Viva Evolution (or, How To Stop Worrying and Love The Economy)
It has been an exciting few weeks, with many high-end networking events in Boulder around sustainability, investing and clean tech. While the financial crisis remains in full swing, many investors, entrepreneurs and thought leaders are looking to the future and charting the course for the next phase in the Boulder / Colorado / U.S. economy.
Trustworthy sources are telling us about multiple 8- and 9-figure funds being raised for clean tech and sustainability investing, as well as rumors of keen interest in that space from private equity. The rumor of Kleiner Perkins posting a one-man team at NREL to help spin out investable clean tech companies is confirmed as well — we met him this week. Vague inquiries are coming from as far away as Tel Aviv and Sau Paolo.
Or, as my partner Kevin Johansen is saying these days, “recession my ass!”
Leading Boulder Web2.0 companies are even hosting a job fair to bring more technical talent into town, although there are also rumors of layoffs at weaker firms. It’s going to be a mixed bag in that space, and the wheat will quickly be separated from the chaff.
If you want to escape the doom and gloom for a day, and join a more prosperous and optimistic future, look no further than the Angel Capital Summit, November 21, in Denver. Highlights include:
- Anita Burke’s presentation on how to run a business in a world of Peak Everything (including capital, it seems).
- 40 of Colorado’s strongest entrepreneurial growth-oriented businesses presenting investment opportunities.
- A TOWN HALL discussion called Disrupting the Recession, where a diverse group of thought leaders will talk directly with conference attendees about how we can all come together to build an Entrepreneurial Renaissance in Colorado.
- Surprise visit from one of Colorado’s favorite political leaders.
I’d love to know what you think about all this. The TOWN HALL is still evolving, and your input will help make it better.
Please join us on November 21st in downtown Denver for this community gathering during a unique moment in history.