Kirby Winfield

Nate Bek / GeekWire Jul 14, 2023

Seattle Venture Capital Investment Falls to $1.11 Billion in H1 2023, Yet Investors Stay Bullish on AI and Talent

Despite a significant decline in venture capital investments in Seattle, local investors remain optimistic about the region's future, driven by its strong talent pool and growth in generative AI. Seattle startups raised $1.11 billion in the first half of this year, down from $4.02 billion last year, reflecting a cautious shift toward profitability amid a market downturn similar to the dot-com bubble.

Taylor Soper / GeekWire May 24, 2023

Seattle Startup Funding Plummets 79% in Q1 2023 Amid National 45% Venture Capital Decline

Venture capital funding for Seattle-based startups hit a six-year low in Q1 2023 due to broader economic uncertainty and rising interest rates, with a 79% drop in capital raised locally and a national 45% decline. Startups face fewer deals, lower valuations, and more down or flat rounds, signaling a shift in investor urgency and funding strategies.

Taylor Soper / GeekWire May 9, 2023

Seattle VC Firm Ascend Raises $25M Second Fund to Boost AI Investments Amid Market Downturn

Seattle-based pre-seed venture capital firm Ascend, led by Kirby Winfield, raised a $25 million second fund focused on doubling down on artificial intelligence investments amid a challenging startup funding environment. Winfield, who has backed over 70 startups, predicts a further valuation correction but remains committed to early-stage investing.

Rebecca Szkutak / TechCrunch May 9, 2023

Ascend’s Kirby Winfield closes $25M second fund to back pre-seed AI/ML startups in Pacific Northwest

Seattle-based VC Ascend, led by founder and solo GP Kirby Winfield, closed a $25 million second fund to invest in pre-seed AI and ML startups primarily in the Pacific Northwest, shifting focus away from brands and marketplaces.

Todd Bishop / GeekWire Mar 14, 2023

Silicon Valley Bank Collapse Prompts Full Deposit Protection but Signals Banking Challenges for Startups and Tech Industry

Silicon Valley Bank's collapse has led the U.S. government to fully protect all deposits, yet it raises significant challenges for startups and the tech industry, including more complex banking and cash management. Venture capitalists predict difficulties with venture debt financing and potential tech layoffs amid reduced venture capital investing.

Andrew Richards / GeekWire Oct 14, 2022

GeekWire Elevator Pitch Season 3 Finale Features Four CEOs Competing Live at GeekWire Summit

The season three finale of GeekWire’s Elevator Pitch featured four startup CEOs pitching their businesses live at the GeekWire Summit, competing for top honors in categories like fintech, sustainability, and consumer products. The finalists included Devin Miller of SecureSave, Amina Moreau of Radious, Erin Quick of PairTree, and Katherine Sizov of Strella Biotechnology.

Andrew Richards / GeekWire Sep 30, 2022

GeekWire Elevator Pitch Final Episode Features Seattle Sustainability Startups Competing for 2022 Summit Finale Spot

The final episode of GeekWire's Elevator Pitch features three Seattle-area sustainability startup CEOs pitching their innovations in a timed elevator ride, with the winner advancing to the live finale at the 2022 GeekWire Summit on October 6. The startups include Strella Biotechnology, BattGenie, and Aquagga, focusing on produce ripeness sensing, battery longevity, and PFAS destruction respectively.

Andrew Richards / GeekWire Sep 15, 2022

GeekWire’s Elevator Pitch S3 Features PairTree, Spot Tot, and Welcome Home CEOs Pitching Consumer Startups

GeekWire's Elevator Pitch season three features three consumer startup CEOs—Erin Quick of PairTree, Robin Waterman of Spot Tot, and Ashley Michael of Welcome Home—pitching their companies to a panel of judges in Seattle's Smith Tower. The season's finale will occur on October 6, 2022, at the GeekWire Summit.

Andrew Richards / GeekWire Sep 1, 2022

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.

Taylor Soper / GeekWire Aug 24, 2022

Seattle VC Firm Fuse, Led by Three Under-40 Partners, Raised $170M and Seeks $250M for Second Fund

Seattle venture capital firm Fuse, led by three general partners all aged 35 or younger, raised $170 million for its first fund and is currently raising $250 million for its second. The firm focuses on early-stage Pacific Northwest software startups and is notable for both its youthful leadership and sizable funds.

Taylor Soper / GeekWire Oct 22, 2021

Kirby Winfield, ex-founder and exec, raises $15M for Ascend.vc to back Pacific Northwest early-stage startups

Kirby Winfield, a longtime Seattle startup leader who experienced burnout after multiple exits, founded Ascend.vc to invest in early-stage Pacific Northwest tech companies and raised a $15 million first fund after recovering his health and shifting from founder roles to venture investing.

Taylor Soper / GeekWire Jul 12, 2021

CoderPad acquires Seattle startup AdaptiLab’s technical interviewing platform as founders James Wu and Allen Lu launch a new developer-focused company

Seattle startup AdaptiLab has sold its technical interviewing platform to CoderPad; terms were not disclosed. Founders James Wu and Allen Lu, who raised $1.8M in a 2019 seed and $2.2M total, are launching a new developer-focused company later this year with existing and new investors.

Kurt Schlosser / GeekWire May 14, 2021

Bean Box raises $2.4M Series A as pandemic drives specialty coffee demand to homes, CEO says growth near 200%

Seattle startup Bean Box raised $2.4 million in a Series A round as pandemic-driven home coffee demand sharply increased; the 2014-founded company reports ~200% year-over-year growth, over 40% gross margin, doubled subscribers, and expansion beyond the Pacific Northwest.

Taylor Soper / GeekWire Apr 15, 2021

Coinbase IPO Soars to $85 Billion, Nets Windfalls for Early Backers Including Version One Ventures

Coinbase’s IPO pushed its valuation to $85 billion and delivered major returns to early investors like Version One Ventures, which made a highly profitable bet years ago. The article examines how Seattle and Pacific Northwest investors view crypto and blockchain as the region seeks to grow its fintech presence amid emerging local startups and initiatives.

Kurt Schlosser / GeekWire Jan 14, 2021

Seattle’s Worksphere launches platform to manage COVID-era office returns, raises $550,000 pre-seed

Seattle startup Worksphere, launched in September by Aakhil Fardeen and co-founders, offers a software platform to help companies manage office returns during COVID-19 by automating scheduling, capacity limits, wellness surveys and contact tracing; the company raised $550,000 in pre-seed funding led by Ascend.vc.

Taylor Soper / GeekWire Dec 8, 2020

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.

John Cook / GeekWire Oct 7, 2015

HomeAway acquires Seattle startup Dwellable; will shutter service, relocate six staff to Austin

HomeAway acquired Seattle vacation-rental startup Dwellable, will phase out Dwellable's app and service within 30 days, and is moving six Dwellable employees (including founders Nathan Kriege and Adam Doppelt) to Austin while CEO Kirby Winfield remains in Seattle.

John Cook / GeekWire Jun 12, 2013

Kirby Winfield, whose AdXpose sold to comScore for $22M, named CEO of Dwellable

Kirby Winfield, founder of AdXpose which sold to comScore for $22 million, was named CEO of Dwellable, a vacation-rental search service founded by Adam Doppelt; he replaces Brenda Spoonemore, who transitions to advisor and investor. Winfield cites limited online discoverability of rentals, Dwellable's mobile leadership, and growth potential as reasons for taking the role.