The Future 5 of Colorado Tech, Q3 2022

These emerging startups might be working on the next big tech innovation.
Written by Jeff Rumage
September 28, 2022Updated: September 28, 2022
Colorado Future 5 headshots
Founders of Colorado tech startups included in the Q3 Future 5 series. | Image: Advanced Autoponics, Gritly, Bundl, Macrostax and You:Flourish / BuiltIn

Sure the latest initiatives from the Teslas, Apples and Googles of the industry tend to dominate the tech news space — and with good reason. Still, the tech titans aren’t the only ones bringing innovation to the sector.

In an effort to highlight up-and-coming startups, Built In has launched The Future 5 across 11 major U.S. tech hubs. Each quarter, we will feature five tech startups, nonprofits or entrepreneurs in each of these hubs who just might be working on the next big thing. Read our round-up of Colorado’s rising startups from last quarter here.

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Built In Colorado’s quarterly list of up-and-coming tech startups spans a wide range of industries. From nutrition to plant care to mental health resources, these startups are on a mission to innovate their respective fields. Keep reading for the unique founding stories behind these early-stage startups.

Built In’s Future 5 Up-And-Coming Colorado Startups, Q3 2022

  • Advanced Autoponics (Greentech)
  • Bundl (HR Tech)
  • Gritly (Edtech)
  • Macrostax (Fitness/Nutrition)
  • You:Flourish (Healthtech)

 

Advanced Autoponics founder Sayon Chandrakanthan has developed an automated hydroponics system that remotely grows, monitors and maintains plants for residential and commercial buildings.

The automated system can remotely adjust the temperature and water level of each plant. It can also guide root systems to prevent water from pooling up, allowing the company to grow plants with large roots.

Chandrakanthan, an electrical engineer by trade, said he hopes to raise funds soon to fuel future growth.

Read More About Advanced AutoponicsAdvanced Autoponics Can Keep Your Plants Alive From Miles Away

 

Bundl, which launched in August, allows employees to reallocate their employer’s perks without increasing the company’s budget.

Companies that sign up with Bundl enter all of their available perks onto the Bundl platform and then quantify the benefit amount allotted to each employee. On the back end, Bundl calculates the monetary value of each specific perk or benefit.

Once a company’s perks and benefits have been entered into the Bundl platform, employees can adjust their perks and benefits to match their lifestyle needs. An employee might, for example, choose to opt-out of a commuting stipend in exchange for a larger work-from-home stipend or more equity in the company.

Read More About BundlBundl Allows Employees to Customize Their Perks

 

David Lopez first launched Gritly as a tech sales bootcamp in September of 2020, but he soon decided to pivot to a different model that was easier to scale.

Now, Gritly is a portal that hosts other bootcamps and edtech programs that provide role-specific training, such as front-end development, back-end development, data management, user experience, recruiting and sales. The startup currently hosts five edtech programs on its site and hopes to gain more partners in the future.

Gritly also connects students with a network of 13 employers that pay to post jobs, create company profiles and obtain performance data about each student taking classes on the platform.

Read More About GritlyGritly Is Paving a New Path to Training and Upskilling Professionals

 

After years of restrictive dieting, personal trainer and CrossFit athlete Lindsey Jenks said her life changed when she started counting her intake of protein, carbohydrates and fats, which are known as macronutrients.

Jenks launched Macrostax, an app that calculates the ideal macronutrient intake for each user based on their age, height, weight and activity level. The app also recommends recipes and serving sizes that will help each user meet their goals.

Since launching the app in 2017 with just $5,000, the app has attracted 160,000 users and generated $17 million in revenue. Now, Jenks plans to build on her success with Macrostax Team, an enterprise subscription that gives gyms an easy way of offering nutrition consulting as an added service to their clients.

Read More About MacrostaxMacrostax Helps People Achieve Their Fitness Goals by Counting Macronutrients

 

Struck by the lack of diversity and LGBTQ+ awareness in the mental health field, counselor Steven Haden decided to create an app that would make it easier for the LGBTQ+ community to connect with trained mental health professionals and other LGBTQ+ individuals.

Last fall, Haden launched You:Flourish. The company is currently developing an app that provides individuals with a free directory of counselors trained in caring for the LGBTQ+ community. Paid users will get access to wellness content and resources, along with space for individuals to find support and companionship with other LGBTQ+ individuals.

The app has been under development for the past seven months and is on track for a public launch in March.

Read More About You:FlourishYou:Flourish Is Crafting an App to Care for LGBTQ+ Mental-Health Needs

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