Startup Coaching: Traverse City
2025-02-06 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-02-13 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-02-20 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-02-27 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-03-06 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-03-13 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-03-20 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-04-03 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Detroit)
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

Business Legal Assistance Office Hours
2025-02-07 09:00 - 11:00 | 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 one-hour long. Upon registration, you’ll be contacted via the email you provide during registration to schedule your individual time within the 9 – 11 am 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:

TCNewTech: Bar Napkin Pitch Night
2025-02-11 16:30 - 19:00 | The Workshop Brewing Company, 221 Garland Street, Traverse City, MI, 49684, United States
A fun event where anyone can take the stage!

TCNewTech: Bar Napkin Pitch Night returns! Join us for this fun pitch event where anyone can take the stage… all you need is an idea!
In general, the projects presented at TCNewTech are already well-developed ideas, products, or services. But what about those maybe-great, this-might-be-crazy-but-I’m-considering-it-anyway ideas? For those, we have Bar Napkin Pitch Night!
No business plan or formal slides are needed. The audience will have a chance to vote by cheering loudly for their favorite idea. Come out and support aspiring entrepreneurs and hear the latest and greatest ideas in Traverse City!
Ready to share your idea… or excited to hear what your friends and neighbors have come up with? Come check it out!
Interested in Pitching? Here’s What to Know:

2 minute time limit. No going over!
There will be a sign-up sheet available beginning at 4:30 pm. First-come, first-served!
No visuals or slides

After everyone has pitched, there will be time to mingle and connect for one-on-one questions and answers. Why pitch? You could find your next business partners… or get the feedback you need to follow your dream.
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.
Event Schedule:
4:30-5:00 pm: Welcome & Networking
5:00-6:00 pm: Presentation and Pitch Rounds
6:00-7:00 pm: Networking
Not able to make it right at 5? Feel free to come when you are able!
Thanks to The Workshop for providing a dollar off attendees’ first round of drinks!
Presenting partner:

Supporting partners:

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/

Drop-in Startup Coaching: Petoskey
2025-02-12 14:30 - 16:00, 2025-03-12 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: Fundraising
2025-02-13 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

Startup Bootcamp, Powered by CO.STARTERS
2025-02-18 16:00 - 19:00, 2025-02-20 16:00 - 19:00, 2025-02-25 16:00 - 19:00, 2025-02-27 16:00 - 19:00 | 20Fathoms, 10850 East Traverse Highway, #Ste 4400, Traverse City, MI, 49684, United States
A four-part plan for launching your big idea

Note: your 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, you’ll collaboratively work with peers to strategize, problem solve, and apply business basics to your idea or venture. 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.
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.
Presenting partner:

Supporting partners:

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/

Startup Coaching: Manistee
2025-02-19 09:00 - 11:00, 2025-03-19 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.

TC Women in Tech Meetup
2025-02-19 17:00 - 19:00, 2025-03-19 17:00 - 19:00 | Earthen Ales, 1371 Gray Drive, ##200, Traverse City, MI, 49684, United States
Join us at TC Women in Tech Meetup for connection, empowerment, and lots of fun!

Join 20Fathoms as we host Women in Tech, a Northern Michigan social group for those working in — or interested in — the tech industry or in tech-related roles. This informal meetup is meant to help participants build local connections and work on their professional growth (yeah, support systems!). Registration is requested to ensure ample seating, but walk-ins are always welcome.
We can’t wait to see you!
Thank you to our event partner:

Breakfast Lab: Storytelling & Pitching
2025-02-20 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.

Drop-in Startup Coaching: Benzonia
2025-02-20 12:30 - 14:30, 2025-03-20 12:30 - 14:30 | 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.

Breakfast Lab: Bringing it All Together
2025-02-27 09:00 - 12:00 | 20Fathoms, 10850 East Traverse Highway, #Ste 4400, Traverse City, MI, 49684, United States
Learn how to develop a plan to refine and implement your business model canvas

Whether you’re just starting out with an idea or ready to start up, Breakfast Lab takes your business model to the next level.
Breakfast Lab has covered six weeks of learning about customer discovery, marketing, MVP development, financials, pitching, and funding. In this week’s session facilitated by Erin Srebinski, Manager of Startup Education at 20Fathoms, you’ll bring everything together and identify key next steps to achieve your goals.
We’ll focus on:

A clear self-assessment: understand your strengths and gaps across customer discovery, marketing, MVP development, financials, pitching, and funding.
A business model roadmap: develop a prioritized list of next steps based on your biggest challenges, ensuring you know what to focus on before strategic planning.
Peer & mentor feedback: get insights and ideas from small-group problem-solving discussions to help refine your approach.
An actionable 2-week goal: Set a specific commitment to work on before the March 6 strategic planning session, ensuring progress between sessions.

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 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.

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: Strategic Planning
2025-03-06 09:00 - 12:00 | 20Fathoms, 10850 East Traverse Highway, #Ste 4400, Traverse City, MI, 49684, United States
Learn how to create a realistic and actionable three-year business plan

This workshop is an interactive and strengths-based strategic planning session designed specifically for entrepreneurs. Unlike traditional SWOT analysis, which often focuses on problems and threats, the SOAR framework encourages a positive and opportunity-driven approach to strategic thinking.
During this session, participants will explore their Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Results, allowing them to craft a clear and motivating roadmap for their business growth. This highly collaborative session has facilitated discussions, brainstorming exercises, and practical action planning. By the end of the workshop, entrepreneurs will have a solid strategic direction and a plan to implement their vision with confidence.

📌 What Participants Will Focus On in the Workshop
✅ Recognizing and leveraging their strengths to build a competitive advantage
✅ Identifying key opportunities in their industry, market, or network.
✅ Defining their aspirations and vision for their business and future growth.
✅ Establishing measurable results to track progress and ensure accountability
Through discussions, self reflection and collaborative exercises, they will gain clarity, strategic direction, and actionable next steps to move forward confidently in their entrepreneurial journey.
📌 What Participants Will Learn & Gain
🔹 A clear understanding of the SOAR framework and how it applies to their business
🔹 A positive and strengths-focused approach to strategic planning
🔹 A well-defined business vision (aspirations) with measurable outcomes (results)
🔹 A practical action plan to capitalize on opportunities and maximize business potential
🔹 Peer feedback, networking, and insights from other entrepreneurs
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 Startup Bootcamp to get started.
Meet this week’s facilitator:
Dr. Patricia Malone is a CPA, CMA, and Certified Professional Facilitator. She works primarily with organizations and individuals to help them reach their highest potential through the practices of organizational development, strategy facilitation, leadership, and operational excellence. She has served as CFO, COO, and SR Transformation leader in both small and large private equity and publicly held organizations and has worked with teams all over the world to develop strategy, streamline and manage business processes, facilitate, and implement lean projects, and create and manage operational excellence programs. Dr. Malone’s dissertation research was focused on developing a theory and emergent framework of creating strategic capacity, which is defined as the ability of an organization or individual to obtain their vision, mission, and goals. To that end, she helps individuals and organizations create purpose and meaningful results for positive change.
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.

AI Happy Hour
2025-03-06 17:00 - 18:00 | 20Fathoms, 10850 East Traverse Highway, #Ste 4400, Traverse City, MI, 49684, United States
Explore AI tools to streamline your workplace tasks.

Join 20Fathoms and SJA Solutions for a happy hour to learn more about AI tools in the workplace!
Sean Agerson, President of SJA Solutions, will showcase Tango, Scribe How, and more – powerful AI tools that help streamline workflows, automate tasks, and drive business value without increasing human capital.
AI offers the promise to do more with less. Learn how Sean has used these workplace AI tools to grow his business and to run his business more efficiently and try them out for yourself.
Beverages and snacks will be provided. Special thanks to Chick-fil-A for their catering support.
Who should attend:
Business leaders and entrepreneurs wanting to use AI to streamline their workplace tasks.
About the presenter:
Sean Agerson is the Founder, President, and sole owner of SJA Solutions, an organization deeply rooted in the principles of service excellence and relationship-drive IT. Sean has dedicated his career to advancing cybersecurity and evolving technology solutions for a diverse client base.
With a core purpose of helping people grow and succeed, SJA solutions stands on the forefront of protecting organizations with advanced cybersecurity measures. Sean’s commitment to ensuring unparalleled client service is supported by a team-based approach, allowing for deeper relationships and an understanding of each client’s unique needs.

A bout 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: Customer Discovery
2025-03-13 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: MVP Development & Product-Market Fit
2025-03-20 09:00 - 12:00 | 20Fathoms, 10850 East Traverse Highway, #Ste 4400, Traverse City, MI, 49684, United States
Define your minimum viable product (MVP) and develop a plan to test and refine it

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 Peter Scott, EIR at 20Fathoms, you’ll learn how to define your minimum viable product (MVP) and develop a plan to test and refine it.
We’ll focus on:

Prototyping
Gathering feedback
Iterating toward product-market fit

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:
Peter serves as Entrepreneur in Residence at 20Fathoms. In this role he is excited to connect with local founders and help them start companies, with a special focus of supporting those working in the local bluetech economy.
Peter is a serial entrepreneur and the co-founder of Power 3D, Grasp Robotics and CellDrop Biosciences. He brings over 20 years of experience in industry and academia helping inventors commercialize their technology. His previous experience includes advising 25+ technology startups in strategy, marketing/sales, and finance, securing commitments of $14 million in investment. His experience spans markets including solar, wind turbines, fuel injection, engine controls, consumer products, and medical devices.
Additionally, Peter is an international lecturer on innovation and entrepreneurship and has taught in 10 countries. He also previously served as the Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Wyoming.
Peter holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan, an MS in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Cincinnati and an MBA from the University of Michigan.
In his spare time, he serves as chauffeur for his teenage daughters, rides bikes, plays hockey, tastes wine, and throws balls for his two very high energy German Shorthair Pointers. He also enjoys traveling anywhere he can and has visited all 50 states and more than 50 countries.
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.

Breakfast Lab: Cost, Revenue & Financial Modeling
2025-04-03 09:00 - 12:00 | 20Fathoms, 10850 East Traverse Highway, #Ste 4400, Traverse City, MI, 49684, United States
Break down your startup’s costs, revenue streams, and key financial metrics

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 Beth Melcher, CEO of MoneyFit, you’ll learn how to break down your startup’s costs, revenue streams, and key financial metrics.
We’ll focus on:

Building a simple financial model to guide decisions and attract 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:
Beth Melcher is the Founder of MoneyFit. Throughout her life, she has been fascinated by language; English and French in college and in business school, it was the language of finance. With 25 years of experience in commercial banking, product management and small business financial consulting, Beth has learned that companies have a unique language all of their own. Success happens when owners learn how to listen and respond to their companies—and Beth loves being the person to teach them how to do it. She has seen what success and failure look like. Most often, the difference between one and the other is vision, grit and a willingness to collaborate with trainers who can show you the way. Beth feels that the best part of her work is when she gets to be that trainer and see the spark between a company and its owner. When that partnership develops, it forges a path toward true achievement.
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.
