We believe in the power of rural Colorado

At Startup Colorado, we believe that everyone should have the ability to start and scale a business in the place they call home. We’re here to help both entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders access the human, social, and financial capital they need to build thriving businesses. We do this via our online community, partnership development, storytelling, and curated business resources.
More Info

STARTUP: IT’S A VERB

What does startup mean to us?

Doing this type of work in rural Colorado demands a deep level of inclusivity and an awareness that starting something up is just that: it’s an action, a journey, and a life-cycle that exists outside of a specific industry or business model.

Startup could mean you’re building a scalable tech enterprise or a Main Street retail shop. It could also mean launching a new coworking space or a meetup event in your community. That’s why we serve both founders and the local startup ecosystem builders who support them. See how we can help you.

Founders
Ecosystem Builders

A RURAL STARTUP community

The Startup Colorado Community is the only online networking platform built for rural entrepreneurship. Expand your business network beyond regional boundaries by connecting with other founders, mentors, service providers, funders, and business support organizations across the state. The Startup Colorado Community also provides a ton of free, on-demand resources to get started with no muss, no fuss.

We’re upgrading our platform to better serve this vibrant network of entrepreneurs and supporters. Sign up today to be part of the new and improved community AND start receiving email updates, resources, and opportunities right away.

JOIN NOW

Upcoming Events

[hivebrite_events]

Featured

  1. Events
  2. Featured
Today
View More Events

Ecosystem Builders

Rural innovation took center stage at the 2024 Startup Colorado Pitch Competition, held during West Slope Startup Week in Durango. With $380,000 in investments awarded and a packed house of 150 attendees, the event spotlighted the bold ideas and growing momentum of Colorado’s rural founders. Read More
Founders take home $380K at the Pitch Competition
2024 Pitch Comp finalists
When Geyser Systems relocated to Montrose, Colorado, it wasn’t just for the view—it was a strategic move to tap into rural funding opportunities. From Kickstarter to state grants to WeFunder, CEO Jonathan Ballesteros has leveraged every resource to grow his innovative outdoor gear company. His story offers a roadmap for other rural founders navigating the funding landscape. Read More
Jonathan BallesterosGEYSER SYSTEMS
Jonathan with Geyser Systems prototype
When Fort Morgan-based startup AnywhereCam entered a local pitch competition, they didn’t expect it to spark a transformational journey. From mentorship to investment, discover how Startup Colorado supported founder Mike Blecha at every stage—from refining his business model to securing a $250K investment. Read More
Mike BlechaANYWHERE CAM
anywhere cam product
When Chaffee County lost its local recycling center, John Armstrong saw an opportunity—not just for his community, but for rural Colorado at large. Discover how B1 Energy pivoted from a fixed facility to a mobile recycling model that's helping rural regions rethink waste and sustainability. Read More
John ArmstrongB1 ENERGY
B1 energy at work
Julia Taylor didn't set out to create an e-learning business for women; she was just trying to find a job that she could perform regardless of where the military stationed her husband. In 2014, she stumbled across website building and began teaching herself to code. Read More
Julia TaylorGeekpack
Jula Taylor, Geek Pack

Recent News

07 February, 2024

How do you secure financing for a small business?

By Mike O’Donnell Mike O’Donnell is the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Director at Prairie Rose Development, a Colorado-based 501(c)3 nonprofit. Previously, Mike supported rural small business owners as the Executive Director of […]

Read the full article
06 April, 2022

Meet the Entrepreneurs Behind the #Vanlife Boom

By Joy Martin There’s the recreational vehicle and then there’s  van life: a niche nomadic lifestyle movement reserved for travelers who access wild, beautiful places via vans converted into homes-on-wheels. Whether […]

Read the full article
View all