South Sound Entrepreneurship Week (SSEW) is coming to Tacoma October 21-25, 2024.

This five-day celebration of entrepreneurship and the vital role of small businesses in our community is designed to inspire, rejuvenate and build a more prosperous future for Tacoma and Pierce County. And it’s all offered free of charge.

This year’s event expects to build on the momentum from last year’s Startup Week Tacoma. The inaugural event attracted more than 1,000 attendees.

Full meal deal

South Sound Entrepreneurship Week will offer something for everyone, whether you’re a startup founder, a seasoned entrepreneur or simply curious about the entrepreneurship world. The event will feature a dynamic lineup of community-focused panels, action-oriented workshops and networking events customized for South Sound small businesses and designed to help drive attendees’ business forward.

Participants can expect to gain the resources and tools they need for every step of the entrepreneurship journey – from hatching an idea to launching a new venture or scaling an existing business.

Why it matters

Small businesses are vital to our economy and create nearly two-thirds of new jobs in the U.S. But Washington state is the top state for small businesses failures. A whopping 40.8 percent fail in the first year.

Fortunately, Pierce County has all the ingredients for a healthy, resilient and dynamic economy, including a diverse and inclusive population, innovative business environment and strategic west coast location. It also offers funding, training and networking opportunities needed to successfully launch and sustain a business.

How to get involved

Registration for SSEW will open soon. (You can add your name to the mailing list to get notified when it does.) In the meantime, here some ways you can support SSEW and help build a strong, more vibrant small business community:

• • Be a sponsor: Your support will highlight your commitment to local businesses.  Click here to learn more.
  • Be a speaker: Share your expertise and help attendees gain actionable insights to propel their businesses forward. Click here for the speaker suggestion form. Act quickly…space is filling fast.
  • Spread the word about South Sound Entrepreneurship Week.

For more information, visit the South Sound Entrepreneurship Week website or contact:

• • Vicky Tamaru, buildJUSTLY Economist and Thought Leader: vicky@buildjustly.org or 414-533-1310
  • Akida Dancer, Tacoma Arts Live Senior Manager of Sales and Events: hello@southsoundentrepreneurshipweek.com or 253-448-4328