This article is republished from West Slope Startup Week, an event sponsored and organized by Startup Colorado. See the original post from West Slope Startup Week.
And we’re back!—West Slope Start Week (WSSW) is gearing up for another round of forward-thinking workshops, panels, and conversations, and we want to hear from you. Whether you’re a serial entrepreneur, investor, creative, or experienced business leader, this is your chance to shape the lineup of WSSW25.
We’re officially opening the call for presentations, and this year, we’re organizing sessions into nine tracks:
- Climate – New this year! The intersection of climate and commerce, where entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators come together to build resilient, forward-thinking businesses for a changing world.
- Communications – Connect your business to the people who matter most: customers, investors, your community, and more. From branding and PR to marketing strategy and tactics, learn how to grow your reach, build loyalty, and drive sales.
- Money – Expert strategies and best practices for your funding journey. Whether you’re raising an investment round or applying for grants, we’ve got your bread and butter covered.
- People – Harness the human power that drives your business. Explore topics from building strong HR practices and employee engagement to leadership, purpose, and personal growth.
- Tech – Built for the programmers, designers, roboticists, and visionaries shaping the future. Share insights, sharpen your skills, and collaborate to build smarter, stronger innovations.
- Toolbox – Let’s round out your entrepreneur toolbox! From strategy and forecasting to legal basics and market research, get the essential tools and skills to turn ideas into impact and income.
- Makers – For the designers, builders, artists, and innovators shaping the West—whether you’re crafting by hand or pushing the limits of high-tech manufacturing. If you turn ideas into tangible creations, this track is for you.
- Fun! – Take your new skills for a spin! The fun track is an interactive way to solidify what you have learned while making meaningful connections with your fellow entrepreneurs. From guided hikes to silly pitching exercises, we want to see unique sessions that take ‘networking’ to the next level.
- Latine – For the third year running, we dedicate a full day of programming to Latine founders. Spanish to English, and English to Spanish translation is available—whichever language you present in, we welcome your sessions that support the needs of the Latine business community.
How Do I Submit a Session Idea?
WSSW is designed for rural entrepreneurs, creatives, and small business owners—if you’ve got the guts and grits to go after your Big Idea, then you’re in! The format is “choose your own adventure,” which means attendees can mix and match sessions based on what matters most to them. If you have insights, experiences, or skills to share, we want your ideas on the agenda.
Your session could be a panel, a hands-on workshop, a seminar, or something unconventional—if it helps rural founders and creatives launch or scale their business, then we’ll consider it. Check out last year’s line-up for inspiration and to see what’s already been covered.
WSSW25 will take place in Durango, a growing hub for innovation in the Southwest. Last year’s event attracted nearly 500 attendees from across the state. If you’re interested in presenting, submit your idea now.
How Do I Submit a Session Idea?
Want to boost your chances of getting selected? Here’s how to pique our interest:
- A session that offers clear goals, a well-defined message, and a strong value proposition, clearly communicating the purpose, benefits, and takeaways.
- Topics that address the challenges rural entrepreneurs—of all business stages— face on a daily basis. We want to see sessions for idea-stage and scaling businesses alike.
- Sessions that get people up and moving. Workshops, Q&As, and group discussions that encourage participation and keep attendees engaged.
- Opportunities to connect. Our mission is to help attendees network, collaborate, and build meaningful relationships.
Apply to Speak at WSSW25 Today
WSSW25 will take place in Durango, a growing hub for innovation in the Southwest. Last year’s event attracted nearly 500 attendees from across the state. If you’re interested in presenting, submit your idea now. Please note: WSSW does not offer speaker fees or reimburse travel expenses.
Applications are open until June 18th—we encourage you to apply early. Please note, our final review process with the leadership team will begin when applications close. If selected or not, you’ll be notified between July 7-11th. If your session is selected, please be prepared to work with us to refine or develop it further to meet the needs of the event. Our 2025 program will be announced in early August, two months before the gathering.
Want to help bring WSSW to life? Support the West Slope’s biggest entrepreneur event by becoming a sponsor. You can provide in-kind support such as venues, snacks, drinks, equipment, and supplies – it all makes a difference! Or step in as a key sponsor to fuel this FREE event. Learn more.
West Slope Startup Week is powered by Startup Colorado, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that supports entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders in 53 rural counties. We believe that anyone should be able to start and scale a business in the place they call home. Learn more about our work at startupcolorado.org.
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?
