The path from successful startup to industry heavyweight is often marked by the ability to solve massive, complex problems at scale — whether those challenges are in a farm field, battlefield or low-Earth orbit.
This GeekWire Award, presented by Baird, takes notice of the next dominant force in Pacific Northwest tech. The Next Tech Titan finalists are: Overland AI, Carbon Robotics, Stoke Space, Chainguard and MotherDuck.
Now in its 18th year, the GeekWire Awards is the premier event recognizing the top leaders, companies and breakthroughs in Pacific Northwest tech, bringing together hundreds of people to celebrate innovation and the entrepreneurial spirit. It takes place May 7 at the Showbox SoDo in Seattle.
Last year’s Next Tech Titan winner was Truveta, a Bellevue, Wash.-based company that aims to aggregate medical records data from partner institutions to link treatments with outcomes and underlying health. Truveta raised $320 million in fresh funding in 2025 to push its valuation above $1 billion.
Continue reading for information on the 2026 Next Tech Titan finalists, who were chosen by a panel of independent judges from community nominations. You can help pick the winner: Cast your ballot here or in the embedded form at the bottom. Voting runs through April 10.
Overland AI develops autonomous vehicle software and hardware designed specifically for complex, off-road environments. The company’s platform allows robotic vehicles to navigate high-speed, unpredictable terrain where GPS and cellular signals are often unavailable. Overland is focused on operational integration with the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, and is a key player in the emerging defense-tech corridor of the Pacific Northwest.
GeekWire first covered Overland AI in 2022 when it was a small, stealthy group of researchers spinning out of the University of Washington’s Robot Learning Laboratory. The company, No. 12 on the GeekWire 200, has grown to more than 100 employees, raised more than $140 million, and opened a 22,000 square-foot production facility in Seattle since then.
Ag-tech startup Carbon Robotics builds AI-powered machinery designed to eliminate weeds without the use of chemical herbicides. Its flagship LaserWeeder uses computer vision to identify and zap weeds with lasers, a process powered by the company’s “Large Plant Model.” This AI model, trained on 150 million labeled plants, allows the machines to adapt to new crops and environments in minutes. The company is also expanding into autonomous farm equipment with its Carbon ATK platform and an unrevealed new AI robot.
Founded in 2018 by Isilon Systems co-founder Paul Mikesell, the Seattle-based company has raised $177 million to date and employs about 260 people. Its LaserWeeders are now active on hundreds of farms across 15 countries, helping growers significantly reduce labor and pesticide costs. Carbon is No. 10 on the GeekWire 200.
Stoke Space is developing Nova, a medium-lift rocket designed for 100% reusability and rapid turnaround between flights. Unlike competitors that focus on heavy-lift vehicles, the Kent, Wash.-based company is targeting the medium-lift market with a unique second-stage design featuring an actively cooled heatshield for atmospheric reentry. The goal is to provide a more flexible and cost-effective launch platform that can be reused as seamlessly as an aircraft.
Founded by former Blue Origin and SpaceX engineers, Stoke Space has raised $1.34 billion to date, including a massive $860 million Series D round concluded in early 2026. The company, No. 8 on the GeekWire 200, is currently preparing for its first orbital launch from Cape Canaveral later this year and has already been selected by the U.S. Space Force for national security launches.
Chainguard secures the “software supply chain” by protecting the open-source components and container images used in modern cloud applications. The company’s tools allow developers to use verified, vulnerability-free code, automating the process of keeping foundational software secure. By focusing on the root of software production, Chainguard helps engineering teams eliminate security risks without slowing down development cycles.
Founded in 2021 and based in Kirkland, Wash., the startup has raised $892 million to date, reaching a $3.5 billion valuation. In fiscal year 2025, the company grew its annual recurring revenue sevenfold to $40 million. Now employing more than 500 people and serving over 200 customers — including GitLab and Hewlett Packard Enterprise — Chainguard is No. 2 on the GeekWire 200.
MotherDuck provides a serverless analytics platform built on the open-source DuckDB database engine. Designed for “small data” that doesn’t reach petabyte scale, the technology allows users to run fast SQL queries locally in a browser or in the cloud without the complexity of distributed architectures. By merging local processing speed with cloud scalability, the platform aims to make data analysis more cost-effective and accessible.
Founded in 2022 by former Google BigQuery founding engineer Jordan Tigani, the Seattle startup has raised more than $100 million. Backed by investors including Andreessen Horowitz and Madrona, MotherDuck is No. 25 on the GeekWire 200.
Astound Business Solutions is the presenting sponsor of the 2026 GeekWire Awards. Thanks also to gold sponsors Amazon Sustainability, Baird, BECU, JLL, First Tech and Wilson Sonsini, and silver sponsors Prime Team Partners.
The event will feature a VIP reception, sit-down dinner and fun entertainment mixed in. Tickets go fast. A limited number of half-table and full-table sponsorships available. Contact [email protected] to reserve a spot for your team today.
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