortium, an effort aimed at cultivating a deeper understanding of how metropolitan regions can succeed in the global economy. 
We kicked off this ambitious project by engaging eight dynamic regions from around the globe as founding members of the IRBC: Barcelona (Spain); Daejeon (South Korea); Dublin (Ireland); Fukuoka (Japan); Helsinki (Finland); Melbourne (Australia); Munich (Germany); Seattle (USA) and Stockholm (Sweden).
From Innovation to Impact: How PATH Advances New Approaches to Old Problems in Global Health
Dr. Chris Elias began his presentation at the Seattle Science & Technology Discovery Series with the question facing global health organizations: “how do we take great new scientific discoveries and turn them into solutions?”
By focusing on the three “I’s”– innovate, introduce, and integrate – that make up its product introduction framework, Seattle-based PATH aims to provide the answer.
Technology Alliance Welcomes Dr. Tomas Mustelin of Amgen
At its January meeting, the Technology Alliance board was pleased to elect Dr. Tomas Mustelin, Amgen’s new Washington Site Head, to a new three-year term. Dr. Mustelin joins an impressive roster of business and research leadership from around the state, including nine members who recently renewed their commitment to the organization and its mission.
Technology Alliance Welcomes Amy Bell Rousso
The Technology Alliance is pleased to welcome program coordinator Amy Bell Rousso. Amy will provide administrative support for board and executive committee activities, assist with coordination of the Seattle Science & Technology Discovery Series, and participate in the planning and execution of events.
Prior to joining the TA team, Amy worked in client services for Seattle advertising firm Ad Mark Services. At Ad Mark, Amy fulfilled a variety of roles, from event and tradeshow coordination to advertising planning and placement. Amy earned her Bachelor of Arts in communication from University of Washington.
Important Dates
- May 6
- Alliance of Angels 10-Minute Pitch Clinic
- 2:00 – 4:30 pm
- Seattle
- More information
- May 9
- State of Technology Luncheon
- 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
- Seattle
- More information
- May 16
- Seattle Discovery Series: Mike Schwenk, PNNL
- 7:30 – 9:00 am
- Seattle
- More information
- Spokane Discovery Series: Suzan Kardong-Edgren, WSU
- 7:30 – 9:00 am
- Spokane
- More information
