I encourage anyone and everyone to visit Las Vegas but visit downtown Las Vegas first. If you’re a nomad entrepreneur looking for a place to startup, go to Vegas. If you’re looking to be inspired while taking a break from your own city, go to Vegas. And most importantly, if you want to see how one city is completely creating the perfect ecosystem, go to Vegas. http://bit.ly/18MCY5H

1. My big fantastic
adventure in
Las Vegas

2. Goal: Learn about Zappos
culture, the Downtown
Project, & host a Startup
Weekend dinner.

3. The Downtown
ProjectTony Hsieh invested $350 million of his own money. This doesn’t include Zappos
funds. It’s straight up out of his pocket. Money is divided between real estate,
education, small business, & tech startups. This city is a startup.
fire breathing praying
mantis, duh.

4. Happy people living &
working together in a city
that is completely doing
whatever it wants.
Such as: buying 100 Teslas to create their own Zipcar-esque transportation,
creating their own school with entrepreneurship as a core, hosting Life is
Beautiful fest for 80,000 people, & buying up more land than the damn colonists.

5. Residential density creates
collisions. Collisions create
collaboration. Collaboration
creates change & progression.
Fun fact: Las Vegas has more artists per capita than NYC.
The Downtown Project aims to infest art, music, tech, & fashion. All industries are
becoming more & more connected.

6. They treat everyone like
a CEO.
The Downtown Project has a team of energetic, weird, & super accommodating people.
Crashpads, complimentary shuttles, & jam packed itineraries allow you to enjoy the
city without planning a thing. & they gives you free books!

7. The Zappos
Tourand a special Q&A with the Insights Team

8. All the rumors are true.
It’s quirky, filled with
laughter, & fire hazards
are abundant.

9. Major Take AwaysEmployees have ultimate creative freedom
On site life coach
Celebrate successes but also personal goals
Free food
Wishing wall where employees grant each other’s wishes
Nicely stocked library
Asks 8 hours tops
Choose one organization to donate funds & time to per quarter
Let go & be organic a bit
Cross department activities are good
If people stop hanging out, something is wrong
Culture is bigger than you think

10. & this happened.

11. If the culture
doesn’t fit, you
must acquit.

12. The inNEVation
Center
Home to Startup Weekend events, countless #vegastech companies, &
kickass Organizers named Adam, Lexi, & Shavonnah.

13. Startup Weekend
Dinner
Joe, Jackie, Michelle, Shavonnah, & Claudia

14. Thanks.