good company

Gain practical, hands-on support to build a successful funding strategy for your business and compete to to win a $5,000 grant.

good for stubborn soil

Gain practical, hands-on support to build a successful funding strategy for your business and compete to to win a $5,000 grant.

good every dang day

Gain practical, hands-on support to build a successful funding strategy for your business and compete to to win a $5,000 grant.

good for the lonesome road

Gain practical, hands-on support to build a successful funding strategy for your business and compete to to win a $5,000 grant.

Building a business is hard. But this can be even harder in small-town Colorado where access to experienced funding guides and capital networks is often limited.That's why Startup Colorado created the Founder Coopetition combining cooperative learning with a competition for grant funding.Cooperation: You will join a select group of rural entrepreneurs in shared learning and accountability as you get clear on your funding needs, your best options, and your pitch.Competition: The course culminates in a funding pitch with both peer-review and expert reviewers to determine who receives a $5,000 grant (3 per cohort).

What you'll gain in 4-weeks.

  • Expert funding assessment for your business.

  • Pros & cons of different funding models to best-fit your business.

  • Where and how to access your funding options

  • Direct connections with capital providers in Colorado.

  • A supportive community of fellow small-town entrepreneurs

  • Pitch your funding needs to over 50 Startup Colorado partners

What to expect.

Part 1 : Assessment. We start with an assessment of your business to define your funding needs and recommend best-fit options for your business.

Part 2 : Access. You will learn where and how to access your funding options, connect with people who can help, and begin preparing your funding pitch.

Part 3 : Action. In the final week, we share your funding pitch with our extensive network of partners to attract the support and attention you need.

Weekly Interactive Learning

  • Zoom cohort discussions covering weekly assignments

  • 1:1 office hours with your Startup Colorado funding guide

  • Private discussion forum to share your work and ask questions

Built For Busy Founders

Are you excited about what you see here, but worried about the time commitment?We can't help you if we can't meet you where you are. That's why the Coopetition is designed to fit into your schedule, not compete with it.Weekly assignments are bite-size to avoid overthinking and to quickly gain feedback. Everything else in the program is opt-in as needed.

What alumni are saying.

"I have not been shy about stating how invaluable this Coopetition was for me. You are so helpful with introductions, guidance and information. I would still be stumbling about wondering where to go next."

"The Coopetition helped me more than any other program before and challenged my assumptions with suggestions that I was able to put into action immediately."

"I especially loved having a community of entrepreneurs all working through similar challenges and bouncing ideas off one another."

Meet Your Facilitator

👋 Hi, I'm Spencer Ingram. I've had the privilege of working around the world allocating capital to smart founders in under-invested markets. I love this work, and folks say I'm gosh-darn good at it.But I don't need to fly halfway around the world to tackle access to funding. We have this challenge right here at home. That's why I'm excited to join Startup Colorado on a mission to help you succeed wherever you grow your business.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply? Founders at any stage of your business who are located in rural Colorado: defined as anywhere outside of the urban front range corridor.

Is any part of this program in-person? No. We are fully virtual. A virtual experience allows you to join from wherever you live with less demand on your time.

What if I can't join a live session? Sessions are recorded. Most live sessions are for office hours and guest speakers where you choose what to take advantage of.

Can my cofounder participate? Yes. We encourage your co-founding teammates to participate.

How many $5,000 grants are awarded? Three businesses in each cohort will be awarded a grant based on peer-review and input from Startup Colorado partners on your funding pitch.

Is there a financial or equity cost to participate? No. The only cost is the time you put in build a smart fundraising strategy and support fellow entrepreneurs in your cohort.

Are founders mostly working on tech businesses? We accept founders working across a wide range of industries.

If I'm already fundraising, can I participate? Yes, this is a great time to learn about how to increase your chances of scoring funding and discover funding options you may not be considering.

Are strings attached to the grant? No. You can use this money are you see fit. Startup Colorado will followup throughout the year. This helps us know how to continue supporting you.

Will you sign a non disclosure agreement? No. You will need to interact with other entrepreneurs and funding experts without the need for NDAs.

Who is Startup Colorado? Startup Colorado supports rural entrepreneurs via a free peer-to-peer resource network, regional partnership development, and collaboration with local business support organizations. Through strategic networking, partnership development, and collaboration, we eliminate barriers, mitigate support gaps, and dismantle silos.