By Margaret Hedderman
We’re launching our first cohort of the Founder Coopetition // Growth Challenge, a new program designed to support rural entrepreneurs in scaling their market-validated businesses. The Growth Challenge is a custom-built initiative tailored specifically for rural founders, providing them with the tools and resources needed to transform their existing operations into scalable enterprises.
The Growth Challenge addresses several key elements essential to scaling a business, such as validating product and customer fit, optimizing growth strategies, and preparing a compelling board presentation for a SUCO Advisory Session. In partnership with Skill Distillery, the Growth Challenge is launching its first cohort with a focus on tech entrepreneurship.
Meet our first cohort:
Finn Bailis, Global Media Assets, in Telluride – Global Media Assets is an automated ad agency that leverages freelance talent and AI to create video ads for any brand. Finn participated in our July 2024 Idea Factory.
Mike Blecha, AnywhereCam LLC, in Fort Morgan – A company developing remote security camera solutions designed for remote locations without WiFi or electricity. Mike participated in our October 2023 Idea Factory and the recent Startup Colorado Pitch Competition.
Benjamin Graybeal, Valkyrie Recovery Systems Inc, in Grand Junction. – Valkyrie specializes in aerospace parachute technology and is a leader in the aerospace and space parachute industry. The company focuses on expediting development and manufacturing processes to keep pace with the rapidly evolving commercial space market.
Katie Kelly, Grow Nutrition App, in Pagosa Springs – A winner of our Founder Coopetition // Idea Factory, Grow Nutrition App is designed to directly support the health of both expectant mothers and their growing children by providing personalized, trustworthy nutrition education and guidance.
Matt Martensen, User Cooperative, in Durango – User Cooperative is a pre-product web browser startup that is uniquely structured as a consumer cooperative—a 100% member-owned and -governed company—to make “equity for clicks” possible for consumers on a free, members-only web browser. Matt was a participant in our October 2023 Idea Factory.
Jessica Noll, The Mindful Toolbox – The Mindful Toolbox offers a range of classes, camps, and parties for local children, blending movement, meditation, breathwork, art, and play to create an engaging and transformative learning environment. Jessica was a winner of our July 2024 Idea Factory cohort.
John Ramo, Boulder Learning Inc., in Carbondale – John was a participant in the September 2023 Idea Factory cohort. Boulder Learning Inc. is an educational technology research and development company specializing in AI-native systems and products for enhancing learning and teaching.
Laurie Sigillito and Nathan Morris, Local NEWS Network, in Durango – A winner of our July 2024 Idea Factory, Local NEWS Network is a tech media company creating a new business model and scalable platform for rebuilding how community news is produced and distributed.
Jennifer Sparks, Agolix, in Durango – Agolix is an AI-powered engagement platform that provides client lifecycle management for professional service firms with over 350 clients worldwide including the World Bank, Maybelline, and Circle K. A woman-owned business, Agolix is a winner of our February 2024 Idea Factory cohort.
Drew Stachnik, Dispatch, in Steamboat Springs – Dispatch is a platform that provides an Uber-like service for commercial ride-sharing vehicles, specifically targeting commercial shuttles. By streamlining operations, Dispatch aims to improve efficiency and reduce operational costs, addressing key pain points and enhancing overall service quality in the commercial transportation sector.
These businesses, selected for their scalability potential and market readiness, will receive targeted support and mentorship throughout the program to fine-tune their business models, develop strategic growth plans, and become investment-ready.
Skill Distillery Partnership
Skill Distillery, a coding bootcamp that prepares individuals for high-demand careers in tech, has partnered with Startup Colorado’s Founder Coopetition // Growth Challenge to empower individuals with the skills they need to thrive in today’s tech-driven economy.
“By fostering tech talent in these regions, we drive economic growth, create job opportunities, and help build a more resilient, future-ready workforce,” Briana Young, School Director at Skill Distillery, said.
Skill Distillery provides immersive coding experiences that prepare individuals for high-demand careers in tech, with a strong emphasis on delivering real-world programming skills. Their programs are designed to be accessible to everyone, offering flexible options for career changers and those looking to enter the tech industry.
“Our partnership with Skill Distillery has enabled us to focus these accelerator cohorts to specifically support rural tech innovation by making tech-centric education accessible to rural founders,” Brittany Romano, Startup Colorado’s Executive Director, said. “This will further help the current or aspiring rural tech entrepreneurs build the skills needed to scale their businesses and thrive in today’s economy.”
Partnering with the Founder Coopetition Growth Challenge aligns with Skill Distillery’s mission to empower individuals with the skills needed to succeed in today’s tech-driven economy. This collaboration enables Skill Distillery to reach more aspiring developers, fostering innovation, collaboration, and competitive growth within its learning community.
“Together, we’re breaking down barriers to tech education and building a more inclusive workforce,” said a representative from Skill Distillery.
A New Chapter for Rural Entrepreneurship
The launch of the Founder Coopetition // Growth Challenge marks an important milestone for Startup Colorado and the broader ecosystem of rural entrepreneurship. While the Idea Factory supports early-stage entrepreneurs in developing a solid launch strategy, the Growth Challenge focuses on helping in-revenue businesses scale effectively. Together, this comprehensive programming package equips entrepreneurs with the tools and guidance needed to prepare for future investment opportunities or more advanced accelerator programs, ensuring they are well-positioned for growth and success.
“Our Founder Coopetition programming is expanding to address the needs of founders at every stage of the startup journey,” Romano said. “We recognized that there is a growing need for startup and ecosystem support at this stage of business and we are thrilled to be able to provide this critical support to facilitate rural companies becoming more sophisticated, investable, and able to produce the economic impacts that help rural communities to thrive.”
