The funding landscape is testing the resilience of many Seattle-area startups this year.
With venture capital funding lagging far behind the red-hot pace of 2021 and 2022, many startups are cutting back and rethinking their strategies. Despite the challenges, some entrepreneurs in the Puget Sound region continue to grow their teams or tackle new problems.
Seattle Inno's 2023 Fire Awards, now accepting nominations, recognizes the area's most innovative companies.
After reviewing inbound nominations, the Seattle Inno team will select the honorees, grouped into categories.
Some things we look for in Fire Awards honorees are new funding, adding headcount, social and community impact, product launches, company pivots, company growth and stories of innovators reshaping the ecosystem. Fire honorees can include later-stage tech pillars, growth-stage startups, accelerators, venture firms, meetup groups and nonprofits.
Our judges will pick one winner in each category, crowned the "Blazer winner." Readers can nominate companies here, and self-nominations are accepted. The nominations close Friday, Aug. 18.
Honorees will be recognized online later this year.
