Denver Startup Week wants to support underrepresented entrepreneurs - Axios DenverLog InLog InAxios Denver is an Axios company.
Denver Startup Week wants to support underrepresented entrepreneurs
Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios Denver Startup Week is back fully in person for the first time since 2019, and this year a major focus is on supporting entrepreneurs of color, according to co-founder Erik Mitisek. Why it matters: Billing itself as the largest free event of its kind, Denver Startup Week will look to create buzz in a , and provide networking opportunities for local entrepreneurs looking to build Denver's next tech unicorn. Details: More than 200 sessions will be held today through Friday, plus events focused on underrepresented groups, including:An A discussion on hiring people with A discussion about A panel on Plus, a job fair scheduled for Wednesday 80 companies, including some that Mitisek said may not have offices in Denver but are trying to build a local presence. What they're saying: "We want Denver to be the most welcoming for women and minority entrepreneurs in the United States," Mitisek told Axios Denver. The big picture: A $50 million venture capital fund called the New Community Transformation Fund launched in Denver in July with a focus on providing capital for people of color."We have to start including people who have been historically excluded from these wealth-building tools because these tools grow full economies, and everybody wins,” managing partner Danielle Shoots, who is the fund during an event on Thursday, told in July. A Lending Tree survey found that out of nearly 70,000 businesses in the Denver-area, only 1.4% are Black-owned, Between the lines: Mitisek said the city has access to a talented workforce and capital to start businesses, making it a hot spot for tech startups. Last year set a record: Local startups provided n in the Denver-Aurora region. AgentSync, a tech insurance company, moved to and has continued growing, resulting in a valuation.Guild Education is another local success story, with a . By the numbers: Organizers are expecting roughly 12,000 attendees, a sizable drop from the 20,000 who attended in 2019. "We're hopeful that we can have an event that looks and feels like 2019," Mitisek told Axios Denver. Of note: Gov. Jared Polis, who's known for his entrepreneurial streak, will join startup week co-founders on Monday afternoon for a kickoff event. Get more local stories in your inbox with .Subscribe Support local journalism by becoming a member. More Denver stories
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