Bet you didn’t know that when you picture the wild frontier lands of Wyoming, you’re also picturing the future epicenter of tech industry expansion!
But it‘s true – global giants to plucky startups have been flocking to the Equality State, planting roots among the cacti and tumbleweeds. Behind the ranches and rodeos, Wyoming has cultivated an oasis for technology advancement.
In this in-depth guide, I’ll introduce you to some of the biggest and most influential tech firms from across the spectrum that now call Wyoming home. You’ll discover what originally lured these companies out west, how they’ve integrated into Wyoming’s business landscape, and what their growing presence means for the state’s economic future.
Why Wyoming?
Before we dive into the tech titans and trailblazing startups, you’re probably wondering – why Wyoming? Well, turns out this frontier state offers some surprisingly sweet perks:
Tax Breaks: Wyoming levies no corporate income taxes and has minimal business regulations. This light tax load lets companies beef up R&D and operations investments.
Real Estate: Commercial buildings and land cost nearly 90% less than in Silicon Valley – that‘s major overhead savings!
Renewable Energy: Wyoming supplies the US with the most wind power and also harnesses solar and hydroelectric sources. Tech firms increasingly prioritize green energy.
Talent Pipeline: The well-respected University of Wyoming feeds tech-savvy graduates into the state‘s workforce, especially in STEM disciplines.
So in short – inexpensive operating costs, beautiful landscapes, sustainable power sources and a steady stream of skilled labor. What‘s not to love? Many global brands and plucky startups alike have caught on. Next let‘s survey some outstanding homegrown innovators.
Born & Bred: Wyoming‘s Top Tech Startups
While massive out-of-state corporations draw headlines, Wyoming has nurtured its own coterie of revolutionary tech firms. Concentrated in cities like Cheyenne, Casper and Laramie, these entrepreneurs build products for both local and national audiences. Below I highlight seven standout startups:
| Company | Location | Founded | Funding | Services |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Language I/O | Cheyenne | 2011 | $5.3 million | Real-time translation services using machine learning and human editors for 100+ languages |
| BlackFog | Cheyenne | 2015 | $3.1 million | AI-powered cybersecurity platform that predicts and prevents malware and ransomware attacks |
| Novea Inc. | Cheyenne | 2016 | $13.4 million | Fintech company modernizing banking with mobile apps and crypto reward programs |
| Calmerry | Cody | 2020 | Bootstrapped | Online counseling marketplace instantly pairing patients with licensed mental health therapists |
| Wyoming Hyperscale White Box | Kemmerer | 2020 | Undisclosed | Sustainable Tier IV data center using immersive liquid cooling for unparalleled energy efficiency |
| Positiwise Software | Sheridan | 2015 | Bootstrapped | Builds custom mobile/web platforms enabling digital transformation for manufacturing, healthcare and other B2B sectors |
| LowCode Agency | Sheridan | 2019 | Bootstrapped | Expedites mobile application development across iOS, Android and web using intuitive low-code platforms |
This table reveals the innovation diversity blooming locally – from agile startups tackling global challenges like language translation and clinical therapy access to revolutionary green data center architecture and breezy mobile app builders.
Next let‘s review some familiar famous corporations who have recently joined Wyoming‘s club.
Digital Dynasty: Tech Titan Expansions
In addition to nurturing local startups, Wyoming has succeeded in landing satellite offices and data centers for some of the world‘s most powerful technology corporations. Drawn by the business perks like low taxes and renewable energy access, global juggernauts such as Google, Microsoft and IBM have invested substantially in the state recently.
Let‘s explore the specific moves these and other giants have made:
After reaching over $257 billion in annual revenues, internet search trailblazer Google is still growing at a clips of 23% year-over-year.
Seeking to expand its global cloud computing footprint, Google recently activated a sprawling $600 million data center in Cheyenne, their eighth U.S. installation. Spanning 70 acres, this facility powers essential services like Gmail, YouTube and Google Drive for billions of users worldwide.
And that‘s not all Google has cooking in Wyoming – they also operate smaller regional offices focused on public sector partnerships, geospatial data applications and engineering support services.
Overall Google‘s investments in Wyoming exceed $1.5 billion!
Microsoft
Another Pacific Northwest computing pioneer, Microsoft earned close to $198 billion last year across software, hardware and cloud service sales. And like Google, Microsoft continues to invest in data center infrastructure to meet customer demand.
Last November, Microsoft announced two new Wyoming data center campuses – $200 million facilities located in Cheyenne and Mills. These compounds empower essential cloud services like Office 365, Dynamics 365 and Azure behind the scenes.
And Wyoming already hosted existing Microsoft cloud computing capabilities – back in 2012 they opened a "mini-Microsoft campus" to process software and storage network requests.
So with over $400 million already sunk into the state and room for growth still ahead, Microsoft seems keen on converting even more Wyoming grounds into cloud colonies!
IBM
International Business Machines (IBM) stands tall as one of the tech industry‘s enduring innovators and an expert in enterprise IT modernization. Since its early 20th century founding, IBM has adapted to survive multiple technology cycles from mainframes to PCs to cloud infrastructure.
Leveraging this legacy expertise, IBM cultivates specialized offices across Wyoming delivering advanced services around:
- Cybersecurity defense
- Blockchain platform development
- Semiconductor & microelectronics manufacturing
- Supercomputing frameworks
For instance, IBM experts in Cheyenne work closely with agricultural partners to implement blockchain-backed supply chain tracking via the IBM Food Trust initiative. This boosts livestock visibility as well transparency around farming yields and timing – key insights for partners in Wyoming‘s massive ranching, dairy and produce industries!
Additionally, IBM hardware engineers contribute advanced technical deployment assistance at the NCAR-Wyoming Supercomputing Center (NWSC) in Cheyenne. By guiding software optimization for the Center‘s cutting edge Parallel Computing Cluster, IBM volunteers help climate scientists accelerate atmospheric modeling research critical for predicting severe weather events.
With skilled professionals stationed out of regional hubs in Cheyenne and Laramie, IBM‘s presence spans pivotal commercial and academic partnerships across the state. Their niche contributions underscore Wyoming‘s rising reputation as a next-gen advanced technology epicenter!
Private Companies Powering Wyoming Forward
While high-flying public corporations capture headlines as they expand into Wyoming, dozens of privately held technology innovators power crucial infrastructure supporting the state‘s economy every day. These niche players provide the picks and shovels enabling Wyoming‘s mining and agricultural mainstays to dig deeper digital riches.
Below I profile five lesser known but highly impactful private tech firms headquartered in Wyoming that together generate over $45 million in annual revenues:
| Company | Location | Founded | Revenue | Services |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guaranteed Software | Casper | 1999 | $12 million | Specialized e-commerce platforms for mid-market B2B companies |
| Positiwise Software | Sheridan | 2015 | $9.1 million | Custom mobile/web development services across manufacturing, field services and hospitality sectors |
| Etech All | Sheridan | 2015 | $7.3 million | Website design, digital marketing and SEO packages for Wyoming enterprises |
| LowCode Agency | Sheridan | 2019 | $5.2 million | Expedited mobile application product development leveraging low-code platforms |
| Fivewalls | Casper | 2013 | $11.9 million | Specialized Magento eCommerce web development and managed hosting services |
While they avoid outside funding and flashier dot-com digs, this cohort of private technology innovators provide the picks and shovels that keep Wyoming‘s economy churning! Their infrastructure empowers the state’s legacy sectors to sell more beef, pump more oil and reap more crops by riding progressive digital transformations.
Forgotten Pioneers: Where Are They Now?
While Wyoming‘s star has risen fast as a regional technology hub, this computing prowess emerged from humble beginnings. Daring early startups blazed trails before broader industry attention coalesced. Let‘s revive the legacies of two impactful but now rebranded innovators:
Green House Data
Founded in 2007 in Cheyenne, Green House Data operated an interlinked network of data centers delivering infrastructure, platform and managed cloud services to SMB and mid-market organizations nationwide. After acquiring several competitors, the company unified its portfolio under the brand Lunavi in 2021 while maintaining offices and 100+ local staff. Their pioneering managed hosting services laid the groundwork for today‘s still-maturing Wyoming cloud computing ecosystem.
Wyoming Technology Business Center
Established in 2005 out of Sheridan, the Wyoming Technology Business Center (WTBC) fostered countless early stage software, mobile and web ventures state-wide as an entrepreneurial incubator. After merging with two other economic development groups in 2020, the center continues this mission as Impact 307 while managing a $2.5 million seed fund portfolio spanning 30 young startups. Though renamed, their startup acceleration legacy endures thanks to ongoing grants.
Conclusion
As we‘ve discovered, while scenic Wyoming stirs visions of rough riding cowboys and sprawling ranches, a technology revolution has simultaneously stirred – practically right under your nose!
Lured by affordable operating costs and sustainably powered data centers, global juggernauts like Google and Microsoft now brush shoulders with once-obscure startups like Novea and BlackFog across the state.
Collectively these companies, both storied and emerging, benefit from Wyoming‘s business friendly policies and steady pipeline of college talent to build the next generation of computing breakthroughs. From cloud infrastructure expansions allowing software to scale seamlessly, to bleeding-edge cybersecurity threat detection algorithms protecting vulnerable data worldwide – Wyoming leads the charge on multiple fronts.
So while you may still associate scenic Jackson Hole vistas or Yellowstone treks when imagining the Cowboy State, expect soaring solar panels powering hyperscale data centers alongside roaming cattle herds to define Wyoming‘s future for decades ahead. The technology boom taking hold now across the state sets the stage for positively transformative and sustainable economic growth yet to materialize. The frontier has never looked more promising!
