It is no hidden secret that Colorado is facing exceptional startup growth. An interesting fact is, this growth isn’t only limited to high-traffic cities like Denver but many rural areas in the state are also becoming home to huge numbers of IT businesses.
Ever since 2010, we have seen an exceptional growth of the tech companies and ventures in the state. Techstars or IBM are just a few of those giants that have grown expeditiously in the last 15-20 years.
Thinking about a venture capital firm that can invest in your startup too?
No need to! Because we have already prepared a list of some of the top venture capital firms in Colorado.
Top 7 Venture Capital Firms in Colorado that invest in IT Startups
Here is a list of some of the top ranked venture capital firms in Colorado according to their active involvement and total investments.
QED Investors
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Contact: Contact Us
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Website: QED Investors
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Focused Sectors: Creator Economy, IT, Crypto & Blockchain, Fintech, Education, Healthcare, InsurTech, Marketplace, Proptech & Real Estate, E-Commerce, Advertising, Human Resources
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Funding Stages: Early and Seed
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Present in: Washington, Vienna, Vancouver, Shanghai, Seattle, São Paulo, Santa Monica, San Jose, San Francisco, San Diego, Rio de Janeiro, Quebec City, Pune, Overland Park, Oakland, New York, Mumbai, Amsterdam, Alexandria, Alexandria, Porto Alegre
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Notable Investments: Shop Circle, Solfácil, Zubale
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Total Investments: 250+
QED Investors is one of the most active venture capital firms in Colorado. The network was founded in 2007 and has expanded into many different states of the US.
Similarly, when funding startups, QED Investors usually focus on companies that are operating in the latest fintech models. They organize many pitching competitions every year and are known to make 15-20 investments annually.
Being one of the biggest VC firms in Colorado, QED Investors also arranges extra startup events like growth programs and fundraisers to grow the startup community. Their average check size is between $5M to $15M.
Service Provider Capital
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Contact: founders@serviceprovidercapital.com.
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Website: Service Provider Capital
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Focused Sectors: Consumer, Crypto & Blockchain, Cybersecurity, Big Data & Analytics, Deep Tech & Hard Science, E-Commerce, Enterprise, Fintech, Hardware, Healthcare, Marketplace, Social, SaaS
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Funding Stages: Seed
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Present in: Colorado Springs, Midwest City, Texas City, Rocky Mount
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Notable Investments: The Juice, Ianacare, Codiga
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Total Investments: 200+
Service Provider Capital is a Colorado-based venture capital firm that was founded in 2014 by Jody Shepherd and Noah Pittard. Headquartered in Colorado, SPC Ventures invests in a wide range of startup sectors depending upon their estimated ROI and competition.
Investors from Service Provider Capital are more interested in low-competition startups. The network also has a strong interest in IT companies and they are constantly hunting businesses who are introducing modern concepts into the world of IT.
The investment range of Service Provider Capital can range up to several million dollars.
BITKRAFT Ventures
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Contact: pitch@bitkraft.vc.
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Website: BITKRAFT Ventures
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Focused Sectors: Gaming, AR & VR, Entertainment, Crypto & Blockchain, IT
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Funding Stages: Seed, Early Stage, Series A, Series B
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Present in: Denver
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Notable Investments: Discord, Ggwp, Fuzzybot
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Total Investments: 130+
Having a portfolio of over 100 active investments, BITKRAFT Ventures is also a well-known name in the VC community of Colorado. The network was founded in 2015 in San Francisco and is currently operating across all the notable states of the US.
Like most other venture capital firms, BITKRAFT Ventures prioritize companies that can generate decent profits and secure massive ROI. The investors have a multiple-staged screening test where they focus on businesses that have high-qualified teams. Startups can apply for the screening tests through the online forms or make a strong online presence as BITKRAFT Ventures also invests in high-growth companies through social platforms.
The investment range of BITKRAFT Ventures ranges between $2M to $5M.
Foundry
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Contact: foundrygroup@alterdomus.com
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Website: Foundry
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Focused Sectors: Tech and Life Sciences
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Funding Stages: Early and Seed
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Present in: Portland, Boulder, Miami, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Seattle, NY
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Notable Investments: Airship, Base, Appdirect, and Blocknative
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Total Investments: 100+
Operating since 2007, Foundry is an asset management firm that also invests in startups and venture funds. The network is managing more than $3 billion in assets and also has multiple funds to make investments in high-performing businesses.
With headquarters in Boulder, Foundry invests in startups that are generating a high revenue and have already gathered social attention due to their exceptional ideas. Moreover, the investors prefer businesses that are led by experienced startup leaders and are ready to operate on an international level.
The investment range of Foundry can range up to several million dollars depending upon the startup.
Pallasite Ventures
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Contact: info@pallasiteventures.com
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Website: Pallasite Ventures
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Focused Sectors: IT, Biotech, Consumer, Fintech, Hardware, Marketplace, Healthcare, SaaS
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Funding Stages: Early
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Present in: Chicago, Vancouver, Boston, Denver, San Francisco
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Notable Investments: Ionomr, Phoenix Molecular Designs, Oncoustics AI
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Total Investments: 60+
Funding startups for more than a decade, Pallasite Ventures is a VC firm with a strong focus on IT startups. The network was founded by David Light and has invested in many high-growth startups.
Similarly, Pallasite Ventures invests in businesses that are at the early-stage and need funding to accelerate their growth. The investors prioritize startups that can generate 3-4x ROI within the first 2 years of investment.
Aside from investment activities, Pallasite Ventures also arranges mentorship programs and startup workshops to guide early-stage founders.
The average check size from Pallasite Ventures is around $1.5M.
Bullish.co
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Contact: c.diem@bullish.co
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Website: Bullish.co
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Focused Sectors: Consumer, DTC, Food & Beverage, Health & Wellness, IT
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Funding Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A
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Present in: New York, Denver, Stamford, Portland
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Notable Investments: Pelaton, Harry's, Nom Nom
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Total Investments: 30+
Bullish.co is an early-stage investment firm that was founded by Brent Vartan in 2010. The network has invested in many different sectors and prioritizes businesses that are providing unique solutions.
Moreover, Bullish.co is currently the most active investor in Colorado that funds consumer-products businesses. The investors have a simple philosophy and only fund startups who are addressing unique challenges. Startup leaders can apply for an investment through online forms or also get connected with the investors from Bullish.co through different accelerators.
The investment range of Bullish.co is around $500,000.
Access Ventures
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Contact: Get in Touch
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Website: Access Ventures
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Focused Sectors: IT, Proptech & Real Estate, Enterprise, Consumer, Cybersecurity, Human Resources, Productivity, E-Commerce, Deep Tech & Hard Science, Aerospace & Space, Automation, AI & ML
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Funding Stages: Seed, Series A
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Present in: Denver, Westminster
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Total Investments: 20+
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Notable Investments: Dapple, Iris, Bugzero
Access Ventures is also a startup investor that focuses on funding startups that can drive a social impact or create economic empowerment. It is currently one of the most experienced venture capital firms in Colorado that invests in the IT and cybersecurity sectors.
Known for their startup events, Access Ventures believes in boosting the startup community and helping businesses thrive. They arrange many startup fundraisers, networking events, accelerators, and mentorship programs to help the young entrepreneurs become future business giants.
Access Ventures is currently investing in a wide range of IT sectors. The investors prefer businesses that are offering solutions to the modern problems in the form of products or services. The average check size of Access Ventures lies between $200,000 to $4M.
What’s the Best Way to Get Connected With Angel Investors?
Making a connection with angel investors before you attend a pitching competition, sounds like a great idea.
However, creating such a connection is quite hard, especially for younger entrepreneurs who aren’t well aware of the startup ecosystem in Denver, or other cities of the state.
Here are some tips to help you out:
Professional Social Media Presence:
The best way to get connected with angel investors is through their social media. Always have a professional online presence and get connected with the angel investors on social platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook.
Startup Programs
Angel investors often announce their partnership with different companies through startup programs. This is a great opportunity for you to meet the investor, give him your business card and get a tip or two about what things he would love seeing in a company.
Become Socially Active
Often ignored or less discussed, a way to get connected with angel investors is by utilizing social media. Share your startup’s achievements on social media and display it as a future unicorn brand.
Many venture capital firms fund businesses through social media platforms by witnessing their performance online.
Wrap-Up
As we are done with the list of the top venture capital firms in Colorado, here are some final words of wisdom before wrapping up.
When pitching to investors, most first-time CEOs get confused or pressured thinking that their business isn’t capable of doing wonders. This is the biggest mistake!
A startup leader can only secure an investment if he/she shows confidence in the idea. And like any other businessmen, investors are also looking for good profitable opportunities where they can multiply the ROI by making a great deal of funding.
Good luck pitching to your favorite venture capital firm!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How to make your startup investable?
A: To make a startup investible, focus on a scalable business model, a strong team, a well-defined market opportunity, and evidence of market validation.
Q: What is the difference between Venture Capital Firms and Individual Angel Investors?
A: Venture capital firms are organized setups that aggregate capital from various investors and deploy it into startups at a larger scale, offering expertise and guidance.
In contrast, individual angel investors are private individuals who invest personal funds directly into startups, typically at an early stage, using a more personalized approach and hands-on involvement in the startup's growth.
Q: Do Angel Investors Provide Mentorship Programs?
A: Yes, many angel investors provide mentorship programs and financial support. They leverage their experience to offer strategic insights, assist in critical decision-making, and facilitate introductions to their network connections. This mentorship is pivotal for startups, aiding them in overcoming obstacles and expediting their growth trajectory.