Innovators Peak
Month
Last year was an eventful one—and over the past few, the name Colorado has become synonymous with growth and innovation. Needless to say, in this state, we’ve picked up a bit of a reputation for our motivation and inherent desire forprogress.
So, motivated people of Colorado, what’s in store for you in 2015? What are your goals and resolutions? I realize that it’s a little late to be asking that question because, whether you can believe it or not, the year is already about a twelfth over! We’ve spent the past month witnessing before us what 2015 has in store.
Source: Flickr
In a world where tech companies like Google are working towards creating an autonomous car, two different companies from two different worlds have decided to team up and say, “us too.” NASA, of space-related fame, and Nissan, of car-related fame, are working to develop and produce an autonomous car that we can only hope is called the NASsan.
Gaming is serious work.
Not just for kidsand not just for video game nerds—for everyone. Think about it. What is play? What does it mean to game? Why do we do it?
Johan Huizinga, one of the historical authorities on thesignificance of play in the human experience, wrote about this back in the 1930’s. In his most significant work, HomoLudens, he claimed thatany activity considered play mustshare the following characteristics:
1. Play is free, voluntary, and can’t be forced
2. Play isn’t directly linked to “real life”
3. Play creates, requires, and is defined by order
4. Play is limited in time and space; it must have a beginning and end
The University of Colorado Denver Business School is one mouthful of promise for both its students and the community. The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International has granted the local school accreditation, a coveted designation—less than 15% of business programs are accredited by AACSB worldwide. And they are one of the very few schools in Colorado to be accredited at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. But we know that not the only thing that keeps future innovators on campus. Students choose CU Denver for many reasons, and we’re out to find them. These are the people. These are their aspirations. Meet the students of CU Denver Business School.
Wenyi
Masters in Business Analytics
I am a full time student, and I do not have any loans. China is my hometown, and I came to Denver in 2013 for school. I studied Transportation Engineering in undergrad, and I lived in Shanghai. The main reason I chose Denver was because I got an offer here, but I liked that it was a city – a good city to live in, and very close to the mountains. In my hometown it does not snow very often and it is very dry. There are no mountains, so I like that about Denver. I would like to stay in Colorado when I finish school, and I want to promote public transportation, encourage people to travel by public transport instead of cars. I hope to be an analyst and I would really like to work for RTD.
Located inside the iconic Union Station in LoDo, the The Crawford Hotel combines the historic magic of Denver with the city’s innovative mindset. With luxurious modern amenities such as in-room iPads and perks like complimentary car service, it’s no wonder business travelers choose Crawford to spice up their stay. And although we’re proud, we’re also not surprised that CNN named this Mile High gem one of the top 11 business hotels across the globe. But, of course, we know there’s more to it all. Every patron brings more than a suitcase. Tucked away like a spare shirt, a story almost begs us to unpack it. So we did. These are the humans of Crawford Hotel: Part 4.
Ryan
Digital Marketing
I enjoy working remotely. I live in Denver, but I’m originally from Ohio. I have lived here 6 years. I came out here for work. Denver is growing rapidly, I like that there are new things going on, restaurants, and places to go. I sort of fell into marketing to be honest, but I studied it in college and I started doing it right after college. I’d like to stay in Denver as long as I can. The weather, the seasons and the activities keep me here.
Have kids? Think back to those few months before your first, when you were most likely inundated by your own doubts, fears and questions. You probably wondered if you would be a good parent. You probably wondered how your parents knew what to do, or when, or how. The fragility of your baby-on-the-way terrified you, maybe secretly, maybe not so secretly.
Don’t have kids? Think about how you would feel if you did.
This sort of uncertainty is faced by most, if not all, parents-to-be. One does not make the transition from individual person to responsible, educated parent overnight. But what if, in addition to that uncertainty, you had no support, no financial resources, no help? This is the situation that many are in when they come to Denver Health’s Nurse-Family Partnership program.
It’s true. We tell it to you all the time. This state is one of the best and well on its way to becoming the best place to start and grow your business. California, Silicon Valley, blah blah blah. We get it. They’ve been getting all of the credit and reputation as the undisputed tech startup capital of the country for years— but it’s a new year and in 2015 it’s not only our goal, but our duty to bring to light the aspects of our community that have launched us into conversation with these places.
Back in September, when we were just getting started, we gave you Location, Location, Location: Why You should Startup in Denver. We highlighted five characteristics of Denver’s entrepreneurial ecosystem that make it such: Startup Community, Geographical Location & Affordability, Human Capital, Political Support, and Connectivity. It’s time to expand—and let us start from the top.
Aside from addressing the statewide water plan on deck for the next four years, last Tuesday’s optimistic and unusually personal inaugural speech by Governor Hickenlooper detailed Colorado’s setbacks and successes throughout his first term as well as his hopes for the future throughout his second and beyond.
On Wednesday, January 14, 2015, leaders from across the metro area convened at the Marriott downtown (1701 California St.) for The State of the Cities - Mayors’ Economic Forum. There they discussed the state of five cities in the metro area—Denver, Lakewood, Centennial, Arvada and Aurora. It is the sixth year the Denver Business Journal has put on the event, which focuses on the business outlook in the Denver Metro Region.
Source: Flickr
2014 may have been a pretty solid year for movies, but it wasn’t so hot for movie theaters. According to a recent Nielsen report, Americans between the ages 12 and 24 saw 15% fewer movies this year than they did last. And with Sony’s release of the “oh-so-controversial” The Interview breaking online records, what are movie theaters to do in this evolving entertainment climate?
To adapt with the rest of the entertainment world, AMC is teaming up withMoviePassto bring moviegoers a subscription service, much like Spotify and Pandora before them, where they can see a movie a day for as low as $30 a month ($45 if you’re into the whole IMAX thing). The service was unveiled on January 5th and will be test marketing the service right here in Denver. That includes the AMC at Cherry Creek (3000 East 1st Avenue, Denver) and Westminster (10655 Westminster Boulevard, Westminster).
All dog and cat owners can agree on one simple fact: there is no better companion than one of the fuzzy variety. On the other side of the coin, there is a harsh reality as animal overpopulation sends way too many dogs and cats to shelters. However, with the work of rescues and shelters, these animals have a second chance and the opportunity to brighten a household.
PawsCo, a relatively new Denver-based nonprofit, is a “100-percent volunteer run organization committed to collaboration, education, and efficient operation.” Innovators Peak spoke with PawsCo founder Tiana Nelson and Cat Director, Malissa Spero (she also accepts the title “(crazy) cat lady”) about the comprehensive efforts to reduce pet overpopulation and save the lives of our fuzzy friends.
On Monday, January 19th, thousands turned out to Denver’s MLK “marade,” a combination of a march and a parade.
Of the estimated 40,000 people, Innovators Peak had the opportunity to ask some of them an important question: What does Martin Luther King, Jr. Day #represent to you?
The story of Sydney-born, Denver-based 34 Degrees Crackers is a classic tale of the American Dream. What began as nothing more than an idea propelled itself into a multi-million dollar business, showing sales growth in the double digits. Yet the company originated as something entirely different: an importer of Australian specialty foods. The strategic pivot, implemented in its fourth year, has turned it into the artisan cracker company known nation-wide today. Many entrepreneurs will admit that being able to reevaluate and change the original vision of a business is not easily executed, and the attachment that many have to that vision often leads to failure. Innovator’s Peak sat down with founder Craig Lieberman to discuss the journey: from bringing an idea to life, to revamping it completely and watching it flourish.
Denver has received its fair share of recognition in its growing quest to become— and remain— one of the most lucrative cities for start-up companies and young entrepreneurs. However, it’s not just techy creatives that are fleeing to the Mile High City. The city’s expansive and diverse offerings are bringing individuals from all demographics, but there’s an especially strong draw for young graduates.
Adorned with wood paneling on the walls and embroidered kitsch as far as the eye can see, akin to the 1950’s, Grandma’s House at 1710 South Broadway transports patrons back in time to a world full of yarn and embroidery. But it’s bringing a fresh, collaborative space to Denver. Matthew Fuerst, Grandma’s House owner, noticed the clear enthusiasm of up-and-coming craft beer brewers and entrepreneurs. He immediately knew it was opportunity to become an “in-between step between brewing on an amateur level and opening what is a very capital intensive business.”
Source: Flickr
2014 was a good year for space. All year there were stories featuring our investigations into the final frontier dominated by the media: the Kepler telescope finds hundreds of new planets, Curiosity finds more and more evidence that Mars was once habitable, hell, even the Rosetta comet landing got more tweets than Kim Kardashian’s favorite asset (Not quite as many Google searches, unfortunately. I blame teenage boys).
But it was Colorado’s collective science and aerospace communities that stole the scene this year. Here are five ways Colorado totally dominated space in 2014:
Source: Flickr
Baby, it’s cold outside. And what better way to aid the winter blues in Denver than with a few brews? Colorado is the mecca of craft beers with over 270 breweries and selections all over the map—from the usual suspects to funkier concoctions; we took on the seemingly impossible and ever-so-grueling task of narrowing down 10 of our favorite brews perfect for a cold, winter night from 10 different breweries. We didn’t adhere to steadfast rules; however, we focused on inventive, seasonal creations.
Source: Flickr
Brace yourselves Apple and Google, Domino’s is delivering its own technological advances to your door in thirty minutes or less. That’s right, Domino’s, having admitted its own failures as a pizza producer and deliverer, has stepped into the tech market with its own tech innovations. It just goes to show you that no matter your product, you can always just become a tech company. Denver already has multiple of Domino’s locations, from 2917 W 38th Ave to 1136 S Colorado Blvd. But why step out of your house when you have pizza innovation? Pizzavation, if you will. Don’t believe me? Let’s take a look at what Domino’s offers in the way of tech:
Comprised of 15 different merchants with wildly different product offerings, The Source is Denver’s premier community gathering space. Its residents—who fit in well with the eccentricities of the graffiti-laden warehouse itself—are comprised of a dynamic group of passionate employees and business owners. We got to speak to them. Meet the humans of The Source.
Source: Flickr
As if reading our emails wasn’t enough, Google now wants to read your moods. Google Play’s music streaming service, much like Spotify or Pandora, has this cute little feature that now selects music based on what kind of mood you’re in. No, this isn’t an Internet “mood ring.” That’s a silly idea. But it does make educated guesses based on the day and the time.
The world turns at roughly 1000 miles per hour. If you’re a new startup on the scene or a CEO trying to help your company dominate the industry, it can feel like the world around you is moving a whole lot faster. “There’s never enough time to do this or that,” is a commonly heard expression. If you’re constantly struggling to keep up, your team is faltering or you’ve recently suffered a mass exodus of employees (or even losing more clients than bringing in), it’s time to take a hard solid look at yourself. It’s time to discover your personal areas of improvement. If that sounds difficult, there is help out there. Kristin Darga of Ideal Day Coaching helps Denver and Colorado-area companies and business leaders find the focus they need.
It doesn’t take an eccentric home brewer or seasoned foodie to appreciate craft beer and chocolate. Those are just two things that make the world go ‘round. Yes, Denver is probably a little biased, seeing as there are over 200 microbreweries and some seriously excellent chocolate (such as Ritual and Piece, Love, and Chocolate). But now that infatuation is backed—by science.
That’s right, you can now justify your indulgences, whether they are hoppy or rich, with the power of science. The Genetics of Taste Lab at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science is “the only community-based and citizen science-driven human genetics lab of its kind.” The lab is built around community participation, which makes for an inclusive and super fun research approach.
Anyone who’s witnessed the energy surrounding Denver Startup Week the last couple of years knows what an amazing community we have for small businesses and startups. Even Forbes magazine has an eye on the pulse of Denver, ranking the city #2 for opening a business earlier this year. And soon it will be even better.
Born from the spirit of Denver Startup Week, the building at 1245 Champa will be transformed into an entrepreneurial resource center that will be the first of its kind in the United States. Described as a “public park for entrepreneurs,” the space will have a 300-person area for events, several conference rooms with cutting edge technology and a permanent home for many valuable resources for the small business and entrepreneurial community.
The visionaries behind the project are the Downtown Denver Partnership, and The Colorado Technology Association, under the leadership of Tami Door, President and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership and Erik Mitisek, CEO of the Colorado Technology Association. The project has been made possible by public partners like the Office of Economic Development and International Trade and private partners like Comcast, JP Morgan Chase, PCL Construction and many more. The project aims to create a permanent space for the Basecamp environment of Startup Week after the building located at 1245 Champa, recieves a full interior makeover.
Want to learn about the space before it opens? Keep reading to learn more!
Painting, glasswork, screen-printing, sculpture, or photography: commonly used in the fine art world, these and similar media—whether melded together or manipulated separately— are the literal building blocks on which to define an artist’s vision. But when an artist reaches beyond traditional media, using or creating materials outside the scope of the mainstream is when innovation begins. Judy Gardner, a professional printmaker and gallery artist whose work is currently on display at Artists on Santa Fe (747 Santa Fe Drive), has been exploring a unique space using a technology that didn’t even exist 30 years ago: 3D printing machines.
I visited Gardner at her studio in Arvada to find out more about her work, how she discovered 3D printing, and what she’s learned while using this fascinating new medium.
On becoming an artist: My mother was a painter and my father was a writer, and I don’t remember wanting to be anything besides an artist. My earliest memories are sitting on the floor in the dining room with my mother as she’s holding a coffee cup and showing me how a circle changes in perspective as it gets closer to eye level. I love printmaking and I discovered the process through the tradition that was cultivated by Japanese artists. Later I got into Solarplate as a less-toxic alternative to traditional printmaking.
