Piloting Spark Lab
Spark Lab was created in partnership with Startup Colorado to support the development of Colorado’s rural youth entrepreneurial ecosystem.
On January 18th, we held a pitch event where 12 rural innovators, coming from six towns across four counties, pitched to an audience of over 60 community leaders including educators, superintendents, bank presidents, mayors, and regional industry. Through the generous support of our donors, including the Morgridge Family Foundation, we have invested over $10,000 in seed funding into these young entrepreneurs and their ventures.
Our underlying thesis at Homegrown Pathways is that as a country, we do not suffer from a lack of good ideas. Our challenge is a deficit of empowered ideas. For ideas to be empowered, they need to be identified, encouraged and invested in. In just this small group of 12 rural youth innovators, we saw ventures that ranged from uplifting student voices through writing and music, connecting people to jobs through technology and community service, construction and homebuilding, personalized and environmentally sustainable gifts and imagery, and culinary sweets that bring joy to people’s lives. All of these visions have a place and importance, and will be connected to other important ideas in the future.
We are grateful for the support to realize this pilot and excited for the potential of replicating the model at scale across rural Colorado. Thank you for supporting these young innovators and taking the time to learn more about Cash, Evan, Jizelle, Joshua, Katrina, Livia, Luke, Madeleine, Monserrat, Natalia, Neva, and Sunny.
Youth innovation thrives across the Western Slope, as proven by where Spark Lab participants come from!
The Spark Lab Experience
Spark Lab is a 6-week program designed to support young entrepreneurs through thought-partnership, “meetups”, and real-world networking opportunities on their way to deliver a 3-minute business pitch at the culminating Pitch Event. Our pilot cohort consisted of 12 innovators that partook in a weekly in-person meetup (for one hour and fifteen minutes, with a virtual option), with optional virtual office hours to assist in “pre-work” activities prior to meetups. The program features an accompanying participant guide that features what to expect, key terms, and includes live links to all associated pre-work and reflection activities. Additionally, the Homegrown Pathways team worked with innovators one-on-one as thought-partners to help refine their business ideas and pitches.
The Pitch Event
$10,000+ Raised & Awarded
Thanks to our incredible community of donors who believe in empowering young people—along with the Morgridge Family Foundation’s generous match campaign—we raised over $10,000 to directly support our Spark Lab innovators. Every dollar was awarded at the pitch event, fueling their ventures and next steps! Donate to Spark Lab here!
Audience of 60+ CommunITY Leaders
Our pitch event brought together over 60 attendees from across the community, including educators, superintendents, chamber leaders, bank presidents, mayors, and venture capital representatives—all united in supporting the next generation of innovators.
Additional Innovator Prizes & Supports
In addition to their seed funding prizes, Homegrown Pathways awarded each participant an additional $100 to be used toward a professional development class or event, supporting their personal education and career growth. Each participant received a Welcome and a Launch package that included foundational books on entrepreneurship and leadership. Furthermore, Homegrown Pathways is reimbursing mileage expenses for travel to and from Spark Lab, and each participant received a $200 Visa gift card in recognition of the value of their time and investment in the program.
12 Incredible Partners
Our work wouldn’t be possible without the support of 12 incredible partners who are committed to empowering young voices and fueling the next generation of business ventures. A special thank you to Startup Colorado for partnering with us in the creation of Spark Lab and to Alt Space for their incredible support in providing a convening space and hosting our pitch event!
The Outcomes
We started with a pre-survey before participants even stepped foot in Spark Lab, then checked in again after the pitch event to see how they’d grown.
The results say it all—participants felt more confident, improved their communication skills, built stronger connections in the community, and gained a better understanding of the resources available to support their entrepreneurial journeys. Check out survey results below:
100% of participants shared that they are more likely to take action on a future business as a result of Spark Lab!
Pre → Post Survey Results
100% of Innovators shared they would recommend Spark Lab to a Friend.
100% Said their spark Lab experience advanced their business.
9.3 Average Program Rating by participants on a 1-10 scale.
“We have learned so much and met so many great people. I can say, without a doubt, I will take everything I have learned here and utilize it in my entrepreneurial life. This program that you all have created is truly amazing.”
Our Vision for Scale
Our goal, with the support of the funding community, is to refine and scale this model across rural Colorado, in partnership with Startup Colorado, school districts, workforce centers, post-secondary institutions and industry.
Imagine the impact on rural innovation and economic mobility if we can support hundreds, and eventually thousands, of rural Colorado youth in advancing their visions for the future. We now have a strong early foundation to build for that potential. Meanwhile, we are actively considering how to integrate the lessons from this experience into our forthcoming AmeriCorps application.
With enthusiasm from community members and educators alike, we already have a waitlist of eager young innovators, but we need funding support to make the second Spark Lab cohort a reality! Please consider supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs — your donation will help bring Spark Lab to more young, aspiring innovators across rural Colorado.
Spark Lab in The News
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Spark Lab Youth Pre-Accelerator
Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade April Newsletter
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Homegrown Pathways Looks to Spark Rural Youth Entrepreneurship
Grand Junction Business Times
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Sparking Entrepreneurial Spirit
Montrose Daily Press
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Seed Money Helps Teens Sprout Businesses
Ouray County Plaindealer