The past week in technology and startup news has been eventful, with Amazon Web Services announcing job cuts in various departments. The tech giant plans to cut several hundred jobs in sales, marketing, and global services, as well as in its physical stores technology team. Despite the job cuts, Amazon Web Services is still hiring in core areas of its business, with thousands of job postings available. Additionally, Google’s growth plans in the Seattle area appear to be on hold, according to a report by real estate firm Broderick Group.
In other news, Seattle-based business leader Steve Singh is leading a group of investors in the acquisition of Direct Travel Inc., a corporate travel management company with over $300 million in annual revenue and 1,800 employees. Tableau, a data analysis and visualization company, is releasing a new artificial intelligence tool to make its advanced features more accessible. Microsoft and Quantinuum have demonstrated a quantum computing system that can reduce data processing error rates by a factor of 800, showing promising advancements in quantum technology.
On the commercial front, Amazon is closing its Fresh grocery store in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood to focus on redesigned stores with an expanded selection. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill into law that aims to boost the semiconductor industry statewide and potentially attract more federal funding. Additionally, Seattle-based F5 announced two new executive appointments this week, with Lyra Schramm becoming the new chief people officer and Kunal Anand as the chief technology officer.
A new Q1 report from Kidder Mathews shows regional vacancy rates in the Seattle area rising to 15.1%, up from 13.9% at the end of 2023, marking the ninth consecutive quarterly increase. These updates highlight the ongoing changes and developments in the technology and startup sectors, showcasing both challenges and opportunities for companies in the industry. Stay informed and subscribe to GeekWire’s email newsletter to receive weekly updates on the latest news in technology and startups.
