Join us for our happy hour following our workshop. Unwind and celebrate with good company(s) after a day of insightful discussions. It's the perfect opportunity to network, relax, and enjoy some well-deserved downtime. See you there for libations and conversations! 🥂🎉

Join WTIA and Startup253 at our next workshop with Cameron Barber of TriNet. Cameron Barber is a certified PEO and HR consultant with TriNet. He has over 10 years of experience in consulting and entrepreneurship in Tacoma. Cameron is an expert in solving complex business problems, facilitating growth solutions, and streamlining strategies for growth and scalability. Cameron has been helping businesses accomplish their growth and compliance goals for over a decade.

Join WTIA, Tacoma's Maritime Innovation Incubator and Startup253 at our next Coffee with Co-Founders at Campfire Coffee with Crystal Clarity!

Crystal Clarity is the COO for s2s Public Relations and Communications, a boutique public relations firm serving startups and small businesses, primarily in the life sciences, biotech and clean tech sectors.

Crystal has built her career on the premise that clarity and authenticity build trust, strengthen relationships and foster success. She has spent the past 20 years working with startups, nonprofits and public sector organizations to build their brand through marketing, public relations, public affairs, events and internal communications.

A former journalist, Crystal's prior roles include TV news Executive Producer, Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Pacific Science Center and, most recently, she led new business vertical development and investor relations for a Seattle-based startup. Crystal is proud to call Pierce County home.

Join us for our happy hour following our workshop. Unwind and celebrate with good company(s). It's the perfect opportunity to network, relax, and enjoy some well-deserved downtime. See you there for libations and conversations! 🥂🎉

This interactive workshop from WTIA and Startup253 will help participants create, achieve, and measure better milestones for their startups. The workshop will leverage several mental models and the science of decision-making that lead to creating and achieving key milestones.

​Syed K Jamal is an International Ford Fellowship alumni. Before starting Collegey.com, he was with the US State Department's EducationUSA program. He has worked in media, non-profits, and academia. He lives in Tacoma, mentors students and startups at organizations like 76Forward, Rise, and Bridge for Billions. He is also on the board of the World Affairs Council of Tacoma. His cat, Laila and dog, Zizi, are his best friends.

Come down to the Creation Station to learn about key financial terminology, what CFOs do and what bases you need to cover until you can afford a Fractional CFO. You will also learn about basic accounting, risk management and compliance.

This course is presented by Tina J. Gentile, an esteemed financial executive and UCLA Anderson alumnus, who brings over two decades of expertise to her course, honed in roles at Goldman Sachs and as CFO in multinationals. Known for transforming financial functions beyond GAAP accounting and SEC Compliance, Tina has managed billion-dollar portfolios, navigated company turnarounds, and closed high-value deals. A passionate mentor for underrepresented entrepreneurs, she equips Founders with invaluable skills for managing rapid growth, building profitability, and understanding the real work of CFOs.

Join Startup253, Tacoma's Maritime Innovation Incubator and WTIA as we welcome Brian Frost at our February Coffee with Co-Founders. Brian Frost is a technology specialist with over 25 years in outside technology sales specializing in document management and office process solutions. Brian is technically certified on 7 different document management platforms and is an expert at solving common business problems with repeatable processes. Brian took over as GM of K-Startup Center early 2023 and is helping startups acquire the tools and skills they need to succeed in the United States.

Join us for our happy hour following our workshop. Unwind and celebrate with good company after a day of insightful discussions. It's the perfect opportunity to network, relax, and enjoy some well-deserved downtime. See you there for a joyful toast and delightful conversations! 🥂🎉

We're teaming up with WTIA for our upcoming workshop on financial literacy. Come and unravel the mysteries of budgeting, investing, and tax strategies. It's like decoding a treasure map, but with fewer pirate hats. Come learn how to make your dollars make sense!

Once again, we will be at La Cà Bar for our Ugly Sweater Toy Drive. This year we'll be teaming up with WTIA and Tacoma Maritime Innovation Incubator. Come out and join us for some networking and great food. We cannot wait to see all of those ugly sweaters. There will be a prize for the ugliest one!

This event is free, but a toy donation is encouraged. All donations will go to the Toy Rescue Mission. The Toy Rescue Mission's programs are designed to assist low-income parents with providing gifts for their children during the holidays. Register now because space is limited!

Join Startup253, Maritime Blue and Konbit Coffee as we host Emily Grantz of Functioning Workplace Consulting at our next Coffee with Co-Founders.

Emily Grantz (they/them) co-founded their consulting business in 2022, after witnessing how many organizations were still struggling with the shift to remote work. Together, Emily and Cassie Schmitt built a small Tacoma-based consultancy that helps businesses improve their meetings and remote work culture. Emily has experience with slowly growing a business while working. Emily has deep expertise in different styles of facilitation and believes that facilitation skills are crucial for every entrepreneur!

Come join us at the Creation Station to learn more. Coffee proudly brought to you by Konfit Cafe.

Join us in Gig Harbor with our special guest, Dave Montoure.

Dave Montoure is the co-founder of KettleFish Restaurants and ABS Kitchens, established in 2018. He is a restaurant industry veteran (20 plus years) and enjoys serving his community through his restaurants and in other capacities.

He also serves as Vice President of the Rotary Club of Port Orchard and was awarded Rotarian of the Year 2021. Additionally, he serves on the Greater Kitsap Chamber’s Board as Chair-Elect and was a member of the Task Force that united the former Silverdale and Bremerton Chambers of Commerce into the Greater Kitsap Chamber. He also chairs the Government Affairs Committee for the Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce.

KettleFish restaurant is an exciting new concept in fast-casual seafood. Their unique steam-kettle cooking process is ultra energy-efficient and fast. They are local, founded in Kitsap, and take pride in showcasing locally sourced (and sustainable) seafood meals in their clean and casual environment.

Food is sponsored by WTIA and will be provided by KettleFish. Also brought to you in partnership with VIBE Coworks.

Come join us on the Gig Harbor waterfront at Heritage Distilling for for this special event.

Join Startup253 and Tacoma's Maritime Innovation Incubator as we host our September Coffee with Co-Founders @ Luv-A-Latté Espresso. Our guest speaker is Frank D'Andrea of Mighty Capital, a venture firm based out of San Francisco.

This is an excellent to opportunity to sip on some java while diving into conversations about entrepreneurship, innovation, and growth.

So, mark your calendar, set your alarms, and make sure you don't miss this chance to caffeinate your entrepreneurial spirit with us. See you at Luv-A-Latté Espresso! ☕

As an entrepreneur, we know that your days are filled with endless possibilities, challenges, and hard work. That's why we want to offer you a well-deserved break, an opportunity to unwind, and a chance to connect with fellow like-minded individuals who are shaping the Tacoma Startup scene.

Why Attend?

Networking Opportunities: We bring together a diverse group of entrepreneurs, startup founders, and business enthusiasts from various industries. Expand your network, forge meaningful connections, and exchange ideas with professionals who share your passions.

Vietnamese Culinary Delights: Indulge in the authentic flavors of Vietnam with a wide array of mouthwatering dishes and refreshing beverages. Experience the unique blend of aromatic spices and traditional recipes that will tantalize your taste buds.

Relax and Recharge: Take a moment to relax and recharge in the cozy ambiance. Feel free to bring along your friends or colleagues to share in the camaraderie and celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship.

So come join us at La Cà Café in Parkland. This is La Cà's newest location, and although they don't have pho, they do have beer, wine and other Vietnamese street foods.

Come join Maritime Blue and Startup253 for a Congressional Startup Day Celebration with Representative Derek Kilmer and other members of the startup ecosystem, here in Tacoma!

We will be serving light snacks and refreshments. Please come ready to eat, ready to ask questions, and ready to network! RSVP below.

Our next Coffee with Co-Founders will be at Dancing Goats Coffee in Downtown Tacoma.

Jennifer English will also be joining us! Jennifer English has helped hundreds of businesses as the training coordinator at Spaceworks. So bring your business questions, and we'll provide the platform.

Also take this opportunity to connect, collaborate, and cultivate new relationships over a cup of freshly brewed coffee.

Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting your journey, this event is perfect for expanding your professional network and gaining valuable insights from industry experts. Don't miss out on the chance to make meaningful connections and discover new opportunities.

Our next Coffee with Co-Founders will be back at Campfire Coffee because we love it there. We also have Port of Tacoma Commissioner, Don Meyer, joining us.

Don Meyer is the former executive director of the Foss Waterway Development Authority and a former deputy executive director of the Port of Tacoma. He also currently serves on the Mid-County Leadership Team and UW-Tacoma’s Urban Studies Advisory Board.

Meyer is the past president of the Washington Public Ports Association and recently served on former Gov. Christine Gregoire’s Connecting Washington Task Force on transportation issues, is a member of Tacoma Rotary #8 and owns a small business in Pierce County. We look forward to connecting with him over coffee!

Did you ever wonder what a 3D print of your face looks like? Now you can find out at the Creation Station! We have all of the tools to make it happen. You can even build a chair or table with our scrap pallets, but we don't suggest you doing this after having a few drinks during our next happy hour. Save that project for our coffee event.

Come check out our new location and imagine what you can build (while sober)!

Discover the power of connection and storytelling at the captivating "People Buy People So What's Your Story and Strategy: A Business Development Primer" workshop led by the remarkable Amy Nguyen. Don't miss your chance to register for this transformative event!

In this interactive workshop, you'll dive deep into the core essentials of crafting a compelling business development plan that will set you on the path to success. From crafting a magnetic storyboard to executing your strategies with finesse, Ms. Nguyen will equip you with the tools you need to captivate your audience and leave a lasting impression.

Ms. Nguyen is a seasoned executive with over 20 years of global business development and corporate development experience, spanning biopharma and investment services. Throughout the course of her career, she has built expertise in growing companies into multiple hundred million dollar businesses. In her day job, she is Vice President of Business Development and Relationship Management for Catalyst Clinical Research, a global CRO helping to bring new treatment options to patients. When not in her day job, she provides advisory services through her consulting firm, New5Win. She is a past-chairperson of Women in BIO and Fab-5 and currently, a mentor with Palmer Scholars as well as a volunteer with St. Leo's Feeding Program and Heroes for the Homeless.

Are you ready to unwind, let loose, and embrace your inner karaoke superstar? If so, you should join us for at our next Happy Hour at the fabulous Odd Otter Brewery! From 6-8, tap into the magic of networking and enjoy a night filled with laughter, great conversations, and fantastic craft beer. Whether you're a regular or want to become a regular, this is the perfect opportunity to connect with other visionary minds and create lasting connections.

Those who want to keep the good times rolling can stay for karaoke starting at 9 pm. What are waiting for? Register today and start warming up those pipes!

You are cordially invited to our next Coffee with Co-Founders event at Red Elm Cafe in the historic Hilltop District. Take this opportunity to connect, collaborate, and cultivate new relationships over a cup of freshly brewed coffee. The first cup is on us.

Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting your journey, this event is perfect for expanding your professional network and gaining valuable insights from industry experts. Don't miss out on the chance to make meaningful connections and discover new opportunities.

Unlock the potential of your ideas with this workshop led by the seasoned Startup Ambassador, Nick Ellingson. With his track record of catapulting 250+ startups to success at WTIA, Nick is uniquely qualified to guide you through the process of refining and expanding your ideas into robust businesses. During this interactive session, you'll delve into effective ideation strategies, learn to validate your concepts, and discover how to morph your ideas into prosperous startups. Don't miss this unique opportunity where your idea could be the starting point of an incredible entrepreneurial journey.

Why did the entrepreneur bring an apple to the business meeting? Because he wanted to demonstrate his core values!

We can't promise you any more bad apple jokes at our upcoming Happy Hour at Incline Cider, but we can promise you a night of practice pitches, courtesy of our new Accelerate253 cohort. Our cohort members are the apple of our eye, and they're ready to show you why their ideas just might be the next big thing. Come out and show your support.

If that's not enough to get you to RSVP, we will also be providing appetizers and a variety of delicious ciders. Whether you're a fan of sweet, crisp, or dry, the first round's on us.

Unwind and learn some self-care techniques at our upcoming Paint and Sip event! You'll get to drink delicious beverages and create a beautiful painting under the guidance of Craft Theory founder Meredith Russell. But that's not all - you'll also learn tips and techniques for mindfulness, stress management and ways to stay energized and motivated.

Not only will you leave with a beautiful piece of art to hang on your wall, but you'll also leave feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and equipped with tools to help you take care of yourself.

RSVP now and get ready to self-care like a boss!