This week on the GeekWire Podcast: Seattle startup funding drops 40% in the first half of the year while AI money floods everywhere else. We dig into the numbers and the implications for the region. Plus: a Seattle judge deals Kalshi a setback, Impinj marks a decade on the Nasdaq after a 26-year climb, and nearly 40 Seattleites trade their smartphones for flip phones for five weeks. 

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Venture funding drops in Seattle area as AI boom reshapes startup world

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UK data center startup Nscale bets big on Bellevue for U.S. engineering hub

Anthropic expands in Seattle as AI boom offers hope for struggling office market

Seattle judge deals blow to Kalshi, rejects prediction market's federal defense

How Impinj has survived 26 years in a market that's 'just getting going'

Ditch your smartphone for a flip phone for a month?

With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook. Edited by Curt Milton.

 

This week on the GeekWire Podcast: Seattle startup funding <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/venture-funding-drops-in-seattle-region-as-ai-boom-reshapes-startup-world/">drops 40%</a> in the first half of the year while AI money floods everywhere else. We dig into the numbers and the implications for the region. Plus: a Seattle judge <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/seattle-judge-deals-blow-to-kalshi-rejects-prediction-markets-federal-defense/">deals Kalshi a setback</a>, Impinj <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/the-little-chips-that-could-how-impinj-has-survived-26-years-in-a-market-thats-just-getting-going/">marks a decade on the Nasdaq</a> after a 26-year climb, and nearly 40 Seattleites <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/ditch-your-smartphone-for-a-flip-phone-for-a-month-this-group-wants-seattleites-to-try/">trade their smartphones for flip phones</a> for five weeks.&nbsp;
Related Stories
<a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/venture-funding-drops-in-seattle-region-as-ai-boom-reshapes-startup-world/">Venture funding drops in Seattle area as AI boom reshapes startup world</a>
<a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/helion-hits-15-5b-valuation-with-465m-in-new-cash-to-commercialize-fusion-this-decade/">Helion raises $465M at $15.5B valuation as it aims to commercialize fusion</a>
<a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/uk-data-center-startup-nscale-bets-big-on-bellevue-for-u-s-engineering-hub-amid-ai-boom/">UK data center startup Nscale bets big on Bellevue for U.S. engineering hub</a>
<a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/anthropic-expands-in-seattle-as-ai-boom-offers-hope-for-struggling-office-market/">Anthropic expands in Seattle as AI boom offers hope for struggling office market</a>
<a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/seattle-judge-deals-blow-to-kalshi-rejects-prediction-markets-federal-defense/">Seattle judge deals blow to Kalshi, rejects prediction market's federal defense</a>
<a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/the-little-chips-that-could-how-impinj-has-survived-26-years-in-a-market-thats-just-getting-going/">How Impinj has survived 26 years in a market that's 'just getting going'</a>
<a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/ditch-your-smartphone-for-a-flip-phone-for-a-month-this-group-wants-seattleites-to-try/">Ditch your smartphone for a flip phone for a month?</a>
With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook. Edited by Curt Milton.
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GeekWire brings you the week's latest technology news, trends and insights, covering the world of technology from our home base in Seattle. Our regular news podcast features commentary and analysis from our editors and reporters, plus interviews with special guests.

GeekWire reporters John Cook, Todd Bishop and guests talk about the latest tech news and trends.