In its 10th year and now known as one of the largest startup events across the country, Denver Startup Week faced an entirely new set of challenges in 2021.
For the first time, the free-to-attend innovation gathering went with a hybrid model, offering some events in-person and others virtually.
While organizers agree they pulled off the event well considering the circumstances, they yearn for the in-person roots the event was built on.
“Ideally, the power of Denver Startup Week comes from when we can bring our entire community together in person and we think that, ultimately, is the greatest benefit,” said Tami Door, outgoing president and CEO of Downtown Denver Partnership and Startup Week organizing chair.
Given circumstances surrounding Covid-19, organizers were forced to choose which events would be in-person and which would be online. This year, they offered in-person only events, virtual-only events and a mix of the two.
Denver Startup Week has also built a hefty archive of its content through the hybrid model, with nearly 200 panel discussions and events posted to its YouTube page from the 2021 event. Keeping those resources in mind, Door is optimistic the event will return with a stronger in-person presence next year.
“What DSW brings is that thread of connectivity. No matter how we work with online tools and various technologies to bring content to people, that doesn’t create community,” she said.
As they balance the accessibility of a virtual event with in-person interactions, Founder Track Chair Olivia Omega said DSW will have to catalyze its audience to leave the comfortable surroundings of their homes and return to downtown Denver.
With virtual events becoming commonplace during Covid-19, Omega wondered if that option has become a default for some of DSW’s attendees.
“A little bit of our speculation is some people probably stayed online because that was super comfortable and didn’t come out to certain events. So having the option of online means people will take it,” she said.
In walking that tightrope of accessibility and community-building, Organizing Chair Erik Mitisek said Startup Week’s content must attract attendees to return in-person.
“The quality has to justify the activity. If I’m going to leave my house or home office and get in my car and travel somewhere, which is probably my only activity of the day, it has to be super awesome,” he said.
Mitisek also said he saw a growing interest from the community to return to in-person events and wished more people had attended DSW live events this year.
“I wish we could’ve had a bit more scale and inclusiveness on some the in-person ones. It felt like there is an unsatiated demand,” he said.
As it ramps up its diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, Omega said this year’s event was DSW’s strongest yet on that front.
“One of the themes that stood out more this year was this notion of diversity across all tracks, sessions and topics,” she said. “We really saw the diversity in all areas played a critical part across the board. It wasn’t a siloed topic.”
For the first time, Denver Startup Week hosted a BIPOC Pitch Competition in addition to its main competition. The winner of that event, Black Travel Box, went on to win the main stage competition as well.
In addition to those events, Denver Startup Week hosted panels like Black Founders. Black Capital. Black Voices.; Myth-busting Capital & Growth: Exploring the Capital Journey of Diverse Entrepreneurs; and one on what it’s like to launch a gay travel company during a pandemic.
While Door said DSW has made strides in its inclusion efforts over the last decade, she still wants to engage more diverse voices for the fast-growing startup week.
“An area I think we can focus on as a next opportunity is how do we outreach to audiences for participation,” she said. “Who do we need to reach out to make sure they know about startup week so that they can be brought into the fold of that event and program.”
After an initial concern about sponsorship for the hybrid event, Door said she was pleased with the backing of the event’s partners. Title sponsors included Amazon, Fluid Truck, WeWork, HotelEngine, Downtown Denver Partnership and Capital One.
As they plan for next year, Mitisek said Denver Startup Week will look to utilize technology in a way that provides “deeper immersive digital experiences that provide smaller group engagement online.”
The organizers also hope to see more topics related to blockchain, inclusivity and scaling startups.
