Lunchtime Lightning Talk: Funding Options That Fit Your Stage

Money doesn’t grow on trees, but it does grow in Kitsap. The challenge for entrepreneurs is figuring out which funding paths actually work for their stage of business.For some, that means bootstrapping or leaning on personal networks. For others, it’s navigating microloans, crowdfunding campaigns, or other creative sources of capital. Each path comes with tradeoffs, challenges, and lessons learned along the way.

We’re diving in deep this month for real talk with 3 local entrepreneurs, here to share their experiences in funding their businesses — including what’s worked, what hasn’t, and the surprises they’ve encountered.

Hear directly from founders on the funding strategies they’ve tried, and expect to leave with fresh ideas and practical inspiration for fueling your own next step.

Come ready to listen, learn, and find new inspiration. Leave your ego at the door, and engage in authentic conversations from peers who are in the trenches and 'doing the thing', battle scars and all.

Informal conversation and networking begins at 11:30am. Lightning Talks begin at 12pm and end promptly at 1pm. BYO lunch!

Join us on October 8, 11:30am at Vibe Coworks in Poulsbo.

Details coming soon!

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: BYO lunch, meet and catch up with fellow business owners, entrepreneurs, and innovators ahead of the program start at 12PM.

Info: Three local entrepreneurs share real stories on this month’s theme—fast, candid, and founder-centered.

Info: A candid space to ask questions, swap perspectives, and share your own experience.

Host or Publisher Matchstick Lab