By Margaret Hedderman
Startup Colorado recently wrapped our “soft pilot” launch of the Founder Coopetition // Growth Challenge. This initiative marks a significant evolution in our programming, extending the pre-accelerator Founder Coopetition offerings to market-validated businesses poised to scale.
The Growth Challenge comprised two cohorts: a virtual program facilitated by Startup Colorado and the High Country Growth Challenge, organized in partnership with the Summit Economic Partnership and the Routt County Economic Development Partnership. Both cohorts served as a testing ground for refining the program’s structure and delivery, paving the way for a full rollout in 2025.
What is the Growth Challenge?
The Growth Challenge builds upon the foundation of our Founder Coopetition // Idea Factory program and is tailored specifically for rural entrepreneurs who have validated their market fit and are ready to scale. Designed as a 12-week accelerator, the Growth Challenge combines technical skills development, strategic growth planning, and a focus on long-term business success.
“The Growth Challenge is about more than rapid growth,” explained Josef Scarantino, Startup Colorado’s Program Advisor. “It’s about equipping rural founders with the tools, strategies, and networks they need to sustain that growth over the long haul.”
Challenges Addressed
Our first Growth Challenge cohorts tackled three primary growth opportunities often faced by rural entrepreneurs:
Leveraging AI for Business Strategy: For the first time, Startup Colorado incorporated an AI-focused workshop to explore how founders can utilize artificial intelligence to refine their product-market fit and stress-test growth strategies. Scott Ford, Co-Founder & CEO of SparkRockets, led the session, providing actionable insights into AI’s transformative potential for rural businesses.
Building Scalable Financial Models: The ability to adapt financial models to a business’s evolving growth trajectory is a critical skill. With guidance from Jeff Erickson and his team at Forecastr, participants created robust financial projections designed to grow alongside their businesses while maintaining a high degree of confidence in their accuracy. (Discover the top takeaways from his session here.)
Mastering Growth-Oriented Storytelling: As businesses scale, their stories often need to evolve. Pitch expert Diane Bailey conducted an interactive session to help founders craft compelling narratives that align with their business expansion while preserving their brand’s core identity. (Read Diane’s advice on developing a story-driven pitch here.)
A hallmark of the Growth Challenge is the access to seasoned advisors and thought leaders via:
Advisory Sessions: Upon completing the program, each founder participated in a 90-minute advisory session with a curated panel of 3-5 experienced business leaders, investors, and industry experts from Startup Colorado’s Advisor Network and Bridge Entrepreneurs Network (BEN Colorado). These sessions simulated a growth-stage board meeting, offering founders invaluable feedback and strategic insights.
World-Class Speakers: Throughout the program, founders engaged with top-tier speakers from various industries. These experts not only led dynamic, interactive sessions, but also offered continued support through pro bono office hours, enabling participants to address specific challenges in-depth.
The launch showcased two distinct cohorts of rural entrepreneurs:
- Founder Coopetition // Growth Challenge – Startup Colorado Cohort:
- Laurie Sigillito, Local NEWS Network
- Katie Kelly, Grow Nutrition App, LLC
- Jessica Noll, The Mindful Toolbox
- Jennifer Sparks, Assessment Generator Inc.
- Benjamin Graybeal, Valkyrie Recovery Systems Inc
- Mike Blecha, AnywhereCam
- Matt Martensen, User Cooperative
- Finley Bailis, Global Media Assets
- John Ramo, Boulder Learning Inc.
- High Country Growth Challenge:
- Jake Cohen, Step By Step BNB
- Nate Marsh, MK II Packaging Machinery
- Daniella Place, Kids In Town
- Nora Gilbertson, Stay Loci
- Monica Simpson, PHRED Development Inc
- Ellie Frost, Backcountry Beauties
- Sonja Nakasian, Epiveris
- Erwin Germain, TreadShare
- Drew Stachnik, Dispatch
- Justin Sardi, TubeSift LLC
- Franklin Joyce, Public House
Both cohorts demonstrated the vast potential of rural founders when provided with the right resources and support.
How to Participate
The Founder Coopetition // Growth Challenge is open to founders with market-proven businesses ready to scale. While the program prioritizes alumni of the Idea Factory, applications are also welcomed from other eligible entrepreneurs.
Startup Colorado is offering four Growth Challenge cohorts in 2025, in partnership with Skill Distillery. Applications are now open for the January program.
- January 16th – February 20th, 2025: Hybrid program (In person and virtual), Grand Junction at Alt Coworking Space
- February 2025 – Hybrid program based in Fremont County
- May 14 – June 18th, 2025: TBA
- September 11 – October 16th, 2025: TBA
“This program is about leveling the playing field for rural entrepreneurs,” Josef said. “We’re creating a continuum of support that empowers founders at every stage of their journey.”
For more information on upcoming programs and application details, visit StartupColorado.org/Founder-Coopetition.
