Two views of Boulder's economy: the registered/startup layer and the street-level business fabric, with the largest tracked employers.
The economy is technology-led but not technology-only: technology scores 10/10, with healthcare and sustainability each at 9/10. Software and internet companies provide registry depth, while retail, education and sports widen the mix.
| industry | companies |
|---|---|
| computer software | 306 |
| health, wellness and fitness | 195 |
| information technology and services | 177 |
| marketing and advertising | 167 |
| internet | 164 |
| food & beverages | 122 |
| financial services | 115 |
| real estate | 92 |
| management consulting | 85 |
| renewables & environment | 81 |
| biotechnology | 76 |
| non-profit organization management | 74 |
| design | 74 |
| consumer goods | 72 |
| electrical/electronic manufacturing | 63 |
| venture capital & private equity | 58 |
| medical devices | 55 |
| retail | 53 |
| research | 50 |
| apparel & fashion | 50 |
| sports | 47 |
| environmental services | 44 |
| education management | 44 |
| sporting goods | 43 |
| publishing | 43 |
| sector | places | rating |
|---|---|---|
| Website designer | 5 | 4.67 |
| Software company | 5 | 4.78 |
| Accountant | 3 | 5.0 |
| Recruiter | 3 | 4.4 |
| Corporate office | 3 | — |
| Public relations firm | 2 | 5.0 |
| Consultant | 2 | 4.9 |
| Certified public accountant | 2 | 3.95 |
| Marketing agency | 2 | 4.35 |
| Tax consultant | 1 | 4.9 |
| Corporate entertainment service | 1 | 5.0 |
| Limousine service | 1 | 4.7 |
| Trucking company | 1 | 4.1 |
| Skin care clinic | 1 | 5.0 |
| Mobility equipment supplier | 1 | 4.3 |
| company | industry | employees | founded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Oats | retail | 8,617 | 1987 |
| techstars ventures | internet | 3,057 | 2015 |
| Boulder Valley School District | primary/secondary education | 2,929 | |
| Self Made Self | professional training & coaching | 2,893 | 2003 |
| Zayo | telecommunications | 2,828 | 2007 |
| infoprint solutions | information technology and services | 2,700 | |
| Eldora | recreational facilities and services | 2,500 | 1996 |
| Baobab Group | marketing and advertising | 2,410 | |
| Boulder County | government administration | 1,613 | 1861 |
| city of boulder | government administration | 1,549 | |
| Club Industry | media and information services (b2b) | 1,484 | 1984 |
| Faegre Drinker | law practice | 1,390 | 2020 |
| Rocky Mountain Institute | think tanks | 1,329 | 1982 |
| Naropa University | higher education | 1,277 | |
| Flashback Technologies | medical devices | 1,165 | 2009 |
| bi incorporated | public safety | 1,000 | 1978 |
| ShipCompliant | wine and spirits | 943 | 2000 |
| ncar | research | 875 | |
| SolarWinds MSP | computer software | 719 | 2009 |
| Crestone Capital | fintech | 706 | 1991 |
| Albeo Technologies | electrical/electronic manufacturing | 700 | 2004 |
| Second Phase | information technology and services | 654 | 2001 |
| Outside | sports | 637 | 2017 |
| Gaiam | health, wellness and fitness | 618 | 1988 |
| Veho | consumer services | 611 | 2016 |
company registry (startup-skewed) + mapped business places