2025: A Year in Review with an Epic Year Ahead
Now that every company seems to have its own version of Spotify Rewind, it’s hard not to reflect on the previous 12 months. As I look back on 2025, it feels less like a single year and more like a lifetime of events. For FoundersForge, this past year was a true rollercoaster of ups and downs. One thing I keep coming back to is that FoundersForge is very much still a startup itself.
If you had a wild 2025, I hope our story resonates with you and maybe even offers a bit of inspiration.
The Challenges We Faced
In early 2025, it became clear that changes in the grant ecosystem were going to negatively impact us. In the past, we could rely on multiple programs to fund our entire budget for two year periods. Knowing this might change, we began exploring alternative plans. What we did not expect was for nearly every program, along with many of the people behind them, to disappear within just a few months.
This put us in a very difficult position. Yes, we were overly reliant on grants, but that reliance had allowed us to focus fully on our mission of growing the startup ecosystem in our region. That same strategic choice also left us exposed. At the same time, the few remaining grants received record numbers of applications. Competition was intense, and we also faced challenges tied to a past partnership.
Fundraising for the Startup Mountain Summit, The Pitch, and our other programs became more difficult as well. Companies everywhere were dealing with economic uncertainty, hiring freezes, and rapidly rising costs. That uncertainty rippled across the broader business landscape.
All of this led to a slight decrease in the number of events and programs we could offer. In past years, we hosted or supported more than 50 events. In 2025, the need to focus on our own funding limited us to 35. We worried that this reduction might slow the growth of our startup community.
What Went Right
Despite these challenges, FoundersForge came out stronger than ever. During this period, we secured full funding for 2026, formed new direct partnerships, and are on track to become fully self funded by the end of 2026.
For the first time in our region’s history, Forbes covered our startup ecosystem. The article’s title could not have been worded better:
“How Grit First Founders in Appalachia Changed Their Startup Ecosystem.” – Forbes.com
Sponsors stepped up in a big way for the Startup Mountain Summit, helping make it the best Summit we have hosted yet. We welcomed more than 300 attendees from over 14 states to the Summit and The Pitch. This year, our team truly nailed the speakers, workshops, networking, and the #FoundersFirst experience we aim to deliver. The feedback was incredible, and the excitement for the 2026 event is already opening the door to even more opportunities. We have a lot of work ahead, and we are excited to see this event continue to put our region on the national startup map.
Avante, our startup bootcamp program, launched in the summer of 2025 in partnership with the Johnson City Chamber of Commerce. Avante represents the culmination of our experience with accelerators and the past five years of running our own startup bootcamp. We shaped that experience into a six week program supported by a 266 page book that we now license to other organizations. After piloting the program in Johnson City, we are preparing to launch it in 21 cities by this spring.
This rollout is allowing us to dramatically expand our impact across the region and beyond. We are also working to embed this programming within substance use recovery centers and other organizations, empowering individuals who can thrive in an entrepreneurial environment.
Despite the ups and downs, the work completed in 2025 positioned FoundersForge and our region for long term entrepreneurial success. We even have a few surprise announcements coming very soon. At first, it felt like we were simply lucky to have such a strong year. Looking back now, it is clear that luck had very little to do with it.
Why 2025 Turned Into an Amazing Year
As I reflect on the past year, I believe we ended up in a stronger position because of several intentional strategies in how we operate. These are the things that helped us navigate the chaos of the past 12 months.
We Built a Very Strong Team
The first thing I point to is the team behind FoundersForge. We have built a group that works exceptionally well together. When I had family health issues in Indiana and was away for more than six weeks, the organization did not miss a beat in planning or operations.
As the grant ecosystem shifted rapidly in late 2024 and into 2025, our team focused on finding new revenue paths that aligned with our strengths. That work directly led to the creation of the Avante Program and new outreach efforts for support.
Our team is naturally scrappy. When things got tough, we pulled together. I think back to the hard conversations, new ideas, and moments where the team challenged one another. By living the same advice we give to startups, we were able not just to survive, but to come out ahead.
We Are Mission Driven
Almost every business or nonprofit has a mission statement. Most list it on their website. Far fewer truly live by it.
Everything we do at FoundersForge is guided by our mission. We consistently ask whether our work is good for startup founders, and we avoid getting pulled into activities that take us too far from that focus.
One of the easiest ways for us to generate revenue would be consulting contracts with larger companies. That work does not strengthen the startup ecosystem, so we choose not to pursue it. Instead, we look for ways to expand our impact while generating revenue. The result is a growing network of startups that are more connected and better positioned to succeed together.
We Build Strong Relationships
By following through on what we promise, we have built strong relationships. When things became difficult, our startups, partners, and peer organizations stepped up to help. Those relationships opened doors to new opportunities, including grants and other funding sources.
Looking back, it is easy to see why our partnerships are strong. Projects sometimes take longer than planned, but we always deliver. That consistency has built a high level of trust and credibility.
This was especially clear at the 2025 Summit. Nearly all of our sponsors returned, even in a challenging economy. Those who could not had unique circumstances and plan to support us again in 2026.
None of our events happen without our supporters. We are grateful for their trust and for the chance to build this ecosystem together. As any startup learns, when you hit a wall you cannot get past, the relationships you have built are often what carry you through.
We Never Stop Moving Forward
Our startup community, and FoundersForge itself, never stopped. When funding became tight, local businesses found ways to adapt. Startups in our region hit record revenue numbers, raised more than $1M in investment, and continued to grow despite tariffs, inventory shortages, rising costs, and economic uncertainty.
By continuing to move forward, staying innovative, and refusing to give up, things tend to work out. Business is never easy, regardless of the external environment. Progress comes from persistence.
2026 Is Going to Be Epic
This past year was a rollercoaster. In the end, the only thing we can truly control is how we respond to the challenges in front of us. I am incredibly proud of what our team has accomplished and excited about the opportunities ahead. The Forbes article, the success of the Summit, and the launch of Avante were all major milestones.
What is coming in 2026, as hard as it is not to share it yet, is going to be epic. Our startup community will continue to grow and thrive, and incredible opportunities are coming to our region. We have big plans for new programming, the return of our monthly events, and much more in the year ahead. We look forward to seeing you there!
One lesson stands out from my time as a founder.
The only thing harder than a failing business is a successful one.
Thanks to the foundation our team has built, 2026 is positioned to be our best year yet for entrepreneurs in our region.
I sincerely hope you are as excited about the possibilities ahead for your business, startup, or new venture as we are. You are the reason we exist, and we look forward to working with you in 2026.
Happy New Year!
David Nelson
Executive Director
FoundersForge