A major Silicon Valley innovation organization is expanding its presence to the Pacific Northwest, launching two new startup acceleration programs in the Seattle metropolitan area. Plug and Play, which operates innovation initiatives across more than 60 global locations, will establish operations both in Seattle proper and in nearby Everett, Washington.
The organization’s Seattle-based program will be housed at the University of Washington’s Startup Hall, operating in partnership with UW’s CoMotion innovation center. This program aims to support between 10 and 15 startup companies annually.
The second location will be situated in Everett at a facility operated by SNBL, a Japanese contract research organization specializing in drug development and medical technology. This expansion is tied to a new investment fund, with Plug and Play serving as co-general partner alongside SNBL and SBI Holdings, a Japanese financial services firm. The fund will focus on investing in early-stage North American technology startups that will utilize the Everett space.
Beyond the accelerator programs, Plug and Play’s regional presence will include regular events, meetups, and collaborative programming with CoMotion Labs. The organization cited Seattle’s strong artificial intelligence ecosystem, anchored by tech giants Amazon and Microsoft and complemented by numerous AI-focused startups, as a key factor in choosing the region for expansion.
Plug and Play’s founder and CEO, Saeed Amidi, expressed enthusiasm about the organization’s entry into the Seattle market, highlighting the region’s dynamic technology sector and growing innovation ecosystem. The organization brings substantial credibility to the area, having previously invested in several successful technology companies including Dropbox, Guardant Health, Honey, Lending Club, and PayPal through its venture capital operations.
The University of Washington’s involvement represents a significant partnership for the initiative. François Baneyx, who serves as both CoMotion’s director and the university’s vice provost for innovation, praised Plug and Play’s track record, describing the organization as the world’s premier facilitator of connections between promising startups and progressive corporations.
This expansion marks a significant development for the Pacific Northwest’s startup ecosystem, bringing additional resources and opportunities to the region’s entrepreneurial community. The dual-location approach, with presences in both Seattle and Everett, demonstrates a comprehensive strategy to serve the broader
metropolitan area’s innovation needs.
Plug and Play’s business model extends beyond traditional startup acceleration, encompassing corporate innovation programs and venture capital investment. This integrated approach has proven successful in other markets and is now being brought to bear in the Seattle region.
The organization’s partnership with SNBL and SBI Holdings through the new investment fund adds a significant international dimension to the initiative, potentially creating new pathways for cross-Pacific collaboration and investment in the Seattle startup ecosystem.
The establishment of these new programs represents a notable vote of confidence in the Seattle region’s technology sector and its potential for continued growth and innovation. By bringing its global network and proven approach to startup development to the Pacific Northwest, Plug and Play is positioning itself as a significant new player in Seattle’s expanding technology landscape.
For local startups, these new programs offer fresh opportunities for growth, mentorship, and funding, while potentially creating new pathways for connection with corporate partners and investors both domestically and internationally.