You shouldn’t build your company without your community — and with us, you won’t.
Starting or growing a business is one of the toughest challenges you'll ever take on. Between finding customers, securing funding, building the right team, navigating new technologies, and making critical business decisions, it's easy to feel like you're doing it all on your own.
At InnovateINW, we understand those challenges because we've worked alongside founders and business leaders across the Inland Northwest. As your guide, we connect you to experienced mentors, industry experts, strategic partners, investors, educational institutions, and practical programs that help you move from idea to growth with confidence.
Whether you're launching your first startup, scaling an existing company, or adopting new technologies like AI to stay competitive, you'll find the connections, guidance, and community you need to succeed.
Build your company with confidence—not alone.
InnovateINW is a regional initiative that connects Inland Northwest founders, growing companies, universities, mentors, investors and partners with practical programs, events and expertise.
Start with the path that fits where you are today.
For founders and entrepreneurs with an idea, early product, or early-stage company who need validation, structure, and the right people around the table.
Explore SpringboardFor startups and established organizations that want help thinking through the next stage of growth.
Explore ScaleFor research, commercialization, and academic teams connecting innovation with founders, companies, investors, and regional partners.
Partner With UsFor mentors, investors, sponsors, foundations, venues, service providers, and partners who can contribute resources or expertise.
Get InvolvedFind practical events you can click into, register for, and use to meet founders, operators, investors, mentors, and regional partners.
Thursday, July 23 · 4:00–6:30 PM
Burbity Workspace — Spokane Valley
Two panels, real regional AI challenges, and networking with founders, researchers, industry leaders, and practitioners.
RegisterFriday, July 24, 2026 · 2:00–5:00 PM
LaunchpadINW Conference Room (2nd Floor) — Spokane
Most marketing ignores 95% of your market. This session is a solid starting point if growth is stalled and you need to re-scale.
Register on LinkedInWednesday, September 16, 2026 · 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
CenterPlace Regional Event Center — Spokane Valley
A full-day cybersecurity, compliance, IT, and AI community event for regional professionals, students, and innovators.
RegisterUpdates, articles, and insights directly from our LinkedIn regional network.
The Inland Northwest has always had a strong spirit of ingenuity, resilience, and collaboration. Today, that spirit is coming together in a new way through InnovateINW — a regional initiative designed to strengthen the innovation economy...
Read ArticleAt LaunchPad INW, we believe the right environment can elevate every conversation, every collaboration, and every moment of momentum. That’s why we’re grateful for our partnership with Burbity Workspaces and Ann Long...
View PostIf you are a founder, startup, researcher, university partner, or a leader trying to figure out what AI, cybersecurity, or advanced computing could mean for your organization — the InnovateINW AI + Cyber Network is here for you...
View PostA simpler view of the work: programs that help people validate, grow, learn, and connect.
A hands-on startup sprint for founders who need to validate the idea, sharpen the business model, and build traction.
Apply to SpringboardPractical sessions and operator support around sales, go-to-market, customer discovery, funding readiness, AI, cybersecurity, and operations.
View MasterclassesConnections among founders, universities, established companies, mentors, sponsors, investors, and civic partners across the Inland Northwest.
See PartnersTell us how to route you and we’ll point you toward the right program, event, or partner path.
InnovateINW is a regional initiative that connects Inland Northwest founders, growing companies, universities, mentors, investors and partners with practical programs, events and expertise.
InnovateINW supports early-stage founders, growth and scale businesses, university innovation labs, mentors, investors, sponsors, service providers and other regional partners.
Springboard is a hands-on startup sprint that helps founders validate an idea, sharpen the business model, learn from customers and build early traction.
Yes. Springboard Scale, masterclasses, the AI & Cyber Network and regional connections help established organizations think through growth, rescaling and technology adoption.
Mentors, investors, sponsors, foundations, venues, service providers and partners can use the Get Involved form to be routed to the appropriate program, event or partnership path.
Share who you are, what you are building or supporting, and what kind of connection would help. We’ll route you to the right program, event, or partner path.