Founded in FoCo 2025: Full Schedule

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10:00am MDT

Being a Good Employer Improves Profits SEATS AVAILABLE

Thursday March 13, 2025 10:00am - 10:45am MDT

Is being a world-class employer too expensive? Owners of growing businesses yearn to offer jobs like they themselves would take. But what about the fear of high costs against low return on investment? Wise leaders learn methods to tie high performance of employees who earn a living wage and benefits to better services and better products. Learn cutting-edge methods to avoid the "Vicious Circle" of low pay, low service, declining revenues. Instead, set up the "Virtuous Circle" of decent pay, great service, and increasing revenues.

Speakers

Robert Anderson

Director, Business Navigators, Colorado Enterprise Fundm, Director, Business Navigators

• Manages CEF's team of in-house small business consultants trained to help our borrowers succeed. • Has a track record of small business success, identifying harmful constraints and implementing solutions to restore long-term organizational and financial health. Also served in... Read More →

Thursday March 13, 2025 10:00am - 10:45am MDT
Foxtail 1 1200 Raintree Dr, Fort Collins, CO 80526

Builder Track

Subject People, Growth, Leadership
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10:15am MDT

Writing Your Artist Statement! SEATS AVAILABLE

Thursday March 13, 2025 10:15am - 12:15pm MDT

Gregory Allicar Museum of Art's Robert W. Hoffert Learning Center [Offsite]

Calling all artists, writers, and creatives: emerging or established, mid-career or hobbyist!

Stumped by your artist statement? Don’t know where to start, what to say, or how long it should be? Have an existing statement that feels out of date or doesn’t accurately represent you or your work?

Discover the answers to these questions and more at Writing Your Artist Statement, an interactive workshop led by Madeleine Boyson, regional arts writer and editor.

Together we'll discover your work in your own voice, cover best practices, create new frameworks for statements, and build creative community in the process. Bring an existing statement or start from scratch!

Speakers

Madeleine Boyson

Arts and Culture Writer, Editor, + Communications Coordinator, Gregory Allicar Museum of Art

Madeleine Boyson (she/her) is a Denver-based writer, poet, and artist. She holds a BA in Art History and History from the University of Denver and makes her living as a communications professional, editorial coordinator, and arts writer.

Thursday March 13, 2025 10:15am - 12:15pm MDT
Gregory Allicar Museum of Art's Robert W. Hoffert Learning Center [Offsite] 1400 Remington StFort Collins, CO 80524

Creative Track, Workshop

Subject People, Growth, Communication Skills, Social, Creativity, Solopreneur/Freelancers, Networking
Format Workshop

11:15am MDT

Considerations for a Well-Rounded IP Strategy

Thursday March 13, 2025 11:15am - 12:00pm MDT

Sand Lily

Intellectual property (IP) often becomes an afterthought in the fast-paced entrepreneurship environment. Yet, a thoughtfully crafted IP strategy is essential for protecting and enhancing your business's value at every stage. This session will explore why IP deserves an active, ongoing role in your business planning and how a well-rounded IP strategy can become a dynamic asset as your business evolves.

Join us for a fireside chat led by CSU STRATA’s Director of IP Strategy, Jessica Trostel. We’ll explore the realities of establishing, adapting, and sometimes reshaping IP strategies alongside an attorney experienced in guiding entrepreneurs and an inventor-entrepreneur who has navigated the complex IP landscape. You’ll gain insights into choosing the right IP protections, how to make strategic decisions about adding, dropping, or overlapping IP, and why no single type of IP is inherently more valuable than another.

This discussion, perfect for founders, innovators, and business leaders, will offer practical tips on making IP a cornerstone of your business strategy.

Speakers

Jessica Trostel

Director of IP Strategy, CSU STRATA

Jessica joined CSU STRATA in 2018 to support the Colorado State University System’s technology transfer team in licensing efforts and protecting intellectual property. In 2021, Jessica became the Director of Intellectual Property Strategy to lead the development of the system’s... Read More →

Thursday March 13, 2025 11:15am - 12:00pm MDT
Sand Lily 1200 Raintree Dr, Fort Collins, CO 80526

Builder Track

Subject Strategy, Technology, Small & Medium Business, Growth
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11:15am MDT

From Fluff to Facts: Find The Real Truth Through Conversations SEATS AVAILABLE

Thursday March 13, 2025 11:15am - 12:00pm MDT

Foxtail 2

Are you tired of market research conversations that seem to go nowhere? I’ll walk you through my approach to asking the right questions—the kind that lead to real, actionable feedback. It’s not about surface-level chats or vague promises; it’s about getting specific, diving deep, and learning what really drives your customers.

The key? It’s not about pitching your idea. In fact, it’s about avoiding it entirely. I’ll show you how to shift the conversation to focus on your customers' lives, their problems, and their real-world experiences. Instead of asking hypothetical questions like, "Would you use this?" or "Do you think it's a good idea?" you’ll learn how to ask about what they’ve actually done. That way, even your mom couldn’t lie to you about it!

Here’s what you’ll get out of it:

A new approach to customer conversations: Learn how to structure chats that reveal actionable insights instead of vague, surface-level responses.

Question techniques that work: Discover the exact questions that dig into past behaviors and help you get past fluff to find the stories that actually matter.

Common pitfalls to avoid: Learn how to steer clear of the mistakes that lead to misleading feedback, like fishing for validation or compliments.

How to get honest feedback: Shift the focus to your customers' real experiences to uncover genuine insights that will shape your product decisions.

Practical tools you can use right away: Walk away with question frameworks and strategies you can start using immediately to make every conversation count.

This session is all about making sure your market research is actually useful, so you can build something your customers really need, not just something they say they want.

Speakers

kateryna quinn

Founder, ASTASH | Uplify AI

Kateryna Quinn is a mom, an immigrant, and a proud small business owner in Northern Colorado. Recognized as a Forbes Next 1000 honoree and one of NOCO's 30 Under 30, she has made a name for herself as a leader in marketing and web design. As the founder of ASTASH an award-winning... Read More →

Thursday March 13, 2025 11:15am - 12:00pm MDT
Foxtail 2 1200 Raintree Dr, Fort Collins, CO 80526

Builder Track

Subject People, Strategy, Growth, Sales, Marketing, Communication Skills, Social, Leadership, Mindset, Networking, Small & Medium Business, Solopreneur/Freelancers
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1:00pm MDT

Leading With Vision That Others Can See SEATS AVAILABLE

Thursday March 13, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT

Twinberry Auditorium

Leaders are usually visionary. Those who are not leaders may be more focused on the immediate task at work, the current daycare challenge, the pressing financial concern, or any other issue that keeps them focused on the here and now.

Unfortunately, many leaders do not know how to communicate vision in a way that others can really see it. Done well, vision is unifying and inspiring. If seeing is believing, then one of the most important responsibilities of leaders is to help others see beyond the immediate to a compelling future.

The other unfortunate thing is that most "Vision Statements" aren't visionary. They're often restatements of the mission, or are said so generically that they could apply to numerous other companies, rather than being a picture of the future that the leader wants others to see.

Speakers

Mark Weaver

Open Door Organizational Solutions

Mark started Open Door in 2009 to help organizations radically define their culture. He also provides non-conventional people strategies tailored to radically reinforce organizations’ cultures, once defined. His clients are businesses and Not-For-Profits ranging in size from startups... Read More →

Thursday March 13, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT
Twinberry Auditorium 1200 Raintree Dr, Fort Collins, CO 80526

Builder Track

Subject People, Strategy, Growth, Leadership, Communication Skills, Small & Medium Business
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1:00pm MDT

Arts & Culture Funding Landscape SEATS AVAILABLE

Thursday March 13, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT

Prairie Sage 1

The philanthropic climate for cultural organizations and artistic endeavors changed significantly during the pandemic and continues to shift. From general operating support to program grants, from government assistance to private foundations, this landscape is evolving as vital yet limited resources support arts, cultural and creative endeavors across the state. This dynamic panel conversation is a chance to speak directly to those funders. The discussion will highlight changes in funding priorities, new opportunities opening up, equity in arts funding and more.

Speakers

Meredith Badler

Deputy Director, Colorado Business Committee for the Arts (CBCA)

Meredith Badler is the Deputy Director at Colorado Business Committee for the Arts (CBCA). She enjoys making a positive impact in Colorado through creativity and community partnerships every single day. Meredith oversees all of CBCA’s programs, major events, research and trainings... Read More →

Thursday March 13, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT
Prairie Sage 1 1200 Raintree Dr, Fort Collins, CO 80526

Creative Track

Subject Growth, Leadership, Creativity, Mindset
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2:00pm MDT

The Built-In Business Benefits of Social Justice SEATS AVAILABLE

Thursday March 13, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm MDT

Sand Lily

In a world that increasingly values social responsibility, businesses that actively embrace social justice initiatives not only contribute to meaningful change but also unlock a myriad of for their organizations. This fireside chat will delve into how prioritizing social justice can lead to innovation, enhanced community connections, and sustained growth. As entrepreneurs, nonprofits, startups, and creatives adapt to shifting societal norms, understanding the intersection of social justice and business can be a powerful tool for future-proofing their organizations.

Objectives:

Define Social Justice in a Business Context: Explain what social justice means for businesses and why it is crucial for modern enterprises.

Highlight the Business Case for Social Justice: Showcase tangible examples and data illustrating how social justice initiatives can drive innovation, improve employee morale, and enhance customer loyalty.

Encourage Connection and Collaboration: Foster a mindset among participants that values collaboration with communities and stakeholders to create a more equitable business landscape.

Provide Actionable Steps: Offer participants practical strategies for integrating social justice principles into their business models.

Speakers

Dr. Laura Borland

Founder of Dad-Ease, Dad Advocate, and Doctor of Social Work, Founder

Dr. Laura Borland, DSW, is a fatherhood advocate and founder of Dad-Ease, an ecosystem of solutions designed to promote parental parity. With a deep commitment to addressing the challenges faced by dads, she strives to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all parents... Read More →

Alana White

Architect and advocate, W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Alana G. White is a program officer for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek, Michigan. In this role, she works in the foundation’s priority place of Michigan to support thriving children, working families and equitable communities. White is responsible for identifying... Read More →

Thursday March 13, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm MDT
Sand Lily 1200 Raintree Dr, Fort Collins, CO 80526

Creative Track

Subject People, Strategy, Growth, Leadership, Communication Skills, NonProfit, DEI, Mental Health, Creativity
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3:15pm MDT

Future-Proof Your Workforce: Employers' Guide to Apprenticeships SEATS AVAILABLE

Thursday March 13, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm MDT

Sand Lily

The top concern for many employers is how to attract and retain skilled talent to drive business growth. This presentation explores the benefits of apprenticeship programs for employers, showcasing how these programs can serve as powerful tools for workforce development through building your talent pipeline and enhancing employee retention, productivity, innovation, and diversity.

Speakers

Heather Everett

Work-Based Learning & Apprenticeship Manager, Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce

Heather Everett is the Work-Based Learning & Apprenticeship Manager at the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce. She spent over 20 years in senior care before making a career change in 2023 to manage the Work-Based Learning Incentive Program grant for the Fort Collins Chamber. From... Read More →

Thursday March 13, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm MDT
Sand Lily 1200 Raintree Dr, Fort Collins, CO 80526

Builder Track

Subject People, Strategy, Growth, Leadership, Small & Medium Business, NonProfit
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Founded in FoCo 2025

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