What TEDxSeattle does

TEDxSeattle is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates under license from TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) to independently produce local TED-format events in the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 2010 as TEDxRainier with 600 attendees, the organization rebranded to TEDxSeattle in 2019 and now anchors its programming around an annual flagship event at Seattle's McCaw Hall, a 2,800-seat auditorium, supplemented by TEDxSeattleWomen, TEDxSeattle Salons, TEDxSeattle Adventures, TEDxSeattle Cafe, and TEDxSeattle Live sub-brands. The organization is entirely volunteer-run across three tiers — a multi-year Core Team, an Extended Core Team, and day-of-event volunteers — and serves a community of thought leaders, business owners, professionals, students, and educators in the Seattle metropolitan area. Since founding, the organization has produced 275+ published talks featuring 130+ speakers, with cumulative online video views reported between 15 million and 35 million across sources.

The core product is an event-based content platform built on TED's "ideas worth spreading" framework, with no proprietary technology stack. Distribution runs through the tedxseattle.com WordPress site, Eventbrite for ticketing, and YouTube/Vimeo embeds for the talks archive. There is no public or partner-facing API, no mobile application, and no software products; the entire offering consists of live event experiences plus an evergreen video content library spanning topics in technology, science, arts, social issues, and public policy.

Revenue is generated through three streams: ticket sales for in-person events ($10 for Salons, $45 for Women watch parties, $60-$80 for combined flagship plus Women passes at Meydenbauer Theater, with virtual events typically free or low-cost); corporate sponsorships ranging from in-kind contributions to presenting-partner cash deals with Comcast Washington, WSECU, Microsoft, and others; and tax-deductible individual donations via the 501(c)(3) structure. Go-to-market is event-driven and community-led, leveraging the licensed TED brand, a monthly email newsletter, organic social media on Facebook, partner cross-promotion, and the archived video content library as ongoing top-of-funnel discovery. The organization maintains a single headquarters-style presence in Seattle with events held across McCaw Hall, Meydenbauer Theater, Town Hall, Pacific Science Center, MoPop, Elsom Cellars, and Art Love Salon.

Name

TEDxSeattle

Legal name

TEDxSeattle

Website

https://tedxseattle.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TEDxSeattle is a Seattle-based, volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit licensed by TED that produces an annual flagship conference at McCaw Hall plus TEDxSeattleWomen, Salons, and Adventures, monetized through ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Community Events

NAICS

Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Virtual, Hybrid & Livestream Event Coordination (HSACAAAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Learning Experience Platforms (LXP) & Learning Portals (EDAFAAAB)

Keywords

• Community event programming
• Live conference organization
• Nonprofit event management
• Speaker series production
• Licensed TEDx events

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations/Charitable Contributions: As a registered 501c3 non-profit organization, TEDxSeattle accepts tax-deductible donations from individuals to support operations.
2. Partnership/Sponsorship: Partnership opportunities range from small in-kind sponsorships to large cash sponsorships, providing brands access to TEDxSeattle's audience of thought leaders and innovators.
3. Ticket Sales: Revenue from in-person event tickets ranging from $45-$80 per event; virtual events offered free or at low cost.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

TEDxSeattle is a volunteer-run 501c3 nonprofit that, under license from TED, produces a portfolio of local TEDx programming in the Pacific Northwest. Its core deliverables include the annual TEDxSeattle conference at McCaw Hall, an annual TEDxSeattleWomen event, recurring Salons exploring single topics with past speakers, behind-the-scenes Adventures visits to local innovators, TEDxSeattleLive screenings of the TED Conference, and an online talks archive of 275+ videos with 35M+ views, all distributed via ticket sales, sponsor partnerships, and tax-deductible donations.

Product overview

TEDxSeattle operates as a platform of event-based offerings rather than a software product. The core portfolio includes the annual TEDxSeattle conference (McCaw Hall's 2800-seat venue), the annual TEDxSeattleWomen event, and TEDxSeattle Salons as intimate discussion events. Supporting offerings include TEDxSeattle Adventures for behind-the-scenes community access, TEDxSeattle Cafe for networking gatherings, and TEDxSeattleLive for TED Conference viewing events. All offerings share the TEDx mission of 'ideas worth spreading' but constitute event experiences rather than software products. The organization also maintains a talks archive of 275+ videos with 35+ million views, distributed via YouTube embeds.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TEDxSeattle Salons: Intimate events exploring different topics through TED videos, in-person panels, and audience discussion.
• TEDxSeattle Adventures

Products and services

• TEDxSeattle Annual Conference The flagship annual TEDx event in Seattle, featuring diverse speakers presenting ideas worth spreading across technology, arts, science, and social issues. Held at McCaw Hall's 2,800-seat auditorium and attended by thousands in-person and virtually.
• TEDxSeattleWomen An annual event combining live speaker presentations with video content from the national TEDWomen conference, exploring themes relevant to women and gender equity.
• TEDxSeattle Salons Intimate, interactive events featuring a few TED talks on a chosen theme, with past TEDxSeattle speakers participating in discussions and providing updates on their work. Held at partner venues across Seattle.
• TEDxSeattle Adventures Unique, behind-the-scenes events offering participants access to people and places making the local community dynamic, including tours of local businesses, laboratories, and cultural venues.
• TEDxSeattleLive Events where attendees watch unedited sessions from the TED Conference together in a community setting, experiencing the full TED Conference content locally.
• TEDxSeattle Cafe Small, intimate gatherings combining wine tasting with speaker introductions and networking opportunities at partner venues.
• TEDxSeattle Talks Archive An online repository of video talks from TEDxSeattle events spanning from 2010 to present, covering topics including technology, science, arts, social issues, and public policy, with 275+ talks and 35M+ cumulative views.

Quantifiable outcome

• 35M+ views of online speaker videos
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• MicrosoftminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTechnology partner providing support; Microsoft logo appears on past partners page with link to their sustainable development goals initiative.
• Comcast WashingtoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting partner for TEDxSeattleWomen 2020 and 2021 events; provides promotional support and sponsorship for women's programming.
• King5minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner providing news coverage and promotion for TEDxSeattle events to local television audience.
• WSECUcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting partner for TEDxSeattleWomen events and salon programming; credit union supporting local community events.
• CrosscutminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal news partner providing media coverage for TEDxSeattle events.
• Pacific Science CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPast Salon host partner for Science, Curiosity and Wonder salon event; provides venue for intimate TEDx discussions.
• Town HallminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPast Salon host partner for Cultures of Community salon; Seattle venue partner for TEDx programming.
• MoPop (formerly EMP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPast Salon host for The Function of Fantasy salon event; museum venue partner for TEDx programming.
• WTIA (Washington Technology Industry Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPast Salon partner; technology industry association collaborating on TEDx programming.
• Lane PowellminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLaw firm partner providing legal services sponsorship.
• Elsom CellarsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for TEDxSeattle Salon: Practice Letting Joy in while Coping with Loss; provides wine for events.
• Northwest Social Marketing AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosting partner for TEDxSeattle Salon: Trust in Action on social marketing and behavior change.
• Art Love SalonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for Creativity, Intent, and the Future of AI TEDxSeattle Salon at Seattle Tech Week 2026.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TEDxPortland: TEDxPortland operates under the same TEDx license structure, hosting an annual flagship event, Salons, and a video talk archive in the Pacific Northwest. It is the closest geographic peer to TEDxSeattle with a directly comparable event-driven nonprofit model.
• TEDxSanFrancisco: TEDxSanFrancisco runs a directly comparable TEDx event portfolio — annual flagship conference, Salons, and a YouTube-based talk archive — targeting thought leaders in another major U.S. tech city. Same license, same event taxonomy, same audience persona.
• TEDxNYC: TEDxNYC is one of the largest U.S. TEDx events, operating annual conferences and a deep talks archive with the same volunteer-led, sponsorship-and-ticket-supported nonprofit model as TEDxSeattle. Highly comparable in structure and audience.
• TEDxBoston: TEDxBoston operates a flagship event plus Salons and a speaker/idea-driven community under the same TEDx license. Comparable as a regional TEDx licensee with a similar partnership-driven revenue model.
• StoryCorps: StoryCorps produces community-driven recorded conversations distributed via an audio archive and broadcast partnerships. Same nonprofit, volunteer-supported, recorded-storytelling/archive model targeting community impact.
• Chicago Ideas Week: Chicago Ideas Week is a multi-day ideas-and-innovators festival with talks, week-long programming, and a community platform — structurally similar to TEDxSeattle's flagship-plus-Salons-plus-Adventures model.
• The Moth: The Moth produces live storytelling events, a podcast, and a video archive with a similar nonprofit/earned-revenue model and a comparable audience of thought-leader and general-public attendees. Closely analogous in event+content product mix.
• PopTech: PopTech curates an annual gathering of innovators and thought leaders with a published talks archive. Comparable as a nonprofit ideas-and-innovation event producer with a digital content archive.

Broad incumbents

• Aspen Ideas Festival: Aspen Ideas Festival is a larger, more established ideas-focused event hosted by the Aspen Institute. Same ideas-spreading mission and speaker-driven format, but at greater scale and with institutional backing rather than a volunteer nonprofit structure.
• TED (Parent Organization): TED is the parent licensor and global brand behind the TEDx program. TEDxSeattle's content distribution, audience expectations, and sponsor value are all anchored to TED's global platform, making it the most direct incumbent reference point.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tedxseattle
• Facebookfacebook.com/TEDxSeattle
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tedxseattle

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TEDxSeattle