Startup Haven: How a Seattle Poker Game Turned into a Global Founder Network
Image: Startup Haven
What began in 2006 as an informal poker night for Seattle founders and investors has grown into Startup Haven, a robust community with more than 2,500 members in 18 cities, now including international chapters in Reykjavik and London. Created by Seattle entrepreneur Bob Crimmins, the startup continues to foster connections and support founders and early-stage investors through regular meetups, unique accelerator programs and a dedicated venture fund. This week, they marked a new milestone: their partnership with Seattle's Columbia Tower Club and The Collective to provide a physical meeting space for their members, allowing for daily co-working, exclusive events and community breakfasts.
In addition to its popular poker meetups, Startup Haven now runs an accelerator and invests in promising startups through the Startup Haven Fund, which Crimmins launched in 2019. With seed capital of $4.5 million, the fund focuses on pre-seed investments, typically ranging from $100,000 to $300,000, for early-stage startups globally.
Crimmins, rooted in Seattle, sees the city as an ideal environment for startups, with a growing support network and active veteran founders eager to mentor the next wave of entrepreneurs. Its core vision remains to connect founders and investors in a supportive and engaged community, a network built not just on business, but on lasting relationships fostered around a poker table nearly two decades ago.
This expansion signifies Startup Haven's commitment to becoming a central resource for startup communities around the world, helping to bridge the gap between new founders and seasoned entrepreneurs.
