A Wanderbox trailer. (Courtesy Wanderbox)
Colorado startup funding was down about $200 million in March compared to February.
According to a tally of Form Ds filed with the SEC last month, 58 startups around the state raised a total of $279.3 million. (You can see our sortable spreadsheet here).
That compares to $484.5 million raised by 36 startups last month and $342.8 million raised by 52 startups in January.
BusinessDen defines a startup as a business that’s less than 10 years old and excludes publicly traded companies, real estate ventures and funds.
Companies outside of Denver and Boulder raised the most cash, accounting for $215 million across 31 deals. Denver raised $39 million across 22 deals, while Boulder startups raised $24.98 million across 5 deals.
Here are some highlights from March:
WanderBox (Mead): $500,000
Mead-based WanderBox, a company that makes high-end campers, raised $500,000 last month.
Founder and CEO Mike Barnwell started WanderBox in 2021. He said he wanted people to be able to experience the outdoors for extended periods of time, while still being able to work remotely during the pandemic.
“It’s really meant for the every-day person to have the comforts of home … and the ability to stay off the grid for a month or two,” Barnwell said.
The money raised this month is going toward marketing and hiring more employees. This is the company’s first round of funding, according to Barnwell.
WanderBOX currently offers three campers, according to its website, ranging from $380,000 to $460,000.
“Most RVs, you go out for a weekend or maybe a week and then you’re running out of water and running out of energy,” Barnwell said. “We’re designed to be able to stay out for long periods of time. Our motto is ‘Live. Work. Play. Anywhere.’”
Oz Frontdoor Inc. (Denver): $10,000
A Denver-based cleaning company raised $10,000 last month.
Oz Frontdoor sells various cleaning products, such as dish soap, laundry detergent and hand lotion. And, when your product is out, the company will come pick up the empty bottle, sanitize and refill it.
The website compares its delivery service to the milkman, but with cleaning products.
Katherine Janis-Verlaan founded Oz Frontdoor in 2022 in an effort to reduce plastic waste. The company offers services only locally in Denver to reduce its carbon footprint, according to the website.
According to the SEC, this is the company’s first round of funding.
MySimplePetLab (Centennial): $6 million
A Centennial-based company that sells testing kits for pet owners raised $6 million last month.
MySimplePetLab sells $100 kits for cats and dogs that test for things like ear infections and itchy skin. According to its website, customers receive the kit, collect samples, mail it back and MySimplePetLab will send a diagnosis within days.
In addition to the company website, products are also sold on Amazon and Walmart.
The 3-year-old company has raised $13.6 million to date, according to SEC filings.
Kicks Industries (Denver): $50,000
Denver-based Kicks Industries raised $50,000 in March, according to SEC filings.
Kicks Industries is the parent company of brands Golfkicks and Yardkicks, which make screw-in spikes that turn any pair of shoes into cleats fit for golf or field sports.
Co-owner Ty Stuart said the money raised will go toward fully launching and marketing Yardkicks, which are spikes made specifically for field sports.
In total, the company is looking to raise $900,000, Stuart told BusinessDen in March, with $500,000 already accounted for.
A Wanderbox trailer. (Courtesy Wanderbox)
Colorado startup funding was down about $200 million in March compared to February.
According to a tally of Form Ds filed with the SEC last month, 58 startups around the state raised a total of $279.3 million. (You can see our sortable spreadsheet here).
That compares to $484.5 million raised by 36 startups last month and $342.8 million raised by 52 startups in January.
BusinessDen defines a startup as a business that’s less than 10 years old and excludes publicly traded companies, real estate ventures and funds.
Companies outside of Denver and Boulder raised the most cash, accounting for $215 million across 31 deals. Denver raised $39 million across 22 deals, while Boulder startups raised $24.98 million across 5 deals.
Here are some highlights from March:
WanderBox (Mead): $500,000
Mead-based WanderBox, a company that makes high-end campers, raised $500,000 last month.
Founder and CEO Mike Barnwell started WanderBox in 2021. He said he wanted people to be able to experience the outdoors for extended periods of time, while still being able to work remotely during the pandemic.
“It’s really meant for the every-day person to have the comforts of home … and the ability to stay off the grid for a month or two,” Barnwell said.
The money raised this month is going toward marketing and hiring more employees. This is the company’s first round of funding, according to Barnwell.
WanderBOX currently offers three campers, according to its website, ranging from $380,000 to $460,000.
“Most RVs, you go out for a weekend or maybe a week and then you’re running out of water and running out of energy,” Barnwell said. “We’re designed to be able to stay out for long periods of time. Our motto is ‘Live. Work. Play. Anywhere.’”
Oz Frontdoor Inc. (Denver): $10,000
A Denver-based cleaning company raised $10,000 last month.
Oz Frontdoor sells various cleaning products, such as dish soap, laundry detergent and hand lotion. And, when your product is out, the company will come pick up the empty bottle, sanitize and refill it.
The website compares its delivery service to the milkman, but with cleaning products.
Katherine Janis-Verlaan founded Oz Frontdoor in 2022 in an effort to reduce plastic waste. The company offers services only locally in Denver to reduce its carbon footprint, according to the website.
According to the SEC, this is the company’s first round of funding.
MySimplePetLab (Centennial): $6 million
A Centennial-based company that sells testing kits for pet owners raised $6 million last month.
MySimplePetLab sells $100 kits for cats and dogs that test for things like ear infections and itchy skin. According to its website, customers receive the kit, collect samples, mail it back and MySimplePetLab will send a diagnosis within days.
In addition to the company website, products are also sold on Amazon and Walmart.
The 3-year-old company has raised $13.6 million to date, according to SEC filings.
Kicks Industries (Denver): $50,000
Denver-based Kicks Industries raised $50,000 in March, according to SEC filings.
Kicks Industries is the parent company of brands Golfkicks and Yardkicks, which make screw-in spikes that turn any pair of shoes into cleats fit for golf or field sports.
Co-owner Ty Stuart said the money raised will go toward fully launching and marketing Yardkicks, which are spikes made specifically for field sports.
In total, the company is looking to raise $900,000, Stuart told BusinessDen in March, with $500,000 already accounted for.
