What started as a small Entrepreneurship Week event with twelve booths just a few years ago, has since turned into a massive event with over 65 vendors and is a highly anticipated University of Denver (DU) tradition.
Pop-Up Palooza is hosted by Entrepreneuership@DU and the student organization Launchpad.The yearly event aims to promote student businesses and showcase the innovation and creativity of DU students no matter their specialties or interests.
From jewelry and clothes to golf training aids, Pop-Up Palooza offers something for everyone. This year’s event will take place on Sunday, May 17 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the Campus Green. It will feature live student bands, refreshments and of course all the student vendors offering their unique products and services.
One of this year’s vendors is engineering student Jack Courtney, who developed a golf training aid that allows golfers to know if they mishit the ball. What started as a project his senior year of high school, has since grown into his own business called Contact is Key. He has been developing the putting aid over the past few years to make it work with all types of putters.
“I am most excited to show my product and hear what people have to say about it,” said Courtney. This will be his first year selling at Pop-Up Palooza, and the scale of community attendance will be a vital opportunity to gain exposure and reach a wider customer base.
Another one of this year’s vendors is Kiana Panah, who will be selling crocheted goods, jewelry and thrifted clothes. Panah taught herself how to crochet during her first year at DU, and has been creating custom products with self-designed patterns ever since.
“My biggest role model, my grandma, has been crocheting since she was 8 years old,” noted Panah. “[She] used to sell her work as a little girl, so I always wanted to learn.”
As a first-time Pop-Up Palooza vendor, Panah is looking forward to the community she’ll meet at her booth.
“I think, and would hope, my products attract creative, whimsical and free-spirited people,” Panah said. “I’m really looking forward to connecting with some of them.”
The sense of community that Pop-Up Palooza provides is what makes the event so special. With the wide variety of products being sold and vendors from all different disciplines and backgrounds, attendees are attracted from all corners of DU and the surrounding community.
“As a student and entrepreneur, I feel so supported by the school and these events prove that the school cares about student-run businesses,” stated Jack Courtney. “It also allows students who are looking into starting a business to see how other people are doing it.”
Inspiring other students to share their creativity is exactly how Pop-Up Palooza has grown so much in just a few years. As the event continues to evolve year after year, the hope is that opportunities for students will increase and that more attention will be brought to DU’s innovation scene.
“I think that this is a great way for DU to step outside of their super big-scale business-centered programs that push students into the finance world, and to focus on small businesses and small creators,” added Panah. “Small businesses are much more sustainable and environmentally friendly, so I think supporting these creators is really meaningful.”
All students, staff, and community members are encouraged to attend Pop-Palooza. With the help of everyone who attends, this event supports students’ creativity while helping develop their entrepreneurial skills, setting up DU students for further success in the future.
