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Need help defining your business strategy? Eager for encouragement and accountability to keep you on track? Hungry for thought partnership and experienced peer feedback?

Join us for a brand new, five-month micro business accelerator program in Poulsbo, specifically crafted to supercharge the entrepreneurial endeavors of startup founders and small business owners like you who are ready to take their big ideas to the next level.

By the end of the program, you’ll be armed with a rock-solid business plan, key marketing assets, and a village of peers and expert advisors who will continue to rally around you with support, resources and connections as you launch and scale your venture.

What you’ll get

• highly personalized technical assistance
• one-on-one and small group business coaching
• coworking membership + private office access at Vibe Coworks
• 8-week intensive business plan training course (optional, but recommended!)
• monthly lunchtime lightning talks + peer networking on key topics (optional, but recommended!)
• marketing assets, including professional headshots and a business intro video
• a supportive peer community
• access to follow-on opportunities that may include capital, talent development, and storytelling resources

Who should apply

YOU! Specifically, current and aspiring founders and small business owners who:

• have fewer than 5 employees
• are deeply committed to working on their business
• are hungry for a supportive peer entrepreneur community and are eager to uphold the Give First philosophy
• will actively work from the Matchstick Lab office at Vibe Coworks when they’re able, and will actively engage with the accelerator cohort in-person and online
• have traditionally been excluded from business ownership opportunities and resources, including those who identify as Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), people with disabilities, veterans, women, LGBTQ+ people, and returning citizens

There are no limitations on business type, stage, revenue or geography (so long as you can make it in to Vibe Coworks for our in-person activities).

A maximum of 10 current or aspiring startup founders and small business owners will be admitted to the inaugural cohort.

Applicants will be notified of their acceptance into the program via email by February 8, 2023.

Cost

Zero. Zilch. Nada!

The micro business accelerator is made possible thanks to funding provided by the Washington State Microenterprise Association (WSMA) together with Kitsap Bank, through a grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce secured by the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance.

Time commitment

If selected, you are expected to actively participate in the program events and activities outlined under the Key Dates below to the greatest extent possible. In particular, the Business plan training track is optional (though highly recommended!).

In addition to these dates, a key component of the accelerator program revolves around individual and small group mentoring. The schedule for peer mastermind groups, mentor office hours and personalized coaching sessions will be determined by you, your fellow cohort members and your mentors and coaches during the first week of March.

Generally, you should expect to commit a minimum of 5 hours per week, which includes individual work that you are doing on your business throughout the week at times of your choosing, and any peer group, mentor sessions, business plan training classes, and lunchtime lightning sessions.

Important note: We recognize that many participants hold other jobs while they are building and scaling their startups, and that you may be unable to attend all of the offered workshops and events. Similarly, we appreciate that some Founders may be juggling personal responsibilities that may make it difficult to attend events that take place in the evening hours.

If this is the case for you, please contact us so that we can work with you to find a solution, including especially around any childcare needs. We’re here to support you!

Key dates

JANUARY 18
Applications open

FEBRUARY 5
12pm Midnight
Application period closes

FEBRUARY 8
Matchstick Lab cohort announced

FEBRUARY 15
11:30am – 1:30pm I Vibe Coworks
Matchstick Lab Founder Meet + Greet luncheon and program onboarding

MARCH 3
Time TBD I Vibe Coworks
Meet the Matchstick Mentors + 1st Friday happy hour

JUNE 14
4:30 – 6pm I Vibe Coworks
End of program celebration

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Mentors + Coaches

Interested in serving as a mentor or coach?

Please join us! We’re looking for mentors and coaches who are eager to help early stage founders and small business owners navigate new business ownership and preparations to scale, working one-on-one and in small groups on a volunteer basis to help them achieve their goals. 

Mentors will be matched with entrepreneurs who can most benefit from their expertise, interest and availability.

Engagement will include a schedule of open office hours to be held at Vibe Coworks, as well as one-on-one or small group time as determined together by you and your mentees. In addition, mentors are asked to participate specifically in the following full-cohort events:

MARCH 3
Time TBD I Vibe Coworks
Meet the Matchstick Mentors + 1st Friday happy hour

JUNE 14
4:30 – 5:30pm I Vibe Coworks
End of program celebration

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Program partners

Funding for the Matchstick Lab micro-business accelerator at Vibe Coworks has been provided by the Washington State Microenterprise Association (WSMA) together with Kitsap Bank, thanks to a grant made by the Washington State Department of Commerce and secured by the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance.

What is Matchstick Lab?

Matchstick Lab is a dynamic, high-touch entrepreneurial hub at Vibe Coworks, especially crafted for startup founders and small business owners from across the West Sound region.

While Vibe Coworks has always had a strong focus on entrepreneurship, the launch of Matchstick Lab in partnership with Kitsap Bank allows us to more formally create an epicenter of entrepreneurial-focused programs and activities that better serve the whole of our West Sound community and go above and beyond coworking space.

This work is done in in close collaboration with key drivers of our local ecosystem, including leading private sector business leaders, and entities such as the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance (KEDA), PNW Mission Acceleration Center (MAC), WWU Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) among others.

Pending funding, future work is anticipated to include: an on-going accelerator program, intentional mixer events, a startup supper club for local angel investors, pitch competitions, founder launch parties, coworking scholarships for high-potential founders, work around community storytelling and more.

If you’d like to get involved, or if you have interest in funding future Matchstick Lab initiatives, please contact Alanna Imbach.

See also: Vibe Coworks and Kitsap Bank announce the launch of Matchstick Lab to support entrepreneurs