The mission of the
Bravo! Entrepreneur awards is to celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship by honoring regional business leaders who are founders of, or who have had a significant impact on the success of a Northern Colorado business. Since 1998, over a hundred individuals and/or organizations have been honored as Bravo! Entrepreneurs.
Call for Northern Colorado Nominations
Seven
Bravo! Entrepreneur awards will be presented by BizWest in 2017 at the Bravo! Entrepreneur Breakfast Awards in August 2018 at Embassy Suites Loveland.
- Four Bravo! Entrepreneur Awards from Larimer and Weld counties--at least one from each of the following communities--Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland, and outlying areas. Must be founder of business or instrumental in growth.
- Emerging Entrepreneur Award: Company must be in NoCo business community up to 5 years.
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Individual with 25+ years experience in NoCo business community.
- The Regional Spirit Award: Individual/organization demonstrating commitment to the economic regionalization in Northern Colorado.
You may nominate yourself, an individual from your own organization, or your entire organization.
Bravo! Entrepreneur Awards:
Award Criteria
Winners of the Bravo! Entrepreneur awards (one for each community - Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland, and an outlying community) should demonstrate the best traits of entrepreneurship, including willingness to take risk, drive, perseverance, etc. All awards must have at least one vote from each county.
- Entrepreneur must be the founder of the business.
- Company must be based in Larimer or Weld counties.
- Business’ origin should include vision, risk and creativity.
- Entrepreneur’s company should be profitable.
- Contributions to the community through charitable or leadership roles.
- Company demonstrates innovative employee programs and corporate culture.
- Company should have demonstrated ability to overcome adversity.
- Company should have demonstrated significant growth and long-term potential.
Additional considerations:
- Entrepreneur has founded more than one startup.
- Company has received national or international recognition.
- Previous winners should be excluded, except for “Lifetime Achievement” award, but an individual can be considered again if for a different company.
- Awards committee will name at least one winner from Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland and outlying areas of Larimer and Weld counties.
- Committee may honor a separate individual, in addition to the founder, if deemed appropriate.
Emerging Entrepreneur Award:
Winners of the Emerging Entrepreneur Award should demonstrate the best traits of entrepreneurship, including willingness to take risk, drive, perseverance, etc. The award must have at least one vote from each county.
- Entrepreneur must be the founder of the business, or have been critical to its growth.
- Company must be based in, or have been founded in, Larimer or Weld counties.
- Business’ origin should include vision, risk and creativity.
- Entrepreneur’s company should demonstrate a likely prospect of profitability.
- Contributions to the community through charitable or leadership roles.
- Company demonstrates innovative employee programs, corporate culture.
- Company should have demonstrated ability to overcome adversity.
- Company must have demonstrated significant growth and long-term potential.
- Company should have been in business for five or fewer years.
- Company does not have to yet be profitable.
Additional considerations:
- Entrepreneur has founded more than one startup.
- Company has received national or international recognition.
- Previous winners should be excluded, except for “Lifetime Achievement” award, but an individual can be considered again if for a different company.
- Committee may honor a separate individual, in addition to the founder, if deemed appropriate.
Regional Spirit Award:
Winners of the
Regional Spirit Award should demonstrate commitment to the growth and well—being of the region through good corporate citizenship and promotion of regional ties. All awards determined by the Award Selection Committee must have at least one vote from each county.
- Company must have a significant presence in Northern Colorado.
- Company should be active in local business groups.
- Company should demonstrate a commitment to regionalization of Northern Colorado’s economy through strong business activities in both Larimer and Weld counties.
- Company should promote charitable and civic causes, such as commuting pools, and regional transportation programs.
- Company should work to build the region’s work force and enhance its quality of life.
- Company should demonstrate commitment to purchase, when possible, significant amount of goods and services from local vendors, thereby contributing to a new level of entrepreneurship.
- Company must be profitable.
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Winners of the Lifetime Achievement Award should demonstrate a long career of commitment to the region’s growth and well—being of its business community, entrepreneurship and successful business endeavors. All awards determined by the Awards Selection Committee must have at least one vote from each county.
- Lifetime Achievement winner should have contributed greatly to the growth of the Northern Colorado business community for at least one decade.
- Winner should provide inspiration to younger entrepreneurs by examples of risk-taking, community—mindedness and success.
- Winner should have realized outstanding achievements in business or development of the region’s economy.
Additional considerations:
- Previous Bravo! Entrepreneur award recipients will remain eligible for “Lifetime Achievement” award.
- More than one Lifetime Achievement award can be awarded at committee’s discretion.
- Awards may be granted posthumously.
Award Selection Committee for all Awards:
- The committee is appointed by Jeff Nuttall, Publisher of BizWest, with individuals well-versed in finance, accounting, entrepreneurship or business valuations.
- Jeff Nuttall, committee chair, will evaluate nominations with selection committee members at an Awards Committee meeting. All decisions of the Awards Committee are final. Once a company is selected as a finalist, it will eventually become a Bravo! Entrepreneur winner.