By Margaret Hedderman
The Startup Colorado Pitch Competition, held on August 21st during West Slope Startup Week, showcased the innovation of the state’s rural founders. Aiming to provide a platform for scalable startups founded outside the urban Front Range, the event took place in Durango in front of an audience of 150. The competition featured a range of industries from outdoor recreation to tech.
In a testament to the emerging entrepreneurial talent from Colorado’s rural communities, several startups walked away with significant investments and support. The competition featured $380,000 in investments from the Greater Colorado Venture Fund (GCVF) and 14 Founders by Kickstart Fund, along with cash prizes, business services, and mentorship opportunities.
Virginia Frischkorn of Partytrick Secures $140K from GCVF
Virginia Frischkorn, founder of Partytrick in Basalt, secured a $140,000 investment from the Greater Colorado Venture Fund (GCVF) for her company’s innovative approach to event planning. Partytrick offers a B2B subscription-based, end-to-end platform that simplifies planning experiences through a streamlined “click, pick, host” process. Designed for businesses, brands, and consumers, the platform serves the $322 billion event planning industry by providing a white-labeled, content-loaded project management tool. What sets Partytrick apart is its ability to capture valuable data and metrics, allowing users to perform ROI analysis and optimize their business practices, making event planning both efficient and data-driven.
Mark Leonard of ScaleIP Wins $140K Investment from 14 Founders
Mark Leonard, founder of Telluride-based ScaleIP, received a $140,000 investment from 14 Founders by Kickstart Fund for his company’s novel approach to intellectual property (IP) monetization. ScaleIP is a B2B SaaS platform that assists universities, labs, hospitals, and companies in finding high-intent businesses and contacts interested in licensing, selling, or acquiring patents. Unlike traditional patent analytics tools, ScaleIP leverages pioneering intent data to predict which entities are actively “in the market” for IP. This innovative approach aims to unlock the value of stranded IP assets, providing a more targeted and efficient solution for managing intellectual property transactions.
Georgia Grace Edwards of Gnara Apparel Receives $100K from GCVF
Georgia Grace Edwards, founder of Gnara in Gunnison, earned a $100,000 investment from the Greater Colorado Venture Fund for her company’s innovative approach to outdoor apparel. Gnara’s mission is to help everyone “Answer Nature’s Call®” with its patented GoFly® zipper technology, which allows women to discreetly relieve themselves without removing safety gear or exposing skin. Featured in top innovation lists by Forbes, CNN, Women’s Health, and others, the GoFly® zipper is at the heart of Gnara’s Go There™ line, revolutionizing women’s outdoor clothing by providing comfort and convenience for activities ranging from hiking to frontline work.
Robin Hall of Town Hall Outdoor Co Wins $10K Cash and Branding Support
Robin Hall, founder of Town Hall Outdoor Co in Steamboat Springs, which produces sustainable outdoor gear for children, was awarded two prizes: a $10,000 cash prize from Startup Colorado and a $2,500 branding support package from Trace Brand Building. Hall’s presentation focused on the need for purpose-built, durable options in children’s outdoor clothing, an area that has often been overlooked by major brands.
The cash prize will enable Town Hall Outdoor Co to accelerate its marketing and production strategies, while the branding support from Trace Brand Building will assist in honing the company’s messaging to reach a broader audience.
Skill Distillery Awards $25K Coding Program to Matt Allen of DifferentKind
Matt Allen, founder of DifferentKind in Buena Vista, was awarded a $25,000 comprehensive coding program from Skill Distillery for his company’s innovative work in oral health experience management. DifferentKind focuses on bridging the data gap in the dental industry by producing valuable insights from patients and dental teams that drive better outcomes for patients, practices, and payers. In an industry where data is often outdated or lacking, DifferentKind aims to modernize data use in dentistry to enhance patient care and optimize practice management.
Other Notable Winners
Mike Blecha of AnywhereCam, a startup in Fort Morgan focused on surveillance cameras for remote locations without power or WiFi, received $2,500 in legal services from Peach Legal. Meanwhile, Robin Hall’s Town Hall Outdoor Co, along with ScaleIP and Gnara, were also selected for mentorship valued at $4,500 from the Startup Colorado Advisory Council. This mentorship is expected to provide valuable guidance as these startups navigate their growth phases.
Looking Ahead: A Bright Future for Rural Startups in Colorado
The Startup Colorado Pitch Competition highlighted the depth and diversity of innovation coming from Colorado’s rural areas.
“The Startup Colorado Pitch Competition is designed to raise awareness about the significant investment opportunities that exist in rural businesses,” said Brittany Romano, Executive Director of Startup Colorado. “This event showcases the power of innovation emerging in rural areas and highlights the incredible potential these businesses have to transform their communities. By bridging investors to rural founders, we aim to foster economic growth and demonstrate that groundbreaking ideas are thriving outside city limits.”
As such, Startup Colorado intends to launch a pitch competition series for rural entrepreneurs in 2025.
With substantial investments, mentorship, and support services now in place, the winning startups are poised to advance their visions and contribute to the economic development of their communities. And as rural entrepreneurship gains momentum in Colorado, the success of these startups may well inspire other founders to look beyond urban centers for opportunities to innovate and grow.
