OnTradeAIemerges from stealth:Rajalakshmi SubramanianandMatt Williams, co-founders of the Seattle home-improvement marketplacePro.com, havereunited to launch OnTrade, an AI startup for the wealth management industry, joined by former Bank of America chief investment officerZachary Harl. Backed byGeneral CatalystandMadrona, the company deploys AI agents that handle analytical work financial advisors have traditionally done manually.
Marc Whittento lead Dolby:The former Xbox and Amazon executive was named president and CEO ofDolby Laboratories.Also in Tech Moves:Microsoft AICMOAndréa MallardandMicrosoft AI Frontiers (Research Lab)leaderEce Kamardepart,Fred Hutchnames new division leaders, andPoppy MacDonaldjoinsNationSwellas president.
Airbnb for aviation:Skyfarerconnects pilots with flight instructors, mechanics, examiners and aircraft in a single marketplace, with 14,000 users and 8,500 listings across all 50 states.In our latest Startup Spotlight, founder and CEONick Tsangexplains why he believes general aviation is long overdue for a centralized tool that goes beyond word-of-mouth at the local airport.
Biotech’s manufacturing gap:A federal commission heardfrom biotech leaders in Seattleabout the “valley of death” between research and commercial-scale manufacturing. Companies likeArzedadesign enzymes with AI locally but manufacture largely overseas. The commission has recommended $15 billion in federal investment to help the U.S. keep pace with China.
Prestigious award for UW researcher:University of WashingtonPh.D. studentMalek Itanihaswon the Marconi Society Paul Baran Young Scholar Awardfor his work in “superhuman hearing.” Itani develops low-power AI algorithms that bring real-time target speech extraction, acoustic sound bubbles, and semantic hearing directly to everyday hardware — such as earbuds, hearing aids, and smart glasses.
Seattle AI startup expands English soccer reach:Arkerohasadded Bolton Wanderers FC to a growing roster of customersusing its platform to connect directly to internal data, systems, and workflows and transform their business and sports operations.
Hot Links:
- More than 100 companies, includingAmazon,MicrosoftandAnthropic, signed a letter urging policymakers to “act decisively” on AI-driven cyber threats, warning of a limited window to strengthen defenses as agentic attacks grow more sophisticated. (CNBC)
- University of Washington astronomerssimulated thousands of stellar streams and found that galaxies themselves — not just dark matter — may cause the irregularities scientists have long studied as evidence of the mysterious substance. (UW News)
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