Southern Colorado’s First Startup Week Illuminates Path For Remote Work

Since 2010, Techstars has made Startup Week a center piece of the tech world in Colorado, and beyond. Denver Startup Week, specifically, has been known to be one of the biggest in the United States with hundreds of companies and tens of thousands of people flocking to the city to see new and emerging technology efforts. In 2016 expansion took Startup Week to Colorado Springs, where its been for six consecutive years, but this year Startup Week is headed even further south to Cañon City and Pueblo.

Free and open to the public, the first annual Southern Colorado Startup Week 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. However, while the events are free, registration started last month and is necessary to guarantee adequate room at each event.

SchedSouthern Colorado Startup Week Schedule

“We really want to showcase innovation throughout southern Colorado,” said Rachel Beisel, a Colorado 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.”

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. You’ll also find critical investment partners including SoCo Angels and Greater Colorado Venture Fund, in addition to Techstars.

Local Talent

For investors or technologist looking to discover more about the landscape in Southern Colorado, you might be surprised what you’ll find. In Cañon and Florence area you’ll find efforts like:

• RiverScience
• BarnOwl Drones
• Second-61
• Pax8
• GuestNav
• Trustio
• VitalScape Design

And in Pueblo you’d be a fool not to learn more about:

• Palmer Land Conservancy
• IndieDwell
• ActiveArmour
• SwissPod
• Solar Roast Coffee

Where Rural Innovation Thrives

Startup Week is the place to have fun while supporting our communities. The companies listed above are only a small handful of what you might find, while the overarching event will feature dozens of seminars, an opening ceremony, keynote speakers, pitch competitions, happy hour events, and a closing party.

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:

FormstackSprings Startup Interest Form