Startup Colorado

When Robin Hall's employer Smartwool announced that she—along with all other employees—would need to relocate from Steamboat Springs to Denver, she was faced with a big decision. Leave the company she thought she'd retire at... or stay in Steamboat Springs and wayfind a new future for herself. With true entrepreneurial spirit, Robin and her co-founders Jay Lambert and Joe Solomon decided to launch a business that was truly rooted in place: Town Hall, a sustainable outerwear brand for kids. Here's how love for the Steamboat community led to an unexpected adventure in entrepreneurship. 

In Rocky Ford, Colorado, a meat market isn't "just" a meat market. Maya's Carniceria is helping address the unique needs of a small, rural town, as well as creating an opportunity for young people to stay local. Hear how Maya and her family launched Rocky Ford's first carniceria. 

Jessica Larriva never set out to become a business owner. She's a baker. But when her mother fell ill, Jessica returned home to Colorado's San Luis Valley and soon discovered that starting a business was  a necessity. Here's how Jessica launched Tumbleweed Bread—an artisan sourdough baking company that serves the San Luis Valley—and a nonprofit that addresses food insecurity in the region.

Seven years ago, Josh Veenstra was working as an insulator at one of Craig, Colorado's energy companies. Today, he and his wife Meagan are the founders of Good Vibes River Gear, a handmade mesh rafting accessory manufacturer that's become an influential voice in the town's transition from the energy economy to outdoor recreation. Here's how Josh and Meagan started a business powered by the waves of change. 

Julia Taylor didn't set out to create an e-learning business for women; she was just trying to find a job that she could perform regardless of where the military stationed her husband. In 2014, she stumbled across website building and began teaching herself to code. The journey wasn't easy. There was no curriculum, no benchmarks, and no community. Sometimes when she'd ask a question, the responses—usually by men—were derogatory. She pushed on and eventually founded GeekPack, a company that not only teaches women to code, but also provides a supportive, online community for learning and professional development.  Today, GeekPack is known for its signature product WP Rockstar—an in-depth Wordpress tutorial—live coding challenges, and advice on starting your own business, including how to look for clients online and marketing. 

Chereen Leong Schwarz started knitting as a way to decompress after long, stressful days as a head chef. Today she's the owner of Smeeny Beanie Knits, a handmade apparel company in Steamboat Springs. We spoke with Chereen about how she turned a hobby into a side-hustle and eventually into a successful, quit-your-day-job business. 

With more than two decades in tech, Eva Helén has co-founded, built, and exited two software companies - most recently Sanbolic, acquired by Citrix in 2015. Since 2017, she has influenced a broad range of technology companies to build more diverse workforces and inclusive cultures. Her book Women In Tech: A Book for Guys is based on her research and interviews with men in the tech industry.  We spoke with Eva about her experience co-founding two successful startups and what eventually led her to support the advancement of women and minorities in tech.  Special thanks to Emergent Campus for facilitating this opportunity. 

When Dominque Robbins arrived in the rural town of Rocky Ford, Colorado, the culture shock was real. Where was the Starbucks? And latenight burrito joints? A lifelong musician, Dominque also quickly discovered another Big City ammenity was missing: an art scene. A few months after arriving, Dominque founded Art Matters Productions, a recording studio and events management enterprise. His goal is to pave the way for more artists, musicians, and creatives in the Rocky Ford area.  We visited Dominque in his studio to learn how... and why... he chose to open an arts and entertainment business in a rural area.  Read more about Dominique at StartupColorado.org. 

As Craig, Colorado transitions away from its roots as a coal town, local entrepreneurs like Kirstie McPherson are laying the groundwork for its next phase of life.  When TriState Generation and Transmission and Xcel Energy announced that both the coal mines and power plant would be shutdown by 2030, local residents of Craig, Colorado were left wondering, "what's next?" For entrepreneur and economic behavioralist Kirstie McPherson, the answer is community building. In this first episode of the Startup Colorado Podcast, Season 4, we visited Kirstie's business The Find & 518 Wine Bar to learn how the concept of "flipping houses" can be applied to whole towns. Learn more and find the full transcript at StartupColorado.org. 

Is podcasting the new blogging? Have we reached "peak pod?" If so, who cares? The podcast industry is booming and shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. Here's how rural entrepreneurs can tap into podcasting - as a business, a marketing channel for your business, or an advertising opportunity.  Meet Laura Krantz of the Wild Thing podcast, Kristin Carpenter of Verde Brand Communications and the Channel Mastery podcast, and Curt Linville of PodDivvy. 

We're going for a moonlight bike ride, heading to the bar for some live music, and then checking out Colorado's second tech sector. Want to come? With the help of outdoor recreation, arts and culture, and tech, two communities in southern Colorado are on the cusp of booming. In this episode of the Startup Colorado Podcast, we explore the opportunities and potential pitfalls inherent in emergent communities. 

Think print is dead? Or publishing only happens in mega cities? We hear from three entrepreneurs and business owners who prove that small, independent, and niche publishing is alive and well in rural areas. Featuring: The Climbing Zine, Maria's Bookshop, and Torrey House Press.

Colorado has been in a persistent drought since the late 1990s and the threat of water scarcity is quickly becoming a reality. Since entrepreneurs are known for their problem-solving wizardry, we wanted to know how they're tackling the water crisis. In Episode 2 of the Startup Colorado Podcast, you'll hear from Jonathan Ballesteros (Founder of Geyser Systems), Connie Baker (CEO and Head Distiller of Marble Distilling), and Will Sarni (CEO of the Colorado River Basin Fund).

Has Colorado reached "peak beer?" Our state may be known for its ales, but there's something new fermenting in the mountains. In this episode, we get to know the makers behind EsoTerra Cider, Mesa Park Vineyards, and Oh Hi THC Seltzers. Our host Margaret Hedderman takes us on a road trip through western Colorado as she visits these industry pioneers.

There's a saying: our attention goes where the money flows. That's why social entrepreneur Adrian Reif wrote The Do-Gooder's Guide To Investing, a guide for anyone interested in putting their money where their values are. In this episode, we chat with Adrian (who is also on our Executive Committee) about his book, what do-gooder investing is, and why now is the time for a regenerative mindset.   

Many rural, minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses often have trouble accessing traditional funding. Throw in an economic and health crisis, and you've got a lot of businesses struggling to tap into the money they need to stay open. In this episode, we chat with three alternative funds - the First Southwest Community Fund, Greenline Ventures, and the Energize Colorado Gap Fund - about how they're pumping money into rural communities. 

In this special conversation with Techstars Co-Founder Brad Feld and Startup Colorado's Managing Director Delaney Keating, we discuss the importance of ecosystem builders (community champions) for rural startup communities. Plus, we'll hear from the three recipients of the Anchor Point Foundation's Startup Champion Awards. 

When COVID-19 swept across the nation this Spring, major events were cancelled left and right. Event organizers were asked to decide: do I cancel? Do I postpone? Or do I do something different? In the case of the West Slope Startup Week, they decided to do something different. The second annual startup week is going online. We spoke with event organizers about how they came up with some really creative solutions to convening online that may influence how we organize events in the future. 

Finding investors is challenging enough without a pandemic, so we wanted to know how and if money is moving toward rural startups. We chat with Marc Nager with the Greater Colorado Venture Fund, Jay Bockhaus from the CORI Innovation Fund, and Jeffrey Max from Agile Space, a Durango-business that recently received investments from both. We dig into how the health and economic crisis have impacted investors and what they're looking for in a company.

Want to move to Trinidad, Colorado? You might, once you hear about their new affordable housing initiative for creatives. Space to Create, a program through Colorado Creative Industries and Artspace in Minnesota, will soon make 13 affordable live/work spaces available; plus a commons area for coworking and creative businesses. In September, another 28 apartments will be completed. While Trinidad has suffered economic hardship for years, this new investment in the arts is poised to bring new life, energy, and money to the area. 

Finding Personal Protective Equipment has been yet another headache for business owners. That's why Energize Colorado, a volunteer organization originally tasked with sourcing PPE for healthcare providers, has launched a new marketplace for masks, hand sanitizer, disinfectant, and more. We spoke with Andi Rugg, a volunteer with Energize Colorado, and Ginny Burroughs, the owner of Inn at the Lake, who recently took to the new platform. 

Phil Weiser, the Colorado Attorney General, is stepping down from the Startup Colorado Executive Committee. In this episode, we're recognizing his contribution to our organization, as well as Colorado's startup community as a whole. We speak with Phil about the history of Startup Colorado and his hope for the organization's future. 

Mara and Josh Hardy purchased their new physical therapy business in January. In March, the pandemic hit. We spoke with this husband/wife team about what it was like to be a new business owner navigating an unprecedented crisis. Despite the challenges, Mara and Josh experienced some unexpected silver linings. 

When Briana Wiles came down with an assumed case of COVID-19, she relied upon her background as an herbalist to cope with the symptoms. She developed new teas and tinctures from roots and herbs at home, then figured out how to make these new blends available to her customers at Rooted Apothecary in Crested Butte and Gunnison. In this episode, we hear about her experience with the virus and how it changed her as a business owner. 

Eagle County recently received an exemption to the new Safer at Home Order and is laying out a tiered approach to reopening. We chat with the county's emergency manager, as well as business owners who are implementing health and safety protocols to keep their employees and customers safe. For other counties developing their reopening strategies, Eagle County can provide some solid advice.  Features: Birch Barron, Emergency Manager of Eagle County Scott Robinson, Business Operations Manager of Mountain Recreation Mike Brumbaugh, Owner of Venture Sports Photo of Avon, Colorado by Jeff Dzadon

When restaurants closed for business, many wondered what would happen to all that food sitting in their coolers. That's where the Good Food Collective and emergency food assistance groups in Southwest Colorado came in. Through a quick response to the pandemic, stay-at-home orders, and sudden job losses, a coalition of kitchen staff, community organizers, and farmers are now providing restaurant-prepared meals for those in need. 

A new mentorship program aims to help Colorado business owners and entrepreneurs navigate the growing economic crisis. Erick Mueller, the Executive Director of the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business, introduces COVenture Forward and how business owners can take advantage of an extensive network of mentors, CU faculty, and business students.  Erick, who also facilitates the Demystifying Entrepreneurship program in rural communities, says mentors can provide a fresh perspective and help business owners develop a path forward. 

It's a stressful, chaotic world out there. No wonder so many of us are feeling overwhelmed and anxious. This week, we speak with Jeff Kinsey from The Logos Group, a coaching and consulting business in Boulder, about how entrepreneurs can learn to let go of stressful thoughts and tackle the big challenges ahead. 

This iterative process is used by businesses and organizations around the world to define and solve problems. How can we use it to help entrepreneurs and community champions in times of crisis? We hear from Jonathan Ballesteros of Geyser Systems, Beth Flowers of the AIR Institute, and Beth McKeon of the Fluency Score. 

In response to the ongoing financial crisis, The Foundry Group has teamed up with Lew's List and High Plains Advisors to create a pro-bono COVID-19 Finance Assistance Network. The group comprises CFOs, controllers, and other senior finance professionals who are helping business owners navigate the new relief programs, as well as advice on planning for cash flow management and business planning in a post-COVID world.  In this episode, Seth Levine from The Foundry Group tells us about this new network and who should apply.  

Durango's MakerLab is teaming up with Fort Lewis College and a small army of volunteers to produce protective equipment for local hospitals. Here's how this rural makerspace transformed their day-to-day operations overnight and will soon produce $2.5 million worth of medical supplies. 

Since the Stay At Home order went into place, yoga studios and gyms have closed their doors for the foreseeable future. Many, like The Sweaty Buddha in Durango, are moving their classes online to connect with their community of members. The transition isn't as easy as turning on the camera and pressing record, so we wanted to know how they're making it happen. 

Packraft manufacturer Thor Tingey reveals how his business is navigating his societal obligation to slow the spread. Based in the rural town of Mancos in Southwest Colorado, Alpacka Raft has been at the forefront of promoting responsible adventuring and providing for 30+ employees in a moment of crisis. 

Josh Niernberg is the co-owner of three restaurants in Grand Junction. When the need for social distancing and staying at home meant customers could no longer dine-in, Josh revamped his entire business structure to stay one step ahead of You Know What. Episode 2 of Startup Colorado's new podcast examines how one restaurant owner is responding to the crisis. 

The Startup Colorado team is pivoting in response to the ongoing crisis by providing a new podcast series featuring rural entrepreneurs and community champions who are rising to the occasion. In our first episode, we hear from Colorado's Attorney General Phil Weiser and Startup Colorado's Managing Director Delaney Keating.