PBS12 // The Business of Colorado

PBS12 // Colorado Public Television

A PBS12 ORIGINAL PODCAST // The Business of Colorado  From entrepreneurs and technology, to agriculture, oil & gas, and tourism, The Business of Colorado by PBS12 explores the people, ideas, and industries shaping Colorado’s economy and future. Each episode features conversations with business leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, and policymakers who are driving innovation, creating jobs, and tackling the challenges of a rapidly changing world. From small-town revitalization and workforce development to supply chains, technology, and the role of community in growth, The Business of Colorado brings you stories that matter—rooted in Colorado, with lessons for everyone. Visit www.pbs12.org/donate to support this work

  1. 2d ago

    Michael Zeisser // Founder & Managing Partner, FMZ Ventures // Colorado Startup Week 2026

    In this episode of The Business of Colorado recorded live at Colorado Startup Week 2026, host Frannie Matthews sits down with Michael Zeisser, founder and managing partner of FMZ Ventures, to examine the macroeconomic rise of the "experience economy" and the dynamics of late-stage venture capital investing. Drawing on a global career that spans McKinsey, working alongside John Malone at Liberty Media, and directing investments at Alibaba Group, Zeisser outlines why consumer spending has systematically shifted away from material possessions and toward experiences that address higher-level human needs on Maslow’s hierarchy. He explains how tech-enabled platforms that stage, distribute, and enable travel, community, wellness, and self-actualization serve as a vital counterweight to modern loneliness and digital isolation, presenting an enduring growth wave for institutional investors. The conversation also delves into the organizational transformation of the modern enterprise, the flattening of corporate hierarchies, and the profound economic impact of artificial intelligence. Comparing the emergence of AI to the rollout of electricity, Zeisser encourages professionals and operators to embrace a growth mindset by spending dedicated time each day experimenting with AI tools to build leaner, higher-impact businesses. Reflecting on Denver’s historical roots as a telecommunications pioneer, Zeisser makes the strategic case for Colorado to leverage its climate, outdoors, and creative talent to establish itself as the premier national center of the experience economy. This discussion offers essential guidance for growth-stage founders, venture capitalists, and corporate leaders tracking changing consumer behavior and the future of work.

    Michael Zeisser // Founder & Managing Partner, FMZ Ventures // Colorado Startup Week 2026

  2. 2d ago

    David Welsh // Executive Vice President of Economic Development & Real Estate, Downtown Denver Partnership // Colorado Startup Week 2026

    In this interview recorded at Colorado Startup Week 2026, Frannie Matthews sits down with David Welsh, Executive Vice President of Economic Development and Real Estate for the Downtown Denver Partnership (DDP), to discuss the strategic revival and long-term competitiveness of Denver’s urban core. Drawing on 35 years of economic development leadership across the Pacific Northwest and Southern Arizona, Welsh breaks down the key structural advantages that set Denver apart, led by an unparalleled per capita talent concentration fueled by 50,000 students on the Auraria campus, CU Denver, Colorado School of Mines, and nearby research hubs in Boulder. He outlines catalytic urban investments currently reshaping the city center, from the reconstruction of 16th Street and renovations at Capitol Park to major commercial moves like the reactivation of the iconic Denver Post building with 400 on-site workers. Welsh also offers a data-driven look at the challenges facing post-pandemic commercial real estate and downtown office occupancy. While overall downtown foot traffic has rebounded to 96% of 2019 benchmarks—propelled by a sports, culture, and entertainment sector operating at 160% to 170% of pre-pandemic levels alongside rising residential conversions—downtown office employment remains at roughly 70%. Welsh explains why Denver can no longer rely on the passive, inbound growth of previous decades, detailing how the Partnership is proactively teaming up with commercial brokers and developers with "sharpened elbows" to recruit primary employers and demonstrate why companies should build their future in downtown Denver.

    David Welsh // Executive Vice President of Economic Development & Real Estate, Downtown Denver Partnership // Colorado Startup Week 2026

  3. 2d ago

    Brittany Romano // Executive Director, Startup Colorado // Colorado Startup Week 2026

    Recorded at Colorado Startup Week 2026, Frannie Matthews interviews Brittany Romano, executive director of Startup Colorado, on the role of rural entrepreneurship across the state. Romano recounts her personal progression from launching a rural yoga franchise in Crested Butte to guiding Startup Colorado’s transition from a CU Boulder initiative into an independent 501(c)(3). She details how mountain communities like Chaffee, Gunnison, and Lake counties collaborate across county lines, and highlights how founders in Southeast Colorado are organizing resilient business efforts following environmental challenges. Addressing the fact that rural Colorado has lost over 50% of its available investment capital in the past decade, Romano explains the launch of the Rural Angel Investment Network (RAIN) to connect regional investors with local founders. She advocates for viewing Colorado as a unified economy rather than an urban-rural division, emphasizing that sustainable business development requires consistent infrastructure, founder mentoring, and reliable capital pipelines across all 64 counties. This episode provides relevant perspective for angel investors, founders, and regional business organizers.

    Brittany Romano // Executive Director, Startup Colorado // Colorado Startup Week 2026

  4. 2d ago

    Marc Nager // Managing Partner, Howdy Partners // Colorado Startup Week 2026

    In this interview from Colorado Startup Week 2026, Frannie Matthews speaks with Marc Nager, managing partner at Howdy Partners (formerly the Greater Colorado Venture Fund) and co-founder of Startup Weekend. Operating out of Durango, Nager discusses his fund’s focus on investing exclusively in founders based outside the Front Range, explaining how lifestyle appeal and lower overhead support scalable businesses in agriculture, manufacturing, and aerospace—highlighting rocket-propulsion company Agile Space Industries. He notes that rural founders often demonstrate lower failure rates due to dedicated community focus and fewer alternative local employment fallbacks. Nager also addresses broader shifts across the entrepreneurial ecosystem, observing how AI capabilities enable lean solo-founders while creating opportunities to support blue-collar trades through programs like the Fort Lewis College AI Institute. Drawing on his role on the Governor's Competitiveness Council, he examines the importance of policy predictability, active regional storytelling, and economic development that extends beyond the ten Front Range counties responsible for over 90% of past state GDP growth. This discussion provides practical context for rural investors, tech founders, and regional economic leaders.

    Marc Nager // Managing Partner, Howdy Partners // Colorado Startup Week 2026

  5. 2d ago

    Atika Marcoulier // Chief Business Development Officer, Denver Economic Development and Opportunity (DEDO)

    Joining Frannie Matthews at Colorado Startup Week 2026, Atika Marcoulier, Chief Business Development Officer for Denver Economic Development and Opportunity (DEDO), details the city’s programs designed to support businesses across all stages of growth. Bringing experience from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and regional SBDC networks, Marcoulier outlines how DEDO coordinates workforce development, enterprise zone tax credits, and regulatory assistance for small businesses, which represent half of Denver's workforce. She highlights key investments in downtown activation, including a $6 million Innovation Tech Hub at Independence Plaza created in partnership with CU Denver. Marcoulier also reviews direct assistance options available through the city, such as the digital "Biz Hub" portal and the "Build Denver" loan fund, which offers accessible financing at 4.99% interest. She discusses how municipal programs connect entrepreneurs with institutional partners, SCORE, chambers of commerce, and local accelerators to simplify business expansion. For business owners, founders, and community partners operating in the Denver metro area, this conversation outlines key civic resources and economic tools.

    Atika Marcoulier // Chief Business Development Officer, Denver Economic Development and Opportunity (DEDO)

  6. 2d ago

    Zaneta Kelsey // Co-Founder & CEO, Access Mode // Colorado Startup Week 2026

    In this interview from Colorado Startup Week 2026, Frannie Matthews speaks with Zaneta Kelsey, co-founder and CEO of Access Mode, an accelerator and support organization backing historically underrepresented and overlooked entrepreneurs. Kelsey highlights Access Mode’s recent initiatives, from executive speed-coaching events to community-supported fundraising alongside state ecosystem leaders. She also details their recent accelerator cohort focused on "human flourishing," spotlighting AI-native companies building mission-driven tools in childcare coordination, nonprofit data intelligence, and sustainable mineral extraction. Kelsey provides context on systemic financing disparities, pointing out that national venture investment in Black founders dropped to 0.32%, and outlines plans for Access Mode Finance to unlock practical debt and equity vehicles for growing firms. Serving on the Governor's Competitiveness Council, she addresses the need for statewide regulatory predictability and broader capital access across both urban markets and rural regions. Founders, investors, and policymakers interested in equitable economic development will find useful takeaways in this discussion.

    Zaneta Kelsey // Co-Founder & CEO, Access Mode // Colorado Startup Week 2026

  7. 2d ago

    Paige Goss // Founder & CEO, Point Solutions Security, Point Solutions Group // Colorado Startup Week 2026

    At Colorado Startup Week 2026, Frannie Matthews interviews Paige Goss, founder and CEO of Point Solutions Security and founder of Point Solutions Group, regarding her experience bootstrapping and exiting high-growth technology companies. Goss recounts moving to Denver with no professional contacts and organically building Point Solutions Group into an electronic warfare defense contractor before negotiating an acquisition by a publicly traded firm. She details the demands of the M&A due diligence process, the reality of navigating corporate legal negotiations, and the operational advantages of retaining 95% founder equity at the closing table. Challenging institutional venture funding narratives, Goss makes the case for focusing on profitability and cash flow over equity dilution, emphasizing that strong EBITDA deserves celebration. She discusses the fundraising barriers facing female founders, the value of direct customer revenue over investor capital, and her commitment to the Colorado startup community through 21 personal angel investments. Tech founders, government contractors, and cybersecurity executives will find valuable insights on bootstrapping, organic expansion, and strategic exits in this episode.

    Paige Goss // Founder & CEO, Point Solutions Security, Point Solutions Group // Colorado Startup Week 2026

  8. 2d ago

    Nicole Glaros // Matchstick Ventures // Colorado Startup Week 2026

    Venture investor Nicole Glaros, General Partner at Matchstick Ventures and early leader at Techstars, sits down with Frannie Matthews at Colorado Startup Week 2026 to discuss the fundamentals of early-stage investing. Drawing on more than two decades in venture capital, Glaros applies the framework of systems thinking to the venture model, exploring how internal partner alignment, long-term perspectives, and founder-first principles drive fund performance. She also reflects on returning to early-stage venture after helping launch women’s professional soccer in Denver, illustrating why backing founders repeatedly across multiple ventures creates enduring community leverage. Glaros provides a detailed breakdown of how artificial intelligence is shifting startup underwriting, warning that automated coding tools have eliminated software development alone as a defensible barrier to entry. She explains why seed-stage investors must now prioritize structural moats—such as proprietary datasets, distribution relationships, and network effects—while looking toward deep tech, material science, fusion energy, and the experience economy. For founders, angel investors, and venture capitalists evaluating market dynamics, this episode offers clear strategic perspective.

    Nicole Glaros // Matchstick Ventures // Colorado Startup Week 2026
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About

A PBS12 ORIGINAL PODCAST // The Business of Colorado  From entrepreneurs and technology, to agriculture, oil & gas, and tourism, The Business of Colorado by PBS12 explores the people, ideas, and industries shaping Colorado’s economy and future. Each episode features conversations with business leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, and policymakers who are driving innovation, creating jobs, and tackling the challenges of a rapidly changing world. From small-town revitalization and workforce development to supply chains, technology, and the role of community in growth, The Business of Colorado brings you stories that matter—rooted in Colorado, with lessons for everyone. Visit www.pbs12.org/donate to support this work

Information

  • Creator
    PBS12 // Colorado Public Television
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    PBS12 // The Business of Colorado