Boulder Startups: Local Resources for Entrepreneurs

 

Boulder Startups: Local Resources for Entrepreneurs

boulder startupBoulder’s startup scene has created quite the buzz in the tech community. Leading technology publications like The Next Web have tagged it as “the next Silicon Valley”, but those involved in Boulder’s rich startup culture prefer to see the city as simply a great community in which to build a business.

Many of the startups in Boulder come straight out of the TechStars startup incubator. This program, founded in 2006, receive applicants from all over the world who want the chance to be a part of one of the most successful business launching platforms in the world. But even beyond the walls of the prestigious TechStars community, Boulder has created a startup culture that welcome innovation, daring ideas, and fresh avenues for making the connections necessary for a new idea to become a big idea.

Resources to Explore in Boulder’s Startup Scene

If you’re new to town and looking to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs, Boulder has you covered. There are multiple events that go on throughout each month and year designed to get you plugged in and moving forward.

Boulder Open Coffee Club – At 8AM every other Tuesday, techies and entrepreneurs gather at Atlas Purveyors on the Pearl Street Mall for a highly energized meetup. Here, you’ll find developers from some of Boulder’s leading startups, marketers, publicity pros, and other individuals who can help you get your new idea off the ground. It’s casual and the event always includes a review of open positions, people looking for positions, and a stroll through current tech-related events.

Silicon Flatirons – No one in Boulder’s startup scene should miss the events at Silicon Flatirons. It’s a program created in conjunction with the University of Colorado – Boulder School of Law and hosts numerous events throughout the year on topics like venture funding, in-depth interviews with local entrepreneurs, and panels designed to shed light on topics like public relations, marketing, term sheets, and other tech issues of use to startups. It’s Boulder entrepreneurship at the most academic level.

Boulder Startup Week – Held ever May, Boulder Startup week is a fantasticly powerful convergence of everything in Boulder that is startups. There’s never a fee to register (while some events do have tickets for sale), entrepreneurs can mix, mingle, and connect with everyone in the Boulder startup scene. You can always stop by the event’s website to see which startups in Boulder might be hiring and as the event nears each year, you can view the schedule of events — there’s something for everyone!

 

 

 

John Marcotte

720-771-9401

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How to Save Money at the Farmers Market

How to Save Money at the Farmers Market
Follow these seven tips to cut the cost of buying fresh
produce and other farm goods.


By Cameron Huddleston, Kiplinger.com

How to Save Money at the Farmers Market -   Follow these seven tips to cut the cost of buying freshproduce and other farm goods. By Cameron Huddleston, Kiplinger.com

Shopping at the Boulder farmers market can be a great way to get locally grown fresh produce and other farm goods such as meat, cheese and honey. You already know this if you shop at one in your community. But if you’ve shied away from this sort of market because you think it’s too pricey, perhaps you should reconsider. If you know how to shop at a farmers market, you probably won’t spend any more than you would at the supermarket. In fact, you might even spend less. These tips can help.

Comparison shop. Prices can vary greatly from market to market and from farmer to farmer. For example, I found on a recent trip to the farmers market that the price of a pint of blackberries ranged from $3.50 to $5. So spend some time checking prices from several sellers before buying anything. Also, markets in many communities accept vouchers and EBT cards from government nutrition assistance programs. So if you participate in one of these programs, look for markets in your community that accept this form of payment.

Get to know farmers. Developing a relationship with the person from whom you buy foodcan pay off, says Michelle Howell, who owns Need More Acres Farm in Kentucky along with her husband, Nathan, and sells produce at a community farmers market. She says that farmers may throw in extra produce for free if you buy multiple items from them or set aside things they know you like.

Buy at the peak of the season. You likely know that you can save money at the grocery by buying fruits and vegetables when they’re in season. The same holds true for the farmers market. You’re probably thinking that if a fruit or vegetable is at the market, it is in season. That’s true, but prices vary throughout the season. At the peak of a growing season, when there’s an abundance, prices will be lower (sometimes substantially lower) than at the beginning and end of the season, when there are fewer of an item.

Buy in bulk. Howell says that farmers often sell items in bulk at peak season. You just might have to ask ahead because they don’t always bring big boxes for bulk purchases to the market. When you buy in bulk, not only do you get the best price of the season but sometimes you get a discount for your large purchase. You can either juice, freeze or can fruits and vegetables so they don’t go bad, or divvy up the bounty with friends. Safely freeze ground meat for 3 to 4 months, steaks for 6 to 12 months and poultry for 9 months, according to Foodsafety.gov. Eggs last 3 to 5 weeks in the refrigerator.

Buy at the end of the market. You’ve probably heard that farmers lower their prices at the end of the day so nothing goes unsold. But Howell says that this really depends on the farmer. Some sell their produce to other outlets, such as restaurants. This is another reason why it’s important to befriend farmers so you know which ones are more likely to offer a discount at the end of the day — or on a rainy day when there aren’t many shoppers.

Join a CSA. A CSA, short for Community Supported Agriculture, is another way to buy food directly from a farmer. When you join, you share in the bounty and risk of the farm, says Howell, who operates a CSA. You pay a set amount to receive a weekly assortment of farm products. Exactly what and how much depends on the time of year and the success of the farmer. Some weeks you’ll receive more than you are paying for if the farmer has an abundance. Other weeks you may receive less if the crop is limited by weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

Buy less at the grocery store. If you’re shopping at the farmers market, your list of grocery items should dwindle. That is, make sure you cross everything off your regular grocery list that you’ve bought at the farmers market so you don’t waste money buying what you already have. You might find that you need to buy very little at the grocery store if you make meals entirely with purchases from the farmers market.

Reprinted with permission. All Contents ©2013 The Kiplinger Washington Editors.Kiplinger.com.

 

John Marcotte

720-771-9401

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A Paris Street Market at Twenty Ninth Street Mall

A Paris Street Market at Twenty Ninth Street Mall 

TOMORROW!!!!
July 13, 2013

A Paris Street Market at Twenty Ninth Street Mall in Boulder, Colorado is an open-air, vintage, antique and artisan market open on the second Saturday June through September RAIN OR SHINE.

Over 130 vendors are on hand with amazing merchandise. It’s a great way to spend a Saturday with a stroll through our Market! We’re open from 9am to 3pm the second Saturday June through September.

 

 

John Marcotte

720-771-9401

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Lunch For $5 (or less!)

Lunch For $5 (or less!)

Lunch is a meal that is all too often skipped, whether it be for time or economical constraints. But with all the options in Downtown Boulder, neither reason is good enough anymore. All the following suggestions can be purchased for five dollars or less, so you can feel free to mix, match, and lunch around the world! Click the listings below for more info or here for an interactive map

Antica Roma $3 Cup, $4.5 Bowl Soup of the Day and Minestrone.  $5 Insalata Cesare and Insalata Mista
Atlas Purveyors $5 sandwich on ciabatta, wheat, or bagel | Caprese, Herbivore, Rustique, Hammond Cheese, Divine Turkey, Make Your Own
Arabesque $4.75 hummus and baba ghannuj wraps
Beans INC. All dishes served with organice brown or white rice, choice of beans, with favorite menu toppings. Prices range(3 sizes) $2.79 and up!
Boulder Baked $4.00 Medium/$5.00 Large Soup (Tomato Bisque, Chicken Noodle, Tomato Tortellini, Texas Chili, Veggie Chili. $4.55 Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Boulder Creek Market $5.00 Veggie or Humus half sandwiches, $3.50 PB&J, $4.50 Grilled Cheese, $2.95-4.65 Half Salads
Centro Latin American Kitchen $2.00 Oaxacan Style Peanuts or Jicama, $4.00 Soups
Chipotle Mexican Grill $2.25 single taco, $4.25 taco and side salad
Connor O’Neill’s Irish Pub & Restaurant $4.99 Sweet Potato Tater Tots, $4.99 Curry and Chips, $4.9 for a bowl of the Soup of the Day or Potato Leek Soup
The Cup Egg, Cheese Bagel 3.55 Egg, Cheese & Ham Bagel 4.25 Egg, Cheese & Bacon Bagel 4.25 Egg, Cheese & Sausage Bagel 4.25 | Quiche of the Day 3.95 | Chocolate Chip Cookie 1.50 | Cup of Coffee .85
Dish Gourmet $3.50 cup of tomato basil bisque soup or soup of the day served with bread, $2.95 cold and hot sides
Foolish Craig’s Cafe $4.50 bowl of granola w/ milk, $4.75 plain omelet w/ potatoes and toast, Homemade Soups Small/Large $3.95/$4.95
Freddie’s Hot Dogs $3.50 brat, $2.75 hot dog, everything!
Hapa Sushi $5.00 White Tuna Role, $2.00-5.00 Veggie Rolls Miso Soup $3, Edemame $5, $3-5 Nigiri
Illegal Pete’s, Inc $2.49  tacos, $2.29 chips and queso, $4,29 Cup of Rice and Beans with cheese and/or sour cream
Japango $2.00 miso, $2.50 hand rolls, 2 pc sushi all under $5.00
Kasa Japanese Grill and Bar $2.75-3.75 Yakitori, $4.00 Kasa, Cucumber, or Hijiki Salad, $4.74 Tempura Calamari
The Kitchen [Next Door] $4.25 lamb & potato soup, $3.95 chicken & quinoa, or bean & potato, or house made tomato soup
Lindsay’s Boulder Deli @ Haagen Dazs $3.99 cup homemade soup, $2.69 hot dog, $4.39 breakfast croissant, bagel, or wrap (15% off entire order with take out menu), Tossed Boulder Salad $4.95
Lolita’s Market & Deli $3.89 EVOL burrito
McDevitt Taco Supply $3.00 Tacos
The Mediterranean $5.00 and under Soups and Salads
Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery $3.95 build your own grilled cheese +$0.75 for mushrooms, onions and +$0.50 for tomatoes or veggies, $4.75 bowl vegetarian black bean chili w/ cheese, $3.95 ½ cold sandwich w/ chips
Mustard’s Last Stand Almost everything is under $5! Hot dogs, hamburgers, sandwiches, and vegetarian options
Nick-N-Willy’s Pizza $4.99 Personal 8″ pizza, $4.99 and under salads, $3.99 Cinn-N-Bites and Chocolate Chip Cookies
Old Chicago $3.99 fried mac n’ cheese, $3.89 caprese
Pearl Street Pub $4.50 cheese fries, $4.50/3 sliders
The Rib House $4.25 “JP” sandwich-small sandy with your choice of meat
Riffs Urban Fare $5 Seared Organic Greens Salad, $2 “the best bread”
Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant $2.25 mini marg, $3.50 sm cup green chili or tortilla soup
Rueben’s $2.50 BBQ or beef slider, add cheese for $.50,$4.00  Quinoa Salad, $4.00 Chili Verde
SALT the Bistro $4 Tomato soup with goat cheese and miniature grilled cheese, $5:00 House Green Salad
Salvaggio’s Deli $3.99 egg and cheese breakfast sandwich
Sherpa’s Adventurers $2.50 papadoms, $2.50 plain/garlic/cheese/onion naan and , $3.50 vegetable samosas, $3 Sherpa Roll
Tahona Tequilla Bistro $4.00 Single Tacos, $3.00 Chips and Choice of Salsa, $5.00 Tortilla Soup, $4.00 Tamale de Casa
Two Spoons $3.92 simple breakfast burrito, $4.25 8 oz veggie soup, $2.77 half grilled cheese
T|ACO $3.50-$4.50 assorted tacos, $4 Chips and Salsa
The Unseen Bean $4.98 Veggie Bagel, $4.98 Turkey bagel, $3.78 Stuffed croissants, $4.75 Breggo breakfast sandwich, $3.83 burritos, $4.02 Grilled Cheese, $4.25 Fruit Parfait, $3.50 Organic Granola and Yogurt, $3.50 PB&J
Woody Creek Bakery and Cafe $3.99 small specialty pasta, $3.75-4.79 Breakfast Sandwiches and Burritos, $1.95-3.70 Assorted Pastries, $1.40 World Famous Cookies
Yellow Deli $4.75 Hebrew National Hot Dog with Mustard and Mayo on a Sub Roll, $4.00 1/2 Garden Salad, $3.75 PB, Banana, and Honey sandwich on Whole Wheat Bread, $2.00-$4.00 Fresh Juices
Zoe Ma Ma $4.95 Cool Noodle Bowl, $1.25 Potstickers, Dumplings, and Meatballs, $2.79 Steamy Bun, $2.95 Small Old School Hot and Sour Soup

Thanks to DownTownBoulder.com

 

 

John Marcotte

720-771-9401

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Things to Do in Boulder with Kids

Things to Do in Boulder with Kids

If you’re traveling to Boulder with little ones in tow, you’ll have no problem finding ways to entertain them.

The Pearl Street Mall, in particular, has endless diversions for kids, including fascinating street performers and strategically placed play areas for children. Judging by the squeals of delight you’ll hear as you get near the pop-jet fountain at Pearl and 14th Street, this may get the kids’ vote for best Boulder attraction. Water shoots up randomly from spouts in the pavement as little ones scamper through.

A rock garden with big boulders perfect for scrambling on, hiding behind and sitting atop is another popular spot and is located between 13th Street and Broadway. Similarly, a collection of sculptures between 14th and 15th streets is irresistible to children who like to climb on a giant stone snail and other oversized creatures.

Plenty of downtown businesses cater to kids, too. Into the Wind kite and toyshop is positively overflowing with clever trinkets that will keep your little ones intrigued for hours. Color Me Mine offers a chance for them to get creative as they paint their own pottery. And Momentum, a shop specializing in responsibly sourced goods, has a kids’ corner for reading and playing while mom and dad shop.

Of course, outside of Boulder’s downtown area are plenty of activities for kids, many of which offer learning alongside fun. The Wonder of Science at Twenty Ninth Street offers an interactive learning area with large-scale lighted models of the planets, a weather reporting station, a 35-foot tall sounding rocket and more. The Underwater Fish Observatory along the Boulder Creek behind Millennium Harvest House is an opportunity for kids to peek in on fish swimming in their natural environment. And the Boulder History Museum’s Discovery Room is a hands-on kids’ component to the current exhibitions.

Of course, if it’s just good old-fashioned playtime you want, consider Gateway Park Fun Center in North Boulder. Kids of all ages will be swept up in the mini golf course, go-karts, batting cages, human maze, an indoor arcade and more.

Read the entire article here

 

 

John Marcotte

720-771-9401

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Apartment vacany rate at 4.6%

Apartment vacany rate at 4.6%

Highlights:

  • Apartment vacancy rates fall for 14 consecutvie quarters.
  • Construction activity not enough to meet demand.
  • Inflation-adjusted rents at 9-year high.

The apartment vacancy rate in the Denver metro area fell to 4.6 percent during the first quarter, dropping to the second-lowest vacancy rate recorded in any quarter since the first quarter of 2001, according to a report released today.

 

Meanwhile, rental rates have reached an all-time high, when not adjusted for inflation. Rents have risen so much, at a time when mortgage rates are at historic lows. Some real estate experts contend that makes a compelling case for buying instead of renting.

The vacancy rate was down from 4.9 percent in the first quarter of 2012 and was also down from last year’s fourth-quarter rate of 4.9 percent, according to the report by the Apartment Association of Metro Denver and the Colorado Division of Housing,

For the past 14 quarters, the vacancy rate has fallen when compared to the same quarter one year earlier.

“This is another quarter of rent growth overall and it’s  a rebound from the expected sag of the fourth quarter,” said Ron Throupe, a University of Denver professor and the author of the report.

“Although we are having new units built there is not a glut as vacancy is again down,” Throupe continued.  “The current quarter compares favorably even to other historic times when new units were in the neighborhood of 6,000 units per year.  There may be pockets or submarkets where new supply is challenging, but not at the overall market level. It is a time going forward where attention to submarket supply and demand will dominate.”

The last time the quarterly vacancy rate rose year over year was during the third quarter of 2009.

From the first quarter of 2012 to the same period of 2013, the vacancy rate dropped in Arapahoe County, Jefferson County, and the Boulder Broomfield area. The rate rose in Adams, Denver and Douglas counties during the same period.

“The number of new apartments delivered has increased rapidly since 2010, but the numbers haven’t been large enough so far to push vacancy rates up significantly,” said Ryan McMaken, an economist with the Colorado Division of Housing. “We do see some submarkets where vacancies are temporarily up as new communities lease up, but that’s not indicative of a decline in demand.”

Rens increased to the highest level recorded in any quarter, as vacancies moved down. During the first quarter of 2013, the average rent in metro Denver rose to $992, increasing 4.2 percent, or $40, from the average monthly rate of $952 in the first quarter of 2012.

The average rent rose in all counties measured except Adams County, with the largest increases found in Douglas County in the Boulder/Broomfield area where the average rents grew year over year by 6.9 percent and 7.4 percent, respectively.

The county areas with the highest average rents were Douglas County and the Boulder/Broomfield area where the average rents were $1,186 and $1,150, respectively. Adams County reported the lowest average rent at $910.

“Rent growth is solid, and even when adjusted for inflation, the average rent is almost to a nine-year high,” McMaken said.

First-quarter vacancy rates by county were:

  • Adams, 5.2 percent.
  • Arapahoe, 4.1 percent.
  • Boulder/Broomfield, 3.2 percent.
  • Denver, 5.4 percent.
  • Douglas, 6.5 percent.
  • Jefferson, 3.7 percent.

Average rents for all counties were:

  • Adams, $910.
  • Arapahoe, $950.
  • Boulder/Broomfield, $1,150;.
  • Denver, $1,008;.
  • Douglas, $1,186;.
  • Jefferson, $958.

Thanks to insidenews.com

 

 

John Marcotte

720-771-9401

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Boulder Valley Welcomes Six New Principals

Boulder Valley schools welcomed six new principals this school year, replacing those who retired, took other positions in Boulder Valley or took jobs in other districts. Here’s a look at who’s leading those schools.

Creekside Elementary

James Hill, a native of Colorado, is taking on his first principal role at Creekside Elementary after spending the last four years as an assistant principal at Fairview High School. Before becoming an administrator, he was a teacher and coach in the Adams 12 School District, where he taught at both the elementary and middle levels.

He said he chose Creekside because of its diversity and the high level of community support.

“Everybody is fired up for student learning,” he said. “The goal is to put our kids first to make sure they’re successful.”

He said he believes in shared decision making and collaboration and is planning to form committees that include teachers and parents. Given the school’s diversity, he said, he also wants to make sure immigrant families feel not just welcomed but needed.

“My style is to have a forum where everybody has input and can be involved,” he said.

Creekside’s last principal, Alejandra Sotiros, took a principal job in Denver Public Schools.

Emerald Elementary

Samara Williams is coming to Broomfield’s Emerald Elementary after 16 years in the Adams 14 school district in Commerce City, where she worked as a teacher, librarian and principal.

She is an advocate for school wellness and her last school, Rose Hill Elementary, was recognized in 2010 as the Fit 4 Colorado School Challenge winner for December. She also created a partnership with the local business community to fund and build a nine-station fitness course on the Rose Hill playground.

She said she chose Emerald because she wanted to work in the same district where her three sons attend school — she and her family live in Superior — and to “be part of the academic excellence that is the Boulder Valley School District.”

“Emerald was a perfect fit for me — a neighborhood school that serves a diverse population of students,” she said.

She said she’s been working with the school’s staff members since she was hired in April, determining that a consistent approach to teaching, learning and school operations is a top priority.

“A school should be a fun, warm, welcoming place to learn and work,” she said. “I try to always lead by example by being cheerful, welcoming and doing things that energize my staff.”

Williams replaces David Tanaka, who took a principal job in Durango.

Heatherwood Elementary

Brent Caldwell, the new principal at Boulder’s Heatherwood Elementary, is returning to Boulder after 12 years in Wyoming.

Caldwell, who replaced Larry Orobona after he retired as Heatherwood’s principal, served as an elementary school principal in Big Horn, Wyo. Before that, he taught second, third and fifth grades in Boulder Valley and graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Heatherwood, he said, was the first school he visited for an observation as a CU education student.

“Life has come full circle for me,” he said. “Boulder Valley is a great school district. I wanted to be back here.”

He has training and experience in the professional learning community model that’s now being used in Boulder Valley to improve collaboration among teachers, led a high-achieving school in Wyoming and was recognized in 2010 as Wyoming’s National Distinguished Principal.

His main goal for his first year, he said, is to get to know Heatherwood and make sure everyone is working with a clear vision.

“All highly effective schools have a clear purpose in what they’re trying to accomplish,” he said.

Horizons K-8

John McCluskey, the new principal at Horizons K-8, replaces longtime principal Sonny Zinn. Zinn took a part-time position as principal of Boulder Explore, Boulder Valley’s new program for homeschool families.

McCluskey comes to Horizons, a Boulder charter school, from the Jefferson County Open School in Lakewood, where he worked as the assistant principal. He has worked in various school and nonprofit settings since 1989, along with working as a school consultant with the Boulder-based Passage Works Institute and with the California Center for Council Practice.

He said Horizons appealed to him because the school community keeps students and their needs at the center of its practice.

“I am eager to continue to build upon this approach as an example of what is possible in public education in our community and our country,” he said.

He said he wants to spend the first year honing the school’s shared vision.

“We will be focusing on our common story as a school, both what has been built to this point and what principles and practices we want to commit to taking us into the future,” he said.

Pioneer Bilingual Elementary

Kristin Nelson-Steinhoff first applied for the principal job at Pioneer eight years ago, but was turned down because she lacked principal experience. She gained that experience working in Denver Public Schools, applying again after Pioneer principal Miguel Villalon in May requested a transfer to a part-time administrator position, citing personal reasons.

This time, Nelson-Steinhoff got the job at the Lafayette school.

“I have a passion and enthusiasm for dual-immersion education,” she said. “Pioneer really serves as a model for other dual-immersion schools across the state.”

She worked as a principal at a bilingual Denver elementary school for seven years, also serving as an assistant principal and bilingual kindergarten and fourth-grade teacher.

At Pioneer, she said, she wants to get to know the students, parents and teachers.

“I want to help us move forward to become that best that we can,” she said.

Summit Middle School

Jim Eagen is coming from a private school background to serve as the new principal at Boulder’s Summit Middle School. He most recently worked as the head of the middle school at a private school in New York and has experience with the International Baccalaureate middle school program.

During his 20 years in education, he has led workshops on issues that include technology, social aggression and diversity and has presented on panels addressing bully prevention and curriculum innovation.

He said he chose Summit, a charter school, because “they do middle school better than any middle school I’ve seen. I wanted to be part of a great academic middle school.”

His main goal for the first year, he said, is to get to know the school community and have the community get to know him. Another goal is to look at updating parts of the building, especially the math classrooms.

“It doesn’t match the level of excellence of the actual math program,” he said.

He said he sees himself more as a leader than a principal and promises collaboration.

“It’s really exciting,” he said. “I’m going to be learning quite a bit.”

Along with hiring six new principals, the district named University Hill Elementary School’s interim principal, Ina Rodriguez-Myer, as the Boulder school’s permanent principal. Rodriguez-Myer served as the interim principal for a year and has worked as a teacher and administrator in Boulder Valley for 21 years. Before moving to University Hill, she worked as an assistant principal at Southern Hills Middle School.

Courtesy of: Amy Bounds of Daily Camera

*Boulder Valley School district is one of the top rated in the country and is a major contributing factor to why Boulder Colorado  is such a popular place to buy a home.  For more information about homes for sale in Boulder Colorado contact us at BoulderHomes4u.com today!