Compass
Facts
- HQ
- United States
- Sectors
- Real estate, Technology, Proptech
Highspot to Merge with Seismic in Major Sales Software Deal Led by Seismic CEO Rob Tarkoff
Seattle-based enterprise software companies Highspot and Seismic have signed a definitive agreement to merge, with the combined company operating under the Seismic name and led by Seismic CEO Rob Tarkoff. The merger unites two major revenue enablement platforms, with Highspot CEO Robert Wahbe joining the board and Permira remaining as controlling shareholder.
Seattle Startup Inspectify Acquires Real Estate Appraisal Firm Aloft, Expanding Services for 300+ Clients
Seattle startup Inspectify acquired real estate appraisal startup Aloft in an all-cash deal, expanding its offerings to include inspections, underwriting, and valuations for over 300 clients. Inspectify, which has raised $23 million and grown revenue 90% in 2024, will add 30 Aloft employees to reach 80 total staff.
Seattle appraisal startup Aloft raises $20M Series A led by Fifth Wall, bringing total funding to $25M
Seattle startup Aloft raised $20 million in a Series A led by Fifth Wall to expand its appraisal software that delivers quotes in two minutes and facilitates inspections; the company has annualized revenue in the millions, works with dozens of national and regional lenders, and has raised $25 million total. Founded less than a year ago by CEO Travis Soukup and co‑founder Yongxing Deng, Aloft operates in Seattle and Portland and plans further expansion.
Karat raises $110M Series C at $1.1B valuation to scale remote technical interviewing
Karat, a Seattle startup that runs technical interviews through a vetted network of interviewers, raised $110 million in a Series C at a $1.1 billion valuation while more than doubling revenue and customers year-over-year.
Opendoor acquires Seattle’s Pro.com and San Francisco’s Skylight, will shut both platforms
Opendoor acquired Seattle-based Pro.com and San Francisco-based Skylight, will discontinue both companies' consumer platforms and integrate their teams and technology into Opendoor’s roadmap; deal terms were not disclosed. The moves give Opendoor a Seattle presence and add home-improvement talent as the iBuyer expands amid increased digital homebuying adoption.
Washington Insurance Commissioner Orders Cease-and-Desist, $15,000 Minimum Fine for Modus Over Alleged Inducements
Seattle title-and-escrow startup Modus, recently acquired by Compass, received a cease-and-desist order from the Washington state insurance commissioner for allegedly offering inducements (free home warranties and other services) to real estate agents and clients; the company says it will appeal. On June 9 the commissioner also issued a minimum $15,000 fine, but Modus kept operating and its license will not be revoked.
Pioneer Square Labs spins out 25 startups in five years; six launched during pandemic surge
Seattle startup studio Pioneer Square Labs (PSL) spun out 25 startups in five years — six during a six-month pandemic stretch — by rapidly testing ideas, though it has yet to produce a breakout unicorn and faces criticism over founder dilution.
Seattle startup Plunk raises $2M+ to power AI-driven home valuation and renovation recommendations
Seattle startup Plunk, founded by Brian Lent and David Bluhm, has developed an app that uses image processing, AI and machine learning to evaluate home condition, estimate renovation-driven value increases (a "Plunk Value") and recommend specific projects; the company has 15 employees and has raised over $2 million to date, including an initial $1M reported in 2019.
Arrived Homes launches $100-share crowdfunding platform for rental-property investing, founded by ex-Simply Measured and Sprout Social executives
Arrived Homes, a Seattle startup founded by tech veterans Ryan Frazier, Kenny Cason and Alejandro Chouza with CFO Joel Mezistrano, launched a crowdfunding platform that lets people buy $100 shares in rental properties and earn passive income while the company handles acquisition, renovation and management. The team uses tech and big data to select properties and has posted its first homes for investment after over a year of development and regulatory work.
Accolade prices IPO at $22, raises $220M and debuts on Nasdaq at $1.2B valuation as shares jump 40%
Health benefits platform Accolade priced its IPO at $22 per share, raising $220 million and debuting on Nasdaq with a $1.2 billion valuation; shares rose over 40% to $30.90 in early trading. The Seattle- and Philadelphia-based company, led by CEO Raj Singh, serves employers with a subscription model and reported $132.5 million revenue for fiscal 2020, with four customers contributing 59% of that revenue.
Glenn Kelman on humility & leadership in Redfin's 14-year journey
Redfin brought real-estate online, had an IPO, and built a role model culture in Seattle. It's been a 14-year journey -- an overnight success! Hear the story and go behind the scenes with CEO Glenn Kelman on leadership, humility, and the opportunity he sees ahead.
'This is crazy!' Interview: Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman
Glenn Kelman has led Redfin from a small, bold real estate startup to one of the global leaders in real estate technology. He's also an outspoken leader inside the company and beyond, not afraid to criticize his community and his industry when he knows they can do better. On this epsiode, we share the full interview between Kelman and GeekWire Co-founder John Cook, taped live at the 2018 GeekWire Summit. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
