By Quinn Propst | Ward Media Staff Reporter
Meet Alanna Imbach, Vibe Coworks founder and Executive Director of Matchstick Lab.
Imbach is a community builder, entrepreneur and advocate for innovation in Kitsap County. Her background in international development, including work with the UN Refugee Agency and WaterAid, gives her a global perspective on collaboration, resilience, and impact.
Imbach co-founded Vibe Coworks with her husband, Marcel, in 2016 and in 2023 started Matchstick Lab. In January, Imbach stepped into the role of Executive Director of Matchstick Lab where she fosters business growth, investment, and peer-to-peer learning to strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Imbach is passionate about breaking down barriers, and believes in the power of relationships, bold ambition, and making every opportunity count.
Please Tell Our Readers A Little Bit About Yourself.
I’m a weaver of people—a builder of authentic, purpose-driven communities, and a champion for people with big ideas.
My career has taken me around the world, from the frontlines of international development—working with organizations like the UN Refugee Agency and WaterAid—to the heart of Kitsap’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Today, I’m the founder of Vibe Coworks, Kitsap’s premier shared workspace, and the Executive Director of Matchstick Lab, a new initiative dedicated to accelerating business growth and investment in our region. My passion lies in creating spaces—both physical and figurative—where people can come together to collaborate, innovate, and thrive.
Please Tell Our Readers About Vibe Coworks And Matchstick Lab.
Vibe Coworks is Kitsap’s premier shared workspace and coworking community—a dynamic hub for entrepreneurs, remote workers, and creatives to do their best work alongside like-minded peers.
We believe that proximity to great people and great ideas accelerates success, which is why we provide stunningly beautiful work, meeting and event spaces designed to help people work happier, healthier, and more connected than ever before. Think of Vibe as “the place where the magic happens.”
Matchstick Lab has evolved out of Vibe as an extension of that mission, with focused commitment to making Kitsap the go-to place to launch and grow businesses that benefit the region, and bring value to the world.
Fiscally sponsored by the Kitsap Community Foundation, Matchstick Lab is unlocking the peer-to-peer accelerated learning, access to capital, and storytelling resources that are needed to fuel true economic growth and innovation in Kitsap.
Together with our partners, and through programs including the Micro Business Accelerator, the Firebrand Unconference, and our work with NavalX NW Tech Bridge, we connect Kitsap’s founders, small businesses, investors, and ecosystem partners with the education, investment, and storytelling resources needed to fuel economic growth and innovation across the region.
How Did Your Experiences Working With Organizations Like The Un Refugee Agency And Wateraid Shape Your Approach To Building Vibe Coworks?
My background in international development taught me the power of collaboration, resourcefulness, and resilience—all of which are core to what we do at both Vibe Coworks and Matchstick Lab.
When you work on global challenges like refugee displacement and access to clean water, you quickly realize that no one succeeds alone—it takes thoughtful, strategic partnerships, shared knowledge, and a commitment to solving problems together to get things done..
That perspective has deeply influenced the way I’ve built Vibe Coworks. It’s not just about providing a workspace—it’s about creating a community where people can access the support, resources, and relationships they need to grow.
Working at the global level on some of the world’s complex challenges also taught me that, if you want to solve big problems, you can’t be afraid to think big and imagine solutions far beyond conventional limits. I was pushed to do that early in my career, and that mindset carries over to everything I do today.
You’ve Had An Incredible Career In International Development And Social Impact. What Led You To Transition Into Entrepreneurship And Coworking With Vibe Coworks?
I’ve always been driven by impact. For years, that meant working at the global level—helping organizations address critical issues like refugee resettlement, access to clean water and toilets, and women’s health.
My foray into entrepreneurship was accidental. When my husband Marcel and I decided to move back to Kitsap to be closer to family, we were fortunate to bring our remote jobs with us–but we quickly realized that having both of us working from home was not going to end well. We had both experienced the benefits of coworking spaces in NYC and thought: why not create something on par with what we were used to there, so we’d have a great place to work that still fit in with what makes Kitsap so special?
What started as a practical solution for ourselves quickly became a much greater opportunity to create real impact in Kitsap. We saw how we could provide an alternative to exhausting ferry commutes and isolating home offices. More than that, we realized we could help drive a certain density of people and ideas, helping remote workers, business owners, creatives, and entrepreneurs succeed in a place brimming with untapped potential.
In the end, launching a coworking community and fostering a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem isn’t so different from my work in international development: it’s all about breaking down barriers, providing access to the right tools, and elevating community-driven solutions.
What Was Your Vision For Vibe Coworks When You First Started, And How Has It Evolved?
The vision for Vibe Coworks has always been to create a world-class workspace and a thriving community for independent professionals, entrepreneurs, and remote teams—right here in Kitsap.
When we first started, our goal was to solve the isolation problem that so many business owners and remote workers experience outside of major cities. What’s evolved is our recognition that we’re also a catalyst for community and economic development.
With Matchstick Lab working in tandem with Vibe Coworks, we’re not just giving people a place to work—we’re serving as weavers of people, igniting the full potential of startup and business development in Kitsap, while celebrating our distinct heritage, resources and talents.
What Role Do You See Coworking Spaces Playing In The Future Of Work, Especially In Smaller Cities Like Those In The West Sound Region?
Coworking is the future of work—especially in non-urban regions like Kitsap, where four-hour roundtrip commutes to Seattle and a lack of professional density come at a tremendous opportunity cost. While some companies—and the federal government—are now testing Return to Office (RTO) mandates, the reality is that the demand for flexibility, autonomy, and authentic human connection in the work we do has only continued to grow.
For many—especially working parents, caregivers, and people with disabilities—rigid office policies create barriers to employment, career advancement, and overall well-being. Flexible work environments like Vibe Coworks are critical to fostering equity, inclusion, and economic opportunity. People who have the freedom to choose when and how they work are happier, healthier, and more productive.
In regions like Kitsap, coworking spaces serve as economic engines—providing cost-effective, high-quality workspace solutions for remote workers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses. They also help retain local talent by offering a viable alternative to long commutes or relocation.
Vibe Coworks’ most recent impact study highlights the power of professional relationships formed through coworking. In today’s economy, social networks are essential for business growth and career success:
- 50% of members have made professional referrals to another Vibe member
- 13% have hired a fellow member
- 36% have partnered with another member on paid work or volunteer collaborations
Coworking also makes work more enjoyable and effective:
- 73% of Vibe members report having made new professional connections
- 69% are happier since joining
- 70% are more productive
- 69% are more focused
- 54% feel less stressed
What Advice Would You Give To Entrepreneurs—Especially Women—Who Want To Build Businesses With A Strong Community Focus?
- Start with relationships. Business isn’t just about what you build—it’s about who you build it with. Invest in your network, seek out mentors, and surround yourself with people who challenge and support you. The strength of your community will define the strength of your business.
- Own your ambition. Women, in particular, are often conditioned to think small, ask for less, or downplay their ambitions. Don’t. Dream bigger, ask for more funding, and charge what you’re worth. Your vision deserves to take up space.
- Get crystal clear on your ‘why.’ If you’re building a community-driven business, be specific about who you serve, how you serve them, and why it matters. Passion is important, but clarity is what drives results.
- Understand that community is built through action, not intention. You can’t just say you’re community-focused—you have to show up, listen, and create value over and over again. Be the first to offer help, make introductions, and celebrate others’ success. The more you give, the stronger your community will become.
- Sustainability matters. A business that burns you out isn’t a business that serves anyone. Too often, community-focused founders—especially women—pour so much into others that they forget to create sustainable revenue models for themselves. Prioritize financial health alongside impact.
- Ask for help. Often. No one builds a business alone. Seek out investors, advisors, collaborators, and champions. And remember: you don’t need permission to lead. You just need a strong idea, the courage to start, and the resilience to keep going.
Are There Any Social Impact Projects Or Partnerships You’re Particularly Excited About Right Now?
Right now, I’m most excited about the growth and evolution of Matchstick Lab. What started as an extension of Vibe Coworks has quickly become something bigger—a catalyst for regional ecosystem development built around accelerated learning, access to capital, and storytelling.
We’re currently building out our advisory board, which will play a critical role in shaping the future of the organization and how we support entrepreneurs, startups, business owners, and investors across Kitsap. The opportunity ahead isn’t just about supporting individual founders—it’s about strengthening the entire business ecosystem so that more people can successfully launch, fund, and scale ventures right here in our region.
Through programs like the Micro Business Accelerator, the Firebrand Unconference, and our work with NavalX NW Tech Bridge, we’re already proving what’s possible when founders, investors, and ecosystem partners come together with the right support. But this is just the beginning.
Looking ahead, Matchstick Lab has the potential to redefine what entrepreneurial success looks like in Kitsap—not as an exception, but as the norm. We’re building something that ensures business owners don’t have to leave the region to thrive—they can build, scale, and create real impact right here at home.
What’s One Piece Of Career Advice That Has Stuck With You Throughout Your Journey?
“Make it count.”
It’s a lesson I learned in my early twenties when I was working as a Policy Associate at the United Nations in Geneva: you have exactly 90 seconds to make an intervention on the floor. Choose your words wisely, and make those 90 seconds count. That lesson applies to everything in life.
Time, energy, opportunities—they’re all finite. If you’re going to do something, do it with intention, do it well, and make it matter. That means showing up fully, taking risks, and choosing to invest in the things that truly move the needle—whether in business, relationships, or life. Your impact is a direct reflection of where you choose to invest yourself.
At the same time, success doesn’t happen in a vacuum. No one builds anything great alone. The people you surround yourself with matter. The support you seek, the relationships you nurture, and the way you show up for others—it all shapes the path forward.
If there’s an opportunity in front of you, take it. If the opportunity doesn’t exist yet, create it. You may only get one shot, and you don’t need permission to lead. Make it count.
Who Or What Inspires You?
I’m inspired by bold, visionary people who refuse to accept the status quo—whether they’re global changemakers or local business owners.
I’m also deeply inspired by the entrepreneurs and founders right here in Kitsap. These are the people who are out there taking risks, creating jobs, and solving problems—often without the same access to capital and resources as their counterparts in major cities. It takes a lot of guts and grit to drive a business in non-urban regions like ours. Their determination, creativity, and passion keep me motivated every day.
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