Category: Boulder/Denver

Q3 Venture Funding Surges Near Record Levels, and Top 10 Deals

Buoyed by some giant deals, venture capital continues to flow at near-record levels in 2015, according to just-released data from two nationwide surveys that track quarterly VC activity. While the $16.3 billion that venture firms put into 1,070 deals in the third quarter was down a notch from the previous quarter, according to the MoneyTree … Continue reading “Q3 Venture Funding Surges Near Record Levels, and Top 10 Deals”

MycoTechnology Lands $9,200,000 Series A Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=94ee7264-83c8-40c0-8269-b240aeb9be00 Date 10/16/2015 Company Name MycoTechnology Mailing Address 3155 N. Chambers Road Aurora, CO 80011 USA Company Description The company’s process utilizes the ability of mushrooms to selectively consume bitter compounds in foods, resulting in better tasting products. Website http://www.mycotechcorp.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $9,200,000 Transaction Round Series A Proceeds … Continue reading “MycoTechnology Lands $9,200,000 Series A Financing”

Is the Hit TV Series “Mr. Robot” an Accurate Portrayal of Hackers?

This summer, USA Network premiered the series Mr. Robot, a drama/thriller that uses computer security and hacking as plot devices. Elliot Alderson, the protagonist, is a reclusive computer security professional who suffers from social anxiety disorder and delusions. When someone triggers his curiosity, he hacks their online accounts, from social media to bank accounts, in … Continue reading “Is the Hit TV Series “Mr. Robot” an Accurate Portrayal of Hackers?”

Selling Your Company? Don’t Make These Five Common Mistakes

You always believed your startup would be a success. Now others are realizing it, too, and you’re fielding offers for an acquisition of your company. Before you ink any agreements, protect your company, your employees, and yourself by avoiding these five common mistakes. Rushing to sell. Take the case of a biotech startup CEO, who found himself literally … Continue reading “Selling Your Company? Don’t Make These Five Common Mistakes”

Zwipe Lands $5,000,000 Series B Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=eb45700c-c573-4206-b881-70fdb857e613 Date 10/15/2015 Company Name Zwipe Mailing Address 912 N Circle Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80909 USA Company Description Zwipe Access is the first access control card in the market place that implements a full on-card fingerprint system. This means that you can authenticate yourself to any ISO 14443 compatible contactless system, … Continue reading “Zwipe Lands $5,000,000 Series B Funding”

Driven by Big Deals, VC Funding So Far Already Has Eclipsed 2014

U.S. venture firms invested $19.8 billion in 1,035 companies during the third quarter that ended September 30, putting VC funding on track to reach a five-year high, according to a quarterly Venture Pulse Report being released today by CB Insights and KPMG. While the deal count was lower than the 1,276 companies that got venture … Continue reading “Driven by Big Deals, VC Funding So Far Already Has Eclipsed 2014”

5 Risk Management Practices Innovators Should Follow

High-tech and investment company startups plan for big successes – and this planning should include putting in place features that startup leaders may think are only necessary for established companies. However, whether business is boom or bust, new business leaders should seriously consider tried-and-true best practices. Before you launch your business with customers or take … Continue reading “5 Risk Management Practices Innovators Should Follow”

For $67B, Dell-EMC Deal May Have Little Impact on Tech Industry

OK, so this really happened. For $67 billion, the biggest technology deal in history. What’s surprising is how little impact people seem to think it will have on the industry. Texas computer giant Dell has agreed to acquire Hopkinton, MA-based EMC (NYSE: [[ticker:EMC]]) for roughly $67 billion in cash and stock in VMware (NYSE: [[ticker:VMW]]), … Continue reading “For $67B, Dell-EMC Deal May Have Little Impact on Tech Industry”

Better Batteries for Future Energy Demands

We often take for granted the fact that when we flick a switch a light turns on. In reality, the seemingly simple act of turning on a light is a complicated process that requires a precise balance between generation and transmission of energy as demand varies throughout the day. With consumers increasingly interested in getting their … Continue reading “Better Batteries for Future Energy Demands”

Techstars’ Cohen on Promoting Diversity and Preparing for a Downturn

Techstars has made its views on diversity in the tech sector no secret. The Boulder, CO-based accelerator operator made commitments to the White House earlier this year, alongside various other prominent national organizations, to improve diversity in the industry by doubling the number of women or underrepresented minorities in its startup programs. Even more recently, … Continue reading “Techstars’ Cohen on Promoting Diversity and Preparing for a Downturn”

Biopharma CEOs, VCs, and Hedge Fund Managers: Fifty Shades of Greed

I just returned from a family vacation and was going through my accumulated mail. I got a notice that the terms of my auto loan were being adjusted. Instead of paying $300 a month, I was shocked to find out that I would now be paying $16,667 per month. My car company (the lender) explained … Continue reading “Biopharma CEOs, VCs, and Hedge Fund Managers: Fifty Shades of Greed”

Amid Nobel Prize Suspense, Making Sense Of Latest Gene-Editing News

There was a meeting Monday in Washington, D.C., to discuss some of the latest advances in gene editing, a field that has profound medical, agricultural, social, and ethical implications for society. At the lunch break, the webcast played over and over a genteel piece of classical music—Albinoni’s string concerto No. 4 in G major, to … Continue reading “Amid Nobel Prize Suspense, Making Sense Of Latest Gene-Editing News”

Precision Biopsy Garners $33,600,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=fa3ee7cc-6d35-4c13-ac2a-e377c34496c1 Date 10/6/2015 Company Name Precision Biopsy Mailing Address 12705 East Montview Blvd. Aurora, CO 80045 USA Company Description Precision Biopsy sits squarely at the intersection of machine and molecular biology in the service of improving human health, and is backed by Allied Minds, a premier firm for commercializing early-stage technology. We … Continue reading “Precision Biopsy Garners $33,600,000 New Funding”

From Dance Clubs to Syn Bio: MIT’s Collins on Startups, Second Chances

It happens over and over again with new science. A discovery prompts crazy hype and massive investment that the data aren’t ready to support. A crash ensues, backers lose millions, egos are bruised—yet the pioneers slowly trudge forward. They regroup, away from the limelight, and try to learn from failure. When it comes to synthetic … Continue reading “From Dance Clubs to Syn Bio: MIT’s Collins on Startups, Second Chances”

Signpost, FareHarbor, ZenPayroll Talk Growth at Denver Startup Week

Water on Mars or not, it’s generally not advisable to jump ship after interplanetary takeoff. Just ask Edward Kim, Stuart Wall, and Lawrence Hester. Though no member of that trio is headed out of the stratosphere any time soon, each one has commanded a successful startup—some would say “rocket ship”—over the past several years. For … Continue reading “Signpost, FareHarbor, ZenPayroll Talk Growth at Denver Startup Week”

Big Name VCs Back Seattle ‘Startup Studio’ Pioneer Square Labs

Some of the biggest names in Northwest investing and entrepreneurship, including prolific angel investor Geoff Entress and startup founder/venture capitalist Greg Gottesman, have opened a “startup studio” to form new companies with financial backing from most of the region’s venture firms, along with notable players from Silicon Valley and beyond. Pioneer Square Labs (PSL), based … Continue reading “Big Name VCs Back Seattle ‘Startup Studio’ Pioneer Square Labs”

My Déjà Vu Moment in Genomics: Why We Need Industry Standards Now

I am a serial entrepreneur who has spent the past couple of decades advancing the front lines of technology in digital healthcare, wireless communications, and semiconductor industries. And I’ve been experiencing a déjà vu moment in genomics. Back in 1994, when I was designing electrical circuits as part of my doctorate program at the University … Continue reading “My Déjà Vu Moment in Genomics: Why We Need Industry Standards Now”

Ibotta Lands $40,000,000 Series C Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6a6f1603-7bb5-4774-a2a0-c3599dc9996a Date 9/29/2015 Company Name Ibotta Mailing Address 1900 16th St. Denver, CO 80202 USA Company Description Ibotta is a technology company building tools to empower consumers and simplify their daily lives. We’ve done this by completely reimagining the way consumers learn about and interact with their favorite brands. Website http://www.ibotta.com Transaction … Continue reading “Ibotta Lands $40,000,000 Series C Funding”

Trinity’s Fred Wang on Thinking Outside the Silicon Valley Box

When it comes to investing in technology startups, anywhere beyond Silicon Valley is considered a “secondary market.” It’s just not possible to find a comparable density of super angel investors, venture capital firms, and tech startups anywhere else. Of the nearly $31 billion that venture firms have invested nationwide through the first half of 2015, … Continue reading “Trinity’s Fred Wang on Thinking Outside the Silicon Valley Box”

aWhere Lands $3,000,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4341d4d0-67a1-4d1a-a922-8f01a74c6d19 Date 9/28/2015 Company Name aWhere Mailing Address 4891 Independence St. Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 USA Company Description aWhere, Inc. offers a suite of products and solutions that help manage your retailers’ data and make store-level decisions depending on whether you’re a manufacturer, broker, distributor, or a retailer. Website http://www.awhere.com Transaction Type … Continue reading “aWhere Lands $3,000,000 New Financing”

TeamSnap to Add League Services, Double User Base After $10M Funding

TeamSnap has always done well at biding its time. The six-year-old Boulder, CO-based startup provides Web and mobile apps meant to help players, coaches, parents, and league officials, among many types of teams, manage everything from rosters to practices to game schedules. Rather than focusing on corporate partnerships or gaining users quickly for advertising purposes, TeamSnap … Continue reading “TeamSnap to Add League Services, Double User Base After $10M Funding”

Wayin Receives $15,400,000 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=1e1906f5-33b0-46f1-bd07-582a8dd5d209 Date 9/25/2015 Company Name Wayin Mailing Address 1623 Blake Street Denver, CO 80202 USA Company Description Wayin, based in Denver, is a leading mobile and web engagement platform that enables conversations between individuals, brands, and enterprises with their fans, customers and employees. Website http://www.wayin.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $15,400,000 … Continue reading “Wayin Receives $15,400,000 New Round”

Techstars Mobility Lures New Companies, Documentary Crew to Detroit

The Techstars Mobility accelerator program’s first cohort graduated earlier this month, and the demo day event held to showcase technologies the startups are working on also contained a few surprise announcements, including company updates and a new documentary in the works about the rise of Detroit’s entrepreneurial culture. Ted Serbinski, who manages the Techstars Mobility … Continue reading “Techstars Mobility Lures New Companies, Documentary Crew to Detroit”

Shkreli Implodes And Provides Hillary A Perfect Medicare Moment

It was already a good political time for Hillary Clinton to unveil her plan to control the cost of prescription drugs. Martin Shkreli made it perfect. As you’ve probably heard by now, the front-running Democratic candidate Clinton on Tuesday outlined about a dozen ways she would aim to alter the American healthcare landscape if elected … Continue reading “Shkreli Implodes And Provides Hillary A Perfect Medicare Moment”

Kickstarting Entrepreneurs in San Diego by Testing Market Demand

In the six or seven years since Kickstarter and Indiegogo launched their crowdfunding sites, the way entrepreneurs raise money to finance their endeavors has fundamentally changed. These two companies have become the gold standard for helping entrepreneurs get their startups off the ground. In the old days (before 2008), an entrepreneur would typically come up … Continue reading “Kickstarting Entrepreneurs in San Diego by Testing Market Demand”

Reality Check: Cancer Experts Discuss Hurdles Facing CAR-T Therapy

There’s a lot of excitement these days about a type of cellular immunotherapy known as CAR-T, a method of modifying peoples’ immune cells to fight cancer. But you could also fill a book listing all the problems its makers will have to solve—how to test, manufacture, and even the define the nature of these cancer-killing … Continue reading “Reality Check: Cancer Experts Discuss Hurdles Facing CAR-T Therapy”

BDS Analytics Obtains $1,500,000 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c13d7029-736c-4181-927d-937bcf7b0164 Date 9/18/2015 Company Name BDS Analytics Mailing Address 2260 Baseline Rd. Boulder, CO 80302 USA Company Description BDS Analytics is the indispensable source for cannabis industry data and insight. By capturing millions of transactions from dispensary POS systems we provide actionable insights based on accurate information enabling dispensaries, brands, and growers … Continue reading “BDS Analytics Obtains $1,500,000 New Round”

The Risks and Opportunities of Doing Business in Emerging Markets

If you’re a startup or small business based in the U.S., chances are that you’re engaging with other emerging markets in some way or another. Perhaps you’re serving customers in those markets – or you have partners, suppliers, or consultants located there – or perhaps some of your team members are based there, or traveling … Continue reading “The Risks and Opportunities of Doing Business in Emerging Markets”

Coalfire Systems Lands New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=bb470ece-6cda-4ec3-934e-8022d8a07086 Date 9/16/2015 Company Name Coalfire Systems Mailing Address 9137 E. Mineral Circle Centennial, CO 80112 USA Company Description Coalfire is a leading IT audit and compliance firm that provides audit, security, and compliance solutions for over 1,000 customers throughout North America. Website http://www.coalfiresystems.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount Undisclosed Transaction … Continue reading “Coalfire Systems Lands New Funding”

Obama Nominates Duke Veteran Rob Califf To Lead FDA

President Obama has nominated cardiologist Rob Califf to be the next head of the Food and Drug Administration, replacing the outgoing Margaret “Peggy” Hamburg. The nomination is no surprise. Speculation that Califf could be the next commissioner gained momentum in late January when the FDA named him a top deputy. Two weeks later, Hamburg said … Continue reading “Obama Nominates Duke Veteran Rob Califf To Lead FDA”

American Copycats: Can Biosimilars Catch On And Cut Costs In U.S.?

Americans need to spend less on healthcare. Anyone disagree? No country spends like we do: 17 percent of our gross domestic product the past four years, in fact, according to the World Bank. No other country—rich, poor, big, small, frozen, tropical, whatever—comes close. (OK, except for the tiny Pacific island nation of Tuvalu. Really.) Now … Continue reading “American Copycats: Can Biosimilars Catch On And Cut Costs In U.S.?”

Pharma Plays The “Value” Card: Drug Spending Then And Now

Dr. John Lechleiter, the CEO of Eli Lilly, recently attempted to debunk five “Big Myths” about Big Pharma. As he wrote, “Only about 10 cents of every U.S. healthcare dollar is spent on retail prescription medicines—which is the same share that was spent on prescriptions in 1960. While the overall use of medicines to treat … Continue reading “Pharma Plays The “Value” Card: Drug Spending Then And Now”

Ten Startups at Qualcomm Robotics Accelerator Make Their Big Debut

Qualcomm (NASDAQ: [[ticker:QCOM]]) staged a pretty good sendoff in San Diego yesterday for the 10 startups that began the company’s robotics accelerator program 16 weeks ago. Techstars manages the startup-mentoring program in San Diego under a corporate partnership with Qualcomm. The wireless technology giant held its inaugural “Demo Day” for the Qualcomm Robotics Accelerator in … Continue reading “Ten Startups at Qualcomm Robotics Accelerator Make Their Big Debut”

Listing Service For Home Owners SQFT Hopes to Double Reach in 2015

Most people are willing to sacrifice a few thousand dollars in realtor fees to avoid the hassle of trying to sell their home solo. Those who aren’t—about 9 percent of U.S. sellers—now have a new method of selling themselves: an app called SQFT that allows them to price their home, post a listing for it … Continue reading “Listing Service For Home Owners SQFT Hopes to Double Reach in 2015”

Cool Planet Energy Systems Garners New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a3d8be1f-4160-4fb6-b86d-d0890d294c05 Date 9/9/2015 Company Name Cool Planet Energy Systems Mailing Address 6400 S. Fiddlers Green Circle Greenwood Village, CO 80111 USA Company Description Cool Planet has developed a patented process that converts non-food biomass into gasoline through mechanical and chemical processes. Our process, known as the carbon negative fuel cycle creates drop-in … Continue reading “Cool Planet Energy Systems Garners New Financing Round”

How to Succeed in the Second Digital Era

Blockbuster. Borders. The U.S. Postal Service. These once-dominant entities, and many more, have all been victims of disruptive tech. Although it’s too early to sound the death knell for taxis, it’s also too late to say that ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft are a flash in the pan. The disruptive change they represent is … Continue reading “How to Succeed in the Second Digital Era”

Inclusion in Tech Entrepreneurship: Meritocracy or Myth?

We’ve been hearing a lot about how the high-tech industry has been working to recruit more underrepresented minorities and women into its ranks, without much early success. Less than 2 percent of the employees at Facebook, Google, and Twitter are African-American, according to the companies’ Equal Employment Opportunity reports for 2014, released earlier this year. … Continue reading “Inclusion in Tech Entrepreneurship: Meritocracy or Myth?”

9 Frothy Tech Sectors of 2015: Food Delivery, Fintech, Drones & More

There’s a point at which a technology market or sector feels overhyped and saturated. Sometimes it’s when the first $1 billion valuation is announced—or when venture capital starts flowing so freely that it seems due diligence is an afterthought. And it’s definitely when media start calling tech businesses “Uber for (fill in the blank).” In … Continue reading “9 Frothy Tech Sectors of 2015: Food Delivery, Fintech, Drones & More”

Galvanize Receives $6,000,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=887a0083-5c8a-4a95-be14-b2f8dfe6665b Date 9/7/2015 Company Name Galvanize Mailing Address 1062 Delaware St. Denver, CO 80204 USA Company Description Galvanize is a Denver-based startup focused on coalescing communities of early stage technology companies through the three pillars of Community, Curriculum and Capital. The first Galvanize facility, located in the 30,000 sf historic Rocky Mountain … Continue reading “Galvanize Receives $6,000,000 New Funding”

Parkifi Obtains $2,000,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=cda7d671-2e7a-471d-8c3e-68a6f9810c20 Date 9/4/2015 Company Name Parkifi Mailing Address 1321 15th Street Denver, CO 80202 USA Company Description Parkifi is making parking less of a hassle with our real time parking occupancy platform. Utilizing our sensor technology we provide real time data to parking lot operators, cities, and mobile applications to let them … Continue reading “Parkifi Obtains $2,000,000 New Funding”

What Bubble? Techstars Boston Keeps Trying to Build Real Businesses

If you cover the technology startup industry, two words you are getting sick of seeing are “bubble” and “unicorn.” In place of the former, you are hearing more about a coming “correction” in valuations and so forth. In place of the latter, you mostly get people shaking their heads at what the term even means. … Continue reading “What Bubble? Techstars Boston Keeps Trying to Build Real Businesses”

At Summer’s End, Can Crossover Winds Stay At Biotech’s Back?

For certain parts of the population, “summer” is a verb, and in the U.S., one does it until Labor Day. One more week, then, before sunburned financial types return to their desks and biotech IPO hopefuls hit the road to plead their cases. Whether August’s market volatility continues its stomach-churning ways or recedes in September’s … Continue reading “At Summer’s End, Can Crossover Winds Stay At Biotech’s Back?”

Emerge Demo Day Spotlights Tech Innovations Aimed at First-Responders

Innovation to help first responders stay safe and do their jobs better is the focus of the Emerge accelerator, which spent three months working out of Tech Wildcatters in Dallas this summer. The program, which recently held its demo day, featured apps, software, and devices that could, for example, help EMTs quickly communicate with injured … Continue reading “Emerge Demo Day Spotlights Tech Innovations Aimed at First-Responders”

5 Questions to Ask Before Investing in People or Technology

Congratulations. Your startup made it through its first challenging years, and you’re seeing positive returns. But, there’s always room to grow. Is it time to hire more salespeople, or should you invest in customer relationship management (CRM), productivity software, or another technology that can improve your business? The choice between putting money into technology or … Continue reading “5 Questions to Ask Before Investing in People or Technology”

Our Plan for Reinventing Alzheimer’s Disease R&D at UC San Diego

When the late Dr. Leon Thal, renowned neurologist and chairman of the Neurosciences Department at the UC San Diego School of Medicine, first imagined a research network able to conduct clinical trials of new therapies for Alzheimer’s disease, it was an idea ahead of its time. The degenerative condition was poorly understood, with no existing … Continue reading “Our Plan for Reinventing Alzheimer’s Disease R&D at UC San Diego”

Pana Lands $1,350,000 Seed Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=77065f10-2b4c-44bc-b7be-e85c99bbc787 Date 8/26/2015 Company Name Pana Mailing Address Undisclosed Boulder, CO 80301 USA Company Description We are on a mission to connect the globe and empower people by making travel simple, personal, and delightful. Website http://www.pana.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,350,000 Transaction Round Seed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not … Continue reading “Pana Lands $1,350,000 Seed Financing”

Stream.io Secures $1,716,641 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7b75da41-af9d-4d11-b856-ddaa69dee461 Date 8/26/2015 Company Name Stream.io Mailing Address Undisclosed Boulder, CO 80302 USA Company Description Stream.io makes development tools that help companies drastically reduce the amount of time it takes to build feeds for their mobile apps and websites. Website http://www.stream.io Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,716,641 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds … Continue reading “Stream.io Secures $1,716,641 New Round”

Private Code Academies Stake Their Claims in San Diego

Private “coding academies”—vocational schools that provide accelerated training for software development jobs—have begun to sprout in San Diego. The newest arrival, Origin Code Academy, is recruiting students for its first class on Sept. 21, and says it is the first coding education provider in San Diego “to guarantee its students a software development job within … Continue reading “Private Code Academies Stake Their Claims in San Diego”