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.
Symbl Names Former GE Healthcare CTO Selvan Senthivel as CTO; Nautilus Biotechnology Hires Ken Suzuki as CMO
Symbl, a Seattle-based generative AI startup, appointed Selvan Senthivel, former GE HealthCare CTO, as its new CTO, while Nautilus Biotechnology named Ken Suzuki as its CMO. Additionally, William Canestaro stepped down from the Washington Research Foundation, and Milkana Brace joined the Technology Alliance board.
Joylux Partners with Halle Berry to Promote Women’s Health and Launch New Intimacy Gel
Seattle-based women's sexual health startup Joylux announced a partnership with actress Halle Berry to promote women's intimate health, launching a new intimacy gel called Let’s Spin. Founder Colette Courtion highlighted their mission to destigmatize menopause-related health issues, with Berry also becoming an investor following her positive experience with Joylux products.
Madrona Hires Anna Chen to Boost Bay Area Operations; Alexandra Tibbets Returns to Microsoft; Niraj Tolia Named Veeam CTO
Madrona expands its Bay Area team by hiring investor Anna Chen to focus on enterprise software, AI, and consumer subscriptions, while Alexandra Tibbets returns to Microsoft as chief of staff and Niraj Tolia becomes CTO of Veeam Software following their acquisition of an AI startup.
ZeroAvia Raises $150M to Advance Hydrogen-Electric Aviation with Over 2,000 Engine Orders
Sustainable aviation startup ZeroAvia announced a $150 million funding round, bringing its total raised to over $250 million, to advance hydrogen-electric airplane technologies and expand manufacturing. The company has over 2,000 engine orders and partnerships with firms like Alaska Airlines and Airbus while working on powertrains for aircraft up to 80 seats.
Viome Raises $25M, Hires Ex-Amazon Exec Kal Raman as COO to Expand CancerDetect Diagnostic
Viome, a microbiome and health diagnostics startup, raised $25 million and hired former Amazon senior VP Kal Raman as COO to expand its diagnostic division. The company’s CancerDetect test for oral and throat cancer, granted FDA breakthrough device status, exhibits high sensitivity and specificity.
Seattle Climate Startup Earth Finance Acquires Water Foundry, Expands Water Scarcity Expertise
Seattle-based climate consulting startup Earth Finance, founded last year and employing about 40 people, has acquired Water Foundry to enhance its capabilities in addressing water scarcity and quality as part of climate action. The acquisition adds Water Foundry’s founder Will Sarni as practice leader, strengthening Earth Finance’s multi-pronged approach to helping global businesses reduce carbon emissions and shift toward clean energy.
Seattle Carbon Removal Startup Nori Shuts Down After Raising $17.25M and Seven Years of Operation
Seattle-based carbon removal startup Nori, which raised $17.25 million and operated a blockchain-enabled marketplace for carbon credits, has shut down after seven years due to challenges in the voluntary carbon market and funding difficulties. Despite being on track to remove over 700,000 tons of carbon in 2023 and directing $6.5 million to farmers, Nori ceased operations amid an uncertain and evolving carbon credit sector.
Seattle Industrial Analytics Startup Seeq Raises $50M Series D Led by Sixth Street Growth
Seeq, a Seattle-based industrial analytics startup, raised $50 million in Series D funding led by Sixth Street Growth, bringing its total funding to about $165 million. The company, led by CEO Lisa Graham, uses AI and analytics to help industrial businesses optimize operations across 36 countries.
Zap Energy Raises Nearly $130 Million to Develop Commercial Fusion Power, Total Funding Reaches $330 Million
Zap Energy, a fusion energy startup based in Everett, Washington, is raising nearly $130 million to advance its goal of developing commercially viable fusion power, bringing its total venture funding to approximately $330 million. The company is part of a growing fusion sector attracting billions in investment aiming to create clean, carbon-free energy.
Seattle's Hiya Acquires Barcelona Deepfake Startup Loccus.ai and Launches Voice-Cloning Detection Tool
Seattle startup Hiya acquired Barcelona-based deepfake detection firm Loccus.ai and launched Hiya AI Voice Detection, a tool that detects AI-generated voices from 1.5 seconds of audio in multiple languages. Hiya aims to combat growing AI deepfake and robocall fraud amid rising consumer exposure to these threats.
CIA-Backed In-Q-Tel Joins $6.9M Funding Round for Kyoto Fusioneering, Tokyo-Based Fusion Startup with Seattle HQ
Kyoto Fusioneering, a Tokyo-based fusion energy startup with a U.S. office in Seattle, raised nearly $6.9 million in a funding round including new investment from CIA-backed In-Q-Tel and corporations Marubeni and Nichicon. The company has raised $95 million to date and is developing fusion fuel cycle test facilities in Japan and Canada.
Bloomberg Questions Scientific Validity and Internal Issues at Sam Altman-Backed Helion Energy Amid Fusion Power Ambitions
Bloomberg reports skepticism about Helion Energy's secretive fusion technology and ambitious commercial goals backed by Sam Altman and Microsoft, amid internal allegations of harassment. Helion aims to operate its seventh prototype reactor by year-end and build a commercial fusion plant by 2028, potentially the first worldwide.
Washington Leaders Visit Everett Fusion Startups as Industry Raises Over $900 Million in 2023 with Growing Policy Support
Washington state leaders Gov. Jay Inslee and Sen. Patty Murray visited local fusion startups Helion Energy and Zap Energy amid a surge in fusion funding exceeding $900 million last year and growing policy support. Despite technological challenges, fusion is seen as a promising carbon-free energy source, with over $7.1 billion invested globally and new federal and state regulations advancing its development.
American Airlines to Buy 100 Hydrogen Electric Engines from ZeroAvia for CRJ700 Jets
American Airlines plans to purchase 100 hydrogen electric engines from clean aviation startup ZeroAvia to power its regional Bombardier CRJ700 jets, supporting the development of zero-emission aircraft propulsion. ZeroAvia, founded in 2017, is advancing certification of its ZA600 and ZA2000 hydrogen fuel cell engines and has opened a large manufacturing facility in Washington.
Equity Angels Launches Accelerator and Advisory Firm to Support Underrepresented Founders in Real Estate Tech
Equity Angels, founded by Katherine Winston and Kenya Burrell-VanWormer, is a new social impact organization launched to support underrepresented founders in real estate tech by providing a six-month accelerator, fractional executive support, and community building. Their first accelerator cohort of four startups will pitch to investors at the September Blueprint real estate tech conference in Las Vegas.
Aurion Biotech Secures FDA Designations to Fast-Track Vision-Restoring Cell Therapy for Corneal Edema
Aurion Biotech received FDA Breakthrough Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy designations to accelerate approval of its cell therapy for corneal edema, a vision-impairing disease. The company recently completed enrollment in a Phase 1/2 trial in the US and Canada and has approval to use the therapy in Japan.
Seattle Startup Autev Develops Autonomous Robots for Mobile Fast-Charging of Electric Vehicles
Autev, a Seattle-based startup co-founded by Syd Manna and Osama AlSalloum, is developing autonomous robots equipped with robotic arms to fast-charge electric vehicles by navigating to parked cars and plugging in without human assistance. This mobile, battery-powered system offers a plug-and-play alternative to costly EV infrastructure upgrades, targeting workplaces, apartments, and condos.
Cyrus Biotechnology Launches Levitate Bio to Broaden Access to Rosetta Drug Development Software
Seattle startup Cyrus Biotechnology has spun out a new for-profit company, Levitate Bio, owned by the Rosetta Commons Foundation, to expand access to its versatile drug development software platform, Rosetta. Levitate Bio, led by CEO Sam DeLuca and executive VP Karen Khar, aims to support innovation across drug development, agriculture, synthetic biology, and manufacturing.
Bill Gates-Backed TerraPower Starts Construction of First U.S. Sodium-Cooled Nuclear Reactor in Wyoming
Bill Gates-backed nuclear company TerraPower began construction on a sodium-cooled Natrium reactor facility near a retiring coal plant in Wyoming, aiming to start power production by 2030. This project, the first coal-to-nuclear transition globally, is awaiting U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approval for its advanced reactor design.
Seattle Startup Climate Vault Solutions Raises $2.5M to Reduce Carbon Emissions by Vaulting Pollution Permits
Seattle-based Climate Vault Solutions raised $2.5 million to reduce carbon emissions by buying and vaulting pollution permits, supporting carbon removal technologies. Founded in 2021 as a nonprofit initiative, the venture aims to improve the voluntary carbon offset market and spur innovation.
Venture Mechanics Launches High-Standard Startup Incubator and Event Space in Bellevue to Boost Seattle Ecosystem
Venture Mechanics in Bellevue, Washington, is expanding its focus from co-working spaces to running a high-standard incubator and hosting startup events to support the Seattle area's startup ecosystem. Led by Ron Wiener, the company partners with investors and mentors to assist promising startups, particularly under-represented founders.
ZeroAvia Opens 136,000 sq. ft. Manufacturing Facility in Everett, Washington to Sell Hydrogen-Electric Aviation Components
ZeroAvia opened a 136,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Everett, Washington, to produce and sell hydrogen-electric airplane engine components. The company is pursuing certification for engines powering 20- to 90-seat aircraft and aims to lead in commercial aviation propulsion systems.
Melissa Hutchins Launches Certifi AI to Fight Deepfake Abuse Targeting Women After Cyberstalking Experience
Melissa Hutchins, CEO and co-founder of Certifi AI, founded the Seattle-based startup to combat harmful deepfake content targeting women and girls after her personal experience with cyberstalking. The startup aims to identify and reduce the impact of malicious deepfake images, such as those circulating of Taylor Swift in January, which went largely unaddressed by the tech sector.
Bill Gates Visits Modern Hydrogen, Demonstrates Carbon-Sequestering Asphalt From Hydrogen Fuel Technology
Bill Gates visited climate tech startup Modern Hydrogen in Woodinville, Washington, where he helped fill a pothole using carbon-trapping asphalt made from solid carbon produced in hydrogen fuel creation. Modern Hydrogen develops methane pyrolysis reactors that convert natural gas into clean hydrogen and solid carbon for industrial uses, with demo reactors deployed to customers in Oregon and Miami.
Pacific Northwest Startups in GeekWire Awards Finalize Sustainable Innovations Tackling Carbon, PFAS, and Waste Chemicals for 2024
The 2024 GeekWire Awards Sustainable Innovation finalists include Pacific Northwest startups developing technologies to address environmental issues such as PFAS contamination, carbon removal, and eco-friendly chemicals. Winners will be announced on May 9, with community voting open until April 12.
Organizations
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CoMotion News Reporter · current
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GeekWire Reporter · current
