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 when Rural Startup Days debuts as the region’s first startup week–style event.
Rural Startup Days brings three days of free, hands-on programming directly to Southeast Colorado, eliminating the need for founders to travel long distances or pay costly registration fees. The event will bring together entrepreneurs, funders, business experts, and community leaders to strengthen local businesses and support long-term regional economic resilience.
“Rural Startup Days connects local entrepreneurs to statewide resources, funding partners, and peers who understand rural realities, helping them strengthen, sustain, and grow businesses that are critical to the region’s economic resilience,” said Vanessa McCrann, Managing Director at Startup Colorado and the event’s lead organizer.
Rural Startup Days is organized by Startup Colorado in partnership with Otero College and SEBREA. Startup Colorado leads numerous founder-focused initiatives for rural entrepreneurs, including West Slope Startup Week in Durango and a quarterly Pitch Practice and virtual Demo Day series.
Rural Startup Days grew out of a years-long conversation between Startup Colorado and local economic development partners. The event is intentionally curated to address some of the most persistent challenges facing the region’s business community, including limited access to capital, trusted business support, and visibility with statewide funding and resource partners.
“Rural Startup Days addresses those gaps by bringing funders, technical assistance providers, and experienced entrepreneurs into the room, centering sessions on real-world challenges, and creating space for honest conversations that reflect the economic realities of Southeast Colorado,” McCrann said.
The launch of Rural Startup Days comes at a pivotal moment for the region.
“Southeast Colorado is at a critical turning point, with real gaps in local business economies and services,” said Julie Worley, the event’s co-organizer in La Junta. “This moment calls for renewed investment in locally owned businesses that are rooted in these communities and committed to staying.”
Rural Startup Days is open to a broad audience, including entrepreneurs, small business owners, students, ranchers, farmers, aspiring founders with early-stage ideas, and community members interested in economic development.
“Anyone starting, growing, or stabilizing a business in Southeast Colorado will find value here,” said McCrann. “Attendees can expect practical tools, clearer pathways to funding and year-round support, meaningful connections, and insights they can apply immediately.”
Beyond the three-day program, Rural Startup Days helps build lasting relationships between founders, support organizations, and funding partners. By strengthening these connections and increasing statewide awareness of the region’s potential, the event lays the groundwork for a more connected and resilient entrepreneurial ecosystem in Southeast Colorado.
Rural Startup Days is sponsored by Startup Colorado, Colorado SecureSavings and Department of the Treasury, Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, SEBREA, and Connect for Health Colorado.
EVENT DETAILS:
Rural Startup Days
February 25–27, 2026
Otero College Student Center
La Junta, Colorado
For registration and further details, visit RuralStartupDays.com or email Vanessa@startupcolorado.org.
Written by Margaret Hedderman
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