BOULDER COUNTY PILOT COHORT•INCUBATOR FOR BUILDERS & JOB SEEKERS
Don't build or job-hunt alone. Find your team, industry problem & product-market fit.
StartHere is a hands-on incubator and co-working studio in Boulder County, CO. Work on any problem or venture—including your own ideas or problems outside of the county—or explore sample local companies and problems you could potentially team up on, backed by weekly co-builder introductions and product feedback.
1
Learn the Program
Weekly skill matching, PMF sprints & product critiques.
2
See Costs Upfront
$50/mo Job Seeker Fellowship to $250/mo Full Solo Pass.
3
Apply & Explore Problems
Work on any problem anywhere, or browse 6 sample local problems.
Where solo builders & job seekers form high-trust project squads.
Pilot Cohort 1 kicks off in Boulder County — capped at 50 founding seats.
Boulder Pilot Cohort 1 — Live Interest Gauge37 / 50 Seats Reserved
18
Makers & Builders
12
Job Seekers (Shipping)
7
Industry Problem Hosts
Step 1 • How The Program Works
We don't just rent desks. We introduce your next teammate, industry problem, and customer.
Most co-working spaces leave you working alone in a crowded room. StartHere runs a structured in-person program in Boulder County built around three core pillars:
PILLAR 01 • CURATED MATCHING
Matching People by Interests & Complementary Skills
We map every member's hands-on skills—from CPG supply chain, mechanical CAD, and B2B sales to biotech, design, and software—alongside what they want in a partner, then personally introduce you every week.
How We Drive Introductions
✓Monday Double-Opt-In Intros: Every week, we introduce you to 2 members whose skills complement yours.
✓"Build-to-Hire" Squads: Job seekers team up with founders on 4-week real-world project sprints.
✓Desk Skill Beacons: Simple table cards showing what skill you're offering or looking for today.
PILLAR 02 • REAL PROBLEMS & PMF
Solving Real Problems & Finding Product-Market Fit
Members can work on any problems or ventures they choose—including projects and markets outside of Boulder County. If you don't have a specific idea yet, we also showcase local companies and operational problems you could potentially work on.
How You Find PMF Faster
✓Work on Any Problem Anywhere: Bring your own startup idea or tackle problems in any industry or region.
✓Sample Local Company Problems: Explore optional pain points shared by local outdoor, climate, food & clinic operators.
✓PMF Validation Sprints: Interview domain operators and test demand, pricing, and prototypes before scaling up.
PILLAR 03 • PRODUCT FEEDBACK
Honest Weekly Product Feedback & Show-and-Tells
Get constructive, face-to-face feedback on your physical prototype, packaging, pitch deck, or app every single week. Makers, designers, operators, and peers test what you're building so you iterate faster.
Weekly Feedback Rituals
✓Thursday 4 PM Show & Critique: 10-minute live demos or physical product teardowns with structured feedback.
✓Hands-On User Testing: Watch real people try your product, sample, or onboarding flow live.
✓Portfolio Proof-of-Work: Job seekers graduate with shipped case studies and founder endorsements.
Step 2 • Transparent Costs ($50 to $250 / mo)
Accessible memberships from $50 to $250/month—built to reward collaboration.
Know exactly what the program costs before you apply. Whether you're job-hunting and joining a project sprint at $50/mo or joining as a solo founder at $250/mo, we make it easy to start and reward you when you team up.
Low-End Fellowship • 80% Off
Job Seeker & Sprint Pass
$50/ month$250
Our most accessible entry point for job seekers and builders in transition who commit to collaborating on a Cohort 1 project squad and attending Thursday feedback sessions.
✓Co-working access + placement on a 4-week "Build-to-Hire" squad
✓2 curated skill & interest introductions every Monday
✓Thursday 4 PM Product Critique & demo days with hiring founders
Start solo or join with a partner—when we introduce you to a collaborator in the space and you team up on a project or industry problem, both memberships drop to $150/mo.
✓Automatic $100/mo savings per person when paired on a project
✓Dedicated team pod table for your active project sprint
✓Work on any project anywhere, plus access to sample local company problems
✓10 hrs/mo private War Room & customer discovery booth
Our $50/mo low-end fellowship is built for job seekers and builders between roles who commit to collaborating on an active Cohort 1 project squad and attending Thursday product feedback critiques.
100% Refundable Seat Hold: Submitting your Cohort 1 application requires a $25 refundable seat hold—credited 100% toward your first month, or refunded immediately if dates or location don't fit.
Step 3 • Apply for Pilot Cohort 1
Tell us what you're building or looking to work on.
You can work on any problem or idea—including projects outside of Boulder County. We use these questions to balance skills across pods and line up your first collaborator introductions.
What Happens When You Submit
1Required $25 Refundable Seat Hold: Pay the $25 seat hold in the pop-up after submitting to guarantee your spot—100% refundable if dates or location don't match your schedule.
2Explore Sample Local Problems: Work on your own idea anywhere, or browse 6 sample local companies and problems you could potentially work on right below this form.
31-on-1 Match Intake Call: We review your skills and interests to curate your first 3 collaborator introductions.
Unlocks After Submission
Sample Local Companies & Problems
You can work on any problem or venture (inside or outside the county). Submit your form to also see 6 local companies and problems you could potentially work on.
Apply for Cohort 1 (Boulder County, CO)
Select your primary skills, complementary co-builder match, and target industry from the dropdown menus below so we can match you with builders who share your interests.
4 Quick Questions
Google Sheets Database + Automated Email Backend
Paste your deployed Google Apps Script Web App URL below so every Cohort 1 application, $25 seat hold, and attached Boulder problem track automatically logs to your Google Sheet and emails both you and the applicant.
Step-by-Step: Paste into Google Sheets → Extensions → Apps Script
1. Open a blank Google Sheet → Extensions → Apps Script and paste this code.
2. Click Deploy → New deployment → select Web app → set Execute as: Me and Who has access: Anyone.
3. Copy the Web app URL and paste it into the box above.
/**
* StartHere Boulder — Cohort 1 Intake + Email Notification Script (Code.gs)
* Paste into your Google Sheet: Extensions > Apps Script, click Save (Ctrl+S),
* then Deploy > New deployment (or Manage deployments > Edit > New version) > Web app
* Execute as: Me | Who has access: Anyone
*/
const ORGANIZER_EMAIL = ""; // Optional: your email (defaults to Sheet owner)
const SPREADSHEET_ID_OR_URL = ""; // Leave blank if opened via Google Sheets > Extensions > Apps Script
function getTargetSheet_() {
let ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();
if (!ss && SPREADSHEET_ID_OR_URL) {
ss = SPREADSHEET_ID_OR_URL.indexOf("http") === 0
? SpreadsheetApp.openByUrl(SPREADSHEET_ID_OR_URL)
: SpreadsheetApp.openById(SPREADSHEET_ID_OR_URL);
}
if (!ss) {
throw new Error("No active Google Sheet found. Open your Google Sheet and click Extensions > Apps Script (or paste your Sheet URL into SPREADSHEET_ID_OR_URL).");
}
return ss.getActiveSheet();
}
function parseIncomingPayload_(e) {
if (!e) return {};
if (e.parameter && e.parameter.payload) {
try { return JSON.parse(e.parameter.payload); } catch (err) {}
}
if (e.postData && e.postData.contents) {
const raw = e.postData.contents.trim();
try { return JSON.parse(raw); } catch (err) {
const firstBrace = raw.indexOf("{");
const lastBrace = raw.lastIndexOf("}");
if (firstBrace !== -1 && lastBrace > firstBrace) {
try { return JSON.parse(raw.substring(firstBrace, lastBrace + 1)); } catch (err2) {}
}
}
}
if (e.parameter && Object.keys(e.parameter).length > 0) {
return e.parameter;
}
return {};
}
function doGet(e) {
if (e && e.parameter && (e.parameter.payload || e.parameter.email || e.parameter.name)) {
return handleRequest_(e);
}
return ContentService
.createTextOutput(JSON.stringify({ status: "ready", message: "StartHere Boulder Google Sheets Webhook is live and ready to receive POST submissions." }))
.setMimeType(ContentService.MimeType.JSON);
}
function doPost(e) {
return handleRequest_(e);
}
function handleRequest_(e) {
const lock = LockService.getScriptLock();
lock.tryLock(10000);
try {
const data = parseIncomingPayload_(e);
const sheet = getTargetSheet_();
const headers = [
"Timestamp", "Name", "Email", "Membership Track", "Reservation Status",
"Boulder Hub", "Schedule Rhythm", "Years Exp", "Skills (Q1)",
"Looking to Pair With (Q1)", "Work Interests & Ideas (Q2)",
"Role & Background (Q3)", "Attached Boulder Problem Tracks"
];
if (sheet.getLastRow() === 0) {
sheet.appendRow(headers);
sheet.getRange(1, 1, 1, headers.length).setFontWeight("bold");
}
const email = String(data.email || "").trim().toLowerCase();
const lastRow = sheet.getLastRow();
let existingRow = -1;
if (email && lastRow > 1) {
const emailCol = sheet.getRange(2, 3, lastRow - 1, 1).getValues();
for (let i = 0; i < emailCol.length; i++) {
if (String(emailCol[i][0]).trim().toLowerCase() === email) {
existingRow = i + 2;
break;
}
}
}
const problemsStr = Array.isArray(data.problemTracks)
? data.problemTracks.join(" | ")
: String(data.problemTracks || "");
if (existingRow > -1 && data.action !== "submit_intake") {
if (data.reservationStatus) sheet.getRange(existingRow, 5).setValue(data.reservationStatus);
if (data.problemTracks !== undefined) sheet.getRange(existingRow, 13).setValue(problemsStr);
sheet.getRange(existingRow, 1).setValue(new Date().toISOString());
} else {
const rowValues = [
new Date().toISOString(),
data.name || "",
data.email || "",
data.membershipTrack || "",
data.reservationStatus || "Intake Submitted",
data.boulderHub || "",
data.scheduleRhythm || "",
data.yearsExperience || "",
data.skills || "",
data.pairSkills || "",
data.interests || "",
data.experience || "",
problemsStr
];
if (existingRow > -1) {
sheet.getRange(existingRow, 1, 1, rowValues.length).setValues([rowValues]);
} else {
sheet.appendRow(rowValues);
}
}
const savedRowNumber = existingRow > -1 ? existingRow : sheet.getLastRow();
let emailNotice = "skipped";
// Send Automated Emails inside isolated try/catch so email issues never block Sheet logging
try {
if (data.action === "submit_intake" || data.action === "reserve_deposit") {
const ownerEmail = ORGANIZER_EMAIL || Session.getEffectiveUser().getEmail();
if (ownerEmail) {
MailApp.sendEmail({
to: ownerEmail,
replyTo: data.email || ownerEmail,
subject: "[StartHere Cohort 1] " + (data.reservationStatus || "New Intake") + ": " + (data.name || "Builder"),
body: "New StartHere Boulder Cohort 1 submission:\n\n" +
"Name: " + (data.name || "") + "\n" +
"Email: " + (data.email || "") + "\n" +
"Track: " + (data.membershipTrack || "") + "\n" +
"Status: " + (data.reservationStatus || "") + "\n" +
"Preferred Hub: " + (data.boulderHub || "") + "\n" +
"Rhythm: " + (data.scheduleRhythm || "") + "\n" +
"Skills: " + (data.skills || "") + "\n" +
"Pair With: " + (data.pairSkills || "") + "\n" +
"Interests: " + (data.interests || "") + "\n" +
"Experience: " + (data.experience || "") + " (" + (data.yearsExperience || "") + ")\n" +
"Problem Tracks: " + (problemsStr || "None yet")
});
}
if (data.email && data.action === "submit_intake") {
MailApp.sendEmail({
to: data.email,
subject: "We received your StartHere Boulder Cohort 1 Application!",
body: "Hi " + (data.name || "Builder") + ",\n\n" +
"Thanks for applying to StartHere Pilot Cohort 1 in Boulder County!\n\n" +
"Your Profile Summary:\n" +
"- Track: " + (data.membershipTrack || "") + "\n" +
"- Preferred Hub: " + (data.boulderHub || "") + "\n" +
"- Skills: " + (data.skills || "") + "\n\n" +
"Next Steps:\n" +
"1. If you placed a $25 Pilot Cohort Seat Hold, it is 100% refundable if our final Boulder County dates or hub location don't fit your schedule.\n" +
"2. We'll reach out shortly to schedule your 1-on-1 Co-Builder & Skill Match intake call.\n\n" +
"— The StartHere Boulder Team"
});
}
emailNotice = "sent";
}
} catch (mailErr) {
emailNotice = "mail_warning: " + String(mailErr);
}
return ContentService
.createTextOutput(JSON.stringify({ status: "ok", row: savedRowNumber, emailStatus: emailNotice }))
.setMimeType(ContentService.MimeType.JSON);
} catch (err) {
return ContentService
.createTextOutput(JSON.stringify({ status: "error", message: String(err) }))
.setMimeType(ContentService.MimeType.JSON);
} finally {
lock.releaseLock();
}
}
✓ Application Submitted • $25 Seat Hold Required for Guaranteed Spot (Builder)
Application submitted! Pay the $25 refundable seat hold below to guarantee your spot in the space.
Application Submitted — Pay the $25 Seat Hold to Guarantee Your Spot
Your Cohort 1 application has been submitted! However, you need to pay the $25 Seat Hold in the pop-up or below in order to be guaranteed a spot in the space (capped at 50 founding members).
“Reserve your seat in the pilot cohort. 100% refundable if dates or location don't match your schedule.”
Your $25 reservation is credited 100% toward your first month—or refunded immediately in one click if our final Boulder County hub or kickoff dates don't fit your schedule.
Required to Hold Your Cohort 1 Seat
Pilot Cohort Seat Hold
✓ Locks in 1 of 50 Founding Seats in Boulder Cohort 1
✓ Pre-cohort 1-on-1 Co-Builder & Skill Match intake call
✓ Vote on final Boulder County hub address & locks in Founding Rate
$25
100% Refundable
Seat #38 Reserved in Boulder Cohort 1!
We've logged your $25 refundable Pilot Cohort Seat Hold and queued your skill & interest profile for Boulder County introductions.
Unlocked Right Below
Explore 6 Sample Local Companies & Problems You Could Potentially Work On
✓Application Submitted • $25 Seat Hold Required for Guaranteed Spot
Application Submitted! Pay the $25 Seat Hold to Guarantee Your Spot
Your Cohort 1 application for Boulder County has been submitted! However, you need to pay the $25 Seat Hold below in order to be guaranteed a spot in the space.
“Reserve your seat in the pilot cohort. 100% refundable if dates or location don't match your schedule.”
Credited 100% toward your first month—or refunded immediately if our final Boulder County hub or kickoff dates don't fit your schedule.
Founding Member • 37 / 50 Seats Filled
Pilot Cohort Seat Hold
✓ Reserves your Top 50 spot in Boulder Cohort 1
✓ Pre-cohort 1-on-1 Co-Builder & Skill Match intake call
✓ Vote on final Boulder County hub address & Founding Rate
$25
100% Refundable
Stripe Checkout Opened in New Tab!
Complete your $25 refundable seat hold in the Stripe tab to finalize Seat #38.
Optional Project Inspiration•0 Problem Tracks Attached to Your Profile
Work on any problem anywhere—or explore these sample local companies & problems.
Members who join StartHere can work on any problems or projects they choose, including ideas and markets outside of Boulder County. Below are some local companies and operational problems we're showcasing that you could potentially work on if you're looking for a project or pilot partner.
Mid-sized Boulder outdoor apparel and bike brands need better physical + digital workflows to intake customer warranty repairs, grade refurbished gear, and resell circular inventory.
PMF & Feedback Partner: 4 local outdoor brand ops & CX leads committed as pilot partners
Emerging Front Range food and beverage founders struggle to meet high minimum order quantities (MOQs) for compostable film packaging and local co-packing line runs.
Commercial Solar & Heat-Pump Permitting Accelerator
Local Front Range clean-energy installers spend 18+ hours per project reconciling municipal code requirements, load calculations, and utility interconnection paperwork.
Skills Needed: Energy / Mechanical Eng + Ops Lead + Workflow Automation
Health & Longevity • Louisville / Superior
Patient Intake & Prior-Authorization Workflow for Independent Clinics
Independent physical therapy, sports medicine, and specialty clinics along US-36 lose 12% of revenue to delayed insurance prior-authorizations and fragmented patient onboarding.
PMF & Feedback Partner: Multi-clinic operator in Louisville offering paid pilot budget
Skills Needed: Healthcare Ops + Service Design + Software/Automation
Precision Manufacturing • Longmont / Lafayette
Custom CNC & Hardware Prototyping Quote Estimator
Aerospace and robotics machine shops in Longmont take 4–7 days to quote custom parts because senior machinists manually inspect every CAD file, tolerance, and material spec.
Instead of sending 300 cold resumes, team up with 2–3 complementary builders (across ops, design, sales, engineering, or product) to solve a scoped growth or product challenge for a local company.
PMF & Feedback Partner: Weekly demo day in front of 12+ hiring founders in Boulder County
Skills Needed: Open to Operators, Designers, Marketers, Scientists & Engineers
