Capturing Colorado Startup Week: A Celebration of Innovation, Connection, and Empowerment
Each year, Colorado Startup Week brings together entrepreneurs, innovators, and dreamers to celebrate bold ideas and the people who make them happen. As Colorado’s premier free event for startups, it’s a space where creativity meets collaboration, and this year was no exception.
Held from September 16–18, 2025, Colorado Startup Week filled downtown Denver with inspiration, energy, and connection. Trublu Images was honored to photograph two incredible events during the week, both hosted by the inspiring Barbara Brooks, founder of SecondActWomen and a leading voice for women 40+ in business and media.
Barbara Brooks
Founder of SecondActWomen and a leading voice for women 40+ in business and media speaks at Colorado Startup Week.
Drinks and Clinks: A Celebration of Women Founders
Barbara kicked off the week with Drinks and Clinks: Female Founder Social, a sold-out happy hour with over 200 RSVPs that filled the Thompson Hotel’s chic Bar M. The evening brought together women founders and allies to celebrate, connect, and toast the start of Colorado Startup Week.
The atmosphere was electric. Surrounded by the warm glow of Denver’s historic LoDo district, attendees connected over shared goals and fresh ideas while enjoying signature cocktails and mocktails crafted especially for the event. The Thompson Hotel, known for its stylish spaces and French-inspired cuisine at Chez Maggy, provided the perfect backdrop for meaningful conversations and new connections.
Drinks and Clinks: A Celebration of Women Founders hosted by Barbara Brooks at the Thompson Hotel
Drinks and Clinks: A Celebration of Women Founders hosted by Barbara Brooks at the Thompson Hotel
The Age Advantage: Rewriting Startup Culture Through Connection
Later in the week, Barbara hosted a powerful panel titled The Age Advantage: Rewriting Startup Culture Through Connection at TARRA Coworking Space. The discussion explored ageism in the workplace and the value of intergenerational collaboration, challenging the startup community to look beyond age bias and recognize experience as an innovation driver.
Speakers Barbara Brooks, Sumayyah Emeh-Edu, Kelly Condon, and Chelle Johnson shared thoughtful perspectives on building teams that are not only diverse but deeply connected. They discussed how experienced professionals bring critical assets such as strategic insight, emotional intelligence, and social capital to startup environments.
We were hired by panelist Chelle Johnson, founder of Best You Career Advantage, to photograph this empowering event. Chelle is an accomplished executive career coach, talent strategist, and speaker with a background in leadership at several well-known companies. Through her business, she helps organizations and professionals grow through Fractional Talent Strategies, Retained Recruitment, and personalized career coaching. She is also the founder of Colorado Career Connectors, a nonprofit that has supported more than 1,700 professionals with career development and networking opportunities.
The energy in the room was undeniable. It was a space where ideas flowed freely, where wisdom met fresh perspective, and where everyone walked away feeling seen and inspired.
Chelle Johnson at The Age Advantage: Rewriting Startup Culture Through Connection
The Age Advantage: Rewriting Startup Culture Through Connection feat. speakers Speakers Barbara Brooks, Sumayyah Emeh-Edu, Kelly Condon, and Chelle Johnson
Honored to Capture Every Moment
Trublu Images was truly grateful to play a small part in such an inspiring week. Photographing these events reminded us why we love what we do: capturing moments that bring people together, tell powerful stories, and celebrate community in action.
A heartfelt thank-you to Barbara Brooks, Chelle Johnson, and the Colorado Startup Week team for trusting us to document these beautiful moments of connection and creativity.