Google tops 6,200 employees in Seattle area | Shelf Engine raises $41M

Tech voices respond to anti-Asian hate | Transforming Seattle transportation | ’Day 2’ Podcast ADVERTISEMENT [GeekWire]( SPONSOR MESSAGE: 2021 GeekWire Awards call for nominees: [Do you know a person, company or organization deserving of a GeekWire Award? Submit nominations & learn more about the GeekWire Awards today!]( TODAY'S TOP STORIES Google’s growth: The pandemic sent large portions of the Google workforce home. But the search giant is still expanding its physical footprint, [announcing plans Thursday to invest $7 billion in offices and data centers]( across 19 U.S. states this year, including in Washington, where Google now employs 6,200 people in the Seattle region. The company has multiple ongoing construction projects in Kirkland (above) and South Lake Union, right in Amazon’s backyard. Spencer Rascoff’s SPAC: The former Zillow Group CEO is jumping back into the real estate game in a big way and taking on his former colleagues, [leading a deal to acquire real estate startup Offerpad](. Further reshaping Paul Allen’s legacy: Over the next few months, an entire portfolio of AI-centric environmental projects will be shifted from Vulcan Inc., the diversified holding company that the Microsoft co-founder created, to the nonprofit Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence. [Read more.]( Tech voices respond to anti-Asian hate: Companies and leaders across Seattle’s tech community joined a chorus of voices [calling for an end to discrimination and violence]( targeting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the wake of a shooting that killed eight people in Atlanta. Transforming Seattle transportation: An ambitious new “Clean Transportation Electrification Blueprint” from the City of Seattle spells out changes required to reduce and remove carbon emissions by 2030. Electric-only Uber and Lyft vehicles, car-free zones, and large scale infrastructure and behavioral adjustments are some of what’s envisioned. [Read more.]( ‘Day 2’ Podcast: GeekWire is launching a new podcast that will examine the impact of Amazon’s business on the world. We’ll do this through in-depth conversations with people directly involved, and with experts in the underlying issues. [Read more]( and [find links here]( to subscribe. Startup fundings: - [Shelf Engine raises $41M]( The fast-growing Seattle startup helps grocers such as Kroger and Walmart manage food orders. “We make our customers rich,” said CEO Stefan Kalb. - [Act-On raises $20M]( The Portland-based company will use the fresh cash to bolster its growth marketing automation platform. - [Heard raises $1.3M]( As the pandemic takes a toll on mental health, Heard is aiming to help clinicians manage private practices with bookkeeping and tax software. See the[GeekWire Fundings list]( for recent Pacific NW startup deals. Tech Moves: Sea.citi adds three new board members; Magic Leap adds a longtime Microsoft manager as chief product officer; and [more key personnel changes from across the PNW tech industry.]( Thanks for reading, and see our latest headlines below. — GeekWire Managing Editor Taylor Soper, taylor@geekwire.com, and GeekWire reporter Kurt Schlosser, kurt@geekwire.com. SPONSOR MESSAGE [Join GeekWire for our new Civic Conversations virtual event series, presented by Microsoft.]( Coming one year after the shutdown of Washington state’s economy and as hopeful signs emerge as to how we can bounce back, this session will explore the public policy steps needed to get Washington state back on its feet. Hear from panelists Chris Gregoire, CEO of Challenge Seattle and former governor of Washington state, Gordon McHenry Jr., CEO of United Way of King County and Kris Hermanns, Chief Impact Officer of Seattle Foundation on March 25th at noon. Register, [here](. LATEST HEADLINES [GeekWire’s new ‘Day 2’ podcast scrutinizes Amazon’s impact on tech, business and the world]( [Seattle’s clean transportation blueprint spells out ambitious goals for electrification and habit shifts]( [5G Open Innovation Lab names 15 startups in third cohort, with tech serving wide range of markets]( [Tech Moves: Sea.citi adds board members; another Microsoft vet joins Magic Leap; and more]( [Google tops 6,300 employees in Seattle area, will invest $7B in new U.S. offices this year]( SPONSORED: GEEK HOME OF THE DAY [In-City Living: A Modern Cascadia Home]( [Ex-Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff leads SPAC deal to acquire Offerpad, a rival to his former employer]( [‘We make our customers rich’: Shelf Engine raises $41M to help grocery giants manage their orders]( [Portland-area marketing automation startup Act-On raises $20M]( [IXL Learning acquires Rosetta Stone in latest deal for language education software company]( [Seattle startup Heard raises $1.3M to help mental health professionals run their own business]( [Tech voices speak out against anti-Asian hate crimes in wake of Atlanta shootings]( [We’re looking for the best designers, workplaces, and STEM educators in the Pacific Northwest]( [Allen Institute for AI takes over Vulcan’s portfolio of environmental big-data projects]( GEEKWORK: TODAY'S TECH JOBS - [INRIX: Senior Product Marketing Manager]( - [Symetra: Sr. Security Engineer]( - [Icertis: Senior Director Demand Generation]( - [INRIX: VP- Enterprise Sales]( - [Symetra: Software Developer]( - [INRIX: Head of Product – Location Intelligence]( - [GeekWire: GeekWire Technology and Business Reporter]( - [Substantial: Senior Engagement Manager]( - [INRIX: Content Strategist]( - [Playful Software, Inc: Startup Sr Product Manager]( [FIND MORE JOBS ON GEEKWORK]( [HIRING? 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