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As interest grows and investment increases in support of the energy sector, a growing number of business leaders have expressed interest in gaining a better understanding of the technologies, markets and opportunities that exist--and lie ahead.

The Deming Center is now offering a four-day certificate program, known as RETool, that provides an in-depth look at all of these topics and more.  RETool addresses questions such as:

•    Which technologies are the most promising and in what time frames?
•    What is changing with costs and pricing of alternative energy sources?
•    What are some of the main challenges with the different technologies and in different sectors of the industry?

That, and a myriad of other topics pertaining to policies, market demographics, and geographical considerations - are included in the curriculum.

The program was created by and is led by our own Steve Lawrence, Professor and Chair of the Management and Entrepreneurship Division of the Leeds School of Business and Paul Komor, who is a lecturer in the Environmental Studies Department, and also a researcher, author, business advisor, and the Energy Education Director for RASEI (Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute).

The energy industry is undergoing a transformation, the complexities and scale of which are  almost unimaginable. ReTool provides a terrific opportunity for people to substantially advance their understanding of this emerging industry. We're proud to offer it to the community and our colleagues in the energy sector and beyond. 

Learn more about RETool.

It's not that we throw caution to wind, or that we like to invite mid-March madness.  It's that we're entrepreneurs; we're comfortable with taking some level of risk. And perhaps that's why CU's Entrepreneurship Week is taking place now--during the ides of March.  And so far, things are shaping up fine. No offense, Shakespeare.  In celebration of entrepreneurs everywhere, some nice events are taking place from March 11-19 all around the CU campus.  Entrepreneurship lovers, risk-takers, movers and shakers, take note of some key events:

The CU New Venture Challenge is in full swing right now, with the semi-finals, finals, and winner announcements happening today--Friday, March 12, 2010 at ATLAS.

The Deming Center and Silicon Flatirons will welcome an all-star cast of entrepreneurs including Tyler Tisdal of Mantucket Capital and Brad Feld of Foundry Group at Entrepreneurs Unplugged on Monday, March 15, 2010.  See the Silicon Flatirons site for more information and to register to attend free.

In further keeping with our commitment to cross-campus cooperation, the Deming Center is teaming up with CU's Tech Transfer Office and CIMB--Colorado Initiative in Molecular Biotechnology--to bring you a special lunch and networking event we're calling "Entrepreneurship Under the Microscope:  A Celebration of CU Research and Technology."  This gathering of biotechnology, entrepreneurship, and technology enthusiasts takes place Thursday, March 18, 2010 at Folsom Stadium Club.  For more information, location, agenda, speakers, and tickets, please visit the E-Week Luncheon Web site at http://eweek2.eventbrite.com/ 

We hope to see you this week and beyond.  How are you spending E-Week?

Part of the excitement of a campus location is that the action is everywhere. Case in point:  Four teams will via for not just prizes, but the attention of an all-star judging panel, in the next CU New Venture Challenge.   Here's more from the good people at CU NVC on the upcoming finals.

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The CU New Venture Challenge Finals are this Friday, 3/12 beginning at 2pm in ATLAS 100 on the CU-Boulder Campus and are open to the public. Don't miss the watching the top four teams pitch their business plans to a panel of judges including venture capitalists, angel investors and serial entrepreneurs.

Prizes include:
•    1st - $6,000
•    2nd - $3,000
•    3rd - $2,000
•    Judges Choice - $250
Now in its second year, the CU New Venture Challenge is a campus-wide initiative connecting students and faculty with teammates in a broad range of disciplines and with mentors from the business community. The goal is to provide knowledge and experience making entrepreneurship accessible to anyone with the enthusiasm and creativity required to start a new business.

Highlights of the 2010 CU New Venture Challenge include:
•    $15,000 in cash prizes
•    More than 20 teams in fields ranging from information technology and Internet to music and outdoor recreation
•    Dozens of mentors sharing their entrepreneurial experience with competition entrants
•    Seven workshops and "crash courses" on topics such as intellectual property, economic sustainability, and how to build a company from concept to completion
•    Networking events connecting CU students with employers and building a sense of community among Colorado entrepreneurs
•    145 Facebook members and 463 followers on Twitter
•    At least one CU student, employee or faculty member per team

Five years ago, a group of us, including C.O.R.E and the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship, converged around a vision for an event that would enable businesses of all types to showcase opportunities that they were finding from the drivers of sustainability.  From that first discussion sprang the annual Sustainable Opportunities Summit (SOS). 

At that time (ca. 2005) many of the companies in attendance could legitimately be considered as first movers.  It was a remarkable event - violating almost all of the rules of focus and specialization.  Participating companies came from every sector of the business world.  As one attendee commented, "I admit to being a serial conference attendee, but I was very skeptical about SOS.  What I now realize is that I attend conferences on the same topics with the same speakers and the same attendees.  But this (SOS) was one of the most thought provoking and refreshing experiences that I've had.  It is clear that sustainability is a whole new way to think about how to create and run businesses, and is unquestionably the way of business in the future.  This conference is an incredible forum at which to learn more and to better understand where the trends will lead us."

In 2009 the City of Denver became a partner - recognizing that the success of the summit had created a powerful platform for the city, the university, and the business community at which to showcase the extraordinary advances being made by companies, cities and schools pertaining to sustainability.  Colorado has emerged as one of the most successful regions of sustainable business leadership, cleantech and renewable energy, organic foods and products, and progressive public/private collaborations around business, government, the environment, water and energy. 

Please join us for the 5^th annual Sustainable Opportunities Summit and Cleantech Venture Challenge. This year's Summit will take place next week, from March 2^nd to the 4^th at the Denver Convention Center.  Once again you will hear from and be able to network with remarkable thought leaders . Join us or learn more here.

The following is a guest post by Mark Wiranowski, CU law student and member of the CUNVC executive committee:

Jason Mendelson, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Foundry Group, a Boulder venture capital firm, kicked off the New Venture Challenge Crash Course series to a packed house last night.  His wealth of experience - software engineer, then deal attorney, then venture capitalist - came through in lively style.  He's not afraid to call a spade a spade, either.  Take his advice on very early stage financing:

"Do you really need financing yet?  Early stage financing is very risky, and therefore, expensive.  I'm going to act more like a loan shark than a VC.  An angel investor will give you a better deal.  Create value and the money will follow."

This was the first in an every-Wednesday "Crash Course" series put on by the New Venture Challenge.  Each workshop is presented by a seasoned entrepreneur or business leaders.  Mendelson's talk, titled "How to Build a Company," dished out advice and highlighted common mistakes:

"You need a partner who complements your skills.  The biggest red flag for me as a VC is someone starting a company solo."

"Most people fall down on estimating the competition.  Lots of entrepreneurs say, "We are different."  Are you really?  Take social networking sites; your competition might just be your customers' time."

"Marketing and advertising will not save you: Every marketing guy knows that half of his budget is wasted; he just doesn't know which half."

Mendelson also praised Boulder as a place to build a company.  Successful entrepreneurs are happy to mentor those starting out, and the city is one of the most socially-networked that he's worked in.  Mendelson illustrated with a parting shot.

"What should you say to a Sand Hill Road venture capitalist?  Compliment him on his Ferrari."

Below are the slides from Jason's presentation.  Thanks Jason!  Here is the video of the crash course.