The City of Bellevue has launched a 15-week accelerator program aimed at supporting entrepreneurs and small business owners across Eastside communities. The program, which began on September 30, 2024, is a collaborative effort under Startup 425, a regional initiative to expand entrepreneurship.
The first group of participants in the program includes 37 entrepreneurs, with at least five business founders from each of the partner cities.
The accelerator offers participants access to resources, educational events, networking opportunities, and connections to support services. The program is designed to provide Silicon Valley-level training to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses.
The program is fully funded by the Port of Seattle and Amazon. Participants can gain important business knowledge without having to pay any fees or give up a share of their companies.
“Bellevue believes in innovation through collaboration, and the city has taken a partnership approach to supporting startups,” said Mayor Lynne Robinson.
Levi Reed, the program coordinator and Startup 425’s resident entrepreneur emphasized that the accelerator prioritizes business founders from underrepresented communities. “About 35% of the cohort consists of small business founders focused on targeting an underserved niche,” Reed said. “These companies are usually self-funded or take on debt to become established, making this accelerator opportunity extremely helpful.”
Startup 425 has already received positive feedback from participants. Komal Kashiramka, a Redmond resident and founder of an automated roti-maker company, shared her experience, saying the accelerator’s environment has fostered focus and accountability. “I’ve already gained significant value from the one-minute hot seat pitch practice,” she said.
Interest in the program was high, with 170 entrepreneurs applying for the first cohort. Going forward, the City of Bellevue plans to expand the program’s capacity to accommodate more applicants.
For more information about the accelerator program, visit Startup 425’s website.
