Facts
- HQ
- Seattle
- Sectors
- Software Development
- Founded
- 2015
- Employees
- 33
Seattle Startup Gumshoe Raises $2M to Help Marketers Navigate AI Search Tool Recommendations
Seattle startup Gumshoe, led by Todd Sawicki and Patrick O’Donnell, raised $2 million to help marketers understand AI search tools' product recommendations and brand visibility. Their platform analyzes AI-generated conversations to reveal brand mentions, sources cited, and evolving trends in AI search, addressing marketers' concerns about the impact of AI on e-commerce and SEO.
Todd Owens, Ex-Navy Submarine Officer and Son of Admiral William Owens, Leads Seattle Health Tech Startup Kevala
Todd Owens, former U.S. Navy submarine officer and son of Admiral William Owens, is now CEO of Seattle-based health tech startup Kevala. His military leadership experience aboard the USS Pogy influences how he leads his company, which focuses on helping healthcare facilities manage workers.
Seattle Startup Potato Raises $4.5M to Develop AI and Robotics for Fully Automated Scientific Experiments
Seattle startup Potato raised $4.5 million to develop AI-driven automation for scientific research, aiming for fully autonomous experiments using AI assistants and robotics. They currently offer a platform assisting hypothesis generation and protocol creation, planning to expand into robotic lab work in partnership with Ginkgo Automation.
Seattle Startups Elora, Evvi Aftercare, and Realtie Advance AI, Pet Cremation, and Real Estate Solutions
Five Seattle-area startups are emerging in diverse sectors including caregiving AI, pet cremation services, real estate redevelopment, AI for consumer brands, and kid-focused smartphones. Notable companies include Elora, Evvi Aftercare, and Realtie, each progressing with pilots, partnerships, or funding rounds.
Seattle Startup Summit Highlights City's AI Strengths and Need for More Entrepreneurial Energy
At the inaugural Seattle Startup Summit, leaders like Statsig CEO Vijaye Raji and Acquired podcast co-host Ben Gilbert highlighted Seattle's strong AI ecosystem, anchored by tech giants Amazon and Microsoft, and specialization in biotech and disease research. Despite this, they noted the city could benefit from cultivating a more vibrant entrepreneurial culture to maximize its potential in AI innovation.
Madrona Venture Group Marks 30 Years with $770M Raised for New Funds, Continuing Strong Seattle Investments
Madrona Venture Group, a Seattle-based venture capital firm celebrating its 30th anniversary, has invested in major startups like Amazon and recently raised $770 million for two new funds to support about 40 investments. While expanding beyond the Pacific Northwest with a Palo Alto office, Madrona continues to focus most of its investments locally.
University of Washington Students Pitch AI and Tech Startups After 10-Week Entrepreneurship Course Led by Greg Gottesman
The University of Washington offers a popular 10-week entrepreneurship class led by venture capitalist Greg Gottesman, culminating in student pitches of tech startups at Pioneer Square Labs. The course attracted strong demand, featured high-profile guest speakers like Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, and highlighted trends such as AI and computer vision.
Seattle Venture Capitalists Say AI Boosts Startup Opportunities but Competition Is Fierce
Seattle-area venture capitalists highlight that AI advancements make now an excellent time to start startups due to lower capital needs and broad industry opportunities, but warn of intense competition as many similar ventures emerge rapidly. Founders are encouraged to develop unique advantages to stand out and attract investment amid a flood of new ideas and competitors.
Seattle's Foundations Launches Founder-in-Residence Program Without Equity Requirement for Early-Stage Startups
Seattle-based startup community Foundations has launched a new Founder-in-Residence program designed to support early-stage founders without requiring equity. The program offers mentorship, accepts companies at various development stages, and operates on a rolling basis with a typical six-month participation.
Seattle Startup Official AI Raises $2 Million to Advance AI-Powered Content Creation Platform
Official AI, a Seattle startup enabling brands and talent to create AI-generated image and audio content, raised $2 million in seed funding led by Pioneer Square Ventures. The funding will help scale its engineering team and enhance its patented vault technology for secure collaboration and rights management.
Seattle’s Madrona Venture Firm Absorbs Madrona Venture Labs After 10 Years, Following $770M Fundraise
Seattle’s Madrona venture firm has absorbed its startup studio Madrona Venture Labs after over 10 years of independent operation and 30 incubated startups. This restructuring aligns with Madrona’s recent $770 million fundraise to consolidate efforts under one organization amid Seattle’s growing startup ecosystem.
Conduit Venture Labs Expands with Conduit Beacon to Support External Hard-Tech Startups
Conduit Venture Labs, a Seattle-based startup studio founded in 2022 by Amish Patel and Susan Paley to launch hardware-focused companies, has expanded its services with Conduit Beacon to support external founders, companies, VCs, and research entities in scaling and de-risking hard-tech ventures.
Fortive Leads $2M Pre-Seed Round for Seattle Startup Glue, Founded by Ex-Tektronix VP David Sulpy, to Automate Hardware Testing
Glue, a Seattle startup led by former Tektronix exec David Sulpy, raised $2 million in a pre-seed round led by Fortive to advance its AI-driven hardware test automation software. The company originated from a collaboration between Fortive and Pioneer Square Labs to accelerate product testing and market readiness.
Seattle Startup Overland AI Raises $32M Series A to Develop Off-Road Autonomous Tech for U.S. Military
Seattle startup Overland AI raised $32 million in a Series A funding round led by 8VC to advance its off-road autonomous driving technology for the U.S. military. The company, founded in 2022, has contracts with the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, and DARPA to develop systems enabling robotic vehicles to operate in complex terrain without GPS or human drivers.
Seattle VCs, Including Pioneer Square Labs, Invest $8.5M in Denver Startup Kamiwaza to Boost Enterprise AI Adoption
Kamiwaza, a Denver-based startup founded in 2023, raised $8.5 million in a seed round led by S3 Ventures and Pioneer Square Labs to provide a software platform enabling enterprise AI adoption without major data migration. The company's tools support AI across cloud, on-premise, and edge infrastructure, serving Fortune 500 and government clients.
Seattle Spinout Certivo, Led by Kunal Chopra, Uses AI to Cut Compliance Management Costs by 90%
Certivo, a new Seattle-based spinout led by tech veteran Kunal Chopra and backed by Pioneer Square Labs and Fortive, uses AI to automate and streamline compliance management for manufacturers. Its platform offers cost-effective, multi-agent AI-driven solutions that integrate with major systems and provide real-time regulatory monitoring and predictive analysis.
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 Ever.green Advances Clean Energy Financing Amid Trump’s Fossil Fuel Support and IRA Uncertainty
Ever.green, a Seattle-based clean energy startup, remains optimistic about advancing climate projects despite President-elect Trump's support for fossil fuels and criticism of clean energy policies. The startup leverages the Inflation Reduction Act's tax credits to connect corporations with clean energy developers, navigating political uncertainties while noting strong Wall Street investment in the sector.
Julie Sandler to Shift from Managing Director to Venture Partner at Pioneer Square Labs in Late 2024
Julie Sandler, managing director at Pioneer Square Labs since 2017, will transition to a venture partner role in late 2024 while continuing to engage with the firm and its portfolio. She will also chair the Washington Roundtable next year, reflecting her ongoing influence in the Pacific Northwest tech and business communities.
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.
Former Blue Origin Vets Chris Le and Andrew Woodfield Launch Actuate Ventures to Fund and Support Space and Deep-Tech Startups
Former Blue Origin employees Chris Le and Andrew Woodfield launched Actuate Ventures, a venture studio focused on space and deep-tech startups, currently raising a $25 million fund. The studio combines incubation and investment to actively support emerging companies with specialized resources and expertise.
Pioneer Square Labs' Greg Gottesman Forecasts Generative AI Will Transform Venture Capital Operations by 2033
Greg Gottesman of Pioneer Square Labs predicts venture capital will fundamentally change in the next 5-10 years, increasingly leveraging generative AI to provide startups with more than just funding, including operational and coding support. Sheila Gulati of Tola Capital adds that early-stage investing is becoming more democratized, with a broader investor pool amid the recent AI-driven revival in venture capital.
Aviel Ginzburg and Team Launch Foundations to Foster Seattle’s Startup Community with In-Person Support Network
Foundations, a new startup community group led by Aviel Ginzburg and others in Seattle, aims to create a supportive 'serendipity factory' for early-stage founders by fostering in-person connections among entrepreneurs, mentors, and investors. The group hosted a launch party in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood to build a vibrant local tech startup ecosystem.
Seattle Startup Outgo Raises $15M and Secures $50M Credit Facility to Speed Cash Access for Trucking Carriers
Outgo, a Seattle-based startup providing banking services to trucking carriers, raised $15 million in a previously undisclosed funding round alongside a $50 million credit facility. The company offers finance software helping carriers access cash within hours and manages invoice processing with lower fees than traditional factoring companies.
Pioneer Square Labs Assembles Expert Technical Advisory Board Featuring Seattle Tech Leaders to Support Early-Stage Startups
Pioneer Square Labs has formed a new Technical Advisory Board comprising leading technology researchers, executives, and startup veterans to support its early-stage startups, with a focus on AI and technology innovation. The board includes prominent figures from the University of Washington, Microsoft, Google, and other notable tech companies.
People
See all 11-
Geoff Entress Founder, Co-founder and Venture Partner
-
Greg Gottesman Founder, Managing Director, Co-Founder
-
Julie Sandler Founder, Co-founder & General Partner, PSL Ventures, Former Managing Director , Venture Partner (upcoming), Venture Partner, Managing Director, PSL
