The Aurora Gala

A gala doesn’t cure cancer. Neither does a donation to the Buerk Center.

But the founders we support will change how we detect it.

At the 2026 Aurora Gala, Kelly Kaye stood up for our community literally —making an extraordinarily generous donation to win our dessert auction.

Since then, Kelly has been building.

Today, Vital View 3D is celebrating the grand opening of its new breast imaging center in Bellevue, bringing Washington its first Vera Scan: FDA-approved, non-compression breast CT that creates true 360° 3D images and scans each breast in seconds.

For women who have dreaded or avoided traditional compression mammography — and for women asking for better options for dense breast tissue or implants — that matters. Vital View is building an entirely different breast-imaging experience.

This is why the Aurora Gala exists.

We aren't raising money simply to hold a beautiful event. We're building a community around women who start companies, fund companies, take risks, and turn ambitious ideas into something real.

Kelly showed up for us.

Today, we'd love to see this community show up for her.

Congratulations to Kelly and the entire Vital View 3D team on opening your doors in Bellevue. This is exactly the kind of thing we mean when we talk about women building the future.

**SAVE THE DATE — THE 2027 AURORA GALA**
Friday, January 29, 2027
The Four Seasons Seattle

A black-tie celebration of the women building Seattle's innovation economy — and the leaders who champion them.

All proceeds benefit the Arthur W. Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Washington Foster School of Business.

Which are the best, standout UW alumni-founded wineries?

As the Aurora Gala approaches, we are turning our attention to making the evening unforgettable, featuring the best and most amazing entrepreneurs ... What wines should be featured at the Gala?

The Aurora Gala takes place January 23, 2026, at the AI House on Pier 70 — a celebration of Pacific Northwest innovation and benefitting the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship in the UW Foster School of Business at the University of Washington.

If you know a winery or collective built by a Husky founder, winemaker, or executive, please share their name.

Save the date for the inaugural Aurora Gala, January 23, 2026.
Seattle is home to visionary entrepreneurs, powerhouse investors, and world-changing companies—and these women receive unparalleled support from our community. The Aurora Gala is a celebration of what we've built together.

We'll honor the women starting companies, leading investment firms, and driving billion-dollar shifts—alongside the allies, enterprise partners, and investors betting big on their success.

The impact of women in innovation and venture is powerful, awe-inspiring, and impossible to ignore.

Love a beautiful aurora borealis over the Seattle skyline.