By Brittany Cupp
Applications are open for the 2022 Southwest Colorado Accelerator Program for Entrepreneurs (SCAPE). SCAPE works with start-ups and early-stage companies to help launch their next bright idea to the market. This will be SCAPE’s ninth cohort following a successful year of acquisitions, fundraising and community events.
The core of SCAPE is an intensive six-month accelerator program that prepares companies for expansion. With eight years under its belt, the program has a proven approach to helping companies take their ideas to the next level. From product development and marketing to operations and finance, the SCAPE curriculum has a robust catalog of topics geared toward company launch, growth and success. The goal is to provide the education, skills and a support network for rural Four Corners entrepreneurs to develop strong businesses in the region.
Here’s a 9-minute sample of the type of local start-ups the SCAPE program has been supporting.
SCAPE serves southwest Colorado and Northern New Mexico businesses and investors. Primary focus will be given to applicants with ventures wanting to market and compete outside the local area while remaining headquartered in the region.
Beginning January 2022, SCAPE will be hitting the road to tour the Four Corners region and connect with potential applicants. In partnership with local business support organizations, each community will have a unique event offering, like founder stories, cider tasting, office hours, mentor Q-and-As, lunch and learns. The tour kicks off in Durango on January 7 and will hit Dolores, Pagosa Springs, Farmington and Silverton.
More information can be found at: www.goscape.org/events.
To date, SCAPE has launched 43 companies which have raised $27 million in capital contributing to the creation of 200 local jobs. Companies accepted into the program are supported by an incredible network of mentors, internal staff, fellow entrepreneurs and local investors, because it really does take a village.
Learn more about SCAPE’s application at: www.goscape.org/apply. The deadline to apply is January 31.