Get caught up on the latest technology and startup news from the past week. Here are the most popular stories on GeekWire for the week of Jan. 19, 2025.
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Most popular stories on GeekWire
Former Google VP raises $10M for new startup building AI agents for retail businesses
A onetime Seattle startup founder who went on to lead engineering teams at Google, Meta, Yahoo, Tinder and LinkedIn, is heading up a new startup called Palona AI that builds customer-facing AI agents for retail businesses. … Read More
Madrona raises $770M for new funds — here’s what the Seattle VC firm is betting on
Madrona, the largest venture firm in the Pacific Northwest, raised $770 million for two new funds as the longtime Seattle-based investor looks to back a new batch of tech startups. … Read More
‘I’m good for my $80 billion’: What Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella really meant by his Stargate zinger
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella had the quote of the week in response to a question from CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin about Elon Musk questioning the ability of the new Stargate Project‘s financial backers to invest up to $500 billion in AI infrastructure. … Read More
JPMorgan Chase names new Seattle Tech Center leader as engineering hub grows to 380 people
JPMorgan Chase named a new leader of its Seattle Tech Center: Mamtha Banerjee, a computer scientist, business leader, and Seattle startup veteran who has worked for the financial services giant for more than two years. … Read More
Amazon ships Project Kuiper satellites to Florida in preparation for milestone launch
Amazon is providing a sneak peek at the satellites that are being shipped to Florida for the launch of its Project Kuiper broadband network — well, maybe not the satellites, but at least their containers. … Read More
Filing: Microsoft executive Chris Young resigns as business development and strategy leader
Chris Young, a tech industry veteran who joined Microsoft to lead its business development initiatives in 2020, turned in his resignation today, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing this afternoon. … Read More
Microsoft and OpenAI tweak the terms of their cloud deal, enabling $500B Stargate AI project
Microsoft will no longer be the exclusive provider of new cloud computing capacity to OpenAI — a new twist in their relationship that clears the way for OpenAI to work with Oracle and others on the $500 billion Stargate AI project announced by the companies Tuesday with President Trump at the White House. … Read More
Here’s how AI graded President Trump’s inauguration speech
President Trump had clear messaging and a well-paced delivery during his inauguration speech Monday, but he could have been 36% more concise and offered more clarity on execution. … Read More
Banzai to buy Act-On Software for $53.2M in latest acquisition for Seattle marketing tech company
Seattle-based marketing technology company Banzai International plans to acquire Act-On Software, a Portland, Ore.-based company that sells marketing automation software. … Read More
Smartsheet officially goes private, completes acquisition by Blackstone and Vista Equity Partners
Smartsheet is a private company again. The Bellevue, Wash.-based enterprise software giant completed its $8.4 billion acquisition by Blackstone and Vista Equity Partners on Wednesday, capping off a transaction process first announced in September. … Read More
