A “real blow”: That’s how one software development firm exec described a new law that updates Washington state’s excise tax code to apply sales tax to a wide range of categories, including advertising agencies, IT support providers, and other digital service businesses. The bill, which aims to “modernize” the state’s tax system as lawmakers look to fill a substantial budget shortfall, sent shockwaves through the industry.
Read more. - Another proposed bill in Olympia that targets EV credits — dubbed the “Tesla tax” — is sparking plenty of controversy. Read more.
Seattle’s new venture fund: Fortson VC raised $50 million to invest in early stage software startups in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. The fund is led by Cole Younger, a longtime Seattle-area tech investor. Read more.
Microsoft is broadly rolling out its flagship AI features for Copilot+ PCs, part of a larger effort to reinvent Windows around artificial intelligence. The update includes the long-awaited Recall feature, which was delayed amid privacy and security concerns. Read more
- Meanwhile, a Newcomer newsletter report says Microsoft’s Copilot consumer chatbot has plateaued at 20 million weekly users, while ChatGPT has surged to 400 million — highlighting the challenge facing Microsoft consumer AI chief Mustafa Suleyman.
Todd Owens’ appreciation for startups and smaller companies was shaped by his experience as an officer leading a division aboard a nuclear-powered Navy submarine. As CEO of Seattle’s Kevala, Owens (above left at Naval Academy graduation in 1994) values what military service taught him about being accountable to his team. Read the latest profile in our Tech Vets series.
Phoebe Gates, the youngest daughter of Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates, is the co-founder of a new e-commerce tool that launched this week. A profile of the 22-year-old sheds light on her startup ambitions and what her famous parents think. Read more.
Hot Links:
-
Meta laid off staff from its Reality Labs division, which has operations in the Seattle area. (TechCrunch)
-
Microsoft and the Green Bay Packers awarded $2.7 million to two companies as part of the TitletownTech Startup Draft. (TitletownTech)
-
Anoop Gupta, CEO of Seattle-area startup SeekOut, talks about why “service as software” is the future of recruiting. (Founded & Funded)
-
Microsoft’s design chief on how AI is impacting human designers and creators. (The Verge)
Thanks for subscribing to the GeekWire newsletter, and have a great weekend. — GeekWire editor Taylor Soper, taylor@geekwire.com; GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop, todd@geekwire.com; and GeekWire reporter Kurt Schlosser, kurt@geekwire.com. 
No comments:
Post a Comment