2026 GeekWire Awards nominations open — help honor the best in Pacific Northwest tech

Nominations are open for the 2026 GeekWire Awards, set for May 7 in Seattle, and now is your chance to help us recognize outstanding tech entrepreneurs, innovators, deal makers and nonprofit leaders across the Pacific Northwest. Submit a nomination today!

The annual event will take place at Showbox SoDo and feature a VIP reception, sit-down dinner and fun entertainment mixed in. Tickets go fast, and early-bird pricing is available now on half and full tables, so contact [email protected] to reserve your table.

Nominations are being accepted across 12 categories, from Startup of the Year to Next Tech Titan, from Young Entrepreneur of the Year to AI Innovation of the Year.

Community nominations will be open until Feb. 25 and Pacific Northwest-based companies and individuals are eligible (Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia.) The nominations can be submitted by GeekWire readers, and self nominations are permitted. One nomination is as good as 20, so no need to flood the ballot box. Past winners are not eligible in the same category. 

A panel of judges will select five finalists per category and community voting will take place March 16 to April 17 on GeekWire.

Here are the nomination categories:

Leadership and Business

• CEO of the Year
• Young Entrepreneur of the Year
• Next Tech Titan
• Workplace of the Year

Innovation

• Innovation of the Year
• AI Innovation of the Year
• Health Innovation of the Year
• Sustainable Innovation of the Year
• Hardware/Robotics/Physical AI of the Year

Impact

• Startup of the Year
• Deal of the Year
• STEM Educator of the Year

Thanks to GeekWire Awards sponsors JLL, Baird, First Tech, and Amazon Sustainability. 

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