Innovators Peak

Future, Forward, Faster

20th May 2015

Entrepreneurs and Community Partners Mingle And Collaborate To Celebrate The Grand Opening Of The Commons Last week’s opening of the Commons at Champa brought together entrepreneurs and members of Denver’s business community to celebrate the historic project made possible by dozens of public and private partners. The first of it’s kind in the nation, the Commons on Champa seeks to be a entrepreneurial resource center in the middle of Denver’s bustling downtown. Opening day festivities included panel discussions, tours of the new space, town-hall style conversations with leading business providers and a startup celebration featuring food and drink from a variety of Denver restaurateurs.[[MORE]]While the various organizations and partners who came together to make the building a reality were breathing a final sigh of relief the space was finished, participants on the day echoed a common refrain, embracing the unknown and looking forward to serendipities that may emerge from bringing the entrepreneurial community together under one roof.Jay Zeschin, a co-founder of Ello and an organizer of Denver Startup Week, said he could already see the basecamp feeling of Denver Startup Week starting to take hold in the space at Champa. There’s an opportunity for serendipity and chance encounters to lead to bigger things, something people who have participated in Denver Startup Week have already discovered, but the intention is to keep this flame alive permanently at Champa. A movement is developing in Denver around entrepreneurship, and Commons on Champa is in the center of the action.  Among the resources already calling the Commons on Champa home are the City of Denver’s Office of Economic Development and the Colorado Technology Association, both of which have offices on the second floor where they will be joined in the coming months by other non-profit businesses with a focus on entrepreneurship. The Office of Economic Development will highlight available programs offered by the city, which includes a loan program capable of financing up to $300,000 towards projects expenses in the Denver city limits. The office targets 12 industries in the state for growth, but ultimately the OED is working towards a goal of making Denver the entrepreneurial capital of the world. With their satellite office at the Commons, they are making progress towards reaching that goal and connecting entrepreneurs with opportunities they may not even know exist.The Colorado Technology Association represents Colorado’s advanced industries, using technology as a unifying thread. The association provides networking opportunities for it’s members, which include large companies, startups and even IT departments within companies that are not tech focused.The CTA, led by Erik Misitek, and a driving force behind the Commons, has 3 platforms – education of workforce, economic development, and public policy advocacy. With an ear to the ground, officials at the CTA hope to provide a voice for entrepreneurs in shaping public policy, and connections through their various networking opportunities. Outside the CTA’s offices, Jason, a tech support team member from Itonish, a partner on the Commons project, which provides IT solutions to companies, was sitting among the empty desks working on his laptop. “I have been working on the IT in this space for several months, but now it is coursing with the energy and excitement of the community. It’s exciting.”  Meanwhile, downstairs entrepreneurs and resource partners gathered in the event spaces and halls to discuss the entrepreneurial scene in Denver. Victoria Smith operates Legends of the Hidden Potential, a marijuana trim company, and has been looking for a space to meet with potential investors. She stopped into the Commons to see what kinds of businesses resources might be available at Champa to support her growing business. It’s this kind of can do attitude, that was being discussed on panels in the next room. In an uncommon twist, millenials, of which Smith is one, were being lauded by older members of a panel for their adventurous spirit, “young people are bucking up and saying, ‘I’m going to go out and do this for myself.” And for these eager pioneers, Rob Smith, of Rocky Mountain Micro Finance Institute, led a panel on resources available to small businesses and the Commons will be featuring panels like this on a regular basis.In the entrepreneurial café, which features tables and free wifi from Xfinity, some of Denver’s most successful and upcoming restaurateurs were handing out samples of their delicious products, in addition to checking out the new space. “My office is my kitchen, so this will be a great space to use when I need to have important meetings,” voiced Patrick, owner of Elevation Ketchup, a gourmet food company that can be found at the Four Seasons restaurants and Root Down. At the next table, Jake Broadsky, owner of the popular Denver coffee company Novo, was being modest about his success, but was open to opportunities to mentor aspiring food businesses in Denver.On the way out, a bright blue mural adorns the doorway designed by the artist known as Alex the Amazing Artist. A Denver local, and student at CU Denver studying illustration, Alex was passing by the building and offered up his services. It’s this kind of entrepreneurship, collaboration and community the planners behind the space envisioned and how the space has come to be. A massive collaborative effort fueled by entrepreneurship and community, the space has been made for this unprecedented movement to take shape, and now it is up to us to dig in.By Emily Przekwas Entrepreneurs and Community Partners Mingle And Collaborate To Celebrate The Grand Opening Of The Commons Last week’s opening of the Commons at Champa brought together entrepreneurs and members of Denver’s business community to celebrate the historic project made possible by dozens of public and private partners. The first of it’s kind in the nation, the Commons on Champa seeks to be a entrepreneurial resource center in the middle of Denver’s bustling downtown. Opening day festivities included panel discussions, tours of the new space, town-hall style conversations with leading business providers and a startup celebration featuring food and drink from a variety of Denver restaurateurs.[[MORE]]While the various organizations and partners who came together to make the building a reality were breathing a final sigh of relief the space was finished, participants on the day echoed a common refrain, embracing the unknown and looking forward to serendipities that may emerge from bringing the entrepreneurial community together under one roof.Jay Zeschin, a co-founder of Ello and an organizer of Denver Startup Week, said he could already see the basecamp feeling of Denver Startup Week starting to take hold in the space at Champa. There’s an opportunity for serendipity and chance encounters to lead to bigger things, something people who have participated in Denver Startup Week have already discovered, but the intention is to keep this flame alive permanently at Champa. A movement is developing in Denver around entrepreneurship, and Commons on Champa is in the center of the action.  Among the resources already calling the Commons on Champa home are the City of Denver’s Office of Economic Development and the Colorado Technology Association, both of which have offices on the second floor where they will be joined in the coming months by other non-profit businesses with a focus on entrepreneurship. The Office of Economic Development will highlight available programs offered by the city, which includes a loan program capable of financing up to $300,000 towards projects expenses in the Denver city limits. The office targets 12 industries in the state for growth, but ultimately the OED is working towards a goal of making Denver the entrepreneurial capital of the world. With their satellite office at the Commons, they are making progress towards reaching that goal and connecting entrepreneurs with opportunities they may not even know exist.The Colorado Technology Association represents Colorado’s advanced industries, using technology as a unifying thread. The association provides networking opportunities for it’s members, which include large companies, startups and even IT departments within companies that are not tech focused.The CTA, led by Erik Misitek, and a driving force behind the Commons, has 3 platforms – education of workforce, economic development, and public policy advocacy. With an ear to the ground, officials at the CTA hope to provide a voice for entrepreneurs in shaping public policy, and connections through their various networking opportunities. Outside the CTA’s offices, Jason, a tech support team member from Itonish, a partner on the Commons project, which provides IT solutions to companies, was sitting among the empty desks working on his laptop. “I have been working on the IT in this space for several months, but now it is coursing with the energy and excitement of the community. It’s exciting.”  Meanwhile, downstairs entrepreneurs and resource partners gathered in the event spaces and halls to discuss the entrepreneurial scene in Denver. Victoria Smith operates Legends of the Hidden Potential, a marijuana trim company, and has been looking for a space to meet with potential investors. She stopped into the Commons to see what kinds of businesses resources might be available at Champa to support her growing business. It’s this kind of can do attitude, that was being discussed on panels in the next room. In an uncommon twist, millenials, of which Smith is one, were being lauded by older members of a panel for their adventurous spirit, “young people are bucking up and saying, ‘I’m going to go out and do this for myself.” And for these eager pioneers, Rob Smith, of Rocky Mountain Micro Finance Institute, led a panel on resources available to small businesses and the Commons will be featuring panels like this on a regular basis.In the entrepreneurial café, which features tables and free wifi from Xfinity, some of Denver’s most successful and upcoming restaurateurs were handing out samples of their delicious products, in addition to checking out the new space. “My office is my kitchen, so this will be a great space to use when I need to have important meetings,” voiced Patrick, owner of Elevation Ketchup, a gourmet food company that can be found at the Four Seasons restaurants and Root Down. At the next table, Jake Broadsky, owner of the popular Denver coffee company Novo, was being modest about his success, but was open to opportunities to mentor aspiring food businesses in Denver.On the way out, a bright blue mural adorns the doorway designed by the artist known as Alex the Amazing Artist. A Denver local, and student at CU Denver studying illustration, Alex was passing by the building and offered up his services. It’s this kind of entrepreneurship, collaboration and community the planners behind the space envisioned and how the space has come to be. A massive collaborative effort fueled by entrepreneurship and community, the space has been made for this unprecedented movement to take shape, and now it is up to us to dig in.By Emily Przekwas

Entrepreneurs and Community Partners Mingle And Collaborate To Celebrate The Grand Opening Of The Commons 

Last week’s opening of the Commons at Champa brought together entrepreneurs and members of Denver’s business community to celebrate the historic project made possible by dozens of public and private partners. The first of it’s kind in the nation, the Commons on Champa seeks to be a entrepreneurial resource center in the middle of Denver’s bustling downtown. Opening day festivities included panel discussions, tours of the new space, town-hall style conversations with leading business providers and a startup celebration featuring food and drink from a variety of Denver restaurateurs.

While the various organizations and partners who came together to make the building a reality were breathing a final sigh of relief the space was finished, participants on the day echoed a common refrain, embracing the unknown and looking forward to serendipities that may emerge from bringing the entrepreneurial community together under one roof.

Jay Zeschin, a co-founder of Ello and an organizer of Denver Startup Week, said he could already see the basecamp feeling of Denver Startup Week starting to take hold in the space at Champa. There’s an opportunity for serendipity and chance encounters to lead to bigger things, something people who have participated in Denver Startup Week have already discovered, but the intention is to keep this flame alive permanently at Champa. A movement is developing in Denver around entrepreneurship, and Commons on Champa is in the center of the action.  

Among the resources already calling the Commons on Champa home are the City of Denver’s Office of Economic Development and the Colorado Technology Association, both of which have offices on the second floor where they will be joined in the coming months by other non-profit businesses with a focus on entrepreneurship.

The Office of Economic Development will highlight available programs offered by the city, which includes a loan program capable of financing up to $300,000 towards projects expenses in the Denver city limits. The office targets 12 industries in the state for growth, but ultimately the OED is working towards a goal of making Denver the entrepreneurial capital of the world. With their satellite office at the Commons, they are making progress towards reaching that goal and connecting entrepreneurs with opportunities they may not even know exist.

The Colorado Technology Association represents Colorado’s advanced industries, using technology as a unifying thread. The association provides networking opportunities for it’s members, which include large companies, startups and even IT departments within companies that are not tech focused.

The CTA, led by Erik Misitek, and a driving force behind the Commons, has 3 platforms – education of workforce, economic development, and public policy advocacy. With an ear to the ground, officials at the CTA hope to provide a voice for entrepreneurs in shaping public policy, and connections through their various networking opportunities.

Outside the CTA’s offices, Jason, a tech support team member from Itonish, a partner on the Commons project, which provides IT solutions to companies, was sitting among the empty desks working on his laptop. “I have been working on the IT in this space for several months, but now it is coursing with the energy and excitement of the community. It’s exciting.”  

Meanwhile, downstairs entrepreneurs and resource partners gathered in the event spaces and halls to discuss the entrepreneurial scene in Denver. Victoria Smith operates Legends of the Hidden Potential, a marijuana trim company, and has been looking for a space to meet with potential investors. She stopped into the Commons to see what kinds of businesses resources might be available at Champa to support her growing business.

It’s this kind of can do attitude, that was being discussed on panels in the next room. In an uncommon twist, millenials, of which Smith is one, were being lauded by older members of a panel for their adventurous spirit, “young people are bucking up and saying, ‘I’m going to go out and do this for myself.” And for these eager pioneers, Rob Smith, of Rocky Mountain Micro Finance Institute, led a panel on resources available to small businesses and the Commons will be featuring panels like this on a regular basis.

In the entrepreneurial café, which features tables and free wifi from Xfinity, some of Denver’s most successful and upcoming restaurateurs were handing out samples of their delicious products, in addition to checking out the new space. “My office is my kitchen, so this will be a great space to use when I need to have important meetings,” voiced Patrick, owner of Elevation Ketchup, a gourmet food company that can be found at the Four Seasons restaurants and Root Down. At the next table, Jake Broadsky, owner of the popular Denver coffee company Novo, was being modest about his success, but was open to opportunities to mentor aspiring food businesses in Denver.

On the way out, a bright blue mural adorns the doorway designed by the artist known as Alex the Amazing Artist. A Denver local, and student at CU Denver studying illustration, Alex was passing by the building and offered up his services. It’s this kind of entrepreneurship, collaboration and community the planners behind the space envisioned and how the space has come to be. A massive collaborative effort fueled by entrepreneurship and community, the space has been made for this unprecedented movement to take shape, and now it is up to us to dig in.

By Emily Przekwas