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Newsletter — Issue 2 — April 24, 2026
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This newsletter has been published by Engage Colorado
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Two weeks ago, 233 of Colorado's technology and business leaders came together to release Ensuring Colorado's Innovation Future.
Since then, the Open Letter has grown to more than 320 signatories and generated hundreds of public engagements — including 400+ reactions, dozens of substantive comments and reposts from leaders across Colorado's innovation economy
The message is reverberating across Colorado and the range of voices willing to step forward is a strong signal of momentum – from public company CEOs and IPO leaders to venture investors, founders, and civic leadership.
You can read the original post that sparked this conversation on LinkedIn.
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Community Response
Colorado Leaders Amplifying the Message
One of the most encouraging developments over the past two weeks has been the public response from Colorado leaders adding their own perspective to the conversation the Open Letter has opened — through posts, reposts, comments, emails, and direct outreach. Here are examples:
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Seth Levine
Partner, Foundry & Quantum Advantage Capital
"Colorado's political leadership is calling for action on the state's deteriorating business competitiveness. The letter was direct: Colorado is losing companies, talent, and momentum, and the window to course correct is closing… Phil Weiser published a detailed response laying out his thoughts about how to make Colorado more competitive. His letter hits the right notes… specific, substantive, and oriented toward partnership with the business community rather than regulation of it…"
VIEW POST →
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Ari Newman
Co-Founder & MD, Massive.vc · 2x Founder · 20+ years building in Colorado
"I've been building in Colorado for over 20 years and agree that our great state has incredible potential and enough is enough. Watching short-sighted policy actively hinder our goals, drive companies out of state and cause new capital to question investing here has been frustrating. Change starts with naming the thing, addressing the thing and ultimately changing policy and rhetoric…"
VIEW POST →
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Shawn Stigler
Managing Partner
"There are some massive challenges facing #colorado right now. Huge kudos… for throwing down the gauntlet this week via the open letter. We have a small window to course correct, stop the exodus, capture opportunities, and become the go-to state for innovation and investment. I talk to dozens people who own, invest in, or serve entrepreneurs every week and 50% or more (not hyperbole) are debating whether they should stay in Colorado…"
VIEW POST →
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Russ Fein
CFO, Vescent
"So much discourse today is binary with extremes on both left and right flanks seeming to embrace winner-take-all positions. That is not a recipe for excellence… Civil discourse, long term vision and a spirit of collaboration are the best ways to navigate"
VIEW POST →
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Mike Conover
CEO, Brightwave
"Brightwave is a Colorado company. Starting and growing it here has been one of the best decisions we've made - the talent, the ecosystem, and honestly the quality of life are hard to beat. That's worth protecting and building on. The letter is clear-eyed about what it takes to win for a state with tons of natural advantages, but non-coastal business realities. It's an offer… keeps Colorado the a compelling place to start and scale a company. Sensible policy, a predictable environment, and real alignment between the public and private sectors compound for decades…"
VIEW POST →
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Olivia Merithew
Building Sustainable Ecosystems
"Colorado has every asset needed to be the #1 innovation ecosystem between the coasts. Quality of life. Educated workforce. Central location. A tech foundation already worth protecting. And yet — we're losing ground. This letter names the problem, proposes nine concrete actions, and commits to collaboration. That's the kind of leadership the moment requires..."
VIEW POST →
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Colorado Technology Association
"This is an important conversation for Colorado's future and an opportunity to bring leaders together, align around shared priorities, and ensure our state continues to be a place where innovation and opportunity thrive… Colorado's strength has always come from collaboration and a willingness to build for the long term…"
VIEW POST →
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Ryan Schuchard
Boulder City Council Member
"There are both important risks for AI as well as opportunities to make the residents of our state prosper, and the best way to make the most of it is to actively shape policy that will create incentives for good investments here…"
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Breaking Development
The First Test: How will our leaders respond to the xAI Lawsuit
The xAI lawsuit challenging Colorado's misguided and damaging AI Bill SB24-205 has brought many of these concerns into immediate focus. The complaint raises questions about the scope, structure, and impact of the law — and does so in a way that goes directly to Colorado's ability to compete in AI.
This is the first test, not only for Attorney General Phil Weiser. Will the AG Weiser, Governor Polis, Senators Bennet and Hicklooper, and Mayor Mike Johnson use this xAI Lawsuit to publicly call for a complete repeal of AI Bill SB24-205?
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The response of our Colorado political leaders on this AI Bill will signal, clearly and quickly, how it intends to approach innovation going forward.
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Looking Ahead
What comes next?
The Bear Roars will drop a podcast featuring Seth Levine and me discussing the Ensuring Colorado's Innovation Future initiative. Though Seth and I are not far apart on the political spectrum, we have our differences. We love Colorado, we believe in the importance of a thriving tech ecosystem, and we share a commitment to uniting the Colorado community.
Significant progress is being made on Action Item 3 in the Open Letter — an Honest Assessment of Colorado's competitiveness. It is a straightforward, data-driven look at the structural, regulatory, and economic factors shaping the state's trajectory. The Honest Assessment is designed to help reset the conversation — to move past rhetoric and engage on what actually needs to be addressed. I expect to make at least part of it public next week.
I have been disappointed by some of the divisive and dishonest rhetoric I continue to see from some of our leaders. Leaders can — and should — disagree on policy. They can advocate for different approaches and priorities. But when the language begins to mischaracterize, oversimplify, or inflame, it makes it harder to have the kind of serious, solution-oriented dialogue this moment requires. And divisive political rhetoric drives those deploying capital to avoid Colorado. This is something our leaders can improve immediately. Going forward, I will begin to call out specific examples.
I am also looking for our leaders to show that they are ready and willing to lean in. They have had enough time to absorb the message. Now is the time to show — through words and actions — that they are ready to collaborate on reversing the downward slide and doing their part to position Colorado to regain its momentum as the nation's leading non-coastal tech ecosystem.
Thank you Coloradoans for your overwhelming support.
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