Microsoft and the Green Bay Packers are teaming up for a unique partnership designed to spur innovation and economic growth across Wisconsin’s Fox River Valley. The tech giant and NFL franchise today announced TitletownTech, a new hub located at the Packers’ Titletown District near Lambeau Field that will open next fall and serve home to an accelerator and lab space for companies and entrepreneurs. Startups that join the accelerator will spend 18 weeks in the program and have access to a venture capital fund supported by both Microsoft and the Packers, which are each committing $5 million to TitletownTech over the… Read More
Company executives across all industries can learn a lot from team sports. That was the message from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who joined us on stage at the GeekWire Summit in Seattle on Tuesday. GeekWire Editor Todd Bishop kicked off the fireside chat with a gift for Nadella, handing him a new Kookaburra cricket ball. Nadella, who took over as CEO in 2014, writes about cricket in his new book Hit Refresh, detailing his passion for a game that has taught him a lot about leadership and much more. In the book, Nadella reveals that he likes to hold a cricket… Read More
Much like how technology has changed the way you communicate with friends, family, and co-workers, it has also revolutionized how NFL players and coaches talk to each other and strategize on the sidelines. At last month’s Seahawks vs. 49ers game at CenturyLink Field, GeekWire got a sneak peek at the latest geeky tools that the NFL has implemented to ultimately help teams win games. We spoke with NFL executives and gameday crew to learn how the league changed the way it uses radio frequencies to eliminate interference on headsets. We also met with Microsoft to get an update on its… Read More
Steve Ballmer has established himself as a man who is as passionate about basketball today as he was about software during his days as CEO of Microsoft. A new story from The Ringer shines a revealing spotlight on where the owner of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers may have first showcased his competitive hoops spirit. Zach Schwartz writes that he was a member of a Boys & Girls Club basketball team called the Bellevue Beavers that was coached by Ballmer in 1999. The kids were third graders and Ballmer was about to begin a 14-year run as head of the… Read More
The Seattle Seahawks know a thing or two about rallying around inspirational voices — whether it’s head coach Pete Carroll or players ranging from Russell Wilson to Kam Chancellor to Doug Baldwin or Earl Thomas. On Thursday at practice, Carroll was happy to welcome another leader who inspires as Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella paid a visit. Caroll shared a photo of himself with Nadella on Twitter and said he was “pumped” for the release next week of the CEO’s new book, “Hit Refresh.” Loved having @SatyaNadella with us at practice today! Truly an inspirational leader! Pumped for his book #HitRefresh… Read More
