Four local businesses have been named as finalists for the 2025 Colorado Companies to Watch Award: Skyhook Solar; Kooler Garage Doors; DWC CPAs & Advisors; and SkyPeak Technologies.

These companies exemplify the innovation, growth, and resilience that fuel Colorado’s economy, the Grand Junction Economic Partnership said in a news release.

GJEP offered the following summaries about each business:

• Skyhook Solar is a manufacturer of transportable, industrial-grade solar generators. Its core technology provides clean energy to power EVs, micromobility, internet access, lighting and emergency services.

Skyhook Solar President and CEO Daniel Delano spearheaded extensive research and development efforts over the past two years in Carbondale, where they have discontinued operations to take possession of their new facility in Grand Junction.

During their research and development phase, Skyhook Solar deployed 25 prototypes in a public-facing pilot program in the U.S. and Canada and placed five additional units in Europe. The company commenced commercial production in the fourth quarter of 2024, establishing Grand Junction as its new headquarters.

In 2023, Skyhook Solar was accepted into the Rural Jump-Start Program and is anticipated to create 38 new primary jobs within their first four years of operations in Grand Junction.

• Kooler Garage Doors, headquartered in Grand Junction, redefines what homeowners expect from garage door service. With deep Rocky Mountain roots and a growing Western Slope presence, Kooler blends precision installation, intelligent automation and curated commercial-grade solutions to simplify homeownership.

Its clean aesthetic, high-trust service and commitment to growth, for customers and team members alike, make Kooler a true company to watch. Through innovations in design, next-gen opener technology, and its Craft Your Life Radio podcast, Kooler is proving that the garage isn’t an afterthought; it’s a launchpad for a better life.

• DWC CPAs & Advisors, founded in 1948, is the largest CPA firm headquartered in western Colorado and is nationally recognized as a Top 300 Public Accounting Firm, consistently earning accolades from industry trade journals. It is one of the top professional accounting firms in the western states.

The company’s reach extends beyond western Colorado, spanning across the state and nation, enabling the firm to cater to a wide range of clients. This broad spectrum of industries and ongoing market growth provides DWC with invaluable knowledge, allowing it to expertly support small and medium-sized businesses, business owners and high-net-worth individuals.

DWC attributes its success to its dedicated team, valued clients, and the communities it serves, maintaining a strong commitment to giving back to those communities.

• SkyPeak Technologies develops advanced mobile network optimization tools, including its flagship solution, CORA AI. This smart content-shaping solution allows mobile network operators to manage the ever-increasing demand for streaming content in an affordable and scalable way.

Since relocating to Grand Junction in 2021 and joining the state’s Rural Jump-Start Program, SkyPeak Technologies has hired local talent, including graduates from Colorado Mesa University, and expanded its footprint internationally. The company has been awarded several State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) Grants in the past few years to help expand its international business. The proceeds of these grants were used to attend the MVNO World Congress in Amsterdam, the MNVO Nation Live in Valencia, and Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, allowing it to connect with current customers and secure several new contracts and proof-of-concept studies with mobile operators worldwide.

“These companies are proof that innovation, resilience, and smart growth are alive and well in western Colorado,” said Curtis Englehart, GJEP’s executive director. “Their recognition as Colorado Companies to Watch finalists speaks volumes about the caliber of businesses choosing to build their future right here in Grand Junction,”

Since 2009, Colorado Companies to Watch has honored the critical, yet often overlooked, second-stage companies from across the state for their undeniable impact on our communities.

For more information about Colorado Companies to Watch and this year’s finalists, visit www.coloradocompaniestowatch.org.