Microsoft
Facts
- HQ
- NASDAQ:MSFT
- Sectors
- Technology, Workplace tools, Cloud
- Founded
- 1975
- Employees
- 221000
- Stage
- Public
Insights from Uncommon Thinkers: How these innovators found novel approaches in their fields
This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we sit down with some of the Seattle region’s “Uncommon Thinkers” — inventors, scientists, technologists and entrepreneurs transforming industries and driving positive change in the world. We recorded the episode on location, backstage at the GeekWire Gala, where we recognized five Uncommon Thinkers through this annual awards program, presented in partnership with Greater Seattle Partners. Speaking on the episode are: Uri Shumlak, co-founder and chief scientist at Zap Energy, a physicist leading a team in pursuit of fusion energy, taking a different approach from others in the field. Read the profile. Ingrid Swanson Pultz…
Modern Hydrogen Raises $25M to Expand Clean Hydrogen and Carbon Tech with Bill Gates Support
Seattle-area clean tech startup Modern Hydrogen raised $25 million to advance its methane pyrolysis technology producing clean hydrogen and solid carbon for industrial uses. Bill Gates, a key investor, supports the company, which has raised over $100 million and plans to expand into new markets with strategic partnerships.
Former Amazon CEO Dave Clark's Supply Chain Startup Auger Names 11 Executives After $100M Series A
Dave Clark, former Amazon Worldwide Consumer CEO, founded supply chain tech startup Auger, which named an 11-person executive team mostly composed of Amazon alumni after raising $100 million in Series A funding. The startup operates out of Bellevue, Washington, leveraging shared Amazon expertise to innovate in supply chain and data infrastructure.
Seattle Fintech Startup Finagraph Merges with Milwaukee Accounting Software Firm LeaseCrunch
Seattle fintech startup Finagraph merged with Milwaukee-based LeaseCrunch to combine financial data analysis and accounting software, serving over 750 CPA firms. Finagraph, founded in 2010 by CEO James Walter, integrates data from systems like QuickBooks and Microsoft Dynamics.
Microsoft GM Nikesh Parekh Advises SaaS VP on Evaluating Stock Value and Career Priorities at Slow-Growth Company
Nikesh Parekh, a Microsoft general manager and former startup founder, advises a VP of engineering at a slow-growing SaaS company to assess the value of their stock and company exit potential before making career moves. He suggests prioritizing career goals like skill growth, title, or compensation while considering the risks involved.
Seattle Emerges as Leading Hub for Supply Chain Software Startups Backed by Amazon and Convoy Veterans
Seattle has become a leading hub for supply chain software innovation, driven by logistics giants like Amazon and startups such as Convoy and Shipium. The region's unique talent pool, supported by global companies and advances in technology, is fostering significant growth and investment in logistics startups.
Ex-Google Director Manish Sainani Launches AI Investment Firm Hushh Technologies; Nathan Brown Named CFO of Treasury4
Manish “Manny” Sainani, former Google director, launched Hushh Technologies, an AI-driven investment management startup, while Nathan Brown became CFO of Treasury4, a fintech company serving corporate finance professionals.
Seattle Startup Groundlight Uses AI, Strobe Lights, and Radio to Stop Raccoons Invading Home via Cat Door
A Seattle AI startup called Groundlight helped solve a homeowner's raccoon problem using a system combining strobe lights, public radio, and AI to prevent raccoons from entering through a microchip-detecting cat door. The raccoons had learned to bypass the specialized cat door's intruder mode, but the AI-based solution effectively deterred them.
Flyhomes Co-founder Stephen Lane Launches Tufa, an Affiliate Marketing Platform Supporting Caregivers After Surviving Brain Injury
Stephen Lane, co-founder of Flyhomes, survived a severe brain injury from a drunk driving accident and is now launching Tufa, a startup that enables users to donate to causes through cashback affiliate marketing. Tufa allows supporters to contribute to groups by shopping online with a browser extension that channels commissions to fundraising circles.
Seattle's Early-Stage Tech Startups Spotlighted, Including Glidance's $1.4M Fundraising and Kapta Space's Radar Innovations
This article highlights five promising early-stage tech startups in Seattle, including Glidance, Kapta Space, and Ruvtop, spanning sectors like mobility assistance, space radar technology, and sustainability. These startups showcase innovation and potential in the region's growing entrepreneurial landscape.
Elon Musk’s problem with Microsoft; What the GeekWire 200 says about the startup scene
This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we discuss Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI, which now includes Microsoft, and assess the complexities of the OpenAI-Microsoft partnership, as illustrated by early email exchanges revealed in the lawsuit. We also consider the latest update to the GeekWire 200, our ranked index of Pacific Northwest technology startups, including the rise of Highspot to the top spot, and other trends in the Seattle region's startup ecosystem. And we share highlights from tech events around the region this week, including the WTIA's 40th Anniversary, where Mayor Bruce Harrell addressed AI and the incoming presidential administration; and…
Highspot Takes No. 1 Spot on GeekWire 200 Startup Ranking After Outreach’s Layoffs and CEO Departure
Seattle-based sales enablement company Highspot has claimed the No. 1 spot on GeekWire's 200 ranking of privately held startups in the Pacific Northwest, replacing Outreach which recently downsized and saw its CEO step down. The GeekWire 200 ranking reflects changes in the dynamic startup landscape based on factors like funding, employee growth, and layoffs.
WTIA Marks 40 Years of Supporting Washington Tech Growth as CEO Michael Schutzler Retires
The Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) celebrated its 40th anniversary, marking its role in supporting Washington state's tech growth from the early days of Microsoft to today's tech giants. WTIA CEO Michael Schutzler is retiring after 11 years, with the association continuing to influence the state's tech-driven economy that now accounts for 21% of GDP and millions of jobs.
Three UW Foster School Students Awarded $15,000 Richard Tait Memorial Entrepreneurship Scholarship
Three University of Washington Foster School of Business students received the inaugural Richard Tait Memorial Entrepreneurship Scholarship, totaling $15,000, honoring the late Seattle entrepreneur Richard Tait. The recipients include one undergraduate and two graduate students pursuing ventures in areas such as climate change and leadership.
Jay Choi Named CEO of Typeform; Charley Daitch CEO of Rowan Digital Infrastructure; Allison Arnold Joins VertueLab Board
Jay Choi, former Qualtrics executive, is now CEO of Typeform, while Charley Daitch, ex-AWS director, became CEO of Rowan Digital Infrastructure, and Allison Arnold joined VertueLab's board.
Plug and Play Launches Two Startup Accelerators in Seattle with UW, SNBL, and SBI Holdings Partnership
Silicon Valley-based Plug and Play is launching two new startup accelerator programs in the Seattle region, partnering with the University of Washington and Japanese firms SNBL and SBI Holdings, to support early-stage tech startups, especially in AI. The initiatives include physical spaces, investment funds, and community events to leverage Seattle's growing tech ecosystem.
Seattle Cybersecurity Startup MIND Raises $11M Seed Round to Prevent Data Leaks with AI-Driven Solutions
Seattle-based cybersecurity startup MIND raised $11 million in a seed round to help companies protect sensitive unstructured data from leaks using algorithms and automation. Founded by three former Israeli military cyber experts, MIND counts clients like Guild, Akamai, and Lionbridge and is led by CEO Eran Barak, who previously founded Hexadite.
Microsoft's Early Focus on Software and Key 1980 Investment Meeting Shaped Its Rise to Tech Giant
This article explores Microsoft's early history, focusing on how its choice to develop software rather than hardware led to its success, highlighting key moments like Bill Gates securing investment support from David Marquardt in 1980. It also commemorates Microsoft's upcoming 50th anniversary with a series reflecting on its past, present, and future.
Microsoft’s startup story: A new look, with insights for today
This special edition of the GeekWire Podcast is the first in a four-episode series that we’ll be publishing in the months ahead as part of our year-long Microsoft @ 50 project, recognizing the company’s 50th anniversary in April 2025. On this episode, we’ll take a fresh look at Microsoft’s startup story with tech historian and author Margaret O’Mara of the University of Washington, author of The Code: Silicon Valley and the Remaking of America; plus highlights from a recent conversation with David Marquardt, Microsoft’s first outside investor and a longtime board member. Register here for our Microsoft @ 50 event…
Aquagga Names Former Intellectual Ventures Executive Dhileep Sivam as CEO to Commercialize PFAS Destruction Technology
Aquagga, a startup developing technology to destroy 99% of PFAS in contaminated water, has appointed Dhileep Sivam, a former Intellectual Ventures executive, as its new CEO to lead commercialization efforts. The company, founded in 2019, has received over $10 million from grants and customers and raised $1.1 million from investors.
Outreach Lays Off 9% of Workforce, Over 65 Employees, Amid Cost-Cutting at $4.4B Seattle Sales Startup
Outreach, a Seattle sales automation startup valued at $4.4 billion, laid off 9% of its workforce (over 65 employees) mainly in go-to-market roles as part of cost-cutting, bringing its headcount to 680 employees. The company has faced multiple layoffs in recent years and continues to compete in a challenging tech market amid industry-wide cuts.
Seattle Rises to Third in U.S. SaaS Startup Funding Rankings, Fifth in Overall Capital Raised
Seattle ranked third in SaaS startup funding based on Carta data for the first time, highlighting its growing strength in software innovation driven by major companies and AI talent. The city's overall funding position improved to fifth place nationally, signaling increased investment across tech sectors.
Microsoft Veteran Priyanka Kulkarni Launches Seattle AI Startup Casium to Simplify Work Visa Applications
Priyanka Kulkarni, a former Microsoft employee, launched the Seattle startup Casium in April to use AI for streamlining U.S. work visa applications, inspired by her own challenging visa process. By July, Casium had paying customers, aiming to transform how immigration paperwork is prepared and submitted with attorney collaboration.
Seattle Startup Moondream Raises $4.5M Pre-Seed to Develop Edge-Friendly Vision Language Model
Seattle startup Moondream raised $4.5 million in a pre-seed round to develop a 1.6 billion-parameter vision language model capable of running on edge devices. Led by CEO Jay Allen, an AWS veteran, the company aims to integrate vision AI into various industries including transportation, retail, and manufacturing.
Pure Watercraft, GM-Backed Electric Boat Startup, Enters Receivership and Liquidates Assets After $150M Investment
Seattle-based electric boat company Pure Watercraft, backed by General Motors, entered receivership on July 19, 2023, and is currently liquidating assets to satisfy creditors while shutting down major operations. Despite Pure's financial failure, industry insiders remain optimistic about the electric boating market.
People
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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
