Community
Colorado Startups is a community of entrepreneurs building companies in Colorado. Founders come first, and the people who back them are welcome too.
Who it is for
Founders
If you are building a company in Colorado, this community is for you. That covers an idea you are testing, a company you are launching and one you are growing.
Ask for help, share what you learn and celebrate your wins with people who know the work.
The startup community that backs them
- Talent
- People who want to join a startup, or already work at one. Meet founders before they post the role.
- Investors and lenders
- Angels, VCs and banks who back Colorado companies. Come to listen and to help.
- Service providers
- Lawyers, accountants, agencies and others who serve startups. Share your offers in the Wednesday Asks and Offers thread.
Each place has its own rhythm. Here is what to expect, and the norms that keep it useful.
Slack
Everyday conversation with founders across Colorado. Ask for help, introduce yourself, find a cofounder or a first hire.
Norms
- Follow the Code of Conduct.
- Say hello in the Monday Welcome thread and tell us what you are building.
- Share your company, product, service or open role in the Wednesday Asks and Offers thread, and nowhere else.
- Post your wins in the Friday Colorado Wins thread.
- Communitas sends one welcome note and answers when you mention it. People moderate.
Communitas is an AI agent run by Colorado Startups. It can make mistakes, and a person reviews its work.
LinkedIn Group
Three weekly threads: Monday Welcome, Wednesday Asks and Offers, and Friday Colorado Wins. A person approves each new member.
Norms
- Follow the Code of Conduct.
- Share your company, product, service or open role in the Wednesday Asks and Offers thread, and nowhere else.
- Post your wins in the Friday Colorado Wins thread.
- Keep posts about building companies in Colorado.
LinkedIn Page
Founder wins and Colorado Startups news, in your LinkedIn feed.
Norms
- A person at Colorado Startups reviews and publishes every post.
- Comments follow the Code of Conduct.
Events
Meetups and community events across the Front Range, on one calendar.
Norms
- Check each event's own page for its host, time and place before you go.
Looking for Startup Hikes or Startup Ski Days? Micah Mador and Lindsey Rohde run them through their Startup Community Project. Visit the Startup Community Project
Founders forum
After launchA private forum for founders only. It opens after the new site launches.
Norms
- Only founders can join.
- People will moderate it.
How we treat each other
The Code of Conduct sets the norms for the Slack and the LinkedIn Group. In short:
- Promote your company, product, service or open role in one place: the Wednesday Asks and Offers thread.
- Never pitch an investment, whether a fund or an open round. A closed raise can be shared as a win.
- No cold sales pitches by direct message. If one reaches you, tell a moderator.
- Celebrate wins, and any press that gives Colorado positive exposure.
People run the community
Every moderator and organizer seat is for a person from the community. The AI keepers never moderate. These seats are open now:
- Community organizer, statewide. Connect founders across Colorado and help the region Connectors do their best work.
- LinkedIn Group moderator. Keep the Colorado Startups LinkedIn Group a tight, useful space for Colorado founders.
- Slack Community Lead. Meet founders from every corner of Colorado. Learn to run an online community with AI, and carry the Slack Community Lead title on LinkedIn.
- Photon Mountain Connector. Meet the founders of Boulder, Denver and Golden, and the rest of Photon Mountain. Learn to work with AI, and carry the Photon Mountain Connector title on LinkedIn.
- Space Peak Connector. Meet the founders of Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region. Learn to work with AI, and carry the Space Peak Connector title on LinkedIn.
- Fusion Canyon Connector. Meet the founders of Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor and Greeley. Learn to work with AI, and carry the Fusion Canyon Connector title on LinkedIn.
Find your way in
Where do you want to start?
I have an idea for a company
- Open the Idea stage of Startup ResourcesThe Idea stage lists the communities, courses and events that help Colorado founders test an idea.
- Join the SlackAsk early questions in the Slack. Founders there have been where you are.
- Read about the founders forumA private forum for Colorado founders opens after the new site launches.
I'm building a company
- Join the SlackBring your ask to the Wednesday Asks and Offers thread in the Slack. Founders there answer founders.
- Open the Launch stage of Startup ResourcesThe Launch stage lists accelerators, service providers and early investors.
- Read about the founders forumA private forum for Colorado founders opens after the new site launches.
I'm hiring for my startup
- Join the SlackPost each open role in the Wednesday Asks and Offers thread in the Slack.
- Join the LinkedIn GroupThe LinkedIn Group runs the same Wednesday thread, so share the role there too.
- Read about the founders forumA private forum for Colorado founders opens after the new site launches.
I want to work at a startup
- Join the SlackFounders post open roles in the Wednesday Asks and Offers thread in the Slack.
- See upcoming eventsMeet Colorado founders in person at community events.
I invest in or lend to startups
- See upcoming eventsMeet Colorado founders in person at community events.
- Get the Startupers newsletterStartupers covers what founders across Colorado are building.
I offer services to startups
- Join the SlackShare your offer in the Wednesday Asks and Offers thread in the Slack. It is the one place for offers.
- Open the Launch stage of Startup ResourcesFounders find service providers in Startup Resources. Suggest your firm from that page.
I'm a student
- Open the Idea stage of Startup ResourcesThe Educate section of the Idea stage lists courses and programs for new founders.
- See upcoming eventsEvents are a good way to meet founders and find an internship.
I'm just curious
- Get the Startupers newsletterThe Startupers newsletter is the easiest way to follow along.
- Follow the LinkedIn PageFollow the Colorado Startups LinkedIn Page for Colorado founder wins.
Have a specific question? Ask Resourcus in Startup Resources.
Communitas is an AI agent run by Colorado Startups. It can make mistakes, and a person reviews its work.