Kurt Schlosser
Kurt Schlosser is a photographer and reporter associated with GeekWire and Recompose, mentioned in multiple GeekWire articles.
Tyler Swartz Launches Speedy’s in 2024 to Transport Stranded Seattle E-Bikes within 90 Minutes
Tyler Swartz founded Speedy’s, a Seattle-based roadside service launched in 2024 that transports disabled e-bikes to repair shops within 90 minutes. The service, which has grown to over 325 members and completed 384 trips, collaborates with local bike shops to support the e-bike community.
JLL Report Names Seattle a Top Global Tech 'Reinforcer' but Flags Shortage of Premium Office Space
Seattle has risen to a 'reinforcer' status in JLL's Innovation Geographies report, outpacing cities like New York and London in talent migration. However, the city faces a bottleneck for tech expansion due to a shortage of premium, investment-grade office space with limited new construction and rising rents.
Seattle-Based Gaming Platform Rec Room to Shut Down June 1, Assets Acquired by Snap
Rec Room, a popular Seattle-based social gaming platform valued at $3.5 billion, announced it will shut down on June 1, with some assets acquired by Snap, leaving its 150 million players and community in shock. Fans expressed disbelief and sadness on Discord and Reddit, questioning what happened and where they will find similar entertainment now.
Allen Institute for AI, Carbon Robotics, DAT Freight & Analytics, Humanly, and Yoodli Named 2026 GeekWire Workplace of the Year Finalists
The 2026 GeekWire Awards Workplace of the Year finalists include Allen Institute for AI, Carbon Robotics, DAT Freight & Analytics, Humanly, and Yoodli, recognized for building exceptional workplace cultures based on core values like trust and openness. The award ceremony occurs on May 7 in Seattle, with public voting open through April 16.
Pay-i Founder David Tepper Wins GeekWire’s AI Startup Pitch Competition with Advanced AI Spend Management Platform
At GeekWire’s Agents of Transformation event in Seattle, four AI startups—Pay-i, Cascade, Autessa, and GemaTEG—pitched their ideas to a panel of judges, with Pay-i founder David Tepper winning for his AI spend management platform that accurately tracks AI costs beyond token usage. Judges praised Tepper for his strong presentation skills and ability to answer questions under pressure.
Brinc Drones Moves to 35,000 Sq Ft Seattle HQ and Factory, Plans Expansion to 50,000 Sq Ft Amid Rapid Growth
Brinc Drones is relocating its headquarters and factory to a 35,000-square-foot space at West Canal Yards in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood, doubling its production footprint to support rapid growth. The company, which develops drones for first responders and employs 160 people, plans to expand to 50,000 square feet and expects to exceed 250 employees by year-end.
GeekWire Hosts Agents of Transformation AI Summit in Seattle on March 24 Featuring Microsoft, AWS, and OpenAI Leaders
GeekWire's Agents of Transformation summit in Seattle on March 24 will explore how agentic AI is reshaping work, creativity, and leadership through keynote talks, panels, and demos featuring leaders from Microsoft, AWS, and OpenAI. The half-day event includes fireside chats, startup pitches, and networking opportunities with industry experts and sponsors like Accenture and Nebius.
Plug and Play Launches Third Seattle Accelerator Cohort with 10 Startups for 12-Week Program Ending Mid-June
Plug and Play selected 10 startups, primarily Seattle-based, for its third Seattle-area accelerator cohort, a 12-week program running through mid-June focusing on enterprise software, biotech, AI, robotics, and health tech. The program provides tailored mentorship and opportunities to develop business strategies, pilot projects, and commercial partnerships.
Seattle Startup Lamu Uses AI to Facilitate Meaningful Dating with $9.99 Registration and Weekly Matched Introductions
Ada Jin founded Lamu, a Seattle-based dating app that uses AI to facilitate intentional and meaningful human connections by learning about users and moderating matches with features like a 'love score' and wingman-style group chats. The app charges a $9.99 registration fee and reveals limited matches weekly to reduce choice overload.
UW Students Pitch AI Startup Ideas to Seattle Venture Capitalists After 10-Week Program at Pioneer Square Labs
University of Washington students from seven teams pitched AI-driven startup ideas to influential Seattle investors at Pioneer Square Labs, concluding a 10-week entrepreneurship program led by venture capitalist Greg Gottesman and UW professor Ed Lazowska. The event featured realistic pitch rounds, attracting prominent tech leaders as guests throughout the course.
Life EV Acquires Rad Power Bikes for $13.2M, Preserves Brand After Bankruptcy
Life Electric Vehicles Holdings completed the $13.2 million acquisition of Rad Power Bikes' assets following Rad's bankruptcy, preserving the brand and planning U.S. expansions. The South Florida company intends to maintain Rad's retail presence and enhance product innovation and assembly quality.
Seattle Entrepreneurs Dave Parker and Kathy Cox Launch $1,900 Trajectory Playbook Education Platform for Startup Founders
Seattle tech veteran Dave Parker and educator Kathy Cox launched Trajectory Playbook, a $1,900 education platform to help startup founders bridge the gap from ideation to product-market fit through a 10-module AI-enhanced curriculum. The program combines Parker's 2021 methodology with community networking and expert feedback to accelerate entrepreneurial success.
Aetherflux, Founded by Robinhood's Baiju Bhatt, Expands to Seattle for Solar-Powered Orbital Data Center Satellite Development
Aetherflux, a space startup founded in 2024 by Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt, is expanding to Seattle to develop solar-powered orbital data center satellites aimed at supporting AI energy needs, with a commercial launch planned for 2027. The company joins a growing aerospace community in Seattle, focusing on leveraging space-based infrastructure to overcome limitations of ground-based AI computing resources.
2026 GeekWire Awards Open for Pacific Northwest Tech Nominations Through Feb 25; Event Set for May 7 in Seattle
Nominations for the 2026 GeekWire Awards, recognizing Pacific Northwest tech leaders and innovators, close on February 25, with the event scheduled for May 7 in Seattle. The awards will honor winners across 12 categories including CEO of the Year, AI Innovation, and Startup of the Year.
TerraClear Launches TerraScout Autonomous Robot for High-Resolution Field Imaging and Rock, Weed Management
TerraClear launched TerraScout, an autonomous robot that captures ultra-high-resolution field imagery to help farmers manage rocks and weeds by converting data into actionable plans for existing farm equipment. The robot can cover over 1,000 acres daily at speeds up to 15 mph and operate autonomously for six hours, aiming to boost farming productivity.
Tech Veteran Joe Nguyen Named Seattle Metropolitan Chamber CEO to Drive Regional Economic Growth and Address Business-Political Divides
Joe Nguyen, former Washington State director of commerce and tech veteran, has become president and CEO of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce to focus on driving the economic engine of the Puget Sound region. He aims to bridge divides between business and politics and secure economic opportunities for future generations amid evolving challenges like AI.
2026 GeekWire Awards Open Nominations Until Feb 25 for Pacific Northwest Tech Innovators
Nominations are open until February 25 for the 2026 GeekWire Awards honoring Pacific Northwest tech innovators across 12 categories. The event will be held May 7 at Seattle’s Showbox SoDo with finalists selected by judges and community voting in March-April.
Seattle Startup Arrived Proposes Fan-Based Private Equity Stake in $8 Billion Seattle Seahawks
Seattle startup Arrived is proposing a fan-based private equity model allowing everyday investors to collectively buy a minority stake in the Seattle Seahawks, leveraging NFL rules permitting private equity stakes. The initiative targets gathering 100,000+ fans to invest small amounts, aiming for a 3%-10% ownership share amid potentially an $8 billion team valuation.
Seattle Startup Littlebird Launches Screen-Free Wearable Kid Tracker with Amazon and Walmart Partnerships
Littlebird, a Seattle startup led by founder Monica Plath, has launched a screen-free wearable kid tracker designed as a real-time alternative to smartphones and AirTags. The device, which operates on a multi-layered mesh network, shipped nearly 1,000 units with $200,000 in sales on its first release day and has attracted partnerships with Amazon and Walmart.
Overland AI Raises $100M Led by 8VC to Expand ULTRA Autonomous Vehicles for U.S. Military
Seattle-based Overland AI raised $100 million led by 8VC to meet military demand for its ULTRA autonomous ground vehicles, expanding its technology for off-road, GPS-denied environments. The company, spun out of the University of Washington in 2022, partners with various U.S. military divisions and has raised over $140 million to date.
Arkero Raises $6M to Use AI in Managing Operations for Pro Soccer Teams, Led by Remitly Co-Founder Shivaas Gulati
Arkero, a Seattle startup founded by Remitly veterans including CEO Shivaas Gulati, raised $6 million in pre-seed funding to use AI for improving sports teams' business operations. The platform integrates with existing tools to help pro soccer clubs like Seattle Sounders FC and San Diego FC optimize matchday planning and season ticket renewals.
Life Electric Vehicles Wins $13.2M Bid for Rad Power Bikes Assets in Bankruptcy Auction
Rad Power Bikes, once valued at $1.65 billion, auctioned its assets for $13.2 million as part of bankruptcy proceedings, with South Florida-based Life Electric Vehicles winning the bid pending court approval. Life EV will acquire Rad's inventory, intellectual property, and liabilities, while Rad's future brand status and employee impact remain uncertain.
Code.org Lays Off 18 Employees, Cuts Staff to 107 to Ensure Long-Term Sustainability
Seattle-based Code.org laid off 18 employees, reducing its staff to 107, to ensure long-term sustainability. The nonprofit, founded by Hadi and Ali Partovi, continues its mission to expand computer science education globally despite these cuts.
Fire Erupts at Rad Power Bikes Huntington Beach Store Amid Bankruptcy and Safety Warnings
A fire broke out at Rad Power Bikes' Huntington Beach retail store on Sunday, occurring while the store was closed, with the cause yet unknown. This incident adds to the challenges faced by the Seattle-based e-bike company, which recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is under scrutiny for safety issues related to its lithium-ion batteries.
Rad Power Bikes Rider’s DIY Cinderblock Battery Fire Containment Sparks Safety Debate Amid 2023 CPSC Fire Warnings
A Rad Power Bikes rider shared a DIY cinderblock battery containment solution on Reddit to address fire risks from e-bike lithium-ion batteries, sparking community debate and safety discussions. The concerns follow a 2023 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warning about fire hazards related to certain Rad Power Bikes lithium-ion batteries amid the company's financial struggles.
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