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With beautiful mountains, legal marijuana, and 300 days of sunshine a year, it’s no wonder millions of people have begun to flock to the popular Colorado city. Whether it’s new college graduates looking to settle down somewhere adventurous or seasoned entrepreneurs looking to capitalize on a new market, there is no shortage of new blood entering Denver on a regular basis. But what does that mean for the startups in this burgeoning ecosystem? It means it’s exploding as fast as the population.
Luckily for you, Denver Startup Week will provide an opportunity for you to take a look at all the entrepreneurial talent present in the Mile High City. This five-day celebration (September 12-16) will showcase everyone from on-demand travel concierge services to innovative intelligence startups, Denver provides the perfect ecosystem for new customers, innovative ideas, and enticing returns.
So, who are these startups looking to change the world from the comfort of snowy mountains and sunshine-filled fields? Check out ten of the city’s most prominent startups below. Which do you think is the top rising star in Denver’s startup ecosystem?
Gusto
Gusto is a comprehensive payroll, benefits and HR service enabling businesses to set up and run payroll from any web enabled device. The company has raised $155 million in three rounds of funding.
The Faction Collective
The Faction Collective manufactures high-performance free-ride and freestyle skis. The company has raised $5.67 million in thirteen rounds of funding.
Filament
Filament is an ongoing series of 1 day events giving you the ability to sort out which technology to adopt. The company has raised $5 million in their Series A.
UsingMiles
UsingMiles manages users’ loyalty programs, organizing points, miles, coupons and credits. The company has raised $3.27 million in five rounds of funding.
MassRoots
MassRoots is one of the largest and most active social networks for the cannabis community with 775,000 users. The company has raised $2.42 million in five rounds of funding.
Pana
Pana is your on-demand travel concierge for planning and booking all of your travel needs. The company has raised $1.35 million in two rounds of funding.
Revolar
Revolar is the latest innovation in wearables to keep users safe. If a Revolar user is ever in danger, they simply press the button on their Revolar device and an alert message with their real time location information is sent to their preset emergency contacts. The company has raised $3.12 million in three rounds of funding.
Cheddar Up
Cheddar Up is the simplest way to collect and track online payments from a group. The company has raised $725 thousand in two rounds of funding.
StatusPage
StatusPage is a customer relationship management software used by businesses to update and inform their customers. The company has raised $100 thousand in three rounds of funding.
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this article listed BrightNest as a startup; the company was acquired by Angie’s List in 2013.
Photo: Flickr / Al Case
