Upslope Ventures

Upslope.vc is a venture capital firm based in Denver, Colorado, with additional offices in Boulder and San Francisco. Originally founded as Galvanize Ventures in 2014, Upslope focuses on early-stage investments in startup and seed stage companies across a variety of sectors, including education, SaaS, hardware, Internet of Things, mobile, fintech, and more. The firm targets companies located in major U.S. cities such as Austin, Boston, Los Angeles, New York, and Seattle. Initial investments typically range from $0.05 million to $0.1 million, with the potential to provide funding of up to $3 million. Upslope aims to empower entrepreneurs not only through capital but also by leveraging its extensive network to offer resources that enhance their chances of success, regardless of whether they receive investment.

Katherine Beardsley

Managing Partner

Lawrence Mandes

Founder and General Partner

Past deals in Colorado

Cloud Elements

Series C in 2019
Cloud Elements is a developer of an API integration platform used to integrate and manage digital products and applications. It features end-to-end functions such as data transformations, API provisioning, usage monitoring, events, and notifications for tracking and troubleshooting that enables developers to integrate multiple apps into different CRM and marketing automation platforms in an easy manner. Cloud Elements was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in Denver, Colorado.

TopYa!

Series B in 2018
TopYa! is a pioneering mobile application designed to promote health and fitness through interactive video challenges, targeting individuals of all ages. Launched in 2017, the platform aims to inspire children to engage in sports and physical activity, instilling lifelong habits of health and fitness. TopYa! provides a unique space where users can create, share, and participate in monthly sports challenges, receiving virtual coaching feedback to enhance their skills. Additionally, the company established the Active Fun Academy in India, which serves as a technological solution for physical education in schools. Beyond individual users, TopYa! also offers health and wellness solutions to organizations, contributing to overall community well-being.

Rachio

Series B in 2018
Rachio, Inc. is a Denver-based company that specializes in intelligent sprinkler controllers aimed at enhancing water efficiency for residential landscapes. Founded in 2013, Rachio offers a WiFi-enabled device that allows users to remotely manage their sprinkler systems via a smartphone application. The system automatically adjusts watering schedules based on various factors, including local weather conditions, soil characteristics, and individual water budgets. By leveraging cloud-based technology, Rachio enables users to control their outdoor irrigation from anywhere, ultimately helping them save both water and money.

Stream

Venture Round in 2017
Stream.io, Inc. specializes in developing an open-source platform that enables the creation of customizable newsfeeds and messaging applications. The company provides a range of application programming interfaces (APIs) that allow product teams to implement chat features and activity feeds tailored to their specific needs. Its offerings include flat feeds for displaying followed content, aggregated feeds for grouping similar content, notification feeds for site alerts, and profile pages for user activity storage. Stream's solutions cater to various sectors, including finance, healthcare, dating, education, and social networking, facilitating community engagement. Established in 2014, the company is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, with an additional office located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Stream’s products are recognized for their scalability and security, serving over a billion end-users globally.

Brandzooka

Seed Round in 2016
Brandzooka operates a self-serve programmatic video advertising platform that enables businesses, agencies, content creators, and non-profits to efficiently place ads on primetime TV, internet radio, and various online platforms. Founded in 2015 and based in Boulder, Colorado, the company aims to make high-quality digital advertising accessible and affordable for all users, regardless of budget size. With a focus on simplifying the ad-buying process, Brandzooka offers a user-friendly interface that automates the management of both TV and digital advertising campaigns. Trusted by approximately 60,000 advertisers across 110 countries, Brandzooka is positioned to disrupt the digital and programmatic media ecosystems, allowing clients to effectively reach targeted audiences and expand their business presence.

Parkifi

Series A in 2016
ParkiFi, Inc. designs and offers IoT-enabled parking sensors. The company also provides platform solutions to manage and show open spots in parking spaces. It offers solutions for parking garages, surface lots, and municipal parking. It serves private parking operators and owners, property managers and REITs, and city parking services departments and urban planners. ParkiFi, Inc. was formerly known as Krumly LLC. The company was founded in 2014 and is based in Denver, Colorado. As of February 1, 2018, ParkiFi, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of DISH Network Corporation.

Notion

Seed Round in 2015
Notion is a company that specializes in home monitoring systems, providing property owners with tools to safeguard their spaces and belongings. Founded in 2013 by Brett Jurgens and Ryan Margoles and based in Denver, Colorado, Notion offers a multi-function, compact sensor that delivers real-time alerts for various issues, including motion detection, temperature changes, water leaks, and alarms. The system is designed to enhance home awareness through an intuitive user experience and comprehensive data analytics, allowing customers to proactively address potential problems in their homes.

Rachio

Series A in 2015
Rachio, Inc. is a Denver-based company that specializes in intelligent sprinkler controllers aimed at enhancing water efficiency for residential landscapes. Founded in 2013, Rachio offers a WiFi-enabled device that allows users to remotely manage their sprinkler systems via a smartphone application. The system automatically adjusts watering schedules based on various factors, including local weather conditions, soil characteristics, and individual water budgets. By leveraging cloud-based technology, Rachio enables users to control their outdoor irrigation from anywhere, ultimately helping them save both water and money.

Rachio

Series A in 2015
Rachio, Inc. is a Denver-based company that specializes in intelligent sprinkler controllers aimed at enhancing water efficiency for residential landscapes. Founded in 2013, Rachio offers a WiFi-enabled device that allows users to remotely manage their sprinkler systems via a smartphone application. The system automatically adjusts watering schedules based on various factors, including local weather conditions, soil characteristics, and individual water budgets. By leveraging cloud-based technology, Rachio enables users to control their outdoor irrigation from anywhere, ultimately helping them save both water and money.

Cloud Elements

Venture Round in 2015
Cloud Elements is a developer of an API integration platform used to integrate and manage digital products and applications. It features end-to-end functions such as data transformations, API provisioning, usage monitoring, events, and notifications for tracking and troubleshooting that enables developers to integrate multiple apps into different CRM and marketing automation platforms in an easy manner. Cloud Elements was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in Denver, Colorado.

Pana

Seed Round in 2015
Pana is a computer software company that specializes in mobile, online travel, and mobile commerce. The company is driven by its mission is to make travel simple, personal, and delightful. From an app, they make booking travel as easy as texting a friend, provide white-glove care for the highs and lows of travel, and offer travel perks, rewards, and experiences. Pana was founded in 2014 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado.

Stream

Seed Round in 2015
Stream.io, Inc. specializes in developing an open-source platform that enables the creation of customizable newsfeeds and messaging applications. The company provides a range of application programming interfaces (APIs) that allow product teams to implement chat features and activity feeds tailored to their specific needs. Its offerings include flat feeds for displaying followed content, aggregated feeds for grouping similar content, notification feeds for site alerts, and profile pages for user activity storage. Stream's solutions cater to various sectors, including finance, healthcare, dating, education, and social networking, facilitating community engagement. Established in 2014, the company is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, with an additional office located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Stream’s products are recognized for their scalability and security, serving over a billion end-users globally.

Parkifi

Convertible Note in 2015
ParkiFi, Inc. designs and offers IoT-enabled parking sensors. The company also provides platform solutions to manage and show open spots in parking spaces. It offers solutions for parking garages, surface lots, and municipal parking. It serves private parking operators and owners, property managers and REITs, and city parking services departments and urban planners. ParkiFi, Inc. was formerly known as Krumly LLC. The company was founded in 2014 and is based in Denver, Colorado. As of February 1, 2018, ParkiFi, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of DISH Network Corporation.

Notion

Seed Round in 2015
Notion is a company that specializes in home monitoring systems, providing property owners with tools to safeguard their spaces and belongings. Founded in 2013 by Brett Jurgens and Ryan Margoles and based in Denver, Colorado, Notion offers a multi-function, compact sensor that delivers real-time alerts for various issues, including motion detection, temperature changes, water leaks, and alarms. The system is designed to enhance home awareness through an intuitive user experience and comprehensive data analytics, allowing customers to proactively address potential problems in their homes.

JumpCloud

Series B in 2015
JumpCloud, Inc. operates a Directory-as-a-Service platform that centralizes and simplifies identity management for organizations. Founded in 2010 and based in Louisville, Colorado, the company offers a Software-as-a-Service solution that automates server management tasks such as user management, security, and compliance. Its platform enables IT teams to securely manage user identities and connect them to various resources, regardless of the provider, protocol, or location. By providing a cloud-based directory, JumpCloud allows organizations to authenticate, authorize, and manage users, devices, and applications efficiently. Additionally, the platform tracks critical server patches, monitors administrative activities, and generates reports on access and configurations, thereby enhancing overall security and operational efficiency.

TopYa!

Venture Round in 2015
TopYa! is a pioneering mobile application designed to promote health and fitness through interactive video challenges, targeting individuals of all ages. Launched in 2017, the platform aims to inspire children to engage in sports and physical activity, instilling lifelong habits of health and fitness. TopYa! provides a unique space where users can create, share, and participate in monthly sports challenges, receiving virtual coaching feedback to enhance their skills. Additionally, the company established the Active Fun Academy in India, which serves as a technological solution for physical education in schools. Beyond individual users, TopYa! also offers health and wellness solutions to organizations, contributing to overall community well-being.

Parkifi

Seed Round in 2015
ParkiFi, Inc. designs and offers IoT-enabled parking sensors. The company also provides platform solutions to manage and show open spots in parking spaces. It offers solutions for parking garages, surface lots, and municipal parking. It serves private parking operators and owners, property managers and REITs, and city parking services departments and urban planners. ParkiFi, Inc. was formerly known as Krumly LLC. The company was founded in 2014 and is based in Denver, Colorado. As of February 1, 2018, ParkiFi, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of DISH Network Corporation.

SQFT

Seed Round in 2015
America’s first DIY real-estate portal. Our cutting-edge technology & team of local independently operated licensed real estate agents empower you to sell your home using only your smartphone. The process is fast, secure and easy. They help you create a stand-out listing, then push it across the online real estate marketplace–MLS, Trulia, Zillow and approximately 450 other sites.

GridCraft

Seed Round in 2014
GridCraft, Inc. is a data analytics company based in Boulder, Colorado, founded in 2013. It specializes in developing tools that facilitate data analysis, sharing, and collaboration for businesses. The company's flagship technology, GridEngine, is structure-agnostic, allowing users to dynamically integrate structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data from various internal and external sources. This capability enables organizations to create comprehensive datasets from both proprietary and third-party data, supporting informed decision-making. The user interface resembles a familiar spreadsheet format, making it accessible for business users to engage with complex data analysis without extensive technical expertise.

Cloud Elements

Series A in 2014
Cloud Elements is a developer of an API integration platform used to integrate and manage digital products and applications. It features end-to-end functions such as data transformations, API provisioning, usage monitoring, events, and notifications for tracking and troubleshooting that enables developers to integrate multiple apps into different CRM and marketing automation platforms in an easy manner. Cloud Elements was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in Denver, Colorado.

Rachio

Convertible Note in 2014
Rachio, Inc. is a Denver-based company that specializes in intelligent sprinkler controllers aimed at enhancing water efficiency for residential landscapes. Founded in 2013, Rachio offers a WiFi-enabled device that allows users to remotely manage their sprinkler systems via a smartphone application. The system automatically adjusts watering schedules based on various factors, including local weather conditions, soil characteristics, and individual water budgets. By leveraging cloud-based technology, Rachio enables users to control their outdoor irrigation from anywhere, ultimately helping them save both water and money.

SupportLocal

Seed Round in 2014
SupportLocal is a platform that enhances the discovery of local businesses through personalized recommendations from trusted connections. Based in Denver, Colorado, within the Galvanize campus, the company was founded by industry veterans, including CEO Justin Sanger, who is recognized for his expertise in local search. By leveraging the power of word of mouth, SupportLocal allows users to share and receive insights about local establishments, fostering a sense of community and trust. The platform prioritizes principles such as privacy and sharing, aiming to create a supportive environment for everyday decisions related to local businesses.

Rachio

Convertible Note in 2013
Rachio, Inc. is a Denver-based company that specializes in intelligent sprinkler controllers aimed at enhancing water efficiency for residential landscapes. Founded in 2013, Rachio offers a WiFi-enabled device that allows users to remotely manage their sprinkler systems via a smartphone application. The system automatically adjusts watering schedules based on various factors, including local weather conditions, soil characteristics, and individual water budgets. By leveraging cloud-based technology, Rachio enables users to control their outdoor irrigation from anywhere, ultimately helping them save both water and money.
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