The WA Advanced Technology Cluster is a WTIA program dedicated to making Washington and the Pacific Northwest the best place in the world to create, grow, and deploy advanced technologies.
We focus on three core technology areas:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Web3 & Blockchain
- Quantum Computing & Information Sciences
Our focus areas:
- Accelerate startups
- Attract investment
- Shape smart policy
Letter from Chair, Arry Yu
Arry Yu, Chair, WTIA Advanced Technology Cluster
Washington State has long been a global technology leader. But as AI, Web3, and quantum computing reshape every industry, we have a real opportunity to do more than participate in that shift. We can lead it.
That's the work of the WA Advanced Technology Cluster. We convene the researchers, founders, investors, policymakers, and enterprise leaders who are building Washington's advanced technology future, and we work to make sure the ecosystem around them is strong enough to match their ambition.
Raising the profile of advanced technology in Washington isn't just about recognition. It's about attracting investment, retaining talent, shaping smart policy, and signaling to the world that this is where the future gets built.
To that end, we've invested in research and thought leadership that makes the case:
- Seattle: City of Flywheels explores how Seattle's interconnected innovation ecosystems create compounding advantages for startups and established companies alike.
- Seattle Global AI Capital makes the case for Seattle's position as a world-class hub for artificial intelligence development and deployment.
We also convene the Seattle AI Leadership Council, bringing together senior leaders across industry, academia, and government to align on strategy, share insights, and accelerate Washington's AI leadership.
There is real momentum here. Our job is to build on it.
Arry Yu
Chair, WA Advanced Technology Cluster
WTIA Advanced Technology Leads
Arry Yu | Chair, Advanced Technology Cluster
Arry Yu is Chair of the WTIA Advanced Technology Cluster. She is also co-Founder & Executive Director of Convergence: Tech Policy Institute (C:TPI), the policy arm of 1871. A 3x serial founder who has raised over $35 million, she previously co-founded the U.S. Blockchain Coalition and served as Head of Strategy (U.S.) for the Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC). She is also a PSBJ “40 Under 40” honoree, adjunct professor at Portland State and Seattle University, and advisor to WTIA and the Milgard School of Business. She serves as Board Director and Head of External Affairs at the Northwest Quantum Nexus (NQN), Chair of the Cascadia Blockchain Council. Recognized as a catalyst for tech ecosystems, Arry excels at scaling bold ideas from zero to one and convening diverse stakeholders around mission-driven initiatives.
Alex Lightman, WTIA Scholar in Residence
Alex Lightman is the WTIA Scholar in Residence. An internationally recognized futurist, author, and technology pioneer, he is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with additional study at MIT Sloan and Harvard Kennedy School. He has spent over four decades commercializing frontier technologies and has advised the Obama and Trump administrations on emerging technology policy, as well as contributed to European Union AI regulation discussions. Lightman brings deep global insight into technology strategy, governance, and civilizational resilience, with extensive experience across artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, and innovation policy.
WTIA White Papers
Paper 1: Seattle's AI Advantage
Paper 2: Seattle: City of Flywheels
