50 Colorado companies to watch 2010
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HONEY STINGER
SNAPSHOT: Based in Steamboat Springs, Honey Stinger produces honey-based energy gel, energy bars, protein bars and organic energy chews.
LEADERSHIP: Company President Bill Gamber teamed with his father, William, a honey industry veteran; Bob Stahl, a food product developer; and John Miller, a professional beekeeper, to launch Honey Stinger in 2001. Gamber is also the founder and president of Big Agnes, a Steamboat Springs-based camping gear manufacturer that was a Colorado Company to Watch last year.
WORK FORCE: The company had eight full-time equivalent employees in 2009 and expects to add two in 2010.
MARKETING: A small, self-funded company, Honey Stinger took a decidedly grass-roots and low-budget approach to marketing at the outset. Recently it has broadened its distribution to include Whole Foods, REI, Fleet Feet and Road Runner Sports and others, and as a result the company is seeing increased sales that will enable it to increase its marketing spend in the near future.
PIVOTAL MOMENT: The company announced in late April that famed cyclist Lance Armstrong had joined the Honey Stinger ownership group and would be involved in future product development and endorsement of Honey Stinger energy gels, bars and organic chews.
InDevR Inc.
SNAPSHOT:Boulder-based InDevR develops advanced life science instrumentation and assays for analysis of viruses and other microorganisms. The company’s goal is to revolutionize microbiological analysis with affordable, easy-to-use instrumentation and assays that deliver reliable results in less time and at less cost than traditional methods.
LEADERSHIP: Kathy Rowlen has been CEO since 2008. The company was founded in 2003.
GROWTH PATH: InDevR has raised more than $8 million in early-stage grant funding and has moved aggressively toward product commercialization. InDevR designed and beta-site tested a new instrument it believes may well revolutionize virus quantification, the Virus Counter. The commercial version of the Virus Counter was launched in January.
MARKET: InDevR estimates the virus-quantification market at about $1 billion. Its entry point is in the area of vaccines, where it expects its Virus Counter to speed up key steps in vaccine development and production as well as reducing costs.
PIVOTAL MOMENTS: In 2006, InDevR received a $2.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop novel pathogen detection methods. In 2008 InDevR received $2.4 million in Phase II funding from NIH to commercialize the company’s Virus Counter instrument. InDevR launched the Virus Counter product line in January, a full year ahead of schedule.
INFINITE POWER SOLUTIONS INC.
www.infinitepowersolutions.com
SNAPSHOT: This Littleton-based clean technology company founded in 2001 is the global leader in developing, marketing and manufacturing solid-state, rechargeable thin-film micro-energy storage devices for a variety of micro-electronic applications.
LEADERSHIP: Raymond Johnson is president and CEO.
MARKET NICHE: THINERGY Micro-Energy Cells are the world’s most powerful batteries for their size and outperform all other micro-batteries. Extremely small, flexible and powerful, these ultra-thin MECs are reliable and safe.
GREEN SCENE: The THINERGY Micro Energy Cell is a clean, green energy storage and micro-powered device that’s uniquely suited to leveraging harvested ambient or renewable energy. These MECs deliver a renewable, green energy solution that is unrivaled in its ability to store energy harvested from ambient environments, such as solar, heat or vibration energy. The products are infinitely rechargeable, which significantly reduces the amount of battery product that would end up in a landfill.
TEAM TALK: Management provides open and timely communications of important details in regard to the company’s position in the marketplace, financials and strategic plans.
INVIRAGEN INC.
SNAPSHOT: This Fort Collins-based company is focused on developing life-saving vaccines to protect against emerging infectious diseases worldwide, including many that impact children and adults in developing countries.
LEADERSHIP: Dan Stinchcomb is CEO of the company, founded in 2005
WORK FORCE: 20 full-time equivalent employees in 2009, projected to grow in 2010.
SAVING LIVES: More than 15 million people worldwide die each year of infectious diseases. Vaccines represent the most cost-effective solutions to improving global health. Vaccine development is currently under way for dengue fever, hand, foot and mouth disease, and Japanese encephalitis.
COLLABORATIVE POWER: Nationally, the company collaborates with researchers at the CDC in Fort Collins, Colorado State University, the University of Colorado, the University of Wisconsin, the University of Texas and the National Institutes of Health. Internationally, Inviragen collaborates with a vaccine manufacturer in India and with researchers in Singapore, India and Colombia.
TEAM TALK: Inviragen strives to identify employees who have the requisite laboratory skills in biotechnology, and also share a passion for finding solutions to public health problems. The shared mission to solving public health problems unifies the team, and employees take the time to help each other in and outside the laboratory.
IP5280 COMMUNICATIONS LLC
SNAPSHOT: IP5280 Communications is a next-generation phone company offering everything a business needs to communicate over an Internet connection.
LEADERSHIP: Jeffrey Pearl and John Scarborough are managing partners of the Englewoodcompany they co-founded in 2005
WORK FORCE: 25 full-time equivalent employees in 2009, projected to grow in 2010.
COMPANY STRENGTH: The company specializes in business-grade Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP services. Colorado is considered a United States hub for telecom, and IP5280 is poised to re-energize the telecom sector not only in Colorado, but across the country.
TEAM TALK: The managing partners run a fast-paced, hard-driving work environment while maintaining an upbeat work culture. Thus, turnover is low, and talent is high.
CARING FOR COMMUNITY: During IP5280’s Climbing For Kids, 125 climbers summited a 14,000-foot mountain, raising $50,000 for The Children’s Hospital and the Kempe Foundation. The company is also involved in environmental work through pine tree replenishment efforts, and is part of an alliance with Plant-It 2020.
GROWTH CURVE: IP5280 recently announced the availability of a cloud computing infrastructure, called CLOVER, or CLOud OVer Enterprise Resources. “Cloud” refers to shared Internet infrastructure, while Enterprise Resources are hosted applications such as e-mail and voice supported by the IP-based infrastructure.
LEFT HAND BREWING CO.
(INDIAN PEAKS BREWING CO.)
SNAPSHOT: Left Hand Brewing Co. brews and sells craft beer.
LEADERSHIP: Jon Eric Wallace is president of the Longmontcompany, founded in 1993
WORK FORCE: 31 full-time equivalent employees in 2009, projected to grow in 2010.
COMPANY STRENGTH: Recognized among competitors as a high-quality brewery with a wide range of well-brewed beers that have received numerous awards at the world’s most competitive beer competitions, including the World Beer Cup, the European Beer Star awards and the Great American Beer Fest.
GREEN SCENE: A more efficient brew house and steam boiler was installed in 2008. Spent grains are sent to cattle farms, and cardboard, paper, glass and shrink-wrap to Eco-cycle. Left Hand was the first business in Longmont to receive a city and state grant to help install a solar photovoltaic system.
CORE VALUES: The company is involved in supporting many local nonprofits and fundraising events. Employees sit on several boards, including the Colorado Shakespeare Festival Advisory Board, The Imagine! Foundation Board, the Our Center Board, and the Colorado Brewers Guild Board. Left Hand supported nearly 160 fundraising events through donations in 2009 and hosted 10 fundraising events at the brewery.
LOCATION3 MEDIA
SNAPSHOT: Location3 Media is an interactive marketing company focusing on search marketing, social media and creative services.
LEADERSHIP: Andrew Beckman is CEO of the Denvercompany, founded in 1999.
WORK FORCE: 40 full-time equivalent employees in 2009, projected to grow in 2010.
COMPANY STRENGTH: Developed Media Agent, an advanced tracking and reporting system. Media Agent allows the company to measure the performance of paid search marketing campaigns, allowing it to provide clients with detailed reports about the performance of their campaigns.
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES: The company helps other businesses market their goods and/or services online and on mobile devices, thus it relies on the advancements made by search engines, mobile devices and other technology.
WORK AND PLAY: A work-hard, play-hard attitude makes Location3 Media a challenging and rewarding place to work. Tireless, dedicated workers excel at every project, and are rewarded for hard work. Company sponsors an annual ski day at Arapahoe Basin, and celebrates successes at frequent happy hours and parties.
M&E PAINTING LLC
SNAPSHOT: M&E Painting provides residential and commercial painting services throughout Colorado.
LEADERSHIP: Matthew Shoup is president of the Loveland-based company, founded in 2004.
WORK FORCE: 16 full-time equivalent employees in 2009, projected to grow in 2010.
COMPANY STRENGTH: In 2008, the company created myMandEpaint.com, an inter-company customer management tool. Every member of the company uses this site to track the customers’ jobs from start to finish. The site tracks customer history, estimator calendars and sales closing ratios. It also tracks key vital metrics for the company such as average job sizes, sales metrics, job and individual crew profitability.
MARKET NICHE: Effective sales and marketing models make M&E Painting profitable and give the company a competitive advantage locally and statewide. These strategies allowed the business to expand to Denver and Colorado Springs.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH: Free Paint Makeover campaign offers free services to those in need in the community. Employees also involved in the Colorado Make A Wish Foundation, and host a Christmas giveaway to help several families have a memorable holiday.
TEAM TALK: Company’s team members believe in quality, integrity, superior service, value, entrepreneurship, follow up, follow through, and growth.
MILE HIGH ORTHOTICS LAB (A&M LABS)
SNAPSHOT: Manufacturer of custom medical grade orthotic devices for the medical field, including podiatry, orthopedics, physical therapy, and other medical fields around the world.
LEADERSHIP: Greg Armstrong and Mark McMahon are owners of the Commerce Citycompany, founded in 2007
WORK FORCE: 10 full-time equivalent employees in 2009, projected to grow in 2010.
COMPANY STRENGTH: Computer Aided Manufacturing system offered scanners to doctors, eliminating the need for messy plaster, and giving doctors more time to spend with patients.
MARKET NICHE: Only orthotic lab that carries the Walkwell Brace, which is an ankle-foot orthosis that has three patents pending and is licensed by Johnson & Johnson. Mile High Orthotics Lab is the exclusive distributor of The Walkwell Custom AFO. The ability to wear the brace with a typical sport shoe helps the patients conform to the doctor’s orders and results in a higher success rate for the patient.
FAMILY FIRST: At Mile High, family comes first. Employees are offered the flexibility that many families need today. Extra warehouse space has been used for a handball court, a basketball hoop and a workout room.
MYWIRELESS INC.
SNAPSHOT: MyWireless is a retailer of wireless phones and has been designated as a Verizon Wireless premium retailer selling cellular phones, accessories, broadband Internet cards and Netbook computers.
LEADERSHIP: Andrew Brown, owner and CEO, and Jim Somerville, president of the Steamboat Springs-based company.
WORK FORCE: 94 full-time equivalent employees in 2009.
COMPANY STREGTH: Brown started the company in early 2004 with one store and five employees. Today, My Wireless has grown to 28 locations; 26 stores throughout Colorado, one in New Mexico and one in Wyoming.
ADVERTISING PAYS: Challenged by numerous competitors selling similar products, MyWireless has found a way to stand out though its light-hearted advertising campaign. MyWireless has wrapped more than 40 cars in bright colors. Vehicles range from 1929 Model A’s to 1947 panel wagons, 1939 Harley Davidsons to little Nash Metros, each having its own unique design and branding MyWireless with a fun flare.
GIVING BACK: Working with The Children’s Hospital and Moose Barrow, founder of The Mickey Barrows Endowment, MyWireless raised more than $20,000. Also raised money for the Red Cross Haiti Fund, and is the official sponsor of the NHL Players Association, and official sponsor for the Harlem Ambassadors Basketball Show, a fundraiser in Steamboat Springs for the Boys and Girls Club.
NETFACTOR CORP.
SNAPSHOT: netFactor Corp. provides several products driving new levels of sales performance from Internet marketing for the business-to-business market.
LEADERSHIP: Christopher Jeffers is CEO, and Daniel Grote is CFO of the Greenwood Villagecompany, founded in 2003.
MARKET NICHE: The company’s core VisitorTrack technology platform integrates search engine marketing, business intelligence and Web analytics into a powerful application. In short, company representatives say, “It’s like caller ID for your website.”
BY THE NUMBERS: More than 50 percent of the prospective customers who try VisitorTrack during a trial purchase it. Revenues have grown by more than 230 percent during the past two years.
GIVING BACK: The company’s leadership team and employees work to help children by supporting Toys for Tots and Trauma Buddies, a program for sick and injured children at area hospitals. NetFactor also supports the Susan G. Komen foundation and participated in the Race for the Cure.
COMPANY CULTURE: netFactor is dedicated to providing rewards and recognition to associates in tangible and creative ways. Associates receive a 100 percent company health-care program, and compensation is at or above the top of the market. Friday socials bring employees together, as do lunchtime bowling tournaments.
NEUMANN SYSTEMS GROUP INC.
SNAPSHOT: NSG is a technology and product development company focused on two areas: chemical processing and emissions control; and high-energy laser systems.
LEADERSHIP: David Neumann is CEO of the Colorado Springscompany founded in 1997.
WORK FORCE: 56 full-time equivalent employees in 2009, projected to grow in 2010.
MARKET NICHE: NSG’s NeuStream technology exemplifies innovation through development of new technology, product innovation, use of new technology to enhance an existing traditional industry and has a sustainable competitive advantage. A NeuStream emissions control pilot plant at Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) is the culmination of two years of laboratory-to-commercial scale development and operation.
SMALLER IS BETTER: The NeuStream systems are 90 percent smaller, more efficient and less expensive than conventional systems.
GREEN SCENE: For two years, NSG has had a public-private partnership with Colorado Springs Utilities and the city of Colorado Springs to provide the community lower utility costs, a cleaner environment, increased jobs, and a sustainable, green industry. The company’s most recent advances led to a NeuStream pollution control system for greenhouse gas and pollutant control from fossil-fuel burning power plants.
Last updated on Jun 14, 2010 at 12:01 PM
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COMPANY CULTURE: netFactor is dedicated to providing rewards and recognition to associates in tangible and creative ways. Associates receive a 100 percent company health-care program, and compensation is at or above the top of the market. Friday socials bring employees together, as do lunchtime bowling tournaments.
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