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
Aetherflux, Founded by Robinhood's Baiju Bhatt, Expands to Seattle for Solar-Powered Orbital Data Center Satellite Development
Aetherflux, a space startup founded in 2024 by Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt, is expanding to Seattle to develop solar-powered orbital data center satellites aimed at supporting AI energy needs, with a commercial launch planned for 2027. The company joins a growing aerospace community in Seattle, focusing on leveraging space-based infrastructure to overcome limitations of ground-based AI computing resources.
Anthropic Acquires Seattle AI Startup Vercept to Boost Claude’s Desktop Automation Capabilities
Anthropic has acquired Seattle AI startup Vercept, integrating its desktop 'computer use' technology and team to enhance Claude's ability to perform multi-step tasks within live applications. As part of the deal, Vercept will shut down its Vy application and encourage users to switch to Claude.
Union.ai Raises $38.1M Series A Led by NEA to Advance AI Workflow Platform Flyte 2
Seattle-area startup Union.ai raised $38.1 million in a Series A round led by NEA to develop its AI development infrastructure platform, including Flyte 2 for orchestrating machine learning workflows. The company, serving clients like Spotify and Carfax, aims to help engineering teams build dynamic and durable AI workflows faster and more reliably.
Temporal Raises $300M Series D Led by Andreessen Horowitz, Valued at $5B Amid AI Infrastructure Surge
Temporal, led by CEO Samar Abbas, raised $300 million in a Series D round at a $5 billion valuation, driven by surging demand for its durable execution infrastructure supporting AI agents. The company’s revenue grew over 380% year-over-year as it positions itself as a core infrastructure provider for the emerging AI agent platform shift.
Matt Oppenheimer Steps Down as CEO of $7B Remitly After 15 Years, Moves to Chairman Role
Matt Oppenheimer led Remitly for nearly 15 years, growing it from a three-person startup to a $7 billion public fintech company with over 9 million users, before transitioning to chairman. Remitly reported $442.2 million revenue in Q4 with its first profitable year in 2025 under new CEO Sebastian Gunningham.
Remitly co-founder Matt Oppenheimer becomes executive chairman as ex-Amazon exec Sebastian Gunningham named CEO
Remitly co-founder Matt Oppenheimer is stepping down as CEO and becoming executive chairman while former Amazon executive Sebastian Gunningham will succeed him as CEO; Oppenly (sic) remains a major shareholder and will focus on long-term strategy.
Sana Biotechnology Appoints Brian Piper as CFO; Aptevo CEO Marvin White to Step Down in April; Violett Names Scott Kushino CEO
Brian Piper was appointed CFO and executive vice president at Sana Biotechnology, while Marvin White will step down as Aptevo CEO in April, succeeded by COO Jeff Lamothe. Additionally, Scott Kushino became CEO of Seattle startup Violett, and several other leadership changes occurred across Seattle and New York tech companies.
London’s Foundry Acquires Seattle AI Management Startup Griptape to Boost Creative Production Tools
Seattle startup Griptape, founded by former AWS executives and specializing in AI model management platforms, was acquired by London-based creative software company Foundry to enhance its AI-powered production tools. Griptape had raised $12.5 million in funding and had 13 employees at the time of acquisition.
Tech Veteran Joe Nguyen Named Seattle Metropolitan Chamber CEO to Drive Regional Economic Growth and Address Business-Political Divides
Joe Nguyen, former Washington State director of commerce and tech veteran, has become president and CEO of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce to focus on driving the economic engine of the Puget Sound region. He aims to bridge divides between business and politics and secure economic opportunities for future generations amid evolving challenges like AI.
Temporal Raises $300M at $5B Valuation to Support Reliable AI Agent Workflows in Production
Temporal raised $300 million in a Series D round led by Andreessen Horowitz, doubling its valuation to $5 billion by supporting reliable execution for AI systems. The Bellevue-based company's software powers long-running workflows for clients like OpenAI, with revenue and usage surging significantly as AI agent deployments grow.
Seattle Startup Certivo Raises $4M Seed Round Led by Suffolk Technologies to Automate Supply Chain Compliance with AI
Seattle startup Certivo raised $4 million in seed funding led by Suffolk Technologies to expand its AI-powered platform automating supply chain compliance. Founded in 2024 and led by CEO Kunal Chopra, Certivo aims to replace manual compliance with its AI-native system called CORA, targeting manufacturers facing evolving regulatory requirements.
Seattle Faces Risk of Decline Like Cleveland Due to Civic Complacency and Strained Tech-Government Relations Amid AI Competition
The article warns that Seattle could follow Cleveland’s decline if it fails to address civic complacency, strained government-tech relations, and lack of focus on future industries, especially in the evolving AI landscape. Cleveland, once a powerhouse city, experienced rapid economic and population decline due to similar issues, serving as a cautionary example.
Clearly AI, Seattle Security Startup Led by Married Founders, Raises $8.4M Seed Round
Seattle cybersecurity startup Clearly AI, founded by married couple Emily and Joe Choi-Greene, raised $8.4 million in seed funding to help companies assess security and privacy risks before product launches. The company, backed by top investors and finalists in the RSAC 2026 Innovation Sandbox Contest, already serves 17 enterprise clients including Rivian and Okta.
Amazon Announces $200 Billion AI Infrastructure Investment Amid Microsoft Market Value Drop and AI Industry Insights from Oren Etzioni
Amazon plans $200 billion in capital expenses this year mainly to expand AI infrastructure, while Microsoft experiences a significant market value drop due to OpenAI reliance. AI expert Oren Etzioni discusses AI agents, deepfakes, and AI industry dynamics in a GeekWire Podcast interview.
OpenAI Expands Bellevue Office to 296,000 Sq Ft, Strengthening Seattle-Area Presence Near Microsoft and Amazon
OpenAI has signed a large lease to expand its Bellevue office to nearly 300,000 square feet, allowing space for over 1,000 employees as it strengthens ties with Microsoft and Amazon in the Seattle region. The expansion follows recent investments and partnerships, including a $38 billion cloud deal with Amazon and a $1 billion acquisition of Seattle startup Statsig.
Startup Founders Nour Gajial and Avi Agola Relocate from Seattle to San Francisco to Boost AI Ventures
Several early-stage startup founders, including Nour Gajial of MathGPT and Avi Agola of Talunt, are relocating from Seattle to San Francisco to leverage its dense AI startup ecosystem, investor networks, and customer base amid the AI boom. Despite Seattle’s strengths as a global AI hub, entrepreneurs see San Francisco as essential for scaling and maximizing success.
Seattle Startup Littlebird Launches Screen-Free Wearable Kid Tracker with Amazon and Walmart Partnerships
Littlebird, a Seattle startup led by founder Monica Plath, has launched a screen-free wearable kid tracker designed as a real-time alternative to smartphones and AirTags. The device, which operates on a multi-layered mesh network, shipped nearly 1,000 units with $200,000 in sales on its first release day and has attracted partnerships with Amazon and Walmart.
Amazon Leo VP Steve Rabuchin Retires; Madrona Partner Jon Turow Joins Anthropic; Meta's Hrvoje Benko Exits Amid Layoffs
Steve Rabuchin retired after over 20 years at Amazon, including leading Project Kuiper, while Jon Turow left Madrona to join Anthropic's technical team. Additionally, Hrvoje Benko departed Meta Reality Labs amid layoffs affecting 331 employees in Washington state.
Seattle Startup Leaders Oppose Washington's SB 6229, HB 2292 Expanding Capital Gains Tax on Small Business Stock
Seattle startup leaders, including Clearly AI CEO Emily Choi-Greene, oppose Washington State's proposed bills SB 6229 and HB 2292 that would expand the capital gains tax to include profits from qualified small business stock, threatening the viability of startups by taxing founders, early employees, and investors on significant gains. Critics warn this could drive founders and investors to build companies outside Washington, undermining the local tech ecosystem.
Seattle Startup Radar Features Four Early-Stage Tech Companies Including Axel AI and DrunR
Seattle's Startup Radar highlights four early-stage tech companies: Axel AI, which offers AI-powered retail media sales solutions; DrunR, a nutrition app focusing on personalized dining guidance; Eluum, and profileAPI, each innovating in distinct tech sectors.
Blue Origin Reveals 5,408-Satellite TeraWave Network Offering Up to 6 Tbps Speeds, Launching from 2027
Blue Origin announced TeraWave, a satellite network with up to 6 Tbps symmetrical speeds over 5,408 laser-linked satellites planned to launch starting in late 2027. The network targets high-throughput data center and enterprise customers, posing competition to SpaceX Starlink and Amazon Leo services.
Code.org Lays Off 18 Employees, Cuts Staff to 107 to Ensure Long-Term Sustainability
Seattle-based Code.org laid off 18 employees, reducing its staff to 107, to ensure long-term sustainability. The nonprofit, founded by Hadi and Ali Partovi, continues its mission to expand computer science education globally despite these cuts.
Seattle’s UW research, Amazon alumni and military adjacency fuel startups building high-stakes, regulation-ready AI for biotech, finance and government
A Seattle high-school intern argues that strict school AI rules illuminated why AI must be disciplined in high-stakes domains, and describes how Seattle's research institutions (notably UW and the David Baker ecosystem), Amazon alumni, and military adjacency produce founders building accountable, regulation-ready AI for biotech, finance, and government.
Anthony Bontrager: 2023 "Great Reset" became a rapid VC reinvention as AI upended valuations, governance, and scaling
Anthony Bontrager reflects on his January 2023 "Great Reset" forecast, saying venture capital not only corrected but transformed as AI accelerated a faster, larger shift than he expected. He highlights valuation bifurcation favoring AI narratives, intensified AI-focused due diligence and governance, a return to profitability, and predicts continued upheaval into 2026 after a 2023 purge and subsequent AI-driven divergence.
Ex-Amazon CEO Dave Clark Builds Custom CRM Using AI Vibe Coding Tools in 72 Hours for Startup Auger
Former Amazon CEO Dave Clark rapidly developed a custom CRM and customer prototype over a weekend using AI-powered vibe coding tools, highlighting their productivity benefits despite some skepticism. He chose a custom build over existing open source options to better meet his startup Auger's specific needs and scalability concerns.
People
See all 13-
Jamie Siminoff Executive, Vice President
-
Steve Rabuchin Executive, Vice President of Project Kuiper (Amazon Leo)
-
Ben Wild Co-founder of Hubble Network, Former Amazon Product Lead
