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
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Publication
- Last published Oct 15
Authors & Editors
Otto Launches AI Travel Assistant Led by Ex-Expedia Exec to Personalize Business Travel End-to-End
Seattle-based startup Otto, founded by former Expedia executive Michael Gulmann, has launched Otto the Agent, an AI-powered business travel assistant designed to personalize bookings and manage travel end-to-end. The platform learns individual travel preferences and integrates with calendars to proactively suggest itineraries, aiming to replicate the service level of a top executive assistant.
Washington Regulators Order Crypto ATM Startup Coinme to Cease Operations Over $8M Misappropriation Claims
Washington state regulators issued a cease-and-desist order against cryptocurrency startup Coinme for allegedly misclassifying over $8 million in customer funds as income and violating state financial laws, prompting potential license revocation and fines. Coinme later reached an interim agreement to resume operations while the matter is resolved.
Seattle Startup Govstream.ai Raises $3.6M Seed Round to Accelerate City Permitting with AI
Seattle-based startup Govstream.ai raised $3.6 million in seed funding to enhance city permitting processes using AI, initially deploying their platform with the City of Bellevue. Their AI-driven tool assists city staff by answering questions, checking documents, and accelerating application reviews to support housing development and urban planning.
Seattle Startup Gradial Raises $35M Series B to Expand AI Platform Automating Enterprise Marketing Workflows
Seattle startup Gradial raised $35 million in a Series B round led by VMG Partners to expand its AI platform that automates enterprise marketing workflows. The company's total funding is $55 million, valuing it at $350 million, with clients including AWS, Prudential, and T-Mobile.
Bill Gates-Backed Modern Hydrogen Lays Off Most Employees Amid Funding Changes After $125M Investment
Clean energy startup Modern Hydrogen, backed by Bill Gates and having raised $125 million over a decade, has laid off most of its employees amid funding changes and restructuring. The company was preparing commercial deployments after successful pilot projects but has not publicly disclosed the extent of layoffs.
Seattle Biotech Startup Curi Bio Raises $10M Led by DreamCIS to Advance 3D Tissue Drug Discovery Platforms
Seattle biotech startup Curi Bio raised $10 million in Series B funding led by DreamCIS to expand its R&D platform using 3D tissue models for drug discovery. The company serves major pharmaceutical firms and aims to develop new platforms for various muscle and metabolic diseases.
Seattle AI Startup Yoodli Raises $40M Series B Led by WestBridge Capital Amid 900% Revenue Growth
Seattle AI startup Yoodli raised $40 million in a Series B round led by WestBridge Capital, after reporting 900% revenue growth and tripling its staff to over 40. The company offers AI-powered conversational practice software used by major clients like SAP and Google, and plans to expand into experiential learning.
Vercept CEO Kiana Ehsani Creates AI Tool Vy to Automate Workflow, Encourage Outdoor Time
Kiana Ehsani, co-founder and CEO of Seattle AI startup Vercept, developed Vy, an AI tool that automates repetitive computer tasks via natural language commands, enabling users to spend more time outdoors and focus on creativity. Ehsani blends her passion for nature with technology innovation to simplify software use and improve workflow.
Armoire Integrates AI Virtual Stylist into Clothing Rental Service After a Decade of Adaptations
Seattle-based Armoire, an online clothing rental startup focused on sustainability, has integrated AI through a virtual stylist to enhance customer experience after a decade of strategic pivots including shifts during the pandemic. The company aims to balance human touch with AI efficiency while navigating economic challenges and expanding customer demands.
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.
U.S. Safety Commission Warns Against Use of Rad Power Bikes' Lithium-Ion Batteries Citing Fire Hazard Amid Company's Financial Crisis
Rad Power Bikes is facing a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warning to stop using certain lithium-ion batteries due to fire risks, which the company disputes, amid its ongoing financial struggles and potential shutdown. The CPSC urged removal and disposal of hazardous batteries sold with multiple Rad bike models, while Rad disagrees with calling the batteries defective or unsafe.
Jeff Bezos Launches $6.2B AI Startup Project Prometheus as Amazon Pilots Package-Return Kiosks in Seattle Goodwill Stores
Jeff Bezos launches Project Prometheus, a $6.2 billion AI startup, Amazon pilots package-return kiosks at Seattle Goodwill stores, and a debate arises over upgrading an old car with new tech on the GeekWire Podcast.
Seattle Startup Glacis Sees Opportunity as White House Plans to Challenge State AI Laws
The White House plans an executive order to challenge state AI regulations, prompting Seattle startup Glacis, led by CEO Joe Braidwood, to position its AI safety verification software as essential infrastructure in a regulatory conflict. Glacis offers tamper-proof records of AI decisions, addressing concerns about AI safety and liability amidst increasing regulatory scrutiny.
Seattle Startup Desk Raises $800,000 to Automate Real Estate Contract Work with AI
Seattle startup Desk has raised $800,000 to use AI for automating real estate contract administration, helping over 500 agents streamline paperwork with high accuracy. The company leverages recent AI advancements to offer 'better-than-human' contract processing, accelerating agent workflows without replacing them.
Brian Pinkard Launches Aquagga to Destroy Toxic PFAS Chemicals, Deploys Device in Alaska in 2023
Brian Pinkard, driven by a passion to make an environmental impact, transitioned from trail building to earning a mechanical engineering PhD and founding Aquagga, a startup focused on destroying toxic PFAS 'forever chemicals'. His startup deployed a PFAS-destroying device in Fairbanks, Alaska in 2023, reflecting his commitment to solving critical pollution challenges.
Icertis Acquires Y Combinator Graduate Dioptra to Enhance AI Contract Automation Tools
Icertis has acquired legal tech startup Dioptra to enhance its AI-driven contract automation capabilities, with Dioptra's five employees joining Icertis’ product and engineering teams. Dioptra, a Y Combinator 2022 graduate, specializes in tools for automated playbook creation, risk reviews, and contract redlining.
WTIA Selects 19 Startups for 13th Founder Cohort Accelerator Program to Support Growth in Washington State
Washington Technology Industry Association selected 19 startups for its 13th Founder Cohort Accelerator, a four-month program providing mentorship and resources to early-stage Washington state startups. Since its start, the program has supported over 300 companies that have collectively raised more than $400 million.
Seattle Startup Peasy Raises $2M Pre-Seed to Offer Free Inventory Software for CPG Brands
Seattle startup Peasy raised $2 million pre-seed funding to offer free inventory management software for independent CPG brands, aiming to replace spreadsheets and reduce manual data entry by 60%. Peasy plans to monetize via payment processing fees rather than subscriptions, sharing gains with customers as orders scale.
Zap Energy's FuZE-3 Reactor Generates Pressure 10 Times Mariana Trench Level, Paving Way for Fusion Power
Zap Energy’s FuZE-3 fusion reactor achieved pressures 10 times higher than those at the Mariana Trench, marking a major milestone in fusion power development. The company plans to commission a fifth device, FuZE-A, next month to further advance and optimize fusion technology.
Jeff Bezos Named Co-CEO of $6.2 Billion Funded AI Startup Project Prometheus in Return to Executive Role
Jeff Bezos has become co-CEO of Project Prometheus, a secretive AI startup with $6.2 billion in funding focused on AI for the physical economy, marking his first operational executive role since leaving Amazon's CEO position in 2021. The startup, co-led by Vik Bajaj, aims at applications in computers, automobiles, and aerospace with potential collaboration opportunities with Amazon.
Auger Names Yuqing Sun Chief Data and AI Officer After $100M Series A; WTIA Hires Amy Harris for Public Policy Role
Auger appointed Yuqing Sun, a Johnson & Johnson supply chain and AI veteran, as chief data and AI enablement officer, and recently hired AI economist Justine Hastings after raising $100 million in Series A funding. The Washington Technology Industry Association also named Amy Harris as its new public policy and government relations director.
Former Fabric CFO Nevin Shetty Convicted of Wire Fraud for Diverting $35M to Crypto Business
Nevin Shetty, former CFO of Seattle startup Fabric, was convicted of wire fraud for diverting $35 million of company funds into a crypto side business, resulting in near-total loss. He faces sentencing in February 2026 and could receive up to 20 years in prison.
Seattle Hardware Firms Glowforge and Rad Power Bikes Face Financial Collapse Amid Pandemic Boom and Overfunding
Seattle hardware companies Glowforge and Rad Power Bikes, once pandemic-era boomers, face severe financial struggles due to manufacturing challenges and overfunding. Their difficulties highlight a broader regional trend of high hopes and tough realities in consumer hardware startups.
Seattle Startup Tin Can Raises $3.5M, Gains Viral Success with Kid-Friendly WiFi Landline Phones
Chet Kittleson’s Seattle startup Tin Can has gained viral success with its WiFi-enabled landline phones designed to help kids avoid screens and foster real connections, raising $3.5 million and distributing products nationwide. The device's simplicity and analog nature have resonated with parents seeking alternatives to social media and texting for their children.
Seattle AI Startup BluePill Raises $6M to Revolutionize Consumer Behavior Testing with 93% Accurate Simulated Audiences
Seattle startup BluePill raised $6 million to use AI for simulating consumer behavior, enabling marketers to test concepts quickly and affordably with 93% accuracy compared to traditional focus groups. Their clients include Magic Spoon, Kettle & Fire, and the Seattle Mariners.
People
See all 5-
John Cook Founder, Co-founder and Publisher, GeekWire
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Jonathan Sposato Founder, Chairman & co-founder
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Todd Bishop Founder, Co-Founder
