ColoSpace

The Dow hit another yearly high this week and business and consumer confidence appears to be improving on a monthly basis.  The CFOs that I am communicating with are talking more often about expanding their payrolls that shrinking them.  We personally have several openings in our technical, sales, and administrative divisions.  Even more significantly, we are seeing a return of investor-backed start-ups. 

A couple of weeks ago ColoSpace sponsored the Speed Venture Summit.  A couple of hundred entrepreneurs spent the day networking and nearly 50 companies gave their elevator pitch to investors.  The buzz was palpable, there was a general feeling of excitement amongst most attendees, and the entrepreneurs were much more positive about funding opportunities than last year (in fact one company who was scheduled to give a pitch pulled out because they completed their round of funding more easily than expected).  

The top five (as voted by investors) companies included companies in the biotech, alternative energy/energy efficiency, and high tech spaces.  These are areas of huge opportunity and companies that should benefit from the unique resources available in our region.  A special congratulations to the winner Highest Wind and runner-up EnerTrac.  It is worth noting that while both of those two firms – one concentrating on alternative energy and one on delivering energy more efficiently – are in hot industries – their main pitch and focus is on reducing their customers’ costs.

We know that start-ups and small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy and I am happy we were able to be part of the event.  Please stay tuned to our blog and e-mail blasts, as we are trying to increase our support of the start-up community in our region.  Feel free to drop me a line if you have any suggestions for us to do so.