This fall, one of the most anticipated events at West Slope Startup Week is back: the Startup Colorado Pitch Competition will take the stage on October 8, 2025.
But don’t expect a high stakes, Shark Tank-style showdown. This is a celebration of rural innovation. For the founders stepping onto the stage, the Pitch Competition is a strategic launch pad for their business, offering an opportunity to hone their pitch and gain exposure to potential investors and mentors. For audiences, this is a chance to see how entrepreneurship can catalyze rural communities.
What Sets This Event Apart?
The Startup Colorado Pitch Competition is built specifically for rural founders, and is intentionally designed to serve more than just the entrepreneurs in the spotlight. It’s a collective act of belief in what’s possible when we foster momentum together.
Here’s what makes this competition special:
- It’s a learning lab—everyone in the room gets a front-row seat to the anatomy of a great pitch: Trust, Traction, and Trajectory.
- It’s a bridge—connecting rural startups to a network of capital, mentorship, and visibility typically concentrated in urban centers.
- It’s a participatory experience—where audience members can cheer, lend, and connect directly with the businesses they believe in.
- It’s a rare stage for both investable and “not yet” investable companies to clearly articulate their capital needs, and to access support accordingly.
This competition isn’t about winners and losers. It’s focused on building lasting relationships, raising the bar for rural investment readiness, and helping founders make meaningful progress toward their next milestone—whether that’s $5K or $500K.
What to expect on October 8th
The 2025 Startup Colorado Pitch Competition promises to be a room full of possibility, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, lenders, and community champions from across the state. Finalists will deliver well-prepared pitches after receiving one-on-one coaching to refine their business story and growth strategy. Whether you’re on stage or in the audience, this is a high-impact learning opportunity you won’t want to miss.
This event is designed to connect founders with the right type of capital for where they are right now, whether that’s a small business loan, strategic investment, or targeted growth support.
Finalists will be competing for a diverse of funding and support, including:
- $10,000 in contributions from Startup Colorado toward crowdfunded Kiva loan campaigns
- Investment opportunities from our network of funders, who will conduct due diligence on top applicants and may announce investments live at the event
- In-kind support, including legal, marketing, and advisory services from expert partners
Eager to apply?
We’re looking for rural founders with real traction, real vision, and real commitment to building businesses that scale—on their own terms.
It’s for founders who:
- Are a Colorado resident and operating a business in a rural county. (Ineligible counties: El Paso, Denver, Arapahoe, Jefferson, Adams, Douglas, Larimer.)
- Have a viable business model with early traction (revenue, customers, or a compelling use case).
- Are coachable and open to feedback, iteration, and pitch training.
- Are looking for support beyond capital, including visibility, networks, mentorship, and due diligence experience.
- Are pursuing growth—not necessarily global, but measurable, meaningful, and sustainable (e.g. 200% YoY growth on a food truck route counts).
- Want to be part of a rural innovation community that values resilience, creativity, and community wealth-building.
You could be a rural food producer scaling your distribution, a trades-based business expanding into new counties, or a tech founder bridging a geographic divide. What matters most: you’re building with intention and momentum.
Why Does Rural Matter?
We’ve seen it time and again: pitch competitions can be catalytic. In rural areas where entrepreneurs often lack access to visible support systems, these events serve as public milestones that spark belief, visibility, and action.
Pitch competitions recognize local talent, rally communities behind new ideas, and stir up collaborative momentum. They help cultivate a sense of shared investment in the success of local businesses, reinforcing the idea that startups are not just viable, but vital to rural economic development.
Last year’s Durango pitch event led to over $380,000 in investments for rural founders. And, earlier this year in Sterling, entrepreneurs discovered Kiva loans—a powerful, community-driven alternative to traditional capital.
But, remember: it’s not just about funding. Founders like Mike Blecha of AnywhereCam and Sarah Berkeley of Symbiosis Gear credit these events with opening doors, boosting visibility, and connecting them with game-changing partners.
How to Get Involved
- Founders: Apply here to pitch at West Slope Startup Week. The deadline is August 20th.
- Funders + Lenders: Join us as a judge, sponsor, or post-event partner. Contact mark@startupcolorado.org.
- Ecosystem champions: Attend the event! Bring your energy and support the brave entrepreneurs that are stepping on stage.
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?
