Founded Colorado Launches as Dedicated Policy Advocacy Group for Homegrown Companies
New coalition aims to give Colorado-based startups direct legislative influence at the state capitol.
1Dedicated Homegrown Business Advocacy
Founded Colorado has officially launched to advocate exclusively for homegrown and locally headquartered companies. Led by Executive Director Eleni Angelides, the coalition works with regulators and lawmakers at the state Capitol to keep Colorado competitive for scaling innovative businesses. It aims to represent local enterprise interests directly in policy discussions.
2Experienced Public Sector Leadership
Executive Director Eleni Angelides brings eight years of experience from Governor Jared Polis's office, having served as Legislative Director. During her tenure, Angelides managed the governor's legislative agenda across housing, taxation, and transportation reform, while directing the allocation of over one billion dollars in federal pandemic recovery funds.
3Catalyst of Initial AI Legislation
The organization's formation traces back to SB 24-205, Colorado's initial artificial intelligence law passed in May 2024. Governor Polis signed the bill with stated reservations. The statute faced immediate criticism from business leaders for imposing broad operational restrictions without defining measurable harms or clear regulatory enforcement mechanisms.
4Collaborative Path to Legislative Revision
Following stakeholder concerns, a broad coalition spanning local technology firms, consumer advocates, schools, hospitals, and lawmakers collaborated over two years to reform the framework. This extensive negotiation process produced SB 26-189, replacing broad operational constraints with transparent consumer notification rules that secured bipartisan legislative support.
5Closing Capitol Policy Representation Gap
The lengthy legislative battle over AI revealed an absence of advocacy groups focused solely on companies founded or headquartered in Colorado. While national trade associations frequently lobby at the Capitol, none specifically prioritize the operational realities and long-term retention of businesses built within the state's borders.
6Ecosystem Leaders Form Board
The organization's founding board includes Board President Chris Erickson and Adam Burrows of Range Ventures, Bryan Leach of Ibotta, Bijal Shah of Guild, and former DaVita leader Kent Thiry, alongside Angelides. These leaders combine extensive venture capital backing and high-growth operational experience to guide the coalition's policy stance.
7Integrating Operator Perspective Into Law
The core mission centers on injecting practical operating experience into proposed state statutes and regulatory rulemakings. Founded Colorado intends to serve as a reliable resource for lawmakers seeking pragmatic assessments of policy impacts, ensuring consumer protections remain technically feasible for local companies to implement and maintain.
8Mobilizing Colorado Business Community
Founded Colorado is now actively recruiting founders, executives, and leaders of locally based enterprises to join its advocacy network. By consolidating the state's startup and growth-stage business community, the coalition seeks to ensure local innovators retain a permanent, influential voice whenever future state economic policies take shape.