GeekWire
GeekWire provides technology news, analysis, and resources for tech professionals, entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts. It covers developments in the technology industry, produces events and podcasts, and offers tools such as job boards and startup rankings to support the tech community. Its mission is to inform and connect people interested in technology and startups.
Facts
- HQ
- Seattle
- Sectors
- Online Audio and Video Media
- Founded
- 2011
- Type
- LLC Seattle business license
- Employees
- 26
- Registered name
- GeekWire LLC Seattle business license
- Founders
- John Cook, Todd Bishop
Is this your organization? Claim it
Publication
- Last published Oct 15
Authors & Editors
Madrona Venture Labs spinout Simplata launches targeted encryption for sensitive cloud app data, plans seed raise
Madrona Venture Labs spinout Simplata, led by CEO Steve Banfield and CTO Bruce Roberts, is building a targeted encryption solution to protect sensitive data in cloud applications and plans to hire and raise a seed round later this year.
BlackSky’s Spectra platform uses satellite imagery and AI to track activity and flag early signs of COVID-19 economic recovery
BlackSky's Spectra platform combines satellite imagery, AI image recognition, and multiple data streams to monitor activity—such as counting cars in parking lots—to identify early signs of economic recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Partnerize acquires Seattle brand-protection startup BrandVerity; integration announced April 30
Seattle brand-protection startup BrandVerity, which provides paid search and affiliate monitoring to prevent trademark infringement and other brand violations, has been acquired by partnership-automation provider Partnerize, and will be integrated into Partnerize’s platform while remaining available as standalone offerings.
Ben Elowitz launches stealth Seattle startup Zeitworks, spun out of Madrona Venture Labs to optimize people and time
Veteran Seattle entrepreneur Ben Elowitz has launched a stealth startup called Zeitworks, spun out of Madrona Venture Labs, aiming to help organizations maximize people and time using data science and AI. The company is hiring, Elowitz is supporting the team, and further details remain confidential.
Docugami doubles to 20 after $10M funding and keeps hiring amid widespread tech layoffs
Docugami, a Kirkland, Washington document-engineering startup, doubled its staff to 20 after a $10 million funding round in early February and continues hiring despite widespread tech layoffs. CEO Jean Paoli and new head of operations Hartley Riedner have onboarded remotely, reflecting a flipped labor market where some startups can recruit while larger firms cut jobs.
E8 launches Decarbon8-US philanthropic fund to back climate-tech startups, raised $120,000 so far
Seattle-based E8 launched Decarbon8-US, a tax-deductible philanthropic fund that lets anyone donate to support early-stage climate-tech startups; it has raised $120,000 so far and will award $50,000–$75,000 to three-to-six companies announced in July.
Coinme raises $5.5M as transactions climb 40% and plans 50% hiring, led by Pantera Capital
Seattle cryptocurrency ATM startup Coinme raised $5.5 million as transaction volumes rose more than 40% since late February, aided by its Coinstar partnership and presence in essential retail locations. The company, led by CEO Neil Bergquist, plans 50% headcount growth, expansion into Latin America, and was led in funding by Pantera Capital.
U.S. VC Funding Falls 46% in April to $7.3B; Washington State Raises $190M in 21 Deals Led by Health and Biotech
U.S. venture capital investment plunged in April — down 46% from March to $7.3 billion and 43% year-over-year — while Washington state fared better with $190 million across 21 deals, helped by health and life-sciences financings.
Knock raises $12M Series B led by Madrona as COVID-19 drives surge in remote apartment-management tool usage
Seattle rental-software startup Knock raised $12 million in a Series B led by Madrona Venture Group as demand for its apartment management tools and remote leasing features surged during the COVID-19 crisis.
Seattle startup Mystery expands to Austin with 'Night In' boxes after $1.3M raise
Mystery, a Seattle startup that plans surprise nights out for couples, expanded to Austin amid COVID-19 by pivoting to curated 'Night In' boxes that support local vendors; the company launched in Feb 2019 and has raised $1.3 million. The Austin rollout features food and activities from over 20 small businesses and the team is also improving its app for future traditional experiences.
Madrona Venture Group Leads $8.5M Investment in Vendor Management Startup VNDLY; Steve Singh Joins Board
Seattle-based Madrona Venture Group led an $8.5 million investment round in VNDLY, a Cincinnati-based vendor management startup, with Steve Singh joining VNDLY's board. VNDLY, founded in 2017, has raised a total of $57.5 million to help companies manage and pay their non-employee workforce.
S!NG raises $265,000 debt round to build blockchain audit-trail tool for musicians and photographers
Seattle startup S!NG raised $265,000 in debt to develop blockchain-based software that creates audit trails for sharing song files and photos, aiming to simplify copyright collaboration for musicians and photographers. The founders say the tool provides a middle ground between NDAs and trust and will launch as a consumer SaaS, funded by angel investors in Seattle, Canada and elsewhere.
Outreach CEO Manny Medina Says Seattle Unicorn (550 Employees) Avoided Layoffs, Aids Customers Through COVID-19 After $114M Raise
Outreach CEO Manny Medina says the Seattle-based sales-engagement unicorn has avoided layoffs and continues serving customers through the COVID-19 crisis by helping them manage remote teams and pivot sales processes, after raising $114 million last year. The 550-employee company is seeing mixed demand as some clients like DoorDash and DocuSign surge while others cut spending.
GeekWire Podcast: Amazon reports 26% Q1 sales growth but 30% profit drop, pledges $4B for COVID response; Bezos warns shareholders
The GeekWire Podcast discusses Amazon’s Q1 results and pandemic response — including $4 billion in COVID-19-related spending and CEO Jeff Bezos warning of costly challenges — plus worker safety concerns and calls for his Congressional testimony. The episode also covers a Madrona-led workplace-reopening toolkit (with input from Amazon, Microsoft, Starbucks) and a COVID-19-driven decline in Pacific Northwest startup funding through April.
Imperative raises $3M led by Voyager Capital to expand virtual peer-coaching; Nikhil Singhal joins as CTO
Seattle startup Imperative raised $3 million led by Voyager Capital to accelerate its virtual peer-coaching platform that connects managers for structured one-on-one video coaching; the company has 120,000 users and 40 corporate clients and added former Microsoft/Expedia/AT&T engineer Nikhil Singhal as CTO.
NVCA warns COVID-19 will slash venture capital and trigger widespread startup layoffs, after 30,000 cuts reported
The National Venture Capital Association warns that COVID-19 will cause a significant drop in venture capital investment, triggering more startup layoffs and a tougher fundraising environment; reports estimate 30,000 layoffs already and predict widespread workforce cuts over the next year. Impact varies by industry, with travel-related startups cutting large shares of staff while some well-funded companies fare better.
Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman and Tokki CEO Jane Park describe pandemic pivots; Tokki shifts to cloth mask production
GeekWire hosted a virtual event called “Pivoting in a Pandemic” featuring Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman and Tokki CEO Jane Park, who discussed how they adapted their businesses during COVID-19. Park described how Tokki went from zero sales to producing cloth face masks using their eco-friendly fabric, while Kelman shared long-term lessons from leading Redfin through economic turmoil.
Lighter Capital lays off 22% of staff to preserve runway, trims mainly sales and marketing roles
Seattle-based alternative VC Lighter Capital cut 22% of its roughly 80-person workforce, mainly in sales and marketing, to preserve runway amid the pandemic while continuing product development and pursuing growth plans.
GeekWire: eXp Holdings founder Glenn Sanford uses VirBELA virtual world to run distributed teams as COVID-19 makes avatars practical
GeekWire explores how virtual-world platforms like VirBELA, acquired by eXp Holdings, let people meet, work and socialize with avatars—an option gaining relevance during COVID-19 social distancing. Founder Glenn Sanford uses VirBELA to run large distributed teams and demonstrates virtual rituals that replace in-person office interactions.
Refactr wins Phase I AFWERX SBIR to let Air Force evaluate its DevSecOps automation platform
Seattle-based Refactr won a Phase I AFWERX SBIR contract for the Air Force to evaluate its DevSecOps automation platform that layers on existing tools to reduce tool and content sprawl; Phase I awards are typically around $50,000.
Convoy leans on technology to navigate COVID-19 surge after $400M raise at $2.7B valuation
Seattle digital freight startup Convoy experienced record activity on its network as COVID-19 increased demand for essentials, and CEO Dan Lewis says the company’s efficiency-focused technology helps it navigate a volatile, recessionary period. Convoy remains a Seattle unicorn after raising $400 million at a $2.7 billion valuation in September and continues serving major shippers like Anheuser-Busch, Home Depot, and Procter & Gamble.
ExtraHop says April 22, 2020 layoffs cut staff back to end-of-2019 levels as COVID-19 hits revenue
Seattle-based security company ExtraHop carried out a reduction in force on April 22, 2020, cutting staff back to its end-of-2019 level amid COVID-19’s economic impact; the company had ended 2019 with more than 500 employees and $150 million in bookings.
Boundless CEO Xiao Wang and Angel investor Dan Rosen urge startups to shift to 'wartime' survival, extend runway to 18 months
Startup leaders must shift from rapid-growth mindsets to survival strategies amid the COVID-19 shock, learning from past downturns and peers. Leaders like Dan Rosen and Xiao Wang recommend extending cash runway, cutting and renegotiating expenses, and using government programs to preserve teams and prepare for recovery.
Techstars Seattle’s 2020 cohort shifts programming online, prepares for virtual Demo Day May 6 as startups pivot amid COVID-19
Techstars Seattle's 11th accelerator cohort of 10 startups began in February and has adapted to COVID-19 by moving in-person programming online, pivoting business models, and accelerating product development where needed ahead of a virtual Demo Day on May 6, 2020.
Bateau raises $1.5M pre-seed led by Founder’s Co-op to scale safety and compliance software
Seattle startup Bateau raised $1.5 million in a pre-seed round led by Founder’s Co-op to sell safety and compliance software for multi-location businesses, with initial focus shifting to senior living during the COVID-19 pandemic. Co-founders Paul Jarvis (ex-Palantir) and Henry Hutcheson (ex-FullStory/Amperity) launched the year-old company in June and currently have one additional employee.
People
See all 5-
John Cook Founder, Co-founder and Publisher, GeekWire
-
Jonathan Sposato Founder, Chairman & co-founder
-
Todd Bishop Founder, Co-Founder
