Colorado had a big week in tech and it sounds like the industry will only continue to grow following the latest news. Read more to see what’s happening, who’s innovating and who’s hiring. This is the Built In Colorado weekly refresh.
Quantinuum announced plans to turn Colorado into a quantum computing hotspot. Honeywell Quantum Solutions and Quantum officially merged, forming Quantinuum. The newly formed company’s North American headquarters will be located in Broomfield. To grow, the company needs more than engineers; it needs machinists and technicians from local community colleges. To find new hires, Quantinuum is working with local universities and high school STEM programs to develop new curriculum and create awareness of quantum computing. [Built In Colorado]
Hotel Engine became a unicorn. Hotel Engine is now the latest tech unicorn in Colorado. The company recently raised $65 million in a Series B round and plans to hire an additional 400 employees in 2022. Hotel Engine is a booking platform helping companies book and manage hotel arrangements. The company is now valued at $1.3 billion. [Built In Colorado]
COLORADO TECH QUOTE OF THE WEEK
TextUs raised $22M. TextUs is a platform that allows companies to engage in text messaging with its customers and employees. The company raised $22 million to scale its platform and also increase its employee headcount. It plans to hire 40 people over the next several months. [Built In Colorado]
Colorado became home to new tech companies in 2021. Many tech companies decided to expand into the mountainous state this year and plan to hire more talent in Colorado. While many companies are still remote-based, these companies saw an opportunity to take their name across borders. Companies that have moved to Colorado this year include Orbit Fab, FileInvite and BetterCloud, among others. [Built In Colorado]
Alviere named a new CFO. Former Dish Network executive Steven Scofelia was appointed as Alviere’s first chief financial officer. The news comes after the company raised $70 million in October. Alviere is a finance company that provides a platform allowing any brand to deliver a suite of financial products and services to its clientele. [Business Wire]
Lightning eMotors gained a new chief people officer. Lighting eMotors announced Marci Fouts as the company’s new chief people officer. In her new role, she will oversee all aspects of human resources strategy. Lightning creates zero-emission vehicles for fleet customers. [Lightning eMotors]
