TEAM 2026 - West Slope Startup Week

Built by the Community, for the Community

West Slope Startup Week is a grassroots, volunteer-driven event shaped entirely by the people who live and build businesses in Colorado. Everything—from the sessions to the venues to the food and drink—is made possible by local entrepreneurs and community leaders who step up to share their time, talents, and resources. WSSW is more than a conference. It’s a collaborative effort to grow something meaningful in the beauty of our own backyard. Thanks to the support of Startup Colorado, a nonprofit dedicated to rural entrepreneurship, this event remains free and accessible to all.

Meet Your Lead Organizer

OLIVIA REED

Bio coming soon!

Email Olivia

Meet our Track Captains

Climate
Track

Anne Spalding

Volunteer: COPMOBA, Climate Reality Project and Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado

People
Track

Robin Doss

Chief Impact Amplifier, ScAmp Growth Consulting

Fun!
Track

Vanessa McCrann

Managing Director, Startup Colorado

Communications Track

Jon-Michael Horst

Director of Marketing & Outreach, Exponential Impact

LATINE
Track

Yani Rodriguez

First Southwest Community Fund

Money
Track

Christine Walsh

Founder, RebelRise Finance

Toolbox
Track

Mike Mathisen

Founder, Sloth Events, LLC

Creatives
Track

Connie Byers

Owner, Byers Ranch Apothecary

Tech
Track

Guy Ewing

President/Founder, Durango Computers

Meet the Startup Colorado Team

Startup Colorado is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that supports entrepreneurs in 53 rural counties. We believe that anyone should have the ability to start and scale a business in the place they call home. We’re here to help entrepreneurs access the human, social, and financial capital they need to build thriving businesses.