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14 / BUILDING DIALOGUE / MARCH 2015
RiNo Resurgence
Mickey Zeppelin and Kyle Zeppelin of Zeppelin Develop-
ment. Longstanding urban developers who are considered
igniters of the RiNo resurgence.
Looking back before you made a commitment to RiNo:
What did you see that inspired you to place a “flag” at Taxi?
We were fueled by our experience in LoDo and the Gold-
en Triangle.
Fifteen years ago, RiNo was just what we were looking
for. It had good bones. It was gritty, industrial and had great
access to transportation arteries. It had a strong arts scene
with a studio community already committed.
We felt RiNo had a great future with untapped potential
given the great connection to the urban center and LoDo
via the Millenium Bridge, a special amenity opportunity
with its river frontage and the recreation potential that this
area could cultivate.
You started a movement: Did you know you were breaking
trail and setting a new profile for work-live culture?
Not really. Our interests are small and urban, but also we
recognize that what we have to offer is unique and, espe-
cially at that time, it was an untapped market. Our focus on
the character of a neighborhood and the quality of archi-
tecture is our long-term focus. What’s here maters!
What were the conditions that you felt were
right about Denver or RiNo in particular?
RiNo had a strong community, which most people might
not have recognized. We started with the community first,
then the city.
This took 15 years to create, and we felt it was the right
time with the right vision that enabled the RiNo area to
take off. The projects in RiNo are catalytic and create oppor-
tunities not just for us, but also for others in the neighbor-
hood and new investors in the area.
What opportunities do you see in the future?
There are lots of opportunities still in RiNo. Though there
are new developments coming out of the ground or “on the
boards,” there are still a lot of empty lots. The river and rec-
reation potential along with a walkable, bikable commu-
nity are still opportunities that propel the neighborhood.
We have hopes of improving the community and get-
ting deeper into the sustainability of neighborhoods, the
schools, recreation, etc. It’s a question for the broader pop-
ulation, not just a single neighborhood or city. This is an
opportunity for communities around the world.
Entrepreneurial Culture
Justin Martinez, co-chair of the design committee for Den-
ver Startup Week. Denver Start-Up Week is but one example
of spirited, vibe-driving components of Denver’s entrepre-
neurial culture.
How did Denver Startup Week come about?
It started in 2012 as a forum for entrepreneurs and job seek-
ers in the software development space and tech start-ups fo-
cusing on developing apps. The creative conditions combined
with the Denver culture enabled new businesses to flourish.
Denver Startup Week is about connections, learning and en-
gaging people on a different level.
We bring in a broad population of business creators from
around the U.S. and beyond to speak and ignite dialog among
the attendees.
From your vantage point, what’s driving
Denver’s start-up climate?
It’s a place people want to live. It’s also the attitude and the
ease of creating a business here. You can do what you want to
do in Denver. Denver Startup Week enables new businesses
and those thinking about new ideas to connect and build a
network.
Can you help our readers understand the spectrum of
companies that comprise Denver’s start-up community?
There’s a range of companies and individuals in design,
graphics, arts, software development – risk-takers and luna-
tics. We also have good access to capital and investment both
frombanks, individuals and incubators. Go FundMe, Indiego-
go and Kickstarter are among the new funding opportunities.
When you are an entrepreneur, you have to be scrappy to
survive sometimes.
Are there certain industries, demographics or conditions
that contribute to Denver as a petri dish?
One of the strongest contributors is the Downtown Denver
Partnership. They are big supporters of the kinds of efforts
For the Sages and Stars lineup this month, we chose to tap
into the creative workplace vibe/movement in Denver. Den-
ver led the U.S. post-recession adult (ages 25 to 34) migration,
and some of the reasons are consistent with insights our
Sages and Stars shared with us recently.
The Source is an artisan food market in RiNo.
Mickey + Kyle Zeppelin
Justin Martinez