Olympia Startup Resources
20+ free resources for Olympia founders. State capital, government contracts, and Thurston County's startup ecosystem.
Olympia
Washington’s capital. Government contracts, state agencies, and a growing entrepreneurial community.
Olympia founders have unique access to state procurement, policy influence, and public sector partnerships.
Why Olympia
- State capital — government contract opportunities
- Evergreen State College — creative and social enterprise focus
- Lower cost of living than Seattle metro
- GovTech opportunity — proximity to state agencies
Where Founders Build
Downtown Olympia — Center for Business and Innovation, Capitol Campus
West Olympia — St. Martin’s University, small business corridor
Lacey — South Sound SBDC, commercial development
Tumwater — Historic breweries, manufacturing heritage
Key Programs
- Center for Business and Innovation — Free advising, workshops, coworking
- South Sound SBDC — Free business consulting
- Thurston Economic Development Council — Grants and connections
- City of Olympia Economic Development — Permits, incentives, support
- BEST Scholarships — Lacey-Olympia-Tumwater business education