Frequently Asked Questions

Startup Day is a one-day conference for founders on May 15 in Seattle. It features 15 founder talks, 1:1 advisory sessions, a co-founder matching program, a Startup Fair, and networking with 400+ founders and investors.

Startup Day is for anyone in the startup ecosystem: active founders, aspiring founders, and startup-curious professionals exploring the entrepreneurial path. We also welcome investors and service providers through a limited number of Supporter tickets.

Yes. Your co-founder will benefit as much as you from listening to experienced founders talk about their startup journey, access to the advisory room (divide-and-conquer!), and roaming the floors of the Startup Fair.

All full-access tickets include 15 founder talks, breakfast and lunch, coffee and drinks throughout the day, access to the Startup Fair, the happy hour (5–7 PM), and eligibility for the Advisory Room. Founder and Future Founder tickets may also participate in the Co-founder Match program (limited spots).

Ticket prices increase as the event gets closer, so buying early saves you money.

Founder, Future Founder, and Explorer tickets:

• Early Bird: $195 (through March 13)
• Regular: $295 (through May 1)
• Late: $395 (through May 11)
• Door: $495

Supporter tickets (Investor/Vendor):

• Regular: $995 (through May 1)
• Late: $1,295 (through May 11)

Early Bird tickets are limited to 100 and sell out fast!

Great news! Full refunds are available through May 1. You can also transfer your ticket to someone else up until May 11.

All our speakers were hand-picked by us to talk about one of the many steps on a startup journey, from validating an idea to an exit. None of them paid to speak! They have first-hand knowledge about what they are talking about, and deeply understand the impact of AI in the new startup playbook.

Startup Day is focused on tech startups. These companies are building technology products that are designed to scale. If you're building a SaaS, a marketplace, a developer tool, an AI product, or any tech-enabled venture, this event is for you. If you're running a local services business like a restaurant, salon, or consulting firm (even if a tech one), the content and networking won't be the right fit.

Yes, it's worth it. If you are considering doing a startup in the future, even if it's not today, Startup Day will deliver unvarnished insights into the life of an entrepreneur. This is not about painting a rosy picture, but facing the reality of the hardships, benefits, and excitement that come with founding a startup.

Doors open at 8:00 AM for registration and breakfast. The first talk begins at 9:00 AM. The main program runs until 5:00 PM, followed by a happy hour from 5:00–7:00 PM.

Yes. Breakfast, lunch, coffee, and drinks are provided throughout the day. If you have dietary restrictions, you can note them when purchasing your ticket and we'll do our best to accommodate.

Startup casual! Whatever makes you comfortable.

Yes, photos and videos will be taken throughout the event. If you're in stealth mode or prefer not to appear in media, pick up a red lanyard at registration. Our photographers will know to exclude you. Check our privacy policy for more details.

Bell Harbor Conference Center is accessible by car and public transit. Multiple parking garages are available nearby. Enter through the Olympic entrance on the ground floor (right side of the building).

Yes. Use the link in your confirmation email to update your information and preferences anytime before May 11. After that date, your information is locked for badge printing.

We'll send your personalized agenda via email and text on the morning of the event, including your Advisory Room sessions and Co-founder Match schedule (if applicable).

Visit the ticket update page on our website and enter your email address. We'll send you a new link right away. If you don't have access to your email address, feel free to reach out to startupday@seattleflow.org.

The Advisory Room offers 15-minute 1:1 sessions with experienced advisors. They include investors, seasoned founders, and industry experts. It's your chance to get personalized advice on fundraising, product, marketing, legal, hiring, and more.

Founder, Future Founder, and Explorer ticket holders can each book up to 2 sessions with advisors. We'll give priority to those who buy their ticket earlier. The sooner you buy your ticket, the more advisors and availability you'll have to choose from.

Booking opens on April 30 and closes on May 13. Early ticket buyers get priority access, so the sooner you buy your ticket, the better your chances of booking your preferred advisors.

When booking opens, you will receive an email with a link to browse the available advisors and pick who you want to meet with. Early ticket buyers get priority access to book their preferred advisors, so the sooner you buy your ticket, the better your options.

Our advisors have experience across many business categories. These include: Branding & Growth; Product & UX; Fundraising & Accelerators; Legal & Compliance; HR & Hiring; Finance & Taxes; Sales & Business Development; and AI & Engineering.

You can join the waitlist for that advisor. If someone doesn't check in 30 minutes before their slot, it gets released to the next person on the waitlist.

Come with a specific question or challenge in mind. Fifteen minutes goes fast, so the more focused you are, the more value you'll get. Have a brief intro ready (who you are, what you're building, what stage you're at).

Yes, you can. They are expecting that. However, this is just an introductory meeting and investors don't invest at first sight. Meeting you is just one data point across hundreds they will need to collect to make a decision. You should do your homework and know the types of industries and problems an investor has focused on to see if there's a fit.

Co-founder Match is an AI-powered speed-dating program that pairs you with up to 3 potential co-founders based on complementary skills, interests, and goals. You'll have a dedicated 20-minute session with each match on event day. We'll provide the exact details on where to meet them.

Founder and Future Founder ticket holders can participate. The program is limited to 80 participants, and early ticket buyers get priority.

Registration opens May 7 and closes May 12. You'll submit a profile describing your background, skills, and what you're looking for in a co-founder. We do expect the Co-founder Match to fill up quickly, so buying a ticket earlier gives you priority access to register for this program.

Our matching algorithm analyzes your profile (your skills, experience, industry interests), and what you're looking for to find complementary matches. The goal is to pair people whose strengths fill each other's gaps.

You'll meet each match for a 20-minute 1:1 conversation at a dedicated table. Come with a 2–3 minute introduction about yourself. Highlight great achievements in your professional career and previous startup experience. Listen to each other and ask questions about their interests, goals, and why they want to do a startup. After the event, it's up to you to follow up and continue the conversation.

This is a first meeting. Your expectation should be that if you and your match seem to align, for both of you to follow up after the event to continue the conversation. We share each others contact information.

Only the people who check in physically at the venue will participate in the Co-founder Match, even if they filled out the participant information beforehand. For that reason, we'll only provide the names of the people you'll be meeting with a few hours before the Co-founder Match program begins.

No. This is not what Co-founder Match is about. If all you want is a software engineer to build your startup, this program is not for you. Co-founders share a passion for a problem, a curiosity and open-mindedness about how to solve that problem, and a shared set of expectations and values. If you want someone to just build your idea, you are looking for an employee, not a co-founder.

The Startup Kit is a directory of investors, service providers, and vendors offering exclusive deals and discounts to Startup Day attendees. It connects founders with the resources they need to build and grow their startups.

The Startup Kit directory launches on April 14. Before that date, you can learn about the program and apply to get listed. After launch, you'll be able to browse all listings and access exclusive offers.

Your listing includes your company name, a description of your services (up to 250 characters), your website link, category tags, and any special offer you want to provide to Startup Day attendees. You can also include instructions on how to redeem the offer.

Yes! After your payment is confirmed, you'll receive an email with a secure link to update your listing details. You can modify your company description, offer details, and contact information at any time before the event.

No, you don't need to purchase a ticket or attend the event to be listed in the Startup Kit. The directory is designed to connect service providers with attendees whether or not the vendor is present at the event.

The Startup Fair is a startup science fair, with seasoning! It runs from 12:00–4:00 PM on May 15 (1:30–4:00 PM for Fair-only tickets). The builders behind startups demo their products for you to learn about their offerings, get a behind-the-scenes look at their technology, and discover job opportunities.

Each table comes with 3 full-access conference tickets, a table at the Fair (12:00–4:00 PM), a listing on the Startup Day website, and access to the Fair-only attendees' email list.

All ticket holders can attend. We also offer a Fair-Only ticket for $20 (access from 1:30–4:00 PM) for tech professionals and students who want to explore Seattle startups without attending the full conference.

Early-stage startups looking to showcase their product, recruit talent, or raise awareness in the Seattle startup community. This is especially valuable if you're launching a product and/or hiring. It's best if your startup is providing a product that's useful to other startups, because your customers are going to be there.

You'll see live product demos from Seattle's most exciting early-stage startups, meet founders & builders directly, and learn about open roles. It's a chance to explore the startup ecosystem, learn about products you should be using, and find opportunities through one-on-one conversations.

Applications close on May 1. Space is limited, so apply early.

Absolutely. The Startup Fair is designed for tech professionals curious about technology and startups. Meet the teams, see the products, and have real conversations with founders about their vision and open roles.

Contact us at startupday@seattleflow.org for pricing details.

The fair is for startups that have funding, a B2B product, and/or are actively hiring for several builder roles (SWE, PM, ML/AI, Design). Apply at the Startup Fair application page. Tables include 3 full conference tickets, a website listing, and access to all Fair-only ticket attendees. Applications close May 1.

Our team reviews applications and follows up with next steps, including pricing and logistics. We'll confirm your spot and send you everything you need to prepare for the Fair.

Startup Day 2026 is a one-day conference for founders taking place on May 15 at Bell Harbor Conference Center in Seattle, WA. It brings together 400+ founders, investors, and startup professionals for 15 founder talks, 1:1 advisory sessions, a co-founder matching program, a Startup Fair, and networking. Tickets start at $195. More info at seattleflow.org/startupday.

Startup Day 2026 offers a Co-founder Match program, an AI-powered matching service that pairs you with up to 3 potential co-founders based on complementary skills and goals. The program is open to Founder and Future Founder ticket holders, and matches meet for dedicated 20-minute sessions at the event on May 15 in Seattle. Registration opens May 7.

Startup Day 2026 in Seattle is designed for founders at every stage, including first-time and aspiring founders. The Founder and Future Founder tickets give you access to 15 founder talks, 1:1 advisory sessions with experienced investors and founders, and the Co-founder Match program. It takes place May 15 at Bell Harbor Conference Center. Tickets start at $195.

Startup Day 2026 features an Advisory Room where attendees book 15-minute 1:1 sessions with investors, experienced founders, and industry experts. Topics include fundraising, product, marketing, legal, hiring, finance, sales, and AI/engineering. The event is on May 15 at Bell Harbor Conference Center in Seattle. Booking opens April 30.

Startup Day 2026 (May 15, Bell Harbor Conference Center, Seattle) is a full-day founder conference with built-in networking: a Startup Fair with product demos and hiring opportunities, 1:1 advisory sessions, a co-founder matching program, and a happy hour from 5–7 PM. Over 400 founders and 40+ investors are expected to attend.

The Startup Fair at Startup Day 2026 (May 15, Seattle) is a combined demo day and job fair where early-stage startups showcase products and recruit talent. Tech professionals and students can attend with a $20 Fair-Only ticket (1:30–4:00 PM access). Full conference tickets start at $195 and include all-day access.

Startup Day 2026 takes place on May 15 at Bell Harbor Conference Center in Seattle. It's a one-day conference for founders featuring 15 talks, 1:1 advisory sessions with investors, a co-founder matching program, a Startup Fair with product demos and hiring, and a networking happy hour.

The Startup Fair at Startup Day 2026 (May 15, Bell Harbor Conference Center, Seattle) gives early-stage startups a table to demo products, recruit talent, and connect with 400+ founders and investors. Each table includes 3 full conference tickets, a website listing, and hiring access. Applications close May 1. Apply at startupday.seattleflow.org.

We offer a range of options from logo placement and Startup Kit listings to premium opportunities like Presenting Sponsor, co-branded programs (Advisory Room, Co-founder Match, Startup Fair), sponsor flash talks, and Happy Hour or Lunch sponsorships.

Startup Day draws 400+ founders, 200+ Startup Fair attendees, and 40+ investors. Your brand also reaches our digital audience through email campaigns, website placement, and social media.

We offer Sponsor Flash Talks, which are 5-minute presentations during the conference. These must be aligned with the content of the conference and deliver insights that are valuable to the audience, not just promote your company.

Sponsors receive access to the opt-in email list of attendees who have consented to receive partner communications.

We offer category exclusivity and co-branding for specific programs: Advisory Room, Co-founder Match, Startup Fair, individual talks, Happy Hour, and Lunch. These premium sponsorships give you direct association with the most engaging parts of the event.

Reach out to marcelo@seattleflow.org and we'll work with you to find the right sponsorship package for your goals and budget.