Welcome to the Mile High Roundup, a look at some of the interesting things that have happened over the past two weeks in the tech scene in Boulder, Denver, and around Colorado. In this edition, Occipital clears a Kickstarter milestone, Pivothead joins Colorado’s startup scene, and Colorado State University gets serious about energy. Occipital’s $1 … Continue reading “Mile High Roundup: Occipital Kicks Ass, HD Glasses, and New Energy”
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.
VC Firms Bet $131M on Companies in Boulder, Denver Areas During Q3
Companies in the Denver and Boulder area raised $130.8 million in venture capital during the third quarter, with rounds closed by SolidFire and Ping Identity leading the way, according to the latest quarterly MoneyTree Report. Overall, 19 companies closed rounds in the quarter, which ended Sept. 30. The third quarter has been the best of … Continue reading “VC Firms Bet $131M on Companies in Boulder, Denver Areas During Q3”
Clovis Oncology CEO Mahaffy Opens Up About Company’s Turbulent Year
Seeing your cornerstone product “fail spectacularly” and then your stock price climb more than 300 percent within eight months makes for an interesting year. But it’s nothing to get overly worked up about, according to Clovis Oncology CEO Patrick Mahaffy. Clovis (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CLVS]]) is a biotech company based in Boulder, CO. The four-year-old company specializes … Continue reading “Clovis Oncology CEO Mahaffy Opens Up About Company’s Turbulent Year”
Colorado Biotech Searches for a Few More Investors, Anchor Tenants
How healthy—and how significant—is Colorado’s biotech cluster? Just where does it stack up when compared to other clusters in the U.S.? And what will it take to sustain or (better yet) expand it? The challenges of creating and sustaining a cluster are often on the minds of local biotech leaders. The topic came up again … Continue reading “Colorado Biotech Searches for a Few More Investors, Anchor Tenants”
New Search Engine Seeks to Help Colorado Companies Find Freelancers
Life can be tough for freelancers, even in industries where they’re in demand, like software development. Even the best freelancers need to keep tabs on who’s hiring and reach out to potential new clients. The process doesn’t work that well for companies looking to hire people, either. Vetting unknown candidates is one challenge. So is … Continue reading “New Search Engine Seeks to Help Colorado Companies Find Freelancers”
SolarWinds Breezes into Colorado, Acquires Confio Software for $103M
Add Confio Software, a Boulder-based developer of database performance management software, to the list of Colorado tech companies making substantial exits this year. SolarWinds (NYSE: [[ticker:SWI]]), an Austin, TX-based company that develops IT management software, bought Confio for $103 million in a cash deal that closed Monday. SolarWinds president and CEO Kevin Thompson said during … Continue reading “SolarWinds Breezes into Colorado, Acquires Confio Software for $103M”
Rally Software’s IPO Set to Provide $1.3M for Colorado Nonprofits
An idea planted more than a decade ago is days away from bearing fruit, as Rally Software Development’s initial public offering is about to yield about $1.3 million for Colorado nonprofits. Rally (NYSE: [[ticker:RALY]]), a software development company based in Boulder, CO, donated 1 percent of the company’s founding equity to local nonprofits, and that … Continue reading “Rally Software’s IPO Set to Provide $1.3M for Colorado Nonprofits”
Mile High Roundup: Local Tech Companies Raise Cash, Expand Overseas
Welcome to the Mile High Roundup, a look at some of the interesting things that have happened over the past two weeks in the tech scene in Boulder, Denver, and around Colorado. In this edition, a Denver healthcare IT company raises $4.3 million, a whole bunch of companies from Boulder head overseas, and the state … Continue reading “Mile High Roundup: Local Tech Companies Raise Cash, Expand Overseas”
Big Rounds for Ping Identity, SolidFire Top Colorado Q3 Tech Stories
The summer of 2013 was full of good news for technology companies in Colorado, with two raising very large VC rounds to finance their progress toward possible IPOs, one sizeable exit for a mobile game developer, and lots of promising signs for startups in Boulder and Denver. Ping Identity IPO Bound. People in Colorado’s startup … Continue reading “Big Rounds for Ping Identity, SolidFire Top Colorado Q3 Tech Stories”
Foundry Group to Invest $2.5M in AngelList Startups, Seeks Partners
While many investors and entrepreneurs debate the effects of crowdfunding and general solicitation for startups, the Foundry Group is taking action. Today, the Boulder-based venture firm announced plans to invest $2.5 million over the next 15 months in companies raising money on AngelList, the top website for young companies seeking early investment. The project is … Continue reading “Foundry Group to Invest $2.5M in AngelList Startups, Seeks Partners”
VictorOps Raises $6.5M, Releases Mobile-Capable Tool Kit for DevOps
Those dreaded late night phone calls that go out to operations and admin guys when everything goes to hell create a sense of brotherhood, at least in the eyes of Todd Vernon, a serial entrepreneur in Boulder, CO. Vernon knows from experience. He’s been on both sides of those calls and knows how they ruin … Continue reading “VictorOps Raises $6.5M, Releases Mobile-Capable Tool Kit for DevOps”
Google Partnership is Galvanize’s Latest Big Success in Debut Year
It’s been a whirlwind month for the crew at Galvanize. Even more so than usual. Galvanize, an incubator/co-working community in Denver, is not even a year old, but during that time it has become the focal point of Denver’s tech startup community. Just ask Google. On Wednesday, Google (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GOOG]]) announced it had selected Galvanize … Continue reading “Google Partnership is Galvanize’s Latest Big Success in Debut Year”
Google Partners with Technology Hubs in 7 Cities
Google’s outreach program for entrepreneurs is planting its flag in seven new outposts in the U.S. and Canada with new “tech hubs” that will offer technical and infrastructure support for fledgling tech startups, the company announced today. The six U.S. cities are Denver, Detroit, Chicago, Minneapolis, Nashville, TN, and Durham, NC. The only Canadian city … Continue reading “Google Partners with Technology Hubs in 7 Cities”
Techstars Teams Up With Sprint to Launch Mobile Health Accelerator
Techstars has named its next major corporate partners, the next market it is working with startups to conquer, and the next location for a “powered by Techstars” accelerator. Techstars is getting into mobile health, announcing today it is co-creating the Sprint Accelerator in Kansas City, MO, with the wireless company. The program is looking for … Continue reading “Techstars Teams Up With Sprint to Launch Mobile Health Accelerator”
OhHeckYeah to Debut “Immersive Street Arcade” as Startup Week Closes
Is there one last startup, one last demo, one last party you should check out before Denver Startup Week wraps up? OhHeckYeah. That’s the name of the giant “arts and technology urban intervention” Brian Corrigan, a local “creative strategist,” and local “creative coders” Mode Set and Legwork Studio are planning for next year. Sound too art-jargony? … Continue reading “OhHeckYeah to Debut “Immersive Street Arcade” as Startup Week Closes”
DSW Guide, Day 5: Perspectives, Problems, Parties, and Plowing Ahead
So, this is the end. Denver Startup Week draws to a close Friday with a big closing night bash at Galvanize and, down in the theatre district, the debut of a new art project that will turn downtown into an immersive street arcade next summer. But before the fun and games—Galvanize also will host a … Continue reading “DSW Guide, Day 5: Perspectives, Problems, Parties, and Plowing Ahead”
DSW Guide, Day 4: New Tech Colorado Crew, Governor to Share Stage
It’s Day 4 of Denver Startup Week, and here’s a sampling of some of the cool events going on. The Big Event New Tech Colorado on the big stage. It’s hard to imagine what the grassroots of Colorado’s tech community would be like without the Boulder Denver New Tech Meetup. Formed seven years ago in … Continue reading “DSW Guide, Day 4: New Tech Colorado Crew, Governor to Share Stage”
Ping Identity CEO Durand to Colorado Entrepreneurs: Be Unreasonable
Don’t tell Ping Identity co-founder and CEO Andre Durand his company isn’t a startup anymore—especially if you work for him. And definitely don’t tell Durand you want to buy Ping Identity and take him away from his dream of building a $1 billion company. I ran into Durand during Denver Startup Week, and he discussed … Continue reading “Ping Identity CEO Durand to Colorado Entrepreneurs: Be Unreasonable”
House of Genius, 1 Million Cups Claim First Grants from Startup Fund
Two grassroots organizations dedicated to building better entrepreneurs won the initial grants from the Startup Colorado Community Fund this morning. House of Genius, which was founded in Boulder and has expanded worldwide, and the Denver branch of the Kauffman Foundation’s 1 Million Cups program each will receive grants of $6,000, which should be enough to … Continue reading “House of Genius, 1 Million Cups Claim First Grants from Startup Fund”
DSW Guide, Day 3: Crawling Past the Halfway Mark and Building Locally
Wednesday is “hump day” for Denver Startup Week. The panels continue, and so does the networking. The Big Event Startup Crawl: Tech companies around downtown will throw their doors open Wednesday afternoon for the startup crawl. With more than 35 companies participating and at least 20 stops (click the link for a list), the event … Continue reading “DSW Guide, Day 3: Crawling Past the Halfway Mark and Building Locally”
Occipital Debuts 3D Scanner for iPads, Raises $100K on Kickstarter
Occipital, a Boulder-based startup that specializes in computer vision and augmented reality, has been quiet recently, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t been busy. The company announced Tuesday it has created its first piece of hardware, a 3-D infrared scanner called Structure Sensor that attaches to mobile devices. Occipital also launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise … Continue reading “Occipital Debuts 3D Scanner for iPads, Raises $100K on Kickstarter”
Gnip Co-founder Jud Valeski on His Flood Shots Seen Around the World
Gnip co-founder and chief technology officer Jud Valeski has a unique perspective, both professionally and now personally, on disasters like the 100-year flood that just devastated Colorado. In his day job, Valeski helps oversee Boulder-based Gnip’s efforts to collect about 3 billion public social media activities every day. That includes every public Tweet and Tumblr … Continue reading “Gnip Co-founder Jud Valeski on His Flood Shots Seen Around the World”
DSW Guide, Day 2: Jobs, Money, Music, and Speed Dating for Nerds
Denver Startup Week shifts gears Tuesday. If the kickoff luncheon and opening party were Monday’s highlights, Tuesday is all about business, at least until the speed dating for nerds (yes, you read that right.) Panels on jobs and fundraising are among the day’s events top events. Check the Denver Startup Week calendar for more details … Continue reading “DSW Guide, Day 2: Jobs, Money, Music, and Speed Dating for Nerds”
5 Minutes with “Guru” Seth Godin to Kick Off Denver Startup Week
Seth Godin wants you to hurry. Not to get a million Twitter followers and become the next Miley Cyrus, but to take advantage of a moment of upheaval that is allowing entrepreneurs to start companies like never before. And he wants you to hurry because that moment might be passing. Godin, a bestselling author, widely … Continue reading “5 Minutes with “Guru” Seth Godin to Kick Off Denver Startup Week”
DSW Guide, Day 1: Seth Godin, Diversity, and Partying Startup Droogs
Denver Startup Week kicks off Monday with an action-packed first day. Here’s a sampling of some of the day’s events. Check the Denver Startup Week calendar for more details about these events, plus lots of other events not mentioned here. The events are free, but they do want you to register in advance. This certainly isn’t … Continue reading “DSW Guide, Day 1: Seth Godin, Diversity, and Partying Startup Droogs”
Denver Ready to Open Doors to Entrepreneurs as Startup Week Returns
Want to know how big Denver Startup Week has become in just its second year? Maybe you should ask the fire marshals. They might have to drop by to make sure things don’t get too crowded, like they did at last year’s kickoff event. Denver Startup Week starts Monday with a luncheon that stars marketing … Continue reading “Denver Ready to Open Doors to Entrepreneurs as Startup Week Returns”
Rach.io Racks Up Second Big Win, Takes $15K Prize at Apex Challenge
Looks like Rach.io, a Denver-based startup that makes technology for smart sprinkler systems, has found the perfect way to launch a company in Colorado and raise the equivalent of a small angel round—win a business plan challenge every two weeks. Rach.io took home the $15,000 top prize Wednesday at the Colorado Technology’s Association Apex Challenge. … Continue reading “Rach.io Racks Up Second Big Win, Takes $15K Prize at Apex Challenge”
Colorado’s Apex Meeting: Startups Celebrate, Old Guard Shows Life
Leaders of Colorado tech companies are gathering today in Denver for the Colorado Technology Association’s Apex Conference. The crowd at Apex is mostly the part of Colorado’s tech industry that wears ties instead of t-shirts (yes, actual ties), but startups will take the spotlight later today for the Apex Challenge. The challenge is a $20,000, … Continue reading “Colorado’s Apex Meeting: Startups Celebrate, Old Guard Shows Life”
New Tech Colorado’s Reich Looks Back at 7 Years of Community Building
If you’re active in Colorado’s world of tech startups, you know New Tech Colorado and its monthly meetups in Boulder and Denver. The grassroots organization is almost 10,000 members strong, and a few hundred tech companies—ranging from Google to Backflip Studios to Techstars companies to brand-new startups—have presented at its gatherings. You also know Robert … Continue reading “New Tech Colorado’s Reich Looks Back at 7 Years of Community Building”
Standing Cloud Acquired by SF’s AppDirect, Will Remain in Boulder
Standing Cloud, a venture-backed startup in Boulder, has been acquired by AppDirect for an undisclosed price, the companies announced Tuesday. Standing Cloud was developing a marketplace and management tools for cloud-based applications, offering more than 100 applications like WordPress, Drupal, and SugarCRM to clients. San Francisco-based AppDirect and Standing Cloud were working on very similar … Continue reading “Standing Cloud Acquired by SF’s AppDirect, Will Remain in Boulder”
TapInfluence Taps Into Colorado VC Firms for a $5M Series B Round
TapInfluence, a Boulder, CO-based startup that develops software to power influencer marketing campaigns, has closed a $5 million Series B round, the company announced today. The new investment increases the total amount raised by TapInfluence (which until March was named BlogFrog) to $9 million. Grotech Ventures led the round, which was oversubscribed, and Access Venture … Continue reading “TapInfluence Taps Into Colorado VC Firms for a $5M Series B Round”
A Startup’s Years-Old Gift Finally Pays Off for Colorado Nonprofits
The Entrepreneurs Foundation of Colorado has sold its shares in Automattic and used $24,000 from the sale for grants to two Boulder nonprofits, the foundation announced Monday. The money comes from equity the foundation, known as EFCO, originally held in IntenseDebate, which developed software for online commenting systems. The company was founded in 2006, and … Continue reading “A Startup’s Years-Old Gift Finally Pays Off for Colorado Nonprofits”
Mile High Roundup: Techstars Grads Stay Busy, Rally Reports Results
Welcome to the Mile High Roundup, a look at some of the interesting things that have happened over the past two weeks in the tech scene in Boulder, Denver, and around Colorado. In this edition, Techstars stays busy after its demo day, three Techstars grads close rounds (and one gets a new CEO), and Rally … Continue reading “Mile High Roundup: Techstars Grads Stay Busy, Rally Reports Results”
Ten Companies to Face Off Next Week to Be Colorado’s “Startup Idol”
The ten finalists for the upcoming Apex Challenge have practiced their pitches in front of mirrors and friends. Now it’s time for them to take the stage in front of about 1,000 people to compete for cash prizes totaling $20,000. The Apex Challenge is a pitch competition on Sept. 11 that’s part of the Colorado … Continue reading “Ten Companies to Face Off Next Week to Be Colorado’s “Startup Idol””
Creator of Colorado’s Vice Finder Talks Website, Logo, and Pot Shot
Rick Griffith is the type of entrepreneur Colorado says it wants to support. Then again, maybe the home of the Mile High City doesn’t want to be associated with people like Griffith. It’s hard to tell, as the governor himself is sending mixed signals. Griffith and his team won the Hack4Colorado Hackathon in June, taking … Continue reading “Creator of Colorado’s Vice Finder Talks Website, Logo, and Pot Shot”
Summits, Grassroots, Failures: 5 Takes on Colorado Innovation Week
With Colorado Innovation Week drawing to a close and the Colorado Innovation Network Summit wrapping up Thursday, it’s a good time to look back at the week’s highlights (beyond Sal Khan’s presentation) and collect some thoughts about the event. It was a stimulating and encouraging week that shows Colorado is thinking seriously about innovation and … Continue reading “Summits, Grassroots, Failures: 5 Takes on Colorado Innovation Week”
Boulder Conference Seeks to Encourage Women Entrepreneurs to Lean In
Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg might have made “lean in” a mantra for female entrepreneurs with her book this year, but it’s a lesson TRUSTe co-founder and chairwoman Fran Maier learned years ago—and she learned it the hard way. Maier was part of the team that founded Match.com and was the startup’s general manager in the … Continue reading “Boulder Conference Seeks to Encourage Women Entrepreneurs to Lean In”
Sal Khan Wants to Teach Everyone: Here Are 6 Lessons for Innovators
Khan Academy founder and executive director Salman Khan wants to democratize education so anyone, anywhere can get a great education. Today, Khan had to settle for Denver. But it’s safe to say he accomplished his mission. Khan gave the keynote speech for the annual Colorado Innovation Network Summit, a gathering of the Mile High State’s political … Continue reading “Sal Khan Wants to Teach Everyone: Here Are 6 Lessons for Innovators”
4 Lessons from Google for Entrepreneurs Day in Denver
Google is in Denver today at Galvanize for its “Google for Entrepreneurs” event. More than 350 people are registered for the event, which features speakers from the team Google created to reach out to entrepreneurs. The first few presentations have been about Google’s global strategy and some products, but afternoon sessions will discuss building business … Continue reading “4 Lessons from Google for Entrepreneurs Day in Denver”
Colorado Innovators to Celebrate Risking and Recovering from Failure
Failure in the business world is a funny thing. Entrepreneurs who take risks and build innovative companies against long odds are celebrated, and their failures become part of their legend. But for a huge number of talented people with great ideas, fear of getting labeled with the other F word holds them back. “Failure has … Continue reading “Colorado Innovators to Celebrate Risking and Recovering from Failure”
Mile High Roundup: Spaceships, SomaLogic Stays Silent, and SanDisk
Welcome to the Mile High Roundup, a look at some of the interesting things that have happened over the past two weeks in the tech scene in Boulder, Denver, and around Colorado. In this edition, NASA tests out a Colorado-made spaceship, SomaLogic quietly raises $10 million, and SanDisk finishes its deal for Smart Storage Systems. … Continue reading “Mile High Roundup: Spaceships, SomaLogic Stays Silent, and SanDisk”
Trada Takes Inc.’s Top Spot for Fastest Growing Colorado Companies
Colorado companies did well on this year’s Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing private companies, with 134 making the list. Dozens of tech companies from Boulder, Denver, and the surrounding areas made this year’s list, with the top spot for Colorado companies going to Boulder’s own Trada. Colorado held its own when compared to other … Continue reading “Trada Takes Inc.’s Top Spot for Fastest Growing Colorado Companies”
Ajubeo Raises Third Round from Private Equity Investors to Go Global
Cloud infrastructure provider Ajubeo has raised an undisclosed amount from a Boulder, CO-based private equity firm and plans to use the financing to expand nationally within the next year and increase its international clientele. Ajubeo (pronounced a-joo-bee-oh) is a cloud infrastructure-as-a-service provider based in Boulder. It has clients in the healthcare, financial services, and online … Continue reading “Ajubeo Raises Third Round from Private Equity Investors to Go Global”
$60.2M from ’90s Startups Make Boulder’s Polis 7th Richest U.S. Rep
Jared Polis, former tech entrepreneur, Techstars co-founder, longtime figure in Colorado’s tech scene, and now Boulder’s representative in Congress, is the seventh wealthiest lawmaker in Washington, according to rankings released today by the Hill, a print and online publication that covers politics and government. The Democratic Congressman’s personal wealth is an estimated $60.2 million, according … Continue reading “$60.2M from ’90s Startups Make Boulder’s Polis 7th Richest U.S. Rep”
Zayo to Acquire Minnesota-based Access Communications in $40M Deal
Zayo Group, a rapidly growing telecommunications company headquartered in Boulder, CO, has signed a definitive agreement to buy Access Communications and its 1,200-mile fiber optic network in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region, the company announced Monday. The acquisition price was $40 million, but it could be adjusted, Zayo said. Zayo is paying for Access with cash … Continue reading “Zayo to Acquire Minnesota-based Access Communications in $40M Deal”
RichRelevance Goes Shopping for Data Analytics Platform, Buys Precog
After two years of trying to “go broad” with predictive data analytics, Precog has been bought by a company that wants it to “go deep.” RichRelevance announced earlier this week that it bought Precog, a Boulder, CO-based startup, for an undisclosed amount. RichRelevance specializes in personalized e-commerce software, and the San Francisco-based company works with … Continue reading “RichRelevance Goes Shopping for Data Analytics Platform, Buys Precog”
Denver Startup Week 2013 Schedule Features 125 Events, Seth Godin
Talk about rapidly scaling the size of a new startup. Denver Startup Week is back for its second year, and organizers released the event’s schedule Thursday. It’s pretty big, with more than 125 events scheduled around Denver, most of them happening downtown. The event, which runs Sept. 16-21, is Denver’s chance to showcase the tech … Continue reading “Denver Startup Week 2013 Schedule Features 125 Events, Seth Godin”
Dream Chaser Spacecraft Rolls Through Runway Test, Faces New Hurdles
The spaceship being built in Colorado continues to make progress here on Earth, although NASA announced today it will have to clear a few more hurdles before reaching space. Sierra Nevada Corp. is designing and building the Dream Chaser spacecraft, which is a privately developed vehicle NASA could use to ferry up to seven astronauts … Continue reading “Dream Chaser Spacecraft Rolls Through Runway Test, Faces New Hurdles”
Orbotix Rolls Out Next-Gen Sphero, Considers Possible New Directions
The ball, reinvented, has itself been reinvented—and that means changes could be on the horizon for Orbotix, the Boulder, CO, startup that took the ball and put a robot inside it. Orbotix this morning launched Sphero 2.0, the next generation of the Sphero robotic ball that’s controlled by iOS and Android smartphones and tablets. Sphero … Continue reading “Orbotix Rolls Out Next-Gen Sphero, Considers Possible New Directions”
SomaLogic Partners with Agilent to Distribute Proteomic Technology
SomaLogic and Agilent Technologies announced Monday they have formed a partnership to install SomaLogic’s protein biomarker discovery platform at research centers around the country. The Boulder, CO-based biotech is developing diagnostic tests that use protein biomarkers to identify illnesses. The tests are based on the idea that diseases create telltale proteins as they develop and … Continue reading “SomaLogic Partners with Agilent to Distribute Proteomic Technology”