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.
DevZero, Founded by Ex-Uber Engineers, Raises $26M to Expand Cloud DevOps Platform
DevZero, a Seattle-based DevOps startup founded by former Uber engineers Debo Ray and Rob Fletcher, raised $26 million to expand its cloud development platform. The platform, now generally available, is used by companies like Okta and Carta to create production-like environments on local devices for Kubernetes and serverless development.
Ex-Lululemon CTO Kristie D'Ambrosio-Correll Joins Seattle Startup Littlebird as CTO and Co-Founder; Microsoft AI Ethics Leader Mira Lane Joins Google
Kristie D'Ambrosio-Correll, former Lululemon Studio CTO, joined Seattle startup Littlebird as CTO and co-founder; Mira Lane, ex-Microsoft AI ethics leader, joined Google as senior director on the technology and society team.
Seattle Startup Esper Cuts 21% of Staff Amid 2023 Business Uncertainty Following $100M Funding
Seattle startup Esper laid off 21% of its workforce in its second reduction within seven months, citing an unpredictable 2023 business environment despite strong 2022 growth. Founded by Yadhu Gopalan and Shiv Sundar, Esper offers a DevOps platform for managing Android device fleets and has raised $100 million to date.
Point72 Private Investments Expands Seattle Team to Invest in Local Tech Startups Across Funding Stages
Point72 Private Investments, led by partner Sri Chandrasekar, is expanding its venture capital presence in Seattle with plans to grow its team and invest in tech startups at various funding stages. The firm, drawn by Seattle's tech talent and undercapitalized market, aims to support companies from early funding rounds through Series D.
Former Microsoft CVP Teresa Carlson Joins Flexport as President and Chief Commercial Officer Amid Key Seattle Tech Hires
Teresa Carlson, formerly a Microsoft corporate vice president, joined Flexport as president and chief commercial officer overseeing sales, marketing, and communications. Additionally, Seattle tech companies Avalara, Nintex, and Mystery announced key executive hires in revenue, commercial, and data science roles.
Seattle Officials Question Tech Industry's Role in Addressing Housing and Inequality Amid Meta's Regional Expansion and Layoffs
Tech companies like Meta have significantly boosted Seattle's economy and employment but are also criticized for contributing to income inequality and housing issues. Local officials discussed whether these companies are doing enough to address these regional challenges at a Seattle Metro Chamber event featuring Meta's Pacific Northwest head Paresh Rajwat.
Seattle Startups Karat and Common Room Hire New Execs; Microsoft Veteran Peter Petesch Departs After 32 Years
Seattle startups Karat and Common Room have hired new executives, with Karat appointing Scott Bonneau as EVP of operations and product, and Amy Sennett as general counsel, while Common Room brought on Matt Duchesne as VP of sales. Additionally, longtime Microsoft engineering leader Peter Petesch departed after 32 years, and Seattle-based Skytap hired Rahul Tripathi as chief product and technology officer.
Allen Institute Names Helen Protheroe and Arden Yang to Executive Roles; Qumulo’s Aaron Passey Returns as Engineering Lead
The Allen Institute appointed Helen Protheroe as executive director of global partnerships and philanthropy and Arden Yang as vice president of innovation, while Aaron Passey returned to Qumulo as an engineering leader. Other notable tech leadership changes include Kevin Goldsmith becoming CTO of DistroKid, Samir Diwan joining Madrona Venture Labs, S. Skye Yoden stepping down from PATH, and Lindsie Goss joining Outpace Bio.
Allison Arzeno Leads Assurance IQ Through $2.3 Billion Prudential Acquisition and Challenges Since Becoming CEO in 2021
Allison Arzeno, CEO of Seattle-based insurance tech company Assurance IQ, has navigated significant leadership changes and ownership transitions since becoming CEO in June 2021. Despite Prudential Financial's $2.3 billion acquisition and recent operating losses, she remains optimistic about the company's future and its potential to create value.
Seattle NFT Startup Thred Raises $3.5M Led by Ex-Starbucks Exec Ben Straley for 2023 Platform Launch
Seattle startup Thred, led by former Starbucks and Amazon exec Ben Straley, raised $3.5 million to develop an NFT search and discovery platform aimed at providing trustworthy NFT information, with a planned launch in early 2023. The NFT market is experiencing a downturn, but major brands like NBA, Porsche, and Starbucks are increasing their NFT investments.
Rad Power Bikes CEO Mike Radenbaugh Steps Down, Phil Molyneux Named Successor Amid Company Challenges
Rad Power Bikes CEO Mike Radenbaugh is stepping down and will be replaced by Phil Molyneux, former Sony Electronics president, while Radenbaugh stays on as chairman. The company, valued at $1.65 billion in 2021 and having raised $304 million last year, has faced layoffs, lawsuits, and a large product recall recently.
OfferUp Cuts 19% of Workforce Amid Missed 2022 Revenue Growth Targets
OfferUp, a Bellevue-based mobile marketplace, is laying off 19% of its staff due to revenue growth shortfalls despite having multiple years of financial runway. This move aligns with a broader trend of tech layoffs across the Seattle region amid economic uncertainties.
Flyhomes Cuts Nearly 40% of Staff Amid Housing Market Recession and Cooling Demand
Seattle-based real estate startup Flyhomes has laid off nearly 40% of its workforce in a second round of cuts due to a recession in the housing sector and a cooling market. The company, led by CEO Tushar Garg, has about 700 employees and has raised over $200 million since its 2016 founding.
Ally Robotics, Founded by Ex-Microsoft Engineer, Raises $10M and Secures $30M Letter-of-Intent with Miso Robotics for Robotic Arms
Ally Robotics, a Seattle startup founded by former Microsoft and UPS engineers, develops AI-powered robotic arms for restaurants and construction, securing $10 million in funding and a $30 million letter-of-intent with Miso Robotics. The company also holds contracts with a bubble tea business and a manufacturing firm, aiming to automate physical tasks to enhance efficiency and tackle labor shortages.
Syndio Hires Milan Parikh as CFO; Multiple Pacific Northwest Tech Firms Announce Executive Changes
Seattle startup Syndio hired Milan Parikh as CFO, bringing his extensive finance leadership experience. Additionally, several Pacific Northwest tech firms announced key executive changes, including Porch Group, Absci, GlobalGiving, F5, Samsara, and Tozny.
CommerceIQ to Acquire Seattle’s Ideoclick Assets for $475,000 Amid Receivership, Retain 59 Employees
CommerceIQ plans to acquire assets, including customer lists, from Seattle-based Ideoclick for $475,000 following Ideoclick's receivership due to financial struggles. The deal aims to retain Ideoclick's 59 employees and ensure service continuity to customers through November 30.
GoodShip, Founded by Former Convoy Leaders, Raises $2.4M to Enhance Trucking Analytics for Shippers
Seattle-based trucking analytics startup GoodShip, founded by former Convoy employees Ryan Soskin and David Tsai, secured $2.4 million in funding led by Fuse to improve supply chain efficiency through data aggregation software. The company targets mid-to-enterprise shippers with a mission to optimize contract business digitally and is part of a growing Seattle logistics tech scene.
Seattle YC Startup Needl Raises $2.5M to Build Universal Personal Search Tool for Project Managers
Needl, a Seattle-based YC startup founded by University of Chicago alums, raised $2.5 million to develop a personal search product that integrates across web apps, targeting project managers to quickly find files and information. The tool launched a closed beta in August and aims to be an easy-to-adopt alternative to enterprise-focused search solutions.
Icertis Raises $150 Million Debt Financing to Support Growth and Flexibility in Contract Management Market
Icertis, a Bellevue-based contract management software provider valued at around $5 billion, raised $150 million through debt financing as of October 31, 2022, to ensure business flexibility. The company serves clients worldwide, including Microsoft and SAP, and reported over 50% growth in annual recurring revenue in early 2022.
Ex-Nike COO Erik Sprunk Joins Board of Seattle Startup Jigx, Aiding $9 Million Fundraise for Mobile App Development
Seattle-based mobile app development startup Jigx, led by K2 Software veterans, raised $9 million including investment from former Nike COO Erik Sprunk who joined its board. Jigx helps companies accelerate and reduce costs in building mobile apps, serving clients like Motul and Life Flight Australia.
Marius Ciocirlan Named Managing Director of Techstars Seattle, Succeeding Isaac Kato
Marius Ciocirlan, co-founder of ShareGrid and experienced entrepreneur, has become the new managing director of Techstars Seattle, succeeding Isaac Kato. He aims to mentor entrepreneurs in Seattle's accelerator program, which has supported over 130 companies raising $2.5 billion since 2010.
Seattle Startup Diagrid Raises $20M Series A Led by Norwest, Backed by Microsoft Azure CTO and Kubernetes Co-founder
Seattle startup Diagrid, co-founded by former Microsoft engineers who created the Dapr project, raised $20 million in a Series A led by Norwest Venture Partners to provide managed Dapr on Kubernetes services. The company’s software supports cloud-native applications and has backing from prominent industry figures including Microsoft Azure CTO Mark Russinovich and Kubernetes co-founder Joe Beda.
Seattle Startup Deako Raises $13.4M, Total Funding $49.7M to Expand Smart Light Switch Technology
Seattle-based smart light switch maker Deako raised $13.4 million in new funding, bringing total investment to $49.7 million. Founded in 2015, Deako's technology enables smart home lighting integration using existing wiring and is growing despite a volatile housing market.
Seattle Startup Hedgehog, Led by Ex-Cisco CEO Marc Austin, Launches to Simplify SONiC Network OS Usage for Cloud-Native Firms
Hedgehog, a new Seattle startup led by Cisco veteran Marc Austin, aims to simplify the use of Microsoft's open-source SONiC network operating system for cloud-native companies moving workloads off public clouds. The company positions itself as the 'Red Hat for SONiC,' helping enterprises avoid vendor lock-in and reduce infrastructure costs through automation.
Technology Alliance Receives $674,874 Federal Grant to Boost Corporate Venture Capital in Washington State Startups
The Technology Alliance, led by CEO Laura Ruderman, secured a $674,874 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration to support its Enterprise Capital Alliance program, which aims to increase corporate venture capital investments in Washington state startups. Despite growth in corporate VC deals, Washington still trails leading states like California and New York in both volume and total venture capital funding.
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
