A dozen hopeful Colorado founders logged on to Zoom earlier this month to pitch their early stage business ideas to a panel of judges. It was a little different than most pitch contests. The assignment was to center human connection in their business plans.
The event was organized by Startup Colorado, a group dedicated to supporting the state’s startup ecosystem. The point of the challenge is to encourage entrepreneurs to think intentionally about what it means to belong.
“Businesses are just not economic engines,” Tim Martinez, the director of program development with Startup Colorado, said during the call. “They create places where people gather, work, contribute, feel known, and feel at home. So we flipped the usual framing. We didn't just ask, is business additive to belonging? We're asking, is belonging additive to business?"
Belonging in this context means creating tools to help people feel more connected.
“The goal is to witness one of these companies, if not even more, raise funds and scale beyond their initial customer base to truly pressure test this intersection of commerce and belonging,” Martinez said.
The judges will select three founders to pitch directly to investors during Colorado Startup Week in Denver later this year.
Each business had three minutes to make their case to the judges during the Zoom call. The businesses represented a broad cross-section of what it means to belong.
For instance, Sled Outdoors is building a platform to make it easier to coordinate outdoor adventures with friends.
“Too many adventures die in the group chat; plans fall apart, gear becomes a barrier,” according to Sled Outdoors founder Kyle Parker. “People struggle to find the right crew, the right experience, or the confidence to try something new.”
Erick Burgos pitched the Veterans Outdoor Adventure Challenge to help veterans rediscover a sense of community when they re-enter civilian life.
“I lived that transition myself,” said Burgos, who spent 22 years in the military. “Like many veterans, there were moments where I felt disconnected physically, mentally, and emotionally … It's about rebuilding something many lose after service, a team, a mission, a sense of belonging.”
Other businesses centered on volunteer networks, the blue-collar workforce and connecting people who are going through similar life experiences.
Martinez said the contest is an important experiment.
“If we can prove that belonging is additive to business and that business is additive to belonging, then we can have a powerful new way to think about entrepreneurship,” he said.
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