Flywheel Investment Conference

The Flywheel Investment Conference is North Central Washington's premier early-stage startup showcase and venture competition, held May 19–21, 2026, in Wenatchee. Organized annually by the NCW Tech Alliance, the event convenes 350+ founders, investors, and innovation advocates across venture capital, private equity, corporate development, and angel networks. The conference features live pitch competitions and networking sessions where qualifying startups—those with Washington State operations and under $2 million in dilutive capital raised—compete for $150,000+ in investment (typically convertible notes), $50,000 relocation offers, and $5,000 cash prizes. Since 2018, Flywheel has deployed over $1.5 million across twelve Washington-based ventures spanning cleantech, agtech, biotech, and digital innovation. Beyond the competition, the multi-day forum includes investor panels, founder workshops on scaling, and sector-specific deep dives, making it a critical convening point for emerging deep-tech and sustainability-focused founders in the Pacific Northwest.