The rise of vertical AI agents: For the latest installment in our
Agents of Transformation series, GeekWire examined the opportunity for startups building vertical AI agents — tools built to do one job exceptionally well by combining models with domain-specific data, workflows, and context. (
Above, from left, at a panel hosted by Nooks in Seattle last month: Chinmay Barve, vice president of engineering at Nooks; Nikhil Cheerla, CTO at Nooks; Sharbani Roy, VP of AI Services at Arm; and Joe Duffy, CEO and founder at Pulumi.)
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Got space junk? Bothell, Wash.-based Portal Space Systems is partnering with an Australian venture called Paladin Space on a commercial service that would round up and dispose of orbital debris that could pose a threat to spacecraft. Read more.
Nobel Laureate David Baker is leading a new $7 million University of Washington initiative, backed by the Washington Research Foundation, to accelerate the development and commercialization of designer proteins and enzymes for medicine and sustainability. Read more.
AI has entered the dating app chat. Lamu, a Seattle-based digital matchmaker, is relying on AI to learn about humans and help them make more meaningful connections, eliminating endless swiping and more pitfalls that can waste people’s time and effort. Read more.
Microsoft said it will no longer require local governments to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) when negotiating new data center projects. The shift away from its "default mechanism" of secrecy is part of a broader transparency initiative that includes pledging to pay full power costs and rejecting local property tax breaks. Read more.
Portland cybersecurity startup Eclypsium raised $25 million to expand its hardware and firmware security platform further into AI infrastructure and a growing array of edge devices. Read more.
Cast your 2026 GeekWire Awards votes. Help us choose the top innovators and entrepreneurs in Pacific Northwest tech ahead of the annual event in Seattle, May 7. Read more and fill out your ballot.
Hot Links:
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Getty Images received a non-compliance notice from the NYSE after its share price fell below the $1 minimum requirement, giving the company six months to boost its stock price and maintain its listing. (StockTitan)
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Portland-based Dayo aims to end screen-time battles by allowing parents to reward teens with real-world perks for staying off their phones and limiting social media use. (Fast Company)
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Voyager Capital’s Erik Benson predicts a continued slump for AgTech in 2026, with global investment falling below $5 billion, though his firm is dedicating $40 million from a new fund toward the sector and seeking 12 more investments. (LinkedIn)
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AWS and National Geographic Society are partnering to build a "living library" to preserve and share 15 petabytes of Nat Geo's stories, videos, images and documents. (Amazon)
- The Oregon Dept. of Aviation is exploring the use of hydrogen fuel cell-powered uncrewed aircraft systems from Cellen H2 for use in commercial and civil operations across the state. (ODAV)
Thanks for subscribing to the GeekWire newsletter, and have a great day. — GeekWire editor Taylor Soper, taylor@geekwire.com; co-founder Todd Bishop, todd@geekwire.com; and reporter Kurt Schlosser, kurt@geekwire.com. 
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