SyncUp Colorado Challenge Grant

In 2021, SyncUp Colorado was born, igniting collaboration across Colorado.  Through its Seed and Scale Awards, SyncUp empowered partnerships with bold visions, paving the way for impactful solutions across the state.

ZOMALAB, in partnership with the Colorado Governor’s Office, Colorado Succeeds, Colorado Thrives, SemperVirens, Skillful a Markle initiative, and Strada Education Network, awarded a $5 million prize pool centering on the challenge question:

“How might we accelerate education-to-employment partnerships that support Coloradans ages 12-24 to make informed choices and obtain job relevant skills to build quality careers?”

SyncUp Colorado received more than 130 applications across 40 high-growth industries representing more than 200 Colorado-based organizations with early- and mid-stage partnership solutions. Applicants had opportunities to win between $350,000 and $2 million per partnership application.

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Challenge Grant Partners 

SyncUp Colorado Sponsor

The Competition Sponsor, ZOMA Foundation, funded the Challenge and its development. ZOMA Foundation is part of ZOMALAB. ZOMALAB was founded by Lucy Ana and Ben Walton, whose families have shown a multigenerational commitment to expanding excellent educational opportunities for all. ZOMALAB believes in bringing together many diverse perspectives to foster collaboration, challenge conventional thinking, and allow innovation to thrive. For this Challenge, ZOMALAB partnered with key leaders in Colorado and the education-to-employment ecosystem.

SyncUp Colorado Challenge Partners

Challenge Partners provided their expertise in the education-to-employment ecosystem to support the Challenge, advise applicants, participate in events, and amplify the Challenge. Partners were not eligible to apply for the Challenge, and did not have influence over the selection criteria, judging process, or winner selection.

SyncUp Colorado Implementation Partner

The Implementation Partner, Common Group, is a collective impact accelerator for education and economic opportunity. Common Group led the development and delivery of the Challenge, supporting ZOMALAB, Challenge Partners, and applicants to advance the SyncUp Colorado mission.