Nine companies receive IQ Awards

BOULDER - Nine companies were recognized for their innovation at the Boulder County Business Report's 2010 IQ Awards event held Tuesday evening.

More than 65 companies were nominated for the annual awards and networking event that celebrated its 10th anniversary this year. Finalists and winners were selected by members of the Business Report's editorial staff.

About 270 people attended the event held at the Boulder Theater. The evening included networking, the awards ceremony and a video looking back at 10 years of IQ Awards events. The video was created by Brian Scott.

Stories on the winners will be published in a special section in the Business Report's Sept. 3 print edition.

Winners in the nine categories were:

Business Products/Services

DigitalGlobe Inc., Longmont: DigitalGlobe's WorldView-2 satellite is the earth-imagery industry's first to provide commercial customers with photographs of using eight multispectral band technology. The eight spectral bands provide greater detail in photographs taken from the satellite to better identify features and changes in buildings or terrain on the Earth's surface. CEO: Jill Smith.

Finalists: Clifton Gunderson, Broomfield; Funovation Inc., Boulder:

Computer

Spectra Logic Corp., Boulder: Spectra Logic's T-Finity data-storage tape library incorporates new design architecture that uses less data-center floor space per units of data stored and consumes up to 50 percent less power than its nearest rivals. Its BlueScale EnergyAudit system records real-time energy use and provides displays on the side of the unit. CEO: Nathan Thompson.

Finalists: Rebit Inc., Longmont: Virsage Solutions Inc., Boulder

Consumer Products/Services

Stuart Batty Enterprises LLC, Boulder: Stuart Batty has refined the design of woodturning tools. Using Batty's patented technology, the tools last longer than conventional tools. They flex and vibrate less, providing users more control while reducing stress on the body. A new manufacturing process reduces the amount of vanadium steel needed by laminating it to stainless steel, lowering the cost but not the strength of the tool. CEO: Stuart Batty.

Finalists: Product Architects Inc., Boulder; University Parent Magazines Inc., Boulder.

Green/Sustainability

Heartland Renewable Energy LLC, Longmont: Heartland has developed "anaerobic digester" technology that converts manure from dairy cows and feedlot cattle, as well as various food wastes, to pipeline-grade gas. Managing member: George E. Howard.

Finalists: Amadeus Consulting Group Inc., Boulder; Skycastle Homes LLC, Boulder.

Internet/Software

Trada Inc., Boulder: Trada uses a group of independent search-engine advertising experts to help small- to medium-size businesses achieve their Internet click and conversion rate goals by incorporating specific keywords. Trada gathers the ad groups, keywords and ads created by the experts for a user's campaign and sends them to Google, Yahoo and Bing search-engine accounts created for the campaign. CEO: Niel Robertson.

Finalists: Collective Intellect Inc., Boulder; Symplified Inc., Boulder.

Life Sciences

Flashback Technologies LLC, Longmont: Flashback's CipherSensor answers the question surgeons ask: How much blood has a patient lost? It quickly, accurately and noninvasively estimates blood-loss volume. It can be used for triaging battlefield injuries, monitoring accident victims on the way to the hospital and patients in the intensive-care unit. CEO: Steve Moulton.

Finalists: Corgenix Medical Corp., Broomfield; InDevR Inc., Boulder.

Robotics

Stratom Inc., Boulder: Stratom has developed a robotic system for the automated refueling of grounded aircraft. The system uses a camera and range-finding sensors with an algorithmic positioning code to identify latches on an aircraft fuel panel. The robotic system is programmed to unlatch the fuel panel, open the panel and insert a fuel nozzle. Using the robotic system removes the risk of injury to people when refueling fighter aircraft on the ground with engines running. CEO: Mark Gordon.

Finalist: Rogers Design Group, Louisville.

Social Media/Mobile Apps

ScriptPad Inc., Boulder: ScriptPad allows a doctor to write prescriptions on their iPhone or iPad and send them to participating pharmacies. The process is faster and safer than their current paper process, greatly reducing deadly mistakes by misreading hand-written prescriptions. CEO: Shane Taylor.

Finalists: Push IO LLC, Boulder; Kronovia Inc., Superior.

Sports and Outdoors

Apex Sports Group LLC, Boulder: Apex has designed The Apex Boot, an alpine ski boot made of a lightweight carbon-fiber composite. The boot accommodates both alpine skiers and snowboarders. It incorporates a removable inner walking boot that doubles as a snowboard boot. The inner boot has a padding system that heats and molds to the wearer's foot. CEO: Denny Hanson.

Finalists: Backcountry Access Inc., Boulder; Pearl Izumi USA Inc.

Major sponsors for the IQ Awards were Western Disposal Services Inc.; Ehrhardt, Keefe Steiner & Hottman PC; Flatirons Bank; Guaranty Bank & Trust Co.; Colt Print Services Inc., Data Network Group Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank.