Welcome Packet

You will want to read this page entirely, as it has key information that you'll need to know before you travel.

Introduction

We are incredibly excited to welcome the 2019 Ambassadors Program Cohort to Denver September 16-19! We look forward to the opportunity to share Denver’s entrepreneurial community with the Ambassadors. We have a very exciting schedule prepared complete with company visits to four local startup and tech companies, Denver Startup Week programming, VIP invite-only Social Events to honor the Ambassadors, and more!

Transportation

FLIGHTS

Flights to and from Denver are provided by the Ambassadors Program through Southwest Airlines. Each Ambassador will be provided flight vouchers with which to book your individual flight. These vouchers, along with instructions for booking, will be provided upon completion of this contract. We strongly recommend landing no later than 10:00 am on Monday September 16 to allow for transit from the airport and time for hotel check in prior to the start of the Program.

Click here for information on how to book your flights

AIRPORT TRANSFERS VIA TRAIN

Take the train from the airport right into downtown Denver! The train runs every 15 minutes and takes 35 minutes. You’ll want the University of Colorado A Line to Union Station (the only train that leaves from the airport). You’ll arrive at Union Station (the last stop), which is about a 9 minute walk from the hotel.

Click here for instructions on how to obtain your train tickets

ADDITIONAL TRANSPORTATION

Denver is a walkable city with great things to see when en route to various destinations. We have planned the Ambassadors Program schedule to accommodate walking to each location. The Ambassadors will have three tour guides, who will assist in guiding the cohort to each location. Please see the “Tour Guides” section to learn more! You are responsible for any other transportation expenses during your stay.

Hotel Stay and Information

The Ambassadors will be staying at the Hilton Garden Inn Denver Union Station in Downtown Denver. Check in time is 3pm on Monday September 16th and check out is at noon on Wednesday, September 18th. The hotel is aware that Ambassadors are arriving before check in time and leaving past check out time and have confirmed that they have ample space to store luggage for that time.

The hotel is working to accommodate early check in when possible – this will occur on a first come, first serve basis. Otherwise, there will be free time on Monday afternoon when you will be able to attend Denver Startup Week programming of your choice and/or check in to the hotel.

The hotel concierge will be expecting the Ambassadors and will be prepared for the large group during check in and check out. Please let the hotel staff know that you are with the Ambassadors Program, and they will assist you accordingly.

The Ambassadors Program is providing each Ambassador with a hotel room Monday night and Tuesday night. Please be aware that you will be personally responsible for any hotel accommodations outside of the scheduled days. The hotel will require a credit card on file for each Ambassador to cover any incidentals or charges to the room. The hotel will hold $50 a night on your personal card for this. The hotel has confirmed that they are happy to extend the group rate of $189 per night to our Ambassadors three days prior and after the days we have blocked for the event, subject to availability. We’ve heard from the hotel, that rooms are booking quickly so please make your individual reservation ASAP. If you would like to extend your trip at your own cost, please inform the hotel that you are a Denver Startup Week Ambassador.

Meals

BREAKFAST

You will be on your own and responsible for your breakfast. This is a great time to catch up on some work before we keep you busy all day!

Feel free to visit Basecamp for a free continental-style breakfast (breakfast burritos, muffins, etc.). Breakfast is available at Basecamp beginning at 7:30 AM.

LUNCH

Lunch will be provided Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday as part of the Ambassadors programming.

DINNER

Dinner will be provided Monday and Tuesday as part of the Ambassadors programming.

Attire

Attire for most of the program will be casual. Since we will be moving around and on our feet for much of the time, we encourage you to wear comfortable shoes! You may want to bring a change of clothes for our evening events, but keep in mind that you may not have time to change depending on how you spend your free time / take advantage of Denver Startup Week programming.

The weather in Denver can be unpredictable and the temperature can fluctuate quite a bit from day to night. Bring layers, and expect that we could get some thunderstorms!

Communication

GROUPME

You will receive a GroupMe invitation for our Ambassadors 2019 group. This is where we’ll be in touch throughout the program as we move around Denver, so please make sure you’ve enabled notifications and keep an eye on messages that come in. Feel free to use it to connect with other Ambassadors before and during the trip.

Be sure to download GroupMe before you land in Denver!

FACEBOOK

You’ve also received an invitation to join the Ambassadors 2019 Facebook group. This is another great way to connect with fellow Ambassadors. Request access here if you have not already done so.

Be sure to request access to the Facebook group as soon as you are accepted so you don't miss out on updates and networking opportunities!

Expectations

ATTENDANCE

We expect you to attend all scheduled Ambassadors programming. We understand that business does not stop while you are away, so we’ve built in time each day for the Ambassadors to choose your own programming. We ask that you schedule any meetings or calls that need to be conducted while you are with the Ambassadors Program during these times or before programming starts in the morning.

Program begins at 11:30 am on Monday September 16th and concludes 2:00 pm on Wednesday September 18th (these time are subject to change)

PROGRAM GOALS

Our goal for the Ambassadors program is to showcase Denver’s tech community through visits with local industry leaders and Denver Startup Week programming. Each of you will have a different goal for what you expect to get out of the program – whether it’s networking for business development, for a new job in Denver, or just witnessing what Denver has to offer. We expect you to take advantage of the Host Company Visits and VIP Social Events to connect with our local tech community so be proactive, do some research and let us know if we can help make any connections.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Please review the Social Media Toolkit. As we’ve mentioned in your contract and in that toolkit, we want you to use social media during the program to document your experience! We also ask that you write a ~500 work blog post reflecting your experience as an Ambassador and highlights from the trip within a week of your visit. Please check the Toolkit for more information.

GENERAL MEDIA GUIDELINES

We hope that you’ll feel comfortable sharing your experience through various media channels, but we do ask that you use discretion. Our host companies may share sensitive or strategic information with you – please refrain from sharing anything that isn’t public knowledge. When in doubt, please ask! We also ask that you receive Denver Startup Week approval prior to publishing any materials meant for broader distribution than your social media network. Denver Startup Week is happy to provide quotes as requested. All media inquiries can be directed to Bree Neely: Bree@directobj.com

Denver Startup Week

Make sure to register for Denver Startup Week! You’ll need this registration to attend events.

You will have a few blocks in the schedule where you can choose your own Denver Startup Week programming and some of you have extended your stays, allowing you to attend more of the week’s events. There will be over 350 incredible events during Denver Startup Week and countless other amazing happenings all around town. We strongly encourage you to browse the schedule and find sessions and events that interest you during the time we’ve allotted for Denver Startup Week programming.

If you’re in town in time, don’t miss the Kickoff Breakfast on Monday morning. Event details and registration information is provided in the detailed schedule. Be sure to register soon if you plan to attend as it will sell out quickly!

TRACK EVENTS

The daily programming consists of six tracks, oriented towards critical functional roles within a business.

Track programming runs all day every day throughout the week and sessions take place in numerous locations throughout central Denver. The six tracks are: Founder, Growth, Developer, Product, Maker, and Designer.

For more insights into each track, visit the Program page of our website.

BASECAMP

Basecamp Launched by Chase, located at Skyline Park, serves as the epicenter and soul of Denver Startup Week. The activities at Basecamp represent the best of Denver Startup Week – including keynote speakers, premier session highlights, on-site mentoring with prominent startup leaders, networking events and meetups, and access to exclusive learning opportunities and resources. Use Basecamp as your home-base during the week to ensure that you don’t miss a thing!

Follow this link for more info on Basecamp Launched by Chase!

Contact Information

If you need anything during your stay or while in transit to or from the Ambassadors Program, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Lacey will continue to be your direct point of contact. She can be reached at the office in the days leading up to the Ambassadors Program and on her cell during the Program.

Lacey Hyde

(720) 232-8377

Get Excited and Thank you!

Get excited for an amazing three days of learning, connecting, celebrating, and fun! We are so excited about this incredible group and the opportunity to share Denver’s entrepreneurial community with you during Denver Startup Week 2019!

During your visit (and beyond) help us extend a special thank you to our Sponsors and Host Companies: