Jeff Bezos established plan to sell Amazon stock after announcing moving to Miami

A new annual filing from Amazon, detailing Jeff Bezos' plan to sell a slice of his stake in the company over the next 12 months, is shedding fresh light on Bezos' public announcement last year of his move from Seattle to Miami -- and his ability to avoid Washington state's capital gains tax. Read more.

Latest tech layoffs:

• Glowforge cut an undisclosed number of employees in another round of layoffs after an investment round fell through at the Seattle-based 3D laser engraver maker. CEO Dan Shapiro called the last few months “a rollercoaster.” Read more. 

• Seattle employees at e-signature giant DocuSign were impacted by a layoff that targeted 6% of the company’s workforce, or about 400 workers. Read more.

• Layoff tracker: Our regularly updated list of tech job cuts in the Pacific Northwest.

The Seattle metro region jumped 10 spots in the latest “Best Performing Cities” economic report from the nonpartisan nonprofit Milken Institute. Olympia, Wash., had a strong showing and four cities in Idaho helped that state dominate the rankings among smaller cities. Read more.   

Seattle startup pre-seed fundings:

• Cimba raises $1.25M: Led by former Amazon and Airbnb engineers, Cimba uses internal company data for its AI agents designed to boost operations and offer recommendations.

• Validated raises $1.2M: The company’s AI-powered digital ad generator helps companies figure out what product features and messaging resonates with customers.

• See all the latest Pacific Northwest startup fundings with our handy list. 

Join the inaugural season of the Sounders FC-GeekWire Tech Alliance: New for 2024, GeekWire and Seattle Sounders FC are combining forces to deliver a unique blend of in-person events, VIP experiences, team-building activities and impactful advertising that will help your company shine. Give your full 90, and join as an inaugural tech alliance partner today. For more information, contact GeekWire co-founder John Cook at john@geekwire.com.

Hot Links:

• The Real Estate Exchange is keeping up its fight against Zillow, appealing a ruling that found Zillow’s display of non-MLS listings was not deceptive. (Real Estate News)

• Photographing a total solar eclipse is a unique thrill, but to get great images, you must be prepared. Here are some tips to be ready April 8. (Kevin Lisota Photography)

• Amazon is committing $250,000 to help cover costs of the annual Night Market event in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District for three years. (Amazon)

• The Washington Technology Industry Association was awarded $300,000 from the Dept. of Commerce to extend its Advanced Technology Cluster, driving private investment, job creation, and innovation in Washington. (WTIA)