Startup Colorado was recently recognized at the Startup Ecosystem Stars 2025 Awards in Paris. Our Director of Content & Brand Strategy, Margaret Hedderman, attended the event and came away inspired by the shared experiences of ecosystem builders from around the world. Below, she shares her key takeaways from the experience.
Startup Colorado stepped onto the world stage this month when our work was recognized at the Startup Ecosystem Stars 2025 Awards in Paris. To be acknowledged in France — not far from the Eiffel Tower, no less! — for our work in service of rural entrepreneurs holds special significance: the word rural traces back to the Old French term for “rustic” or “uncouth.” Today, we can show how our work is changing that legacy, demonstrating that innovation and economic growth are not confined to major urban hubs.
The Startup Ecosystem Stars Awards recognized ecosystem builders from around the world, spanning regions from Portugal to Malaysia to Saudi Arabia. Colorado’s presence was especially strong this year, further solidifying the state’s reputation as a global startup ecosystem leader. In addition to Startup Colorado’s recognition, the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) was also honored.
The awards program—organized by Mind the Bridge and the International Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the OECD and the European Commission, with support from Microsoft — “recognises exemplary leadership and best practices among organisations and individuals advancing innovation and entrepreneurship worldwide…”
Startup Colorado was named a Startup Ecosystem Star, the program’s top honor, in recognition of our work across multiple categories, including Best-in-Class Startup Programs, Outstanding Investment Boost, Top Talent and Research, and Exceptional Industry Support.
One recurring theme at the event stood out to me as particularly meaningful: the need to build a culture of belief in entrepreneurship as a long-term economic strategy. In my role as Startup Colorado’s Director of Content & Brand Strategy, that idea in particular resonated. It was energizing to connect with ecosystem builders from around the world who, like us, are working to expand access to capital, strengthen networks, and, critically, shift how entrepreneurship is perceived in their regions.
One conversation that stuck with me was with the head of a startup accelerator in Rome, who shared that one of Italy’s biggest challenges is keeping successful founders and companies local; rather than losing them to larger markets like London or San Francisco. Sound familiar?
That theme came up again when a representative from the European Commission emphasized how critical it is to change perceptions around starting a business in the EU, and to make sure founders clearly understand what opportunities and resources already exist.
Startup Colorado has long recognized this belief-building work as a core pillar of ecosystem development. Early on, we made a deliberate choice to treat storytelling as 25 percent of our mission, investing significant resources in elevating the narratives of rural founders. Sharing these stories does more than inspire. It shows rural entrepreneurs that their friends and neighbors are building impactful — and successful — companies while actively challenging the homogenous misconceptions that plague rural places.
Over the years, we’ve highlighted founders across industries — from outdoor recreation to regenerative agriculture to scalable tech. The goal has never been to claim these stories, but to amplify them so they reach a broader audience. I’ve often said that I want our stories to be stolen, because that means more coverage, more visibility, and ultimately more opportunity for rural entrepreneurs. And it’s working. We’ve helped elevate the profile of rural founders at both the state and national levels.
At the same time, we’ve been intentional about acknowledging the unique challenges rural entrepreneurs face. Rather than duplicating what already exists, we’ve developed educational resources designed specifically to meet the unique needs of rural founders. (Check out our new expert advice newsletter, The Rural Startup, to see what I mean!)
This work doesn’t happen in isolation within the marketing department. It’s deeply integrated with our core pillars of ecosystem development, including access to capital, direct-to-founder business support, and startup community development that enables the exchange of ideas. The Startup Colorado team is strategically aligned around the multifaceted approach required to develop strong startup ecosystems.
To misquote one of my favorite TV superheroes, “With our powers combined..” we are transforming what’s possible in rural communities.
Written by Margaret Hedderman, Startup Colorado Director of Content & Brand Strategy
Join us in empowering rural entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders to achieve even more in 2025. 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?
