Two teams have advanced from a regional competition in Grand Junction to vie in the statewide finals of an annual business startup competition.

A team that proposed a platform to connect idle equipment and workers to the oil and natural gas companies that need them was selected to advance from the Go Code Colorado event held at the Factory coworking space in Grand Junction.

A team that proposed an app for free-lance workers and small businesses looking to relocate within Colorado based on lifestyle needs also advanced.

Go Code Colorado challenges software developers, entrepreneurs and others to come up with ideas for using public data in creating new business concepts. Participants experience a crash course in business development over the course of a weekend in formulating and testing their startup ideas, then pitching their proposals to judges.

More than 230 individuals participated in challenge weekend events, building apps and business concepts with their teammates, coding and analyzing data. The two advancing  teams from each region showed their innovative prowess with ideas that demonstrated feasibility and attractiveness to the marketplace, used data to create value for business decision-makers and set new standards in innovation for Colorado businesses.

The top two teams from Grand Junction will advance to a statewide challenge set for May 26 at the Denver Performing Arts Center. The top two teams from each of five regional competitions will present their startups. The top three teams at the statewide challenge will win $25,000 to advance their ideas.

Members of the 10 finalist teams also will participate in a mentor weekend in Boulder, where they’ll meet with and receive advice from successful entrepreneurs.

“Each year, Go Code Colorado participation and enthusiasm increases across the state,” said Wayne Williams, Colorado secretary of state. “The high-caliber app and business concepts created during challenge weekend will further encourage government entities of all sizes to make their data available to developers and entrepreneurs so its inherent value can be fully utilized.”