Code of Conduct

Denver Startup Week is dedicated to providing a harassment-free conference experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion, national origin, political affiliation, veteran status, or branch of military service.

We do not tolerate harassment of conference participants in any form. Sexual language and imagery is not appropriate for any Denver Startup Week event, including talks and individual sessions, headline events, and social events. Participants violating these rules may be sanctioned and/or expelled from the conference at the discretion of the conference organizers; they may also be barred from participation in future Denver Startup Week events.

We define “participant” as anyone taking part in Denver Startup Week activities in any form. This includes presenters (speakers, panelists, moderators, and anyone else involved in the presentation of a session), venue hosts, sponsors, exhibitors, volunteers, organizers, attendees, and anyone else playing a role in Denver Startup Week.

Harassment includes, but is not limited to:

Verbal or written comments that reinforce social structures of domination related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion, or national origin.

Sexual images in public spaces

Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or unwelcome following

Harassing photography or recording

Sustained disruption of talks or other events

Inappropriate physical contact

Unwelcome sexual attention

Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior

Enforcement If a participant engages in harassing behavior, the organizers retain the right to take any actions necessary to maintain a welcoming environment for all participants. This includes warning the offender or expelling them from the conference. Denver Startup Week is a distributed conference; those expelled from a session may be barred from attending or asked to leave subsequent sessions regardless of whether any subsequent offense has taken place. Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. Event organizers may take action to redress anything designed to, or with the clear impact of, disrupting the event or making the environment hostile for any participants. We expect participants to adhere to this Code of Conduct at all sanctioned Denver Startup Week events, regardless of whether they occur during the official event dates, in the lead-up to the event, or after its conclusion. This expectation extends to participation in all online forums managed by or related to Denver Startup Week, including but not limited to CFP submissions, the panel picker (session voting), the Denver Startup Week website (denverstartupweek.org) and any social media. Exhibitors at any event, including vendors and sponsors, are also subject to this Code of Conduct. In particular, exhibitors should not use sexualized images, activities, or other material. Booth staff (including volunteers) should not use sexualized clothing/uniforms/costumes, or otherwise create a sexualized environment.