Articles by Monica Nickelsburg

Monica Nickelsburg is GeekWire’s Civic Editor, covering technology-driven solutions to urban challenges and the intersection of tech and politics. Before joining GeekWire, she worked for The Week, Forbes, and NBC. Monica holds a BA in journalism and history from New York University. Follow her @mnickelsburg

New female-focused co-working spaces crop up in Seattle to take on The Riveter

Seattle’s biggest tech companies unveil 7 city projects built by controversial Innovation Council
Washington state considers new broadband program to expand internet access to underserved communities
Why Amazon is pulling a giant team out of Seattle, and what it means for the tech giant’s home region

Latest from Monica Nickelsburg

Washington state legislators pass law restricting non-compete agreements

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 19, 2019April 19, 2019 at 8:54 pmComment

A bill imposing new restrictions on non-compete agreements passed both houses of the Washington state legislature this week. Gov. Jay Inslee is expected to sign the bill into law in… Read More

Washington state’s data privacy bill, supported by Microsoft, dies as key players fail to reach compromise

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 19, 2019April 19, 2019 at 1:19 pm1 Comment

Efforts to enact new data privacy regulations in Washington state failed this week as legislators and tech titans Amazon and Microsoft failed to reach a compromise before the deadline. The… Read More

Geek of the Week: Kona Farry’s transit tracker maps buses, trains and ferries in the Seattle region

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 19, 2019April 19, 2019 at 9:24 amComment

Kona Farry is a self-described transit geek and student at the University of Washington who set out to solve a simple problem. In his words, he “just wanted to see… Read More

Satya Nadella shares Microsoft’s inclusion strategy amid sexual harassment claims

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 18, 2019April 18, 2019 at 1:11 pm 4 Comments

Microsoft’s workplace culture is under a magnifying glass now that emails from dozens of women have surfaced with damning stories of harassment and discrimination within the company. But Microsoft CEO… Read More

Where Microsoft draws the line on selling facial recognition tech to government agencies

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 17, 2019April 17, 2019 at 12:29 pmComment

Microsoft is being selective about the government agencies that can buy the company’s facial recognition software. Speaking at a conference at Stanford University, Microsoft President Brad Smith gave examples of… Read More

T-Mobile teams up with Comcast to rein in robocalls

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 17, 2019April 17, 2019 at 8:46 amComment

T-Mobile is teaming up with Comcast to detect robocalls between the two networks, the companies announced Wednesday. The partnership is in response to FCC pressure and customer frustration over ballooning… Read More

Oregon and Washington launch new clean energy initiatives to reduce fossil fuel dependence

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 16, 2019April 16, 2019 at 3:24 pm1 Comment

Pacific Northwest leaders want their region’s green reputation to extend beyond the sprawling evergreen forests. On Tuesday, officials in Oregon and Washington announced new clean energy initiatives that they hope… Read More

T-Mobile-Sprint merger faces uncertain future amid reported resistance from DOJ

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 16, 2019April 16, 2019 at 2:32 pmComment

T-Mobile’s proposed $26 billion merger with Sprint is facing a roadblock from the U.S. Department of Justice, according to a new report from the Wall Street Journal. Justice Department officials… Read More

Amazon gives $200K to Seattle Chamber political action committee ahead of City Council elections

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 16, 2019April 16, 2019 at 11:43 amComment

Amazon donated $200,000 to the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce’s political action committee in March ahead of a significant City Council election in the tech giant’s hometown. The Chamber’s Civic… Read More

Microsoft’s ambitious new environmental goals include shifting data centers to 70% renewable energy by 2023

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 15, 2019April 16, 2019 at 7:31 amComment

Microsoft is amping up efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and be a global leader in the fight against climate change. On Monday the software giant unveiled sweeping new sustainability… Read More

Bellevue accelerates self-driving transit plans as Amazon moves major team from Seattle

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 15, 2019April 15, 2019 at 3:14 pm1 Comment

For more than a year, transportation wonks and city officials have been working to turn Bellevue, Wash., into a smart mobility hub. But news that Amazon plans to relocate a… Read More

GeekWire Awards: Rising startup founders highlight Young Entrepreneur of the Year category

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 15, 2019April 18, 2019 at 8:42 am1 Comment

The nominees for the Young Entrepreneur of the Year category at this year’s GeekWire Awards prove that you can accomplish a lot by the time you’re 30 if you catch… Read More

ACLU slams Washington lawmakers for ‘closed-door’ privacy bill negotiations with Big Tech

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 12, 2019April 12, 2019 at 5:43 pm1 Comment

Consumer and civil rights advocates are up in arms over the status of a data privacy bill in Washington state. The bill would give Washington residents more control over the… Read More

New female-focused co-working spaces crop up in Seattle to take on The Riveter

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 12, 2019April 16, 2019 at 11:49 amComment

Competition is heating up among co-working spaces geared toward women. The Riveter pioneered the model, launching a female-focused coworking space in Seattle in 2017 and the business quickly took off.… Read More

In IPO filing, Uber calls out Seattle and warns ‘regulatory risks’ in big cities could impact business

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 11, 2019April 12, 2019 at 10:37 amComment

In addition to unveiling key business metrics, Uber’s long-anticipated IPO prospectus contains a word of warning to investors in regard to cities imposing regulations on the ride-hailing giant. Uber’s sensitivity… Read More

Amazon shareholders seek moratorium on facial recognition sales to government, climate change action and other political goals

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 11, 2019April 11, 2019 at 12:15 pm 2 Comments

Employee and shareholder activism is catching like wildfire in the tech industry, where fierce competition for talent makes workers especially influential. Workers and stock owners at Microsoft, Google, and other… Read More

University of Washington researchers want to help Uber and Lyft protect data and share it with cities

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 11, 2019April 14, 2019 at 3:41 pm1 Comment

Cities where Uber and Lyft operate have a data problem. The University of Washington wants to provide the solution. Companies such as Uber and Lyft are sitting on mounds of… Read More

Amazon takes heat over climate change as employee activist group swells to more than 3,500

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 10, 2019April 10, 2019 at 12:56 pm 8 Comments

For months, Amazon employees have been agitating for a comprehensive environmental plan at the company and on Wednesday they reached a new milestone. More than 3,500 workers have signed onto… Read More

Amazon Go stores to accept cash as legislators go after cashless retail

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 10, 2019April 10, 2019 at 8:25 am1 Comment

Amazon is responding to growing criticism of retailers that don’t accept cash, which advocates for the poor say is a discriminatory practice. The tech giant confirmed plans to start accepting… Read More

Seattle’s biggest tech companies unveil 7 city projects built by controversial Innovation Council

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 9, 2019April 11, 2019 at 9:39 pm 2 Comments

When Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan announced a new advisory council of tech leaders in 2018, the reaction was mixed, to say the least. It was a charged time — just… Read More

Washington state considers new broadband program to expand internet access to underserved communities

by Monica Nickelsburg on April 7, 2019April 8, 2019 at 10:39 am 6 Comments

A bill that would establish a dedicated Broadband Office to expand internet access in Washington state is working its way through the legislature at the request of Gov. Jay Inslee.… Read More

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Articles by Monica Nickelsburg

Top Stories from Monica Nickelsburg

New female-focused co-working spaces crop up in Seattle to take on The Riveter

Latest from Monica Nickelsburg

Washington state legislators pass law restricting non-compete agreements

Washington state’s data privacy bill, supported by Microsoft, dies as key players fail to reach compromise

Geek of the Week: Kona Farry’s transit tracker maps buses, trains and ferries in the Seattle region

Satya Nadella shares Microsoft’s inclusion strategy amid sexual harassment claims

Where Microsoft draws the line on selling facial recognition tech to government agencies

T-Mobile teams up with Comcast to rein in robocalls

Oregon and Washington launch new clean energy initiatives to reduce fossil fuel dependence

T-Mobile-Sprint merger faces uncertain future amid reported resistance from DOJ

Amazon gives $200K to Seattle Chamber political action committee ahead of City Council elections

Microsoft’s ambitious new environmental goals include shifting data centers to 70% renewable energy by 2023

Bellevue accelerates self-driving transit plans as Amazon moves major team from Seattle

GeekWire Awards: Rising startup founders highlight Young Entrepreneur of the Year category

ACLU slams Washington lawmakers for ‘closed-door’ privacy bill negotiations with Big Tech

New female-focused co-working spaces crop up in Seattle to take on The Riveter

In IPO filing, Uber calls out Seattle and warns ‘regulatory risks’ in big cities could impact business

Amazon shareholders seek moratorium on facial recognition sales to government, climate change action and other political goals

University of Washington researchers want to help Uber and Lyft protect data and share it with cities

Amazon takes heat over climate change as employee activist group swells to more than 3,500

Amazon Go stores to accept cash as legislators go after cashless retail

Seattle’s biggest tech companies unveil 7 city projects built by controversial Innovation Council

Washington state considers new broadband program to expand internet access to underserved communities

Why Amazon is pulling a giant team out of Seattle, and what it means for the tech giant’s home region

Lime customer enlists Washington AG to fight ‘deceptive’ LimePod car-sharing fee

Amazon’s big Bellevue move: Politicians, business leaders and real estate experts weigh in

Mayor Durkan says Amazon moving employees to Bellevue is ‘a good thing for Seattle’

Exclusive: Amazon moving thousands of employees out of Seattle, relocating key division to nearby city

Bill Gates, Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos fund research to find a better Alzheimer’s diagnosis

‘Huge awakening’ in data privacy drives big growth for Seattle startup Integris

Howard Schultz sued over unsolicited text messages to voters as he mulls presidential bid

Should gender diversity on corporate boards be legally required? Women VCs, tech execs weigh in

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