Business Opportunities

When people think of business in the Seattle area they think of Microsoft and Boeing.  That's understandable, they are two of the most prominent and successful companies in the world.  Their success in export markets has been especially notable.  However, Seattle and Washington State as a whole provide tremendous opportunities in a wide variety of business sectors.  See these individual sections for more detail and prominent Seattle area companies.

Market Sectors

Technology
Includes software, RFID, telecommunications and gaming.  Also includes an extensive cluster of companies that work with Microsoft with complementary products as well as vendor support offices.

Outdoor Recreation
Seattle is one of the leading centers for outdoor recreation.  Many innovative companies were started in Seattle and contrinue to lead this business throughout the US.

Aerospace
Boeing says it all!  What is also true is that the cluster of companies that support Boeing is one of the most extensive industry sectors in the world.

Biotechnology
A hotbed and growing all the time.  Opportunities exist in both commercial applications as well as with public health research oriented comapnies.

Agriculture
One of the best kept secrets in the world.  Agriculture is actually the single largest sector in Washington State.  East of the Cascade mountains to the east of Seattle is one of the most product agricutural regions in the world.

Maritime
What do you expect, we are surrounded by water.  Seattle is home to the most extensive ferry system in the US, home the largest fishing fleet in the US and one of the largest concentrations of pleasure boats in the US.

Retail
World leaders in brick and mortar and eCommerce are headquartered here.  With some of the largest malls in the US, flagship stores of premier retail leaders and eCommerce innovation at every turn.

Medical Devices
Consumer and medical market products.  Some of the popular consumer devices as well as some of the most innovative devices for hospital and general public use.

Northwest Top 100
This is an annual list by the Seattle Times.  It was not developed based on revenue, but a combined score based on a number of benchmarks over a two year period.  See the link here at the Times website.  Note that many local newspaper sites require registration to view older content. This list was released June 18 2006.

Articles
LookSmart's FindArticles - Bonding with the US: the SME solution: Australia's Free Trade Agreement with the United States has opened a wealth of new opportunities for business, but tapping into this vast export market presents unique challenges, particularly for small-medium enterprises exploring the exciting possibilities
Business Asia, March, 2005