Entrepreneurship Resources
Given I’ve been trotting around the entrepreneurial community here in Colorado for quite some time (with a list of my own business ideas but not quite the gumption to give it a go yet…), I’ve been amassing a collection of resources that anyone trying to start a business in CO might need. As I have time, I’ll update/add/delete to this list, and even put in some personal experiences with the ones I know. In the meantime, enjoy.
This list is by no means exhaustive, but I’m trying to make it so! Please send me your links/resources and I’ll add them here. I also live in Boulder, CO, so you’ll see a bias to resources on the front range.
Funding Sources for Colorado Entrepreneurs
Access Venture Parnters – Enterprise software, information technology, internet and telecom infrastructure
Aweida Venture Partners – data storage, software, life sciences
Altira Group LLC – energy technologies
Appian Ventures – software and technologies for networks
Boulder Ventures – communications, enterprise software, life sciences
Bow River Capital Parnters – manufacturing, distribution, business and consumer services, financial services, transportation, real estate
The Carlyle Group – aerospace & defense, automotive & transportation, consumer & retail, energy and power, health care, industrial real estate, technololgy, business services, telecommunications and media
Centennial Ventures – networks and related software and technology
CHB Capital Partners – manufacturing, construction, service firms
Foundry Group – made famous by the verbose Brad Feld
Greenmont Capital Partners – natural products, lifestyles of health and sustainability
InvestorAvenue.com – Provides online matchmaking between investors and entrepreneurs. Based in Colorado. SEC compliant. (Disclaimer, I do consulting with this company).
KRG Capital Partners – health care, transportation, logistics, life sciences, niche construction, medical technology, advertising/marketing, specialty finance, specialty chemicals, infrastructure
Lacuna – $23M fund in Boulder that focuses on gap funding between $1M-$4M.
Lynwood Capital – services, distribution, manufacturing
Meritage Funds – communications, next-gen broadband networks, internet infrastructure, software, media, outsourced communications
Resource Capital Funds – mining
Sequel Venture Partners – information technology, life sciences
Silver Creek Technology Investors – information technology
Vista Ventures – IT, communications, semiconductors, enabling technologies
Weyerhaeuser Realty Investors – residential real estate
Wolf Ventures – storage, network communications, enterprise software, new media
Colorado Business Incubators
TechStars – David Cohen’s venture, this fun group requires an application, and if accepted, you get some cash, guidance, and some office space for a summer. Techstars infused some much needed energy into the tech community on the front range and is doing great.
Longmont Entrepreneurial Network - The CTEK Longmont Venture Center, a large facility focused on early-stage high-growth startups that inlcude discounted lab and office space, advisor consulting and support, and intros to funding sources.
CTEK Denver Venture Center at Stapleton – The CTEK Stapleton Venture Center, a newly renovated facility focused on early stage high-growth startups that offer discounted office space, advisor consulting and support, and intros to funding sources.
Boulder Innovation Center – Helping Boulder companies, works a lot with the CU Tech Transfer Office
Microsoft’s Emerging Business Team – For software startups that align with Microsoft’s vision
Colorado’s Small Business Development Centers – Designed to help brand new entrepreneurs start companies. The SBDC’s work with all kinds of companies, not just high growth.
Ft. Collins Technology Incubator - A technology incubator located in Ft. Collins featuring 6,500 sq feet of office space.
Colorado Springs Technology Incubator – A technology incubator helping companies in the greater Colorado Springs area with business advice, education, and office space.
Business Incubator Center - An incubator in Grand Junction working with many different types of business and bringing together many resources in Mesa County.
Meetings, Clubs, and Websites
Boulder.Me – A great resource for those that don’t live in Boulder and want to move here to be a part of the Tech Community.
Boulder.Me – Worthy of a second listing, best Boulder tech event calendar
Northern Colorado Rockies Venture Club – I haven’t ever been to a meeting, tell me what it’s like!
The New Technology Meetup – This group has a TON of members. Entrepreneurs pitch for various and sundry reasons, and people network. The quality of the pitches are going down a bit, but it’s still entertaining.
The Founders Meetup – A place to find your next business partner. It’s a small group but growing.
Boulder Startup Weekend – An entire weekend dedicated to launching a company. Fun!
Boulder Open Coffee Club – This group gets together every 2 weeks to talk about anything.
Boulder TechBootstrap – Information on the Boulder Tech Community
Facebook Developer Garage – To meet developers and partners, focused mostly on facebook apps, but can extend beyond that.
Boulder Net – still learning about these guys. Anyone care to educate me?
IBCircle – focuses on international, haven’t ever been to a meeting. Let me know what it’s like.
Rocky Mountain Innovation Initiative – In Ft. Collins. A good place to keep an eye on for the future of innovation!
The Greener Denver Business Program – for all you greenies out there
Core – A non-profit that seeks to promote sustainable business practices and a more responsible global economy. Good place for a startup to get off on the right foot.
Clean Tech Open – Both a business plan competition and a community of clean-tech entrepreneurship.
Sustainable Opportunities Summit – an event March 17-19th 2009 in Denver, CO that focuses on creating a more sustainable global economy and deriving profits in the process.
Colorado CleanTech Industry Association
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Under the last category, I point to “Boulder Net” group on Linked In.
Thanks Rags. Added!
I should have said, I created this Linked In group to connect folks in Boulder. I wanted a quick way to mutually find people in this area, for collaboration.
Feel free to remove it if it isn’t appropriate.
I don’t have any groups to add right now, but I am creating a Google map and short reviews of all Boulder area coffeehouses. I think I only have about 50 to go…..
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=110222339179822009540.000448694881e1adb117e&z=12
I also try to list Boulder bloggers on my site, and I will add you…..
Two more resources for your list:
Newman Venture Advisors – boulder-based start advisory and capital fundraising firm
Filtrbox: next-gen info tracking service – a Techstars company, and a great tool to use to keep information flowing on all things Boulder tech related.