Where we came from

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Founded in 2015, The Garage at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs is more than a student entrepreneurship center — it’s where ideas turn into action.

Located on the third floor of the Osborne Center for Science & Engineering (A-313), The Garage is a collaborative launchpad designed to help UCCS students build, test, and grow real ventures while earning academic credit. Here, innovation isn’t theoretical — it’s hands-on.

Students accepted into The Garage gain access to workspace, tools, resources, and direct mentorship from experienced faculty and business leaders across the Colorado Springs community. Our model blends the energy of a co-working space with the structure and accountability of a startup accelerator. As Dr. Tom Duening, El Pomar Chair of Business and Entrepreneurship, explains:

“The key to a space like this is to co-locate companies from different industries. They have a spillover effect with the knowledge each management team has about their market, technology and customers that they could not get if they were operating somewhere else on their own. We are a hybrid between a (startup) accelerator and a co-working space.”

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How it works

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Student founders apply to join The Garage through a competitive selection process. Once accepted, principals enroll in a 1–3 credit Entrepreneurial Independent Study course, where they actively build their venture and work toward clearly defined milestones.

In return, Garage teams receive:

• Access to shared innovation space and dedicated storage
• Structured mentorship from faculty and community leaders
• Opportunities to connect with entrepreneurs, mentors, and angel investors
• A built-in community of driven student founders

Most importantly, UCCS takes no fees or equity from the companies created here. The Garage exists to empower student entrepreneurs — not profit from them.

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Our Mission

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We exist to equip the next generation of visionaries and leaders with the resources, mentorship, and community they need to transform bold ideas into sustainable businesses. Through courses, workshops, events, and hands-on venture development, The Garage fosters a culture where innovation thrives and collaboration fuels growth.

If you have an idea — or even just the spark of one — The Garage is where you build it.

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