Microsoft
Facts
- HQ
- NASDAQ:MSFT
- Sectors
- Technology, Workplace tools, Cloud
- Founded
- 1975
- Employees
- 221000
- Stage
- Public
University of Washington’s CoMotion Labs Announces Eight Startups in Second Climate Tech Incubator Cohort
University of Washington’s CoMotion Labs has launched its second Climate Tech Incubator cohort, supporting eight startups focused on diverse sustainability challenges such as EV adoption and sustainable packaging. The six-month program, based at the Seattle Climate Innovation Hub, helps startups develop business plans and partnerships, culminating in a demo day in September.
GeekWire Names Helion, OCOChem, TerraPower, Ravel, and IUNU as 2026 Sustainable Innovation Award Finalists
The finalists for GeekWire's 2026 Sustainable Innovation Award are energy companies Helion, OCOChem, TerraPower; fashion recycler Ravel; and agtech startup IUNU, recognized for their work combating climate change and sustainability challenges. The award, sponsored by Amazon, highlights Pacific Northwest leaders and culminates in a May 7 celebration in Seattle, with public voting open until April 16.
AI Startup Oumi, Founded by Microsoft and Google Veterans, Launches Platform for Custom AI Models
Seattle-based AI startup Oumi, founded by veterans from Microsoft and Google, launched a commercial platform focused on building custom AI models. The company aims to outperform general-purpose AI from providers like OpenAI and Anthropic by specializing in smaller, tailored models.
Starcloud Raises $170M, Reaches $1.1B Valuation to Build Solar-Powered Space Data Centers
Starcloud, a Redmond-based startup building solar-powered space data centers, raised $170 million to reach a $1.1 billion valuation just 17 months after its Y Combinator demo day. The company demonstrated AI computing in orbit with its Starcloud-1 satellite and plans a more powerful Starcloud-2 launch later this year.
Pay-i Founder David Tepper Wins GeekWire’s AI Startup Pitch Competition with Advanced AI Spend Management Platform
At GeekWire’s Agents of Transformation event in Seattle, four AI startups—Pay-i, Cascade, Autessa, and GemaTEG—pitched their ideas to a panel of judges, with Pay-i founder David Tepper winning for his AI spend management platform that accurately tracks AI costs beyond token usage. Judges praised Tepper for his strong presentation skills and ability to answer questions under pressure.
GeekWire 2026 Innovation of the Year Finalists Include Alpenglow Biosciences and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
The 2026 GeekWire Awards announced finalists for Innovation of the Year, including Alpenglow Biosciences, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, RevealDx, Starcloud, and VerAvanti, recognized for breakthroughs in healthcare and data center technology. The awards event will be held on May 7 in Seattle, with public voting open through April 10.
GeekWire Hosts Agents of Transformation AI Summit in Seattle on March 24 Featuring Microsoft, AWS, and OpenAI Leaders
GeekWire's Agents of Transformation summit in Seattle on March 24 will explore how agentic AI is reshaping work, creativity, and leadership through keynote talks, panels, and demos featuring leaders from Microsoft, AWS, and OpenAI. The half-day event includes fireside chats, startup pitches, and networking opportunities with industry experts and sponsors like Accenture and Nebius.
Vantari Relocates Headquarters to Seattle to Expand VR Medical Training Across North America with Harvard, Yale, and Others as Clients
Vantari, a VR startup founded in 2017, has moved its headquarters from Sydney to Seattle to expand its healthcare training software across North America. Its VR platform, used by top medical centers including Harvard and Yale, simulates medical procedures with AI guidance and realistic controls to improve clinician training.
Seattle Startup Certiv Raises $4.2M to Secure AI Agents on Employee Devices, Led by Jason Needham
Seattle startup Certiv secured $4.2 million in funding to develop security software that monitors and controls AI agents on employee computers, led by CEO Jason Needham. Founded in June 2025, Certiv's technology enforces company policies to prevent unauthorized actions by AI agents and has already begun enterprise pilot deployments.
Taylor Soper Named Director of Seattle’s AI House at AI2 Incubator After 13 Years at GeekWire
Taylor Soper is leaving GeekWire after more than 13 years as a reporter and editor to become director of AI House at AI2 Incubator, a key hub for AI founders and researchers in Seattle. His deep connections in the Seattle tech scene and editorial leadership will support his new role in the AI community.
UW Students Pitch AI Startup Ideas to Seattle Venture Capitalists After 10-Week Program at Pioneer Square Labs
University of Washington students from seven teams pitched AI-driven startup ideas to influential Seattle investors at Pioneer Square Labs, concluding a 10-week entrepreneurship program led by venture capitalist Greg Gottesman and UW professor Ed Lazowska. The event featured realistic pitch rounds, attracting prominent tech leaders as guests throughout the course.
Tim Chen’s Essence VC Raises New $7 Million Fund to Boost Infrastructure Startup Investments
Essence VC, led by Tim Chen, is raising a new $7 million fund to lead larger pre-seed rounds and have greater investment flexibility, focusing on infrastructure startups. This fund is separate from their previous $41 million fund raised last year.
Five Contractors Sue Bill Gates-Backed Modern Hydrogen for $363,458 in Unpaid Invoices After Contract Terminations
Five contractors are suing Modern Hydrogen, a Seattle clean energy startup backed by Bill Gates, for unpaid final invoices totaling over $363,458. The lawsuits follow sudden contract terminations amid Gates' reduced focus on climate initiatives and the company's halted projects.
Amperity Names Bridget Perry CMO; Gong Promotes Simon Frey; Elizabeth Scallon Joins Nvidia Healthcare AI
Amperity appointed Bridget Perry as CMO, Gong promoted Simon Frey to chief customer officer, and Elizabeth Scallon joined Nvidia as director of healthcare AI startups. These leadership changes highlight significant executive movements in Pacific Northwest tech companies.
Seattle Startup Radar Highlights AI-Driven Ventures Like The Carry’s $299 Fitness Vest and Color42’s Music Video AI with 1,000 Users
Several Seattle-area startups led by founders such as Esther Sedgwick of The Carry and Prince Bajracharya of Color42 are leveraging AI across diverse sectors including fitness, music marketing, and autonomous debugging. These companies are at early stages with products launching this year and are receiving feedback from a GPT-powered critic called 'Mean VC' to refine their market strategies.
Anthropic Acquires Seattle AI Startup Vercept Amid Investor Feud as Research Warns of AI Job Crisis by 2028
Anthropic acquired Seattle startup Vercept, raising questions about AI startup competition and ecosystem impact, while a research paper warns of AI-driven white-collar job losses by 2028. Additionally, revelations include Microsoft's past Epstein connections and a retrospective on the original Xbox unveiling.
Anthropic Acquires Seattle AI Startup Vercept to Boost Claude’s Desktop Automation Capabilities
Anthropic has acquired Seattle AI startup Vercept, integrating its desktop 'computer use' technology and team to enhance Claude's ability to perform multi-step tasks within live applications. As part of the deal, Vercept will shut down its Vy application and encourage users to switch to Claude.
Temporal Raises $300M Series D Led by Andreessen Horowitz, Valued at $5B Amid AI Infrastructure Surge
Temporal, led by CEO Samar Abbas, raised $300 million in a Series D round at a $5 billion valuation, driven by surging demand for its durable execution infrastructure supporting AI agents. The company’s revenue grew over 380% year-over-year as it positions itself as a core infrastructure provider for the emerging AI agent platform shift.
Sana Biotechnology Appoints Brian Piper as CFO; Aptevo CEO Marvin White to Step Down in April; Violett Names Scott Kushino CEO
Brian Piper was appointed CFO and executive vice president at Sana Biotechnology, while Marvin White will step down as Aptevo CEO in April, succeeded by COO Jeff Lamothe. Additionally, Scott Kushino became CEO of Seattle startup Violett, and several other leadership changes occurred across Seattle and New York tech companies.
Tech Veteran Joe Nguyen Named Seattle Metropolitan Chamber CEO to Drive Regional Economic Growth and Address Business-Political Divides
Joe Nguyen, former Washington State director of commerce and tech veteran, has become president and CEO of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce to focus on driving the economic engine of the Puget Sound region. He aims to bridge divides between business and politics and secure economic opportunities for future generations amid evolving challenges like AI.
Temporal Raises $300M at $5B Valuation to Support Reliable AI Agent Workflows in Production
Temporal raised $300 million in a Series D round led by Andreessen Horowitz, doubling its valuation to $5 billion by supporting reliable execution for AI systems. The Bellevue-based company's software powers long-running workflows for clients like OpenAI, with revenue and usage surging significantly as AI agent deployments grow.
Seattle Startup Certivo Raises $4M Seed Round Led by Suffolk Technologies to Automate Supply Chain Compliance with AI
Seattle startup Certivo raised $4 million in seed funding led by Suffolk Technologies to expand its AI-powered platform automating supply chain compliance. Founded in 2024 and led by CEO Kunal Chopra, Certivo aims to replace manual compliance with its AI-native system called CORA, targeting manufacturers facing evolving regulatory requirements.
Highspot to Merge with Seismic in Major Sales Software Deal Led by Seismic CEO Rob Tarkoff
Seattle-based enterprise software companies Highspot and Seismic have signed a definitive agreement to merge, with the combined company operating under the Seismic name and led by Seismic CEO Rob Tarkoff. The merger unites two major revenue enablement platforms, with Highspot CEO Robert Wahbe joining the board and Permira remaining as controlling shareholder.
Ironwood Studios Raises $4 Million Seed Round Led by Lifelike Capital to Develop Next Game After Pacific Drive's 1.5M Sales
Seattle-based Ironwood Studios raised $4 million in seed funding led by Lifelike Capital to finance its next game following the success of Pacific Drive, which has sold over 1.5 million units since its February 2024 release. Pacific Drive, a driving survival game with no traditional combat, is also being adapted for TV by filmmaker James Wan.
Seattle Faces Risk of Decline Like Cleveland Due to Civic Complacency and Strained Tech-Government Relations Amid AI Competition
The article warns that Seattle could follow Cleveland’s decline if it fails to address civic complacency, strained government-tech relations, and lack of focus on future industries, especially in the evolving AI landscape. Cleveland, once a powerhouse city, experienced rapid economic and population decline due to similar issues, serving as a cautionary example.
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
