What Startups Can Teach Alaska Manufacturers: Customer Discovery Is Key

When most people think of startups, they picture tech founders, accelerators, and venture capital. But underneath the buzzwords, the reason startups succeed isn’t complicated: they know their customer before they build.

Recently, Alaska Business Magazine highlighted how accelerators like Launch Alaska and UAF’s Center Ice are reshaping the state’s economy. These programs push entrepreneurs to focus less on shiny ideas and more on customer discovery, market validation, and rapid feedback loops.

That lesson isn’t just for software or energy companies. It’s the exact same principle Alaska’s manufacturers need to apply when launching products, scaling into retail, or entering new markets.

We’ve Been There: From Accelerators to Alaska’s Makers

At AKMA, we know accelerators inside and out — because we’ve been through them ourselves.

Lacey Ernandes, AKMA's Chief Strategy Officer, with her Berkeley College Mentor

Megan and I completed Alaska's gBETA, a nationally recognized accelerator for early-stage startups.

And I, myself, went through Berkeley College's Patriot Boot Camp and the SelfMade accelerator, sharpening skills in branding, scaling, and customer discovery.

Those programs gave us powerful tools we used while building Elevated Oats.

And we have huge respect for Alaska’s own accelerators, like Launch Alaska and UAF’s Center Ice. They’ve proven they can support not just tech startups, but food, mariculture, and other non-tech businesses too.

Still, accelerators can’t serve everyone — spots are limited, programs are short-term, and not every business is a fit for their model. That’s where AKMA comes in. We take the best parts of the accelerator experience and make them accessible to any Alaska manufacturer who wants to grow.

Startups Have Accelerators. Alaska’s Makers Have AKMA.

Startups in accelerators get coaches, investors, and mentors who help them avoid costly mistakes. For Alaska’s product businesses and manufacturers, AKMA plays that role.

Here’s how:

• Prototyping & Packaging Support: Before you print thousands of labels or lock in a design, we help test packaging, labeling, and compliance so your product is truly retail ready.

• Market Validation: AKMA can connect makers with retailers, distributors, and buyers — giving you feedback from the exact people who decide what goes on shelves.

• Scaling with Strategy: We guide you through regulations, co-packing partnerships, freight options, and supplier matchmaking so you can grow without losing momentum.

• Community & Advocacy: Beyond services, AKMA gives you a peer network and a voice in statewide supply chain conversations.

Why It Matters

Too many businesses spend time and money building in a vacuum. They guess what packaging will sell, what size SKUs retailers want, or what certifications are required. By the time reality hits, it’s costly to adjust.

Startups don’t operate that way — and neither should Alaska’s manufacturers. Customer discovery is how you de-risk growth and unlock real opportunity.

“Customer discovery isn’t just for startups. It’s how Alaska manufacturers avoid costly mistakes and find their perfect buyers.”

The Takeaway

Accelerators are great for startups. But if you’re a maker, food brand, or manufacturer in Alaska, you don’t have to make it into one to get those same benefits.

👉 AKMA is your accelerator. We provide the insights, connections, and strategy that turn good ideas into market-ready products — built for Alaska’s unique challenges.

We’ve done gBETA, SelfMade, and Patriot Boot Camp. Now we’re bringing accelerator tools home to Alaska’s manufacturers.

Schedule Your 15 min Consult

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Source: Rachael Kvapil, Startup Accelerators, Alaska Business Magazine (Sept. 29, 2025). Read the full article here.