Podcast: Why would Microsoft pay $68.7 billion for video-game giant Activision Blizzard?

Interview with Washington state’s CIO | NASA gives a lift to high-flying student experiments ADVERTISEMENT [GeekWire]( SPONSOR MESSAGE: Learn to Lead with Impact: [Invest in your future. Register today for our 2/8 Experience Foster event.]( TODAY'S TOP STORIES Why would Microsoft [pay $68.7 billion]( for video-game giant Activision Blizzard? Hope Cochran (above, at the GeekWire Summit 2019) is in a unique position to consider that question. As managing director at VC firm Madrona Venture Group, a big focus of her investing is gaming companies. She was also previously CFO of King Digital — the maker of Candy Crush — and led King through its $5.9 billion acquisition in early 2016 by none other than Activision Blizzard. Cochran is our featured guest on the latest GeekWire Podcast episode. [Read more and listen here]( and subscribe to GeekWire in [Apple Podcasts]( [Google Podcasts]( and [Spotify](. Related coverage of Microsoft’s big acquisition: - [Microsoft’s $68.7 billion Activision Blizzard deal will test new U.S. antitrust approach]( - [Microsoft Gaming head confirms Activision’s ‘Call of Duty’ will keep coming to PlayStation]( - [Analysis: Microsoft’s massive purchase is a mixed bag for gamers]( - [Chart: Microsoft’s largest acquisitions]( Interview with Washington state CIO: We spoke with William “Bill” Kehoe, who recently began overseeing the state’s technology strategies. Kehoe is a veteran of information technology departments and most recently was CIO for Los Angeles County. [Read the Q&A](. NASA gives lift to students: Nearly 60 student teams, [including one from Bellevue, Wash.]( will be getting $1,500 grants, expert advice and a NASA-funded suborbital ride for scientific experiments. Congrats to the winners! Thanks for reading, and have a great weekend. — GeekWire managing editor Taylor Soper, taylor@geekwire.com. SPONSOR MESSAGE [Develop essential skills for future-ready jobs]( Tombolo Institute is collaborating with Microsoft Learn for Educators to provide world-class curriculum taught by certified instructors. The combination of cutting-edge curriculum and trained instructors with industry experience provide learners with various learning pathways to develop essential skills for future-ready jobs. Learn more about our new courses. LATEST HEADLINES [University of Washington joins $40M campaign to enlist more software engineers for research]( [Interview: Washington state CIO Bill Kehoe on infrastructure, cybersecurity and more]( [Microsoft’s Candy Crush: Madrona’s Hope Cochran, former King CFO, on $68.7B Activision deal]( [NASA gives a lift to 57 high-flying student experiments, including one from the Seattle area]( GEEKWORK: TODAY'S TECH JOBS - [GeekWire: Technology Reporter and News Assistant]( - [Rural Innovation Strategies, Inc: UX Designer]( - [Pacific Northwest National Laboratory: Cloud Engineer II]( - [Flyhomes: Senior Product Manager, Selling Experience]( - [Downwrite: Principal Engineer]( - [City of Gresham: Technical Support Specialist]( - [Flyhomes: Lead Front End Engineer]( - [Flyhomes: Senior Fullstack Engineer]( - [Flyhomes: SDEII Back End Engineer]( - [4Culture: Information Technologies Manager]( [FIND MORE JOBS ON GEEKWORK]( [HIRING? BUY A FEATURED LISTING TO APPEAR HERE]( [About GeekWire]( [Contact Us]( [Advertise]( Copyright © 2022 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](