Optimism, Impact, and Growth: 2024 BEN Headlines & What's Next
There’s a joke that a mom had two children - one was normal, the other an entrepreneur. For the latter, BEN Colorado delivered a powerful leadership role in Colorado’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. A few 2024 headlines:
BEN turned 10!
BEN served nearly 1000 stakeholders with early to late-stage programs
We rebranded from “Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network” to “Bridge Entrepreneurs Network,” reflecting our mission to bridge Colorado entrepreneurs to the resources they need to grow and thrive
We doubled our Denver ScaleUp Network (“DenSUN”) programming from one to two cohorts per year
We extended our program to more growth-stage entrepreneurs statewide, along the Front Range, and in the Denver metro area
We had the highest revenue production year in our 10-year history
We seamlessly transitioned the CEO & Executive Director role from my exceptional predecessor, Kay Henze, who remains on the BEN Colorado Board of Directors and a huge proponent for Colorado entrepreneurs
Those who know me might consider me a practical optimist - think big and positive, but plan for the worst. I was encouraged today to read the following in the Mercator Weekly Venture Report: “Last week, funding activity was subdued, as is typical during the final week of December leading into the new year. Startups collectively raised just over $56 million. However, there is widespread anticipation across all market participants—spanning funding types, sectors, stages, and investor classes—that 2025 will be a standout year. While public markets may see only modest gains, private markets are expected to experience a strong resurgence following a multi-year downturn.”
2025 holds even more growth opportunities and collaboration potential across the ecosystem to strengthen our statewide reach and impact. This is the time to build on our decade of innovation and curate even more enduring connections between entrepreneurs and advisors as leaders promoting and delivering Colorado's economic development.
I love the quote “Whether the glass is half full or half empty, make sure there's champagne in it”. I’d only modify it to say “There’s always champagne in it”. Take whatever sip you have, ride this economic wave, and do something big and positive for yourselves and your communities.
- Mick Freeman, BEN CEO & Executive Director
