Microsoft
Facts
- HQ
- NASDAQ:MSFT
- Sectors
- Technology, Workplace tools, Cloud
- Founded
- 1975
- Employees
- 221000
- Stage
- Public
Seattle’s AI2 Incubator Closes $80M Third Fund to Back 70 New AI Startups Over Four Years
AI2 Incubator, a Seattle-based startup incubator focused on AI and real-world applications, has closed an $80 million third fund to support about 70 new ventures over the next four years. The incubator has a successful track record with nearly 25% of its 50+ alumni acquired and 90% securing venture funding.
Raj Singh, Concur Co-Founder, Named CEO of Smartsheet to Drive Growth with AI in Enterprise Software
Rajeev 'Raj' Singh, co-founder of Concur and former CEO of Accolade, has been named CEO of Smartsheet as the company looks to leverage its strong foundation and $1 billion revenue base to grow with AI innovations. Singh aims to capitalize on Smartsheet's established enterprise presence and significant opportunity to reshape work management software amid evolving industry dynamics.
The Agentic Entrepreneur: How the next wave of AI is changing the startup playbook
This week on the GeekWire Podcast: How artificial intelligence is changing the way companies are created, built, and operated. We're on location at Pioneer Square Labs in Seattle with investor and entrepreneur T.A. McCann, a managing director at the startup studio and venture capital firm. He explains how AI agents are automating complex functions, letting small teams do the work that once required large groups of people. As AI makes product development easier, he says, the key strategic moat for many startups is now shifting to distribution and data. Other topics include: The wearable AI recorder that captures everything he…
Seattle’s Agtech Startups Like Carbon Robotics Garner $157M to Drive Sustainable Farming Amid Industry Growth
Seattle and the Pacific Northwest are becoming a major hub for agriculture technology, driven by local tech talent, innovative farming, and advances in robotics and AI. Despite a dip in agtech investments from 2021 to 2022, startups like Seattle-based Carbon Robotics are raising significant funding and developing sustainable farming technologies.
Seattle AI Startup Phaidra Raises $50M to Enhance Data Center Energy Efficiency with Advanced AI
Seattle startup Phaidra raised $50 million to advance its AI technology that improves energy efficiency in data centers by optimizing electricity, cooling, and workloads. The funding, led by Collaborative Fund, will support further development, strengthen ties with Nvidia, and expand its global reach.
Seattle Startup Actual AI Raises $3.2M Seed Round Led by AlleyCorp to Build AI Agents for Engineering Managers
Seattle startup Actual AI raised $3.2 million in seed funding led by AlleyCorp to develop autonomous AI agents that assist engineering managers by automating management tasks and improving team productivity amid growing AI coding tool challenges.
Pacific Northwest Leads Fusion Energy Efforts with Helion Energy's $1B Project Starting and Zap Energy's Reactor Advances
The Pacific Northwest has become a fusion energy hub, highlighted by Seattle Fusion Week, with key companies like Helion Energy starting commercial fusion plant construction and Zap Energy advancing reactor milestones. Despite technical challenges, regional firms and research institutions continue efforts toward achieving cost-effective fusion power by the late 2020s.
GeekWire's Top Stories Sept. 21, 2025: Seattle Tech Layoffs, Sila's Battery Plant Launch, Microsoft AI Chip Cooling
GeekWire's most popular stories for the week of Sept. 21, 2025, highlight Seattle's tech challenges amid layoffs, the launch of Sila's automotive-scale battery manufacturing in Washington, and innovations from Microsoft and local startups. The coverage also includes insights from robotics pioneer Siddhartha Srinivasa and cultural moments like YouTuber IShowSpeed's Seattle streaming.
A $100k wall for talent: Tech leader and author Shirish Nadkarni on the H-1B fee and the impact of immigrants
The U.S. tech and startup community was stunned by an executive order last week imposing a $100,000 fee for employers seeking new H-1B visas for skilled foreign workers, a program heavily used by the technology industry. This move brings a longstanding debate back to the forefront: are skilled immigrants taking American jobs, or are they a vital engine for innovation and economic growth? Our guest this week has a strong point of view on this topic. Shirish Nadkarni is a serial entrepreneur and Microsoft veteran who founded companies acquired by BlackBerry and Rosetta Stone. An immigrant himself, he just released…
New TiE Seattle President Sonu Aggarwal Warns $100K H-1B Visa Fee Threatens Seattle Tech Startups
Sonu Aggarwal, newly named president of TiE Seattle, warns that President Trump's new $100,000 H-1B visa fee could severely disrupt the Seattle tech ecosystem, particularly harming startups relying on skilled foreign workers. The fee is unprecedented and could impact companies like Amazon and Microsoft, which heavily utilize H-1B visa holders.
Seattle Startups Yoodli and A-Alpha Bio Appoint New C-Suite Execs, TiE Seattle Names Siddhartha Srinivasa as President
Seattle startups Yoodli, A-Alpha Bio, and MoxiWorks have added senior executives, including Andy Larson as Yoodli's CFO and Troy Lionberger as A-Alpha Bio's chief business officer, while TiE Seattle appointed Siddhartha Srinivasa as president. These moves highlight growth and leadership shifts in the Seattle tech sector, with companies focusing on AI, biotech, and robotics.
University of Chicago Student Maddie Stoll Chronicles Seattle GeekWire Internship Featuring Microsoft Protest and Startup Interviews
Maddie Stoll, a University of Chicago student from London, shares her immersive GeekWire internship experience in Seattle, highlighting diverse stories from protests at Microsoft's campus to startup interviews and cultural contrasts with London and Chicago.
Seattle Ultrasonics Launches $399 C-200 Ultrasonic Chef’s Knife with 40,000 Vibrations per Second Technology
Scott Heimendinger, founder of Seattle Ultrasonics, has launched the C-200, the world’s first ultrasonic 8-inch chef’s knife priced at $399, designed to make cutting easier with over 40,000 vibrations per second. Leveraging his 15 years in kitchen tech, Heimendinger emphasizes practical innovation over gimmicks, with the knife’s effectiveness backed by robotic testing.
Seattle’s Tech Sector Struggles with Microsoft and Amazon Layoffs, $146M Budget Deficit Projected
Seattle's tech scene faces challenges due to layoffs at Microsoft and Amazon, leading to decreased retail spending, restaurant closures, and a projected $146 million city budget deficit. Despite these setbacks, the AI boom may alter hiring trends and create new opportunities for startups in the region.
Seattle Startups CookShelf, Dripwave, Skillsheet, and Mayura AI Innovate Digital Recipes, AI Marketing, Recruiting, and AI Agents in 2024
Seattle startups CookShelf, Dripwave, Skillsheet, and Mayura AI are innovating in digital recipes, AI-powered email marketing, recruiting, and AI agents. These early-stage companies, founded mainly in 2024, focus on enhancing workflows in cooking, marketing, and talent management.
Ascend’s 2023 Founders Bash in Seattle Spotlights Rapid AI Growth, Business Challenges, and Skepticism Among Startup Leaders
At Ascend's fifth annual Founders Bash in Seattle, startup leaders discussed AI's rapid evolution, its value in speeding up work, cautious customer adoption, and skepticism around AI hype. Experts highlighted AI's accelerated development pace, business potential in time compression, and the ongoing need to demonstrate clear ROI to customers.
Seattle Startup Pulumi Launches AI Agent Neo to Automate Cloud Infrastructure with a Third of Workforce
Seattle startup Pulumi launched Neo, an AI agent automating cloud infrastructure tasks such as provisioning, security, and compliance, developed by a third of its 130-person workforce. Neo uses large language models, primarily Claude, integrates with various AI developer tools, and aims to address bottlenecks faced by platform teams amid increasing developer demands.
Treasury4 Acquires TreasuryGo, Adds Former Microsoft Treasurer George Zinn as Chief Strategy Officer
Spokane fintech startup Treasury4 acquired Seattle-based TreasuryGo, adding its eight employees and appointing TreasuryGo co-founder George Zinn as chief strategy officer. Treasury4, founded in 2020, recently raised $20 million to expand its treasury management software offerings.
From $1M to $10M ARR in 6 Months: How Fyxer is Winning AI Productivity
Fyxer.ai is an AI-powered assistant that helps users reclaim hours of their day by managing their inboxes, writing replies, and taking meeting notes. But Fyxer didn't start with AI. It started with a decade-long executive assistant agency that gave them a treasure trove of data and insight that became the foundation for integrating AI. Fyxer CEO and Co-Founder Rich Hollingsworth joins Madrona Managing Director Karan Mehandru on this episode of Founded & Funded to share how Fyxer went from $1M to $10M ARR in six months with just 30 employees. In this episode, Rich shares: Why great startups start with…
OpenAI's big Seattle deal; Steve Ballmer under NBA scrutiny; the irony in Google's antitrust case
This week on the GeekWire Podcast: Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and his NBA team, the Clippers, face scrutiny over an alleged salary-cap dodge tied to star Kawhi Leonard. We unpack the report and Ballmer’s emphatic denial, while reflecting on his history in tech and sports. Also: OpenAI's surprise $1.1 billion acquisition of Seattle startup Statsig, and what it says about the AI talent wars. Plus, the ironic role of Microsoft’s own antitrust past in the landmark ruling against Google’s search monopoly this week. Seattle journalist, radio host and bar owner Mike Lewis joins GeekWire's Todd Bishop for this episode…
Seattle AI Startup Vouched Raises $17M Series A to Enhance Identity Verification with Mobile Licenses and AI Agent Security
Seattle-based ID verification startup Vouched raised $17 million in a Series A funding round led by Spring Rock Ventures, advancing AI tools for identity verification including mobile driver’s licenses and AI agent reputation. CEO Peter Horadan emphasized transformative changes in identity verification prompted by emerging technologies and security needs.
OpenAI Expands Seattle Footprint with $1.1B Acquisition of Bellevue Startup Statsig
OpenAI is expanding its Seattle-area presence by acquiring the Bellevue-based product development platform Statsig for $1.1 billion, with Statsig continuing to operate independently. The move strengthens OpenAI's access to Seattle's tech talent and aligns with its existing local office near Microsoft.
OpenAI Acquires Statsig for $1.1 Billion, Appoints CEO Vijaye Raji as CTO of Applications
OpenAI is acquiring Statsig for $1.1 billion in an all-stock deal, appointing Statsig CEO Vijaye Raji as its new CTO of Applications. The startup will operate independently post-acquisition from its Seattle office, while its employees may join OpenAI.
Paul Allen’s Estate Launches $3.1B Fund for Science and Technology, Highlighting His Legacy and Philanthropy
Paul Allen's estate has launched a new $3.1 billion Fund for Science and Technology, reviving interest in the late Microsoft co-founder's legacy, philanthropy, and vision. A 2011 interview reveals his motivations behind philanthropy, his relationship with Bill Gates, and his diverse passions.
TerraPower, Group14 Technologies, and Helion Energy Secure Over $1.5 Billion in Pacific Northwest Climate Tech Funding in 2025
The three largest investment rounds in the Pacific Northwest in 2025 have all gone to climate tech companies: TerraPower, Group14 Technologies, and Helion Energy, totaling over $1.5 billion. Despite political and economic challenges, clean energy firms in the region attracted nearly 40% of total investment funding so far this year.
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Ali Farhadi Executive, Former Allen Institute for AI CEO
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Bill Gates Executive, Former CEO, Co-founder
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Gaurav Sareen Executive, Chief Technology Officer - CAP
