Erik Mitisek inspires innovation in academia, industry and government

State's chief innovation officer parks at University of Denver to bridge community resources

ERIK MITISEK, 40

Chief Innovation Officer, State of Colorado | Executive Director, Project X-ITE, University of Denver

As chief innovation officer to Gov. John Hickenlooper, former Colorado Technology Association CEO Erik Mitisek works to advance entrepreneurship and innovation in the state, overseeing the Colorado Innovation Network (COIN), which hosts innovation summits and other events.

He founded Denver Startup Week, a free event that offers sessions for designers, developers, founders and other entrepreneurs; created the Commons on Champa, a public space with free tech amenities for entrepreneurs; and launched BuiltInColorado, an online hub to support startups. 

In 2016, Mitisek joined DU to lead Project X-ITE, which serves as an interdisciplinary hub for the DU community, connecting creative thinkers in industry and government to faculty and students involved in innovation, technology and entrepreneurship.