Know What's Next in 2017

At the start of each year, we look forward to a set of new beginnings. At Silicon Flatirons, we are as excited about our 18th year as we were about our first and look forward to building on our successes from 2016. Here are 10 highlights from 2016 for Silicon Flatirons that we will build on in the year ahead.

1. Provided the opportunity for 42 teams to participate in the cross-campus New Venture Challenge and learn about entrepreneurship. Hive Tech Solutions won the finals and over $10k in prize money. The 2017 finals promise to be even more compelling and will take place on April 6.
2. Placed 38 law students in summer internship programs and boot camps to prepare them for careers post graduation. Our summer program started 10 years ago with the Dale Hatfield Scholars Program, which encourages student interest in public service with internships in Washington D.C.   They are also a core part of Silicon Flatirons’ work in reimagining the future of legal education.
3. Provided 51 undergraduates internships in Front Range startups through Startup Summer. Applications for 2017 are now open.
4. Launched the Governmental Entrepreneurial Leadership Accelerator, which made immediate impacts in the Denver community and supported professional development, as captured in this report. This topic of entrepreneurial leadership in government is also central to my research agenda.
5. Welcomed Dan Caruso, CEO of Zayo Group, for his second, candid Entrepreneurs Unplugged session.  Dan was the featured speaker in our first Entrepreneurs Unplugged event eight years – and dozens of guest speakers and several billion dollars of Zayo valuation – ago.
6. Hosted Thomas E. Perez, U.S. Secretary of Labor, talking about his vision for an inclusive and conscious capitalism.
7. Rolled out a new logo and website to better communicate and realize the Silicon Flatirons’ mission.
8. Continued to be a driving force in spectrum policy, including hosting a fall conference on enforcement and supporting Dale Hatfield’s work as principal author of an FCC TAC report on enforcement.
9. Saluted the Entrepreneurial Law Clinic and Colorado Technology Law Journal’s 15 years of engaging and preparing students while delivering important work.
10. Took the complexity out of Complexity Science with a Crash Course from Sam Arbesman and Zach Nies.

In 2017, we have a full roster of spring semester events planned, are working diligently with companies to prepare and place students in our summer internships, and developing our international engagement.

Your support furthers our mission, supports academic achievement, and encourages activities that affect many. Thank you for supporting Silicon Flatirons.