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.
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.
A RURAL community
Ecosystem Builders
Recent News
Lead the Conversation: Why You Should Join the West Slope Startup Week Lineup This Year
Startup Colorado is the proud organizer of West Slope Startup Week, a five-day celebration of Colorado’s vibrant entrepreneurial spirit. This event brings together innovators from every corner of the state
Announcing the Founders in the Spring Food & Ag Idea Factory
In Colorado, the Food, Beverage, and Ag industry is a massive economic engine accounting for billions (yes, capital B) of the state’s annual GDP. With 33 million acres of farmland
Meet the Colorado River Valley Idea Factory Cohort
The Colorado River Valley is a unique region of the state. Stretching from the luxury destinations of Aspen to the legacy energy communities of Parachute, the Valley is a complex
Can Rural Colorado Tap into Climate Innovation?
Margaret Hedderman, Director of Communications at Startup Colorado, recently attended the ChangeNOW conference in Paris. Here she shares her top takeaways and insights for Colorado’s rural entrepreneurs. What does a
Ready to scale? Here’s how strategic partnerships can drive growth
For many rural founders, growth is often framed as a high-stakes financial trade-off: taking on debt, sacrificing equity, or pulling back due to upfront costs. But what if the key
Announcing the Inaugural Belonging @ Startup Colorado Cohort
Startup Colorado and Belonging Colorado are pleased to announce the cohort of our new business accelerator program for belonging. We received more than 100 applications from founders across the country,
Lead the Conversation: Why You Should Join the West Slope Startup Week Lineup This Year
Startup Colorado is the proud organizer of West Slope Startup Week, a five-day celebration of Colorado’s vibrant entrepreneurial spirit. This event brings together innovators from every corner of the state […]
Announcing the Founders in the Spring Food & Ag Idea Factory
In Colorado, the Food, Beverage, and Ag industry is a massive economic engine accounting for billions (yes, capital B) of the state’s annual GDP. With 33 million acres of farmland […]
Meet the Colorado River Valley Idea Factory Cohort
The Colorado River Valley is a unique region of the state. Stretching from the luxury destinations of Aspen to the legacy energy communities of Parachute, the Valley is a complex […]
Rural Startup Days Debuts with High Engagement and Early Momentum
“Rural doesn’t mean unimaginative or undeserving when it comes to innovation and access to resources.” Those were the words of one attendee at Rural Startup Days in La Junta, Colorado
Two Rural Startups Just Closed New Funding Rounds. Here’s Why It Matters for Their Communities
This story was produced in partnership with the Howdy Partners, a fund that focuses on investing in innovative companies outside Colorado’s urban centers. Venture capital accounts for less than 1%
Startup Colorado’s Demo Day Kickoff Showcases Rural Founders and New Business Growth
Last week, Startup Colorado kicked off its virtual Demo Day series, bringing together rural founders, community members, and business leaders for an event that highlighted innovation across Colorado’s rural economy.