Startup Colorado Partners with Belonging Colorado to Launch Social Entrepreneurship Accelerator
Startup Colorado is joining forces with Belonging Colorado, a bold, new effort housed at The Denver Foundation. Together they are launching a social entrepreneurship accelerator program in 2026. Startup Colorado […]
How ScoutSpace’s VC Deal Proves the Potential of Rural Tech Startups
By Margaret Hedderman There’s a reason they call it rocket fuel. Since receiving his first round of angel and venture capital funding in February, John Harlan has grown his real […]
Profile: Startup Colorado’s First Artist-in-Residence, Emilie Odeile and Business Partner, Ken Chapin
By Brook Sutton and Margaret Hedderman Emilie Odeile and Ken Chapin are not afraid to take risks. “Being reasonable has never really been one of our operating constraints,” Ken says. […]
Can Rural Startups Offer Employee Benefits?
Think only big companies can afford to offer employee benefits? Think again. In this article on The Rural Startup, we break down how rural founders can use programs like Colorado SecureSavings—plus […]
Curiosity Didn’t Kill the Founder: It Helped Them Navigate Chaos
Feeling stuck, scattered, or uncertain about your next move as a founder? Try… curiosity! In a conversation with purpose coach Holly Woods, PhD, she shares how cultivating curiosity can help […]
Full Steam Ahead: Startup Colorado’s Mid-Year Highlights
By Margaret Hedderman We’re only halfway through 2025, and it’s already shaping up to be a year for the books. From brand launches and team milestones to expanded programming and […]
Storytelling Tips for Your Startup Pitch
A great pitch doesn’t just inform…it moves people. Whether you’re talking to investors, customers, or partners, your ability to tell a compelling story can be the difference between a “maybe” […]
The Backpack Didn’t Fit—So She Built a Better One
By Margaret Hedderman Hiking a long distance trail is meant to be one of those life altering experiences; a sort of trial by fire that transforms you inside and out. […]
Announcing Startup Colorado’s First Artist in Residence: Emilie Odeile
By Margaret Hedderman Creative entrepreneurs are vital to the cultural and economic fabric of rural communities, yet they often face unique challenges. In 2024, we launched the Rural Creative Collective […]
Fundraising Advice from an Angel Investor
When it comes to fundraising, many founders hit a wall—not because they lack vision, but because they don’t speak the language of investors. On The Rural Startup, angel investor Jeff […]
Why Rural Pitch Competitions Are Essential to Startup Ecosystem Development
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: entrepreneurship can be an isolating journey—especially in rural areas where access to resources, professional networks, and visibility is limited. That’s where […]
Reviving Old Tires—and Rural Economies—in Eastern Colorado
This story was produced in partnership with the Logan County Economic Development Corporation in Sterling, Colorado. We often highlight new business ventures as the lone entrepreneur starting up in a […]
Why Rural Founders Should Develop Climate Resilience Strategies… Now
Disruptions from wildfires, extreme heat, and supply chain breakdowns aren’t hypothetical—they’re already affecting rural businesses across industries. On The Rural Startup, we dig into how founders can get ahead of […]
To Rebrand… or To Refresh? That Is the Question
Is your brand helping—or holding you back? As your business grows, your brand needs to grow with it. But how do you know if it’s time for a full rebrand… […]
Announcing the Winners of the 2025 Startup Colorado Pitch Competition in Sterling
Last week, Startup Colorado hit the road to Sterling for the kickoff of our 2025 Pitch Series. Hosted in partnership with the Logan County Economic Development Corporation, this event marked […]
Sneak Peek: Hiring Resources for Rural Founders
Hiring is one of the most important (and intimidating) decisions you’ll make as a founder. For rural businesses, every new hire is a high-stakes investment—of time, money, and trust. But […]
Startup Colorado Teams Up with Naturally Colorado and CSU to Offer Food & Ag Idea Factory
By Margaret Hedderman Startup Colorado recently joined forces with Naturally Colorado and Colorado State University (CSU) to deliver a specialized edition of its Founder Coopetition // Idea Factory—this time with […]
Introducing the Founders Driving Momentum in the March Founder Coopetition // Idea Factory
By Margaret Hedderman March was a busy month at Startup Colorado! In addition to launching a Food & Ag focused Founder Coopetition cohort, we also hosted a virtual Idea Factory […]