In the News

What better place to host a media event between startup companies and one of the Puget Sound region's top legislators than a hub for entrepreneurial growth and activity named "Galvanize?" To celebrate national startup day, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene met with a select group of Seattle-based entrepreneurs and startup founders at Galvanize Seattle's offices. After a brief tour of the facilities with Galvanize’s Stephanie Donner, Tracy Aiken, and Joanna Shea, Congresswoman DelBene and the business community in attendance conducted a roundtable discussion related to how innovation and opportunity created by small businesses help drives the economy of the present and future.

Following a round of intros, Rep. DelBene posed these questions to the group: what can we [legislators] do to continue to foster entrepreneurialism? What are the barriers and challenges that you face? What would you like to see that you think would help organizations like yours to thrive? The panelists took turns pondering these questions. Package Guard founder & CEO Mike Grabham was the first to respond. He explained that his company’s access to (financial) capital is typically the first hurdle they must clear to be successful, and then suggested that it is also critical for their success that they are permitted access to a network of talent across the globe. Grabham also lamented his company’s laborious experience when attempting to secure government work. Sternshus’ Ruth Stern agreed with Grabham’s frustration.

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