This press release has been adapted from the original version provided by West Slope Startup Week.
DURANGO – West Slope Startup Week returns to Durango from August 19-23, convening entrepreneurs and small business owners from across the region. This week-long, free educational conference is designed for aspiring and established entrepreneurs, small business owners, startup founders, investors, and creatives.
Startup Colorado is the proud organizer and lead sponsor of West Slope Startup Week. As a 501c3 nonprofit organization, Startup Colorado is dedicated to directly supporting the needs of the rural Colorado entrepreneurial ecosystem through education, events, and funding opportunities. True to Startup Colorado’s emphasis on access and inclusivity, West Slope Startup Week is free to attend and includes a bilingual Latine Program for Spanish-speakers.
Every entrepreneurial journey looks different. Attendees may arrive with a budding idea, or an established business ready to expand. To celebrate these different stages, West Slope Startup Week offers a “choose your own adventure” style experience with over 70 educational sessions led by regional entrepreneurs. Many of these sessions are led by long-time members of the Startup Colorado Community that have participated in (or hosted!) Startup Colorado programming.
Sessions are carefully curated from community-submitted ideas and selected by an objective committee of entrepreneurs, ensuring content that is both relevant and inspiring. Sessions will cover topics such as finding investments, digital marketing, growth and franchising, and AI. There will also be numerous panel discussions featuring expert entrepreneurs and investors, including a discussion on unlocking climate opportunities in rural areas.
“This year’s program is the best yet,” said Vanessa McCrann, the event lead organizer and Startup Colorado Director of Community Engagement. “We have successful entrepreneurs from across the state leading impactful sessions that will benefit the entire startup community.”
Attendees can look forward to numerous networking opportunities—like group hikes and mountain bike rides—enabling them to connect with like-minded professionals and potential collaborators. A highlight of the week is the Startup Colorado Pitch Competition on August 21st, where six rural founders will compete for $280K in investment opportunities.
West Slope Startup Week was launched in 2019. Initially located in Grand Junction, the event moved to Durango last year. It is crafted for anyone who has started or is looking to start a business. The event caters to both seasoned, serial entrepreneurs ready to launch their next venture and first-timers seeking guidance and support.
“This event is for everyone,” McCrann said. “Main Street business owners will find valuable insights in workshops about finance, marketing, and HR; while high-growth startups can learn about scaling, fundraising, and reaching a global market from a rural Colorado base. We learn faster and better when we’re together.”
About Startup Colorado:
Startup Colorado is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that supports rural entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders in 53 rural counties across Colorado. We believe that anyone should have the ability to start and scale a business in the place they call home. We’re help both entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders access the human, social, and financial capital they need to build thriving businesses.
