David Cohen discusses how Boulder, Colorado has become a startup hub without relying heavily on venture capital funding. He notes that in the first quarter of 2008, Boulder had $311 million in venture capital with a population of 125,000, equating to around $2,500 per person per quarter. This is significantly more than Toronto, which had $130 million in venture capital for a population of 5.5 million. Cohen attributes Boulder's success to programs like TechStars that provide mentorship and connections for founders. Through two years, TechStars has helped launch 20 companies, with many receiving angel or VC funding and creating over 40 jobs in Colorado. The program has shown that with the right community and support, venture