About us
Welcome to "Startups in Action"!
Are you struggling to find a problem to solve? Are you stuck with any of the development steps? Are you struggling with product validation? Do you need more accountability to reach your goals? Are you looking for a co-founder? Do you want to get into YC or any other accelerator and want to increase your chances? Do you have what it takes to build a successful company?
If any of these questions is "Yes", we want you to join us and embark on a great journey.
What do our meetings look like? What do we do?
Each meeting might be different: MVP showcase, pitch practice, co-founder search, group QA, speakers, and more.
Our goal: To facilitate meaningful connections and actionable support among startup founders in Seattle, aiding them in overcoming obstacles, refining their ideas, and achieving significant milestones in their entrepreneurial journeys.
Our mission: Our mission is to cultivate a dynamic and supportive community where startup founders can connect, collaborate, and take decisive steps toward their entrepreneurial goals. We strive to provide a platform for knowledge-sharing, networking, and constructive feedback, empowering our members to navigate challenges, validate their ideas, and ultimately build successful and impactful ventures.
About Space:
SURF Incubator is the oldest startup incubator in Washington state, and the opportunities this space can offer are immeasurable. From desks with a beautiful view to connections with VCs and Angel investors.
Location: 999 3rd Ave, Seattle, Washington, 7th Floor.
About organizer Seaton Gras (this group was created by Kirill)
Please note: Kirill, is no longer managing this Meetup Group. Kirill asked me to take over the management. My name is Seaton Gras and I am the founder of SURF Incubator. I started SURF 15 years ago to help startup gain traction. I am looking forward to meeting all of you in the coming events - starting Sunday January 5th @ 2:00. I will be adding more information as I can find the time.
You can reach me at 206-442-9038
Here is the founder of this Meetup Group - Thank You:
Hey, y'all! I'm Kirill. Shortly after high school, I left my homeland and moved to the USA. I've traveled to over 20 countries, lived in four states, and embarked on numerous entrepreneurial ventures.
In the USA, I quickly adapted, learning the language and diving into the workforce at a young age. My career has spanned diverse roles—from project management at a construction company to handling IT in an early AI startup. My academic path led me to a Bachelor's in Business Administration IT Management and complementing training in software development fundamentals from Coding Bootcamp.
My business is as varied as my travels, I did house flipping, retail arbitrage, and running an Amazon FBA/FBM business. Driven by a desire to achieve something greater than myself, I strive to empower fellow entrepreneurs through knowledge-sharing and actionable insights. Let's connect, collaborate, and turn visions into successful ventures.
And we are committed to continuing the values and mission as stated by Kirill:
At 'Startups In Action,' we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive community where all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, religion, or background, feel welcomed, respected, and valued. We believe that diversity drives innovation and creativity, and we actively seek to create an environment where everyone can contribute their unique perspectives and talents. Discrimination, harassment, or any form of exclusionary behavior will not be tolerated. We strive to create a safe space where every member feels empowered to participate, collaborate, and thrive.
Upcoming events
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(Hackathon) Divergent National Cup 2026
SURF Incubator, 999 3rd Ave SUITE 700, Seattle, WA, US# You're Invited to the Divergent National Cup 2026!
Come meet the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, and startup founders!
On Sunday, July 19, 2026, SURF Incubator will host the Divergent National Cup, where the top high school student teams from across the United States and India will compete for national recognition, startup seed funding, and cash prizes.
Over the past year, Divergent Hackathons has empowered students through student-led, student-designed, and student-executed hackathons in:
📍 New York
📍 Boston
📍 Atlanta
📍 Washington, DC
📍 Philadelphia
📍 San Francisco
📍 Seattle
📍 Bengaluru, India
These regional champions are now coming together to showcase their innovative solutions to real-world challenges.### đź“… Event Details
Date: Sunday, July 19, 2026
Time: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Location: SURF Incubator### 🎯 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Innovation Expo & Team Showcase
This is your opportunity to:
- Meet every competing team
- Explore their prototypes and startup ideas
- Listen to their pitches
- Ask questions
- Share your experience and feedback
- Encourage and mentor young innovators
- Network with students, educators, entrepreneurs, and technology leaders
Your feedback could help shape the future of a student's entrepreneurial journey.
### 🏆 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM | National Championship Pitch Competition
Watch the top qualifying teams pitch their startups live before judges and the audience.
Help celebrate the next generation of entrepreneurs as the top teams compete for:
🏅 National Championship Titles
đź’° Cash Prizes
🚀 Startup Seed Capital### 🌟 How You Can Support
Your presence alone will inspire these students.
You can also support by:- Visiting each team's booth
- Listening to their ideas and offering constructive feedback
- Mentoring students interested in entrepreneurship
- Exploring future internship, partnership, or investment opportunities
- Making a tax-deductible donation of $50 or more to help fund student prizes, meals, event operations, and future hackathons
Every contribution helps us keep these experiences accessible to students and invests in the next generation of innovators.
### đź’ˇ The Divergent Hackathon Framework
At Divergent, we believe entrepreneurship can be taught through experience.
Students learn to:
🔍 Identify real community problems
đź’ˇ Develop innovative solutions
đź› Build prototypes
🎤 Pitch their ideas like entrepreneurs
Rather than simply attending a hackathon, students lead the entire experience—planning, organizing, collaborating, and presenting solutions that have the potential to create real-world impact.
Whether you're an entrepreneur, investor, mentor, educator, student, or simply passionate about supporting youth innovation, we invite you to spend a few hours with us and help encourage these remarkable young leaders.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Divergent National Cup 2026!
Website: https://www.divergenthackathon.org/national-hackathon/national_hackathon.html1 attendee
Past events
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