Kevin Lisota
Kevin Lisota is currently Co-Founder at Akari Photo Tours and works as a photographer and videographer at Kevin Lisota Photography, as well as a photographer at GeekWire. He founded Akari Photo Tours, which is still running, and has expertise in photography, videography, guiding, and instruction.
GeekWire's Elevator Pitch Season 3 Features Startup CEOs Pitching in Smith Tower Elevator to Win Finals at October 2022 Summit
GeekWire’s Elevator Pitch returns with a competition where entrepreneurs pitch startups like Radious, Tribute, and Humanly.io in 32 seconds during an elevator ride to Seattle's Smith Tower. The season includes a series of episodes leading to a live finale at the 2022 GeekWire Summit on October 6.
TerraPower, co-founded by Bill Gates, raises $750M to develop advanced nuclear reactors and medical tech
TerraPower, co-founded by Bill Gates, raised $750 million in one of Seattle's largest private funding rounds to develop safer nuclear reactors and medical applications. The company is partnering with GE-Hitachi and funded partly by the U.S. DOE for a 500 MW demonstration reactor planned for Wyoming by 2028.
Tom Alberg, Early Amazon Investor and Seattle Tech Champion, Dies at 82
Tom Alberg, a Seattle business leader and early Amazon investor who was pivotal in Pacific Northwest tech growth and co-founded Madrona Venture Group, died peacefully at 82. He was also notable for his roles in aerospace law, McCaw Cellular Communications, and helping launch the Alliance of Angels.
Richard Tait, Creator of 'Cranium' Board Game, Dies at 58; Secured Virgin Stores Deal with Richard Branson
Richard Tait, creator of the board game 'Cranium' and serial entrepreneur, famously secured a partnership with Richard Branson to get the game into Virgin stores. Tait passed away on July 25, 2022, at age 58 due to COVID-19 complications.
Carta Study Finds Seattle Tech Startup Pay Now Matches Silicon Valley Amid Remote Work Trend
A study by financial technology company Carta finds that remote work is causing tech startup pay to equalize across the U.S., with Seattle salaries now matching those in Silicon Valley after a recent increase. This convergence is changing hiring strategies as companies increasingly compete for talent beyond traditional tech hubs.
University of Washington Spinout Aquagga Develops Technology to Destroy PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' with No Toxic Byproducts
Aquagga, a Seattle-based cleantech startup founded by University of Washington and Alaska researchers, develops a high-temperature, high-pressure system to completely destroy PFAS 'forever chemicals' in water and soil with no toxic byproducts. The company aims to address EPA concerns about PFAS contamination by providing scalable destruction technology for environmental remediation.
GeekWire returns in person for 2022 Awards at Showbox SoDo, honoring 60+ finalists across 15 categories with 16,000+ votes
GeekWire held its first in-person GeekWire Awards in three years at Showbox SoDo in Seattle, honoring 60+ finalists across 15 categories with over 16,000 community votes and appearances by local tech leaders and entertainers.
Vulcan Capital renamed Cercano Management and spun off as independent firm managing Allen-era assets
Vulcan Capital, the investment arm created to manage late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s holdings, has been spun off and renamed Cercano Management, a privately held firm working with multiple investors and family foundations. Cercano, based in Bellevue, will remain connected to Allen’s estate, continues Vulcan’s low-profile approach, and was recently disclosed as an investor in a $5.9 million round for Seattle startup Pendulum.
Seattle tech — including Amazon, Microsoft and startups like Convoy — poised to profit as pandemic-driven supply chain chaos accelerates digital logistics transformation
Persistent COVID-19–related supply chain disruptions have created demand for digital tools, presenting an opportunity for Seattle-area tech firms and startups—alongside Amazon and Microsoft—to provide IoT, cloud, and machine-learning solutions for trucking and logistics. Industry leaders say the pandemic accelerated digital transformation in trucking and may push broader adoption of sensors, edge devices and analytics to reduce delays and visibility gaps.
GeekWire updates Seattle list as Highspot raises $248M at $3.5B; SeekOut and Icertis added to 16 local unicorns
GeekWire updated its list of Seattle-area 'unicorn' startups (privately held companies valued at $1B+) after additions and a valuation change for Icertis, noting recent entrants like SeekOut and Highspot, which raised $248 million at a $3.5 billion valuation. The article highlights that the Seattle cohort includes 16 unicorns, none led by a female or Black CEO, and that many CEOs have Microsoft backgrounds amid a global surge in unicorns and venture funding.
Ciara and Russell Wilson’s House of LR&C to raise up to $15M in Series A after revenue hits eight figures
The House of LR&C, a Seattle fashion house co-founded by Ciara and Russell Wilson, plans to raise up to $15 million in a Series A this year after reaching eight-figure revenue and roughly 70% growth; the company previously raised a $7 million convertible note led by Harlem Capital.
Bellevue’s tech boom draws Amazon, Apptio and major firms as city positions itself as Seattle alternative
Bellevue has become a major tech hub attracting companies like Amazon, Apptio, T-Mobile, Smartsheet, OfferUp and Icertis thanks to its downtown, livability, low crime and business-friendly policies, with major expansions including Amazon’s plan to employ 25,000 there.
Amazon’s $2B Climate Pledge Fund backs 11 climate tech firms as company works to cut emissions by 2040
Amazon launched a $2 billion Climate Pledge Fund in June 2020 and has invested hundreds of millions in 11 climate tech companies to accelerate technologies that help it and other corporations reach carbon neutrality by 2040; the fund pairs capital with Amazon's operational support to scale solutions. Matt Peterson, director of the fund, says Amazon leverages its footprint and internal adoption (e.g., Rivian vehicles) to help portfolio companies cross the "valley of death" as the company confronts rising emissions.
GeekWire Podcast: Qumulo CEO Bill Richter on Remote Work, Seattle Tech Pay Rise to $158K, and Qumulo’s $1.2B Valuation
GeekWire’s podcast interviews Qumulo CEO Bill Richter about post-pandemic remote work, trends in tech salaries (Seattle up 4.6% to $158,000; U.S. average down 1.1% to $152,000), and implications for hiring, cloud storage, and self-driving cars. Richter discusses Qumulo’s remote-work approach, decentralized decision-making by functional leaders, and the company’s $1.2 billion valuation from its latest funding round.
98point6 co-founder Robbie Cape abruptly exits as CEO; chairman Jeff Greenstein named interim leader
98point6 co-founder and CEO Robbie Cape has abruptly left the virtual primary care company he helped start in 2015, with chairman and co-founder Jeff Greenstein named interim CEO while the board searches for a replacement. The 350-person startup, which raised a $118 million Series E in October, said the C-suite will continue leading operations and praised Cape’s six years of leadership.
Qualtrics acquires Seattle journey-orchestration startup Usermind to bolster XM Directory
Qualtrics has acquired Seattle-based marketing startup Usermind, a 2013-founded leader in journey orchestration with about 40 employees, to strengthen its Qualtrics XM Directory and customer interaction tracking. Usermind, led by CEO Michel Feaster, raised $14 million in January, weathered pandemic layoffs, and saw increased demand as companies accelerated digital adoption.
Seattle startups raise record $3.1B in H1 2021, producing 12 local unicorns as Auth0 exits for $6.5B
Seattle-area startups raised a record $3.1 billion across 205 deals in H1 2021, driven by mega-rounds that produced at least 12 local unicorns and broader Pacific Northwest tech funding topping $5 billion. National VC activity and IPO/M&A dollar volumes are also surpassing prior records, with major exits like Auth0’s $6.5 billion acquisition by Okta highlighting regional maturation.
Viome Life Sciences splits into Viome Consumer Services and Viome Health Sciences to separate products from diagnostics and therapeutics
Viome, now Viome Life Sciences, has split into two divisions: Viome Consumer Services for individualized diet and supplement products, and Viome Health Sciences to develop diagnostics, predictive biomarkers and therapeutics for chronic disease and cancer. The Bellevue startup, led by CEO Naveen Jain and backed by investors including Marc Benioff, has over 200,000 customers and expects $100 million in revenue next year.
Brad Evans launches Contrib to auction athlete memorabilia online and boost charity fundraising
Former Seattle Sounders defender Brad Evans has launched Contrib, a digital fundraising startup that auctions athlete memorabilia and leverages social media and game-time hype to raise more money for charities than traditional in-person donations. Evans says building the tech company has been a steep learning curve and is giving him new, sometimes sleepless, challenges compared with his 12-year pro soccer career.
Melinda French Gates positions Pivotal Ventures to expand women- and family-focused VC and philanthropy after divorce
Melinda French Gates founded Pivotal Ventures in January 2015 as a vehicle to pursue initiatives outside the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and following her divorce from Bill Gates she is poised to expand Pivotal’s influence on empowering women and families. Observers say her resources and focus could shift venture capital dynamics for female founders and have “transformational potential.”
BitTitan to Acquire Perspectium, Adding 75 Employees and Expanding ServiceNow Data Management
BitTitan announced it will acquire Perspectium, a 75-person company that helps manage data on ServiceNow, in a deal that expands BitTitan’s IT service management offerings and raises headcount to over 250; financial terms were not disclosed. Perspectium CEO David Loo will join BitTitan as chief product officer.
Rad Power Bikes co-founder Ty Collins steps down to advisory role; WRF CEO Ron Howell to retire end of April
Rad Power Bikes co-founder and former CMO Ty Collins has stepped down and moved into an advisory role while remaining involved; the company is profitable and raised $150 million earlier this year. Washington Research Foundation CEO Ron Howell will retire at the end of April after 29 years, with CFO Jeff Eby serving as acting CEO.
Nuance acquires Seattle voice-assistant startup Saykara to bolster AI healthcare products; terms undisclosed
Nuance Communications has acquired Seattle startup Saykara, whose voice assistant Kara automatically documents doctor-patient conversations, to strengthen Nuance’s AI healthcare products; Saykara’s team including CEO Harjinder Sandhu will join Nuance R&D. Terms were not disclosed; Saykara had raised $10 million, employs about 30 people, and Sandhu previously sold a startup to Nuance and worked there.
Usermind raises $14M led by WestRiver Group as pandemic-driven digital demand boosts Seattle startup
Seattle marketing startup Usermind raised $14 million in a funding round led by WestRiver Group as demand for digital customer-experience software surged during the pandemic; total funding is $60 million and headcount has recovered to just over 50 employees.
LinkedIn data: Seattle added 2.2 tech workers per one lost from March–October as Bay Area outflows rise
LinkedIn migration data shows Seattle gained 2.2 tech workers for every one who left from March to October, nearly matching last year’s 2.5 ratio, and attracted a 28% increase in movers from the Bay Area. While the Bay Area and New York saw notable declines in their inflow-outflow ratios, observers and local advocates say Seattle’s similar amenities and lower cost of living help explain the trend.
Organizations
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Akari Photo Tours Co-Founder 2023–present · current
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Kevin Lisota Photography Photographer / Videographer 2014–present · current
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GeekWire Photographer · current
Education
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Tokyo Institute of Technology Chemical Engineering · 1993–1994
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University of Wisconsin-Madison BS, Chemical Engineering/East Asian Studies
