I recently sat down with Make Startups for a conversation on ecosystem building. We discussed collaboration, investment ecosystems, and how to break the inertia that keeps innovative ideas from becoming sustainable businesses. Below are the five key takeaways. You can read the original article here. #1 Ecosystem Leadership Requires True Collaboration, Not Just Cooperation One… Read More >
Pursuing and winning a significant Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant requires more than expert grant writing—it demands the following: The TechHubNow! (THN!) team worked collaboratively with the Governor’s office and the leadership of the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) across Colorado’s technology ecosystems to develop and implement a rigorous process, ultimately leading…
When I helped launch TechHubNow! with Brooks Johnson and JB Holston in 2023, our goal was to pursue an EDA Regional Innovation Hub (Tech Hub) grant in collaboration with the Colorado Governor’s Office/OEDIT. We had support from Gary Community Ventures, ZomaLAB, Thiry-OLeary Foundation, and Brad Feld. I was optimistic that Colorado had created the right…
TechHubNow! is a new public-private initiative to accelerate statewide collaboration, highlight Colorado’s strengths as a tech hub, and bring together partners who will develop equitable, inclusive, and highly competitive applications for Tech Hub Designation.
I have been honored to work with fellow NACIE members to shape a new $10B Regional Innovation Hub program that will be funded by The CHIPS & Science Act.
In March, Energize Colorado kicked off its fourth year, and I announced my transition from CEO to Chair of the organization. The transition allows me to both focus on emerging economic development opportunities at federal and state levels, and it also supports Energize Colorado's next phase of growth in service to the state’s underinvested in entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Highlights from the Energize Colorado 2022 Impact Report. Energize Colorado made significant progress toward building a more resilient ecosystem in Colorado by supporting small businesses, particularly those owned by the most underinvested in groups of entrepreneurs: women, rural, veterans, and BIPOC.
I have accepted two new opportunities to share my expertise at the national level, joining the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NACIE) and the Advisory Board of the Center for American Entrepreneurship.
In March, Energize Colorado turned two. Little did we know that some of our co-founders and board members were working behind the scenes to have the Governor’s Office recognize our second anniversary with this proclamation.
Which factors contribute most to business resiliency? To the resilience of innovation ecosystems and economies? It may surprise you to learn that the mindsets of people within the business are as predictive as use of technology or access to capital. That’s the message of Theo Edmonds, JD, MHA, MFA, and Cameron Lister, MPH, co-founders of…
As Energize Colorado nears yet another milestone—entering its third year in March 2022–I’m pleased to share that Kaiser Permanente has made a $1 million contribution to Energize Colorado’s Gap Fund.
In the wake of COVID-19, which factors have contributed most to the economic resilience of Colorado’s small businesses? With a green light from the State of Colorado, I set to work forming a diverse and creative group of economists, public health experts, and business leaders to answer that question.
Which macro trends are driving changes in Colorado’s small business economy? And what do those trends look like at the ground level? These are some of the key questions that Colorado Governor Jared Polis asks of the economists and business leaders who serve on the state’s Revenue Estimating Advisory’ Committee (GREAC).
Miami University and the Farmer School's John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship has been named winner of the 2020 NASDAQ Center of Entrepreneurial Excellence Award. Since 2019 I have had the honor of serving on the institute’s advisory board. This new award places them among the top U.S. universities for entrepreneurs.
Big Green gets underserved kids in urban communities excited about fresh food. I’m delighted to support their work by serving on its board and by working closely with Tighe Brown, the CEO of Big Green.
On March 24th Energize Colorado volunteers gathered to reflect on our first year and our impacts across Colorado’s diverse small-business community. Our Gap Fund efforts alone provided $26M to over 2,000 businesses, 97% of which belong to underserved communities.
In a recent analysis by Brookings Institute, “Overcoming Bias in Small Business Relief in Colorado,” authors outline the Energize Colorado Gap Fund’s successful approach to serving Colorado’s sizable small-business community—particularly rural, black, hispanic, women, and veteran-owned businesses.
Early on, my mother told me: “Make potential your North Star.” In this interview with former Cintrifuse colleague Tim Schigel, I explore my entrepreneurial journey and success strategies—from taking risks to building relationships.
Launched in 2014 to promote investment in ecosystems and startups outside of Silicon Valley, Rise of the Rest recently published its 2021 playbook, a series of case studies that includes Energize Colorado.
Since 2019, I’ve been honored to select two female-led entrepreneurial ventures from the Greater Cincinnati area as the recipients of the Wendy S. Lea Grant for Female Founders.
In this interview, I share what I’ve learned from my most influential mentors, including Randall Murphy, a business owner who took a chance on me when I was young; Brad Feld, Managing Director of Foundry Group and co-founder of Techstars; and Bob McDonald, former CEO of P&G.
Wendy Lea speaks with 9 News Business Brief host Ryan Frazier about Energize Colorado's efforts to bolster small businesses.
In late March, I had the unique opportunity to get involved in a special project aimed at helping small businesses across Colorado navigate through the economic crisis caused by COVID-19. Little did I know that this opportunity for public service would capture my head, heart, and imagination in such a way that I would ultimately launch and lead Energize Colorado.