Colleen Kazemi, SVP Denver Executive Director

Nonprofits are Denver’s lifeblood, supporting communities of need on a daily basis. During this time of crisis, nonprofits are stretched thinner than ever before. Many will require new funding models, or need to pivot existing models to strengthen their resources during the recovery period to thrive to serve our neighbors. I’m inspired to work with our talented group of partners, to combine my data-driven professional background and my talent for collaboration, alongside the highly effective and engaged SVP Denver board of directors to activate our skill sets and our connections to have a far-reaching impact. 

Having been in Denver since third grade, and a Denver East High School and CU Boulder graduate, I feel the urgency to quickly find additional ways for our SVP community to partner with other like-minded organizations and individuals to find innovative ways to have an impact. 

My additional professional background includes being the co-founder of Pure Cultures, a probiotics animal health product innovator. I’m deeply rooted and actively engaged in the Denver/Boulder investor and entrepreneurial startup community, and have been a resource for young leaders in that space as well. I’m an investor in MergeLane, a fund that discovers, accelerates and invests in high-potential, women-led startups. I am an adjunct faculty member in the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship program at the CU Leed School of Business, and am passionate about supporting public education and have served as co-chair of the Denver Public School (DPS) Bond Oversight committee, DPS Tech Advisory Committee, and East High Collaborative School Committee.