Allegra’s mantra: Take risks, embrace change

BOULDER — When Catherine Allegra wanted to move her pioneering, five-year-old financial-technology company out of New York City 26 years ago, she narrowed her search to college towns in North Carolina, Utah and Colorado.

What was it that made her choose Boulder? A world-class research university? The federal labs? The majesty of those towering Flatirons? Yes, all that played a part.

But what tipped the scale was garbage.

“We had two very young children. We were in a one-bedroom apartment in New York because we were starting the company,” Allegra said. “We came to Boulder to check it out. We were sitting at…