Techstars | Boise Startup Week 2018

The Colossal Collective is a group of artists, engineers, builders and performers based in Boise, Idaho with a singular mission: to create magic, and spread a sense of childlike wonder through their larger-than-life puppets. Whether it’s sharing a fist-bump with a 20’ tall gorilla, gazing up to a canopy of massive color-changing dragonflies, riding on the back of a full-size Apatosaurus, or dancing between the legs of a 30’ technicolor spider -- the Colossal Collective has been providing unforgettable and fantastical experiences since 2012. Their creations make regular appearances at the Treefort Music Festival, Burning Man, and art festivals throughout the western US. They’re also frequently spotted roaming the streets of downtown Boise.

The Collective was founded by Sam Johnson, a 35 year-old artist who grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Sam holds a bachelor’s degree in Fine Art from Whitman College, and an MBA from Boise State University. Sam will share what he’s learned about managing large-scale creative projects, discuss the challenges and opportunities that come with integrating technology into art, and explain how the Colossal Collective uses the tools of business as an amplifier for its creative visions.