Summer 2007
A Real Estate Brokerage with Altitude…um, Attitude: Redfin Wins Alliance of Angels 2007 Company of the Year Award
Each year, Alliance of Angels recognizes an outstanding company that has participated in the AoA program for its commitment to entrepreneurial excellence and impact on our regional technology economy. At the State of Technology Luncheon, we honored the achievements of Seattle-based Redfin, the online brokerage that is changing the rules of real estate.
Redfin was selected for the award from a field of five technology-focused companies based in Washington that have presented to the AoA membership within the past three years. Redfin couples technology with a customer-centric business model in delivering home-buying and selling services with significant savings to the consumer. The company has been steadily gaining momentum, recently closing a round of venture funding and doubling traffic to its web site last year.
“Redfin has been in the national spotlight as a disruptive technology model in a traditional industry,” observed Alliance of Angels Chairman Dan Rosen, president and CEO of Dan Rosen & Associates. “We applaud the company’s many accomplishments and its capital efficiency as further evidence that the Pacific Northwest is a hotbed of entrepreneurial innovation.”
Offering service in Seattle, San Francisco, southern California, and Boston, Redfin has worked with approximately 500 homebuyers and sellers since its launch in 2003. The company plans to expand into the Washington, D.C. and Chicago markets in the near future.
Redfin CEO Glen Kelman, in accepting the award, said, “We are really grateful for this award. We’re so proud, because our investors – the angel investors and our venture capital investors – have been so loyal to the company. We are trying to do something big: we’re trying to change the order of things in real estate. That is not for the faint of heart, and the folks here in Washington state who have stood behind us are rare, indeed.”
“This year’s competition was intense, with many great angel-funded companies achieving their business goals and gaining traction in the marketplace,” said Rosen. “We had a difficult choice to make and are thrilled to acknowledge Redfin as well as the other finalists for their achievements.”
A committee drawn from the AoA leadership chose the finalists based upon their entrepreneurial spirit, traction with investors, progress toward meeting their business plan goals, and positive impact on the economy. In addition to Redfin, the following companies were in contention for this year’s award:
Amnis Corporation, developer of a breakthrough technology enabling high-speed imaging of cells in flow for basic biomedical research, drug discovery, and diagnostics;
Escapia, provider of the only complete web-based platform for vacation rental companies to manage properties and owner relationships and reach new customers;
OnRequest Images, developer of a unique platform to automate the production of custom photography aligned with clients’ branding and visual assets management solutions;
SNAPin, developer of mobile interaction management software that allows operators to interact in real time with their subscribers, making “every phone smart.”
The five finalists, all Washington-based companies, collectively employ more than 230 people.
New Fellowship Aims to Cultivate the Entrepreneurial Leaders of Tomorrow
At our State of Technology Luncheon, the Technology Alliance officially announced the launch of a new initiative to honor our organization’s founding chair and support the development of Washington’s future entrepreneurial leaders: the William H. Gates, Sr. Fellowship in Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
The World Is Waiting… Will Our Children Be Ready? Education Takes Center Stage at the Technology Alliance Annual Luncheon
Since last fall, the Technology Alliance has been working with other business and labor organizations across the state as part of a coalition supporting the College & Work Ready Agenda, a set of shared priorities for building a world-class education system in Washington that prepares our students to be successful in the 21st century economy. We shined a spotlight on the importance of education to our collective future at the May 31st State of Technology luncheon, with a little help from Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.
Feed Your Head! Sign up for the 2007-2008 Season of the Science & Technology Discovery Series
Since 1997 the Science & Technology Discovery Series has been serving up hearty helpings of the latest in cutting edge research from Washington’s innovative companies and institutions. Starting in September, get YOUR recommended monthly allowance of science and technology for breakfast in Seattle and Spokane.
Did You Know…?
Last fall, the Technology Alliance began sharing some of the amazing discoveries and interesting facts gleaned from our Seattle Science & Technology Discovery Series speakers through our monthly “Did you know…?” feature. Here is some of what we learned.
