WeWork teams with Washington State for new maritime startup accelerator, Startup Returns analysis shows Seattle as the ‘Most Overlooked Innovation Market’ in North America, and more in this week’s Seattle in the Spotlight.

WeWork Teams with Washington State for New Maritime Startup Accelerator

GeekWire | Nat Levy | October 16

“WeWork today announced a new program to bridge the gap between one of Washington state’s oldest industries and the booming technology sector that dominates the region today. The co-working giant is teaming up with the Port of Seattle and Washington Department of Commerce’s Maritime Blue initiative to launch a startup accelerator focused on the maritime industry. The program aims to establish the region as a hub of innovation for maritime technology while also making the industry more environmentally friendly. The program is funded by the Port of Seattle, with a grant from the Department of Commerce, and run through WeWork Labs, the company’s startup incubator.”

Startup Returns Analysis Shows Seattle as the ‘Most Overlooked Innovation Market’ in North America

GeekWire | Taylor Soper | October 15

“Early stage startup investors looking for strategic advantages should pay attention to Seattle. That’s one takeaway from an analysis of historical investment returns for markets across North America over the past decade. Chris DeVore, managing partner at Seattle-based early-stage venture capital firm Founders’ Co-op, penned a blog post this week that combined two datasets: a stack-rank of startup cities based on actual dollars returned from companies based in respective metros, and geographic location of early-stage funds under $100 million.”

Ask An Expert | How Does the Puget Sound Transit System Compare to Other Cities Across the U.S.?

Seattle TImes | Michelle Baruchman | October 14

“King County Metro was named the nation’s top public transportation agency in 2018, but over the summer, bus routes jammed with cars drove some riders away while others have long suffered from traffic delays. Light rail provides an escape for many from the region’s traffic woes, while others lament its high cost and length of time for buildout. Supporters of a new downtown Seattle streetcar line say it would attract massive ridership and provide connections to key destinations, but on the existing South Lake Union line, reliability and ridership remain an issue.”