Bill Gates

Bill Gates

Founder at Breakthrough Energy Ventures
Seattle, Washington, United States

Bill Gates is the Founder of Breakthrough Energy, Co-founder and Co-chair of the Gates Foundation, and Co-founder at Microsoft and TerraPower. He founded Breakthrough Energy, Gates Foundation, Microsoft (which went public), and TerraPower, and remains active in all. His expertise includes leadership in technology, philanthropy, and energy innovation.

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Kurt Schlosser / GeekWire

ZeroAvia raises $21.4M from Breakthrough Energy and Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund to scale hydrogen-electric aircraft

ZeroAvia raised $21.4 million in a Series A round led by Bill Gates' Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund to accelerate development of hydrogen-electric powertrains for zero-emission propeller aircraft, with commercial flights of 10–20 seat planes up to 500 miles targeted by 2023. The company also secured a £16.3 million UK government grant and partnerships including British Airways, and plans larger hydrogen jets by 2030.

Alan Boyle / GeekWire

Kymeta launches u8 hybrid satellite–cellular service and terminal for commercial and government markets today

Kymeta is launching commercial availability of its next-generation u8 hybrid satellite-cellular connectivity service and terminal for voice and data, targeting both commercial and government/military customers starting today. The low-power flat-panel u8 antenna uses metamaterials for electronic satellite tracking, is redesigned for extreme environments, and was validated in beta trials by users including firefighters.

Taylor Soper / GeekWire

Uber Freight raises $500M led by Greenbriar, valuing the unit at $3.3B

Uber Freight raised $500 million in a funding round led by Greenbriar that values the trucking logistics unit at $3.3 billion, and the business reported $211 million in adjusted net revenue for Uber’s most recent quarter with a $49 million quarterly loss. The unit operates a digital freight marketplace with about 65,000 carriers and competes with startups like Convoy, which recently raised $400 million at a $2.7 billion valuation.

Alan Boyle / GeekWire

Kymeta acquires Lepton Global Solutions to add 17-satellite service network, targets U.S. government and military contracts

Kymeta Corp., the Redmond-based satellite antenna company backed by Bill Gates, acquired Lepton Global Solutions to add satellite service capabilities and strengthen its position for U.S. government and military contracts. Lepton will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary in Tysons Corner with fewer than 15 employees, expanding Kymeta’s workforce to nearly 200; financial terms were not disclosed.

Cara Kuhlman / GeekWire

Former Intellectual Ventures EVP Maurizio Vecchione named CEO of Washington Global Health Alliance; Shujinko hires three executives after $7.5M raise

Maurizio Vecchione, former Intellectual Ventures EVP, was named president and CEO of Seattle-based Washington Global Health Alliance and K.R. Prabha named board chair; Seattle startup Shujinko added three senior hires after a $7.5M raise; Oracle appointed Clay Magouyrk EVP for Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and UW named Dr. Ekin Yasin director of its Communication Leadership graduate program.

Kurt Schlosser / GeekWire

GeekWire Awards 2020 Goes Virtual; Ally Wins Startup of the Year as Bill Gates and Celebrities Celebrate

GeekWire held a virtual GeekWire Awards livestream honoring top Pacific Northwest tech companies and leaders across 12 categories, with winners accepting via Zoom and special video messages from figures like Bill Gates. Seattle startup Ally won Startup of the Year, and the event included entertainment such as The Drunken Tenorperforming an "Opera di Zoom."

Todd Bishop / GeekWire

Manny Vellon, Princeton‑trained engineer and Seattle startup CTO, dies at 60 after four-decade tech career

Manny Vellon, a Princeton-trained software engineer and longtime Seattle startup founder and CTO, was remembered for solving complex technical problems simply and for his calm, integrity-driven leadership. Colleagues praised his four-decade career from early Microsoft work to IoT, and his supportive, nonprescriptive mentorship at companies including Likewise Software and Level 11.

Taylor Soper / GeekWire

Convoy leans on technology to navigate COVID-19 surge after $400M raise at $2.7B valuation

Seattle digital freight startup Convoy experienced record activity on its network as COVID-19 increased demand for essentials, and CEO Dan Lewis says the company’s efficiency-focused technology helps it navigate a volatile, recessionary period. Convoy remains a Seattle unicorn after raising $400 million at a $2.7 billion valuation in September and continues serving major shippers like Anheuser-Busch, Home Depot, and Procter & Gamble.

Curt Milton / GeekWire

GeekWire Podcast: Bill Gates on COVID-19’s permanent work shift; Vicis assets sold for $2.85M; LEGO and Nintendo launch interactive Super Mario set

The GeekWire Podcast covers Bill Gates on how COVID-19 will permanently change work (while preserving in-person schooling), the resurrection of Seattle helmet maker Vicis through a $2.85M asset sale, and a collaboration bringing Super Mario into LEGO physical sets, plus tech and COVID-related business headlines.

Alan Boyle / GeekWire

Bill Gates-Backed Kymeta Demonstrates High-Speed Flat-Panel Satellite Antennas at Monaco Yacht Show, Secures Superyacht Commitments

Kymeta Corp., backed by Bill Gates, showcased its flat-panel satellite antennas at the Monaco Yacht Show, delivering high-speed broadband to yachts using Panasonic’s satellite network. The demonstration impressed superyacht owners, resulting in commitments for Kymeta’s mTenna technology from iconic yachts and promising significantly faster maritime broadband.

Organizations

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Education

  • Harvard University 1973–1975
  • Lakeside School

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