Nike has acquired TraceMe, the Seattle startup co-founded by Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and backed by investors including Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, YouTube founder Chad Hurley, Alibaba co-founder Joe Tsai, and Seattle-based Madrona Venture Group. Sources close to the deal confirmed the news to GeekWire. We’ve reached out to Nike and will update this story when we hear back. TraceMe launched back in 2017, spinning out of Seattle startup studio Pioneer Square Labs. The company aimed to connect celebrities with “superfans” through its app via behind-the-scenes content, community features, and more. But TraceMe pivoted late last year, laying off staff, shutting… Read More
Russell Wilson won’t suit up on Super Bowl Sunday but he’s still staying busy off the field in Atlanta this weekend. Russell Wilson’s TraceMe celebrity app cuts staff, closes L.A. office, pivots to sports prediction game The Seahawks star quarterback has been making the rounds all week, jumping from media interviews to sponsor events to high-profile parties before today’s big game. Top of mind for Wilson is Tally, a new sports prediction app developed by his Seattle startup that he’s been touting to reporters this week. The free-to-play app debuted a few months ago and offers real cash prize payouts to… Read More
One year after attempting to take on social media giants with its own content platform focused on celebrities, TraceMe is pivoting. The Seattle-based company, co-founded by Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, laid off staff last month and closed its Los Angeles office, CEO Jason LeeKeenan confirmed in an interview with GeekWire this week. The startup is shifting its business from a celebrity content app to a sports prediction game called Tally that offers real cash prize payouts. The app was released for iOS on Friday. The company laid off content-related and celebrity relations staff who were mostly working out of Los… Read More
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson appears to be planning something with China e-commerce giant Alibaba, chief rival to Amazon, the tech titan in Wilson’s hometown. Wilson tweeted a video from Alibaba’s China headquarters suggesting “ground breaking things” are in the works. “We can’t wait to see what things we’re going to do,” Wilson said. “It’s going to be exciting. Big things coming your way.” China! It's been real & amazing! Thanks @AlibabaGroup Can't wait to do some ground breaking things! @Ciara & @West2EastEmpire pic.twitter.com/5Npf5jAlpm — Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) July 6, 2018 In a separate video tweeted by Alibaba, Wilson and… Read More
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