Everywhere I look in Kitsap right now, I see sparks.
I see them in the eyes of a first-time founder refining her wireframes late into the night, and in conversations between seasoned business owners sharing insights over coffee. I see them on white board walls at Vibe Coworks, in underwater test environments with Navy Lab Keyport, on our farms, and on neighborhood blocks being transformed by bold ideas.
Friends. Neighbors. Strangers. All imagining, building, and daring to try something new.
Those sparks are bright. And they matter.
You see, sparks don’t stay sparks when the right conditions exist. Given the right fuel —belief, connection, resources—sparks become fires that light the way forward.
Kitsap is at a turning point. While the outside world may know us for our beauty, our Navy presence, and our small-town charm, a more complex story is emerging. One that says:
Here, and all across the nation today, entrepreneurs are facing headwinds: shrinking access to capital, the rapid pace of AI adoption, and growth pressures that can hollow out communities.
Too many of our innovators are still building in isolation—not because they want to, but because the right pathways haven’t always been visible or accessible. Changing that is part of the work ahead.
The potential for a deeply connected entrepreneurial community is here. It’s up to all of us to make it real.
Matchstick Lab was created to spark Kitsap’s collective imagination, one entrepreneur at a time. Thanks to the infrastructure provided by Vibe Coworks, and a powerful network of partners and funders, we’ve:
In the last six months alone, we’ve seen our region rank 4th in the state for the number of life sciences companies based here. We’re seen five Kitsap-connected companies compete—and win—at major regional competitions from Wenatchee to Seattle, Bellevue to Spokane.
These are not isolated wins. They are proof that when a community believes in its entrepreneurs, it changes what’s possible.
This column, The Ecosystem Edge, will build on that proof. Each month, you’ll hear from founders, funders, builders, and Matchstick Lab board members and partners, sharing insights, stories, and strategies to shape Kitsap’s future. This isn’t about one person, or one organization. It’s about all of us. If we want Kitsap to become a magnet for entrepreneurial talent and ingenuity, it will take collaboration, deep listening, laser focus on real needs, long-term commitment, and an unwavering abundance mindset.
Kitsap’s next chapter is ours to build. Light a fire with us.
