GeekWire

In today's GeekWire newsletter: Yusuf Mehdi, one of Microsoft's longest-serving executives, plans to leave in 2027 after 35 years. Also: Seattle's economic challenges get dissected (from Bellevue, no less), the CEO of Paul Allen's $3.1B science fund is stepping down, Bellevue-based startup Temporal lands a sponsorship deal with an English Premier League club, and two Bellevue teens win big at an international science fair.

HR and IT workflows shouldn't require an army of engineers to automate. Cascade AI co-founders Ana-Maria Constantin and Pulak Goyal explain how their agentic platform delivers governed, end-to-end automation in weeks with zero custom engineering. Watch now: https://lnkd.in/ePFaRtTc #Sponsored #GWStudios #AgentsOfTransformation

Also on GeekWire: Seattle debates a data center freeze, remembering Soma, and why you’re probably doing AI wrong

Seattle's business & tech community just showed up in a big way. 🙌 A premium 2026 FIFA World Cup suite experience, donated by Microsoft, raised $100,000 for Seattle Children's Hospital — all through a charity auction organized by GeekWire. UiPath placed the winning $100K bid for the private suite at Lumen Field for the Round of 16 match on July 6th. With the World Cup kicking off in Seattle on June 15th, the city's business, tech, and philanthropic communities are showing up in a big way. This is what happens when a community rallies around something bigger than any one of us. This is what the Seattle business & tech community is all about. Full story here: https://lnkd.in/e-7eCCaB #Seattle #WorldCup2026 #SeattleChildrens #GivingBack

Also on GeekWire: Expedia at 30, the inside story, Bezos reveals new details about Prometheus, and a stark analysis at Tech Alliance annual luncheon

Washington's Economy Faces a Critical Inflection Point. GeekWire attended the State of Technology Luncheon, hosted by Technology Alliance, bringing together over 700 of Washington's senior leaders across business, education, government, and research. The event featured updates on Technology Alliance workforce initiatives, McKinsey & Company economic analysis, and a keynote from Amazon Leo leaders Rajeev Badyal and Chris Weber, moderated by Kent Mayor Dana Ralph. Here are the key takeaways: 🛰️ Washington's Growth is Slowing: Washington GDP grew 30% over the last decade, twice the national average, but McKinsey projects that rate will slow significantly, potentially resulting in 300,000 fewer jobs. Compounding headwinds include negative domestic out-migration, housing and transportation costs far outpacing income growth, and heavy economic concentration among Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon, and Providence. 🛰️ A Workforce Pipeline Under Pressure: Fewer than half of Washington high school graduates earn a post-secondary credential within eight years, placing the state in the bottom five nationally, with a projected STEM worker shortfall of 120,000 to 135,000 over the coming decades. Technology Alliance is responding with CampusEvolve, an AI-powered career guidance platform, and Step360, a four-year career immersion program launching in South Seattle in fall 2026. 🛰️ A Local Space Economy Ready to Scale: Amazon Leo (originally Project Kuiper) grew from a six-person Bellevue team in 2018 to producing hundreds of satellites weekly in Kirkland, with major customers signed and commercial launch months away. The Kent Valley alone employs 34,000 aerospace manufacturing workers, surpassing the entire Colorado space sector, though students remain largely unaware of these local opportunities. For a deeper look at Amazon Leo's origins and what comes next, read our full coverage here: https://lnkd.in/gszmntEX https://lnkd.in/gVzc5EVH #StateOfTechnology #WashingtonState #EconomicGrowth #WorkforceDevelopment #STEMEducation #SpaceEconomy #AmazonLeo #ProjectKuiper #TechAlliance #SeattleTech #FutureOfWork #McKinsey #SatelliteInternet #AerospaceManufacturing #CleanTech

Great businesses run on great connectivity. Astound Business Solutions VP of National Sales JoAnne Drexler explains how local expertise and 24/7 support keep companies connected, productive, and ready for what's next. Watch now: https://lnkd.in/eCksr2He #Sponsored #GWStudios #AgentsOfTransformation

Also on GeekWire: StitcherAI launches with $3M, TerraByte AI's satellite search engine, and Bellevue kids rocket to second place

We had the opportunity to chat with Jared Quincy Davis from Mithril at NVIDIA GTC 2026 this year to discuss the foundational tech expertise required for the full-stack AI platform Nebius is building for developers and companies. Watch the interview now at https://lnkd.in/eCMA4_zC #Sponsored #GWStudios

🏆 Nominations are open for the UiPath AI Breakthrough Awards 2026, presented by UiPath and GeekWire! Know a company doing incredible things with AI agents, automation, and people? Nominate them! We're recognizing organizations driving real business impact through innovative AI and agentic orchestration — from efficiency gains to bold breakthroughs. The deadline is June 15th — make sure your picks are heard! 👇 https://lnkd.in/eU6cfRHw #AIBreakthroughAwards #AI #Automation #UiPath #GeekWire