Our tentative schedule is as follows:
- April 17-May 26 - Call for Session Submissions Open - ONE MONTH!
- April 26 - Community Kickoff Event
- May 30-June 6 - Public Voting Period - ONE WEEK!
- June 23 - Session organizers notified of status, asked to confirm
- August 3 - Schedule is announced; registration opens
- Major event and sponsorship cutoff date
- August 31 - Venues assigned, schedule finalized
- September - Speaker and volunteer orientation sessions
- September 19-22 - DENVER STARTUP WEEK!
We kindly request that all sessions be submitted through the Panel Picker within the CFP window. Due to the volume of session proposals received, we cannot guarantee consideration of submissions submitted through alternate means and/or after the close of the CFP. Additional events may be added at the organizers' discretion up until a few weeks before the event, but we cannot guarantee promotional or marketing support.
Denver Startup Week is organized by a small group of committed, year-round volunteers in conjunction with the Downtown Denver Partnership. You can learn more about our organizers on the Team Page.
There are several reasons, but the the one thing that is consistent is that we all want to make Denver an entrepreneurial center supported by a strong community of entrepreneurs, investors, government, and education.
No. Denver Startup Week operates under the 501(c)(3) umbrella of Denver Civic Ventures. All sponsorship income goes towards covering costs for the week and/or for future editions of DSW. Our organizing committee is comprised of full-time volunteers who are not compensated for their time.
Sponsorship information is available on our Sponsors page. You do not have to sponsor to organize a session, nor do we require sponsors to organize sessions. We could not produce an event the size or caliber of DSW without the generous support of our sponsors and we are extremely appreciative of any support to make the week the best it can be!
Denver Startup Week has grown tremendously since its inception and we are proud that the thousands of people involved each bring their own different backgrounds and experiences. However, we have also found that as communities grow, our expectations of what is and is not appropriate are not always in line with one another. A code of conduct helps to clearly articulate these expectations so that we're all on the same page. It also clearly outlines all of our roles and responsibilities in ensuring that Denver Startup Week continues to be a safe and welcoming event for all who participate.
Denver Startup Week is a free, community-organized event with sessions taking place all over Downtown Denver. Because of this non-traditional format, we do not have an exhibit hall or booths. Instead, we offer some alternatives for getting your company or business name in front of more people:
Sponsorships: Denver Startup Week would not be possible without our many generous sponsors. Sponsors may be recognized on official signage, slides, and at other points during the week depending on sponsorship level. If you are interested in sponsoring, please email info@denverstartupweek.org and view our sponsors page here.
Denver Startup Week would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. However, unlike other conferences, Denver Startup Week does not have sponsored talks. All talks, whether submitted by sponsors or not, are evaluated via the same process and criteria. Sponsorship status does not factor into whether a submission is included in programming.
For general questions on how to get involved, including volunteering, sponsoring and venue hosts, please email info@denverstartupweek.org.
For Track-specific questions and guidance on the Call for Proposals process, or if you are a session organizer, please email your Track Chair:
- Product - product@denverstartupweek.org
- Designer - designer@denverstartupweek.org
- Developer - developer@denverstartupweek.org
- Founder - founder@denverstartupweek.org
- Spotlight - spotlight@denverstartupweek.org
- Growth - growth@denverstartupweek.org
- Maker - maker@denverstartupweek.org
- People - people@denverstartupweek.org
You can find more information on our team and volunteers on the Team Page.
To apply to volunteer this year please check our website here! We will reach out as we get closer to the event with any volunteer opportunities you may have. Thank you for your support and we look forward to working with you.
This year, we are introducing Community Events to Denver Startup Week. These events will be for the community, by the community. (If you are considering having a speaker event, a workshop or a happy hour this would be a good fit). If you are a community member interested in applying, it is important to understand that as an organizer, you will be responsible for all aspects of your event, including:
- Budgeting
- Securing a venue
- Coordinating logistics.
However, we will provide you with promotional support for your event. Some benefits of organizing a community event include audience engagement, promotional support, awareness, and visibility.
The Grow Track: Designed for those looking to build, fund, and scale their businesses. Dive into sessions on startup essentials, securing funding, and strategies for sustainable growth. Whether you're just starting out or looking to take your venture to the next level, the Grow Track has you covered.
The Create Track: Offers a comprehensive look at product development and creation. Topics will span from ideation and design to development and market launch. If you’re passionate about bringing innovative products to life, the Create Track will provide the insights and tools you need.
The Operate Track: Focuses on the day-to-day and special operations of running a business. Sessions will cover everything from team management and organizational culture to operational efficiencies and strategic planning. Perfect for leaders aiming to optimize their business operations and drive success from within.
The Ignite Track: Showcases the best of the best from all events and tracks. This track features standout sessions that highlight the most impactful content, ensuring that you don’t miss out on the top insights and trends across the entrepreneurial spectrum.
To stay involved and up to date with what's happening with DSW join our newsletter or join our slack channel hosted by mile high united way here!
Organizers will be responsible for securing their own venue for events in 2024. We are compiling a list of interested venues, from no budget to low budget, in the Denver area to share as possible locations. Stay tuned for updates!
Denver Startup Week will be returning to Downtown Denver on September 16-20, 2024! We have a few new things for this upcoming year. We will have four tracks this year for startup week that we have streamlined to offer a more focused and impactful experience. These tracks will include:
The Grow Track: Designed for those looking to build, fund, and scale their businesses. Dive into sessions on startup essentials, securing funding, and strategies for sustainable growth. Whether you're just starting out or looking to take your venture to the next level, the Grow Track has you covered.
The Create Track: Offers a comprehensive look at product development and creation. Topics will span from ideation and design to development and market launch. If you’re passionate about bringing innovative products to life, the Create Track will provide the insights and tools you need.
The Operate Track: Focuses on the day-to-day and special operations of running a business. Sessions will cover everything from team management and organizational culture to operational efficiencies and strategic planning. Perfect for leaders aiming to optimize their business operations and drive success from within.
The Ignite Track: Showcases the best of the best from all events and tracks. This track features standout sessions that highlight the most impactful content, ensuring that you don’t miss out on the top insights and trends across the entrepreneurial spectrum.
We will also be introducing Community Events! As a true “for the community, by the community” experience. Community Events will empower local businesses and individuals to enhance Denver Startup Week and engage with the entrepreneurial community by hosting their own events throughout the week. Community members who host a community event will be responsible for all aspects of their event, including budgeting, securing a venue, and coordinating logistics. However, the event will receive promotional support through inclusion on the official Denver Startup Week calendar of events! We hope this gives you a good idea of what Denver Startup Week will look like this year!
There will be a list of venues who have offered to give us their space at low or zero cost to you and your event coming soon. You will be able to get in contact with your venue from there and work on scheduling a time that works best for you both from there.
The pitch competition for 2024 will be hosted by mile high united way. To get involved and learn more join the slack channel here!
You can find a list of venues Here! Who have been wonderful enough to give their space to the community at low or no cost!
DSW will not be hosting a job fair this year. However there are many events to network and meet members of the community.