Startup support services for entrepreneurs

Build faster. Scale smarter. Go further.

Whether you’re sketching ideas on a napkin or scaling up your company, this is your front door into the 20Fathoms startup ecosystem.

A group of people sit at angled tables in a conference room with one white man in the foreground. They are smiling and waving at the camera, posing for a photo during a workshop.
20 Fathoms branded wave graphics

Navigating our nonprofit startup incubator in Traverse City

You’re so close to going so far.

With 20Fathoms, you don’t have to do everything. There’s no “right” order. We meet you where you are and take the journey with you.

1

Tell us your goal

Fill out a short intake form or have a conversation with our team. Share your idea, your stage of growth, and what you’re wrestling with.

2

Find a strategic path

We map your goals to the right mix of coaching, programs, and connections so you can start making some serious moves.

3

Access the right support

You plug into the resources that fit right now, then find support as your startup grows and your needs change.

A stacked list of resources

Programs for validation. Coaching for tough decisions. Community for collaboration. Connections for funding. It’s all here and waiting for you.

Available Resources

Coaching & Guidance

1:1 and small-group support to help you move faster and avoid common mistakes. Our coaches and mentors help with:

  • Business model clarity and validation
  • Go-to-market and customer discovery
  • Funding strategy and investor readiness
  • Operations, hiring, and growth decisions
  • A lot more

Programs & Education

Hands-on, no-fluff learning experiences designed for real founders.

Two entrepreneurs in bright colors write on post it notes on their business model canvas.
CO.STARTERS Core

This 10-week program will walk you through a proven process to get your business unstuck and off the ground. You’ll make tangible progress with sessions focused on business essentials, plus benefit from a 2-week bonus dive into customer discovery.

Supported by:

At Breakfast Lab, entrepreneurs gather around a long table with their laptops to listen to this week's speaker.
Breakfast Lab

Weekly startup workshops and coaching, every Thursday at 9 am. Drop in for a session on topics like customer discovery, pitching, or fundraising, then stick around for 1:1 coaching and coworking.

Supported by:

Specialized support for Native American entrepreneurs, including coaching, the Indigenous Business & Marketing Essentials program, and IndigiPitch.

Supported by:

Additional Resources

You didn’t think we were done, did you? Our list of resources just keeps growing.

Access to Capital

Guidance on grants, investors, and funding strategy.

View Access to Capital

Pitch Competitions

Test your story, get feedback, and build support.

View TCNewTech Information

Coworking Space

A professional, high-energy workspace where you can focus, meet collaborators, and feel like part of something bigger.

View Coworking Space

Community Events

Workshops, meetups, and networking that connect you with founders, mentors, talent, and champions.

View Events

Partner Resources

Connections/introductions to a coordinated network of regional organizations working together to help startups grow.

View Community Partners

If you’re ready to build, you’re in the right room.

Behind every business plan is a person building something that matters. We’ve seen founders turn emerging ideas into fully formed businesses, entrepreneurs find clarity in a single coaching session, and teams land customers, secure funding, and make their first hires.

Every story is different, but all share one thing in common—it got easier once they weren’t doing it alone.

Memory Bright's founders review their pitch deck at a Breakfast Lab session.
20 Fathoms branded wave graphics

Frequently asked questions. 

Is there pressure to participate in every program?

Not at all. Think of our resources as a menu, not a checklist. We’ll help you choose what’s most useful for where you are right now.

Nope! Many of our resources are low- or no-cost thanks to regional support and grant funding. We can also help you explore funding options when you’re ready.

Spoiler: No stage is a “perfect” stage. Everyone needs support at every stage of their journey, whether you’re just starting out or running a more mature business.

20Fathoms is an inclusive community for folks building something: a business, an idea, a career, or simply a more connected work life. We’re dedicated to learning about you (and your business, if you have one) so we can connect you to the right support, whether that’s within 20Fathoms or through our regional partners.

We support businesses of all stages, across industries. We have a strong emphasis on scalable, innovative businesses, but we welcome a wide variety of ventures.

We’ll connect with you and you’ll have a 1:1 convo with our team. We’ll review your needs, goals, and timing and recommend the resources, services, or programs that best support you.

Membership gives you access to the coworking space, but most of our startup services are available even if you’re not coworking.

20 Fathoms branded wave graphics

We’re ready when you are.

If you’re thinking, “I’m not sure where to start,” you’re exactly where you should be. Tell us more about you and we’ll help you figure out the rest.