Free vacations, lift tickets and more: Perks escalate as tech startups battle for talent

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What does it take to attract and retain a high-quality workforce in the competitive tech industry? More than free beer and candy. That’s one of the takeaways from this piece by KING 5, based on the “Perk of the Year” category in last week’s GeekWire Awards. Check out the story by KING 5′s Mitch Pittman… Read More…

Hotel tech startup Buuteeq inks major deal with top franchisor Choice Hotels

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Buuteeq, an online marketing platform and content management system which powers the Web sites of more than 4,000 independent hotels across the globe, just inked a deal with Choice Hotels in what could be the company’s biggest deal yet. The fast-growing Seattle startup, which is a finalist for the GeekWire Awards Startup of the Year, has… Read More…

GeekWire Awards: Vote for Startup of the Year

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We’re nearing the end of the voting for the GeekWire Awards, and today we’ve got a big category on hand: Startup of the Year. To qualify for Startup of the Year, companies had to be three years or younger, and on a fast-track to success. We’re expecting a tight competition in this field of contenders,… Read More…

GeekWire Awards: Vote for Perk of the Year

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It’s been a long week, so we’re ready to have a little fun. And today’s category in the GeekWire Awards voting should prove to be one of the more entertaining in the lineup. It’s a new category for us designed to showcase the amazing lengths that some companies will go to in order to keep… Read More…

Hotel tech startup Buuteeq checks in with $10 million from Madrona and Concur

The Web site for Tierra Patagonia, one of 4,000 hotel Web sites powered by Buuteeq

The top three executives at Buuteeq all grew up in the heart of Silicon Valley, attending Palo Alto High School in the late 80s. Forest Key, Adam Brownstein and Cameron Steele still have plenty of roots in that tech Mecca. But when it came time to raise their latest round of funding, they found all of… Read More…

Buuteeq checks in with $2 million in funding to expand hotel marketing platform

The Li-An Lodge, one of the Web sites powered by Buuteeq

Buuteeq has reeled in an addition $2 million in capital from a long list of angel investors in Seattle and Silicon Valley, money that the fast-growing Seattle company will use as a cushion as it strives to become cash flow positive this year. Buuteeq now powers the Web sites for more than 2,000 small hotels… Read More…

AdReady and Buuteeq partner on online ad service for hotels

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Two Seattle startup companies are rolling out a new online advertising program today designed to help small hotels attract new customers and drive more brand awareness. Buuteeq plans to integrate the online ad platform from AdReady into its digital marketing system for hotels, the first of many new marketing services that Buuteeq CEO Forest Key says they plan to… Read More…

Tech Moves: Kal Raman resigns as CEO of GlobalScholar and more

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Kal Raman has quietly stepped down as CEO of GlobalScholar, the company he founded in 2006 and sold to Scantron last year, GeekWire has learned. Raman, the former CEO of drugstore.com, remains a consultant to the company, according to a Scantron spokeswoman. It is unclear what Raman plans to do next, and he could not be… Read More…

Get hired at this startup, and they’ll pay for your exotic travel each year

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Some technology companies attract employees with catered lunches, on-site massages and stock options. But Buuteeq — a Seattle startup that just landed $3.5 million – has a secret recruiting weapon in its back pocket. It’s called Trotamundo. Join the upstart, and you’ll be encouraged to travel to beautiful hotels and lodges in China, Mexico and Chile… Read More…