DU faculty members Brad Greenwald (far left) and Charlie Knight (far right) facilitated a panel discussion on angel investing as part of Denver Startup Week. Photo courtesy of the Daniels College of Business.
More than 10,000 local business and tech entrepreneurs descended on downtown Denver this week for Denver Startup Week, an annual free event that offers classes, panels, workshops, keynotes and networking events to the local entrepreneurial community.
The University of Denver Magazine sat down with Barbara Kreisman, associate dean of executive education at the University’s Daniels College of Business, to learn how the Daniels College is engaged in this year’s event.
University of Denver Magazine: What is the importance of Denver Startup Week, and how is Daniels participating?
Barbara Kreisman: Startup week represents the entrepreneurial spirit of Colorado, and Denver in particular. Innovation is everywhere in Denver, and Startup Week brings this to life. One of our students, Seth Kincaid, rallied a large group from Daniels to volunteer this year — we have around 80 students involved. They worked the welcome tables and solved logistical problems at DU’s downtown “basecamp” all day. Additionally, two of our faculty members, Brad Greenwald and Charlie Knight, facilitated a panel discussion on Wednesday titled “Be A Better Angel Investor: Did You Miss Out On Uber?” Brad and Charlie both teach entrepreneurship in our program.
UDM: Are Daniels alumni well represented at Denver Startup Week as well?
BK: We have had more than 80 successful startups emanate from our executive and professional MBA programs in the past five years, and most of these alumni are engaged in the events this week.
UDM: Why is Denver such a great city for startup businesses to thrive? What role does Daniels play in advancing the startup sector in Colorado?
BK: Denver has a thriving entrepreneurial community and is one of the best places in the U.S. to start, build and operate a business. At the University of Denver, we want business students to be successful in their endeavors, and the skills they learn at Daniels will help them launch their business successfully.
UDM: How will Daniels play an important role in advancing the startup sector in Colorado over the next five years?
BK: The average age of a successful entrepreneur is 40, and the average age of students in our EMBA program is also 40. We are finding that many individuals are returning to school to reinvent themselves and to launch businesses of their own. Our program is a perfect fit, as the curriculum is specifically laid out for students to actually take a new product all the way from conception to market while at Daniels. Our entrepreneurship focus begins in the second of six quarters with a course in design thinking and innovation, and it continues through the program with courses in entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, go-to-market strategy, law, supply chain and global strategy.
UDM: What do you enjoy most about Denver Startup week?
BK: The vast array of activities and events that bring everyone together. It’s been fun to see the number of our students and alumni grow in attendance at Denver Startup week every year.