Avalara
Facts
- HQ
- Germany
- Sectors
- Tax software, SaaS, Fintech
- Stage
- Public
ABC Fitness Acquires Seattle Gym AI Startup Replify, Co-Founded by Zillow Alum Spencer Rascoff
Seattle gym-AI startup Replify, co-founded in 2023 by Spencer Rascoff and Zillow veterans, was acquired by Sherwood, Arkansas–based ABC Fitness; financial terms were not disclosed.
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.
Seattle AI Startup Vouched Raises $17M Series A to Enhance Identity Verification with Mobile Licenses and AI Agent Security
Seattle-based ID verification startup Vouched raised $17 million in a Series A funding round led by Spring Rock Ventures, advancing AI tools for identity verification including mobile driver’s licenses and AI agent reputation. CEO Peter Horadan emphasized transformative changes in identity verification prompted by emerging technologies and security needs.
Seattle Legal Tech Startup Supio Raises $60M Series B to Expand AI Software for Personal Injury and Mass Tort Law
Seattle startup Supio raised $60 million in a Series B funding round to expand its AI-powered software that helps lawyers efficiently manage personal injury and mass tort case data. The company, led by co-founders Jerry Zhou and Kyle Lam, has seen its annual recurring revenue quadruple since August and has raised a total of $91 million to date.
Seattle AI Startup heyLibby, Co-Founded by Spencer Rascoff, Raises $4.5M to Automate Customer Service for Gyms and Salons
Seattle-based AI startup heyLibby, now renamed Replify, raised $4.5 million in seed funding to help health and wellness businesses like gyms and tanning salons automate customer communications. Founded by Tony Small, Anna Rodriguez, and Spencer Rascoff, the company currently serves U.S. clients with plans for international expansion.
Ada Developers Academy Appoints Tina-Marie Gulley as CEO, Shifts to Virtual AI-Focused Programs Amid Tech Hiring Slowdown
Ada Developers Academy, a tuition-free tech boot camp for underrepresented groups, faced challenges due to the pandemic and tech hiring slowdowns, leading to staff reductions and paused admissions. Under new CEO Tina-Marie Gulley, the nonprofit shifted to virtual instruction, emphasized AI, and continued expanding its programming to serve more diverse students nationwide.
Supio, Founded by Ex-Microsoft Engineers, Raises $25M Series A for AI Legal Tech Platform Optimizing Data Analysis in Plaintiff Cases
Seattle-based legal tech startup Supio, founded by ex-Microsoft engineers Kyle Lam and Jerry Zhou, raised $25 million in Series A funding to enhance its AI-powered platform that helps lawyers efficiently analyze case data, particularly in personal injury and mass tort plaintiff law. The company, with 27 employees and plans to double its workforce, charges subscription fees based on case volume and boasts successful use in complex cases such as a TorHoerman Law victory against Abbott Labs.
Seattle Tech Vet Peter Horadan Named CEO of Vouched to Lead AI-Driven Identity Verification Amid Rising Deepfake Concerns
Peter Horadan, an experienced Seattle tech executive formerly with Avalara and Lockstep, has become CEO of identity verification startup Vouched. He aims to leverage AI to address rising challenges in online identity verification amidst deepfakes, while co-founder John Baird transitions to chief strategy officer.
Seattle Startup Mason Names Webb Stevens as CEO and John Thimsen as CTO, Nancy Xiao Shifts to President
Seattle startup Mason appointed Webb Stevens, former Docker COO, as CEO and John Thimsen, former Qualtrics CTO, as CTO, while Mason's previous CEO Nancy Xiao became president. Additional regional leadership changes include new hires at Beyond, Continuous Composites, and a new venture fund role in Seattle.
Who will be the Next Tech Titan? Previewing the GeekWire Awards
This week on the show, we get a sneak preview of the GeekWire Awards, coming up at the Showbox SoDo in Seattle on Thursday, May 9. We look back at the past winners of the Next Tech Titan title in the awards, and consider the event's track record in predicting major companies to emerge from Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. We also contemplate the evolution of the "Workplace of the Year" category through the rise of remote and hybrid work. And finally, we consider the impact of migration on another part of state: Spokane, Wash., and the Inland Northwest. See…
Seattle Tech Leaders Dave Cotter, Johanna Faries, and Marie Donoghue Take New Roles at D3 Advisors, Blizzard, and DraftKings
Dave Cotter, former Leafly chief product officer and ex-Amazon executive, launched advisory firm D3 Advisors to consult startups and VCs. Other Seattle tech moves include Johanna Faries becoming Blizzard Entertainment president and Marie Donoghue joining DraftKings as chief business officer.
Seattle Marketing Tech Firm Banzai Goes Public via SPAC Merger with 7GC Holdings, Shares Drop Over 40% on Nasdaq Debut
Seattle marketing tech company Banzai went public by merging with a SPAC led by 7GC Holdings and rang the Nasdaq opening bell. The company reported $22.1 million in annual recurring revenue for the year ending September 2022 but faced a net loss of $8.5 million, with shares dropping over 40% on their first trading day.
Fabric Names Former Salesforce Exec Mike Micucci as CEO Amid $140M Funding and $1.5B Valuation
Seattle e-commerce startup Fabric named Mike Micucci, former Salesforce Commerce Cloud CEO and Automation Anywhere COO, as its new CEO. The company recently raised $140 million in Series C funding at a $1.5 billion valuation and aims to innovate online commerce technology.
Outbound AI Raises $16 Million to Expand GPT-Powered Healthcare Billing Automation Amid Rising Patient Demand
Outbound AI, a Seattle-based startup specializing in AI tools for healthcare billing automation, raised $16 million to advance its GPT-powered solutions that streamline insurance claims processes. The company aims to reduce administrative burdens on healthcare workers amid rising patient volumes by offering faster, cost-effective, and HIPAA-compliant AI services.
Seattle’s Banzai to Go Public via SPAC with 7GC Holdings and Acquire Hyros for $110 Million
Seattle marketing software startup Banzai announced it will go public via a SPAC merger with 7GC Holdings and pay $110 million to acquire marketing optimization company Hyros after the deal closes. Founded in 2016, Banzai has pivoted to provide an end-to-end video engagement marketing platform and now employs 94 people.
Seattle Startup Outbound AI Launches PayerVA Console to Automate Medical Insurance Claims Processing
Outbound AI, a Seattle startup spun out of Madrona Venture Labs with $7 million in seed funding, launched PayerVA Console, a software product that automates and expedites medical insurance claims processing by reducing time spent on payer communications. The tool transcribes calls, extracts key information, and assists human workers to alleviate burdensome tasks in the healthcare payment system.
Seattle Accounting Software Startup Lockstep Acquired by British Enterprise Software Giant The Sage Group
Seattle-based startup Lockstep, which automates B2B accounting processes and has over 300 customers, will be acquired by British enterprise software company The Sage Group. The 130 Lockstep employees will join Sage while retaining the Lockstep brand, though financial terms were not disclosed.
Seattle Startup Lockstep, Backed by American Express, Launches Free Shared Accounting Inbox Amid Rapid Growth
Seattle startup Lockstep, backed by American Express and led by CEO Peter Horadan, is growing rapidly with 20,000 customers and a rising demand for its accounting automation software. The company just launched Lockstep Inbox, a free shared accounting inbox, aiming to become the 'LinkedIn of accounting' by automating manual financial workflows.
Fintech Startup Formations Raises $8M to Simplify Taxes for Freelancers with Focus on Realtors
Bellevue-based fintech startup Formations raised $8 million to simplify tax and paperwork processes for self-employed individuals, initially targeting realtors. The company has served about 700 customers with average savings of $8,000 each and recently partnered with Gusto to expand its services.
BearTax raises $3.2M seed round led by Seattle VC Ascend; Tela Andrews leads company after acquisition
Seattle-based BearTax, which helps cryptocurrency investors prepare taxes, raised a $3.2 million seed round led by Ascend and is led by Tela Andrews after he acquired the business and brought on former Avalara colleagues.
GeekWire revises GeekWire 200: firms >15 years old and majority PE-owned ineligible, rankings shift to quarterly in 2022
GeekWire is changing the criteria for its GeekWire 200 startup rankings: beginning in 2022, majority private-equity-owned companies and companies 15 years or older will be ineligible, and the index will move from monthly to quarterly updates, which will reshape the top ranks including removing Blue Origin.
Rajeev Singh
Rajeev Singh is CEO of Accolade, the Seattle-based company providing millions of people and their families with an exceptional healthcare experience that is personal, data driven and value-based, so that they can live their healthiest lives. Last month was Rajeev’s sixth anniversary at Accolade – congratulations! Prior to joining Accolade, he co-founded Concur, the global leader in travel and expense management, in 1993. Concur went public (Nasdaq: CNQR) in 1998, and grew to more than $800mm in revenue, over 4,000 employees, and more than 25,000 customers before being acquired by SAP AG for $8.3 billion in 2014. Rajeev’s desire to…
Aseem Datar leaves Microsoft to join Madrona Venture Group as partner; Madrona promotes Chris Picardo and hires Birkan Uzun; Jaime Teevan promoted to Microsoft CVP
Microsoft Azure GM and COO Aseem Datar is leaving Microsoft to join Madrona Venture Group as a partner later this month, while Madrona also promoted Chris Picardo to partner and hired Birkan Uzun as an investor; separately, Microsoft promoted Chief Scientist Jaime Teevan to corporate vice president. The article notes Datar’s 17+ years at Microsoft and prior roles, Picardo’s and Uzun’s backgrounds, and Teevan’s reaction to her promotion.
Amex Ventures invests in Seattle "connected accounting" startup Lockstep; total funding now $17M
Amex Ventures made an undisclosed investment in Seattle accounting startup Lockstep, which builds cloud-based "connected accounting" tools; Lockstep has 70 employees, raised $10M Series A in February, and has $17M total funding to date.
Banzai raises $15M in venture debt led by Columbia Pacific Advisors; total funding $21.2M
Seattle event-marketing startup Banzai raised $15 million in venture debt led by Columbia Pacific Advisors with participation from Gaingels, bringing its total funding to $21.2 million. The 2016-founded company, which pivoted to virtual events during the pandemic and recently acquired High Attendance and Demio, serves over 3,000 customers and has about 100 employees.
