If you are looking for something to do this summer, check out what Startup2Student is organizing. 

The goal is to introduce students interested in summer programming internships or jobs with early stage entrepreneurial companies in the Boulder/Denver area to these companies, as well as to introduce the students to some young entrepreneurs who have chosen a career path of entrepreneurship.

Mark your calendar for March 12th at 5:30pm.

Last night, I was a guest of the Silicon Flatirons to present a "crash course" on venture capital.  Basically, it was a no holds barred town hall-type conversation where I led off with a brief presentation and then opened it up to the 200 or so attendees to ask questions.  I encouraged the audience to ask anything they wanted about venture capital, getting funded and "secrets" of the VC ecosystem.

The event was videotaped and hopefully soon, I’ll be able to post it on this blog.  Until then, here was the presentation that I gave. 

I enjoyed immensely hanging out with a lot of smart people interested in venture capital.  Thanks to all who attended.

For those of you in the Boulder/Denver area, I’m giving a 1.5 hour “crash course” lecture on the VC industry.

The program is February 24th at 5:15 at the CU law school.  You can find more information here.

The topics will include everything from what makes VCs tick, who are our bosses, what are things that you can do to improve your chances of receiving funding and things that many VCs don’t want to talk about.  No question is off limits and I hope that it will be a very interactive forum.

Hope to see you there.

No, I am not talking about a bad Rodney Dangerfield movie, rather this week I’ve returned to my role as an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado.  I’m stepping out of my comfort zone and teaching a class on venture capital. 

Last year was my first attempt at teaching a full class.  I was extremely fortunate to enlist Brad Bernthal, who is a real professor at CU, to teach it with me.  We had a blast and our student reviews seemed to indicate that they appreciated our efforts.  We call our class "VC 360" and try to teach a cradle to grave course on everything in the VC ecosystem, including from the eyes of the entrepreneur, which we do by including guess lectures from local CEOs. 

We tried to not only teach about how the startup ecosystem worked, but get them all involved in the community through outreach events, seminars and Boulder-based events.  Our goal was to put what we taught in real life context. 

This years class is an even more diverse group of law and business students.  Perhaps more interesting (with no slight intended toward folks paying tuition) is that we have three Computer Science instructors auditing our class.

Today was class number two and I’m already excited for lecture number three.  It’s highly rewarding to see so many people interested in startup culture and hope that our class, in a small way, can be additive to the Boulder community. 

Thanks to past and present students – you give back more than I put into the process and I’m very thankful.  I’m looking forward to another rewarding semester. 

Today, I was on a panel at Moye White’s gorgeous offices in Denver where we spoke about fiduciary duties of serving on a board of directors.

John Kellogg gave one of the clearest and concise presentations on fiduciary duties that I’ve seen on the subject.  I’d encourage anyone interested in the subject to take a look.

This past weekend, I went back to Ann Arbor, Mi to attend my 10th law school reunion.  Normally, I get hives when I’m around too many lawyers, but it was a fun event and reconnecting with old friends was pleasant.  

There were three big takeaways from the weekend:

1.  Ten years out, it was surprising how few of my former classmates stayed at their big firm jobs out of school.  (hmmm, maybe my theories of what ails the legal profession are true…);

2.  Going to a University of Michigan football game is still one of the best ways to spend a Saturday that I can think of (even if my Wolverines stunk up the joint and lost 45-20 to Illinois); and

3.  Despite everyone saying that we don’t look any different than we did 10 years ago, those are just self serving statements.  It doesn’t mean that many of us don’t still look good, rather ten years is really ten years.  I, for one, am definitely worse for wear. 

For those of you interested, I present a photographic journal of the football experience and some reunion pictures as well for those of you unable to attend.

Football:

- Everyone needs a good tailgate.  This fine gentleman gave us each a hotdog as we walked up the street.  Thanks random grill dude!

Everyone also needs a two floor beer bong.  Yippie!

And the stadium avec le marching band

Reunion:

Dave Davis, me and Drew Worseck.  This was before the football team decided defense was optional.

Me "reunited" with my law school house

David Bouman, Tanya and Paul Hunter and Dave and (committeewoman) Lynne Davis

Matt Drake, "Mr. Classy" pouring generic whisky into a bottle of coke to "tune up" prior to the game.  In hindsight, maybe he was the smart one.

The law school

We’ll see y’all in another 5 to 10 (sounds like a prison sentence).  Thanks to Carrie Newton and Jeff King for setting this all up us. 

There is a new posting on the Foundry Group blog entitled: The University of Colorado and Entrepreneurship.  All five of the Foundry folks are actively involved with our adopted university and are all better off for it.

I’d encourage other local folks to check out what they are up to.  On a number of fronts, they are really moving the needle.

I’m very involved at the University of Colorado, both as an adjunct professor and board member of the Silicon Flatiron’s entrepreneurship initiative.  During this time, I’ve met Kurt Smith who is creating some wonderful entrepreneurship opportunities within the school of engineering.  He is the director of the E-ship program.  They have recently created a new Entrepreneur Certificate Program. 

Whether you work in a start-up venture or within a large corporation, the New 12-credit Engineering Entrepreneurship Certificate is geared toward the working professional that desires to play a more significant and influential role in business leadership by learning key innovation and professional skills.

To learn more about the Certificate Program including a detailed program description and a certificate application, please visit the E-ship website:

Congratulations Kurt on the announcement and I wish you continued success with the program.