#61: The Denver and Boulder Tech Censuses: How Investing in Culture Powers Thriving Tech Communities

Situated at the base of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, Denver and Boulder have long been popular destinations for people in search of beautiful scenery, fresh air, good food and healthy living. And over the past decade, they’ve also become choice cities for entrepreneurs looking to build the next generation of innovative tech companies outside Silicon Valley. Bolstered by the influence of the global seed accelerator Techstars and the local presence of large corporations like Comcast, Amazon and Google, Denver and Boulder have attracted a healthy entrepreneurial ecosystem that thrives on their tight-knit communities and high standards of living. Together, these economically-connected urban centers illustrate how “lifestyle cities” can successfully grow and compete against larger, more established tech environments. Just last week, the Powderkeg team traveled to Denver to unveil the findings from the 2018 Denver and Boulder Tech Census Reports, the latest in our series of inaugural censuses of rising tech communities between the coasts. While there, we spoke with eight influential members of the Denver and Boulder tech communities to break down how far the two cities have come, what factors have powered their growth and what obstacles they must overcome on their path to continued success. In this episode with some of Denver and Boulder’s top tech entrepreneurs, investors and thought leaders, you’ll learn: ---How much a fledgling tech community can grow and evolve in five years. --- Why every tech ecosystem should be focused on attracting diverse talent. --- How a “give first” mentality among investors can lift entrepreneurial communities. --- The lifestyle city superpower for attracting entrepreneurs and tech talent. --- Tactics for large corporations to help lift up the startups in their ecosystem. --- Expert community-building advice for cities on the brink of a tech explosion. If you like this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes. You can also follow us on Soundcloud or Stitcher. We have an incredible lineup of interviews we’ll be releasing every Tuesday here on the Powderkeg Podcast. Check it out at powderkeg.com/itunes.