Non-competes no more: A new Washington state law wipes out nearly all non-compete agreements statewide, regardless of salary or company size. Startup advocates say it's a long-overdue boost for innovation and talent mobility. Critics warn employers may respond with broader NDAs and new restrictions.
Here's what it means for the tech industry. (
Above, Gov. Bob Ferguson shakes hands with Rep. Liz Berry (D-Seattle), sponsor of the bill.)
Watch Artemis 2 return to Earth: The crew of NASA’s 10-day round-the-moon mission is scheduled to splash down off the coast of California later today. Special programming begins at 3:30 p.m. PT on streaming services, and Seattle’s Museum of Flight is hosting a viewing on its big screen. Read more.
Bill Gates will drink to that: A Washington company that once served the Microsoft co-founder a glass of water purified from sewage is being acquired by a global equity firm. Ara Partners plans to invest up to $500 million in Sedron Technologies to facilitate the deployment of the startup's sewage and manure cleaning technologies. Read more.
Tech Moves: Syndio names seven execs; avante and Tanium add to C-suite; Amazon leaders depart; and more personnel changes.
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A Google engineer rejected by 16 colleges — including the University of Washington — is using AI to sue the university systems for racial discrimination. (ABC 7 L.A.)
Opponents of Washington’s new 9.9% tax on income over $1 million have officially launched a legal challenge to the "millionaires' tax," setting the stage for a high-stakes constitutional battle. (Washington State Standard)
Seattle City Light is weighing proposals for five data centers, driven by AI demand, that together would require up to a third of the city’s daily power supply, which could require developers to pay for grid upgrades. (The Seattle Times)
Bellevue-based nonprofit Binaytara awarded $50,000 to cancer researchers in its inaugural Shark Tank-style pitch competition. (Binaytara)
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy’s annual letter includes no mention of “sellers,” a sharp break from the company’s tradition that seems to signal a strategic pivot toward AI, chips, and other businesses. (Juozas Kaziukėnas on LinkedIn)
A loyalty app developed by a nonprofit encourages users to explore Seattle's arts and culture scene by providing perks and discounts. (The Seattle Times)
Thanks for subscribing, and have a great weekend. — GeekWire editor Todd Bishop, todd@geekwire.com; reporter Kurt Schlosser, kurt@geekwire.com; and reporter Lisa Stiffler, lisa@geekwire.com.
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