By Margaret Hedderman
Startup Colorado announces the successful conclusion of its final Founder Coopetition cohort of the year. This dynamic 4-week business accelerator program is designed to empower and support rural founders. The Founder Coopetition combines cooperative learning with a competition for three, $5,000 microgrants, providing a unique platform for rural entrepreneurs to grow their ventures.
The October cohort featured 16 startups from rural communities across the state, spanning a breadth of industries. After a highly competitive process, three outstanding startups—SAM+LEO, Check Your Flies, and Elements Mountain Compost—emerged as the top winners.
SAM+LEO was founded by Dara Erck, a global health professional and single mom of two kids: Sam and Leo. Based in Snowmass Village, SAM+LEO is the first ungendered, all-natural body care and vitamin brand for Gen Z. Their products are vegan and come in environmentally-friendly packaging, including compostable pouches and 100% recycled plastic containers. Their top products include the SAM + LEO Eyes+ Gummy Vitamins, designed to address the effects of screen time on kids and teens.
“Participating in Startup Colorado’s Founder Coopetition was a collaborative environment that provided invaluable guidance in refining my pitch and business strategies,” Erck said. “Being part of this community not only held me accountable and motivated me, but also alleviated the loneliness of being a rural Colorado founder, offering a truly supportive network.”
CheckYourFlies.com was founded by Cullen Haskins, an avid outdoorsman, angler, and boater. Located in Buena Vista, CheckYourFlies.com is an online marketplace platform where anglers and makers in the fishing industry can buy and sell their handmade fishing gear. The platform provides a virtual storefront that allows sellers to create and manage their own shop and products, while connecting buyers and sellers in the fishing industry.
“I am grateful for the support that the Startup Colorado Founder Coopetition gave in redefining my message, market fit and growth opportunities,” Haskins said. “This has allowed me to execute a more precise plan for business growth. The peer to peer collaboration during this program has provided a great place to learn from other businesses who may be in different stages of growth.”
Julie Mach is the founder of Elements Mountain Compost, an innovative compost service based in Central Colorado. Elements Mountain Compost works with businesses and residents in Central Colorado to reduce their carbon footprint by diverting organic waste from the landfill and creating high quality compost products. Elements provides food and yard waste collection and then processes these materials into soil products that benefit plants, lawns, gardens and natural landscapes.
Mach said, “Participating in the Founder Coopetition was a great way to gain feedback from fellow entrepreneurs, learn from expert business owners and get to know some really cool companies around Colorado. I was able to update and refine my financial ask and curate a high quality pitch video for use in the future.”
“We are thrilled to recognize and support the outstanding achievements of Elements Mountain Compost, SAM+LEO, and Check Your Flies,” said Tim Martinez, Startup Colorado’s Founder Coopetition Director. “Our final cohort of the year featured 16 incredible businesses, all of whom will make a positive impact on their rural communities.”
All participating founders crafted a final pitch presentation, which was evaluated by over 200 experts and mentors associated with organizations such as Techstars, Hubspot, the Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network Colorado (BENCO), Rockies Ventures Club, and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade.The final scoring process included input from peer reviews and overall program participation.
Beyond the ongoing access to Startup Colorado’s extensive network of mentors, resources, and support, the three winning startups will now gain entry into the BENCO advisors network, ensuring a pathway for sustained future growth.
Startup Colorado hosted three cohorts in 2023, demonstrating its commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and economic development in rural areas. The Founder Coopetition will continue in 2024 with a fourth cohort in the spring. Applications are now open, inviting aspiring entrepreneurs to participate in this transformative experience.
“The Founder Coopetition has proven to be a catalyst for growth and success for rural entrepreneurs,” said Brittany Romano, Startup Colorado’s Executive Director. “We encourage all eligible founders to apply for the upcoming cohort and take advantage of the unparalleled opportunities and support offered by Startup Colorado.”
For more information about the Founder Coopetition and the winners of the October Cohort, please visit FounderCoopetition.com or contact Margaret Hedderman, Startup Colorado’s Communications & Editorial Director.
