Startups - GeekWire

Mar 16, 2026, 6:14 AM

Seattle startup Certiv launches with $4.2M to build endpoint security layer for AI agents

Seattle startup Certiv emerged from stealth with $4.2 million in funding to build security software that monitors and controls AI agents on employee computers. The company is led by serial entrepreneur Jason Needham, whose previous startups were acquired by Apple and VMware. Read More

Mar 13, 2026, 9:29 AM

Taylor Soper named director of Seattle’s AI House after remarkable run at GeekWire

Taylor Soper is leaving GeekWire after more than 13 years as a reporter and editor to become director of AI House at AI2 Incubator. We’ll miss him deeply, but we’re excited to see what he does next. Read More

Mar 12, 2026, 5:02 PM

Here’s the pitch: UW students get in the room with key investors to share their AI startup ideas

Seven teams comprising 67 undergraduate and graduate students from across campus disciplines laid out their startup business plans at Pioneer Square Labs in Seattle to conclude a 10-week program. Read More

Mar 11, 2026, 2:25 PM

Startup Radar: Seattle-area founders use AI for medical records, gaming, mortgages, search, and more

Our latest spotlight features founders using AI to help automate the assessment of medical records, video game production, and much more. Read More

Mar 11, 2026, 12:08 PM

Tech Moves: Microsoft Research gets a new leader; Amazon head joins AI startup; JPMorgan exec departing

Igor Tsyganskiy is now leading Microsoft Research (MSR) as past president Peter Lee takes the helm of Microsoft Science. Read More

Mar 11, 2026, 7:47 AM

Opinion: The wrong tax at the wrong time for Washington

Seattle entrepreneur Jesse Proudman on why he’s saddened by the state’s new income tax, writing that it comes at the “worst possible moment” amid the AI boom. Read More

Mar 10, 2026, 9:02 AM

Tim Chen’s Essence VC firm is raising a new fund to back more infrastructure startups

Chen said the new fund will allow Essence to lead bigger pre-seed rounds and gives him more flexibility on deployment timeframes. Read More

Mar 10, 2026, 7:58 AM

Opinion: You couldn’t pay me to leave Washington state, and I’d pay more to stay

My view on Washington’s proposed tax on very high incomes is simple: if I’ve found myself in the position of making that much in a year, I can afford to contribute a little more to the place that helped make that circumstance possible. Read More

Mar 10, 2026, 7:00 AM

Seattle-area startup turns industrial emissions into high-performance battery materials

Homeostasis is building a business at the intersection of climate policy, trade wars and the global race for battery materials with its graphite production tech. Read More

Mar 9, 2026, 12:58 PM

Jay Graber steps down as Bluesky CEO, moves into chief innovation officer role at social media platform

“As Bluesky matures, the company needs a seasoned operator focused on scaling and execution, while I return to what I do best: building new things,” Graber wrote in a post. Read More

Mar 9, 2026, 7:38 AM

A whole new ballgame for trading cards: Startup uses robots and AI to sort and analyze collections

Gradient’s Renton, Wash., office space is home to 10 million sports and gaming cards, where a team of card geeks and engineers are using technology to upend a $15 billion U.S. market. Read More

Mar 5, 2026, 6:20 PM

Former startup CFO gets 2 years in prison for wire fraud / crypto scheme that cost company $35M

Nevin Shetty, 42, of Mercer Island, Wash., was found guilty last November, after a nine-day jury trial, of four counts of wire fraud. Read More

Mar 5, 2026, 4:03 PM

Silicon Valley tech vet: ‘No better time to start companies than now’

The AI moment is not just another tech cycle — it’s one of the best openings founders have seen in years. That was the message from Sudheesh Nair, a longtime Bay Area tech leader and co-founder of enterprise web agent startup TinyFish. Read More

Mar 5, 2026, 1:38 PM

University of Washington team working on CPR feedback device wins health innovation challenge

CPRight is a real-time CPR feedback device that provides data on compression rate and depth to ensure bystanders perform high-quality, life-saving chest compressions during an emergency. Read More

Mar 5, 2026, 12:26 PM

Tech Moves: Amperity and Siteimprove name CMOs; AWS director departs; Gong’s new exec

In the latest Pacific Northwest tech moves, Amperity and Siteimprove name CMOs; an AWS security director departs; and Elizabeth Scallon goes to Nvidia. Read More

Mar 5, 2026, 8:38 AM

Rad Power Bikes brand will live on as Life EV completes acquisition of Seattle e-bike maker’s assets

Life EV announced that its court-approved asset acquisition had been completed as part of Rad’s bankruptcy process. The South Florida-based company paid $13.2 million for the e-bike maker that was once valued at $1.65 billion. Read More

Mar 4, 2026, 2:00 PM

Startup Radar: Seattle-area founders use AI for music videos, real estate, debugging, and more

From fitness equipment to voice AI agents to autonomous debugging, our latest Startup Radar spotlight features Seattle-area founders solving problems… Read More

Mar 3, 2026, 9:35 AM

Seattle tech and education vets launch ‘Trajectory Playbook’ platform for startup founders

The education platform is designed to help founders bridge the gap between initial ideation and product-market fit through a step-by-step curriculum. Read More

Mar 3, 2026, 9:14 AM

Seattle’s newest early stage fund makes a bet on vertical AI startups

TheFounderVC (TFVC), a new early stage fund based in Seattle and San Francisco, announced the public launch Tuesday of its inaugural $5 million fund. Read More

Mar 2, 2026, 12:02 PM

Opinion: The narratives and realities of an income tax in Washington

Editor’s note: GeekWire publishes guest opinions to foster informed discussion and highlight a diversity of perspectives on issues shaping the… Read More

Mar 2, 2026, 10:20 AM

Tech Moves: HP director departs; AWS leader leaves; Truveta adds new leaders

— Elizabeth Scallon, a longtime leader in Seattle’s startup ecosystem, has left HP after serving for nearly four years as… Read More

Mar 2, 2026, 10:17 AM

Bay Area-based Aetherflux to join Seattle space race with new hub for satellite development

Founded in 2024 by CEO Baiju Bhatt, the billionaire co-founder of the trading platform Robinhood, Aetherflux is currently focused on creating an orbital data center satellite. Read More

Mar 2, 2026, 9:50 AM

In new letter to governor, Seattle tech leaders say income tax proposal will hurt region’s AI innovation

A group of AI researchers, founders, and investors argue that higher taxes on high earners and investment gains would push top talent and future startups elsewhere at a critical moment in tech. Read More

Feb 28, 2026, 8:06 AM

Seattle startup Carbon Robotics gets another shoutout from RFK Jr. for its weed-zapping robots

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. secretary of health and human services, touted the company’s machines on a new episode of The Joe Rogan Experience. Read More

Feb 26, 2026, 1:50 PM

Seattle fintech startup Confido Legal raises fresh cash

The startup, which builds financial software for law firms and legal tech companies, raised $9 million across two rounds. Read More

Feb 26, 2026, 8:59 AM

Read AI rolls out ‘Digital Twin’ that can respond to work emails and schedule meetings

Read AI CEO David Shim framed the launch as an evolution from “AI assistant” to something closer to a software colleague that can act on your behalf. Read More

Feb 25, 2026, 10:52 AM

Tech Moves: Zillow names CPO; AWS leader retires; Microsoft hires AI expert from Apple

Zillow Group announced three promotions to its senior leadership team. Earlier this month, Zillow reported its revenue grew 16% last… Read More

Feb 25, 2026, 10:45 AM

Anthropic acquires Vercept in early exit for one of Seattle’s standout AI startups

Anthropic is acquiring Seattle AI startup Vercept, folding its desktop “computer use” technology and team into Claude as the race to build AI agents that can operate software intensifies. Vercept will shut down its Vy application as part of the deal. Read More

Feb 25, 2026, 8:57 AM

Seattle-area startup Union.ai raises $19M to fuel AI workflow platform

Union is the company behind Flyte, an open-source orchestration tool used to run complex machine learning and data workflows. Read More

Illustration: Sophia TILE satellite in orbit

Feb 24, 2026, 12:49 PM

Sophia Space raises $10M to accelerate creation of orbital computing systems

Startup plans to start with in-space edge computing, then progress to orbital data centers. Read More