Alaska Startups
Alaska Startups is a community for innovators, entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs and general rabble-rousers. We're creating the Alaska and world we want to live in.
Engage with Alaska’s startup community.
We are excited for you to join Alaska’s startup community! There are many ways to engage with us; the following are just a few to get started:
1 Million Cups - a weekly presentation by an entrepreneur and community gathering
Alaska Startups Facebook page and group - a good way to get to know the startup community
TechStars Alaska Startup Digest - subscribe for semi-regular startup news and events
Alaska Entrepreneurship Week - an annual celebration of all things entrepreneurship
$10 Buck Lunch - a meetup of investors and entrepreneurs in Anchorage
You can find a calendar of Alaska startup events here: AKV3 Entrepreneurship Calendar
Accelerators, competitions, and more!
There are a number of startup-focused programs in Alaska. We’ve sorted them by geography, as some of them serve specific regions of the state. Others may have industry specific areas of focus so many sure to carefully review criteria before applying.
STATEWIDE
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Upstart Alpha is a statewide program providing early-stage entrepreneurs with the resources and connections to grow an idea into a business. Participants learn how to test their ideas, find their best customers, meet investors, and more!
Program by the University of Alaska Center for Economic Development.
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The AAC increases the number of angel investors in our statewide startup ecosystem by pairing experienced angel investors with novice investors and leading them through a structured 12-week process of identifying, filtering, selecting, and managing a group angel investment. In the process, the organizers help nurture the companies and mentor the founders who apply for funding and award a $100k+ investment into one of the startups that apply.
Program by the 49th State Angel Fund.
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Alaska's original idea competition the Arctic Innovation Competition offers up to $10,000 just for the winning early-stage concept.
Program by the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
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Sultana is a fiscal sponsorship program to support groups and projects in the preliminary stages of their nonprofit development, offers opportunities to incubate ideas, employ staff, and provides the stability that funders need to make initial investments.
Program by The Foraker Group.
ANCHORAGE
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The Alaska Business Plan Competition inspires and encourages entrepreneurship and economic development. UAA students and aspiring entrepreneurs from the Municipality of Anchorage present their startup ideas, and meet and receive feedback from experienced investors, executives, and seasoned entrepreneurs who have successfully started and grown businesses.
Program by the UAA College of Business and Public Policy.
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Set Up Shop provides a pipeline of support for neighborhood entrepreneurs looking to start or grow their businesses in the Anchorage neighborhoods of focus: Fairview, Spenard, Muldoon and Mountain View. The program also serves Alaska Native and American Indian entrepreneurs.
Program by Anchorage Community Land Trust.
RURAL ALASKA
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The North Slope Marketplace Business Plan Competition is open exclusively to Arctic Slope Regional Corporation Shareholders, this business plan competition improves the economic opportunities available to Shareholders by providing technical and financial support to small businesses to encourage adaptive, entrepreneurial activity on the North Slope.
Program by McKinley Alaska Growth Capital.
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The Aleutian Shareholder Marketplace Business Plan Competition is open exclusively to Aleut Shareholders and descendants of Shareholders, this business plan competition improves the economic opportunities available to Shareholders by providing technical and financial support to small businesses to encourage adaptive, entrepreneurial activity in the Aleutians and across Alaska.
Program by McKinley Alaska Growth Capital and The Aleut Corporation.
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The Bristol Bay Marketplace Business Plan Competition is open exclusively to Bristol Bay Native Corporation Shareholders, Descendants, and Spouses, this business plan competition improves the economic opportunities available to eligible applicants by providing technical and financial support to small businesses to encourage adaptive, entrepreneurial activity in the Bristol Bay area and across Alaska.
Program by McKinley Alaska Growth Capital and Bristol Bay Native Corporation
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Founded in 2009, the Best in the West small business competition helps new or potential small business owners in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region gain knowledge about starting and operating small businesses and potentially gain grant funding to develop their small business idea.
Program by Bethel Community Services Foundation
SOUTHEAST
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The Path to Prosperity competition targets Southeast Alaska residents with ideas for triple-bottom-line businesses; those that will have a positive economic, social, and environmental impact on their communities.
Program by Spruce Root.
INTERIOR
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The Innovation Accelerator focuses on University of Alaska research to support its development, launch it as a real world solution, and help it scale up.
Program by UAF’s Center ICE.
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The Alaska Interior Business Accelerator gives aspiring entrepreneurs and existing small businesses the tools and networks to set their companies on the path to success, while building momentum and bringing attention to the opportunities that exist for small businesses in Interior Alaska.
Program by the Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation.
GLOBAL
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The Launch Alaska Tech Deployment Track is an eight-month deployment accelerator program designed to help companies forge partnerships, identify projects, and move toward deploying new technologies in Alaska, with a focus on the verticals of Energy, Transportation, and Industry.
Program by Launch Alaska.
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The Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation Startup Accelerator (formerly the Alaska Ocean Cluster) is a startup accelerator focused on innovations that support Alaska's Blue Economy and healthy, thriving oceans worldwide.
Program by the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation
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Health TIE Open Innovation is a healthcare hub connecting health and human service organizations with innovative entrepreneurial partners, this program creates opportunities for changemakers to collaborate and facilitates Alaska-based pilot projects.
Program by Health TIE.
Business Resources
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The Alaska SBDC offers one-on-one, confidential, and no-cost technical assistance; virtual and in-person training focused on topics of interest to small business owners; and, customized market research for each client.
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Alaska MEP assists statewide manufacturers of any size, and bends solutions around each client's specific needs. The Alaska MEP is proud to serve as a resource for Alaska’s manufacturers and is working to provide a one-stop-shop for any business needs.
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The ACDC assists new and existing cooperative businesses in Alaska. Staff from the center meet with farmers, fishermen, small rural utilities, and other groups interested in learning about how to organize, manage and develop cooperatives as businesses. It also provides targeted assistance for existing cooperatives to help them grow and make their businesses more efficient and effective.
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The Alaska APEX Accelerator provides businesses with the training and tools needed to compete and perform successfully on federal, state, and local government contracts, and offers a wealth of resources available to help businesses navigate government contracting procedures.
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The Alaska Women’s Business Center supports the startup and growth of women-owned businesses by equipping women and their families in Alaska with the connections, resources, and training needed to successfully start and run a business.
Seeking Inspiration?
We love a good story, and our community has so many to share. Read the stories of fellow creators and discover what drives them to get out of bed every morning. Who knows — maybe it’ll inspire you to take the next step in your entrepreneurial endeavor.