In this episode of Chess Not Checkers, hosts Keith Riddle and Jordan Tampien chat with Bill Kalivas, the man behind Launchpad INW. Bill shares his journey from spotting Spokane’s untapped tech potential to building Launchpad into a key resource for local entrepreneurs.

Bill discusses his early days, the co-founding of Launchpad, and how a small event evolved into a thriving community of innovators. He’s open about the struggles—financial hurdles, personal setbacks, and the mistakes he made along the way. But those challenges helped him grow and understand the importance of mentorship, having a solid advisory board, and staying humble.

After taking a step back, Bill came back to relaunch Launchpad as a nonprofit, offering programs like the Springboard program and Innovator Connect events to support local entrepreneurs. His story is all about resilience, community, and the power of mentorship.

Tune in to hear Bill’s take on building something meaningful, learning from failure, and what’s next for Spokane’s startup scene. If you’re looking to get involved, check out Launchpad INW at launchpadinw.com