Mar 19, 2020

Steller

Kirkland-based social media app Steller hired Ryan Hodgson as vice president of marketing. Hodgson has 20 years of marketing experience, with senior leadership roles at agencies such as Yesler and Weber Shandwick. He most recently was COO at Realogics Sotheby's International Realty. Steller targets mobile-first travelers with its storytelling platform.

Alliant

Alliant Insurance Services added Sean White as first vice president to its Employee Benefits Group. White has expertise in the design, pricing and administration of health and welfare programs, with a focus on financial analysis and consulting. Prior to joining Alliant, he was a principal with a national insurance and employee benefits consulting firm. At Alliant, White is based in Boise, Idaho, and has clients across the Northwest. Alliant is headquartered in Newport Beach, California.

CoreStack

Bellevue-based CoreStack received $8.5 million in Series A funding to expand its sales and marketing, as well as accelerate product development. The funding round was led by Naya Ventures, with participation from other investors. The deal has Naya Managing Director Dayakar Puskoor joining CoreStack's board. CoreStack provides operational management, backup and disaster recovery services using the cloud.

Arcimoto

In Oregon, the Eugene Springfield Fire Department and manufacturer Arcimoto are starting a pilot program for an electric emergency vehicle called Rapid Responder. The three-wheeled vehicle is designed to more quickly and efficiently reach emergencies at a fraction of the economic and environmental costs of traditional diesel-powered vehicles. It has a top speed of 75 mph and a 100-mile range in the city. It seats two and has a rear cargo compartment, roof-mounted equipment rack, mini light bar and siren, and 360-degree scene lights. Arcimoto makes Rapid Responder at its Eugene headquarters. Full production is expected later this year.

Mar 18, 2020

Century Therapeutics

Philadelphia-based Century Therapeutics opened an innovation hub in Seattle to develop genetically engineered therapies for solid tumor cancers. The hub's goal is to overcome barriers that have limited the effectiveness of first-generation cell therapies. Dr. Hy Levitsky, Century's president of research and development, is overseeing the Seattle hub and collaborating with Dr. Luis Borges, Century's chief scientific officer at the Philadelphia headquarters. Levitsky has extensive biotech experience, previously as chief scientific officer at Juno Therapeutics in Seattle.

Amazon

Seattle-based Amazon announced four new renewable energy projects around the world that will support its commitment to reach 80% renewable energy by 2024 and 100% renewable energy by 2030. The projects are: a 60-megawatt solar farm in Australia expected to come online in 2021; a 122-megawatt onshore wind farm in Sweden expected to come online in 2022; a 50-megawatt solar farm in Spain expected to begin operations in 2021; and a 65-megawatt solar farm in Virginia with an undisclosed opening date. Amazon wants to be net-zero carbon by 2040.

PotlatchDeltic

Spokane-based PotlatchDeltic is transferring about $100 million in pension obligations to New York Life Insurance Co. through a group annuity contract. New York Life will assume responsibility for annuity administration and benefit payments to select retirees beginning May 1. The change isn't expected to affect pension benefits of PotlatchDeltic retirees. PotlatchDeltic is a REIT that owns timberlands in Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota and Mississippi.

Mar 17, 2020

Vacasa

Dodson

Portland vacation rental management company Vacasa hired Mike Dodson as chief revenue officer. Dodson was CEO of Fishbowl, a developer of software marketing and analytics for restaurants. Prior to that, he spent 14 years at restaurant reservation service company OpenTable, where he was chief revenue officer.

Banzai

Seattle-based Banzai, a developer of cloud software for event marketing, raised $7 million in equity financing in a deal led by DNX Ventures and Vulcan Capital. Banzai will use the funds to expand staff and enhance its products. DNX is an early-stage venture capital company and Vulcan Capital is the investment arm of Seattle-based Vulcan Inc. DNX has offices in San Mateo, California, and Tokyo.

Smart Foodservice

Rosemont, Illinois-based US Foods Holding Corp. is acquiring Smart Foodservice Warehouse Stores for $970 million in cash. Portland-based Smart Foodservice operates 70 small-format cash-and-carry stores across California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Montana that serve small and mid-sized restaurants and other food businesses. Its revenues last year were about $1.1 billion, with $85 million in earnings. The deal excludes Smart & Final retail grocery stores.

OpenSesame

Portland-based e-learning company OpenSesame is offering unlimited free access to coronavirus preparedness and remote work training for any organization through May 15. The offer includes e-learning courses in multiple languages. The courses are at go.opensesame.com/free-offer.