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
Meet the Seven Founders Advancing to our Belonging Growth Challenge
What happens when you ask twelve founders to transform business into a mechanism for belonging? That’s what we aim to find out in our Belonging @ Startup Colorado accelerator program.
Roadtrip Series Recap
It’s home to a major state university. It’s one of Colorado’s most productive agricultural and energy-production regions. And it has a population over 100,000. Yet Greeley experiences many of the
Put your guerrilla suit on
When you don’t have unlimited capital, easy retail access, or instant industry buy-in, guerrilla marketing is one of the most practical ways to build visibility. For rural founders, this “little
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
How Rural Founders Can Tap into the Circular Economy
When you’re at the end of a long freight route and local waste infrastructure is limited, resourcefulness isn’t just a value—it’s a necessity. Creative businesses in rural Colorado are leveraging
Meet the Seven Founders Advancing to our Belonging Growth Challenge
What happens when you ask twelve founders to transform business into a mechanism for belonging? That’s what we aim to find out in our Belonging @ Startup Colorado accelerator program. […]
Roadtrip Series Recap
It’s home to a major state university. It’s one of Colorado’s most productive agricultural and energy-production regions. And it has a population over 100,000. Yet Greeley experiences many of the […]
Put your guerrilla suit on
When you don’t have unlimited capital, easy retail access, or instant industry buy-in, guerrilla marketing is one of the most practical ways to build visibility. For rural founders, this “little […]
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