By Margaret Hedderman
RIDGWAY – Startup Colorado and Homegrown Pathways are excited to announce a “homegrown” partnership that seeks to transform youth entrepreneurship in Colorado. Through this collaboration, Homegrown Pathways has licensed Startup Colorado’s successful Founder Coopetition // Idea Factory program and customized it to create Spark Lab—a youth-focused pre-accelerator program designed to equip aspiring young entrepreneurs with the skills and confidence needed to join Colorado’s thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Colorado boasts one of the most dynamic entrepreneurship ecosystems in the nation, with leading innovations in sectors such as energy, agriculture, advanced manufacturing, and deep tech. However, access to these opportunities is not equitable, particularly for youth in rural communities. Spark Lab was created to change that by offering these young people an accessible and impactful entry point into entrepreneurship.
What is Spark Lab?
Spark Lab is a 12-15 hour, non-technical pre-accelerator experience designed for youth, even those with only an initial business concept. Each cohort of 10-15 participants will gain foundational entrepreneurship skills and the opportunity to showcase their work in a three-minute pitch at a culminating Pitch Competition event.
Homegrown Pathways’ model includes a $200 gift card and mileage reimbursements for each participant who successfully completes the program. This not only encourages strong engagement but also communicates to young people the value and importance placed on their ideas and solutions.
Homegrown Pathways successfully launched its first cohort at the end of 2024 and held a pitch event on January 18th, 2025 at Alt Space: Montrose. There, 12 rural innovators, coming from six towns across four counties, pitched to an audience of over 60 community leaders including educators, superintendents, bank presidents, mayors, and regional industry. Through the generous support of donors, including the Morgridge Family Foundation, Homegrown Pathways was able to invest over $10,000 in seed funding into these young entrepreneurs and their ventures.
These funds provide a critical first step for youth entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into actionable business ventures. Homegrown Pathways is actively approaching the philanthropic funding community to secure support for future implementations, including the target of additional cohorts Summer/Fall 2025.
Preliminary survey results from participants indicate significant improvement in self-perceived communication skills, self-efficacy, social capital, and understanding and connection to available resources to support them in their entrepreneurial endeavors. Additionally, 100% of participants confirmed they would recommend Spark Lab to a friend, that the program had advanced their businesses, and that they are more than likely to take action on a future business idea as a result of Spark Lab. Donors interested in growing the seed funding pool of the pilot and future implementation are encouraged to reach out to visit www.homegrownpathways.org/donate or reach out to Colin Lacy directly.
Unparalleled Access to Startup Colorado’s Statewide Network
Participants in Spark Lab will also be connected to Startup Colorado’s extensive network of over 2,000 entrepreneurs and over 400 business support organizations across the state. This connection provides young entrepreneurs with access to invaluable mentorship, guidance, and resources to further support their business development journey. By creating a unique social capital network for rural and underinvested youth, Spark Lab empowers participants to step confidently into Colorado’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.