While Colorado is gaining a reputation as a great place to launch a startup, there’s still a different industry that reigns supreme, especially in Denver: oil and natural gas. “Oil and gas” generates $29 billion per year in the state, according to the industry’s trade association. But while many of Colorado’s most important companies are … Continue reading “Entrepreneurs Hope to Fuel Collaboration with Oil and Gas Industry”
Author: Michael Davidson
Michael Davidson is an award-winning journalist whose career as a business reporter has taken him from the garages of aspiring inventors to assembly centers for billion-dollar satellites. Most recently, Michael covered startups, venture capital, IT, cleantech, aerospace, and telecoms for Xconomy and, before that, for the Boulder County Business Report. Before switching to business journalism, Michael covered politics and the Colorado Legislature for the Colorado Springs Gazette and the government, police and crime beats for the Broomfield Enterprise, a paper in suburban Denver. He also worked for the Boulder Daily Camera, and his stories have appeared in the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News. Career highlights include an award from the Colorado Press Association, doing barrel rolls in a vintage fighter jet and learning far more about public records than is healthy. Michael started his career as a copy editor for the Colorado Springs Gazette's sports desk. Michael has a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Michigan.
Varsity, Malleable Medical Take Top Honors at CU-Boulder Competition
College life can be overwhelming for some students. There are so many events to attend, clubs to join, classes to take—and parties to go to—that finding out about the coolest stuff and what’s right for you can be a challenge. Varsity, a mobile application designed by a team of University of Colorado at Boulder computer … Continue reading “Varsity, Malleable Medical Take Top Honors at CU-Boulder Competition”
Techstars’ Cohen Opens Up About Attracting Investors, Raising Money
What can a cute puppy in a pet shop window, couples therapy, and dating teach entrepreneurs trying to raise money from investors for the first time? Plenty, according to Techstars founder and CEO David Cohen. Cohen—who also is an investor with more than 400 deals to his credit—gave a talk Monday night about finding funding … Continue reading “Techstars’ Cohen Opens Up About Attracting Investors, Raising Money”
Boulder and Denver Firms Raise $112M From VCs During First Quarter
[Updated 4/25/14. See below.] Venture capital firms invested nearly $112 million into the Boulder/Denver region during the first quarter, an increase of 12 percent from the previous quarter, according to the MoneyTree report of venture investments that was released Friday. MoneyTree reported a total of 20 deals in the area, which includes Boulder and the Denver … Continue reading “Boulder and Denver Firms Raise $112M From VCs During First Quarter”
Vyrix Files for $29M IPO to Develop Anti-Premature Ejaculation Drug
Vyrix Pharmaceuticals, a privately held Colorado-based drug development company attempting to develop a treatment for premature ejaculation, is going public and seeks to raise $28.75 million, according to SEC filings. The company did not announce a share price or say when its initial public offering would take place. Vyrix would be listed on the New … Continue reading “Vyrix Files for $29M IPO to Develop Anti-Premature Ejaculation Drug”
Vyrix Forms Partnership to Commercialize Premature Ejaculation Drug
A Colorado-based drug company has formed a partnership with a Canadian pharmaceutical company to commercialize its drug for premature ejaculation. Vyrix Pharmaceuticals has signed an agreement with Paladin Labs to market and sell tramadol (Zertane) in Canada, South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America. Vyrix is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ampio Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: … Continue reading “Vyrix Forms Partnership to Commercialize Premature Ejaculation Drug”
Twitter to Buy Boulder, CO-based Social Data Startup Gnip
Twitter will acquire social data startup Gnip for an undisclosed price, the companies announced Tuesday. Boulder, CO-based Gnip collects public social-media activity from sites like Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr and sells it to clients such as marketing and business intelligence firms. Not many details about the deal have been made public yet. According to a … Continue reading “Twitter to Buy Boulder, CO-based Social Data Startup Gnip”
New Colorado-based Investment Firm Ganesh Capital Looking for Deals
Colorado entrepreneurs take note—there’s a new investment firm in town, and its founders want to place substantial bets on startups working to make positive social change, including tech companies. Ganesh Capital is a Boulder, CO-based firm looking to make investments between $50,000 and $5 million. Co-founder Marc Nemer said the firm would concentrate on startups … Continue reading “New Colorado-based Investment Firm Ganesh Capital Looking for Deals”
Medical Test Maker Venaxis Raises $18.4M, Files for FDA Approval
Venaxis, a small medical diagnostics company in Castle Rock, CO, has raised $18.4 million through a public offering that closed Monday. Venaxis (NASDAQ: [[ticker:APPY]]) is developing a protein biomarker-based blood test doctors can use to diagnose whether a patient has acute appendicitis. The test, known as APPY1, is intended to be used in emergency rooms … Continue reading “Medical Test Maker Venaxis Raises $18.4M, Files for FDA Approval”
Closely Raises $3M To Continue Growth and Development of Perch App
The people who run small businesses are in a bind when it comes to social media. User reviews on Yelp shape their reputations. Deals advertised on Facebook and Twitter connect with new and current customers. But mastering social media takes time that overstretched small business owners don’t have. That’s the view of Perry Evans, founder … Continue reading “Closely Raises $3M To Continue Growth and Development of Perch App”
GoSpotCheck Returns From Google’s Inaugural Demo Day With $100K
GoSpotCheck co-founders Matt Talbot and Samantha Holloway hoped good things would come out of their trip to California for Google’s first demo day. And they did—in the form of a $100,000 check from former AOL chairman and CEO Steve Case. GoSpotCheck, which is based in Denver, was one of ten startups invited to Google’s Mountain … Continue reading “GoSpotCheck Returns From Google’s Inaugural Demo Day With $100K”
Levels Beyond Raises $2.5M, Announces New Partnership with Sundance
Levels Beyond is leveling up. The Denver-based startup announced Thursday that it has raised $2.5 million, bringing the total it has raised to $7.5 million. That entire amount has come from TVC Capital, a small San Diego, CA-based growth equity firm that specializes in software deals. Levels Beyond also announced new partnerships with the Sundance … Continue reading “Levels Beyond Raises $2.5M, Announces New Partnership with Sundance”
Valid Evaluation Seeks to Improve Feedback for Entrepreneurs
Adam Rentschler has a problem with business plan competitions. While the events can help entrepreneurs raise money and their profile, teams that don’t make the final stage might not get a lot in return—other than a form letter thanking them for entering and wishing them well, that is. Rentschler would like to change that, and … Continue reading “Valid Evaluation Seeks to Improve Feedback for Entrepreneurs”
Google Ventures-backed Cool Planet Closes $100M Series D Round
Cool Planet Energy Systems, a Colorado-based developer of “green fuels,” announced Monday it has closed a $100 million Series D round that shows the alternative fuels industry might still have life left in it. Cool Planet, which is based in Greenwood Village, uses biomass such as corn cobs and dead or dying trees to create … Continue reading “Google Ventures-backed Cool Planet Closes $100M Series D Round”
18 Ways to Kill a Startup: Bad Teams and Ideas, Arrogance, and More
How can you screw your startup? Let us—and Jason Mendelson—count the ways. Mendelson is a managing director of the Foundry Group, a venture capital firm based in Boulder, CO, and he knows startups. As a VC or mentor, he’s worked with hundreds, so he’s seen up close what works and what doesn’t. Mendelson focused on … Continue reading “18 Ways to Kill a Startup: Bad Teams and Ideas, Arrogance, and More”
Welltok Acquires Seattle-based Mobile Health Developer Mindbloom
[Updated 3/20/14 11:35 am. See below.] Welltok, a Denver-based health IT startup, has bought Seattle-based Mindbloom for an undisclosed price in an all-cash deal, the company announced Thursday. Welltok develops software that healthcare providers and insurers can use to encourage consumers to live healthy lives. [Sentence edited for clarity.] Mindbloom specialized in developing mobile healthcare apps like … Continue reading “Welltok Acquires Seattle-based Mobile Health Developer Mindbloom”
Denver-based Adtech Startup Choozle Raises $1.8M Seed Round
Choozle, an adtech startup based in Denver, has raised a $1.8 million seed round, the company announced today. Great Oaks Venture Capital, which is based in New York City, led the round, which included other, unnamed strategic partners, a release from Choozle said. The money will be used to support Choozle’s expansion and investments in … Continue reading “Denver-based Adtech Startup Choozle Raises $1.8M Seed Round”
Go Code Colorado Looks to Reward Apps Built Around Government Data
Hey, hackers, the state of Colorado wants to talk to you—and maybe give you some money. This week marks the start of Go Code Colorado, a competition sponsored by the state government. It is intended to reward teams of software developers for making apps that use public data collected by government agencies like the Secretary … Continue reading “Go Code Colorado Looks to Reward Apps Built Around Government Data”
Fort Collins Entrepreneurs Planning for City’s First Startup Week
Entrepreneurs in Fort Collins, CO, are going to be busy this spring—not just with running startups, but also with community building. The city of nearly 150,000 in northern Colorado will host its first startup week this May. The event will run from May 20 to 25. Fort Collins Startup Week is modeled on similar multi-day … Continue reading “Fort Collins Entrepreneurs Planning for City’s First Startup Week”
Colorado-based GlobeImmune Gives IPO a Second Shot, Aims for $35M
Maybe the second time will be the charm for GlobeImmune, a Louisville, CO-based biotech that filed for an IPO on Monday after seeing its first effort to do so come up empty. The company, which initially filed for an IPO in 2012 but cancelled those plans last October after it couldn’t find buyers, is looking … Continue reading “Colorado-based GlobeImmune Gives IPO a Second Shot, Aims for $35M”
What Entrepreneurs Can Learn from Sci-Fi: Previewing CU Law’s Event
On Friday, the University of Colorado Law School’s Silicon Flatirons Center will host its annual conference on entrepreneurship. This year the event comes with a twist: instead of discussing a topic such as fundraising, the conference, titled Sci-Fi and Entrepreneurship: Is Resistance Futile?, will be about what entrepreneurs can learn from science fiction. Brad Bernthal, … Continue reading “What Entrepreneurs Can Learn from Sci-Fi: Previewing CU Law’s Event”
TrackVia’s List of “DIY” Apps Includes Cadavers, Stem Cell Therapy
Cadavers—there’s an app for that. TrackVia, a venture-backed startup in Denver, has released its annual list of “the 10 Most Interesting Business Apps” built using TrackVia’s “do-it-yourself” development platform for business applications. At the top of the list is an app designed by the Illinois-based Innoved Institute that tracks where body parts from cadavers go. … Continue reading “TrackVia’s List of “DIY” Apps Includes Cadavers, Stem Cell Therapy”
DigitalGlobe’s Tomnod, Crowd Searching for Clues About Missing Plane
DigitalGlobe, the Longmont, CO-based satellite imagery provider, has once again turned to the crowd to help analyze its images as part of a disaster recovery effort, this time for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight that disappeared Saturday. DigitalGlobe is participating in the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which disappeared Saturday while flying from Kuala … Continue reading “DigitalGlobe’s Tomnod, Crowd Searching for Clues About Missing Plane”
Colorado Startup Robauto Tries to Help Autistic People Using Robots
It can be notoriously hard for people with autism to communicate with other people and interact with the world around them. But a Boulder, CO-based entrepreneur thinks he may have found a solution that could make it a little easier for some—and that solution is a small robot that’s cheap enough for families to use … Continue reading “Colorado Startup Robauto Tries to Help Autistic People Using Robots”
Techstars Grad GoSpotCheck Wins Contest to Attend Google’s Demo Day
GoSpotCheck, a Denver-based software startup, is headed to California for the inaugural Google Demo Day. The company was selected by a panel of local judges to participate in the event, scheduled for April 2 at Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, CA. The news was announced Tuesday on the Google for Entrepreneurs Google+ page. GoSpotCheck is … Continue reading “Techstars Grad GoSpotCheck Wins Contest to Attend Google’s Demo Day”
Colorado’s Ampio Pharmaceuticals Raises $63M+ in Stock Offering
Ampio Pharmaceuticals announced today it has raised net proceeds of $63.3 million following the completion of an underwritten public offering. Ampio (NYSE: [[ticker:AMPE]]), which is based in Greenwood Village, CO, focuses on developing therapies for inflammatory conditions. Its two most advanced drug candidates are aspartyl-alanyl diketopiperazine (Ampion), which could be used to treat osteoarthritis of … Continue reading “Colorado’s Ampio Pharmaceuticals Raises $63M+ in Stock Offering”
Adtech Startup Trada’s Execs Talk About Year of Transition, Future
The past year has been a time of transition for Trada, the Boulder, CO-based advertising tech startup backed by Google Ventures and the Foundry Group. The startup, which specializes in paid search and pay-per-click advertising, has raised $18 million from investors and was one of the fastest growing startups in Colorado. But last fall its … Continue reading “Adtech Startup Trada’s Execs Talk About Year of Transition, Future”
Foundry Group Looking to Disrupt Book Publishing With New Startup
The Foundry Group is getting into the book publishing game. The Boulder, CO-based venture capital firm said Wednesday that it has formed FG Press, a startup publishing house. The purpose of the new press will be to better connect authors and readers by upending the traditional role of publishers, according to the FG Press website. … Continue reading “Foundry Group Looking to Disrupt Book Publishing With New Startup”
Ramen Raises Cash for Crowdfunding and Collaboration Software
Ramen is heating up. No, not the meal well known to hungry entrepreneurs and hackers, but a Boulder, CO-based startup of the same name. Ramen, which is just a few months old and has won a major hackathon, said Monday it has raised a seed round and has begun courting customers. So what does Ramen … Continue reading “Ramen Raises Cash for Crowdfunding and Collaboration Software”
Colorado-based Drug Developer Ampio Releases Plan to Sell 8M Shares
Ampio Pharmaceuticals, a drug development company based in Colorado, announced today it plans to sell 8 million shares of stock through an underwritten public offering. Ampio (NYSE: [[ticker:AMPE]]) shares have not been priced yet, but the shelf offering would raise $71.8 million at $8.98 a share, the price the stock closed at on Friday. Ampio … Continue reading “Colorado-based Drug Developer Ampio Releases Plan to Sell 8M Shares”
With Australian Partner, Boulder Ionics Looks to Improve Batteries
Building better batteries is one of the biggest challenges in cleantech—if not all of tech. Experts believe more efficient and stable energy storage systems could make electric vehicles cheaper and safer, allow the military to power vital equipment, and create ways for utilities to store excess energy they generate. Boulder Ionics, a startup based in … Continue reading “With Australian Partner, Boulder Ionics Looks to Improve Batteries”
Marketing Automation Startup Signpost Plans Major Denver Expansion
Signpost, a venture-backed startup that creates marketing automation software for small- and medium-sized businesses, has hung up its shingle and a help wanted sign at a new location in Denver. The company, which has raised $15 million from Google Ventures and other investors, recently relocated its Denver office to a new, 8,500-square-foot office near downtown … Continue reading “Marketing Automation Startup Signpost Plans Major Denver Expansion”
Rapt Media Seeks Attention with Interactive Video Platform
Some experts are betting that interactive video is about to reach its potential as the next big thing in online advertising. Boulder, CO-based Rapt Media is working to prove them right. Rapt Media this week released a new Web-based software program that marketers and content creators can use to create interactive video and websites. Rapt … Continue reading “Rapt Media Seeks Attention with Interactive Video Platform”
Pivothead Smart Glasses Offer New Point of View on Everyday Life
Think of the special occasions in life you want to capture on video. Like a birthday party, a trip to the beach, or a hike in the mountains. Now think about the compromises you have to make to record those moments. Sure, the days of bulky cameras are mostly gone, and the cameras on smartphones … Continue reading “Pivothead Smart Glasses Offer New Point of View on Everyday Life”
Welltok Raises $22M, Starts Working with IBM Watson Supercomputer
Denver-based healthcare tech startup Welltok announced today it has closed a $22.1 million Series C round and will be working with IBM to develop new products powered by the IBM Watson supercomputer. The new financing brings the money raised by Welltok to more than $40 million since April, a release from the company said. The … Continue reading “Welltok Raises $22M, Starts Working with IBM Watson Supercomputer”
Blue Ocean Challenge’s $250K Prize Draws 16 Startups to Fort Collins
What does it take to get entrepreneurs from around the country to come to Fort Collins, a college town in northern Colorado, for a business competition? Apparently the chance to win a $250,000 grand prize and receive mentoring from the people who made OtterBox a leading brand in mobile phone accessories will do the trick. … Continue reading “Blue Ocean Challenge’s $250K Prize Draws 16 Startups to Fort Collins”
Twitter and Gnip Begin New Program to Help Researchers Use Big Data
The impact big data could have on the commercial world and industries like finance and advertising is well established, but it’s also changing the way social scientists, historians, and public health experts are studying the world. Access to Twitter’s (NYSE: [[ticker:TWTR]]) firehose of more than 500 million public tweets per day has helped researchers track … Continue reading “Twitter and Gnip Begin New Program to Help Researchers Use Big Data”
Bounce.io Raises $4.8M to Make Bounce Messages a Thing of the Past
It’s always annoying when you send someone an e-mail message and it bounces back with a cryptic note declaring that it couldn’t be delivered. Why can’t someone turn those bounce messages into something clearer and more useful? Colorado-based startup Bounce.io thinks it can do that, and it just raised a $4.8 million Series A round … Continue reading “Bounce.io Raises $4.8M to Make Bounce Messages a Thing of the Past”
TeamSnap Talks About Growth Strategy, Mobile, and $7.5M Round
TeamSnap has added to its roster and raised new money, and now it is ready to add to its base of 5 million users by focusing on features for mobile users. TeamSnap is a Boulder, CO-based startup that makes software that helps coaches of youth and adult sports teams as well as league officials manage … Continue reading “TeamSnap Talks About Growth Strategy, Mobile, and $7.5M Round”
Colorado Legislators Aim to Reward Angel Investors with Tax Credit
Colorado could join the list of states that offer tax credits to angel investors if a bill currently before the Colorado General Assembly is passed. Supporters of House Bill 14-1012, the Advanced Industry Investment Income Tax Credit, believe it would encourage more high-net-worth individuals to try their hands at angel investing and increase the amount … Continue reading “Colorado Legislators Aim to Reward Angel Investors with Tax Credit”
Bogusky Hopes to Capitalize on Ad Tech Boom with New Accelerator
A new startup accelerator co-founded by advertising legend Alex Bogusky is launching in Boulder, CO, with big plans to disrupt the advertising and marketing industries. The accelerator, named Boomtown, plans to support startups that are changing how consumers and brands use technology to interact with each other. It was unveiled Thursday, and is accepting applications … Continue reading “Bogusky Hopes to Capitalize on Ad Tech Boom with New Accelerator”
GutCheck Raises Another $4M to Streamline Online Market Research
Maybe four million is becoming the magic number for GutCheck, a Denver-based startup that develops online market research tools for companies launching new products and marketing campaigns. GutCheck recently closed a $4 million Series C round, which comes on the heels of a $4 million Series B round the company closed in June. GutCheck has … Continue reading “GutCheck Raises Another $4M to Streamline Online Market Research”
Quick Left Merges with Sprintly, Inherits Two Offices on West Coast
Quick Left, a Boulder, CO-based software consulting company, is merging with Sprintly, a company that develops project management tools for software developers, the companies announced Tuesday. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the company will be named Quick Left and the company’s headquarters will be in Boulder. The deal expands Quick Left’s … Continue reading “Quick Left Merges with Sprintly, Inherits Two Offices on West Coast”
Simple Energy Raises $6M More to Gamify Utilities, Engage Consumers
Simple Energy, a Boulder, CO-based startup that develops cloud-based customer engagement software for energy utilities, has raised a $6 million Series B round, the company announced Tuesday. The Westly Group led the round, and managing partner Steve Westly will join Simple Energy’s board of directors, the release said. The group is a cleantech venture capital … Continue reading “Simple Energy Raises $6M More to Gamify Utilities, Engage Consumers”
Ping Identity, MobileDay CEOs Teach Students About Building Companies
It’s not often two of Colorado’s most successful tech executives share what they’ve learned over the course of their careers, but it happened Thursday, when Ping Identity CEO Andre Durand and MobileDay CEO Howard Diamond talked about building businesses. Durand and Diamond were in Boulder to help kick off the University of Colorado at Boulder’s … Continue reading “Ping Identity, MobileDay CEOs Teach Students About Building Companies”
Four Colorado Startups Advance to Next Round in Startup Tournament
Four Colorado startups punched their tickets to Washington, DC, last night after winning regional titles in the 1776 Challenge Cup, a global business plan competition. The competition is trying to find promising startups that can solve problems in healthcare, education, energy, and urban planning or “smart cities.” The event is managed by the 1776 startup … Continue reading “Four Colorado Startups Advance to Next Round in Startup Tournament”
Boulder’s JumpCloud Raises $3.1M to Make DevOps Server Tools
JumpCloud, a Boulder, CO-based startup that is developing server management tools for software development and IT teams, has closed a $3.1 million Series A round, according to paperwork the company has filed with the SEC. JumpCloud, which was formerly known as SafeInstance, launched publicly in September and is developing cloud-based software that allows users to … Continue reading “Boulder’s JumpCloud Raises $3.1M to Make DevOps Server Tools”
22 Colorado Startups to Compete Tonight in Global Startup Challenge
Washington, DC might be the nation’s capital, but it’s not known for putting its resources toward helping startups. A group known as 1776 is trying to change that, and they’ve come to Denver as part of their effort to build a global network of startups. 1776 runs a startup co-working space and mentorship program in … Continue reading “22 Colorado Startups to Compete Tonight in Global Startup Challenge”
Colorado Ski Country Tries to Tap Into Entrepreneurial Talent Base
Aspen. Telluride. Breckenridge. They’re some of Colorado’s most illustrious ski resorts and are well known to winter sports enthusiasts and vacationers around the world. But recently, something new has begun to happen in those mountain resort towns. A small movement that seeks to tap into the communities’ surprising amount of technology expertise is gaining momentum. … Continue reading “Colorado Ski Country Tries to Tap Into Entrepreneurial Talent Base”
MoneyTree: VC Investment in Boulder/Denver Fell 23 Percent in 2013
Venture capital firms invested $404.6 million in companies located in the Boulder/Denver area last year, a 23 percent drop from 2012, according to the quarterly MoneyTree report from PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association. The drop in this region went against the national trend: VCs invested a total of $29.4 billion in 3,995 deals … Continue reading “MoneyTree: VC Investment in Boulder/Denver Fell 23 Percent in 2013”