The 2025 Greater Colorado Venture Summit..

Join us in Salida, CO for the Third Annual Greater Colorado Venture Summit (GCVS)—an exclusive, invite-only gathering designed for the builders, dreamers, and doers fueling high-growth ventures across rural Colorado. This event is all about tackling the unique challenges and celebrating the successes of founders in our state’s most inspiring small towns.

This isn't your typical conference. It’s an immersive experience built around connection, collaboration, and a serious dose of Colorado fun. With a renewed focus on founders, we’re expanding this year’s summit with more targeted workshops, curated networking, and epic outdoor adventures—because great conversations don’t just happen in boardrooms.

Thank You to our Sponsors

GCVS is your front-row seat to the future of rural entrepreneurship in Colorado.

View the event agenda below.

Who: GCVF Founders and invited attendees

Location: SteamPlant Event Center, Salida, CO

Dates: September 8-10, Founders only Sept. 8

 

Agenda

Founders Summit (GCVS Portfolio Founders Only)

Tuesday, September 9th Salida SteamPlant Theatre and Event Center 

7:45 am-8:30 am: Breakfast at SteamPlant Ballroom

8:30 am-10:00 am: Founder Workshops. Pick from one of four concurrent workshops that interest you:
Patrick Thompson: Insight to Action: Turning discovery into your superpower -Annex
T.A. McCann: Focus & ITINDY - week/month/quarterly planning and updates -Theatre
Jim Marsden: Performance in Execution vs. Discovery-driven Execution- how to accelerate learning for rapid growth - Annex
Paige Goss: How to be a finance-forward CEO -Mezzanine

10:10 am-10:15 am: Break

10:15 am - 11:45 am: Founder Workshops Round 2. Pick from one of four concurrent workshops that interest you:
Patrick Thompson: Insight to Action: Turning discovery into your superpower -Mezanine
T.A. McCann: Good Advisors and Investors Want to be Managed: 5 Jobs of a CEO -Theatre
Jim Marsden: Performance in Execution vs. Discovery-driven Execution- how to accelerate learning for rapid growth -Annex
Paige Goss: How to be a Finance-forward CEO -Annex

Full Summit (All Attendees)

Tuesday, September 9th Salida SteamPlant Theater and Event Center

11:30 am-12:45 pm: Attendee arrival and lunch. Check in at the SteamPlant Paquette lobby and buffet lunch in Ballroom

12:45 pm-1:30 pm: GCVF Welcome and Surprise Announcement

1:30 pm-3 pm: Afternoon Excursions Choose between different excursion options to see Salida and spend time with Summit attendees:
Mountain Bike Ride (Beginner and intermediate/expert group options available)
Group Hike: Hiking at S Mountain
River Hang: Option to take out standup paddleboards or hang out on the riverfront
Startup Club: Geek out and tinker on particular topics. Enjoy rapid collaboration with peers.
Tour of VeroTouch 3D printed houses with Jake Rishavy
Tour of DRAM with Brady Becker

3 pm-3:15 pm : Break.

3:15 pm - 4:45 pm: Workshops (meet in Theatre): Choose between concurrent workshops:
Dave Parker: Startup Economics and the 14 Business Models- which one are you and HOW it impacts your enterprise value? -Theatre
T.A. McCann: The Startup Fundraising Cookbook (8 steps to raising a solid round). -Annex
Seth Levine: Scaling Yourself & Personal Productivity -Annex
Nicole Glaros: Awesome Decision Making -Mezzanine

4:45pm - 5pm: Break and Snacks with BarUEat

5 pm- 6:30 pm: Founder-Led Workshops (meet in Theatre): Choose between concurrent workshops:
Patrick Thompson: Startups in the AI age - from talent to tools. Unpack what the future of startups looks like in real time.-Annex
Dave Parker: Startup Economics and the 14 Business Models: Which one are you and HOW it impacts your enterprise value? -Mezzanine
Seth Levine: From Seed to A: How to make the leap -Theatre
Nicole Glaros: The Science of Scaling and 10x Growth -Annex

6:30 pm - 7 pm: Break

7 pm-8:30 pm: Micro-dinners. Pre-assigned dinners throughout Salida with curated discussions.

8:30 pm- 10 pm: After Party: The Victoria Tavern

Wednesday, September 10th

7:30 am- 8:15 am: Breakfast at SteamPlant Ballroom

8:15 am-9:30 am: Panel to Workshop: M&A as a Service: How to know when it’s the right time to sell
Moderated by T.A. McCann
Breakouts:
1. Ready to shop - Lead by T.A. McCann
2. Ready to consider - Lead by Dave Parker
3. Not even close - Lead by Founders of Rever and Revel Bikes

9:30 am- 9:45 am: Break

9:45 am - 11:30 am : Live Podcast: The Bear Roars with Dan Caruso and Seth Levine. During this live podcast recording, Dan and Seth will discuss the Evolution of Venture Capital, Colorado’s startup ecosystem, and what the next generation will bring.

11:30 am-12:15 pm: GCVF Wrap up. Future of VC and Startup in Colorado from the eyes of GCVF.

12:15 pm: Lunch on your own. Invite another attendee to lunch!

12:45pm: LP Lunch - Highside Bar and Grill If you are an LP join us in this opportunity to network with other LP’s over lunch.

Meet the Speakers

  • When do I show up?

    • GCVF portfolio founders will show up on Monday. All other attendees will show up for lunch on Tuesday.

    Are excursions mandatory?

    • We highly suggest you attend an excursion. This is an opportunity to network in a fun, informal way and find common ground outside of your work.

    Where should I stay?

    • Salida has many options from boutique hotels, airbnbs, to standard hotels. Founders tickets includes a room.

    How do I sponsor GCVS?

    I have another question!