March 2025
Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship
Know What's Next
Students and Expert Judges Interact at Ninth Annual Interdisciplinary Ethics Tech Competition
Hosted by the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Collegiate Program at Colorado Law, in partnership with Silicon Flatirons and the University of Colorado Boulder - Leeds School of Business , the Interdisciplinary Ethics Tech Competition forced students from across the CU Boulder campus to wrestle with a real-world technology and ethics problem. Over 30 expert professionals, many of whom were in Boulder for the Flagship Conference, Examining The New Federalism in Technology Policy, joined to judge the competition and provide feedback to students.
The 2025 competition, held on February 1, featured nine teams populated by graduate students. Each team played the role of a hypothetical consulting firm with expertise in business, law, ethics, technology, AI, and engineering. The consultants were tasked with advising a tech company specializing in autonomous aerial drones equipped with artificial intelligence, computer vision, and advanced facial recognition as the company considered whether to accept an incredibly lucrative—but potentially ethically problematic—proposal from the U.S. Department of Defense for the use of its technology.
Team participants spanned the areas of law, business, communication, journalism, engineering, ITP, information science, and computer science. This hands-on learning experience prepares students to collaborate effectively across disciplines in their careers and positions students to be ethical members of business management teams.
Congratulations to the winning teams:
Student Success
Summer Internship Opportunities for Hatfield Scholars
We are pleased to have accepted 14 students into the 2025 Dale Hatfield Scholars Program. This program places students in technology focused private and public organizations and government agencies in Washington, DC for summer internships. Our students will attend the Spectrum Management course co-taught by Dale Hatfield and David Reed in advance of starting their summer internships.
If your organization is hiring summer interns, we want to hear from you! We are looking for paid placement in technology focused organizations for the summer of 2025. Please contact Sara Schnittgrund at [email protected].
Not in DC? No worries, please reach out as our students are also looking for legal internships locally.
Seeking Internship Opportunities for Startup Summer Students!
Need an intern for this summer? Startup Summer attracts talented undergraduates who are enthusiastic about entrepreneurship. We are searching for summer internships to pair with students’ Startup Summer experience. If you are interested in bringing an intern into your organization, please reach out to us! Alternatively, if you’ve already hired that amazingly gifted intern, please have them reach out to us to join the Startup Summer program. Email Sara Schnittgrund at [email protected] to get involved.
Know What's Next | Spring/Summer 2025
Artificial Intelligence Initiative
Upcoming events addressing the pressing societal, ethical, policy, legal, and regulatory challenges that AI poses.
AI, Autonomous Systems, and Law | March 7
Recent breakthroughs, such as OpenAI’s o1 reasoning model, Anthropic’s “Computer Use,” or Google’s “Deep Research”, have demonstrated AI systems with unprecedented levels of autonomy. These systems range from software agents that can independently research, plan, reason, and execute complex tasks on the Internet, or physical systems like self-driving vehicles from Waymo now operating in major cities to increasingly sophisticated humanoid robots capable of working in commercial settings.
These developments raise novel and pressing legal and regulatory questions:
The 2025 Silicon Flatirons AI Initiative Conference will explore the pressing societal and legal challenges introduced by these autonomous systems and chart paths forward for responsible governance and innovation.
Confirmed speakers include Harry Surden (Colorado Law | Silicon Flatirons) Brian Argrow (Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder); Margot Kaminski (Colorado Law | Silicon Flatirons); Keith Gremban (CU Boulder | Silicon Flatirons); Marc Canellas ( Office of the Public Defender Maryland ); Chuck Thorpe ( ( Clarkson University ); Dave Levine ( Elon University School of Law ); Nathan Schneider (University of Colorado Boulder); Calli Schroeder ( Electronic Privacy Information Center ); Lucas Thelosen ( Gravity Foundation ); Elana Zeide ( University of Nebraska College of Law ); and Paul Lin ( Returned.com ).
Silicon Flatirons x Ethics
Examining the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Applications | March 6
AI has tremendous potential to enhance the provision of care through improved diagnostic accuracy, data and imaging analysis, patient monitoring, engagement, and personalization, risk and error prevention, administrative task automation, and cost reductions. Yet the healthcare industry’s increasing reliance on AI also introduces numerous ethical concerns related to data privacy and security, bias and fairness, patient autonomy, reliability, quality control, safety, and job security, implicating fundamental ethical principles such as accountability, trust, and transparency.
A lunchtime panel moderated by Harry Surden with experts Doug Chapnick ( BioLoomics ), Calli Schroeder ( Electronic Privacy Information Center ), and Kathleen Sutton ( Polsinelli ) will consider and discuss current trends, developments, and thinking around these critical issues.
The Ethics of AI and Privacy | April 1
This session will explore artificial intelligence, privacy, and international and domestic regulation efforts from a diverse variety of viewpoints. Panelists from academic, regulatory, and industry sectors will discuss the current state of ethical debate, regulation, and enforcement of privacy protections in artificial intelligence applications. Confirmed speakers include Stevie DeGroff ( Colorado Attorney General's Office ), Margot Kaminski , Kathleen McInerney, CIPM ( Vail Resorts ), Calli Schroeder ( Electronic Privacy Information Center ), and Cobun Zweifel-Keegan, J.D., CIPP/US, CIPM IAPP .
Entrepreneurship Initiative
Silicon Flatirons is a campus hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, aligned with the CU Boulder Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative. Don’t miss the following opportunities to connect with Colorado’s Front Range entrepreneurial community and gain inspiration for your own ventures.
Entrepreneurs Unplugged: Bryn Rees, Venture Partners at CU Boulder | March 19
This Entrepreneurs Unplugged session offers a unique opportunity to explore the strategies behind translating university research into market-ready innovations. Featuring Bryn Rees (Associate Vice Chancellor, Innovation & Partnerships and Managing Director of Venture Partners at CU Boulder ) it explores industry sectors—batteries, space, and quantum—which are an increasingly important part of the Front Range emerging company community. A panel discussion and audience Q&A will follow Bryn's conversation w/ host Brad Bernthal .
Whether you’re a student, faculty member, or community entrepreneur, these discussions will provide valuable lessons on bridging the gap between academia and industry. Register Now
Startup Variety Show | April 8
The Startup Variety Show puts the spotlight on the most creative minds in the area, stitching together the startup scene, CU Boulder, innovators from the Federal Labs, as well as technologists from incumbent technology companies. Register Now
Startup Summer | June 3–August 12; August 14 Pitch Night; Application Opening Soon
Startup Summer provides an energetic, high caliber boost to emerging company internships. This annual program surfaces students who are ready to enter the world of startups, innovation, and emerging companies. Interns at innovative companies across the Front Range and beyond gather weekly for entrepreneurial programming led by successful Colorado founders and C-level execs. Participants receive a curated tour of the startup ideation and creation process, build a venture with a team of their peers, and compete in an end-of-summer pitch contest for cash prizes.
Additional Summer Programming
Spectrum in Space Conference | June 25
Please hold June 25, 2025 for the upcoming Spectrum in Space Conference in Boulder, CO. Details TBA in the coming weeks.
In Case You Missed It
Examining The New Federalism in Technology Policy
The Silicon Flatirons 2025 Flagship Conference recently explored key issues in federalism, technology policy, and the future of AI, with a focus on state and federal roles in regulating emerging technologies. Panels addressed topics such as AI governance, the evolving role of states in technology regulation, and spectrum management. Highlights included a thought-provoking debate on children's access to the internet and a discussion on space policy, urging international collaboration to ensure the sustainable use of space resources. The conference provided valuable perspectives on the intersection of law, technology, and public policy.
Startup Variety Show
Julie Penner joined Brad Bernthal as co-host for the first Startup Variety Show of 2025. Patty Ferreira (CEO and Co-Founder) explained how Silvis Materials is developing a better, more sustainable industrial glue. Charles Msilanga (Co-Founder) highlighted Lipr Inc 's mission to enhance digital wallets for immigrants and migrants. Curtis Purrington, Ph.D. , (CEO) shared how "we clean dirt" through Austere Environmental 's revolutionizing soil decontamination process. Jake Riel (CEO and Co-Founder) is reinventing the way we separate Lego bricks with Brick Popper . And finally, Eva Y. (Founder and CEO) detailed how FLARI Tech is bringing quantum frequency comb tech to disease detection. As a bonus, CU student Michael Sexton previewed his team's startup, Backout, born out of David Brown ’s Startup Course.
Community News
Margot Kaminski — Privacy Initiative Director, Colorado Law Professor
Blake Reid — Telecom and Platforms Initiative Director, Colorado Law Associate Professor
Harry Surden — Artificial Intelligence Initiative Director, Colorado Law Professor
Other News
New Venture Challenge Women Founders Competition Finals | March 20
Top student and faculty startups founded by women will pitch their business ideas to a panel of esteemed judges and you, a live audience. Support the next big CU Boulder innovations as we give away $15,000 in funding!
Doors open at 5:15 p.m. for refreshments and networking. Learn more and register to attend
Starting Blocks Customer Discovery Workshop | April 2025
Transform your innovation into a successful venture in this workshop, designed for anyone motivated to bring their ideas to life, secure funding and create lasting impact.
Application deadline is April 3 for the workshops on April 10, 17, and 24. Learn more
Support the Center
Silicon Flatirons exists thanks to the generosity of our supporters and the strength of our community. We rely on their contributions to advance our mission to catalyze policymaking and innovation and to develop the next generation of tech lawyers, policy experts, and entrepreneurs.
Want to become an official supporter? Make a donation or contact [email protected] for more information about how to contribute.
Intellectual honesty is critical. Good debate and thinking require it. Thus, while we are fully funded by our generous supporters, our programming and initiatives remain staunchly unbiased and?objective.
What We Do
Founded in 1999 by Phil Weiser, Colorado’s current Attorney General, the center is a recognized leader in interdisciplinary events and programs. We serve students, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and professionals, and support the joint missions of Colorado Law on teaching, scholarship, and public service.
Although technology and innovation have evolved radically over two decades, our purpose remains the same: to convene multi-stakeholder discussions, support innovation, and develop the next generation of technology lawyers, policy experts, and entrepreneurs. Explore the center’s history.
For more about our initiatives, upcoming events, programs, publications, media, and student opportunities, visit our website at siliconflatirons.org.