Come One, Come All

We're proud to host the premier celebrations of our region's natural and organic products community.
Hundreds of attendees from the Front Range and beyond join us annually to rub elbows with the best and brightest.
Join us for our annual events — Pitch Slam, Spring Fling, and Annual Awards!

Colorado Naturally Colorado Pitch Slam

NR Colorado Pitch Slam logo

Naturally Rising: The Conscious Business Pitch Competition!

Formerly known as Pitch Slam, Naturally Rising has evolved into a competition that not only showcases emerging, purpose-driven brands but also celebrates leaders in the conscious business industry. This event highlights companies that embrace the Naturally Network’s quintuple bottom linethe 5 Ps:

  1. Passion – The enthusiasm and dedication of founders toward their product and mission
  2. Purpose – The company’s mission and the impact it has in addressing a specific issue or need
  3. People – The company’s focus on community, customer, and team dynamics
  4. Planet – The company’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility
  5. Prosperity – The company’s ability to achieve financial success and market viability while maintaining ethical practices

Naturally Rising places a strong emphasis on retail readiness, ensuring that the businesses competing are not only purpose-driven but also prepared for growth and success in the marketplace. From regional competitions to the national stage, culminating in a pitch experience at Newtopia Now — a show known for supporting emerging brands. This competition is designed to help elevate companies that can thrive in today’s conscious economy.

Applications are open NOW! Finalists will compete in April of 2025, delivering their retail-ready, conscious business pitches to a distinguished panel of judges and a live audience. The winner will earn a coveted booth at Newtopia Now, access to invaluable mentors and retailers, and a direct path into Naturally Network’s national competition. This evolution of the competition underscores our commitment to owning the brand and the marketplace, offering the platform, resources, and connections to help these businesses succeed while honoring their values.

Join the Naturally Network for an engaging info session to learn all about Naturally Rising: The Conscious Business Pitch Competition. This session will walk you through the program’s goals, application process, and the incredible opportunities it offers to elevate your brand.

Link to registration page for the information session – https://naturallynetwork.glueup.com/event/naturally-rising-info-session-130272/

Application closes February 7th, 2025

Who Qualifies for Naturally Rising Naturally Colorado: The Conscious Business Pitch Competition?

  • Revenue Requirement: Your brand must have annual revenue of at least $100,000 and not exceed $2,000,000.
  • Retail Partner: Your brand must have a retail partner (e.g., physical or online retailer distribution).
  • Membership: You must be an active Naturally Colorado member at the time of submission.
  • Geographic Location: Your business must be based in Colorado
  • Naturally Colorado Naturally Rising Pitch Competition Availability: 1st week of April
  • Newtopia Now Availability: Your brand must be able to attend Newtopia Now, August 25 – 28, 2025.

Innovation Showcase

Pitch Slam also provides scores of new and established member brands with the opportunity to share new products and services in the Innovation Showcase, our tabletop exhibition.

Who qualifies for Innovation Showcase?

Established Naturally Colorado member brands who can demonstrate innovation to share with attendees and a significant Colorado business presence.

Application opens soon

Spring Fling Logo

About Spring Fling

Spring Fling is our annual celebration of the natural products industry’s roots in Boulder, as well as the thriving ecosystem it now nurtures. In the past, Spring Fling has hosted a lively Shoots Showcase that featured nearly three dozen local companies less than four years old and the festive event has attracted hundreds of attendees. In 2024, we broke from tradition and opened up the Spring Fling Showcase to all companies that are members, regardless of age or type – Spring Fling was a true celebration of community!

Spring Fling will remain an exclusive member and sponsor benefit by only being open to Naturally Colorado members, sponsors, and their guests.

Not a member or sponsor? Click here to learn more about joining our community.

Spring Fling Showcase

Since the ’60s, Boulder has maintained its reputation for incubating inventive brands that progress the natural products industry. Spring Fling’s Showcase honors that reputation by giving companies in the Naturally Colorado ecosystem the opportunity to showcase their products to hundreds of attendees.

Shoots Showcase Flowers

About Naturally Colorado’s Annual Awards

Naturally Colorado’s Annual Awards ceremony is a celebration of the natural and organic products industry and our vibrant community!

Awards Categories

  • Industry Leader of the Year
  • Service Provider of the Year
  • Conscious Business Catalyst
  • Emerging Brand of the Year
  • Brand of the Year
  • Lance Gentry Award

Partners

At Naturally Colorado, we’re not just looking for sponsors — we’re looking for partners. Would you like to connect with the innovative businesses leading the region’s booming natural and organic products industry? We can help. Sponsoring a signature event brings brand awareness, makes you stand out as a top thought-leader, and provides opportunities for special networking moments.

Not a member or sponsor? Click here to learn more about joining our community or sponsoring our next signature event.

Past Pitch Slam and Award Winners

 

2025

Who will win next?

2024

Pitch Slam & People’s Choice Winner: Lentiful
Pitch Slam Runner Up: Winnie Lou – The Canine Company
Pitch Slam Third Place: Love, Plants

Annual Awards

Brand of the Year: Bobo’s
Emerging Brand of the Year: Hooch Booch
Industry Leader of the Year: Steve Hoffman
Service Provider of the Year: Creative Alignments
The Lance Gentry Award: Mad Agriculture
Conscious Business Catalyst: Chris Bentley, Pet Sustainability Coalition

2023

Pitch Slam & People’s Choice Winner: Peak State Coffee
Pitch Slam Runner Up: Terraseed
Pitch Slam Third Place: Hooch Booch

 

2022

Annual Awards

Brand of the Year: The Good Crisp Company
Emerging Brand of the Year: Byte Bars
Industry Leader of the Year: Carlotta Mast
Service Provider of the Year: SRW Agency
The Lance Gentry Award: Stacey Marcellus
Conscious Business Catalyst: The collective of Marshall Fire
responders, with special recognition for Basecamp Collective,
Big Red F restaurant group, Blackbelly, Conscious Alliance,
Danone NA, Fortnight Collective, Andy Clark of Moxie Bread,
Yasso, and all the supporting brands and many other
Naturally Colorado community members who contributed to this effort.

2021

Pitch Slam: Frescos Beverage Corporation
Pitch Slam Runner Up: Pastificio
Pitch Slam Third Place: Fossil Fuel (now KeJoy)
Climate Catalyst: Danone North America
Breakout Brand: Cappello’s
Industry Leader / Community Champ: Justin Levy, Conscious Alliance

2020

Pitch Slam & People’s Choice: Gruvi
Pitch Slam Runner Up: Mortal Kombucha
Pitch Slam Third Place: Bloombox Foods
Climate Catalyst: Organic India
Breakout Brand: Rowdy Mermaid Kombucha
Industry Leader / Community Champ: Bill Capsalis

2019

Pitch Slam: Hoplark HopTea
Pitch Slam Runner Up: Etalia
Pitch Slam Third Place: Unwrapp’d Energy Bites
Breakout Brand: Weller
Industry Leader / Community Champ: Dale Kamibayashi

2018

Pitch Slam: Picaflor
Pitch Slam Runner Up: Rooster & Lark
Pitch Slam Third Place: Coconut Cloud
Breakout Brand: Bobo’s
Industry Leader / Community Champ: Justin Gold

2017

Pitch Slam: The Honest Stand
Pitch Slam Runner Up: Cusa Tea
Pitch Slam Third Place: The Good Spread
Breakout Brand: Goddess Garden
Industry Leader / Community Champ: Sylvia Tawse

2016

Pitch Slam: Frau Fowler
Pitch Slam Runner Up: SaltiSweet Ice Cream Factory
Pitch Slam Third Place: Evo Hemp
Breakout Brand: Lucky’s Market
Industry Leader / Community Champ: Jane Miller

2015

Pitch Slam: Wild Zora
Breakout Brand: Quinn Popcorn
Industry Leader / Community Champ: Steve Hughes

2014

Pitch Slam: Appleooz
Pitch Slam Runner Up: Noble Savage
Pitch Slam Third Place: Zaza Raw
Best Young Business: Noosa Yoghurt
Company of the Year: Boulder Brands
The Lance Gentry Breakthrough Innovation Award: Quinn Popcorn
Lifetime Achievement: Joan Boykin

2013

Pitch Slam: Compo Keeper
Best Young Business: Alfalfa’s Market
Company of the Year: WhiteWave Foods Company
Local Hero: Bryce Winton Brown
Focus on the Future: Silk
The Lance Gentry Breakthrough Innovation Award: Goddess Garden
Lifetime Achievement: Mo Siegel

2012

Pitch Slam: Dressed Up Salad Dressing
Best Young Business: Boulder Soup Works
Company of the Year: Door to Door Organics
Local Hero: Joan Boykin
Focus on the Future: Teatulia
The Lance Gentry Breakthrough Innovation Award: Cheribundi
Lifetime Achievement: Paul Repetto

2011

Pitch Slam: Bamboobies
Best Young Business: New Planet Beer
Company of the Year: EVOL Foods
Local Hero: Chef Ann Cooper, The Renegade Lunch Lady
Lifetime Achievement: Hass Hassan

2010

Pitch Slam: White Girl Salsa
Best Young Business: Bhakti Chai
Company of the Year: Rudi’s Organic Bakery
Local Hero: Ramona Clark, Growing Gardens
Lifetime Achievement: Steve Demos

2009

Pitch Slam: Goddess Garden
Best Young Business: MIX 1
Company of the Year: Eco-Products
Lifetime Achievement: Mark Retzloff

2008

Pitch Slam: Sticky Fingers Cooking

2007

Pitch Slam: “Under Research”

2006

Pitch Slam: Phil’s Fresh Foods (later changed to EVOL Foods)

2005

Pitch Slam: “Under Research”

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