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Startups · Boulder

The startup picture in Boulder

Everything startup in one place: who's building, how the landscape clusters, the people and investors behind it, and whether the capital is real.

AI verdict · codex · ground-checked

Boulder has a deep outside-funding bench: 747 companies have ever raised money, compared with 362 in Ann Arbor and 183 in Boise. Halter's recently announced Series E shows that sizeable growth rounds are still landing alongside that broad funded-company base.

WATCH Watch how much new money reaches seed-stage companies beyond headline growth rounds.
AI verdict · codex · ground-checked

Company formation is active, but much of the ecosystem remains unfinanced: 617 companies have been founded since 2018, while 947 tracked firms sit unfunded. The 7.0% shutdown rate is the honest counterweight to the city's entrepreneurial energy.

WATCH Watch whether the unfunded cohort moves into seed rounds or begins to swell the shutdown count.
Who's building in Boulder
Zayo logo
Z

Zayo

Fiber Connectivity for Enterprise and Media

est. 2007 · 2,828 staff · raised outside money
Steve Smith — CEO
Rocky Mountain Institute logo
RM

Rocky Mountain Institute

Tech-Enabled Company Tackling Climate Crisis via Energy Production

est. 1982 · 1,329 staff · raised outside money
Brad Mushovic — Managing Director
Brad Mushovic — Managing Director
Flashback Technologies logo
FT

Flashback Technologies

AI-based decision support platform for professionals

est. 2009 · 1,165 staff · raised outside money
Gordon Van Dusen — President & CEO
Crestone Capital logo
CC

Crestone Capital

Wealth management firm

est. 1991 · 706 staff · raised outside money
Eric Kramer — CEO
Outside logo
O

Outside

Provider of sports, recreation, and fitness and nutrition services

est. 2017 · 637 staff · raised outside money
Robin Thurston — Founder & CEO · MS University of Colorado Denver
Veho logo
V

Veho

AI-enable last-mile delivery services for e-commerce companies

est. 2016 · 611 staff · raised outside money
Itamar Zur — Co-Founder & CEO
Fred Cook — Co-Founder
Pharmaca logo
P

Pharmaca

Integrated Natural Health Pharmacy Chain

est. 2000 · 579 staff · raised outside money
Mark Panzer — President & CEO
Don L Summerfield — Co-Founder & VP
Rally Software logo
RS

Rally Software

On-demand lifecycle management SaaS for enterprises

est. 2001 · 500 staff · raised outside money
Hock Tan — CEO · BS MIT
Uplight logo
U

Uplight

AI and SaaS-driven solutions for energy monitoring in residential and commercial buildings

est. 2019 · 496 staff · raised outside money
Luis D'Acosta — CEO · MBA, Masters in International Business Administration Thunderbird
SendGrid logo
S

SendGrid

Customer & Developer Conference

est. 2009 · 449 staff · raised outside money
Tim Jenkins — ex-Co-Founder
Isaac Saldana — ex-Co-Founder
ArcherDX logo
A

ArcherDX

Next-Gen Gene Fusion Detection Assays

est. 2013 · 429 staff · raised outside money
John Iafrate — Co-Founder
Long Le — Co-Founder
LogRhythm logo
L

LogRhythm

LogRhythm: Automating Cyberthreat Detection & Response

est. 2003 · 400 staff · raised outside money
Chris Petersen — Co-Founder & CTO
Phillip Villella — Co-Founder & Chief Scientist · PhD University of Colorado Boulder
SolidFire logo
S

SolidFire

All-Flash Storage with QoS for Data Centers

est. 2010 · 374 staff · raised outside money
Dave Wright — CEO
Automox logo
A

Automox

Automated Cyber Hygiene in Colorado

est. 2015 · 356 staff · raised outside money
Mark Manes — Co-Founder & CTO
Jay Prassl — Co-Founder & CEO
Somalogic logo
S

Somalogic

High-throughput screening solutions for therapeutic areas

est. 1999 · 319 staff · raised outside money
Larry Gold — CEO
University of Colorado Boulder logo
UO

University of Colorado Boulder

Career development and HR services provider in Colorado

est. 1876 · 303 staff · raised outside money
Brynmor Rees — Managing Director
Green Chef logo
GC

Green Chef

Organic Meal Delivery Platform

est. 2014 · 300 staff · raised outside money
Michael Joseph — Co-Founder & CEO
SketchUp logo
S

SketchUp

3D modeling software

est. 1999 · 291 staff · raised outside money
Steven Berglund — CEO
REO logo
R

REO

Precision Optics for UV to IR Applications

est. 1980 · 288 staff · raised outside money
Robert Knollenberg — Founder
Array BioPharma logo
AB

Array BioPharma

Targeted Small Molecule Cancer Therapies

est. 1998 · 222 staff · raised outside money
Ron Squarer — Ex-CEO
Stream logo
S

Stream

Provider of web feed integration solutions

est. 2014 · 222 staff · raised outside money
Patrick Liscio — Co-Founder & CTO
Tommaso Barbugli — Co-Founder & CTO
JumpCloud logo
J

JumpCloud

JumpCloud Directory-as-a-Service Platform

est. 2012 · 220 staff · raised outside money
Antoine Jebara — Co-Founder & GM Channel & Alliances
Rajat Bhargava — Co-Founder & CEO
Biodesix logo
B

Biodesix

AI-Driven Diagnostic Platform for Lung Disease

est. 2005 · 217 staff · raised outside money
David Brunel — ex-Founder
Scott Hutton — CEO
Fresh Produce logo
FP

Fresh Produce

Offer exclusive offers, original stories, events for Fresh Produce Clothes

est. 1984 · 201 staff · raised outside money
Thom Vernon — Founder
Mary Ellen Vernon — Founder
The startup landscape, clustered
cluster · 527 companies

Business Services

50 founded since 2018 · 26 funded

Sub-themes
marketing services · 126it services · 116hr services · 40management consulting services · 35legal services · 28event management services · 26

e.g. Self Made Self, infoprint solutions, Baobab Group

cluster · 443 companies

Enterprise Applications

97 founded since 2018 · 123 funded

Sub-themes
marketingtech · 102enterprise software · 98saas · 84hrtech · 78data as a service · 26artificial intelligence · 23

e.g. ShipCompliant, Second Phase, Rally Software

cluster · 365 companies

Consumer

68 founded since 2018 · 68 funded

Sub-themes
b2c e-commerce · 78sports tech · 48online travel · 31fashion tech · 30social platforms · 27professional consumer services · 26

e.g. Veho, Gloo, Precision Plumbing

cluster · 275 companies

Healthcare

31 founded since 2018 · 39 funded

Sub-themes
clinic chains · 44rehabilitation and long-term care · 37cannabis services · 24fitness and wellness centers · 23cannabis brands and retailers · 22services for healthcare providers · 20

e.g. Terrapin Care Station, BCH, Boulder County Department of Housing and Human Services

cluster · 254 companies

Consumer Goods

26 founded since 2018 · 68 funded

Sub-themes
food & beverage products · 92sports equipment · 34apparel brands · 25internet first brands · 22home furnishing products · 14pet care products · 13

e.g. Wild Oats, American Recreation Products, Brunton

cluster · 240 companies

Retail

54 founded since 2018 · 50 funded

Sub-themes
internet first brands · 34b2c e-commerce · 34fashion tech · 33mom & baby care · 22horizontal e-commerce · 20e-commerce enablers · 18

e.g. Terrapin Care Station, Fresh Produce, PopSockets

cluster · 203 companies

High Tech

54 founded since 2018 · 89 funded

Sub-themes
deep tech · 28wearable technology · 28artificial intelligence · 22security & surveillance technology · 17geographic information systems · 16augmented reality · 15

e.g. Uplight, SketchUp, Intellabridge

cluster · 191 companies

Healthtech

55 founded since 2018 · 48 funded

Sub-themes
fitness & wellness tech · 57healthcare it · 39cannabis healthtech · 37disease self management · 31wearable technology · 19healthcare booking platforms · 17

e.g. Flashback Technologies, Gaiam, Pharmaca

cluster · 186 companies

Media & Entertainment

36 founded since 2018 · 38 funded

Sub-themes
internet first media · 43film & tv studios · 27social platforms · 22book tech · 15online photos · 14ott video · 13

e.g. Club Industry, Outside, elephant journal

cluster · 180 companies

Real Estate And Construction

11 founded since 2018 · 3 funded

Sub-themes
real estate brokers · 33architects · 31real estate & infrastructure developers · 26interior designers · 22construction management services · 15property management services · 9

e.g. Interwestgrp, jva, Frasier

Business models in play
diversified · 692horizontal · 303internet first brand · 155suite · 126full service marketing agency · 121multi category · 115multi-category · 114ecommerce · 66application development · 66marketplace · 61technology enablers · 56foundations · 55
The people behind them
founder & backgroundrolecompany
Steve Smith
Ex-GI Partners, NetApp, F5 Networks, Equinix. West Point BS 1979
CEOZayo
Brad Mushovic
Remotelock, ex-Rmi, ex-Outward Bound Usa, University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business, 1999
Managing DirectorRocky Mountain Institute
Brad Mushovic
Remotelock, ex-Rmi, ex-Outward Bound Usa, University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business, 1999
Managing DirectorRocky Mountain Institute
Gordon Van Dusen
Ex - CoCapGroup, Hiberna, Myogen
President & CEOFlashback Technologies
Robin Thurston
Ex-Pocket Outdoor Media, Helix, Under Armour, Co-Founder MapMyFitness. University of Colorado Denver MS 1999
Founder & CEOOutside
Itamar Zur
Ex-monday.com, Procter & Gamble, Israeli Air Force. Tel Aviv University LLB 2012, Harvard Business School MBA 2017
Co-Founder & CEOVeho
Fred Cook
Ex-P4P Marketing, Gondola, OneMove. Virginia Tech BS 2008, MS 2009
Co-FounderVeho
Mark Panzer
Retail Consulting, ex-National Association Of Chain Drug Stores, ex-Avia Partners, Loyola University Chicago
President & CEOPharmaca
Don L Summerfield
ex-President Finlandia Pharmacy, ex-Capers Community Markets. University of Windsor BA 1987, University of British Columbia 1989
Co-Founder & VPPharmaca
Hock Tan
Ex-IDT, ICS, Commodore International, MD Hume Industries in Malaysia. MIT BS, HBS MBA
CEORally Software
Luis D'Acosta
Ex - Schneider Electric, SEL. Tecnológico de Monterrey BE 1995, Thunderbird School of Global Management MBA 2006
CEOUplight
Tim Jenkins
Founder Table Needs, Advatech Pacific, Array Networks, Spinway. University of California Riverside BS 1999
ex-Co-FounderSendGrid
Isaac Saldana
CEO Memo, Founder Joy Labs, Hive Hatch, ex-Advatech Pacific. University of California Riverside, Massachusetts Institute of Techno
ex-Co-FounderSendGrid
Jose Lopez
Ex-IER Solutions. University of California Riverside BS 2006
Co-FounderSendGrid
John Iafrate
Massachusetts General Hospital
Co-FounderArcherDX
Long Le
Massachusetts General Hospital, ex-MGH Center for Integrated Diagnostics. Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1999, University o
Co-FounderArcherDX
Chris Petersen
ex-Pwc, ex-Ey, Colorado State University
Co-Founder & CTOLogRhythm
Phillip Villella
University of Colorado Boulder PhD 2002, The University of New Mexico BS 1995
Co-Founder & Chief ScientistLogRhythm
Andy Grolnick
Strata Identity, ex-Fusionauth, ex-Resurface Labs, Unc Kenan - Flagler Business School, 1970
President & CEOLogRhythm
Mark Manes
Ex-StillSecure, Data Connect Corporation.
Co-Founder & CTOAutomox

77 of 93 listed people carry a background profile in the people corpus

Investors active in Boulder

Everyone on record as having backed a Boulder company — institutions first.

Institutional
Foundry · VC fundTechstars · accelerator / incubatorBoulder Ventures · VC fundAccess Venture Partners · VC fundBlue Note Ventures · VC fundGreenspring Associates · VC fundHighway 12 Ventures · VC fundPerceptive Advisors · VC fundHigh Country Ventures · VC fundfirmgroupsinc.com · VC fundOak Investment Partners · VC fundJAZZ Venture Partners · VC fundProgress Ventures · VC fundVista Ventures · VC fundCrawley Ventures · VC fundNext47 · VC fundNew Enterprise Associates · VC fundV1.VC · VC fundZelkova Ventures · VC fundService Provider Capital · VC fundTahoma Ventures · VC fundHemisphere Ventures · VC fundUpslope Ventures · VC fundCentennial Ventures · VC fundColumbia Capital · VC fundCID4 · accelerator / incubatorSahsen Ventures · VC fund83NORTH · VC fundFirstime · VC fundViola Group · VC fundSaban Ventures · VC fundZone 5 Ventures · VC fundNEXT VENTURES · VC fundRTP Global · VC fundDorm Room Fund · VC fundSoftBank Vision Fund · VC fundGeneral Catalyst · VC fundBling Capital · VC fundConstruct Capital · VC fundOrigin Ventures · VC fundMantis VC · VC fundIndustry Ventures · VC fundFontinalis Partners · VC fundSpringtime Ventures · VC fundMoxxie Ventures · VC fundCold Start · VC fundMatchstick Ventures · VC fundNotable Capital · VC fundHighland Capital Partners · VC fundPhysic Ventures · VC fundGreylock Partners · VC fundMobius Venture Capital · VC fundMohr Davidow Ventures · VC fundWildcat Venture Partners · VC fundNext World Capital · VC fundCore Capital Partners · VC fundBessemer Venture Partners · VC fund500 Global · VC fundUncork Capital · VC fundBullet Time Ventures · VC fundBain Capital Ventures · VC fundFounders Fund · VC fundSway Ventures · VC fundGlobivest · VC fundDarwin Ventures · VC fundCannoli Ventures · VC fundNama Ventures · VC fundAITV · VC fundLongwood Fund · VC fundSands Capital Ventures · VC fundEDBI · VC fundSLW · VC fundGrotech Ventures · VC fundSection Partners · VC fundNovak Biddle Venture Partners · VC fundValhalla Partners · VC fundSamsung Venture Investment · VC fundArdent Venture Partners · VC fundCRV · VC fundKoch Disruptive Technologies · VC fundTechOperators · VC fundGula Tech Adventures · VC fundFirebrand Ventures · VC fundNan Fung Life Sciences · VC fundProQuest Investments · VC fundJanus Henderson Investors · VC fundCasdin Capital · VC fundForesite Capital · VC fundRemagine Ventures · VC funddRx Capital · VC fundIntermountain Ventures · VC fundTA Ventures · VC fund#adm ventures · VC fundGGV Capital · VC fund01 Advisors · VC fundKnight Capital · VC fundFelicis Ventures · VC fundSocial Starts · VC fundUpVentures Capital · VC fundArthur Ventures · VC fundRight Side Capital Management · VC fundThree Bridges Venture Partners · VC fundPreston Werner Ventures · VC fundMaiden Lane · VC fundAquarius Rising Funds · VC fundAPI-First Index · VC fundOpenView · VC fundOurCrowd · VC fundSapphire Ventures · VC fundEndeavor · VC fundNtt Docomo Ventures · VC fundWaterman Ventures · VC fundSTEADFAST Capital Ventures · VC fundMacDonald Ventures · VC fundRM Venture Partners · VC fundKilmahew Ventures · VC fundAlumni Ventures · VC fundRidge Ventures · VC fundWindspeed Ventures · VC fundParade Ventures · VC fundBraven · VC fundStage 1 Ventures · VC fundFlood Ventures · VC fundCRG · VC fundArcher Venture Capital · VC fundOmidyar Network · VC fundKBJ · VC fundSutter Hill Ventures · VC fundPEAK6 · VC fundFirst Chair · VC fundCanard · VC fundBFG · VC fundHorizon Ventures · VC fundDecheng Capital · VC fundEclipse · VC fundToba Capital · VC fundTrinity Ventures · VC fundEonCapital · VC fundColorado Impact Fund · VC fundNorthgate Capital · VC fundBolt Ventures · VC fundInception Capital · VC fundOnza Capital · VC fundSandbridge Capital · VC fundRidgeline Ventures · VC fundRange Light · VC fundBloomberg Beta · VC fundFirstMark · VC fundAnkona Capital · VC fundNext Frontier Capital · VC fundOperator Partners · VC fundDenali Venture Philanthropy · VC fundEcho Capital · VC fundThe Family Fund · VC fundFinn Capital Partners · VC fundThe Kale Fund · VC fundTribe Capital · VC fundEntrepreneurs Fund · VC fundGideon Hixon Fund · VC fundRemeditex · VC fundAtlas Venture · VC fundAmgen Business Development · VC fundBroadview Ventures · VC fundBrace Pharma Capital · VC fundMP Healthcare Venture Management · VC fundMRLV · VC fundM Ventures · VC fundVenrock · VC fundCommodore Capital · VC fundRoche · VC fundZOMALAB · VC fundVantagePoint Capital Partners · VC fundRRE Ventures · VC fundIn-Q-Tel · VC fundAppian Ventures · VC fundENGIE New Ventures · VC fundEnergy Impact Partners · VC fundModerne Ventures · VC fundWinklevoss Capital · VC fundBreakthrough 307 · VC fundGoldwing Capital · VC fundAzure Capital Partners · VC fundBLH Venture Partners · VC fundMergeLane · VC fundDVI Equity Partners · VC fundBatshit Crazy Ventures · VC fundMarc Bell Capital · VC fundCue Ball · VC fundCircle P Capital · VC fundFloodgate · VC fundBoxGroup · VC fundBrainchild · VC fundFM Capital · VC fundAME Ventures · VC fund
Private & corporate backers
OSTINational Science FoundationCoBankMorgan StanleyHercules CapitalDelta-v CapitalRubicon Technology PartnersK2 GlobalSoleus CapitalRedmile GroupSiemensCrowdStrikeJohn IvesEuropaLogosRidgeback Capital Management

hover a name to see who they backed · from round records in the company registry

Venture capital
Funded startups — peer cities
BoulderBoulder: 747747Ann ArborAnn Arbor: 362362BoiseBoise: 183183Santa FeSanta Fe: 9595AshevilleAsheville: 7979
Companies that have raised
companyindustryroundslatest roundfounded
Latisysinformation technology and services32013-032007
Envedabiotechnology62024-062019
Electraother commercial products22022-122020
LightDeck Diagnosticsdiagnostic equipment142022-062009
Aztek Networkstelecommunications62011-081982
Recurvecomputer software32022-052004
Crestone Capitalfintech12020-101991
Alfalfa's Marketretail52015-101979
Collective Intellectmarketing and advertising62011-122005
Madhavafood & beverages52015-061973
Xylemecomputer software12002-092004
Graphiclyinternet62013-092009
Fresh Produceapparel & fashion22015-071984
Lazzaro Medicalmedical devices32022-102019
Company Sixmusic22022-052019
Quality Biomedicalmedical devices12019-092017
Eco-Productspackaging and containers22009-051990
element6 Dynamicsother agriculture12021-042019
Fusion Roboticsmedical devices22021-052019
Fitbionicmedical devices12013-082006
ConnectionEnginternet22011-072010
Rudis Organic Bakeryfood production12000-021976
Reactorsocial content22013-022013
Source MDxbiotechnology12010-021998
Altheapharmaceuticals12024-072023

round amounts sparse for tier-3 cities — counts shown, dollar totals withheld

Founded by year
2026: 6200820266
Stages
UnfundedUnfunded: 947947AcquiredAcquired: 304304DeadpooledDeadpooled: 295295SeedSeed: 175175Funding RaisedFunding Raised: 168168PrivatePrivate: 107107Series ASeries A: 8080Acqui-HiredAcqui-Hired: 5656Series BSeries B: 3838PublicPublic: 2626
Recent founds (2018+)
companyindustryfoundedemployees
Better Triathletesports2026—
Discover Tenkarasporting goods2026—
Divine Gemstone Therapyhealth, wellness and fitness2026—
Iikj Usretail2026—
Renovare Therapeuticsbiotechnology2026—
Sandals Flip Flops Shopapparel & fashion2026—
Nexus Weather & Climatecomputer software2025—
PageHerointernet2025—
Vendable AIinternet2025—
FidUlink AIcomputer software2025—
AI Formattercomputer software2025—
Aluo AIinternet2025—
AstraOwleducation management2025—
Bonsaifinancial services2025—
Celebrity Look Alikeinternet2025—
ContentSparkinternet2025—
Credible Datacomputer software2025—
Distillrenewables & environment2025—
GearGenius.AIautomotive2025—
Gravityinformation technology and services2025—

gate: ≥150 companies & ≥20 recent founds — passed (3914/617)

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