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Ten years ago when I walked down College Ave in Ft. Collins, it had a sleepy aura to it. There were only a few notable spots that stood out and, of those, only a few were populated.  Fast forward to last month when I visited the once slow-pace town to attend New Tech: the streets were filled with young people, smartly clad and engaged in energetic conversations. The street felt local, fresh and keen on building a locally-focused entrepreneurial community.

Like me, you have probably been hearing about the emerging technology and startup scene in Ft. Collins for a while. But for some reason or another, you have yet to to take a visit to see what is going on. And there’s a lot happening: the town, the university and its leaders have strategically developed a vision for what the community can achieve and have initiated a plan that takes into account various initiatives, educational programs and developments. Several notable organizations have been leading the way, including S.A.G.E  (Social and Advisory Group for Entrepreneurs) and the Rocky Mountain Innosphere.

Some organizations have just begun to gain traction such as Launch NOCO, a new meetup that converges to focus on community mentorship to expedite and advance new entrepreneurs to launch. These organizations and mentor programs have proved successful in Boulder and Denver, but unlike the other two cities, it feels as though there is a different kind of comradery taking place - one that is more paternal and familial.  

Ft. Collins New Tech was held in a mid-sized room in the LEED-certified Innovation Pavilion building and the room was filled with conversation from the moment I walked in. But, just like the town, it seemed focused, concentrated. A motivated attitude controlled the room - as though everyone was on the same page that the town must succeed and catch up with its neighboring cities.

Several initiatives between the University and Rocky Mountain Innosphere are working to boost the entrepreneurial growth, such as CSU Ventures and the CSU Blue Ocean Challenge.  The University’s participation in the future of Ft. Collins shows. According to CSU Ventures’ 2012 Annual Report, the number of new startup companies originating at CSU more than doubled between 2007 and 2011.

Now that Ft. Collins is on the map as more than a retirement destination, perhaps it is time for you to make the trip and see the activity for yourself. This Thursday (Jan. 9) the Innosphere and S.A.G.E are hosting Innovation Afterhours. The next New Tech Ft. Collins will be held January 14th. And hopefully, once you're hooked, you'll be able to stay in the startup guesthouse Launch Haus by the end of the year.