Start me up

Colorado’s largest rural startup event returns to Durango on Oct. 6-10. Sponsored by Startup Colorado, the sixth annual West Slope Startup Week brings entrepreneurs, creatives and community leaders from across Colorado to town for a free, five-day celebration of rural entrepreneurship and innovation.

Last year’s event drew more than 500 participants, making it the largest turnout in WSSW history. Attendees represented 77 cities – 68 of them within Colorado.

This year, WSSW returns with more than 70 expert-led sessions on topics ranging from marketing and funding to climate innovation, legal resources and scaling strategies. The event also features an expanded Latine track for Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs, along with a bilingual language exchange.

“The real secret sauce of ‘Wessy’ is always the speakers, with their ideas, experiences and willingness to share. This year’s program will feature both fresh new voices and returning favorites, each bringing something unique to the table,” Vanessa McCrann, Lead Organizer of West Slope Startup Week, said.

WSSW also features a pitch competition, where rural founders pitch their ventures for a chance to earn capital, mentorship and in-kind resources. Last year’s competition awarded more than $380K.

Two of Colorado’s top state leaders, State Treasurer Dave Young and Attorney General Phil Weiser, will also attend and speak on entrepreneurship and innovation in rural Colorado.

This year’s event also features the first-ever Night Market for rural creatives, hosted by the Rural Creative Collective at The Powerhouse on Sat., Oct. 7. The market will showcase the works of more than 20 rural makers and artists from across the state in everything from sustainable jewelry and ceramics to herbal remedies and veggie snacks. 

The Night Market will also feature work from Startup Colorado’s inaugural Artist in Residence, Dundee & Lee, from Trinidad. Made up of business partners Emilie Odeile and Ken Chapin, their fiber sculpture “Tom Mix Wept” will be featured at the event. (“Tom Mix wept” refers to the 1929 funeral of Wyatt Earp, where legendary silent film star Tom Mix openly wept while serving as a pallbearer.)

“The goal is to elevate rural creatives as entrepreneurs in their own right and offer them a high-profile venue within one of Colorado’s largest rural startup events,” Startup Colorado Content and Brand Creator Margaret Hedderman said.

For more on West Slope Startup week, go to: westslopestartupweek.com.