Techstars' Foundercon gets "back to its roots"
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Techstars is bringing Foundercon back to Boulder this September. Photo: RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post via Getty Images
Techstars' Foundercon will return to Boulder this September for the first time in a decade.
Why it matters: The city hopes hosting the global startup summit — drawing nearly 800 founders, investors and mentors — will reaffirm Boulder's leading role in quantum, aerospace and bioscience innovation.
How it works: Foundercon, Techstars CEO David Cohen says, is more than just a networking opportunity — it's a global gathering of the Techstars community that celebrates the achievements and momentum of its members.
- At the same time, the event spotlights local companies and speakers, underscoring regional innovation.
Zoom out: While the event has been in larger cities since 2015, Cohen tells us bringing it back to Boulder was "an easy decision."
- "Techstars was born here," he says. "We wanted to bring Foundercon back to its roots."
State of play: Joe Hovancak, vice president of economic vitality for the Boulder Chamber of Commerce, tells Axios a community assessment identified reigniting the entrepreneurial economy as a city priority and the chamber urged Techstars to bring Foundercon back.
Context: Techstars shut down its Boulder accelerator last year and relocated its headquarters to New York, which Hovancak says was a bit of a "gut punch" for the city's startup reputation.
- But Cohen, a co-founder who's now back at the helm, calls it a "mailing address change," noting he and others remain in Colorado.
Between the lines: Cohen calls Boulder "the most vibrant startup community for its size," and says the Techstars network is eager to plug back in.
- With Boulder's startup density, Colorado's quantum hub status and CU's new incubator, Hovancak says the city is "ready to lead the charge" as an entrepreneurial hub.
- "We're a small city with huge ambition, and I think Foundercon can help us cement our leadership," Hovancak tells us.
The big picture: Such an "iconic event" will "have a ripple effect that is going to be very real, economically, socially and culturally," Hovancak adds.
- The city wants to attract more events like Foundercon and the Sundance Film Festival: "We have the capacity, we have the ecosystem, we have the collaboration," he says.
What's next: Foundercon takes place Sept. 15-17, and residents can expect increased activity especially in the downtown area.
- "It's going to feel like a bit of a takeover," Cohen says. "It's really going to be a community celebration."