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SUMMARY:SoCo Startup Week - Vibe Your Mobile App with Bolt
DESCRIPTION:🚀 Vibe Your Mobile App with Bolt\nThursday\, August 27th | 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM\nExponential Impact HQ | Colorado Springs\, CO \nCurious about vibe coding? This hands-on\, beginner-friendly workshop will introduce you to Bolt\, an AI-powered development platform that makes it possible to turn your ideas into working mobile applications—without needing a traditional software development background. \nWhether you’re an entrepreneur\, innovator\, designer\, or simply AI-curious\, you’ll learn how to collaborate with AI to plan\, build\, and iterate on a mobile app using natural language prompts. We’ll cover the fundamentals of vibe coding\, demonstrate best practices for prompting\, and walk through the process of creating an app from concept to prototype. \nBy the end of the session\, you’ll understand how AI is changing the way software is built and leave with the knowledge and confidence to continue building your own applications. \nNo programming experience is required. Just bring your laptop\, your phone\, your curiosity\, and an idea you’d like to explore. \nSign Up For a Free Account: https://bolt.new/ \nYour Instructor: \nStephanie Battista Hubbard is the Head of Innovation at Humanity Innovation Labs™ and a product innovation leader specializing in AI\, product development\, and workforce transformation. She has trained more than 600 professionals in practical AI applications\, helping technical and non-technical teams integrate AI into their daily work. With over 20 years of experience\, Stephanie is passionate about making emerging technologies accessible\, practical\, and impactful.
URL:https://startupcolorado.org/event/soco-startup-week-vibe-your-mobile-app-with-bolt/
LOCATION:Exponential Impact HQ\, 3650 N Nevada Ave\, Colorado Springs\, CO\, 80907\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://startupcolorado.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/21FB-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="SoCo Startup":MAILTO:jmhorst@exponentialimpact.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260827T123000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260827T140000
DTSTAMP:20260824T160548Z
CREATED:20260824T160548Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260824T160548Z
UID:10000350-1787833800-1787839200@startupcolorado.org
SUMMARY:SoCo Startup Week - The Good\, The Bad\, and The Ugly: How Three Founders Raised Money Their Own Way
DESCRIPTION:🚀 The Good\, The Bad\, and The Ugly: How Three Founders Raised Money Their Own Way\nThursday\, August 27th | 12:30pm – 2:00pm\nExponential Impact HQ | Colorado Springs\, CO \nMost fundraising panels hand you the polished version. This one goes the other way. Three Colorado founders who each built real companies without running the standard venture playbook are going to walk you through the good\, the bad\, and the ugly of how they actually raised money. Owen Hill of Kleercard took meeting after meeting with VCs and walked away to build on angel funding. Wes Hill of Mente Medical pieced together grants and a regional fund to stay in control of his path. Allison Fitzpatrick of Actuate IOT let customers and partners bankroll the growth. Through live take-it-or-leave-it term sheet challenges\, rapid-fire hot takes\, and real war stories pulled from a jar\, you’ll watch three smart people reach three completely different answers to the same question: whose money do I take\, and what does it cost me? Bring your own fundraising dilemma. We’ll solve a few of them live. \nWho Is This Session For\nColorado founders\, startups and innovators looking to learn more about the different avenues for funding with real life perspective.
URL:https://startupcolorado.org/event/soco-startup-week-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-how-three-founders-raised-money-their-own-way/
LOCATION:Exponential Impact HQ\, 3650 N Nevada Ave\, Colorado Springs\, CO\, 80907\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://startupcolorado.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/11FB-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="SoCo Startup":MAILTO:jmhorst@exponentialimpact.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260827T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260827T113000
DTSTAMP:20260824T160817Z
CREATED:20260824T160817Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260824T160817Z
UID:10000349-1787826600-1787830200@startupcolorado.org
SUMMARY:SoCo Startup Week - AI Can Build It. Can You Lead It?
DESCRIPTION:🚀 AI Can Build It. Can You Lead It?\nThursday\, August 27th | 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM\nExponential Impact HQ | Colorado Springs\, CO \nA working session on what your job becomes at each stage of building with AI\, ending with a live check on your own idea. \nYou built something with AI. It works\, until it doesn’t\, and every new feature breaks the last one. Now you’re stuck on the questions that actually cost money: Do I hire an engineer? A dev shop? Can AI just do it? How do I make sure I’m not sinking months into something that isn’t what I wanted? And once real customers depend on it\, how do I keep shipping fast without breaking what already works? \nEvery software product moves through four phases: prototype\, MVP\, paying customers\, and scaling. AI’s real job is different in each one. What works in one phase is exactly what breaks you in the next\, and most founders are running a phase behind where they actually are. Ala Stolpnik has mapped these phases building with AI as the founder of Wisary and coaching early-stage teams as a fractional CTO\, after years leading engineering at companies like Google and Roblox. \nOne of those phases decides whether what gets built is what you actually meant: the MVP\, when you first hand your idea to an engineer or point AI at building it. So the session ends there\, on your idea\, not a hypothetical: bring a laptop and something you’re working on\, and run it through a live readiness check that scores how ready it is to build. Whatever you hand off is what gets built\, so vague in\, vague out. You’ll leave knowing your stage\, what AI should be doing there\, and where your own idea really stands\, so what you build next is what you meant. \nEvent Details\n📅 Thursday\, August 27th\n🕘 10:30 – 11:30 AM\n📍 Exponential Impact HQ\n3650 N Nevada Ave\nColorado Springs\, CO 80907 \nRegistration is required. \nWho Is This Session For\nFor Colorado founders and early-stage teams\, whether you’re already building with AI or still figuring out what adopting it would take. Bring a laptop and an idea you’re working on.
URL:https://startupcolorado.org/event/soco-startup-week-ai-can-build-it-can-you-lead-it/
LOCATION:Exponential Impact HQ\, 3650 N Nevada Ave\, Colorado Springs\, CO\, 80907\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://startupcolorado.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/13Fb-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="SoCo Startup":MAILTO:jmhorst@exponentialimpact.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260827T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260827T103000
DTSTAMP:20260824T160735Z
CREATED:20260824T160735Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260824T160735Z
UID:10000348-1787821200-1787826600@startupcolorado.org
SUMMARY:SoCo Startup Week - Tech Connect - Coffee\, Waffles and Community
DESCRIPTION:🚀 Tech Connect – Coffee\, Waffles and Community\nThursday\, August 27th | 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM\nExponential Impact HQ | Colorado Springs\, CO \nJoin Colorado’s startup community for a special edition of Tech Connect featuring coffee\, waffles\, and meaningful conversations at Exponential Impact. \nWe believe real progress doesn’t happen in isolation – it happens when the right people get in the same room and start talking. Tech Connect is designed to bring together founders\, entrepreneurs\, and startup teams building in emerging technologies to connect\, learn\, and grow together. \nThis isn’t a networking event filled with pitches or presentations. There are: \n\nNo pitches\nNo presentations\nNo pressure\nNo selling\n\nJust authentic conversations with people who understand the challenges and opportunities of building something from the ground up. \nWhether you’re refining an idea\, launching a product\, scaling your company\, or figuring out your next move\, you’ll find a community that’s generous with experience\, insights\, and connections. \nWho should attend?\nTech Connect is exclusively for Colorado-based founders\, entrepreneurs\, startup teams\, and innovators working in – or exploring – emerging technologies\, including AI\, software\, robotics\, aerospace\, cybersecurity\, advanced manufacturing\, and more. \nEvent Details\n📅 Thursday\, August 27th\n🕘 9:00–10:30 AM\n📍 Exponential Impact HQ\n3650 N Nevada Ave\nColorado Springs\, CO 80907 \nCome for the coffee and waffles. Stay for the community. \nBuild relationships that actually matter. \nRegistration is required. \nWho Is This Session For\nColorado founders\, startups and entrepreneurs working on new emerging technology\, who are looking for a community to share ideas\, collaborate and build new friendships.
URL:https://startupcolorado.org/event/soco-startup-week-tech-connect-coffee-waffles-and-community/
LOCATION:Exponential Impact HQ\, 3650 N Nevada Ave\, Colorado Springs\, CO\, 80907\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://startupcolorado.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/12FB-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="SoCo Startup":MAILTO:jmhorst@exponentialimpact.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260827T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260827T090000
DTSTAMP:20260824T160652Z
CREATED:20260824T160652Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260824T160652Z
UID:10000347-1787817600-1787821200@startupcolorado.org
SUMMARY:SoCo Startup Week - From Startup to Strategic Partner: Building a Business in the Defense Ecosystem
DESCRIPTION:🚀 From Startup to Strategic Partner: Building a Business in the Defense Ecosystem\nPresented by Colorado APEX Accelerator \nThursday\, August 27th | 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM\nExponential Impact HQ | Colorado Springs\, CO \nThe U.S. Department of Defense and its network of prime contractors rely on thousands of innovative small businesses to strengthen the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). Whether your company develops software\, cybersecurity solutions\, advanced manufacturing\, professional services\, logistics\, AI\, aerospace technologies\, or other commercial innovations\, there may be opportunities to support mission-critical programs across the U.S. Army\, Air Force\, Space Force\, Navy\, Marine Corps\, and other federal agencies. \nPresented by the Colorado APEX Accelerator\, this session is designed for startups and small businesses that want to understand how to enter and grow within the government marketplace. You’ll learn how to identify contracting opportunities\, position your business for success\, and navigate the unique requirements of government procurement. \nDuring this session\, we’ll cover: • How businesses can pursue opportunities throughout the Defense Industrial Base and across local\, state\, and federal government agencies • Government contracting requirements and procurement fundamentals • How to effectively market your company’s capabilities to government buyers and prime contractors • Colorado APEX Accelerator’s no-cost one-on-one counseling\, training workshops\, and outreach events • The APEX Accelerator BidMatch service\, a powerful tool that helps businesses identify contract and subcontract opportunities that align with their capabilities • Common misconceptions\, pitfalls\, and how to determine whether government contracting is the right growth strategy for your business \nIf you’re considering working with the Colorado APEX Accelerator\, this session is highly recommended before your first counseling appointment. It helps our team better understand your business goals and ensures you receive guidance tailored to your stage of growth and target markets. \nGovernment contracting can seem like navigating a maze—but you don’t have to do it alone. Join us to learn how innovative startups and established small businesses alike can become trusted partners within the Defense Industrial Base\, build relationships with government buyers and prime contractors\, and uncover new pathways for sustainable growth. \nWho Is This Session For\nColorado founders\, startups and small business owners interested in doing business with the US Federal Government in the Defense Industrial Base\, supporting the U.S. Warfighter.
URL:https://startupcolorado.org/event/soco-startup-week-from-startup-to-strategic-partner-building-a-business-in-the-defense-ecosystem/
LOCATION:Exponential Impact HQ\, 3650 N Nevada Ave\, Colorado Springs\, CO\, 80907\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://startupcolorado.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20FB-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="SoCo Startup":MAILTO:jmhorst@exponentialimpact.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260826T163000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260826T183000
DTSTAMP:20260811T152251Z
CREATED:20260811T152251Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T152251Z
UID:10000340-1787761800-1787769000@startupcolorado.org
SUMMARY:SoCo Startup Week - SoCo Startup Showcase
DESCRIPTION:🚀 SoCo Startup Showcase\nWednesday\, August 26th | 4:30–6:30 PM\nEnt Center for the Arts at UCCS \nPresented by El Pomar Institute for Innovation and Commercialization (EPIIC) \nSouthern Colorado is building more than people realize. Come see it for yourself. \nThe SoCo Startup Showcase is a high-energy\, interactive startup experience featuring around 20 companies from across Colorado Springs and Southern Colorado. This is not a standard tabling event with banners\, brochures\, and polite nodding. Every company in the room will bring something interactive — a live demo\, game\, challenge\, simulation\, sample\, experience\, or hands-on activity designed to show what they are building\, the problem they are solving\, and why it matters. \nExpect software\, products\, services\, small businesses\, student ventures\, and emerging companies all sharing their work in creative\, memorable ways. You might test your reaction time\, try a simulator\, throw things\, or discover a company solving a problem you did not even know existed. \nThis event is built for founders\, students\, investors\, business leaders\, startup supporters\, and anyone who is curious about what is happening in the local innovation ecosystem. Whether you are already plugged in or have been watching from the sidelines\, this is your chance to get an inside look at the companies\, people\, and ideas shaping Southern Colorado’s next chapter. \nThe evening will be free-flowing\, social\, and full of energy. Explore the startup exhibits at your own pace\, meet the founders behind the work\, enjoy a full catered meal\, and hang out at the Goat Patch Brewing pavilion for FREE beers! \nCome ready to explore\, ask questions\, try things\, meet people\, and leave saying: “I had no idea this much was being built here.” \nHere’s what to expect: \n\n🚀 Interactive startup showcases and live demos\n🎯 Games\, challenges\, simulations\, samples\, and hands-on activities\n\n\n🤝 Networking with founders\, students\, investors\, entrepreneurs\, and community leaders\n🍽️ A full catered meal\n🍻 Goat Patch Brewing pavilion with FREE beer\n💡 A high-energy look at what Southern Colorado’s startup community has to offer\n\nIf you are curious about startups\, innovation\, entrepreneurship\, or the future of Colorado Springs\, this is the room to be in. \nWho Is This Session For\nColorado founders\, startups\, entrepreneurs and small business owners. We also would love for our community leaders and government officials to join us.
URL:https://startupcolorado.org/event/soco-startup-week-soco-startup-showcase/
LOCATION:Ent Center for the Arts\, 5225 N Nevada Ave\, Colorado Springs\, CO\, 80918\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://startupcolorado.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/10-3.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="SoCo Startup":MAILTO:jmhorst@exponentialimpact.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260826T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260826T153000
DTSTAMP:20260811T152220Z
CREATED:20260811T152220Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T152220Z
UID:10000339-1787751000-1787758200@startupcolorado.org
SUMMARY:SoCo Startup Week - Startup Arcade: Build\, Price\, Play
DESCRIPTION:🚀 Startup Arcade: Build\, Price\, Play\nPresented by El Pomar Institute for Innovation and Commercialization (EPIIC) \nWednesday\, August 26th | 1:30 PM–3:30 PM\nHosted at Ent Center for the Arts at UCCS \nIn the Startup Arcade\, you and your team will create a playable game from scratch! With a limited budget\, limited time\, and finite resources\, the race is on to build the best game possible. \nDo you have what it takes to corner the market? \nYour team will receive startup capital (monopoly cash) to purchase materials from the central bank. Its up to you to design\, build\, and price your game. Every choice matters. Spend too much on materials and your profit shrinks. Spend too little and your game may be lame. Price it to high and customers may say bye bye. \nTeams will put their entrepreneurial instincts to work by balancing: \n\n💰 Budgeting and resource allocation\n🛠️ Product design and development\n💲 Pricing strategy\n📣 Marketing and customer appeal\n🤝 Teamwork and creative problem-solving\n\nOnce the games are built\, the marketplace opens. Participants will receive a new stack of consumer dollars to purchase and play games from the other teams. Can your game win the competition for attention\, customers\, and revenue? \nAwards will be presented for: \n\n🏆 Most Popular Game – The game that sells the most plays\n💸 Highest Profit – The team with the greatest profit after subtracting the cost of goods sold\n\nWhether you’re an experienced founder\, a student\, a builder\, or just curious about entrepreneurship\, this hands-on workshop offers a fun way to experience the pressure\, creativity\, and strategy behind bringing a new product to market. \nCome ready to build\, price\, and play! \nWho Is This Session For\nStudents\, entrepreneurs\, creatives\, and community members interested in innovation\, collaboration\, and experiencing entrepreneurship in a fun\, hands-on way.
URL:https://startupcolorado.org/event/soco-startup-week-startup-arcade-build-price-play/
LOCATION:Ent Center for the Arts\, 5225 N Nevada Ave\, Colorado Springs\, CO\, 80918\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://startupcolorado.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/9-2.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="SoCo Startup":MAILTO:jmhorst@exponentialimpact.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260826T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260826T120000
DTSTAMP:20260811T152134Z
CREATED:20260811T152134Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T152134Z
UID:10000338-1787740200-1787745600@startupcolorado.org
SUMMARY:SoCo Startup Week - Pivot Through Pain: Bouncing Back from Failure
DESCRIPTION:🚀 Pivot Through Pain: Bouncing Back from Failure\nPresented by El Pomar Institute for Innovation and Commercialization (EPIIC) \nWednesday\, August 26th | 10:30 AM–12:00 PM\nHosted at Ent Center for the Arts at UCCS \nFailure is an ever-present companion on the entrepreneurial journey. While no one enjoys failure\, what we learn from it often depends on our perspective – and our ability to see beyond the immediate consequences. \nLed by Larry Plummer\, Ph.D.\, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and El Pomar Chair of Business & Entrepreneurship in the College of Business at UCCS\, this session is an interactive workshop designed to help founders\, entrepreneurs\, and innovators rethink what failure really means and discover how setbacks can become powerful opportunities for learning\, resilience\, and growth. \nDuring the workshop\, we’ll revisit a compelling case of failure from NASA’s storied history and ask a deceptively simple question: Is this a story of failure – or success? \nThe answer may depend entirely on how you define each. \nTogether\, we’ll explore how our definitions of failure and success shape the way we approach challenges\, evaluate outcomes\, make decisions\, and move forward when things don’t go as planned. \nDuring this hands-on session\, you’ll: \n💭 Explore how we define failure\, and why our perspective matters \n🚀 Examine a fascinating case from NASA’s history and debate whether it represents failure\, success\, or something in between \n🎯 Reframe failure and success through the lens of intentional goals\, outcomes\, and learning \n✍️ Reflect on your own setbacks to uncover lessons and opportunities for growth \n🤝 Share\, debate\, and learn with fellow entrepreneurs through guided\, supportive group discussions \n🔮 Look ahead to future challenges and consider how what you learn from failure today can shape better outcomes tomorrow \nCome prepared to share your perspective\, debate your views on failure\, reveal your own failure stories\, and engage with fellow participants in a supportive\, constructive\, and candid environment. \nWhether you’ve experienced a recent setback\, are navigating the uncertainty that comes with building something new\, or simply want to become a more resilient founder and leader\, you’ll leave with fresh perspectives and a new way to think about one of entrepreneurship’s most constant companions: failure. \nBecause sometimes the difference between failure and success is what happens next. \nWho Is This Session For\nColorado founders\, startups\, entrepreneurs and small business owners who have encountered failure and want to learn how to pivot from it.
URL:https://startupcolorado.org/event/soco-startup-week-pivot-through-pain-bouncing-back-from-failure/
LOCATION:Ent Center for the Arts\, 5225 N Nevada Ave\, Colorado Springs\, CO\, 80918\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://startupcolorado.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/8-3.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="SoCo Startup":MAILTO:jmhorst@exponentialimpact.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260826T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260826T221500
DTSTAMP:20260811T151919Z
CREATED:20260811T151919Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T151919Z
UID:10000337-1787734800-1787782500@startupcolorado.org
SUMMARY:SoCo Startup Week - Innovation Tour with PteroDynamics
DESCRIPTION:🚀 Innovation Tour with PteroDynamics\nWednesday\, August 26th | 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM\nPteroDynamics | Colorado Springs\, CO \nGet an inside look at one of Colorado Springs’ fastest-growing technology companies during Southern Colorado Startup Week. \nJoin us for an exclusive Innovation Tour with PteroDynamics Inc.\, the company behind the groundbreaking Transwing® autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft platform. Designed to fly faster\, go farther\, and reach remote locations without runways\, PteroDynamics’ aircraft systems are built for demanding missions in harsh and hard-to-reach environments. \nAttendees will learn how the Transwing® aircraft uniquely combines the speed\, range\, endurance\, and payload capacity of a fixed-wing aircraft with advanced VTOL performance. Its wings fold during flight to transition smoothly between vertical takeoff and landing and efficient horizontal cruise\, creating new possibilities for maritime logistics\, critical payload delivery\, remote operations\, reconnaissance\, and surveillance. \nThe tour will also feature a conversation with Matthew Graczyk\, CEO and Co-Founder of PteroDynamics. A serial entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience building technology companies\, Matthew has helped create more than $1.5 billion in investor gains through six public-company exits. He is a recognized speaker on advanced air mobility\, entrepreneurship\, raising capital\, and scaling innovative companies. \nWhether you’re a founder\, technologist\, investor\, defense innovator\, or simply curious about the future of autonomous aviation\, this is a rare opportunity to see cutting-edge aerospace technology up close and hear directly from the leader helping bring it to market. \nSeeing is believing. \nWho Is This Session For\nColorado founders\, startups and innovators looking to see what is being built in Southern Colorado and hear from a serial entrepreneur who as been through the ups and downs of starting and running tech companies.
URL:https://startupcolorado.org/event/soco-startup-week-innovation-tour-with-pterodynamics/
LOCATION:PteroDynamics\, Colorado Springs\, CO\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://startupcolorado.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/19F-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="SoCo Startup":MAILTO:jmhorst@exponentialimpact.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260825T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260825T190000
DTSTAMP:20260810T163433Z
CREATED:20260810T163433Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260810T163433Z
UID:10000335-1787677200-1787684400@startupcolorado.org
SUMMARY:SoCo Startup Week - After Party at Observer Ranch
DESCRIPTION:After Party at Observer Ranch\n📅 Tuesday\, August 25th | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM\n📍 Observer Ranch\, Penrose\, CO \nUnwind\, connect\, and celebrate an incredible day of rural entrepreneurship at Emergent Campus during Southern Colorado Startup Week at the beautiful Observer Ranch. \nNestled just outside Penrose with sweeping mountain views\, Observer Ranch is more than a campground\, it’s a learning center\, event venue\, and gathering place built around community\, curiosity\, sustainability\, and lifelong learning. With a mission to foster innovation\, resilience\, and meaningful connections\, it’s the perfect setting to continue conversations sparked throughout the day. \nJoin fellow entrepreneurs\, founders\, investors\, ecosystem builders\, and community leaders for an evening of casual networking in a relaxed outdoor setting. Whether you’re reconnecting with old friends\, making new connections\, or reflecting on the day’s ideas\, this after party offers the perfect opportunity to build relationships beyond the conference sessions. \nEnjoy the fresh air\, scenic surroundings\, and great conversation as we close out an inspiring day focused on the future of rural innovation. \nCome raise a glass\, share your story\, and connect with the people building the next chapter of entrepreneurship in Southern Colorado.
URL:https://startupcolorado.org/event/soco-startup-week-after-party-at-observer-ranch/
LOCATION:Observer Ranch\, 4509 Co Rd 123\, Penrose\, CO\, United States
CATEGORIES:Networking
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://startupcolorado.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/7-3.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="SoCo Startup":MAILTO:jmhorst@exponentialimpact.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260825T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260825T170000
DTSTAMP:20260810T164045Z
CREATED:20260810T164045Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260810T164045Z
UID:10000334-1787673600-1787677200@startupcolorado.org
SUMMARY:SoCo Startup Week - Afternoon Tour of Emergent Campus
DESCRIPTION:Afternoon Tour of Emergent Campus\n📅 Tuesday\, August 25th | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM\n📍 Emergent Campus\, 215 Maple Avenue\, Florence\, CO \nExperience one of Colorado’s most exciting rural innovation hubs from the inside. \nLocated in the beautifully restored historic Florence High School\, Emergent Campus was added to the National and State Register of Historic Places in 2022 and received the prestigious Stephen H. Hart Award for Historic Preservation in 2024. Today\, it serves as a collaborative home for startups\, remote professionals\, innovators\, and organizations proving that world-class innovation doesn’t have to happen in a major metro. \nDuring the Afternoon Tour\, you’ll explore the campus\, meet innovative companies and founders\, learn about the businesses growing within the space\, and see firsthand how rural communities are creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs and technology companies alike. \nWhether you’re a founder\, investor\, remote worker\, community leader\, or simply curious about Colorado’s growing startup ecosystem\, this is a unique opportunity to connect with innovators while experiencing one of the state’s premier rural entrepreneurship destinations. \nCome explore\, ask questions\, build connections\, and enjoy lunch with fellow attendees.
URL:https://startupcolorado.org/event/soco-startup-week-afternoon-tour-of-emergent-campus/
LOCATION:Emergent Campus\, 215 Maple Avenue\, Florence\, CO\, United States
CATEGORIES:Networking
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://startupcolorado.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/4-4-v2.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="SoCo Startup":MAILTO:jmhorst@exponentialimpact.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260825T144500
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260825T164500
DTSTAMP:20260810T164006Z
CREATED:20260810T164006Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260810T164006Z
UID:10000333-1787669100-1787676300@startupcolorado.org
SUMMARY:SoCo Startup Week - Community Hackathon Workshop & NatureChase Mainstreet Adventure
DESCRIPTION:Community Hackathon Workshop & NatureChase Mainstreet Adventure\n📅 Tuesday\, August 25th | 2:45 PM – 4:45 PM\n📍 Post Office Event Center\, 505 Macon Ave\, Canon City CO 81212 \nGreat ideas grow faster when the right people connect. \nJoin us at the Post Office Event Center in Canon City for an afternoon community hackathon workshop\, followed by a NatureChase Mainstreet Adventure. \nCommunity Hackathon Workshop \nA year ago\, at Emergent Campus Trinidad\, we ran Hack Trinidad Forward – our first civic community sprint. We’ll walk you through what worked\, what surprised us\, and what we learned. Then we’ll do a short workshop together\, using the Rural Pattern Language to explore which patterns your unique community or project might stack to move something real forward. \nCome with a challenge from your community. Leave with a pattern or two worth trying. \nNatureChase Mainstreet Adventure \nExperience the future of outdoor adventure! Download NatureChase\, an innovative app developed by one of Emergent Campus’ startup companies\, where exploring the outdoors meets an interactive capture-the-flag style game. \nOnce you’ve downloaded the app\, head out on a walking adventure through downtown Cañon City to claim as many featured locations as you can. Participants who claim the most locations during the challenge will be entered into a prize drawing at the Observer Ranch after party (must be present to win). \nIt’s a fun\, interactive way to experience new adventure technology while discovering the unique shops\, restaurants\, and attractions that make downtown Cañon City so special! \nWhether you’re launching a startup\, growing an existing business\, supporting entrepreneurs\, or exploring what’s next for rural economic development\, you’ll leave with new relationships\, fresh ideas\, and practical connections that extend well beyond the event. \nCome ready to connect\, collaborate\, and help shape the future of rural innovation.
URL:https://startupcolorado.org/event/soco-startup-week-community-hackathon-workshop-naturechase-mainstreet-adventure/
LOCATION:Post Office Event Center\, 505 Macon Ave\, Canon City\, CO\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://startupcolorado.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/6-3-v2.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="SoCo Startup":MAILTO:jmhorst@exponentialimpact.com
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260825T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260825T144500
DTSTAMP:20260810T163912Z
CREATED:20260810T163912Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260810T163912Z
UID:10000332-1787664600-1787669100@startupcolorado.org
SUMMARY:SoCo Startup Week - OEDIT and Office of Supplier Diversity Business Workshop
DESCRIPTION:OEDIT and Office of Supplier Diversity Business Workshop\n📅 Tuesday\, August 25th | 1:30 PM – 2:45 PM\n📍 Post Office Event Center\, 505 Macon Ave\, Canon City CO 81212 \nRural entrepreneurs have access to unique funding\, contracting\, and business development opportunities – but knowing where to start can be the biggest challenge. \nJoin us at at the Post Office Event Center in Canon City for an interactive session with the Colorado Office of the Supplier Diversity Program to learn about programs and resources designed to help businesses grow\, compete\, and succeed. \nThis interactive discussion will provide practical guidance\, answer your questions\, and connect you with resources that can help your business scale. \nWhether you’re an established business owner\, startup founder\, entrepreneur\, or community leader\, you’ll leave with actionable insights and valuable connections to support your next stage of growth. \nCome ready to ask questions\, share ideas\, and discover how rural programs can become a competitive advantage for your business.
URL:https://startupcolorado.org/event/soco-startup-week-oedit-and-office-of-supplier-diversity-business-workshop/
LOCATION:Post Office Event Center\, 505 Macon Ave\, Canon City\, CO\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://startupcolorado.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/5-3-v2.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="SoCo Startup":MAILTO:jmhorst@exponentialimpact.com
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260825T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260825T130000
DTSTAMP:20260810T163840Z
CREATED:20260810T163840Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260810T163840Z
UID:10000331-1787655600-1787662800@startupcolorado.org
SUMMARY:Startup Showcase Tours of Emergent Campus + Lunch
DESCRIPTION:Startup Showcase Tours of Emergent Campus + Lunch\n📅 Tuesday\, August 25th | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM\n📍 Emergent Campus\, 215 Maple Avenue\, Florence\, CO \nExperience one of Colorado’s most exciting rural innovation hubs from the inside. \nFollowing the morning keynote\, join us for an exclusive guided tour of Emergent Campus and discover how this historic Florence landmark has been transformed into a thriving center for entrepreneurship\, remote work\, and startup growth. \nLocated in the beautifully restored historic Florence High School\, Emergent Campus was added to the National and State Register of Historic Places in 2022 and received the prestigious Stephen H. Hart Award for Historic Preservation in 2024. Today\, it serves as a collaborative home for startups\, remote professionals\, innovators\, and organizations proving that world-class innovation doesn’t have to happen in a major metro. \nDuring the Startup Showcase Tour\, you’ll explore the campus\, meet innovative companies and founders\, learn about the businesses growing within the space\, and see firsthand how rural communities are creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs and technology companies alike. \nSchedule\n11:00 AM – 12:15 PM – Guided Startup Showcase Tours of Emergent Campus\n12:15 PM – 1:00 PM – Lunch Provided On Site \nWhether you’re a founder\, investor\, remote worker\, community leader\, or simply curious about Colorado’s growing startup ecosystem\, this is a unique opportunity to connect with innovators while experiencing one of the state’s premier rural entrepreneurship destinations. \nCome explore\, ask questions\, build connections\, and enjoy lunch with fellow attendees.
URL:https://startupcolorado.org/event/startup-showcase-tours-of-emergent-campus-lunch/
LOCATION:Emergent Campus\, 215 Maple Avenue\, Florence\, CO\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://startupcolorado.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/4-3.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="SoCo Startup":MAILTO:jmhorst@exponentialimpact.com
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260825T093000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260825T110000
DTSTAMP:20260810T163511Z
CREATED:20260810T163511Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260810T163511Z
UID:10000330-1787650200-1787655600@startupcolorado.org
SUMMARY:SoCo Startup Week - Breaking Rural Stereotypes with Emergent Campus + Advanced Satellite Tech Keynotes (with Breakfast)
DESCRIPTION:Breaking Rural Stereotypes with Emergent Campus + Advanced Satellite Tech Keynotes (with Breakfast)\n📅 Tuesday\, August 25th | 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM\n📍 Emergent Campus\, 215 Maple Avenue\, Florence\, CO \nWhat does the future of innovation look like? It might be a lot more rural than you think. \nJoin us for breakfast at Emergent Campus\, a nationally recognized hub for rural innovation\, entrepreneurship\, and remote work\, located in the beautifully restored historic Florence High School. Listed on the National and State Register of Historic Places in 2022 and honored with the prestigious Stephen H. Hart Award for Historic Preservation in 2024\, Emergent Campus is redefining what’s possible in rural Colorado. \nDiscover how Florence is attracting entrepreneurs\, technology companies\, and remote professionals by combining historic character with modern\, flexible workspace and a thriving innovation ecosystem. \nFollowing breakfast\, hear from these visionary leaders shaping the future in rural Colorado: \n10:00 – 10:15am \n🎤 Phil Lund\, Mayor of Canon City\nBreaking Rural Stereotypes\nLearn how rural communities are becoming powerful centers for entrepreneurship\, innovation\, and economic growth. \n10:15 – 10:30am \n🚀 Keynote: Cherish Edwards\, COO of Narravity\, Inc.\nThe Future of Space Tech \n10:30 – 10:45am \n🚀 Keynote: Mark Wells\, CTO of Anubis Labs\, Inc.\nNew Satellite Technology \n10:45 – 11:00am \n🎤 Brad Rowland\, CEO of Emergent Campus \nIntro to Emergent Campus \nWhether you’re an entrepreneur\, startup founder\, remote worker\, investor\, student\, or simply curious about the future of rural innovation\, you’ll leave inspired by what’s happening just outside the Front Range. \nCome enjoy breakfast\, make new connections\, and see why the future doesn’t have to be built in a big city.
URL:https://startupcolorado.org/event/soco-startup-week-breaking-rural-stereotypes-with-emergent-campus-advanced-satellite-tech-keynotes-with-breakfast/
LOCATION:Emergent Campus\, 215 Maple Avenue\, Florence\, CO\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://startupcolorado.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/3-4-v2.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="SoCo Startup":MAILTO:jmhorst@exponentialimpact.com
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260824T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260824T160000
DTSTAMP:20260810T012221Z
CREATED:20260810T012221Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260810T012221Z
UID:10000327-1787562000-1787587200@startupcolorado.org
SUMMARY:SoCo Startup Week - AI Solutions Challenge Sprint
DESCRIPTION:Monday\, August 24th | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM\nExponential Impact HQ | Colorado Springs\, CO \nForget theoretical AI demos. This is a hands-on working session where you’ll use today’s leading AI tools to tackle a real challenge facing our community. \nLed by the team at BoodleBox\, this immersive AI Innovation Sprint will focus on the theme of Community Revitalization for the City of Colorado Springs. Participants will work together to explore real opportunities\, develop creative ideas\, and build AI-powered solutions that could help strengthen and revitalize our city. \nBuilding on the theme of strengthening the community we live in\, this event invites participants to explore one of three challenge tracks: Infrastructure\, Public Safety\, or Community Activation. Each track represents a key pillar of community revitalization in Colorado Springs and reflects priorities identified in the City’s Strategic Doing Plan. \nThis workshop will help you move beyond simply using AI to thinking strategically about how to solve meaningful problems with it. \nThe day follows the Lowrance Curve — Define\, Design\, Create\, Validate — a practical operating model for AI-enabled problem solving. \nYou’ll start by defining the problem before choosing a tool. From there\, you’ll design an AI-enabled workflow\, compare tools like ChatGPT\, Claude\, Gemini\, BoodleBox\, and other leading AI platforms\, build a solution with your team\, and validate your work through presentations and feedback. \nAfter the morning sessions\, participants will break into teams and take on a challenge within one of the three community revitalization tracks: \n\nInfrastructure — Explore ideas and solutions that can strengthen the systems\, spaces\, and resources that help Colorado Springs thrive.\nPublic Safety — Tackle challenges and opportunities that can help make our community safer\, more resilient\, and better prepared.\nCommunity Activation — Explore ways to strengthen connection\, participation\, vibrancy\, and engagement across Colorado Springs.\n\nEach team will combine its members’ unique perspectives and strengths to identify opportunities and develop creative\, AI-powered solutions\, with coaching and support from the BoodleBox team throughout the sprint. \nWhether you’re an entrepreneur\, creator\, founder\, technology leader\, educator\, student\, community leader\, or professional from any industry\, you’ll leave with practical AI skills\, new connections\, and firsthand experience using AI to tackle a real-world challenge that matters to our community. \nYou don’t need to be an AI expert or a civic policy expert to participate. Bring your perspective\, creativity\, curiosity\, and willingness to collaborate. The sprint is designed to bring people from different backgrounds together to explore what’s possible when local knowledge\, human ingenuity\, and AI come together. \nThe day concludes with team presentations\, shared lessons learned\, and an awards ceremony. Teams will showcase their solutions and demonstrate how AI can be applied thoughtfully and creatively to community revitalization in Colorado Springs. \nThe winning team will receive a $500 cash prize for demonstrating the most creative\, effective\, and impactful solution. \nWhat You’ll Learn\n\nHow to identify the right problems for AI to solve\nWhy a “problem first” approach leads to better AI outcomes\nHow to use the Lowrance Curve: Define\, Design\, Create\, Validate\nHow to apply AI-powered problem solving to real community challenges across Infrastructure\, Public Safety\, and Community Activation\nWhen to use ChatGPT\, Claude\, Gemini\, BoodleBox\, and other AI tools\nPrompting and context strategies that produce higher-quality results\nHow to evaluate and verify AI-generated work\nWhere human thinking\, creativity\, and local insight still matter most\nHow to collaborate effectively with AI and with a team\nHow to turn an idea into a practical\, compelling solution using AIWho Should Attend\n\nAnyone curious about applying AI to real work – founders\, small business owners\, developers\, educators\, technology leaders\, creatives\, students\, and professionals from any industry. \nNo coding experience is required. \nAgenda\n9:00–9:45 AM — Define: Problem Solving with AI\nManual-first exercise\, problem framing\, and identifying where AI creates value. \n9:45–10:30 AM — Design: AI Tools & Bot Stacking\nCompare ChatGPT\, Claude\, Gemini\, BoodleBox\, and other leading tools. \n10:30–11:30 AM — Team Strategy Sessions\nForm teams\, choose challenges\, and design AI-enabled workflows. \n11:30 AM–12:00 PM — Lunch \n12:00–2:30 PM — Create: Team AI Build Time\nCollaborate with your team and use AI tools to build a practical solution. \n2:30–4:00 PM — Validate: Team Showcase\, Awards & $500 Grand Prize\nPresent solutions\, share lessons learned\, and compete for the grand prize. \nImportant Details\nThis full-day workshop is led by BoodleBox\, pioneers in collaborative AI workflows and AI education. \nA light breakfast and lunch will be provided. \nPlease register only if you can commit to attending from 9:00 AM–4:00 PM\, as each session builds on the previous one. \nCome ready to collaborate\, compete\, and build. The winning team will receive a $500 cash prize for the most creative\, effective\, and impactful solution. \nJoin us for a full day of learning\, building\, and friendly competition\, and leave with practical AI skills\, new connections\, and a real solution you helped create.
URL:https://startupcolorado.org/event/soco-startup-week-ai-solutions-challenge-sprint/
LOCATION:Exponential Impact HQ\, 3650 N Nevada Ave\, Colorado Springs\, CO\, 80907\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://startupcolorado.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/1FB.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="SoCo Startup":MAILTO:jmhorst@exponentialimpact.com
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