Lisa Stiffler
Lisa Stiffler is a journalist who covers nonprofits, companies, and researchers applying technology to environmental, energy, health, transit, education and other societal challenges; she has worked at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, freelanced for The Seattle Times, and written for outlets including Seattle's Child, Sightline Institute, NPR, MSNBC, Smithsonian Magazine, GeekWire and CoMotion News.
Brian Pinkard Launches Aquagga to Destroy Toxic PFAS Chemicals, Deploys Device in Alaska in 2023
Brian Pinkard, driven by a passion to make an environmental impact, transitioned from trail building to earning a mechanical engineering PhD and founding Aquagga, a startup focused on destroying toxic PFAS 'forever chemicals'. His startup deployed a PFAS-destroying device in Fairbanks, Alaska in 2023, reflecting his commitment to solving critical pollution challenges.
Zap Energy's FuZE-3 Reactor Generates Pressure 10 Times Mariana Trench Level, Paving Way for Fusion Power
Zap Energy’s FuZE-3 fusion reactor achieved pressures 10 times higher than those at the Mariana Trench, marking a major milestone in fusion power development. The company plans to commission a fifth device, FuZE-A, next month to further advance and optimize fusion technology.
Auger Names Yuqing Sun Chief Data and AI Officer After $100M Series A; WTIA Hires Amy Harris for Public Policy Role
Auger appointed Yuqing Sun, a Johnson & Johnson supply chain and AI veteran, as chief data and AI enablement officer, and recently hired AI economist Justine Hastings after raising $100 million in Series A funding. The Washington Technology Industry Association also named Amy Harris as its new public policy and government relations director.
Helion Energy Builds 166,000 Sq. Ft. Omega Facility and Commercial Fusion Plant to Scale Fusion Power Manufacturing
Helion Energy is advancing its seventh-generation fusion prototype while building a commercial power plant and a large-scale manufacturing facility named Omega to produce components for future fusion plants. The company emphasizes manufacturing and rapid growth, aiming to deliver fusion-generated electricity to the grid despite ongoing technology uncertainties.
Kymeta Names Manny Mora CEO to Accelerate Defense Satellite Communications Amid U.S. Army Contract
Kymeta has appointed Manny Mora, a former General Dynamics leader, as its new CEO to advance its defense-focused satellite communication services. The company recently secured a U.S. Army contract for its satellite technology to enhance military connectivity.
Anindya Roy Co-founds Lila Biologics to Advance AI-Driven Medical Therapies After Journey from Rural India to UW Lab
Anindya Roy, who moved from rural India to the U.S. in 2008 with limited resources, has co-founded Lila Biologics in 2023 to develop innovative medical therapies using AI-powered protein design. His journey from humble beginnings to a postdoctoral fellowship under Nobel laureate David Baker exemplifies determination and scientific innovation.
Qiagen to Acquire Seattle’s Parse Biosciences for $225 Million in Cash Deal Closing December 2023
Seattle's Parse Biosciences, a single-cell RNA sequencing company founded in 2018, is being acquired by Netherlands-based Qiagen in a $225 million cash deal expected to close in December. Parse, which serves 3,000 customers globally and raised over $50 million in funding, will continue operating from its Seattle headquarters as a Qiagen subsidiary.
Seattle’s Accipiter Bio Raises $12.7M, Partners with Pfizer and Kite Pharma to Advance AI-Designed Multi-Target Protein Therapies
Seattle biotech startup Accipiter Biosciences, founded by researchers from Nobel laureate David Baker's lab, secured $12.7 million and partnerships with Pfizer and Kite Pharma to develop AI-designed multi-target proteins aiming to improve disease treatment efficacy and reduce clinical trial costs.
ExoFusion Secures DOE FIRE Funding to Research Liquid Metal Walls in Fusion Generators with Princeton Lab
ExoFusion, a clean energy startup based in Washington and Texas, received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy's Fusion Innovative Research Engine program to study liquid metal walls in fusion generators. The project is led by Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory with ExoFusion co-founder Michael Kotschenreuther heading an initiative.
Susan Kaech Named Executive VP at Allen Institute; Arthur Valdez Joins Impinj Board; Jason Bennett Shifts to AWS VP Role
Susan Kaech joins the Allen Institute as executive VP of the Immunology Moonshot; Arthur Valdez Jr. joins Impinj's board; Jason Bennett transitions to VP of worldwide startups and venture capital at AWS. These leadership changes reflect strategic moves across bioscience, RFID technology, and cloud services sectors.
Seattle's Emerald Battery Labs Develops Safer, Lower-Cost Sodium-Ion Batteries to Compete with Lithium-Ion
Seattle startup Emerald Battery Labs is developing sodium-ion batteries as a cheaper, safer, and longer-lasting alternative to lithium-ion batteries, aiming to improve their lower energy density. They target grid-scale energy storage, data center backup power, and consumer products using existing lithium-ion manufacturing infrastructure.
Helion Energy Secures Permit to Build Reactor Building for Orion Fusion Plant in Washington
Helion Energy has received a permit from Chelan County, Washington, to proceed with building the reactor building for its Orion fusion power plant, aiming to be the world's first commercial fusion facility. Construction is planned to begin in July 2025 near Malaga, Washington, on land leased from the local Public Utilities District.
Seattle Startup Electric Era Launches AI-Enabled RetailEdge EV Chargers, Serving 72,000 Drivers with $29.4M Funding
Electric Era, a Seattle startup, launched RetailEdge, an AI-powered EV charger that interacts with drivers by answering questions, providing charging status, and telling jokes. The company has deployed 130 chargers across a dozen states, serving 72,000 drivers in the past year and has raised over $29 million in funding.
Seattle Startup Singletto Launches FDA-Approved Virus-Killing Masks on Amazon Following $10M Funding and DARPA Support
Seattle startup Singletto, with $10 million in funding and support from DARPA, has launched FDA-approved virus-neutralizing face masks on Amazon using its Oxafence Active Protection technology that kills 99.9% of certain viruses. The masks are the only FDA-cleared products in the U.S. that inactivate tested viruses and may have applications in healthcare and national security.
Boundless Immigration Layoffs Precede Acquisition of Berlin-Based Localyze, Projected $31M Sales in 2025
Seattle startup Boundless Immigration laid off an undisclosed number of employees on September 25, 2025, reducing its staff to about 500, just days before announcing its acquisition of Berlin-based Localyze on October 1, 2025. Boundless anticipates 40% growth this year with projected sales of $31 million in 2025 and aims for profitability by 2027.
Seattle AI Startup Phaidra Raises $50M to Enhance Data Center Energy Efficiency with Advanced AI
Seattle startup Phaidra raised $50 million to advance its AI technology that improves energy efficiency in data centers by optimizing electricity, cooling, and workloads. The funding, led by Collaborative Fund, will support further development, strengthen ties with Nvidia, and expand its global reach.
Seattle Startup Boundless Acquires Berlin's Localyze to Expand Global Immigration Services Amid U.S. Policy Crackdown
Seattle startup Boundless Immigration has acquired Berlin-based Localyze to expand its immigration services globally amid the Trump administration's tightening of U.S. immigration policies. This acquisition allows Boundless to serve clients immigrating to over 30 countries, simplifying visa processes for corporate clients with international offices.
Pacific Northwest Leads Fusion Energy Efforts with Helion Energy's $1B Project Starting and Zap Energy's Reactor Advances
The Pacific Northwest has become a fusion energy hub, highlighted by Seattle Fusion Week, with key companies like Helion Energy starting commercial fusion plant construction and Zap Energy advancing reactor milestones. Despite technical challenges, regional firms and research institutions continue efforts toward achieving cost-effective fusion power by the late 2020s.
Seattle Startups Yoodli and A-Alpha Bio Appoint New C-Suite Execs, TiE Seattle Names Siddhartha Srinivasa as President
Seattle startups Yoodli, A-Alpha Bio, and MoxiWorks have added senior executives, including Andy Larson as Yoodli's CFO and Troy Lionberger as A-Alpha Bio's chief business officer, while TiE Seattle appointed Siddhartha Srinivasa as president. These moves highlight growth and leadership shifts in the Seattle tech sector, with companies focusing on AI, biotech, and robotics.
Fred Hutch-Led Synthesize Bio Raises $10M to Accelerate Drug Discovery Using AI Gene Expression Model
Seattle-based Synthesize Bio, led by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center researchers, raised $10 million from Madrona to accelerate drug discovery using their AI model GEM-1, which predicts gene expression outcomes with lab-level accuracy. The startup aims to reduce drug development time and costs by simulating hypothetical lab experiments with generative genomics.
Lila Biologics, Nobel Laureate’s Startup, Partners with Eli Lilly to Develop AI-Based Tumor Therapies
Lila Biologics, a startup from Nobel Laureate David Baker's University of Washington lab, is collaborating with Eli Lilly to develop AI-powered tumor-targeted therapies, aiming to deliver a candidate protein for clinical trials within six months. The startup utilizes AI and machine learning platforms to create therapeutic proteins for targeted radiotherapy and long-acting injectable drugs.
TerraPower, Group14 Technologies, and Helion Energy Secure Over $1.5 Billion in Pacific Northwest Climate Tech Funding in 2025
The three largest investment rounds in the Pacific Northwest in 2025 have all gone to climate tech companies: TerraPower, Group14 Technologies, and Helion Energy, totaling over $1.5 billion. Despite political and economic challenges, clean energy firms in the region attracted nearly 40% of total investment funding so far this year.
Seattle's Electric Era Raises $8.9M Debt to Expand Battery-Integrated DC Fast Chargers Amid EV Policy Headwinds
Seattle startup Electric Era is raising nearly $8.9 million in debt to fund its DC fast-charging systems with giant batteries, expanding EV charging infrastructure across the U.S. despite political challenges and reductions in tax incentives.
Smartsheet Appoints Stephanie Berner as Chief Customer Officer; Gradial and Zeno Power Expand Senior Leadership
Smartsheet named Stephanie Berner as chief customer officer amid leadership changes, including a new acting CEO. Seattle startups Gradial and Zeno Power also expanded their senior leadership with new executives to drive growth and innovation.
Helion Energy Breaks Ground on World's First Commercial Fusion Plant in Washington, Targeting 2028 Operation
Helion Energy has begun construction on its Orion fusion power plant in Malaga, Washington, aiming to be the world's first commercial fusion facility. The project, backed by a historic power purchase agreement with Microsoft, targets operational status by 2028 despite significant industry challenges.
Organizations
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CoMotion News Reporter · current
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GeekWire Reporter · current
