What does it actually take to build a thriving startup ecosystem across 53 rural counties? According to Startup Colorado Managing Director Vanessa McCrann, you can stand up co-working spaces and host pitch competitions, but none of it compounds if the culture underneath isn’t there.
In this collaborative article written in partnership with Brad Attig of Reinventing Rural, Vanessa pulls back the curtain on what really drives economic resilience in smaller towns. From adopting a “give first” mindset to using local storytelling as a strategic tool, she shares the core lessons learned from logging thousands of miles across rural Colorado.
We also take a look at how these grassroots principles birthed West Slope Startup Week (returning to Durango, CO, October 5–9, 2026) and explore the striking parallels with small-business funding efforts in rural Oregon.
Read the full feature to discover why rural ecosystem building is a long-term play—and how starting small and staying consistent creates impact that lasts:
Join us in empowering rural entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders to achieve even more in 2026. 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?
