Celebrating 15 Years: Startup Colorado’s Outside City Limits
West Slope Startup Week is NEXT WEEK in Durango! And this year is special for a number of reasons. Besides an anticipated record turnout, Startup Colorado is hosting a special […]
Funding May Not Be Your First Problem
Entrepreneurs often assume outside capital is the missing key to scaling their business, but funding doesn’t always fix operational challenges—it amplifies existing strengths and weaknesses. Taking on loans, grants, or […]
How the Hayden Pitch Competition Elevates Local Businesses
In today’s economic environment, it’s easy to keep your head down and focus on day-to-day operations rather than spend time preparing for a pitch competition. But what if applying gets […]
Belonging @ Startup Colorado Founders Take The Stage
How can a business scale successfully while staying true to its values and fostering belonging along the way? That is the big question that we, in partnership with Belonging Colorado, […]
Startup Colorado’s POP Event Series
It can be overwhelming to find funding for your growing business. What’s even trickier is finding the right funding. The State of Colorado offers a range of programs designed to […]
Give First, Then See What Grows
What does it actually take to build a thriving startup ecosystem across 53 rural counties? According to Startup Colorado Managing Director Vanessa McCrann, you can stand up co-working spaces and […]
14 Rural Founders Complete Idea Factory For Coal Transition Workers
This spring, Startup Colorado partnered with the Colorado Office of Just Transition (OJT) to launch a specialized cohort of our Idea Factory program, supporting coal transition workers as they explore […]
From Dog Yogurt to Advanced Robotics: Rural Founders Pitch at June Demo Day
On June 3rd, our community gathered online for our third Demo Day showcase of the year. This event brought together ecosystem builders, funders, investors, mentors, and resource support providers—as well […]
Lead the Conversation: Why You Should Join the West Slope Startup Week Lineup This Year
Startup Colorado is the proud organizer of West Slope Startup Week, a five-day celebration of Colorado’s vibrant entrepreneurial spirit. This event brings together innovators from every corner of the state […]
Announcing the Founders in the Spring Food & Ag Idea Factory
In Colorado, the Food, Beverage, and Ag industry is a massive economic engine accounting for billions (yes, capital B) of the state’s annual GDP. With 33 million acres of farmland […]
Meet the Colorado River Valley Idea Factory Cohort
The Colorado River Valley is a unique region of the state. Stretching from the luxury destinations of Aspen to the legacy energy communities of Parachute, the Valley is a complex […]
Free Opportunities and Resources for Rural Founders in Q1 2026
Happy New Year, Rural Founders! We hope you’re recharged and ready for a new year! Because 2026 is shaping up to be a big one. Across Colorado, entrepreneurs in all […]
Startup Legal Mistakes: 3 Fatal Fails That Can Kill Your Business
Even the most promising startups can sink if their legal foundation isn’t solid. In this issue of The Rural Startup, startup attorney Seth Gardenswartz of Blackgarden Law walks founders through […]
The Startup Colorado Pitch Competition Returns to West Slope Startup Week
This fall, one of the most anticipated events at West Slope Startup Week is back: the Startup Colorado Pitch Competition will take the stage on October 8, 2025. But don’t […]
How to Leverage Remote Teams as a Rural Startup
Hiring locally isn’t always easy in rural communities. And, building a remote team comes with its own set of challenges. Hear from our team at Startup Colorado on The Rural […]
Celebrating One Year of the Rural Creative Collective: Read the 2024 Annual Report
What makes a place magnetic? What draws people in and makes a town feel like home? If you’re reading this, you probably already know the answer…art! From murals and maker […]
How Early-Stage Founders Can Determine the Best Funding Path
Read More on The Rural STARTUP Navigating the funding landscape as a rural founder can be confusing… and costly. To help entrepreneurs chart a smarter path, we sat down with […]
Exploring Funding Pathways with Real Stories from Entrepreneurs
By Emily Greene The journey of entrepreneurship often begins with a great idea and a burning passion. But what sustains and propels these startups and small businesses forward? It’s the […]
