The finalists for Deal of the Yr on the 2026 GeekWire Awards embody two main acquisitions, a landmark licensing deal, a giant funding spherical, and a uncommon IPO — collectively representing billions of {dollars} in transactions.
This award, introduced by Wilson Sonsini, acknowledges the transactions that made the most important affect in tech and innovation in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. The Deal of the Yr finalists this yr are Kestra Medical Applied sciences, Omeros, Defend AI, Statsig, and Temporal.
Now in its 18th yr, the GeekWire Awards is the premier occasion recognizing the highest leaders, firms and breakthroughs in Pacific Northwest tech, bringing collectively a whole bunch of individuals to have a good time innovation and the entrepreneurial spirit. It takes place Could 7 on the Showbox SoDo in Seattle.
Seattle startup Lexion was the Deal of the Yr winner final yr after being acquired by Docusign for $165 million, a profitable exit for the AI-powered contract administration firm, which acquired its begin in 2018 on the Allen Institute for AI in Seattle.
Proceed studying for info on Deal of the Yr finalists, who had been chosen by a panel of unbiased judges from neighborhood nominations. You’ll be able to assist choose the winner: Solid your poll right here or within the embedded kind on the backside. Voting runs by April 10.
Statsig was acquired by OpenAI for $1.1 billion in an all-stock deal introduced in September, in a shock exit for the Bellevue, Wash.-based product experimentation platform. The deal additionally landed Statsig CEO Vijaye Raji, a former Fb engineering chief, within the newly created function of CTO of Purposes at OpenAI.
Based in 2021, Statsig powers A/B testing, characteristic flagging, and real-time decisioning for main firms. It had raised greater than $153 million, together with a $100 million Sequence C spherical at a $1.1 billion valuation simply months earlier than the acquisition, with backing from Sequoia and Madrona. Statsig now kinds the nucleus of OpenAI’s new Bellevue engineering workplace.
Kestra Medical Applied sciences raised $202 million in its IPO in March 2025, pricing shares above the anticipated vary in a robust debut for the Kirkland, Wash.-based maker of wearable cardiac gadgets. Shares started buying and selling on the Nasdaq at greater than 30% above the IPO worth.
Based in 2014, Kestra makes gadgets that detect and reply to sudden cardiac arrest. Its IPO marked the tip of an extended dry stretch with no conventional IPOs for Seattle-area tech firms since 2021.
Omeros Company, a Seattle-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical firm, struck a deal value as much as $2.1 billion with pharmaceutical big Novo Nordisk for zaltenibart, its clinical-stage drug candidate in growth for uncommon blood and kidney problems. Introduced in October, the settlement provides Novo Nordisk unique international rights to develop and commercialize the drug.
Based in 1994 by orthopedic surgeon Gregory A. Demopulos, who nonetheless serves as CEO, Omeros went public in 2009 and lately obtained FDA approval for its lead drug Yartemlea, the primary remedy for a uncommon post-transplant complication.
Defend AI, a Seattle startup that helps firms safe machine studying techniques, agreed to be acquired by cybersecurity big Palo Alto Networks in a deal introduced in April. Phrases weren’t disclosed, however sources accustomed to the deal mentioned it was valued north of $500 million.
Based in 2022 by former engineering leaders at Amazon and Oracle, Defend AI serves Fortune 500 firms throughout finance, healthcare, and authorities. Palo Alto Networks mentioned the deal will bolster its potential to safe the brand new assault surfaces created by AI.
Temporal raised $300 million in a Sequence D spherical at a $5 billion valuation in February, doubling its valuation from simply months earlier. The Bellevue, Wash.-based firm builds open-source software program and a cloud service that helps firms run advanced workflows reliably — what it calls “sturdy execution.” The rise of AI brokers has amplified demand for its platform, with clients together with OpenAI, ADP, and Block.
Based in 2019 by co-founders Samar Abbas and Maxim Fateev, who beforehand constructed an inside orchestration engine at Uber, Temporal has raised $650 million up to now, with backing from Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia, and Madrona.
Astound Enterprise Options is the presenting sponsor of the 2026 GeekWire Awards. Thanks additionally to gold sponsors Amazon Sustainability, Baird, BECU, JLL, First Tech and Wilson Sonsini, and silver sponsors Prime Workforce Companions.
The occasion will characteristic a VIP reception, sit-down dinner and enjoyable leisure combined in. Tickets go quick. A restricted variety of half-table and full-table sponsorships accessible. Contact occasions@geekwire.com to order a spot in your group right this moment.
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