Telluride Venture Accelerator

The Telluride Venture Accelerator (TVA) is a startup accelerator and early-stage investment program launched in 2013 as an initiative of the Telluride Foundation in Telluride, in rural Southwest Colorado. Now operating under the broader brand Telluride Venture Network (TVN), it is a nationally recognized, award-winning entrepreneurial ecosystem created to build and strengthen a self-sustaining startup community in a mountain region that historically lacked such services. Its accelerator selects up to six entrepreneurs each year for a roughly five-month immersive program, investing $30,000 in exchange for a 4% equity stake; participating founders relocate to Telluride and receive shared office space, more than 1,000 hours of access to a network of 100-plus mentors and entrepreneurs-in-residence, and a capstone demo day where they pitch for follow-on capital from Telluride's angel network and venture funds. TVA prioritizes cutting-edge products and services in outdoor recreation, tourism, natural and organic products, health and healthy living, energy, water and education. Beyond the accelerator, TVN now offers acceleration bootcamps, a mentorship program, capital funds, a trustee network and coworking. Across its history it has backed roughly 95 companies, helping around 120 ventures create some 350 jobs and raise about $55M in follow-on funding, and it raised $13M to support early-stage ventures in rural Colorado. Notable alumni include Simple Homes, Agolix, Ceibo, The Dyrt, Hyperlite Mountain Gear, High Desert Farms and Mountain Drones. Founder and early managing director Jesse D. Johnson launched the program, which has since been led by figures including Marc Nager and Bonnie Watson. TVA anchors a rural mountain startup ecosystem.