Trilogy Equity Partners and Ignition Partners have led an $8.75 million investment in FiREapps, a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based startup that makes software to help corporations manage foreign currency exposure. The Bellevue venture capital firms also are co-investors in TTM, InstallFree and Sparkplug. As a result of the deal, Trilogy's Charles Stonecipher will join the company's board.

Pacific Business News reports on the financial troubles at Seattle-based Imperium Renewables, noting that the company may not be able to deliver five million to 12 million gallons of biodiesel for Hawaiian Electric Co.'s $164 million power plant. The utility also is looking for new biofuel suppliers, in part because Imperium -- which originally planned to build a plant nearby on Oahu -- now plans to ship the fuel from its Grays Harbor, Washington facility.

Gerry Langeler of OVP Venture Partners and Andy Dale of Buerk Dale Victor discuss their interest in clean tech investing and opportunities they see in this piece on KUOW 94.9, with Langeler saying that their clean tech deals are the only ones where they are getting any interest in follow-on investments.

Joleen Winther Hughes, the former senior counsel at RealNetworks and founder of MediaTech Law Group, has started Hughes Media Law Group along with attorneys David Wescott (formerly of RealNetworks and Clearwire); Nicholas Mitchell (formerly of Microsoft and Corbis); and Aaron Maki (formerly of Law Seminiars International.) The new firm, which represents GetBack Media, Zango, Ooyala, Flying Spot Entertainment Group and other clients, focuses on issues at the cross section of entertainment, media and  technology.

Given the recent troubles at the Seattle P-I, Wired offers five suggestions on how Google could help save newspapers. Those include "bringing classifieds back from the dead"; "improve news search" and - quite simply -- "buy them."

Cell Therapeutics stock dropped 99 percent last year, but that didn't stop its top five executives from taking in $1 million in bonuses on December 31, according to The Seattle Times.

Yahoo Korea CEO Kim James Woo is moving to Microsoft's Korea operations next month, according to Web 2.0 Asia.