Do More Faster: TechStars Lessons to Accelerate Your Startup

Chapter 80. Why TechStars Started in Boulder

Jason Mendelson

Jason is a managing director at Foundry Group and has been a TechStars mentor since 2007.

While Silicon Valley may get most of the press for having a strong startup ecosystem, Boulder is a great place to start a new business. In fact, Boulder has many qualities that really set it apart from other geographies. So what makes it so great?

First, Boulder is incredibly supportive. There is a huge sense of community. While there is a ton of activity, there might not be a place that is as supportive as Boulder is. Instead of competition, there is collaboration. Whether it's the Boulder New Tech Meetup, the Boulder OpenCoffee Club, Boulder Software Club, or Silicon Flatirons events, the entire community, including entrepreneurs, investors, students, service professionals, professors, and others involved in the startup ecosystem share their knowledge and experience to help others. This sense of giving back is a key characteristic of Boulder, and there is no better example of this than the success of TechStars.

Next, Boulder's culture encourages a healthy work–life balance. Boulder has an incredible amount to offer with easy access to mountains, hiking trails, and natural beauty. People actually have time to focus and concentrate on things outside of work. It's definitely got a slightly saner pace than in Silicon Valley. It's not that ...