New data on Seattle’s food delivery economy | Startup advice from protein design pioneer David Baker

David Baker has learned a thing or two about launching biotech startups during his time leading The Institute for Protein Design, a research arm of the University of Washington that has spun out nine Seattle-based companies. Baker (above, right) spoke at an event on campus last week with AI2 Incubator’s Jenny Cronin and talked about some of the keys to IPD’s entrepreneurial success. Read more.

Data from Seattle startup Solo, which helps independent contractors manage their earnings, reveals insights into Seattle’s food delivery economy following the implementation of a minimum wage law and new consumer fees from tech platforms like Uber Eats and DoorDash. Read more. 

After returning from a trip to India, FUSE founding partner Kellan Carter writes that the Seattle tech and startup industry should look for ways to bolster connections to the India tech market. Read his guest post.

How many days is the right amount of days in the office? For some Seattle-area startups, the answer is five, as they view an in-person work environment as the best way to collaborate, build relationships and speed up decision making. Read more.

With all the makings of a buddy road trip adventure, two longtime friends and tech vets have teamed up to breathe new life — and incorporate AI — into the travel app Sēkr, under the umbrella of Seattle's Peace Vans, a business built around a love for “vanlife.” Read more.

Hot Links:

• Clippy, Microsoft’s annoying one-time virtual assistant, is riding a wave of popularity years after the tech giant gave the animated Office helper the boot. (The Wall Street Journal)

• CRM giant Hubspot is working with a Seattle cybersecurity startup to prevent employee helpdesk scams. (Nametag)

• Seattle’s bike and scooter share program is booming, with nearly 5 million rides in 2023 and Lime accounting for more than 60% of those trips. (The Urbanist)