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 help founders at every stage of business, from startup launch costs to recovering from major setbacks. These programs were developed to support Colorado’s small business community which makes up 99.5% of businesses across the state. Yet many entrepreneurs never take advantage of them because they either don’t realize they qualify or simply don’t know they exist.
This is where Startup Colorado comes in.
In partnership with OEDIT’s Partner Outreach Program, a statewide funding awareness campaign, we launched our Roadtrip series in 2025 to bring information about these programs directly to the rural founders who need them most. Through events across rural regions (and online), we’re connecting entrepreneurs with state funding opportunities and participating lenders while providing the practical guidance needed to navigate the lending process with confidence. The Roadtrip continues this year with a lineup of workshops and technical assistance opportunities to help founders become capital-ready.
“These are well thought-out programs that help address problems that business owners actually face in Colorado, such as financial setbacks due to a fire or slow tourism season, initial business startup costs, or coming up with enough collateral to secure a loan.” —Kiki Hooton, Startup Colorado POP Event Lead
Get Involved
Whether you’re just tapping into the funding world or close to submitting an application, there are multiple ways to participate in our Roadtrip series. We welcome founders at every stage to learn about State financing opportunities through approachable, accessible technical assistance sessions. Every Roadtrip event breaks down the funding process into clear steps to help entrepreneurs organize their documents, prepare for conversations with lenders, and submit strong applications.
Our monthly Colorado Capital workshops feature the lenders themselves, giving founders the chance to hear directly from the experts behind the funding programs. On August 20, Rocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute’s Taylor Littrell will lead a session on the Colorado Startup Loan Fund. She’ll cover business readiness, customer validation, capital readiness, and deciding what program is best for your business.
Then, if you’re looking for more hands-on support, our September Capital Bootcamp series starts in September. Join our Info Session on August 27 to learn about this 5-week technical assistance program. In this bootcamp, entrepreneurs are able to attend individual sessions based on their needs or complete the full series to earn a Capital Ready certification.
Why We Created the Roadtrip
Recognizing that rural entrepreneurs and other underserved communities have faced barriers to accessing these resources, the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) created the Partner Outreach Program (POP) in collaboration with six state organizations. Startup Colorado was selected to serve as the rural partner, bringing funding awareness and technical assistance to our communities through the Roadtrip series.
Access to funding starts with awareness. Knowing that funding resources exist, and understanding which are the right fit for you, can make the difference between launching a business and putting a dream on hold. Our Roadtrip pairs education with action, ensuring that founders are not just introduced to new funding sources, but equipped with tools and guidance to take the next step.
Our priority is helping every entrepreneur leave with more confidence. Confidence in understanding the funding options available to them, knowing the resources that best fit their business, and taking a step toward securing the capital that they need to grow.
“Startup Colorado connects rural entrepreneurs with the resources, networking, education, and funding they need to grow. The POP Roadtrip puts that mission into practice: we create space for entrepreneurs to learn about state funding programs, meet the lenders providing these loans, and strengthen their applications through targeted technical assistance.” —Vanessa McCrann, Startup Colorado Managing Director
Additional Opportunities for Founders
Our Roadtrip Series is just one way that Startup Colorado supports rural entrepreneurs along their business journey. Our program stack also includes tailored accelerators, pitch opportunities, and budding pathways to connect founders with investors. See what program is best for you ar your business stage:
- Idea Factory: This 4-week accelerator helps early-stage founders transform their idea into a strategic business model.
- Growth Challenge: This 12-week accelerator guides market-validated businesses as they prepare for investment and position themselves for growth.
- Pitch Workshop: Receive coaching to strength your storytelling, refine your pitch, and communicate your business with clarity. The next workshop is August 5 at 12pm—RSVP here.
- Demo Day: This virtual showcase provides founders with a platform to share their business with investors, industry experts, and the community while earning statewide exposure. Our next Demo Day is September 2. Applications open soon!
Join us in empowering rural entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders to achieve even more in 2026. Contributions of any amount directly power our mission to build a sustainable statewide network of resources supporting rural entrepreneurs, so that people and places can thrive and chart their own futures! Will you help us?
