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 National Association of Development Organizations (NADO)—and met national leaders exploring how to support rural ecosystems.
- Collaborated with Homegrown Pathways to expand entrepreneurial education and pathways for youth
- Had dinner with the Rural Opportunity Office to reflect on ecosystem-wide collaboration
- Participated in EO Accelerator Learning Day and left energized about execution
- Met with the SBDC Network leaders to align efforts across the state
- And, of course, connected with amazing entrepreneurs, innovators, and community leaders across all sectors
What I learned: this is not just a network—it’s a movement.
Tackling the Myths That Hold Us Back
Growth requires us to think differently and in this case, we must continue to challenge the myths that limit us. One of the most pervasive is the myth of zero-sum funding—the idea that there’s a fixed pool of resources, and that one organization’s gain is another’s loss.
This mindset breeds scarcity, stifles innovation, and undermines trust. In reality, the opposite is true. When we collaborate, align, and demonstrate impact, we don’t shrink the pie—we grow it. Funders are more likely to invest in ecosystems that work together, share outcomes, and reduce duplication.
Which brings us to another tension: redundancy versus necessary growth. Rather than gatekeeping or worrying about too many cooks in the kitchen, we should welcome new voices. Healthy competition is a sign of a thriving ecosystem. More importantly, we must empower people to build what is still missing.
Let’s stop seeing duplication as failure. Let’s see it as proof that the need is real—and as an invitation to innovate better, together. Sure, we might retire older ways of doing things, with the intent of making room for what is new and needed.
Moving Forward, Together
The collisions we’re seeing across Colorado aren’t chaotic. They’re creative. They’re rooted in shared values and a belief that entrepreneurship is one of the most powerful tools we have to build strong communities.
This isn’t about making our jobs easier, though kindness, trust, and collaboration certainly help. It’s about doing right by our founders. Because at the end of the day, every accelerator, agency, mentor, and investor in this ecosystem exists for one reason: to help entrepreneurs succeed.
So, with that said, welcome to our lane. We’re glad you’re here.
Let’s keep Colorado collaborative, kind, and founder-first. Reach out to join the movement.
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?
