The finalists for CEO of the Year at the 2026 GeekWire Awards are leading startups and organizations across a diverse cross-section of the innovation economy, touching upon fintech, climate tech, frontline workforce software, food-and-beverage AI, and real estate technology.
This award, sponsored by Wilson Sonsini, celebrates leaders with vision, fortitude, creativity, and that impossible to define x-factor. The CEO of the Year finalists are: Tony Huang of Possible Finance, Aina Abiodun of VertueLab, Shelia Stafford of TeamSense, Karen Huh of Zucca, and Luis Poggi of HouseWhisper AI.
Now in its 18th year, the GeekWire Awards is the premier event recognizing the top leaders, companies and breakthroughs in Pacific Northwest tech, bringing together hundreds of people to celebrate innovation and the entrepreneurial spirit. It takes place May 7 at the Showbox SoDo in Seattle.
The 2025 CEO of the Year was Read AI co-founder and CEO David Shim, who has lead the Seattle company to more than $80 million in funding for its cross-platform AI meeting assistant and productivity tools.
Continue reading for information on the 2026 CEO of the Year finalists, who were chosen by a panel of independent judges from community nominations. You can help pick the winner: Cast your ballot here or in the embedded form at the bottom. Voting runs through April 16.
Tony Huang is co-founder and CEO of Possible Finance, a fintech startup that provides small-dollar loans and paycheck advances to people who need quick cash without a traditional credit check. The company had its first full year of consolidated profitability last year along with over $100 million in annual revenue. Possible has given funds to 1.6 million unique individuals and Huang says they’ve saved “hardworking everyday Americans” over $700 million — “costs they would have incurred if Possible didn’t exist.” The company is also hiring at its new downtown headquarters with multiple roles currently open.
Huang was previously a lead project manager at Axon, the leading manufacturer of non-lethal Taser stun guns, policing software, and supplies including in-car and policy body cameras.
Aina Abiodun is president and executive director of VertueLab, a longtime nonprofit that supports climate tech entrepreneurs at every stage as a funder, accelerator and connector. Last year, VertueLab supported 120 founders through various programs, helped win nearly $30 million in grant funds, and saw a cumulative 781 jobs created by its portfolio companies. VertueLab also co-founded the first ever Seattle Climate Innovation Hub, which is home to more than 150 climate-focused companies.
Abiodun has previously launched startups providing climate tech financing and consulting in the sector, served as CEO of a Berlin wellness company, and led brand strategy and been a creative producer for multiple companies, among other roles.
Shelia Stafford is CEO of TeamSense, a software platform used by employers for absence reporting and employee communications. The tech is SMS text-based, with no app to download, zero training and available in employees’ native language. It serves hundreds of thousands of frontline workers across manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, universities, stadium operations, mining, and more.
Stafford’s background includes three years at General Motors as a project manager and engineer as well as almost 10 years at Whirlpool Corp. She was also director of the innovation studio at Everett, Wash.-based industrial giant Fortive.
Karen Huh is co-founder and CEO of Zucca, a startup that uses generative AI to help food and beverage companies reimagine product development. Spun out of Pioneer Square Labs in March 2025, Zucca raised a $5 million seed round last July, and in February launched Smart Specs and Smart NFP (patent pending), which together keep formulas, nutrition fact panels, specs, and more connected and true. The features are already in use at food and beverage brands managing active product pipelines.
Huh was previously CEO at Joywell Foods. She also spent more than 10 years at Starbucks, was a VP at Bulletproof 360, and was an entrepreneur in residence at PSL.
Luis Poggi is co-founder and CEO of HouseWhisper, a real estate tech startup that uses AI to help alleviate the administrative overload that bogs some agents down. HouseWhisper emerged from Stealth last year with $10 million in funding to back its conversational AI that acts as the ultimate 24/7 personal assistant, helping agents stay organized with help on following up with clients, scheduling, CRM updates and more.
Poggi rose to VP of product and engineering during his more than 10 years at Zillow. He previously spent close to three years at online travel giant Expedia.
Astound Business Solutions is the presenting sponsor of the 2026 GeekWire Awards. Thanks also to gold sponsors Amazon Sustainability, Baird, BECU, JLL, First Tech and Wilson Sonsini, and silver sponsors Prime Team Partners.
The event will feature a VIP reception, sit-down dinner and fun entertainment mixed in. Tickets go fast. A limited number of half-table and full-table sponsorships are available. Contact [email protected] to reserve a spot for your team today.
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