Kurt Schlosser
Kurt Schlosser is a photographer and reporter associated with GeekWire and Recompose, mentioned in multiple GeekWire articles.
Seattle AI Startup Silkline Raises $4M Seed Funding to Enhance Manufacturing Supply Chain Tools
Silkline, a Seattle-based AI startup founded in 2023, raised $4 million in seed funding to enhance its AI tools that help advanced manufacturing companies streamline supply chains and reduce production delays. The company has rapidly grown revenue fivefold year-over-year and counts major aerospace and robotics manufacturers as customers.
Seattle AI Startup Casium Raises $5M Seed Round to Accelerate U.S. Work Visa Filings
Seattle startup Casium, founded by former Microsoft scientist Priyanka Kulkarni, raised $5 million in seed funding to use AI for streamlining U.S. work visa applications, aiming to reduce processing time from months to days. The platform autonomously prepares applications and collaborates with immigration attorneys to improve transparency and precision in the visa filing process.
OfferUp Conducts Layoffs to Simplify Marketplace and Focus on Local Experience Amid Growth Plans
OfferUp, a Seattle-based used goods marketplace, is conducting another round of layoffs to simplify its business and focus on local user-to-user experiences, less than a year after cutting 22% of its staff. CEO Todd Dunlap highlighted changes including downplaying shipping, modernizing the app, and increasing marketing spend to maintain profitability and invest in growth.
LinkedIn Names Seattle Startups Chainguard, Common Room, and Truveta Among 2023 Top 50 U.S. Startups
LinkedIn's 2023 list of top 50 U.S. startups includes three Seattle-area companies: Chainguard, Common Room, and Truveta, recognized for rapid growth and innovation in cybersecurity, AI-driven sales, and healthcare data aggregation. These startups have collectively raised over $676 million and hold high valuations, reflecting strong regional entrepreneurial momentum.
Remitly Co-founder Shivaas Gulati Launches Arkero AI to Leverage Artificial Intelligence in Sports and Live Events in Seattle
Shivaas Gulati, co-founder of Remitly, is launching Arkero AI in Seattle to help sports and live event organizations leverage artificial intelligence. Drawing from his experience with Southend United and Seattle Sounders FC, he aims to create business value with AI in these industries.
Ex-Army Officer Jonathan Pan Leads Exia Labs in Developing AI for Military Wargaming
Jonathan Pan, a former U.S. Army infantry officer who served in Afghanistan, is now CEO of Exia Labs in Seattle, developing AI software to enhance military wargaming. His military and gaming experiences converge to create innovative tools for tactical and strategic decision-making.
Seattle’s Alpyne Labs Introduces Juno, an AI Assistant to Automate Admin Tasks for Mental Health Clinicians
Seattle startup Alpyne Labs launched Juno, an AI-powered Chrome extension designed to handle administrative tasks like billing and scheduling for mental health clinicians, freeing them to focus on patient care. Co-founded by CEO Justin Ith and VP Michelle Arenas, Juno integrates with popular EHR platforms and enables natural conversational interaction.
Recompose Raises $22.5M to Expand Human Composting Nationwide After 14 States Legalize the Practice
Recompose, founded by Katrina Spade in Seattle, pioneered human composting and has raised $22.5 million to expand its natural organic reduction services beyond Washington, where 13 more states have legalized the process. The company aims to grow nationally and internationally, potentially using a franchising model.
Seattle Ultrasonics Launches $399 C-200 Ultrasonic Chef’s Knife with 40,000 Vibrations per Second Technology
Scott Heimendinger, founder of Seattle Ultrasonics, has launched the C-200, the world’s first ultrasonic 8-inch chef’s knife priced at $399, designed to make cutting easier with over 40,000 vibrations per second. Leveraging his 15 years in kitchen tech, Heimendinger emphasizes practical innovation over gimmicks, with the knife’s effectiveness backed by robotic testing.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy Uses Christmas Tree Analogy to Stress Employee Ownership at 2024 Accelerate Conference
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy used an unusual Christmas tree analogy at the Accelerate seller conference to illustrate the importance of employee ownership and innovation in maintaining Amazon’s startup culture. He emphasized hiring 'builders' who take full responsibility for their projects to avoid complacency in a large company.
Seattle Ranks 4th in U.S. AI Startup Funding with 5.1%, Bay Area Leads with 51%, Data from Carta Shows
Seattle ranks fourth in AI startup funding in the U.S., capturing 5.1% of the market, while California’s Bay Area leads with 51%. The city is sixth overall in startup funding across sectors with $3.46 billion invested but lacks top-funded AI startups so far in 2024.
Xnurta Opens 5,536 Sq Ft Bellevue HQ and London Office to Expand AI-Powered Ad Services for Brands like Lenovo
Xnurta, an AI-driven ad-services startup based in Bellevue, Washington, has opened a new 5,536-square-foot U.S. headquarters in downtown Bellevue's One Bellevue Center and a new office in London. The company automates real-time bidding on platforms like Amazon and Walmart, serving clients including Lenovo, Anker, and Greenworks.
Glowforge to Close Seattle Factory and Lay Off Workers After Less Than a Year, Citing Expiring Lease and Redevelopment
Glowforge is closing its Seattle manufacturing facility and laying off workers less than a year after moving some production there, citing an expiring lease and neighborhood redevelopment. The company plans to find a new Seattle office and previously improved production quality compared to its old factory in Mexico.
Seattle AI Startup Vouched Raises $17M Series A to Enhance Identity Verification with Mobile Licenses and AI Agent Security
Seattle-based ID verification startup Vouched raised $17 million in a Series A funding round led by Spring Rock Ventures, advancing AI tools for identity verification including mobile driver’s licenses and AI agent reputation. CEO Peter Horadan emphasized transformative changes in identity verification prompted by emerging technologies and security needs.
Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena Implements Bold Reuse Reusable Cups Starting with Seattle Storm Game
Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena is adopting a reusable cup program by Portland startup Bold Reuse to reduce waste at sports and entertainment events, starting with a Seattle Storm game. The cups are collected, sanitized, and reused across all arena events, supporting the venue’s sustainability goals including its Zero Carbon certification.
Rec Room Lays Off 141 Employees, Halving Staff at $3.5 Billion Seattle Gaming Startup
Seattle-based gaming startup Rec Room laid off 141 employees, about half its staff, reducing the team to just over 100. The company, founded in 2016 and valued at $3.5 billion after raising $245 million in 2021, called the layoffs one of its toughest decisions.
Seattle Tech Veteran Matt Fisher Joins Immersive Media Startup Adventr to Lead AI-Based Interactive Gaming Innovation
Seattle tech veteran Matt Fisher has joined immersive media startup Adventr as a late-stage co-founder to advance AI-driven interactive gaming and media experiences, emphasizing voice-controlled content creation and interaction.
Robotics Startup FieldAI Valued at $2 Billion After $405 Million Funding Led by Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos
FieldAI, a California-based robotics startup backed by Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and others, raised $405 million, valuing the company at $2 billion. The company develops unique foundation models that enable various robots to operate autonomously in dynamic and unstructured environments across multiple industries.
Residex Acquires Seattle Health-Tech Startup Kevala to Boost AI-Powered Senior Care Workforce Management
Seattle-based health-tech startup Kevala, which helps healthcare facilities manage workers using AI, has been acquired by Denver-based Residex to enhance senior care operations. Kevala, founded in 2020 and led by CEO Todd Owens, raised $21 million before the acquisition, and the deal aims to combine workforce management with Residex’s clinical AI platform.
Seattle Startup Havium Raises $550,000 to Expand Single-Family Rental Ownership Platform
Seattle startup Havium raised $550,000 in an angel-funded round to expand its full-service platform for single-family rental property ownership, managing $25 million in assets across seven markets. Founded in 2016 by Jamie Nacht and partners, Havium helps clients invest in and manage rental homes by handling operational tasks like payments and upkeep.
Nectar Social Founders Move AI Startup from Seattle to Palo Alto Citing Bay Area’s Faster Tech Pace
The co-founders of AI startup Nectar Social are relocating their company from Seattle to Palo Alto to embrace the faster, more intense work culture of Silicon Valley, sparking debate about tech work pace and culture. The move highlights contrasting attitudes toward tech in Seattle, with some locals expressing relief and opposition to the high-pressure style favored in the Bay Area.
Glowforge CEO Dan Shapiro Announces Layoffs After Merging Sales and Marketing Teams Amid Funding Challenges
Seattle laser engraver maker Glowforge announced layoffs impacting its sales, marketing, senior executives, and customer care teams following a recent merger of sales and marketing departments. Founded in 2015, the startup has raised $183 million but faced challenges in 2023 and 2024 after a funding round fell through.
Augmodo Raises $37.5M to Scale Spatial AI Smartbadges for Retail Inventory Tracking with Chemist Warehouse
Augmodo, a Seattle-based startup, raised $37.5 million to advance its spatial AI technology that helps retail employees track inventory using smart badges. Their first major customer, Chemist Warehouse, quickly moved from pilot to full rollout, validating the technology and fueling investor confidence.
Seattle Startup Humanly Launches AI Video Interviewer to Streamline Job Candidate Screening
Seattle startup Humanly unveiled an AI-powered video interviewer that can interview candidates anytime while maintaining quality and structure, aiming to ease hiring workloads. The AI interviewers replicate real staff and help companies, especially those hiring in large volumes, conduct more equitable and scalable candidate assessments.
Nineteen Startups Graduate from Creative Destruction Lab’s Seattle Accelerator, Raising Over $190 Million Since 2022
Nineteen startups graduated from the Creative Destruction Lab’s nine-month accelerator program in Seattle, hosted at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business. The cohort includes companies from manufacturing and computational health sectors, and CDL-Seattle startups have collectively raised at least $190 million since 2022.
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