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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.

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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.

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Ecosystem Builders

A RURAL 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.
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Upcoming Events

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Ecosystem Builders

Founder Olivia Pedersen builds climate tech startup Sustaio in Telluride Olivia Pedersen, founder of the climate tech app Sustaio, calls Telluride a place worth living, and a place to make a living. “I’ve put a lot of emphasis on being proactive and conscious about choosing where I live first and then figuring out how to make a living second,” Pedersen said. Read More
Veda GerasimekSustaio
Veda Gerasimek
Jessica Larriva never set out to become a business owner. She’s a baker. But when her mother fell ill, Jessica returned home to Colorado’s San Luis Valley and soon discovered that starting a business was a necessity. Here’s how Jessica launched Tumbleweed Bread—an artisan sourdough baking company that serves the San Luis Valley—and a nonprofit that addresses food insecurity in the region. Read More
Jessica LarrivaTumbleweed Bread
Jessica Larriva
Chaffee County in Colorado is the sort of place where you can walk into a restaurant and find yourself seated next to the CEO of a company down the road. Like many mountain communities, Chaffee County prides itself on a diverse range of industries from agriculture to outdoor recreation. Read More
Elise ErtlEcosystem building
Elise Ertl
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
Julia Taylor
Rosanna Dufour’s story is Hollywood-worthy. A story that now includes launching a startup in Pagosa Springs: handmade bamboo fly-fishing rods. Rosanna Dufour (née Slingerland) owned and worked at Rosie’s Pizzeria in Pagosa Springs, where she met Paul “PJ” Dufour in 2011. Read More
Keller NorthcuttPJ blog
Keller Northcutt

Recent News

04 March, 2026

Startup Colorado Partners with Colorado Office of Just Transition to Support Coal Transition Workers Through Entrepreneurship

Startup Colorado is proud to announce a new partnership with the Colorado Office of Just Transition (OJT), within the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), to launch a series […]

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18 February, 2026

Startup Colorado’s 2025 Annual Report is Here

At Startup Colorado, we’ve always believed that “startup” isn’t just a noun—it’s an verb. In 2025, rural Colorado founders proved this reality in every corner of the state, launching and […]

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13 February, 2026

Rural Startup Days Launches in Southeast Colorado to Support Local Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses

La Junta, CO | February 25-27, 2026 Entrepreneurs and small business owners across Southeast Colorado will soon have a new opportunity to access practical support, funding connections, and networking opportunities […]

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