WSSW IN THE PRESS

PRESS RELEASES

12-14-2023 Press Release

West Slope Startup Week to Be Held in Durango, Colorado August 19 – 23, 2024

Durango, Colorado – The West Slope Startup Week is set to return next year from August 19 – 23, 2024. This week-long event is designed to bring together entrepreneurs, small business owners, makers, techies, and more to connect, learn, and collaborate. With over 60 free educational workshops and networking events, West Slope Startup Week is the perfect opportunity for anyone looking to grow their business, learn new skills, or simply connect with like-minded individuals.

Next year’s West Slope Startup Week will be hosted in Durango, Colorado for a second year. The organizers are excited to expand the programming with even greater use of the beautiful surrounding areas of the city and historic spaces downtown. In addition to the week of programming in Durango, towns and cities across the West Slope will be encouraged to create Hometown programming and networking opportunities.

The West Slope Startup Week is made possible by the generous support of Startup Colorado (https://startupcolorado.org/) and S.C.A.P.E. (https://www.goscape.org/). These organizations have been instrumental in bringing West Slope Startup Week to fruition and ensuring its success.

“West Slope Startup Week grows every year, thanks to how many incredible people and organizations come together to make it happen. It was inspiring to see how many folks traveled from all over the Western Slope for WSSW23, and how strongly the Durango community showed up to take advantage! We can’t wait to build on the foundation and make the second year in Durango unforgettable! Here’s to year six of WSSW!”

Attendees can expect a wide range of workshops and events throughout the week covering a range of startup-focused tracks like Money, Communication, People, and more.

Session submissions will open in the spring of 2024. Those interested in staying informed of request for submissions, release of schedule, hometown events, and more, can subscribe to receive regular updates.

For media inquiries or further information, please contact:

Vanessa McCrann
Lead Organizer ‘24
West Slope Startup Week
vanessa@westslopestarupweek.com

5-16-2023 Press Release

West Slope Startup Week to Be Held in Durango, Colorado August 21 – 25, 2023

Durango, Colorado – The West Slope Startup Week is set to return this year from August 21 – 25, 2023. This week-long event is designed to bring together entrepreneurs, small business owners, makers, techies, and more to connect, learn, and collaborate. With over 40 free educational workshops and networking events, West Slope Startup Week is the perfect opportunity for anyone looking to grow their business, learn new skills, or simply connect with like-minded individuals.

This year’s West Slope Startup Week will be hosted in Durango, Colorado. The organizers are excited to bring the event to this vibrant town, which is known for its beautiful natural surroundings and thriving business community. The event will be held both virtually and in-person, with attendees having the option to choose between the two.

The West Slope Startup Week is made possible by the generous support of S.C.A.P.E (https://www.goscape.org/) and Startup Colorado (https://startupcolorado.org/). These organizations have been instrumental in bringing West Slope Startup Week to fruition and ensuring its success.

“We are thrilled to be hosting the West Slope Startup Week in Durango this year,” said event organizer, Rachel Crawford. “Startup Week is about bringing people together to share knowledge, build connections, and create opportunities. Whether you’re an experienced entrepreneur or just starting out, there will be something for everyone at this year’s West Slope Startup Week.”

Attendees can expect a wide range of workshops and events throughout the week covering a range of startup-focused topics like marketing, finance, technology, and more. WSSW’s request for presentation proposals and speakers will be open May 18th – June 1; ideas can be submitted to westslopestartupweek.com/session-submissions-2023.

For media inquiries or further information, please contact:

Vanessa McCrann
Lead Organizer ‘23
West Slope Startup Week
vanessa@westslopestartupweek.com

7-6-2022 Press Release

West Slope Startup Week Starts Monday July 11th

For Immediate Release – Grand Junction, CO West Slope Startup Week is returning for its fourth annual event Monday July 11th through Friday July 15th with 45+ free educational workshops and networking events happening virtually and in-person in Grand Junction, CO. West Slope Startup Week brings together hundreds of regional entrepreneurs to learn, teach, and mentor each other. Events include the Greater Colorado Pitch Series, Celebration Party, Keynote Address, and more.

West Slope Startup Week is already off to a productive start with 8 Hometown Events happening across the Western Slope in the weeks leading up to the main event in Grand Junction. Groups gathered in Montrose, Durango, Steamboat Springs, Silverthorne, and more to celebrate West Slope Startup Week and the regional startup community. These events help foster new entrepreneurs and provide resources for individuals with business ideas and growing companies.

“People from all ages and industries attend West Slope Startup Week,” said Kayleen Cohen, Lead Organizer for West Slope Startup Week 2022. “It’s not just young people in tech, West Slope Startup Week appeals to manufacturers and makers, and small business owners of all variety. With 45+ sessions to choose from entrepreneurs can ‘choose their own adventure’ and get exactly what they want from the programming.”

This is the first year that West Slope Startup Week will offer an entire 5 days of virtual programming, allowing audience members in rural Colorado to join from wherever they are. Four days of in-person programming will take place Tuesday July 12th through Friday July 15th in downtown Grand Junction. This event is expected to draw 250+ entrepreneurs from outside of Mesa County for a week of mingling and mixing.

West Slope Startup Week is a completely free event for participants, thanks for financial support from 20+ regional sponsors including Startup Colorado, SCAPE (Southwest Colorado Accelerator Program for Entrepreneurs), Greater Colorado Venture Fund, Aspen Technology Group, Downtown Grand Junction, Greenline Ventures, Grand Junction Economic Partnership, Mindsprings Health, Cloudrise, Alpine Bank, Routt County Economic Development Partnership, HubSpot for Startups, Coventure, and Four Points Funding.

Persons interested in attending West Slope Startup Week should visit westslopestartupweek.com to learn more about the programming. The complete schedule of events is available on the Sched platform for easy registration and attendance. Attendees must register in advance for any sessions they wish to attend, including virtual and in-person sessions. The schedule will remain open for new registrations throughout the event. 

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ABOUT WEST SLOPE STARTUP WEEK: West Slope Startup Week is a volunteer-run event curated by rural Colorado entrepreneurs for the startup community. The first West Slope Startup Week was held in Grand Junction, Colorado in 2019. Annual events have subsequently drawn 500+ regional entrepreneurs to both virtual and in-person educational and networking events. West Slope Startup Week also includes the Greater Colorado Pitch Series, which offers regional founders an opportunity to pitch their blossoming business ideas in front of a group of qualified investors and support organizations. To learn more about West Slope Startup Week visit Westslopestartupweek.com.

7-5-2022 Greater Colorado Pitch Series Press Release

Announcing the 8 Finalists for the Greater Colorado Pitch Series on July 12th

The third annual event has selected companies from Durango to Fort Morgan, CO to propel to the next level.

Grand Junction, Colorado (July 5th, 2022) – The Greater Colorado Pitch Series had over 100 Rural Colorado businesses apply for the chance at $25k-$1M in investment, a record number of applications for the three-year-old event.  Finalists will pitch at the Greater Colorado Pitch Event in Grand Junction on July 12th, from 12 pm to 2 pm MST. In-person attendees will have the added benefit of networking with funders, founders, and audience members over light apps and drinks after the pitch event from 2-3 pm at the Avalon Theatre. 

New to 2022, GCPS will incorporate an audience engagement platform that allows those attending, both in-person at the Avalon and virtually, to engage in the event. During the pitch presentations, audience members can use the app to provide feedback on the pitch, make connections for the founders, and engage with one another. Now, audience members can support rural Colorado entrepreneurs even more by attending GCPS. 

The Greater Colorado Pitch Series will kick off the in-person portion of West Slope Startup Week, a week-long conference for entrepreneurs, small business owners, makers, techies, and more. Attend 40+ free educational workshops and networking events virtually and in person across the west slope. 

Funders and Finalists:

The Greater Colorado Pitch Series features four capital tracks with four different funders, all committed to making an investment in a Rural Colorado-based company. With multiple capital tracks the Greater Colorado Pitch Series is able to accelerate businesses across various stages, industries, and business models found amongst rural Colorado Companies. Investments will be announced live at the Greater Colorado Pitch Event. 

The 8 finalists of the 2022 Greater Colorado Pitch Series are:

The pre-seed -venture track is run by Western Colorado Angels, with an investment amount of $25k-$50k committed to their winner. 

Finalist 1: Oso Adventure Meals, Buena Vista, CO

Finalist 2: MODSTREET Durango, CO

 

The seed-venture track is run by the Greater Colorado Venture Fund, with $250,000 committed to their winner. 

Finalist 1: GeekPack®  Durango, CO

Finalist 2: InBuild, Inc. Aspen, CO

 

The pre-seed – Debt track is run by First Southwest Community Fund, with $50,000 low-interest debt committed to their winner.

Finalist 1:Konbit PBC Ignacio, CO

Finalist 2: Maya’s LLC Rocky Ford, CO

 

Finally, the growth-stage- debt track is run by Greenline Ventures, with $250,000 up to $1,000,000 in growth debt committed to their winner.

Finalist 1: Phoenix Haus Grand Junction, CO

Finalist 2: EL JACAL MEXICAN RESTAURANT AND GRILL Fort Morgan, CO

 

Register to attend live or virtually at GCPS.co

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This release is distributed by the Greater Colorado Venture Fund

The Greater Colorado Venture Fund (GCVF) is a venture capital fund investing in early-stage startups headquartered across the state of Colorado, outside of the Front Range. In Colorado, 83% of ‘Rural’ counties have median incomes below the state average and all of Colorado’s distressed counties are considered rural. GCVF works to inspire innovation in communities overlooked for investment, spreading entrepreneurship to create opportunity and build sustainable communities in Rural America.

5-16-22 Press Release

West Slope Startup Week 2022 Announces Line Up With 45+ Virtual and In-Person Sessions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: GRAND JUNCTION, CO – West Slope Startup Week has announced its 2022 event line up with more than 45 virtual and in-person educational and networking events happening July 11-15th. Programming is available to participants throughout rural Colorado with in-person events happening in Grand Junction, Durango, Steamboat Springs, Vail, and beyond. Participation is completely free for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creatives interested in attending, thanks to support from regional sponsors.

Virtual Workshops for Entrepreneurs July 11-15th

Virtual participants will be able to engage with West Slope Startup Week all five days of the event this year with virtual-only and live streaming content offered Monday, July 11th through Friday, July 15th. Sessions will be offered in a variety of categories including; Capital, Communications, Makers, People, Tech, and more. Participants can learn directly from other experienced regional entrepreneurs and small business owners. Interested persons should visit WestSlopeStartupWeek.com to learn more and register for online events.

In-Person Events in Grand Junction July 12-15th

Pack your bags and head to Grand Junction for four days of in-person programming including the Greater Colorado Pitch Series and more than 20 educational workshops and presentations. This year’s Keynote Presentation will be given by west slope entrepreneur, Kerry Siggins, the CEO of StoneAge Tools, host of multiple podcasts, and thought leader in the space of entrepreneurship. Interested persons should visit WestSlopeStartupWeek.com to learn more and register for online and in-person events.

Hometown Events in Durango, Steamboat Springs, and Vail

West Slope Startup Week organizers are hosting Hometown Events in several locales across Colorado including Durango, Steamboat Springs, and Vail. Durango is hosting a fireside chat with regional entrepreneur, Erin Neer, on Wednesday June 22nd 4:30-6:00pm at the EsoTerra Outdoorsy Outpost. Steamboat Springs is hosting a discussion about the evolving workforce in Colorado mountain towns on Wednesday June 29th 6:30-8pm at The Ski Locker. More Hometown Event details can be found at WestSlopeStartupWeek.com.

WSSW Sponsors: West Slope Startup Week is a free event for participants, thanks to contributions from regional sponsors including Startup Colorado, SCAPE (Southwest Colorado Accelerator Program for Entrepreneurs), Greater Colorado Venture Fund, Aspen Technology Group, Downtown Grand Junction, Greenline Ventures, Grand Junction Economic Partnership, Mindsprings Health, Cloudrise, Alpine Bank, and Four Points Funding. Companies interested in sponsoring West Slope Startup Week should email westslope@startupweek.co.

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ABOUT WEST SLOPE STARTUP WEEK: West Slope Startup Week is a volunteer-run event curated by rural Colorado entrepreneurs for the startup community. The first West Slope Startup Week was held in Grand Junction, Colorado in 2019. Annual events have subsequently drawn 500+ regional entrepreneurs to both virtual and in-person educational and networking events. West Slope Startup Week also includes the Greater Colorado Pitch Series, which offers regional founders an opportunity to pitch their blossoming business ideas in front of a group of qualified investors and support organizations. To learn more about West Slope Startup Week visit Westslopestartupweek.com.

4-4-2022 Press Release

West Slope Startup Week 2022 Now Accepting Session Ideas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: GRAND JUNCTION, CO – West Slope Startup Week is slated to return to Grand Junction, Colorado for its fourth annual event on July 11-15, 2022. This free, week-long conference offers educational and networking programming for regional entrepreneurs, creatives, and small business owners.. Programming for West Slope Startup Week is curated by the regional entrepreneurial community. Interested speakers are now encouraged to submit their session ideas for review prior to the submission deadline on April 15th.

What is West Slope Startup Week? West Slope Startup Week follows the TechStars Startup Week format that has served hundreds of communities around the world. Startup Weeks offer participants a free opportunity for professional business development and continued education, as well as opportunities to pitch for funding, network with regional entrepreneurs, and more. Entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout rural Colorado are encouraged to attend virtual workshops happening Monday July 11th through Friday July 15th. In-person events will be happening in Grand Junction, Colorado at a variety of venues starting with the Greater Colorado Pitch Series on Tuesday July 12th through Friday July 15th. Headline events will be live streamed to a virtual audience via Zoom.

Who is it for? West Slope Startup Week is for people who have started or want to start a business. Programming is curated for both successful, serial entrepreneurs looking to launch their next project and first-timers entering the stage searching for support. Local small business owners, such as coffee shops, retail stores, and restaurants, can benefit from attending educational workshops about finance, marketing, HR, and more. High-growth startups will learn about scaling, fundraising, and serving a global market from rural Colorado. West Slope Startup Week is not just for tech entrepreneurs, but is built to benefit small business owners of all industries and skill levels. 

How to submit a session idea: Interested speakers or presenters are encouraged to submit their session ideas at westslopestartupweek.com prior to the submission deadline of April 15, 2022. Session idea submissions must be thoughtfully curated for the regional entrepreneurial community and offer substantial educational value for participants. Sessions should fit within one of the Track categories, which includes Capital, Communications, FUN!, Makers, People, and Tech. Session ideas will be reviewed by a committee of regional entrepreneurs and vetted for quality and educational value. Visit Westslopestartupweek.com/session-submissions to learn more and submit a session idea.

WSSW Sponsors: West Slope Startup Week is a free event for participants, thanks to contributions from regional sponsors including Startup Colorado, SCAPE (Southwest Colorado Accelerator Program for Entrepreneurs), Greater Colorado Venture Fund, Aspen Technology Group, Downtown Grand Junction, Greenline Ventures, Grand Junction Economic Partnership, Mindsprings Health, Cloudrise, Alpine Bank, and Four Points Funding. Companies interested in sponsoring West Slope Startup Week should email westslope@startupweek.co.

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ABOUT WEST SLOPE STARTUP WEEK: West Slope Startup Week is a volunteer-run event curated by rural Colorado entrepreneurs for the startup community. The first West Slope Startup Week was held in Grand Junction, Colorado in 2019. Annual events have subsequently drawn 500+ regional entrepreneurs to both virtual and in-person educational and networking events. West Slope Startup Week also includes the Greater Colorado Pitch Series, which offers regional founders an opportunity to pitch their blossoming business ideas in front of a group of qualified investors and support organizations. To learn more about West Slope Startup Week visit Westslopestartupweek.com.

7-7-2021 Press Release

3rd Annual West Slope Startup Week Happening July 12-16th

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Grand Junction, CO

The third annual West Slope Startup Week is happening July 12-16 with a combination of virtual and in-person sessions happening across Colorado’s west slope. This regional startup business conference brings together local entrepreneurs, creatives, and developers to learn, connect, and inspire growth. This year’s event features more than 40 free virtual educational sessions presented by influencers from across the west slope and more than 20 in-person sessions happening primarily in Grand Junction, Colorado.

“This is the event I look forward to all year,” said startup business founder and event organizer Kayleen Cohen. “West Slope Startup Week offers an unprecedented opportunity to connect with entrepreneurs from all over western Colorado. I leave every year’s event bursting with inspiration and energy to pursue new projects and partnerships.”

Influential speakers include Seth Levine and Elizabeth MacBride, authors of the recently published book “New Builders”, and Kelly Watters of Western Rise. This year’s event will also feature the third annual Greater Colorado Pitch Series offering more than $1.3 million dollars in funding opportunities for early-stage startups. Educational workshops and panels will be held on a variety of topics ranging from women in tech, to HR best practices, marketing tips, and more. Participants can browse the complete schedule of events and register for free at: Techstarsstartupweekwestslope.sched.com.

West Slope Startup Week is a completely free event, thanks to the contributions from many regional event sponsors, including US Bank, Startup Colorado, West Slope Works, Downtown Grand Junction, Growl Agency, 32 Waves, Talbott’s Cider, Palisade Brewing Company, Greenline Ventures, Mtn. Dog Media, Lighthouse HR Support, Kaart, SBDC Network of Colorado, Corporate Matters, Colorado Lending Source, First Southwest Bank, Steamboat Springs Chamber, 305 Spin, My Sales Butler, and Spieler Media Productions.

ABOUT WEST SLOPE STARTUP WEEK: West Slope Startup Week is a Techstars affiliated event. This week of free programming is developed by the local business community, for the local business community. Participants include entrepreneurs, creatives, makers, developers, designers, and more. Sessions are organized into “tracks” including Communications, People, Tech, Makers, Toolbox, Capital, and more. Interested participants can learn more at Westslopestartupweek.com. 

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6-16-2021 Press Release

West Slope Startup Week Announces Lineup with 60+ Sessions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Grand Junction, CO

West Slope Startup Week, a regional business conference now in its third year, recently announced the complete lineup of events for July 12-16, 2021. This year’s West Slope Startup Week will feature more than 60 sessions happening virtually and in-person across Colorado’s west slope. Sessions include workshops, presentations, panels, and pitches developed by the local entrepreneurial community, for local creatives, developers, business owners, and entrepreneurs.

“The startup scene in Western Colorado is growing rapidly! West Slope Startup Week brings us together as a region to help grow, support, and inspire local entrepreneurs,” said West Slope Startup Week organizer Brian Watson. “Participants get to meet, mingle, and learn from influential locals in tech, the arts, the outdoor industry, and more. If you’re a creator or a maker on the west slope, you don’t want to miss this event.”

This year’s Kickoff Event will feature Seth Levine and Elizabeth MacBride, authors of “The New Builders” thanks to sponsorship provided by Startup Colorado. The West Slope Startup Week keynote presentation will be delivered by Kelly Waters, the founder of Western Rise. West Slope Startup Week will also be hosting its first virtual Career Fair thanks to West Slope Works. The third annual Greater Colorado Pitch Series event will also be happening in conjunction with West Slope Startup Week. The complete lineup of events can be browsed at Techstarsstartupweekwestslope.sched.com.

West Slope Startup Week is a completely free event, thanks to the contributions from the many event sponsors, including US Bank, Startup Colorado, West Slope Works, Downtown Grand Junction, Growl Agency, 32 Waves, Greenline Ventures, Mtn. Dog Media, Lighthouse HR Support, Kaart, SBDC Network of Colorado, Colorado Lending Source, Steamboat Springs Chamber, and 305 Spin.

ABOUT WEST SLOPE STARTUP WEEK: West Slope Startup Week is a Techstars affiliated event. This week of free programming is developed by the local business community, for the local business community. Participants include entrepreneurs, creatives, makers, developers, designers, and more. Sessions are organized into “tracks” including Communications, People, Tech, Makers, Toolbox, Capital, and more. Interested participants can learn more at Westslopestartupweek.com. 

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West Slope Startup Week is powered by Startup Colorado, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that supports entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders in 53 rural counties.

 

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