Can Rural Colorado Tap into Climate Innovation?
Margaret Hedderman, Director of Communications at Startup Colorado, recently attended the ChangeNOW conference in Paris. Here she shares her top takeaways and insights for Colorado’s rural entrepreneurs. What does a […]
Ready to scale? Here’s how strategic partnerships can drive growth
For many rural founders, growth is often framed as a high-stakes financial trade-off: taking on debt, sacrificing equity, or pulling back due to upfront costs. But what if the key […]
Announcing the Inaugural Belonging @ Startup Colorado Cohort
Startup Colorado and Belonging Colorado are pleased to announce the cohort of our new business accelerator program for belonging. We received more than 100 applications from founders across the country, […]
Rural Startup Days Debuts with High Engagement and Early Momentum
“Rural doesn’t mean unimaginative or undeserving when it comes to innovation and access to resources.” Those were the words of one attendee at Rural Startup Days in La Junta, Colorado […]
Two Rural Startups Just Closed New Funding Rounds. Here’s Why It Matters for Their Communities
This story was produced in partnership with the Howdy Partners, a fund that focuses on investing in innovative companies outside Colorado’s urban centers. Venture capital accounts for less than 1% […]
Startup Colorado’s Demo Day Kickoff Showcases Rural Founders and New Business Growth
Last week, Startup Colorado kicked off its virtual Demo Day series, bringing together rural founders, community members, and business leaders for an event that highlighted innovation across Colorado’s rural economy. […]
The Sweet and Spicy Sides of Rural Entrepreneurialism: High Plains Spice Company in Eastern Colorado
This story was produced in partnership with the Logan County Economic Development Corporation in Sterling, Colorado. This one’s for anyone out there who: a) sees a startup as a road […]
Your Startup Community Won’t Build Itself
Your choice of where to build your business matters, but how you show up in that community matters more. In rural areas, where networks are smaller and support can be […]
Startup Colorado Partners with Colorado Office of Just Transition to Support Coal Transition Workers Through Entrepreneurship
Startup Colorado is proud to announce a new partnership with the Colorado Office of Just Transition (OJT), within the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), to launch a series […]
Why Every Founder Should Pitch (Even If You’re Not Raising Capital)
Resilience is the common thread among successful founders, and nothing builds thick skin quite like public pitch practice. While the statistics for new ventures are steep, a founder who treats […]
Startup Colorado’s 2025 Annual Report is Here
At Startup Colorado, we’ve always believed that “startup” isn’t just a noun—it’s an verb. In 2025, rural Colorado founders proved this reality in every corner of the state, launching and […]
Rural Startup Days Launches in Southeast Colorado to Support Local Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses
La Junta, CO | February 25-27, 2026 Entrepreneurs and small business owners across Southeast Colorado will soon have a new opportunity to access practical support, funding connections, and networking opportunities […]
How Rural Startups Can Win Earned Media
Third-party validation carries a weight that paid advertisements simply cannot match. When a credible media outlet features your business, it builds a level of trust and visibility that accelerates growth […]
How TreadShare Is Changing Travel to Colorado’s Mountain Towns
Erwin Germain thought he was on the right track. After earning a master’s degree in business administration and management, he began his career in finance in Paris. But the work […]
How a Family Farm in Colorado Became a Global Ag-tech Innovator
This story was produced in partnership with the Logan County Economic Development Corporation in Sterling, Colorado. Agriculture is one of the world’s biggest industries. We’re all reliant on farming of […]
How Early-Stage Founders Can Build Stronger, More Resilient Businesses
Sustainability is no longer a nice-to-have. For rural startups, it’s a strategic advantage. In our first 2026 edition of The Rural Startup, we explore how early-stage founders can reduce risk, […]
Why We’re Launching in the Colorado River Valley
Startup Colorado is launching a new series of founder-centric programs across the Colorado River Valley—from Aspen to Parachute—in partnership with the Colorado River Valley Economic Development Partnership and the Colorado […]
Rural Entrepreneurship Resonates on the World Stage
Startup Colorado was recently recognized at the Startup Ecosystem Stars 2025 Awards in Paris. Our Director of Content & Brand Strategy, Margaret Hedderman, attended the event and came away inspired […]