The scene inside the 2023 GeekWire Gala on Wednesday night at the Showbox Market in Seattle. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)
A frosty night inside Seattle’s Showbox Market warmed our geeky hearts on Wednesday as the tech community came together to celebrate the holidays at the annual GeekWire Gala.
More than 600 attendees turned out for a night of networking, dancing, singing and partying as a winter theme took over the historic venue in downtown Seattle.
Partygoers packed the dance floor and the “Geekaroke” karaoke lounge; a select few took the stage for a fierce holiday fashion contest; they sipped specialty cocktails and munched on tasty treats; they posed all night in the glittery photo booth; had their caricatures drawn; took home airbrushed tattoos; and more.
Several of the competitors in the holiday fashion contest at the GeekWire Gala in Seattle on Wednesday. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)
In a special program before the official party kicked off, we paid tribute this year to the region’s “Uncommon Thinkers” — Seattle-area inventors, scientists, technologists and entrepreneurs transforming industries and driving positive change in the world.
The honorees included: University of Washington professor and entrepreneur Shwetak Patel; Brinc founder and CEO Blake Resnick; MagniX CTO Riona Armesmith; USAFacts President Poppy MacDonald; Seattle Children’s Hospital attending anesthesiologist Dr. Elizabeth Hansen; and Boundless co-founder and CEO Xiao Wang. (Click on each name to read GeekWire profile stories on the winners, and check back Saturday for GeekWire Podcast interviews with some of them.)
Four of the Uncommon Thinkers honorees in attendance at the GeekWire Gala in Seattle, including, second from left: Shwetak Patel, Dr. Elizabeth Hansen, Poppy MacDonald, and Xiao Wang. They’re joined on stage by Greater Seattle Partners COO Rebecca Lovell, left, and GeekWire co-founder John Cook, right. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)
Thanks to our additional gold-level sponsors: Greater Seattle Partners & RSM, US LLP; silver level: Pilot Capital, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, SolluCIO, Prime Team Partners, Remitly, Submittable, Sigma Computing, Cohesity, and Xenomode; and supporting level: World Trade Center Seattle, Hal9, Lexion, American Diabetes Association, and Sonic Symphony World Tour.
And thanks to everyone for making our party your party. Happy holidays!
Keep scrolling for more photos from the 2023 GeekWire Gala:
The 2023 GeekWire Gala at the Showbox Market in Seattle. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)Rebecca Lovell, left, of Greater Seattle Partners, and GeekWire co-founder John Cook present the Uncommon Thinkers honorees at the GeekWire Gala. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)DJ Mixxtress at the 2023 GeekWire Gala. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)A caricature is drawn at the 2023 GeekWire Gala at the Showbox Market in Seattle. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)Making the rounds with specialty cocktails at the GeekWire Gala. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)Dishing up food at the meatball bar at the 2023 GeekWire Gala. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)GeekWire co-founder John Cook, left, working the crowd reaction for disco-ball dressed competitors in the fashion showdown at the GeekWire Gala. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)The 2023 GeekWire Gala at the Showbox Market in Seattle. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)The 2023 GeekWire Gala at the Showbox Market in Seattle. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)The 2023 GeekWire Gala at the Showbox Market in Seattle. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)The 2023 GeekWire Gala at the Showbox Market in Seattle. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)The 2023 GeekWire Gala at the Showbox Market in Seattle. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)The 2023 GeekWire Gala at the Showbox Market in Seattle. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)Performing in the karaoke lounge at the 2023 GeekWire Gala at the Showbox Market in Seattle. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)Inside the karaoke lounge at the 2023 GeekWire Gala at the Showbox Market in Seattle. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)The 2023 GeekWire Gala at the Showbox Market in Seattle. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)The 2023 GeekWire Gala at the Showbox Market in Seattle. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)The 2023 GeekWire Gala at the Showbox Market in Seattle. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)
