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Startup radar: Check out 5 up-and-coming tech companies from the Seattle area
Startup radar time! Our latest spotlight on burgeoning startups out of Seattle includes companies developing real estate software, AI for consumer packaged goods brands, and kid-focused smartphones. Read on to learn more about the startups and their founders, and check out past startup radar spotlights here. Email us at tips@geekwire.com to flag other companies and startup news. Elora Evvi Aftercare Realtie Zalpha Mobile Zucca
Startup radar time! Our latest spotlight on burgeoning startups out of Seattle includes companies developing real estate software, AI for consumer packaged goods brands, and kid-focused smartphones.
Read on to learn more about the startups and their founders, and check out past startup radar spotlights here. Email us at tips@geekwire.com to flag other companies and startup news.
- Care teams are overwhelmed. AI can help. That’s the thesis behind Elora, a new company building software to support frontline caregivers. Its tools aim to improve the intake process, documentation, and monitoring, while providing resources across social and community needs. The company is working on a pilot with a healthcare organization and is in talks for a multi-year contract. Elora CEO Shawn Ramirez previously led data science efforts at Glue, Shelf Engine and FutureFit AI.
- Evvi wants to help ease the emotional process of saying goodbye to a pet. Founded by University of Washington alum and former Apple manager Sydney Dahl, the startup offers cremation services and a virtual funeral director that supports families and veterinarians. Evvi recently acquired Resting Waters Aquamation and is opening a new pet aquamation facility in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood this month. The company graduated from Techstars NYC last year and has raised $1 million to date.
- Redmond, Wash.-based Realtie helps brokers, developers, and investors identify off-market redevelopment opportunities. It’s looking to ride momentum from House Bill 1110, new legislation in Washington that promotes development of “middle housing” in residential lots. The startup recently signed an exclusive partnership with Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty (RSIR) that gives 250 brokers in the Seattle region access to Realtie’s platform. Realtie is led by longtime real estate leader Tadashi Shiga and tech vet Ofer Avnery.
- There’s a lot of discussion about the impact of smartphones and social media on children. Zalpha Mobile has a unique solution: a “dumb phone” for kids that looks like a modern smartphone but has limited functionality. There’s no internet browser, no social apps, no app store — just music, texting, and calling. “As I spoke to hundreds of parents, it became clear there was huge unmet need for a kid-safe alternative to smartphones,” Zalpha CEO and founder AJ Rice said in a blog post. Rice, a former manager at Esri, recently wrote about his experience using Zalpha’s phone.
- Can generative AI help food and beverage companies develop ideas for new products? Zucca is a new spinout from Pioneer Square Labs building software to streamline the ideation, formulation, and sourcing processes for brands and manufacturers. “Zucca was born from a love of great food products and the insight that AI can have a radical impact on CPG product development,” said Karen Huh, CEO of Zucca. Huh previously led teams at Starbucks, Bulletproof 360, and Joywell Foods, where she was CEO. Zucca co-founder Jesse Guzman was most recently a principal at PSL and also spent time at Rain, NerdWallet, and Prophet.
