Schoolrunner presents an immediate solution to a problem that deters nearly every school and all teachers. When student data is spread out across various platforms it becomes difficult to use and manage. Schoolrunner’s system consolidates every relevant piece of data, regarding Academics, grades, behavior, attendance, communications, interventions, significant incidents or suspensions, business Intelligence, and reports into one system. 

Simple Energy is creating a more sustainable future. By implementing energy saving software that provides users with a rewarding experience to change their behavior around using energy and to make energy-saving decisions, Simple Energy the forefront of the changing energy industry. 

The Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network in Colorado (“BEN Colorado”) today announced it has appointed veteran Colorado entrepreneur Greg Greenwood as its Executive Director, starting in the new year. In this leadership role, Greenwood will oversee all operations of BEN Colorado, which in less than two years has brought together more than 50 companies, nearly 200 advisors, and dozens of partners in a collaborative effort to support the scale up ecosystem in Colorado.

Cloud Elements solves a problem that plagues nearly every app developer – integration. With this company’s revolutionary app integration software, developers are relieved from worrying about the constant struggle managing the integration of Application Program Interfaces.

Scott Tibbitts is the CEO and Founder of Katasi, the startup company profiled in a recent New York Times article and Katie Couric feature segment Tibbitts has been a BEN Advisor since the inception of the Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network in Colorado in 2014.  Tibbitts’ involvement with BEN demonstrates the power of the Network and the rapid scale-up growth that startups experience when a well-connected and dense entrepreneurial network is leveraged.

Blue Canyon Technologies, a small company that produces high quality Nano spacecraft systems and components, partnered with The Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network to sustain an impressive growth over the last  year. BCT specializes in the development of  precision star trackers, reaction wheels, attitude control systems, power systems, and complete small spacecraft. 

How can stores, restaurants and wireless retailers use video in innovative ways to increase sales and improve customer experience? That’s a question that Superior-based Envysion is helping leaders like Chipotle, 4G Wireless, El Pollo Loco, and others realize every day. 

Colorado companies that are looking to hire and keep talented staff, millennials could be the answer. The best part is this next generation of workers will cost less than you would think. We hear again and again that one major advantage work in Colorado offers the new generation of workers is work-life balance, and the active lifestyle of the Front Range, but those may not be the most important decision factors (Read more).

A huge shout-out to BEN companies and entrepreneurs who have recently been selected as Colorado Companies to Watch and as Finalists for this region’s Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards:   (Galvanize, Mobile Accord, Silvergate Pharmaceuticals, and Simple Energy)

CEOs of rapidly-scaling, later-stage firms talk about culture in a different way than their peers at younger firms.

Eric Roza, CEO of Datalogix (and now Group VP at Oracle after the successful $1.25 billion sale earlier this year (More about the sale to Oracle), expresses the difference well in the interview we did with him last month.