XI Survive and Thrive

08/20/2026

Yesterday, our Summer Cohort got a masterclass in working smarter.

We were joined by Audrey Kerchner - AI Consultant, Chief Strategist, and founder of Inkyma - who showed our business owners exactly how AI and automation can eliminate the busywork and free up time for what actually moves the needle: strategic thinking and intentional growth.

This is what the XI Survive & Thrive program is built for. Not just capital - but the knowledge, tools, and community that help growth-ready businesses operate at a higher level.

Because here's the truth: the most successful business owners aren't working harder than everyone else. They're working smarter - with the right systems, the right strategy, and the right support behind them.

A huge thank you to Audrey for bringing her expertise to our cohort. Her ability to turn complex AI concepts into clear, actionable steps is exactly the kind of practical value our business owners deserve.

08/19/2026

🌸 Women in Tech: The Messy Middle

Skip the highlight reel. This conversation is about what really happens behind the scenes.

Join us during SoCo Startup Week 2026 for The Messy Middle: What Nobody Tells You About Being a Woman in Tech, hosted by Catalyst Campus for Technology and Innovation.

📅 Thursday, August 27th | 3–5 PM
📍 Catalyst Campus | Colorado Springs

We’re getting into the realities that don’t always make it onto the slide: the logistical load that often falls on women, the challenges of building a company and career, and what it takes to keep it all moving - even when things get messy.

Moderated by Maureen Woolshlager, with a keynote from Christie Frieg and panelists Ala Stolpnik, Evyn White, and Linda Cash, this won’t be your standard panel Q&A. Expect interactive conversations, participatory formats, and an anonymous text-in line for the questions you really want to ask.

Whether you’re a founder, technologist, executive, student, investor, emerging professional, or simply curious about Southern Colorado’s innovation ecosystem, there’s a place for you in this conversation.

✨ Come for the candid conversation. Stay for the connections!

And yes - men who support women in tech are always welcome.

Registration is required at https://luma.com/sxvubtl9

08/19/2026

08/18/2026

Just a quick reminder that Tech Night Out for Emergent Campus is happening this week at Whitewater Rooftop Social!

Join us for an evening of networking, great conversations, and community connection.

Event Details:
Date: August 19th, 2026
Time: 5:00 – 7:00 PM
Location: Whitewater Rooftop Social
Address: 302 Royal Gorge Blvd, Cañon City, CO 81212

Come connect with fellow professionals and community members!

08/18/2026

Most business owners using AI are getting inconsistent results. A great answer one day. A useless one the next.

The problem isn't the tool. It's the approach.

XI Survive & Thrive is hosting AI Skills Lab: From Random to Repeatable - Your AI Foundation, a 3-hour working session led by AI Consultant and Chief Strategist Audrey Kerchner of Inkyma.

This isn't a lecture about AI's potential. It's a hands-on session where you build a repeatable system for working with AI - so strong results stop being luck and start being skill.

You'll leave able to:
✅ Direct AI so it returns what you actually need
✅ Match the right AI tool to the right task
✅ Identify which tasks to hand to AI first
✅ Build reusable prompts for your highest-value work
✅ Use AI without putting your company data at risk
✅ See the path from a single prompt to a working AI application

Who it's for: Business owners and executives - whether you're starting from zero or already using AI and want it to work consistently.

Audrey has trained teams at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and multiple private advisory groups. She's known for turning AI confusion into clear, actionable steps any business owner can follow.

📅 Tuesday, September 1st | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
📍 Exponential Impact HQ | Colorado Springs, CO

👉 Registration is required: https://luma.com/4b877f69

08/18/2026

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08/18/2026

Southern Colorado Startup | 187 followers on LinkedIn. Celebrating and promoting the Southern Colorado Startup Community! | Southern Colorado Startup (SoCo Startup) is a partnership between Exponential Impact, EPIIC, Catalyst Campus and Emergent Campus to support and drive local startups and entrepr...

08/18/2026

🎤 Speaker Spotlight: France Hoang | Founder & CEO of BoodleBox

We’re excited to welcome France Hoang to SoCo Startup Week 2026! 🚀

France will be sharing his expertise at Monday’s AI Solutions Challenge Sprint event and Thursday night’s Founders Dinner at Colorado College.

A veteran, entrepreneur, and technology leader, France has helped build companies generating more than $600M in combined sales across AI, aerospace, defense, law, and government services. Today, as Founder & CEO of BoodleBox, he’s helping teams harness the power of AI and emerging technology.

Beyond his impressive career, France is an active champion of our local entrepreneurial community.

👏 Thank you, France, for investing your time, experience, and energy in Southern Colorado!