Category: Boulder/Denver

The Xconversation: Vaccine Developer Meets Energy Innovator, Part II

There’s no such thing as failure, as long as you view it in the proper light. That’s the philosophy of scientist-entrepreneurs Darrick Carter, vice president of adjuvant technology at Seattle-based IDRI (Infectious Disease Research Institute) and biotech company founder, and Aaron Feaver, co-founder and chief technology officer of energy-storage materials company EnerG2, who shared their … Continue reading “The Xconversation: Vaccine Developer Meets Energy Innovator, Part II”

Figtree Financing Obtains $30,000,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6afbc5e1-fa9c-4730-b7be-e6621f0319f0 Date 3/30/2016 Company Name Figtree Financing Mailing Address 9915 Mira Mesa Boulevard San Diego, CO 92131 USA Company Description Figtree Financing provides innovative financing to accelerate the adoption of environmentally friendly products and services. We believe every home and commercial property should have the latest energy saving improvements to reduce our … Continue reading “Figtree Financing Obtains $30,000,000 New Funding Round”

Interior Design Startup Havenly Adds $5.8M to Series A

On-demand interior design startup Havenly is adding $5.8 million to a Series A funding the Denver-based company announced in November—bringing the round to $13.3 million total. Havenly wasn’t actively seeking more funding, according to a spokeswoman. The latest financing was instead brought on by new investor interest, she says. The add-on was led by San … Continue reading “Interior Design Startup Havenly Adds $5.8M to Series A”

The Xconversation: Vaccine Developer Meets Energy Innovator, Part I

What do vaccines have to do with batteries? Let your mind’s eye travel to the cellular membrane, where a ligand is enveloped by a receptor, spurring a subtle change in the cell. (Bear with me.) In some respects, it’s similar to what’s happening inside a battery when electrolytes interact with engineered materials to cause a … Continue reading “The Xconversation: Vaccine Developer Meets Energy Innovator, Part I”

Is Money Everything? Behind the Scenes of Tech Hiring

Have you tried to hire a software developer recently? The current job market is bananas! It’s crazy in Boston. New York City is booming with tech startups. In Silicon Valley and the Bay Area, the cost of living is exploding as salaries in the tech sector grow. It’s getting more expensive every year to hire … Continue reading “Is Money Everything? Behind the Scenes of Tech Hiring”

Havenly Receives $5,800,000 Series A Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3d59d8c2-7e74-4555-9bf5-5120ff775862 Date 3/29/2016 Company Name Havenly Mailing Address 1024 Delaware St. Denver, CO 80218 USA Company Description Havenly provides interior design services, all online, at an extremely accessible pricepoint. For a flat fee of $185, we set you up with your own personal interior designer, matched exclusively to your style, who works … Continue reading “Havenly Receives $5,800,000 Series A Funding Round”

How VR, AR Innovation Can Finally Fulfill Its Potential

This post was co-authored by Matt McIlwain, managing director, Madrona Venture Group, and Steve Seitz, professor of computer science and engineering at University of Washington and “teleportation lead” at Google. Virtual reality (VR), which immerses the user in the virtual world, and augmented reality (AR), which overlays digital information onto the physical world, are being … Continue reading “How VR, AR Innovation Can Finally Fulfill Its Potential”

As Equity Crowdfunding Debuts in U.S., Will More Regulations Follow?

Ready or not, equity crowdfunding is coming to the U.S. this spring. The funding mechanism allows companies to sell shares of their firms to the general public (not just accredited investors) through online portals. The practice has already gained traction in places like the U.K. in recent years, but it has taken a while to … Continue reading “As Equity Crowdfunding Debuts in U.S., Will More Regulations Follow?”

Dear Biopharma: Give Us Better Therapies for Pain

The CDC released on March 15th new guidelines that advise strict limits on the prescription of opioids for pain. These guidelines respond to a stunning increase in deaths and addiction related to the prescription of opioids like OxyContin and Percocet. The CDC recommended against providing patients more than a seven-day supply of opioids for acute … Continue reading “Dear Biopharma: Give Us Better Therapies for Pain”

Beware the Potential Downside of Venture Capital Relationships

Conventional wisdom has it that entrepreneurs benefit from wide networks and strong ties with other organizations. Venture capital (VC) firms, in particular, are seen as a valuable source of funding, social status, technical knowledge, and expert advice for fledgling new businesses. But what if these same relationships can also create new liabilities for entrepreneurs? As … Continue reading “Beware the Potential Downside of Venture Capital Relationships”

Can You Land an IT Job If You’re Self-Taught?

The path to a successful career used to be so straightforward. You’d graduate high school, go to college, earn your undergraduate and maybe even your graduate degree, then hit the job market for a full-time job. Employers knew exactly what they were looking for: candidates with degrees from reputable colleges who could demonstrate a significant … Continue reading “Can You Land an IT Job If You’re Self-Taught?”

Denver Proposal Calls for Smarter Electric and Autonomous Vehicles

Denver was named one of seven finalists in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Smart City Challenge last week, inching the city closer toward receiving up to $50 million in tech-centric transportation funding. U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx formally announced the finalists during a transportation conference at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, TX, on … Continue reading “Denver Proposal Calls for Smarter Electric and Autonomous Vehicles”

Racing Zika: For Every Short Cut, There’s An Open Question

[Updated 3/15/16, 7:16pm; corrected 3/16/16, 7:00pm. See below.] In the Luganda language, zika means “overgrown.” It’s also the name of the Ugandan forest where, in the mid-20th century, researchers discovered the now-notorious virus. Dense forest is an appropriate and vivid image for the latest global health threat. So much about the virus and its effects … Continue reading “Racing Zika: For Every Short Cut, There’s An Open Question”

Cirrusmd Receives $1,047,039 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=37526645-7a0f-4b9f-a3e4-92751d32fbaa Date 3/15/2016 Company Name Cirrusmd Mailing Address Undisclosed Denver, CO 80202 USA Company Description CirrusMD offers you the ability to securely text message, share images and video chat with actual doctors over smartphones, tablets and computers. Schedule an appointment anytime, anywhere. Website http://www.cirrusmd.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,047,039 Transaction … Continue reading “Cirrusmd Receives $1,047,039 New Funding”

Shinesty Garners $856,726 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2d6ce46c-8a3e-4bc5-8c2a-eaa63b70e9d9 Date 3/8/2016 Company Name Shinesty Mailing Address 4841 Hopkins Place Boulder, CO 80301 USA Company Description When worn correctly, the right clothing can help you make Mike Tyson’s albino tiger purr like a kitten, blow the minds of onlookers everywhere, or even be a major contributing factor in the creation of … Continue reading “Shinesty Garners $856,726 New Funding”

OrthoFi Obtains New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=fca7a254-35e6-462b-b14a-7f781fca45e4 Date 3/7/2016 Company Name OrthoFi Mailing Address 1251 Bassett Street Denver, CO 80202 USA Company Description OrthoFi Inc., based in Denver, CO, is a startup technology and process company that is revolutionizing the way orthodontists acquire, finance, and manage new patients through rigorous analytical processes and cutting edge technology. OrthoFi helps … Continue reading “OrthoFi Obtains New Funding”

Trackvia Garners $7,252,764 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c65cf6fe-4461-459a-ba21-d0d2b959ecf4 Date 3/7/2016 Company Name Trackvia Mailing Address 1675 Larimer Street Denver, CO 80202 USA Company Description Trackvia provides organizations with an easy and flexible way to manage data and improve their business. Website http://www.trackvia.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount $7,252,764 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. 5 … Continue reading “Trackvia Garners $7,252,764 New Round”

FAST Act Offers More Goodies to Emerging Growth Companies

Once again proving that you can’t judge a gift by its box, emerging growth companies (EGCs) received a pleasant, but oddly wrapped, surprise in December with the enactment of a new law authorizing spending on highway and transit projects. Although adopted with less fanfare than the JOBS Act, the new FAST Act (that’s short for … Continue reading “FAST Act Offers More Goodies to Emerging Growth Companies”

Pyxant Labs Secures $440,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9c37a385-48ef-4b67-a9c1-44b90d32ef56 Date 3/1/2016 Company Name Pyxant Labs Mailing Address 4720 Forge Road Colorado Springs, CO 80907 USA Company Description Pyxant Labs, Inc. is a contract research laboratory specializing in GLP bioanalytical chemistry support for life sciences clients. Website http://www.pyxant.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $440,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds … Continue reading “Pyxant Labs Secures $440,000 New Financing”

SomaLogic Garners $60,500,000 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c6126f63-84d4-4f1d-8b78-65fc77169a80 Date 3/1/2016 Company Name SomaLogic Mailing Address 2945 Wilderness Place Boulder, CO 80301 USA Company Description SomaLogic, Inc. is developing novel proteomics systems and applications based on its proprietary aptamer technology. Aptamers are single-stranded DNA and RNA molecules that, like antibodies, can bind to target molecules with high affinity and specificity. … Continue reading “SomaLogic Garners $60,500,000 New Round”

Wunder Secures $2,931,951 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=61c50cb5-8d40-4fe7-8c13-a19ecf414a80 Date 3/1/2016 Company Name Wunder Mailing Address 1702 Walnut Street Boulder, CO 80302 USA Company Description Wunder helps investors find small commercial solar energy projects that need financing. Investors buy equity in projects in exchange for a share of revenue and tax credits and incentives. Website http://www.wundercapital.com Transaction Type Venture Equity … Continue reading “Wunder Secures $2,931,951 New Funding”

The Road to Safe, Secure Driverless Cars

The development of autonomous vehicles promises a future of safe and efficient roads, unimpeded by distracted, impaired, aggressive, or deliberately speeding drivers. But to achieve this, the companies involved in developing driverless cars will have to navigate significant obstacles. The transition from personally controlled to automated vehicles can be likened to the shift that occurred … Continue reading “The Road to Safe, Secure Driverless Cars”

MassRoots Secures $320,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9f24746e-d4f5-4388-9dd6-a7df58e6df42 Date 2/25/2016 Company Name MassRoots Mailing Address 1624 Market Street Denver, CO 80202 USA Company Description MassRoots is a social network for the medical cannabis community. Website http://www.massroots.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount $320,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. 5 investors participated in the offering. The … Continue reading “MassRoots Secures $320,000 New Funding Round”

Techstars Boston’s Latest Class Signals Accelerator’s Diversity Push

Six months after Techstars announced a plan to boost the diversity of its accelerator programs around the world, the Boston group seems to be making some progress on that front. Techstars Boston announced the companies in its latest session today. Of the 14 startups, two are led by women and another four firms have at … Continue reading “Techstars Boston’s Latest Class Signals Accelerator’s Diversity Push”

Dyson, Maeda, Jepsen, & More at Our Napa Summit–Request Your Invite

Forget for a moment our truly mind-blowing presidential possibilities. Consider instead the wellspring of innovators and innovation out there, and you’ll feel better about the future, no matter where your political anxieties lie. And then imagine coming to Napa in mid-May to join Xconomy at our most special event—where you will enjoy first-hand interaction with … Continue reading “Dyson, Maeda, Jepsen, & More at Our Napa Summit–Request Your Invite”

Realizing the Return on Digital Health Technologies

A “Wired for Health” study recently reported by The Scripps Translational Science Institute in San Diego poses a significant challenge for those working to realize the potential of digital health technologies. The Scripps team has been investigating the relationship between wireless health-monitoring technologies, healthcare costs, and outcomes in patients with chronic disease. After equipping one cohort of patients … Continue reading “Realizing the Return on Digital Health Technologies”

Investor Survey, Part 2: A Pair of Seattle VCs on 2016 Themes

Will a new crop of Seattle startups rise to world domination? Will virtual or augmented reality applications create the next powerhouse tech company? Those are two of the overriding hopes and ambitions emerging from the Seattle segment of my informal cross-country survey of leading investors as I seek to unearth core investment themes and premises … Continue reading “Investor Survey, Part 2: A Pair of Seattle VCs on 2016 Themes”

Finding Innovation in the Modern Data Center

The modern data center is going through a period of transition. Traditional data center infrastructures are increasingly giving way to disruptive and innovative technologies such as cloud computing and hyperconvergence. Business demands and IT challenges are forcing executives to take a longer look at investments that will accelerate innovation, provide a competitive advantage, and achieve … Continue reading “Finding Innovation in the Modern Data Center”

Techstars Boulder Announces 2016 Accelerator Class

Techstars has announced the newest group of 11 companies that will be participating in its 2016 Techstars Boulder accelerator program this year. The companies, which range from a Bitcoin company to the maker of a digital wall garden, will present at a demo day on May 18. Techstars provides a company with $20,000 in funding, … Continue reading “Techstars Boulder Announces 2016 Accelerator Class”

A North Carolina High School that Spins Out Entrepreneurs

Over the years, many successful ventures have emerged from North Carolina’s rich concentration of university researchers. Some of the state’s innovators get an even earlier start: high school. North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) began in 1980 as an innovation itself, founded as a public residential high school for academically talented high school … Continue reading “A North Carolina High School that Spins Out Entrepreneurs”

In Murky Regulatory Filings, Idaciti Seeks to Bring Transparency

Scouring public financial documents for information can be a true test of will, with countless pages of numbers and jargon battling to lull a reader to sleep at every glance. Idaciti, a Denver-based startup, is launching a software product today that it contends will do that difficult research for you, while also presenting the findings … Continue reading “In Murky Regulatory Filings, Idaciti Seeks to Bring Transparency”

Gusto, Growing in Denver, Looks to Add 1,000 Area Employees

Striding into the new Gusto office in the heart of Denver’s frantic LoDo neighborhood feels a bit like stepping into a daycare center. But not in the snotty-nosed-kid way. More like the prototypical Silicon-Valley-startup way. Just three stories above the bustling 16th Street Mall, the tricked-out lobby area boasts massive, floor-to-ceiling maps of the region … Continue reading “Gusto, Growing in Denver, Looks to Add 1,000 Area Employees”

“Innovation” in a Competitive Startup Economy

Seventy-three percent of U.S. adults agree that we’re living in an age of significant innovation. Indeed, the pace at which new products and services are being developed is truly incredible. In 2014 alone, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) granted a record 300,678 utility patents – the most issued in a single year, ever. … Continue reading ““Innovation” in a Competitive Startup Economy”

Biotech’s Recent Headlines, Reimagined In Verse and On Stage

  Dear Theranos, I noticed recently that you’re looking for a writer to work in your Palo Alto office. Please don’t tell my bosses at Xconomy, but I’m throwing my hat in the ring. In your job posting, the final requirement in particular made me think I’d be a good fit: Bold experimentation in different … Continue reading “Biotech’s Recent Headlines, Reimagined In Verse and On Stage”

Biodesix Secures $17,756,512 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6481ed84-ce3e-4912-869d-b1b037e58253 Date 2/16/2016 Company Name Biodesix Mailing Address 2970 Wilderness Place Boulder, CO 80301 USA Company Description Biodesix was founded in 2005 to apply the principles of complex data analysis and mass spectrometry (MS) to the discovery and development of improved multivariate tests that give physicians better information to understand the patient … Continue reading “Biodesix Secures $17,756,512 New Financing Round”

BiOptix Diagnostics Obtains $663,300 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=0398b884-8683-44cc-9699-ba0ba109eeac Date 2/16/2016 Company Name BiOptix Diagnostics Mailing Address 1775 38th St. Boulder, CO 80301 USA Company Description The company’s mission is to develop its proprietary E-SPR (Enhanced Surface Plasmon Resonance) technology platform for the detection of molecular interactions. Website http://www.bioptix.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $663,300 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds … Continue reading “BiOptix Diagnostics Obtains $663,300 New Funding”

The Companies: San Antonio’s Techstars Cloud 2016 Demo Day Pitches

[Corrected 2/15/16, 2:15 p.m. See below.] San Antonio — One company lets you send encrypted, secure e-mails. Another finds the meaning in your mounds of unfiltered data. Saw a photo online of a dress that you loved but can’t find? At the Techstars Cloud Demo Day in San Antonio, there was a company that proposed … Continue reading “The Companies: San Antonio’s Techstars Cloud 2016 Demo Day Pitches”

Latest Techstars Cloud Startup Class Presents Today in San Antonio

San Antonio — For 11 early stage businesses in San Antonio, TX, three months of planning, trepidation, and retooling business plans is coming to a head. The participants of the Techstars Cloud accelerator program are holding their Demo Day today in the Alamo City. Techstars is the Boulder, CO-based mentorship accelerator that offers versions of … Continue reading “Latest Techstars Cloud Startup Class Presents Today in San Antonio”

WorldRemit Obtains $45,000,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=35e5971e-8ac2-4bd8-a05b-e6b80bc9e57b Date 2/11/2016 Company Name WorldRemit Mailing Address 600 17th Street Denver, CO 80202 USA Company Description WorldRemit is an online service that lets people send money to friends and family living abroad, using a computer, smartphone or tablet. It is a convenient, low-cost alternative to traditional money transfer companies that use … Continue reading “WorldRemit Obtains $45,000,000 New Financing”

Hexadite Nabs $8M as Cybersecurity Urgency Grows

This week brought more reminders that cybersecurity remains top of mind for leaders from the White House to boardrooms everywhere. President Barack Obama grabbed headlines with a $19 billion initiative—$5 billion higher than the federal government’s current cybersecurity spending—to battle cyber threats, overhaul federal computer systems, and boost cybersecurity training. The investment, part of Obama’s … Continue reading “Hexadite Nabs $8M as Cybersecurity Urgency Grows”

EndoShape Receives $7,096,809 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=82af35c2-53bc-44af-a0c5-14f015163461 Date 2/10/2016 Company Name EndoShape Mailing Address 5425 Airport Blvd. Boulder, CO 80301 USA Company Description EndoShape is devoted to improving human health through the development of unique medical devices from innovative shape memory polymers. Its primary objective is to launch a new class of shape memory polymer based devices that … Continue reading “EndoShape Receives $7,096,809 New Financing Round”

4 Worst-Case Scenarios That Make the Case For Disaster Recovery

It’s a topic frequently heard in board meetings and splashed across the news: storm-related data loss and downtime trigger threats to our IT environments. For instance, last winter in New England caused a scare among executives and IT professionals alike. Record-breaking snowfall and increased risks to regional business data created a huge buzz about the … Continue reading “4 Worst-Case Scenarios That Make the Case For Disaster Recovery”

One Writer’s Strategy for Avoiding Information Overload

This week one of my favorite podcasts, WNYC’s Note to Self, is featuring a project called Infomagical. Every day the show is sharing new challenges designed to help listeners cope with information overload. We all know that feeling of being so far behind on the e-mails, texts, articles, and all the other stuff our digital … Continue reading “One Writer’s Strategy for Avoiding Information Overload”

Improving Odds for Women in Tech? Take Notes from Biotech

At our entrepreneurial support organization, the Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED), we often joke about adhering to the proper dress and catering code for our networking events: jeans and beer for tech; suits, wine and cocktails for life sciences. But there is more to these superficial differences between the two networks serving 1,200 entrepreneurial companies … Continue reading “Improving Odds for Women in Tech? Take Notes from Biotech”

Blood Simple? Grail’s Cancer Screening Quest Faces Tough Questions

[Corrected, 2/4/16, 2:05pm. See below.] Three weeks ago the world’s biggest genomic sequencing company, Illumina (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ILMN]]), unveiled a spinout called Grail to make blood tests that could spot all kinds of cancer in seemingly healthy people, perhaps as soon as 2019. If you know anything about the history of screening healthy people for cancer, … Continue reading “Blood Simple? Grail’s Cancer Screening Quest Faces Tough Questions”

JustRight Surgical Secures $11,200,000 Series B Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c26d99aa-b100-4b8f-9615-5b04d49cb3dc Date 2/4/2016 Company Name JustRight Surgical Mailing Address 357 S. McCaslin Blvd. Louisville, CO 80027 USA Company Description JustRight Surgical exists to serve healthcare providers by developing precisely designed surgical instruments that allow access to confined and often delicate structures. Website http://www.justrightsurgical.com Transaction Type Venture Equity, Debt Transaction Amount $11,200,000 Transaction … Continue reading “JustRight Surgical Secures $11,200,000 Series B Financing”