Denver's 2018 ScaleUp Network and Training Program Introduced

The Denver Office of Economic Development (OED), along with partners Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network, Innovation Pavilion and Vistage International introduced its 2018 class of growing firms, in the city's ScaleUp Network, an intensive training program for selected local startups, Monday, Mach 5 at the Commons on Champa.

Launched with its inaugural class a year ago, the Denver ScaleUp Network provides a unique peer-group approach that helps proven but firms catapult to their next growth stage – providing an intensive, six-month curriculum with customized training, mentoring and introductions.

"Denver is proud to work with our startup and accelerator communities to hand-select enterprises that are positioned for growth, funding expansion and job creation," says Turid Nagel-Casebolt, OED's director of business development. "We're building on last year's ScaleUp Network, with training and key connections that is matched beautifully by the peer-to-peer mentoring among the founders themselves."

The seven firms selected for the second cohort of the Denver ScaleUp Network were all referred to the program upon graduation from a diverse set of business startup accelerators, and each firm has demonstrated potential to garner capital investment and add jobs. The 2018 class includes: 

• ALTIUS FARMS
• BOLD BETTIES
• ENSIGHT ENERGY CONSULTING
• MAXWELL FINANCIAL
• NOKERO
• ORDERLY HEALTH
• OVERWATCH ID

"This group of companies is already doing very well," says Tim Martinez, senior program manager with the city of Denver. "This cohort is the City's effort to rally the community to provide additional resources to help speed the growth process. We look forward to being around when they are huge, so we can take some of the credit for their success."

​This cohort begins its curriculum knowing the 2017 class is enjoying significant success in equity raises, obtaining other financing and leveraging critical connections. Leaders from the 2017 group have pledged to continue supporting each other in addition to actively guiding the 2018 class on the exciting path to second-stage growth.