Seattle-area startups OneCourt, Yoodli and Tin Can make TIME's Best Inventions of 2026

SpaceX's Redmond-built Starlink V5 and Valve's Steam Machine also made the list, while Microsoft was left off.

By West Coast News staff · October 15, 2026

Seattle skyline and Mount Rainier from Kerry Park — Seattle's skyline from Kerry Park.

Seattle-area companies took a string of spots on TIME's 2026 Best Inventions list, released Thursday, from a tactile sports tablet for low-vision fans to an ultrasonic chef's knife.

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OneCourt was recognized in accessibility for a tablet that turns real-time player and ball data into vibrations so blind and low-vision fans can follow live games with their fingertips. Yoodli was named in education for its AI platform for workplace communication skills, and Tin Can in parenting for its landline-style home phone for kids. Seattle Ultrasonics' C-200 knife, created by Modernist Cuisine alum Scott Heimendinger, also made the list.

Larger regional operations were honoured too: SpaceX's Redmond team for the Starlink V5 terminal, about 35% smaller and 52% lighter than its predecessor, and Bellevue's Valve for its Steam Machine. Amazon landed two spots, for its Amazon Pharmacy Kiosk and its Proteus warehouse robots, while Microsoft did not appear on the main list or among special mentions.

Three Vancouver companies were also recognized: Moment Energy for storage built from second-life EV batteries, Glüxkind for its Rosa self-pushing stroller and Form for its Smart Swim 2 Pro coaching goggles.