Taylor Soper
Taylor Soper is Director of Community and Programming at AI House and serves as a board member at the University of Washington, Board of Student Publications. He previously held editorial and reporting roles at GeekWire and Major League Baseball, with expertise in technology startups, programming, and community building.
Seattle Emerges as Leading Hub for Supply Chain Software Startups Backed by Amazon and Convoy Veterans
Seattle has become a leading hub for supply chain software innovation, driven by logistics giants like Amazon and startups such as Convoy and Shipium. The region's unique talent pool, supported by global companies and advances in technology, is fostering significant growth and investment in logistics startups.
Flyhomes Co-founder Stephen Lane Launches Tufa, an Affiliate Marketing Platform Supporting Caregivers After Surviving Brain Injury
Stephen Lane, co-founder of Flyhomes, survived a severe brain injury from a drunk driving accident and is now launching Tufa, a startup that enables users to donate to causes through cashback affiliate marketing. Tufa allows supporters to contribute to groups by shopping online with a browser extension that channels commissions to fundraising circles.
Julie Sandler to Shift from Managing Director to Venture Partner at Pioneer Square Labs in Late 2024
Julie Sandler, managing director at Pioneer Square Labs since 2017, will transition to a venture partner role in late 2024 while continuing to engage with the firm and its portfolio. She will also chair the Washington Roundtable next year, reflecting her ongoing influence in the Pacific Northwest tech and business communities.
Seattle's Early-Stage Tech Startups Spotlighted, Including Glidance's $1.4M Fundraising and Kapta Space's Radar Innovations
This article highlights five promising early-stage tech startups in Seattle, including Glidance, Kapta Space, and Ruvtop, spanning sectors like mobility assistance, space radar technology, and sustainability. These startups showcase innovation and potential in the region's growing entrepreneurial landscape.
Frazier Healthcare Partners Raises $2.3 Billion for 11th Buyout Fund to Invest in Middle-Market Healthcare Firms
Seattle-based Frazier Healthcare Partners raised $2.3 billion for its 11th Healthcare Growth Buyout Fund, significantly surpassing its previous $1.4 billion fund. The firm plans to use the capital to acquire controlling stakes in about 10 middle-market healthcare companies across pharmaceutical services, hospital outsourcing, and data analytics/AI sectors.
Highspot Takes No. 1 Spot on GeekWire 200 Startup Ranking After Outreach’s Layoffs and CEO Departure
Seattle-based sales enablement company Highspot has claimed the No. 1 spot on GeekWire's 200 ranking of privately held startups in the Pacific Northwest, replacing Outreach which recently downsized and saw its CEO step down. The GeekWire 200 ranking reflects changes in the dynamic startup landscape based on factors like funding, employee growth, and layoffs.
WTIA Marks 40 Years of Supporting Washington Tech Growth as CEO Michael Schutzler Retires
The Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) celebrated its 40th anniversary, marking its role in supporting Washington state's tech growth from the early days of Microsoft to today's tech giants. WTIA CEO Michael Schutzler is retiring after 11 years, with the association continuing to influence the state's tech-driven economy that now accounts for 21% of GDP and millions of jobs.
CoreStack Acquires Karthik Consulting to Expand Federal Cloud Governance Services
Seattle-based cloud governance startup CoreStack has acquired Karthik Consulting, a federal cloud services provider with 90 employees, to expand its customer base and enhance its software capabilities. CoreStack now has over 300 employees after the acquisition, with terms undisclosed.
Plug and Play Launches Two Startup Accelerators in Seattle with UW, SNBL, and SBI Holdings Partnership
Silicon Valley-based Plug and Play is launching two new startup accelerator programs in the Seattle region, partnering with the University of Washington and Japanese firms SNBL and SBI Holdings, to support early-stage tech startups, especially in AI. The initiatives include physical spaces, investment funds, and community events to leverage Seattle's growing tech ecosystem.
Seattle Startup Levanta Raises $20M Series A to Connect Amazon Sellers with Influencers for Affiliate Marketing
Levanta, a Seattle startup founded in 2023 that connects Amazon sellers with social media creators for affiliate marketing, raised $20 million in a Series A round led by Volition Capital. The platform helps sellers create affiliate programs and manage commissions, serving brands like Dude Wipes and HexClad amid a growing influencer economy.
Seattle Startup Osyte Raises $4M Seed Round to Advance Portfolio Optimization Software for Multi-Asset Investors
Seattle startup Osyte raised $4 million in a seed round led by Moneta Ventures to expand its software that automates portfolio optimization and liquidity management for multi-asset investors. Founded by Charles Anselm and Sellappa Gopalaswamy, Osyte targets outsourced CIOs, family offices, and institutional investors managing both liquid and illiquid assets.
UW Professor Shyam Gollakota Wins $100K Infosys Prize for Engineering and Computer Science Research
University of Washington professor Shyam Gollakota won the $100,000 Infosys Prize in engineering and computer science for his work in wireless technology and AI-powered sound innovations. He plans to use the award to help commercialize his AI-driven sound bubble headphone prototype.
Seattle Startup TestSprite Raises $1.5M Pre-Seed to Automate Software Testing Using AI
Seattle-based startup TestSprite raised $1.5 million in a pre-seed round to advance AI-driven automation of front- and back-end software testing. Led by CEO Yunhao Jiao, TestSprite uses AI to emulate software test engineers and aims to expand its team following its Techstars Miami graduation.
Seattle Cybersecurity Startup MIND Raises $11M Seed Round to Prevent Data Leaks with AI-Driven Solutions
Seattle-based cybersecurity startup MIND raised $11 million in a seed round to help companies protect sensitive unstructured data from leaks using algorithms and automation. Founded by three former Israeli military cyber experts, MIND counts clients like Guild, Akamai, and Lionbridge and is led by CEO Eran Barak, who previously founded Hexadite.
Seattle’s Startup Haven Founded by Bob Crimmins in 2006 Expands with New HQ and $4.5M Early-Stage Startup Fund
Startup Haven, founded by Seattle entrepreneur Bob Crimmins in 2006 as a poker game gathering for founders and investors, has grown to over 2,500 members across 18 cities. Recently, it partnered with Seattle’s Columbia Tower Club and The Collective to open a physical headquarters offering events and co-working space, while Crimmins also launched a $4.5 million fund investing in early-stage startups globally.
Former Salesforce Exec Tony Alika Owens Named CEO of $1B-Valued Customer Data Startup Amperity
Tony Alika Owens, a former Salesforce executive, was appointed CEO of Seattle-based customer data platform startup Amperity, which reached a $1 billion valuation in 2021. Owens plans to expand Amperity's AI-driven product offerings and target more technical users and smaller customers.
Seattle Startups Govstream.ai and Integrate Lead Early-Stage Growth with AI Solutions and $5M Funding
Five Seattle-based startups—Govstream.ai, Integrate, Sound Games, Tamnoon, and Yara AI—are gaining traction, with some beginning to raise capital and develop innovative AI and software solutions for government, hardware development, and other sectors. Notable developments include Govstream.ai's focus on improving government permitting processes and Integrate securing $5 million in funding and a Space Force contract.
Taskrabbit Absorbs Seattle Moving Service Dolly in April 2024, Expanding Its On-Demand Delivery Reach
Taskrabbit acquired Seattle-based moving service Dolly in April 2024, integrating its operations while keeping the two brands separate. Dolly, founded in 2014 and previously acquired by Updater in 2021, now operates as a Taskrabbit division with key executive transitions occurring since the acquisition.
Outreach Lays Off 9% of Workforce, Over 65 Employees, Amid Cost-Cutting at $4.4B Seattle Sales Startup
Outreach, a Seattle sales automation startup valued at $4.4 billion, laid off 9% of its workforce (over 65 employees) mainly in go-to-market roles as part of cost-cutting, bringing its headcount to 680 employees. The company has faced multiple layoffs in recent years and continues to compete in a challenging tech market amid industry-wide cuts.
Seattle Engineers Steve Krenzel and Jess Garms Raise $4.3M for Logic, an AI Startup Automating Business Processes via Document-Driven APIs
Seattle engineers Steve Krenzel and Jess Garms founded Logic, raising $4.3 million to develop AI-powered automation that transforms business workflow documents into APIs. Their startup aims to simplify enterprise automation using large language models for various industries including e-commerce and logistics.
Seattle Rises to Third in U.S. SaaS Startup Funding Rankings, Fifth in Overall Capital Raised
Seattle ranked third in SaaS startup funding based on Carta data for the first time, highlighting its growing strength in software innovation driven by major companies and AI talent. The city's overall funding position improved to fifth place nationally, signaling increased investment across tech sectors.
Seattle Startup Ambassador Recruits Former Zipwhip Leaders, Closes $4.5M Convertible Note to Expand Conversational Commerce
Ambassador, a Seattle-based conversational commerce startup with over 200 clients and $3 million in annual recurring revenue, recently added former Zipwhip leaders to its team to drive growth. The company is closing a $4.5 million convertible note round and aims to leverage AI and messaging technology to enhance customer referral and rewards programs.
Seattle Startup Moondream Raises $4.5M Pre-Seed to Develop Edge-Friendly Vision Language Model
Seattle startup Moondream raised $4.5 million in a pre-seed round to develop a 1.6 billion-parameter vision language model capable of running on edge devices. Led by CEO Jay Allen, an AWS veteran, the company aims to integrate vision AI into various industries including transportation, retail, and manufacturing.
Seattle Startup Read AI Raises $50M Series B to Accelerate Growth of AI-Powered Enterprise Productivity Tools
Seattle startup Read AI, selling generative AI-powered enterprise productivity tools, has raised $50 million in a Series B round to accelerate growth, boasting 75% of the Fortune 500 as users and adding 100,000 new accounts weekly without marketing spend. The company aims to expand its 'copilot everywhere' vision by integrating AI across communication platforms like email, messaging, and video calls, with plans to add predictive analytics and automation.
Seattle Early-Stage Startups Spotlight: Alice's AI Transcription and Clearly AI's Security Tools Lead Innovation
Six early-stage Seattle startups are highlighted for their innovative technology solutions, including Alice's AI voice transcription for journalists and Clearly AI's cybersecurity compliance tools. These companies, led by experienced executives, represent the vibrant growth of the local tech startup scene.
Organizations
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AI House Director of Community and Programming 2026–present · current
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University of Washington, Board of Student Publications Board Member 2016–present · current
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AI House Director of Community and Programming · current
Education
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University of Washington Executive Development Program, Business Administration and Management, General · 2021–2022
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University of Washington Bachelor, Business, Journalism · 2008–2012
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Foster School of Business B.A., Business Administration · 2008–2012
