20Fathoms

Demystifying Venture Capital, presented by ID Ventures
2025-04-15 10:30 - 11:30 (America/Detroit) | 20Fathoms, 10850 East Traverse Highway, #Ste 4400, Traverse City, MI, 49684, United States
Learn how venture capital works and how your startup can prepare for funding

Raising venture capital can feel like a mystery for early-stage founders, but it doesn’t have to be. Join 20Fathoms, ID Ventures, and Michigan Rise + Red Cedar Ventures for a candid conversation on how venture capital (VC) works, what investors look for, and how startups can prepare for funding.
This session is designed for founders who are new to the VC landscape, offering a straightforward discussion followed by an open Q&A.
Presenters include:

Jeff Ponders II, Principal, ID Ventures
Pete Martin, Director of Portfolio Management, Michigan Rise + Red Cedar Ventures
‘Tember Shea, Community and Portfolio Manager, ID Ventures

Who should attend:
Idea- and early-stage startups and entrepreneurs interested in learning about funding.

This event is part of Northern Michigan Startup Week. View the full schedule for this week of events celebrating entrepreneurship, innovation, and the growing startup community in Northern Michigan.
About ID Ventures
ID Ventures scales promising early-stage ventures into thriving companies that help support the state’s economy, provide jobs to local talent, and bolster Michigan’s growing startup community. In addition to capital, their team of experts works with ecosystem partners across their network in order to help companies prepare for follow-on funding, scale their teams, and develop their boards and advisors. Learn more: https://idventures.com/
About 20Fathoms
Based in Traverse City, 20Fathoms is a nonprofit organization and the hub for entrepreneurship and innovation in Northwest Michigan. The 20Fathoms team works with entrepreneurs of all stages and industries, and also offers specialized services to meet the unique needs of technology-focused startups. Programs include startup education, business coaching, TCNewTech pitch competitions, access to capital, a vibrant coworking space, and general resources and support. For more information visit: https://20fathoms.org/

TCNewTech Pitch Competition
2025-04-15 16:30 - 19:30 | City Opera House, 106 E Front St, Traverse City, MI, 49684, United States
Community, connections, and the region’s most innovative ideas

The TCNewTech Pitch Competition is a fun and free public event featuring Michigan-based startups. Come hear founders pitch their innovative business ideas on stage and compete for cash awards. Each presenter will be allowed 5 minutes to present their business, followed by a 5 minute Q&A with the judges. A panel of expert judges will review each startup, determine the best and most innovative idea, and audience members will vote for their favorite. See who will walk away with the First, Second, and Audience Choice Award!
Beyond the pitch, build connections with entrepreneurs, innovators, students, and startup enthusiasts who are driving the region’s growing startup community. Come early and join the university demo prior to the pitch competition. Stick around and attend the after party for continued networking.
This event is part of Northern Michigan Startup Week. View the full schedule for this week of events celebrating entrepreneurship, innovation, and the growing startup community in Northern Michigan.
20Fathoms plans to take photos and video during this event. By attending the event, you agree to being photographed and filmed, which may be used for marketing purposes.
Apply to pitch Ready to share your big idea? TCNewTech is a place to get exposure for your new business and win awards. Deadline to apply to pitch at the April TCNewTech is this Thursday, March 13.
Event schedule
4:30 – 5:30 pm: Doors open! Visit the University Demo in the lobby to learn more about what Michigan students are working on and vote for your favorite. Cash bar.
5:30 – 6:45 pm: Pitch competition.
6:45 – 7:30 pm: Networking.
7:30 pm – ?: Afterparty at 7 Monks TC, right around the corner from City Opera House! Connect with pitch presenters and others in our entrepreneurial community.
Parking: There are several surface lots and street parking around the City Opera House. There is also the Larry C. Hardy Parking Deck two blocks to the east down Front Street.
Presenting Partner:

Supporting Partners:

Special thanks to our venue partner, 7 Monks Taproom:

About TCNewTech
A program of 20Fathoms, TCNewTech is a recurring pitch competition supported by tech enthusiasts, businesses, and entrepreneurs. Founded in 2015 as a way to connect local tech professionals, TCNewTech is a critical component in Traverse City’s growing startup community. Since its founding, more than 250 companies have pitched and $60,000 in pitch awards have been given to startups.
About 20Fathoms
Based in Traverse City, 20Fathoms is a nonprofit organization and the hub for entrepreneurship and innovation in Northwest Michigan. The 20Fathoms team works with entrepreneurs of all stages and industries, and also offers specialized services to meet the unique needs of technology-focused startups. Programs include startup education, business coaching, TCNewTech pitch competitions, access to capital, a vibrant coworking space, and general resources and support. For more information visit: https://20fathoms.org/

Women in Tech Meetup & Panel Discussion
2025-04-16 17:00 - 19:00 | Tank Space on 8th, 1110 East Eighth Street, Traverse City, MI, 49686, United States
Join us for a special edition of Women in Tech!

This special edition of Women in Tech, held at the Lunar Lounge at Tank Space, will feature a panel showcasing regular Women in Tech attendees! Hear from career changers and new founders and stay for informal networking – maybe you will meet a new client or friend!
Panelists, featuring Women in Tech regulars:

Jaime Edmondson, Founder & Design Master, Spellbound Creative Studio
Sabrina Jordan, Founder & Data Architect, 8bit Insights
Jamie Gleason, Senior Full Stack Software Engineer

***Please note the venue change this month — we’ll be at Tank Space!***

About Women in Tech
Each month Women in Tech gathers to build community and support amongst women working in, or interested in, the tech industry and tech-related roles.
This meetup is casual, fun, and easy to drop into. We talk about what we’re currently working on, share our stories, and pool our collected expertise to support each other on our journeys.
This informal meetup is meant to help women build local connections and work on their professional growth (yeah, support systems!). Gatherings are often made up of half returning and half new women, creating a welcoming and approachable energy.
This event is free and open to all, including students! Light snacks will be provided. Registration is requested to ensure ample seating, but walk-ins are always welcome. Look for the Women in Tech/ 20Fathoms signage.
We can’t wait to see you!

This event is part of Northern Michigan Startup Week. View the full schedule for this week of events celebrating entrepreneurship, innovation, and the growing startup community in Northern Michigan.

Thank you to our event partner:

About 20Fathoms:
Based in Traverse City, 20Fathoms is a nonprofit organization and the hub for entrepreneurship and innovation in Northwest Michigan. The 20Fathoms team works with entrepreneurs of all stages and industries, and also offers specialized services to meet the unique needs of technology-focused startups. Programs include startup education, business coaching, TCNewTech pitch competitions, access to capital, a vibrant coworking space, and general resources and support. For more information visit: https://20fathoms.org/

Manistee Startup Bootcamp, Powered by CO.STARTERS
2025-04-16 17:00 - 20:00 | West Shore Community College Downtown Center, 400 River Street, Manistee, MI, 49660, United States
A four-part series for launching your big idea

Note: This is a 4-part series. Attendance at all 4 sessions is highly encouraged to maximize your learning; each session is designed to build on the last. Your registration/ticket for the first session represents registration for all four sessions.
Entrepreneurship is an exciting journey, but the path forward isn’t always clear.
During this four-part Startup Bootcamp hosted by 20Fathoms in partnership with CO.STARTERS, the Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce, and Michigan SBDC, you’ll collaboratively work with peers to strategize, problem solve, and apply business basics to your idea, venture, or small business. Our goal is to challenge you, stretch your thinking, and give you concrete tools to bring your business to life. This bootcamp is not about listening; it’s about doing.
About Startup Bootcamp:
This startup bootcamp, powered by CO.STARTERS, is a four-part, interactive workshop that will help you launch your business.
Dates and times:
April 7, 9, 14, and 16
5-8 pm (Dinner will be provided)
What you can expect to learn:

Understand your business model and how to refine it
Learn how to market your business
Dive into the basic building blocks needed for your financial modeling
Build momentum by goal setting

Attendees will walk away with a completed Lean Business Model Canvas, preparing participants to drop in to regular 20Fathoms Breakfast Lab programming for entrepreneurs.
There is no cost to attend.
**For the full description of this bootcamp, please check out our website here.**
Who should attend:

Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Individuals who have a business idea but need guidance on how to develop and launch it.
Early-Stage Founders: Entrepreneurs who have started their business but need help refining their strategy and scaling.
Small Business Owners: Those looking to pivot or innovate their existing business model.
Team Members: Members of a startup team who need to understand the business strategy and contribute effectively.

You should have:

A clear idea or concept for a business
Goals and objectives for the bootcamp
Basic business knowledge
A willingness to learn!
Preparedness to share and collaborate

This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number awarded to 20Fathoms by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Meet your facilitators:
Delaney Keating leads startup services programming at 20Fathoms. In this role she oversees our business incubation and acceleration initiatives, access to capital program, and technology transfer. Delaney has spent her career in entrepreneurship, startups, and technology. She has built small companies, launched university-based innovation labs, and developed a statewide startup support hub for rural founders, all from a remote location at 7700’ at her previous home base in southwest Colorado.
Prior to moving to Michigan and joining 20Fathoms, Delaney was Managing Director of Pando Telecom where she led the company to 10x growth over 12 months. She was also the Executive Director of Startup Colorado where she developed the organization from the ground up, establishing a first-of-its-kind statewide rural startup network. Additionally she served as Co-founder of Catapult Outdoor Industry Accelerator, Founder and Creative Director of RoShamBo: Marketing + Creative, and Director and Small Business Consultant for the Colorado Small Business Development Center Network. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literatures/Letters from Western Colorado University.
Erin Srebinski is the Manager of Startup Education at 20Fathoms. In this role, she enjoys building programming and education that helps entrepreneurs make Traverse City their hub to launch and grow successful businesses. Prior to joining the team at 20Fathoms, Erin was an Experience Strategist at City Innovations, where she supported startups with growth strategy, UX research and strategy, and content strategy. Over the past six years, she has been deeply involved in the startup world, focusing on all aspects of launching new ventures with a strong emphasis on customer experience and discovery. Through her previous work, she has developed a unique toolkit that will help entrepreneurs at 20Fathoms think through what resources are needed as they begin an entrepreneurial journey. Erin holds a bachelor’s degree in advertising from Michigan State University.
In partnership with:

Supporting partner:

Presenting partner:

About 20Fathoms:
Based in Traverse City, 20Fathoms is a nonprofit organization and the hub for entrepreneurship and innovation in Northwest Michigan. The 20Fathoms team works with entrepreneurs of all stages and industries, and also offers specialized services to meet the unique needs of technology-focused startups. Programs include startup education, business coaching, TCNewTech pitch competitions, access to capital, a vibrant coworking space, and general resources and support. For more information visit: https://20fathoms.org/

Drop-in Startup Coaching: Traverse City
2025-04-17 09:00 - 16:00
Happens every Thursday. This week, there will be extended hours during Northern Michigan Startup Week! No RSVP required. Just show up and bring your questions!
Connect with startup experts who can help you grow.
Startup coaches share their time, wisdom, and connections to help entrepreneurs build successful businesses and avoid common mistakes. They can provide guidance to entrepreneurs with new and growing businesses on a full range of topics including business planning and entity formation, funding strategy, sales, operations, human resources, and much more.
New business owners routinely state that mentorship and connections are very important. However, entrepreneurs must be open and committed to learning, as well as willing to make the time to meet with their coach.
What to expect:

For your small business, startup, or idea
A private, one-on-one meeting with a startup expert
Troubleshoot your business goals and challenges
Honest, supportive feedback
Recommendations on resources and tools

Meet your coach:
Delaney Keating is the Director of Entrepreneurship & Commercialization at 20Fathoms. In this role she leads startup services programming at 20Fathoms and oversees our business incubation and acceleration initiatives, access to capital program, and technology transfer.
Delaney has spent her career in entrepreneurship, startups, and technology. Prior to moving to Michigan and joining 20Fathoms, Delaney was Managing Director of Pando Telecom where she led the company to 10x growth over 12 months. She was also the Executive Director of Startup Colorado where she developed the organization from the ground up, establishing a first-of-its-kind statewide rural startup network. Additionally she served as Co-founder of Catapult Outdoor Industry Accelerator, Founder and Creative Director of RoShamBo: Marketing + Creative, and Director and Small Business Consultant for the Colorado Small Business Development Center Network.

Northern Michigan Startup Week Wrap Party, hosted by 20Fathoms
2025-04-17 17:00 - 19:00 | The Little Fleet, 448 East Front Street, Traverse City, MI, 49686, United States
Celebrate YOU and our community of entrepreneurs

Join us for the Northern Michigan Startup Week Wrap Party, the ultimate celebration to close out Startup Week! Hosted by 20Fathoms at The Little Fleet, our community will gather together for a night of connection and celebration.
Relax, network, and celebrate the innovation and collaboration that defines our startup ecosystem here in Northern Michigan.
The wrap party will be hosted indoors at The Little Fleet.
Your ticket includes food from Crocodile Palace. A cash bar will be available.
Tickets are limited, so reserve yours today. Please consider making a suggested $25 donation to 20Fathoms that will empower Northwest Michigan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Your gift fuels vital educational programs and resources, driving regional startup growth and creating broader economic opportunities.
This event is part of Northern Michigan Startup Week. View the full schedule for this week of events celebrating entrepreneurship, innovation, and the growing startup community in Northern Michigan.
Presenting Partner:

About 20Fathoms
Based in Traverse City, 20Fathoms is a nonprofit organization and the hub for entrepreneurship and innovation in Northwest Michigan. The 20Fathoms team works with entrepreneurs of all stages and industries, and also offers specialized services to meet the unique needs of technology-focused startups. Programs include startup education, business coaching, TCNewTech pitch competitions, access to capital, a vibrant coworking space, and general resources and support. For more information visit: https://20fathoms.org/

20Fathoms plans to take photos and video during this event. By attending the event, you agree to being photographed and filmed, which may be used for marketing purposes.
Tickets are nonrefundable unless the event is canceled by the organizer.

Breakfast Lab: Fundraising
2025-04-24 09:00 - 12:00 | 20Fathoms, 10850 East Traverse Highway, #Ste 4400, Traverse City, MI, 49684, United States
Explore funding options for your startup, from bootstrapping to venture capital

Whether you’re just starting out with an idea or ready to start up, Breakfast Lab takes your business model to the next level.
In this week’s session facilitated by Cameron Young, Manager of Startup Capital at 20Fathoms, you’ll learn about funding options for your startup, from bootstrapping to venture capital.
We’ll focus on:

Insights on creating a funding plan
What you need to pitch your business to potential investors

About Breakfast Lab
Breakfast Lab is a weekly event at 20Fathoms where you’ll get expert guidance to help meet your most pressing startup needs, providing access to the right tools and the right people at the right time.
These events are held in person and there is no cost to attend. Coffee and a light breakfast are provided. Walk-ins are welcome.
There are two parts to each Breakfast Lab:

Startup Workshop: 9 – 10:30 am

Startup Coaching: 10:30 am – noon

Attend both parts, or just one.
Learn more about Breakfast Lab.
Who should attend:
Breakfast Lab was designed specifically to support:

Idea and early-stage startup founders with scalable innovations and technologies

Entrepreneurs navigating strategic growth or a pivot in their business model

Prerequisite:
You need to have your business model canvas outlined to benefit from the Breakfast Lab workshops.
Don’t have a canvas yet? No sweat – join a Business Model Kick-off or Startup Bootcamp to get started.
Meet this week’s facilitator:
Cameron Young is the Manager of Startup Capital at 20Fathoms. He manages 20Fathoms’ initiatives to connect startup founders to funding sources that help them launch and scale their businesses. This includes the Michigan SBDC Business Accelerator Fund and other local, state, and national grants, loans, and investment opportunities. A Traverse City native, Cameron earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Lake Superior State University and an MBA from Michigan Tech University.
Presenting Partner:

Supporting Partner:

About 20Fathoms:
20Fathoms is the home of entrepreneurship and innovation in Northwest Michigan. Based in Traverse City and serving all of Northwest Lower Michigan, 20Fathoms is a nonprofit startup incubator and resource center for entrepreneurs and growing businesses. The organization works with entrepreneurs of all stages and industries, and specializes in working with technology-focused companies. Programs include startup education, business coaching, connections, funding, and general support.

Startup Coaching: Traverse City
2025-04-24 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-05-01 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-05-08 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-05-15 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-05-22 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-05-29 13:00 - 16:00
Happens every Thursday. Appointments recommended. Drop in coaching is also available. Just show up and bring your questions!
Connect with startup experts who can help you grow.
Startup coaches share their time, wisdom, and connections to help entrepreneurs build successful businesses and avoid common mistakes. They can provide guidance to entrepreneurs with new and growing businesses on a full range of topics including business planning and entity formation, funding strategy, sales, operations, human resources, and much more.
New business owners routinely state that mentorship and connections are very important. However, entrepreneurs must be open and committed to learning, as well as willing to make the time to meet with their coach.
Schedule an appointment in advance or drop in.
What to expect:

For your small business, startup, or idea
A private, one-on-one meeting with a startup expert
Troubleshoot your business goals and challenges
Honest, supportive feedback
Recommendations on resources and tools

Benzie County Startup Bootcamp, Powered by CO.STARTERS
2025-04-25 09:00 - 16:00, 2025-04-26 09:00 - 16:00 | Grow Benzie, 5885 Frankfort Highway, Benzonia, MI, 49616, United States
A 2-day course for launching your big idea

Note: This is a 2-day course. Attending both days is highly encouraged to maximize your learning; each session is designed to build on the last. Your registration/ticket for the first day represents registration for both days.
Entrepreneurship is an exciting journey, but the path forward isn’t always clear.
During this 2 day Startup Bootcamp hosted by 20Fathoms in partnership with CO.STARTERS and Grow Benzie, you’ll collaboratively work with peers to strategize, problem solve, and apply business basics to your idea, venture, or small business. Our goal is to challenge you, stretch your thinking, and give you concrete tools to bring your business to life. This bootcamp is not about listening; it’s about doing.
About Startup Bootcamp:
This startup bootcamp, powered by CO.STARTERS, is a four-part interactive workshop over two days that will help you launch your business.
Dates and times:
April 25 and 26
Sessions will run 9 am – 12 pm and 1-4 pm with a break for lunch in between. Coffee, snacks, and lunch will be provided.
What you can expect to learn:

Understand your business model and how to refine it
Learn how to market your business
Dive into the basic building blocks needed for your financial modeling
Build momentum by goal setting

Attendees will walk away with a completed Lean Business Model Canvas, preparing participants to drop in to regular 20Fathoms Breakfast Lab programming for entrepreneurs.
There is no cost to attend.
**For the full description of this bootcamp, please check out our website here.**
Who should attend:

Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Individuals who have a business idea but need guidance on how to develop and launch it.
Early-Stage Founders: Entrepreneurs who have started their business but need help refining their strategy and scaling.
Small Business Owners: Those looking to pivot or innovate their existing business model.
Team Members: Members of a startup team who need to understand the business strategy and contribute effectively.

You should have:

A clear idea or concept for a business
Goals and objectives for the bootcamp
Basic business knowledge
A willingness to learn!
Preparedness to share and collaborate

This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number awarded to 20Fathoms by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Meet your facilitators:
Delaney Keating leads startup services programming at 20Fathoms. In this role she oversees our business incubation and acceleration initiatives, access to capital program, and technology transfer. Delaney has spent her career in entrepreneurship, startups, and technology. She has built small companies, launched university-based innovation labs, and developed a statewide startup support hub for rural founders, all from a remote location at 7700’ at her previous home base in southwest Colorado.
Prior to moving to Michigan and joining 20Fathoms, Delaney was Managing Director of Pando Telecom where she led the company to 10x growth over 12 months. She was also the Executive Director of Startup Colorado where she developed the organization from the ground up, establishing a first-of-its-kind statewide rural startup network. Additionally she served as Co-founder of Catapult Outdoor Industry Accelerator, Founder and Creative Director of RoShamBo: Marketing + Creative, and Director and Small Business Consultant for the Colorado Small Business Development Center Network. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literatures/Letters from Western Colorado University.
Erin Srebinski is the Manager of Startup Education at 20Fathoms. In this role, she enjoys building programming and education that helps entrepreneurs make Traverse City their hub to launch and grow successful businesses. Prior to joining the team at 20Fathoms, Erin was an Experience Strategist at City Innovations, where she supported startups with growth strategy, UX research and strategy, and content strategy. Over the past six years, she has been deeply involved in the startup world, focusing on all aspects of launching new ventures with a strong emphasis on customer experience and discovery. Through her previous work, she has developed a unique toolkit that will help entrepreneurs at 20Fathoms think through what resources are needed as they begin an entrepreneurial journey. Erin holds a bachelor’s degree in advertising from Michigan State University.
In partnership with:

Supporting partner:

Presenting partner:

About 20Fathoms:
Based in Traverse City, 20Fathoms is a nonprofit organization and the hub for entrepreneurship and innovation in Northwest Michigan. The 20Fathoms team works with entrepreneurs of all stages and industries, and also offers specialized services to meet the unique needs of technology-focused startups. Programs include startup education, business coaching, TCNewTech pitch competitions, access to capital, a vibrant coworking space, and general resources and support. For more information visit: https://20fathoms.org/

Changing Lanes: Vision to Venture Workshop, hosted by 20Fathoms
2025-04-30 17:30 - 19:00 | 20Fathoms, 10850 East Traverse Highway, #Ste 4400, Traverse City, MI, 49684, United States
Explore your business idea’s value prop and learn about local startup resources

This casual evening workshop for aspiring entrepreneurs will enable you to explore value propositions, identify potential customers for your idea/solution, and develop an understanding of how to plug into our regional resources for entrepreneurs and startups in Northern Michigan. The evening, hosted by 20Fathoms in partnership with Changing Lanes and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, will be facilitated by Alisyn Malek, CEO of Middle Third. The evening will also include:
Networking Opportunities:

Connect with like-minded individuals passionate about innovation and entrepreneurship.

Build valuable relationships with peers, mentors, and community members.

Local Resources:

Discover the tools, programs, and support to help you start and grow your own business.

Who should attend:

Aspiring entrepreneurs looking to learn from seasoned founders.
Innovators and creators seeking inspiration and actionable advice.
Community members exploring local entrepreneurial resources.

Light food and refreshments will be provided.
About Changing Lanes:
The State of Michigan’s new Changing Lanes program leverages resources available within the state’s wide array of entrepreneurship channels to create a talent pipeline that will foster job creation and innovations by bridging the startup and automotive ecosystems.
About 20Fathoms:
Based in Traverse City, 20Fathoms is a nonprofit organization and the hub for entrepreneurship and innovation in Northwest Michigan. The 20Fathoms team works with entrepreneurs of all stages and industries, and also offers specialized services to meet the unique needs of technology-focused startups. Programs include startup education, business coaching, TCNewTech pitch competitions, access to capital, a vibrant coworking space, and general resources and support. For more information visit: https://20fathoms.org/

Breakfast Lab: Storytelling & Pitching
2025-05-01 09:00 - 12:00, 2025-06-05 09:00 - 12:00 | 20Fathoms, 10850 East Traverse Highway, #Ste 4400, Traverse City, MI, 49684, United States
Master the art of storytelling to pitch your business effectively

Whether you’re just starting out with an idea or ready to start up, Breakfast Lab takes your business model to the next level.
In this week’s session facilitated by Delaney Keating, Director of Entrepreneurship & Commercialization at 20Fathoms, you’ll learn how to master the art of storytelling to pitch your business effectively.
We’ll focus on:

Building a clear, engaging narrative
Connecting with investors, partners, and customers through your pitch

About Breakfast Lab
Breakfast Lab is a weekly event at 20Fathoms where you’ll get expert guidance to help meet your most pressing startup needs, providing access to the right tools and the right people at the right time.
These events are held in person and there is no cost to attend. Coffee and a light breakfast are provided. Walk-ins are welcome.
There are two parts to each Breakfast Lab:

Startup Workshop: 9 – 10:30 am

Startup Coaching: 10:30 am – noon

Attend both parts, or just one.
Learn more about Breakfast Lab.
Who should attend:
Breakfast Lab was designed specifically to support:

Idea and early-stage startup founders with scalable innovations and technologies

Entrepreneurs navigating strategic growth or a pivot in their business model

Prerequisite:
You need to have your business model canvas outlined to benefit from the Breakfast Lab workshops.
Don’t have a canvas yet? No sweat – join a Business Model Kick-off or Startup Bootcamp to get started.
Meet this week’s facilitator:
Delaney Keating leads startup services programming at 20Fathoms. In this role she oversees our business incubation and acceleration initiatives, access to capital program, and technology transfer. Delaney has spent her career in entrepreneurship, startups, and technology. She has built small companies, launched university-based innovation labs, and developed a statewide startup support hub for rural founders, all from a remote location at 7700’ at her previous home base in southwest Colorado. Prior to moving to Michigan and joining 20Fathoms, Delaney was Managing Director of Pando Telecom where she led the company to 10x growth over 12 months. She was also the Executive Director of Startup Colorado where she developed the organization from the ground up, establishing a first-of-its-kind statewide rural startup network. Additionally she served as Co-founder of Catapult Outdoor Industry Accelerator, Founder and Creative Director of RoShamBo: Marketing + Creative, and Director and Small Business Consultant for the Colorado Small Business Development Center Network. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literatures/Letters from Western Colorado University.
Presenting Partner:

About 20Fathoms:
20Fathoms is the home of entrepreneurship and innovation in Northwest Michigan. Based in Traverse City and serving all of Northwest Lower Michigan, 20Fathoms is a nonprofit startup incubator and resource center for entrepreneurs and growing businesses. The organization works with entrepreneurs of all stages and industries, and specializes in working with technology-focused companies. Programs include startup education, business coaching, connections, funding, and general support.

Business Legal Assistance Office Hours
2025-05-02 10:30 - 13:30 | 20Fathoms, 10850 East Traverse Highway, #Ste 4400, Traverse City, MI, 49684, United States
Schedule free consultation time with Varnum LLP!

Are you a founder or early-stage company with a particular legal question or issue that has you stumped? Do you not know what you don’t know, legally? What questions do you have that you wish you could discuss with an attorney? Varnum Law can assist and is willing to provide you with a free, initial consultation meeting to help answer your burning questions!
Varnum is a full-service Michigan-based law firm, with more than 180 attorneys in six offices, that represents a diverse range of business and legal interests for startup, early-stage, and large companies throughout Michigan and the U.S. Their client-focused approach cultivates the personal relationship between lawyer and client, while also ensuring access to the full resources of the firm.
Sessions are 45 minutes long. Upon registration, you’ll be contacted via the email you provide during registration to schedule your individual time within the 10:30 am – 1:30 pm window.
We’re excited to host these office hours and want to ensure we can accommodate everyone who is interested in scheduling time. If something comes up and you’re unable to make it, please let us know as soon as possible so we can offer your spot to someone else.
You must register at least one week before Office Hours date to ensure availability of attorneys.
Presenting partner:

Breakfast Lab: AI for Startups
2025-05-08 09:00 - 12:00 | 20Fathoms, 10850 East Traverse Highway, #Ste 4400, Traverse City, MI, 49684, United States
Discover how to leverage AI to scale your business more intelligently.

As a startup founder, you’re constantly juggling priorities—fundraising, product development, marketing, operations, and more. You know ChatGPT can help you write an email, but how do you unlock the real promise of AI?
This interactive, hands-on workshop will move beyond the obvious AI use cases, providing real-world strategies for small, high-performing startup teams. Adam Lorton, an independent consultant in AI, will guide founders through hands-on exercises, showcasing how to integrate AI into daily workflows. Attendees will learn how to offload repetitive tasks, improve decision-making, and streamline operations—without needing deep technical skills.
You’ll walk away with practical techniques to integrate AI into your daily operations, helping you scale smarter—not harder.
By the end of this session, attendees will:
1. Understand a practical mental model for AI, so they know where it fits (and where it doesn’t)
2. Get hands-on experience with custom AI assistants designed for startup founders
3. Participate in a “hot seat” coaching format, applying AI to real-world startup challenges
4. Gain access to the AI & Deep Work Library—a collection of prompts, tools, and strategies

About Breakfast Lab
Breakfast Lab is a weekly event at 20Fathoms where you’ll get expert guidance to help meet your most pressing startup needs, providing access to the right tools and the right people at the right time.
These events are held in person and there is no cost to attend. Coffee and a light breakfast are provided. Walk-ins are welcome.
There are two parts to each Breakfast Lab:

Startup Workshop: 9 – 10:30 am

Startup Coaching: 10:30 am – noon

Attend both parts, or just one.
Learn more about Breakfast Lab.

Who should attend:
Early and idea stage entrepreneurs who are looking for help with tasks and could use AI to get more things done.

Meet this week’s facilitator:
Adam Lorton is an independent consultant who helps startup founders and small teams work faster with AI assistance. With a background in analytics and workflow optimization, Adam specializes in practical, no-nonsense applications of AI—helping entrepreneurs get more done without scaling up headcount.
Since the release of ChatGPT, Adam has been on a mission to push AI tools to their limits—not for gimmicks, but for real business value. He has been invited to speak on AI-assisted work by organizations including Mochary Method Coaching, among others.
When he’s not experimenting with AI, Adam is a competitive speedgolfer. He represented Team USA at the Speedgolf World Championships in Japan in 2024.

About 20Fathoms:
20Fathoms is the home of entrepreneurship and innovation in Northwest Michigan. Based in Traverse City and serving all of Northwest Lower Michigan, 20Fathoms is a nonprofit startup incubator and resource center for entrepreneurs and growing businesses. The organization works with entrepreneurs of all stages and industries, and specializes in working with technology-focused companies. Programs include startup education, business coaching, connections, funding, and general support.

Drop-in Startup Coaching: Petoskey
2025-05-14 14:30 - 16:00 | Honor Bank – Petoskey Commercial Loan Center, 407 Michigan St., Petoskey, MI
Happens the second Wednesday of the month. No RSVP required. Just show up and bring your questions!
Connect with startup experts who can help you grow.
Startup coaches share their time, wisdom, and connections to help entrepreneurs build successful businesses and avoid common mistakes. They can provide guidance to entrepreneurs with new and growing businesses on a full range of topics including business planning and entity formation, funding strategy, sales, operations, human resources, and much more.
New business owners routinely state that mentorship and connections are very important. However, entrepreneurs must be open and committed to learning, as well as willing to make the time to meet with their coach.
What to expect:

For your small business, startup, or idea
A private, one-on-one meeting with a startup expert
Troubleshoot your business goals and challenges
Honest, supportive feedback
Recommendations on resources and tools

Meet your coach:
Craig Wesley serves as Executive Director of 20Fathoms, leading the growing organization and hub of startup support services in Northwest Michigan. Under Craig’s leadership, 20Fathoms provides high-quality educational programming and resources for the region’s entrepreneurs, as well as a vibrant coworking space in Traverse City.
A veteran of both Silicon Valley and Midwest startups, Craig has 25 years of business and executive experience working with growing companies. Most recently Craig supported executives in consulting roles, providing hands-on operational expertise at pivotal growth points, including serving as a Strategic Advisor for local trulyfreehome.com and the Executive Vice President of Strategic Partnerships for trulyfreemarket.com.

Breakfast Lab: User Experience Research
2025-05-15 09:00 - 12:00 | 20Fathoms, 10850 East Traverse Highway, #Ste 4400, Traverse City, MI, 49684, United States
Turn user experience research into audience clarity.

At Breakfast Lab, you’ve had questions about how to interview customers and where to find them. This workshop will dive into those questions and teach entrepreneurs how to research effectively!
In this session, we will introduce the basic concepts of User Experience Research and how these concepts can be used to drive innovation and product development. Course content and Q&A will include how to generate product/business hypotheses, types of research methods, and how to develop insights from your data.
By the end of this session, attendees will:

Understand the core principles of user experience research
Learn how to think about your business idea as testable hypotheses
Gain familiarity with different research methods and when to use them
Learn how researchers move from hypotheses to insights to product impact

About Breakfast Lab
Breakfast Lab is a weekly event at 20Fathoms where you’ll get expert guidance to help meet your most pressing startup needs, providing access to the right tools and the right people at the right time.
These events are held in person and there is no cost to attend. Coffee and a light breakfast are provided. Walk-ins are welcome.
There are two parts to each Breakfast Lab:

Startup Workshop: 9 – 10:30 am

Startup Coaching: 10:30 am – noon

Attend both parts, or just one.
Learn more about Breakfast Lab.

Who should attend:
Idea-stage and early-stage entrepreneurs who want to dig deeper into customer research to validate assumptions, uncover insights, and build solutions that truly resonate.

Meet this week’s facilitator:
Meg Witmer is a mixed methods UX researcher who studies beliefs, attitudes and motivations and their influence on people’s needs and behaviors. She graduated from University of Michigan with a PhD in Consumer Behavior. Her research has served the development of educational tools at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, international payments infrastructure at Stripe, and the creation of new-to-the-world payments and commerce products at Facebook, including Payments in Messenger and Marketplace among other international growth efforts. Most recently she worked for Verily Life Sciences, developing ways to increase the interoperability of health systems data and its impact on patient outcomes. When not studying people, she likes cooking, ceramics and paddleboarding.

About 20Fathoms:
20Fathoms is the home of entrepreneurship and innovation in Northwest Michigan. Based in Traverse City and serving all of Northwest Lower Michigan, 20Fathoms is a nonprofit startup incubator and resource center for entrepreneurs and growing businesses. The organization works with entrepreneurs of all stages and industries, and specializes in working with technology-focused companies. Programs include startup education, business coaching, connections, funding, and general support.

Startup Coaching: Benzonia
2025-05-15 16:00 - 18:00 | Grow Benzie, 5885 Frankfort Highway, Benzonia, MI, 49616, United States
Happens the third Thursday of the month. No RSVP required. Just show up and bring your questions!
Connect with startup experts who can help you grow.
Startup coaches share their time, wisdom, and connections to help entrepreneurs build successful businesses and avoid common mistakes. They can provide guidance to entrepreneurs with new and growing businesses on a full range of topics including business planning and entity formation, funding strategy, sales, operations, human resources, and much more.
New business owners routinely state that mentorship and connections are very important. However, entrepreneurs must be open and committed to learning, as well as willing to make the time to meet with their coach.
What to expect:

For your small business, startup, or idea
A private, one-on-one meeting with a startup expert
Troubleshoot your business goals and challenges
Honest, supportive feedback
Recommendations on resources and tools

Meet your coach:
Gretchen Swanson leads talent initiatives at 20Fathoms to address the region’s need for qualified tech and startup professionals. Working with local employers and regional partners to identify critical skill areas, she develops programming and resources for tech professionals of all experience levels, helping job seekers successfully navigate their tech careers.
Gretchen is a long-time champion of innovative workforce development partnerships in the Grand Traverse Region. She has supported entrepreneurs and growing organizations as a Business Consultant with Michigan Small Business Development Center and through independent consulting where she specialized in technology integration and talent development.

Startup Coaching: Manistee
2025-05-21 09:00 - 11:00 | Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce, 400 River St, Manistee, MI
Happens the third Wednesday of the month. Appointments recommended. Drop in coaching is also available. Just show up and bring your questions!
Connect with startup experts who can help you grow.
Startup coaches share their time, wisdom, and connections to help entrepreneurs build successful businesses and avoid common mistakes. They can provide guidance to entrepreneurs with new and growing businesses on a full range of topics including business planning and entity formation, funding strategy, sales, operations, human resources, and much more.
New business owners routinely state that mentorship and connections are very important. However, entrepreneurs must be open and committed to learning, as well as willing to make the time to meet with their coach.
Schedule an appointment in advance or drop in.
What to expect:

For your small business, startup, or idea
A private, one-on-one meeting with a startup expert
Troubleshoot your business goals and challenges
Honest, supportive feedback
Recommendations on resources and tools

Meet your coach:
Delaney Keating is the Director of Entrepreneurship & Commercialization at 20Fathoms. In this role she leads startup services programming at 20Fathoms and oversees our business incubation and acceleration initiatives, access to capital program, and technology transfer.
Delaney has spent her career in entrepreneurship, startups, and technology. Prior to moving to Michigan and joining 20Fathoms, Delaney was Managing Director of Pando Telecom where she led the company to 10x growth over 12 months. She was also the Executive Director of Startup Colorado where she developed the organization from the ground up, establishing a first-of-its-kind statewide rural startup network. Additionally she served as Co-founder of Catapult Outdoor Industry Accelerator, Founder and Creative Director of RoShamBo: Marketing + Creative, and Director and Small Business Consultant for the Colorado Small Business Development Center Network.

Women in Tech Meetup - Traverse City
2025-05-21 17:00 - 19:00 | Earthen Ales, 1371 Gray Drive, ##200, Traverse City, MI, 49684, United States
Join us for connection, empowerment, and lots of fun!

Each month Women in Tech gathers to build community and support amongst women working in, or interested in, the tech industry and tech-related roles.
This meetup is casual, fun, and easy to drop into. We talk about what we’re currently working on, share our stories, and pool our collected expertise to support each other on our journeys.
This informal meetup is meant to help women build local connections and work on their professional growth (yeah, support systems!). Gatherings are often made up of half-returning and half-new women, creating a welcoming and approachable energy.
This event is free and open to all, including students! Light snacks will be provided. Registration is requested to ensure ample seating, but walk-ins are always welcome. Look for the Women in Tech/20Fathoms signage.
We can’t wait to see you!
Thank you to our event partner:

Breakfast Lab: Customer Discovery
2025-05-22 09:00 - 12:00 | 20Fathoms, 10850 East Traverse Highway, #Ste 4400, Traverse City, MI, 49684, United States
Learn how to identify and deeply understand your target customers

Whether you’re just starting out with an idea or ready to start up, Breakfast Lab takes your business model to the next level.
In this week’s session facilitated by Erin Srebinski, Manager of Startup Education at 20Fathoms, you’ll learn how to identify and deeply understand your target customers.
We’ll focus on:

Gathering insights

Testing assumptions

Ensuring your business idea addresses real customer needs

About Breakfast Lab
Breakfast Lab is a weekly event at 20Fathoms where you’ll get expert guidance to help meet your most pressing startup needs, providing access to the right tools and the right people at the right time.
These events are held in person and there is no cost to attend. Coffee and a light breakfast are provided. Walk-ins are welcome.
There are two parts to each Breakfast Lab:

Startup Workshop: 9 – 10:30 am

Startup Coaching: 10:30 am – noon

Attend both parts, or just one.
Learn more about Breakfast Lab.
Who should attend:
Breakfast Lab was designed specifically to support:

Idea and early-stage startup founders with scalable innovations and technologies

Entrepreneurs navigating strategic growth or a pivot in their business model

Prerequisite:
You need to have your business model canvas outlined to benefit from the Breakfast Lab workshops.
Don’t have a canvas yet? No sweat – join a Business Model Kick-off or Startup Bootcamp to get started.
Meet this week’s facilitator:
Erin Srebinski is the Manager of Startup Education at 20Fathoms. In this role, she enjoys building programming and education that helps entrepreneurs make Traverse City their hub to launch and grow successful businesses. Prior to joining the team at 20Fathoms, Erin was an Experience Strategist at City Innovations, where she supported startups with growth strategy, UX research and strategy, and content strategy. Over the past six years, she has been deeply involved in the startup world, focusing on all aspects of launching new ventures with a strong emphasis on customer experience and discovery. Through her previous work, she has developed a unique toolkit that will help entrepreneurs at 20Fathoms think through what resources are needed as they begin an entrepreneurial journey. Erin holds a bachelor’s degree in advertising from Michigan State University.
Presenting Partner:

Supporting Partners:

About 20Fathoms:
20Fathoms is the home of entrepreneurship and innovation in Northwest Michigan. Based in Traverse City and serving all of Northwest Lower Michigan, 20Fathoms is a nonprofit startup incubator and resource center for entrepreneurs and growing businesses. The organization works with entrepreneurs of all stages and industries, and specializes in working with technology-focused companies. Programs include startup education, business coaching, connections, funding, and general support.

Breakfast Lab: Marketing & Sales
2025-05-29 09:00 - 12:00 | 20Fathoms, 10850 East Traverse Highway, #Ste 4400, Traverse City, MI, 49684, United States
Craft compelling marketing strategies and messaging that resonate with your audience

Whether you’re just starting out with an idea or ready to start up, Breakfast Lab takes your business model to the next level.
In this week’s session facilitated by Kristina Schnepf, Owner of Peace Love & Little Donuts of Traverse City, you’ll learn how to craft compelling marketing strategies and messaging that resonate with your audience.
We’ll focus on:

Marketing strategy development
Messaging
Marketing channels to effectively reach your audience
Tools to engage your target market

About Breakfast Lab
Breakfast Lab is a weekly event at 20Fathoms where you’ll get expert guidance to help meet your most pressing startup needs, providing access to the right tools and the right people at the right time.
These events are held in person and there is no cost to attend. Coffee and a light breakfast are provided. Walk-ins are welcome.
There are two parts to each Breakfast Lab:

Startup Workshop: 9 – 10:30 am

Startup Coaching: 10:30 am – noon

Attend both parts, or just one.
Learn more about Breakfast Lab.
Who should attend:
Breakfast Lab was designed specifically to support:

Idea and early-stage startup founders with scalable innovations and technologies

Entrepreneurs navigating strategic growth or a pivot in their business model

Prerequisite:
You need to have your business model canvas outlined to benefit from the Breakfast Lab workshops.
Don’t have a canvas yet? No sweat – join a Business Model Kick-off or Startup Bootcamp to get started.
Meet this week’s facilitator:
Kristina Schnepf is an engaged and passionate professional who thrives in ambiguous environments, inspires innovation, and continuously seeks growth in herself and others. Currently, Kristina is owner of Peace Love & Little Donuts of Traverse City, founder of Green Door Folk School in NW Michigan and principal of Leap Consulting, a business growth and marketing consultancy. As a marketer for more than 30 years, Kristina served as Chief Commercial Officer for a $500M private equity held company, Vice President of Communications for Goodyear Tire & Rubber and Global Communications Director at The Dow Chemical Company. She has a proven record of success in driving business growth by developing and implementing marketing and sales strategies for Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, fast growing private firms and small businesses.
Supporting Partner:

About 20Fathoms:
20Fathoms is the home of entrepreneurship and innovation in Northwest Michigan. Based in Traverse City and serving all of Northwest Lower Michigan, 20Fathoms is a nonprofit startup incubator and resource center for entrepreneurs and growing businesses. The organization works with entrepreneurs of all stages and industries, and specializes in working with technology-focused companies. Programs include startup education, business coaching, connections, funding, and general support.

20Fathoms: Unplugged
2025-05-29 17:00 - 19:00 | 20Fathoms, 10850 East Traverse Highway, #Ste 4400, Traverse City, MI, 49684, United States
A casual networking event and fireside chat with local entrepreneurs

Build deeper connections with your local startup community at 20Fathoms: Unplugged, a casual networking event the last Thursday of every month!
Mingle with peers who care about the growth of our region’s entrepreneurship community, dive into conversations with local founders, and celebrate the exciting ideas shaping Northern Michigan’s future.
Plus, hear from local entrepreneurs at different stages of their journeys, fireside-chat style! Each presenter will have a few minutes to share about their journey as an entrepreneur, their company, and their current business needs. This month, featuring:

Aurelien Bouche-Pillon, Aulldry

Elijah Nykamp, Nykamping
Michael Brandon, SandBaggage

Light appetizers and beverages will be available. Presentations will begin at approximately 5:45 pm.
If you’ve attended a 20Fathoms Open House in the past, we hope you will join us for this reimagining of our Open House format. If you’re new to 20Fathoms, come check us out!
20Fathoms plans to take photos and videos during the event. By attending the event, you agree to be photographed and filmed, which may be used for marketing purposes.

About 20Fathoms:
Based in Traverse City, 20Fathoms is a nonprofit organization and the hub for entrepreneurship and innovation in Northwest Michigan. The 20Fathoms team works with entrepreneurs of all stages and industries, and also offers specialized services to meet the unique needs of technology-focused startups. Programs include startup education, business coaching, TCNewTech pitch competitions, access to capital, a vibrant coworking space, and general resources and support. For more information visit: https://20fathoms.org/

TCNewTech Pitch Applicant Office Hours
2025-05-30 11:30 - 13:30
Applications to pitch at TCNewTech are now open.
Want to learn more about the TCNewTech program before applying? Stop into office hours with our TCNewTech program manager any time from 11:30 -1:30 on May 30. Contact Maria Purvis to receive the calendar invite: maria@20fathoms.org.

June Scrum Sprint
2025-06-02 09:45 - 10:45
Achieve more in less time! Join a structured sprint with peer accountability, agile tools, and expert support to fast-track your goals.

Supercharge your progress with our Scrum Sprint! This structured two-week work cycle keeps you focused, accountable, and adaptable. Commit to key tasks, engage in daily check-ins, and overcome challenges with the support of a like-minded cohort. With regular reviews and real-time adjustments, you’ll stay aligned, build momentum, and accelerate toward your goals. Whether you’re refining an idea, launching a project, or growing your business, this sprint provides the structure and support to make it happen.
What you can expect to learn:

Hands-on Scrum Experience – Gain practical skills in Sprint Planning, Daily Stand-ups, and Retrospectives to boost productivity.
Stronger Focus & Problem-Solving – Improve clarity, adaptability, and decision-making with structured support and real-time feedback.
Tangible Progress on Goals – Make measurable strides on your projects with structured accountability and agile execution.

There is no cost to attend.

Workshop schedule:
1. Sprint Planning Virtual Meeting (1 hour) | June 2 | Sprint Planning: 9:45 am – 10:45 am
2. Daily Scrum Zoom Meeting (15 minutes daily) | June 3th-12th: 9:45 am – 10:00 am
3. Sprint Review / Retrospective Virtual Meeting (1 hour) | June 13th: 9:45 am – 10:45 am
About the presenter:
As a Certified Scrum Master, Organizational Coach, and Consultant, Lisa Carbonell specializes in cultivating authenticity, transparency, accountability, and continuous learning using an Agile framework. She helps individuals and teams across diverse sectors—entrepreneurs, creatives, and social justice advocates—to achieve their vision, mission, and goals. With a master’s education in Applied Behavioral Science and Organizational Development from the Leadership Institute of Seattle, she blends empathy and expertise, enabling teams to discover, promote, build, and launch their dreams.

About 20Fathoms:
20Fathoms is the home of technology and entrepreneurship in Northern Michigan. We catalyze innovation and entrepreneurship through startup incubation services, business workshops, community partnership, and a vibrant coworking space. We also remove barriers and accelerate career growth through tech career training, talent acquisition, and the advancement of regional strategic initiatives.
This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number awarded to 20Fathoms by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
