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It has been a busy three months since Colorado Inno launched. We've covered major acquisitions and fundings, monitored big-time personnel moves and profiled promising startups.
We've held a kickoff event and put out the Beat every single (week)day, keeping you abreast on the latest Colorado startup and innovation news.
Now that 2018 is coming to a close, we want to look ahead to next year by compiling the 19 Colorado Startups to Watch in 2019.
We didn't do it all on our own though.
We leaned on suggestions from some industry experts, VC's, founders and others, along with our own internal reporting.
This list covers startups from a range of industries, with varying levels of funding, from across the state.
We think in 2019 the startups on the list will land huge funding rounds, get acquired or shake up their respective industries with bright ideas.
Now without further ado, let's check out the 19 to Watch in 2019 by clicking on each company's logo.
Barn Owl
For farmers and ranchers, monitoring remote assets like water tanks is often a manual process that involves a truck or ATV. Colorado Springs-based Barn Owl has developed a way to use cameras and smart surveillance to keep a watchful eye on assets, without having to drive the entire property. The startup won $25,000 at the 2018 Rocky Mountain Veterans Pitch Competition and is looking to raise $500,000.
Bitsbox
Bitsbox is a monthly subscription box service that teaches kids computer coding. There are a variety of packages based on age and theme that allow children to code and share apps. With two former Google employees, Scott Lininger and Aidan Chopra, at the helm, Bitsbox appeared on Shark Tank in 2017. The Boulder-based company raised $2.3M in equity in June.
Cheddar Up
Cheddar Up allows users like PTA's, teams, schools and clubs to create a money collection page in minutes, share the link and let Cheddar Up do the tracking. With the Denver-based startup users can start to collect money online via credit card, echeck or cash/check, without having an account or app. In 2017, Cheddar Up raised $1.2 million.
ClinOne
Clinical trial sponsors often have to wait until patients withdraw from studies to collect data. Denver-based ClinOne allows real-time measurement and visualization of engagement of each of their participants. The startup raised a $1 million seed round in 2017 and an undisclosed venture round in May.
Dapix
Colorado is looking to become a blockchain hub, and Dapix is hoping to make moving blockchain tokens and coins from one wallet to another as easy as a fist bump. The Denver-based startup is looking to revolutionize inter-wallet operability with the FIO Protocol. In August, Dapix raised an undisclosed amount during a seed round.
ēdn
Denver-based ēdn has developed a small home garden that brings nature and technology together to eliminate the need for a green thumb. The company graduated from Techstars in 2016 and appeared on Shark Tank in 2017, looking for $150,000 for 10 percent equity. They walked away without a deal, but are definitely one to watch for 2019.
Felt
The Telluride-based card company has made waves with its ability to use a mobile interface to send handwritten cards. Felt appeared on Shark Tank in 2016, accepting a deal with Kevin O’Leary for $225,000 in exchange for 10 percent equity. The company is in the process of raising a Series C round of $1 million and had already closed around $800,000 of it in late October.
Goally
Goally allows parents of children with Autism or ADHD to observe from the sidelines, without having to always serve as a prompter. The software and support device provides intuitive coaching for children working through essential daily routines. Boulder-based Goally guides children through basic tasks, like brushing their teeth or getting dressed, while providing positive feedback to motivate them. In October, Goally raised $884,205 in equity.
Hygge Power
In a storm or blackout, Hygge Power's OPO (The Outlet, Perfected) seamlessly powers your electronics without interruption. Your lights won’t flicker, your devices won't shut off, and you won’t lose your WiFi connection. And in a power surge, OPO protects your devices. In May, the Boulder-based startup was selected for Free Electrons, a global energy startup accelerator in Lisbon, Portugal. To date, the company has raised $620,000 according to Crunchbase.
Impressio
With backing from the NFL, CU Denver's Impressio is looking to make football helmets better at absorbing blows. The NFL has contributed to Impressio's research through two grants worth a combined $171,000. In an interview with the Denver Post in September, co-founder Chris Yacacki said the company is still in the R&D phase, looking for uses for the technology outside of just football.
Left Hand Robotics
Shoveling snow is backbreaking work. So, Left Hand Robotics has created the SnowBot Pro to do the work for you. The self-driving robotic tractor clears snow at 3.5 MPH and can do the work of 10 to 14 people with shovels. Longmont's Left Hand is preparing to send the first five test SnowBot’s out to customers in the coming weeks. The 14-person company raised a $3.7 million seed round in July and will go back out for a Series A in the spring of 2019.
Nikola Power
As more people and companies shift to renewable energy, Denver's Nikola Power is looking to make batteries smarter. Nikola provides software and energy storage solutions that allow customers to optimize their energy usage, saving them money in the long run. The company, which launched in 2017, raised a $1.5 million seed round in September of that year.
Shotzr
Shotzr is looking to change the stock photo game, offering access to relevant imagery for digital marketing purposes at a fraction of the cost of traditional stock photos. Denver-based Shotzr also provides access to an active network of professional-grade photographers. The company raised a $1.3 million seed round in 2017.
Somatic Labs
Denver-based Somatic Labs hopes to replace sight alerts with touch through its subscription-based service. It’s a haptic (or touch) communication technology company that programs wearable products and headgear with software. Together, these tools run custom touch patterns to give the person wearing them alerts without having to look at a screen. In September, co-founder and CEO Shantanu Bala said the startup was in the process of raising its first funding seed round.
Sopris Health
Documentation is time consuming and stress inducing work for physicians. Sopris Health has created an AI scribe that reduces the administrative burden of documentation for physicians. The Denver-based health tech startup launched its smartphone and smartwatch apps earlier this year and continued that momentum into the fall, raising a $3.4 million venture round in September.
The Hopper Boulder
We first stumbled across The Hopper at Denver Startup Week, as they were a finalist for the 2018 Pitch Competition. The Hopper is an innovator play space in Boulder where families will be able to take part in STEM projects together. The Hopper won’t open officially until sometime in 2020, but they’ll be active community members long before then. The Hopper team is planning additional pop-up events and community engagement sessions throughout 2019 to gather feedback for the space.
Wurk
Denver-based Wurk helps underserved cannabis businesses fortify, comply and thrive in the face of uncertain regulatory environments. The platform is designed to scale nationally with the growth of the cannabis industry, incorporating the local laws and regulations unique to each individual state. In April, Wurk raised $3.2 million in a bridge funding round led by Poseidon Asset Management.
