Boulder’s startup scene has created quite the buzz in the tech community. Leading technology publications like The Next Web have tagged it as “the next Silicon Valley”, but those involved in Boulder’s rich startup culture prefer to see the city as simply a great community in which to build a business.
Many of the startups in Boulder come straight out of the TechStars startup incubator. This program, founded in 2006, receive applicants from all over the world who want the chance to be a part of one of the most successful business launching platforms in the world. But even beyond the walls of the prestigious TechStars community, Boulder has created a startup culture that welcome innovation, daring ideas, and fresh avenues for making the connections necessary for a new idea to become a big idea.
Resources to Explore in Boulder’s Startup Scene
If you’re new to town and looking to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs, Boulder has you covered. There are multiple events that go on throughout each month and year designed to get you plugged in and moving forward.
Boulder Open Coffee Club – At 8AM every other Tuesday, techies and entrepreneurs gather at Atlas Purveyors on the Pearl Street Mall for a highly energized meetup. Here, you’ll find developers from some of Boulder’s leading startups, marketers, publicity pros, and other individuals who can help you get your new idea off the ground. It’s casual and the event always includes a review of open positions, people looking for positions, and a stroll through current tech-related events.
Silicon Flatirons – No one in Boulder’s startup scene should miss the events at Silicon Flatirons. It’s a program created in conjunction with the University of Colorado – Boulder School of Law and hosts numerous events throughout the year on topics like venture funding, in-depth interviews with local entrepreneurs, and panels designed to shed light on topics like public relations, marketing, term sheets, and other tech issues of use to startups. It’s Boulder entrepreneurship at the most academic level.
Boulder Startup Week – Held ever May, Boulder Startup week is a fantasticly powerful convergence of everything in Boulder that is startups. There’s never a fee to register (while some events do have tickets for sale), entrepreneurs can mix, mingle, and connect with everyone in the Boulder startup scene. You can always stop by the event’s website to see which startups in Boulder might be hiring and as the event nears each year, you can view the schedule of events — there’s something for everyone!
