Is Sea-Tac airport one of the nation’s most stress-free points of departure? And once you arrive here, does that peaceful, easy feeling make you feel less anxious about whether your luggage has made the connection with you?
That’s the opinion of AOL Travel and SmarterTravel.com who give Seattle-Tacoma International Airport top marks for “fast-moving security lines, friendly TSA personnel, brew pubs and coffee companies that are “well represented in every concourse.”” Ahh, that’s refreshing news for travelers these days at a time when full-body scans, security pat downs, and the unexpected moon roof appearing in mid-flight can put any traveler on edge.
“Hidden around the country, sometimes in plain sight, are airports that are working hard to give travelers a pleasant and even (dare we say it?) enjoyable travel experience,” quotes the survey article. “We compared airports from coast to coast and chose 10 that stood out with traveler-friendly amenities, hassle-free security, laid-back atmospheres, and fun diversions ranging from 
great shopping to art galleries.” Sharing high honors with Sea-Tac were Providence and Austin. [24×7]
First Angel/Seed Financing Survey Focuses on Seattle & Silicon Valley
A report produced by Fenwick & West on angel financing surveyed 52 Internet/digital media and software companies that raised angel/seed financing in either the Silicon Valley or Seattle markets during 2010.
Some of the results are as follows:
-Seed stage funds led 45% of the financings, individual angels led 31% of the financings and venture capital funds led 24% of the financings.
– A larger percentage of the financings were structured as preferred stock financings as opposed to convertible note financings, and those that were structured as convertible note financings capped the conversion price in substantially over a majority of the financings.
– The median amount raised in preferred stock financings was $1.1 million, and $0.6 million in convertible note financings.
– The median pre-money valuation for preferred stock financings was $3.4 million for internet/digital media financings and$2.7 million for software financings.
– Investors received a board seat in approximately 70% of preferred stock financings, but in less than 10% of convertible note financings.
“We believe these results are consistent with our anecdotal observation that angel financings have become more sophisticated and larger in the internet/digital media and software industries in recent years, as the class of investors between ‘friends and family’ investors and traditional venture capital has developed and expanded,” said Steve Levine, who is also an attorney in the firm’s Corporate Group. “We view this as a healthy response to changing market conditions, and intend to continue to follow these trends,” concluded Mr. Levine.
Complete results of the survey are available at www.fenwick.com/angelsurvey. [24×7]
