STARTUP TOOLKIT
WE BACK THE KIND OF FOUNDER PEOPLE QUIT THEIR JOB TO WORK FOR
FOUR SIGNALS
WE TAKE SERIOUSLY
The strongest founders make a new future feel both surprising and inevitable.
01
UNUSUAL INSIGHT
You see something important that others have missed—and you can explain why it matters.
02
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A REASON TO WIN
Your experience and perspective make you uniquely equipped to build this company.
03
CATEGORY AMBITION
You can see beyond the first market and want to define a category, not simply enter one.
04
THE RIGHT MOMENT
New technology, behavior, or infrastructure makes this company possible now.
THE seattle venture capital startup toolkit
01 Introduction
02 MUST-READ CONTENT
03 STEAL THIS. OUR PITCH DECK TEMPLATE.
04 LOCAL VENTURE INVESTORS
05 OUT-OF-TOWNERS WHO WRITE CHECKS IN THE PNW
06 LOCAL ANGEL INVESTORS/GROUPS
07 LABS, ACCELERATORS, STUDIOS, INCUBATORS, CO-WORKING AND MORE
08 FELLOWSHIPS
09 SERVICE PROVIDERS
10 TECH STACK
11 PODCASTS
12 ASCEND DUE DILIGENCE LIST
More VENTURE CAPITAL
STARTUP Resources
You’ll want this stuff. Practical resources for the parts of founding nobody teaches you.
OUR COMPANIES HAVE RAISED $1B+
IN VENTURE FUNDING
MEET FOUNDERS,
OPERATORS, AND INVESTORS
Join Ascend and Seattle’s startup community at Founders Bash.
ASCEND COMMUNITY
FOUNDERS BASH 2026
