NCW Tech Alliance to offer investment series
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 months, 3 weeks AGO
NCW Tech Alliance CEO Sue Kane speaks during an awards ceremony in November honoring local innovators. The organization will offer an informational series for potential investors beginning in January.
R. HANS MILLER/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Joel Martin has been with the Columbia Basin Herald for more than 25 years in a variety of roles and is the most-tenured employee in the building. Martin is a married father of eight and enjoys spending time with his children and his wife, Christina. He is passionate about the paper’s mission of informing the people of the Columbia Basin because he knows it is important to record the history of the communities the publication serves. | December 23, 2025 3:00 AM
WENATCHEE — There’s a world of great ideas out there, just waiting for a little bit of extra money to make them feasible. At the same time, there are people with a little bit of money who would like to se that money grow along with a great idea. The trick is bringing the two together.
“We have so many entrepreneurs who are creating amazing things in all of the communities across north central Washington,” said Becca Freimuth, director of entrepreneurship for the North Central Washington Tech Alliance. “So we're trying to figure out, how do we build this system where entrepreneurs can connect with angels or other investors and investors can connect with those innovative entrepreneurs?”
The Angel Investing Foundations learning series is one way to make that connection, according to an announcement from NCW Tech. The series, which begins Jan. 8, is designed to equip both new and experienced accredited investors with the knowledge, confidence, and tools needed to support early-stage companies.
The series adds on to a program NCW Tech Alliance has operated for eight years, Freimuth said, called the Flywheel Investment Conference. That program has been pretty successful at connecting investors with entrepreneurs, but a little more help on the investor side was needed, she said.
“We have actually, through that angel network, invested over $1.5 million in startups,” she said. “What we found is that locally, our angel investors need more education. They need to be more educated to be able to make confident decisions in their investments.”
The course runs through March 26, with six sessions that cover risk management, portfolio strategy, due diligence and more. Because each session builds on the ones before, it’s best to plan to attend all of them. They’re held from 8 to 10 a.m. every second and fourth Thursday at Pybus Public Market in Wenatchee. The cost is $275 per participant.
NCW Tech Alliance serves six counties in eastern Washington, including Grant and Adams counties. The organization is based in Wenatchee but has a branch office at Big Bend Community College, according to its website.
Investors who complete the course will be better prepared to partner with local innovators in all kinds of fields, not just high tech, Freimuth said.
“We have some really cool industry expertise in north central Washington, from manufacturing to energy to healthcare and agriculture,” Freimuth said. “(NCW) Tech Alliance has seen developments and entrepreneurs grow in all of those industry spaces. Our long-term goal is to elevate those sectors … to ensure that each of them grow to be able to support north central Washington's economy.”
Angel Seminar Schedule:
January 8: Fundamentals of Angel Investing – Overview of the angel investing process, motivations, and lessons learned
January 22: Understanding and Managing Risk – Explore risk categories and strategies for mitigation through hands-on exercises.
February 12: Returns and Portfolio Strategy – Data-driven insights on diversification, exits, and portfolio returns.
February 26: Due Diligence – Best practices for evaluating founders, markets, and deal structures.
March 12: Term Sheets – Practical guidance on term sheet definitions, intent, and deal scenarios.
March 26: Valuation – Multiple valuation methodologies and case studies for early-stage companies.
All sessions 8-10 a.m. in the Pybus Market Board Room, 3 N. Worthen St., Wenatchee. Tickets available at https://bit.ly/NCWTechInvesting2026.
ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
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BASIN EVENTS: Oct. 16-24
COLUMBIA BASIN — Whether you feel like shopping, crafting, learning or seeing a show, there’s something happening for you this week in the Basin. Oct. 16 ‘My Family (Mi Familia)’ screening Spanning three generations, “My Family (Mi Familia)” is a heartfelt drama that follows the Sánchez family as they build their lives in East Los Angeles. Through love, hardship, triumph, and sacrifice, the film explores the immigrant experience, the strength of family bonds, and the traditions that connect one generation to the next. Lowrider show and taco truck before the screening. Sponsored by Columbia Basin Allied Arts, EDUBS C/S and the Moses Lake Creative District. $12 per person. Doors open at 6 p.m., film begins at 7 p.m. at the Moses Lake Civic Center Auditorium, 401 S. Balsam St. Tickets and info: www.cba-arts.org.
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