SouthWest Colorado Accelerator Program for Entrepreneurs

What SouthWest Colorado Accelerator Program for Entrepreneurs does

SCAPE (SouthWest Colorado Accelerator Program for Entrepreneurs) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit business accelerator founded in 2013 and headquartered in Durango, Colorado. The organization operates a six-month intensive accelerator program for startup and scale-up companies, alongside a managed investment fund partnership (SCAPE Investment Fund 8 LP) that deploys capital into regional portfolio companies. Its core service stack consists of three integrated offerings: education and mentoring delivered through a network of 67 volunteer mentors, access to capital via investment fund limited-partnership structures targeting 2.5-3x returns (historical average 5.3x), and ecosystem support through partnerships with Fort Lewis College Center of Innovation, the SBDC, CU Boulder Business Research Division, and Ascent CFO Solutions.

The organization serves early-stage companies in Southwest Colorado and Northern New Mexico that want to scale while remaining headquartered in the Four Corners region, as well as accredited investors seeking exposure to rural deal flow. SCAPE generates revenue primarily through investment fund management fees and sponsorship/partnership contributions; specific program fees and detailed financials are not publicly disclosed. To date, 55-57 companies have been launched through the program, which together have raised $60-65 million in capital and created 230-250 local jobs, with $2.5 million in distributions returned to local economic development organizations. Notable portfolio outcomes include MUNIRevs | LODGINGRevs (acquired by GovOS in August 2021) and Agile Space Industries.

SCAPE's go-to-market is event-driven and community-anchored: rolling applications through goscape.org, regional tours, West Slope Startup Week, and monthly "Them Apples: Marketing & Chill" meetups. Distribution is regional, with no global footprint claim. The organization underwent a founding leadership transition in June 2025 when Elizabeth Marsh stepped down and Heather Otter assumed the Executive Director role after 11+ years of continuity.

Name

SouthWest Colorado Accelerator Program for Entrepreneurs

Legal name

Southwest Colorado Accelerator Program for Entrepreneurs

Website

https://goscape.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SouthWest Colorado Accelerator Program for Entrepreneurs (SCAPE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2013 in Durango, Colorado, running a six-month accelerator, mentor network of 67, and managed investment fund (SCAPE Investment Fund 8 LP) serving startup and scale-up companies across Southwest Colorado and Northern New Mexico.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Accelerator Services

NAICS

Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114), Educational Support Services (61171), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Investment Advice (6282), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC), Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB), Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD)

Keywords

• Startup accelerator services
• Entrepreneurship mentoring programs
• Venture capital funds
• Small business development
• Rural economic development

Headquarters

HQ city

Durango

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Investment Fund Management: SCAPE manages investment fund partnerships (Investment Fund 8 LP) that provide funding to regional companies. They aim to deliver 2.5-3x return on investment with historical fund performance averaging 5.3x. Returns are distributed to local investors and economic development organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SCAPE runs an intensive 6-month startup accelerator program for early-stage companies in Southwest Colorado and Northern New Mexico, providing education, mentoring from a network of 67 volunteer mentors, and access to capital via the SCAPE Investment Fund (Investment Fund 8 LP). The program operates on a rolling application basis with on-demand learning, requiring portfolio companies to have revenue and/or MVP traction. The organization also convenes community events such as West Slope Startup Week and monthly marketing meetups to support the regional entrepreneur ecosystem.

Product overview

SCAPE (Southwest Colorado Accelerator Program for Entrepreneurs) is a 501(c)(3) business accelerator that operates as a single unified program rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offerings consist of a 6-month intensive accelerator program, an investment fund (SCAPE Investment Fund 8 LP) for funding regional companies, a mentor network connecting entrepreneurs with experienced advisors, and event programs including West Slope Startup Week and monthly Them Apples marketing meetups. The accelerator works with startup and scale-up companies to help launch them to market through education, mentoring, and access to funding. To date, SCAPE has launched 57 companies which have raised $65 million in capital contributing to 250 jobs created. The organization primarily serves Southwest Colorado and Northern New Mexico businesses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SCAPE Accelerator Program An intensive 6-month accelerator program that prepares early-stage companies for expansion through structured education, mentoring from a network of 67 volunteer mentors, and access to capital funding. Open to startup and scale-up companies in Southwest Colorado and Northern New Mexico that have revenue and/or MVP traction. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis via the SCAPE website.
• SCAPE Investment Fund Investment fund partnerships (including SCAPE Investment Fund 8 LP) that provide equity funding to regional companies and help diversify the local economy. Targeted at accredited investors seeking to invest as limited partners, with a portion of returns historically distributed to local economic development organizations.
• Mentor Network Community-powered mentoring program connecting entrepreneurs with experienced advisors to guide company growth and development, drawn from a network of 67 volunteer mentors across the Four Corners region.
• West Slope Startup Week Annual five-day entrepreneur-led community event featuring meetups, lectures, discussions, and celebrations showcasing the local startup ecosystem. Part of the global Techstars Startup Weeks movement.
• Preferred Vendor Network A vetted network of service providers and vendors offering industry-leading services to startup companies, focused on providers with experience supporting companies as they scale to national audiences.
• Them Apples: Marketing & Chill Free monthly meet-up event focused on marketing education and networking for entrepreneurs, co-sponsored by SCAPE and Psyche Digital.

Quantifiable outcome

• 55+ companies launched, $65M capital raised, 250 jobs created
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and support.

• Ascent CFO SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2021Financial consulting firm providing CFO services and financial education to SCAPE cohort companies.
• CU Boulder Business Research DivisioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2021Provides industry research, market analysis, and competitive intelligence for cohort companies through partnership with Leeds School of Business.
• Region 9 Economic Development DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic development organization supporting the Four Corners region. Key supporter of SCAPE's programs and mission to scale job-creating companies in Southwest Colorado.
• City of DurangocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner providing support for entrepreneurial ecosystem development in Durango.
• First Southwest BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional bank supporting SCAPE as a sponsor and ecosystem partner for startup financing.
• Fort Lewis College Center of InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-located with SCAPE, providing business resources and connecting students and entrepreneurs to accelerator programs.
• Small Business Development Center (SBDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal small business resource program providing consulting and training to SCAPE companies.
• Center on Rural Innovation (CORI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization advancing economic prosperity in rural America through tech economy ecosystems. SCAPE is part of CORI's Rural Innovation Network spanning 25 rural communities.
• Taft Law FirmsupportImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProfessional advisor providing legal templates and structure assistance for companies.
• San Juan CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorthern New Mexico college partner supporting Four Corners regional expansion and entrepreneurship programs.
• Generation USAsupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development organization partnered with CORI and SCAPE to offer free IT Support Specialist training program.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• gener8tor: Operates regional accelerator cohorts and a venture fund that invests in early-stage companies, mirroring SCAPE's combination of cohort-based programming and an LP-backed investment fund. Comparable mid-size, regionally focused accelerator model.
• MassChallenge: Nonprofit global accelerator running cohort programs with mentor networks and equity-free programming. Comparable nonprofit, mentor-driven accelerator model targeting early-stage founders across multiple verticals.
• Village Capital: Runs impact-focused accelerator cohorts and a venture fund backing early-stage companies in underserved markets. Comparable nonprofit structure combining cohort programming with LP-backed investment vehicles.

Regional players

• NewBo City Market (NewBo Accelerator): Cedar Rapids-based urban market and accelerator hub hosting startup programming and community events. Comparable regional nonprofit accelerator running cohort programming for early-stage companies in mid-sized US markets.
• Innovation Works: Pittsburgh-region venture development organization that runs accelerator programs and seed/early-stage funds for technology startups. Comparable regional structure combining accelerator services with fund management.
• Techstars Farm to Fork: Techstars-run rural/agriculture-focused accelerator cohort that has operated in the Mountain West. Closest sector overlap with SCAPE's food/ag tech portfolio companies like EsoTerra Ciderworks and BOPA Precision Agriculture.

Emerging players

• Center on Rural Innovation (CORI): National nonprofit supporting rural tech economies through a Rural Innovation Network; SCAPE is an existing network member and strategic partner. Overlaps directly in rural-accelerator mission and target founder demographic.
• Startup Junkie: Northwest Arkansas-based startup support organization offering consulting, programming, and ecosystem events for entrepreneurs. Comparable small nonprofit providing accelerator-adjacent programming and community engagement for rural founders.

Broad incumbents

• Techstars: Largest global accelerator network running industry- and geography-specific cohorts and an associated venture fund. SCAPE participates through the Startup Weeks program and competes for the same pool of rural/early-stage founders in adjacent ecosystems.
• 1871: Chicago-based nonprofit technology hub and incubator providing workspace, mentorship, programming, and corporate partnerships to early-stage companies. Comparable nonprofit incubator model with mentor and partner network emphasis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqJIScY1dovm62IL7aZIZwQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/goscape
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/goscape
• Instagraminstagram.com/go.scape
• Xx.com/go_scape

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SouthWest Colorado Accelerator Program for Entrepreneurs