Seattle is well known for its innovation culture. Six months ago, we shared the Seattle Tech Universe Map, which shows through data visualizations how the innovation culture is embedded in our region.

After doing the initial research for the map, we dug deeper into the data set and found some interesting patterns in the tech ecosystem in the greater Seattle area: 

• There is an increasing number of entrepreneurs in the tech scene. As a result, a lot of newly born startups are not included on the map.
• We see more serial entrepreneurs in the region, meaning there is an increase in the number of entrepreneurs continuously founding companies one after another. 
• Organizations and businesses connecting and supporting the tech ecosystems are growing as well. (Read more here for more details on these accelerators, incubators, and co-working spaces.
• As the ecosystem expands, there are interesting conversations around where technology meets community throughout the region. (Read more here about volunteer opportunities for tech workers, here for information about our cross-sector collaboration program Ion, and here to learn about FullConTech.)

These insights led to more questions about the Seattle tech ecosystem and what makes it flourish:

• What are the new trends in the technology sector?
• Who are the founders, builders, funders, and connectors in the tech scene? 
• What resources are there that create and support the vibrant tech ecosystem?
• How are the key players related to one another in the rich network? Are new connections created and is the ecosystem expanding as a result?
• How do entrepreneurs gain support for their innovations at large?
• How does the philanthropic culture extend to entrepreneurship in the region?

In order to answer these questions, we decided to hear directly from you. We’re calling founders and funders to fill out this survey here. Here are just a few of the survey questions:

• Are founders foreign-born? (As of 2018, it is reported that immigrants founded or lead about half of most-funded US Unicorns)
• Has the company participated in any startup incubator/accelerator programs?
• Did a company started in a co-working space?
• If the founder has served and/or currently serving as a director on a nonprofit board, what is the name of the organization(s)?

This version of the map will be interactive and include different categories and visualizations. We will accept your responses by September 30, 2019. If you have any questions, please email Judy Lee (bklee@washingtontechnology.org).