# George White

> George White is the Seattle-based co-founder and CEO of HeadLight, an infrastructure software company spun out of the University of Washington in 2005. A mechanical engineer by training, he has spent his career turning field observations into structured visual data for transportation agencies and engineering teams, from an award-winning asphalt-monitoring paper to mobile inspection software used on major public works projects.

- **Role:** Co-Founder and CEO at HeadLight
- **Organizations:** HeadLight Technologies, Pavia Systems, University of Washington, University of Washington CoMotion Labs
- **Education:** B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington
- **Known for:** Co-recipient of the Transportation Research Board's 2002 K. B. Woods Award for 'Online Tools for Hot-Mix Asphalt Monitoring.', Co-founded the University of Washington spinout that became HeadLight., Led HeadLight through its shift from online training products to field inspection and documentation software.

## Career timeline

- **2002** — Co-authored 'Online Tools for Hot-Mix Asphalt Monitoring,' which received the Transportation Research Board's K. B. Woods Award.
- **2005** — Co-founded Pavia Systems with Si Katara and University of Washington professors Joe Mahoney and Steven Muench; the company was spun out of UW and incubated by CoMotion Labs.
- **2015** — Pavia Systems evolved into HeadLight, focusing its identity on mobile, visual infrastructure inspection software.
- **2016** — HeadLight was reported in use on 42 Washington jobsites, including the SR 520 floating bridge and an Interstate 5 expansion.
- **2020** — HeadLight announced a $25 million investment from Viking Global Investors to scale its photo-based inspection software.
- **2021** — HeadLight appeared on the Inc. 5000 at No. 1,467.
- **Present** — Leads HeadLight as co-founder and CEO from Seattle.

## Achievements

- Co-recipient of the Transportation Research Board's 2002 K. B. Woods Award for 'Online Tools for Hot-Mix Asphalt Monitoring.'
- Co-founded the University of Washington spinout that became HeadLight.
- Led HeadLight through its shift from online training products to field inspection and documentation software.
- Led HeadLight when it secured a $25 million investment from Viking Global Investors in 2020.
- Co-authored a 2020 Louisiana Transportation Research Center evaluation of HeadLight e-construction inspection technology.
- Led HeadLight when it was ranked No. 1,467 on the 2021 Inc. 5000.

## Latest updates

- **2021-08** — HeadLight was listed at No. 1,467 on the Inc. 5000.
- **2020-11** — White publicly discussed HeadLight's support for Louisiana transportation crews documenting hurricane debris and road damage.
- **2020-07** — Appeared on the What Fuels You podcast to discuss HeadLight's evolution, fundraising, operating principles and vulnerable leadership.
- **2020-06** — HeadLight announced a $25 million investment from Viking Global Investors.

## Links

- Website: https://www.headlight.com/leadership/george-white/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-white-16762322
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/headlightiq

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/george-white
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-26