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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The 2024 GeekWire Awards brought Seattle’s tech community to Showbox SoDo on May 9 for a “Land Before Tech” celebration of startups, performances and unexpected appearances. GeekWire published its photo recap the following morning, capturing everything from dinosaur decorations to Pictory’s Startup of the Year win.
Inside the “Land Before Tech” celebration
GeekWire’s annual Pacific Northwest startup and technology awards took place Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Showbox SoDo in Seattle. Presented by Astound Business Solutions, the event mixed networking, food and drink, interviews, a photo booth and the awards program.
The evening’s “Land Before Tech” theme brought together prehistoric and retro-tech imagery. GeekWire’s recap shows blow-up dinosaurs and robot trophies; the companion event story describes table centerpieces made with obsolete technology, including VHS tapes and Polaroid cameras. The decorations made the theme a playful nod to both an earlier era of technology and a prehistoric one.
Music and surprise appearances
A song about technology’s past
Robert “The Drunken Tenor” McPherson performed an original song about older technology, reaching back to dial-up internet and 8-track tapes. Ryan Devlin and Kim West of Seattle band Smokey Brights helped get the party started.
#1 Best Overall
- FITS 400 WEDDING DAY PHOTOS – Large size capacity with pocket sleeves for 240 horizontal and 160 vertical photos, each page holds 3 horizontal and 2 vertical photos. 80 pages total (40 sheets).
- PERSONALIZED YEARS – Add a special touch with a custom year. Either EST. 2026 or opt for a timeless, no-year design. Displayed on the cover and spine, our wedding photo albums make a beautiful keepsake and elegant coffee table book.
- BEAUTIFUL BEIGE LINEN COVER: Crafted with a durable hard linen cover in a neutral light beige to complement any home aesthetic. Embossed on the cover and spine to display on a table of bookshelf. Picture album size is 13"x12"x2".
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Lara Croft delivers an envelope
Phia, dressed as video-game adventurer Lara Croft, appeared in an awards-show bit to deliver a missing award-winner envelope to GeekWire chairman Jonathan Sposato.
Ross Taylor talks cricket in Seattle
New Zealand cricket legend Ross Taylor joined GeekWire’s Kurt Schlosser and John Cook for a conversation about cricket’s growing presence in the Seattle area.
Rank #2
- PERFECT FIT FOR PHOTO BOOTH STRIPS - Designed for 2x6 photo booth prints, the standard size used in wedding and party booths.
- SIDE-LOADING POCKETS - Easier to use than top-loading albums - simply slide photos in from the side.
- HOLDS 40 PHOTOS - 20 pages with double-sided clear slots to display and protect up to 32 prints.
- CLEAR PROTECTIVE PAGES - Keeps pictures bright and visible while shielding them from fingerprints, dust, and bending.
- WOVEN FABRIC HARD COVER WITH ELASTIC BAND - Sturdy textile cover with a subtle large-weave texture and secure band closure for elegance and protection.
The award winners
Pictory co-founders Vishal Chalana and Abid Mohammed accepted Startup of the Year. GeekWire’s 2024 results story says more than 60 finalists competed across 12 categories. It reports that hundreds of nominations were reviewed by judges before the Pacific Northwest tech community chose the winners with more than 20,000 votes.
| Award | 2024 winner |
|---|---|
| Startup of the Year | Pictory |
| Public Policy Champion for Innovation | Sen. Joe Nguyen |
| Sustainable Innovation | Electric Era |
| Deal of the Year | Rhythms |
| Innovation | Allen Institute for AI |
| Health Innovation | CalmWave |
| UX Design | Copper |
| Next Tech Titan | Zuper |
| Workplace of the Year | Likewise |
| Startup CEO of the Year | Rathna Sharad |
| CEO of the Year | Ozan Unlu |
GeekWire also named Coding for Cancer, Housing Connector and TrueMedia.org as Geeks Give Back honorees. Rhythms co-founder Madhan Subhas described the moment this way: “It’s an exciting moment and a transformational time in all our lifetimes because of the way generative AI has taken the industry by storm.”
Rank #3
- ALBUM SIZE: 11.5"L x 8.5"W x 0.75"H,40 Sheets(total 80 pages) to Hold Over 160 Photos. Large Photo Album with Wrap Tie Closure
- High Quanlity:Hard Cardboard Cover, Superior Black pages, Non-fading, Thick Craft Paper
- 360 Degree Sheet Rotation,Lays Flat When Opened,Do it yourself. This will be the Perfect Personalized Gifts
- APPlication:Graduation gift, Valentines day gifts for her/him, Anniversary gift, Christmas gift, Mothers' Day gift, baby shower gift, Birthday Gifts, Wedding Guest Book, Photo Storage, Travel Record, or adventure Book
- What You Get:1 x Photo Album + 15 pcs Metallic Pens Marker
What the photo recap captures
The captions take readers through the event’s different scenes, including the VIP pre-party, GeekWire Podcast interviews, a toast by Astound Business Solutions executive Patrick Knorr, the performances, presenters and the photo booth. The photographs are credited mainly to Kevin Lisota, with some credited to Kurt Schlosser. Not every image identifies the people pictured, so unnamed guests should not be inferred from the photographs alone.
GeekWire’s recap also points to additional event pictures and photo-booth GIFs. Its accompanying link and password were published for the 2024 event; access may no longer be available. The full award roster appears in GeekWire’s 2024 results story.
Rank #4
- HOLDS 160 4x6 PHOTOS: Bookbound album features two 4x6 photo pockets per page for organizing favorite moments, family photos and meaningful memories.
- MEMO WRITING AREA: Lined memo space beside each photo lets you add names, dates, places and personal notes to preserve the story behind each memory.
- MEANINGFUL SENTIMENT: Gray patterned cover features “Memories” and the heartfelt message “Some moments stay in our hearts forever.”
- VERSATILE MEMORY ALBUM: Designed for everyday family memories, special occasions, milestones, celebrations and remembrance of someone special.
- DISPLAY PHOTO ON THE COVER: Front cover includes a photo opening that can be personalized with a favorite image, making the album especially meaningful for your own home or as a gift.
Event acknowledgments
Astound Business Solutions was the presenting sponsor. GeekWire’s recap also acknowledges gold-level and category sponsors Wilson Sonsini, JLL, Blink UX, BECU, Baird, First Tech, Baker Tilly, WTIA, Silicon Valley Bank and T-Mobile; silver-level sponsors Prime Team Partners, Meridian Capital, Submittable and Cosmogence; and supporting sponsors Choose Washington, ALLtech, Showbox SoDo and Roanoke.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- CLASSIC DESIGN: This 2 Up book bound graduation photo album is an attractive way to organize and display your graduation photos; Caption your photos with included memo writing space on every page; The black front cover features a display window that holds a 3½ inch x 5 inch horizontal graduation photo; "Grad" and "Class of 2026" is printed in gray with a white border
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- ALLURING LOOK: The front cover features a typographical design with “Class of '26 Grad”; The front cover also showcases a 3 x 4½ inch opening for a 3½ x 5 inch graduation photograph which easily slides in from the inside cover.
- PERFECT FOR EVERY APPLICATION: Celebrate your precious memories with Malden International Designs Graduate Picture Album; Makes the perfect graduation gift; Product dimensions are approximately 8.75 inches (W) x 8.75 inches (H) x 1.625 inches (D)
- SECURE PACKAGING: Shipped in secure padded packaging for corner-to-corner protection
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