GeekWire Inside the 2026 GeekWire Awards: Innovators reshaping how we work, build, and learn
May 9, 2026
Laura Ruderman, CEO of the Technology Alliance, brings a nonprofit’s view on regional innovation. Tracy Drinkwater, founder of the Seattle Universal Math Museum and award-winning STEM educator, talks hands-on math and human-centered learning. They discuss AI in education, what it means for teaching and critical thinking, and how communities and startups are reshaping how we work, build, and learn.
AI Snips
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AI As The Operating System For Real Estate
- House Whisperer treats AI as the operating system for real estate agents, automating follow-ups, scheduling, CRM updates, and background work so agents focus on the human parts of transactions.
- Luis Poggi runs meetings and nightly research pipelines with AI, using a Mac Mini plus Cloud Code to generate daily podcasts summarizing tasks and insights for his drive to work.
Morning Prayer Then AI Briefing Routine
- Luis Poggi described a personal routine where he prays, then listens to an AI-generated podcast of his tasks while driving to work to prepare for the day.
- He built a nightly "research factory" on a Mac Mini and uses Cloud Code plus engineer help to automate meeting memories and daily briefings.
Hands On Math Sparks Aha Moments
- The Seattle Universal Math Museum shifts math from abstract schoolwork to tactile, cultural, and historical experiences to spark curiosity and "aha" moments across ages and abilities.
- Tracy Drinkwater offers field trips, in-school visits, teacher training, and loanable kits so hands-on math reaches classrooms lacking time or resources.