We talked to a number of startup founders and entrepreneurs in Denver to get a better idea of what the ecosystem is up to in 2017. Take a look at what they had to say below and make sure to keep an eye on the Wall Street of the West.

Mile-High Culture

Yes, work-life balance is important to tech companies around the country. However, there are few places on the planet that take this perk so seriously, as Denver provides more than enough opportunities to enjoy life outside of the office. For Denver founders, it’s about more than just getting a little time off to hit the slopes. It’s about making sure their employees are happy and healthy, leading to improved productivity and a thriving ecosystem.

Snowy and Supportive

With all that cold weather, it’s hard not to be supportive of other entrepreneurs trying to make it big. Denver exemplifies this supportive environment, showcasing startups and networking their butts off in an effort to put this mountain town in the tech hub discussion. As far as business resources are concerned, Denver is a hotbed of supportive events and people, making it easy to be a startup. After all, if you don’t have the infrastructure to built an ecosystem, you’re going to have trouble succeeding.

Thin Air Funding

While the culture is focused on work-life balance and the community is undeniably supportive, it’s important to remember that Denver is not one of the major tech hubs. This means that the funding situation is less than ideal, making for a competitive environment when it comes to locking down capital. Despite the hard to find funding, the supportive attitude makes getting your foot in the door a little easier than the smaller ecosystems. And if having to work hard is a con for this ecosystem, that’s fine by us.

Denver Diversity

A thriving ecosystem is about more than business capital and startup exits. It’s about inclusivity and diversity. After all, if you can’t give everyone a chance to have a seat at the table, you’re part of the problem. Read more about the Denver startup ecosystem on TechCo