The geography of Colorado's tech scene, like the state itself, is changing quickly. Boulder, long the traditional home of Colorado’s tech industry, now faces competition from around the state. Downtown Denver, once dominated by the energy sector, is now home to an estimated 600 startups, employing more than 4,300 people. Tech companies occupy about eight percent of the Central Business District's office space, and growth in the downtown area is expected to continue unabated for at least the next five years. Areas of Denver previously filled with dilapidated warehouses and rail yards are now home to some of Colorado's best funded tech companies.
To help make sense of all the growth, we profiled some of the state’s most thriving tech areas. Click on any of the neighborhoods below for an in-depth analysis.
Central Business District
Denver’s Central Business District is the traditional downtown hub of commercial activity. While the area is perhaps better known as a hub for energy companies, recently tech companies of all sizes are finding homes in the area’s skyscrapers.
Learn more about tech in the Central Business District
Lower Downtown (LoDo)
The lower downtown (LoDo) area of Denver is the oldest area of the city, as well as its cultural center. This revitalized neighborhood is filled with hip bars, nightclubs and restaurants. It is also an incredibly popular location for Colorado tech offices. The zip code which encompasses LoDo, 80202, was, by far, the state’s most well funded zip code last year. Expect a mixture of well dressed urbanites, tourists and office workers.
River North (RiNo)
Now a trendy neighborhood filled with art galleries, breweries, restaurants and bars, not too long ago this area was filled with empty warehouses. Today, the neighborhood is exploding with new arrivals, rising rents and new tech offices. Expect little tree cover, and plenty of tattoos and beards.
Boulder
Boulder is the traditional hub of Colorado’s tech and startup scene. The city prides itself on its small town feel, big city liberalism and an outdoorsy vibe. It is a grown-up college town, home of University of Colorado Boulder. The city is also home to many of the state’s most successful tech companies, as well as more than a few up-and-comers. Google recently took notice, and is building a major new campus there. If you like bikes, breweries, and a chilled out, funky atmosphere, Boulder is hard to beat.
Learn more about tech in Boulder
Denver Tech Center
Located well south of downtown Denver, the Denver Tech Center (DTC) is the traditional hub of Colorado’s cable and telecommunications industries. The DTC was designed back in the early 1970s, on prime real estate where I-25 and I-225, and a major fiber optic line intersect. Cable companies like AT&T Broadband and United Cablevision both got their start there, and today many large companies have a presence in the area. Some smaller tech companies, especially those that do business with the larger telecommunications firms, have chosen the area along I-25 near the Tech Center as their home.
Learn more about tech around the Denver Tech Center
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