Gov. Inslee helps launch Washington’s first maritime startup accelerator in Seattle

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee speaks at the launch event for Washington’s first maritime startup accelerator. (GeekWire Photos / Taylor Soper) The maritime industry has long been an anchor to Washington’s economy. Government and business leaders want to make sure that continues, especially with climate change and sustainability concerns looming. That’s the ethos behind the state’s first maritime startup accelerator , which officially launched Tuesday evening at the Port of Seattle headquarters. Gov. Jay Inslee spoke at the event. The maritime industry runs deep in the governor’s family; his grandfather was a salmon fisherman in Seattle. “I could not be more excited about this because it’s an extension of the basic value system of the state of Washington,” Inslee said, pointing to other local innovation across industries such as retail, gaming, life sciences, and agriculture. The Port teamed up with WeWork Labs — WeWork’s startup incubator — and Washington Department of Commerce’s Maritime Blue initiative to create the 4-month program. There are 11 companies in the inaugural cohort, ranging from a healthcare provider for mariners to a whitefish jerky maker. The startups will work out of WeWork Labs’ Seattle location and get access to mentors and advisers. WeWork will facilitate […]

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