Need some extra horsepower?
From funding to marketing to AI: discover the tools and insights you need over three, curated days
Celebrating Rural Colorado’s Entrepreneurial Spirit
Free 3-day conference at Otero College
Drop in for one session, or attend everything, the choice is yours. There is something for everyone who is working on their local business.
Rural Startup Days is for founders and business builders in La Junta and across Southeast Colorado
Whether you’re launching a new idea, growing a main street business, or building the next big thing.
Powered by Startup Colorado
We are a statewide independent 501(c)3 committed to supporting rural founders with access to mentorship, networking, and business education. With deep grassroots in all four corners of Colorado, we lead the way by showing what’s possible outside city limits.
2026 Schedule
Day 1 – Wednesday, Feb. 25: Getting Started
Venue: Otero College Student Center
Early Afternoon
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Registration and Networking
2:00pm – 3:00pm
Panel: Where do you go when you want to start a business? Mastering the Essentials of Small Business Success
Moderator: John Armstrong - GM, Clean Valley Recycling / CEO, Onalytics AI
Panelists:
- Jaydon Rice - Interim Director, East SBDC
- Christine Louden - Executive Director, Emergent Campus - Trinidad
- Caroline Trani - Community Relationship Manager, CHFA
- Helena Cappon - Founder of Gub Gub's Pizza and Ice Cream
3:00pm – 4:00pm
Social Media + Marketing for Startups
Speakers: Kate Ishay and Kelsey Parks, Cofounders of Psyche Digital Marketing
Realistic marketing strategies for small businesses, including:
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How to choose the right platforms
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What “good content” actually looks like for small teams
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Simple ways to stay consistent without a large budget
4:00pm – 5:00pm
Community Connection Fireside Chat
A fireside chat with the business owners literally building and sustaining our region — from construction and plumbing to local retail — exploring how Southeast Colorado’s economic story is still being written.
Moderator: Kelsey Parks, Cofounder of Psyche Digital Marketing
Panelists:
- Jeff Chenoweth, Chenoweth Construction, Springfield
- Dave Hill, Falcon Industries, Inc., La Junta
- Elaine McIntyre, La Junta Trading Company, La Junta
- Mike Oquist, Valley Plumbing, La Junta
- Eldon & Sylvia Stoker, La Junta Milling & Elevator Co.
Evening Activity
5:30pm – 7:30pm
Discover Local Scavenger Hunt
At each site participants collect local art cards depicting SE Colorado designed by K12 students from Walsh, Las Animas, and Holly.
Locations:
- Michael’s Pizza place
- Wild Roots Kava Co.
- Klein Makerspace
- Ends at Strike & Play Bowling Alley
Day 2 – Thursday, Feb. 26: Leveling Up (Launch/Growth Focus)
Venue: Otero College Student Center
Morning
8:30am – 9:30am
Registration + Coffee & light breakfast at HQ
9:30am – 10:30am
Opening Remarks + Welcome to Rural Startup Days
Speakers:
- Dr. Kimberly Zant - President, Otero College
- Becky Sporrer - Agri Business Management Instructor, Otero College
- Allie Hall-Vanhook - Director of Career & Technical Education and Workforce Development, Otero College
- Kyle Lasley - Vice President of Academic Affairs, Otero College
- Vanessa McCrann - Managing Director, Startup Colorado
- Julie Worley - Director, Youth E-Fair
- Nolan Brown - Founder, Auggie's Market in La Junta
10:45am – 12:00pm
Startup Colorado Roadtrip: Access to Capital for Your Business
Moderator: Mark Madic - Director of Partnerships & Ecosystem Building, Startup Colorado
Speakers:
- Sandra Lopez - Sr Community Development Officer, B:Side Fund
- Taylor Littrell - Rural Site Coordinator, Rocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute (RMMFI)
- Danelle Berg - Otero County Economic Development Coordinator, Otero Partners Inc.
- Jonathan Fox - CEO/President, Fowler State Bank
- Stephanie Gonzales - Executive Director, Southeast Colorado Enterprise Development, Inc. (SECED)
- Heather Waits - Operations Manager, Energize Colorado
- Sara Hines - Co-Owner/Co-Founder, Strike & Play Bowling Alley
Afternoon
12:30pm – 1:30pm
Community Lunch Panel: Meet the Builders of Southeast Colorado
Moderator: Pat McGee - “Voice of the Valley” radio host
Speakers:
- Kieran Harris – Destination Hydration, CSU Fort Collins
- Geneva Hernandez – The Fork & Food Truck, Rocky Ford
- Deanna Hostetler - CEDC Circular Economy Development Center
- Carly Johnson – Wild Roots Kava Co., La Junta
- Cisco Perez – Colorado Sublimation Printing, La Junta
- Rogan Smith – Smith Boar Goats, Springfield FFA
- Thaddeus Wertz – 17 Squared LLC, McClave
1:30pm – 2:15pm
Keynote: Sarah Hinkley, Barn Owl Precision (BOPA)
Sarah Hinkley of Barn Owl Precision Agriculture (BOPA) shares a Southeast Colorado success story, highlighting how innovation rooted in this region has fueled business growth and long-term resilience. This keynote reflects on what’s working locally, what it takes to scale in a rural market, and why Southeast Colorado is well-positioned for the future of agriculture and entrepreneurship.
2:30pm – 3:30pm
Afternoon Breakouts - Choose the one that's right for you!
- Idea Track: Turning Curiosity Into Commitment: Deciding Whether Entrepreneurship Is the Right Path
- Speaker: Amanda Leck, seasoned entrepreneur
- Room: Rizzuto Banquet Room
- Launch Track: Legal Spend: When Should I Hire a Lawyer?
- Speaker: Ken Shiau, attorney and founder of Melete Legal
- Room: 112
- Growth Track: Tech Tools for Small Business (AI, Websites, SEO)
- Speaker: Elijah Quinn-Ridgwell, Chief Technology Officer of SECOM Inc.
- Room: 120
4:00pm – 5:00pm
Closing Afternoon Panel: Lessons Learned in Entrepreneurship
Moderator: Mark Madic - Director of Ecosystem Building & Partnerships, Startup Colorado
Speakers:
- Seth Davis – Founder, VacHolster, Ordway
- Sarah Hinkley - Founder, BOPA (Barn Owl Precision Agriculture)
- Larkin Smith - Founder, The Fabric Garden, Springfield
- Trista Steward Tuttle - Founder, F&C Country Elegance, Eads
- Brittany Baca - Founder, Chandler & Fable Bookshop, Rocky Ford
- Cody & Sonja Stoker - Cofounders, Anchor Feeds, La Junta
Day 3 – Friday, Feb. 27: Celebration of Entrepreneurship
Venue: Otero College Student Center
Lunch Awards Celebration (11:00am – 1:00pm)
10:00am – 11:00am
Understanding AI: What It Means for Rural Communities
Speaker: Andrew Aitken - Executive Director, The Center for Rural AI
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere, and it's normal to feel uncertain or even worried about what it means for your business and your community. This session will help you understand what's actually happening in the AI landscape - from the big tech companies racing to build new tools, to the real changes already affecting how businesses operate. We'll talk openly about common fears: Will AI replace jobs? Is it just hype? Do I need to become a tech expert to stay competitive? You'll get straight answers about what's real and what's overblown.
11:00am – 11:30am
Why It’s Important to Buy Local
Speaker: Maureen Rikhof - Co-owner, Ark Valley Pallet Company
Maureen Rikhof, Co-owner of Ark Valley Pallet Company, shares a practical look at how supporting local businesses strengthens rural economies. From job creation to community stability, this session highlights why buying local matters—and how everyday purchasing decisions can directly impact the future of Southeast Colorado’s communities.
11:30am – 12:00pm
Revitalizing Rural Communities through Entrepreneurship
Speaker: Heather McBroom - Executive Director, The Thrive Networks
Heather McBroom, Executive Director of The Thrive Networks, explores how entrepreneurship can serve as a powerful tool for rural renewal. Drawing from real-world experience, she’ll share how communities can foster local leadership, support small business growth, and create long-term economic resilience from within.
12:00pm – 12:30pm
SECO Business Boost Grant Awards
Presentation of $4,000 in grant funding to five Southeast Colorado businesses. Awards are made possible by Three Corners Connector / Grid United and are selected by an independent review committee.
12:30pm – 1:00pm
Closing Remarks & Next Steps
Appreciation for attendees, partners, and sponsors, plus a look at upcoming opportunities for rural entrepreneurs from the Startup Colorado team.
Ready to grow your business?
Register now for three days of hands-on learning, meaningful connections, and dedicated support built for Southeast Colorado business owners.
Build your week, your way
Help shape #WSSW25
LEND A HAND AND BE A PART OF THE MAGIC
#WSSW25 Program Tracks
Follow what fuels you— West Slope Startup Week is organized into themed tracks that each focus on a core topic important to rural entrepreneurs.
Climate
New this year! Explore where climate and commerce meet to help build resilient businesses for a changing world.
Money
The how-to’s and do’s and don’ts of funding, financing, and investment. It’s all about the money…or is it?
Communications
The who, what, why, where, and how of branding, marketing, advertising, engagement, and public relations.
People
The heart of it all – developing leaders, building teams, creating culture, fostering engagement, cultivating talent.
Tech
The programmers, coders, designers, roboticists, and product visionaries behind the computer – the builders of tech.
Toolbox
Interactive workshops that tackle fundamentals, how-to’s, and skills-building.
Makers
The manufacturers, builders, artists, scientists, product designers, and sewers of the west – all making something out of nothing.
Fun!
Connect, unwind, and celebrate! From outdoor adventures to laid-back socials, this track is all about building community and enjoying the journey… together.
Latine
This bilingual track centers Latine founders and their unique journeys. Sessions are offered in Spanish or English with translation available to create space for connection and empowerment.
Youth
The path towards your first startup begins early on; WSSW begins supporting youth entrepreneurship this year.
Meet the Track Captains
The human power behind a massive weeklong educational program; meet the team who stepped up to lead WSSW25!
Full Program
Submissions are currently closed. We will unveil the WSSW25 Agenda in early August. In the meantime, save your seat by registering now.