Rocky Mountain High Growth: Expanding Your Startup to Denver
22 October 2025
- Scaling Up
- Ignite
Rocky Mountain High Growth: Expanding Your Startup to Denver
Join in the Mile High City momentum, connecting NZ innovation to Denver's ecosystem. Denver has emerged as an attractive hub for Kiwi startups and offers a compelling environment for New Zealand founders looking to enter the U.S. by providing a supportive ecosystem, established partnerships, and access to key industries, resources and venture capital. From Auckland to the Rockies, Denver is a path for building meaningful bridges for global success. Learn how Denver can be the next edge, looking beyond the mountains to boost your U.S. expansion efforts with ease and confidence.
Free
Register now to secure your spot
Speakers
Stephanie Garnica
Director Global Engagement at Denver Economic Development & Opportunity
Stephanie is the Director of Global Engagement at Denver Economic Development & Opportunity, where she leads the city’s international strategy, diplomacy, and foreign investment initiatives. She has held leadership roles at Denver International Airport, World Trade Center Denver, and Colorado’s Office of Economic Development. Fluent in Spanish, Stephanie has lived and worked in Central America and serves on several globally focused boards.
Vanessa Simsick
Senior Global Engagement Manager at Denver Economic Development & Opportunity
Vanessa is the Senior Global Engagement Manager at Denver Economic Development & Opportunity, where she advances foreign investment and international diplomacy. Her career spans global sport, including the Olympic Games, and international trade leadership. A Denver native, she serves on the WorldDenver Board of Directors, speaks French, and is passionate about global engagement.
Venue
Beca
124 Halsey Street
Wynyard Quarter
Auckland Central 1010
Te Paeroa o te Kawau - Beca’s headquarters in the heart of Wynyard Quarter - is home to 1,400 Auckland-based employees, and stands as a testament to sustainable design and cultural partnership. Named by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei - meaning ‘The shoreline of the kawau’ - the name honours the area’s heritage and ecological significance, reflecting Beca’s commitment to shaping resilient communities through innovative advisory, design, and engineering services. The building exemplifies environmental leadership, targeting a 6 Green Star rating and 5-star NABERS NZ rating.