Colorado Springs Technology Incubator

Colorado Springs Technology Incubator
Name	Colorado Springs Technology Incubator
Established	2011
Type	Business incubator
Location	Colorado Springs, Colorado
Country	United States

Colorado Springs Technology Incubator

The Colorado Springs Technology Incubator supports technology startups in Colorado Springs, Colorado and the broader Pikes Peak Region by providing workspace, mentorship, and network access. Founded to catalyze innovation near Colorado College, United States Air Force Academy, and Fort Carson, the incubator engages with academic institutions, federal research entities, and private industry partners to accelerate commercialization and regional growth.

History

The incubator was launched amid regional innovation efforts involving City of Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado, and economic development organizations such as Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC, Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center, and Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. Early collaborations included technology transfer discussions with University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado State University Pueblo, National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and Ball Aerospace. Founding milestones featured partnerships with Ent Federal Credit Union, Pikes Peak Community Foundation, Space Foundation, and defense stakeholders like Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin. Over time the incubator expanded programming aligned with initiatives from U.S. Small Business Administration, Economic Development Administration, and regional innovation plans championed by Downtown Colorado, Inc. and The Gazette (Colorado Springs).

Mission and Programs

The incubator’s mission aligns with regional workforce and commercialization priorities promoted by Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Workforce Development Board of Pueblo County, and federal agencies including Small Business Innovation Research Program and Small Business Technology Transfer Program. Core programs include accelerator cohorts similar to those run by Techstars, mentorship networks modeled after SCORE (organization), and investor readiness training akin to Angel Capital Association workshops. Programming engages community partners such as Pikes Peak Library District, El Paso County Public Health, and education centers including Pikes Peak Community College, UCCS College of Engineering and Applied Science, and Air Force Research Laboratory. Curriculum topics draw from standards promoted by National Science Foundation and commercialization practices used at Stanford University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology entrepreneurship programs.

Facilities and Location

Located in downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado near Monument Valley Park and the Pikes Peak Center, the incubator occupies flexible office and lab spaces comparable to facilities at Research Triangle Park, 501(c)(3) nonprofit incubators, and university-affiliated incubators such as CU Boulder Innovation Hub. Amenities include co-working areas, prototyping equipment like those found in makerspaces associated with TechShop, and meeting rooms configured for investor pitches modeled after venues in Silicon Valley, Austin, Texas, and Denver Union Station. Proximity to military assets—Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base—and transportation corridors including Interstate 25 supports logistics and collaboration with regional supply chains and defense primes.

Notable Startups and Alumni

Alumni and tenant ventures have included firms commercializing technologies in aerospace, cybersecurity, medtech, and clean energy, working alongside entities such as Sierra Nevada Corporation, Raytheon Technologies, Palantir Technologies, Booz Allen Hamilton, and startups with grant history from National Institutes of Health and Department of Energy. Companies that emerged from incubator programs have pursued contracts with NASA, DARPA, Federal Aviation Administration, and corporate partnerships with Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure. Entrepreneurial alumni have participated in regional showcases at events like Colorado Innovation Network summits, Startup Week Colorado Springs, and CES.

Partnerships and Funding

The incubator maintains partnerships with academic institutions including University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado State University, Colorado College, and research labs such as Air Force Research Laboratory and National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Funding sources have included grants from U.S. Economic Development Administration, investments catalyzed by Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center, sponsorships from local corporations like Ent Credit Union and Townsquare Media, and philanthropy from organizations such as El Pomar Foundation and Pikes Peak Community Foundation. Collaboration networks extend to investor groups and accelerators including Commonwealth Seed Capital, Rockies Venture Club, and federal programs such as Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership.

Impact and Economic Contribution

The incubator reports job creation and capital formation metrics in collaboration with regional agencies including Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC, El Paso County, and state bodies like Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. Economic contributions are tied to defense contracting growth with primes such as Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, technology exports to markets connected through Denver International Airport, and spinouts that have increased tax base for El Paso County. Measured impacts include venture funding rounds tracked by entities like PitchBook, contracts awarded via SAM.gov, and regional startup success stories highlighted by The Gazette (Colorado Springs) and ColoradoBiz.

Governance and Leadership

Governance structures involve a board and executive director roles that coordinate with stakeholders including City of Colorado Springs, El Paso County, academic partners such as University of Colorado System, and industry advisors from Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies, and Ball Aerospace. Leadership has engaged with statewide initiatives led by Governor of Colorado and federal outreach via U.S. Department of Commerce representatives. Advisory boards often include representatives from investment groups like Rockies Venture Club, legal advisors from firms similar to Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, and nonprofit partners such as SPACE Foundation.

Category:Business incubators in Colorado