Kurt Schlosser
Kurt Schlosser is a photographer and reporter associated with GeekWire and Recompose, mentioned in multiple GeekWire articles.
Seattle Opens 108,000-Square-Foot 'AI House' at Pier 70 to Support AI Startups and Talent Growth
Seattle launched 'AI House,' a 108,000-square-foot AI startup hub at Pier 70, aiming to foster collaboration among entrepreneurs, investors, and experts. The facility hosts around 20 startups and offers space for 1,000 desks, co-working, and events to attract and grow AI talent in the region.
Seattle Startup Workflow Labs Raises $1M to Expand Automated Platform Serving 500 Amazon Sellers
Seattle startup Workflow Labs raised $1 million to expand its automated platform that helps Amazon sellers manage catalogs and operations, having raised $3.2 million since its 2022 founding. The platform automates 84% of tasks for about 500 brands and aims to nearly quadruple clients by year-end.
Agasthya Upadhya Promoted to CEO of Seattle Freight Software Startup Logixboard; Co-founder Julian Alvarez Becomes Chairman
Agasthya Upadhya has been named CEO of Seattle-based freight software startup Logixboard, succeeding co-founder Julian Alvarez who becomes chairman. Other notable Pacific Northwest tech leadership changes include Angelique Okeke at F5, Beth Birnbaum at Mudstack, and Kenny Wyatt at Pushpay.
Seattle AI Marketing Startup Gradial Raises $13M Series A Led by Madrona to Scale Automation Platform
Seattle startup Gradial raised $13 million in a Series A round led by Madrona to expand its AI platform that automates marketing content operations. The company has experienced 30x revenue growth and plans to double its staff to accelerate product development and customer acquisition.
2025 GeekWire Awards Finalists: Lassen Peak, Lumotive, Microsoft, Starfish Space, and TerraPower Compete for Innovation of the Year
The 2025 GeekWire Awards Innovation of the Year finalists include Lassen Peak, Lumotive, Microsoft, Starfish Space, and TerraPower, featuring advancements in nuclear power, quantum computing, weapon detection, and sensor technology. These innovations highlight emerging technologies that could significantly impact future living and work.
Echodyne, Pulumi, Read AI, Statsig and Truveta Named Finalists for GeekWire's 2023 Next Tech Titan Award
Five startups—Echodyne, Pulumi, Read AI, Statsig, and Truveta—are finalists for the GeekWire Awards' Next Tech Titan prize, which highlights promising tech companies. These firms specialize in diverse areas like radar technology, cloud infrastructure, generative AI productivity tools, and advanced product feature testing.
Angie Parker Appointed Executive Director of Seattle's Alliance of Angels to Lead Startup Investment Refresh
Angie Parker has been named the new executive director of Seattle's Alliance of Angels, succeeding Yi-Jian Ngo after 13 years. Parker aims to refresh the organization, which comprises over 180 angel investors who have invested more than $125 million in over 250 startups, supported by an Innovation Fund raising increasing amounts each year.
Seattle Startup Portola Raises $10M to Launch Tolan, Animated AI Companions with 500K Downloads by Late 2024
Portola, a Seattle-based startup led by CEO Quinten Farmer, launched Tolan, an animated AI companion app that has already gained 500,000 iOS downloads since its late 2024 soft launch. Backed by $10 million in seed funding from prominent tech investors, Tolan aims to provide thoughtful conversational companionship beyond typical AI voice assistants.
Ex-Marine Emery Wager Leverages Afghanistan Combat Leadership in Pacific Northwest Tech Startup
Emery Wager, a former U.S. Marine and Stanford graduate, transitioned from a career in engineering to military service, inspired by the unique leadership and ambassador role in Afghanistan. His military experience now shapes his leadership style in the Pacific Northwest tech industry.
Chicago-based med spa startup Pinch expands in-home cosmetic services to Seattle after $3.5M seed funding
Pinch, a Chicago-based tech-enabled med spa startup that offers in-home cosmetic procedures like tox, chemical peels, and microneedling, has expanded to Seattle. The company, which raised $3.5 million in seed funding last year, employs contractor nurse practitioners to provide convenient, noninvasive treatments at clients' homes.
Blue Origin to Lay Off 1,400 Employees Amid Shift to Speed Up Manufacturing Post-New Glenn Launch
Blue Origin announced it will lay off about 10% of its nearly 14,000 employees to reduce bureaucracy and better align roles with company priorities following the successful launch of its New Glenn rocket. CEO Dave Limp emphasized the need to focus on scaling manufacturing and launch cadence efficiently to compete with SpaceX.
Defense Technology Accelerator Launches in Renton to Support Startups Addressing DoD Needs with $15,000 Funding
The Defense Technology Accelerator, launching in Renton, Washington, aims to support U.S.-owned tech startups addressing Department of Defense needs through a four-month program starting March 24, offering $15,000 funding and expert mentorship. Focus areas include energy, autonomy, cyber, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies relevant to national security.
Seattle Startup Official AI Raises $2 Million to Advance AI-Powered Content Creation Platform
Official AI, a Seattle startup enabling brands and talent to create AI-generated image and audio content, raised $2 million in seed funding led by Pioneer Square Ventures. The funding will help scale its engineering team and enhance its patented vault technology for secure collaboration and rights management.
Carbon Robotics Unveils LaserWeeder G2, an AI-Powered Laser Weed-Control Robot with Enhanced Speed, Modularity, and Manufacturing in Washington
Carbon Robotics launched the LaserWeeder G2, an AI-powered, faster, lighter, and more modular robot for weed control designed for various farm sizes and crops. The new model uses advanced AI, computer vision, and lasers to precisely eliminate weeds, with production at their new Eastern Washington facility.
Dopl Technologies Raises $1.5M to Expand Telerobotic Ultrasound in Underserved Communities
Seattle startup Dopl Technologies raised $1.5 million in a pre-seed round to expand its telerobotic ultrasound services, enabling remote diagnostics for underserved rural patients. The company uses robotic arms controlled remotely by sonographers with advanced haptics and AI to improve diagnostic access and sonographer experience.
Nominations Open for 2025 GeekWire Awards Celebrating Pacific Northwest Tech Leaders April 30 in Seattle
Nominations are open for the 2025 GeekWire Awards, recognizing top Pacific Northwest tech entrepreneurs and innovators across multiple categories, with the event scheduled for April 30 in Seattle. The awards honor individuals and companies from Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia and feature categories like Startup of the Year and STEM Educator of the Year.
Conduit Venture Labs Expands with Conduit Beacon to Support External Hard-Tech Startups
Conduit Venture Labs, a Seattle-based startup studio founded in 2022 by Amish Patel and Susan Paley to launch hardware-focused companies, has expanded its services with Conduit Beacon to support external founders, companies, VCs, and research entities in scaling and de-risking hard-tech ventures.
Seattle-Based CEO Molly DeWolf Swenson and Twitter Co-Founder Ev Williams Launch Mozi, Raising $6 Million to Prioritize Real-Life Connections Over Screen Time
Mozi, a new social app co-founded by Seattle native Molly DeWolf Swenson and Twitter co-founder Ev Williams, aims to strengthen in-person connections by minimizing addictive media aspects of social media, encouraging users to spend less time on it. The startup raised $6 million in seed funding in November and operates remotely from Seattle, with Hulu and Nike veteran Duoc Nguyen as head of engineering.
Textio Lays Off 15 Employees Amid Restructuring to Invest in Sales and Product Marketing Roles
Textio, a Seattle-based augmented writing startup, laid off 15 employees in a restructuring effort to invest in roles supporting its growing Feedback product, following earlier layoffs in 2023 and March 2024. The company, founded in 2014 and known for its AI-driven workplace language tools, is shifting focus toward sales and product marketing to meet increased demand for coaching and performance management support.
Rebellyous Foods Raises $2.4M More to Scale Automated Plant-Based Chicken Production System
Seattle-based Rebellyous Foods raised $2.4 million to expand sales and develop its automated Mock 2 plant-based chicken production system, aiming to compete with traditional meat. The company serves about 275 school districts and has raised over $30 million since its 2017 founding.
WTIA Selects 21 Seed-Stage Startups for 12th Founder Cohort Accelerator Program from January to June
The Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) announced 21 seed-stage startups selected for its 12th Founder Cohort Accelerator Program, running January to June, aimed at helping early-stage Washington state tech companies scale with mentorship and resources. Since inception, the program has supported over 300 companies, with alumni raising more than $350 million.
Ex-Amperity CEO Kabir Shahani Steps Down and Launches Amp It Up Ventures After Amperity Hits $1 Billion Valuation
Kabir Shahani, former CEO and co-founder of Amperity, which reached a $1 billion valuation in 2021, has stepped down and is now focused on building startups through his new venture, Amp It Up Ventures. After leaving Amperity in 2022, he discusses his entrepreneurial journey and future plans on the Shift AI Podcast.
Stoke Space Hotfires 100,000-Pound Thrust Full-Flow Staged Combustion Rocket Engine on New Vertical Test Stand
Stoke Space successfully hotfired its first-stage full-flow staged combustion rocket engine on a new vertical test stand in Moses Lake, Washington, marking a significant milestone for the startup. The company, founded by former Blue Origin employees, aims to develop fully reusable rockets operating with aircraft-like frequency.
Jeff Bezos Optimistic About Trump’s Return, Predicts Blue Origin Will Surpass Amazon
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos expressed optimism about President-elect Donald Trump's return to office, highlighting Trump's calmer demeanor and regulatory reduction goals. Bezos also stated that his space venture Blue Origin will become a bigger business than Amazon.
Seattle Natives Launch Flying Comet Games with Localized Wordle-Style Puzzle and Diverse Wordy-verse Categories
Seattle natives Calli Fuchigami and Eden Ghirmai co-founded Flying Comet Games, creating a Seattle-themed Wordle-style puzzle and other niche word games across various categories. Their startup focuses on unique custom word puzzles appealing to specific interests, avoiding direct use of the ‘Wordle’ trademark.
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