Inside Spokane’s push to build the next great U.S. tech hub 

New app allows Amazon One palm-tech signup | Women’s clothing startup sees pockets of opportunity ADVERTISEMENT [GeekWire]( SPONSOR MESSAGE: The GeekWire Awards return May 9, 2024: [Celebrate the Pacific Northwest's leading innovators, entrepreneurs and technologists at one of the most-anticipated tech events. Register today!]( TODAY'S TOP STORIES “GeekWire on the Road” in Spokane: Our tradition of exploring emerging U.S. tech hubs is turning its attention to Washington state’s second-biggest city and the larger region of the Inland Northwest. Spokane’s tech community stands out for its determination and resourcefulness, and its experienced business and community leaders bent on bootstrapping this longtime timber and mining town into a thriving tech hub. But the region is also experiencing many of the same underlying forces as other aspiring tech hubs across the country, benefitting from the rise of remote work and struggling with shrinking affordability. - [Read more in the first installment in the series]( and check back in the coming weeks and months for more from Spokane. - Related Interview: [Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown on the future of the region’s innovation economy]( The ability to sign up for Amazon One palm-recognition technology is now literally in the palm of a user’s hand. Amazon released a new mobile app that allows the initial signup and palm registration to be done via a smartphone photo, rather than an in-store kiosk, thanks to new AI capability. [Read more.]( The vast majority of women’s workwear doesn't offer pockets big enough to carry a smartphone. Seattle-based clothing startup Point of View, started by two founders with experience at Amazon, is aiming to end this “pockets inequality” with stylish designs and smartly designed, spacious pockets — and that’s just the start. [Read more](. Tech Moves: VC firm Ascend names Jen Haller partner; Common Room adds Amanda Kleha as board member; [and more tech personnel changes.]( Hot Links: - Amazon plans to spend almost $150 billion on data centers in the next 15 years to handle the expected demand for AI applications and other services. ([Bloomberg]( - Seattle-based ag-tech startup Orchard Robotics raised $3.2 million for its tech that attaches to existing farm equipment to bolster the collection of data about crops. ([TechCrunch]( - Oregon’s governor signed a bill into law designed to make it easier and less expensive for consumers to fix broken phones, tablets and other digital devices. ([Consumer Reports]( - A new report about Boeing, citing current and former employees and aviation safety experts, says that the aircraft manufacturer favored speed over safety — “a worrying picture about a company long considered to be at the pinnacle of American engineering.” ([The New York Times]( - Seattle Children’s received a $50 million gift to support research and treatment of leukemia in one of the largest philanthropic gifts in its 117-year history. ([Seattle Children’s]( Thanks for [subscribing]( to the GeekWire newsletter, and have a great day. — GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop, todd@geekwire.com, and GeekWire reporter Kurt Schlosser, kurt@geekwire.com. SPONSOR MESSAGE [Local Bank Offering A Frictionless Loan Application Process For Small Businesses in Washington State]( 40-50% of small businesses rank access to capital as their main obstacle. Unlike traditional banks that tend to be encumbered by legacy tech, community banks can bring agility and innovation to small business lending. Learn how a Seattle-based financial institution leveraged open banking to offer a frictionless loan process for small business borrowers in Washington State. [Learn More.]( LATEST HEADLINES [Amazon’s palm-recognition tech gets its own mobile app, with new AI matching capability]( [Tech Moves: VC firm Ascend names new partner; Common Room adds board member; and more]( [From timber to tech: Spokane’s startup scene is ready for its big breakthrough]( [Interview: Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown on the future of the region’s innovation economy]( [Pockets of opportunity: Seattle startup’s clothing line looks to end inequality in women’s workwear]( GEEKWORK: TODAY'S TECH JOBS - [INRIX: Sales Development Representative (SDR)]( - [GeekWork: Head of Engineering]( - [AdaptX: Vice President of Engineering]( - [GeekWork: ML Engineer]( - [INRIX: Finance Pricing Manager]( - [City of Newport: Systems Administrator II]( - [INRIX: Chief Revenue Office]( [FIND MORE JOBS ON GEEKWORK]( [HIRING? BUY A FEATURED LISTING TO APPEAR HERE]( [About GeekWire]( [Contact Us]( [Advertise]( Copyright © 2024 GeekWire LLC, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted to receive emails from GeekWire LLC.  Our mailing address is: GeekWire LLC 123 NW 36th St, Suite 203 Seattle, WA 98107  [change email frequency or address]( | [unsubscribe](