Denver Social Media Company Give Real-Life Advice On How To Make The Most of Denver Startup Week
If you are from around here, you know that Denver is a HUGE startup scene; some are calling us the next Silicon Valley. You hear people talking about new startup concepts, innovative ideas, and new business concepts all over. It’s no wonder, then, that Denver Startup Week has grown so much over the last few years.
As the owner of a Denver social media company and content marketing firm, I’ve attended DSW myself, and even been a speaker. I’ve learned a TON from attending sessions by real people in the field and learned even more from the people I’ve met during the weeks. I’ve also learned a lot of insights from physically attending sessions year after year. DSW is different that a lot of other conferences you may have attended, so a little prep work will help you enjoy the week to the fullest!
Top 10 Tips To Maximize Your Conference Experience:
- Go. Just Go. Denver Startup Week is FREE, so why wouldn’t you take advantage of such a great event going on with so many possibilities for connections, learning, and expertise? Even if you aren’t a “startup” you may still find some sessions that teach you some new skills in podcasting, video, Adwords, hiring, team building, and more!
- Map It Out. Since DSW is free, the venues are all gifted space, which means that you may be hopping around town. While they try to keep it fairly close, you’ll need to take a look at where the sessions are being held that you want to attend. If they’re far away, you might be out of luck. Oh, and bonus tip: Commons on Champa often has a ton of sessions, but the building is really hard to find. The building doesn’t have good signage, so don’t be afraid to ask around for specific directions on how to find that building!
- Comfy Shoes. Trust me on this one. Be expected to walk a little and if you’re going from session to session, those high heels aren’t going to be doing you any favors.
- Plan A Budget. Yes, the sessions themselves are free, but with them all being right in the city, you’ll need to either plan for some sort of transportation or for parking. Uber is great, and so are the bike rentals downtown. Either way, the week WILL cost you some cash, but when you consider the costs for most conferences, you’re still way under budget.
- Bring Business Cards. You never know who you’ll sit next to, or who you’ll meet at these sessions. There are many angel investors and folks looking for the next big idea. There are also many people that are hiring or will soon be hiring. And then, there are simply a ton of other fabulous entrepreneurs who are out to learn and network just like you. Just come prepared!
- Happy Hour! Most nights have good networking happy hours happening at various venues. These are great opportunities to meet and actually talk to attendees and speakers. Many people don’t take advantage of these like they could, or are tired by the end of the day, but they are great to go to!
- Tweet! As a social media maven, this is a must at events as large as DSW! Follow the conversation with the conference’s hashtags and interact. Those that are actually active on Twitter during the week are some pretty savvy folks, as many people won’t take the time. It’s also a great way to find other people who went to different sessions and make even more connections.
- Connect on LinkedIn! After you’ve gone to all of the sessions, collected business cards, and met a ton of people, go on LinkedIn and connect with all of them! Connect with speakers, DSW leaders, new people you got business cards from, people you connected with on Twitter, and anyone else you met during the week. DSW doesn’t have to end on Friday, and you never know who might be a golden connection for you.
- Attend the opening breakfast! Assuming they decide to do this again (and I hope they do), this is a great way to jump into the week and have a good understanding of what Denver Startup Week is all about. Last year, Governor Hickenlooper spoke as well as other entrepreneurs who have done some amazing things with funding they’ve received from investors.
- Get on the email list. The folks over at DSW are great at posting on Facebook and Twitter, but they are even better at updates about the week and other events (throughout the year) with their emails. It’s an email list worth being on!
I personally think that these tips apply to almost any conference you’ll attend and it’s always a good refresher. There are so many things to think about in the moment, that a little bit of mental prep helps you take advantage of the week and enjoy it as much as possible.
Cheers to the entrepreneurial and business community in Denver, Colorado! Proud to be a business owner in Colorado!
-valerie
Convinced you to attend? Here’s where you can get all the DSW info.