Website to help jump-start start-ups

Three local businessmen this week launched SpringsStartUp.com, a website that seeks to boost entrepreneurial activity by connecting networking groups and tracking start-up progress and ideas.

The city has many different entrepreneurial groups that offer their own programs, but it’s hard to know which group is doing what, said Nick Lee, who co-founded SpringsStartUp.com with fellow entrepreneurs Ian Lee and John Stewart.

The site is an offshoot of larger statewide and national entrepreneurial programs.

Springs entrepreneur and investor Jan Horsfall is co-chair of the statewide program, Startup Colorado that aims to connect the entrepreneurs to the capital and technological resources in other Colorado cities.

Horsfall is the former vice president of Internet search firm Lycos and has founded technology start-ups. He recently founded Gelazzi, a gelato restaurant chain that has plans to open in several U.S. cities.

“This is about building network density and Ian and Chris (Franz) and I are working hand-in-hand to create more network density,” he said. “Again — no government support — just entrepreneurialism at its finest.”

SpringsStartUp.com’s founders have local entrepreneurial experience, including starting Tins.ly, which designs social media tools.

Coffee and happy hour networking meetings — “Cheers” and “Beers” meetings, respectively — along with the Peak Venture Group’s Pitch Night have also been scheduled to reinforce entrepreneurial activity.

Coffee Club meetings are scheduled from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at Pikes Perk, 14 S. Tejon St.

Beer meetings are 5 to 7 p.m. the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month at V Bar, 19 E. Kiowa St.

The next Pitch Night is 5:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at Invertual.com, 118 N. Tejon St. #304.

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