“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 on February 25-27. That sentiment reflects the ethos behind the inaugural event, organized by Startup Colorado in partnership with Otero College and Southeast Colorado Business Retention Expansion and Attraction (SEBREA). The free, multi-day event was developed in response to the region’s growing demand for business resources, education, and access to capital.
“We have been in conversation with local business support organizations for a number of years and felt the ecosystem had evolved to a point where it would benefit from the targeted resources an event like Rural Startup Days would offer,” said Vanessa McCrann, Managing Director at Startup Colorado and the event’s lead organizer.
Rural Startup Days featured three days of educational programming alongside networking events and community engagement. Over 150 people attended the event, more than half of whom were entrepreneurs and small business owners, exceeding the event organizers’ initial goals.
“The numbers reinforce what we already knew about Southeast Colorado: local business owners are motivated to move their businesses forward and need only the right tools and resources to make an impact on their local economies,” McCrann said.
Rural Startup Days By the Numbers
The audience reflected exactly who this event was built for:
- ~62% entrepreneurs and small business owners
- ~18% business support organizations
- ~14% students
- ~5% funders and capital providers
Forty-five percent of attendees came from Otero County, with roughly 20% traveling from across Southeast Colorado—including Baca, Bent, Prowers, and Las Animas counties. The remaining traveled from across the state, from Colorado Springs to Durango to Denver.
The balance between local turnout and out-of-region attendees is important to note. Local entrepreneurs were strongly represented, while simultaneously gaining access to statewide resources, expertise, and new perspectives via networking opportunities that aren’t always within reach.
Rural Startup Days also included a full spectrum of support:
- East SBDC, Startup Colorado, and technical assistance providers
- State and federal partners like OEDIT, SBA, and USDA
- Funders including CHFA, RMMFI, Energize Colorado, and regional lenders
- Educators and students building the next generation of founders
Programming Tailored to Founders’ Needs
Sessions and workshops were designed for businesses operating at a variety of stages, from Idea, Early-Stage, and Growth. This allowed attendees to discover sessions best suited to their needs. Topics included: marketing without a budget, accessing grants and funding, and AI and tech tools for small businesses.
In addition to panel discussions and local founder highlights, the event also featured Sarah Hinkley, co-founder of local success story BOPA Precision Agriculture, as the keynote speaker. Networking events were structured to intentionally help founders create meaningful connections and expand their business community.
“We were aware that many of the local business owners already knew each other, so we designed networking opportunities that ensured they were able to meet with new connections and business support resources,” McCrann said.
The event fostered an estimated 500 new connections among attendees, including relationships between entrepreneurs, funders, business support organizations, and potential collaborators.
Rural Startup Days also sought to introduce attendees to the local business community with a Discover Local Scavenger Hunt. Participants moved through the downtown district, visiting businesses, collecting art cards designed by local K-12 students, and experiencing firsthand the importance of supporting local economies.
Five Local Businesses Awarded $800 Grants
Thanks to support from Three Corners Connector, five businesses were awarded $800 SECO Business Boost Grants, a total of $4K, to support immediate, tangible business needs within 90 days.
The awardees reflect the diversity of local businesses coming out of Southeast Colorado and their power to impact the local economy:
- Wild Roots Kava Co. (La Junta) — Funding will support new equipment, inventory, and marketing to expand offerings and increase efficiency.
- Local Impact: Strengthens a woman-owned business that provides a rare, alcohol-free community gathering space—supporting local artists, events, and downtown foot traffic.
- Rural Electrical & Lighting (Rocky Ford) — Funding will be used for branding and marketing, including truck signage and promotional materials.
- Local Impact: Accelerates growth of a newly launched trades business, with a long-term vision to fund a nonprofit that trains individuals in recovery; linking entrepreneurship with workforce development and second-chance employment.
- 17 Squared LLC (Las Animas) — Funding will support the purchase of locally sourced seed for crop production.
- Local Impact: Keeps dollars circulating within the regional agricultural economy while supporting job creation, local supply chains, and export of Southeast Colorado products to national markets.
- Strike & Play Bowling Alley (La Junta) — Funding will be used to purchase a new freezer to expand food storage capacity.
- Local Impact: Sustains one of the region’s only entertainment venues, enabling consistent service for families, leagues, and events; while supporting local food purchasing and maintaining affordable options for the community.
- Klein Makerspace (La Junta) — Funding will support new equipment and ventilation upgrades to expand production capabilities.
- Local Impact: Strengthens a hub for innovation that has already supported multiple startups and patents; enabling more entrepreneurs to prototype, launch, and grow businesses locally.
A Pathway to Economic Resiliency
Southeast Colorado is commonly known as a “resource desert” for entrepreneurs and small business owners. While the event acknowledged the challenges of starting and sustaining a business, it also leaned into the power of community in building a local culture of entrepreneurship and a #givefirst mentality.
“The best thing was seeing other people and knowing we are not completely on our own,” said Bill Ehrlich, owner of Loki’s Forge in La Junta.
In a post-event survey, attendees reported being more likely to grow or expand their business, seek funding or financial support, and collaborate with other local founders as a result of Rural Startup Days.
“Because this was our first event in the region, we weren’t sure what to expect,” McCrann said. “The results exceeded our expectations exponentially – from the vibes, camaraderie, and overwhelmingly positive response. We hope to continue building upon these efforts in the years to come.”
Next Steps for Rural Startup Days
Startup Colorado developed Rural Startup Days as a multi-day event for communities seeking to ignite their entrepreneurial culture. While the event was launched and curated for a Southeast Colorado audience, it is intended to be flexible given the unique needs of other communities. If you’re interested in hosting a Rural Startup Days in your town, please contact info@startupcolorado.org.
Written by Margaret Hedderman
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