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.
Nick Tsang says GeekWire interview by Todd Bishop is first non-aviation coverage of Skyfarer work
Nick Tsang shared that his interview with Todd Bishop and GeekWire—published last month and linked—was the first time their aviation work was covered outside the industry and that he enjoyed answering the questions.
Seattle Tech Week 2026 Draws ~250 Events Over Five Days, Showcasing City’s Tech Talent and Innovation
Seattle Tech Week 2026 ran five days with roughly 250 events across diverse venues, celebrating Seattle’s dense tech talent and community connections while highlighting themes from founders, investors, and academics. Organizers view the event as a community-led showcase that reinforced Seattle’s historic and ongoing contributions to cloud, AI, and other innovations.
Tech Community Mourns S. 'Soma' Somasegar, Microsoft Veteran and Madrona VC, at Age 59
S. 'Soma' Somasegar, a respected Microsoft veteran and Madrona Ventures investor, passed away at age 59, prompting widespread tributes highlighting his kindness, mentorship, and lasting impact on the tech community. Colleagues remembered him as a humble servant leader and champion of developers whose legacy went beyond his business contributions.
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.
2025 GeekWire Gala Hosts 750+ Seattle Tech Enthusiasts with Robots and Honors 'Uncommon Thinkers' Innovators
The 2025 GeekWire Gala brought together over 750 members of Seattle's tech community at Showbox SoDo for an evening of celebration featuring robots, games, and networking. The event also honored the region’s 'Uncommon Thinkers,' recognizing innovative leaders from multiple tech companies.
University of Chicago Student Maddie Stoll Chronicles Seattle GeekWire Internship Featuring Microsoft Protest and Startup Interviews
Maddie Stoll, a University of Chicago student from London, shares her immersive GeekWire internship experience in Seattle, highlighting diverse stories from protests at Microsoft's campus to startup interviews and cultural contrasts with London and Chicago.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy Uses Christmas Tree Analogy to Stress Employee Ownership at 2024 Accelerate Conference
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy used an unusual Christmas tree analogy at the Accelerate seller conference to illustrate the importance of employee ownership and innovation in maintaining Amazon’s startup culture. He emphasized hiring 'builders' who take full responsibility for their projects to avoid complacency in a large company.
OpenAI Acquires Seattle Startup Statsig for $1.1 Billion Amid Its Unique Five-Day In-Office Work Policy
Seattle-area startup Statsig, acquired by OpenAI for $1.1 billion, mandates five-day-a-week in-office work, contrasting with common hybrid models. CEO Vijaye Raji credits this policy for fostering strong collaboration, faster decision-making, and a high-performing culture.
Seattle Has Fewer Than 20 Unicorn Startups Amid Top AI Talent and Tech Giants in 2025
Seattle hosts fewer than 20 unicorn startups, representing about 1.5% of global unicorns as of January 2025, despite having a dense tech talent pool and being a prime location for AI businesses. Industry leaders argue that the number of unicorns alone is a poor measure of regional tech success, pointing to Seattle's strengths in AI, cloud giants, and fast-growing startups.
Seattle Fusion Startups Helion, Zap, Avalanche Clash Over Commercial Power Timelines at Investor Summit
At a Seattle-area Technology Alliance event, fusion startups Helion Energy, Zap Energy, and Avalanche Energy debated their timelines and challenges in commercializing fusion power, with Helion targeting a 2028 fusion power plant for Microsoft and competitors expressing skepticism about such aggressive goals.
Apple Quietly Acquires Seattle AI Startup WhyLabs in 2025, Expanding Local AI Expertise
Apple appears to have quietly acquired Seattle startup WhyLabs, which specializes in AI application monitoring, marking another in a series of AI and machine learning acquisitions in the Seattle area. The acquisition, indicated by venture capital and LinkedIn clues but not publicly confirmed, aligns with Apple's ongoing investment in AI despite reports of lagging behind competitors.
Washington’s Proposed 5% Payroll Tax on Large Employers Draws Tech Industry Backlash Amid $16B Budget Shortfall
Washington state Democrats propose a 5% statewide payroll tax on wages exceeding $176,100 for companies with payrolls over $7 million to address a $16 billion budget gap, drawing criticism from CEOs and tech leaders including Microsoft President Brad Smith who warn it could harm the tech sector and drive businesses away.
Agility Robotics Seeks $400 Million Funding at $1.75 Billion Valuation to Advance Digit Warehouse Robots
Agility Robotics is reportedly raising $400 million at a $1.75 billion valuation to fund its Digit humanoid warehouse robots, with lead investor WP Global and participation from SoftBank. The company recently announced new improvements to Digit's capabilities and continues pilot testing with Amazon, a previous investor.
Veeam Software Valued at $15 Billion After $2 Billion Secondary Share Sale Led by TPG, HQ Moved to Kirkland, WA
Veeam Software, a data protection leader, achieved a $15 billion valuation following a $2 billion secondary share sale led by TPG, expected to close in Q1 2025. The company relocated its headquarters to Kirkland, Washington, serves 77% of the Fortune 500, and reported $1.7 billion in annual recurring revenue as of September.
Seattle Startup Factal Secures $1M Investment from International SOS to Expand Global Risk Monitoring
Seattle-based risk-verification startup Factal is partnering with International SOS, which is investing $1 million in the company to enhance its global incident alert services. Factal uses AI and experienced journalists to verify events and will provide faster, more accurate updates to International SOS's 10,000 customers.
OpenAI Opens Bellevue Office Near Microsoft HQ Following $6.5 Billion Funding Round
OpenAI has opened a new office in Bellevue, Washington, near Microsoft’s headquarters, to leverage local engineering talent and strengthen their partnership. This move follows OpenAI's $6.5 billion funding round and expansion of offices globally including New York, Paris, and Singapore.
Nvidia Acquires Seattle AI Startup OctoAI for Over $250 Million, Ending Its Service Offering by October 31
Nvidia has acquired Seattle-based AI startup OctoAI, which helps run generative AI models efficiently, for a price potentially exceeding $250 million including retention incentives. OctoAI is winding down its services by October 31, marking Nvidia's continued expansion in AI amid rising regulatory scrutiny.
Pictory Wins Startup of the Year at 2024 GeekWire Awards in Seattle Featuring Live Music and Surprise Guests
The 2024 GeekWire Awards in Seattle celebrated Pacific Northwest tech with winners like Pictory, live music, and surprise guests, hosted at Showbox SoDo. The event featured sponsors such as Astound Business Solutions and included networking, entertainment, and a nostalgic tech theme.
Matt Hulett Steps Down as PetMed Express CEO; Sandra Campos Named Successor; Seattle Startups Avante, OfferUp Add Execs
Matt Hulett is stepping down as CEO and president of PetMed Express, with Sandra Campos named as his replacement. Additionally, several executives joined or were promoted at Seattle-area startups Avante, OfferUp, and New York-based Sisense.
UW Professor Shwetak Patel Co-Founded Three Startups Since 2008, Leading Google Health Tech Group
Shwetak Patel, a University of Washington professor and entrepreneur, has co-founded three startups based on his inventions since arriving in Seattle in 2008, including Zensi and SNUPI, acquired by Belkin and Sears respectively. He currently leads a health tech group at Google and is recognized as an innovative thinker transforming industries.
Silicon Valley Bank Urges Customers to Return Deposits After Collapse, Backed by U.S. Government
Silicon Valley Bank, now backed by the U.S. government, is urging customers to return their deposits after its recent collapse, assuring them of full protections. The newly formed Silicon Valley Bridge Bank is operational, making new loans, honoring credit facilities, and seeing some customers already returning funds.
Startups Shift to Venture Debt Amid Slowing Venture Capital, Raising $29B+ in 2022
As venture capital funding slows, startups increasingly consider venture debt and loans to extend cash runways without diluting ownership, despite the risks of repayment and financial scrutiny. In 2022, tech companies raised over $29 billion in venture debt across more than 2,100 deals, highlighting a significant shift toward alternative financing.
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.
Gravity Payments CEO Dan Price Resigns Amid Assault and Reckless Driving Charges, COO Tammi Kroll Named Successor
Dan Price, former CEO of Gravity Payments known for raising the company's minimum wage to $70,000, resigned amid misdemeanor assault and reckless driving charges. He pleaded not guilty and will be replaced by COO Tammi Kroll.
Amazon Revamps Technical Talent Pay, Boosting Base Salaries to $350,000 and Accelerating Stock Upgrades Under CEO Andy Jassy
Amazon is overhauling its pay system for top technical talent under CEO Andy Jassy, increasing base salaries to around $350,000 and speeding up stock package upgrades to align better with other tech giants. This shift reflects a move away from Jeff Bezos's startup-era pay strategies, recognizing the significant impact new hires can have and addressing employees' financial stability amid market fluctuations.
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
