Photos: Inside the GeekWire Awards, where it was ‘game on’ for a night of networking and more

There may not have been any high scores set on the vintage arcade and pinball machines at Wednesday night’s GeekWire Awards, but the name of the game at the annual event was definitely fun and celebration. Hundreds of tech community members turned out at the annual event in Seattle to honor the leading entrepreneurs and innovators across the Pacific Northwest. Showbox SoDo was packed with partygoers enjoying great food and drink, networking, trying their best at “Ms. Pac-Man” or “Frogger,” and posing in the photo booth. The night included music from jazz quartet Doughboy and the return of operatic sensation Rob… Read More

May 1, 2025 - 19:01

STEM Educator of the Year honoree Fatima Kamal tries her hand at pinball at the GeekWire Awards in Seattle Wednesday. (GeekWire Photo / Dan DeLong)

There may not have been any high scores set on the vintage arcade and pinball machines at Wednesday night’s GeekWire Awards, but the name of the game at the annual event was definitely fun and celebration.

Hundreds of tech community members turned out at the annual event in Seattle to honor the leading entrepreneurs and innovators across the Pacific Northwest.

Showbox SoDo was packed with partygoers enjoying great food and drink, networking, trying their best at “Ms. Pac-Man” or “Frogger,” and posing in the photo booth. The night included music from jazz quartet Doughboy and the return of operatic sensation Rob “The Drunken Tenor” McPherson singing about AI and video games.

Even popular “Pokémon” character Pikachu popped onstage at one point to help give away Atari game consoles.

Pikachu pops onstage with David Lampkin, regional VP of business solutions at Astound Business Solutions, center, and GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop. (GeekWire Photo / Dan DeLong)

Many thanks to Astound Business Solutions, the presenting sponsor of the 2025 GeekWire Awards. Thanks also to gold sponsors JLL, Baird, BECU, Wilson Sonsini, Baker Tilly, First Tech, ALLtech, and WTIA, and supporting sponsors Washington State Department of Commerce, Seattle Chamber of Connection, Seattle Metro Chamber and Showbox Presents.

Read about all the winners in our main awards story, and keep scrolling for a photographic recap of the event. And thanks again to everyone for attending!