Inside the quest for a new COVID-19 test | $1k project matches donors with families in need

Pioneer Square Labs unveils innovation studio with Fortive | Suburban boom ADVERTISEMENT [GeekWire]( SPONSOR MESSAGE: Become a GeekWire member: [Support independent journalism and join today!]( TODAY'S TOP STORIES Happy Friday, GeekWire readers! We’ve been loving Tim Durkan’s [Seattle sunset photos](. And for you Animal Crossing fans, [this virtual performance of the theme song]( is pretty cool. Have a great weekend, everyone, and here are the latest headlines… In the realm of diagnostic tests for COVID-19, there are two main approaches: PCR tests, which detect the presence of the live virus; and serology tests, which detect antibodies that indicate whether someone has recovered from the disease. But could there be a third way? Two companies in the Seattle region, Microsoft and Adaptive Biotechnologies, [are on a quest to create a better diagnostic test](. We spoke with Adaptive Biotech CEO Chad Robins (above left) and Peter Lee, Microsoft corporate vice president of AI and Research, to learn more on this week’s GeekWire’s Health Tech Podcast. [Listen here](. RELATED: [Microsoft and UnitedHealth Group app will quiz workers regularly to determine COVID-19 risk]( $1k Project: A new philanthropic initiative, started by volunteers including Seattle venture capitalist Minda Brusse, matches donors with families who suddenly find themselves in financial trouble due to the pandemic, providing them $1,000 a month for three months. [Here’s how it works](. More partnerships: Seattle’s Pioneer Square Labs is taking its startup factory model to the next level, [teaming up with industrial giant Fortive for a “joint innovation studio”]( to help the publicly-traded company build new products and launch companies. The organizations are already developing a secretive new workplace safety concept sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic. Alexa, do I need a coronavirus test? That’s a query that almost certainly was not in the repertoire for Amazon’s voice assistant six months ago. But the ins and outs of the coronavirus outbreak are changing Alexa’s work habits, said Manoj Sindhwani, Amazon’s vice president of Alexa Speech. [Read the interview](. Suburban boom: A Zillow survey shows that the shift to remote work will affect where Americans want to live. [Here are the findings](. Seattle startup news: - [Syndio raised $7.5 million]( as it helps companies maintain equal pay and eliminate disparities. Its CEO says the pandemic has increased the risk of pay equity because “when survival is priority No. 1, fairness takes a back seat.” - Former Docker executives Brian Camposano and Steve Singh are behind a stealthy new Seattle-based fintech startup called Stratify. [Here’s the scoop](. Tech Moves: Smartsheet’s CFO joins Auth0’s board; Seattle startup Outreach opens an NYC office; Concure Oncology adds a CEO; [and more notable personnel changes across the Pacific Northwest community](. Thanks for reading, and see a full list of our latest headlines below. — GeekWire managing editor Taylor Soper, taylor@geekwire.com SPONSOR MESSAGE [Become a member, support independent journalism!]( GeekWire members support independent journalism at a time when trusted storytelling and community engagement is more important than ever. [Join today!Â]( LATEST HEADLINES [NASA lays out the ‘Artemis Accords’ for international cooperation on moon trips]( [Tech Moves: Smartsheet CFO joins Auth0 board; Outreach opens NYC office; Concure Oncology adds CEO; and more]( [$1k Project makes direct, anonymous matches between sponsors and families suddenly in need]( [Inside the quest for a new COVID-19 test: Microsoft, Adaptive Biotech and the hidden power of immunity]( [Microsoft and UnitedHealth Group app will quiz workers regularly to determine COVID-19 risk]( SPONSORED: GEEK HOME OF THE DAY [Tranquil Living in Magnolia]( [Syndio raises $7.5M to squash pay gaps; CEO says COVID-19 crisis puts women and minorities at risk]( [Ex-Docker CFO heads up new Seattle finance startup Stratify, with Concur founder as chairman]( [UW Medicine ramps up study of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin for COVID-19 treatment]( [How Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant is changing its tone during the pandemic]( [Sixth confirmed Amazon employee dies from COVID-19]( [Zillow survey forecasts suburban boom as remote workers flee pricey cities in search of bigger homes]( [Seattle startup studio PSL teams up with publicly-traded industrial giant Fortive to create companies]( GEEKWORK: TODAY'S TECH JOBS - [Compete To Create: Technical Lead / Principal Software Engineer]( - [ALLEN INSTITUTE FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI2): Technical Co-Founder // CTO (Stealth Startup)]( - [INRIX: Senior Front End UI Developer]( - [ALLEN INSTITUTE FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI2): Deep Learning Engineer // Co-Founder]( - [INRIX: Senior UX Designer]( - [SimpliGov: Platform / Product Support Engineer]( - [ALLEN INSTITUTE FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI2): CTO-in-Residence // Co-Founder]( [FIND MORE JOBS ON GEEKWORK]( [HIRING? 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