SCORE Denver & WY

SCORE Denver & WY is the local chapter of a national non-profit committed to fostering a vibrant small business community through mentoring and education. SCORE has been a partner of the Small Business Association for over 60 years and in 2024 alone helped the formation of 59,447 new companies, creating over 143,623 jobs. In its history, SCORE has helped create over 17 million jobs in the United States.

SCORE Denver's volunteer corps of business executives provide free mentoring and counseling to local entrepreneurs looking to start a business in Colorado, or to small businesses ready to take it to the next level.  In 2024, we helped 403 new businesses get stated, adding 838 jobs in the Denver-Northern Colorado region. Our mentors have "been there and done that" in their careers and share this advice and counsel with their clients.  We also provide low cost workshops and have comprehensive educational resources via our national website. All funds raised for SCORE Denver & WY will stay in the State of Colorado to help our local small business community.

Testimonials

When Byron Kominek envisioned transforming his family’s farm into a pioneering agrivoltaics facility, he knew he needed expert guidance. Following a recommendation from his father, Byron connected with SCORE Denver. 

Byron’s mentor, Jay Browne, provided invaluable support over several years, drawing from his extensive small business experience. “During my multi-year collaboration with my mentor Jay Browne, he used his extensive small business experience to be a good sounding board and provided thoughtful insights,” Byron shares. “We focused on marketing, electricity sales and project budgeting.” 

Jack’s Solar Garden, located in Longmont, Colorado, became the first commercial-scale agrivoltaics facility in the Americas. Agrivoltaics combines agriculture and solar power production, enabling dual land use that protects crops and livestock from intensifying heat caused by climate change, while simultaneously generating renewable energy. 

Under Byron’s leadership, Jack’s Solar Garden partnered with renowned research institutions, including the National Renewable Energy Lab, Colorado State University, and the University of Arizona. The farm now hosts the Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center, a non-profit dedicated to educating the public about the benefits and opportunities in agrivoltaics. Jack’s Solar Garden also hosted the prestigious 2024 World Agrivoltaic Conference.

SCORE Client Byron Kominek and some friends at Jack's Solar Garden