Weed-zapping startup harvests $27M | Amazon hiring spree

Seattle grunge photographer stage dives into crypto art world | WTIA sues state L&I department ADVERTISEMENT [GeekWire]( SPONSOR MESSAGE: Become a GeekWire Summit sponsor. Explore opportunities within your budget to activate: [Connect with GeekWire today!]( TODAY'S TOP STORIES High-tech weed destroyer: Seattle-based Carbon Robotics just landed $27 million to help meet demand for its self-driving, AI-powered robot that zaps weeds with lasers. Farmers say they like the tech because it saves time and cuts pesticide use. Carbon is led by CEO Paul Mikesell, who sold Isilon Systems for $2.25 billion in 2010 and spent time at Uber and Facebook before embarking on another entrepreneurial journey — this time, on the farm. “It’s definitely been the most fun I’ve had,” Mikesell told GeekWire this week. “I really wanted to do something fundamental. Growing food is one of the most important activities that humans do.” [Read the story](. Putting the Nirvana in NFT: When photographer Charles Peterson was documenting Seattle’s grunge music scene and printing his famous images, he certainly didn’t see non-fungible tokens and cryptocurrency coming. But rather than leave his work sitting on hard drives, [Peterson is stage diving into the digital art crowd]( and creating a historical archive in his first NFT drop. WTIA takes state L&I department to court: The Washington Technology Industry Association [has sued the Department of Labor & Industries]( claiming that the state failed to reimburse WTIA’s Workforce Institute for technology apprenticeship development and management it provided. Amazon plans another big hiring spree: The tech giant wants to [add 55,000 corporate and tech employees globally]( — a 20% spike in that segment of its workforce, with 40,000 of the jobs located in the U.S. Textio integrates writing guidance on LinkedIn: The Seattle startup wants to help companies and employees craft better communications with more inclusive language on the social platform. CEO Kieran Snyder also reveals why Textio has gone fully remote and why she believes it makes the startup more diverse. [Read more.]( Tech Moves: Microsoft Azure GM Aseem Datar joins Madrona as partner; Avalara adds Squarespace CFO Marcela Martin to its board; [and other key personnel changes across the PNW tech industry](. Edmond Fischer, 1920-2021: The Nobel Laureate and emeritus professor at the University of Washington biochemistry department was awarded a Nobel Prize in 1992 for research that illuminated a key way that regulatory proteins are controlled in cells. [Read more about Fischer’s life](. Thanks for reading, and have a great day. — GeekWire managing editor Taylor Soper, taylor@geekwire.com, and GeekWire reporter Kurt Schlosser, kurt@geekwire.com. SPONSOR MESSAGE [The GeekWire Summit returns October 4th-6th!]( Now in its 10th year, GeekWire Summit is bringing together business, tech and community leaders for enriching and inspiring discussions about the future. [Register today!]( LATEST HEADLINES [Seattle-area video game company ProbablyMonsters raises $200M to build studios]( [Amazon plans 20% jump in global corporate and tech roles by adding 55k jobs in latest hiring spree]( [Textio brings inclusive writing guidance to LinkedIn, and Seattle startup bounces back after pandemic]( [Edmond Fischer, 1920-2021: Univ. of Washington biochemist won Nobel Prize for protein research]( [Tech Moves: Azure GM joins Madrona; Microsoft promotes chief scientist; Esper adds exec; more]( SPONSORED: GEEK REAL ESTATE [Spacious Living with Incredible Sun-Filled Backyard in English Hill, Near The Eastside’s Tech Core]( [Putting the Nirvana in NFT: Photographer Charles Peterson digs into grunge archives for digital debut]( [AI-powered weed destroying startup harvests $27M round, farmers say laser-blasting machine saves time and cuts pesticide use]( [WTIA sues state labor department over alleged nonpayment for tech apprenticeship program]( [Clickety, a ‘project management for people’ tool from Puppet founder Luke Kanies, is shutting down]( [‘Compassion Seattle’ backers file appeal to get homelessness initiative back on November ballot]( GEEKWORK: TODAY'S TECH JOBS - [INRIX: Customer Success Manager]( - [INRIX: Senior Software Developer – Mobility Analytics (Java)]( - [INRIX: Senior Manager, Federal Affairs]( - [Vulcan, Inc: Systems Engineer, Data Services]( - [INRIX: Full-Stack Software Developer – SaaS Platform]( - [Product Creation Studio: Account Executive]( - [INRIX: Director, Enterprise Sales]( - [INRIX: Director, Engineering]( - [AI2- Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence: Technical Product Manager]( - [INRIX: Sales Development Representative – Enterprise]( [FIND MORE JOBS ON GEEKWORK]( [HIRING? 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