“Boulder is a Hub of thinkers, dreamers and doers. It seems a natural fit for a creative community idea like House of Genius to be founded." -Tim O'Shea, City Director

“Boulder is a Hub of thinkers, dreamers and doers. It seems a natural fit for a creative community idea like House of Genius to be founded.” -Tim O’Shea, City Director

Frustrated by the lack of success at traditional networking events, Toma Bedolla, Colin Adair and Tim Williams founded House of Genius in November 2010. Simply put the organization is an innovative think tank for entrepreneurial road blocks facing businesses today. Global Director Jacqui Dietrich describes the process as, “transforming networking into interactions that help entrepreneurs meet their challenges with greater success.”

This is how it works: once a month 15-18 people sitting conference-room-style listen as three businesses present problems to be solved. After the geniuses hear them out, the work shopping begins with each genius contributing his or her ideas. As a rule, no introductions are made aside from first names. This is omission of background info is to create a space where ideas reign, free from value judgments based on where this or that person went to school or where they work or who they know. If there is no information to begin categorizing and judging (and let’s face it, we’re human, we can’t help but judge) creativity flows and innovation flourishes.

Aside from being an entrepreneurial powerhouse, Boulder was the jumping off point for Bedolla, Adair and Williams because, as Tim O’Shea, City Director, puts it, “Boulder is a Hub of thinkers, dreamers and doers. It seems a natural fit for a creative community idea like House of Genius to be founded.” House of Genius offices now enjoy residency in 25 cities and eight countries  with over 100 volunteers. Like family members, each House boasts their own personality but at their core the goal is to see entrepreneurial ventures thrive through community involvement.

Forward thinking companies like House of Genius are, well, genius. Following the trend of startups using coffee shops as their home base and every other manner of unconventional foray into the business world, House of Genius is providing a unique, effective solution to a common problem: where to turn when you’ve run into a seemingly insurmountable problem.