As one of just 76 awardees nationwide, Matchstick Lab will use the funds to lay the foundation for Kitsap’s first investor network and capital strategy, expanding funding pathways for local entrepreneurs.
POULSBO, Washington (November 19, 2025)—Matchstick Lab has been awarded $75,000 through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Phase One 2025 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC)—one of only 76 organizations selected nationwide from a record-breaking number of applicants.
The award will enable Matchstick Lab to launch Kitsap’s first Capital Formation Initiative, designed to map the investor landscape, assess small business funding gaps, and convene key stakeholders to create a data-driven capital strategy. This marks the Kitsap Peninsula’s first known initiative focused specifically on capital access for startups and small businesses in the West Sound region.
Matchstick Lab Executive Director, Alanna Imbach commented:
“Entrepreneurs across Kitsap have told us again and again that access to capital is one of their greatest challenges. Too many promising businesses stall out because the funding pathways just aren’t there, or they have to leave Kitsap to find them. With this award, we finally have the means to build a foundation that keeps innovation and investment rooted in our community.”
Matchstick Lab will use the Phase One funds to conduct in-depth research, engage with local investors and entrepreneurs, and develop a capital formation roadmap that addresses Kitsap’s specific funding gaps. This groundwork will inform a larger Phase Two plan aimed at strengthening investor networks and ensuring entrepreneurs can move from idea to execution without leaving the region.
Voyager Capital co-founder and Matchstick Lab Advisory Team Member, Enrique Godreau III commented:
“As someone who has spent a career building and observing innovation networks in many regions, it is clear that Kitsap is poised for this breakout moment. This Growth Accelerator Fund Competition Award accelerates the ability to build a strong capital environment right here in the Kitsap—one that can attract investment, unlock founder capacity, and generate long-term prosperity for the community.”
Matchstick Lab is known for convening Kitsap’s entrepreneurial community. Together with ongoing programs like the Firebrand Unconference, the Matchstick Lab Micro Business Accelerator, partnerships with the U.S. Navy’s Northwest Tech Bridge, and peer-based support communities such as Entrepreneurs Anonymous, the new capital formation initiative deepens Matchstick Lab’s role in connecting entrepreneurs to diverse funding sources, ensuring that every business in Kitsap, regardless of size or stage, has access to the right financial resources at exactly the right time.
The effort is about more than increasing access to funding; it is about connecting capital with community. By activating local investors and linking them with promising ventures surfaced through Matchstick Lab and nurtured within Vibe Coworks, the initiative aims to keep innovation rooted in Kitsap while ensuring success circulates back into the region.
“This award shows that what we’re building here can be a model for inclusive growth,” Imbach added.
“We envision a future where entrepreneurs in Kitsap can access diverse funding sources as easily as they would if they were in a major city, supported by a strong network of angel investors, financial institutions, and venture capital.”
Call to Action – Join Kitsap’s Capital Formation Initiative
Matchstick Lab is actively seeking to connect with current and aspiring angel investors, venture capitalists, and philanthropic leaders who are interested in fueling innovation and entrepreneurship in Kitsap and the Greater Peninsula region. Those interested in learning more or participating in this initiative are encouraged to contact Alanna Imbach at alanna@matchsticklab.co.
About the Growth Accelerator Fund Competition
The Growth Accelerator Fund Competition is the SBA’s flagship initiative for strengthening innovation ecosystems across the U.S. This year’s competition drew the largest number of applicants in its history. Over the last decade, SBA has awarded more than $33 million to winners throughout the U.S. and its territories. See the full list of 2025 awardees here.