FullContact closes $25M round
Multiplatform contact management service FullContact has secured $25 million in funding in a round led by the Foundry Group. Baird Capital, Shea Ventures, and Blue Note Ventures also participated in the round, which brings the Denver-based company's total funding to almost $45 million. The round is Colorado tech's largest so far this year. [Built In Colorado]
Enhanced-messaging app Kwippit launches, announces $2.5M in seed funding
Denver-based Kwippit launched this week by announcing they’ve closed a $2.5 million seed round. Investors include Dave Leyrer, Venture Partner at FirstMark, and David Bonderman’s Wildcat Capital Management. Kwippit aims to replace emoji using their messaging app, which features a custom keyboard with a gallery of images that “amplify self-expression.” The app is available for iOS and Android. [Blog post]
Amazon launches Flex program in Denver
Following the opening of a warehouse in Aurora, Amazon is hiring drivers for its Flex program. Flex is Amazon’s play into the gig economy, where drivers are paid based on deliveries made while using their own cars and covering their own expenses like gas and insurance. Flex driver’s are critical to the company’s Prime Now service, which promises deliveries within two hours. According to Amazon, Flex drivers can make $18-20 an hour through the program. [Denver Post]
Parkifi pulls in $2M
A new filing with the SEC shows parking monitor company Parkifi has raised a new $2 million round of funding. The news comes shortly after the company announced they’re changing offices and setting up shop in Larimer Square. The funding — an extension of their Series A — comes from Quanta Computing, one of the manufacturers of Parkifi’s sensors. The company said they will use the funding to further develop and launch a consumer-facing app, which will let them find open parking spaces around Denver. [BusinessDen]
Northern Colorado companies making changes in the face of a limited talent pool
At a roundtable event for Northern Colorado tech CEOs, many leaders lamented the region’s talent pool. Despite its growing reputation as a tech stronghold in the state, representatives from companies in Loveland, Fort Collins and Greeley said they’ve had trouble finding employees who want to work in those cities, versus the more popular Boulder and Denver. To attract quality candidates, startups in Northern Colorado are turning to generous compensation packages and communicating elements of their company culture, such as volunteer initiatives, to prospective applicants. [BizWest]
Cannabis CRM Baker Technologies raises $1.6M seed round
Denver-based Baker Technologies announced their $1.6 million seed round this week, led by Michael Lazerow with Base Ventures, XG Ventures, 500 Startups, Poseidon Asset Management and the co-founders of Superfly. Baker’s platform serves as a CRM for the cannabis industry, even offering marketing and loyalty program capabilities to retailers. They plan to use the seed funding to expand operations to new states. [TechCrunch]
Revolar partners with Best Buy
Connected personal safety device company Revolar announced this week that consumers can now purchase retail units on Best Buy’s website. The company already has units available in Brookstone stores, and they’re currently participating in Techstars’ retail accelerator in partnership with Target. [Press release]
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