Amazon
Facts
- HQ
- SEATTLE
- Sectors
- E-commerce, Cloud computing, Aerospace/Satellites, Media/Streaming, Advertising, Consumer devices
- Founded
- 1994
- Type
- Corporation Seattle business license
- Employees
- 1600000
- Registered name
- Amazon.Com Inc Seattle business license
- Stage
- Public
Six Former Amazon Execs Including Flexport CEO Dave Clark Depart $8 Billion Logistics Startup
Flexport saw the departure of six former Amazon executives, including CEO Dave Clark and president Teresa Carlson, highlighting recent executive turnover at the $8 billion-valued logistics company. Several of these leaders had long Amazon tenures before joining Flexport, which offers cloud-based freight forwarding and saw $3.3 billion in revenue in 2021.
Ada Developers Academy Cuts 45% Staff, Pauses Admissions, Names Shawna Young Interim CEO Amid Tech Industry Downturn
Seattle-based nonprofit Ada Developers Academy, which provides tuition-free tech training for underrepresented groups, has significantly reduced its workforce and paused admissions amid economic challenges. Shawna Young has been named interim CEO following Lauren Sato's resignation, as the organization refocuses on sustainability.
Madrona’s Matt McIlwain Highlights Seattle as a Leading AI Hub on Shift AI Podcast
Matt McIlwain of Madrona Venture Group discusses Seattle's emergence as a top AI hub, attributing its success to a strong ecosystem of ideas, talent, and experimentation. He shares insights on AI's future and Seattle's role in tech innovation on the Shift AI Podcast hosted by Boaz Ashkenazy.
Seattle-Based Workflow Labs Raises $1.3M Seed Round to Automate Amazon Seller Backend Tasks
Seattle startup Workflow Labs, led by former Amazon product manager Justin Leigh, raised $1.3 million to automate Amazon sellers' backend tasks. The platform, launched in October with about 50 customers, has grown revenue 300% year-over-year and plans to expand to additional e-commerce platforms.
Viome raises $86.5M Series C and partners with CVS to sell $179 at-home Full Body Intelligence gut test in 200 stores
Seattle-area health tech startup Viome Life Sciences raised an $86.5 million Series C and struck a deal to sell its $179 at-home Full Body Intelligence gut microbiome test in 200 CVS stores and online. Founded by Naveen Jain, Viome analyzes stool, saliva and blood samples and counts investors including Marc Benioff and Khosla Ventures, though some scientists question clinical utility of microbiome kits.
Autonomous Vehicle Startup Waabi Hires Seattle Tech Veteran Joseph Sunga as Group Product Manager
Autonomous vehicle startup Waabi has hired Seattle tech veteran Joseph Sunga as group product manager to help launch new products. The Toronto-based company is steadily growing its remote Seattle team with experienced engineers from Aurora, Amazon, and Uber acquisitions.
Seattle Venture Capital Investment Falls to $1.11 Billion in H1 2023, Yet Investors Stay Bullish on AI and Talent
Despite a significant decline in venture capital investments in Seattle, local investors remain optimistic about the region's future, driven by its strong talent pool and growth in generative AI. Seattle startups raised $1.11 billion in the first half of this year, down from $4.02 billion last year, reflecting a cautious shift toward profitability amid a market downturn similar to the dot-com bubble.
Former SoundCommerce VP Diena Lee Mann Launches AI Startup Spectio; Microsoft Federal President Rick Wagner Departs
Diena Lee Mann, former SoundCommerce senior VP, launched Spectio, an AI tool to help business analysts work with BI platforms like Tableau and Power BI. Microsoft Federal president Rick Wagner stepped down, and Jessica Boulanger joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as SVP of communications.
Seattle Digital Memorial Startup Lalo Shuts Down After Two Years Amid Funding and Monetization Challenges
Seattle startup Lalo, which helped families create digital memorials, is shutting down after two years due to inability to convert users to paying customers and raise sufficient venture capital despite growing interest. Founder Juan Medina reflected on the challenges, emphasizing the importance of testing ideas and the harsh reality of market fit in the 'death tech' space.
Seattle Venture Firm Essence VC Raises $27M to Fund Early-Stage Tech Infrastructure Startups
Seattle-based venture capital firm Essence VC, led by managing partner Timothy Chen, has raised $27 million for its third fund to invest in early-stage startups focused on software development tools, data infrastructure, and AI. The firm targets pre-product startups and has made seven investments since December, including in Jasper AI and MotherDuck.
Convoy Co-founder Grant Goodale Steps Down as Chief Experience Officer After Eight Years Amid Company Growth and Layoffs
Grant Goodale, co-founder of Seattle-based trucking startup Convoy, is stepping down as chief experience officer after eight years to spend more time with his family. Convoy, valued at $3.8 billion, aims to optimize trucking logistics but recently faced layoffs amid economic challenges.
Seattle's Picket Homes Raises $20M Series B Led by LL Funds to Expand Single-Family Rental Investment Platform
Seattle startup Picket Homes raised $20 million in a Series B funding round led by LL Funds to enhance its real estate investment and property management platform, which covers over 50 million US single-family properties. The platform assists investors with property analysis, transactions, and management services including digital leasing and maintenance.
Convoy CEO Dan Lewis Shares Leadership Insights as Startup Raises $260M at $3.8B Valuation Amid Layoffs
Convoy CEO Dan Lewis discussed his leadership philosophy emphasizing conviction and consistency at GeekWire’s Views and Brews event while highlighting the company's growth, funding, and recent layoffs amid economic challenges. Founded in 2015, Convoy automates trucking transactions and recently raised $260 million at a $3.8 billion valuation.
Statsig Releases Warehouse Native Platform and AI Experimentation Tools Under CEO Vijaye Raji
Statsig, founded by Vijaye Raji in 2021, has released Statsig Warehouse Native, enabling privacy-conscious companies to run A/B testing via their own data warehouses. The Seattle startup also launched generative AI experimentation tools and now serves hundreds of paying customers including Microsoft and Notion.
Seattle Tech Companies Cyemptive, Roku, Porch, and CalmWave Announce Key Executive and Board Appointments in 2024
Seattle-area tech companies made several executive and board changes, including Cyemptive appointing Ray McCay as chief revenue officer and Roku adding former Amazon exec Jeff Blackburn to its board. Other notable moves include Porch naming Alan Pickerill as lead independent director and CalmWave hiring Seth Falcon as VP of engineering.
GeerGarage Launches Outdoor Gear Rental Marketplace with Lend-to-Own Program, Plans Expansion Beyond Washington
GeerGarage, a Seattle startup founded by Microsoft product manager Adam Wise, is developing a peer-to-peer outdoor equipment rental marketplace with plans to expand beyond Western Washington and introduce a lend-to-own program. The company aims to make outdoor activities more affordable and accessible amid a growing $120 billion outdoor recreation market.
Ada Developers Academy Cuts 45% of Staff Amid Tech Hiring Slowdown, Slows Expansion Despite $10M Grant
Ada Developers Academy laid off 45% of its staff, about 34 employees, due to a tech industry hiring slowdown and fewer internship opportunities for students, impacting its mission to diversify tech. The Seattle-based nonprofit also plans to reduce student enrollment and halt expansion efforts initially funded by a $10 million grant from the Equality Can’t Wait challenge.
Seattle Startup Funding Plummets 79% in Q1 2023 Amid National 45% Venture Capital Decline
Venture capital funding for Seattle-based startups hit a six-year low in Q1 2023 due to broader economic uncertainty and rising interest rates, with a 79% drop in capital raised locally and a national 45% decline. Startups face fewer deals, lower valuations, and more down or flat rounds, signaling a shift in investor urgency and funding strategies.
GeekWire Week in Review (May 14, 2023): Top stories include ex-CFO indicted over $35M crypto transfer, Bezos’ $500M yacht, and Amazon legal/personnel news
GeekWire's Week in Review for May 14, 2023 lists the site's most-read stories, including a Seattle startup ex-CFO indicted over an alleged $35M crypto transfer, Jeff Bezos' $500M yacht, and Amazon-related legal and personnel news.
Union.AI Raises $19.1M Series A to Develop Union Cloud Platform, Powered by Flyte Workflow Tool
Union.AI, a Bellevue-based startup behind the open-source workflow tool Flyte, raised $19.1 million in Series A funding to develop Union Cloud, a platform aimed at improving machine learning efficiency and reducing compute costs.
Seattle Startup The Waves Launches Monthly Artisanal Wine Subscription with 300+ Small-Batch Wines
The Waves, a Seattle startup founded last year by ex-Amazon tech leader Gaurav Tiwari and former GQ editor Andy Comer, offers a monthly artisanal wine subscription featuring over 300 small-batch wines from a global network of farmers. The company aims to differentiate itself in the crowded $1 billion U.S. craft wine market through a product recommendation tool, editorial content, and direct engagement with small-batch winemakers.
Ascend’s Kirby Winfield closes $25M second fund to back pre-seed AI/ML startups in Pacific Northwest
Seattle-based VC Ascend, led by founder and solo GP Kirby Winfield, closed a $25 million second fund to invest in pre-seed AI and ML startups primarily in the Pacific Northwest, shifting focus away from brands and marketplaces.
Koru Founder Kristen Hamilton Joins Enjoy the Work as General Partner; Portland Seed Fund Adds Principal Devon Horace
Kristen Hamilton, founder of predictive hiring startup Koru, has joined San Francisco-based startup advisory firm Enjoy the Work as a general partner, focusing on Seattle and beyond. Additionally, Portland Seed Fund added Devon Horace as principal, expanding its leadership team with experienced regional executives.
Rad Power Bikes Executes Fourth Round of Layoffs Since April 2021 Amid Economic and Legal Challenges
Rad Power Bikes has laid off employees for the fourth time since April 2021, reducing its workforce amid economic challenges and legal issues. The Seattle-based e-bike company now has around 400 employees and is working to become more sustainable under new leadership.
Magnify Hires Apptentive Co-Founder Mike Saffitz as VP of Engineering; Amazon Names Eric Rimling Technical Advisor
Enterprise software startup Magnify appointed Mike Saffitz, co-founder of Apptentive, as its new VP of engineering following the departure of former CTO Jacob Sajo. Additionally, Eric Rimling was named technical advisor to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, replacing Sara Duffer, while Seattle-based Almas Insights added William Tincup as an advisor.
People
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Jamie Siminoff Executive, Vice President
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Steve Rabuchin Executive, Vice President of Project Kuiper (Amazon Leo)
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Ben Wild Co-founder of Hubble Network, Former Amazon Product Lead
