How to start a company in Colorado
To start a company in Colorado, learn the basics, test the idea with real customers, then register the company with the Colorado Secretary of State. Classes, meetups, business support offices, lawyers, accountants and banks help at each step. This guide lists 142 of them from Startup Resources, as of .
Learn the basics
Classes and programs that teach founders how to start a company.
Entrepreneurial Law Clinic (the University of Colorado Law School in Boulder)
Clinic at the University of Colorado Law School in Boulder where law students give pro bono transactional legal help to local businesses that lack access to legal resources.
In Startup Resources: Entrepreneurial Law Clinic (the University of Colorado Law School in Boulder)
Company-building program with a Colorado cohort that takes aspiring, first-time and solo founders from idea to Funding Day with AI tools, weekly feedback and a global network.
McNeil Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Colorado School of Mines entrepreneurship and innovation network in Golden, including the McNeil Center, the Innovation Hub, makerspaces and tech transfer, for students, faculty and staff.
In Startup Resources: McNeil Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Rocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute
Denver nonprofit lender that helps entrepreneurs in the metro area and across Colorado test, launch or grow a business with classes, workshops, mentorship and accessible capital.
Venture Attractor's equity-free pre-accelerator in Colorado Springs, where early-stage startups work with a mentor and cohort and leave with an investor-grade pitch deck.
Durango organization that helps scale high-growth, job-creating companies in Southwest Colorado through its accelerator, mentoring and access to funding.
SCORE chapter for Southern Colorado and the Western Slope, with free business mentoring and free or low-cost workshops for entrepreneurs from Colorado Springs and Pueblo to Grand Junction.
SCORE chapter for Metro Denver, Northern Colorado and southeast Wyoming, with free, confidential business mentoring and free or low-cost workshops for entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Secretary of State’s Business Intelligence Center
Colorado Secretary of State program that turns public data into business insights and publishes datasets to the state's open data platform, the Colorado Information Marketplace.
In Startup Resources: Secretary of State’s Business Intelligence Center
Center at the University of Colorado Law School in Boulder that runs events, publications and student programs on law, policy and entrepreneurship in the digital age.
AI platform that turns a one-line business idea into a business plan, lean canvas and market analysis, for universities, ecosystems and other entrepreneurship programs.
Silicon Flatirons summer program for undergraduates interning at Front Range startups, with weekly sessions from Colorado founders and executives, a team venture and a pitch contest.
Tech AF Founder Academy & Community (Online for Female Founders)
Online community and academy for women and nonbinary tech founders, with curated content, daily member conversation, networking and accountability around monthly themes.
In Startup Resources: Tech AF Founder Academy & Community (Online for Female Founders)
Test the idea and find a team
Meetups and hackathons where founders test an idea and find cofounders.
Meetup for people who build products in Boulder and Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network
Organization that helps founders build a team. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Blerd: Black Nerds in Colorado
Meetup for finding cofounders and teammates in Boulder. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Meetup for people who build products in Boulder. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Meetup for people who build products in Boulder. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Meetup for finding cofounders and teammates in Boulder. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Meetup for people who build products in Boulder. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Organization that helps founders build a team. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Colorado Entrepreneurs Network
Meetup for finding cofounders and teammates in Colorado Springs. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Colorado Game Developers Association + AR/VR Group
Meetup for finding cofounders and teammates in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
In Startup Resources: Colorado Game Developers Association + AR/VR Group
Colorado Springs Entrepreneurs Group
Meetup for finding cofounders and teammates in Colorado Springs. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Organization that helps founders build a team. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Colorado State University Venture Validator
Hackathon or maker community in Fort Collins. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
In Startup Resources: Colorado State University Venture Validator
Colorado Technology Association
Organization that helps founders build a team. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Meetup for people who build products in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Meetup for people who build products in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Meetup for people who build products in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Meetup for finding cofounders and teammates in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Entrepreneurs' Organization Colorado
Organization that helps founders build a team in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Hackathon or maker community in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Meetup for finding cofounders and teammates in Boulder. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Hackathon or maker community in Fort Collins. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Organization that helps founders build a team in Boulder and Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Meetup for people who build products in Boulder and Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Hackathon or maker community in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Hackathon or maker community in Boulder. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Meetup for people who build products in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Meetup for people who build products in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Meetup for finding cofounders and teammates in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Hyvv Incubator | MicroVC | CoWork
Hackathon or maker community in Fort Collins. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Hackathon or maker community in Boulder. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Meetup for finding cofounders and teammates in Fort Collins. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Meetup for finding cofounders and teammates. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Hackathon or maker community in Colorado Springs. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Hackathon or maker community in Boulder. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Meetup for finding cofounders and teammates in Colorado Springs. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Organization that helps founders build a team. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Startups2Students / S2S (CU Boulder)
Meetup for finding cofounders and teammates in Boulder. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Organization that helps founders build a team in Boulder. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Hackathon or maker community in Boulder. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Organization that helps founders build a team in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Hackathon or maker community in Boulder. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Meetup for people who build products in Boulder and Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
Meetup for people who build products in Fort Collins. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
YCombinator Co-Founder Matching (Set Settings > Local to Denver and Boulder)
Organization that helps founders build a team in Denver and Boulder. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the idea stage.
In Startup Resources: YCombinator Co-Founder Matching (Set Settings > Local to Denver and Boulder)
Get help from business support offices
Chambers of commerce, economic development offices and statewide business programs.
Boulder chamber of commerce offering networking events, workforce development, economic vitality work and member groups such as Bolder Young Professionals and the Business Growth Network.
City of Boulder innovation and technology department, which runs the city's open data catalog and its community broadband and fiber network projects.
Catalyst Campus for Technology and Innovation
Colorado Springs campus that connects startups, small businesses, workforce training and venture capital with the aerospace and defense industry, home to the Catalyst Accelerator.
In Startup Resources: Catalyst Campus for Technology and Innovation
Statewide chamber of commerce with industry alliances, workforce initiatives, jobs market reports and research such as the Colorado Salary Explorer.
Nonprofit CDFI lender for underserved Colorado entrepreneurs who don't meet traditional financing guidelines, with SBA loans, microloans, startup loans and business navigation.
Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade
Colorado's economic development office, which supports small businesses and business expansion statewide and champions industries such as creative industries, outdoor recreation and tourism.
In Startup Resources: Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade
Colorado Office of Information Technology
Colorado's state technology office, which runs state IT services such as the myColorado app and offers IT skills training for state employees.
In Startup Resources: Colorado Office of Information Technology
Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC
Colorado Springs chamber of commerce and economic development corporation that helps businesses start, expand or relocate, with small business resources such as the regional Small Business Development Center.
Denver Economic Development & Opportunity
City of Denver hub for small business support, with one-on-one advising, city programs and funding, start-a-business workshops and workforce help for jobseekers and employers.
In Startup Resources: Denver Economic Development & Opportunity
Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
Denver metro chamber of commerce offering member networking groups, leadership programs for emerging and senior executives, and events on regional economic issues.
Organization representing Denver's center city that works with businesses and community partners on downtown's economy, public spaces and events, and publishes a report on downtown data.
Fort Collins Area Chamber Of Commerce
Fort Collins business association serving Northern Colorado with in-person and virtual events, shop-local promotion and sector partnerships that align education and training with industry needs.
Fort Collins Innovation Economy
City of Fort Collins business hub with guidance, connections and data for starting, growing or relocating a business, plus permits, licensing and sales tax help.
Innovations in Aging Collaborative
Local economic development or business organization in Colorado Springs. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas as support for founders at any stage.
Longmont Economic Development Partnership
Longmont economic development partnership that leads a collaborative strategy to strengthen the city's economic health, with updates on local jobs, events and housing.
In Startup Resources: Longmont Economic Development Partnership
Louisville Chamber of Commerce
Louisville chamber of commerce that connects, advocates for and promotes local businesses through membership, sponsored programs and events.
SBIR Advisors (Non-Dilutive, Small Business Research Innovation Program)
Firm that helps technology companies find SBIR and STTR funding, write proposals and build relationships with Department of War customers to win defense contracts.
In Startup Resources: SBIR Advisors (Non-Dilutive, Small Business Research Innovation Program)
Find a lawyer, an accountant and a bank
Firms that help founders form the company, keep the books and open accounts.
Accounting firm in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Law firm in Fort Collins. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Law firm in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
National bank or business banking service in Boulder and Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Local bank, credit union or lender. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Law firm in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Law firm in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Law firm in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Accounting firm in Colorado Springs. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Accounting, audit and tax firm. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the growth stage.
National bank or business banking service. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP
Law firm in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Law firm in Boulder, Colorado Springs and Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Law firm in Boulder and Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
National bank or business banking service. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Intellectual property law and patent services in Boulder. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the growth stage.
Intellectual property law and patent services in Fort Collins and Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the growth stage.
National bank or business banking service in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Accounting, audit and tax firm in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the growth stage.
Law firm in Boulder and Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Accounting, audit and tax firm in Colorado Springs and Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the growth stage.
Law firm in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Law firm in Fort Collins. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Law firm in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Accounting, audit and tax firm in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the growth stage.
Law firm in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Law firm. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Accounting firm in Fort Collins. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Accounting, audit and tax firm in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the growth stage.
Law firm in Fort Collins. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Law firm in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Law firm. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Law firm in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Law firm in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Law firm in Boulder. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Law firm in Boulder and Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Law firm in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Accounting firm. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Law firm in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Law firm in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Law firm in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Law firm in Boulder. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Accounting firm in Colorado Springs. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
National bank or business banking service. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Accounting firm in Fort Collins. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
National bank or business banking service in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Local bank, credit union or lender. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Law firm in Boulder. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Law firm in Boulder. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
ProSight - Fullstack Finance + Accounting
Accounting firm in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
In Startup Resources: ProSight - Fullstack Finance + Accounting
Accounting, audit and tax firm in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the growth stage.
Accounting firm in Fort Collins. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Law firm in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Intellectual property law and patent services in Fort Collins and Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the growth stage.
Law firm. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Accounting firm in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Intellectual property law and patent services in Golden. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the growth stage.
Silicon Legal Strategy, A Professional Corporation
Law firm in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
In Startup Resources: Silicon Legal Strategy, A Professional Corporation
Law firm. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Law firm in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Law firm in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Law firm in Colorado Springs. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Law firm in Boulder. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Law firm in Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
National bank or business banking service. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
Local bank, credit union or lender in Boulder, Colorado Springs and Denver. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
National bank or business banking service. Listed in the Ecosystem Canvas for founders at the launch stage.
More guides for founders
Accelerators and incubators in Colorado
Where founders meet in Colorado
Funding programs for Colorado startups
Every list here comes from Startup Resources, which the community keeps current. If a Colorado resource for founders is missing, tell us. A person reviews every suggestion before it goes in.