Larimer County BOCC Work Session 2:30 PM 4/5/23
Work Session with Workforce Development and Rocky Mountain Ionosphere
1. Discussion Item: Colorado Coalition
Item Description: Colorado Coalition is an initiative led by Innosphere Ventures and supported by regional
partners. They would like to present on the work they are doing to help grow the Clean Tech, Bioscience, and IT
sectors in Colorado, much of that work will impact Larimer County but will have an effect all along the front range.
The Coalition’s mission is to create an environment in Colorado that advances innovation in Research &
Development (R&D) intensive industries and achieve elite economic status for Colorado within 5-to-10 years
through new, integrated, regional collaboration. To support this vision, Innosphere formed the non-profit Colorado
Coalition, which will operationalize and implement the Coalition’s work plan.
Colorado’s Front Range region is 1 of 9 “rising-star” metropolitan regions per Brookins Institution. A rising star
region may achieve a “breakout” economic impact in scientific and technological innovation” to advance U.S.
economic competitiveness. However, there is a hard reality to face, regions like the Front Range are not likely to
reach breakout or elite status without a dramatic intervention to stimulate growth above the region’s organic growth
rate. Colorado’s innovation ecosystem is driven by the 10-county Front Range region that encompasses all
essential components and players to advance innovation and entrepreneurship, such as research institutions,
federal labs, investors, governmental supporters, incubators and accelerators, and entrepreneurial firms.
Innosphere Ventures, along with the partners of the Colorado Coalition, is focused on fostering the positive
economic impact that results from an intentional effort to accelerate the success of research and development-driven startup companies.
Evan Wendlandt, Associate Director Economic and Workforce Development
