Southern Colorado Startup Week Starts Tuesday, September 13th

For the sixth consecutive year, Techstars Startup Week will be returning to Colorado Springs. However, this will be the first year that the four-day free conference is organized as a regional effort, by collaborating with Pueblo and Fremont Counties. Startup Week honors entrepreneurs and those who are influencing Southern Colorado's entrepreneurial community.

The event will kick off in Colorado Springs, Tuesday, September 13, followed by Cañon City on Wednesday, Pueblo on Thursday, and ending in Colorado Springs with a Startup Pitch competition on Friday, September 16.

"We really want to showcase innovation throughout southern Colorado" during Startup Week, said Rachel Beisel, a Springs Startup co-founder who is coordinating Startup Week planning. “Most people think they have to drive north on I-25, but there are so many startup and business activities happening in Southern Colorado that I think many in attendance will be surprised to know what is happening in this part of the state.”

Startup Week is the place to have fun while supporting our communities. It features dozens of seminars, an opening ceremony, keynote speakers, pitch competitions, happy hour events, and a closing party.

The programs are free and open to the public, but registration started last month and is necessary to guarantee there is adequate room for each event.  For more information and registration, go to https://techstarsstartupweekcolorado.sched.com

The Emergent Campus, a former school that has been transformed into a hub for creativity and technology, and Fremont County's TechSTART program will serve as the locations for the Florence and Cañon City portions of the week. The Southern Colorado Innovation Link (SCIL), a technological accelerator in Pueblo, will be the main focus of the program's Pueblo component.

“In the past couple of years, we’ve seen regional collaboration with Accelerator programs, economic developers, investors, and entrepreneurs; realizing that the common goal for our region is more opportunities for everyone,” says SCIL manager, Mark Madic. “Whether they are re-locating or have been here and now are creating a new business; we know that a rising tide raises all boats.”

The programs are free and open to the public, but registration started last month and is necessary to guarantee there is adequate room for each event.

Events include:

• Angel 101 with the Greater Colorado Venture Fund
• Accelerators of Colorado Springs Panel
• Tech Night Out at the Royal Gorge Ranch and Resort in Cañon City
• Emergent Campus Tours in Florence, CO
• Tours of innovative manufacturing and creative hubs in Pueblo
• And much more on the schedule here: https://techstarsstartupweekcolorado.sched.com

For those that need assistance with travel, Startup Colorado is sponsoring five travel scholarships for those who wish to apply. Please fill out this form and reference Startup Week Travel Scholarships for more information: https://exponentialimpact.formstack.com/forms/springs_startup_interest_form 

Image by Marcia Benson from Pixabay