washington business
Entrepreneur of the Year
Given to an entrepreneur whose business is less than five years old and has made a significant impact in their industry. winner of the entrepreneur of the year award:
M3 Biotechnology, Inc., Seattle Founded: 2011 Number of employees: 11
Embodying the award( Entrepreneur of the Year): M3 Biotechnology is leading the way in delivering therapies for Alzheimer’ s, Parkinson’ s and other neurodegenerative diseases. It was founded by Leen Kawas, a 30-year-old immigrant from Jordan who earned her Ph. D. in molecular pharmacology from WSU and has raised $ 12 million for research and development through two oversubscribed financing rounds. Kawas was named one of Seattle’ s Most Influential People by Seattle Magazine and one of the Women to Watch in Life Sciences by the Washington Biotechnology and Biomedical Association
About the company: M3 Biotechnology is an innovative pharmaceutical company with a primary focus on altering the course of Alzheimer’ s disease progression and neuro-deterioration. Where current therapies primarily address disease symptoms, M3 has patented and proprietary technologies aimed at creating disease-modifying treatments with the potential to restore lost connections between brain cells, turning degeneration into regeneration.
Notable contributions to the community and the state: Leen Kawas, president and CEO of M3 Biotechnology, serves on multiple boards, including the Washington Governor’ s Life Science Advisory Board and the Scientific Review Board for the Alzheimer’ s Drug Discovery Foundation. She is involved with local chapter for Alzheimer’ s association to raise awareness. She also enjoys working to support women entrepreneurs’ efforts in starting and growing local companies.
What our judges said:“ Critical therapeutic technology... Significant outside investment from leading foundations... Provides research and advancement for a growing segment of people with progressive diseases... Identified the need, found partners, moved to make these partnerships work better. Very strategic.”
Quote:“ At M3, we are determined to provide life changing therapeutics that will help millions of Alzheimer’ s patients.”
— Leen Kawas, founder and CEO, M3 Biotechnology Website: www. m3bio. com other finalists for entrepreneur of the year
Aslan Brewing, Bellingham
Green goes far beyond sustainable raw inputs and outputs for this organic Bellingham brewer. It means commitment to its community and workers. Aslan donated 8 percent of its profits to charity last year, bought green renewable energy credits to offset its power use, provides free indoor bike parking for employees— and produced 5,000 barrels of award-winning beer.
C2S Technologies, Bellevue
Jagan Chitiprolu has come from a remote village in India to become the CEO of a global technology company growing at 20 percent a year and generating $ 20 million in annual revenue. He is devoted to Washington: his global data analysis company’ s name was born as“ Coming to Seattle” and evolved to“ Committed 2 Success.”
Heritage Distilling Company, Gig Harbor
This family-owned and operated craft distillery opened in 2012 and is now the third-largest craft distillery in Washington. Co-founder Justin Stiefel, an attorney, helped change state law to support the fast-growing craft distilling industry. Heritage calls itself a“ brainstorming factory” that quickly brings innovative products to market, like its 2015 Spirits Advent Calendar— 24 mini bottles of vodka, gin and whiskey.
Schilling Cider, Auburn
In 2012, Colin Schilling and Mark Kornei founded a company dedicated to innovative, flavor-forward hard ciders made from the best local ingredients and sold at a fair price. They support the craft cider industry, with classes for the public, active involvement in cider-related legislation, and the Schilling Cider House that serves other companies’ high-quality craft ciders for the public to enjoy.
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