Seattle University
Facts
- HQ
- Seattle
- Sectors
- Education, Higher Education
Prem Kumar - Co-Founder and CEO of Humanly
Prem Kumar is the Co-Founder and CEO of Humanly, a Bellevue-based hiring technology company built to fix something he saw up close: two people interviewing for the exact same job with the exact same panel getting treated completely differently. Before Humanly, Prem spent about a decade at Microsoft and led product and design at TinyPulse. Humanly went through Y Combinator and has raised roughly $52 million to date—most recently a $25 million Series B. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
WTIA’s 2026 ‘Tech Universe Map’ shows Microsoft (161) and UW (143) produced most founders of 625 mapped Washington tech firms
The Washington Technology Industry Association's 2026 "Tech Universe Map" visualizes founder lineage for 625 Washington tech companies and finds Microsoft (161 companies) and the University of Washington (143) are the largest founder hubs, followed by Amazon (58) and Google (20). WTIA says the map highlights regional connectivity, is broader than the 2015 Seattle-focused version, and signals emerging hubs are often out-of-state companies with local engineering centers.
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.
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.
Seattle Shield Initiative Proposes Raising B&O Tax Exemption to $2M, Increasing Rates for Large Tech Firms Starting November Vote
Seattle voters will decide in November on the Seattle Shield initiative, which raises the B&O tax exemption from $100,000 to $2 million, relieving small businesses but increasing taxes for larger ones. For tech startups, this means early-stage companies pay less in taxes, while those scaling past $2 million in revenue will face higher rates.
Reimagining Hiring in the Age of AI and Bias with Humanly CEO Prem Kumar
In this episode of the Shift AI Podcast, Boaz welcomes Prem Kumar, CEO of Humanly and GeekWire Award winner for CEO of the Year. With his unique background as both a buyer of HR solutions at Microsoft and a startup leader at TINYpulse, Prem shares how his company is revolutionizing the hiring process through AI-powered solutions that create more human-centered experiences. Prem dives into the challenges facing today's job seekers and recruiters, revealing how Humanly's technology enables meaningful two-way conversations for every candidate within 24 hours of application. The discussion explores how AI can reduce bias in hiring, improve standardization…
Veteran Entrepreneur Dave Parker Named CEO of Entrepreneurs’ Organization to Expand Global Membership
Dave Parker, a veteran entrepreneur with nearly three decades of startup experience, has been named CEO of the global networking group Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO), which has nearly 19,000 members worldwide. Parker aims to grow EO’s membership to over 35,000 while remaining based in Seattle.
Founders Live Seattle returns Feb. 24; Dooeys wins $10,000 in AWS credits and advances to Founders Live Prime Time
Founders Live held its first in-person Seattle event of 2022 on Feb. 24, where five startups pitched and Dooeys won the audience vote, earning $10,000 in AWS credits and a spot in a future Founders Live Prime Time global event.
Father-daughters team launches The Chances App to match Gen Z by mutual relationship intentions
Rob Lipschutz and his daughters Vanessa and Noelle launched The Chances App, a social-relationships app designed to help Gen Z connect by matching mutual intentions across nine categories (e.g., Friends, Let’s Study, FWB, Let’s Date) rather than using traditional social or dating app mechanics. Lipschutz, a tech veteran from Bothell, Washington, built the app after seeing his daughters struggle with existing social media while transitioning to college.
UW Student Ryan Yousefian’s ApnoMed Wins $25,000 Grand Prize for Sleep-Apnea Device at 2020 Dempsey Startup Competition
University of Washington student Ryan Yousefian’s startup ApnoMed won the $25,000 Herbert B. Jones Foundation grand prize at the 2020 Dempsey Startup Competition for a device treating obstructive sleep apnea; the virtual contest awarded $77,500 total and drew 97 teams from the Pacific Northwest.
Vera Whole Health raises $10M from existing backers to expand advanced primary care across 26 clinics
Seattle-based Vera Whole Health raised $10 million from existing backers to expand its advanced primary care model, bringing total funding to $70 million since its 2008 founding; the company operates 26 clinics in 10 states and employs about 450 people. Vera offers health coaching alongside primary care and works with employers, payers and health systems, including clients like Seattle Children’s and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Kansas City.
People
-
Prem Kumar STEM Innovator In Residence
