Activate NM

Pitch Application Deadline is Fast Approaching: Monday, September 14!

Compete in the Startup World Cup Regional Competition. Selected finalists will pitch their businesses to a panel of judges for the chance to advance to the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco.

Come see live pitches, discover emerging companies, and connect with entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders.

Application deadline: September 14.
startupworldcup.io/new-mexico-app-2026

Learn more:
activatenm.com/startup-fiesta

Apply to pitch your business in the Startup World Cup Regional Competition. Selected finalists will pitch live to an expert panel of judges for the opportunity to represent our state and advance to the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco.

Application deadline: September 14.
startupworldcup.io/new-mexico-app-2026

Directly following the pitches, join us for Startup Fiesta! The official reception and networking event, presented with generous support from the City of Albuquerque. Celebrate the competitors, discover emerging local companies, and connect with fellow entrepreneurs, investors, and community leaders over food and drinks.

Learn more:
activatenm.com/startup-fiesta/

Happy Labor Day. Today, we recognize the hard work, dedication, and contributions of workers who help strengthen our communities and move New Mexico forward.

Offices will be closed Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day. We’ll reopen Tuesday, September 8.

Two opportunities. One goal: help New Mexico outdoor businesses grow.

***ActivatOR: Outdoor Business Accelerator
Build a stronger business with a free, 7-week program designed for New Mexico outdoor businesses. Get 1:1 mentorship, connect with other outdoor business owners, and work on topics like cash flow, business models, messaging, margins and funding.

***Adventure Pitch Fest
Ready to put your business in the spotlight? Outdoor businesses can apply to pitch at Adventure Pitch Fest, connect with potential partners and customers, and compete for cash prizes.

ActivatOR participants get an inside track on showcasing their businesses at Adventure Pitch Fest.

If you're building an outdoor business in New Mexico, these are two opportunities worth exploring.

Learn more about ActivatOR and apply by August 31: activatenm.com/activator

Presented by NMORD and ActivateNM

Congratulations to Monica Poling, founder of who pitched Sounding Line / Space Stories, for taking home the Launch Kit Prize Package at the Space Fiesta Pitch Competition!

An Albuquerque-based business strategist and AI educator, Monica has spent more than two decades helping organizations turn story into strategy, securing millions in funding along the way. Today, she helps businesses use AI to attract and convert customers, upskill teams, and drive sustainable growth.

As the Launch Kit Prize winner, Monica will receive:
* 4 hours of business consulting
* A custom landing page design
* Access to business tool subscriptions
* 1 hour of pitch coaching
* A featured segment on the ActivateNM Podcast

Thank you to all of the entrepreneurs who shared their ideas and inspired us with what's possible. We can't wait to see what's next for Monica and the entire Space Fiesta community.

This FRIDAY!

A reminder that Space Fiesta isn't just for people already in the space industry.

It's for people who enjoy meeting others who are building things, solving problems, creating opportunities, and making Albuquerque (and beyond) a little better.

Whether you're a business owner, student, nonprofit leader, creative, educator, technologist, researcher, or simply curious, there's a place for you here.

Some of the best conversations happen when people from completely different backgrounds end up standing next to each other.

Add free food from The Munchie Truck, desserts from Sweet Demise, and a room full of interesting people, and it should be a pretty good evening.

Hope to see some familiar faces there.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/space-fiesta-tickets-1989235988390?aff=Social

Juneteenth Holiday Closure Notice

The ActivateNM team will be out of office on Friday, June 19 in alignment with federal holiday observance. Normal hours will resume on Monday, June 22.

We hope you have a restful holiday weekend!

What if your business is already a space company—you just don't know it yet?

Space isn't just rockets.

It's communication.
It's food systems.
It's logistics.
It's software.
It's education.
It's entertainment.
It's healthcare.
It's design.
It's the thousands of businesses that support life, work, and exploration beyond Earth.

At Space Fiesta's Liftoff Live Pitch Competition, we're challenging entrepreneurs to think bigger.

How could your idea connect to the growing space economy?

Pitch LIVE at the event for a chance to win the Launch Kit, including:
🚀 Business Consulting
🚀 Website Templating
🚀 Launch Tools Subscriptions
🚀 Pitch Coaching
🚀 Feature on the ActivateNM Podcast

No traditional space business required.

Sign up during registration and show us how your idea could take off: bit.ly/4fgJUze