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Apple Appoints John Ternus as CEO in September to Lead $4 Trillion Company into AI Era
John Ternus will become Apple’s new CEO in September, tasked with preparing the $4 trillion company for the AI era, amid challenges with its AI voice assistant Siri and reliance on competitors' AI models. Previously, Ternus led key product developments including Mac transitions and Airpods.
Amazon to invest up to $25B in Anthropic as Anthropic pledges $100B in AWS spending over 10 years
Amazon will invest up to $25 billion in AI lab Anthropic (an immediate $5B plus $20B tied to milestones) while Anthropic commits to spend over $100 billion on AWS cloud services, including Trainium chips and up to 5 GW of compute, over the next ten years.
Seattle Startups Raised $1.5B in Q1 2026 with Lowest Deal Count Since 2020, Ranking 7th in VC Capital Invested
Seattle-area startups raised $1.5 billion across 69 deals in Q1 2026, marking the lowest deal count since mid-2020 amid a trend of larger funding rounds concentrated in fewer companies, particularly in AI. The Seattle region ranked seventh nationally by capital invested but tenth by deal count, reflecting a national pattern of venture capital focusing on a small number of high-profile startups.
JLL Report Names Seattle a Top Global Tech 'Reinforcer' but Flags Shortage of Premium Office Space
Seattle has risen to a 'reinforcer' status in JLL's Innovation Geographies report, outpacing cities like New York and London in talent migration. However, the city faces a bottleneck for tech expansion due to a shortage of premium, investment-grade office space with limited new construction and rising rents.
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.
OpenAI's $1.1B Statsig Acquisition and Other Billion-Dollar Deals Finalists for 2026 GeekWire Deal of the Year
The 2026 GeekWire Awards feature finalists including billion-dollar deals by OpenAI and others, a rare Seattle-area IPO, and a $5 billion mega-round, all recognized for their significant impact on Northwest tech. Voting for the Deal of the Year, which highlights key transactions in innovation, runs through April 16.
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.
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.
Stoke Space adds $350M to Series D, taking October round to $860M to speed Nova production and launch-pad activation
Kent-based reusable rocket startup Stoke Space added $350 million to its October Series D, bringing that round to $860 million to accelerate production of its reusable Nova rocket and activate Launch Complex 14; the company has raised over $1.1 billion since January last year.
Amazon Announces $200 Billion AI Infrastructure Investment Amid Microsoft Market Value Drop and AI Industry Insights from Oren Etzioni
Amazon plans $200 billion in capital expenses this year mainly to expand AI infrastructure, while Microsoft experiences a significant market value drop due to OpenAI reliance. AI expert Oren Etzioni discusses AI agents, deepfakes, and AI industry dynamics in a GeekWire Podcast interview.
OpenAI Expands Bellevue Office to 296,000 Sq Ft, Strengthening Seattle-Area Presence Near Microsoft and Amazon
OpenAI has signed a large lease to expand its Bellevue office to nearly 300,000 square feet, allowing space for over 1,000 employees as it strengthens ties with Microsoft and Amazon in the Seattle region. The expansion follows recent investments and partnerships, including a $38 billion cloud deal with Amazon and a $1 billion acquisition of Seattle startup Statsig.
Ascend survey: 89% of ~70 early-stage VC-backed startups use AI, many reporting 25–60% smaller teams than in 2021
An Ascend survey of ~70 mostly early-stage, West Coast VC-backed startups finds 89% use AI—often multiple models—to reduce headcount needs and hiring plans, with many founders reporting 25–60% fewer employees required versus 2021 and engineering, marketing, and customer support most affected.
Crunchbase: Over 40% of 2026 Seed and Series A Rounds Exceed $100M as AI Startups Attract Mega-Funding
Crunchbase data shows that in 2026 over 40% of seed and Series A rounds are $100 million or larger, driven largely by AI startups. Recent examples include Humans& ($480M seed), Ricursive Intelligence ($300M Series A) and Merge Labs ($252M seed), while mega-investments from SoftBank and cross-investments among Musk-led companies highlight escalating capital flows and concentration.
Unsealed Documents Reveal AWS as OpenAI's Original Partner Before Microsoft; Satya Nadella Debuts New AI Catchphrase
Newly unsealed court documents reveal that Amazon Web Services was OpenAI's original partner before Microsoft, as discussed on the GeekWire Podcast. The episode also covers Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's new AI catchphrase, Elon Musk's comments on aliens, and developments in Seattle-area physical AI startups.
Anthony Bontrager: 2023 "Great Reset" became a rapid VC reinvention as AI upended valuations, governance, and scaling
Anthony Bontrager reflects on his January 2023 "Great Reset" forecast, saying venture capital not only corrected but transformed as AI accelerated a faster, larger shift than he expected. He highlights valuation bifurcation favoring AI narratives, intensified AI-focused due diligence and governance, a return to profitability, and predicts continued upheaval into 2026 after a 2023 purge and subsequent AI-driven divergence.
2025 Tech Year-End: AI Boom, $80 Billion Bets, and Seattle's Shifting Job Landscape Highlight Industry's Brutal Realities
The year 2025 was pivotal in technology history, marked by AI's rapid ascent, significant investments, tech industry layoffs, and evolving job impacts, particularly in Seattle. Key perspectives from Bill Gates and Satya Nadella highlight AI's transformative nature and the industry's complex challenges and opportunities.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Explored Investing in Seattle’s Stoke Space for Orbital Data Centers to Challenge SpaceX in 2024
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman explored investing in Seattle startup Stoke Space to develop orbital data centers, aiming to compete with SpaceX and other tech giants in space-based AI data processing. Talks occurred in 2024 but are currently inactive, reflecting a growing tech interest in off-Earth data infrastructures.
Seattle Startup Founders Discuss Fundraising, Hiring, and Return-to-Office Strategies at GeekWire Fremont Event
Seattle startup founders shared insights on fundraising, hiring, and navigating challenges such as talent acquisition and return-to-office policies during a GeekWire event in Fremont. Several CEOs highlighted successful capital raises in 2023, mixed approaches to in-office work, and the importance of networks amid a competitive talent market.
OpenAI Acquires Seattle Startup Statsig for $1.1 Billion Amid Its Unique Five-Day In-Office Work Policy
Seattle-area startup Statsig, acquired by OpenAI for $1.1 billion, mandates five-day-a-week in-office work, contrasting with common hybrid models. CEO Vijaye Raji credits this policy for fostering strong collaboration, faster decision-making, and a high-performing culture.
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.
Robotics Startup FieldAI Valued at $2 Billion After $405 Million Funding Led by Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos
FieldAI, a California-based robotics startup backed by Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and others, raised $405 million, valuing the company at $2 billion. The company develops unique foundation models that enable various robots to operate autonomously in dynamic and unstructured environments across multiple industries.
Token Talk 29: Thomas Stahura Says GPT-5 Won’t Kill Enterprise SaaS — Moats Still Live in Data, Compliance, and Integrations
The author argues GPT-5, while technically strong and capable of rapid prototyping, won’t make enterprise SaaS obsolete because the real value and moat lie in data, reliability, compliance, integrations, and post-demo workflows. Open models are closing the gap with closed ones, OpenAI released two open-source gpt-oss models, and the market should expect SaaS vendors to survive by owning the ‘messy middle.’
People
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Kevin Weil Executive, Former Vice President of OpenAI for Science, Vice President
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Vijaye Raji Executive, CTO of Applications
