How the FTC ban on non-competes could help tech companies

The FTC’s ban on non-competition agreements, announced on Tuesday, will prohibit companies from using the clauses in new employment contracts, and invalidate many existing agreements. If the new rules survive expected legal challenges, they could force a change in mindset inside the companies that use them — with additional implications for legislation and litigation involving intellectual property. Read more.

Microsoft earnings preview: Analysts will be closely monitoring a new AI benchmark that will be revealed for the first time. Read more.

A stealthy Seattle startup called Radical, led by founders Cyriel Notteboom and James Thomas (above) who previously worked on Amazon’s drone program, raised $4.5 million to support the development of solar-powered, autonomous airplanes that can beam down connectivity and imagery during long-duration, high-altitude flights. Read more.

New and used electric vehicles could become more affordable in Washington after the state launched a $45 million program aimed at low-income residents, announced by Gov. Jay Inslee (above) in Tukwila, Wash., on Tuesday. Read more.

98point6 layoffs: The Seattle-based company confirmed that it laid off employees in the latest change at the health tech startup. Read more.

Chad Cohen, the former CFO of Zillow Group and Adaptive Biotechnologies, just launched a new Seattle-based advisory firm designed to help growth-stage companies. Read more.

Hot Links:

• More Windows 11 users will be seeing advertisements inside the Start menu. (The Verge)

• A Tesla driver had his car on autopilot and was looking at his cell phone during an accident in Monroe, Wash., that killed a motorcyclist, court records show. (The Seattle Times)

• Microsoft should make security core to its cloud subscription offerings to help lessen the impact of cybersecurity attacks. (Directions on Microsoft)

• A grant from the Washington Research Foundation helped launch a new Western Innovation Training Fellowship at Western Washington University, to support tech commercialization and STEM entrepreneurship. (WRF)

• Amazon and Microsoft partnerships with smaller AI firms such as Mistral and Anthropic are drawing scrutiny from British antitrust regulators. (CNBC)

• A surge in demand for digital books is causing problems for libraries in Seattle due to licensing costs. (KUOW)