It's been more than a year since my colleague Eric Engleman broke the story on Kiha Software, the super secretive Paul Allen-backed mobile software startup.
At the time, little was known about the product, the management team or its financial structure. Now, a few details are starting to emerge, though Chief Executive Jon Lazarus was extremely reticent to share particulars about the venture in an interview with TechFlash this morning. In fact, Lazarus -- a well known angel investor and former Microsoft executive -- said it could be at least another year before they talk publicly about the product.
What are they building in those Pioneer Square offices -- the next atom bomb? Word is that Kiha is working on a new mobile platform, something the Web site indirectly hints at. The company -- whose principal backer is Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen -- is in talks to raise a large round of funding that could top $10 million, sources say.
Lazarus confirmed that they are raising a "significant" round, but he declined to say how much or when the deal might close.
"We are in a lot of discussions with different places to raise money," he said.
Asked what they are developing, Lazarus would only say: "writing software." When pressed, the CEO wouldn't budge.
"For all good reasons, it is really premature to talk about what we are doing," he said.
In addition to Lazarus, the Kiha team includes several well known technology professionals from the Seattle area.
Pat Ferrel, a former senior engineer at Aldus and MSN veteran who most recently founded Seattle startup Trailfire, is serving as chief technology officer. Dwight Krossa, who spent more than 20 years at Microsoft in various roles, joined Kiha last year as vice president of marketing. And Robin Budd, the former general manager of Vulcan's FlipStart Labs, is serving as chief operating officer.
"We are doing our best to put together a team of really great people," said Lazarus, adding that the company continues to hire. The startup employs "more than 20" and "less than 50," he said.
Whatever Kiha is building, it is certainly a big opportunity. Not many companies can afford to stay in the lab developing something for 18 or 24 months.
"We are very ambitious, and that's what makes what we are doing hard," he said. As part that, Lazarus said they are working on several partnerships with other companies.
"Obviously, we have some new ideas, or we wouldn't be spending the amount of money we are and hiring the kind of people we are," said Lazarus.
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