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GeekWire Week in Review (April 5, 2026): Microsoft and Amazon moves, Washington non‑compete ban, Anduril warships, Bryson DeChambeau backs Sportsbox AI
A roundup of GeekWire’s most-read technology and startup stories for the week of April 5, 2026, covering major moves at Microsoft and Amazon, Washington state’s new non‑compete ban, Anduril’s autonomous warship work, NASA Artemis images, and notable local business and investment news.
Microsoft AI Leader Eric Boyd Joins Anthropic; Tagboard CEO Nathan Peterson Steps Down with Marty Roberts Taking Over
Eric Boyd, a longtime Microsoft AI leader, has joined Anthropic to lead its infrastructure team after nearly 17 years at Microsoft. Meanwhile, Nathan Peterson is stepping down as CEO of Tagboard, with Marty Roberts, the former COO, set to succeed him.
Former Tableau Chief Product Officer Francois Ajenstat Launches Golden Analytics with $7M Seed to Create AI-Native BI Platform
Francois Ajenstat, former Tableau chief product officer, has launched Golden Analytics with $7 million in seed funding to build an AI-native business intelligence platform that emphasizes automated insights and user control. The Seattle-based startup aims to advance BI by integrating AI at its core rather than as an add-on.
AI Startup Oumi, Founded by Microsoft and Google Veterans, Launches Platform for Custom AI Models
Seattle-based AI startup Oumi, founded by veterans from Microsoft and Google, launched a commercial platform focused on building custom AI models. The company aims to outperform general-purpose AI from providers like OpenAI and Anthropic by specializing in smaller, tailored models.
Anthropic Acquires Seattle AI Startup Vercept Amid Investor Feud as Research Warns of AI Job Crisis by 2028
Anthropic acquired Seattle startup Vercept, raising questions about AI startup competition and ecosystem impact, while a research paper warns of AI-driven white-collar job losses by 2028. Additionally, revelations include Microsoft's past Epstein connections and a retrospective on the original Xbox unveiling.
Anthropic acquires Vercept, the AI job crisis scenario, and Microsoft's past Epstein connections
Anthropic acquired Seattle startup Vercept on Wednesday, raising familiar questions about the impact of early exits on the broader Seattle startup ecosystem, and the question of whether AI startups can compete long-term against the giants of the field. We dig into the deal, the public feud between two of the company's early investors on LinkedIn, and why one co-founder's prior departure to Meta may have been worth more than the entire acquisition. Plus, a new research paper envisions a 2028 "global intelligence crisis" driven by AI-fueled white collar job losses, and we're already seeing early signs in the news. Then…
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.
Former GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke Raises $60M Seed for Entire, a $300M-Valued AI Developer Platform
Thomas Dohmke, former GitHub CEO, launched Entire, a developer platform aimed at AI coding agents, backed by a historic $60 million seed round valuing the company at $300 million. Entire’s first open-source tool, Checkpoints, helps teams audit AI-generated code, supporting AI agents like Anthropic's Claude Code and Google's Gemini CLI.
Amazon's big bet, a 'MySpace for bots', and a conversation with AI veteran Oren Etzioni
Upcoming GeekWire Podcast Live Event: Join us from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb 12 at Fremont Brewing for a live recording of the GeekWire Podcast with Todd Bishop and John Cook. Free for Fremont Chamber members, $15 otherwise. Register here. This week on the show: Andy Jassy tells Wall Street that Amazon is planning $200 billion in capital expenses this year, mostly to build out AI infrastructure, and investors give it a thumbs down. Microsoft's financial results beat expectations but the company loses $357 billion in market value in a single day after investors learn the extent of…
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.
Ascend survey: 89% of ~70 early-stage VC-backed startups use AI, many reporting 25–60% smaller teams than in 2021
An Ascend survey of ~70 mostly early-stage, West Coast VC-backed startups finds 89% use AI—often multiple models—to reduce headcount needs and hiring plans, with many founders reporting 25–60% fewer employees required versus 2021 and engineering, marketing, and customer support most affected.
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.
Former Madrona VC Investor Joins Anthropic, Retains Venture Partner Role at Madrona
After four years as a venture capital investor at Madrona, the author is transitioning to a new role at Anthropic while maintaining a Venture Partner relationship with Madrona.
Former Madrona VC Investor Joins Anthropic, Maintains Role as Madrona Venture Partner
After four years as a venture capital investor at Madrona, the author is transitioning to a new role at Anthropic while maintaining a Venture Partner position at Madrona.
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.
Fuse Leads $10 Million Seed Round in Avante as VC Investment Surges Amid AI Boom, Say Panelists
At a Seattle AI Week panel, Fuse's Kellan Carter and Avante CEO Rohan D’Souza shared that early-stage startups should focus on solving specific problems, building strong conviction, and prioritizing distribution amid the AI boom. Fuse led Avante’s $10 million seed round in late 2023, highlighting the importance of trust and relationships between founders and investors during the current venture capital landscape where AI drives significant funding.
Amazon Lays Off 14,000 Amid Seattle AI Boom; GeekWire Podcast Debates Tech Bubble and Cascadia Rail Plan
Amazon announced layoffs of 14,000 employees amid an AI boom reshaping Seattle's tech scene, raising questions about whether the AI surge is a true revolution or a bubble. The GeekWire Podcast also discussed the vision and challenges of the proposed Cascadia high-speed rail connecting Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver, B.C.
Seattle’s tech paradox: Amazon's layoffs and the AI boom — or is it a bubble?
Why is Amazon laying off 14,000 people during a massive AI boom? Todd and John analyze the Seattle tech paradox, digging into Andy Jassy's 'startup' reasoning and debating whether the AI frenzy is a bubble. Then, they take on the Cascadia high-speed rail: a necessary connector or a misguided project? Related headlines from the week Amazon layoffs Amazon confirms 14,000 job cuts, says push for ‘efficiency gains’ will continue into 2026 A tale of two Seattles in the age of AI: Harsh realities and new hope for the tech community Filing: Amazon cuts more than 2,300 jobs in Washington state…
Seattle Startup Pulumi Launches AI Agent Neo to Automate Cloud Infrastructure with a Third of Workforce
Seattle startup Pulumi launched Neo, an AI agent automating cloud infrastructure tasks such as provisioning, security, and compliance, developed by a third of its 130-person workforce. Neo uses large language models, primarily Claude, integrates with various AI developer tools, and aims to address bottlenecks faced by platform teams amid increasing developer demands.
Seattle’s ACME Brains Launches 'nexie' AI Assistant with Persistent Memory and Enhanced Privacy Controls
Seattle startup ACME Brains, led by CEO Mary Jesse and co-founders Alan Caplan and Bob Bergstrom, is developing nexie, a personal AI assistant with persistent memory and privacy controls. The tool aims to improve AI conversation continuity by remembering past interactions and safeguarding user data, currently progressing toward alpha and beta testing phases.
Yoodli Raises $13.7M to Expand AI Roleplay Software Helping Enterprises Enhance Employee Communication Skills
Yoodli, founded by CEO Varun Puri, has raised $13.7 million to grow its AI roleplay software that helps employees improve communication skills through interactive speech analysis and feedback. The startup, spun out of AI2 in 2021, is shifting focus to enterprise clients and has increased revenue fivefold in eight months.
AI teammates, a fully remote unicorn, and the new world of work
On this week’s GeekWire Podcast: Microsoft sees a future where humans manage fleets of AI agents — promising to fundamentally change the way companies are run and work gets done. Plus, we dive into the story of Chainguard, the $3.5 billion cybersecurity startup proving that a fully remote company can scale fast without a physical office. And we explore how AI is reshaping everyday life, from travel planning to home repairs. Related stories Meet your new AI teammate: Microsoft sees humans as ‘agent bosses,’ upending the workplace: Microsoft’s 2025 Work Trend Index envisions a future where employees manage AI agents…
Ascend founding partner Kirby Winfield says Seattle is the U.S. ’s No.2 AI hub as startups, talent and investors converge
Seattle has quietly become a major AI hub—home to numerous startups, deep talent pools, cloud providers, and research centers—driving investor interest and practical applications across sectors while facing questions about sustainability and competition.
Madrona Raises $770M for Two New Funds to Back Early and Late-Stage Tech Startups Amid VC Slowdown
Madrona, the largest venture capital firm in the Pacific Northwest, raised $770 million for two new funds focusing on early-stage and more mature tech startups despite a challenging VC fundraising environment in 2024. The firm plans to invest in about 30 companies at early stages and 12 at later stages, maintaining its strong position amid a slowdown in the broader venture capital sector.
Anthony Bontrager: 2025 VC Reset Prioritizes Capital Efficiency, Unit Economics and Proprietary Data Amid Generative AI Boom
Anthony Bontrager argues that the 2025 venture capital reset—shaped by 2024’s pullback and the rise of generative AI—will prioritize capital efficiency, unit economics, and proprietary data over ‘growth at all costs,’ forcing founders and investors to focus on sustainable business models and lower-cost AI development.
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Kiana Ehsani Member of Technical Staff
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