Todd Bishop
Todd Bishop is Editor and Co-Founder at GeekWire, a media company he co-founded in 2009 and where he remains active. He is a business and technology journalist with expertise in in-depth reporting, podcast hosting, and live event moderation.
Brinc Unveils LiveOps Software to Manage Public Safety Drones, Communications, and Evidence Storage
Brinc launched LiveOps, a browser-based software platform that integrates drone fleet management, live streaming, real-time maps, communications, and evidence storage for public safety agencies. The Seattle-based company aims to expand its reach beyond drone pilots to emergency response teams, offering LiveOps alongside its hardware and service packages.
Marcus Lemonis Leads Beyond Inc. to Acquire and Revive Zulily for $4.5 Million After 2023 Liquidation
Marcus Lemonis, entrepreneur and former star of CNBC's "The Profit," is leading Beyond Inc. to revive the struggling e-commerce brand Zulily, which was acquired for $4.5 million after its liquidation in 2023. Zulily, once a high-growth Seattle-based company, declined due to competition and operational issues despite generating significant sales.
AI's transparency problem: Tech leaders advocate for new insights into training data
Artificial intelligence is a powerful technology that promises to reshape the future, but it also poses many risks. One of the most pressing issues is the lack of regulation and oversight of the data used to train AI models. A new nonprofit, the Seattle-based Transparency Coalition (transparencycoalition.ai) aims to address this issue. The co-founders of the group, veteran startup founders and technology leaders Rob Eleveld and Jai Jaisimha, join us on this episode of the GeekWire Podcast to discuss their reasons for starting the organization, and their goals to help shape emerging legislation and public policy in this area. With…
Statsig Startup Requires Full-Time In-Office Work Amid Widespread Remote Trends
Statsig, a tech startup founded three years ago by Vijaye Raji, requires employees to work in-office five days a week despite the widespread adoption of hybrid and remote work. The company prioritizes in-person presence due to high stakes for decision-making and employs safety measures like air filtration and social distancing.
Chris DeVore Reflects on Techstars Seattle Closure and Future of Local Startup Scene
Chris DeVore, former managing director of Techstars Seattle, reflects on the accelerator's closure and discusses its evolution and impact on Seattle's tech community. He expresses optimism about Seattle's entrepreneurial future despite the end of Techstars Seattle amid organizational shifts in the broader Techstars network.
BONUS: Seattle after Techstars, with guest Chris DeVore
Entrepreneur and investor Chris DeVore had an inside view of Techstars Seattle as one of the original leaders of the local startup accelerator in 2010, serving as its managing director from 2014 to 2019. His Feb. 21 post "What went wrong at Techstars," looked closely at the organization's evolution — including its increased focus on corporate sponsorships and shift to centralized fundraising — as the backdrop for the news last week that Techstars is closing its Seattle accelerator as part of a broader reset. So where should Seattle's tech community go from here? And what role do startup accelerators serve…
Microsoft Invests $16.2 Million in French Startup Mistral AI, Announces Broad AI Principles at Mobile World Congress
Microsoft announced AI development principles emphasizing broad partnerships, fairness, and responsibility, alongside a $16.2 million investment in French startup Mistral AI, enabling model deployment via Microsoft's Azure cloud.
Techstars Seattle Accelerator Ends After Launching 160+ Startups and 3 Unicorns in Restructuring Move
Techstars Seattle, which launched over 160 startups and created three billion-dollar companies, announced its closure this week as part of a broader restructuring. The accelerator, operational since 2010, partnered with major firms like Microsoft and Amazon but is now shutting down to focus on cities with more venture capital activity.
OpenAI's Sora, a new Amazon book, and 5 days a week in the office
This week on the GeekWire Podcast, stick around to the end for a late-breaking addition to the show — a bonus segment about OpenAI's new AI video generation technology Sora. Joining the show is Rahul Sood, CEO and co-founder of Irreverent Labs, a Seattle-area startup that is working on AI to turn images and text into video. We also discuss the Seattle-area startups that are bringing employees into the office five days a week; look ahead to the upcoming release of what appears to be a juicy Amazon book, due out in April; and preview the GeekWire Awards in advance…
Seattle-Area Tech Startup Requires Employees to Work In-Office Five Days a Week
A visit to a Seattle-area tech startup revealed that employees work in the office five days a week by default, prompting questions about how common this practice is among other regional tech companies.
GeekWire 200 Q1 2024 Update Highlights 35% New Startups and Outreach Tops Seattle Tech Rankings
The GeekWire 200's latest update reveals a significant reshaping of Seattle and Pacific Northwest startups, with 35% new companies entering, including newcomers in AI, robotics, cybersecurity, and health sectors. Key shifts include outreach becoming the top startup and major players like Hootsuite and Icertis graduating off the list after 15 years.
Seattle Startup EdXeno Founded by Ex-Counselor Jason Booker Develops Free App to Transform College Admissions Post-2023 Affirmative Action Ruling
Jason Booker, a former high school counselor, founded Seattle startup EdXeno to improve college admissions by providing a free mobile app for equitable college advising and direct communication between students and universities. The startup is developing its minimum viable product and forming university partnerships to help address challenges intensified by the 2023 Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action.
Seattle Startup Avante Raises $10M Seed Round Led by Fuse Venture Partners with Ex-Olive AI and Amperity Leaders
Seattle startup Avante, led by former Olive AI and Amperity executives, raised $10 million in a seed round led by Fuse Venture Partners to build an employee intelligence platform focused on healthier workforces. The company remains in stealth mode without detailed public disclosures about its plans.
Seattle University Seniors Win Inaugural Hackathon with ResponseSight ML Predicting Traffic Accident Hotspots
Six Seattle University computer science seniors won their first-ever hackathon on Dec. 2 by developing ResponseSight ML, a machine learning model that predicts traffic accident hotspots for emergency response. The hackathon, hosted by INRIX and Amazon Web Services, involved 20 teams creating prototypes in 24 hours.
Blake Resnick, 23, Leads Seattle Drone Startup Brinc to Enhance Public Safety with Advanced UAVs
Blake Resnick, founder and CEO of Seattle-based drone company Brinc, uses technology to improve public safety with drones designed for first responders. At 23, he secured significant early investment and aims to expand drone use for police and medical emergencies.
Seattle Startup Wokelo Raises $1.5M Pre-Seed to Use AI for Rapid M&A Due Diligence Reports
Wokelo, a Seattle-based startup founded by two former management consultants, uses AI to generate detailed due-diligence reports in minutes, streamlining the M&A research process. Founded in 2022, it has raised $1.5 million in pre-seed funding to further develop its product.
John Stanton of Trilogy Equity Partners Discusses Steady Venture Investments and AI Acquisition Challenges Amid Regulation
John Stanton of Trilogy Equity Partners highlights steady investment activity despite venture capital downturn, emphasizing AI-driven opportunities and regulatory challenges facing tech acquisitions. Speaking at a Harvard Business School event, Stanton also noted US regulators' impact on major tech companies' ability to acquire AI startups.
Jeff Bezos Moves from Seattle to Miami, Raising Questions on Washington's Capital Gains Tax Impact
Jeff Bezos is moving from Seattle to Miami, marking a symbolic end of an era for the Seattle region where he influenced business and philanthropy for three decades. The move raises questions about Washington state's capital gains tax and its impact on local leadership, while Bezos remains executive chairman of Amazon.
Brinc Delivers First Lemur 2 Drones to U.S. Police and Emergency Responders, Including NYPD
Seattle-based startup Brinc delivered its first production Lemur 2 drones this week to U.S. public safety agencies, including the NYPD. The upgraded drones feature enhanced antenna range, self-righting, obstacle avoidance, 3D mapping, and capabilities to assist police and emergency responders in crisis and rescue operations.
Seattle Startup Yoodli Launches AI VC Pitch Coach to Help Founders Practice Investor Presentations
Seattle startup Yoodli launched an AI-powered VC pitch coach that helps startup founders practice investor presentations by simulating various VC question personas and providing detailed feedback. The tool aims to reduce pitch preparation anxiety and lessen mentors' workload, offering five free practice sessions before subscription fees start.
What the heck happened at Convoy?
This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we examine the market forces, debt, and other dynamics that put the digital freight marketplace Convoy out of business, bringing one of the Seattle region's top startups to the end of the road. Related coverage: ‘The markets crushed us’: In tearful farewell to employees, Convoy execs reflect on shutdown Convoy collapse: Read CEO’s memo detailing sudden shutdown of Seattle trucking startup Convoy raised $260 million just 18 months ago, at a valuation of $3.8 billion. Its investor list was a who's who of tech moguls and celebrities, including Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Marc Benioff…
Xembly CEO Pete Christothoulou Highlights Focus on Real Customer Problems in AI Startup Landscape After Raising $20M
Pete Christothoulou, CEO of AI startup Xembly, discusses how startups can differentiate themselves by focusing on solving real customer problems rather than just creating cool technology. Founded nearly three years ago and backed by $20 million in funding, Xembly automates executive assistant tasks and serves clients like Salesforce and Twilio.
Building an 'AI chief of staff,' with Xembly CEO Pete Christothoulou
How can startups differentiate themselves in the new era of AI? We've been discussing that question a lot recently on the GeekWire Podcast, and on this episode, we'll get a first-hand look from business and technology veteran Pete Christothoulou, who has been immersed in this world for many years. Christothoulou is the former CEO of Marchex, the call and conversational analytics company, who is now founder and CEO of Xembly, a Seattle-based startup developing AI-powered technology that replicates a chief of staff and executive assistant, automating tasks such as meeting notes, scheduling, and action items. Xembly was founded in Madrona…
Windup Minds Raises $1.6M Seed to Develop Virtual Creature Experience for VR and Mixed Reality
Windup Minds, a startup founded by gaming and tech veterans including Bernie Yee, raised $1.6 million in seed funding to develop immersive virtual creatures for VR and mixed reality devices, aiming for next year's product release.
Brinc CEO Blake Resnick, 23, Raises $80M Led by OpenAI's Sam Altman for Lemur 2 Drone Shipping in 2023
Brinc, a drone startup founded by 23-year-old Blake Resnick, is preparing to ship its Lemur 2 drone for public safety agencies later this year, having raised over $80 million from investors including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Resnick, who left Northwestern University to start Brinc after a tragic event in his hometown, leads a team of nearly 100 employees with more than 400 customers.
Organizations
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GeekWire Editor and Co-Founder 2011–present · current
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GeekWire Co-Founder · current
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Seattle Children’s Therapeutics current
Education
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California State University, Chico B.A., Business Admin, Journalism · 1991–1996
