The scene at the 2025 GeekWire Gala at Showbox SoDo in Seattle on Thursday. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)
The halls have officially been tech’d.
Humans and robots rubbed shoulders and partied Thursday night at the 2025 GeekWire Gala as our annual holiday extravaganza drew more than 750 members of Seattle’s tech community to the Showbox SoDo.
The geeky event — presented by title sponsor First Tech Federal Credit Union — featured games, karaoke, dancing, food, drink, networking and plenty of good times.
A Selfiebot roamed the floor capturing images of attendees and two Portraitbots drew quick caricatures.
Robots raced at another station while people also had their pictures snapped in a robot photo booth.
There was an espresso martini printer, specially printed macaroon cookies, a candy bar, a walking oyster bar and much more.
The “Uncommon Thinkers” award winners, from left: Anindya Roy, co-founder and chief scientific officer of Lila Biologics; Kiana Ehsani, co-founder and CEO of Vercept; Max Blumen of Tin Can representing winner Chet Kittleson, co-founder and CEO of Tin Can; Jay Graber, CEO of Bluesky; Brian Pinkard, co-founder and CTO of Aquagga; and Jeff Thornburg, co-founder and CEO of Portal Space Systems. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)
For the third year, GeekWire and Greater Seattle Partners once again recognized the region’s “Uncommon Thinkers,” the groundbreaking innovators who are changing the way we work, live and play. The honorees included: Anindya Roy, co-founder and chief scientific officer of Lila Biologics; Chet Kittleson, co-founder and CEO of Tin Can; Brian Pinkard, co-founder and CTO at Aquagga; Jeff Thornburg, CEO of Portal Space Systems; Kiana Ehsani, co-founder and CEO of Vercept; and Jay Graber, CEO of Bluesky.
Special thanks to our gold sponsors, Greater Seattle Partners, Pilot, and Astound Business Solutions; and silver sponsors, MeeBoss, Tito’s, The Baldwin Group, Wilson Sonsini, ALLtech, IDA Ireland, Microsoft for Startups, gone.com, Prime Team Partners, and Regence.
Thanks again to everyone for making our party your party. Happy holidays!
Keep scrolling for more photos from the 2024 GeekWire Gala:
The Showbox SoDo, south of downtown Seattle. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)An eye-opening moment at the Elf Bar selfie station. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)A Selfiebot roamed the Showbox snapping pics of partygoers. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)Keion Mauldin, senior XC manager from title sponsor First Tech Federal Credit Union, onstaage at the GeekWire Gala. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)Some fierce holiday fashions are judged onstage at the GeekWire Gala. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)A large interactive structure from Seattle Math Museum & Studio Infinity lights up the GeekWire Gala. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)Belting out karaoke tunes at the GeekWire Gala. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop, left, and John Cook onstage at the GeekWire Gala. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)The scene at the GeekWire Gala in Seattle. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)A GeekWire Gala attendee captures video of her portrait being drawn by a Portraitbot. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)Rebecca Lovell, interim president and CEO of Greater Seattle Partners, and GeekWire co-founder John Cook present the Uncommon Thinkers awards at the GeekWire Gala. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)Bluesky CEO Jay Graber accepts her Uncommon Thinkers award at the GeekWire Gala. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)Anindya Roy, co-founder and chief scientific officer of Lila Biologics, accepts his Uncommon Thinkers award at the GeekWire Gala. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)Tin Can co-founder Max Blumen, left, accepts the Uncommon Thinkers award on behalf of Tin Can co-founder and CEO Chet Kittleson at the GeekWire Gala. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)Brian Pinkard, co-founder and CTO of Aquagga, accepts his Uncommon Thinkers award at the GeekWire Gala. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)Kiana Ehsani, co-founder and CEO of Vercept, accepts the Uncommon Thinkers award at the GeekWire Gala. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)Jeff Thornburg, co-founder and CEO of Portal Space Systems, accepts the Uncommon Thinkers award at the GeekWire Gala. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)The robot racing station presented by Future Arts. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)Serving up snacks at the GeekWire Gala. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)The scene at the GeekWire Gala in Seattle. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)The scene at the GeekWire Gala in Seattle. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)Party people at the GeekWire Gala in Seattle. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)GeekWire co-founder John Cook, left, Pioneer Square Labs’ T.A. McCann, and KNKX’s Cara Kuhlman at the GeekWire Gala. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)Macadons owner Michael Huynh custom-printing macaroons at the GeekWire Gala. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)The scene at the GeekWire Gala in Seattle. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)The scene at the GeekWire Gala in Seattle. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)A festive bucket truck from Astound in front of the Showbox SoDo at the GeekWire Gala. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)
