2026 Colorado Tech Summit + APEX Awards
Colorado Technology Association’s Colorado Tech Summit + APEX Awards is part technology conference, part celebration of the best in Colorado tech. The event features powerful keynotes, dynamic panels, and interactive company showcases, followed by a celebration of the people and companies driving the Colorado tech industry forward with the announcement of this year’s APEX Award winners.
2026 details to be announced soon!
2025 Event Highlights:
- Keynote Speakers: Heard from influential leaders shaping the future of technology.
- 2024 Colorado Tech Industry Report: Were the first to explore insights from this vital report, highlighting the economic and workforce impact of Colorado’s tech sector.
- Innovation Hall: Experienced cutting-edge technologies and met the leading companies in innovation in Colorado.
- Book Signing: Got a signed copy of Dan Caruso’s new book, Bandwidth, CTA gave away 100 free copies!
- APEX Awards: Celebrated the people and companies setting the standard for excellence in Colorado tech as we revealed the 2025 award winners.
Questions? Email eventsmgr@coloradotechnology.org.
Registration Open in January 2026!
2026 Colorado Tech Summit + APEX Awards
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Grand Hyatt Denver
1750 Welton St, Denver, CO 80202
Presented by
APEX AWARDS CATEGORIES
Nominations will open on Oct. 16
Individuals and organizations from the public sector, private sector, and consulting firms are eligible to apply.
CEO of the Year
This award recognizes a creative, innovative, and determined CEO of a Colorado-based tech organization who drives the vibrancy of the Colorado tech economy beyond their business and has overcome obstacles to lead their organization to success. CEOs from all organization sizes are eligible.
Technology Leader of the Year
This award recognizes a Colorado-based CIO, CTO, CDO or Head of Technology who has demonstrated ingenuity in leading an IT team and implementing technology projects that improve organizational effectiveness. Nominees from all orgnization sizes are eligible.
CISO of the Year
This award recognizes a Colorado-based CISO who has implemented a security program that accelerated their organization’s success. The winner will have demonstrated excellence in using people, processes, and technologies to align the security program to deliver on the organization’s core mission. CISOs from all organization sizes are eligible.
Company of the Year
This award recognizes a Colorado-based organization that demonstrates excellence across all areas of business performance—delivering strong financial results, driving innovation through technology, addressing real needs in the marketplace, and leading with purpose through community engagement and corporate responsibility.
*The organization must have been in operation for at least 5 years.
Talent and Access Champion of the Year
This award recognizes an individual/organization who is making a significant impact on building and strengthening the technology talent pipeline in Colorado. The recipient actively leads and supports initiatives that are building and ensuring a strong local pipeline of qualified workers for technology organizations and IT departments across the state.
Emerging Leader of the Year
This award recognizes a Colorado-based tech professional between the ages of 21-40 who:
- Is passionate about technology and makes significant contributions to their organization or the industry overall.
- Excels at their role and actively seeks opportunities to grow professionally and personally.
- Shows great potential to grow in their area of expertise and as a leader in the tech community.
Emerging Tech Company of the Year
This award recognizes Colorado’s most promising technology organization in operation for 5 years or less. Organizations recognized with this award meet a unique need in the marketplace with their product or service, demonstrate technical innovation, and are accepted or celebrated by customers and/or the Colorado tech industry. The company must be headquartered in Colorado.
Project of the Year
This award recognizes a tech project that:
- Solves a real-world problem in an innovative way, driving value and impact for the organization/industry.
- Demonstrates meaningful collaboration and successful, measurable results.
- Overcomes obstacles and meets strategic objectives and goals.
Bob Newman Lifetime Achievement
This individual has made outstanding achievements and commitments to furthering innovative technology in our community and the state and has contributed to the initiatives of Colorado Technology Association.
The Bob Newman Lifetime Achievement Award winner is selected by previous honorees in this category.
Advocate of the Year
This individual is advancing the technology industry in Colorado through their leadership in moving forward policies and ideas that ensure our state’s status as a prominent tech hub.
The Advocate of the Year is selected by the CTA President and CEO.
Interested in 2026 sponsorship opportunities? Contact Peter Schwartz at 303-592-4070 or peter@coloradotechnology.org.
