Tech Executives Gather at City Hall for Lesson on Seattle’s Biggest Problems

Seattle Times | Daniel Beekman | September 20
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/tech-executives-gather-at-city-hall-for-lessons-on-seattles-biggest-problems/

“Seattle tech executives took a crash course on city government Thursday as Mayor Jenny Durkan hosted the first meeting of her new Innovation Advisory Council. The representatives from companies such as Expedia, Tableau, Microsoft and Zillow listened to short presentations on homelessness and on transportation as Durkan sought to bring them up to speed on some of Seattle’s biggest problems. The companies mostly lack expertise on those issues and some of their leaders recently opposed Seattle’s short-lived head tax on large businesses to pay for homeless services and housing. But Durkan says the city can tap their know-how. Amazon, Twitter, Facebook and F5 also have signed up for the group, among others.”

Seattle Council Committee Advances Huge UW Growth Plan, Adds Driving and Housing Requirements

Seattle Times | Daniel Beekman | September 19
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/seattle-council-committee-advances-huge-uw-growth-plan-adds-driving-and-housing-requirements/

“The University of Washington won approval from a City Council committee Wednesday to massively grow its Seattle campus and construct a high-rise “innovation district.” But the land-use committee tacked on a number of conditions, including requirements that the UW set a more aggressive goal for reducing car commutes and build at least 450 housing units for its lower-wage employees. The university needs the council to sign off on its master plan, which calls for the campus to swell by 6 million square feet of academic, athletic, research and office space over the next 10 years and beyond. The UW has said the spurt is needed to accommodate another 7,000-plus students and employees and to create the innovation district, where students and researchers would partner on startups with companies, government institutions and nonprofits.”

Here are more than 50 Women VCs and Angel Investors Backing Startups in Seattle and Portland

GeekWire | Taylor Soper | September 18
https://www.geekwire.com/2018/list-50-women-vcs-angel-investors-backing-startups-seattle-portland/

“The lack of diversity within VC firms is why more than 500 venture-backed entrepreneurs earlier this year put their support behind Founders for Change, an initiative that launched out of the #MeToo movement and the numerous harassment stories from Silicon Valley over the past year.

In the Pacific Northwest, women investors are having a bigger impact both at the angel level and at venture capital firms, which are increasingly adding women to their leadership teams. Many investors are looking to back women-led startups…GeekWire compiled a list of women VCs and angel investors across the Seattle and Portland regions, with the help of community members.”

New Passenger Terminal at Paine Field Expanding Its Footprint

KING 5 | Kipp Robertson | September 14
https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/new-passenger-terminal-at-paine-field-expanding-its-footprint/281-594373765

“The new passenger terminal at Paine Field is expanding its footprint. After the number of anticipated daily flights from the airport increased from 12 to 24, Propeller Airports asked the county for additional space to expand its parking. The Snohomish County Council agreed to lease an additional 192,963 feet of property for parking this week. Propeller CEO Brett Smith said the company requested the additional parking space to help alleviate problems for travelers, especially during busier times.”