Marchex
Facts
- HQ
- SEATTLE
- Sectors
- AI, Conversation intelligence, Software
- Founded
- 2003 Seattle business license
- Type
- Corporation Seattle business license
- Registered name
- Marchex Inc Seattle business license
DoorDash Acquires Seattle Adtech Startup Symbiosys for $175 Million to Expand Off-Site Advertising
DoorDash acquired Seattle-based adtech startup Symbiosys for $175 million to enhance its off-site advertising capabilities. Founded by former Google and Microsoft ad leader Bashar Kachachi, Symbiosys helps retailers sell ads across digital channels like Google and Instagram.
Seattle Startup Potato Raises $4.5M to Develop AI and Robotics for Fully Automated Scientific Experiments
Seattle startup Potato raised $4.5 million to develop AI-driven automation for scientific research, aiming for fully autonomous experiments using AI assistants and robotics. They currently offer a platform assisting hypothesis generation and protocol creation, planning to expand into robotic lab work in partnership with Ginkgo Automation.
AI Company Xembly to End Services and Wind Down by June 1, 2024 Amid AI Platform Challenges
Enterprise AI company Xembly announced it will cease its customer-facing services and wind down operations due to challenges with underlying AI platforms, effective June 1, 2024. The Seattle-based firm, founded in 2020 and backed by $20 million in funding, plans to pursue a new direction in AI development.
Symbiosys, led by ex-Google exec Bashar Kachachi, raises $9M Series A to modernize retail media advertising
Symbiosys, an adtech startup led by former Google and Microsoft exec Bashar Kachachi, raised $9 million in a Series A round to enhance collaboration between retailers and brands in the $45 billion retail media market. The company offers real-time analytics and collaborative bidding technology to optimize off-site product advertising.
Yifan Zhang Joins AI2 Incubator as Managing Director; Dropbox, Marchex, and Seattle Startups Appoint New Tech Leaders
Yifan Zhang, former Loftium co-founder, is joining the AI2 Incubator as managing director starting February 2024, while several Seattle tech companies made key executive hires including Dropbox, Marchex, Simply Augmented, and Chainguard.
Six Former Amazon Execs Including Flexport CEO Dave Clark Depart $8 Billion Logistics Startup
Flexport saw the departure of six former Amazon executives, including CEO Dave Clark and president Teresa Carlson, highlighting recent executive turnover at the $8 billion-valued logistics company. Several of these leaders had long Amazon tenures before joining Flexport, which offers cloud-based freight forwarding and saw $3.3 billion in revenue in 2021.
Xembly CEO Pete Christothoulou Highlights Focus on Real Customer Problems in AI Startup Landscape After Raising $20M
Pete Christothoulou, CEO of AI startup Xembly, discusses how startups can differentiate themselves by focusing on solving real customer problems rather than just creating cool technology. Founded nearly three years ago and backed by $20 million in funding, Xembly automates executive assistant tasks and serves clients like Salesforce and Twilio.
Building an 'AI chief of staff,' with Xembly CEO Pete Christothoulou
How can startups differentiate themselves in the new era of AI? We've been discussing that question a lot recently on the GeekWire Podcast, and on this episode, we'll get a first-hand look from business and technology veteran Pete Christothoulou, who has been immersed in this world for many years. Christothoulou is the former CEO of Marchex, the call and conversational analytics company, who is now founder and CEO of Xembly, a Seattle-based startup developing AI-powered technology that replicates a chief of staff and executive assistant, automating tasks such as meeting notes, scheduling, and action items. Xembly was founded in Madrona…
Seattle VC Firm Ascend Raises $25M Second Fund to Boost AI Investments Amid Market Downturn
Seattle-based pre-seed venture capital firm Ascend, led by Kirby Winfield, raised a $25 million second fund focused on doubling down on artificial intelligence investments amid a challenging startup funding environment. Winfield, who has backed over 70 startups, predicts a further valuation correction but remains committed to early-stage investing.
Ziad Ismail Named COO of Seattle AI Startup Xembly; Jennifer Sullo Joins Earth Finance; Aaron Bird Becomes Inflection.io CEO
Ziad Ismail has joined Seattle AI startup Xembly as COO, bringing extensive experience from Convoy and Microsoft. Additionally, Jennifer Sullo joined Earth Finance as managing director, and Aaron Bird became CEO of Seattle marketing startup Inflection.io.
Seattle Startup Xembly Raises $15M Series A to Enhance AI ‘Chief of Staff’ Automating Meeting and Workflow Tasks
Seattle startup Xembly raised $15 million in Series A funding to expand its AI-powered ‘chief of staff’ that automates meeting notes, scheduling, and to-do lists. The AI uses advanced natural language processing to reduce repetitive tasks and has customers like Twilio and Convoy.
Kirby Winfield, ex-founder and exec, raises $15M for Ascend.vc to back Pacific Northwest early-stage startups
Kirby Winfield, a longtime Seattle startup leader who experienced burnout after multiple exits, founded Ascend.vc to invest in early-stage Pacific Northwest tech companies and raised a $15 million first fund after recovering his health and shifting from founder roles to venture investing.
Marchex co-founder Pete Christothoulou launches Xembly, an AI meeting-productivity startup entering beta
Pete Christothoulou, former Marchex CEO, launched Xembly, an AI startup that automates meeting tasks and provides data-driven insights to improve meeting productivity; the Madrona Venture Labs company is entering beta this week. Xembly cites a survey of 1,000 workers showing many meetings are unnecessary or too long and says its software works for both in-person and online meetings.
Pete Christothoulou
Pete Christothoulou is an entrepreneur and company leader who has focused on building and scaling technology-driven business productivity platforms for most of his career. He's currently the founder and CEO of Xembly, a fast-growing start-up using AI to rid the world of bad meetings. Prior to Xembly, Pete was the CEO of Marchex, a conversational analytics company he co-founded and took public. After residing in Seattle for many years, Pete, his wife Heather, and two daughters, Pia and Coco, moved to Canada during the pandemic (to support their daughter's acting career) and now reside in Napa, California. See omnystudio.com/listener for…
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.
SBA Reveals Seattle Tech Startups Received Millions in PPP Loans Including ExtraHop’s $10M and Rover’s $8.1M
The Small Business Administration released detailed data on Paycheck Protection Program loans, revealing Seattle-area tech startups like ExtraHop and Rover received between $5.4 million and $10 million to support payroll during the COVID-19 crisis. The PPP distributed $525 billion across over 5 million loans before ending in August amid issues with loan forgiveness and fraud.
SBA data: Seattle startups Rover, ExtraHop, Porch, Promethean and Logic20/20 each received $5–$10M in PPP loans
The SBA released Paycheck Protection Program data showing several Seattle-area tech startups received $5–$10 million PPP loans to help during COVID-19; recipients include Rover, ExtraHop, Porch, Promethean and Logic20/20. The program has seen controversy over eligibility and forgiveness guidance, and some venture-backed startups declined loans on ethical grounds.
Pioneer Square Labs raises $12.5M from 13 VCs and 50+ angels; Foundry Group led, Brad Feld joins board
Pioneer Square Labs, a new Seattle startup studio co-founded by Geoff Entress, Greg Gottesman, Mike Galgon and Ben Gilbert, raised $12.5 million from 13 VC firms and over 50 angels. Foundry Group led the round and Brad Feld will join PSL's board.
Kirby Winfield, whose AdXpose sold to comScore for $22M, named CEO of Dwellable
Kirby Winfield, founder of AdXpose which sold to comScore for $22 million, was named CEO of Dwellable, a vacation-rental search service founded by Adam Doppelt; he replaces Brenda Spoonemore, who transitions to advisor and investor. Winfield cites limited online discoverability of rentals, Dwellable's mobile leadership, and growth potential as reasons for taking the role.
Doxo partners with Sound Community Bank to digitize customer bills; Primus backs G2 Web Services; Cheezburger publishes “Fail Harder”; Marchex expands ads with CityGrid
Doxo struck a deal with Sound Community Bank to deliver customers’ bills and communications into a digital file cabinet, enabling paper billing removal. Other regional tech moves include Primus Capital investing in G2 Web Services, Cheezburger releasing the book “Fail Harder,” and Marchex expanding call advertising with CityGrid Media.
