Boulder is the traditional hub of Colorado’s tech and startup scene. The city prides itself on its small town feel, big city liberalism and an outdoorsy vibe. It is a grown-up college town, home of University of Colorado Boulder. The city is also home to many of the state’s most successful tech companies, as well as a few up-and-comers. Google recently took notice of Boulder, and is building a major new campus there. If you like bikes, breweries, and a chilled out, funky atmosphere, Boulder is hard to beat.
Top 2015 fundings
- Sphero: $45 million, June 1
- Green Chef: $15.5 million, April 14
- SpotRight: $4.2 million, April 2
- SlamData: $3.6 million, July 24
Companies to know: SolidFire, Sphero (Orbotix), Tendril, Zayo, SpotRight, SlamData, RoundPegg, Quick Left, LogRhythm, Google
CBRE’s take: “Boulder clearly stands out as the tech hub in Colorado with the highest density of startups in the nation. Companies such as Ball, StorageTek and Amgen pioneered the tech landscape, which continues to thrive with success stories including Rally Software and SolidFire. Investors, entrepreneurs and a talented labor force are all driven to Boulder because of the vibrant tech ecosphere and amazing quality of life.” - Alex Hammerstein, Senior Vice President at CBRE Occupier Advisory & Transaction Services
Transportation:
- Bike Share Stations: 39
- Bikeways: Over 300 miles
- Highways: US-36, CO-119
Coworking spaces: Galvanize, Boulder Digital Arts, Colab, Fuse, Impact Hub, Spark
Best places for a caffeine jolt: Boxcar Coffee Roasters, The Cup Espresso Cafe, Ozo Coffee, Flatiron Coffee, Village Coffee Shop, The Point Cafe
Best happy hours: Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery, The West End Tavern, The Bitter Bar, Pearl Street Pub and Cellar
Local breweries: Wild Woods Brewery, Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery, Sanitas Brewing, Twisted Pine Brewing, Boulder Beer, Upsloap Brewing Company, J Wells Brewery
Image via Tang Yan Song / Shutterstock.com
