Give First, Scale Fast: The Boulder Way of Building the Future

Originally published by the Daily Camera, June 8, 2025.

What makes a startup ecosystem thrive? Talent, capital, research institutions and visionary founders all play a role. But in Boulder, one ingredient sets the tone for everything else: a culture of intentional generosity. Here, collaboration is not an afterthought. It is the strategy.

Boulder’s innovation economy did not emerge by chance. It was built deliberately on trust, mentorship, and shared values. “Give before you get,” the ethos popularized by Foundry and Techstars co-founder Brad Feld, is more than a slogan. It is a defining principle. Embedded into business relationships and community events alike, this spirit of reciprocity shapes how founders grow, investors engage, and ideas scale.

This approach has transformed Boulder into one of the nation’s most respected startup hubs. With a highly educated population, more than 69% of residents hold a bachelor’s degree or higher (U.S. Census Bureau, 2019-23), and a robust pipeline from institutions like CU Boulder and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the region fuels innovation in quantum computing, aerospace, and biosciences.

At the heart of Boulder’s startup identity is Techstars, the global accelerator launched here in 2006. With over 4,900 startups supported and more than $30 billion in capital raised (Techstars, 2025), its influence is undeniable. Yet perhaps its most important legacy is cultural. Techstars co-founder David Cohen defines success not by valuations but by “helping entrepreneurs change the world.” That mindset resonates throughout Boulder’s founder networks, pitch events, and coffee shop conversations.

The result is one of the country’s highest rates of venture capital investment per capita, over $423 million in 2024 alone (PitchBook). But these numbers reflect more than economic output. They reflect intention. Boulder built an ecosystem where openness, inclusion and mentorship drive progress.

You can see it at CU Boulder’s New Venture Challenge, where student-led startups like Foodwise earned $100,000 in funding in 2024. You can feel it during Boulder Startup Week, where this year more than 100 community-led sessions connect founders, funders, and future entrepreneurs, free and open to all. These are not just events. They are ignition points.

Driving this momentum is a network of leaders who pair capital with purpose. Dan Caruso, founder of Caruso Ventures and chair of Endeavor Colorado, widely seen as a visionary of Colorado’s innovation economy, invests in high-growth companies while reinvesting in the broader ecosystem. Wendy Lea, affectionately known as the “Chief Instigator” of Colorado’s startup scene, has led inclusive innovation initiatives from Energize Colorado to Elevate Quantum. Their leadership reflects Boulder’s true advantage: scaling not just companies, but impact.

From the Boulder Chamber’s Boulder Together initiative, tackling economic barriers and empowering entrepreneurs, to the creative energy pulsing through Kiln coworking spaces and quantum startups redefining the edge of science, Boulder’s innovation engine runs with clarity and purpose.

But sustaining this success requires vigilance. Entrepreneurs must mentor the next wave. Investors must support long-term value. Policymakers must preserve the inclusive talent pipelines that fuel our economy. And all of us — founders, leaders, residents — must stay curious and connected.

Whether you are an investor, policymaker, or someone who simply believes in innovation that serves the public good, Boulder offers not just a model, but an invitation. Because here, we do not just imagine the future. We build it, together.