HopTea, made by brewing tea and hops, is produced by Boulder-based HopLark. (Courtesy Hoplark)
According to a tally of Forms Ds filed with the SEC last month, 52 startups around the state raised a total of $342.8 million. (You can see our sortable spreadsheet here).
That compares to $269 million in December and $361 million raised in January 2022.
BusinessDen defines a startup as a business that’s less than 10 years old and excludes publicly traded companies, real estate ventures and funds.
Denver startups raised the most with $164.7 million among 26 deals, followed by startups outside of Denver and Boulder with $128 million across 24 deals. Boulder startups raised $50 million across 10 deals.
Here are some highlights from January:
Voyager Space Holdings (Denver): $80 million
The Denver-based aerospace company raised more than any other startup last month with $80 million.
Voyager Space Holdings was founded in 2019 by CEO Dylan Taylor as a holding company to acquire firms in the aerospace sector. Currently, the company is studying agriculture in space in an attempt to stay ahead of food insecurity driven by climate change.
Since its founding, Voyager has raised roughly $271 million, according to SEC filings.
Hoplark (Boulder): $16 million
The Boulder-based beverage company raised $16 million in January, according to SEC filings.
Founded in 2018 by Dean Eberhardt and Andrew Markley, Hoplark brews non-alcoholic tea that has the hoppy taste of beer.
Hoplark was founded after Eberhardt took a break from drinking, but missed the “ritual” of having a beer with friends, according to the website.
The company now has three types of beverages: Hoptea, Hoplark 0.0 and Hoplark Water. Hoplark beverages are sold at Whole Foods, Total Wine & More, Amazon and more.
Engaged Citizen (Denver): $100,000
Engaged Citizen raised $100,000 from investors last month.
The company’s software Cloverleaf AI tracks and transcribes government meetings to make them searchable and more accessible.
CEO Adam Zucker said the company primarily sells subscriptions to manufacturing, construction and telecommunications groups to help them track government projects.
Zucker said yearly subscriptions vary based on customers needs, but start at $6,000 for companies. He said eventually more affordable subscriptions will be offered for individuals.
Since its founding in 2021, the company has raised $750,000, according to Zucker.
“We’re trying to hone in our market,” Zucker said. “The money allows us to stay alive and press on these things: How to be strategic and effective, pointed in the right direction, finding the bullseye and pushing as hard as we can.”
QRails (Denver): $4.9 million
The Denver-based payment processing company raised $4.9 million last month.
QRails created a website that processes card payments. In addition, it rolls out credit and debit card programs for companies, BusinessDen previously reported.
According to SEC filings, QRails has raised roughly $46 million since its founding in 2016.
GeoSolar Technologies Inc. (Denver): $609,190
The Denver-based eco-friendly housing company raised $609,190 in January.
Founded by Norbert Klebl and Brent Mosbarger in 2020, GeoSolar builds and remodels homes to be environmentally friendly, utilizing solar panels, ground heating and cooling systems and air purification. According to its website, using GeoSolar can completely eliminate utility bills.
HopTea, made by brewing tea and hops, is produced by Boulder-based HopLark. (Courtesy Hoplark)
According to a tally of Forms Ds filed with the SEC last month, 52 startups around the state raised a total of $342.8 million. (You can see our sortable spreadsheet here).
That compares to $269 million in December and $361 million raised in January 2022.
BusinessDen defines a startup as a business that’s less than 10 years old and excludes publicly traded companies, real estate ventures and funds.
Denver startups raised the most with $164.7 million among 26 deals, followed by startups outside of Denver and Boulder with $128 million across 24 deals. Boulder startups raised $50 million across 10 deals.
Here are some highlights from January:
Voyager Space Holdings (Denver): $80 million
The Denver-based aerospace company raised more than any other startup last month with $80 million.
Voyager Space Holdings was founded in 2019 by CEO Dylan Taylor as a holding company to acquire firms in the aerospace sector. Currently, the company is studying agriculture in space in an attempt to stay ahead of food insecurity driven by climate change.
Since its founding, Voyager has raised roughly $271 million, according to SEC filings.
Hoplark (Boulder): $16 million
The Boulder-based beverage company raised $16 million in January, according to SEC filings.
Founded in 2018 by Dean Eberhardt and Andrew Markley, Hoplark brews non-alcoholic tea that has the hoppy taste of beer.
Hoplark was founded after Eberhardt took a break from drinking, but missed the “ritual” of having a beer with friends, according to the website.
The company now has three types of beverages: Hoptea, Hoplark 0.0 and Hoplark Water. Hoplark beverages are sold at Whole Foods, Total Wine & More, Amazon and more.
Engaged Citizen (Denver): $100,000
Engaged Citizen raised $100,000 from investors last month.
The company’s software Cloverleaf AI tracks and transcribes government meetings to make them searchable and more accessible.
CEO Adam Zucker said the company primarily sells subscriptions to manufacturing, construction and telecommunications groups to help them track government projects.
Zucker said yearly subscriptions vary based on customers needs, but start at $6,000 for companies. He said eventually more affordable subscriptions will be offered for individuals.
Since its founding in 2021, the company has raised $750,000, according to Zucker.
“We’re trying to hone in our market,” Zucker said. “The money allows us to stay alive and press on these things: How to be strategic and effective, pointed in the right direction, finding the bullseye and pushing as hard as we can.”
QRails (Denver): $4.9 million
The Denver-based payment processing company raised $4.9 million last month.
QRails created a website that processes card payments. In addition, it rolls out credit and debit card programs for companies, BusinessDen previously reported.
According to SEC filings, QRails has raised roughly $46 million since its founding in 2016.
GeoSolar Technologies Inc. (Denver): $609,190
The Denver-based eco-friendly housing company raised $609,190 in January.
Founded by Norbert Klebl and Brent Mosbarger in 2020, GeoSolar builds and remodels homes to be environmentally friendly, utilizing solar panels, ground heating and cooling systems and air purification. According to its website, using GeoSolar can completely eliminate utility bills.
