Seattle-based W Fund, a $20 million, university-focused  fund that officially closed on May 31, officially launched today, according to its managing directors. The fund aims to back startups spun out of the University of Washington and other state research institution and its decisions will be made by an investment committee that Tom Alberg and Greg [...]

Alder BioPharmaceuticals closed a $38 million Series D round led by a new investor—Novo Ventures—and including existing Alder investors Sevin Rosen Funds, Ventures West, WRF Capital, H.I.G. Ventures, Delphi Ventures and TPG Biotech. Novo’s Peter Bisgaard will join Alder’s board as part of the deal. Alder BioPharma is based in Washington and is develops products [...]

Uptake Medical has closed a Series C funding round. The round was led by Singapore-based Crescent Point Group, with existing investors, Maverick Capital, ONSET Ventures, GBS Venture Partners, WRF Capital, Arboretum Ventures and Affinity Capital, making additional investments. Uptake Medical is focused on the development and commercialization of innovative, non-surgical treatments for lung diseases. PRESS [...]

Groove Biopharma has raised $6 million in series B financing from Alexandria Venture Investments, ARCH Venture Partners, OVP Venture Partners, Versant Ventures, and WRF Capital. Seattle-based Groove Biopharma is a privately held biotech.

Nimbic, a Mountain View, Calif.-based start-up developing cloud-computing electronic design automation software, has closed on $6.9 million in new capital from Austral Capital, Madrona Venture Group and WRF Capital. The company said that the infusion would go towards product development of its 3D electromagnetic signal integrity, power integrity and EMI analysis field technology.

Oncofactor, a cancer research company that was developed with the help of Seattle-based investment firm and incubator Acclerator Corp., has raised a $2.1 million of a $5.1 million Series A, according to an SEC filing. Accelerator was joined in Oncofactor’s funding by OVP Venture Partners, Alexandria Real Estate Equities; Amgen Ventures; ARCH Venture Partners; and [...]

Accelerator Corporation, a Seattle-based biotechnology investment company, has launched XORI Corporation, an antibody discovery and development platform. XORI received a Series A investment from Alexandria Real Estate Equities; Amgen Ventures; ARCH Venture Partners, Inc.; OVP Venture Partners; PPD, Inc.; and WRF Capital. Press release: Accelerator Corporation, a privately held, venture capital-backed biotechnology investment and development [...]