The bridges on Hwy. 50 between Gunnison and Montrose are now OPEN 24/7 with pilot cars. Learn more here.

Welcome to the Outdoor Industry Funding Summit!

This invite-only summit brings resources and opportunities together in Crested Butte, Colorado by connecting vetted investors and early-stage company founders who are seeking investment. Two days will be spent in the beautiful Gunnison Valley forging meaningful relationships and gaining cutting-edge industry insights from a lineup of guest speakers.

Facilitators

TJ Taylor – ICELab director
A graduate of Western Colorado University, TJ has a background in marketing and PR at a leading agency in the outdoor industry. He also has experience working in the luxury adventure travel industry. He is an avid snowboarder, fly fisherman and mountain biker.

Ben Engman – ICELab program manager
With a focus in operations and learning & development, Ben has worked in the outdoor industry for nearly a decade. Outside of the ICELab, Ben enjoys skiing and fly fishing.

David Assad – ICELab advisor
Experienced finance professional with a demonstrated history of working in the telecommunications and transportation industries. Strong analytical and process driven approach to Business Planning with exposure to Mergers & Acquisitions and Startups.

February 2023 summit recap

The first Outdoor Industry Funding Summit was held in February 2023. Here’s what participants had to say about the event!

Funding Summit participants

See who has attended the Funding Summit in the past.

The view of a mountain peak hovering over a downtown street. This is Elk Ave in Crested Butte during summer

About Gunnison and Crested Butte

Things to do

If you love the outdoors, you’ll love the Gunnison Valley. Millions of acres of public lands allow you to explore this scenic section of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Check out all the things to do here!

The Gunnison Valley is also home to some of Colorado’s coolest mountain towns! Crested Butte is a quirky old mining town with an Instagrammable main drag full of restaurants, bars and shops. Gunnison is a laid-back college town close to biking and ski trails and the river.

      Getting here

      The easiest way to get to the Gunnison Valley is to fly to Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport. Here’s everything you need to know about traveling to the valley

        Business in the Gunnison Valley

        The ICELab is the hub of business and entrepreneurship in the Gunnison Valley. Located on the beautiful campus of Western Colorado University in Gunnison, the ICELab is a gathering place for the local business community. The ICELab’s spacious coworking space is a great place to work or have a meeting. The ICELab facilitates several programs throughout the year, including business incubator and accelerator programs. 

            "*" indicates required fields

            Sign Up To Receive Our Emails

            Want to stay connected with Gunnison Crested Butte? Our free newsletters keep you in the know about everything Gunnison Valley.

            Hidden
            General Newsletter
            This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
            Site developed by Agency Tourism Marketing