Kurt Schlosser
Kurt Schlosser is a photographer and reporter associated with GeekWire and Recompose, mentioned in multiple GeekWire articles.
Remitly Reports 44% Revenue Growth to $944M in 2023, Projects Over $1.2B in 2024 with Reduced Losses
Remitly's 2023 revenue rose 44% to $944.3 million with send volume up 38% and active customers increasing 41%, while losses slightly widened to $117.8 million. The Seattle-based digital remittance company forecasts over $1.2 billion revenue in 2024 and plans to reduce losses.
LevelTen Energy Raises $10M Follow-On to 2021 Series C to Expand Clean Energy Deal Platform
Seattle's LevelTen Energy raised an additional $10 million to expand its clean energy project facilitation platform, following a $35 million Series C round in 2021. The company partners with Google Cloud to accelerate renewable energy deals and operates a large marketplace for buying and selling renewable energy assets.
Seattle Startups Report 12% Down Rounds in 2023, Lower Than Bay Area's 17% and NYC's 24%, Reflecting Revenue Focus
Seattle startups experienced fewer down rounds in funding during the first nine months of 2023 compared to Bay Area and New York City, with 12% versus 17% and 24% respectively. This is attributed to Seattle founders' focus on revenue and profitability, which aligns better with current investor preferences amid broader tech market challenges.
Seattle Solar Startup Omnidian Raises $25M to Enhance Remote Solar Panel Maintenance Across 34 States
Seattle-based Omnidian, a company that manages and maintains solar panel performance, raised $25 million in new funding to expand its remote solar performance monitoring across 34 states. The company aims to address the often neglected post-purchase solar panel maintenance amid the growing U.S. solar market supported by policies like the Inflation Reduction Act.
Alaska Airlines and UP.Labs Launch Airline Venture Lab to Incubate Aviation Startups by 2024
Alaska Airlines has partnered with Los Angeles-based UP.Labs to launch Airline Venture Lab, an aviation-focused startup incubator aiming to produce its first new startup by next year, targeting innovations in consumer aviation travel. UP.Labs, which works under UP.Partners and develops startups with corporate partners in mobility, focuses on improving travel and transport through new technologies.
Seattle Proposes 'Urban Innovation Lab' Makerspace to Boost Downtown Revitalization and Entrepreneurship
Seattle is considering establishing an 'Urban Innovation Lab' in its downtown core to foster collaboration, experimentation, and learning among diverse stakeholders as part of its broader Downtown Activation Plan. This lab, envisioned as a makerspace campus, aims to boost entrepreneurship and accelerate post-pandemic downtown revitalization through public-private partnerships.
WTIA Names 33 Washington Startups for Free 10th Founder Cohort Program with $10K AWS Credits
The Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) announced 33 Washington-based startups for its free, six-month 10th Founder Cohort Program, designed for seed-stage companies with under $1 million in revenue. The program offers mentorship, $10,000 in AWS credits, and leadership training, with one-third of participants led by female CEOs.
Seattle Robotic Coffee Startup Artly Raises Over $518K on StartEngine at $100M Valuation
Seattle-based robotic coffee startup Artly raised over $518,000 through an equity crowdfunding campaign on StartEngine at a $100 million valuation, enabling non-accredited investors to buy shares. CEO Meng Wang highlighted crowdfunding's alignment with Artly's consumer-focused mission and noted investor support despite initial resistance to this fundraising route.
Wavely Diagnostics Raises $1.35M to Launch Smartphone App Detecting Ear Infections via Acoustic Signals in 2023
Wavely Diagnostics, a University of Washington spinout, raised $1.35 million to develop a smartphone app that detects ear infections using acoustic signals. The app aims to enable virtual pediatric care by connecting users with physicians and is slated for public release later this year.
Convoy CEO Dan Lewis Shares Leadership Insights as Startup Raises $260M at $3.8B Valuation Amid Layoffs
Convoy CEO Dan Lewis discussed his leadership philosophy emphasizing conviction and consistency at GeekWire’s Views and Brews event while highlighting the company's growth, funding, and recent layoffs amid economic challenges. Founded in 2015, Convoy automates trucking transactions and recently raised $260 million at a $3.8 billion valuation.
Washington Supreme Court Upholds 7% Capital Gains Tax on Stock Sales Over $250,000, Impacting Seattle Startup Founders
Washington state's Supreme Court upheld a new 7% capital gains tax on stock and bond sales over $250,000, affecting startup founders and employees. Reactions from Seattle tech entrepreneurs and investors were mixed, with concerns about its impact on the business environment.
Kirill Zubovsky Launches Smartynames AI Tool Generating Over 1 Million Domain Name Suggestions Since December 2023
Startup founder Kirill Zubovsky created Smartynames, an AI-powered tool using OpenAI's GPT-3, that generates available domain name suggestions from business descriptions. Since its December launch, the tool has generated over one million domain name suggestions and plans to expand its AI offerings for businesses.
Ridwell and Pacific Northwest Innovators Tackle Plastic Waste Crisis Amid Low U.S. Recycling Rates
Plastic waste recycling remains a significant challenge with only about 5% of plastic recycled in the U.S., while environmental startups like Ridwell are innovating new collection and recycling methods. Experts emphasize that relying solely on consumer recycling is insufficient to solve the plastic pollution crisis, prompting increased efforts by startups, scientists, and government agencies.
Seattle Rises to No. 9 Globally in Startup Genome Rankings with $8.5B VC Investment in 2021
Seattle ranked ninth globally and second in North America in Startup Genome's 2021 global startup ecosystem rankings, highlighted for strengths in AI, big data, and life sciences. The region saw $8.5 billion invested in 549 venture capital deals in 2021, with an estimated ecosystem value of approximately $109 billion.
Seattle VC Chris DeVore: Enterprise Software Startups in Pacific Northwest Poised for Resilience Amid Economic Downturn
Seattle's startup scene, centered on enterprise software and cloud infrastructure, may be more resilient during economic downturns according to VC Chris DeVore of Founders' Co-op. The region's focus on solving essential business problems positions its startups to endure better than those in more glamorous sectors.
Seattle tech — including Amazon, Microsoft and startups like Convoy — poised to profit as pandemic-driven supply chain chaos accelerates digital logistics transformation
Persistent COVID-19–related supply chain disruptions have created demand for digital tools, presenting an opportunity for Seattle-area tech firms and startups—alongside Amazon and Microsoft—to provide IoT, cloud, and machine-learning solutions for trucking and logistics. Industry leaders say the pandemic accelerated digital transformation in trucking and may push broader adoption of sensors, edge devices and analytics to reduce delays and visibility gaps.
Amazon’s $2B Climate Pledge Fund Invests in Hippo Harvest and Amogy to Cut Grocery and Shipping Emissions
Amazon’s $2 billion Climate Pledge Fund has invested in two climate tech startups — Hippo Harvest, which develops closed-loop greenhouse systems using robotics and ML to cut water use and emissions, and Amogy, which converts ammonia into power for heavy transport — part of Amazon’s push to reach net zero by 2040. The moves aim to reduce emissions across Amazon’s grocery stores and shipping operations amid rising company emissions.
Deal mania reshuffles GeekWire 200: M&A, IPOs and SPACs push top firms out while Blue Origin stays No. 1
A surge of M&A, IPO and SPAC activity — labeled 'deal mania' — reshuffled the GeekWire 200 rankings, removing several top-10 companies that went public or were acquired and creating openings for new entrants; Blue Origin remains No. 1 while more deal-making and rule changes about private equity-owned companies promise further shake-ups.
Allbirds IPO Raises $300M, Valuing Shoe Brand Near $3B as Shares Surge 60% on Nasdaq Debut
Allbirds, backed early by Maveron, debuted on the Nasdaq after raising $300 million in an IPO that valued the company at about $3 billion; shares jumped 60% on the first trading day. Maveron led a $7.25 million Series A in 2016 and its stake was worth roughly $400 million at the opening price, with the company reporting $219.3 million in 2020 revenue and over eight million pairs sold since launch.
GeekWire Podcast: Qumulo CEO Bill Richter on Remote Work, Seattle Tech Pay Rise to $158K, and Qumulo’s $1.2B Valuation
GeekWire’s podcast interviews Qumulo CEO Bill Richter about post-pandemic remote work, trends in tech salaries (Seattle up 4.6% to $158,000; U.S. average down 1.1% to $152,000), and implications for hiring, cloud storage, and self-driving cars. Richter discusses Qumulo’s remote-work approach, decentralized decision-making by functional leaders, and the company’s $1.2 billion valuation from its latest funding round.
Seattle-area startups raise record $1.64B in Q1 as U.S. VC funding jumps to $69B, PitchBook/NVCA say
PitchBook and NVCA report U.S. VC activity surged in Q1 2021 to $69 billion across 3,987 deals, while Seattle-area startups raised a Q1 record $1.64 billion across 88 deals, up from $616 million a year earlier. Mega-deals, fundraises, exits and SPAC activity all hit notable highs, and industry leaders say ample dry powder and economic recovery are driving larger investments.
Ad Lightning CEO Scott Moore says he pulled company from downtown Seattle over safety, homelessness and transit, won’t return
Ad Lightning CEO Scott Moore says he pulled his company out of downtown Seattle because employees don’t feel safe amid crime and homelessness and poor transit, and he doesn’t plan to return until durable solutions are in place; he warns Seattle is losing competitiveness to Eastside cities like Bellevue and Redmond.
LinkedIn data: Seattle added 2.2 tech workers per one lost from March–October as Bay Area outflows rise
LinkedIn migration data shows Seattle gained 2.2 tech workers for every one who left from March to October, nearly matching last year’s 2.5 ratio, and attracted a 28% increase in movers from the Bay Area. While the Bay Area and New York saw notable declines in their inflow-outflow ratios, observers and local advocates say Seattle’s similar amenities and lower cost of living help explain the trend.
Rover partners with Walmart as Seattle pet-care startup recovers from COVID layoffs, eyes profitability
Seattle pet-care startup Rover, which laid off about 41% of staff in March as pandemic demand collapsed, has regained momentum with rising pet ownership and a new partnership with Walmart that promotes Rover services on Walmart.com. The company expects roughly $250M in gross bookings this year after trimming expenses, received over $5M in PPP loans, and says it may reach profitability sooner than pre-COVID plans.
SBA data: Seattle startups Rover, ExtraHop, Porch, Promethean and Logic20/20 each received $5–$10M in PPP loans
The SBA released Paycheck Protection Program data showing several Seattle-area tech startups received $5–$10 million PPP loans to help during COVID-19; recipients include Rover, ExtraHop, Porch, Promethean and Logic20/20. The program has seen controversy over eligibility and forgiveness guidance, and some venture-backed startups declined loans on ethical grounds.
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Recompose current
