Taylor Soper named director of Seattle's AI House after remarkable run at GeekWire. After more than 13 years as a GeekWire reporter and editor, Taylor Soper is preparing for his next big assignment: he'll soon join AI2 Incubator as director of AI House, the Seattle startup hub that has quickly become a gathering place for AI founders, practitioners, and researchers. This is a big change for all of us. We are going to miss Taylor deeply, and we know GeekWire's readers and community will, as well. But we're excited to see what he'll do in his new role, and we'll be using the opportunity to bring fresh eyes to GeekWire's coverage of startups and the broader tech community in the Seattle region and the rest of the Pacific Northwest. In a post announcing Taylor's new role, AI2 Incubator Managing Director Yifan Zhang says that he "brings a unique combination of skills that fits our thesis for today's AI era: over a decade of deep relationships across Seattle tech, an intense and insatiable curiosity, and a talent for asking the right questions." We can vouch for that. Taylor was GeekWire's first editorial hire, back in 2012, straight out of the University of Washington, when we were in a 10x10 foot office next to the Ballard Bridge. In the years that followed, he became one of the most connected and respected business and tech reporters in the Pacific Northwest, covering everything from early-stage startups to Microsoft and Amazon at the highest levels, breaking funding scoops and acquisition news. In recent years, as GeekWire's editor, he has led and coordinated our news team and guided our reporting on everything from civic coverage to artificial intelligence. Taylor's impact goes well beyond what he's reported and published. The Seattle tech community is better for the long hours and dedication he brought to the job, year after year. "I'm grateful to GeekWire for giving me an opportunity and supporting my growth, and to all of my colleagues for the work we did together reporting on the Seattle tech ecosystem," he said. "I'm excited to work alongside founders and help supercharge the next generation of startups in this AI era." GeekWire remains as committed as ever to covering startups and the tech community. GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop will be stepping back into the role of editor while continuing to report and write, working with staff reporters Lisa Stiffler and Kurt Schlosser, co-founder and publisher John Cook, and regular contributors including Alan Boyle and Thomas Wilde. We're also looking to add reinforcements to our news team over time. Taylor's last day at GeekWire will be March 25, and if the pattern holds, he'll be reporting and publishing stories to the end. We feel fortunate that GeekWire has been his home for so long, and we have no doubt his impact will continue for many years to come.

AZX, a Bellevue, Washington-based startup building custom AI solutions for utilities and energy companies, has raised $6 million in pre-seed funding. The round was led by AI2 Incubator and SFV, with participation from Founders' Co-op, Kompas, Powerhouse Ventures and others. Founded in October 2024 by tech veterans Aaron Goldfeder, Rich Evans and Michael Albrecht, AZX has grown to 20 employees. The company reported first-quarter revenue increased tenfold year-over-year. AZX combines various AI tools including analytics, machine learning and digital twins to build bespoke applications that integrate into clients' existing systems. Current customers include Puget Sound Energy, CBRE and Franklin Energy. The public benefit corporation aims to help address climate-related challenges as utilities invest hundreds of billions in grid modernisation.