Microsoft
Facts
- Sectors
- Technology, Workplace tools, Cloud
- Founded
- 1975
- Employees
- 221000
- Stage
- Public
Daniel Kihanya launches Founders Unfound podcast to spotlight underrepresented founders and counter racial bias
Seattle entrepreneur Daniel Kihanya hosts the Founders Unfound podcast to showcase personal stories of underrepresented founders—especially Black entrepreneurs—to counteract racial bias in startup funding and hiring. By highlighting founders’ backgrounds and character, the biweekly interviews aim to replace surface credibility shortcuts with richer evidence of track records and potential.
WiBotic raises $5.7M Series A to scale wireless charging and fleet power software for robots and drones
Seattle-based WiBotic raised $5.7 million in Series A funding to accelerate development of its near-field wireless charging stations and fleet power-management software for robots and drones, bringing total funding to nearly $9 million. The company, spun out of the University of Washington five years ago, says its technology enables scalable, contactless charging useful for automated deployments and COVID-19–era social distancing.
Uplevel launches remote-work analytics to track engineers' 'always on' hours, isolation, and throughput
Seattle startup Uplevel, which emerged from stealth earlier this year, added new analytics features to measure developer productivity and wellbeing in remote work settings, tracking metrics like messaging hours, meeting attendance, and engineering throughput. The tools aim to help managers detect overwork, isolation, and workflow bottlenecks caused by increased digital interruptions and home distractions.
Manny Vellon, Princeton‑trained engineer and Seattle startup CTO, dies at 60 after four-decade tech career
Manny Vellon, a Princeton-trained software engineer and longtime Seattle startup founder and CTO, was remembered for solving complex technical problems simply and for his calm, integrity-driven leadership. Colleagues praised his four-decade career from early Microsoft work to IoT, and his supportive, nonprescriptive mentorship at companies including Likewise Software and Level 11.
Seattle technologists and restaurateur launch Off Their Plate and FoodPair to route meals from struggling restaurants to healthcare workers and vulnerable residents
During the COVID-19 pandemic Seattle technologists and restaurant owners launched donation-driven projects to connect struggling restaurants with people in need, including healthcare workers, low-income children, seniors and people experiencing homelessness. Initiatives include Off Their Plate, which provided over 8,600 meals to local healthcare workers, and FoodPair, a new startup from Expedia Group's Katherine Cheng and co-founder Marie Gill to match donors, restaurants and recipients.
Seattle Startup CEOs Condemn Racism, Urge Action and Investment in Black Founders After George Floyds Death
Seattle startup leaders publicly condemned racism after George Floyd’s death and pledged concrete actions — including learning, speaking up, and pushing for investments in entrepreneurs of color — while noting tech’s role in inequality and recent moves like SoftBank’s $100 million fund.
Tech Veteran Dick Hardt Launches SignIn.org to Add a Privacy-Protecting Identity Layer Between Apps and Providers
Veteran technologist Dick Hardt, founder of companies including Sxip Identity and ActiveState, is building SignIn.org to provide a privacy-protecting abstraction layer between apps and large identity providers so users can choose and switch providers without exposing their data. He argues the internet lacks an identity layer, that password growth and identity theft are serious problems, and that a technical trust architecture (rather than governance) could enable broader adoption.
Tribute CEO Sarah Haggard ties for $140,000 top prize at Seattle Angel Conference XVII and wins Audience Choice
Sarah Haggard, founder and CEO of mentorship startup Tribute, advises taking bold steps toward big goals and recently tied for the top prize at Seattle Angel Conference XVII, winning $140,000 and the Audience Choice award. Tribute, launched in January 2018, aims to provide a real-time digital mentorship platform for remote workers to find on-demand help and better-aligned advice.
Hiya names Hillery Nye GC and John Novak SVP of Marketing; Unity hires Scott Pitasky; Bellevue College appoints Gary Locke interim president
Seattle caller-ID startup Hiya hired Hillery Nye as general counsel and John Novak as SVP of marketing; Unity Technologies named Scott Pitasky chief people officer. Bellevue College appointed former Washington governor Gary Locke as interim president starting June 15.
Madrona Venture Labs spinout Weekdays and other startups build tech to help parents manage childcare gaps during COVID-19
Seattle startup studio Madrona Venture Labs and spinout Weekdays are among tech entrepreneurs building services to help working parents handle childcare challenges compounded by COVID-19 — from closed schools and canceled camps to safety worries and financial strain. Single parents like Maria Hess report daily struggles juggling work and parenting, driving increased demand for tech-enabled in-home caregiver matching and other solutions.
University of Washington-Bothell and iInnovate Network report: Seattle tech, health and life-sciences grew in 2019 but COVID-19 threatens startups
The fifth annual Seattle Tech Ecosystem Report from University of Washington-Bothell School of Business and iInnovate Network finds Seattle’s tech, health and life-sciences sectors continued growing in 2019, with STEM jobs, GDP and venture investment strength, but warns COVID-19 creates uncertain short- and long-term impacts on startups and hiring. The report highlights local resources and notes many startups face cash-runway pressures while major firms like Microsoft and Amazon may weather the crisis and gain share.
DefinedCrowd raises $50.5M Series B to scale crowd-powered AI training data for Mastercard, BMW and other Fortune 500s
Seattle-based DefinedCrowd raised $50.5 million in Series B funding to expand its AI training data platform that uses machine learning plus a 290,000-strong global crowd to provide datasets in 50 languages. Revenue grew over 650% in 2019, headcount more than doubled to 265 with plans to reach 500 employees and expand offices despite the pandemic.
MDMetrix raises $1.1M from Vulcan Capital and Seattle investors to scale COVID-19 Mission Control
Seattle startup MDMetrix raised $1.1 million from Vulcan Capital and other local investors to expand use of its COVID-19 Mission Control software, which analyzes hospital operational data to improve capacity and patient treatment.
Microsoft’s M12 Leads $700,000 Round for Venture Out, Seattle 12-Week Program Helping Corporate Tech Workers Launch Startups
Venture Out is a Seattle-based 12-week program that helps corporate tech workers launch startups by providing mentorship, requiring 10–20 hours/week commitment, and taking 4% equity. The organization raised $700,000 in a round led by Microsoft’s M12 and is accepting applications for a second cohort starting July 13.
Nautilus Biotechnology raises $76M Series B led by Vulcan Capital; Bezos Expeditions among investors, total funding tops $100M
Nautilus Biotechnology, co-founded by Stanford scientist Parag Mallick and Isilon co-founder Sujal Patel, revealed a platform to study the human proteome and announced a $76 million Series B led by Vulcan Capital with participation from Bezos Expeditions, Perceptive Advisors and others. The round brings total funding above $100 million for the 50-person startup as it exits stealth to accelerate proteomics-driven therapeutics development.
T-Mobile, Intel and NASA launch 5G Open Innovation Lab in Bellevue to run 12-week non-equity startup accelerator
T-Mobile, Intel, and NASA launched the 5G Open Innovation Lab in Bellevue, Washington, a 12-week, non-equity startup program providing resources, capital, and partner collaboration to help entrepreneurs prototype and learn about 5G applications. The lab offers partners early access to cohort companies and aims to accelerate 5G-driven innovations across industries.
Madrona, Microsoft Ventures and Salesforce Ventures lead $40M Series C for online training platform GO1
Madrona Venture Group, Microsoft’s and Salesforce’s venture arms joined a $40 million Series C for online training platform GO1, which serves 3,000+ organizations and has seen engagement triple amid the COVID-19 remote-learning surge.
Smartsheet CFO Jennifer Ceran joins Auth0 board; Auth0 hires three execs; Outreach opens NYC office led by David Rubinstein
Smartsheet CFO Jennifer Ceran joined the board of Bellevue identity provider Auth0 as she prepares to retire, and Auth0 added three senior hires: Holly Files (SVP customer success), Cassio Sampaio (VP product) and Ken Oestreich (VP product marketing). Separately, Seattle sales-engagement firm Outreach is opening a New York City office led by David Rubinstein as part of its U.S. and international expansion.
Pioneer Square Labs and Fortive launch joint innovation studio to build spinout companies, starting with a COVID-19 workplace-safety concept
Seattle startup studio Pioneer Square Labs (PSL) has partnered with publicly traded industrial company Fortive to form a joint innovation studio that will build and spin out new companies and products, starting with a confidential workplace-safety concept prompted by COVID-19. PSL will apply its in-house startup studio model to create standalone venture-backed businesses or concepts Fortive may acquire, while Fortive aims to accelerate innovation and cultural change.
PDM Automotive and Tribute each win $132,500 at first-ever virtual 17th Seattle Angel Conference
PDM Automotive and Tribute each won $132,500 at the 17th Seattle Angel Conference, the event's first held virtually; the five-month program ran on Zoom with 53 applicant companies and 44 participating investors.
SirionLabs raises $44M Series C to open Seattle tech hub, hires Cloudera and Google/Microsoft veterans
Contract-management startup SirionLabs raised $44 million in a Series C round to open a Seattle-area technology center and expand its U.S. presence, hiring senior leaders from Cloudera, Microsoft and Google. The eight-year-old company, which manages 3.5 million contracts for clients like BP and Vodafone, has grown customers 4X in 18 months and has raised $66 million total.
Grammarly makes first-ever investment, joins $10M seed round in Seattle AI startup Docugami
Grammarly made the first investment in its 11-year history by participating in a $10 million seed round for Seattle AI document-engineering startup Docugami, reflecting shared goals between CEOs Brad Hoover and Jean Paoli. The companies currently have no short-term product partnership plans but may collaborate in the future.
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.
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.
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.
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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Dan Lewis Executive, Corporate Vice President
