Pacific Northwest’s hottest tech startups | Amazon shutting down Chime meeting tool 

Microsoft quantum update: Outside experts are looking for more empirical evidence from Microsoft about its quantum computing breakthrough, expressing skepticism that the company has successfully created a working topological qubit, as detailed by Fortune.

• Separately, Eric Horvitz, Microsoft’s chief scientific officer, gives more background on the history of the project in this LinkedIn essay. 

Amazon is shutting down its Chime meeting and calling application on Feb. 20, 2026, and shifting to Zoom internally, even as it rolls out Microsoft 365 apps. It's an example of Amazon paring back in an area where its impact was limited beyond its own virtual walls. Read more.

Overland AI, makers of off-road autonomous vehicles for the U.S. military, opened a new 22,000-square-foot factory in Seattle to boost production and take advantage of robotics and machine learning talent in the region. Read more.

Washington state lawmakers are taking aim at Uber, Lyft and other transportation companies to limit how they split fares with drivers after large events in an attempt to curb surge pricing. Read more.

• Elsewhere in the legislature, a 6% tax on short-term rental bookings is being considered to help fund affordable housing. Airbnb is pushing back.

Pinch, a tech-enabled med spa service that provides in-home cosmetic procedures, is expanding to Seattle. The startup, which has raised $3.5 million, hires nurse practitioners as contractors. Read more.

Hurry and nominate your GeekWire Awards favorites! Help us celebrate the leading entrepreneurs, innovators, non-profit leaders and more across Pacific Northwest tech. Submit nominations and join us April 30.

Hot Links:

• DeepSeek R1 explained: Steve Seitz, a professor in the University of Washington’s Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering, breaks down the big AI breakthrough in a new video. (YouTube)

• Remitly stock was up Thursday after the Seattle-based digital remittance company reported 33% growth in quarterly revenue and improving profitability. (Remitly)

• Amazon Retail CEO Doug Harrington said the company needs to keep cutting costs in order to invest in new ideas and growth. (Business Insider)

• A deal for 007: Amazon has gained full creative control of James Bond from the longtime stewards of the film franchise. Jeff Bezos asked his followers who should be the next Bond. (The Guardian, X)

• Amazon’s Ring announced a new 2K camera, the Outdoor Cam Plus, saying it has the best image quality of any camera it has introduced. (Ring Blog)

• In other Ring news, the Portland Thorns FC women’s professional soccer team struck a multi-year sponsorship deal with the company. (Portland Thorns)