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2026 Finalists

Ventilation Oxygen Loop Fan

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Barber-Nichols

The Ventilation Oxygen Loop Fan, manufactured by Arvada-based Barber-Nichols, is designed to support next-generation spacesuit life-support systems by safely supplying 100% oxygen to astronauts for breathing during spacewalks. Developed to meet stringent requirements for size, weight, reliability and safety in human spaceflight, the fan underwent a 15-month test campaign and more than 9,000 hours of life testing without signs of failure or diminished performance.

Cheetah Automated 3D Inspection System

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Cheetah Engineering LLC

The Cheetah Automated 3D Inspection System gives manufacturers “superhuman vision” by combining industrial robotics, advanced 3D scanning and proprietary software to automate one of the most challenging aspects of production: quality inspection. Designed and built in Craig and Longmont, the system captures millions of measurement points to create a highly detailed digital twin of each product it inspects, automatically identifying defects, missing features, dimensional errors and assembly issues that can be difficult to detect using traditional methods. The technology is already being deployed in various industries including aerospace, medical devices, electronics, industrial equipment and data-center hardware.

EarthRoamer LTx

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EarthRoamer

Handcrafted in Dacono, the EarthRoamer LTx combines luxury with true off-grid capability in an expedition vehicle designed to reach places traditional RVs cannot. Built on a Ford F-550 4WD chassis, the LTx features a vacuum-infused carbon-fiber body manufactured entirely at EarthRoamer’s Colorado facility, along with an advanced 24-volt electrical system, high-capacity lithium battery bank, rooftop solar and Starlink connectivity. Inside, the vehicle pairs its expedition capabilities with amenities such as sleeping and dining spaces, a kitchen and a bathroom.

MEGA FlackTek Mixer

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FlackTek LLC

Designed, manufactured and tested in Louisville, the MEGA FlackTek Mixer is a groundbreaking bladeless dual asymmetric centrifugal mixer capable of processing batches at a scale previously considered out of reach for the technology. The only mixer of its kind globally, the MEGA increased the scale of bladeless mixing from 50 kilograms to 300 kilograms, opening the technology to large-scale manufacturing and automation. Initially developed in partnership with Anduril Industries for solid rocket motor production, the MEGA can reduce mixing processes that traditionally take hours to just minutes and deliver more than 24 times the production throughput of conventional mixers.

LavaBox Portable Campfire

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LavaBox

The Colorado-made LavaBox is a compact portable propane campfire built into a rugged military-style steel ammo can. Created by longtime expedition leader and outdoor guide Josh Thurmond during Colorado fire season, LavaBox offers outdoor enthusiasts a portable alternative to traditional wood-burning campfires. Featured on Shark Tank, the original LavaBox weighs approximately 8.5 pounds, produces up to 280,000 BTUs and can also be used for cooking.

OnMed CareStation®

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OnMed

The OnMed CareStation® is a private, 8-by-10-foot “clinic-in-a-box” that combines telehealth with diagnostic capabilities typically associated with an in-person medical visit. The CareStation allows patients to connect in real time with a licensed clinician while integrated technology captures vital signs and enables guided examinations using tools such as an HD camera, stethoscope and thermal imaging. Patients can receive a diagnosis, treatment plan, referrals or an e-prescription during the visit, helping expand access to health care in communities and locations where traditional medical services may be difficult to reach.

RoGO DropBlock

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RoGO Communications

Designed in Morrison and manufactured in Fort Collins, the RoGO DropBlock is a small, lightweight, satellite-enabled communications and situational-awareness device built to keep wildland firefighters connected in remote areas where cellular service is unavailable. Firefighters can use DropBlock to track the GPS locations of crews and resources, exchange tactical messages and access critical fire-weather information to help teams coordinate their response more quickly and safely.

Spirit SE-1 Light-Sport Aircraft

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Spirit Engineering

Designed and manufactured in Grand Junction, the Spirit SE-1 is an all-metal light-sport aircraft engineered to make personal aviation more accessible, efficient and affordable. Selling fully built and ready to fly for under $70,000, the SE-1 features Spirit Engineering’s proprietary 42-horsepower, air-cooled V-twin engine, which burns just 1.8 to 2.2 gallons of fuel per hour. Its wings can be stowed to reduce its ground width to just 7 feet 5 inches, making storage and ground handling more practical.

Carbon Core Brick

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Summit Brick

Carbon Core is a net zero carbon masonry technology developed to turn a traditional building material into a tool for carbon sequestration. Manufactured by Lakewood-based Summit Brick using technology invented in Golden, each Carbon Core brick incorporates approximately 1.5 pounds of olivine sand and is designed to sequester roughly one pound of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The technology also improves resistance to freeze-thaw cycles and cracking. If one Colorado brick manufacturer converted its production entirely to Carbon Core technology, the company estimates it could remove approximately 30 million pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year.

Collaborative Robot Welding and Cutting Systems

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Vectis Automation

Loveland-based Vectis Automation pioneered commercially successful collaborative robot, or “cobot,” welding systems in North America in 2019, helping make welding and cutting automation more accessible to small and midsize manufacturers. Unlike traditional industrial robots that typically require safety fencing and interlocks, cobots are designed to stop when they come into contact with a person, allowing them to work safely alongside employees. Vectis systems can also be taught by workers manually guiding the cobot through the desired path, reducing the need for expensive and time-consuming robot programming.

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