You have a startup idea in Seattle. Now what? This guide covers the five essential first steps every Seattle founder should take in their first week.
Step 1: Schedule a Free SCORE Mentor
Time required: 15 minutes to request, 2 weeks to match
Your first move should be free expert guidance. SCORE Greater Seattle has 160+ volunteer mentors across 62 industries ready to help.
Why do this first:
- Avoid expensive early mistakes
- Get feedback on your idea before building
- Learn what you don’t know
- Completely free
How to do it:
- Visit score.org/seattle
- Click “Find a Mentor”
- Complete the request form
- You’ll be matched within 2 weeks
Pro tip: Request a mentor with experience in your industry. Be specific about what you need help with.
Step 2: Get a Seattle Public Library Card
Time required: 20 minutes at any branch
A library card unlocks research tools worth $20,000+ per year.
What you get for free:
| Database | What It Does | Retail Value |
|---|---|---|
| PitchBook | VC deal flow, valuations, investor profiles | $20,000+/year |
| Data Axle | Business leads, company data | $3,000+/year |
| SimplyAnalytics | Demographic and market analysis | $5,000+/year |
| LinkedIn Learning | 16,000+ business courses | $360/year |
How to do it:
- Visit any Seattle Public Library branch
- Bring ID with Seattle address
- Get your card on the spot
- Access databases from home
Pro tip: Use the L2B (Library to Business) program to schedule 1:1 appointments with business librarians who can help you with research.
Step 3: Attend 1 Million Cups on Wednesday
Time required: 2 hours (every Wednesday at 9am)
1 Million Cups Seattle is the easiest way to practice your pitch and meet other founders. No registration required.
Why attend:
- Practice your 6-minute pitch
- Get immediate feedback
- Meet potential co-founders, advisors, and customers
- Build your Seattle network
What happens:
- 2 founders present 6-minute pitches
- Audience asks questions and gives feedback
- Networking afterward
- Coffee provided
How to find it:
- Search “1 Million Cups Seattle” for location
- Just show up, no registration needed
- Happens every Wednesday at 9am
Pro tip: Don’t wait until your idea is “ready.” The earlier you pitch, the more useful the feedback.
Step 4: Apply to One Accelerator
Time required: 2-4 hours for application
Apply to an accelerator before you think you’re ready. Most founders wait too long.
Best first accelerators by stage:
| Your Stage | Apply To | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Idea only | WTIA Founder Cohort | Free, 6 months, no equity |
| Working prototype | Startup425 | Free, 15 weeks, no equity |
| Early revenue | Techstars Seattle | $220K investment |
| Black founder | SEA619 | Free first year, 0-2% equity cap |
| Climate tech | Cascadia CleanTech | $500 fee, no equity |
WTIA Founder Cohort details:
- 6-month program
- Free of charge
- No equity taken
- Must be seed-stage WA tech startup
- Less than $1M annual revenue
How to apply:
- Research which program fits your stage
- Prepare a basic pitch deck (10-12 slides)
- Apply 3-4 months before you need to start
- Follow up after submitting
Pro tip: A warm introduction from an alumnus increases acceptance rates 3x. Ask your SCORE mentor for connections.
Step 5: Register Your Business (When Ready)
Time required: 1-2 weeks
Don’t register until you’ve validated your idea. Once ready, here’s the process.
When to register:
- You’re ready to accept payment
- You’re signing contracts
- You’re hiring employees
- You’re seeking investment
Washington State registration:
| Step | What to Do | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Reserve business name | WA Secretary of State | $30 |
| 2. Register your business | WA Secretary of State | $180 (LLC) |
| 3. Get UBI number | WA Dept of Revenue | Free |
| 4. Seattle business license | City of Seattle | Varies |
LLC vs. Corporation:
- LLC: Simpler, good for most early startups
- C-Corp: Required for VC funding, Delaware incorporation common
Pro tip: If you’re planning to raise VC money, talk to a lawyer about Delaware C-Corp incorporation. Many Seattle startups use this structure.
The First Week Checklist
| Day | Action | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Request SCORE mentor | 15 min |
| Tuesday | Get library card | 30 min |
| Wednesday | Attend 1 Million Cups | 2 hours |
| Thursday | Research accelerators | 2 hours |
| Friday | Start accelerator application | 2 hours |
| Weekend | Continue application | 2 hours |
What NOT to Do First
Common mistakes new founders make:
| Mistake | Why It’s Wrong | Do This Instead |
|---|---|---|
| Build the product first | You might build something nobody wants | Talk to 20 potential customers |
| Incorporate immediately | Costs money, may need different structure later | Validate first |
| Rent office space | Expensive, unnecessary early on | Use libraries, coffee shops, co-working |
| Hire employees | Fixed cost before revenue | Use contractors if needed |
| Spend on marketing | Need product-market fit first | Focus on direct outreach |
Free Resources Available Day One
| Resource | What You Get | How to Access |
|---|---|---|
| SCORE mentorship | 1:1 business advising | score.org/seattle |
| Library databases | $25K+ in research tools | Any SPL branch |
| 1 Million Cups | Pitch practice, networking | Wednesdays 9am |
| Washington SBDC | Business advising | wsbdc.org |
| MyStartup365 | Free online business courses | mystartup365.com |
What Comes After
Once you’ve completed these 5 steps, you’re ready for:
- Customer discovery - Talk to 20+ potential customers
- Prototype development - Build the minimum viable product
- Accelerator participation - Join your program when accepted
- Funding exploration - Pitch competitions, grants, angels
- Scaling - Grow based on what you’ve learned
Key Takeaways
- Start with free resources - SCORE, library, 1 Million Cups cost nothing
- Apply early - Accelerators fill up 3-4 months in advance
- Don’t register too soon - Validate before incorporating
- Build your network - Attend events consistently
- Get feedback constantly - The earlier, the better
Related Guides
Ready for more? Check out these resources:
- Complete Seattle Startup Resources Guide - All 230+ free resources
- Seattle Accelerators & Incubators 2026 - Compare 28 programs
- Top 10 Funding Opportunities - Non-dilutive funding sources
- King County Startup Resources - Seattle and Eastside programs
The hardest part is starting. These five steps take less than a week and cost nothing. Begin today.
Last updated: January 2026. Questions? Contact us.