How to get your startup into GeekWire
TL;DR
GeekWire is a technology news site founded in 2011 with deep roots in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. Founders reach it in two free ways: a news tip to tips@geekwire.com or the tip form, and the GeekWire Startup List, a database open to young tech startups based in Washington, Oregon, Idaho or British Columbia. News coverage is editorial and cannot be bought.
What is GeekWire?
GeekWire covers national tech news with a focus on the region's companies, from Amazon and Microsoft to local startups. It was started by journalists John Cook and Todd Bishop, who own it with chairman Jonathan Sposato. Next to the news it runs regional resources: the Startup List database, the GeekWire 200 ranking of top privately held Pacific Northwest startups and the GeekWork recruiting business. Its advertising page claims 1.5 million monthly readers, 25,000+ newsletter subscribers and 35,000+ monthly podcast downloads.
Who should pitch or submit to GeekWire?
- Pacific Northwest tech startups with news: a funding round, a product launch, a senior hire or an acquisition.
- Founders headquartered in Washington, Oregon, Idaho or British Columbia who want a free entry in the Startup List and a shot at the GeekWire 200.
- Startups outside the region with a story tied to Seattle tech, such as a deal with Amazon or Microsoft or a team opening in Seattle.
- Skip the Startup List if you are a service provider or agency, a subsidiary, publicly traded, majority owned by private equity, older than 15 years, or based outside the four areas. GeekWire says such entries will not be accepted.
How much does GeekWire cost?
News tips and Startup List entries are free. Editorial coverage is decided by the newsroom, so a tip brings no guarantee of a story. Paid options sit with the business team: sponsorships, newsletter and podcast ads, events and GeekWire Studios, its sponsored content arm. The advertising page publishes no prices; it offers a media kit and the address advertising@geekwire.com.
How do you share your startup on GeekWire?
- For news, open the GeekWire tip page or email tips@geekwire.com. The form asks for a subject and message; name and email are optional, and GeekWire says it will respect your anonymity.
- Put the news in the subject line: who, what, how much and when. Add contact details for follow-up questions.
- For the directory, fill in the GeekWire Startup List form: company name, full street address, category, logo at least 300 px wide, website, founding year and a contact person.
- Wait for review. All entries are reviewed by a human, and GeekWire verifies your company information and physical address before publishing.
- Do not file a separate entry for the GeekWire 200. A startup on the Startup List is already in the database used for the ranking.
Tips to get more out of GeekWire
- Lead with a regional angle: a Seattle team, local investors or customers, or a link to the area's big tech employers.
- Send funding news with the amount, the lead investor and what the money pays for, all in the first two sentences.
- Read recent stories by the reporter on your beat before you pitch, such as Todd Bishop on big tech or Kurt Schlosser on the Geek Life beat.
- Keep your Startup List entry current through the form's update option when you raise money, hire or move.
Our verdict
For Pacific Northwest founders GeekWire is the first media stop: the Startup List is free, human-checked and feeds the GeekWire 200. Startups from elsewhere need a real Seattle angle to get a story.
More options: see all tech media, blogs and newsletters. Planning the launch around this listing? The Fe/male Switch startup game walks women founders from idea to first customers.