The Pitch Competition has become one of the most highly anticipated events at West Slope Startup Week. This year, two Durango locals are taking to the stage to present their business ventures with the hope of bringing in funding, connections and support for their companies.
Durango-based participants Mike Milakovic and Matthew Glick will be going head-to-head against four other finalists from around the region 2 to 5 p.m. today (Oct. 8) at the Durango Arts Center.
Milakovic, a Denver transplant and Durango local of roughly a year and a half, will be pitching his clean-ingredient veggie snack company Mighty Mike’s Foods.
Glick, born and raised in Durango, will be presenting his venture MTN FX, a Software as a Service operations management platform built for the skiing industry.
After applying and being carefully chosen, each of the six participants were given several weeks to prepare their pitches. Startup Colorado provided coaching sessions to finalists, and supplied an outline of what to cover in the pitch, including the problem or need being referenced, the proposed solution and the target market for the product. Beyond those guidelines, what is contained within each participant’s five-minute presentation has been left up to them.
Milakovic said he’s looking forward to competing surrounded by a community that has been so valuable in buttressing his business endeavors. “Durango is just such a great community,” Milakovic said. “I mean, the support here has been amazing.”
Glick said that while monetary assistance would be nice, he’s also seeking non-financial aid, such as strategic partnership opportunities, through his pitch.
“If I go up there and do a presentation, and all I do is meet someone else who’s super passionate about skiing, and that opens up an opportunity for a new customer, or if there’s a software developer who’s in need of work, or maybe there’s someone who’s retired and this sparks their interest, (that’s enough),” Glick said. “It’s more about meeting people and creating those connections and finding strategic partnerships, and if one of them brings in capital, then that’s a bonus.”
Milakovic said his main goal in participating in the competition is gaining more exposure for the business and collecting valuable feedback from investors, audience members, Startup Colorado members and judges.
“(Whether it’s), ‘OK, great pitch,’ or ‘Bad pitch,’ it’ll be ‘Here are the things that you can really focus on to keep moving the business forward,’” Milakovic said.
In 2024, startups were connected with $380,000 in investments from the 14 Founders by Kickstart Fund and the Greater Colorado Venture Fund, along with thousands in cash prizes and mentoring opportunities, according to West Slope Startup Week Content Director Margaret Hedderman.
The stakes are just as high this year, according to the Startup Colorado website. Participants will be competing for a mix of funding opportunities, including interest-free crowdsourced loan campaigns, targeted in-kind support like mentorship and legal services, and venture capital.
“For some founders, this stage may serve as an entry point into institutional capital; for others, it represents validation and visibility that can catalyze growth,” the site said.
Nine judges will be assessing the pitches, including legal and business experts, representatives from Howdy Partners venture fund, and the Kickstart Fund and Colorado State Treasurer Dave Young.
Judge Erica Hines, founder and CEO of InnerFrame, a tech company at the intersection of AI neuroscience and mindful media, said Durango and rural Colorado birthed her business, and that judging the Pitch Competition is a way to give back. Hines has also attended West Slope Startup Week for many years, and said the event was the site of some of the “deeper connections” that got InnerFrame off the ground.
“There’s such great energy around (Startup Colorado), and I love being there to cheer on all these founders, because I’ve been in their seat,” Hines said. “There’s a lot of courage involved with not only doing startup competitions and pitch competitions, but just showing up to build a business. If I can be there as a cheerleader, and offer any type of value, that is a win.”
Both Glick and Milakovic, while having expressed some nervousness, said they’re looking forward to participating in the contest this afternoon alongside their competitors.
“I wish everybody luck,” Milakovic said. “I met two of the other competitors last night at the kickoff party, and we’re all kind of in the same boat. Everybody’s nervous. I don’t care how good of a public speaker you are: these events are very nerve-wracking. I definitely wish them all the best, (and) whoever wins will deserve it.”
epond@durangoherald.com
