As Coloradans savor the last bits of summer with mountain hikes and music festivals, the city’s tech scene is gearing up for a season of change defined by powerful products — and empowered people.
Red 6, a software company that specializes in military flight training, is celebrating a new contract from the U.S. Air Force, while Vertafore stays focused on transforming insurance tech under guidance from Chief Marketing Officer Wendy Steinle and Chief Financial Officer Manisha Patel, both of whom are backed by vast industry experience and a mutual enthusiasm for the company’s future.
And as local companies drive innovation, they’re still ensuring their people have the support and resources they need to deliver their best work. While AIR Communities offers its team members access to perks like childcare benefits and tuition reimbursement, FusionAuth provides employees with a continuing education stipend, an unlimited vacation policy and other benefits that make it easy to prioritize growth and well-being.
While summer may not be over just yet, these companies are embracing new beginnings, and they’re looking for tech talent to join them on their journey. Read on to learn why these four growing companies are ones to watch.
What Vertafore does: Vertafore offers insurance technology solutions that are designed to connect every point of the insurance distribution channel.
Perks and Benefits
- 401(k) matching
- Adoption assistance
- Recreational clubs
- Unlimited vacation policy
- Tuition reimbursement
Women fueling success: Vertafore owes much of its success to two of its women leaders: Chief Marketing Officer Wendy Steinle and Chief Financial Officer Manisha Patel. Prior to joining Vertafore, Steinle held CMO roles at Domo and Degreed, and before that, she led go-to-market strategy for Adobe’s Digital Experience business. “I love working with a team of dedicated people who are passionate about their craft and want to make a difference for others — and at Vertafore, it’s the idea of ‘powering your possible,’” Steinle shared in her profile on Vertafore’s website.
With a bachelor’s degree of science in business administration from the University of California, Berkeley, Patel started her career at KPMG in San Francisco. Before stepping into her role as CFO at Vertafore, she held financial leadership roles at Porch Group and APR Energy. In her profile on the company’s website, Patel shared, “As a major player in the insurance technology space, Vertafore operates in a complex and ever-evolving landscape, so the finance team isn’t just the numbers people — we’re a key driver of growth and transformation.”
What Red 6 does: Red 6 is an augmented reality startup that builds three-dimensional synthetic training worlds designed for military flight training.
Perks and Benefits
- Generous parental leave
- Flexible spending account
- Generous PTO
- Relocation assistance
- Paid industry certifications
In the news: Earlier this year, the company announced it had been awarded a contract from the U.S. Air Force to integrate its Airforce Tactical Augmented Reality System into the F-16 Fighting Falcon. According to a press release, this contract makes the company the first in the world delivering real-time, in-flight synthetic air combat training directly into the cockpits of operational fighter jets. “This is more than a contract — it’s a validation of our vision and a signal that the future of air combat training has arrived,” Red 6 CEO and Co-founder Daniel Robinson said in a statement. “ATARS is the only system capable of replicating the cognitive complexity fighter pilots face in real-world engagements — and now we’re delivering it in the cockpit of a frontline tactical jet. The F-16 is just the beginning.”
What AIR Communities does: AIR Communities operates apartment communities across major U.S. markets.
Perks and Benefits
- Employee stock purchase plan
- Childcare benefits
- Mental health benefits
- Tuition reimbursement
- Commuter benefits
Fostering trust and transparency: Trusew Meaza, a service manager at AIR Communities, spoke with Built In earlier this year to describe how the company’s trusting and transparent culture empowers employees to share feedback openly, which contributes to a more well-rounded, inclusive culture. “I know I can reach out for support, even from the co-presidents, and people will be happy to help,” he said. “The culture is respectful, kind, supportive — a peaceful place to work.”
What FusionAuth does: FusionAuth’s software is designed to enable developers to add authentication to their products.
Perks and Benefits
- Company equity
- Continuing education stipend
- Generous parental leave
- 401(k) matching
- Unlimited vacation policy
In the news: The company recently appointed Brian Bell as its new CEO. A blog post on the company’s website states that Bell previously served as CEO of Split Software in addition to holding leadership roles at Ping Identity and Zuora. “This market is booming as companies race to deliver differentiated, secure digital experiences across web, mobile, and AI-powered platforms,” Bell said in a statement. “Customer identity and access management has become a critical component in handling complex identity needs in human-AI-machine ecosystems, making it essential for modern application architectures. FusionAuth is uniquely positioned to lead this next era — and the market momentum we’re seeing is just the beginning.”
