Vercept
Facts
- HQ
- Seattle, WA, US
- Sectors
- Software Development
- Founded
- 2024
- Employees
- 2
- Stage
- Acquired
- Founders
- Kiana Ehsani, Luca Weihs, Ross Girshick
GeekWire and Greater Seattle Partners call for nominations for 2026 Uncommon Thinkers; deadline Sept. 18, winners honored Dec. 10
Nominations for GeekWire’s 2026 Uncommon Thinkers Awards — honoring Seattle-area inventors, scientists, technologists and entrepreneurs — close Friday, Sept. 18 at 11 a.m. PT; winners will be chosen by a judges panel and celebrated at the GeekWire Gala on Dec. 10. The fourth annual program, run with Greater Seattle Partners, seeks nominees who demonstrate innovation, leadership and measurable impact.
PitchBook: Over 95 Investors — Including Founders Fund, Coatue, HSG and Altimeter — Could Profit from Anthropic's 2025 IPO
Many investors stand to profit from Anthropic's anticipated 2025 IPO because a wide range of venture capital firms, hedge funds, tech companies and sovereign wealth funds hold stakes; PitchBook data show significant overlap with OpenAI backers and very large capital raised by both companies.
Mark Zuckerberg ups Meta offer to roughly $250 million after Matt Deitke rejects $125 million to join Superintelligence Lab
AI researcher Matt Deitke, 24, initially turned down Meta’s reported $125 million four-year offer but accepted after CEO Mark Zuckerberg intervened and Meta increased the package to about $250 million, including up to $100 million in year one.
Oren Etzioni Outlines 10 Key Commandments for AI Startups Following 10 Classic Startup Rules
Oren Etzioni shares ten foundational commandments for AI startups focused on business models, distribution, costs, and model dependency, preceded by ten general startup principles from industry veterans. These guidelines draw on his extensive experience as an AI entrepreneur and investor to help founders navigate unique challenges in AI ventures.
Anthropic Acquires Seattle AI Startup Vercept Amid Investor Feud as Research Warns of AI Job Crisis by 2028
Anthropic acquired Seattle startup Vercept, raising questions about AI startup competition and ecosystem impact, while a research paper warns of AI-driven white-collar job losses by 2028. Additionally, revelations include Microsoft's past Epstein connections and a retrospective on the original Xbox unveiling.
Anthropic acquires Vercept, the AI job crisis scenario, and Microsoft's past Epstein connections
Anthropic acquired Seattle startup Vercept on Wednesday, raising familiar questions about the impact of early exits on the broader Seattle startup ecosystem, and the question of whether AI startups can compete long-term against the giants of the field. We dig into the deal, the public feud between two of the company's early investors on LinkedIn, and why one co-founder's prior departure to Meta may have been worth more than the entire acquisition. Plus, a new research paper envisions a 2028 "global intelligence crisis" driven by AI-fueled white collar job losses, and we're already seeing early signs in the news. Then…
Anthropic acquires Vercept, the AI desktop-agent start-up founded by ex-AI2 researchers, for undisclosed sum
Anthropic acquired Seattle-based AI interface start-up Vercept, founded in 2024 by former AI2 researchers, to bolster Claude’s agentic capabilities; the purchase price was not disclosed. Vercept, maker of the Vy natural-language desktop agent, had raised over $50M (including a $16M round in Jan 2025) and some founders expressed disappointment about the acquisition and platform shutdown plans.
Anthropic Acquires Seattle AI Startup Vercept to Boost Claude’s Desktop Automation Capabilities
Anthropic has acquired Seattle AI startup Vercept, integrating its desktop 'computer use' technology and team to enhance Claude's ability to perform multi-step tasks within live applications. As part of the deal, Vercept will shut down its Vy application and encourage users to switch to Claude.
Anthropic Rolls Out 10 Enterprise AI Capabilities, Acquires Vercept After $30B Series G Valuing It at $380B
Anthropic announced 10 new enterprise capabilities, a suite of autonomous AI tools, and multiple Claude updates and plugins while acquiring Vercept; the moves follow a $30 billion Series G that valued the company at $380 billion as it prepares for a likely IPO.
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.
Amazon's big bet, a 'MySpace for bots', and a conversation with AI veteran Oren Etzioni
Upcoming GeekWire Podcast Live Event: Join us from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb 12 at Fremont Brewing for a live recording of the GeekWire Podcast with Todd Bishop and John Cook. Free for Fremont Chamber members, $15 otherwise. Register here. This week on the show: Andy Jassy tells Wall Street that Amazon is planning $200 billion in capital expenses this year, mostly to build out AI infrastructure, and investors give it a thumbs down. Microsoft's financial results beat expectations but the company loses $357 billion in market value in a single day after investors learn the extent of…
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.
Uncommon Thinkers 2025: Solar spacecraft, sci-fi biology, destroying PFAS, beyond AI chatbots, and better social media
On this special episode of the GeekWire Podcast, recorded backstage at the GeekWire Gala at the Showbox Sodo, we sit down with five of the inventors, scientists, and entrepreneurs selected as the Seattle region's 2025 Uncommon Thinkers, in partnership with Greater Seattle Partners. Jeff Thornburg spent years building rocket engines for Elon Musk at SpaceX and Paul Allen at Stratolaunch. Now, as CEO of Portal Space Systems, he's moved past chemical rockets to revive a concept NASA studied decades ago but never pursued — a spacecraft powered by focused sunlight. He calls it a "steam engine for space." Read the…
GeekWire Honors Six 'Uncommon Thinkers' Transforming Industries with Innovative Startups in 2025
GeekWire's third annual 'Uncommon Thinkers' honors six innovators including Anindya Roy, Kiana Ehsani, and Jeff Thornburg, who are leading startups transforming industries with breakthrough technologies in biotech, social media, and space propulsion. These leaders will be celebrated at the GeekWire Gala in Seattle for their creative and mission-driven approaches to solving significant challenges.
Vercept CEO Kiana Ehsani Creates AI Tool Vy to Automate Workflow, Encourage Outdoor Time
Kiana Ehsani, co-founder and CEO of Seattle AI startup Vercept, developed Vy, an AI tool that automates repetitive computer tasks via natural language commands, enabling users to spend more time outdoors and focus on creativity. Ehsani blends her passion for nature with technology innovation to simplify software use and improve workflow.
Seattle’s AI2 Incubator Closes $80M Third Fund to Back 70 New AI Startups Over Four Years
AI2 Incubator, a Seattle-based startup incubator focused on AI and real-world applications, has closed an $80 million third fund to support about 70 new ventures over the next four years. The incubator has a successful track record with nearly 25% of its 50+ alumni acquired and 90% securing venture funding.
Seattle Startup Founders Highlight Focused Community and Talent Amid Risk-Aversion Concerns
Seattle startup founders praise the city's focused, welcoming community, strong technical talent, and unique advantages like proximity to Joint Base Lewis-McCord. However, concerns remain about the region's risk-averse culture, limited local capital, and government policies.
GeekWire Revamps 200 Seattle-Area Startup Ranking with AI for Q2 2025
The GeekWire 200 ranking of Seattle-area startups has been revamped for Q2 2025 using AI tools to better highlight fast-growing companies and emerging leaders. Presented by JPMorganChase, the updated ranking combines data and editorial insight to provide a comprehensive view of the Pacific Northwest tech startup ecosystem.
Seattle AI Startup Vercept Raises $16M Seed Round Led by Fifty Years to Automate Computer Tasks with AI
Seattle startup Vercept, backed by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and other tech veterans, raised $16 million in seed funding to develop AI-powered automation software called Vy, designed to automate repetitive computer tasks by understanding and mimicking user workflows. The company aims to create a new computer interaction paradigm that differs from traditional robotic process automation by eliminating the need for hardcoded interactions.
Seattle Startups Axtrolite, Context Nature, and Chassy Develop Software for Real Estate, Green Tax Credits, and Robotics, with Chassy Raising $1.2M Pre-Seed
Seattle-area startups highlighted include Axtrolite, developing real estate property management software; Context Nature, aiding finance professionals in finding green energy tax credits; and Chassy, which secured $1.2 million to build software for robotic fleets. These companies feature experienced founders with backgrounds at Amazon, Microsoft, Lyft, and more.
People
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Matt Deitke Founder, Co-founder
