Hadi Partovi
Hadi Partovi is currently CEO at Payam Music, Founder and Chairman at Code.org, and serves on the Board of Directors at Axon. He founded Code.org, a non-profit focused on computer science education, and Payam Music, a national piano school, both of which he is still involved with. His expertise spans technology, education, music, and startup investment.
Code.org Lays Off 18 Employees, Cuts Staff to 107 to Ensure Long-Term Sustainability
Seattle-based Code.org laid off 18 employees, reducing its staff to 107, to ensure long-term sustainability. The nonprofit, founded by Hadi and Ali Partovi, continues its mission to expand computer science education globally despite these cuts.
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.
Seattle Trucking Marketplace Convoy Pauses Shipments and Considers Sale Amid Market Recession
Seattle-based trucking startup Convoy has paused shipments and is reportedly winding down operations amid a freight market recession and financial struggles, with layoffs and potential sale talks ongoing. The company, valued at $3.8 billion last year, faces stiff competition and market headwinds, and plans to share more details on its transition later this week.
Microsoft, OpenAI, and startups, with Neo CEO Ali Partovi
This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we're joined by Ali Partovi, a technology investor, entrepreneur, and mentor who is the CEO of Neo, a startup accelerator, mentorship community, and venture firm. Neo's accelerator this week announced a new AI track, working in collaboration with OpenAI and Microsoft to help startups build businesses on newly emerging artificial intelligence capabilities. Partovi, who grew up in Tehran during the Iran-Iraq war, sold his startup LinkExchange to Microsoft in 1998, was an early investor in companies including Airbnb, Dropbox, Facebook, and Uber, and 10 years ago co-founded Code.org with his twin brother Hadi Partovi…
Clearbrief raises $3.5M seed to scale AI that flags misrepresentations in litigation briefs
Clearbrief, a Seattle startup, raised a $3.5 million seed round led by Reign Ventures to expand its AI-powered tool that uses NLP to flag unsupported or misrepresented statements in litigation documents and surface underlying evidence. CEO Jacqueline Schafer says the software helps lawyers and judges quickly verify claims, improve strategy, and increase access to legal materials as courts move online and adopt new filing rules.
Former Facebook Seattle Head Vijaye Raji Raises $10.4M Series A for Statsig to Speed Feature Rollouts
Vijaye Raji, a former Facebook and Microsoft engineering leader, raised $10.4 million in Series A funding for Statsig, a Kirkland startup that helps developers quickly roll out and measure product features. Sequoia Capital, Madrona Venture Group and angel investors participated, and the company aims to bring Facebook-style experimentation tools to broader developer teams.
Arrived Homes raises $10M equity and $27M debt as Bezos and Benioff VC arms back $100-share rental investing
Seattle startup Arrived Homes raised $10 million in equity and $27 million in debt to scale a platform that lets retail investors buy shares of single-family rental homes for as little as $100, with backers including Bezos Expeditions and Time Ventures. The company sources, manages and sells properties while charging commissions and management fees, has over 30 properties in three states and caps individual investments at $20,000 per house.
Pandemic Accelerates Adoption of Enterprise Software in Seattle, Boosting Cloud and Cybersecurity Startups
The COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating adoption of enterprise software in the Seattle and Pacific Northwest tech scene, highlighting startups in cloud computing and cybersecurity that dominate the GeekWire 200. Analysts say enterprise cloud firms appear relatively resilient to recessionary pressures compared with consumer-facing startups, though risks remain if businesses cut spending.
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.
Cloud Paper raises $3M seed led by Greycroft with Mark Cuban, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ashton Kutcher and Guy Oseary investing
Seattle startup Cloud Paper, which makes tree-free bamboo toilet paper shipped direct to consumers, raised $3 million in a seed round led by Greycroft and backed by investors including Mark Cuban, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ashton Kutcher and Guy Oseary. The year-and-a-half-old company says signups jumped 800% amid the pandemic and highlights sustainability claims such as plastic-free packaging and over 1 million pounds of carbon saved or offset.
Former Expedia CEO Mark Okerstrom named president and COO of Convoy as startup tops 1,000 employees
Former Expedia CEO Mark Okerstrom joins Seattle digital freight startup Convoy as president and COO to oversee finance, operations, marketing and marketplace growth as the company surpasses 1,000 employees and a $2.7B valuation.
Seattle tech CFO survey: 37 respondents say three-quarters expect full COVID-19 recovery; nearly half raise 2020 spending forecasts
A survey of 37 Seattle-based tech CFOs finds the local tech industry remains resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic, with three-quarters expecting full recovery and nearly half raising 2020 spending forecasts versus early March. Many CFOs report higher Q2 bookings expectations and over 40% say their companies are increasing headcount despite widespread industry layoffs elsewhere.
Docugami doubles to 20 after $10M funding and keeps hiring amid widespread tech layoffs
Docugami, a Kirkland, Washington document-engineering startup, doubled its staff to 20 after a $10 million funding round in early February and continues hiring despite widespread tech layoffs. CEO Jean Paoli and new head of operations Hartley Riedner have onboarded remotely, reflecting a flipped labor market where some startups can recruit while larger firms cut jobs.
Organizations
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Education
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Harvard University B.A. and M.S., Computer Science · 1990–1994
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Hackley School Valedictorian, Highschool Diploma · 1984–1990
