Come celebrate Boulder’s innovative startup culture with over 200 Boulder Startup Week events from May 15 to 19. This year, several Startup Week events will be led by University of Colorado Boulder staff and faculty. View the list of CU Boulder events below.
Monday, May 15
Diversity Is the Answer: After the Accelerator
When: 8:30 to 9:45 a.m.
Where: Impact Hub, 1877 Broadway, Suite 100
From CU: George Deriso
The data is in: Diversity provides a strategic business advantage. As companies leave accelerators, they often experience a let-down. No more are they surrounded by mentors, investors and peers who are driving toward short-term goals. By putting themselves in environments full of people of diverse backgrounds, they can gain the long-term perspective needed to build a company over longer cycles.
This session will explore how diverse professional communities support the ongoing development of business and how to cultivate advisors, friends, colleagues and staff from broad backgrounds to help support your company's adolescence.
Innovation Strategies to Accelerate Your Business
When: 2 to 3 p.m.
Where: Boulder Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave.
From CU: George Deriso and Sarabeth Berk
Innovation requires diverse thinking and external collaboration. Learn how to contribute your expertise through open innovation programs and how to employ innovation methodologies within your organization.
Topics include: Advancing creative and technology solutions, rapid prototyping, team building, diversity, funding, crowdsourcing, hackathons and challenge competitions. You’ll hear success stories and get tips to help you identify market opportunities and discover alternative funding sources.
Tuesday, May 16
Building a Better Ecosystem for all Boulderpreneurs
When: 9 to 9:45 a.m.
Where: Galvanize, 1023 Walnut St.
From CU: Sarabeth Berk and Cali Harris
This coffee chat facilitated by University of Colorado Boulder will engage the Boulder community in their thoughts, desires, history and perceptions of the CU Boulder campus and discuss how to leverage the community in order to reach the goal of becoming the innovation university that supports the innovation/entrepreneurship community.
Reimagining Higher Education for the 21st-Century Workforce
When: 1 to 1:45 p.m.
Where: Boulder Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave.
From CU: Terri Fiez and Erick Mueller
A new level of accountability is entering post-secondary education. Driven by a commitment to bridge the gap between college and career, educators are compelled to better prepare students with the skills 21st-century employers are seeking.
This pressure has driven the growth of alternative education providers and is pushing traditional four-year institutions to innovate from within. Join us and meet leaders from both traditional and alternative education models who are responding to this challenge in unique ways.
Making Social Change with Entrepreneurship
When: 2 to 2:45 p.m.
Where: Boulder Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave.
From CU: Bruno Peroni
We will discuss how can you make a real impact and work on solving social and environmental problems using entrepreneurial tools and skills, sharing the process we have been through in BIG 5, a social and environmental bootcamp that happened at the University of Colorado during spring.
This will be an open, interactive "fishbowl" session where audience and speakers will be together discussing the topic.
CU and Boulder Robotics Research Lightning Talks
When: 3 to 3:45 p.m.
Where: Boulder Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave.
From CU: Christoffer Heckman
Lightning talks from researchers in the Boulder robotics community.
Boulder Community Night: Pledge 1% Pitch Contest
When: 7 to 9 p.m.
Where: Boulder Theatre, 2032 14th St.
From CU: Phil Weiser
RSVP: Required
The inaugural Pledge 1% Pitch Contest seeks to recognize and support entrepreneurial and innovative nonprofit ideas to solve pressing problems and critical issues facing Boulder County through an interactive and fun event.
Speakers will share inspirational stories of how cross-sector collaborations are positively impacting our community.
Wednesday, May 17
Beyond the Boulder Bubble: Global Entrepreneurial Thinking
When: 10 to 10:45 a.m.
Where: Riverside, 1724 Broadway
From CU: Nigel Sharp
Presented by the first Global Entrepreneur in Residence Nigel Sharp, this will be an interactive and high-spirited discussion around the importance of taking a global mindset and developing an understanding of other entrepreneurs worldwide.
The session will explore immigrant and foreign entrepreneurial stories from around the world, taking lessons, ideas and best practices that, when applied, give you a leg up on the local and national market.
AdTech Gets Creative
When: 4 to 4:50 p.m.
Where: Bohemian Biergarten, 2017 13th St.
From CU: Dan Ligon
Digital media trends are shifting beneath our feet. This panel will delve into what the never-ending improvements in AdTech mean for creative teams everywhere. They’ll discuss how they’re reacting to what’s happening right now and how they’re preparing for what’s coming next.
Note: This session is already at maximum capacity for registrants.
Thursday, May 18
So You Want to Work at a Startup . . .
When: 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Where: BMoCA, 1750 13th St.
From CU: Cali Harris
Often getting your foot in the door is the hardest part about landing a job at a startup. Join us for an open discussion with community members who have deep understanding of the Boulder startup ecosystem.
Note: This session is already at maximum capacity for registrants.
Startup.coop: How to Build a Real Sharing Economy Through Shared Ownership
When: 11 to 11:50 a.m.
Where: Canopy Boulder, 3269 28th St.
From CU: Nathan Schneider
Around the world, the "platform co-op" movement is bringing cooperative business models—sharing ownership and governance among workers or users—to the online economy. It's a way to build sustainable, transformative companies that are ultimately accountable not to short-term profits but to the people who depend on them most.
Note: This session is already at maximum capacity for registrants.
Third annual Boulder Startup Week Job Fair
When: 11:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Where: Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St.
From CU: Career Services
Looking for a job or an in with a startup company in Boulder? This is a great opportunity to meet with over 30 + local companies looking for great talent. See the list of participating companies.
Friday, May 19
SharkTank EDU
When: 5 to 5:50 p.m.
Where: Bohemian Biergarten, 2017 13th St.
From CU: Nigel Sharp
Local education entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs will pitch innovative ideas in front of expert judges who have experience implementing new technologies in education, launching and mentoring successful startups and winning state-wide teaching awards for innovation.
Note: This session is already at maximum capacity for registrants.
