[ibimage==21045==Original==none==self==null]
House of Genius is a volunteer-run, sponsorship-driven organization, now in 13 cities (with origins of Boulder/Denver), that provides detailed feedback to entrepreneurs wanting help to overcome a challenge with their startup, non-profit, or social enterprise.
The format calls for three companies to present their challenges to a roundtable of local experts from all different backgrounds and expertise. The presenting companies do not give sales pitches nor are they service providers trying to make a sale. The contributors are not meetup junkies getting a fix; rather they endure the long and intensive format to give back to their comrades and learn in the process. By the end of the night some can’t sleep, and others can’t believe how exhausted and ready they are to take off their thinking caps.
Everyone shares their honest intellect to truly help push an entrepreneur forward. Those contributions are taken at face value by everyone in the room; judged by the merit of the contribution rather than who the person is, the title on their business card, or what they’ve accomplished in life. We don’t put our “suck up” hats on when there is an investor in the room or discount an attorney’s design advice because of his job title. The room is not a sounding board for everyone’s ego. It is truly human beings lending their expertise to other human beings.
How? Because of the “first name only” rule. And it is well-enforced. It’s hard to employ the normal behaviours of traditional networking when you don’t know who you’re networking with.
The best part is that these are all carefully selected referrals brought on by word of mouth; all from different backgrounds, experiences, and different types of businesses. Past attendees invite their friends and colleagues when they feel they would be a good fit for the format and have relevance -- not because everyone else is going and there will be free beer.
Genius’ entrepreneurs have presented businesses ranging from numerous technology start-ups to Hot Straws developed originally for Parkinson’s disease patients. Contributors have ranged from college undergrads to billionaires and everyone in between; but I’d be breaking the golden rule if I told you who they were.
That is why you should attend a House of Genius session! Want to be a part of this list of incredible nobodies? Apply for a session and you’ll get an invite as soon as the room is right for you.