Tech startup leaders on the economy, RTO, AI, and key priorities for 2025

Insights from GeekWire 200 leaders: We polled CEOs leading companies ranked on the GeekWire 200, our list of the top privately-held tech startups in the Pacific Northwest, to get a better sense of how leaders are thinking right now. They shared insights on the broader economy, AI, return-to-office policies, and more. Read more.

Amazon ’s entry in the quantum race: Amazon Web Services (AWS) unveiled a prototype processor that it says could result in a functional quantum computer using a fraction of the resources required for conventional quantum error-correction. It follows chip unveilings by Microsoft last week and Google in December — each using a different approach in the quest to create ultra-powerful computers to solve some of the world’s biggest problems. Read more.

A “gift to China’s rapidly expanding AI sector”: That’s what a last-minute Biden-era limit on chip exports will become, if left unchanged, Microsoft President Brad Smith wrote in a blog post Thursday morning, urging the Trump administration to make changes. Read more.

Latest layoff news:

• Nautilus Biotechnology cut about 16% of its workforce, reducing its headcount to 133 employees and helping provide a cash runway that extends into 2027. Read more.
• Starbucks ’ corporate cuts announced this week will impact more than 600 workers in Washington state, according to a new filing. Read more.
• Expedia Group laid off marketing employees in another round of cuts. Read more. 
• Track recent layoffs here.

In a deal between two Seattle real estate startups, Inspectify , which sells home inspection software, is acquiring Aloft, which focuses on streamlining the appraisal process. Read more. 

The all-woman crew of Blue Origin ’s next suborbital spaceflight will be led by Jeff Bezos’ fiancèe, Lauren Sanchez. Pop superstar Katy Perry and morning-TV host Gayle King will also be onboard the spring flight alongside three advocates for women in STEM. Read more.

Hurry and get tickets for Microsoft@50, a GeekWire event in Seattle on March 20 where we’ll gather with key leaders of the tech giant’s past and present — including former CEO Steve Ballmer — to revisit the company’s defining moments. Learn more and get tickets.

Hot Links:

• Jeff Bezos started engaging with Donald Trump months before The Washington Post owner spiked an endorsement of Kamala Harris, according to the author of a book detailing Trump’s return to power. (Axios)
• Want to play NFL scout? Amazon Web Services has a new Next Gen Stats dashboard called Combine IQ where football fans can interact with and analyze player performance in real time during the NFL Combine. (AWS)
• The T-Mobile Starlink beta promises to eliminate wireless dead zones, but one test shows some text messages failed to go through, and others experienced long delays between sending and receiving. (SatelliteInternet) 

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