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.
Crisp Acquires Seattle Startup Shelf Engine to Enhance Retail Data and Food Waste Reduction
Seattle startup Shelf Engine, which uses machine learning to help grocers reduce food waste, was acquired by New York-based retail data company Crisp. Shelf Engine, backed by over $60 million in investments and celebrity investors, operates in over 7,000 U.S. stores.
Seattle Startup Xealth Gains Investment from Morningside Ventures to Expand Digital Healthcare Platform
Seattle-based health tech startup Xealth secured new funding from Morningside Ventures to expand its digital healthcare delivery platform that integrates with electronic health records and supports over 100,000 medical providers. Since its 2017 spinout from Providence, Xealth has facilitated 12 million orders and works with more than 50 digital health vendors.
Sironix Renewables Raises $3.5M to Scale Manufacturing of Plant-Based Cleaning Ingredients
Sironix Renewables, a Seattle startup that converts coconuts and soybeans into eco-friendly cleaning ingredients, raised $3.5 million from investors and $400,000 in grants to scale manufacturing. Their plant-derived surfactant offers safer, high-performance alternatives to petroleum-based chemicals in personal care products.
TerraPower Plans to Deploy First Next-Gen Nuclear Reactor in Wyoming by 2030, With 10-12 More Plants Planned
TerraPower, backed by Bill Gates and receiving $2 billion from the U.S. Department of Energy, is on track to deploy its first next-generation small modular nuclear reactor in Wyoming by 2030 and plans to have 10 to 12 additional plants under construction by then. The company is ahead of schedule on permitting and benefits from bipartisan political support and international competitiveness in nuclear technology.
GeekWire Awards 2025 Sustainable Innovation Finalists Include Carbon Robotics and CarbonQuest for Advanced Environmental Technologies
The 2025 GeekWire Awards Sustainable Innovation finalists include Carbon Robotics, CarbonQuest, Helion, Modern Hydrogen, and Tidal Vision, companies developing technologies from AI-powered laser weeders to carbon capture and clean energy solutions. These innovations aim to protect the planet by transforming energy production, eliminating weeds sustainably, and capturing carbon emissions.
Seattle Startup Homeostasis Raises $1.3M to Convert Atmospheric CO₂ into Graphite for Industrial Use
Seattle-area startup Homeostasis raised $600,000 in pre-seed funding and $700,000 from Washington's Climate Commitment Act to develop technology that captures atmospheric CO₂ and converts it into graphite, a critical mineral used in batteries and defense. The company plans pilot deployments by 2026, aiming to provide carbon removal systems to industrial customers and eventually operate its own carbon-removal production facilities.
Seattle Startup Ravel Raises Pre-Seed Funding to Commercialize Technology Separating Elastane for Textile Recycling
Seattle startup Ravel has developed a proprietary technology that separates elastane from blended fabrics to enable environmentally friendly textile recycling and has raised undisclosed pre-seed funding to expand its deployment. Their process produces cost-competitive recycled plastic pellets for polyester fabric manufacturing, aiming to reduce textile waste going to landfills.
UW Students' Jaundice Detection Tool Wins $17,500 at 2024 Hollomon Health Innovation Challenge
A University of Washington student team named Luminovah won the grand prize and another award at the UW Hollomon Health Innovation Challenge for developing a non-invasive jaundice detection tool effective across all skin tones. The team is partnering with Seattle Children’s for human trials aiming for FDA approval and plans to offer rental devices to parents of affected newborns.
Seattle Hub for Synthetic Biology Secures $10M Grant to Advance DNA Recording Technology for Disease Research
The Seattle Hub for Synthetic Biology received a $10 million grant from the Washington Research Foundation to support training scientists and launching biotech startups developing DNA recording technology for studying diseases. This initiative, launched in January 2024, is a collaboration between the Allen Institute, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and the University of Washington.
UW Genetics Professor Mary-Claire King Awarded NAS Public Welfare Medal; T-Mobile Board and Seattle Startup Violett Announce Leadership Changes
Mary-Claire King, a University of Washington genetics professor, received the National Academy of Sciences' Public Welfare Medal for her impactful genome science work including discovering the BRCA1 gene. T-Mobile announced board changes with the return of Thomas Dannenfeldt and resignations of Kelvin Westbrook and Srinivasan Gopalan, while Seattle startup Violett appointed Michael Kurtzman as CEO.
Nautilus CEO Sujal Patel Delays Biotech Product Launch to Late 2026, Lays Off 16% Workforce Amid Strategic Shift
Nautilus Biotechnology laid off 16% of its workforce and delayed its product launch to late 2026 to pursue a higher-performance proteomics platform. CEO Sujal Patel emphasized the company’s strong financial position with over $206 million in cash despite the stock price drop.
Nautilus Biotechnology Lays Off 16% of Staff, Postpones Proteome Platform Launch to Late 2026
Nautilus Biotechnology laid off 16% of its workforce to extend its cash runway into 2027 and delayed the commercial release of its proteome analysis platform until late 2026. The company aims to control operating expenses and maximize its impact on biological science, focusing on proteomics to advance drug development.
Seattle Startup Docugami Opens Vancouver Subsidiary to Access Canadian AI Talent Amid U.S.-Canada Trade Tensions
Seattle-based startup Docugami has opened a subsidiary in Vancouver to tap into Canadian AI talent and customers despite U.S.-Canada trade tensions under President Trump. The move, planned for 18 months, supports hiring, collaboration, and contracts in Canada for their generative AI document management technology.
Convoy Co-Founder Dan Lewis Joins Microsoft as Chief Product Officer for Enterprise AI Solutions
Dan Lewis, former Convoy CEO, has joined Microsoft as chief product officer for Business & Industry solutions and Copilot AI, focusing on enterprise AI initiatives. Lewis returns to Microsoft after leading Convoy to a $3.8 billion valuation before its 2023 shutdown.
Seattle Startup Chomp, Maker of Food Waste 'Mechanical Cows,' Acquired by Martin Energy Group to Expand Operations
Seattle-based Chomp, known for its 'mechanical cows' that convert food waste into fuel and fertilizer, was acquired by Martin Energy Group to scale its manufacturing and sales. Founded 11 years ago, Chomp’s digesters consume large amounts of organic waste using anaerobic digestion, helping customers reduce landfill emissions and cut disposal costs.
Seattle's DeltaGen Raises $1.2M to Deploy Generative AI for Streamlining M&A Deals
Seattle startup DeltaGen raised $1.2 million in a pre-seed round to market its generative AI software that streamlines mergers and acquisitions workflows without requiring specific AI prompts. Founded in May 2023, DeltaGen's SaaS platform integrates multiple AI models to optimize enterprise financial processes, aiming to reduce chaos in M&A deals.
Tidal Vision Raises $140M to Expand Sustainable Crab Shell Chemical Production Across U.S. and Europe
Tidal Vision, a green chemistry company founded by a former Alaska fishing captain, raised $140 million to expand its zero-waste process converting discarded crab shells into chitosan, a versatile industrial chemical. The company is growing its workforce, product lines, and production facilities across multiple U.S. states and Europe.
Prism Worldwide Raises $40M from Jim Sinegal to Expand Tire Recycling Technologies
Prism Worldwide, a Kirkland-based startup focused on recycling used tires into versatile polymers, secured $40 million in funding from investors including Jim Sinegal. The company uses patented technology to convert end-of-life tires into materials for products like car mats and shipping racks, aiming to improve tire recycling options.
Seattle’s Madrona Venture Firm Absorbs Madrona Venture Labs After 10 Years, Following $770M Fundraise
Seattle’s Madrona venture firm has absorbed its startup studio Madrona Venture Labs after over 10 years of independent operation and 30 incubated startups. This restructuring aligns with Madrona’s recent $770 million fundraise to consolidate efforts under one organization amid Seattle’s growing startup ecosystem.
Modern Hydrogen Partners with Puget Sound Energy to Deploy Methane Pyrolysis for Industrial Decarbonization
Modern Hydrogen partnered with Seattle utility Puget Sound Energy to deploy methane pyrolysis technology that produces clean hydrogen fuel from natural gas, aiming to help hard-to-electrify industries reduce carbon emissions. This approach offers a climate-friendly alternative amid disruptions to clean energy deployment under President Trump's policies.
3D-Modeling Startup Canvas Raises $10M Series A Led by Trilogy Equity, CEO Sarah Bird Since April 2024
Canvas, a Denver-based startup specializing in 3D measurement and modeling technology for architecture and construction, raised $10 million in Series A funding led by Trilogy Equity Partners. The company, led by former Moz CEO Sarah Bird since April 2024, operates with a global remote team and recently refocused its business entirely on software.
Helion Energy Raises $425 Million from Sam Altman, SoftBank, and Others, Valued at Over $5.4 Billion to Advance Fusion Power
Helion Energy, a Seattle-area fusion startup, raised $425 million from investors including Sam Altman and SoftBank to advance fusion power development, boosting its valuation above $5.4 billion. The funding emphasizes progress toward clean, carbon-free energy solutions crucial for powering AI data centers.
Seattle, UW, 9Zero, and VertueLab Launch Climate Innovation Hub to Boost Clean Energy Startups and Downtown Recovery
Seattle, alongside the University of Washington, 9Zero, and VertueLab, has launched the Seattle Climate Innovation Hub to support climate tech entrepreneurs and revitalize the downtown area post-pandemic. The hub includes a climate tech incubator program starting in spring, aiming to foster clean energy sector growth in the Pacific Northwest.
Seattle Biotech Tune Therapeutics Raises $175M to Advance Epigenetic Editing Trials for Chronic Hepatitis B
Seattle-based biotech startup Tune Therapeutics raised $175 million to support clinical trials of its epigenetic editing treatments for chronic Hepatitis B. The funding will aid development of therapies that control gene expression without altering DNA, leveraging technology developed at Duke University.
WatchGuard Technologies Acquires Threat Analysis Startup ActZero to Expand MDR Services
Seattle cybersecurity company WatchGuard Technologies acquired San Francisco-based threat analysis startup ActZero to expand its managed detection and response capabilities, with key leadership transitions announced. ActZero’s CEO Sameer Bhalotra will serve as an advisor, while co-founder Hal Libby will become general manager of security services at WatchGuard.
Organizations
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CoMotion News Reporter · current
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GeekWire Reporter · current
