About Us
Seattle Startup Accelerator (SSA) is a nonprofit accelerator empowering early-stage founders through hands-on company building and a deeply engaged community. We help founders refine their products, develop funding strategies, craft go-to-market plans, and assemble effective teams—with mentorship, peer support, and investor connections every step of the way.
Our Story
The Spark
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Seattle attracts world-class technical talent. With Microsoft, Amazon, and a deep bench of cloud and AI teams, there’s no shortage of brilliant engineers or bold ideas. Many of them dream of building companies—they just need the right resources, guidance, and connections to take the first step.
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The Gap
Unlike Silicon Valley, Seattle’s early-stage startup culture hasn’t always been as vibrant. Practical founder support is fragmented, and for first-time founders—especially before that first check—the path can feel steep. Too many great builders head south to find what they can’t easily access here at home.
Our Response
We started the Seattle Startup Accelerator (SSA) to lower those barriers. We connect first-time and early-stage founders with hands-on coaching, a trusted mentor network, beta-customers for real feedback, and a community that shares playbooks openly. Our commitment is simple: make it easier to start, learn faster, and build stronger—right here in Seattle.
What We Do
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Founder coaching & peer cohorts: Practical, week-to-week guidance from operators and investors.
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Beta-customer network: Real users and buyers to validate problems and iterate quickly.
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Mentor & investor access: Senior founders, product leaders, and funders who give honest feedback.
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Community & events: Panels, demos, and summits that connect builders with partners and talent.
Why It Matters
We believe Seattle can consistently produce standout startups—if we make the first mile more accessible. When founders get practical support early, they stay, they ship, and they create outsized impact for the region.
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Join Us
If you’re a founder, mentor, investor, or partner who wants to help builders win in Seattle, you’re in the right place. Let’s lower the barriers together and create the next generation of breakout companies—here, at home.
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