On January 13th, I’m giving a presentation at the University of Colorado entitled “How to Build a Company.”

For information and registration, go here.

This the kickoff of a number of talks going on over at CU that Brad blogged about earlier.

Hope to see you there. Come with questions.  I’ll answer anything.  (and I’ll even try to do so correctly).

Wow.  On September 26th, 60,746 people took the LSAT (the law school entrance exam).  This is the largest single administration in the history of the exam.

Are people not aware what is going on in the legal industry?  These folks are going to be saddled with six-figure debt and then attempt to enter an industry that is shrinking faster than any that I can think of.

Folks, seriously, go get your CS degree.  Or go work at a big-box retailer.  Or be a ski bum.  You at least won’t have the debt.

For a full report, check out Most Strongly Supportive’s post. 

I have another set of open office hours coming up – this Thursday, November 5th.  If you are interested in getting together, you can sign up here.  The TechStars bunker is where I’ll be and I hope, that like last time, I’ll get to meet some new friends.

The 2nd annual CU Venture Challenge is upon us.  If you have a CU identification card, have a great idea and want free mentorship and potential funding if you win, then check it out.

November 11th kicks off a presentation by Paul Berberian talking about how to pick a good idea and whether or not it is worth starting a business around it.  The event will take place in the law school’s large courtroom at 6pm, with networking to follow.

The New Venture Challenge continues to ramp up Nov. 18 with “Pitch Day,” where entrants will deliver short pitches about their business ideas and network to round out their teams with expertise from CU programs ranging from engineering and liberal arts to business and law. The pitches begin at 6 p.m. in the ATLAS Building, room 100.

More information can be found here.

Despite these challenging economic times, it’s still a feel-good thing to know that you are helping out a good cause.  In that vein, I’m supporting the Growe Foundation and would encourage folks to check out what they are doing.

The organization seeks to educate children about healthy and sustainable living.  They focus on both the individual health of the child and how living healthy both impacts them as well as the world around them.

The founder is Bryce Winton Brown, who many of you may know as the most gracious host from the The Kitchen Upstairs.  He is beginning his fundraising efforts in hopes to reach 50% of the Boulder Valley School District this year, with plans to reach 100% soon thereafter.  The video below talks about their efforts, as well. 

Per my post yesterday, I am officially retired as an adjunct at the University of Colorado. 

That of course didn’t stop my students from sending me off in "style."

I was awarded two very special gifts.  First, I received the "Most Kick Ass Professor" award of 2009, complete with my own Karate action figure.  And second, I received a nice Zildjian ride cymbal (how did they know that I don’t like Paiste?) signed by everyone in the class:

It was one of more thoughtful gestures that I’ve ever received.  In fact, there was a moment when the lump in my throat threatened to completely derail my last lecture. 

Thanks folks, I’ll remember you always and not because I am now looking for a 1985 Chevy Caprice Station Wagon to mount my trophy to the hood.  I look forward to the quick transition from teacher / student to friends / colleagues.

Today, I will give my last lecture at the University of Colorado. I’ve been co-teaching a class on venture capital for the past two years and it’s been a great experience.

I have always thought that one day, after I retire, I’d like to spend my time teaching at a university.  I taught drums while in high school and economics while in undergrad and some of my favorite intellectual moments have been while answering some well-thought question from a student. 

Teaching at the University of Colorado did not disappoint.  The students were inquisitive, intellectually honest and demanded that I arrived at class 100% prepared each day, otherwise their curiosity would expose my poor preparation.  I learned a lot about my own industry reading the academic works and thinking deeply about policies that affect venture capital – something that will be well used as I get ready to join the board of the National Venture Capital Association.

Thanks to all who put up with my diatribes, F-bombs, disorganization and occasional insults.  I had a great time and felt honored to come to the class every day.  While I don’t plan on retiring from venture capital any time soon, I do look forward to teaching again some day.

Thanks all.

In the continuing Entrepreneurs Unplugged series, next week Sam Zell will be visiting the university.

April 22nd, at noon in the large (Boulder NewTech Meetup) courtroom at the law school.  More info here.  It is free, but you must register, so keep that in mind.

Sam is always an interesting interviewee and speaker and even more so this year with his recent sale of Equity Office Property and sell of the Chicago Cubs.

Is he really that old?  Nah, not really, but last night Brad received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Entrepreneurship as part of the first annual Entrepreneurship Mashup event. 

The event was a huge success with a couple of hundred of folks showing up representing all facets of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in and around Boulder.  It was nice to see veteran entrepreneurs mingling with the next generation of great company builders.

As part of the event, we made a video homage to Brad.  Congrats partner.  In typical Brad fashion, he was humble, gave a great acceptance speech and implored everyone to consider it a "half-lifetime" achievement award.

Brad Feld – Lifetime Entreprenurial Achievement award video from Kendall Media Group on Vimeo.

Fresh off the heels of my recent Ann Arbor visit, I came back to Boulder to find out that one of our companies, Newsgator is participating in a great executive educational program:  Making Social Computing Work In Your Enterprise.

It’s June 1-3 and will feature cutting edge research from faculty and on-the-front-lines practical advice from the smart folks at Newsgator. 

For more information, please see the Newsgator press release on the event.