The next wave of digital innovation is coming and Denver is poised to lead the way. Earlier this month, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, FreeEnterprise.com and 1776 released its second annual “Innovation that Matters” report, which examines the ability of 25 startup cities across the U.S. to capitalize on a shift to a digital economy. Denver ranked among the top cities at No. 3, just below the Bay Area at No. 2 and Boston at No. 1.
In ranking the cities, the report analyzed a number of factors including:
- Quantity of startups vs. exit count
- Quality of life (where Denver placed No. 1)
- Percentage of Millennials in each city with a degree
- Largest startup industries in each city.
The report noted that cities well positioned to lead in the digital healthcare industry have the most economic upside.
Over the past few years, Denver’s startup community has become more and more tuned in to digital health. Last week, Prime Health hosted its Prime Health Innovation Summit, where, according to the official website, over a thousand “thought leaders, healthcare executives, clinicians, entrepreneurs, investors and technologists from around the country” explored the future of digital health integration. Denver’s digital health community has also recently been featured in the the news in outlets like Forbes.
If, as the “Innovation that Matters” report predicts, digital health will become a major factor in how well a city will succeed in a digital economy, then Denver doesn’t have much to worry about. While Denver’s digital health industry didn’t get the highest score on the “Innovation that Matters” Index — those spots are taken up by education, energy and “smart cities” — the Mile High City is certainly preparing for digital health with a variety of events, talks and even the building of a collaborative office space focused on digital healthcare.
Denver custom software development company Twentyseven Global has also been turning an eye to the digital health industry. Creighton O’Neal, vice president of client service at Twentyseven Global Denver, said, “The digital healthcare ecosystem in Colorado continues to grow and we are excited to be a part of it. As digital health innovation continues to expand, Twentyseven Global is here to as a software development partner to help these companies succeed.”
