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
Swiftly raises $100M Series B to help grocers including Family Dollar and The Save Mart compete with Amazon
Seattle startup Swiftly raised $100 million in a Series B to provide grocers like Family Dollar and The Save Mart Companies with apps and software that speed in-store shopping, enable mobile checkout, schedule deliveries, and sell advertising across about 10,000 store locations.
Round, founded by ex-Microsoft leaders Ryan Fuller, Mani Gill and Brian Jansen, raises $12M seed to build vetted network for senior tech leaders
Round, a Seattle startup founded by former Microsoft leaders, raised a $12 million seed round to build a vetted network for senior tech leaders; other Pacific Northwest deals include PTO Exchange's $5.4 million raise and funding and licensing activity at PupPod.
Fabric raises $140M Series C led by SoftBank, becomes Seattle unicorn at ~$1.5B; CEO Faisal Masud highlights B2B ecommerce surge
Fabric, led by former Amazon executive Faisal Masud, raised $140 million in a Series C led by SoftBank and is now valued at about $1.5 billion, becoming Seattle’s newest unicorn. The company provides API-first e-commerce infrastructure aimed at accelerating direct-to-consumer and B2B online commerce, with Masud noting strong pandemic-driven acceleration especially in B2B.
Key trends in digital commerce, with the former Amazon exec leading Seattle’s newest unicorn
This week brought news of a big fundraising by e-commerce technology startup Fabric, a $140 million Series C round led by Softbank. With the deal, Fabric became the Seattle region’s newest unicorn startup, a privately held company valued at more than $1 billion, or about $1.5 billion in its case. Our guest on this week’s GeekWire Podcast is Fabric’s CEO, Faisal Masud a former executive with companies including Amazon, Alphabet, Groupon, Staples and eBay. We talked about the state of physical and online retail as we emerge from the pandemic, business to business commerce, the Amazon heritage on Fabric’s executive…
Seattle startups push into crypto, blockchain and Web3 amid investor caution and regulatory shifts
The article lists Seattle startups building products and services around crypto, blockchain, and Web3, noting the region’s talent but limited local investor interest and regulatory uncertainty. Industry leaders cite Seattle’s potential as a cloud-computing hub while warning entrepreneurs face funding disadvantages compared with other jurisdictions.
Fabric raises $140M Series C led by SoftBank at $1.5B valuation to scale e-commerce platform
Seattle e-commerce platform Fabric, led by former Amazon executives and CEO Faisal Masud, raised $140 million in a Series C led by SoftBank at a $1.5 billion valuation, bringing total funding to $293.5 million. The 300-person company provides APIs and software for mid-market retailers (clients include Chico’s, McDonald’s, TriMark, L’azurde and The Honest Company) to manage pricing, inventory, storefronts and checkout as commerce moves online.
Madrona investors say ETHDenver shows surging Web3 momentum, talent exodus from Web2, and new startup opportunities
Madrona Venture Group investors Maria Gilfoyle and Chris Picardo report strong momentum for Web3 after attending ETHDenver, noting growing consumer behavior shifts, new app categories, and a large talent migration from Web2 to Web3. They highlight the Pacific Northwest's relevance to Web3 and identify talent movement, future Ethereum work, and startup opportunities as key takeaways.
MontyCloud raises $3M from Raptor Group, Lytical Ventures and Madrona; total funding hits $6M
Seattle-based MontyCloud, a 22-person startup founded in 2018 that automates cloud operations and governance, raised $3 million from investors including Raptor Group, Lytical Ventures, and Madrona Venture Group, bringing total funding to $6 million.
Temporal raises $103M Series B at $1.5B valuation as 55-person startup reaches unicorn status
Temporal, a 55-person Seattle startup that provides an open-source microservices orchestration platform, raised $103 million at a $1.5 billion valuation, becoming a unicorn three years after launch with total funding over $120 million. The company—founded by former Uber engineers Maxim Fateev (CEO) and Samar Abbas (CTO)—says adoption is growing 25–50% month-over-month and counts customers like Snap, Netflix, Instacart, and Qualtrics.
Why Microsoft's return to the office may not be the norm
What does Microsoft's return to the office mean for everybody else? That was one of the questions raised by the tech giant's announcement Monday that it will fully reopen its Washington state offices, including its Redmond headquarters, starting on Feb. 28. The company says it will offer flexibility but expects most employees to be back in the office at least 50% of the time. Microsoft and other big tech companies were among the first in the country to ask employees to work from home at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic nearly two years ago. The rest of the industry…
Mystery raises $18.5M at $100M valuation after pivoting to B2B ‘morale as a service’ for companies including Amazon and Microsoft
Seattle-based Mystery pivoted from a consumer dating/event-planning service into a B2B ‘morale as a service’ provider during the pandemic and raised $18.5 million at a $100 million valuation to deliver virtual employee engagement experiences to companies like Amazon and Microsoft. The company uses software to handle logistics, encourages surprise events to boost attendance and bonding, and reports thousands of teams used its service in 2021.
Yardstick launches browser app for structured job interviews, founded and self-funded by ex-Zipwhip SVP Lucas Price
Seattle startup Yardstick, founded and self-funded by former Zipwhip SVP Lucas Price, launched a browser app today to guide hiring managers through structured interviews and improve consistent, competency-based hiring decisions.
Amazon Revamps Technical Talent Pay, Boosting Base Salaries to $350,000 and Accelerating Stock Upgrades Under CEO Andy Jassy
Amazon is overhauling its pay system for top technical talent under CEO Andy Jassy, increasing base salaries to around $350,000 and speeding up stock package upgrades to align better with other tech giants. This shift reflects a move away from Jeff Bezos's startup-era pay strategies, recognizing the significant impact new hires can have and addressing employees' financial stability amid market fluctuations.
Nonprofit TisBest Has Enabled $51M in Donations Through Customizable Biodegradable Charity Gift Cards
Nonprofit Seattle startup TisBest, which issues customizable biodegradable charity gift cards redeemable at the recipients chosen charities, has facilitated $51 million in donations since its founding despite early setbacks. The founders credit mission-driven persistence, celebrity endorsements, and partnerships (including $4 million in giveaway cards from Ray Dalio) for the companys growth and environmental and philanthropic impact.
Amazon defies gravity, Microsoft's biggest challenge, and one startup's quest to wipe out deforestation
This week on the GeekWire Podcast: Amazon's latest results demonstrated its extraordinary flexibility and ability to overcome challenges in the broader economy using the built-in safeguards in its business, most notably the Amazon Web Services cash machine. Amazon spent an extra $4 billion to keep its business running smoothly despite a clogged economy. Plus, Microsoft hires an Amazon veteran to take on "one of the greatest challenges of our time," and Seattle startup Cloud Paper raises $5 million in new funding for its environmentally friendly, tree-free toilet paper. With Todd Bishop and John Cook; Edited by Curt Milton; theme music…
Cloud Paper Raises $5M for Bamboo, Tree-Free Toilet Paper Backed by Bezos Expeditions, TIME Ventures and Celebrity Investors
Seattle startup Cloud Paper, which makes tree-free bamboo toilet paper and paper towels to reduce deforestation, raised $5 million from investors including Bezos Expeditions, TIME Ventures, Jeff Wilke, Ashton Kutcher and other high-profile backers.
UN PRI Report Calls for More ESG in Venture Capital as Unlock Venture Partners Launches $60M Fund for LA and Seattle Startups
Venture capital lags behind other asset classes in integrating ESG metrics, according to a new UN PRI report urging the industry to do more. Unlock Venture Partners announced a $60 million fund targeting startups in Los Angeles and Seattle, while a supply chain tech startup highlights growing market interest.
Unlock Venture Partners Raises $60 Million for Second Fund Focused on LA and Seattle Startups
Unlock Venture Partners, founded by Sanjay Reddy, Andy Liu, and Raazi Imam, has raised $60 million for its second fund targeting early-stage startups in Los Angeles and Seattle, bringing its total capital to $85 million. The fund focuses on pre-seed and seed-stage investments to support entrepreneurial talent in these cities, which lack sufficient early-stage venture capital despite their strong startup communities.
GeekWire surveys Seattle-area VCs to name Pacific Northwest startups they predict will become unicorns in 2022
GeekWire surveyed more than a dozen Seattle-area venture capitalists for their picks of Pacific Northwest startups likely to reach unicorn status this year, compiling a list of candidate companies with reasons for each selection. The piece notes rising valuations nationwide and excludes VCs' own portfolio companies to reduce bias.
Pebblebee names Sourcenext executive Doug Bieter CEO after $5M Sourcenext investment and partnership
Seattle-based tracking-device maker Pebblebee secured a $5 million investment and partnership from Japanese distributor Sourcenext and named Sourcenext partner-development head Doug Bieter as its new CEO to help scale the eight-year-old startup, while co-founder Daniel Daoura transitions to CTO.
Seattle tech — including Amazon, Microsoft and startups like Convoy — poised to profit as pandemic-driven supply chain chaos accelerates digital logistics transformation
Persistent COVID-19–related supply chain disruptions have created demand for digital tools, presenting an opportunity for Seattle-area tech firms and startups—alongside Amazon and Microsoft—to provide IoT, cloud, and machine-learning solutions for trucking and logistics. Industry leaders say the pandemic accelerated digital transformation in trucking and may push broader adoption of sensors, edge devices and analytics to reduce delays and visibility gaps.
Move Inc., operator of Realtor.com, leads $12M Series A in Seattle–Austin marketing startup Evocalize
Evocalize, a Seattle and Austin startup that helps brands with paid digital marketing, raised $12 million in a Series A led by Move Inc., operator of Realtor.com, which has been a customer for over five years. The company was founded in 2013 by CEO Matthew Marx and co-founder Kumar Srinivasan; additional investors include Second Century Ventures, Habanero Ventures and Madrona Venture Group.
Founders Co-op General Partner Aviel Ginzburg Discusses NFTs, Web3, Metaverse and Startup Investing on GeekWire Podcast
GeekWire Podcast interviews Aviel Ginzburg, general partner at Seattle seed fund Founders Co-op, about pandemic-era networking, NFTs, crypto, Web3, the Metaverse, and how his firm differentiates in a crowded funding market.
NFTs, Metaverse, Web3, and new realities of startup investing, with Founders Co-op’s Aviel Ginzburg
So much of what happens in the startup world comes from serendipitous moments, random interactions that lead to fresh insights and new collaborations. And so much of that has traditionally happened at events, meetups, coffee meetings, and other in-person gatherings. Two years into the pandemic and remote work, what are the implications? That's our first topic on this episode of the GeekWire Podcast, with entrepreneur, software engineer and investor Aviel Ginzburg, general partner at Seattle-based seed-stage venture fund Founders Co-op. The former Techstars Managing Director for Amazon's Alexa Accelerator, Ginzburg was co-founder of social analytics platform Simply Measured, acquired by…
GeekWire updates Seattle list as Highspot raises $248M at $3.5B; SeekOut and Icertis added to 16 local unicorns
GeekWire updated its list of Seattle-area 'unicorn' startups (privately held companies valued at $1B+) after additions and a valuation change for Icertis, noting recent entrants like SeekOut and Highspot, which raised $248 million at a $3.5 billion valuation. The article highlights that the Seattle cohort includes 16 unicorns, none led by a female or Black CEO, and that many CEOs have Microsoft backgrounds amid a global surge in unicorns and venture funding.
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
