Vicis, the Seattle-based company known for high-tech helmets used in the NFL, NCAA, high school and youth football, has raised an additional $15 million, bringing its total funding to $70 million in its quest to reduce the risk of head injuries from the gridiron to the battlefield. The new investment was led by investors including former NFL quarterback Roger Staubach; media, auto and sports magnate Red McCombs and Cincinnati Reds minority owner Harry Fath, according to a company representative. Vicis confirmed the new funding round Thursday afternoon after GeekWire spotted an updated regulatory filing from the company. The filing gives a larger amount, which… Read More
Play Impossible started with a simple thesis: the internet-of-things world had lost a sense of joy and fun. So its founders went to work, creating a sensor-infused smart inflatable ball that links to a smartphone app and lets people play different physical games. Now the Seattle startup has landed a retail deal with Apple; inked a partnership with the NFL Players Association (NFLPA); discovered demand in an unexpected market; and raised more venture capital dollars to fuel its growth. Play Impossible today announced an additional $1.25 million in new funding from existing investors Two Sigma Ventures, Hardware Club, and Ben Franklin… Read More
Vicis is adding another big name to its investor list as the startup gears up to make its high-tech football helmet available to high school athletes. The Seattle-based company today announced that NFL star quarterback Russell Wilson participated in a $7 million round led by The Peregrine Group. Total funding in Vicis is now close to $50 million. Founded in 2014 and spun out of the University of Washington, Vicis has developed a $1,500 football helmet designed to mitigate the forces thought to cause concussions. This season, players from more than 15 NFL teams and 20 NCAA programs are wearing… Read More
KrowdFit is raising more cash for its wellness rewards platform that offers people money in exchange for practicing healthy habits. The Bend, Ore. startup just reeled in an additional $3.8 million from existing investors, KrowdFit CEO Jim Miller told GeekWire. The money will be used to grow its product development team and partner integrations. KrowdFit launched in 2010 after Miller, a longtime entrepreneur who previously ran a Visa rewards program for his former startup uTANGO, saw an opportunity to create a service that rewarded users with cash for being healthy. The company’s platform engages users by having them log their exercise, step,… Read More
As Russell Wilson describes the ethos of his new startup, it feels like you’re inside his Seahawks huddle, driving down the field in the fourth quarter. His words become sharp; the focus increases. You can hear the passion in his voice as the NFL star quarterback pumps you up and locks you in. “We all have our heroes,” Wilson told GeekWire in an interview last week. “No matter how successful or aspirational you want to be, we all have them, someone that we look up to. Those people can inspire us and make an impact — and we want TraceMe… Read More
