As the leaves turn colors and prepare for a new season, the Colorado tech scene saw changes of its own last week. Companies announced new facilities, funding and personnel appointments. Catch up on what you might have missed with the Built In Colorado Weekly Refresh.
Virta Health moved its HQ from San Francisco to Denver. Virta already had a satellite office in the Mile High City, but it decided to expand its presence when state officials offered $6.9 million in tax credits in exchange for the creation of 902 local jobs over the next eight years. The company, which has 400 employees, is a telehealth platform that provides health coaching to people with type 2 diabetes. The new Denver headquarters will staff engineers, researchers, sales and account managers, coaches and clinicians. [Built In Colorado]
Electra raised $85M. The green iron company has developed a way to electrochemically refine iron ore into pure iron at 140 degrees Fahrenheit using renewable electricity. It can then convert the iron to steel using electricity-powered arc furnaces. The company said this process emits zero carbon dioxide emissions and costs the same or less than existing production methods. The company expects to finish construction next year on a pilot plant at its Boulder headquarters. [Built In Colorado]
Sugarwish announced two new fulfillment centers. Sugarwish, which has been sending gift boxes of candy, popcorn and other treats to customers for 10 years, is moving its Indian Creek headquarters to a new office space and fulfillment center in Englewood. The company, which has grown in popularity during the pandemic as companies seek a way to connect with their remote teams, is also opening a fulfillment center in Michigan to reduce shipping times. [Colorado Inno]
Colorado Tech Quote of the Week
Optera partnered with the Responsible Business Alliance. Optera is a Boulder-based startup that helps companies measure, manage and mitigate their carbon emissions. Last week, it announced a partnership with the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) to roll out new greenhouse gas management capabilities to the organization’s more than 200 core corporate members, along with their tens of thousands of suppliers. [Responsible Business Alliance]
ColdQuanta expanded its leadership team. The quantum computing company has promoted Chris Wood from vice president of photonic technologies to CTO. Acting CTO Dana Z. Anderson, will serve as chief strategy officer. ColdQuanta also named William Clark as vice president of quantum development, Laura Hale as vice president of government programs and Steve Matthews as vice president of sales and business development for quantum information platforms. [PR Newswire]