By Margaret Hedderman
2024: A Year of Growth and Transformation
As we reflect on another year of empowering rural entrepreneurs, I am struck by the incredible journey that we have been on together. 2024 was a year of growth, reflection, and transformation—a year where we asked: Are we doing the best we can with the resources that we have? This question has not only guided our efforts, but also strengthened our resolve to best serve the needs of Rural Colorado.
Though Startup Colorado was launched in 2011, this year marked our second as an independent 501c3 nonprofit. In 2024, we leveraged our collective momentum to not only launch new programs in service to rural entrepreneurs and communities, but also scale the impact of our existing offerings. As you’ll soon see in our annual report, Startup Colorado accomplished the following in 2024:
- Launched a pitch competition at which more than $380K was either invested or granted to rural founders. Since the competition at WSSW, the participating founders have raised over $2m collectively.
- Expanded our Founder Coopetition accelerator program to now serve scaling founders – check out the Growth Challenge!
- Launched an Advisor Network to convene the best mentors and business experts for our participants. If you are inclined to give back and provide advisory/mentorship services, please apply here!
- Grew our free online community to more than 2,100 members, representing entrepreneurs, mentors, funders, and ecosystem builders across the state.
- Led West Slope Startup Week for a second year, drawing nearly 500 attendees— the largest yet.
- Showcased more than 70 entrepreneurs from across Colorado via our storytelling efforts, 50% of which featured women founders.
Looking ahead to 2025, we will be doubling down on our responsibility to nurture the early-stage pipeline of entrepreneurs. By remaining industry- and investment-agnostic, we aim to ensure that founders across all sectors have equitable access to opportunities and capital.
Next year, you can expect a suite of new programs, events, and initiatives designed to strengthen Colorado’s rural startup ecosystem. Our Big Hairy Audacious Goal is to make Colorado the #1 state for rural entrepreneurship in the country. Here’s what you can look forward to as we embark on this challenge:
- An In-Person and Online “Roadshow” – A series of online and in-person community-led events focused on technical assistance for early-stage entrepreneurs.
- The Startup Colorado Pitch Series – A statewide lineup of competitions in Logan County, West Slope Startup Week, and the Trinidad Emergent Campus in January 2026, providing pitch opportunities for idea, early, and scale-stage entrepreneurs
- Rural Angel Investor Network– Developed in partnership with key organizations, the Rural Angel Investor Network (RAIN) and Rural Investment Marketplace will connect rural entrepreneurs with vital funding opportunities, bridging gaps in access to angel investment, venture capital, and impact funding.
- Entrepreneurial programming – Our Founder Coopetition will continue to expand via eight Idea Factory cohorts, serving roughly 120 companies. We will also offer two Growth Challenge cohorts, serving 40 rural companies, alongside a number of affiliate Coopetitions both in Colorado and around the country.
- Expanded storytelling – By collaborating with freelance writers around the state, Startup Colorado will continue to feature rural entrepreneurs while offering new educational materials and expert interviews.
Thank you for your unwavering support, your trust, and your belief in the transformative power of entrepreneurship. Together, we are proving that Rural Colorado is not only a great place to live and play but also the best place to start and grow a business.
As we enter this next chapter, may 2025 bring abundance to your ventures, joy to your journeys, and lasting impact to the communities we all call home.
With gratitude and optimism,
Brittany Romano
Executive Director
Startup Colorado
2024 was a year of growth and impact for Startup Colorado. Join us in empowering rural entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders to achieve even more in 2025.
Contributions of any amount directly power our mission to build a sustainable statewide network of resources supporting rural entrepreneurs, so that people and places can thrive and chart their own futures! Will you help us?
