Get caught up on the latest technology and startup news from the past week. Here are the most popular stories on GeekWire for the week of Feb. 27, 2022.
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Most popular stories on GeekWire
Zain Nadella, 1996-2022: Microsoft CEO’s son remembered for love of music, profound impact on his dad
Zain Nadella, the son of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and his wife, Anu Nadella, died Monday at the age of 26, according to a message sent to the company’s executives. … Read More
Washington state’s new capital gains tax ruled unconstitutional by lower court
A new capital gains tax in Washington was ruled unconstitutional by a lower court judge on Tuesday, likely sending the controversial legislation to the state’s Supreme Court. … Read More
Amazon will close bookstores, 4-star and Pop Up retail outlets to focus on grocery and fashion
Amazon will permanently close 68 physical retail locations, including all of its Amazon 4-star, Books, and Pop Up stores, in a surprising twist for the tech giant’s bricks-and-mortar ambitions. … Read More
Analyst: Only a matter of time before U.S. cloud companies shut off services in Russia
A flurry of tech companies — including Amazon, Microsoft, and Google — are halting sales of services and products in Russia in response to the country’s invasion of Ukraine and resulting government sanctions. … Read More
Meet Seattle’s newest VC: This former car saleswoman and immigrant entrepreneur is on a mission to shake up the industry
Tina Hoang-To put herself through college selling cars at Capitol Honda in San Jose, Calif. … Read More
Amazon tells U.S. warehouse workers masks are now optional regardless of vaccination status
Amazon will no longer require employees in its warehouse facilities across the U.S. … Read More
Steve Ballmer, ex-Microsoft CEO, and wife Connie donate $425M to new Univ. of Oregon institute
The University of Oregon on Tuesday launched the Ballmer Institute for Children’s Behavioral Health on Tuesday, with a gift of more than $425 million from Connie and Steve Ballmer, an early Microsoft employee who served as CEO from 2000 to 2014. … Read More
Amazon expresses ‘horror and concern’ over war in Ukraine as it offers $5M to aid organizations
Amazon doesn’t have any direct operations in Ukraine, but as the country suffers under the ongoing invasion by Russia, the tech giant is stepping in to provide support to humanitarian organizations on the ground. … Read More
Why the CEO of this Seattle tech unicorn will not do business with Russian companies
The CEO of Seattle-based Outreach is urging more tech leaders to take a stand against Russia and said his startup will not do business there, as companies across the U.S. … Read More
Microsoft detected ‘destructive cyberattacks’ against Ukraine hours before Russian invasion
Microsoft says it began detecting “destructive cyberattacks directed against Ukraine’s digital infrastructure” several hours before the Russian military began launching missiles or moving tanks into the country last week. … Read More