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.
Harbor Health Acquires Seattle Dementia Care Startup Rippl to Expand Chronic Condition Services
Harbor Health, an Austin-based healthcare company, has acquired Seattle dementia care startup Rippl, which provides specialized dementia care technology and support. Founded in 2021, Rippl’s platform will integrate into Harbor Health’s chronic care services as the combined company aims to improve dementia care quality and reduce costs.
Former GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke Raises $60M Seed for Entire, a $300M-Valued AI Developer Platform
Thomas Dohmke, former GitHub CEO, launched Entire, a developer platform aimed at AI coding agents, backed by a historic $60 million seed round valuing the company at $300 million. Entire’s first open-source tool, Checkpoints, helps teams audit AI-generated code, supporting AI agents like Anthropic's Claude Code and Google's Gemini CLI.
Clearly AI, Seattle Security Startup Led by Married Founders, Raises $8.4M Seed Round
Seattle cybersecurity startup Clearly AI, founded by married couple Emily and Joe Choi-Greene, raised $8.4 million in seed funding to help companies assess security and privacy risks before product launches. The company, backed by top investors and finalists in the RSAC 2026 Innovation Sandbox Contest, already serves 17 enterprise clients including Rivian and Okta.
OpenAI Expands Bellevue Office to 296,000 Sq Ft, Strengthening Seattle-Area Presence Near Microsoft and Amazon
OpenAI has signed a large lease to expand its Bellevue office to nearly 300,000 square feet, allowing space for over 1,000 employees as it strengthens ties with Microsoft and Amazon in the Seattle region. The expansion follows recent investments and partnerships, including a $38 billion cloud deal with Amazon and a $1 billion acquisition of Seattle startup Statsig.
Startup Founders Nour Gajial and Avi Agola Relocate from Seattle to San Francisco to Boost AI Ventures
Several early-stage startup founders, including Nour Gajial of MathGPT and Avi Agola of Talunt, are relocating from Seattle to San Francisco to leverage its dense AI startup ecosystem, investor networks, and customer base amid the AI boom. Despite Seattle’s strengths as a global AI hub, entrepreneurs see San Francisco as essential for scaling and maximizing success.
Blue Origin Pauses New Shepard Flights to Focus on Lunar Landers for NASA Artemis Program
Blue Origin is pausing its New Shepard space tourism flights for at least two years to concentrate on developing lunar landers for NASA's Artemis program aimed at returning humans to the Moon. The company prioritizes aligning with U.S. government goals for a sustained human presence on the Moon over continuing suborbital trips.
Icertis Co-founder and Former CEO Samir Bodas Dies at 61 After Battling Cancer
Samir Bodas, co-founder and former CEO of Icertis, passed away at 61 after battling cancer, leaving behind a legacy of leadership that emphasized team success over individual accolades. His close friendships, including with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, reflected his entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to fostering company culture rooted in personal values.
Seattle Startup Sound Games Raises $6.5M to Launch Cross-Platform Game Go Ape Ship! on February 18
Seattle-based startup Sound Games raised $6.5 million in seed funding to develop cross-platform premium games with a single purchase. Their first title, Go Ape Ship!, launching February 18, exemplifies their model of pay once, play anywhere without in-game monetization.
Seattle Startup Leaders Oppose Washington's SB 6229, HB 2292 Expanding Capital Gains Tax on Small Business Stock
Seattle startup leaders, including Clearly AI CEO Emily Choi-Greene, oppose Washington State's proposed bills SB 6229 and HB 2292 that would expand the capital gains tax to include profits from qualified small business stock, threatening the viability of startups by taxing founders, early employees, and investors on significant gains. Critics warn this could drive founders and investors to build companies outside Washington, undermining the local tech ecosystem.
Washington Proposal SB 6229 Targets Capital Gains on Startup Stock, Sparking Seattle Tech Backlash Ahead of 2026 Tax Implementation
A new Washington state proposal, SB 6229, aims to tax capital gains from qualified small business stock sales despite existing federal exemptions, prompting concerns from Seattle startup leaders about its potential to discourage local company building. Public hearings are scheduled for January 27, 2026, and the tax would apply to gains on or after that date.
Seattle Startup Radar Features Four Early-Stage Tech Companies Including Axel AI and DrunR
Seattle's Startup Radar highlights four early-stage tech companies: Axel AI, which offers AI-powered retail media sales solutions; DrunR, a nutrition app focusing on personalized dining guidance; Eluum, and profileAPI, each innovating in distinct tech sectors.
Seattle Startup Overland AI Partners with CAL FIRE to Test Autonomous 4-Wheelers for Wildfire Response
Seattle startup Overland AI is partnering with CAL FIRE to test its self-driving 4-wheelers for wildfire resupply and logistics, marking the technology's first use in civilian firefighting applications beyond its military background. Overland AI, founded in 2022, has existing contracts with U.S. defense agencies and recently raised $32 million to expand production capabilities.
Ex-Amazon CEO Dave Clark Builds Custom CRM Using AI Vibe Coding Tools in 72 Hours for Startup Auger
Former Amazon CEO Dave Clark rapidly developed a custom CRM and customer prototype over a weekend using AI-powered vibe coding tools, highlighting their productivity benefits despite some skepticism. He chose a custom build over existing open source options to better meet his startup Auger's specific needs and scalability concerns.
Seattle Fintech Plutus Raises $1.2M to Democratize Hedge Fund-Level Investing for Retail Clients
Seattle fintech startup Plutus raised $1.2 million to expand its investment marketplace that offers everyday investors access to hedge fund strategies. The company recently obtained its SEC Registered Investment Advisor license and is onboarding customers from its waitlist.
Seattle Crypto Startup Coinme to Be Acquired by Polygon Labs in Over $250M Deal
Seattle-based cryptocurrency startup Coinme, known for its bitcoin ATM network, agreed to be acquired by blockchain payments company Polygon Labs in a deal valued at over $250 million. The acquisition will combine Coinme's U.S. licenses and cash-to-crypto network with Polygon's global blockchain platform, despite Coinme recently facing regulatory challenges in Washington state.
Carta: Seattle Ranked No. 6 in 2025 U.S. Cities for Startup Capital Raised with Nearly $2 Billion
Carta’s 2025 city rankings show Seattle remained sixth in the U.S. for startup capital raised with nearly $2 billion (2.9% of Carta-tracked funding), similar to its 2024 position. Major Seattle-area rounds included TerraPower ($650M), Stoke Space ($510M), Helion Energy ($425M), and others across software, AI, hardware, and fintech.
Adaptive Biotechnologies’ Spinout Digital Biotechnologies Raises $15M Series A to Develop Clinical DNA Sequencing Instrument
Digital Biotechnologies, a Seattle-based subsidiary of Adaptive Biotechnologies, has raised up to $15 million in a Series A round to develop a novel clinical DNA sequencing technology. Adaptive will retain nearly half ownership as Digital Biotechnologies aims to create a high-accuracy, rapid, low-cost sequencing instrument for clinical use.
Microsoft Acquires Seattle Data Analytics Startup Osmos to Integrate Autonomous Data Engineering into Microsoft Fabric
Microsoft has acquired Seattle-based startup Osmos to integrate its autonomous data engineering technology into Microsoft Fabric, enhancing data ingestion and preparation. Osmos will sunset its standalone products by January 2026 as its team joins Microsoft's Azure Data Analytics efforts.
Seattle Startup Ambassador Raises $7M to Grow AI-Powered Customer Feedback Platform and Launch HiroAI in 2024
Seattle startup Ambassador raised $7 million to expand its AI-driven software that helps companies analyze customer feedback and manage engagement tools. The funding supports the launch of HiroAI, which aids marketing teams by providing insights and action recommendations to boost retention and revenue.
Seattle-Based RentSpree Grows Profitable Real Estate Platform Serving 4 Million Users, Hires Ex-Redfin CTO
RentSpree, a profitable Seattle-based startup founded in 2016, helps small landlords and real estate agents manage rentals online, processing hundreds of millions in payments yearly. The company recently hired former Redfin executive Alex Berezhnyy as CTO and is expanding its services, including banking features for landlords.
Seattle AI Startup Yoodli Raises $40M, Valuation Hits $300M, Shifts to Enterprise Experiential Learning
Seattle startup Yoodli, which offers AI-powered conversation coaching software, has tripled its valuation to about $300 million following a $40 million funding round announced just eight months after a $13.7 million raise. The company is shifting focus from consumer public speaking to enterprise experiential learning, partnering with firms like SAP and Google to improve employee communication skills.
Seattle Startup Casera Launches AI Tool to Streamline Hospital Case Management and Reduce Patient Stay Delays
Seattle-based healthcare startup Casera is developing AI software that assists hospital case managers by automating coordination tasks to reduce patient stay delays and operational costs. Spun out from Pioneer Square Labs, Casera integrates with existing communication tools to ensure timely follow-ups and task completion, aiming to improve hospital patient flow.
Ex-Amazon and Expedia Executives Launch VQ Capital, AI and Cyber Intelligence Investment Firm Backed by Family Offices
Former Amazon and Expedia leaders Brian Lent and John Kim, along with partners Yotam Avrahami and Praveen Hirsave, have launched VQ Capital, an AI-native investment firm focused on AI and cyber intelligence. Headquartered in New York with plans for a Seattle hub, VQ Capital partners with family offices to invest on a deal-by-deal basis in transformative AI and cybersecurity technologies.
Seattle Startup Scowtt Raises $12M Series A to Optimize Ad Campaigns Using CRM Data and AI
Seattle startup Scowtt raised $12 million in a Series A round led by Inspired Capital to enhance ad campaigns using CRM data and AI, aiming to improve ad spend efficiency without changing marketers' tools. Founded in 2024, Scowtt targets enterprise advertisers and plans to develop into an AI-driven growth operating system combining marketing and sales intelligence.
Washington Regulators Order Crypto ATM Startup Coinme to Cease Operations Over $8M Misappropriation Claims
Washington state regulators issued a cease-and-desist order against cryptocurrency startup Coinme for allegedly misclassifying over $8 million in customer funds as income and violating state financial laws, prompting potential license revocation and fines. Coinme later reached an interim agreement to resume operations while the matter is resolved.
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
