Here’s a recap of the week’s top storylines, from a Seattle chipmaker’s decade on the Nasdaq to the leadership churn reshaping Microsoft’s security business. In our calendar highlights, Seattle Tech Week starts Monday with events all week.
Microsoft security changes: After spending 27 years at Microsoft and leading its Purview data-security unit, Rudra Mitra is joining Amazon Web Services as vice president of security services to oversee cloud protection tools like GuardDuty and Security Hub.
- Meanwhile, there’s a major leadership reshuffle within Microsoft’s security division under new chief Hayete Gallot (above), as spotlighted in Mary Jo Foley’s new “Microsoft 2.5” series. After rejoining Microsoft in February after a stint at Google Cloud, Gallot is reshaping her exec team and overhauling product strategy to push the tech giant into the agentic era of AI security.
More Amazon layoffs: The tech giant confirmed it is closing its artificial general intelligence site in San Francisco and cutting jobs across its broader AGI division as part of a strategic pivot toward practical, customer-facing AI applications. While the company says frontier model research will carry on, the structural changes and site closure reflect an industry-wide push to prioritize near-term ROI and deployment.
Impinj keeps chipping away: Celebrating the 10th anniversary of its IPO, Seattle-based RFID chipmaker Impinj marks 26 years of powering “physical intelligence” by embedding its tiny, battery-free chips — smaller than a grain of sand — into more than 160 billion items worldwide. It survived the industry’s early $1 billion hype-and-bust cycle to capture over 60% market share, but has yet to become consistently profitable. CEO Chris Diorio says the company is still just scratching the surface, with less than 1% of target physical items connected today.
We go deeper on the Impinj story on this week’s GeekWire Podcast. Plus, Seattle startup funding fell about 40% in the first half of 2026 as AI reshaped the venture market, a Seattle judge deals a setback to Kalshi, and could you go without your smartphone for five weeks?
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The greening of death care: In the latest installment of the Positive Charge podcast, GeekWire explores how Seattle entrepreneur Katrina Spade and her startup Recompose pioneered human composting as a climate-friendly alternative to traditional burial and cremation. Using plant materials, oxygen, and microbial heat to turn remains into nutrient-rich soil, the technology has sparked a national movement — with 14 states legalizing the practice and an unexpectedly diverse client base opting to return to the land.
Gaming crossover: Renton, Wash.-based Wizards of the Coast is bringing Seattle indie hit Stardew Valley to Magic: The Gathering with a limited-run Secret Lair crossover dropping July 27. The collectible set features themed cards, original pixel art by solo developer Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone, and a custom card designed specifically for competitive play.
Go, Jimothy, go! The curious raccoon went global this week after the short-spined critter was first spotted in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood. Amid the onslaught of memes, artwork, music, tattoos and more tributes, a Seattle tech enthusiast contributed an 8-bit NES-style video game and a popular muralist auctioned off a painting — with proceeds going to charity — drawing matching contributions from Amazon, Microsoft, Starbucks and others.
Upcoming events: Tech and startup community gatherings on our radar in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.
Check out the GeekWire Calendar for more.
Thanks for subscribing, and have a great weekend. — GeekWire editor Todd Bishop, [email protected], and reporter Kurt Schlosser, [email protected].
