Kurt Schlosser
Kurt Schlosser is a photographer and reporter associated with GeekWire and Recompose, mentioned in multiple GeekWire articles.
Zenoti lays off ~17 employees (3.5% of 500) as COVID-19 pressures beauty industry, says CEO Sudheer Koneru
Seattle-based Zenoti cut 3.5% of its 500-person global staff (about 17 employees) as the COVID-19 outbreak disrupts the beauty and wellness industry, though CEO Sudheer Koneru says financial impact has been minimal and larger clients continue driving revenue through digital tools like gift cards and online retail.
Gravity Payments CEO Dan Price says employees volunteered temporary pay cuts after revenue dropped ~55%, avoiding layoffs
Gravity Payments CEO Dan Price asked employees for ideas after revenue fell about 50–55% during the COVID-19 crisis; employees volunteered temporary, individual pay cuts (some to zero) so the company could avoid layoffs and price increases.
Textio raises $12M as layoffs hit 20% of staff; Industry Ventures, Operator Collective join round
Seattle augmented-writing startup Textio raised $12 million from new investors including Industry Ventures and Operator Collective to expand beyond enterprise customers, after laying off 20% of staff amid COVID-19 uncertainty. CEO Kieran Snyder says the funding will help pivot the product to help candidates better express skills and values as remote written communication rises.
Seattle AI Startup Textio Lays Off 30 Employees Amid COVID-19, Shifts Focus to Aid Job Seekers
Seattle startup Textio laid off 30 employees, or 20% of its staff, due to COVID-19 uncertainty, leaving about 120 employees remaining. CEO Kieran Snyder emphasized shifting the company's AI writing technology focus to help job seekers better represent their skills amid a challenging labor market.
Play At Work shifts Seattle tech-office music lessons online as coronavirus prompts employees to work from home
Seattle startup Play At Work has shifted its on-site music lessons for tech employees to online video instruction after many clients began working from home due to the coronavirus, and most students have continued lessons via platforms like Google Hangouts and Zoom.
Textio adds 'age graph' and accommodation guidance to its AI writing tools to flag ageism and ableism in job listings
Textio expanded its AI-powered augmented writing tools to highlight ageist and ableist language, adding an "age graph" and reasonable-accommodation guidance to help make job postings more inclusive and speed hiring.
Cloud Paper sees 600% subscriber surge during COVID-19 run and pledges 10,000 bamboo toilet-paper rolls to Food Lifeline
Seattle startup Cloud Paper, which makes tree-free bamboo toilet paper, has seen a 600% jump in subscribers amid the COVID-19 run on toilet paper and has pledged 10,000 rolls to Food Lifeline to help those in need.
Piroshky Piroshky owner Olga Sagan launches Catch22Delivery to help Seattle restaurants during COVID-19
Olga Sagan, owner of Seattle’s Piroshky Piroshky bakery, launched Catch22Delivery, a free delivery and takeout platform to help local restaurants stay open and connect with customers amid COVID-19 closures that have boosted demand for food delivery.
Ridwell collects hygiene and pet supplies for Mary’s Place, Pike Market Food Bank and Seattle Humane Society during COVID-19
Seattle recycling startup Ridwell is using its pickup infrastructure to collect hygiene and pet supplies for vulnerable groups during COVID-19, partnering with Mary’s Place, Pike Market Food Bank and Senior Center, and Seattle Humane Society. Members can leave designated donation items beside their regular Ridwell bins for collection on specified Saturdays.
The SnapBar launches $75 "Keep Your City Smiling" boxes to support employees and local vendors after live events collapse
Seattle photo and video booth startup The SnapBar, hit by the coronavirus collapse of live events, launched Keep Your City Smiling — $75 local gift boxes featuring 5–7 items from struggling area businesses to keep employees working and support vendors, with plans to expand to other cities and corporate bulk orders.
Seattle startup Joe Coffee says mobile orders tripled amid COVID-19, waives commissions and defers fees to help hundreds of shops
Seattle coffee tech startups, including Joe Coffee, are racing to support independent cafes as coronavirus closures disrupt routines; Joe Coffee reports mobile orders tripled and is waiving commissions and deferring setup fees to help shops stay open. Larger chains like Starbucks have shifted to drive-thru models while local startups onboard more shops to meet surging demand.
Seattle startup Mystery launches $125–$200 'Night In' boxes to support 10 local partners during COVID-19 closures
Seattle startup Mystery, which normally plans surprise nights out for couples, launched a 'Night In' box—priced $125–$200—for two that includes dinner, an activity and goods from local partner businesses to help them during the COVID-19 shutdown.
Seattle startups including Apptentive, Textio and TINYpulse rely on Slack/Zoom and regular check‑ins as teams go fully remote during COVID-19
Seattle startups shifted to remote work during the COVID-19 outbreak, relying on chat and video platforms to keep business and social interactions going while monitoring employee well-being. Companies like Apptentive, Textio and TINYpulse report tools and check-ins help, but leaders note challenges for employees who struggle with isolation or being heard online.
Headphones, AI and the future of humanity
New wireless Bluetooth headphones from Seattle startup Human are getting mixed reviews based on their appearance, and their initial starting price of $399 (which the company quickly dropped to a promotional price of $259). But their unique design, which completely envelops both ears, reflects a vision of the future in which technology will be melded to our bodies, and potentially to our minds. Plus: Jeff Bezos' first Amazon job ad, 25 years later; A new Netflix documentary will go inside the mind of Bill Gates, and Alexa makes a "Jeopardy!" cameo. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Big changes at Uber: Tipping is in, CEO is out
This week, Uber finally did what drivers have been asking it to do for years: allow customers to tip. The next day, it’s CEO and founder Travis Kalanick resigned. On this episode of the Week In Geek, we discuss how Uber’s many controversies have changed how we and others see the company. Plus, Amazon rolls out a new fashion service and a few updates on big Amazon news from last week. On the Random Channel: how we vacation. Follow all our coverage and read the stories we talked about this week at GeekWire.com Thank you to this week’s sponsor: GoDaddy…
Wrench Launches Maintenance Membership and Expands to Phoenix, Plans Third Market in January
Seattle-based car repair startup Wrench has launched a maintenance membership program and expanded to Phoenix, planning a third market expansion in January. The membership offers regular on-site services for $14.95 to $19.95 per month, aiming to simplify car maintenance without dealer visits.
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