Seattle hosts some of the world’s most recognizable companies and remains a center for entrepreneurship and innovation.
## Headquartered or strongly based in Seattle - **Amazon** — global technology and e-commerce company with a major corporate headquarters presence in Seattle. - **Starbucks** — global coffee company founded and headquartered in Seattle. - **Nordstrom** — department store company founded and headquartered in Seattle. - **Expedia Group** — online travel company headquartered in Seattle. - **Zillow** — real estate technology company founded in Seattle. - **F5** — technology company headquartered in Seattle. - **Getty Images** — visual media company based in Seattle. - **Alaska Airlines** — major airline headquartered in the Seattle area. - **The Seattle Times Company** — media company based in Seattle. - **Port of Seattle** — public agency and major economic institution rather than a private company, but central to the city’s economy.
## Major regional employers with Seattle influence - **University of Washington** - **UW Medicine** and related healthcare systems - **Fred Hutch Cancer Center** - Numerous maritime, construction, architecture, and software firms
## Startup and innovation sectors - Cloud computing, AI, biotech, gaming, logistics technology, and consumer internet companies are especially prominent. - Many firms scale in close connection with the university, major tech employers, and venture networks.