AlignTec<\/a>, said, \u201cWe were nominated in 2017, but we weren\u2019t quite ready. But 2018, I always thought, was going to be our year.\u201d<\/p>\nIn 2013, Lukasik said AlignTec began a concerted effort to grow its business of providing terrestrial-fixed wireless for internet service first in La Plata County and now moving beyond into a wider area of Southwest Colorado.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re coming up on $1 million in annual revenue,\u201d Lukasik said. \u201cIn 2013, we had three employees. Today, we have six full-time employees, and we work with a couple of contractors. So we\u2019re right where CCTW was looking.\u201d<\/p>\n
AlignTec is examining taking its first steps to integrate fiber-optic networks with its existing terrestrial-fixed wireless network to add to its ability to provide internet to remote parts of Southwest Colorado.<\/p>\n
About four months ago, AlignTec entered Montezuma County, using its own, in-house-built towers that don\u2019t require a permanent foundation to provide microwave wireless internet service to remote subdivisions. The remote developments often come with an array of topological features, making affordable internet service a headache.<\/p>\n
\u201cTopography is difficult in Southwest Colorado; the more locations to broadcast, the better,\u201d Lukasik said. \u201cHills, canyons, mountains, dense growth of trees, a neighbor\u2019s house can all pose problems\u201d of getting internet service.<\/p>\n
Despite obstacles of local terrain, Lukasik said AlignTec is starting to benefit from its growth.<\/p>\n
The more remote areas AlignTec covers with links to other towers in its network, the more robust and wide-reaching its provision of broadband internet becomes, Lukasik said.<\/p>\n
Cynthia Dow, chief financial officer for AlignTec, points out another benefit to customers as AlignTec grows.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe only thing that has changed is that prices have come down as we\u2019ve grown,\u201d she said. \u201cThere is a certain benefit that comes from economies of scale.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mark Petrocchi, AlignTec chief technical officer, sees continued growth in providing internet service in Southwest Colorado.<\/p>\n
\u201cTelecommuters are coming, and if they don\u2019t find service available, they won\u2019t buy,\u201d he said. \u201cA lot of people are looking for a house, and they won\u2019t take it without a certain bandwidth,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The new reality of digital-era infrastructure required to attract desirable telecommuters to La Plata County, Petrocchi said, has made for \u201ca good relationship\u201d with local economic development officials.<\/p>\n
\u201cRoger Zalneraitis (executive director of La Plata County Economic Development Alliance) is always excited to hear about new areas we are going into,\u201d Petrocchi said.<\/p>\n
While AlignTec for now is focused on providing the best internet service it can to rural areas, Lukasik sees potential to offer other services.<\/p>\n
In the future, the firm could explore offering internet TV and voice-over-internet telephone, Lukasik said. AlignTec also has an eye on offering residential services such as home media, home wiring, home IT and home networking.<\/p>\n
GitPrime<\/div>\n
Travis Kimmel, GitPrime CEO and co-founder, said, \u201cWe are honored to be recognized as one of the top 50 most innovative companies in Colorado. The support we\u2019ve received along the way has been truly amazing, and we\u2019re proud to be a part of the growing Colorado tech ecosystem.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the three years since it was founded, GitPrime has moved from serving a dozen customers to serving some 300 customers all over the world. It aims to grow into a major employer in Durango.<\/p>\n
Kimmel and Ben Thompson started the company focused on providing productivity analytics for software teams in DurangoSpace in early 2015.<\/p>\n
\u201cBack then, Ben and I were two guys with a PowerPoint and a dream,\u201d Kimmel said.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, GitPrime closed on an agreement with OpenView partners, a venture capital firm, on a $10.5 million investment. OpenView is the prime investor, but other investors are also involved in the equity offering, said Brook Perry, marketing manager with GitPrime.<\/p>\n
Kimmel, in announcing the $10.5 million investment, said, \u201cEvery company that builds software can benefit from transitioning from gut feel to a data-driven approach. Each day it is our great honor to work with our customers to improve the way engineers are led, managed and cared for.\u201d<\/p>\n
The company employs 20 people and has offices in Durango, Boulder and San Francisco.<\/p>\n
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