Plug and Play Ventures
Facts
- HQ
- Sunnyvale, California
- Sectors
- Startup support, Corporate innovation, Venture capital, University engagement, Government engagement
Plug and Play Seattle selects 11 startups for 12-week Batch 4, including Tokyo’s Aeterlink; demo day Dec. 3
Plug and Play Seattle selected 11 startups for its fourth 12-week accelerator cohort—10 from Seattle and one from Tokyo—working on technologies from space robotics and data-center optical links to wireless power and antibody therapeutics, with the program running through mid-December and a demo day on Dec. 3 at the Boeing Future of Flight.
Mafix raises $5.4M pre-seed led by Azolla Ventures to commercialize carbon-negative silicon fertilizers
Mafix, a Seattle-based maker of carbon-negative silicon fertilizers and mineral products, raised $5.4M in a pre-seed round led by Azolla Ventures on August 24, 2026. The company will use proceeds to demonstrate production of 1,000 tons of fertilizer, scale its mineral conversion process across feedstocks, and develop next-generation products.
Jade Marcus announces Mafix closed a $5.4M+ pre-seed round to scale silicate-rock fertilizer
Mafix announced it closed a $5.4M+ pre-seed round to scale production of a silicate-rock-based fertilizer that rebuilds soil health, raises yields, and permanently removes CO₂ as it breaks down. Funding will expand their chemistry platform and team, led by investors including Azolla Ventures and Counteract.
Mafix raises $5.4M pre-seed to commercialize silicon fertilizer that boosts soil health and removes CO2
Mafix, a Stanford spin-out, raised $5.4 million in a pre-seed round to scale production of a silicon-based fertilizer that speeds silicate rock weathering for soil and crop benefits and can convert CO2 to stable bicarbonate. The Seattle agtech will use cement kilns to produce at least 1,000 tons for larger field trials while leveraging idle kiln capacity to reduce scale-up costs.
Mafix raises $5.4M pre-seed to commercialize silicon fertilizers that remove CO2 and boost crop yields
Mafix raised $5.4 million in pre-seed funding led by Azolla Ventures to commercialize silicon-based fertilizers that accelerate rock weathering, remove atmospheric CO2 as stable bicarbonate, and improve soil health and crop yields.
Mafix raises $5.4M pre-seed led by Azolla Ventures to commercialize carbon‑negative silicon fertilizers and scale a 1,000‑ton demo
Mafix, a Stanford-developed industrial startup, raised $5.4M in pre-seed funding led by Azolla Ventures to commercialize a proprietary process that converts abundant silicate rocks into carbon-negative silicon fertilizers; the company will produce a 1,000-ton demonstration batch to restore soil health, boost yields, and sequester CO2 as stable bicarbonate.
TIME Releases 2026 Ranking of America’s 350 Top Venture Capital Firms Using Fundraising, Investments, Performance, and Leadership Metrics
TIME is publishing its second annual ranking of America’s 350 Top Venture Capital Firms, based on a 2026 methodology that weights fundraising, investments, performance, and leadership. The piece highlights VC’s outsized role in U.S. market capitalization and R&D, noting nearly $3.5 trillion in global VC assets and the industry’s opaque nature for allocators and founders.
CoMotion announces Startup Spotlight at Seattle Tech Week featuring 25 UW and CoMotion-affiliated startups
Seattle Tech Week’s Startup Spotlight, hosted by CoMotion with Plug and Play and Creative Destruction Lab–Seattle, showcased 25 UW- and CoMotion-affiliated startups demonstrating innovations across AI, biotech, climate tech, fintech, robotics, and more. The expo highlighted lab-to-market progress from founders addressing challenges like PFAS destruction, drug discovery, autonomous systems, and financial inclusion.
Seattle Tech Week 2026 Draws ~250 Events Over Five Days, Showcasing City’s Tech Talent and Innovation
Seattle Tech Week 2026 ran five days with roughly 250 events across diverse venues, celebrating Seattle’s dense tech talent and community connections while highlighting themes from founders, investors, and academics. Organizers view the event as a community-led showcase that reinforced Seattle’s historic and ongoing contributions to cloud, AI, and other innovations.
Ascend series: Seattle’s ‘Third Act’ — physical AI startups on Lake Union signal a shift toward software-enabled hardware
The piece reports from Lake Union to argue Seattle is entering a third industrial era—'physical AI'—where hardware-enabled intelligent machines mix with legacy maritime and aerospace industries, exemplified by startups like Overland, Anduril, Brinc, and Endurance Energy. The authors say Seattle has the talent, infrastructure, and institutions to lead but needs more risk-taking, investor capital for hardware, and pro-innovation policy to fully capitalize on this shift.
Cashea raises $100M — $40M Series A (Spice Expeditions/Architect Capital) and $60M Series B (FinSight Ventures) to expand in Venezuela
Cashea, a Venezuela-based fintech offering interest-free installment financing, raised $100 million across a previously undisclosed $40 million Series A and a $60 million Series B to expand consumer credit and its digital commerce platform in Venezuela.
Archimede Raises €1.5M Seed Round Led by Primo Capital SGR to Scale Off-Grid Infrastructure Monitoring Platform
Archimede, a Sicily-based startup developing software and hardware for off-grid infrastructure monitoring, raised €1.5 million in a Seed round led by Primo Capital SGR to enhance its teams, industrialize products, and expand internationally. Founded in 2024, Archimede's platform integrates energy management, satellite connectivity, and low-code software for remote asset control.
SE3 Labs, Backed by Lakestar and Seedcamp, Launches Spatial AI Platform for Autonomous Systems with German Bundeswehr Contract
SE3 Labs, backed by investors including Lakestar and Seedcamp, has launched a spatial AI platform that enhances autonomous systems' ability to perceive and act in complex environments, with applications across defense, public safety, and industry. The hardware-agnostic platform is already contracted by the German Bundeswehr and supports aerial, ground, and mixed autonomous swarms.
Barcelona’s Kalipso Raises $3.2M to Enhance Regulatory Compliance Platform for Global Enterprises
Barcelona-based regulatory technology platform Kalipso has raised $3.2 million from investors including Varsity, Lanai, Plug and Play, Kima Ventures, and Vento to help organizations operationalize and continuously manage complex regulatory changes through a unified platform. The tool offers real-time regulatory intelligence and supports global compliance, addressing growing challenges faced by legal and compliance teams, especially in Europe.
Neuralwatt, Led by Microsoft Veterans, Launches First Real-Time AI Carbon Emissions Tracker to Reduce Data Center Footprint
Seattle-based startup Neuralwatt, founded by Microsoft veterans Chad Gibson and Scott Chamberlin, launched the first real-time carbon emissions tracker for individual AI requests to help reduce data center environmental impact. The tool provides exact carbon footprint metrics per AI task, aiming to improve energy efficiency and aid companies in meeting sustainability regulations.
StitcherAI launches in Seattle with $3M pre-seed to build an IT Finance system of intelligence
StitcherAI, a Seattle-based company building an IT Finance system of intelligence, launched with $3 million in pre-seed funding.
StitcherAI Launches with $3M Pre-Seed to Embed Real-Time AI Spending Data into Engineering Tools
StitcherAI launched with $3 million in pre-seed funding to provide real-time AI and cloud cost data directly in decision-making tools, aiming to prevent overspending. Founded by Seattle tech veterans Udam Dewaraja and Varun Mittal, the company avoids traditional dashboards by integrating spending context where humans and AI agents operate.
Seattle Startup Glacis Hires Microsoft Azure Vet Rohit Tatachar as CTO to Launch AI Monitoring Tools
Seattle startup Glacis appointed longtime Microsoft Azure executive Rohit Tatachar as CTO and co-founder to develop tamper-proof AI behavior records. The company launched open-source tools enabling monitoring and control of AI agents to ensure safety and accountability.
Plug and Play Launches Third Seattle Accelerator Cohort with 10 Startups for 12-Week Program Ending Mid-June
Plug and Play selected 10 startups, primarily Seattle-based, for its third Seattle-area accelerator cohort, a 12-week program running through mid-June focusing on enterprise software, biotech, AI, robotics, and health tech. The program provides tailored mentorship and opportunities to develop business strategies, pilot projects, and commercial partnerships.
University of Washington Hosts First Husky PitchFest with 27 Teams Pitching Innovative Ideas in One Minute
The first-ever Husky PitchFest at the University of Washington brought together students, researchers, and faculty for one-minute pitches to showcase innovative ideas, with prizes awarded and valuable networking opportunities. The event highlighted diverse projects, including a food redistribution initiative and a personalized food delivery platform.
Seattle Startup Accelerator Foundations Expands to San Francisco with New 5,000-Sq-Ft Location in Q2 2024
Seattle-based startup accelerator Foundations is opening a new 5,000-square-foot location in San Francisco to support founders who split time between the two tech hubs, responding to shifting market dynamics and growing startup momentum in the Bay Area. The expansion aims to bridge Seattle and San Francisco communities without abandoning Seattle, enabling members to access both spaces starting in Q2 2024.
AlleyWatch: Octane Leads December 2025 NYC Tech Rounds with $50.0M Series F; full list of eight largest deals
AlleyWatch lists the eight largest NYC tech startup funding rounds for December 2025, highlighting winners like Octane which raised $50.0M in a Series F and noting industry, round type, investors, and total equity raised for each company.
Seattle Startup Community Foundations Doubles Capitol Hill Space, Plans Bellevue Expansion to Support Growing Members
Seattle startup community Foundations, founded by Aviel Ginzburg, is doubling its Capitol Hill office space and planning an expansion in Bellevue to support its 236 members, including 55 founders-in-residence. The community offers a no-equity, no-fee environment that helps startups grow together, with recent graduates choosing to remain engaged as the program evolves.
Plug and Play Launches First Seattle-Area Accelerator with 10 Startups and Free Everett Office Space Starting April 2024
Plug and Play launched its first Seattle-area accelerator program, selecting 10 startups including three from the Pacific Northwest, offering a 12-week virtual program with free office space at SNBL Global Gateway in Everett. The program aims to build a stronger innovation ecosystem in the region by combining local and external startups.
Seattle Opens AI House and Foundations Startup Hubs Amid Growing AI Ecosystem
Seattle launched two new startup hubs, AI House and Foundations, to support its growing AI ecosystem, hosting events with notable figures like venture capitalist Vinod Khosla and Mayor Bruce Harrell. These hubs aim to foster collaboration and growth within Seattle's burgeoning AI startup community.
People
-
Jack Callaghan Director, Seattle & Partnerships
