Andy Sack
Andy Sack is Co-CEO of Forum3, an AI lab providing software, content, and services to brands and early adopters. He is also Managing Partner at Keen.Capital and Innovation Arts Group. He co-founded and serves as Managing Partner at Founders' Co-op, and previously founded Lighter Capital. He has held senior roles at Techstars, The Body Shop Digital, and abuzz technologies.
Lighter Capital explains 5 key questions founders must answer before joining a startup accelerator
The article explains five key questions founders should answer before joining a startup accelerator, covering benefits like networks and investor validation, how to choose and get admitted, and how to maximize the program's value.
Booms, Busts, and Seattle in the AI Era, with Jeff Shulman of the UW Foster School
What does Seattle gain — and lose — in times of dramatic change? University of Washington Foster School of Business marketing professor Jeff Shulman has spent years studying that question, as host of the Seattle Growth Podcast, director of the Product Management Center, and a civic voice on issues ranging from housing affordability to the campaign to bring back the Sonics. On this episode of the GeekWire Podcast, Shulman joins us to talk about Seattle’s place in the global AI boom, why the city has struggled to produce superstar startups, what AI means for marketing and education, and how civic…
Building an AI-first company: What these two business leaders learned from top experts in the field
Our guests this week: Adam Brotman and Andy Sack, co-authors of the book AI First: The Playbook for a Future-Proof Business and Brand. Brotman was Starbucks’ chief digital officer and later co-CEO of J.Crew. Sack is a founder, investor, and longtime advisor to tech leaders. Together, they run Forum3, a company that helps brands rethink loyalty and customer engagement. For their book, they interviewed experts including Bill Gates, Sam Altman, Reid Hoffman and Ethan Mollick, and spent time with companies that have had early success with AI implementation. We talk about their "holy sh*t" moment with Sam Altman, how Moderna…
Microsoft, Amazon, AI, the economy, and another bad tech ad
This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we take a closer look at the earnings reports from Microsoft and Amazon this week, as a litmus test for artificial intelligence demand and the state of the economy. We also consider the implications of Boeing's new CEO being based in the Seattle region, discuss a new AI tool that aims to streamline marketing tasks, and weigh in on the backlash to Google's Olympics ad for its Gemini AI chatbot Microsoft capital spending soars to $19B, betting big on AI, as Azure growth underwhelms Wall Street Amazon sales come up short, profits nearly double…
Techstars to Close Seattle Accelerator by Fall 2024, Shifting Focus to Cities with Higher VC Activity
Techstars announced it is shutting down its Seattle accelerator program by Fall 2024 to focus on cities with more robust venture capital activity like San Francisco, New York, Boston, and Los Angeles. The Seattle program, a foundational part of the local startup ecosystem since 2010, graduated over 200 companies that collectively raised more than $2.8 billion.
Me4U Launches AI-Powered Celebrity Chatbots for Personalized Fan Conversations, Backed by $750K in Angel Funding
Me4U, a startup led by serial entrepreneurs Keith Smith and Andy Sack, uses AI to create celebrity chatbots trained on approved content, enabling personalized fan conversations while ensuring brand-appropriate interactions. The company has raised $750,000 from angel investors and aims to monetize celebrity engagement through these AI clones.
Seattle Startup Forum3 Launches Hive3, an AI Content Creation Contest with Cash Prizes and Sponsorships in 2024
Seattle startup Forum3 announced the production of Hive3, an esports-style AI content creation contest offering cash prizes and sponsorships, launching later this year. The contest aims to showcase generative AI's potential, educate viewers on AI tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney, and address ethical and legal concerns amid growing AI adoption and industry controversies.
SkyKick Co-CEOs Todd Schwartz and Evan Richman Share Success of Decade-Long Dual Leadership Meanwhile Salesforce Ends Co-CEO Experiment
Todd Schwartz and Evan Richman have successfully co-led SkyKick as co-CEOs since 2011, raising hundreds of millions and growing it into a top cloud automation startup. Their rare co-CEO model contrasts with Salesforce's recent co-CEO shakeup, highlighting both the challenges and benefits of shared leadership.
Former Starbucks Exec Adam Brotman and Investor Andy Sack Raise $10M for Forum3 to Expand NFT Loyalty Tech
Seattle tech veterans Adam Brotman and Andy Sack raised $10 million to launch Forum3, a startup offering NFT-based customer engagement tech designed to simplify blockchain use for consumer brands. Forum3 aims to provide a white-labeled version of Starbucks' NFT loyalty program, Odyssey, removing cryptocurrency barriers for users.
Irreverent Labs, led by Rahul Sood and backed by Andreessen Horowitz, raises $5M and unveils MechaFightClub — a Solana-based AI + NFT fighting game
Irreverent Labs, a Seattle startup led by Microsoft veteran Rahul Sood that raised a $5 million seed round backed by a16z, unveiled MechaFightClub, a Solana-based, cruelty-free play-to-earn fighting game using AI, NFTs and an in-game currency called nuggets set to release this spring. The game features unique tradable ‘mechabots,’ genetics/breeding systems, and aims to attract traditional gamers by offering character ownership and monetization.
Andreessen Horowitz leads $5M round for Rahul Sood’s Irreverent Labs to build NFT, blockchain and AI-powered metaverse game
Seattle startup Irreverent Labs, led by entrepreneur Rahul Sood, raised $5 million in a round led by Andreessen Horowitz to build an NFT- and blockchain-based metaverse game that uses AI-powered, ownable characters and will debut its first game next month.
Techstars Seattle 2011 cohort produced three unicorns (30% rate), making it arguably the accelerator world's most successful class
Techstars Seattle’s 2011 accelerator cohort produced three unicorns — a 30% unicorn-rate — making it likely the most successful accelerator class ever, despite founders facing near-death challenges and a low representation of women among its ten startups.
'They proved me wrong.' Investor who passed on Seattle startup analyzes its IPO
Jason Stoffer was still early in his career at venture capital firm Maveron in 2012 when he declined an opportunity to invest in Remitly, then a fledgling Seattle startup with ambitions to challenge Western Union by bringing a tech mindset to the business of international money transfers. He was impressed by Remitly co-founders Matt Oppenheimer and Josh Hug but knew they faced a huge challenge in getting the state-by-state regulatory approval required to make monetary remittances to what was then their initial international market, the Philippines. "It felt like the end vision was powerful — if they can get there,"…
Lighter Capital raises more than $100M (mostly debt) to expand revenue-based financing for startups
Lighter Capital has raised over $100 million (mostly debt) to expand its revenue-based financing program that lets startups get $50,000–$3 million without giving up equity. The Seattle firm, which has invested $200M in 400+ companies, is now profitable with 36 employees after prior layoffs and recently named Melissa Widner CEO.
Bob Crimmins’ Startup Haven launches 3-month GroundWork accelerator offering $120,000 and two executive mentors
Seattle tech veteran Bob Crimmins launched a 3-month virtual accelerator through his Startup Haven community, centered on a company-building approach called GroundWork aimed at helping founders set short-term strategic milestones. Accepted startups are offered $120,000 in funding (a $20,000 stipend for 5% equity plus $100,000 convertible debt at a $3M cap) and two dedicated executive mentors.
Bizible founder Aaron Bird raises $5.1M to launch Seattle B2B startup studio Pienza
Aaron Bird, founder of Bizible, launched Seattle startup studio Pienza and raised $5.1 million from MHS Capital, Version One Ventures, Vulcan Capital and angels to build a small portfolio of B2B software companies. Pienza will focus on fewer, highly concentrated bets, put most of the funding into portfolio companies, keep a lean internal team, and Bird will forgo a salary.
Lighter Capital appoints Melissa Widner as CEO after layoffs; firm has invested $200M+ using revenue-based financing
Seattle alternative VC firm Lighter Capital named Melissa Widner as CEO; she succeeds Thor Culverhouse and joins a company that has deployed $200M+ via revenue-based financing and recently cut staff from ~80 to 23 before rising to 25 employees. Widner, a Sydney-based board member and former NAB venture managing partner, plans remote hiring as the firm seeks global growth.
Seattle founders Pour-Moezzi, Oki and Worthy raise $1.3M for no-code workflow automation startup Reflective
Seattle startup Reflective, founded by Pejman Pour-Moezzi, Bryan Oki and Bookis Worthy, raised $1.3 million to build a no-code platform that automates repetitive workflows across cloud and on‑premise applications. The company targets RPA incumbents like UiPath and connectors like Zapier by enabling fast integrations that reduce email- and spreadsheet-based processes for customers such as syncing health-screening alerts to Slack and automating Salesforce data entry.
Chris DeVore to Step Down as Techstars Seattle Managing Director on July 1 to Focus on Founders’ Co-op VC Firm
Chris DeVore is stepping down as managing director of Techstars Seattle on July 1 after nearly five years to focus on running Founders’ Co-op, which recently raised a $25 million fund. He will remain involved with Techstars and continue working from the University of Washington’s Startup Hall.
Founders’ Co-op Invests in Giftbit, Backing Its B2B Digital Gift-Card Platform That Charges Only on Redemption
Founders’ Co-op has invested in Giftbit, a Victoria, BC startup that runs enterprise digital gift card campaigns and charges clients only when recipients redeem gift credits. Giftbit’s platform tracks delivery and redemption data, lets companies retain unredeemed funds, and was introduced to the investor through Techstars Seattle.
Former Facebook GC Rudy Gadre joins Seattle VC Founder’s Co-op as third general partner to direct future investments
Rudy Gadre, a former Facebook general counsel and ex-Amazon attorney who has been a leading angel investor in the Pacific Northwest, is joining Seattle venture firm Founder’s Co-op as its third general partner and will route future investments through the fund.
GeekWire reveals winners of fourth annual Seattle 2.0 Startup Awards, naming 14 category champions including Investor Chris DeVore
GeekWire announced winners of the fourth annual Seattle 2.0 Startup Awards at the EMP in Seattle, naming champions across 14 categories who received custom framed records. Notable winners highlighted include Chris DeVore (Investor of the Year) and Shauna Causey (Schmoozer of the Year).
Andy Sack of Founder’s Co-op and Lighter Capital Wins WTIA Industry Achievement Award While Battling Testicular Cancer
Andy Sack, co-founder of Founder’s Co-op and Lighter Capital, was honored with a WTIA Industry Achievement Award but could not attend due to a recent testicular cancer diagnosis; he shared an acceptance message via video and has been documenting his treatment and outlook on his blog.
Andy Sack of TechStars Seattle and Founders Co-op Urges Seattle Startups to “Get F—ing Aggressive,” Cites TechStars’ Role in Boulder’s Funding Success
Andy Sack of TechStars Seattle, Founders Co-op and Revenue Loan urges Seattle’s startup community to "Get F—ing Aggressive," describing how TechStars helped jumpstart Boulder’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and explaining his effort to bring a similar, community-driven accelerator to Seattle with broad mentor and VC support.
Seattle 2.0 Names Finalists From Nearly 7,000 Nominations; Public Voting Open Through May 11 — Winners Revealed May 19
Seattle 2.0 announced finalists for its annual Seattle tech startup awards after nearly 7,000 nominations across 11 categories, opening public voting through May 11 and scheduling the awards event for May 19 with keynote Jonathan Sposato.
Organizations
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Forum3 Co-CEO 2021–present · current
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Keen.Capital Managing Partner 2021–present · current
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Pure Watercraft Director 2017–present · current
Education
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology MBA · 1992–1994
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Brown University BA · 1985–1990
