John Cook
John Cook is the Co-founder and Publisher of GeekWire, a media company where he continues to serve. He previously co-founded Tech Flash, also in media, and has held reporting roles at several publications. His expertise is in media executive leadership.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy Mandates Full-Time Office Return to Foster Startup Culture Amid E-Commerce Challenges
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy plans to return employees to office full-time to revive startup agility amid e-commerce challenges, while GeekWire revisits driverless car experiences highlighting progress and controversy.
Tom Huseby, Founder of SeaPoint Ventures and Seattle Tech Investor, Dies at 76 from Pancreatic Cancer
Tom Huseby, founder of SeaPoint Ventures and longtime Seattle tech investor and advisor, passed away at 76 in June 2024 due to pancreatic cancer. Remembered for his wisdom, wit, and deep kindness, he significantly impacted numerous technology startups over 25 years.
OpenAI wants NYT's notes; AI meets email; Startup vets eye EV charging marketplace
This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we catch up on the latest twist in the New York Times' lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft over the alleged use of its reporting to train GPT-4 and other large language models. The NYT is fighting OpenAI’s request to turn over reporters’ notes, interview memos, and other materials used to produce stories, to prove they were worthy of copyright. On a related topic, we take a closer listen to Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman's comments about AI and fair use at the Aspen Ideas Festival, which were more nuanced than some of the coverage…
What's next for Microsoft and OpenAI; Amazon car sales; disappearing unicorns
This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we assess the outcome of the drama at OpenAI, considering what the removal and ultimate return of its CEO Sam Altman, and everything that happened in between, means for Microsoft. While Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella earned kudos for masterfully navigating the mess, the situation also showed how the company was vulnerable to being blindsided due to OpenAI's convoluted structure. And while for-profit interests are likely to get more influence on OpenAI's reformulated board, it's not yet clear if Microsoft will end up with a seat on that board, leaving the ultimate outcome for Microsoft…
Building an 'AI chief of staff,' with Xembly CEO Pete Christothoulou
How can startups differentiate themselves in the new era of AI? We've been discussing that question a lot recently on the GeekWire Podcast, and on this episode, we'll get a first-hand look from business and technology veteran Pete Christothoulou, who has been immersed in this world for many years. Christothoulou is the former CEO of Marchex, the call and conversational analytics company, who is now founder and CEO of Xembly, a Seattle-based startup developing AI-powered technology that replicates a chief of staff and executive assistant, automating tasks such as meeting notes, scheduling, and action items. Xembly was founded in Madrona…
GeekWire’s Lisa Stiffler tests Mill’s $33/month home composting bin that grinds food waste into chicken feed
GeekWire reporter Lisa Stiffler tested Mill Industries' high-tech home composting bin in her Seattle kitchen, which grinds and dehydrates food scraps for mailing to a facility that converts them into chicken feed; the subscription costs $33/month (about $400/year).
Convoy CEO Dan Lewis Shares Leadership Insights as Startup Raises $260M at $3.8B Valuation Amid Layoffs
Convoy CEO Dan Lewis discussed his leadership philosophy emphasizing conviction and consistency at GeekWire’s Views and Brews event while highlighting the company's growth, funding, and recent layoffs amid economic challenges. Founded in 2015, Convoy automates trucking transactions and recently raised $260 million at a $3.8 billion valuation.
When Mark Zuckerberg met Seattle
The year was 2011, Facebook was serving a mere 600 million users, and Mark Zuckerberg was making his pitch to a crowd of prospective hires inside the company's office near Pike Place Market — explaining why the social network had chosen Seattle for its first remote engineering hub. "We were like, alright, at some point, we should probably think about opening up offices in other places," he said. "And we figured that Seattle would be a good starting place, because it's culturally pretty similar to the Bay Area, pretty close by. ... It's the same time zone. So it's easier…
GeekWire Summit to Feature Microsoft, Magic Leap, and Senator Maria Cantwell Oct. 6-7 in Seattle on Tech Innovations and Policy
The GeekWire Summit, held October 6-7 in Seattle, features notable speakers from tech and politics including Microsoft’s Jaime Teevan and U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell. The conference will cover topics such as augmented reality, AI, cybersecurity, and economic trends, with options to attend in person or online.
Early Amazon Investor and Seattle Business Leader Tom Alberg Dies at 82
Tom Alberg, a pivotal Seattle investor and business leader known for his early investment in Amazon and role at Madrona Venture Group, died at age 82. His influential contributions spanned e-commerce, wireless industries, and the local startup ecosystem.
Washington Senate Passes SB 5096 25-24 as Tech Industry and Progressives Clash Over Proposed Capital-Gains Tax
Washington state's tech community is sharply divided over SB 5096, a proposed capital-gains tax targeting large gains that startups warn would hurt recruitment and competitiveness; the state Senate passed the bill 25-24 and it now moves to the House. Progressive groups and analysts counter that other tech-leading states tax capital gains and say the WTIA's claims are false, noting many startups received federal PPP aid.
Top Stories of 2020
To say that 2020 unfolded in unexpected ways would be an epic understatement. The changes caused by the pandemic promise to impact tech, business and everything else for years to come. And that's just the start. The influence of Seattle's tech and scientific communities rippled throughout the world. The region's life sciences institutions played a key role in uncovering and battling COVID-19, and Bill Gates emerged as a leading voice for science and equity in the pandemic. Enterprise tech companies provided the bedrock for a massive global acceleration of digital technologies. A national reckoning over race, sparked by the killing…
Microsoft (maybe) rescues TikTok; downtown Seattle struggles; micro-schools
Here’s what we’re talking about on the GeekWire Podcast this week. Who would have thought that Microsoft could be the likely white knight to save social video app TikTok from threats by President Trump to ban it in the U.S.? Trump set a hard deadline this week for Microsoft or another entity to buy the company before he'll block all transactions with its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. We discuss what might be behind Microsoft's interest in entering the social media sphere. In latest TikTok twist, Microsoft reportedly looking at buying entire social media giant Trump issues executive order banning transactions…
3 stories show how the pandemic is changing our lives
The world of the COVID-19 pandemic is unlike anything any of us has ever experienced. We covered three stories this week that give us a glimpse into how the virus is changing our lives: We’ll talk about the new realities of work, through the lens of a Seattle area startup that just ditched its physical office space. Then on to education, with the latest on what classes will look like at the University of Washington and other schools this fall. And finally, sports. For Seattle Mariners fans, “take me out to the ballgame” is going to be a virtual experience…
Expedia's lifeline; Bill Gates on life after lockdown; Redfin and Tokki CEOs on pivoting in a pandemic
Here's what we're talking about this week on the GeekWire Podcast. “Picture restaurants that only seat people at every other table, and airplanes where every middle seat is empty.” That is what the “semi-normal” next phase of the pandemic will look like, Bill Gates says, offering a starkly pragmatic take that contrasts with predictions from President Trump that the economy will come “roaring back.” But Gates also points to the potential for a new wave of innovation the likes of which hasn’t been seen since World War II. “If there’s life, there’s travel,” says Expedia chairman Barry Diller, expressing optimism…
GeekWire Awards preview; brave Amazon employee quizzes Bezos
We're preparing for the GeekWire Awards, our annual event recognizing the best in Pacific Northwest tech and innovation, and on this episode of the GeekWire Podcast we provide an update on past Startup of the Year winners and preview this year's contest. Find out more, submit nominations, and buy tickets at geekwire.com/awards. Plus, a brave Amazon employee asks Jeff Bezos if his tumultuous personal life is distracting from his work, and Peter Sagal of Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me offers his input on getting less input in our lives. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Under Construction Podcast: John Cook
This is a guest episode of the new podcast Under Construction, from the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, featuring a conversation with my GeekWire co-founder John Cook, talking with the podcast's host, Seattle Metro Chamber CEO Marilyn Strickland. For more episodes, check out seattlechamber.com/underconstruction, or subscribe at soundcloud.com/seattlechamber. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Google's Nest bids on digital health
Last year, Google secretly acquired a digital health startup spun out of the University of Washington. After requesting documents related to the acquisition, GeekWire learned there's actually a surprising twist to the story, all to do with smart home device maker Nest. Plus, we discuss Jeff Bezos' plan to give away $2 billion to tackle homelessness and early childhood education and we take a look at the upcoming GeekWire Summit, our biggest event of the year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Would you rent used clothes?
The sharing economy has changed a lot of things, but could a company make renting specialized clothes a thing? Plus, we look back on Amazon’s HQ2 journey as its calls for proposals close and giggle about some rather unoriginal Silicon Valley “innovations.” Follow all our coverage and read the stories we talked about this week at GeekWire.com Thank you to this week's sponsors: Winshuttle, the SAP data management experts — learn more at Winshuttle.com; Hughes Marino, the commercial real estate company now expanding to Seattle — learn more at hughesmarino.com; and Kinects, Seattle’s iconic new high-rise apartment tower — learn…
GeekWire Awards 2017 Finalists Highlight Pacific Northwest Tech Innovation, Winners Publicly Voted and Revealed May 4 at MoPop
The 2017 GeekWire Awards finalists showcase the Pacific Northwest's tech industry's strength, especially in cloud technology, with winners decided by public votes and announced at a May 4 ceremony at MoPop.
Pioneer Square Labs raises $12.5M from 13 VCs and 50+ angels; Foundry Group led, Brad Feld joins board
Pioneer Square Labs, a new Seattle startup studio co-founded by Geoff Entress, Greg Gottesman, Mike Galgon and Ben Gilbert, raised $12.5 million from 13 VC firms and over 50 angels. Foundry Group led the round and Brad Feld will join PSL's board.
Organizations
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GeekWire Co-founder and Publisher, GeekWire 2011–present · current
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GeekWire Co-founder and Publisher, GeekWire · current
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Tech Flash Co-founder 2008–2011 · past
Education
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Gettysburg College BA, History · 1990–1994
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Wooster High School
