The new COVID-19 variant: The latest strain of the virus appears more contagious, and was confirmed in two U.S. cases last week. As unwelcome as the news might be, experts from the University of Washington and elsewhere say it’s not a shock. Here’s what to know about the variant, and what it means for vaccines, tracking, testing, and more.
New milestone for Amazon Air: After initially building its air cargo fleet by leasing more than 70 jets, Amazon made its first-ever airplane purchases, acquiring eleven Boeing 767-300 planes from WestJet and Delta. It’s the latest move by Amazon to build up its logistics and delivery network, making its operations more self-reliant. The e-commerce giant continues to use UPS and the U.S. Postal Service for some deliveries, after severing ties with FedEx.
“Yes, 2020 really sucked. But it could have been worse: the internet could have crashed, or not been there at all.” Contributing writer Christopher Budd finds a technological silver lining in an otherwise difficult year in this commentary.
Games industry outlook for 2021: After the pandemic endangered or postponed almost every other form of entertainment this year, games became a pastime and a lifeline for people in quarantine all over the planet. The big question in the new year: Can the games industry maintain its newfound popularity and continue to grow its audience? Check out our rundown of what to expect this year from Nintendo, Microsoft, Valve, cloud gaming, and indies.
Seattle startups raise cash:
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Yesler, a B2B marketplace for lumber and building materials, raised $3.3 million for its software that aims to eliminate extra transactions and material movements between lumber suppliers and lumber buyers.
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NextStep, which uses its technology platform to retrain displaced workers for roles in the healthcare industry, raised $2.5 million in new funding to fuel further growth in Colorado, its pilot state.
See more startup fundings on this GeekWire list.
Tech Moves: Nautilus Biotechnology, a stealthy Seattle startup led by Isilon co-founder Sujal Patel, is adding to its leadership team after raising $76 million last year. “There’s a growing awakening about the potential of protein analysis to make a difference in people’s lives,” said Chris Blessington, the former marketing and communications chief at Smartsheet, who is one of three new hires at Nautilus. Read more.
Thanks for reading, and see all of our latest headlines below. — GeekWire editor Todd Bishop, editor@geekwire.com, managing editor Taylor Soper, taylor@geekwire.com, and Geek Life reporter Kurt Schlosser, kurt@geekwire.com.
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