Denver Startup Week kicks off Monday with an action-packed first day. Here’s a sampling of some of the day’s events.
Check the Denver Startup Week calendar for more details about these events, plus lots of other events not mentioned here. The events are free, but they do want you to register in advance. This certainly isn’t an exhaustive list, and there are lots of other cool looking events and panels. A number of panels focus on technical topics such as UX design or coding in different languages and are targeted at a fairly specific audience; for more information on those, check out the site.
Note that some events are full or could fill up, so check the calendar to see. Some events have waitlists. Otherwise, check out what else is going on in that time frame.
This list is a guess at which events will appeal to a broad audience. If one of the events turns out to be a dud, well, check the schedule for another one!
The Main Event
An event as big as Denver Startup Week inevitably will have a fancy kickoff luncheon with a big-name speaker in a posh ballroom, and sure enough it does, and it’s the week’s toughest free ticket.
Blogger/author/marketing guru Seth Godin is the keynote speaker at the luncheon, which is from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Seawell Ballroom in the Performing Arts Center. Other speakers include Mayor Michael Hancock, FullContact CEO Bart Lorang, and Convercent CEO Patrick Quinlan.
Tickets for the event are gone, and the waiting list is lengthy. As of Friday, organizers were sending out e-mails politely but firmly asking people to give up their tickets to people on the waiting list if they’re not going.
Work and Learn
Break Barriers: The National Center for Women and Information Technology is a Boulder-based nonprofit dedicated to getting more girls and women interested in technology and to breaking down barriers in the industry. It will host a panel with area CEOs and experts looking at how startups can break down “stealth barriers” that inhibit diversity and how a diverse workforce can boost the bottom line. The panel is from 3 to 5:30 p.m. at the Denver Post Auditorium, 101 W. Colfax.
Get Your Brand On: “Finding Your North Star” – How to Build an Effective Personal Brand will run from 1 to 3 p.m. at the McNichols Building, 144 W. Colfax. The presentation, according to its organizer, will demonstrate that people do have their own “brand,” but it’s more than image visibility. It’s you own “North Star” that will help guide the big decisions that impact our lives both professionally and personally.
Galvanize stuff: Galvanize (1062 Delaware) is hosting events on “little data,” ways for small companies to develop Web-scale software, and how to find and set up the best office on a budget. Check the site for more.
The Social Calendar
The Other Big Event: The event that kicks off Denver Startup Week in earnest is probably the Tech Cocktail event from 6 to 10 p.m. at the McNichols Building in Civic Center Park (144 W. Colfax). With more space and plenty of craft beer, cocktails, and food from local restaurants, it’s probably truer to the week’s relaxed, grassroots vibe than the luncheon. Plus, you’re encouraged to wear your startup’s t-shirt, so don’t worry about being underdressed.
Again, please check the calendar to make sure it’s not full.
After Hours Fun: The Beauty Bar (608 E. 13th Ave.) is hosting an afterparty from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Dubbed “Nerd Nite,” the event will feature “Nerdcore Hip-Hop and Geeksta Rap,” and encourages everyone to “get your best nerd look on” with glasses and pocket protectors.
The event is 21 and over and closed to people who don’t register through the DSW website. There’s no cover, and the bar will offer a free drink with a Denver Startup Week wristband or the password “STARTUP.”
After, After Hours Fun: Nightcap at KorovaTown. For people interested in staying out even later and partying “Clockwork Orange” style, this pop-up bar in River North might fit the bill. It’s from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. The Denver Film Society’s Reel Social Club, MegaFauna, and FlippFilms are putting the event together at FlippFilms’ office at 3047 Larimer St. Everything’s free, it’s 21-up, and it has a rolling capacity of 75, so make sure you and your droogs register.
