This past week, GeekWire has covered a variety of technology and startup news stories. A federal judge in Seattle sided with Boeing and threw out a jury verdict that required the aerospace giant to pay $72 million to Zunum Aero, a Seattle-area aviation startup it had previously supported. Additionally, the University of Washington in Seattle is set to receive up to $21.1 million as part of a $150 million award in a new phase of the “Cancer Moonshot” initiative led by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. In a laboratory near downtown Seattle, Hetu Kamisetty is working on building a biotech company of the future.
The hybrid work trend has now reached the incoming CEO of Starbucks, who will likely be exploring new ways of working that blend remote and in-person collaboration. A new class action lawsuit has accused Valve Software of being a “platform monopolist” that has artificially kept game prices high and stunted competition in the digital distribution market for PC gaming. Amazon has also made headlines this week with its agreement to acquire chip maker and AI model compression company Perceive for $80 million in cash. Additionally, Pamela Maynard, the former CEO of IT services firm Avanade, is joining Microsoft in a new role as chief AI transformation officer.
Salesforce is set to integrate one of Tableau’s key AI features into its core customer relationship management platform, marking one of its most significant integrations since acquiring the data visualization company five years ago. Former long-time Amazon leaders are using their experiences at the tech giant to help incubate new companies at Jelly Collective, the latest startup studio in Seattle. Starbucks has also announced a new CEO, Brian Niccol, who led Chipotle for the past six years. Niccol’s appointment as CEO signals potential changes and growth opportunities for the Seattle-based coffee giant under his leadership.
These stories highlight the diverse range of technological advancements, business acquisitions, and leadership changes happening in the tech and startup world. From legal disputes and significant financial deals to the application of AI technology in various industries, the tech landscape is constantly evolving. Companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Salesforce continue to make strategic moves to expand their offerings and stay competitive in the market. Additionally, the emergence of new startups and incubation initiatives shows the ongoing innovation and entrepreneurship in cities like Seattle. With the impact of hybrid work trends and advancements in biotech and AI, the tech industry is poised for continued growth and transformation in the future.
