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Articles by Jess Ryan
Experts from USDA and the Industry Host Annual Cotton Ginners Schools
Posted by Public Affairs Specialists Maribel Alonso and Jess Ryan, USDA-ARS Office of Communications in Research and Science The U.S. cotton industry contributes 35% of the cotton exported globally. Cotton processing can require intense work and training, including the proper use of the cotton gins commonly used to speed up the cleaning process of cotton seeds, removal of foreign materials, and compression of the cotton into lint bales.
Fun socks, private chefs and themed conference rooms: Inside 3 of Denver tech’s trendiest offices
Anyone who’s spent hours toiling away in a garage or crowded coffee shop can tell you that where you work has a huge impact on the work you do. Office design is a huge topic in the startup community, as companies try to determine whether to have an open office, how much location matters for talent development or even the health impacts of investing in standing desks for their employees.
Notion raises $10M Series A to make homes - and insurers - smarter
IoT smart home technology startup Notion announced the closing of a $10 million round of Series A funding today. The latest funding, led by Draper Nexus and Translink Capital (with participation from existing investors), brings Notion’s total funding since its 2013 launch to $15 million.
A day in the life of HomeAdvisor's homegrown sales team
Every morning, the HomeAdvisor sales team huddles together with coffee in hand to discuss the previous day’s performance and the new day’s goals. After a quick game or exercise to get the mental juices flowing, the team hits the phones, as sales consultant Kevin Jackson puts it, “smiling and dialing until lunch.” After lunch, they crank up the tunes, singing along to their favorite songs in between sales meetings.
Grow your network at these 5 Colorado tech events happening this week
Every week, we dig through our events calendar and hand-select five events worth checking out. This week, it’s all about making those summer connections. So, set your social butterfly free and get ready to do some networking. Come mingle with hundreds of VCs, angel investors, tech CEOs and founders for the Colorado Venture Summit’s annual evening party.
Tech roundup: WOW closes IPO, CTA grows its board and more
Yesterday, the Englewood-based cable and internet provider WideOpenWest closed its initial public offering of shares. The offering received a somewhat lukewarm response, selling 18.24 million of the 19.05 million shares offered at a lower price than expected. However, WOW's leaders remain optimistic about the flexibility they’ll have as a publicly traded company. They plan to use the $310 million raised to pay down higher interest rate loans.
Colorado tech raised $30M in May. Here are the top 5 rounds
Even as the temperatures rise, fundraising in Colorado cooled off this month. Following a big month of funding in April, May saw only $28.9 million in total funding for local tech companies. Despite the month’s lower numbers, seven tech startups each brought in over $1 million, including early-stage healthtech startup Apostrophe. Wanna see who brought in the most? Here are the top five rounds of tech funding for May.
Your new career is here: 6 Colorado tech companies hiring this month
Sometimes it’s not about finding a job. It’s about finding the job — the one that launches you out of bed with a grin, challenges you to do better and keeps you feeling inspired and engaged. We get it. That’s why we reached out to some of the top employers in Colorado tech to learn what they look for in the ideal candidate — and what they’re doing to retain the best talent in their industries.
Go Code Colorado is This Weekend, and $25,000 Might Be the Smallest Reward
If you’ve already heard about Go Code Colorado—Colorado’s award-winning program that engages entrepreneurs and software develops to turn public data into business insights—you already know that the top three teams get $25,000 contracts to get their idea off the ground. What you may not know is that the top ten teams in the state get invaluable face time with prestigious startup incubators such as Techstars, House of Genius and Boomtown.
Make your move: These 6 Colorado tech companies are hiring now
As we enter this period of renewal, many of us turn our thoughts toward new opportunities — like finding a new job. But with hundreds of startup jobs open, the thought of sifting through everything to find the perfect position can be a bit daunting. Fortunately, we’ve done the heavy lifting for you, picking out six refreshing Colorado companies that are growing their teams this spring. What they do: Billtrust’s software helps their clients make invoicing and payments management easier.
Why the Colorado Venture Summit has been a game-changer for so many tech leaders
Every year, dozens of tech executives and VCs gather in Denver to mix and mingle, have one-on-one meetings and explore mutual interests. These new relationships sometimes lead to funding deals right away; others can bear fruit a year or two down the line. The stage for this life-changing experience is the Colorado Venture Summit, now gearing up for its fourth year. The exclusive, curated event has sold out every year, with 65 venture-backed CEOs and nearly 60 out-of-state VCs attending in 2016.
Recruiter pet peeves: What not to do when applying for your next tech gig
In the era of formatted resumes, creative applications and varied opinions, one of the most challenging parts of job searching is figuring out whether you should stick to the classic application and interview standards, or if taking a more personal approach would be better. After all, recruiters and hiring managers are all different — what one person expects from candidates might seem superfluous to another.
Colorado tech brought in more than $20M in March. Here are the top 5 rounds
Colorado’s tech fundings hit a slight rough patch in March, closing just over $20 million in funding — a significant drop from the $87 million raised in February. But with some big-name acquisitions and mergers last month, including PivotDesk, Denverite and Zen Planner, it was still a big month for Colorado tech. And roughly half of the companies that raised money this month raised at least $1 million. Check out the top five rounds below.
You won't want to miss these 5 Colorado tech events this week
Every week, we dig through our events calendar and hand-select five events worth checking out. We’re looking forward to these five events: Inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs, April 5 at 6 p.m. The Innovation Pavillion, Douglas County Schools and Better Together are hosting members of the community this week, designed to connect entrepreneurs and K-8 students to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. Ever wanted to learn more about Bitcoin?
How 3 Colorado startups celebrate Fridays in style
Fridays are just the best, aren’t they? They give us time to reflect on the past week, get excited about the weekend and prepare for what’s coming next. Nearly every company has its own Friday ritual, from enjoying a beer or treats the last hour of the day to giving presentations during an all-hands meeting. We asked a few Colorado startups to share their Friday rituals — and we’d love to hear about yours, too. DigitalGlobe spends their Fridays celebrating a key team within their company.
From dating to smart homes, here's how Colorado tech companies are using AI
It seems like Artificial Intelligence has been on the rise for ages, from that one movie with Haley Joel Osment to Siri and IBM’s Watson. As the technology has advanced, more companies are getting in on the fun, including ones in Colorado. Here are seven Colorado startups using AI and machine learning in their products. One of Colorado’s top adtech companies, AppThis helps brands place ads on apps around the world.
Tech roundup: Denver a top city for women in tech, Alteryx IPOs and more
Earlier this week, New York-based Industrious acquired Colorado shared-office matching startup PivotDesk. Industrious, which creates sophisticated coworking and shared office spaces, plans to use PivotDesk’s product to improve its office searching capabilities. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Why a Denver startup's platform could be a one-stop-shop for the legal cannabis industry
From the outside, the legalized cannabis industry appears fairly straightforward: people grow cannabis, others sell it and their customers consume it. But in such a highly-regulated industry, it’s actually much more complex. Regulations vary by state, county and even municipal levels. For example, in Pennsylvania’s emerging medical market, “combustible” (smokable) products are not allowed.
5 Colorado startups where your pup is part of the team
From dressing them up for the holidays to helping them get startup jobs of their own, it’s no secret folks in Colorado tech love our dogs — maybe a little too much. If you’re looking for a job where you can bring your fur-child to the office with you, look no further than these Colorado tech companies. Name.com, the Colorado-based domain registrar bringing you all those crazy domain extensions like .ninja, .forsale and .dentist are also a mega dog-friendly office. Other perks?
Check out this week's top 5 Colorado tech events
Every week, we dig through our events calendar and hand-select five events worth checking out. Here are our top picks for this week: The basics of raising capital, Mar. 28 at 5 p.m. For startup leaders looking to raise funds or brand-new entrepreneurs who don’t know anything about the capital world, the Founder Institute is hosting a workshop about the basics of raising money.
Sell yourself: what 3 recruiters actually look for in sales candidates
Working in sales means you should be able to convince a company to hire you in a snap, right? Well, the best ways to “sell yourself” may not be what you think. If you’re a salesperson looking for a new gig, we checked in with some recruiters to learn what they really want to see from your application. Dana Monroe is an HR recruiter for Layer3 TV, a Denver-based company seeking to change how we use cable. Pictured is Layer3 sales rep, Corrinne Willis.
New founders on the block: 6 Colorado entrepreneurs under 25
A lot can happen before someone turns 25: they might graduate college, discover their favorite beers (and learn their limits when it comes to quantity) or even travel the world. But before that milestone, most young adults are focused on landing their first real job — not on running a company. But there is always the exceptional exception — the ambitious overachiever putting 26-year-olds like me to shame. Here are six Colorado entrepreneurs who launched their startups before they turned 25.
Tech roundup: Big week for acquisitions, launches and more
Daxko, a provider of software for health and wellness organizations like the YMCA, acquired Highlands Ranch-based Zen Planner. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Zen Planner’s 88 employees will remain in their Colorado office as part of Daxko. [Birmingham Business Journal] This week, Colorado security company announced they’ve acquired Malvern, Pennsylvania-based Comm Solutions. Designed to expand Optiv’s reach, terms of the deal were also not disclosed.
Why coders code: 3 senior devs on what got them into programming
As a developer, you have plenty of great job options and the ability to work in almost any industry. But there’s usually a story behind the code — the reason you became a coder in the first place and jumped into a job that requires long hours and complex problem solving. We asked Colorado devs to share the stories behind what got them into programming and what they love about being a Centennial State coder. Answers from Scott Davis, principal engineer at ThoughtWorks.
Hey, number nerds: These 5 Colorado startups want you on their team
Do you love nerding out over numbers, data and statistics? Data science is a powerful part of the tech world these days, and Colorado companies need people to help make sense of all the information they’re collecting. Here are five jobs at Colorado startups that’ll help you put your numbers skills to work. What you’d do: You’d work with Arrow’s data to determine which technology tools are the right ones to impact the company’s business decisions.
Changing of the guard: Meet the new leaders at 7 Colorado tech companies
In the past few weeks, seven Colorado companies have experienced leadership shakeups. From new C-level execs to program directors, these companies are drawing from rich backgrounds spanning military, science and tech giants like Dell. Here are the new leaders in Colorado’s tech community this month: Denver’s Layer3 TV plans to revolutionize cable TV. They recently added Gregg Grigaitis to the team as the company’s Chief Product Officer.
This founder is on a mission to protect small businesses from cyber threats
Cybersecurity is an issue around the world, but it often takes a local approach to protect an organization from digital threats. Toggle is a Colorado Springs startup that helps local businesses stay in front of cyber threats and respond when attacked. “A lot of the challenges that we see, especially here in the Colorado Springs market, is that a lot of the small and mid-sized businesses are not aware of the risks that are posed to them on a day-to-day basis,” said Toggle founder Joseph Cheung.
Tech roundup: Blinker wins at SXSW, Baker brings in another $1.6M and more
Blinker, a Denver-based startup that connects buyers and sellers of used cars directly, took first place in the New Economy category of the SXSW Interactive Innovation Award on Tuesday. When a seller takes a photo of their car with Blinker, the app automatically pulls information like its make, model and service history, which is used to estimate the car’s value before putting up a listing. The company competed against a fellow Denver startup, Tokken, in the category.
5 Colorado tech companies at the intersection of tech and fitness
Fitness and technology sit on opposite ends of the lifestyle spectrum. The former promotes an active, on-the-go routine that eschews sitting in front of a screen at all costs; the latter, an integrated sense of connectedness that leans on gadgets and gizmos to eliminate problems and offer new, unlimited points of access to discover the world. But theirs is no oil-and-water rivalry.
The road to code: 4 steps to a career in coding and web development
The projected demand for web developers in the U.S. is expected to remain higher than average into the next decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Software and web developers are such a commodity that they can work around the globe, in Silicon Valley or even from the comfort of their own homes. For those who learn to develop software and web applications, there may be many interesting job opportunities in Colorado and beyond. So why isn’t everyone doing it?
Bootstrap or bust: 8 Colorado companies that went without VC funding
Colorado startups do a great job raising money, with more than three quarters of a billion raised last year. But not every company wants to take on outside funding. Companies big and small have avoided taking venture capital money. For some, it’s because the nature of their product was easily self-sustaining, while others wanted autonomy to keep their product in line with a mission. We rounded up a selection of Colorado’s bootstrapped companies below.
5 Colorado tech events to pencil in your calendar this week
Every week, we dig through our events calendar and hand select five events worth checking out. Here’s what’s on our radar in the upcoming weeks: WordPress Happiness Hour at the Denver Library, Mar. 13 at 6 p.m. Calling all developers, designers and writers: The Denver Library will be hosting a WordPress Happiness Hour for fans of the platform to hang out and network while working on their projects. Come by the IdeaLab in the library’s Community Technology Center for the festivities.
4 Colorado tech CEOs share which local companies they admire
There’s a lot of love in the Colorado tech community. We pride ourselves on our collaborative nature, and it’s a huge factor drawing talent to the state. To celebrate that spirit (and to scratch an itch of curiosity), we’ve asked four Colorado tech CEOs to share which local startups they admire — and why. The local company I admire the most is Techstars, for a couple reasons. First, their focus on making entrepreneurs successful is hugely impactful on the Colorado startup ecosystem and beyond.
How CaliberMind is using AI to make B2B marketing smarter
Just as companies like Coca-Cola and Apple have to market their products to the right people to be successful, businesses that sell products to other businesses need to market smartly to make sure they can find the right buyers. But B2B marketing can’t use the same methods as traditional marketers.
Tech roundup: Denverite merger, new Techstars program and more
This week, Denver-based Couragion — a fun search-and-discovery app that helps kids explore various STEM careers they might enjoy — announced they received a $750,000 grant from the National Science foundation at the end of February. According to the BusinessDen, the funds will be used to build out additional features and fuel market research.
A look inside the parental leave policies at 4 Colorado startups
While the United States doesn’t require paid parental leave, it’s a growing topic among startups and tech companies — especially when discussing retention, diversity and inclusion. There’s no standard for parental leave policies, so to give our readers an idea of what’s happening in Colorado, we asked four local tech companies to share the details of their policies. Ibotta’s parental leave policy was shaped partially by necessity, and largely by the company’s values.
What's in the cards for the adtech industry? 3 Colorado companies weigh in
In a region home to a remarkable spread of advertising and marketing agencies, it only makes sense that there’d be quite a few adtech companies here, too. As these startups, and the industry, continue to grow, we caught up with three local tech companies to learn what’s happening in the industry now, and where it’s headed in the future. Denver’s Adtaxi connects brands with consumers using audience-based tools.
4 Colorado startups offering equity as an employee benefit
It’s not uncommon for startups to offer equity or stock options as part of an employee’s compensation package. But for newcomers to the startup world, whether they're transitioning from other industries or just entering the workforce, equity can be confusing. Why would a company offer it? What does it even mean? We had four Colorado companies share their perspectives on offering equity to their employees.
7 Colorado startups investing in their employees' professional growth
Finding a company where you can grow professionally is what transforms a role from just a job into an actual career. While it’s entirely possible to learn by doing, it’s also nice to work for a company that actively supports professional development. Here are seven Colorado companies doing just that. Denver financial monitoring and advisory company Personal Capital offers training for people who want to become certified financial planners, plus an allowance for the CFP exam.
5 Colorado tech events to get excited about this week
Every week, we dig through our events calendar and hand-select five events worth checking out. We've got an exciting week ahead of us! The team at Invision put together a documentary about the transformative power of design, and CodeCraft and BDA are bringing the film to Colorado this week. The free screening will also have networking and a panel discussion featuring three Colorado designers. Learn a new skill in a growing discipline as TechFriends hosts a crash course on connected devices.
Why this Denver VR company wants to bring Colorado's beauty to the masses
Denver’s Gravity Jack builds some pretty intense AR and VR projects. They’ve worked on client services projects for companies like Dell and the Lincoln Motor Company, and their recently-released PoindextAR project accurately calculates “six points of freedom” for an object, understanding its position within 3D space. The scanner tracks movement, understanding everything in ways similar to how the human brain and vision understands objects.
Love where you work: 3 Colorado tech employees on the best parts of their jobs
Obviously, nobody seeks out a job they’re going to hate. But it’s always better to find a job you love, right? From a great team and a unique office to interesting work and opportunities to grow, these Colorado startup employees have plenty of reasons to love where they work. “This is the reason why I hope to do this the rest of my life.” — Valerie Erwin Screen Pilot has been working with hotels and hospitality brands since 2006.
5 of the best Colorado companies to work for (and they're all hiring)
Ready for a new career? Fortunately, we specialize in that sort of thing, with hundreds of jobs posted from dozens of Colorado tech companies. But if combing through our jobs board is a bit overwhelming, have no fear: We’ve hand-picked five of the hottest companies hiring this month. What they do: Xero’s software helps small businesses handle accounting and bookkeeping, from calculating sales tax to taking care of payroll.
Tech roundup: Spire Digital heads to Cap Hill, Dropoff launches in Colorado and more
After having been in RiNo since 2011, software development shop Spire Digital announced this week they’ll be moving to a new office in Capitol Hill at 9th and Lincoln. The company will relocate all of its 40-person team to the new space, which was previously home to an architecture firm. The space is currently 6,500 square feet, but they hope to add on to the building to create a total area of 8,500 square feet. They expect to move into the new building by the end of July.
Funding momentum grows as Colorado tech raises nearly $87M in February
Colorado startups raised nearly $87 million in February, with 80 percent of the month’s rounds pulling in at least $1 million. It’s a decrease compared to the $118 million raised in January, but coupled with DigitalGlobe’s $3.2 billion acquisition late last month, Colorado tech continues to have a strong funding environment in 2017. Here’s a look at February’s top five rounds. What they do: Tendril gets people interested and engaged in energy efficiency by partnering with utility providers.
Why Swipebox wants to support the customers their competitors turned away
A recently-launched Colorado startup hopes to take on payment giants Stripe and Braintree, providing an essential service to entrepreneurs with their unique approach to online payments.
Cherwell Software pulls in $50M to expand R&D, acquisition portfolio
Colorado Springs IT services manager Cherwell Software announced today they’ve raised $50 million in funding from private equity firm KKR. The investment comes through KKR’s Next Generation Technology Fund, a fund dedicated to investing in digital tech, including software, security and digital media. In a statement, Cherwell said they plan to use the funds to accelerate their research and development efforts and to make strategic investments in other companies.
5 Colorado tech events you should check out this week
Every week, we dig through our events calendar and hand-select five events worth checking out. Here’s what’s on our radar this week: Looking for a new job, or new to the workforce? At this General Assembly workshop, you’ll learn job search tips like standing out from the crowd, nailing your interview and networking like a pro. You’ll also have an opportunity to ask questions from a panel of experts, including some of Colorado tech’s top recruiters.
Thinking of applying to a Colorado accelerator? Here's what you need to know
For some startups, an accelerator can be a make-or-break experience. If you’re thinking of applying to a Colorado-based accelerator, it’s important to know what you’re in for. A big name doesn’t always mean a good fit for your company, and the program’s schedule might not line up with what you need.
How this Boulder startup is bringing military-grade encryption to your private messages
In recent months, the conversation about encrypted messaging has mostly centered around organizing protests and sharing sensitive information with journalists. But a Boulder startup thinks the technology can be used for fun, too. Conclave is an end-to-end encrypted messaging app developed by Boulder’s Forge Global Industries. The Android, iOS and web app is designed to be a fun, secure messaging system for young adults, though they ultimately believe Conclave is for anyone who wants it.
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