Facts
- HQ
- Seattle
- Sectors
- Technology, Information and Internet
- Founded
- 2004
- Employees
- 365
- Stage
- Public
- Founders
- Rand Fishkin, Gillian Muessig
Nearly All Seattle GeekWire 200 CEOs Report AI-Driven Productivity Gains, Citing Up to 30% Increases
A survey of GeekWire 200 CEOs reveals that nearly all Seattle-area startups are experiencing productivity gains from AI, with many integrating it across multiple departments despite varying adoption levels. The trend aligns with broader industry data showing increased AI use, while challenges like trustworthiness and workforce impact remain.
GeekWire Week in Review: Bill Gates Pledges $200B, Statsig Hits $1.1B Valuation, Seattle Startups Raise Millions in May 2025
This GeekWire Week in Review highlights top tech stories including Bill Gates' $200 billion philanthropy pledge, Seattle startups raising significant capital, and the emergence of new AI-driven unicorn Statsig valued at $1.1 billion. It also covers local news like a controversial Washington EV tax and cultural moments involving Seattle figures.
Rocket Companies Acquires Redfin for $1.75 Billion While Microsoft Launches Copilot AI on Xbox
Rocket Companies is acquiring Seattle-based Redfin for $1.75 billion, marking a major move in real estate technology. Additionally, Microsoft is integrating its Copilot AI technology into Xbox gaming, raising questions about its impact on the player experience.
3D-Modeling Startup Canvas Raises $10M Series A Led by Trilogy Equity, CEO Sarah Bird Since April 2024
Canvas, a Denver-based startup specializing in 3D measurement and modeling technology for architecture and construction, raised $10 million in Series A funding led by Trilogy Equity Partners. The company, led by former Moz CEO Sarah Bird since April 2024, operates with a global remote team and recently refocused its business entirely on software.
Former Moz CEO Sarah Bird Named CEO of 3D Home Modeling Tech Firm Canvas
Sarah Bird, former CEO of SEO software startup Moz, has been named CEO of Canvas, a Boulder-based company specializing in 3D home modeling technology using LiDAR scans. Bird left Moz in 2021, spent time on a sabbatical, and now aims to strengthen Canvas's leadership team while supporting its customers in remodeling and design.
Rand Fishkin of SparkToro on Shift AI Podcast: AI Should Reduce Work Hours and Enable Better Decision-Making
Rand Fishkin, CEO of SparkToro and former Moz co-founder, discusses on the Shift AI podcast how AI can reduce workload by automating busy work and enabling better decision-making. He emphasizes prioritizing quality decisions over long hours and shares insights on entrepreneurship, AI’s potential, and startup challenges.
Chill Work as the Path to Produtivity with Sparktoro CEO Rand Fishkin
In this episode of Shift AI, Rand Fishkin, Co-founder and CEO at SparkToro, shares his experience as a successful entrepreneur and offers insightful perspectives on the current state of generative AI, the challenges faced by VC-backed businesses and the importance of prioritizing the lives of founders and team members. sparktoro.com shitaipodcast.com simplyaugmented.com Connect with Rand Fishkin Twitter LinkedIn Connect with Boaz Ashkenazy Twitter LinkedIn Email: shift@simplyaugmented.com simplyaugmented.com shiftaipodcast.com
Brian Goldfarb named Tenable CMO; Elizabeth Hamren becomes Discord COO; Kurt DelBene confirmed as VA CIO; Madrona adds three strategic directors
Several tech industry hires and appointments: Brian Goldfarb is CMO at Tenable; Elizabeth Hamren is COO at Discord; Kurt DelBene confirmed as VA CIO; Madrona Venture Group added three strategic directors; Christina Mautz joined Panopto.
Sarah Bird departs Moz after 14 years and seven-plus years as CEO following June acquisition by iContact (J2 Global)
Sarah Bird is leaving Moz after 14 years at the Seattle SEO software startup, including more than seven years as CEO; Moz was acquired by iContact (a J2 Global subsidiary) this past June and Bird transitioned to EVP and chief revenue officer of the Moz Group before announcing her departure. She plans to take the winter off to rest and has no firm next steps yet.
GeekWire: Pacific Northwest records 55 exits and 282 VC deals this year, including Rad Power Bikes’ $154M round
GeekWire reports a surge in deal activity across the Pacific Northwest this year, tracking 55 acquisitions, SPACs, IPOs and private equity buyouts and 282 venture financings (nearly one per day). Notable transactions include Nintendo’s Jan. 5 acquisition of Next Level Games, BitTitan’s sale to Idera, and Rad Power Bikes’ $154 million funding round.
Aseem Datar leaves Microsoft to join Madrona Venture Group as partner; Madrona promotes Chris Picardo and hires Birkan Uzun; Jaime Teevan promoted to Microsoft CVP
Microsoft Azure GM and COO Aseem Datar is leaving Microsoft to join Madrona Venture Group as a partner later this month, while Madrona also promoted Chris Picardo to partner and hired Birkan Uzun as an investor; separately, Microsoft promoted Chief Scientist Jaime Teevan to corporate vice president. The article notes Datar’s 17+ years at Microsoft and prior roles, Picardo’s and Uzun’s backgrounds, and Teevan’s reaction to her promotion.
AI2 spinout MajorBoost raises $350,000 pre-seed to automate insurance calls for medical providers
MajorBoost, an AI2 spinout founded by Lekshmi Venu, Ben Hesketh and Andrew Palmer, uses AI to automate insurance phone calls for medical providers to reduce time lost to eligibility and claim inquiries; it received $350,000 in pre-seed funding from AI2 and is preparing a seed round while running private beta customers.
GeekWire 200 update: Remitly No. 3 as proposed IPO looms; Hootsuite debuts No. 6, Convoy rises to No. 7
GeekWire updated its GeekWire 200 list highlighting Pacific Northwest private tech startups amid record investment and M&A activity, with trends toward virtual experiences, at-home healthcare, remote education, and e-commerce. Notable rankings: Remitly at No. 3 (last valued $1.5B, proposed IPO), Hootsuite debuted at No. 6, Convoy rose to No. 7 (valued $2.75B in 2019), and Fabric jumped 26 spots to No. 95.
iContact (J2 Global subsidiary) acquires Seattle SEO firm Moz; terms undisclosed
Seattle SEO software startup Moz, founded in 2004 by Rand Fishkin and Gillian Muessig, was acquired by iContact (a J2 Global subsidiary); terms were not disclosed and Moz will keep its brand while joining J2’s email marketing portfolio. Moz, which employs 177 people, is profitable, serves clients like Alaska Airlines and Zillow, and will pair resources with iContact for combined search and email marketing solutions.
GeekWire 200: Auth0, Rover Among Top 10 but Set to ‘Graduate’ as Tanium and Outreach Climb
GeekWire’s monthly GeekWire 200 ranking shows established Pacific Northwest startups like Auth0 and Rover among the top 10 but poised to “graduate” after Okta’s acquisition and Rover’s SPAC IPO, while companies such as OfferUp, Moz, PayScale, Puppet and Clio are positioned to move up. The list highlights movers like Tanium and Outreach and notes recent major funding and leadership news across the region’s startups.
Wyze names former Nike exec Francis Lee as first CFO; OutSystems raises $150M at $9.5B valuation as CMO relocates to Seattle
Wyze Labs named longtime Nike executive Francis Lee as its first CFO as the Kirkland smart-home startup expands after a Series A; OutSystems closed a $150M funding round valuing it at $9.5B while moving CMO Robson Grieve to Seattle. Additional regional moves include Lisa Nelson joining Flying Fish Partners as a venture partner and Apptio naming Kevin Meeks chief customer officer.
Two Screens for Teachers raises support as founders seek $23M to supply 250,000 pandemic-strained educators; teen Avi Schiffmann built a widely used COVID-19 tracker
A roundup of positive tech, science, and education stories from 2020 highlights initiatives that helped during the pandemic, including Two Screens for Teachers providing monitors to school districts and a high school student, Avi Schiffmann, building a widely used COVID-19 tracker.
GeekWire Awards 2020 Goes Virtual; Ally Wins Startup of the Year as Bill Gates and Celebrities Celebrate
GeekWire held a virtual GeekWire Awards livestream honoring top Pacific Northwest tech companies and leaders across 12 categories, with winners accepting via Zoom and special video messages from figures like Bill Gates. Seattle startup Ally won Startup of the Year, and the event included entertainment such as The Drunken Tenorperforming an "Opera di Zoom."
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.
GeekWire 200 CEOs and execs from Accolade, PayScale, DreamBox, Auth0, Moz and others share COVID-19 leadership advice
GeekWire interviewed leaders from top Pacific Northwest startups on the GeekWire 200 about how they’re responding to the COVID-19 crisis, sharing actions taken, leadership principles, and cautious optimism. The piece presents company-by-company perspectives from executives at firms such as Accolade, PayScale, DreamBox Learning, Auth0, Moz, Act-On, Remitly, Puppet, DefinedCrowd, and Icertis.
Lost and Founder with Rand Fishkin
Rand Fishkin is the co-founder and former CEO of Seattle technology company Moz, and in his seventeen years in the startup world, he's learned a thing or two about being an entrepreneur. He shares some of those stories — personal and professional — in his new book, Lost and Founder, out April 24. Rand joins us on this episode of the GeekWire Podcast to talk about his unwavering dedication to transparency, the lessons he's learned as a founder and even his recent departure from Moz to found a new company, SparkToro. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
GeekWire Summit backstage: Satya Nadella, HQ2 and more
The 2017 GeekWire summit was our biggest yet, with keynoters including Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson and influential tech executives and thought leaders from around the country, including executives at Amazon. We lift the curtain and talk about our favorite moments on stage and behind the scenes on this episode of the Week In Geek. Follow all our coverage and read the stories we talked about this week at GeekWire.com Thank you to this week's sponsors: Winshuttle, the SAP data management experts — learn more at Winshuttle.com; Hughes Marino, the commercial real estate company now expanding to…
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