GeekWire provided a roundup of the latest technology and startup news from the week of May 12, 2024. Some of the most popular stories included Baskar Sridharan, a former Google executive, joining Amazon Web Services as a vice president leading the AI/ML Services and Infrastructure team. Additionally, an entrepreneur and investor with ties to Techstars Seattle announced plans to launch a new organization and shared workspace for tech founders.
Expedia Group faced some turmoil as two of its top engineering leaders, CTO Rathi Murthy and senior vice president Sreenivas Rachamadugu, abruptly exited the company due to a violation of company policy. Meanwhile, New York-based IT infrastructure services giant Kyndryl acquired Seattle-based company Skytap, which specializes in cloud migration software. Amazon Web Services CEO Adam Selipsky also announced his departure from the company after three years.
Bill Hilf, the CEO of late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s holding company, Vulcan Inc., is stepping down after more than seven years in the role. Seattle’s venture capital ecosystem received a boost with the addition of Vivek Ladsariya, a seasoned investor who recently relocated from Silicon Valley to join Pioneer Square Labs as a managing director. Seattle’s population growth saw a decrease, causing the city to fall out of the top 10 fastest-growing big cities in the country.
In a significant development, Melinda French Gates announced her resignation as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Seattle-based philanthropic organization she co-founded with her ex-husband in 2000. This news came amidst Bill Gates’ departure from Harvard to start Microsoft, marking a pivotal moment in their entrepreneurial journey. The technology and startup landscape in Seattle continue to evolve, with key leadership changes and industry acquisitions shaping the future of the region.
