@Last Software moving to Pearl Street in September

UBOULDER — @Last Software is moving to the Pearl Street location recently vacated by Mountain Sports.

When Mountain Sports moved out last month to consolidate operations at its 28th and Pearl location, Brad Schell, @Last chief executive and owner of 819-821 Pearl St., was uncertain about the building’s future.

“We got this idea it would be fun to move in there,” he said. “We’re super tickled about it.”

The move to the 6,000-square-foot building will give the office staff more breathing room. Right now 10 employees are cramped into 1,300 square feet on 10th Street.

Converting the building to office space from retail is quite a job, Schell said. “The building has been completely gutted at this point,” he said. “After 40-some years of really not being touched, it was time.”

But Schell has planned very simple tenant finishes, leaving the floor plan open. Upgrades include building a new bathroom with a shower, “because most of us are bicyclists,” Schell said. But he thinks he’ll leave the concrete floor bare for a “kind of industrial look.”

Timing for the move has been good, Schell said. The company’s lease on its current space expired in July, and the landlord is letting it rent month to month while looking for a new tenant. Schell said he hopes to move in September.

Although Schell owns the building, it won’t really be a cost savings for @Last, he said. “The cost will stay about the same, but it’s five times the space.”

UCAR starts tech transfer company

BOULDER — A new company to commercialize laboratory-developed atmospheric research is open for business. Peak Weather Resources Inc. relies on initial seed funding from the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research Foundation but operates independently.

Peak Weather will adapt technology knowledge from the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research for use by the commercial and public sectors.

The UCAR Foundation was created by the corporation in 1986 to commercialize the corporation’s knowledge and technology.

The corporation is a consortium of 66 universities that grants doctoral degrees in the atmospheric and related sciences, and manages the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the UCAR Office of Programs.

Anark closes financing round

BOULDER — Anark Corp. finalized its Series C financing round worth $3.5 million.

Denver-based 5280 Partners joined existing investors Holden Capital, Murphree Venture Partners and Wolf Ventures to complete the round. Anark plans to use the capital for to continue sales efforts, increase distribution channels and improve overall market awareness.

Jeffrey Bennis, managing member of 5280 Partners, joined Anark’s board of directors.

Anark develops multimedia technologies for artists and digital media developers.

Kaiser relocates to Broomfield

BROOMFIELD — Kaiser Group Holdings Inc. moved its principal address from Fairfax, Va. to Broomfield.

Spokesman John Grigsby said the company decided to relocate to be closer to the activities of Kaiser-Hill, the general contractor performing the cleanup and closing of the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site. Kaiser Group Holdings’ primary activity is its 50 percent ownership of Kaiser-Hill Company LLC.

Kaiser Group Holdings was formerly known as Kaiser Group International Inc. In June 2000, Kaiser Group International and 38 of its domestic subsidiaries filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The process of resolving claims filed in the bankruptcy is ongoing.

Kaiser Group Holdings provides engineering and construction services to industries ranging from transportation to microelectronics.

Kiosk wins contract

LOUISVILLE — Kiosk Information Systems has been selected as the kiosk system provider for the U.S. Postal Service’s personnel system. The kiosk will provide human resources information to postal workers without computer access in their work environments.

The contract calls for Louisville-based Kiosk to produce and support 310 standard kiosks for placement in postal distribution centers nationwide, with the option for an additional 300 kiosks. The potential value of the contract is about $4.1 million.

Kiosk is a provider of indoor and outdoor self-service information terminals.

Travel agencies merging

BROOMFIELD — Chris Russo, owner of The Travel Junction, located in Denver, and Broomfield-based Travel Partners, are joining with two other Front Range travel agencies in what he’s calling a “quasi-merger.”

Russo’s agencies will be working with DTR Travel of Englewood and Custom Travel of Cherry Creek. Each company will remain separate in name and revenues, Russo said. “Most of the travel business works on volume,” he said. “Separate we’re good, but together we can be much better.” For example, Custom Travel is directed toward a primarily corporate audience and would do better if it also handled leisure travel.

The strategy is to cover most of the Front Range by having the agencies cross sell to different segments and geographies of the travel market, Russo said.

EnergyWindow closes funding

BOULDER — EnergyWindow Inc., a Boulder-based supplier of products and services that help business energy buyers with energy management and procurement, has closed its first round of funding.

Altira, an early stage venture capital firm in Denver, provided $600,000 in Series A financing. EnergyWindow will use the money to integrate and accelerate commercialization of its products, strengthen infrastructure, heighten market visibility and build staff.

EnergyWindow supports business energy buyers that have multiple facilities with significant supply demands throughout the entire energy supply cycle, from energy strategy development to energy procurement. Its flagship product, the EnergyWindow online request for quotation system, has been implemented in more than 20 nationally operating companies.

Life sciences advisory board formed

DENVER — The state of Colorado’s Office of Life Sciences and Biotechnology has selected its board of advisers.

Advisers include Dave Bengston, vice president of Amgen Inc.’s Colorado Operations in Longmont; Timothy N. Estep, vice president of Hemoglobin Therapeutics, Baxter Healthcare Corp. in Boulder; Jay A. Gershen, executive vice chancellor of the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and professor in the school of dentistry; Frannie Follick-Hood, vice president of public affairs for Pratt Management Co. in Longmont; Caroline A. Kovac, general manager, IBM Life Sciences; John C. Dill, a consultant based in Denver; Dr. Terry Knapp, founder, chief executive and chairman of PrivaComp Inc.; Ned Scheetz, managing director of Piper Jaffray Ventures Inc.; Richard C. Williams, president and founder of Conner-Thoele Limited, a consulting and financial advisory firm.

“The people on the board of advisers exemplify breadth of representation from the public and private sectors and incredible depth of experience. The governor and I are excited to have their help in increasing the momentum of the growth of the life sciences and biotechnology industry in Colorado,´ said Paul L. Ray, who heads the office.

GE Access, StorageTek team up