Expedia Group
Facts
- HQ
- Seattle
- Sectors
- Travel, Online travel booking, Consumer travel
- Stage
- Public
Seattle Trucking Startup Convoy Conducts New Layoffs Amid Economic Pressures Following $260M Funding
Seattle-based trucking startup Convoy has conducted another round of layoffs amid economic uncertainty and supply chain challenges, following a 7% workforce reduction earlier this year after raising $260 million at a $3.8 billion valuation.
Algorithmia Founder Diego Oppenheimer Joins Venture Firm Factory to Open Seattle Office; Expedia Appoints Brad Bentley and Tript Singh Lamba to Executive Roles
Diego Oppenheimer, former CEO of Algorithmia, has joined venture capital firm Factory as partner and CEO-in-residence to open its new Seattle office, focusing on AI startups. Additionally, Expedia Group hired Brad Bentley as COO of Expedia Brands and Tript Singh Lamba as SVP of consumer product.
Portland Travel Startup TrovaTrip Raises $15M Series A Led by Madrona After 10X Booking Growth
TrovaTrip, a Portland-based group travel marketplace founded by Nick Poggi and Lauren Schneider, raised $15 million in a Series A led by Madrona Venture Group after reporting 10X booking growth last year. The platform, which partners with social media travel hosts and tour operators, has over 15,000 travelers booked across 500 itineraries in 49 countries.
Startup turnaround specialist Matt Hulett on unlocking growth, competing with giants, and surviving turbulent times
Our guest this week is Matt Hulett, a veteran of the Seattle tech community and the author of the new book, Unlock: 5 Questions to Unleash Your Company’s Hidden Power, published by Page Two Books. A former executive with companies including Expedia, Mpire, Rosetta Stone and RealNetworks, Hulett is now the CEO and president of PetMed Express, a publicly traded, Florida-based online pet pharmacy. We talk about finding the right market segment to pursue, how startups and investors should approach the potential of an economic downturn, tips for competing with tech giants, the role that private capital can play in…
Syndio Appoints Ritu Mohanka as EMEA Managing Director Amid $50M Expansion; Expedia and Freenome Announce Senior Leadership Hires
Ritu Mohanka was hired as managing director and head of EMEA at Syndio, which is expanding into the UK and EMEA after raising $50 million. Additionally, Expedia appointed Rob Torres as senior VP for global ads, and Lance Baldo joined Freenome as chief medical officer following his departure from Adaptive Biotechnologies.
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.
Deloitte’s 2021 Fast 500 Includes 26 Washington Firms; Coinme Tops Seattle Growth at 2,198% (Rank 78)
Deloitte’s 2021 North American Technology Fast 500 ranks the fastest-growing tech companies by revenue growth from 2017–2020; 26 Washington-based firms made the list, with 24 from the greater Seattle area and strong representation from Bellevue and software/SaaS companies. Coinme led local growth with 2,198% growth (ranked 78th), and Washington firms comprised about 5% of the full Fast 500.
Convoy appoints John Morrow as general counsel effective Nov. 1; ex-AWS VP Steven Shure joins Neeva as chief business officer
Convoy named John Morrow as general counsel effective Nov. 1, following multiple legal leadership departures in 2021; Morrow previously served at Apptio and Paymentus. Separately, former AWS VP Steven Shure joined ad-free search startup Neeva as chief business officer and will remain based in Seattle.
Seattle Average Tech Salary Rises 4.6% to $158,000, Second-Highest U.S. Behind Bay Area
Hired data shows average Seattle tech salaries rose 4.6% year-over-year to $158,000, the second-highest U.S. average behind the Bay Area. The report notes continued strong hiring from Amazon, Microsoft and other firms, high open roles at startups, remote-work-driven shifts in pay, and broad worker interest in new opportunities.
Spotnana raises $34M Series A led by Madrona and ICONIQ to modernize business-travel software
Spotnana, a business-travel software startup founded by Sarosh Waghmar and Shikhar Agarwal, raised $34 million in a Series A led by Madrona Venture Group and ICONIQ to offer an API-friendly, integrated travel platform with consumption-based pricing. The company, chaired by Concur co-founder Steve Singh and with former Expedia CFO Greg Stanger on its board, serves about 50 corporate customers and aims to modernize booking, spending visibility, and integrations with HR and expense systems.
Convoy signs 123,000 sq ft sublease at Russell Investments Center in Seattle, expanding from 73,000 sq ft
Seattle freight-startup Convoy signed a sublease for 123,000 sq ft across three floors at downtown’s Russell Investments Center, expanding from its current 73,000 sq ft Century Square HQ as it outlines a return-to-office plan amid broader Seattle downtown uncertainties.
Amazon Veteran Dorothy Li Named CTO of Convoy; Will Lead Engineering for Digital Freight Network
Dorothy Li, a 23-year Amazon veteran who helped launch products from Prime to Kindle, has been named CTO of Seattle-based trucking startup Convoy and will lead engineering for its digital freight network. Convoy, valued at $2.7 billion after a $400 million raise in November 2019, reports triple-digit year-over-year revenue growth and a network of over 67,000 carriers and 300,000 trucks.
Icertis names ex‑SAP marketer Gretchen Eischen as CMO amid $2.8B valuation; Apollo partner David Sambur exits Expedia board
Icertis hired former SAP marketing executive Gretchen Eischen as CMO while moving Seth Nesbitt to a newly created culture role; Icertis was valued at $2.8B after an $80M round. Apollo partner David Sambur resigned from Expedia Group’s board after a $1B investment, and Remitly named Vishal Ghotge EVP of North America.
Madrona Venture Labs raises $8M and turns investors like Spencer Rascoff into co‑founders of spinouts
Madrona Venture Labs has raised $8 million for its fourth fund and introduced a model that makes investors — including Spencer Rascoff, Julie Larson-Green and Elena Donio — co-founders, board members, and advisors of its spinouts to attract talent and accelerate startup formation. Founded in 2014, the Seattle-based studio has spun out more than a dozen companies, including recent spinouts Zeitworks, Simplata, and Stratify.
Former Rover CTO Scott Porad named Dolly’s first CTO as Dolly plans headcount, sales expansion; Regi Vengalil to become Metromile CFO in May
Scott Porad, former Rover CTO, has joined Seattle peer-to-peer moving app Dolly as its first chief technology officer as the startup plans to double headcount and sales; Regi Vengalil will leave Egencia in May to become CFO of Metromile, a pay-per-mile insurer.
Rad Power Bikes co-founder Ty Collins steps down to advisory role; WRF CEO Ron Howell to retire end of April
Rad Power Bikes co-founder and former CMO Ty Collins has stepped down and moved into an advisory role while remaining involved; the company is profitable and raised $150 million earlier this year. Washington Research Foundation CEO Ron Howell will retire at the end of April after 29 years, with CFO Jeff Eby serving as acting CEO.
Amgen to buy Seattle startup Rodeo Therapeutics for $55M upfront, up to $666M more in milestones
Amgen agreed to acquire Seattle biotech Rodeo Therapeutics, which develops small-molecule therapies to repair and regrow tissues, for $55 million upfront plus up to $666 million in contingent payments. Rodeo, led by CEO Thong Le and founded by Sanford Markowitz, Stanton Gerson and Joseph Ready, has backing from investors including AbbVie, Lilly, Arch Venture Partners and Johnson & Johnson and had raised over $14 million.
Clearbrief raises $1.2M from Sequoia, Madrona and Avvo founder to commercialize AI legal-writing tool
Seattle startup Clearbrief raised $1.2 million from investors including Sequoia Capital, Madrona Venture Group and Avvo founder Mark Britton to commercialize AI-powered legal writing software that checks sentences against supporting evidence and integrates with Microsoft Word and the cloud.
Ralph de la Vega, ex‑AT&T vice chairman, joins Outreach board as startup hits $1.33B valuation; Flyhomes names two VPs
Former AT&T vice chairman Ralph de la Vega joined Seattle sales engagement startup Outreach's board after meeting CEO Manny Medina; Outreach is a $1.33B-valued unicorn that raised $50M in June and employs about 700. Seattle real-estate startup Flyhomes also appointed two VPs: Adam Hopson (growth and strategy) and Rehan Mohammad (finance and business operations).
Crowd Cow hires ex‑Amazon leaders Ian McAllister, Julie Pruitt, Jeremy Sievert and adds Flexe CTO David Glick to board; Snap! Raise names Stuart Silberg as CTO
Seattle meat and seafood marketplace Crowd Cow hired Ian McAllister as chief product officer, Julie Pruitt as chief merchant, and Jeremy Sievert as VP of operations, and added Flexe CTO David Glick to its board; Crowd Cow says revenue grew over 400% this year. Digital fundraising platform Snap! Raise hired former Expedia CTO Stuart Silberg as its new chief technology officer.
OfferUp names Niti Bashambu CPO after $120M raise and $1.4B valuation; Flyhomes appoints Amy Sellers VP of Marketing
OfferUp hired Niti Bashambu as chief product officer after raising $120 million and reaching a $1.4B valuation; Flyhomes named Amy Sellers VP of marketing as it expands across five markets. Promethean also hired Chris Hand as chief revenue officer.
Outreach CMO Margaret Arakawa departs; FlyHomes CMO Ryan Steingard joins Persona; Brian Goldfarb named Amperity CMO
Several Seattle-area marketing executives have changed roles: Margaret Arakawa left Outreach as CMO to pursue a new venture, FlyHomes CMO Ryan Steingard moved to chief growth officer at Persona, and Brian Goldfarb joined Amperity as CMO. Outreach recently raised $50 million in a Series F at a $1.33 billion valuation and serves over 4,000 companies.
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan’s First Term Tried to Reconcile Tech Firms and Critics but Left Her Politically Isolated
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan tried to bridge tech companies and their critics during her first term by courting firms like Amazon, Expedia, and Apple, but her efforts pleased neither business leaders nor progressive activists, leaving her politically isolated and prompting her decision not to seek a second term.
Qumulo names ex-AWS Janine Corey cloud CTO; Elissa Fink joins Conversica board; Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson joins Amperity board
Seattle startup Qumulo hired Janine Corey as cloud CTO after five years at Amazon Web Services; the company is valued at $1.2 billion and raised $125 million earlier this year. Former Tableau CMO Elissa Fink joined Conversica’s board and Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson joined Amperity’s board, reflecting several executive moves among Seattle-area tech firms.
Startup CEOs optimistic despite pandemic; Amazon moves into virtual travel
Here’s what we’re talking about on the GeekWire Podcast this week: The results are in from the first-ever GeekWire 200 CEO Insights survey and they may surprise you. Startup CEOs in Seattle are generally optimistic about the state of the economy for the next 18 months. And they have some thoughts on who should be president. Amazon's latest offering is virtual tourism through its new Amazon Explore service. GeekWire's Todd Bishop went for a walk around Quebec City with a local guide and took a cooking lesson in Buenos Aires, all without leaving the office. Ex-Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff jumps…
