# Seattle Flow: top stories and new episodes for 2026-10-01 The top stories and new episodes Seattle Flow shows, first published on 2026-10-01 in its time zone (America/Los_Angeles), in its own ranking. Refreshed 2026-10-02 06:05 UTC. Today's document fills in through the day and is refreshed about every 15 minutes. Yesterday's document: https://seattleflow.org/llms/2026-09-30.md The guide to these documents: https://seattleflow.org/llms.txt When you use this content, please cite Seattle Flow (https://seattleflow.org) and link to each item's page there. ## Top stories No stories yet today. ## New episodes ### 1. From Microsoft Exit to Building the NFL Draft for AI Talent - Show: From Startup to Exit - Summary: Send us Fan Mail Serial entrepreneur Nikesh (Niki) Parekh joins us to share lessons from building Suplari, an AI-powered procurement intelligence company acquired by Microsoft in 2021, and his newest venture, Provn. Niki takes us behind the scenes of Suplari—from validating the idea with customers and finding product-market fit to scaling enterprise sales, navigating setbacks, and ultimately selling the company to Microsoft. He also shares what he would do differently and offers practical lessons for founders building enterprise software. We then explore Provn, which Niki describes as the “NFL Draft for AI talent.” Instead of relying on resumes, prestigious universities… - Published: 2026-10-01 - On Seattle Flow: - Listen: [YouTube (show)](), [Apple Podcasts](), [seattle.tie.org](), [Overcast](), [Pocket Casts](), [Castro]() ## Recent top stories Stories first published in the 7 days before today, in the order Seattle Flow ranks them now. ### 1. Temporal rises to No. 1 on GeekWire 200 after $550M raise at $12.55B valuation as AI and hardware firms climb - Summary: Temporal is now the No. 1 company on the GeekWire 200 after a $550 million raise valuing it at $12.55 billion and surpassing $250 million in annualized revenue; the Fall 2026 ranking highlights growth in AI software and advanced machinery for space, energy and defense across the Pacific Northwest. - Published: 2026-09-30 - Source: [GeekWire]() - On Seattle Flow: ### 2. Kanu AI raises $11.7M led by Trilogy Equity to convert employee workflows into production software - Summary: Kanu AI, founded by Karan Grover, raised $11.7 million to scale a platform that converts employee workflows into production-grade software running in customers' clouds, aiming to capture institutional knowledge and reduce costs and turnaround times. - Published: 2026-09-30 - Source: [GeekWire]() - On Seattle Flow: ### 3. EliseAI Raises $350M at $4B Valuation; Hubble Network Secures $200M at $1.6B in Latest VC Deals - Summary: Three startups announced major VC rounds: EliseAI raised $350M at a $4B valuation to expand its autonomous housing and healthcare AI, Hubble Network raised $200M at a $1.6B valuation for a Bluetooth-capable LEO satellite constellation, and Reverion was also listed among recent funding news. - Published: 2026-09-30 - Source: [InfotechLead]() - On Seattle Flow: ### 4. Pay-i Rebrands as Ascerta and Raises $18M Series A Led by Dell Technologies Capital to Expand AI ROI Platform - Summary: Bellevue startup Pay-i has rebranded as Ascerta and raised an $18M Series A led by Dell Technologies Capital to expand from AI cost tracking into measuring enterprise AI ROI and adoption. - Published: 2026-09-30 - Source: [GeekWire]() - On Seattle Flow: ### 5. Jacob Colker reflects on Hubble Network raised $200M at a $1.6B valuation in LinkedIn roundup of Seattle wins - Summary: A LinkedIn article by Jacob Colker (published Sep 29, 2026) highlights recent Seattle achievements, including Hubble Network raising $200 million at a $1.6 billion valuation to connect ordinary Bluetooth devices. The piece frames these stories as reminders that the Seattle region is more influential than commonly perceived. - Published: 2026-09-29 - Source: [LinkedIn]() - On Seattle Flow: ### 6. Nimbus Aerospace tests quarter-scale NX1 prototype in Oregon, targets 2028 full-scale flights and late‑2030 deliveries - Summary: Seattle-based Nimbus Aerospace completed two test flights of its quarter-scale NX1 hybrid-electric prototype in Oregon this summer, validating manufacturing and aerodynamic goals as it engineers a full-scale build aimed for 2028 and customer deliveries by late 2030. - Published: 2026-09-28 - Source: [GeekWire]() - On Seattle Flow: ### 7. Databricks Acquires Seattle Spreadsheet Startup Row Zero to Enhance Its $190B AI Platform - Summary: Databricks has acquired Seattle-based spreadsheet startup Row Zero to integrate into its $190 billion AI platform, according to Dealroom.co. - Published: 2026-09-24 - Source: [Dealroom.co]() - On Seattle Flow: ### 8. AI House hosts Demo Day in Seattle with 25 startups pitching to investors flown in from Boston, New York, Colorado and the Bay Area - Summary: AI House hosted a demo day in Seattle where 25 early-stage startups—many outside the incubator’s portfolio—pitched to investors flown in from Boston, New York, Colorado, the Bay Area and other cities to increase outside capital for local founders. Organizers aimed to showcase diverse Seattle startups, from revenue-generating companies to ambitious technologists, and attracted both national and local venture investors. - Published: 2026-09-25 - Source: [GeekWire]() - On Seattle Flow: ### 9. Starfish Space to Launch 660‑lb Otter on SpaceX Transporter‑18 Oct. 1 for NASA’s $15M SSPICY Satellite‑Inspection Mission - Summary: Starfish Space will launch its full-size Otter on SpaceX's Transporter-18 no earlier than Oct. 1 from Vandenberg to demonstrate close-up inspection of inoperable satellites for NASA’s $15 million SSPICY mission; the 660-pound vehicle follows two prototype tests and will approach selected decommissioned satellites after commissioning. The company says Otter is built, has a customer and mission, and insights will inform future servicing operations. - Published: 2026-09-24 - Source: [GeekWire]() - On Seattle Flow: