By Brittany Romano
“Welcome to my lane!” is more than a cheeky remark among Colorado’s entrepreneurial support community—it’s a reflection of our values. Across the state, ecosystem builders aren’t elbowing each other for space, as Kim Woodworth of the EDCC aptly put it, “We are one of the only states where the ecosystem builders are tripping over each other to help the entrepreneurs.”
This spirit of collaboration—what CSU Spur calls a “collision”—isn’t accidental. It’s intentional, consistent, and growing. It’s what makes Colorado one of the most desirable and unique places to start and scale a business.
The State as a Champion
Our state leadership doesn’t just support entrepreneurship in name—they lead by example. It’s not unusual for directors and staff across agencies to set up 1:1 meetings focused on operational efficiency, accountability, and shared stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Whether it’s supporting quantum tech startups or downtown coffee shops, Colorado puts its money where its mouth is.
It is quite normal to see state departments and employees acting as catalysts—initiating funding, offering early investment, or leveraging matching dollars to help bold ideas take flight. They also play the indispensable role of connector, ensuring that public and private sector players don’t just coexist, but collaborate.
It reminds me of something my father used to say: “Check on your siblings.” That’s what the State of Colorado, particularly our friends at OEDIT and the SBDC are doing—checking in, lifting up, and making sure we’re all building something better together.
A Week in the Life of a Collaborator
Recently, I had the opportunity to witness this collaborative collision in full force. At the Park Hill Innovation Hub in Denver, I was invited to speak about Startup Colorado. The event was the perfect snapshot of our ecosystem in action: four to five accelerator teams, three universities, multiple coworking spaces, several industry associations, and a couple dozen businesses—all in one room, all committed to supporting founders.
Welcome to Colorado, where you can throw a rock and hit five ecosystem builders (and probably yoga instructors, too! … This State is the best!)
Throughout that same week:
- I spoke on a panel at the Angel Capital Association about the future of ecosystem building (thank you for the invitation to speak, Rockies Venture Club!)
- Strategized with Mick Freeman at Bridge Entrepreneurs Network on urban-rural alignment
- Hosted partner and alignment calls with Colorado SecureSavings and Chaffee County EDC
- Attended the EDA’s Conference—the Nation