Denver and Boulder are two very distinct cities that have unique histories, cultures and of course, startup communities. While it is amazing to have two amazing startup communities so close to each other, I believe that it would be immensely beneficial to both individuals and to the communities as a whole if more cross-pollination occured between the two communities.
It is surprising how many individuals in each community rarely, if ever, immerse themselves on occasion in to the community of the city that they do not call their own. I doubt that it is a result of physical distance, the two cities are separated by only about 30 minutes of highway with public buses traveling between the two cities. My guess is that most people simply don’t think to do so or don’t see the value of it. If you are one of those people and live in Denver, I urge you to make it to Boulder Startup Weekend this April. Let me explain...
I was probably one of those people less than a year ago. I spent almost all of my time going to only Boulder events. Last year I decided to start making the trek (25 minutes from my house) and attended some Denver events last fall, including Denver Startup Weekend last October. It was one of the best decisions I’ve made and the travel time was shorter than what I often spend in a single day on the weekend when driving back and forth to the mountains, and that is without I-70 traffic.
When I showed up to Denver Startup Weekend, I was surprised to find a room full of people where I hardly knew anyone. I was used to attending events like these and seeing a room full of familiar faces. It was refreshing, I was hearing new conversations and learning about new things but most importantly I wound up creating new relationships with amazing people, one of whom is now a co-founder for the company I am currently building, H2Lo. I really hadn’t expected that last one at all when I showed up to Startup Weekend Denver. I was expecting a fun weekend where I would learn some new stuff, but hadn’t anticipated how impactful the event would be on the future of my life. I’m still working on that company today, and it is going really well, we are building a platform for smart irrigation that is affordable and easy to use.
Point being; go to Boulder Startup Weekend BECAUSE you are part of the Denver entrepreneurial community. It will be worth your time. While it was a ton of fun, what was most impactful to my life was the opportunity to become a part of a new community with amazing people I would have otherwise never met. But it wasn’t only about making new friends and meeting one of my co-founders, it was about connecting with and learning from an entirely new and unique community. There are subtle differences between the two communities, you will have to see it for yourself by making the trip. More importantly, consider yourself part of the Colorado Entrepreneurial Community in addition to your home city’s community, it will be to the benefit of each individual community as well as your own.