How Customers Find You—and Why They Buy

Struggling to turn interest into real revenue?

Learn how customers find you—and what actually makes them buy.

At the 2025 Firebrand Unconference, one theme dominated founder conversations: People.

People buying from you.
People working in your business.
People supporting you along the way.

This first Firebrand Action Lab focuses on the question at the heart of every business:

How do customers actually find you—and what makes them decide to buy?
Many entrepreneurs struggle with the same challenges:

• Explaining what they do clearly
• Starting meaningful conversations with potential customers
• Turning interest into real revenue
• Building trust in a crowded marketplace

This half-day working session brings entrepreneurs together to tackle these challenges in real time. It’s a working session—not a lecture. Come ready to engage, share, and make real progress in your business.

Participants will work through real business questions alongside peers, experienced mentors, and practical tools—including ways emerging AI tools can support customer communication and outreach.

By the end of the session, participants will walk away with:

• A clearer way to talk about their business and value
• New strategies for reaching and connecting with customers
• Practical tools to strengthen sales conversations and follow-up
• Peer and mentor insights tailored to their real business challenges

This session is designed for:

• Small business owners
• Early-stage entrepreneurs
• Founders preparing to grow their customer base

Whether you’re still figuring out how to start customer conversations—or looking to refine your approach—this Action Lab will give you practical strategies you can apply immediately.

We believe high-quality business support should be both valuable and accessible.

Standard ticket pricing helps sustain this work, while Community Supported and Scholarship tickets—made possible by Kitsap Bank—ensure that cost is not a barrier to participation.

If you’re able to purchase a Standard Ticket, you’re helping make this experience possible for others in the community.

Standard Ticket— $50
Community Supported Ticket — $35 (max 6 avail)
A reduced-rate option for entrepreneurs who would benefit from additional support. Includes full access to the experience. Limited availability.

Scholarship Ticket — $0

A small number of scholarship tickets are available, supported by our partners, to ensure access for all entrepreneurs in our community.

If cost is a barrier, please email us at [email protected]. We’d love to work with you to make sure that you can participate fully.

The Firebrand Action Labs were created in response to feedback from founders at the Firebrand Unconference. Entrepreneurs asked for opportunities to do deeper on the real challenges of running a business, but in formats that respect their already busy schedules.

Each Lab convenes a small group of entrepreneurs for a facilitated, highly interactive session focused on one of the priority themes raised by founders themselves.

Instead of panels or presentations, participants work through real obstacles together, turning ideas into action.

is igniting Kitsap's collective imagination, one entrepreneur at a time.
Matchstick Lab collaborates with regional, national, and international partners to deliver education, investment, and storytelling resources that unlock the full potential of Kitsap’s entrepreneurs and celebrate the region’s distinct heritage, talent and ingenuity.

Thanks to fiscal sponsorship through the Kitsap Community Foundation, Matchstick Lab operates as a 501(c)(3), ensuring accessibility and support for startups, small businesses, and social enterprises. Learn more at matchsticklab.co.

Info: Unpack real customer challenges and identify what’s actually getting in the way of growth.

Info: Understand what drives customer decisions—and how to turn attention into action.

Info: Get direct input on your business, test ideas, and leave with clear next steps.

Info: Capture key takeaways and commit to your next move.

Info: Build relationships, continue conversations, and learn from others in the room.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Matchstick Lab