Join us for a conversation about the incredible progress—and continued potential—beyond the Front Range. While Colorado’s entrepreneurial ecosystem continues to thrive, rural founders and entrepreneurs from disinvested populations—including women, BIPOC communities, and first-time founders—are still too often left out of traditional funding pipelines.

Yet these communities are proving to be one of the most untapped engines of Colorado’s economic future. This session brings together leaders from Gates Family Foundation, BEN Colorado, Greater Colorado Venture Fund (GCVF), Energize Colorado, and Startup Colorado—alongside a rural founder(s) who will share firsthand what it takes to grow a company in a place often overlooked by investors and institutions.
This is more than a panel—it’s a working dialogue and we will explore:

• How venture capital is working in rural communities, through funds like GCVF
• The critical role of angel investors in activating local capital and championing early-stage founders
• The intersection of philanthropic, public, and private capital in supporting disinvested communities
• How storytelling and community-driven strategies are helping de-risk investments and shift perceptions
• What still needs to change to make equitable capital access not just a goal—but the standard
• A rural founder’s real-world experience navigating capital gaps, building networks, and proving what’s possible outside the metro

Whether you’re an investor, entrepreneur, funder, or ecosystem builder, this session will challenge assumptions, spotlight progress, and offer real pathways to help fuel Colorado’s next chapter—one where the ecosystem increases the odds for those willing to try, no matter where they start.