Chaffee County Economic Development Corporation

Jan-March 22 - Recruited and onboarded additional (now 25+) local and statewide business advisors for our Mentor Network: httpsdrivenbynaturecomentorsJanMa... 22 - Grew followers on our various social media channels for the EDC and initiative:oLinkedin - httpswwwlinkedincomcompanychaffee... oInstagram - www.instagram.com/drivenbynature.co Jan. 22 - Executed our 125-attendee community launch event, Driven By Nature: A Celebration of Makers and Doers at the Steamplant Events Center in Salida: httpsdrivenbynaturecoblogcentralm... 22 - Further solicitation of company applications, then vetted and selected a cohort of 10 businesses to participate in our Ascent business accelerator program. Meet the cohort here: httpsdrivenbynatureco2022cohortFe... 22 - Planned, scheduled, executed weekly Ascent cohort trainings, including Lean Canvas, Key Metrics, Goal Setting, Pitch Training, and a Capital Sources Reverse Pitch. March 22 - Began 1:1 introductions between Ascent Cohort and Ascent Mentors, 15+ to date. Those mentoring interactions are ongoing. Jan-March 22 - Continued recruitment of Central Mountain Angels, a local investor network to support local company growth. March 31 strategy session including 6 experienced investors who live locally, designed to further refine our strategy for finding and engaging other investors locally. April 22 - Planned, scheduled, executed weekly Ascent cohort trainings, including Lean Canvas, Key Metrics, Goal Setting, Pitch Training, and a Capital Sources Reverse Pitch.April 22 - Planned and executed a highly successful First Annual Startup Summit event on April 28th at the Surf Hotel in Buena Vista, Colorado. oGraduated first cohort and recognized them onstage oSold Out attendance at 150 guests, including local and statewide entrepreneurs, investors, advisors, and mentors. Included numerous local policy makers and future funders. oEvent recap blog here: httpsdrivenbynaturecoblogascentst... oInspirational headline Startup Stories from entrepreneurs oBest practices interview with Elizabeth Marsh, executive director, SCAPE Durango accelerator April-June 22 - Recruited and onboarded additional (now 30+) local and statewide business advisors for our Mentor Network: https://drivenbynature.co/mentors/ April-June 22 - Grew followers on our various social media channels for the EDC and initiative: oLinkedin - httpswwwlinkedincomcompanychaffee... oInstagram - www.instagram.com/drivenbynature.co June 22 - Initiated an internal review process to refine and improve Ascent Accelerator for next Falls second cycle. May-June 22 - Continued 1:1 introductions between Ascent Cohort and Ascent Mentors, 20+ to date. Those mentoring interactions are ongoing. May-June 22 - Continued recruitment of Central Mountain Angels, a local investor network to support local company growth. Initial group of 6now 8 investors who live locally, designed to further refine our strategy for finding and engaging other investors locally. Heard first pitches from DifferentKind (BV), Fading West (BV). First investments expected summer of 22. July-Sept. 22 - Continued development of Central Mountain Angels: oRebranded to Ark_Angels, based on investor preferences. oContinued hearing near monthly pitches from local entrepreneurs, including DifferentKind (BV), Colorado Central Telecom (BV), Zombees (BV), and Pidgi (BV) oCreated logo & branding: First Investments agreed and funds delivered, totaling $355,000 in two deals July-Sept. 22 - Continued monthly engagements with key cohort leadership teams, leading to continued introductions and education. Continued 1:1 introductions between Ascent Cohort and Ascent Mentors, 20+ to date. Those mentoring interactions are ongoing. July-Sept. 22 - Initiated an internal review process to refine and improve Ascent Accelerator for next Falls second cycle. Resulted in new for 2023 events and services:oPowder_Pitch at Monarch Mountain (March, graphics below) oRiver_Pitch on the Arkansas River (May, graphics in development) oNew Ascent application process, including slide decks and short video formatoArk_Angels involvement in selection, Super-mentors for cohort 2 July 22 - Hosted visiting delegation from OREC & The Wright, supporting two days of programming July 22 - Hosted delegation from OEDIT Economic Development Commission August 22 - Hosted and toured reps from the Office of U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper Sept. 22 - Designed and led a Denver Startup Week panel to showcase our local ecosystem, titled Economic Engines: Mobilizing Startup + Angel Investor Ecosystems July-Sept. 22 - Recruited and onboarded additional (now 35+) local and statewide business advisors for our Mentor Network: https://drivenbynature.co/mentors/ April-June 22 - Grew followers on our various social media channels for the EDC and initiative: oLinkedin - httpswwwlinkedincomcompanychaffee... oInstagram - www.instagram.com/drivenbynature.co Oct. -Dec. 22 - Recruited and selected Ascent Cohort #2 (Winter 23 Cohort), which has since been posted online: httpsdrivenbynatureco2023cohort Began planning for Ascent Launch Event, Jan. 19th at the Steamplant Events Center in Salida Began planning for Powder_Pitch at Monarch Mountain Oct. -Dec. 22 - Continued development of Ark_Angels investor network oContinued hearing near monthly pitches from local entrepreneurs oExploring SPV vs. Micro-Fund approaches in consultation with Rockies Venture Club, Colorado Angel Network, SCAPE Accelerator (Durango), and others. oNew deal in play with Zombeez Oct. -Dec. 22 - Continued monthly engagements with key cohort 1 leadership teams, leading to continued introductions and education. Continued 1:1 introductions between Ascent Cohort and Ascent Mentors. Those mentoring interactions are ongoing. Oct. -Dec. 22 - Recruited and onboarded additional (now 40+) local and statewide business advisors for our Mentor Network: https://drivenbynature.co/mentors/ Oct. -Dec. 22 - Grew followers on our various social media channels for the EDC and initiative: oLinkedin - httpswwwlinkedincomcompanychaffee... oInstagram - www.instagram.com/drivenbynature.co