This week on the GeekWire Podcast: What should Liverpool FC fans expect from Jeff Bezos as a member of the storied English Premier League club’s new minority ownership group? We consult the Amazon leadership principles for the answer.

Plus, a tip and an SEC filing lead to a scoop on a former Meta AI director’s new startup, the GeekWire Editorial Board convenes to decide whether Dave Clark’s Auger stays on the GeekWire 200 after moving its HQ to Dallas, and Microsoft quietly semi-retires its AI blob.

Related Stories and Links

Bezos and Liverpool FC

• Group including Jeff Bezos buys minority stake in Liverpool FC, with option to become controlling owner — CNBC
• Liverpool: FSG sell minority stake to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos-backed consortium led by Amit Bhatia — Sky Sports
• Bezos, Bhatia buy a stake in Liverpool: What does it mean for the club and FSG? — ESPN
• Bezos, Bhatia, Saverin buy Liverpool stake at $7 billion valuation — Sportico
• The Redmen TV — independent Liverpool FC fan channel

Noosphere and the Form D

• Ex-Meta AI research director raises $10.25M from Trilogy and Madrona for stealth physical AI startup
• Kevin T. Carlberg — founder’s research site

Auger and the GeekWire 200

• This former Amazon exec is moving his startup’s HQ to Texas, and he has a few notes for Seattle
• Dave and Leigh Anne Clark move Auger headquarters to Dallas — D Magazine
• GeekWire 200
• Seattle Engineering Centers
• New map traces Washington state’s tech ‘universe’ to a few key hubs, and shows what’s at risk
• ‘We can’t become callous’: KIRO hosts debate what a startup’s departure to Texas says about Seattle’s business climate — MyNorthwest

Microsoft and Mico

• Farewell, Mico: Microsoft’s cute little AI blob is going the way of Bob
• Microsoft starts merging its Copilot consumer and business apps in advance of ‘Super App’ rollout

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Jeff Bezos may never again “walk alone.”

The Amazon founder is reportedly part of a group interested in buying a 30% stake in Liverpool Football Club, the storied English Premier League soccer team whose legendary fans belt out the show tune “You’ll Never Walk Alone” before each home match.

Bezos would join a group that includes the former co-owner of soccer club Queens Park Rangers, Amit Bhatia, who is looking to pay £1.35 billion (about $1.8 billion) for the stake, reports The Guardian. The stake is being sold by current owner Fenway Sports Group, the firm that also owns The Boston Red Sox.

Bezos, who founded Amazon in Seattle in 1994, is considered the fourth richest person on the planet with a net worth estimated by Forbes at $224 billion.

The billionaire has long been rumored as a possible sports team owner, and his name was often tossed out as a possible buyer of the Seattle Seahawks and the Washington Commanders. Earlier this month, venture capitalist Vinod Khosla and his family emerged as the lead bidder for the Super Bowl champion Seahawks at a reported purchase price of $9.6 billion.

In addition to his recent marriage to former journalist Lauren Sanchez, Bezos also is highly engaged with his space venture Blue Origin and a new AI company by the name of Prometheus, which just raised $12 billion and where he serves as co-CEO.

Owning a piece of a UK soccer club has become a status symbol of sorts for wealthy Americans, perhaps driven by the popularity of shows like Ted Lasso and Welcome to Wrexham. The latter is a documentary that tracks Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney and their exploits of owning the Welsh team Wrexham FC.

American owners currently own outright or a piece of some of the top clubs in the English Premier League, including Chelsea led by Todd Boehly; Arsenal owned by Stanley Kroenke; and Manchester United owned by the Glazer family. Liverpool also is considered one of the top soccer clubs on the planet, winning the Premier League trophy in the 2024-2025 season.

On a smaller scale, Remitly co-founder Shivaas Gulati joined an ownership consortium two years ago that purchased Southend United, a football club founded in 1906 and located in Southend-on-Sea, about an hour from London. They play in the National League, which is the fifth tier of English soccer.

The English Premier League season starts on Friday, Aug. 21 when defending Premier League champs Arsenal take on newly-promoted side Coventry City.