Kurt Schlosser
Kurt Schlosser is a photographer and reporter associated with GeekWire and Recompose, mentioned in multiple GeekWire articles.
Glowforge Launches $1,200 Aura Laser Printer for Home Crafters, Available at JOANN, Michaels, and HSN
Glowforge announced the Aura, a $1,200 compact laser printer/engraver designed for home crafters, distinct from their higher-end models aimed at businesses. The Aura will be available at major craft retailers and includes an optional $400 air filter to manage fumes.
Visit Bellevue and Circuit Launch Free Electric Shuttle BellHop Service in Downtown Bellevue Starting August 1
Visit Bellevue partners with electric shuttle company Circuit to launch BellHop, a free on-demand service operating downtown and nearby areas starting August 1, aiming to improve urban mobility with eco-friendly transportation.
Seattle's Ridwell Expands Recycling to Multi-layer Plastics, Serving 80,000 Members Across Seven States
Ridwell, a Seattle-based recycling startup, has expanded its collection program to include difficult-to-recycle multi-layer plastics such as chip bags and candy wrappers across seven states. The company serves 80,000 members who pay monthly fees for home pickup, diverting millions of pounds of waste from landfills.
David Aronchick Named CEO of Expanso; Highspot Appoints Graham Younger President; Brad Booth and Pete Shimer Join Boards
David Aronchick was named CEO of Expanso to advance its Bacalhau distributed computing platform, while Highspot appointed Graham Younger as president of field operations. Additionally, Brad Booth joined NLM Photonics' board and Pete Shimer was added to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center's board.
Stephanie King Launches Kitchen & Market, Reviving Corner Stores with Fresh Foods and Local Brands in Seattle Area
Stephanie King, founder of Kitchen & Market, is revitalizing the corner store concept in Seattle neighborhoods with her small grocery chain emphasizing fresh foods, local brands, and convenience. Despite COVID-19 challenges, her stores now include online ordering and delivery for meal kits, aiming to make grocery shopping easier and less daunting.
Ada Developers Academy Cuts 45% of Staff Amid Tech Hiring Slowdown, Slows Expansion Despite $10M Grant
Ada Developers Academy laid off 45% of its staff, about 34 employees, due to a tech industry hiring slowdown and fewer internship opportunities for students, impacting its mission to diversify tech. The Seattle-based nonprofit also plans to reduce student enrollment and halt expansion efforts initially funded by a $10 million grant from the Equality Can’t Wait challenge.
Likewise Launches ChatGPT Plugin for Personalized TV, Movie, Book, and Podcast Recommendations Backed by Bill Gates
Likewise, an entertainment discovery platform backed by Bill Gates' private office, launched a ChatGPT plugin that provides personalized recommendations for TV shows, movies, books, and podcasts, aiming to reduce users' 23-minute daily search time. The plugin integrates with OpenAI's chatbot to deliver tailored entertainment options accessible via clickable details like ratings and streaming locations.
Seattle Chef Joel Gamoran's Homemade Startup Streams Free Interactive Cooking Classes to 3.5 Million Attendees
Seattle chef Joel Gamoran founded Homemade, a startup offering free interactive livestreamed cooking classes, which has attracted 3.5 million attendees over 2.5 years. The platform relies on brand sponsorships to keep the content free and emphasizes personal viewer engagement through Zoom sessions.
GeekWire Names Adaptive Biotechnologies, Blink, Helion, Impinj, and Treasury4 as 2023 Workplace of the Year Finalists
The 2023 GeekWire Awards announced five finalists for Workplace of the Year—Adaptive Biotechnologies, Blink, Helion, Impinj, and Treasury4—highlighting their employee-friendly policies amid recent challenges. Winners will be revealed on May 18 following community voting and judge evaluations.
Seattle Carbon Removal Startup Nori Lays Off 10 Employees Amid Market Challenges
Seattle-based carbon removal startup Nori laid off 10 employees, about 37% of its staff, due to challenging market conditions and tightening startup funding. Founded in 2017, Nori focuses on selling carbon credits from sustainable farming practices and recently integrated its marketplace on blockchain.
Textio Restructures with 15 Job Cuts to Support Growth and Emphasizes Growing Role of Generative AI
Textio, a Seattle-based augmented writing startup, restructured its team by eliminating 15 roles and realigning others to support growth in its two products following last year's launch of a performance management tool. CEO Kieran Snyder emphasized the increasing importance of generative AI in enhancing their writing platform as market expectations evolve.
GeekWire Awards Reveal 2023 Startup CEO of the Year Finalists from Rebellyous Foods, Humanly, and Others
The 2023 GeekWire Awards announced finalists for Startup CEO of the Year, including leaders from startups in plant-based foods, mental health, employee communication, DNA analysis, and candidate screening automation. Voting continues until May 1, with winners revealed at the May 18 awards event hosted by Astound Business Solutions.
Seattle Startup Mystery Rebrands as Glue, Launches AI Platform to Enhance Employee Engagement and Acquires PopStage
Seattle employee engagement startup Mystery rebranded as Glue, now focusing on AI-powered software to boost workforce connection and retention, and employs nearly 50 people. The company recently acquired PopStage and raised $18.5 million in a 2022 Series A funding round.
Recompose Launches $5M Crowdfunding Campaign on Wefunder for Human Compositing Expansion
Seattle-based human composting startup Recompose launched a $5 million crowdfunding campaign on Wefunder open to unaccredited investors, aiming to grow its innovative funeral services. Founded by CEO Katrina Spade in 2017, Recompose has raised $27 million to date, operates facilities in Washington, and offers a sustainable alternative to burial and cremation.
Pebblebee and Peak Ski Co. Launch Embedded Peak Lôc8 Tracking Tech in 2023/24 Skis
Seattle-based Pebblebee is teaming up with Montana’s Peak Ski Co. to embed their wireless rechargeable Peak Lôc8 tracking technology into select 2023/24 Peak skis. This device, compatible with iOS and Android, helps skiers locate lost gear after accidents or theft.
Nominations Close Friday for 2023 GeekWire Awards Honoring Pacific Northwest Innovators; Ceremony Set for May 18 in Seattle
Nominations for the 2023 GeekWire Awards honoring top Pacific Northwest innovators and tech leaders close this Friday. The awards ceremony will be held on May 18 at Seattle's Showbox SoDo with an option to attend virtually.
Amazon Mandates Three Days In-Office Weekly, Sparking Optimism Among Seattle Small Businesses Near HQ
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announced a new policy requiring corporate and tech employees to work at least three days a week in the Seattle office, which small business owners in the South Lake Union neighborhood hope will increase local customer traffic and boost their businesses. This shift comes after challenges many businesses faced due to remote work trends over the past three years.
Snapbar CEO Sam Eitzen Leads Pivot from Physical Booths to Global Virtual Photo Booth App, Doubling Revenue Multiple Times Since 2020
Snapbar, originally a physical photo booth company, pivoted during the COVID-19 pandemic to launch a virtual photo booth web application called Snapshot, which rapidly grew to become its primary revenue source and expanded its customer base globally. CEO Sam Eitzen credits this strategic shift with doubling the company's revenue multiple times and transitioning Snapbar from a regional startup to a worldwide tech business.
Seattle Interviewing Startup Karat Lays Off 47 Employees to Invest in Growth and New Products
Seattle startup Karat, known for conducting technical interviews, laid off 47 employees to focus resources on expanding its enterprise customer base, scaling programs, and developing new products. The company reached unicorn status in October 2021 after raising $110 million but is now restructuring teams to support self-funded growth initiatives.
Seattle Startup Atomo Restructures and Cuts Workforce Six Months After $40M Funding
Seattle-based startup Atomo, which makes coffee from upcycled plant ingredients, is undergoing a strategic realignment and restructuring just six months after raising $40 million, including workforce reductions. CEO Andy Kleitsch said the company aims to scale its sustainable coffee offerings more quickly by adding new specialized staff.
Washington State Tech Companies Including Amazon, HaptX, and Elektrobit Showcase Innovations at CES 2023 in Las Vegas
CES 2023 is returning to Las Vegas with about 100,000 expected attendees, featuring a range of Washington state companies from startups to giants like Amazon showcasing innovations in tech fields such as AR/VR, IoT, automotive software, and more. GeekWire highlights key exhibitors including Amazon, Ant Reality, Bluetooth SIG, Elektrobit, HaptX, and Heybike among others.
Seattle Couple Launch Group B Labs with Bubbe, a High-Tech Baby Bottle for Perfect Milk Temperature
Seattle couple Illi and Olivia Eisner co-founded Group B Labs to develop Bubbe, a high-tech baby bottle that keeps breastmilk or formula cold and quickly heats to the perfect temperature, addressing common parent frustrations. Illi brings over a decade of hardware experience from major tech companies, while Olivia is a certified nurse midwife and lactation consultant.
Bill Gates Embraces Grandfather Role in 2023, Highlights Global Health and Climate Challenges in Annual Essay
Bill Gates reflects on becoming a grandfather in 2023 and emphasizes his focus on combating global challenges such as childhood disease, climate change, and education through his philanthropic work. Despite personal struggles, he remains optimistic about solving major problems and advancing clean energy innovation.
Seattle Entrepreneur Ryan Mulcahy Acquires Sook to Boost Nationwide Small Business Discovery Online
Seattle entrepreneur Ryan Mulcahy acquired Sook, a tool initially built by Jonathan Sandals to help shoppers discover small businesses online. Mulcahy expanded Sook from a browser extension to a full website featuring small business products nationwide, aiming to help them compete against Amazon and other tech giants.
University of Washington Ranked 24th Globally for VC-Backed Startup Founders in PitchBook's 2022 Report
The University of Washington ranks 24th globally for producing startup founders who secured venture capital, with 456 undergraduate founders raising $11.8 billion, according to PitchBook's 2022 data. Stanford topped the rankings, while regional universities like Washington State University and University of Oregon did not make the top 100.
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