Photon Mountain

Founders building from the Flatirons to downtown Denver.

Photon Mountain is the Colorado Startups region for Boulder, Golden, Arvada and Denver. It runs along the foothills, from the Flatirons to downtown Denver, and takes in the towns around them, from Longmont to Castle Rock.

Core cities: Boulder, Golden, Arvada and Denver
Nearby towns in the region: Louisville, Lafayette, Superior, Erie, Longmont, Niwot, Lyons, Nederland, Broomfield, Westminster, Thornton, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, Evergreen, Englewood, Littleton, Centennial, Greenwood Village, Aurora, Parker, Lone Tree, Highlands Ranch and Castle Rock

The organizer seat

Photon Mountain Connector

Open seat

Meet the founders of Boulder, Denver and Golden, and the rest of Photon Mountain. Learn to work with AI, and carry the Photon Mountain Connector title on LinkedIn.

An unpaid volunteer role.

What you do

Go to local startup events across Boulder, Denver, Golden and the rest of Photon Mountain.
Connect Boulder, Denver and Golden, and introduce founders in one to the people they need in the others.
Share local wins and events with the whole community.

Apply for this seatYou take a few Claude Academy courses, then interview with Paul.

People hold every organizer seat. The Hall's keepers are AI agents, and they never take this seat.

Startup Resources in Photon Mountain

Startup Resources lists 310 resources based in Photon Mountain. Open a city to see its resources in the full directory, with every filter.

Statewide programs serve every region too. See the 130 statewide resources, or browse all of Startup Resources.

Idea (66)Get inspired, learn the basics, test an idea and find a team.

Educate

Access Silicon ValleyCommunity, Boulder
Agile DenverCommunity, Denver
AI And Product ColoradoCommunity, Denver
Boulder StartUp MeetupCommunity, Boulder
Boulder Startup Traction and Funding NetworkCommunity, Boulder
Boulder Startup WeekEvent, Boulder
CognixiaEducation, Denver
Colorado Career ConnectorsCommunity, Denver
Colorado Drupal MeetupsCommunity, Denver
Colorado Health and Tech MashupCommunity, Denver
Colorado Invention Design MeetupCommunity, Denver
Colorado Product MeetupCommunity, Denver
Denver FoundersCommunity, Denver
Denver Lean Startup CircleCommunity, Denver
Denver Startup 101Community, Denver
Denver Startup: Idea to IPOCommunity, Denver
Denver Tech & Design CommunityCommunity, Denver
Energy Tech HubCommunity, Denver
Entrepreneurial Law Clinic (the University of Colorado Law School in Boulder)Education, Boulder
Flatiron SchoolEducation, Denver
Google Developer Group (Boulder)Community, Boulder
Google Developer Group (Denver)Community, Denver
Hartmann Software GroupEducation, Denver
Ignite DenverEvent, Denver
Learn to Code ColoradoCommunity, Denver
McNeil Center for Entrepreneurship & InnovationEducation, Golden
Operation CodeCommunity, Denver
PitchCampCommunity, Denver
ProductTankCommunity, Denver
Refresh DenverCommunity, Denver
Rocky Mountain BlockchainCommunity, Denver
Rocky Mountain MicroFinance InstituteEducation, Denver
SCORE DenverEducation, Denver
Silicon FlatironsEducation, Boulder
Skill DistilleryEducation, Denver
Startup DenverCommunity, Denver
Tech Leaders For GoodCommunity, Boulder
TEDx BoulderEvent, Boulder
The Tech AcademyEducation, Denver
TiE Denver MeetupCommunity, Denver
Women Who StartupEvent, Denver

Validate

Blerd: Black Nerds in ColoradoCommunity, Boulder
Boulder Indie HackersCommunity, Boulder
Boulder Music Tech HackersCommunity, Boulder
Boulder Open CoffeeCommunity, Boulder
Code for BoulderCommunity, Boulder
Colorado Game Developers Association + AR/VR GroupCommunity, Denver
denhacCommunity, Denver
Denver AI Developers GroupCommunity, Denver
Denver Indie HackersCommunity, Denver
Denver Tech Happy HourCommunity, Denver
Entrepreneurs' Organization ColoradoCommunity, Denver
ETHDenverEvent, Denver
Flatirons LGBTQ Tech MeetupCommunity, Boulder
Go Code ColoradoEvent, Denver
HackCUEvent, Boulder
Hackers of Denver MeetupCommunity, Denver
Hacks/Hackers ColoradoCommunity, Denver
Hispanics and TechnologyCommunity, Denver
Idea ForgeEvent, Boulder
Solid State DepotEvent, Boulder
Startups2Students / S2S (CU Boulder)Community, Boulder
StartupTreeCommunity, Boulder
T9HacksEvent, Boulder
TiE DenverCommunity, Denver
TINKERMILLEvent, Boulder

Launch (148)Build the company, raise a first round and find the people who help you start.

Develop

Access ModeAccelerator, Denver
Black Lab SportsAccelerator, Boulder
Boomtown AcceleratorsAccelerator, Boulder
Canopy BoulderAccelerator, Boulder
Catalyst HTIIncubator, Denver
Catalyze CUAccelerator, Boulder
Catalyze CU Demo DayEvent, Boulder
CrowdSolve Climate Impact AcceleratorAccelerator, Denver
CU Innovation & EntrepreneurshipIncubator, Boulder
DarkfieldAccelerator, Denver
Denver Tech Meetup Group Startup Pitch EventsEvent, Denver
Founder AdvisorsIncubator, Boulder
GAN AcceleratorsAccelerator, Denver
Impact Angel GroupEvent, Boulder
MergeLane QuickPitchEvent, Boulder
New Venture ChallengeEvent, Boulder
Next Wave ImpactEvent, Denver
Pitch to DevelopersEvent, Boulder
SCOREIncubator, Denver
SEA ChangeAccelerator, Denver
Seed Angel ForumEvent, Boulder
Startup Colorado Community FundAccelerator, Denver
Techstars Boulder AcceleratorAccelerator, Boulder
Techstars Boulder Accelerator Demo DayEvent, Boulder
The Gizmo DojoIncubator, Denver
TRAXIONAccelerator, Denver
Unreasonable GroupIncubator, Boulder
Watson InstituteIncubator, Boulder
Watson Institute Semester AcceleratorAccelerator, Boulder

Investors

3Lines Venture CapitalInvestor, Denver
AntlerInvestor, Boulder
Bigfoot CapitalInvestor, Denver
Blue Note VenturesInvestor, Boulder
Boulder Food Group PartnersInvestor, Boulder
Colorado Impact FundInvestor, Denver
Firebrand VenturesInvestor, Boulder
Hilltop Venture PartnersInvestor, Denver
Infield CapitalInvestor, Boulder
Iron Gate CapitalInvestor, Boulder
Konvoy VenturesInvestor, Denver
Next Frontier Capital (Boulder/ Montana)Investor, Boulder
Range VenturesInvestor, Denver
SpringTime VenturesInvestor, Boulder
Stout Street CapitalInvestor, Denver
Tahoma VenturesInvestor, Boulder
Three Leaf VenturesInvestor, Denver
Upslope VenturesInvestor, Denver
Vision Ridge PartnersInvestor, Boulder

Service providers

AccountingproseService provider, Denver
Alchemy Creative WorkspaceCoworking, Denver
Apoorva CorporationService provider, Broomfield
AppIt VenturesService provider, Denver
Armstrong Teasdale LLPService provider, Denver
Ascent CFO SolutionsService provider, Boulder
AVL Growth PartnersService provider, Boulder
Basecamp LegalService provider, Denver
BDO (Boulder)Service provider, Boulder
BDO (Denver)Service provider, Denver
Block45 LegalService provider, Denver
Bold LegalService provider, Denver
Brewer DigitalService provider, Denver
BridgeView ITService provider, Denver
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLPService provider, Denver
Buink Web DevelopmentService provider, Lafayette
BWBaconService provider, Denver
CAMPWORKSCoworking, Boulder
CFOShareService provider, Denver
Clicta Digital AgencyService provider, Denver
Coalition Space DenverCoworking, Denver
Code DenverService provider, Denver
Code TalentService provider, Denver
Colorado Technology Recruiting CoalitionService provider, Denver
ComericaService provider, Denver
Connects WorkspaceCoworking, Golden
Creative DensityCoworking, Denver
Denver CoworksCoworking, Denver
Doida Crow LegalService provider, Denver
DS Design and ConsultingService provider, Boulder
Dynamic Tech MediaService provider, Denver
Egan NelsonService provider, Denver
Enterprise CoworkingCoworking, Denver
Expect Technical StaffingService provider, Denver
Fairfield and WoodsService provider, Denver
FANUMCoworking, Denver
Firestone CFOService provider, Boulder
Focused EnergyService provider, Denver
FortyAU (Denver, Nashville, Dallas, Paraguay)Service provider, Denver
Foundation DigitalService provider, Denver
FyresiteService provider, Denver
Galvanize (Boulder)Coworking, Boulder
Genesee LabsCoworking, Golden
Goldstone PartnersService provider, Denver
Highland City ClubCoworking, Boulder
Holland & Hart LLPService provider, Denver
Holland & Knight (Denver)Service provider, Denver
HR Equity SolutionsService provider, Denver
INDUSTRYCoworking, Denver
Insight DesignsService provider, Boulder
InspiringAppsService provider, Boulder
Jeff Schell, Patent LawyerService provider, Denver
JetSoftProService provider, Denver
JombineService provider, Denver
Keating and LydenService provider, Boulder
KingTideService provider, Denver
Klare CreativeService provider, Denver
Larsen LawService provider, Denver
Market AdoptionService provider, Denver
McCarthy Garber LawService provider, Denver
Meyer LawService provider, Denver
Miraclemaxmarketing.comService provider, Denver
ModworksCoworking, Denver
Move Media AgencyService provider, Denver
Moye White LLPService provider, Denver
Neon Rain InteractiveService provider, Denver
NextceptService provider, Westminster
Noble DigitalService provider, Boulder
NOD LawService provider, Boulder
Pacific Western BankService provider, Denver
Park CoworkingCoworking, Boulder
Peach LegalService provider, Boulder
Pearl Street LegalService provider, Boulder
Plante MoranService provider, Denver
ProdigyRService provider, Denver
ProSight - Fullstack Finance + AccountingService provider, Denver
Reverb PeopleService provider, Denver
RipzieService provider, Boulder
Rubicon LawService provider, Denver
Schmidt & AssociatesService provider, Denver
Serendipity LabsCoworking, Denver
Shift WorkspacesCoworking, Denver
Silicon Legal Strategy, A Professional CorporationService provider, Denver
Simple StartupService provider, Boulder
Solasta DigitalService provider, Denver
Solid RatioService provider, Denver
Spark BoulderCoworking, Boulder
Startup IP LawService provider, Denver
StudioIP Law & Marketing FirmService provider, Denver
Sword and SparkService provider, Denver
Tailwater AdvisorsService provider, Denver
Technical IntegrityService provider, Boulder
The Gillespie Law GroupService provider, Boulder
The StudioCoworking, Boulder
ThriveCoworking, Denver
TriNetService provider, Denver
Troxel FitchService provider, Denver
VivimService provider, Denver
Watson & CompanyService provider, Denver
Wipfli LLPService provider, Denver

Growth (60)Raise growth rounds and find partners who help you scale.

Investors

Access Venture PartnersInvestor, Denver
AI CapitalInvestor, Boulder
Alta PartnersInvestor, Denver
AltiraInvestor, Denver
Boulder VenturesInvestor, Boulder
First Capital VenturesInvestor, Denver
Greenmont CapitalInvestor, Boulder
Grey Mountain PartnersInvestor, Boulder
KRG CapitalInvestor, Denver
Liberty Global VenturesInvestor, Denver
Mantucket CapitalInvestor, Denver
Massive Capital PartnersInvestor, Boulder
MergeLaneInvestor, Boulder
Revelry BrandsInvestor, Boulder
Sequel Venture PartnersInvestor, Boulder
Service Provider CapitalInvestor, Denver
TenEleven VenturesInvestor, Boulder
Trailhead CapitalInvestor, Boulder

Service providers

AccentureService provider, Denver
Alvarez & MarsalService provider, Denver
AonService provider, Denver
BizWestMedia, Boulder
Bolder InsuranceService provider, Boulder
BowtieService provider, Denver
BrandActiveService provider, Boulder
BuckService provider, Denver
BusinessDenMedia, Denver
CCFS InsuranceService provider, Denver
Climate Patent CollectiveService provider, Boulder
Colorado Insurance BrokerService provider, Denver
Colorado Technology VenturesService provider, Boulder
Compri ConsultingService provider, Denver
Courtside ConsultingService provider, Denver
CoWest of the RockiesService provider, Denver
CRS Insurance BrokerageService provider, Denver
Denver Business JournalMedia, Denver
Denver PostMedia, Denver
Destra Consulting GroupService provider, Boulder
Ernst & YoungService provider, Denver
EvolutionService provider, Boulder
FTI ConsultingService provider, Denver
GartnerService provider, Denver
Grant ThorntonService provider, Denver
McKinsey & CompanyService provider, Denver
MercerService provider, Denver
MillimanService provider, Denver
North HighlandService provider, Denver
OnPoint DemandService provider, Denver
Pioneer Management ConsultingService provider, Denver
ProtivitiService provider, Denver
PwCService provider, Denver
Redstone Strategy GroupService provider, Boulder
RiderflexService provider, Denver
Sheridan Law, LLCService provider, Golden
SlalomService provider, Denver
Solvere HRService provider, Denver
Tata Consultancy ServicesService provider, Denver
Taylor Scher ConsultingService provider, Boulder
TrueSpaceAccelerator, Denver
Willis Towers WatsonService provider, Denver

Support (36)Organizations that help founders at every stage.

Organizations

AmazonOther, Denver
AppleOther, Boulder
ArrowOther, Centennial
AvayaOther, Thornton
Boulder ChamberGovernment, Boulder
Boulder InnovationGovernment, Boulder
CenturyLinkOther, Denver
CiscoOther, Denver
Colorado School of MinesUniversity, Golden
Denver Economic Development & OpportunityGovernment, Denver
Denver Metro Chamber of CommerceGovernment, Denver
Downtown Denver PartnershipGovernment, Denver
FacebookOther, Denver
Fast EnterprisesOther, Centennial
GoogleOther, Boulder
GustoOther, Denver
IBMOther, Boulder
Lockheed MartinOther, Denver
Longmont Economic Development PartnershipGovernment, Longmont
Louisville Chamber of CommerceGovernment, Louisville
MedtronicOther, Louisville
Metropolitan State University of DenverUniversity, Denver
MicrosoftOther, Denver
NetAppOther, Boulder
OracleOther, Broomfield
PalantirOther, Denver
QualcommOther, Boulder
Regis UniversityUniversity, Denver
RingCentralOther, Denver
SalesforceOther, Denver
SlackOther, Denver
TriZettoOther, Englewood
University of Colorado BoulderUniversity, Boulder
University of DenverUniversity, Denver
VMwareOther, Broomfield
ZayoOther, Boulder

Leaderboard honorees building here

As of 2026-10-18, the Leaderboard's 2026 Honorees include 91 companies headquartered in Photon Mountain, listed A to Z. Congratulations to the founders and teams building them.

AcudocXSoftware, Boulder
Alta Resource TechnologiesMaterials and manufacturing, Boulder
AltheaHealth care, Boulder
Ambrosia BiosciencesLife sciences, Boulder
Antelope RecoveryHealth care, Boulder
AteMateHealth care, Denver
ATLAS Traffic Technologies LLCLogistics and mobility, Denver
BiotaEnergy and climate, Longmont
Chi 3 OpticsQuantum and photonics, Boulder
CollageSoftware, Denver
Credible DataAI and data, Boulder
Credo HealthHealth care, Denver
CrusoeCloud and infrastructure, Denver
DaffodilFintech and insurance, Denver
Daita DynamicsSoftware, Denver
DakotaFintech and insurance, Boulder
Dapple SecurityCybersecurity, Centennial
DeductionFintech and insurance, Denver
Demand AI GroupSoftware, Denver
DeterrenceDefense and public safety, Denver
DoowiiEducation, Denver
ElectraMaterials and manufacturing, Boulder
EngineTravel, hospitality and events, Denver
EnvedaLife sciences, Boulder
Exer LabsHealth care, Denver
Exum InstrumentsHardware and robotics, Denver
FabricFood and beverage, Boulder
Freedom 58 ProjectNonprofit and community, Centennial
Full SendFintech and insurance, Boulder
FusionAuthCybersecurity, Denver
GlooSoftware, Boulder
Goodie BagFood and beverage, Boulder
GravityAI and data, Boulder
Great SkyQuantum and photonics, Boulder
Green Steel EnvironmentalEnergy and climate, Boulder
HalfdaysConsumer and retail, Denver
HapWareHardware and robotics, Golden
INVI MindHealthHealth care, Denver
Kai HealthHealth care, Denver
Kestrel LabsReal estate and construction, Denver
Kingpin EquippedConsumer and retail, Lakewood
KolomaEnergy and climate, Denver
Landingsite.aiSoftware, Boulder
Lasa HealthHealth care, Boulder
Leyden SpaceSpace and aerospace, Golden
LightTableReal estate and construction, Denver
Lunar OutpostSpace and aerospace, Golden
Lux AeternaSpace and aerospace, Denver
LuxonisHardware and robotics, Denver
MagicSchoolEducation, Boulder
Mesa QuantumQuantum and photonics, Boulder
Metron MachiningMaterials and manufacturing, Lakewood
Micro Healing CenterHealth care, Westminster
Mind SpaHealth care, Greenwood Village
NimMedia and entertainment, Denver
NorthslopeAI and data, Denver
Odyssey Energy SolutionsEnergy and climate, Boulder
Pattern LabsLogistics and mobility, Erie
Peak State CoffeeFood and beverage, Boulder
Prometheus MaterialsMaterials and manufacturing, Longmont
ProofSoftware, Denver
QuantinuumQuantum and photonics, Broomfield
QuantiPathLife sciences, Denver
RidleyReal estate and construction, Boulder
SchematicSoftware, Boulder
ScotchSoftware, Denver
ShinestyConsumer and retail, Denver
SholderHealth care, Boulder
Sierra SpaceSpace and aerospace, Louisville
SigDigSoftware, Westminster
SpekitSoftware, Denver
STACK InfrastructureCloud and infrastructure, Denver
StackHawkCybersecurity, Denver
SublynkSoftware, Arvada
SunblinkMedia and entertainment, Boulder
SundayConsumer and retail, Boulder
Sunforged SolutionsEnergy and climate, Denver
TermScoutSoftware, Centennial
The Third Place for KidsNonprofit and community, Parker
TiltSoftware, Denver
Travertine TechnologiesMaterials and manufacturing, Boulder
True AnomalySpace and aerospace, Centennial
Two BoxesLogistics and mobility, Denver
Tynt TechnologiesMaterials and manufacturing, Boulder
UnglooConsumer and retail, Boulder
VIBEcareHealth care, Denver
Voyager TechnologiesSpace and aerospace, Denver
WyecliffSoftware, Denver
Xcimer EnergyEnergy and climate, Denver
YeshIDCybersecurity, Denver
ZeroTwelveMaterials and manufacturing, Golden

See the full Leaderboard or nominate a company.

Meet founders here

The Colorado Startups Slack is where founders across the state meet, ask and help.

Regional meetups go on the event calendar when the organizer schedules them.

Join the Slack See upcoming events

The other regions

Space PeakFounders building in Colorado Springs, under Pikes Peak.
Fusion CanyonFounders building in Fort Collins and Northern Colorado.

Building somewhere else in Colorado? You belong here too.