DENVER - Four Boulder companies will compete for a chance to win $25,000 in the DEMO Challenge, a statewide industry entrepreneur contest.

The Colorado Technology Association's eighth annual DEMOgala, to be held Wednesday, Oct. 24, and Thursday, Oct. 25, in Denver, includes the DEMO Challenge event. Judges selected 18 technology companies across Colorado to give 4-minute, 30-second presentations for the DEMO Challenge. The winning company will be announced on Oct. 25.

Boulder-based companies Concept3D Inc., EarthvisonZ LLC, Otixo Inc. and Shredded Steeze will vie with other chosen companies around the state for a chance to win the funds.

Gov. John Hickenlooper and U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., are slated to speak at the DEMOgala event, which will be held at the Sheraton Downtown Denver, 1550 Court Place, Denver. Scott McNealy, former chief executive of Sun Microsystems Inc., will be the keynote speaker.

DEMOgala includes various technology and entrepreneurial sessions and a trade show. It is put on by the Colorado Technology Association, an industry trade group based in Denver with numerous members from Boulder and Broomfield counties.

The DEMOgala event has other ties to Boulder and Broomfield counties. Jim Franklin, chief executive of SendGrid Inc. in Boulder, will speak at the event.

In addition, the event will include the 12th annual Apex Awards on Wednesday, Oct. 24, which recognize Colorado companies for technology excellence. Boulder and Broomfield companies nominated for awards include Amadeus Consulting Group Inc., Coalfire Systems Inc. EarthvisionZ LLC, MWH Global Inc., SendGrid Inc., Spectra Logic Corp. and Zayo Group LLC.

More details on the event are online at www.demogala.com.